Welcome, friends, to another
broadcast of Morsels for Zion's Poor. It is utterly amazing that
he who lacked nothing and stood in need of no one should condescend
to dwell with men of low estate, who by nature are rebels against
him, those who regularly disregard his precepts. For it has pleased
him not to leave those whom he has chosen in Christ from before
the foundation of the world in this continual state of warfare
against him. They are precious in his sight
because they belong to him, and he has determined to dwell with
them. Though they are by nature the children of wrath, even as
others, yet he has sent his son into the world to satisfy the
claims of a broken law, and to reconcile them unto himself,
causing them to throw down their arms of rebellion and submit
to his overtures of love. Thus they are described by the
psalmist as righteous. The righteous cry, and the Lord
heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles. The
Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart, and saveth
such as be of a contrite spirit. How is it then that those who
have delighted in unrighteousness can now be called righteous?
Only because He has imputed His righteousness to them. They are
righteous because He has deemed them so, hiding them in the bosom
of His Son, who has become their righteousness, dying upon Golgotha's
hill and swallowing up their sin and destroying their accusers.
But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom
and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, that according
as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. Yea,
before the day was, I am he, and there is none that can deliver
out of my hand. I will work, and who shall let
it? I am the Lord, your Holy One, the Creator of Israel, your
King. He has demonstrated his everlasting
love for his elect bride by expressing his desire to dwell with her.
He hath desired it for habitation. The it is Zion, which is synonymous
with his kingdom throughout the scripture. As a righteous king,
he does rule over his kingdom, and though he will not share
his glory with any, he does nonetheless take up his abode with the sheep
of his pasture. Fear not, little flock, for it
is your father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. When
the Lord had finished His creation, He rested from it on the seventh
day. Jesus Christ has now rested from His work of redemption,
having completed that work which He came to perform, and does
inhabit Zion forever with those for whom He bled and died. This
is My rest forever. Here will I dwell, for I have
desired it. Those who are his sons are ever
looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who
for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising
the shame, and is sat down at the right hand of the throne
of God. As Hosea of old loved the harlot Gomer and made continual
provision for her, in like fashion has the Lord set his love upon
an unworthy people and given them everything that they could
desire or need. The Lord ordained the sons of
Aaron to a temporary priesthood, while the Lord has made the inhabitants
of Zion kings and priests forever. I will also clothe her priests
with salvation, and her saints shall shout aloud for joy. But
ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, and holy nation,
a peculiar people, that ye should show forth the praises of him
who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. which
in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God,
which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
The Lord had promised David that his seed would occupy his throne
forever. David assumed this promise was
manifested in Solomon, but Solomon proved himself to be but mere
corruptible flesh, quite incapable of such rule. Yet one greater
than Solomon is here. Of the increase of his government
and peace there shall be no end. Upon the throne of David and
upon his kingdom to order it and to establish it with judgment
and with justice from henceforth even forever. The zeal of the
Lord of hosts will perform this. The triumph of the Lord over
all of his enemies is absolute. blotting out the handwriting
of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us,
and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross. And having spoiled
principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing
over them in it. The finished redemptive work
of Christ manifests his glory, and he is satisfied with that
which he has performed. It is here in Zion that he is
pleased to dwell with those he calls by name. And I will set
up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them. Even my servant
David, he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd. Is
he your shepherd? For a free CD containing 15 of
these radio broadcasts, send an email to forthepoor at windstream.net.