Thy mercy, my God, is the theme
of my song. One thing that is clear from
the words of Amos is the sovereign purpose of God to hide his word
from whom he will. Just as surely as it is by his
hand that the rain falls, or drought encompasses the land,
so too is it only according to his purpose that men are enabled
to hear his word, and on the other hand prevented from doing
so. The Lord taught this most clearly when he said, No man
can come to me except the Father which hath sent me draw him.
Therefore said I unto you that no man can come unto me except
it were given unto him of my father. He prayed thusly, I thank
thee, O father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast
hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed
them unto babes. Even so, father, for so it seemed
good in thy sight. All things are delivered unto
me of my father, and no man knoweth the son, but the father. Neither
knoweth any man the father save the son, and he to whomsoever
the son will reveal him. When his disciples asked why
he taught in parables, he said, unto you it is given to know
the mystery of the kingdom of God. But unto them that are without,
all of these things are done in parables, that seeing they
may see and not perceive, and hearing they may hear and not
understand, lest at any time they should be converted, and
their sins should be forgiven them. Thus we are made to understand
that he opens and shuts the windows of heaven according to the good
pleasure of his own will, and that men are made to hear and
believe according to the same good pleasure, and not their
own. This is a very humbling message, and reminds us that
we have nothing that we have not received, and therefore have
no place in which to glory, except in his mercy and kindness, which
has caused us but to hear and believe. If indeed we be the
sons of God, there is never an age when those who are born again
by the Spirit of God are not desirous of hearing the Word
of God. This is the very commandment
of the Lord to the disciples on the Mount of Transfiguration.
While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them. And
behold, a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved
Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear ye him. The blessing of
those saints who lived in the age when the risen Christ has
been revealed is that there is a clear revelation of the purpose
of God in the earth. Paul describes this mystery which
is now made known. And to make all men see what
is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the
world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ,
to the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in
heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom
of God. according to the eternal purpose which he purposed in
Christ Jesus our Lord. God, who at sundry times and
in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the
prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son,
whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made
the worlds. Here we can see that there is
no doubt who the Messiah is, and the extent of his power,
the purpose for which he came, nor of the blessing which is
given to those whom he is pleased to call. This glorious redemption
is now made plain to the children of God in the proclamation of
the gospel. Even the mystery which hath been
hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his
saints, to whom God would make known what is the riches of the
glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in
you, the hope of glory. God's people are never forsaken
by him, but he does from time to time hide his presence from
them for the purpose of stirring them up from their natural complacency
and tendency to trust in the arm of the flesh. It is then
that they are made to desire those times of refreshing from
the presence of the Lord and to go about the city in search
of him. He alone can provide such comfort as they need. No
other counselor or physician will do. Habakkuk was acquainted
with this desire as he cried, O Lord, I have heard thy speech
and was afraid. O Lord, revive thy work in the
midst of the years. In the midst of the years, make
known. In wrath, remember mercy. David had some understanding
of this longing as he said, Oh God, thou art my God. Early will
I seek thee. My soul thirsteth for thee. My
flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land where no water
is to see thy power and thy glory. So as I have seen thee in the
sanctuary, my soul shall be satisfied as with Mara and fatness and
my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips. When I remember
thee upon my bed and meditate on thee in the night watches
because there has been my help. Therefore, in the shadow of thy
wings will I rejoice. It is the sensible barrenness
of the man who is caused to believe that also stirs him up to seek
refuge in Him, who alone can cause the darkness to flee away
and the light to appear. He is the bread of life. Lord
evermore give us this bread. Do you desire this bread? For
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