Welcome, friends, to another
broadcast of Morsels for Zion's Poor. One of the keys to understanding
the Psalms is to see that they are primarily the prayers, exaltations,
and descriptions of that perfect man, Jesus the Christ. Thus we
see Christ in every Psalm and in every other book of the Bible
which has been written, as holy men of God were moved by his
Spirit. The Bible has but one subject to which the attention
of men is called, and if I be lifted up from the earth will
draw all men unto me. and one object of faith. Neither
is there salvation in any other, for there is none other name
under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. The
saints of God in all ages have rested here." One of the Lord's
most iconic parables was the Parable of the Sower. We see
in our mind's eye this farmer taking up a bag of seed and broadcasting
it as he went. In this parable, the Lord was
teaching about the unsuitableness of the ground, that is, the world,
in general, to receive the seed, which is representative of the
preached word. Only a portion of the seed fell
upon the good ground, that is, the ground which he prepared,
where it ultimately sprang up and grew to maturity and fruit
bearing. The other grounds did not and could not bring forth
this fruit, though some held out some promise, temporarily
springing up, but in the end were barren. As we read Psalm
126, 6, we read of one who is bearing precious seed. This sower
is Christ. He carries this seed, not leaving
it in the hands of another, nor does he only take a portion of
it, but rather the notion here expressed is that it is all the
seed that he has, and he carries it, sowing it carefully and not
haphazardly. for he has a bond with this seed.
This seed is his elect, that people which were chosen in him
from before the foundation of the world. They were his when
he created the world, and due to their preciousness to him,
he will lose none, even though it pleased him to scatter them
to the four corners of the earth. For the creature was made subject
to vanity not willingly, that is, not of his own accord or
design, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in
hope, that is, as it hath pleased him according to this purpose
of redemption. Because the creature itself also shall be delivered
from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of
the children of God. Redemption unto liberty for the
sons of God is the Lord's purpose, and not some remedy which he
has set forth in hopes that some might be benefited thereby. Thus,
in contrast to the seed in the parable of the sower, which is
representative of the preached word, this precious seed is that
possession which belongs to the sower, and for which he ever
lives to make intercession. He came into the world bearing
this precious seed, and has entered into the holy place for them.
He came weeping as a man of sorrows. He is despised and rejected of
men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it
were, our faces from him. He was despised and we esteemed
him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs and carried our sorrows,
yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
But he was wounded for our transgressions. He was bruised for our iniquities.
The chastisement of our peace was upon him, and with his stripes
we are healed. Yet he does not perpetually suffer
for them, for weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in
the morning. He came to secure victory for his precious seed,
and is the reaper of such blessing as well as the planter. He that
soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
It was for the joy that was set before him that he endured the
pain necessary to redeem that which is his. Behold, the Lord
God will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him.
Behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him. He shall
feed his flock like a shepherd. He shall gather the lambs with
his arm. He shall carry them in his bosom, and shall gently
lead those that are with young. Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise
him. He hath put him to grief, when thou shalt make his soul
an offering for sin. He shall see his seed, he shall
prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in
his hand. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall
be satisfied. By his knowledge shall my righteous
servant justify many, for he shall bear their iniquities. Just as He came 2,000 years ago
bearing precious seed, so shall He come in like manner, bringing
His sheaves with Him, as He returns together that which He has sown.
But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning
them which are asleep, that ye saw or not, even as others which
have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus
died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus
will God bring with Him. Christ is that triumphant Savior
of those whom He loves. For a free CD containing 15 of
these radio broadcasts, send an email to forthepoor at windstream.net