Hymn number 76. The tune is Abbeydale,
274. There is a period known to God
when all his sheep, redeemed by blood, shall leave the hateful
ways of sin, turn to the fold, and enter in. Hymn number 76,
tune Abbeydale, 274. Where are you, Lord? ? Hail, Hail, Hail, Hail, Hail,
Hail, Hail, Hail, Hail, Hail, Hail, Hail, Hail, Hail, Hail, Hail, Hail, Hail, Hail, Hail, Hail, Hail, There's peace in heaven with
God and Lord, In sin's dark place they all can dwell. And though ten thousand still
go on, As far from now as she can run, ? Watch me, I'm coming home to
you ? ? Watch me, I'm coming home to you ? ? Watch me, I'm
coming home to you ? To come and heal them where they
stray, With healing salt to make them new. O say does that star-spangled
banner yet wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the
brave A chance for horses, jack and
spade. We'll be beat, till summer's at its end. ? Be on the limits of reason ?
? And switching our own destinies ? ? The mercy ladder ? ? Asking help ? ? If I take time ? Not to propose
but for my praise. To change their heart, re-heal
their will. Let us read together from the
Holy Word of God in Psalm 107. Psalm 107. O give thanks unto the Lord, for
he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever. Let the redeemed of the Lord
say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy, and
gather them out of the lands from the east and from the west,
from the north and from the south. They wandered in the wilderness
in a solitary way. They found no city to dwell in.
Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them. Then they cried
unto the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them out of
their distresses, and he led them forth by the right way,
that they might go to a city of habitation. O that men would
praise the Lord for his goodness and for his wonderful works to
the children of men. For he satisfies the longing
soul and filleth the hungry soul with goodness. Such as sit in
darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction
and iron, because they rebelled against the words of God. and
contend the counsel of the Most High. Therefore he brought down
their heart with labour. They fell down and there was
none to help. Then they cried unto the Lord
in their trouble and he delivered, he saved them out of their distresses. He brought them out of darkness
and the shadow of death and break their bands in sundown. O that
men would praise the Lord for His goodness, for His wonderful
works to the children of men. For He hath broken the gates
of brass, and cut the bars of iron in sunder. Fools, because
of their transgressions, and because of their iniquities,
are afflicted. Their soul abhorreth all manner
of meat. They draw near unto the gates
of death. then they cry unto the Lord in
their trouble and he saveth them out of their distresses. He sent
his word and healed them and delivered them from their destructions. O that men would praise the Lord
for his goodness and for his wonderful works to the children
of men and let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving
and declare his works with rejoicing They that go down to the sea
in ships, that do business in great waters, these see the works
of the Lord and his wonders in the deep. For he commandeth and
raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof.
They mount up to the heaven. They go down again to the depth.
Their soul is mounted because of trouble. they reel to and
fro and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits' end. Then they cry unto the Lord in
their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.
He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.
Then are they glad, because they be quiet. So he bringeth them
unto their desired haven, O that men would praise the Lord for
his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men.
Let them exalt him also in the congregation of the people, and
praise him in the assembly of the elders. He turneth rivers
into a wilderness, and the water springs into dry ground, a fruitful
land into barrenness, for the wickedness of them that dwell
therein. He turneth the wilderness into a standing water, and dry
ground into water springs. And there he maketh the hungry
to dwell, that they may prepare a city for habitation, and sow
the fields and plant vineyards, which may yield fruits of increase.
He blesseth them also, so that they are multiplied greatly,
and suffereth not their cattle to decrease. Again they are minished
and brought low through oppression, affliction and sorrow. He poureth
contempt upon princes and causeth them to wander in the wilderness
where there is no way. Yet setteth he the poor on high
from affliction and maketh him families like a flock. The righteous
shall see it and rejoice and all iniquities shall stop her
mouth. Who so is wise and will observe these things, even they
shall understand the loving kindness of the Lord. May the Lord bless
the reading of his own precious word and grant unto us the spirit
of real prayer. Almighty Most merciful and eternal
God, we do desire to bow before thy great and glorious majesty. We desire to humble ourselves
before thee. We come, Lord, as poor sinners, according to thy word, born in
sin, shaped in iniquity. And Lord, what a deplorable state
we're in by nature. We have a heart which is deceitful
above all things and desperately wicked. O gracious God, we do
pray that thou wouldst accept us in thy Son, Jesus Christ. As thy Word declares, if the
Son shall make you free, then shall you be free indeed. We
pray to be freed from sin and Satan's power. Deliver us from
temptation. Deliver us from the power and
dominion of sin and of all unrighteousness. Grant to us, O Lord, the glorious
liberty of the people of God, that we may be graciously enabled
to approach Thee in that wonderful name, plead in that precious
sin-atoning blood and the everlasting righteousness of Jesus Christ,
the only Saviour of sinners. For O Lord, there is none other
name given under heaven whereby ye must be saved, but the wonderful
name of Jesus Christ. We pray, most gracious Lord,
that thou in thy great mercy would lead us and guide us in
this service, that thou wouldst be the master of assemblies.
We read in thy word that as many as are led by the Spirit of God,
they are the sons of God. And may we have that evidence,
that internal evidence in our hearts that we are being led
of the Spirit of God. Guide us, O thou great Jehovah. We're pilgrims in a barren land. We are weak, but thou, almighty,
hold us with thy powerful hand. Come and feed us, O Lord, with
the bread of heaven. Come break the bread of life
among us. O Lord, and give us a sip of
the water of Bethlehem's well, that living water, that they
that receive thee shall receive. Oh, we do pray that we may be
revived, that we may be renewed, that we may be replenished, as
we gather in the sanctuary this afternoon, that the gospel table
may be spread, and the poor hungry souls may come and feed upon
that living bread, upon that living water, upon the wine of
the kingdom. Hear us, O Lord, we do pray thee,
upon our Lord Jesus Christ, who himself is the bread of life
and the water of life. We come, Lord, the dear apostle,
that I may know him in the power of his resurrection. in the fellowship
of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death. We pray, most gracious God, that
thou, in thy great mercy, would remember us as a church and as
a congregation, and work mightily, powerfully, and effectually among
us. And we pray that there may be a fulfilling of that wonderful
word, of the sheep have I, which are not of this fold, them I
must bring. O Lord, we pray that we may see
Zion's offspring come. May the power that brings salvation
be exerted in the word. We do humbly beseech thee. Blessed,
holy, divine spirit, we pray for thy heavenly power. We pray
for thy divine unction. We pray that the word of truth
may be given an entrance into our hearts. we read of one Lydia
whose heart the Lord opened. Oh, that it might be so, Lord,
that we might feel that wonderful power of the gospel of Jesus
Christ opening our hearts, that we may, oh Lord, have the heart
of stone changed for a heart of flesh. As said, I will put
my spirit within you. Oh, we pray that it may be so
among us here, And we pray, O Lord, that thou wouldst graciously
remember our deacons and bless them indeed. Remember our dear
brother at Staplehurst and help him there. And remember, O Lord,
each one of our brethren and sisters in church fellowship.
And remember us as a church and as a congregation. And work mightily
and powerfully and effectually among us to the great glory of
thy name. Lord, we pray that thou wouldst
blow with the wind of the Spirit among us here. And what we pray
for us here, we pray for in the little causes of troop up and
down the land, that the wind of the Spirit may blow, that
it might be a reviving wind, a renewing wind. There may be
an ingathering, that thou wouldst bring our sons from far and our
daughters from the ends of the earth And as thou hast promised,
thou shalt come from the north and from the south, from the
east and from the west. O Lord, let us see thy goings
in the sanctuary. Let us see thy power and thy
glory as thou usest to be in the sanctuary. Let thy work appear
unto thy servants and thy glory unto their children. Thou hast
said in thy word, I will work. And who shall let it? Lord, we
pray. that we may see thy work and see thy power and see thy
glory in the sanctuary, in this village, in the surrounding villages
and hamlets. Oh, do hear us, Lord, we humbly
beseech thee. We pray that thou would remember
all thy servants as they labour in word and doctrine, that thou
would anoint them with thy spirit, that thou wouldst powerfully
work to the glory of thy name. and to the good of precious souls. We pray, O Lord, that Thou, in
Thy great mercy, would graciously bless the little ones and the
children. We thank Thee for them. We pray
that Thou would bless them. We love to see and hear them
in the sanctuary and grant the fear of the Lord, which is the
beginning of wisdom. Remember our young friends and
Graciously bring them to living faith in Jesus Christ, that they
may become true followers of Thee, and of those who through
faith and patience inherit the promises. Remember them with
the favour that Thou bearest unto Thy people. Visit them with
Thy great salvation. Grant them a partner in life's
journey. We do humbly beseech Thee, that
they may be heirs together of the grace of life, Lord, there
is nothing too hard for thee. We often think how thou didst
wonderfully appear for thy servant Isaac, when thou didst bring
Rebekah to him, and how thou didst appear to thy servant Boaz,
and bring Ruth the Moabitess unto him. O Lord, we do pray
that thou wouldst still work, and that we pray Most gracious
Lord, that thou wouldst come up with thy dear servant next
Lord's Day, and that he may come up in the fullness of the blessing
of the gospel of Jesus Christ, that he may dip his foot in oil
and be made acceptable unto the brethren. We pray that thou wouldst
remember those in the midst of the journey of life and graciously
have mercy upon them. and bring each to living faith
in Jesus Christ, give parents wisdom in bringing up their children,
and guide us each safely unto thy heavenly kingdom. Lord, remember
the prodigals. Oh, cause them to be in want
and cause them to return. We've read together, O Lord,
and we've sung together in the opening hymn, there is a period
known to God when all his sheep redeemed with blood Our Lord,
we pray that we may see them turn to the fold and enter in,
and that there might be that joy among us to see the prodigals
return. Lord, we pray that Thou, in Thy
precious mercy, would remember those of us in the evening time
of life's journey, and graciously guide us safely unto Thy heavenly
kingdom. Keep and preserve us from all
evil, Keep and preserve us from the temptations of the wicked
one, from the power and dominion of sin. O gracious God, do incline
Thine ear, we do humbly beseech of Thee. We thank Thee, we thank
Thee for our little house of prayer, and we thank Thee for
maintaining us these many, many years. We thank Thee for the
open Bible. We thank Thee O Lord, for our
church and congregation. We thank Thee, O Lord Jesus,
for what Thou hast done. Thou art the Way, the Truth and
the Life. We thank Thee for that precious sin atoning blood that
Thou hast shed on the cross of Calvary, putting away sin, satisfying
the demands of divine justice. We thank Thee for the everlasting
robe of Thy righteousness. wrought out in thy holy life.
We thank thee, most gracious Lord, for all thy goodness that
has passed before us in the way. We thank thee that thou didst
die for our sins and rose again for our justification. And we
thank thee that thou hast bodily ascended into heaven and we have
a great high priest and advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ
the righteous. a living Saviour, who has the
power of an endless life. We thank Thee for every mercy
of Thy kind providence, and for all Thy goodness that has passed
before us in the world. And we pray that Thou wouldst
now come and touch one's lips with a live coal from off the
heavenly altar. We ask with the forgiveness of
all sin, for Jesus Christ say, Amen. Let us now sing together hymn
number 337. The tune is Nearer Home, number
83. from Egypt lately freed, by the
Redeemer's grace, a rough and thorny path we tread in hopes
to see his face. The flesh dislikes the way, but
faith approves it well. This only leads to endless day,
all others lead to hell. Hymn 337, tune Nearer Home, 83. Oh, say does that star-spangled
banner yet wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the
brave In love we tread, in hopes to see His face. Our flesh despised
the Word, but faith have rooted well. ? Bringing to their blessing ?
? All of us in need to come ? ? And all will stand now free ?
? With these jingles and blues ? ? Thou river from the green
of days ? ? We now are passing through ? ? Hail, oh hail, oh hail, oh hail, oh hail, oh hail, oh
hail, oh hail, ? Now time came from above ? ?
To see him upon the hillsides ? ? The sun with all its light ? ? Eastern gate of heaven ? ? And
with the angels' song ? ? O come, let us adore him ? ? And with the angels'
song ? ? O come, let us adore him ? ? O come, O come, Emmanuel ? ?
O come, O come, Emmanuel ? greatly feeling to need the Lord's
gracious help. I would direct your attention
to the psalm that we read, Psalm 107. And we will read verse 7 for
our text. Psalm 107, reading verse 7. And he led them forth by the
right way, that they might go to a city of habitation and he led them forth by the
right way. You see the various pathways
that are set forth in this song, it's actually very beautiful
poetry and it describes the different pathways that the Lord's people
have to walk in. And it's a psalm of praise, begins,
O give thanks unto the Lord for he is good, for his mercy endures
forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord
say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy. And
then he says, and gather them out of the lands, Remember, this
was in the days of the Jews and the Jewish nation. The special
favour of the Lord to that nation. But he doesn't confine it. It's almost like a prophecy.
He gathered them out of the lands. And as we have that clearer revelation
in the New Testament, from every nation, kindred, tongue and tribe
and people. The Lord has his people and he
gathers them from all those different places. And the time will come,
we sung in our opening hymn, there is a period known to God
when all his sheep, redeemed with blood, shall leave the hateful
ways of sin, turn to the fold and enter But, you know friends,
once, as he gathers them from the east and from the west, from
the north and from the south, I often quote that in prayer,
that lovely gospel promise in Isaiah, I will bring thy sons
from far, thy daughters from the ends of
the earth. They shall come from the north
and from the south, and from the east and from the west. I
will. is a divine work of grace. The Holy Spirit proceeded forth
from the Father and the Son, and we have that lovely word
in Timothy, the foundation of God standeth sure, having this
seal upon it, the Lord knoweth them that are his. He knows them
that are his. The Blessed Spirit knows those
whom the Father has chosen, He knows those whom the Son has
redeemed, when He was crucified on the cross of Calvary, when
He shed His precious blood for them. Now the Blessed Spirit
knows all those that have been redeemed and delivered. And He,
by His divine power, will gather them. That is the divine office
of the Holy Ghost, and gathered them out of the lands. from the
East and from the West, from the North and from the South.
And then when he gathers them, when they are born again of the
Holy Spirit, it says they wandered in the wilderness in a solitary
way. You know that's often the pathway of the Lord's people,
especially in the initial stages of spiritual experience. They
feel to be solitary. They feel to be alone. We read
of Jacob, don't we? He came to that place and Jacob
was left alone. Maybe there are those here that
feel to be left alone. They wandered in the wilderness
in a solitary way. They found no city to dwell in.
Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them. for then these
are the marks of divine life then they cried unto the Lord
in their trouble and he delivered them out of their distresses
and he led them forth by the right way but when you read through
this psalm that right way it wasn't an easy way The Lord Jesus
himself said to his disciples, it is through much tribulation
that you shall enter the kingdom. And this is what is displayed
here of the various experiences of the Lord's living family.
He led them forth by the right way. As many as are led by the
Spirit of God, they are the sons They are the sons of God. Are we, are you, am I,
being led by the Spirit of God? It's a great thing. And four times it says here, O that
men would praise the Lord for his goodness, for his wonderful
works to the children of men. in this pathway he satisfies
the longing soul and filleth the hungry soul with
goodness and the Lord Jesus said blessed are they that hunger
and thirst after righteousness. You know we live in a day and
it has always been the way where there are those professedly Christian
churches and they will tell you that this hungry and thirsty
is being poor and needy, literally. And they're the ones that the
Lord blesses to the literally poor and needy. But of course
they miss something. It's those that are poor in spirit.
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of
heaven. You see, he satisfies the longing
soul and filleth the hungry soul with goodness. What is that satisfaction
and what is that goodness? It's Christ. It's when Christ
is revealed as the way, the truth and the light. It's when that
precious Sinatonian blood is revealed to a poor sinner and
a door of hope is opened wide in Jesus' bleeding hands and
side. He satisfies the longing soul
and filleth the hungry soul with goodness. Listen, this is another
experience, such as sit in darkness. We read in Isaiah, who is among
you that feareth the Lord and sitteth in darkness? Let him
trust in the name of the Lord. Such as sit in darkness and in
the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron. bound in affliction and ire.
They cannot set themselves free. No. They wonder where the scene
will end. They feel to be in the shadow
of death. Such as sit in darkness and in
the shadow of death, being bound in affliction. Now that affliction
can be affliction of your soul, It can be affliction of your
body, it can be affliction of your mind. Being bound in affliction
and iron. And then he tells us why. Why they're
bound in affliction and iron. Because they rebelled against
the words of God. Are you walking in a path of
rebellion against the words of God? against the ways of God,
against the truth of God, because they rebelled. And this is the
reason that they sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, and
bound in affliction and iron, because they rebelled. There's
a very beautiful word in the book of Psalms, Psalm 68 I think
it is, that that lovely promise is made of the ascension of Jesus
Christ. It says, he led captivity captive,
he received gifts for men, What else does it say? He received
gifts and those wonderful gifts that he pours forth by the Spirit
onto the church. The gift of gifts, of course,
is Jesus Christ. He received gifts for men. In
those gifts, the Apostle opens it up in Ephesians and he says
that the ministers and pastors, they're all gifts sent by God
to the church to feed the church of God. And the last clause of that verse,
those wonderful gifts, Yea, for the rebellious also. So there's hope even to those
that are rebellious. Yea, for the rebellious also.
Look at the children of Israel, how the Lord worked mightily
and powerfully and effectually among them. How he delivered
them from Egyptian bondage in the most miraculous way. How
he led them through the Red Sea. And the waters parted before
them, yet they rebelled against the Lord. In that wilderness
journey, the Lord supplied their food every day, the manna came
down from heaven. And yet they were longing and
murmuring and grieving. What does it say for the flesh
pots of Egypt? For the leeks and onions of Egypt?
They were fed up with what the Lord was giving them. They rebelled
against the Lord. Therefore he brought down their
heart with labor. They fell down and there was
none to help. Perhaps, perhaps you have one
here and that's where you are. You've fallen down, there's none
to help. See, often friends, we are the
author of our own troubles. And the word of God is very clear,
as you sow, so shall you reap. As you sow, so shall you reap. And them that walk contrary to
me, I walk contrary to them. It doesn't say he'll destroy
them, he actually says, yea for the rebellious also. Then they cried unto the Lord
in their trouble and he saved them out of their distresses. Poor, tried, tempted, helpless,
hopeless soul. Just remember the loving kindness of the Lord.
It says here in the last verse, who so is wise and will observe
these things, even they shall understand the loving kindness
of the Lord. The loving kindness of the Lord
in Jesus Christ. He brought them out of darkness
and the shadow of death and break their bands in sunder. Oh that
men would praise the Lord. You see it's a psalm of praise.
Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness. and for
his wonderful works to the children of men. So we see the varied
pathways that the Lord's children walk in, and he led them forth
by the right way. It's the right way. Now, when
we come into these great difficulties, these great troubles, these great
trials, when we receive the fruit of our doings, by rebelling against
the Lord, we come into darkness and affliction and bondage. It's then we cry unto the Lord
in our trouble. What a mercy if you are brought
to cry unto the Lord. You see, it goes on here, and
he said, for he hath broken the gates of brass. cut the bars
of iron asunder. One commentator speaking on this
psalm, he was saying about the beautiful language and the lovely
illustrations that are used like those that go down to the sea
in ships and do business in great waters. He said if Virgil or
one of the great Greek poets had written it, it would elevate
as being one of the most wonderful compositions But because it's
Hebrew poetry then it's to do with the Lord and man doesn't
like that. Man doesn't like that. For he hath broken the gates
of brass and cut the bars of iron in sunder. Who? Who is in
the prison house? Who is in the prison house? You
feel to be in a prison. You feel to be shut up. You feel to be out of the secret. You feel to be in bondage. You
do not have any liberty, you do not have any light. He hath broken the gates of brass. You think of the holy law of
God and that brought into your heart and conscience by the Holy
Ghost. convicting and convincing you
of your sin and of your wretchedness and the fact that you're under
the curse. You see, he alone can break asunder. Fools because of their transgression
and because of their iniquities are afflicted. You know friends, I've observed
this over the years that there is a certain way of
talking among us and it goes like this where the Lord is leading
me in such a deep pathway I'm in such darkness, I'm in such
trouble, I'm in such trial, I'm in such perplexity but it's all
couched in these words that it makes it sound gracious the Lord
is leading me in this deep dark pathway And it's all made to
sound good and gracious. It's because the Lord is teaching
me deeply and profoundly. My beloved friends, and what
is clear from this word and elsewhere in the word of God, I always
think of that word in Micah, and so they wrap it up. Instead of confessing their sins
and their wandering and their transgressions, and the fact
that they have rebelled against the Lord and walked contrary
to the Word of God and purposely done it. They make it sound as
though it's gracious and the Lord is deeply teaching them.
My dear beloved friends, do not be carried away with such hypocrisy. Wrapping it up, making it sound
godly and gracious falls because of their transgressions
and because of their iniquities are afflicted. That's the reason,
because of your iniquities. Their soul abhoreth all manner
of meat and they draw near unto the gates of death. See these
are the living experiences of the living family of God. Then
they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and He saveth them out
of their distresses. He sent His Word and healed them
and delivered them from their destructions. Oh that men would
praise the Lord for His wonderful works to the children of men. And He led them forth by the
right way. He did. He says here, and let
them sacrifice the sacrifice of thanksgiving and declare his
works with rejoicing. What the Lord has done. Hear
what the Lord has done for me. Now, he comes to this aspect
of it in verse 23. Again, this is another experience
that the living family of God know what it is to go into. They
that go down to the sea and ships. that do business in great waters. These see the works of the Lord
and his wonders in the deep. And how this beautifully describes
a ship on the sea in the midst of a storm. For he commandeth and raises.
Who does? God. He led them forth by the
right way. You may say, well I'm in this
great storm, it's because I'm in the wrong way. He led them
forth by the right way. For he commanded, he commanded,
and raiseth the stormy wind which lifteth up the waves thereof.
They mount up to the heavens. You can just imagine that little
ship and the great waves either side, right down in a trough.
He commanded, God does. They mount up to the heavens.
They go down again to the deck. Their soul is melted because
of trouble. They reel to and fro and stagger
like a drunken man. Do you know what this is? And
are at their wits end. At their wits end. Has anybody
come to chapel this afternoon and you're at your wits end. You've come to the end of everything.
You don't know how to continue. You don't know how to go on.
They reel to and fro and stagger like a drunken man and are at
their wits end. I remember my late past Mr Jock
preaching from this psalm and he was speaking here on wits
end of what it is and he said this, wits end corner Jesus Christ
lives there. When you come to your wits end.
Come to the end of everything. Jesus Christ lives there. He
does. The Lord Jesus Christ come to
seek and to save that which was lost. And when you come to the
wits end you're lost. You're lost. You've got no hope. No hope in self I find. You're
off to sort it well. The native treasure of my mind
is sin and death and hell. Then, what a mercy if we know
this part of it. Then they cry unto the Lord in
their trouble and he bringeth them out of their distresses. Do you know what that is? When
you come to wit's end. and you cry unto the Lord, and
he bringeth them out of their distresses. He, the same God
who brought the wind and the sea so rough and wild, he maketh
the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still. Then
are they glad, because they be quiet, so he bringeth them. And this is true of every child
of God, He bringeth them unto their desired haven. He does. And he led them forth
by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation. He bringeth them unto their desired
haven. Oh, that men would praise the
Lord for his goodness and for his wonderful works to the children
of men. let them exalt Him, who Christ,
let them exalt Him in the congregation of the people and praise Him
in the assembly of the elders. And these things that He does
for His people, He turneth rivers into a wilderness and the water
springs into dry ground. This is as you walk through this
wilderness journey. Water springs. Those in this
wilderness and those spots and places where the Lord has blessed
your soul. When the Lord has helped you,
the Lord has sustained you, the Lord has made himself precious
to you. See, he turneth the wilderness
into a standing water. And you know in the prophecy
of Isaiah, It speaks of this in the, I believe it's in chapter
35. The wilderness and the solitary
place shall be glad for them. And the desert shall rejoice
and blossom as a rose. It shall blossom abundantly and
rejoice even with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be
given unto it, the excellency of Carmel. You see, the desert,
that's what a wilderness is, it's a desert. It shall blossom.
When I went to Israel with my dear wife in 1994 I believe it
was and we went down into Judean wilderness in a large ex-army
truck because it was very rough terrain and as we entered into
the desert south of Jerusalem everywhere was just green with
lovely red flowers all over the thing and the Israeli guide she
said to us this you're seeing something that is so wonderful
she said this is normally completely arid with no greenery no flowers
but she said yesterday there was a heavy rainfall and look
at today the grass is sprouting and the roses are coming out
It blossoms as a rose. This scripture came to my mind
when she was speaking. The desert shall blossom as a
rose. And that's like that with the child of God in their pathway.
The Lord appears and the desert blossoms as a rose. She said,
if you come tomorrow, it'll all be gone. The heat of the sun
will cause it all to shrivel up and it'll go back to desert.
But you see, How wonderfully it opens the word of God. It shall blossom abundantly and
rejoice even with joy in singing. You see my beloved friends, say
ye to them that are of a fearful heart, be strong, fear not, behold
your God will come. And that's what is in this psalm.
Whoso shall observe these things, even they shall understand the
loving kindness of the Lord. They shall. Even God shall come, he will
come and save you, and the eyes of the blind shall be opened,
and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then shall the
lame man leapers at heart, and the tongue of the dumb sing.
For in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the
desert, and the parched ground shall become pool, and the thirsty
land springs of water. in the habitation of dragons,
where each lay shall be grasped with reeds and rushes, and a
highway shall be there. What is this highway, Christ?
And a highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called
the way of holiness. The way of Christ is the way
of holiness. He did no sin, neither was guile
found in his mouth, He offered a perfect holy sacrifice on the
cross of Calvary to redeem his people. And highway shall be
there, and a way, and it shall be called the way of holiness.
The unclean shall not pass over it, but it shall be for those.
The wayfaring men, those fools, shall not err therein. You see,
and then in the last verse of Isaiah 35 he says, and the ransomed
of the Lord shall return. This is something divinely certain. There is a period known to God
when all his sheep, redeemed by blood and the ransomed of
the Lord, they return because they have been ransomed. They're not ransomed because
they return, they return because they've been ransomed. Because
the Eternal Father gave them to his in that blessed eternal
covenant. And his son redeemed them from
all sin and Satan's power. And the ransomed of the Lord
shall return and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy
that upon their heads they shall obtain joy and gladness and sorrow
and sigh and shall flee away. And he led them forth by the
right way that they might go to a city of habitation. And he turneth, he says here,
the rivers into wilderness and the water springs into dry ground,
the fruitful land into barrenness for the wickedness of them that
dwell therein. He turneth the wilderness into
a standing water and dry ground into water springs. He does it.
God does it. God can do anything. He can make
the desert blossom as a rose. He can do anything. And there, where, in the wilderness,
water springs. You know, you get an oasis in
the desert and there's usually palm trees and bushes. Why? Because there's water. It's
an oasis in the desert. You know, the little houses of
prayer, where the Lord has his people, But where the Lord, the
gospel is preached, they're like an oasis in the desert. This
world is a wilderness to the child of God. But when they come
to the house of God, it's like an oasis in the wilderness. And there he maketh the hungry
to dwell, that they may prepare a city for habitation. He makes the hungry to dwell.
that they might prepare a city for habitation and we have in
our text and he led them forward by the right way that they might
go to a city of habitation. Are you pilgrims? When the children of Israel,
we read it in Exodus chapter 12, when the children of Israel
were to keep the Passover and the commandment of the Lord through
Moses was that you shall Eat it in haste, ye shall have your
loins girded, your staff in your hand, your shoes on your feet. Why? Because this is not your
rest. It's polluted, this world is
not your rest. Your loins girded, your staff
in your hand, this is not your rest. You're passing through,
you're a pilgrim. You're a pilgrim in this wilderness
journey. Oh, the Lord would show us clearly, beautifully,
that city of habitation. He did. You know, when the Lord's
servant Abraham, when he was wandering here in this wilderness
journey, and he himself, He speaks of it in the epistles
of Hebrews in chapter 11 about those that walk by faith. Walking by faith and not by sight. Now faith is the substance of
things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained
a good report. Through faith we understand the
world refrained by the word of God so that the things which
are seen were not made of things which do appear. And then we
have this list of these faithful servants of the Lord in the Old
Testament. And if you look at verse 8, he
says, by faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into
a place which he should after receive for inheritance, obeyed.
And he went out, not knowing whether he went. Can you imagine
that? He was leaving the house of his nativity. He was leaving
his country. He went out, how by faith, not
knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the
land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles
of Isaac and Jacob, the heirs whither of the same promise.
Now listen, for he looked for a city, which hath foundations,
whose builder and maker is God. He looked for a city. Are you
looking for a city? Is this world a wilderness to
you? Are you looking for the new Jerusalem? Are you looking for something
beyond this world? Through faith, Sarah herself
received strength to conceive seed and was delivered of a child
when she was past age because she judged him faithful and promised.
And then of course that great multitude of now born unto the
seed of Abraham and they all died in faith not having received
the promises but having seen them afar off and were persuaded
of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and
pilgrims on the earth for they that say such things, declare
plainly that they seek a country. And truly, if they'd been mindful
of that country from whence they came out, they might have had
opportunity to have returned. But now they desire a better
country that isn't heavenly. Wherefore God is not ashamed
to be called their God, for he hath prepared for them a city. God has prepared for them a city. Let not your heart be troubled.
Let it not be afraid. You believe in God, believe also
in me. In my father's house are many
mansions. If it were not so, I would have
told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go to prepare a place
for you, I will come again. come again and receive you unto
myself that where I am there ye may be also. There's that door of hope. There's
a way beyond this wilderness journey, the way of life and
he led them forth by the right way. You know as we look through
this psalm and we see all the various experiences that the
children of God pass through. We see the Lord was leading them,
guiding them. My sheep, they know my voice
and they follow me. And a stranger will they not
follow? No. They know not the voice of strangers.
Do you know the voice of Jesus? Have you heard the voice of Jesus?
My sheep, they know my voice. There is a divine call. They
know my voice. You see, he speaks here. He makes the hungry to dwell,
in verse 37 he says, and sow the fields and plant vineyards
which may yield fruits of increase. He blesses them also that they
are multiplied greatly and suffereth not their cattle to decrease.
This is the experience of the Lord's living family. Again,
they are minished and brought low through oppression, affliction
and sorrow. They are minished and brought
low. He poureth contempt upon princes, and we read of this
of course in the book of Genesis, and causeth them to wander in
the wilderness where there is no way. Yet setteth he the poor
on high from affliction, and maketh him families like a flock.
The righteous shall see it and rejoice, and all iniquities shall
stop her mouth. Whoso is wise. Do you and I have
that real true wisdom? Whoso is wise and will observe
these things, even they shall understand the loving kindness
of the Lord. The loving kindness of the Lord.
The goodness of the Lord. The reason that you and I have
to come into these dark, trying, perplexing things, whom the Lord
loveth, he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth,
is a mark of divine love. To come under the chastening
hand of God is a mark of divine love, of divine compassion. and he led them forth by the
right way that they might go to a city of habitation. Thine eyes shall see the king
and his beauty and thou shalt behold the land that is a very
far off. May the Lord add his blessings. Let us now sing together hymn
number 289. The tune is Bright and New, 308.
Thus far my God has led me on, and made his truth and mercy
known. My hopes and fears all turn at
rise, and comforts mingle with my sighs. Hymn 289, Tune Bright
and New 308. StSq3 3.30 (-0.99") O'er the ramparts we watched,
were so gallantly streaming? And the rocket's red glare, the
bombs bursting in air, Come, come, O Singapore, with
thy stripes. Through this wild wilderness
I roam, God is dead, all my fears are
gone. Long have I prayed and been forsaken. And I'll be in this dangerous
place. ? And may gently prepare the floor
? ? And sing the praises of the King of Glory ? Thy heavenly joys above me touch,
And the planets, gentle and low, And from that answer, Lord, I
am known. My soul with Him, You said, expounds. ? Perfect so tender ? ? Protect
us ? ? Teach everything you strength and can ? ? Our God is with us
? ? Amen ? ? And on earth as it is
in heaven ? ? And on earth as it is in heaven
? ? Which gives rest to the Lamb
of God ? ? The peace that holds my people near ? ? Holy is His
name ? O'er the ramparts we watched,
were so gallantly streaming? Let me answer thy prayer, O God,
As all thy children pray, saidst thou, ? His mercy, pride and self-control
? ? And peace and safety all in all ? Now may the grace of our Lord
Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, the sacred fellowship
of the Holy Spirit, Rest and abide with us each both now and
for evermore. Amen. Okay.