A TRUMPET CALL TO ARMS

We find these words in Psalm 18. It is a wonderful Psalm; it is a dear Psalm; it is a Psalm in which we find spiritual depths and heights. In it we find humiliation and exaltation; in it we find a humble worm glorifying his God and Redeemer; in it we find the faithfulness of Jehovah towards the souls that cry to Him in their distress. He shall never let them perish if they call upon Him and hope upon Him. So with David the singer in Israel, even this day. In this Psalm he reveals a great faith, the trust of faith, a victorious faith. How often says He “my” — My Rock, My God, My Buckler, My high tower; etc. No, it is not now: “Why art thou cast down my soul?” His enemies say not now: “Where is thy God?” In this whole Psalm David has light and boldness to say Who his God is!

Blessed people that may cry to God in distresses and come at times to that same height of victory and singing to the glory of God.

They have brought themselves into depths of miseries, they have brought themselves in prisons and fetters, but crying to the Almighty Redeemer, He heard their cry and delivered. Did you ever hear of a quickened soul, a pilgrim on the narrow way, who perished in spiritual depth or in a prison when he cried to heaven to Him Who has been at all times the hope and expectation of His dear ones? Let us turn to Psalm 107 and consider the following: “Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.”

This has been the experience of David. How many distresses we find by David during his life here below! How often did it seem as If David would perish at the hands of his enemies. His life was a life full of troubles; this world was for him a howling wilderness.

All these distresses are a consequence of sin, our sin. A sinless Adam did not know anything about troubles and distresses; but a fallen Adam came in trouble and distress. Who is this fallen sinful Adam? Do you know him through heavenly instruction and spiritual experience? Did you see him in the looking glass of the law? Paul says, “By the law is knowledge of sin.” Then you will not justify yourself, but will justify God. Then you will not glory in self and in being good and righteous, but as unclean dust and ashes will give glory to God. Hearken unto this poet:

“Boasting, Lord, is not for me,
What I am, I am through Thee;
Let not me usurp the priase
Due alone to Thy free grace;
Strength and merit I disclaim;
Nought is mine but sin and shame.”

David was in distress when the Lord revealed sin and iniquity unto him. “There is no soundness in my flesh because of my sin. For mine iniquities are gone over mine head; as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me. My wounds stink and are corrupt because of my foolishness. I am troubled; I am bowed greatly; I go mourning all the day.”

David was in distress when persecuted by his many enemies. He had many inward, but also many outward enemies. Did not even Saul, his father-in-law, become one of his most fierce enemies? How often did he bring this weak but dear child of God into trouble and fear. He has those enemies in mind in writing this song, and says in the 3rd verse, “I will call upon the Lord, Who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.”

David was in distress not only in painful trials, but also in chastisements which the alwise, righteous and mighty God brought upon him until his journey through this vale of tears was completed. The Lord knew what cross was the most suitable for him. Every soul we find on the narrow heavenly way has a cross to bear. How often are they dissatisfied with it and will try to cast it off. Can they do it? It is impossible! God will prevent this. At times they thank the Lord for their cross as David does in Psalm 119. When? At such times when they may see right; when they see in the cross their sins and feel their hellworthiness; see the love, faithfulness, wisdom, righteousness, yea, the sovereignity of the heavenly Father. In the life of every true Christian shall be fulfilled: “In the world ye shall have tribulation.” But let the afflicted and distressed souls not forget that Christ also has said, “But be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

Much more could be added to this, but let this suffice for this brief meditation. O, do read the history of David in our Bible, and how often do we see poor, weak and needy David in distress. And are you a spiritual reader? What will you then see and find? You may discover that you are on the same road with David, have the same enemies and troubles, the same distresses and fears, the same life and light, the same Spirit dwelling within your heart, the same depths and heights, the same Lord and Savior unto Whom you constantly flee and cleave. Yea, that same faithful Jehovah and Immanuel, Who has said, “Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me.” You may find the same deliverances, and that the great and holy God has been for you a prayer hearing and a prayer answering God. There may be some difference, however, in the measure and ways; etc.

When David was in distress he called upon the Lord. He called upon Him, the Almighty and faithful Jehovah. What is impossible with man, is possible with Him. What a strength and comfort to have such a God before us in distress, and to call upon Him.

He called upon Him in hope and faith. At times his faith was very little, but he at all times had enough faith and courage left to call upon and cry to the Lord. How is it with you, “Little-in faith”? Do not forget about Heman, as we find him in Psalm 88. How much unbelief and fears! But he had a faith of refuge in his soul. A heart full of troubles, but he had grace to pour out his soul at the feet of the God of his salvation. No he could not say in a strong faith, My God.We think about Thomas when delivered and when unbelief had fled in his dark hole: “My Lord and my God!” Heman says, The God of mysalvation. God was the God of hissalvation; but he missed that God and His salvation. This is plain from the whole psalm. Hear what he says in verse 15 and 16: “I am afflicted and ready to die from my youth up: while I suffer Thy terrors I am distracted. Thy fierce wrath goeth over me; Thy terrors have cut me off.” etc. Perhaps there may be a reader who will understand Heman in wants and cries; see all the salvation in God but miss Him. O, to miss God, to miss Jesus! But on God’s time the crying and hungering soul may say: “My Lord and my God!” etc. Heman in darkness and his soul full of troubles, but yet some light and hope. “Even in the wildest storms the sky is not all dark; and so in the darkest dealings of God with His children, there are always some bright tokens for good.”

David called upon the Lord with tears and weeping. He was often a poor and needy mourner, showing the Lord his distress and tears. Are these not the words of this crying David, “Thou tellest my wanderings: put Thou my tears into Thy bottle: are they not in Thy book?” Psalm 56:8.

He called upon the Lord, pleading upon His own word: “My soul melteth for heaviness; strengthen Thou me according to Thy word.” “Trials give new life to prayer. Trials make the promise sweet.”

He persevered in calling upon Him. He would not let go and would not be satisfied until he was blessed and delivered. Remember Jacob of old, saying, “I will not let Thee go, except Thou bless me.” Blessed times, when we cannot stop crying to God, pleading at His merciful feet, till we can say with the psalmist, “In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried unto my God: He heard my voice out of His temple, and my cry came before Him, even into His ears.” “He brought me forth also into a large place; He delivered me, because He delighted in me.” The promise of answering prayer may be long delayed, but cannot come too late. “Delight thyself in the Lord, and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” Ps. 37:4.

Being delivered out of distresses and sore troubles, true gratitude will fill the heart. After bitter weeping and distress, comes rejoicing and singing. The words spoken by Jesus unto His disciples will at all times be fulfilled, “Ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned to joy.” The alwise and gracious God will direct all things to His honor and glory. Hearken unto David, who cried in his distress unto the Lord and was delivered, “Therefore will I give thanks unto Thee, 0 Lord, among the heathen, and sing praises unto Thy name. Great deliverance giveth He to His king; and sheweth mercy to His anointed, to David, and to His seed for evermore.”

My dear reader, can you also say with David, “In my distress I called upon the Lord?” Did the blessed Spirit ever let you see and feel your many sins committed against God your Creator, let you see and feel your great soul misery, the depths of your misery? Were you ever led in soul travail and soul trouble, saying with the psalmist, “The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell gat hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow. Then called I upon the name of the Lord: 0 Lord, I beseech Thee, deliver my soul.” Not being able to deliver yourself, a need of the great Redeemer will be felt. He will be your refuge and be your hope and expectation.

O, that many would be found in our dark days, to whom sin and curse would be revealed, begging and crying for a mighty Savior and His salvation; standing naked and filthy before a righteous and holy God, hungering and thirsting after the righteousness of Christ. This blessed righteousness is the only basis upon which a poor, naked, lost, and crying sinner can be saved and have peace with God.

I do hope, reader, that you do not belong to so very many in our days, who believe and act as if they can be saved and go to heaven without having experienced these three parts: Misery, Redemption, and Gratitude. If the blessed Spirit enters the heart and Christ becomes the resurrection and the life in the dead soul, he will become a partaker of spiritual birth and will learn to know what soul travail is. Then the way of prayer and calling upon the Lord has commenced. As in nature the babe has been born crying and weeping. They have been delivered from under the dominion of Satan, world and sin, and shall be delivered again by calling upon the name of the Lord, Him Who is mighty to deliver. How blessed are they who have come to their Peniel on the heavenly way, who are in distress with Jacob, cleave to the mighty Redeemer, saying, “I will not let Thee go, except Thou bless me.”

O, that my readers, may not remain strangers of this experience! Time is short and eternity draws nigh, and what

shall it be for a soul lost, lost forever, never having felt a need for Christ Jesus, and standing guilty with a load of sin before a righteous and angry God? When your last hour arrives, sinner, it may be said, “There lies and dies one whom God has given a thousand mercies, but has abused them all. That unprepared and long-neglected soul is going, covered with guilt to its final account, and to its direful home.” And when you are in the grave it may be said, “There lies one who enjoyed through many years the means of grace and the tidings of mercy, but who went down into the dwelling of the dead unpardoned and unchanged. That poor dust one loved the world, and for it slighted eternal good.” Oh, how many poor and ignorant creatures are careless and indifferent! Good prayer, “So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.”

Are you poor and needy, and at times call upon the Lord in your distress and fears? O, how many fears are experienced by the blessed sheep of Christ when they continue their way through the howling wilderness of this world? but know that the Lord and heavenly Father will hear and answer them on His due time; on the day of His pleasure and never too late. How often does the dear Lord say in His Word to His followers: “Fear not, I will help you.” Blessed words, “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of My righteousness.” Isa. 41:10. “Fear not, thou worm of Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the Lord, and thy Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel.” Isa. 41:14.

The wonderful Immanuel has promised in His love and faithfulness never to leave and not to forsake them: yes, that loving and faithful Jesus Who left for them His heavenly throne and glory, for whom He was in great distress and agony in Gethsemane, and upon Calvary cried out with a loud voice, “My God, My God, Why has Thou forsaken Me?” O, dear Savior and Bridegroom Who in the greatest distress was struggling through hell and death, that He may deliver His dear ones when they cry to Him. He will most assuredly deliver them of all misery and fears, and translate them in glory above, where there is no more distress and trouble, but everlasting victory, joy, and Hallelujahs.

Times are dark and will get darker. Immanuel will purge His church and add yet many of those that shall be saved out of Jews and Gentiles. The devil will not have one, and Jesus will have them all.

Consider the words we find in the 3rd chapter of the prophet Zephaniah: “I will leave in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor people, and they shall trust in the name of the Lord.” “The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; He will save, He will rejoice over thee with joy; He will rest in His love, He will joy over thee with singing.”

We close with good words of a soldier in the army of Christ Jesus:

“Thou art my shield and glory, Lord,
My Savior, O Most High.
The Lord from out His holy hill
Gives answer when I cry.

I laid me down and slept, I waked,
Because the Lord sustains;
Tho’ many thousands compass me,
Unmoved my soul remains.”

JVZ

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