(Vs. 1) "O Lord, thou art my God." O, Jehovah (Saviour-God), thou art my God, not by creation only, but by covenant grace. Whatever others may say and do, I answer with Thomas, "My Lord and my God."
"I will exalt thee." How can such a worm exalt and glorify God? God is WHO He is and WHERE He is, and He is glorified in Himself. We can exalt God by (1) ascribing all glory and deity to Him, (2) by attributing the whole of salvation to Him, and (3) by believing His word and bowing before His Son, our Lord.
"I will praise Thy name; for thou hast done wonderful things." Read the final words of David's prayer in Psa. 72: 17-19. He has done wonderful things (1) in creation and the universe, (2) in providence and purpose, (3) in redemption and salvation, and (4) in things yet to behold (II Pet. 3: 13-14).
"Thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth." The covenant, counsel, and purpose of God in Christ Jesus are all done in truth and righteousness and will be faithfully performed (Acts 15:18; Isa. 46: 9-11; Psa. 85: 10-11).
(Vs. 2-3) When our Lord returns, He will fulfill His promises and purpose concerning His people (Jn. 6: 37-49). But He will also destroy all who oppose Him, no matter how many nor how strong (II Pet. 3: 10; Rev. 19: 11-16). There will be only two reactions to His glorious return.
2. The rest shall meet His return in fear and hopelessness (Rev. 6: 15-17).
2. He is our refuge from the storm of God's wrath and from the trials of life and evil forces.
3. "A shadow (or shade) from the heat," from the cradle to the grave (Isa. 32: 1-3). "All our need He doth supply."
If we will not hide IN Him, we surely will not be able to hide FROM Him. The scripture describes the Lord Jesus as "Him with whom we have to do" (Heb. 4: 13).
(Vs. 6-8) Here is the good news!
2. "Shall the Lord make a feast," (Rev. 19: 6-9). "A feast of fat things," of abundant promises fulfilled, "of wines on the lees," the best wine kept on the lees a long time.
3. He will remove the covering of darkness and ignorance spread by the fall over, all creation. He will take away the vail from Israel (II Cor. 3: 13:16) and the vail of dimness over His people, and we shall "know as we are known" (I Cor. 13: 12).
4. "He will swallow up death in victory." Death is so cruel, so grievous, so final on earth; but our Lord will, at His coming, turn it into victory and a cause for rejoicing (I Cor. 15: 55-58).
5. "He will wipe away all tears from their faces," like a mother soothes the hurt of a loving child (Rev. 21: 3-5).
6. "The rebuke of His people shall He take away from off all the earth." True believers are not loved nor appreciated by the people of this world. They are despised, ridiculed, and made fun of. The gospel is foolishness to natural men. Our dear Redeemer is rejected and despised. Our way of worship and our way of life are rejected and misrepresented. But one day the people of God will be vindicated. When the Lord returns, when the feast is served on Mt. Zion, when the vail of ignorance and darkness is removed, when death is swallowed up in life, when all tears are gone, then shall the Lord, His gospel, and His people be vindicated; and then shall it be said, "LO, THIS IS OUR GOD! (I Jn. 5: 20).
2. "We have waited for Him" (I Thess. 1:9-10). Our confidence, trust, and faith have been in Him, and our life lived waiting for His return.
3. "He will save us." He has and will save us (Phil. 1: 6). "By grace have you been saved" (Eph. 2: 8). "To us who are being saved, He is the power of God" (I Cor. 1: 18). Now is our salvation completed (Psa. 17: 15).
4. "We will rejoice and be glad in His salvation" (Rev. 5: 9-10).
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