Psalm 97:1-4

FOR THE ELECT’S SAKE

“And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened” (Matthew 24:22).

The vast majority of humanity does not realize that the reason wars cease is for the elect sake. What peace there is in this world is because God has an elect people in it, and, for their sakes, “He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire.” (Psalm 46:9). Thank The Lord for his election of grace. “Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.” (Romans 11:5) Every war will have its end for their sakes.

Pastor John Chapman

“The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof;

the world and they that dwell therein” (Psalm 24:1).

Men live on the earth and divide it into countries ruled over by kings. They divide it into states and territories and give them names. They divide the land among themselves into farms and ranches, and issue deeds of ownership.

But the earth is not man’s; it is the Lord’s. He said, “Whatsoever is under the whole heaven is mine” (Job 41:11). Men are but tenants, subject to eviction at any moment. The great land-owner and sovereign sits in the heavens and laughs at the title deeds of these worms in the dust.

“The fullness thereof” may mean the fullness of it entirety; its wealth, its life, its past, present, and future. The SEA is full of water, despite all the creatures, despite all that feed upon it. The AIR is full, notwithstanding all the lungs that breathe it. The SOIL is full, though billions of trees, plants, and vegetables derive nourishment from it.

All the earth and all that dwell on the earth belong to the Lord Jesus. They are His sons or His servants; they are His sheep or His goats; they are His vessels of mercy of His vessels of wrath; but all are His.

And here is the chief reason, given in verse 2 of the same Psalm: “For He hath founded it.” HE CREATED IT! He has the right to do with His own what he will. O that men would be wise and praise the Lord, kiss the Son, and bow before Him in worship and subjection. “There is no want to them who fear the Lord and wait upon Him.”

Pastor Henry T. Mahan (bulletin 1988)

THE ANGEL OF HIS PRESENCE SAVED THEM

“In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old” (Isa. 63:9).

Who is the angel of God’s presence spoken of here in this verse quoted? It is none other than the same person who speaks in verse 1 of this same chapter; “I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save.” It is none other than our blessed God and Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. This angel is not a created angel but rather the Mediator and messenger of the everlasting covenant of grace (Mal. 3:1).

Who else could it be said, “In all their affliction he was afflicted?” Indeed, Christ was afflicted for our transgression, “Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted” (Isa. 53:4).

Who else but the Lord Jesus Christ could it be said, “In his love and pity he redeemed them?” None but Christ! “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins” (1John 4:10). We are indeed redeemed with His precious blood (1 Peter 1:18; Heb. 9:12).

The Lord Jesus Christ has always appeared before God as our Intercessor (Heb. 7:25). He is the Surety and sacrifice of the everlasting gospel (Heb. 7:22; 13:20). He is the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world (Rev. 13:8). The very presence of the Lord Jesus Christ before the throne of God as our Representative, Substitute and Mediator is the guarantee of our salvation (Eph. 2:4-6: Rom. 8:34).