Zion of the Lord beloved.
I. SHE IS THE OBJECT OF THE LORD'S CHOICE.
1. We cannot get rid of the truth of God's election. Many would like to do so. It calls up in their minds thoughts of a very painful kind. It clouds for them and to them the face of God.
2. But we see it everywhere. Are not we ourselves a chosen people? With whom hath God dealt, in the way of privilege, as with us?
3. And we act upon the principle ourselves. If we want some work to be done, we elect the best instruments we can find for it. We do not send just anybody, but we choose whom we shall send.
4. And this fact shows us how to regard the doctrine of election. The election is to service for the sake of others, not to their exclusion, as is so commonly thought; for their good, and not for their ill. Thus God chose Abraham and Israel, that his "way may be known upon earth, and his," etc. (Psalms 67:1-7.). Not that others may be left out of the Divine blessing, but brought into it. If we are rendering no service to our brethren, then we are not of God's elect, for all his elect serve.
II. SHE IS HIS REST AND DESIRED HABITATION FOREVER.
1. Allusion is, no doubt, made to the ark of the covenant. Its shiftings and migrations had been many ere it was finally fixed at Jerusalem. It went from Shiloh to Bethel ( 20:27); then to Mizpeh ( 21:5); then, for twenty years, it was at Kirjath-jearim, in "the fields of the wood;" then, for three months, in the house of Obed-Edom; and finally at Zion, where the psalmist thought it would rest for evermore.
2. But what was not strictly true of the ark and Zion is true of God and his Church. He ever dwells there; for his people have been chosen in Christ from the foundation of the world. He has already done so much for them, both in providence and in grace. Amongst ourselves nothing so hinds us over to render further help as help we have already given. And certainly it is so with God. He begins his good work, and therefore he goes on (Philippians 1:6). Then, God has promised to be ever with his people (see John 14:16-23; Ephesians 2:21, Ephesians 2:22). Amid his people only is he honored, loved, and obeyed; other men grieve, dishonor, and despise him and his Law; but his people count him their "exceeding Joy." And then he is beginning already to reap his blessed harvest in them. Our Lord himself was the Sower who went "forth weeping, bearing," etc. (Psalms 126:6); and already he is beginning to "come again with rejoicing," etc. For amid his people he finds even here and now—how much more by-and-by!—sympathy, love, holiness, devotion, those things in which he delights because they are of and like himself.
3. And what is true of the Church at large is true of the individual soul. Are we, then, members of God's Zion, enrolled in the fellowship of his Church?
III. THE PROVISION SHALL BE ABUNDANTLY BLESSED. Her praises, her prayers, her instructions, her ministers, her sacraments, her assemblies,—these are her provisions; and God shall, does, abundantly bless them to the securing of those happy results for which they were designed.
IV. THE POOR SHALL BE SATISFIED WITH BREAD. In his Church the poor are the rich, and the rich the poor. For the poor are those who know it and long for the Bread of life, and so get it and are rich. But the rich desire not, and so have not and are poor. And Zion's poor shall be satisfied. Oh to be of these poor!—S.C.