A Song of Praise
God's merciful judgments and wonders are a testament to His faithfulness and strength, and He will ultimately triumph over His enemies and bring salvation to all people.
Ralph Erskine preaches about God's merciful judgments, highlighting His faithfulness, protection of the poor and needy, and His power over enemies and tyrants. He emphasizes God's saving benefits, describing a banquet of abundance and the removal of darkness and death, bringing comfort and joy to His people. Erskine concludes with the victorious salvation God provides, inspiring songs of praise for His redemption and the ultimate triumph over evil and death.
Text
SECTION I.
God's Merciful Judgments
1 Thou, O Jehovah, art my God,
Thee as mine own I claim;
I'll therefore celebrate abroad
And praise thy glorious name:
For thou hast wonders manifold
Perform'd in recent dress;
Shap'd to thy counsels, which of old
Are truth and faithfulness.
2 In heaps and rubbish laid thou hast
Strong cities fenc'd afore;
And strangers' palaces laid waste,
To be rebuilt no more.
3 Thy stoutest foes shall therefore yield
The glory thine to be;
And nations fierce resign the field,
And fear to cope with thee.
4 For thou in straits a strength to poor
And needy ones hast been;
From blowing storm a refuge sure,
From scorching heat a screen.
And that in times of greatest dread,
When furious tempests fall,
And blasts of tyrants fierce exceed
The storm that beats the wall.
5 The ruffling noise of strangers rude,
Thou shalt abate with ease,
As in dry plots a shady cloud
Does scorching heat surcease:
On tyrants proud thoul't be aveng'd,
That are so dreadful now;
Their jovial trebles shall be chang'd
And doleful basses low.
SECTION II.
His saving Benefits.
6 Lo! in this mount the Lord of hosts
A banquet shall prepare,
For all that tread on Zion's coasts,
And people ev'ry-where.
He'll with fat things and wines suffice,
Fat things of marrow full,
Wines well refin'd, from off the lees,
To glad and cheer the dull.
7 And in this mount he'll raze the vail,
The face o'er-cov'ring shade,
Of darkness cast o'er people all,
And o'er all nations spread.
8 He'll swallow up in victory,
Grim death, the king of fears
From faces all the Lord most high
Will wipe away the tears;
What base contempt, and vile reproach,
Were on his people laid,
From off the earth he'll quite dispatch
For so the Lord hath said.
SECTION III.
His victorious Salvation.
9 That day shall songs be utter'd thus,
"Behold this is our God;
We stay'd for him, and now he'll us,
With his salvation load:
This is the Lord Redeemer kind,
For whom we, long did wait;
We will be glad, with joyful mind,
In his salvation great."
10 For here shall rest our conqu'ring God,
And Moab be o'erthrown;
11 The gates of hell shall down be trod,
12 The trump of triumph blown.
Sermon Outline
- God's Merciful Judgments
- His saving Benefits
- His victorious Salvation
- God's salvation and redemption
- God's triumph over His enemies
- God's glory and triumph
Key Quotes
“Thou, O Jehovah, art my God, Thee as mine own I claim; I''ll therefore celebrate abroad And praise thy glorious name:” — Ralph Erskine
“For thou in straits a strength to poor And needy ones hast been; From blowing storm a refuge sure, From scorching heat a screen.” — Ralph Erskine
“That day shall songs be utter'd thus, 'Behold this is our God; We stay'd for him, and now he'll us, With his salvation load:'” — Ralph Erskine
Application Points
- We should celebrate and praise God's glorious name for His wonders and faithfulness.
- God provides a refuge and a screen from the storm and scorching heat, and we should seek Him in times of need.
- God's ultimate victory is over death and fear, and we should trust in His salvation and redemption.