You're here: oChristian.com » Articles Home » Henry Mahan » With New Testament Eyes » 53 - True God - True Israel - True Redeemer

With New Testament Eyes: 53 - True God - True Israel - True Redeemer

By Henry Mahan


      Psalm 24

      The Psalm is more appreciated and best understood if it is divided into three sections:

      1. The true God. (vv. 1-2) 2. The true Israel. (vv. 3-6) 3. The true redeemer. (vv. 7-10)

      1. The true God (vv. 1-2).

      v. 1. 'The earth is the Lord's.' The earth is not man's; it is the Lord's! Men may live on earth and boast of their possessions and power. They may divide the earth into countries, fly their flags, and elect their kings and rulers. They may divide these countries into states and territories and give them names. They may divide these territories into farms, ranches, and lots and issue title-deeds of ownership. But the earth is not man's; the earth is the Lord's (Job 41:11). 'Whatever is under the whole heaven is mine.' We are but tenants, subject to eviction at any moment. The great land-owner sits in the heavens and laughs at the title-deeds of worms in the dust.

      'The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof.' The 'fullness' of the earth may mean its entirety--its wealth, its life, its past, present, and future. The Lord has made the earth to be full, and he keeps it full. The air is full, notwithstanding all who breathe it. The soil is full, though billions of plants, trees, and flowers derive their nourishment from it. The rivers, forests, and fields remain full to feed, clothe, and house generations of people. They are all full and held together by his sovereign hand (Col. 1:16-17).

      'The world and they that dwell therein.' All that dwell upon the earth and live in his world belong to the Lord Jesus Christ.

      They are his by creation (John 1:1-3; Rev. 4:11).

      They are his by decree; the Father hath given him all things (John 17:2; John 3:35; Heb. 1:2).

      They are his by purchase (Rom. 14:9).

      They are his, by administration; he reigns (Matt. 28:18: Isa. 9:6).

      All creatures are his--either his sons or his servants, his sheep or his goats, his vessels of mercy or his vessels of wrath; but they are his!

      v. 2. 'He hath founded it upon the seas.' Here is the chief reason all this is his--he created it all (Gen. 1:1-11). It was God who said, 'Let the dry land appear.' 'Let us make man.'

      'He established it upon the floods'--the waters above and beneath the earth. What an insecure foundation! Surely God is saying that the earth shall not remain. We look forward to a new heaven and a new earth founded on the 'Rock of Ages,' where there will be 'no more sea' (Rev. 21:1) Oh, the power, glory, majesty, and greatness of our God! (Psalm 50:10-12.)

      2. The true Israel (vv. 3-6).

      'Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord?' O how high above us is our God! He dwelleth in the heavens (Eccles. 5:1-2; Job 11:7-8). God dwells in the light which no man can approach (1 Tim. 6:16).

      'Who shall stand in his holy place?' If one could ascend to where God dwells, who could stand or abide in his presence?

      The answer is four-fold:

      'He that hath clean hands'--one who has never sinned.

      'And a pure heart'--one who has not even imagined or thought any evil thought.

      'Who has not lifted up his soul to vanity''--one who Has loved God perfectly and done nothing contrary to God.

      'Nor sworn deceitfully'--one who is and has spoken perfect truth.

      These conditions suit none but Jesus Christ! Therefore, no man hath ascended to heaven nor will ascend to heaven nor stand in his holy place except he that came down from heaven-- -the son of man which is in heaven (John 3:13). Christ, the Godman, met every condition as our representative; and we shall ascend, and we shall stand, and we shall dwell in the presence of the Lord, accepted in the beloved (Eph. 1:6; Col. 1:21-22; Jude 24-25). As Christ has been raised from the dead and blessed, so in him we shall 'receive the blessing of the presence of the Lord and righteousness from the God of his salvation' (v. 5).

      'This is the generation of them that seek him (Christ), that seek thy face, O God of Jacob' (v. 6). Heaven is populated by 'seekers and finders.' By his grace they seek the Lord, his presence, his mercy, his righteousness in Christ; and they find in him all they need. This is the true Israel (Phil. 3:3) from every nation.

      3. The true redeemer (vv. 7-10).

      Jesus Christ, our Lord, answered to the full character laid down for those who would ascend to the hill of the Lord and stand in his presence! By his own right and righteousness, he has entered in and sat down at the Father's right hand (Heb. 1:3).

      His hands are clean, his heart is pure, his soul loves God perfectly, and he is the truth! Therefore, 'lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors.' The gates and doors of eternal glory have always been closed to men; too many things prevent men from entering. But the Son of man has come to earth; his perfect work of redemption is done. 'It is finished,' he cried. Now open ye gates and doors to the King of glory and his church.

      Who is this King of glory?' 'He is the Lord strong and mighty,' able to do all that he undertakes (Heb. 7:25). He is 'the Lord mighty in battle,' for he alone conquered every enemy. He is 'the Lord of hosts,' he came alone to redeem, but he is not alone when he ascends; he has with him a number which no man can number. He is 'the King of glory.' All glory is his, in him, and of him.

Back to Henry Mahan index.

See Also:
   Foreward & Acknowledgements
   1 - The Fall
   2 - Abel's Offering
   3 - The Ark Of Noah
   4 - Sarah and Hagar; Law and Grace
   5 - The Lord Will Provide
   6 - A Bride for the Heir
   7 - Bethel - The House of God
   8 - Peniel - The Face of God
   9 - Joseph Opens the Storehouses
   10 - Joseph and His Brothers
   11 - Shiloh
   12 - The Passover
   13 - The Manna
   14 - Water from the rock
   15 - The Blood Before the Lord
   16 - The Ram of Consecration
   17 - The Day of Atonement
   18 - Caleb - The Faithful Dog
   19 - The High Priest Intercedes
   20 - The Brazen Serpent
   21 - A Prophet Like Moses
   22 - The Cities of Refuge
   23 - Joshua
   24 - The Scarlet Line in the Window
   25 - The birth of Samson
   26 - The Kinsman Redeemer
   27 - The Song of Hannah
   28 - Give us a King
   29 - Saul's Great Sin
   30 - David and Mephibosheth
   31 - Why God Permitted David to Fall
   32 - Comfort from God's Covenant
   33 - I Will Not Offer to God that which Cost me Nothing
   34 - The Queen of Sheba Comes to Solomon
   35 - Three Examples of Faith
   36 - Where is the Lord God of Elijah?
   37 - Empty Vessels Filled
   38 - Naaman, the Leper
   39 - Open his Eyes that He may See
   40 - Four Lepers Teach us a Lesson
   41 - Nehushtan--A Piece of Brass
   42 - Bringing Back the Ark
   43 - Uzziah's Great Transgression
   44 - Four Things Learned in Trouble
   45 - How Can Man be Just With God?
   46 - Three Vital Questions
   47 - I Know that my Redeemer Liveth
   48 - Now Mine Eye Seeth Thee
   49 - The Psalm of Messiah the King
   50 - God's two great books
   51 - The Psalm of the Cross
   52 - The Lord is my Shepherd
   53 - True God - True Israel - True Redeemer
   54 - Eight Great Precepts
   55 - My Hope is in Thee
   56 - Many, O Lord, Are Thy Wonderful Works
   57 - A Song of Love
   58 - The Sinner's Prayer
   59 - My Rock and my Salvation
   60 - Our Lord's Sufferings for Our Sins
   61 - Mercy and Truth are Met Together
   62 - The Victory of the Messiah
   63 - Bless the Lord, O my Soul
   64 - Let the Redeemed of the Lord Say So
   65 - The King-Priest
   66 - The Chief Cornerstone
   67 - The Observer and the Observed
   68 - Praise the Lord O my Soul
   69 - Wisdom in Christ
   70 - The Conclusion of the Whole Matter
   71 - Remember Now Thy Creator
   72 - My Beloved is Mine and I am His
   73 - What is Thy Beloved more than Another Beloved?
   74 - The Lord Our Righteousness
   75 - The Believers Hope
   76 - From Nothing to Everything
   77 - Lost, Driven Away, Broken, Sick
   78 - Can These Bones Live?
   79 - Four Things God Taught Nebuchadnezzar
   80 - Thy God Will Deliver Thee
   81 - Hosea--Type of Christ
   82 - A Famine to be Feared
   83 - Salvation is of the Lord
   84 - A Fountain Opened for Mourners
   85 - The Messenger of the Covenant

Loading

Like This Page?


© 1999-2019, oChristian.com. All rights reserved.