1+++Sing for joy in the LORD, O you righteous ones;
Praise is becoming to the upright.
2+++Give thanks to the LORD with the lyre;
Sing praises to Him with a harp of ten strings.
3+++Sing to Him a new song;
Play skillfully with a shout of joy.
4+++For the word of the LORD is upright,
And all His work is done in faithfulness.
5+++He loves righteousness and justice;
The earth is full of the lovingkindness of the LORD.
6+++By the word of the LORD the heavens were made,
And by the breath of His mouth all their host.
7+++He gathers the waters of the sea together as a heap;
He lays up the deeps in storehouses.
8+++Let all the earth fear the LORD;
Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.
9+++For He spoke, and it was done;
He commanded, and it stood fast.
10+++The LORD nullifies the counsel of the nations;
He frustrates the plans of the peoples.
11+++The counsel of the LORD stands forever,
The plans of His heart from generation to generation.
Every endowment we possess, should be employed with all our skill and earnestness in God's service.
His promises are all wise and good. His word is right, and therefore we are only in the right when we agree with it. His works are all done in truth. He is the righteous Lord, therefore loveth righteousness.
What a pity it is that this earth, which is so full of the proofs and instances of God's goodness, should be so empty of his praises; and that of the multitudes who live upon his bounty, there are so few who live to his glory!
What the Lord does, he does to purpose; it stands fast. He overrules all the counsels of men, and makes them serve his counsels; even that is fulfilled, which to us is most surprising, the eternal counsel of God, nor can any thing prevent its coming to pass.
Many plans are in a man's heart, But the counsel of the LORD will stand.
There are many devices in a man's heart....
Some about civil things; to get wealth and riches: to obtain honour and glory among men; to attain to a long life, and to perpetuate their memories after death: some about sinful things; to gratify their carnal lusts and sensual appetites; and to do mischief to others, particularly the people of God, and the cause and interest of Christ: some about religious things; coming new doctrines, devising new ordinances and modes of worship; contriving other methods of salvation than by Christ; as by the light of nature; by the law of Moses; by mere morality, civility, and external justice between man and man; by keeping to the religion they were born and brought up in; and by a mere outward profession of religion, and submission to ordinances, and performance of duties, and a multitude more of the like kind;
nevertheless, the counsel of the Lord, that shall stand; and can never be frustrated by the devices of man's heart, though there are many, and that but one; see Psalm 33:10. This may be applied to the Gospel, and the scheme of salvation in it, called the whole counsel of God, Acts 20:27; it being the fruit of infinite wisdom, and the effect of a divine council between the eternal Three, and full of the best advice and instructions to the sons of men; and which has stood, and shall stand, notwithstanding the persecutions of wicked men, the craft of false teachers, and the ridicule of a profane world; it will continue till all the elect are gathered in, even, to the end of the world; and so will the ordinances of it, which are also called the counsel of God, Luke 7:30; and which will continue till the second coming of Christ.
Moreover, the purposes of God, his counsels of old, or his eternal decrees, may be here meant; which are wisely formed in his own breast, and are not frustrated; and according to which counsel of his will all things are done in nature, providence, and grace; all things in this world are ordered as he pleases, and all things are done as he has ordered them; all his purposes are or will be fulfilled; his designs will be accomplished in the world and in his church, in spite of all the schemes, contrivances, and opposition of men and devils.
May all our purposes agree with the Holy Will of GOD...
No comments:
Post a Comment