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"Rest" means "be still or keep silent". When we are upset, how often a torrent of
words can flow from our lips! How hard to keep silent! But the Psalmist advises us
when we are vexed and upset, often by circumstances beyond our control, to be still, be
quiet, be silent. Then we can turn to the Lord in prayer, to commit our way unto the Lord
and trust in Him. Then we begin once again to delight in the knowledge and in our
experience of the presence of the Lord. We can accept those adverse circumstances,
knowing that He can give us the strength to endure suffering.
Verse 18 reminds us that "the Lord knoweth the days of the upright" and we are also
reminded of Job who said, "But He knoweth the way that I take: when He hath tried me,
I shall come forth as gold" (Job 23: 10).
When we have to endure any kind of affliction or suffering, let us remember
Psa.37: and rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him . May we not fret or become
vexed, but rather learn to wait in patience before the Lord. Our prayer may indeed be a
silent prayer, just resting in His presence, look upward to Him for courage and strength.
As gold is refined by fire, so the fire of affliction may remove the dross and enable us to
come through our experience in a state of greater spiritual maturity, and with greater faith
in our Lord, our Saviour and Head.
No.3.
Thankfulness.
pp. 171 - 173
"It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord,
and to sing praises unto Thy name, O most High" (Psa. 92: 1).
There are over 100 references in the O.T. and more than 50 in the N.T. to
thanksgiving. To try to summarize them in a short article is not an easy task.
If we turn to Nehemiah, and read of the tremendous opposition to the work of
rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem, we can understand the great pleasure of Nehemiah when
that difficult task was completed. Chapter 8: tells us how Ezra read the book of the
law of Moses to the people and in chapters 11: and 12:, we read of those who were to
dwell in Jerusalem and about the thanksgiving that was rendered. Mattaniah was given a
special office in regard to the giving of thanks (see Neh. 12: 8). In chapter 11: 17 we
read that he should begin the thanksgiving with prayer. In chapter 12: 27, we find that
the dedication was to be made with gladness, both with thanksgiving and with singing,
with cymbals, psalteries, and with harps. In justification of the inclusion of songs of
praise, verse 46 explains,
"For in the days of David and Asaph of old there were chief of the singers, and songs
of praise and thanksgiving unto God."