Not a Resting Ground, but a Pleading Ground

How often the children of God seek to create a resting place in what the Lord has given! Then we try to find rest in such experiences. But what a blessing when that which the Lord gives may become a pleading ground rather than a resting place.

It was precious for David in the last part of Psalm 138 when he said, “The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me.” What a firm trust we may hear from his mouth! When he looked back, life had not been easy. The enemies were always there seeking for a way to overthrow him. But the Lord delivered time after time.

Is this not the experience of all God’s children? The enemies within and without can be so strong—without, when it seems as if all avenues for deliverance are being closed; within, when that voice out of the pit of darkness is busy making God’s child afraid. It says, “Is it not all of yourself? Has it ever been really true in your life?” But what a wonder! The God of David is still the same today. He is a God who with His left hand removes the enemy and with His right hand upholds His people. He delivers them out of all their oppressions. There are then given moments when we may say with David, “The LORD will perfect that.” When the word “that” is used, it means all that which the Lord has worked in their hearts. They may then look back and see where the Lord has begun. How important that is in our day, where we hear much about the preciousness of Christ Jesus.

In Psalm 138:8 David said, “The LORD will perfect that.” He knew that the beginning in his life was from above. He never asked for the Lord, but the Lord asked for him. It was the Lord who worked that missing in his life and caused that inward sorrow to go out unto Him. It was the Lord who opened his eyes for a way outside of himself. It was the Lord who spoke unto his hungering and thirsting heart that for such a one there is a way in the blood of the Lord Jesus.

When he was able to look back, he had to say, “It is the Lord who comes back to His own work time after time.” Listen to him, “Though I walk in the midst of trouble, Thou wilt revive me: Thou shalt stretch forth Thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and Thy right hand shall save me.” He placed against the enemy a God-given weapon, the shield of faith.

Here he could trust his entire life in the hands of his God. The Lord would make it well. “I ruin it every time. From my side there can be no expectation. But what He has begun in my life, that will be finished by His hands.”

Here the child of God may sing, “Through Thee, through Thee alone, because of Thine eternal good pleasure.” Certainly the days of darkness are many. The Lord does not promise that it will always be light. But—the word “but” is a connecting word; but has the Lord ever let you stand alone? Has He not cared for you until this very moment? David said, “That which concerneth me the LORD will perfect”—and not only for David, but for every child of God.

God’s work always brings us upon our knees. There the voice of faith is born.

It is possible that you are in great difficulty and that you may be experiencing that the Lord is breaking down that which He has built, but through it all He will maintain His own work. No, it is not because of anything in your life. Here all of self must fall away; there is no resting ground in tears or in prayers. If that were so, grace would not be grace. Self must fall completely outside. Here your nothingness will not be a hindrance because faith may say, “Thou wilt perfect that which endureth forever.”

What a solid foundation David could see here. He said, “Thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever.” Here he points away from himself to the foundation of God’s church. This gives hope and comfort to a people who have looked inward and can find no hope for eternity. By the grace of God they may see that their salvation is anchored in the free and sovereign love of God who was moved from within Himself from all eternity. For such hellworthy creatures He has thought out a way by which they can be saved. For in the Lord Jesus Christ mercy and righteousness have met each other and at Golgotha they have kissed each other.

Now God’s Zion can be delivered. That is the solid foundation to which David pointed. Thy mercy, O Lord, is from everlasting. Therefore a holy and just God can say, “I have loved thee with an eternal love. Therefore have I drawn thee with cords of love.” He has accepted them in His grace and now they may share in His favor. For those people the enemies can be fierce, the days of darkness many. Their faith is often weak. Their cries are often fervent—oh, that Thou would establish the works of Thine hands in my life! Many are the days that they miss the sealing power of the Lord upon His own work. But they are a people who can never fall out of grace. The mountains may depart, the hills may be removed, but My mercy for them can never fail; My mercy endureth forever. True, if the Lord would do according to what we deserve and if He did according to our unfaithfulness, then all would be lost.

Oh, how the devil uses this when he comes and points to a life in which there is never any good, and says, “How can that be consistent with that which you have spoken of in days gone by?” Then the child of God must agree with him. He sees nothing in himself, but he can look outside of himself.

“Lord, it is Thy mercy, Thy free and one-sided work.” For that people He is the same yesterday—that was when He stopped them, drew them; today, when He continues to uphold them in the midst of all their strife; and forever.

The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me forever, because His mercy is from everlasting. Do you know that it is His mercy which causes you to hope upon His eternal good pleasure? Or do you stand outside of all this? How terrible it will be to meet God outside of His mercy! Then it will be forever too late. But today it is His mercy that He still comes to you with His most serious admonishment: Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and all these things will be added unto you. Today the door is not yet upon the night latch. It is still the acceptable time.

May it be your prayer, “Lord, that Thou would begin Thy work in my life. Bestow upon me that salvation which has found its beginning with Thee.” David might see what the Lord is for His people, and seeing it, he closes with the prayer, “Forsake not the works of Thine own hands.” We would almost say, “Is that not a strange prayer? Is he after all that has taken place not certain of what the Lord is and will be for him? Is he doubting? Is he wavering? Is he not sure that the Lord will perfect that which concerneth him?”

Following the richest experiences in the life of God’s child, many times there is the deepest darkness. So soon that which the Lord has given is brought into the sieve of Satan. Today they sing; tomorrow they are affrighted. Think of Elijah—how strong was his faith when he was standing upon Carmel! He did not doubt the almighty power of his God. But soon he was under the juniper tree and said, “Lord, it was all in vain.” Peter, seeing Christ by faith, walked upon the water. The next moment he looked upon the waves and experienced that there was no bottom under his feet. David said, “Forsake not the works of Thine own hands.”

At times the child of God may stand in the strength of faith. The life of faith is not an idle life. When by faith we may rest upon God’s faithfulness, then that is not a resting place, but a pleading ground. God’s work always brings us upon our knees. There the voice of faith is born. There the child of God may say “Amen” upon whatever is God’s way in his life. There he may be one with his Lord, and the Lord can do no wrong. Then he may plead, “Lord, it is all grace; therefore it can also be for me.” He may look up unto God’s mercy, may plead upon His mercy: “Do not forsake the works of Thine own hands, else I will fall back into eternal condemnation.” But no, that cannot be—the blood of the Lord Jesus is without repentance. For God’s people the price has been paid. That blood has opened a way where there was no way. And now the smallest one in grace, when he is surrounded with trial and oppression, may say, “The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me.” He may then fold his hands and with this childlike prayer pray, “Lord, forsake not the works of Thine own hands,” and draw nigh unto God.

It is God’s work, and therefore it concerns God’s honor and your salvation, child of God. Therefore fear not; the Lord has promised that not a hoof shall be left behind. Reader, may you have such a firm trust, “The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me.” May you have such a solid foundation, “Thy mercy, O LORD, endureth forever.” May you end with such a childlike prayer, “Forsake not the works of Thine own hands”?

Blessed Beyond Measure

“And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb.”

— Revelation 19:9

On earth it is considered a very great honor to sit at meat at a king’s banquet. When King David sought to honor the eighty-year-old Barzillai for his true friendship, he invited him to dwell in the king’s presence. Although the old man politely declined, he recognized it to be a great privilege. “And why should the king recompense it me with such a reward?” he asked. The same king showed kindness to the crippled Mephibosheth for Jonathan’s sake. David commanded that he should eat bread continually at the king’s table. What an extraordinary privilege this was in the eyes of Mephibosheth! We read of him that he bowed himself before the king and said: “What is thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am?” How much more glorious and excellent shall it be to participate at the banquet of the King of kings! The food that the Lord of lords provides consists of the most blessed heavenly ingredients. No one may enter there except the most favored companions. When Jesus sat down to eat while He was on earth, one of the guests called out in rapture, “Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God.”

Abraham Hellenbroek

Rev. J. den Hoed is pastor of the Netherlands Reformed congregation of Rock Valley, Iowa.

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