[Songs in the Night - December 18]
The Lord preserveth all them that love him. Psalm 145:20
WHEN we note the divine providential care over
God's typical people it increases our faith and trust
as his spiritual children, for with the apostle we reason
that if God so loved us while we were yet sinners as
to give his Son for us, much more does he love us now
that we are no more sinners, aliens, strangers, foreigners,
but consecrated to him and seeking to walk in
the footsteps of our Redeemer.
Likewise we reason
that if God exercised his providential care in the interests
of the typical people he is both able and willing
to do as much and more for his spiritual Israel—Israelites
indeed in whom there is no guile—those who
have entered into covenant relationship with him and
are seeking to walk not after the flesh but after
the Spirit.
Our text is in accord with this thought.
"The Lord preserveth all them that love him."
True, he has a sympathetic love for the world which
has led him to provide a redemption for all in
due time—all the redeemed ones will have a manifestation
of divine love and care over their interests—but now, during the Gospel age, divine blessings are
conferred upon those who will constitute the church,
the body of Christ, who love him more than they love
houses or lands, parents or children, or self.
All who
can thus affirm to their own hearts their loyalty to
the Lord, their faith and trust in him, may be assured
that all things are supervised for their good and working
out for their welfare, in matters temporal and
eternal. Z'05-332 R3658:5 (Hymn 252)