June 5, 2012

• O! Could it be yet a very little while | Biblical mourning & joy

   
  (Letter 143 on assurance & joy)

  ...yea, it shall be at an instant suddenly. Thou shalt be visited of the LORD of hosts...
  

  Is it not yet a very little while, and Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field,

  and the fruitful field shall be esteemed as a forest?
  ~ Isaiah 29:5b-6a, 17

  

  O! Could it be yet a very little while
  That His countenance would rise, His face would smile?

  When my faithfulness is as fading leaf,
  Why would Christ ride unto me with relief?

  Why, when I sinned, caused Him so much grief,
  Unstable as water, my heart full of deceit?

  Why should my Father's heart still zealously yearn,
  When all I did was wander, gad about, and turn?

  Despised His commands, quenched His Breath,
  Spurned His fellowship – sin gave birth to death!

  Why should God in all His majesty appear,
  Give me beauty for ashes, joy for my tears?

  Why should Christ Jesus favor me, why would He take heed?
  – Only because I was born of His incorruptible seed.

  
  This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you,
  that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
  If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness,
  we lie and do not practice the truth.
  But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another,
  and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
  If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just
  to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
  If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
  ~ I John 1:5-10

  Who is a God like unto thee,
  that pardoneth iniquity,
  and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage?
  he retaineth not his anger for ever,
  because he delighteth in mercy.
  He will turn again,
  he will have compassion upon us;
  he will subdue our iniquities;
  and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.
  ~ Micah 7:18-19

  No thorns or briers could hinder the LORD
  At an instant - suddenly! – girded with sword

  My King came riding at the break of dawn
  Rejoiced o'er me with joy, singing this song:

  "Daughter of Zion, in whom I am pleased
  My blood has ransomed you and made you clean

  "Your broken heart has proved that you are Mine,
  Bearing fruits of repentance from the True Vine

  "The poor and humble I set on high
  The meek with salvation, I beautify

  "Your pleas for mercy have been heard above
  There is forgiveness through My precious blood

  "I, the LORD of hosts, am faithful, I am just
  To cleanse you of all sin and unrighteousness!

  "Once afflicted and desolate – but no more!
  Into your thirsty soul, I abundantly pour.

  "Fear not! For the praise, glory and honor of My name,
  I welcome you, sister – stand before Me without shame!"

  For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one:
  for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,
  Saying,
  I will declare thy name unto my brethren,
  in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.
  
  And again,
  I will put my trust in him.
  
  And again,
  Behold I and the children which God hath given me.
  
  Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood,
  he also himself likewise took part of the same;
  that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
  And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
  For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.
  Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren,
  that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God,
  to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
  For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted,
  he is able to succour them that are tempted.
  ~ Hebrews 2:11-18

  For thy lovingkindness is before mine eyes...
  ~ Psalm 26:3a

  Lovingkindness set before mine eyes
  Shekinah Glory – as the Son did arise

  A lovely glimpse, brightening gleam
  My heart indites a goodly theme

  Overflowing from Zion's sparkling stream
  In my gloom suddenly shone a beam

  Heavenly manna upon the ground
  Once more His grace did abound

  Lebanon refreshed, a fruitful field
  The honeycomb dripped, the Spirit sealed

  The hills flowed with milk, the mountains wine
  Gladdening oil made my face to shine

  O! Cloudy pillar, Glory's descent
  Grace upon grace, the heavens rent!

  Who am I, but the sinner chief,
  Dust and ashes, a guilty thief!

  Why should the Rock burst forth with cheer
  When I mocked Christ, yea, I did jeer?

  Why should I receive wheat so fine?
  Why should I drink the choicest wine?

  Yet, I opened my mouth and was supplied
  With Jesus my soul was perfectly satisfied

  No single drop or morsel I do deserve
  Yet bliss gushes forth from heav'n's reserve!

  In raining mercies our God takes great delight
  Awak'ning, satisfying me with His Light

  A nest provided, but far, far more
  Fresh joy and gladness from treasure store

  Welcomed as a son, wrapped in His fold
  His love so fervent, it melts the cold

  His voice resounds, makes the deer give birth
  Effectually calls, infuses holy mirth

  Among the branches, my song displayed:
  Glory to God! Hallowed be His Name!

  Chosen in Christ before break of day
  Why me? Why me? What can I say?

  Father, Son, and Spirit, they do decide
  Grace falls like dew, He comes to abide

  My bones were lifeless, so very dry
  Yet the Sovereign Spirit, He did fly

  Upon the wind, Jehovah did ride
  The River's fullness, His mercies wide

  Rapture's transport by His drenching tide
  Ushered in to sup with God Most High!

  In His presence, pleasures and peace multiply
  How could He forsake the apple of His eye?

  Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem:
  behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation;
  lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.
  ~ Zechariah 9:9

  And it shall be said in that day,
  Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us:
  this is the LORD; we have waited for him,
  we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.
  ~ Isaiah 25:9

  Sing, O daughter of Zion;
  shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem.
  The LORD hath taken away thy judgments, he hath cast out thine enemy:
  the king of Israel, even the LORD, is in the midst of thee:
  thou shalt not see evil any more.
  In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear thou not:
  and to Zion, Let not thine hands be slack.
  The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty;
  he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy;
  he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.
  I will gather them that are sorrowful for the solemn assembly,
  who are of thee, to whom the reproach of it was a burden.
  Behold, at that time I will undo all that afflict thee:
  and I will save her that halteth, and gather her that was driven out;
  and I will get them praise and fame in every land where they have been put to shame.
   At that time will I bring you again, even in the time that I gather you:
  for I will make you a name and a praise among all people of the earth,
  when I turn back your captivity before your eyes, saith the LORD.
  ~ Zephaniah 3:14-20
  
  Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
  Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness:
  for they shall be filled.
  ~ Matthew 5:4, 6

  He sendeth the springs into the valleys, which run among the hills.
  They give drink to every beast of the field: the wild asses quench their thirst.
  By them shall the fowls of the heaven have their habitation, which sing among the branches.
  ~ Psalm 104:10-12

  

  "The holiness of the High Priest (which was the thing most sweetly affecting to my soul, as it showed me that there was one, polluted as I am, which a holy God could accept for me,) would revive a deep sense of my own impurity, the purity of God, and the consistency of the plan of grace. I feared to lose these views,—views of the very thing which I had long desired to see. I wanted more of them. I feared hypocritical worship, and every thing but meekness, sincerity, love, adoration, faith, and gratitude. In the evening, at my lodgings, I could not but recommend this blessed Saviour to the youth of the family. I clearly saw, what I never so saw before, that he was a perfect medium of access to God for a whole world,—that all might come to God by him. In my bed-chamber, in secret prayer, all these views were perhaps more clear than ever. I felt that I might be saved,—that I was brought near to a pure God by this High Priest, and saw how I could approach God and be saved by him. It was easier to realize this great truth, (which had always been the most difficult of apprehension,) than any thing else. I felt that I could not pay any thing in return. It was all free, rich, astonishing grace. I was an eternal bankrupt, overwhelmed with obligation. In the light of these discoveries, all the common mercies of my life swelled to an amazing size. I wanted and longed that my wife, child, sister, father, and all my friends, and all the world, should see, adore, and enjoy this Saviour. I felt like one who had found a great treasure, and wished to have all know of it, and share it. I felt that I certainly did take firm hold of the great High Priest,—that it was clearly a right hold,—that there was not a phantom in my embrace, but the very High Priest whom Paul recommended to the Hebrews. He appeared a solid rock on which I certainly stood firm. I had even then no excitement of animal affections. All was still, solid and real; and for the first time I lay down quietly on my bed in the full assurance of hope; not a single doubt of my salvation remaining. Oh what a blessed change in twenty-four hours! This is a blessed morning. How trifling is learning, fame, every thing, to these discoveries of Christ! I feel willing to suffer labor, fatigue, shame, contempt, and even death for this glorious Redeemer. O give me this life of communion with him, and I desire no more! Never did I before make this aspiration with half so much solid reality of desire. Every thing appears like filthy trash to this. All the Bible, all truth opens, and appears solid, weighty, and glorious. Turn which way I will, light shines around me,—on every contemplation—every truth. O Lord give me faith and keep me humble! To think that after so many and so great sins and abuses of privileges, he should reveal himself to me! To think that he should from eternity ordain me to everlasting life! Why me? Why me? I am astonished. I am sweetly overwhelmed and swallowed up."

  ~ Edward Griffin in "Memoir of the Rev. Edward D. Griffin, D.D., Compiled Chiefly from His Own Writings" by Edward D. Griffin & William Buell Sprague (New York: Taylor & Dodd, 1839), 72-73, boldface mine.
  

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  Related:

  Links to my series of posts on dealing with past sins & guilt
  Advent #3 WHY HAS JESUS COME? not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance
  reflections on God's Word & God's grace
  Resurrection Sunday: Two Responses to the Son (Psalm 2)
  Ash Wednesday: Do you despise yourself? | Job 42
  What is Biblical mourning? (Ash Wednesday)
  Biblical mourning, assurance and false guilt
  Christian, are you bearing fruit in keeping with repentance?
  true repentance leads to joy (Letter 37 on assurance & fighting for joy)
  He will abundantly pardon for your joy (Isaiah 55) | Letter 102 on assurance & fighting for joy
  Dearest idol, how can I find rest
  Blessed Be God for His Kindness Which Leads Us to Repentance
  Things to Look for in a Church: Humility before God leading to confession, repentance & fruits worthy of repentance
  Bible Reading: Luke--God's Kingdom Economy: Losers Who Win, or Grace Is Amazing Only to Those Who See Themselves as Wretched....
  The Song of the Speckled Bird (Rejoicing in God's sovereign goodness to the senseless)
  experimental assurance of the Father's love (letter 67 on assurance & fighting for joy)
  The flags unfurled ... Christ's eternal banner | Lloyd-Jones ~ a third type of assurance
  The Christian should not just believe the truth, and know it..." | the Father's assurance

  Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Version of the Holy Bible.
  
  Work found at http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rippl_Sorrow.jpg  / CC BY-SA 3.0 / ((PD-Art|PD-old-70}}

  Work found at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Korea-Andong-Hahoe_Folk_Village-Persimmon_tree_and_birds-01.jpg  / CC BY-SA 3.0

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