SONGS OF DEGREES

When the poet calls here upon the Lord and asks Him with a reverent heart whether He will do good unto those that be good, then we should not think that God’s servant puts a question here with regard to those who imagine themselves to be good.

After all, none is good but One, that is: God. No, by nature we are not good, we are wholly corrupt. And improving is not possible either.

Oh, in the same text the poet does truly indicate what the solution is. He also speaks about “them that are upright in their hearts.”

Is that really the solution? consider, none is upright in heart since the time we, in our covenant-head Adam, believed the liar and murderer of man. At that time we, too, became liars, not upright but insincere. Moreover, “out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies” (Matthew 15:19).

And now a good people in spite of this all? A people that is upright in their heart?

Yes, for in time God comes to regenerate that people about whom the psalmist speaks here. He Himself comes to renew them. Now, that which God implants into the heart by the operation of the Spirit, is nothing but good, nothing but upright.

The Psalm deals here with the new man, the spiritual man. They are the people whom the Lord brought from the depths and led them up towards Jerusalem. And while they were led by the Lord, they were often assailed and needed to cry to the Lord. But when He came and gave them an eye of faith, then they sang their procession-songs not only about their trials, but also about their sure Defence in the Lord their God. Hear, “As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the LORD is round about His people from henceforth even for ever.”

A song Hamma’aloth!

Do you, my reader, already belong to those people in whom the Lord Himself took over? Do you belong to those people who can no longer find pleasure in evil and who learn to hate unrighteousness?

To be sure, their “best works in this life are all imperfect and defiled with sin” (Heidelberg Catechism XXIV:62). It is true, is it not, that “even the holiest men, while in this life, have only a small beginning of this obedience” (Heidelberg Catechism XLIC:114). However, this may never become a resting-place for us. On the contrary, it might grieve the living Church more that they so little conform to the image of Zion’s King. He was truly good. He walked in uprightness. He could testify, “Which of you convinceth Me of sin?” (John 8:46).

Nevertheless, the new man cannot but desire to be conformed to His image more and more. And for such the servant of the Lord has liberty to ask, “Do good, O LORD, unto those that be good.” It is as if he says, “Lord, wilt Thou make everything well for them, wilt Thou bless them, wilt Thou help them, deliver them, and give them that which is so necessary in a world lying in wickedness, so that they may walk in such a way—both in their dealings with each other and in their dealings with their unconverted neighbour—that it becomes evident that they are children of the King.” For, indeed, that only is true nobility.

Over against this all, the poet announces as a certain fact that, “As for such as turn aside unto their crooked ways, the LORD shall lead them forth with the workers of iniquity.” So, these are such as turn aside from the Lord’s ways and statutes. These are such as have never known the right way, inwardly and spiritually. These are such as still uphold some appearance, but of whom it shall turn out that the Lord sees through them. And therefore,

O Lord, Thy perfect righteouness
Is in Thy judgments shown.

(Psalm 119, Psalter 338)

With such people God can have no communion.

Yes, they will depart to the place of everlasting darkness with the workers of iniquity. Iniquity. That is what we do and that is what we are. “From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putri-fying sores” (Isaiah 1:6). Truly, we are totally leprous. Seekers of self. Lovers of wickedness. Enjoying ourself in sin.

Everyone who makes common cause with the enemy, shall meet sudden destruction. Terrible if that has to be said about us.

But now finally, “Peace shall be upon Israel.” After the poet showed how terrible the state and condition of the godless is, he announced in contrast what God is for His children. Yes, what He gives them in days of need and strife, but also what He has laid up in store for them. “But peace shall be upon Israel.”

However, it is at the same time an admonition to seek the Lord while it is yet called today, to come to need Him Who bought His Church for time and eternity. He obtained peace for them. He is and remains the eternal Prince of peace. And it is He alone Who can grant unto Zion true peace.

The Lord cause us to seek that which is Above, so that it may be said of us and may become evident, “Peace shall be upon Israel.”

Chilliwack, B.C.

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