Thy mercy, my God, is the theme
of my song. Paul says that there is coming
a day when the bodies of the saints shall come forth from
the graves, and that these transformed bodies would be immortal and
incorruptible in the same likeness as the body of the Lord Jesus
Christ, who is the firstborn from the dead. Paul testified
that he believed in the resurrection of the dead even while he was
yet a Pharisee. It is very clear from the scriptures
that the Lord Jesus arose from the tomb in the same body in
which he was put in it, since the disciples found the sepulcher
where he was laid empty. In like fashion does the scripture
speak of the resurrection as graves being opened and the sea
giving up her dead. At the same time in which we
recognize the significance and necessity of a bodily resurrection,
We also recognize that the bodies in which the saints of God are
clothed in that glorious day are spoken of as spiritual bodies,
which are not terrestrial, that is, of the earth, but rather
celestial, that is, heavenly. These bodies in which we presently
dwell and have recognition among our peers are susceptible to
decay and corruption, whereas those bodies in which we presently
dwell shall be changed in a moment, or the twinkling of an eye into
immortal bodies, which cannot either decay or perish, but in
which we can be recognized, even as the disciples above five hundred
saw the Lord Jesus Christ after his own resurrection and knew
him. Such is the expectation of the sons of God, which according
to Paul is the basis of our hope in Christ. But if there be no
resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen? And if Christ
be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also
vain. Yea, and we are found false witnesses
of God, because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ.
For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised? And if
Christ be not raised, your faith is vain, ye are yet in your sins. then they also which are fallen
asleep in Christ are perished. If in this life only we have
hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. But now is
Christ risen from the dead and become the first fruits of them
that slept. And so against this backdrop
of a sweet hope in the resurrection of the body and the resultant
consideration of a tomb which would contain the remains of
the believing dead until the day of the resurrection, the
psalmist likens his own condition to one whose bones are scattered
at the grave's mouth. He laments a completely forlorn
and helpless estate from which he finds no ready deliverance
in himself, very much like that which is written about in Psalm
22. I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint.
My heart is like wax. It is melted in the midst of
my bowels. My strength is dried up like a pot shirt, and my tongue
cleaveth to my jaws, and thou hast brought me into the dust
of death. For dogs have come past me, the assembly of the
wicked have enclosed me, they pierced my hands and my feet,
I may tell all my bones, they look and stare upon me. These
words prophetically describe the very state into which the
Lord Jesus willingly placed himself, that he might manifest himself
as our substitute, bearing our sin and our weakness. For ye
know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, for though he was rich,
yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty
might be rich. He would be in all points tempted
as we are, that he might be touched with the feelings of our infirmities.
Yes, indeed, dear one, you who find yourself overwhelmed with
your sin, in your deepest despair and darkest hour, when you know
yourself to be as bones scattered at the grave's mouth, remember
that Christ has carried away the sins and sorrows of all whom
the Holy Ghost is pleased to cause to call upon His name.
This man Christ Jesus is the Savior of sinners. He is that
One who is the Deliverer of His people and has triumphed over
sin and the grave. He has led captivity captive
and has given gifts unto men. Is there any other who can deliver
the helpless or rescue those who are destroyed by their own
hand, those who have no strength and are overwhelmed with sadness
at their most lamentable condition? Did he not with his own lips
say, Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and
I will give you rest? This is the consolation which
is spoken to the sons of God, who are awakened from the dead
and made to know their own poverty and weakness. Those that see
themselves as so many bones scattered upon the ground, not even resting
in a proper burial place, but strewn about for all to see,
the shame and reproach which they feel is heaped upon them.
Their skeletons are not even complete but are sawn asunder
as if someone had split them with an axe. There is nothing
but despair for such little children apart from the sweet comfort
of the consoling gospel of the glory of the blessed God, who
took upon himself their likeness and gave himself as a ransom
for them. May he ever be praised. Hallelujah. If you would like a free transcript
of this broadcast, email us at forthepoor at windstream.net.