Psalm 32:9-11
Place some precious gold coins in the feeding trough of a horse or mule. But do not be surprised when it pushes these aside with its mouth and, having eaten all the food, walks away from them. It sees no value in them but rather considers them to be in its way. It is because we do not appreciate God's mercy as we ought that we are in Psalm 32:9 taught, "Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee."
The sad fact but undeniable truth is that we do not appreciate God's mercy as we ought, and God through David instructs us in verse 11: "Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are up right in heart." We have been made righteous through the forgiveness of our sins, and upright in heart by having been given a guileless spirit (verse 2); but we do not appreciate this as we ought, because we still have our sinful flesh and do not see the value of God's mercy of which David speaks in verse 10 in these words: "Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the Lord, mercy shall compass him about."
The truth of these two verses is expressed thus in our versification (PRC Psalter):
The sorrows of the wicked
In number shall abound,
But those that trust Jehovah,
His mercy shall surround;
Then in the Lord be joyful,
In song lift up your voice;
Be glad in God, ye righteous,
Rejoice, ye saints, rejoice.
Yes, we know the sorrows that come to the wicked. We too have sickness and disease. Death takes our loved ones away from us as well as theirs from them. But remember what David said: "Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered." Sickness, disease, and death are God's wrath upon the wicked and His means to bring them to everlasting punishment. For us these are works of His mercy, for they are His means to prepare us for and bring us to the heavenly glory He prepared in Christ.
Be glad then and rejoice. Shout for joy! His mercy surrounds us; and no punishment can keep us from that glory, or touch us.
Read: Psalm 98
Psalter versification: #84:2
Meditations on the Heidelberg Catechism
Song for Meditation: Psalter #14
Why not sing along??
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Through the Bible in One Year
Read today:
2 Chronicles 26 ; 2 Chronicles 27 ; 2 Chronicles 28:1-27
Romans 13:1-14
Psalm 23:1-6
Proverbs 20:11
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Quote for Reflection:
“The rest – peace of heart and mind – which Jesus here provides is the very opposite of the aggravated mental stress that sends so many people to doctors, hospitals, and death. Absence of peace, whether in the form of anxiety or of rancor and vindictiveness (the lust to ‘get even’), may lead to ulcers, colitic, high blood pressure, heart attacks, etc. The teachings of Christ, if taken to heart, have a curative effect on the entire person, soul and body. He is a complete savior.” ~ William Hendriksen
Additional Info
- Date: 30-July
Heys, John A.
Rev. John A. Heys was born on March 16, 1910 in Grand Rapids, MI. He was ordained and installed into the ministry at Hope, Walker, MI in 1941. He later served at Hull, Iowa beginning in 1955. In 1959 he accepted the call to serve the South Holland, IL Protestant Reformed Church. He received and accepted the call to Holland, Michigan Protestant Reformed Church in 1967. He retired from the active ministry in 1980. He entered into glory on February 16, 1998.