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TOPIC: MacDuff, John - The Christians Pathway (31 days) (Other Topics in this Collection)
SUBJECT: Day 15
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"For He is faithful, who promised." Heb_10:23
The faithfulness of God is a favorite theme with the inspired writers. No attribute of the divine character, is more prominently set forth or more devoutly celebrated. Of this the glowing strains of the Royal Psalmist may be adduced as a specimen. "I will sing," he says, "of the mercies of the Lord forever; with my mouth will I make known your faithfulness to all generations." "All heaven will praise your miracles, Lord; myriads of angels will praise you for your faithfulness." "O Lord God Almighty! Where is there anyone as mighty as you, Lord? Faithfulness is your very character?" It was thus he ascribed faithfulness unto God; and by harping again and again upon the same string—he shows what sacred joy he realized in its contemplation.
Not merely are we furnished with general representations of this interesting subject—but we have innumerable instances set before us, which clearly confirm the above statements. In the history of the church from the earliest ages, what striking monuments of the divine faithfulness appear.
There was Abraham, to whom God promised a child in his old age. His faith was severely tested by the mighty obstacles which stood in the way, and his patience also by the lengthened period which intervened between the prediction and its fulfillment; but at length the child of promise appeared.
Think of the Israelites in Egypt. They were long there in a state of cruel bondage—but their deliverance at the appointed time took place. And just so—with their possession of the promised land, of which God had said that He would give it to them. That there was a performance of all He had declared, the dying appeal of Joshua to the assembled tribes most convincingly shows: "I am now going the way of all the earth, and you know with all your heart and all your soul that none of the good promises the Lord your God made to you has failed. Everything was fulfilled for you; not one promise has failed."
Above all, there was the great crowning promise—that of the coming of Christ. Prediction had been given after prediction, and prophets, and kings, and righteous men looked and longed from age to age for His appearing. But, although the promise tarried—yet it did not fail. In the fullness of time—God sent forth His Son for the rescue of our lost and ruined race!
The works of God speak the same language in reference to this particular, as His revealed word. Day and night in their orderly succession; the revolutions of all the stars and planets moving with undeviating uniformity in their appointed courses through the skies; the seasons as they come and go, following each other as they have done, even from the beginning of the creation—all bear testimony to God's faithfulness! Spring with its life and loveliness, the buds appearing on the leafless branches, the peeping plants and the blooming flowers; and summer and autumn with their teeming abundance, the valleys covered with grain, the pastures with flocks, and the little hills rejoicing on every side—in most impressive language do they proclaim this blessed truth!
Rejoice, then, in the Lord, you righteous ones, and give thanks at the remembrance of His faithfulness. Abundant grounds have you for placing unbounded confidence in Him. What He has promised He is able to perform, and He will do for you exceeding abundantly above all you can ask or think. He may lay affliction upon you; as a wise as well as a gracious Father, He may have to chastise you for your evil doings, visiting your transgressions with the rod, and your iniquities with stripes. But this is the sweet assurance he gives—"Nevertheless my loving-kindness will I not utterly take from them, nor allow my faithfulness to fail."
The faithfulness of God is a favorite theme with the inspired writers. No attribute of the divine character, is more prominently set forth or more devoutly celebrated. Of this the glowing strains of the Royal Psalmist may be adduced as a specimen. "I will sing," he says, "of the mercies of the Lord forever; with my mouth will I make known your faithfulness to all generations." "All heaven will praise your miracles, Lord; myriads of angels will praise you for your faithfulness." "O Lord God Almighty! Where is there anyone as mighty as you, Lord? Faithfulness is your very character?" It was thus he ascribed faithfulness unto God; and by harping again and again upon the same string—he shows what sacred joy he realized in its contemplation.
Not merely are we furnished with general representations of this interesting subject—but we have innumerable instances set before us, which clearly confirm the above statements. In the history of the church from the earliest ages, what striking monuments of the divine faithfulness appear.
There was Abraham, to whom God promised a child in his old age. His faith was severely tested by the mighty obstacles which stood in the way, and his patience also by the lengthened period which intervened between the prediction and its fulfillment; but at length the child of promise appeared.
Think of the Israelites in Egypt. They were long there in a state of cruel bondage—but their deliverance at the appointed time took place. And just so—with their possession of the promised land, of which God had said that He would give it to them. That there was a performance of all He had declared, the dying appeal of Joshua to the assembled tribes most convincingly shows: "I am now going the way of all the earth, and you know with all your heart and all your soul that none of the good promises the Lord your God made to you has failed. Everything was fulfilled for you; not one promise has failed."
Above all, there was the great crowning promise—that of the coming of Christ. Prediction had been given after prediction, and prophets, and kings, and righteous men looked and longed from age to age for His appearing. But, although the promise tarried—yet it did not fail. In the fullness of time—God sent forth His Son for the rescue of our lost and ruined race!
The works of God speak the same language in reference to this particular, as His revealed word. Day and night in their orderly succession; the revolutions of all the stars and planets moving with undeviating uniformity in their appointed courses through the skies; the seasons as they come and go, following each other as they have done, even from the beginning of the creation—all bear testimony to God's faithfulness! Spring with its life and loveliness, the buds appearing on the leafless branches, the peeping plants and the blooming flowers; and summer and autumn with their teeming abundance, the valleys covered with grain, the pastures with flocks, and the little hills rejoicing on every side—in most impressive language do they proclaim this blessed truth!
Rejoice, then, in the Lord, you righteous ones, and give thanks at the remembrance of His faithfulness. Abundant grounds have you for placing unbounded confidence in Him. What He has promised He is able to perform, and He will do for you exceeding abundantly above all you can ask or think. He may lay affliction upon you; as a wise as well as a gracious Father, He may have to chastise you for your evil doings, visiting your transgressions with the rod, and your iniquities with stripes. But this is the sweet assurance he gives—"Nevertheless my loving-kindness will I not utterly take from them, nor allow my faithfulness to fail."