Psalms xlii-xlviii.

In the forty-second Psalm we have a picture of the remnant of Israel thirsting after God, the living God. There are tears mentioned day and night, and the enemy which reproaches, "Where is thy God?"' This reproach, which in the prophets comes always from the side of Gentiles, is uttered by them against the pious portion of Israel in the last days. Thus in Joel ii:17, that prophecy, which refers to the time of Jacob's trouble, we find this reproach, "Spare thy people, O Lord, and give not their heritage to reproach, that the nations should rule ever them; wherefore should they say among the people. Where is their God?" It is found in Psalm lxxix:10 and in Micah vii:10. In that passage the victory of Israel over the boasting enemy is predicted. The pious, God fearing remnant is seen afar off from the presence of the Lord; they remember Him from the land of Jordan and of the Hermonites, from the hill of Mizar. (Verse 6.) They are in deep trouble and fearful upheavals. "Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts; all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me" (verse 7). Very significantly the same words are found in the book of Jonah. When Jonah, repentant in the belly of the fish, de-sires to be in the Lord's presence in His holy temple, he said: "For thou hadst cast me into the deep, in the midst of the seas; and the floods compassed me about; all thy billows and thy waves passed over me" (Jonah ii 17). And yet this whole Psalm, in spite of the complaint, the trouble and the reproach breathes confidence and hope in God. "Hope thou in God; for I shall yet praise Him, who is the health of my countenance and my God."

The forty-third Psalm is the continuation of the remnant's suffering and pleading in prayer, as well as an expression of their faith in God and the coming deliverance. "Plead my cause against an ungodly nation" (verse 1) they pray. The ungodly nation is the unbelieving part of Israel, which will be swept away by the wrath of God. "O deliver me from the deceitful and wicked man." This man of wickedness and deceit is none other than the Man of Sin, the Son of Perdition, the final Anti-Christ, who is received as Messiah by the ungodly nation, but not by the remnant of Israel.

Beautiful and instructive is their prayer in verse 3. "Send out Thy light and Thy truth; let them lead me; let them bring me unto Thy holy hill, and to Thy tabernacles." What is the meaning of sending out light and truth? The Lord Jesus Christ is the Light and the Truth and they are waiting on God to send Him forth and that He would lead them to the holy hill. A similar prayer is found in Psalm Ixxx: "Let Thy hand be upon the man of Thy right hand, upon the Son of man, whom Thou madest strong for Thyself."

The Psalm which follows, the forty-fourth, they remember first of all before God, how in former times He had re-deemed His people and gave them victory not by their own power, but He the mighty God had stretched forth His arm and redeemed them by power. "For they got not the land in possession by their own sword, neither did their own arm save them; but Thy right hand, and Thy right arm, and the light of Thy countenance,, because Thou hadst a favor unto them. Thou art my King, O God; command deliverances for Jacob. Through thee will we push down our enemies; through Thy name Will we tread them under, that rise up against us." Thus will the remnant express their faith and hope in God. Then comes in this Psalm a sorrowful complaint of their sad condition in the time of Jacob's trouble (verses 9-16). "But Thou hast cast us off, and put us to shame; and goest not forth with our armies * * * Thou givest us like sheep for meat and hast scattered us among the nations * * * Thou makest us a reproach to our neighbours, a scorn and a derision to them that are round about us." The Psalm ends with a loud call to heaven for intervention. The trouble is at its height; the time of their extremity has come. "Awake, why sleepest Thou, O Lord? Arise, cast us not off forever. * * * Arise for our help, and redeem us for Thy mercy's sake."

When they cry in this awful dark hour, the last days of the great tribulation, God answers them from above.

This divine answer, the visible, personal and glorious manifestation of the Lord out of heaven, is seen in the Psalm which follows the xlv. The King appears in His Majesty and Glory. Who this King is in the forty-fifth Psalm, no higher critic need to tell the reader of the Word of God. The first chapter in Hebrews gives us the answer; the King is the Lord Jesus Christ. He comes with a sword; He comes to overthrow His enemies; He comes to receive His throne and the Kingdom. And His people is seen de-livered, brought into His presence to have earthly rule and dominion with Him. It is a wonderful prophecy of the Second Coming of the Lord as King, to deliver His earthly people, at the end of the age. The church, heavenly saints, are not mentioned in these Old Testament visions of Jehovah's manifestation, because our blessed Hope is altogether a New Testament revelation. May His heavenly people be kept from putting themselves down to the earthly level of the Jewish Hope,

And now the fifth Psalm in this series, the forty-sixth. We discover at once that the remnant does no longer pray for deliverance, for they are delivered; neither do they long any more for the Lord's presence, for He is with His people now. It is joyful confidence in God and assurance of the blessing which is theirs. From the sixth verse to the end there are the great results of His Coming made known.

"The nations raged (Psalm ii:1-3), the kingdoms were moved; He uttered His voice, the earth melted." So it is yet to be. All is getting ready for the greatest confusion, rebellion and bloodshed the world has ever seen. Nation will soon lift up sword against nation, but then all at once He will utter His voice.

And the remnant of Israel breaks in joyfully: "The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge," Israel still speaks in the two verses which follow: "Come, behold the works of the Lord, what desolations He has made in the earth," Look now you boating Gentiles upon yon Christless and Godless civilization, you great institutions of learning. Christian in name—anti-Christian in spirit, and behold the desolations. Bu. where are your men of war? Where are your quick-firing machine guns? Where are your torpedo boats and submarine boats?

"He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; He breaketh the bow and cutteth the spear in sunder; He burneth the chariot in the fire."

Then the Lord speaks; "Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted in the earth.'

And Israel answers again : "The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge."

The forty-seventh Psalm is Israel's praise and worship of the King, and the seventh, the forty-eighth, Zion, Jerusalem the city of the great King, which is now a praise in the earth. Enough has been given to point the way through these seven Psalms, which lead from Suffering to Glory.