Psalm 89:2 For I have said, Mercy shall be built up for ever: your faithfulness shall you establish in the very heavens. The psalmist seems to have before his mind the picture of some glorious palace, whose foundation, laid broad and deep and strong, was now uprising in majesty and beauty before him. He seems to see it rising tier on tier, and course on course, and as he beholds it being gradually and gloriously up built, his adoration and Praise burst forth, and he exclaims, "I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever." What did he mean? Probably the remembrance of God's mercy to Israel was present to his thought - how that had been "built up;" more and more added; new favours, new enlargements, new communications of the Divine bounty continually given, until Israel had risen to the height of her national glory; - so had God's mercy gone on, building up their state and filling them with good. In their own history the text had been shown to be true. But it has other illustrations. Take - I. THE SALVATION OF THE HUMAN RACE. It is the supreme instance of mercy being built up forever. 1. It began in the nature of God. For God is love, and love longs for objects on which to lavish itself. Hence came creation, and then redemption in all its successive stages of mercy. 2. The first promise after man had fallen. 3. The preservation of a righteous seed in such as Seth, Enoch, and those who, called on the Name of the Lord." 4. The call of Abraham, the father of the faithful, in whose seed all the families of the earth should be blessed. 5. The multiplication and redemption of his seed. 6. The giving of the Law. This was to be for the nations as "a child leader to lead us to Christ." And in spite of all corruptions, this knowledge of God was preserved, and by the providence of God spread abroad widely. 7. Then the coming of Christ, of whom all the Law and the prophets did testify. 8. The baptism of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, and the creation of the Christian Church. Thus step by step the glorious fabric of redeemed humanity has been thus far built up; and the building is still going on, and will go on "Till the whole ransomed Church of God Be saved, to sin no more." II. THE PERFECTING OF THE INDIVIDUAL SOUL. Trace the history of any one of those whom God has redeemed, and in that individual's experience of the ways of God there will be found further illustration of how "mercy is built up forever." 1. In the circumstances, whatever they were, which led the soul to realize its deep need. The Holy Spirit uses all manner of means to bring this about. 2. In the surrender of the will to Christ. Faith, believing, coming to Christ, are all, with other such expressions, only different forms of stating that the soul has given up its will to God. 3. Then the indwelling of the Holy Ghost. From this results that sanctification which is the "being changed into Christ's image, from glory to glory," 4. The disciplines of God's providence. All these are parts of the building process, unsightly, unlovely, repellant, having no form nor comeliness in them, and yet in and through them mercy is being built up, the work of God in the soul is advanced. 5. The means of grace - prayers, sacraments, Scriptures, work for God, to which he calls us - all are for our perfecting. III. THE RECOMPENSES OF MERCY. "Blessed are the merciful," said our Lord, and it is so. Take as an historic illustration the founding of Pennsylvania, and the way in which the Quakers dealt with the Indians. Other methods are but demonstrations of the truth that they that take the sword perish by the sword. And it is so with individuals. God loves mercy, and recompenses it; he will build it up forever. CONCLUSION. 1. Render praise to the Lord. For mercy is ever needed by us all. 2. Hope continually. For mercy is to be built up forever: it wearies not; it will, it must, have its way at length. Hope, then, for the myriads yet unsaved; God knows how to build them in. And never despair of yourselves. 3. Get employed in this blessed building work. There is room for us all. 4. Weary not in showing mercy. It is to go on forever. If we meet with rude rebuff, still go on with the sacred toil. God's mercy is built up forever: be ours likewise! - S.C. Parallel Verses KJV: For I have said, Mercy shall be built up for ever: thy faithfulness shalt thou establish in the very heavens. |
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