THE SURE MERCIES OF DAVID.
“And I will
make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.”-Isa. 55:3.
IF THE faith of any
of God’s children needs reinforcement from the Word of God, let him turn to the
Lord’s gracious invitation through the Prophet Isaiah to partake of the
bounties therein offered. The call is not to every man, but to a certain
class-“Ho every one that thirsteth!” (Vs. 1.) There is a blessing for the
thirsty soul. “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness
[Observe, not only after truth with a curiosity interest, but after that
righteousness which comes through a knowledge of the truth]; for they shall be
filled.” The invitation is not to those who are satisfied with sin, but to
those who have learned the exceeding sinfulness of sin, and whose aspirations
are toward God; who thirst after God and his truth and his righteousness. It
is to the class which the Psalmist describes as saying, “As the hart panteth
after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth
for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?”-Psa.
42:1,2.
Are you of this class? then hearken to the gracious invitation-“Ho, every
one that thirsteth [The call is to you], come ye to the waters [the
refreshing waters of divine truth]; and he that hath no money [None of us have
aught to offer as an equivalent for this priceless treasure: it is God’s free
gift to all the thirsty]; come ye, buy and eat; yea come, buy wine and milk
without money and without price.”
And not only is the invitation thus liberal, but the Lord also condescends
to reason with those of this class who still have some hope of finding the
satisfying bread and water of life where already they have long looked for them
in vain. He graciously inquires, “Wherefore do ye spend money for that which
is not bread? and your labor for that which satisfieth not? Hearken diligently
unto me, and eat ye that which is good [the “meat in due season” provided by
the Lord for the household of faith], and let your soul delight itself in
fatness. [The portion which the Lord supplies is a satisfying portion; and the
soul that is fed at his table is not lean.] Incline your ear, and come unto
me: hear, and your soul shall live, and I will make an everlasting covenant
with you, even the sure mercies of David.”
Turning to Psalm 89:19-37 we find the sure mercies of David enumerated.
David is introduced here as a typical character representing Christ-primarily
our Lord Jesus, but subsequently the Christ complete-Head and body. In the
meekness of his youth, his loyalty to God, his faithfulness, zeal, courage and
wise discretion, David’s character was a very beautiful type of the beloved
One, to whom God referred when he said, “I have laid help upon one that is
mighty; I have exalted one chosen out of the people. I have found David my
servant; with my holy oil have I anointed him.”
Our Lord Jesus is the mighty One upon whom the help of the world is
laid. He is the great deliverer, but it has pleased God also to associate with
him in this great work the Church of the Gospel age, the elect “little flock,”
whose names are written in heaven. These, all chosen out of the people,
constitute that one body, which, with Christ Jesus their Head, shall bless all
the families of the earth. These all possess the characteristics enumerated
above, which are preeminently the characteristics of their Head. All, therefore, who hunger
and thirst after righteousness, whose souls thirst after God as the hart for
the water-brook, and who, having found him, have consecrated themselves to him
and received the anointing of the holy spirit, witnessing with their spirits
that they are the sons of God, and who as anointed sons can discover in
themselves the worthy traits of true sons, enumerated above,-loyalty,
faithfulness, zeal, energy, courage, discretion, etc.,-these constitute the
class with whom the Lord has made an everlasting covenant and to whom belong
“the sure mercies of David.”
Hear them-“With whom my hand [my power, dominion, kingdom] shall be
established: mine arm [of support and strength] also shall strengthen him [to
perform the great preparatory work of sacrifice]. The enemy shall have no
advantage over him, nor the son of iniquity have power to hurt him. [All
things, even the deep and wicked designs of the adversary, shall be so
overruled by God as to work together for good to this David class].
“And I will beat down his foes before his face, and plague them that hate
him. But my faithfulness and my mercy shall be with him; and in my name shall
his horn [his authority and power] be exalted. I will set his hand also in the
sea, and his right hand in the rivers. [His power will in due time control all
the restless, ungovernable masses of the world, which like the raging sea will
make great commotion in the time of trouble with which this age closes.]
“He shall cry unto me, Thou art my father, my God, and the rock of my
salvation. [Even in the midst of their earthly course of trial and sacrifice
they shall have communion and fellowship with God: they shall realize his
fatherly love and care and rejoice in his salvation.]
“Also I will make him, my firstborn [“the Church of the firstborn”],
higher than the kings of the earth. My mercy will I keep for him forevermore,
and my covenant shall stand fast with him. His seed also [redeemed and
restored mankind to whom Christ will be “the everlasting father”-Isa. 9:6; Psa.
45:16] will I make to endure forever [they shall have everlasting life], and
his throne as the days of heaven. If his children forsake my law and walk not
in my judgments; if they break my statutes, and keep not my commandments; then
will I visit their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes.
Nevertheless, my loving kindness will I not utterly take from him, nor suffer
my faithfulness to fail. [This has reference principally to the fleshly people
of God, and partially to the world during the Millennium.]
“My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my
lips. Once have I sworn by my holiness, that I will not lie unto David
[Christ]. His seed shall endure forever, and his throne as the sun before me.
It shall be established forever as the moon, and as a faithful witness in
heaven.”
Such are the “sure mercies of David” thus divinely assured to the Gospel
Church, Head and body.
* * *
“When I stand before the throne,
Dressed in beauty not my own,
When I see thee as thou art,
Love thee with unsinning heart,
Then, Lord, I shall fully know-
Not till then-how much I owe.
“When the praise of heaven I hear,
Grand as anthems on the ear,
Loud as many waters’ noise,
Sweet as harps’ melodious voice,
Then, Lord, shall I fully know-
Not till then-how much I owe.”_