READ: PSALM 34:2 MY SOUL SHALL MAKE HER BOAST IN GOD
My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.
Everyone/us is prone to boasting and there is scarcely anything which does not call forth this tendency among us
Pride is the resident sin found in every human heart
Calvin was very severe on this sin, claiming it to be the most deadly
disease - the mother of all contempt/God and the mother/all wrongs
Some boast of their beauty - others of their riches - others of their pedigree/rank - their genius/learning etc.,
Some boast and glory in their wickedness/shame
Others glory in their supposed righteousness when they have none:
There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness. (Proverbs 30:12)
But we turn away from empty boasters to think of the saints/God
Have they any right to boast?
Is their professed religion from themselves?
Is it self sustained? Is it perfect?
Paul asked the question: Where is boasting then?
Paul answers his own question: It is excluded
Again, Paul queries: By what law? By the law of works?
Ans:- Nay! But by the law of faith
For it is of faith that it may be by grace (Romans 3:27)
The language/Believer is found in 1 Corinthians 1 where (quoting Jeremiah 9:23-24)
Paul says: Let him that glorieth…glory in the Lord
So while we cannot glory in ourselves/any other creature…
We can glory or make our boast (text) in the Lord
And so we ought to resolve to do so
There are times when surveying God in all His works, glories and perfection, we will exult with joy unspeakable and full/glory
Some thoughts/text:
1) THE ONE IN WHOM THE BELIEVER GLORIES:
A/ One who is our Friend -
A tried, kind, Almighty Friend
Who loves us at all times and who will never leave us nor forsake us
B/ The One who is our Shepherd
Who leads us beside us still waters and
Makes us to lie down in green pastures
Who restoreth our souls
Leads us in the paths/righteousness
And unharmed through the dark and frightening valley of death
C/ The One who is our Covenant God
God in Christ - the God of all grace
This God who is our God and who will be our guide even unto death
This God who is the portion/our inheritance and of our cup, maintaining our lot
Truly our lines are fallen/pleasant places…we have a goodly heritage
2) SUCH THOUGHTS OF OUR GOD MUST CAUSE US TO BREAK FORTH IN GRATITUDE AND PRAISE:
A/ Selfish/proud dislike to display any thought of dependence
Like to see themselves as self made men and self sustaining
But the godly/Christ Jesus ever delight to own their nothingness and
their total dependence upon the Lord for all they have received
It is very painful to be under obligations to an enemy…but how
pleasant it is to be indebted to the One whom we admire/love!
Therefore they who love their God supremely make their boast in Him
They willingly cast their crowns before His throne
They readily own: "By the grace of God I am that I am"
"In the Lord, have I righteousness and strength"
3) DAVID SUPPOSED THAT THIS WOULD BE KNOWN:
The humble will hear thereof…
A/ Possibly hear it from others
The godly have their observers and are "men wondered at"
Herod had heard many things about the Lord Jesus
B/ Probable that the humble would hear it from David himself
Consider his exhortation in the very next verse (v3)
Again: Psalm 66:16
C/ Spiritual sadness seeks seclusion and concealment
We just want to slip away and hide and see none
The stricken deer leaves the herd - the man sits alone
Peter went out and wept bitterly
D/ But spiritual joy can hardly detain itself
When Hannah was afflicted - her voice was not heard
But when her prayers were answered, she burst forth into song
4/ DAVID ALSO SPOKE OF THE EFFECT SUCH BOASTING WOULD HAVE UPON THE HUMBLE:
They would hear thereof and be glad…
A/ David knew this from his own disposition and experience
Believers know how other believers feel
All members of one family
All members of one body
B/ Those who pray with us will hardly refuse to praise with us
What sight can be so gratifying to a good man as:
A convert leaving the world to join the people/God?
A backslider finding his first love again?
A believer going to new heights with God?
A dying saint rejoicing in the prospect of death?
David said: They that fear thee will be glad when they see me; because I have hoped in thy word. (Psalm 119:74)
C/ Christians are not meant to be mopish or sad
We have a thousand joys of which the world knows nothing
We derive pleasure from the prosperity of other Christians even if things are not going well for us
D/ Best of all, we know that our heart is right with God
Envy is the rottenness of the bones and the temper of the Devil
But to rejoice in God is the nature of every true saint
May God help us to make our continual boast in Him
I will sing unto the LORD as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being. (Psalm 104:33)
THE END