Psalm 40:9-10 I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: see, I have not refrained my lips, O LORD, you know.… These are the words of the Lord Jesus Christ spoken by Him through the spirit of prophecy in the Old Testament. And — I. OUR LORD DID UNDOUBTEDLY FULFIL THEM. He concentrated every faculty and power to this work; He testified frequently to the greatest crowd. His preaching was never heartless. As if He had said, "Thy righteousness is in my heart, but I have never concealed it there." And He always kept to vital matters — to God and His attributes. "Thy righteousness, Thy faithfulness," etc. II. LET US STRIVE TO BE ABLE TO SAY THE SAME. It is certain that many will never be able to, for in all our churches there is a very large proportion of idle people. I hope they are saved; the Lord knows whether they are or not, but whatever else they are saved from, certainly they are not saved from laziness. They must imagine that they are ornaments, for certainly they are of no use, so far as any good offices are concerned. Nor will cowardly people be able to make this protest. The retiring disposition of many Christians is seen in somewhat the same way as that of the soldier who, when a charge was ordered, felt himself unworthy to be in the front ranks. Nor again will spasmodic people — people who begin things with much zeal, and then drop them. But many men of one talent will. I have known many such — good, earnest, humble, patient, praying toilers, hidden in obscure villages, with an extremely narrow sphere. And some, too, to whom larger talents have been entrusted. Let all such resolve to be able to lay claim to its praise. III. IF WE CAN, MUCH COMFORT ON MANY SOLEMN SUBJECTS WILL BE GAINED. The death of so many unsaved men; their hereafter, so awful; the doom of the heathen, the uprisings of error — for the blame of this wilt not lie at our door. Now, are not some of you ready to undertake this work of going forth as God's missionaries? In the sight of God ask yourselves — is it not your duty? ( C. H. Spurgeon.) Parallel Verses KJV: I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips, O LORD, thou knowest. |
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