Sunday, August 9

Sunday Sermon


From Psalm 119:130, "The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple." -ESV

from Charles Bridges' 1827 commentary on Psalm 119 --- ". . . But - Reader - rest not satisfied with whatever measure of light may have been hitherto vouchsafed. Seek that the word may have 'an entrance ministered unto you abundantly.' The most advanced believer is most ready to acknowledge, how much of the word yet remains unexplored before him. Cultivate the disposition of simplicity - the spirit of a 'little child' (Matthew 18:3) - willing to receive, embrace, submit to, whatever the revelation of God may produce before you. There will be many things that we do not understand: but there is nothing that we shall not believe.

"'Thus saith the Lord' - is sufficient to satisfy reverential faith. To this spirit the promise of heavenly light is exclusively made. 'The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The meek will he guide in judgment; the meek will he teach his way.' (Psalm 19:7; 25:9). It is beautiful to see a man like Solomon, endued with enlarged powers of mind (I Kings 4:29-34), acknowledging himself to be a little child (I Kings 3:7), afraid of trusting in his own light; and seeking instruction from above.

"But never will an unhumbled mind know the benefit of this Divine instruction. To such a student, the Bible must ever be a dark book, since its very design is to destroy that disposition which he brings to the inquiry. That knowledge, therefore, which is unable to direct our way to heaven - nay, which by closing the avenues of spiritual light, obstructs our entrance there, is far more a curse than a blessing. Far more glorious is the simplicity of the word than the wisdom of the world.

"'In that hour, Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes; even so, Father, for so it seemed good in thy sight.'" (Luke 10:21) -KJV

No comments:

Post a Comment