Thy mercy, my God, is the theme
of my song. It was in the reign of David
that the ark was brought back to Jerusalem and glory restored
to the kingdom as it was ruled by a man after God's own heart.
The promise was made by God that there would never cease to be
a man of David's house whose kingdom and government would
have no end. Now we see the Lord Jesus Christ is just such a man
to whom this kingdom was promised from the foundation of the world
and who has not only been appointed to sit upon that throne but has
purchased that kingdom and its citizens with his own blood and
now reigneth forever. Yet have I set my king upon my
holy hill of Zion. I will declare the decree. The
Lord has said unto me, Thou art my son, this day have I begotten
thee. Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine
inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.
Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron. Thou shalt dash them
in pieces like a potter's vessel. We see David as a picture of
Christ in many ways, even though we see him in stark contrast
to him in others. For Christ was tempted in all
points, as we are, yet without sin. But David was tempted and
proved himself but an earthen vessel in need of a Savior, as
much as any subject of the Lord's kingdom is. David's wickedness
serves as a demonstration of the chastening hand of the Lord
upon his own children. He will not allow any of his
elect to be destroyed, even though Satan may desire to have them
and sift them as wheat. He must ever increase, but we
must decrease, and we are often brought low that his grace and
glory might be exalted. But where sin abounded, grace
did much more abound, that as sin hath reigned unto death,
even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life
by Jesus Christ our Lord. The Lord is always able to accomplish
His will in the earth through any fashion which He so designs.
It has pleased Him, according to Scripture, to cause the gospel
to be proclaimed in the earth through the instrumentality of
men. David chose five smooth stones when he went to battle
Goliath. We see Christ illustrated in this action of David. He chose
five smooth stones. Christ is the one who selects
those he will send with the gospel message, just as surely as he
chose those whom he would have to hear it. And how shall they
preach except they be sent? He chose five smooth stones.
Christ does all things according to his purpose, and nothing occurs
by chance. Those whom Christ appoints unto
this task are sent with a specific message for a specific people,
even though each is sent to openly proclaim the truth of God. He
has a multitude which is appointed and is dependent upon no single
one. He chose five smooth stones. The Lord equips and prepares
those whom He sends. Stones are not naturally smooth.
However, when the Lord places them in a brook where they are
tumbled and abraded against one another, the passing of time
wears off the rough edges. Some would dare to go into battle
with unproven armor or that which is supplied by the learning of
the flesh, but God is pleased to prepare his stones and in
the furnace of trial and affliction to teach them that all of their
righteousness is his alone. God does not choose men based
on their suitability for a task, but rather he's the one who makes
them suitable. Those who are made suitable for this task are
not the most eloquent nor the most learned as judged by men,
but those who are taught that all of their strength comes from
him. He chose five smooth stones. Stones are of little value. They
have no power nor skill of their own, let alone the ability to
carry out any task. All of their usefulness is brought
forth by the one who is pleased to use them as instruments of
his glory. They can add nothing to the task at hand to which
they are sent, but are simply objects in the hand of him who
slays giants and destroys principalities according to his own design.
Not even a giant can stand when he who chooses a stone and puts
it in his sling lets it go with unfailing aim. It always finds
its mark due to the skill of the slinger. So shall my word
be that goeth forth out of my mouth. It shall not return unto
me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall
prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. Well did Paul remark,
for though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh.
For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through
God to the pulling down of strongholds, casting down imaginations and
every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge
of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience
of Christ. For we preach not ourselves,
but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your servants for Jesus'
sake. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness,
has shined in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of
the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have
this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power
may be of God and not of us. Are you a stone in the Lord's
hand? If you would like a free transcript
of this broadcast, email us at forthepoor at windstream.net.