Desires for the spiritual prosperity of Zion (Quality: Average)

[0:00] The Lord shall speak again from Psalm 51, the 18th verse. Psalm 51 and verse 18.

[0:15] Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion. Build thou walls of Jerusalem.

[0:25] It is a sure mark of divine grace when you desire the spiritual welfare of others.

[0:40] Do not shut up in a little room of your own, well satisfied with your own condition and position.

[0:50] Never cast a thought outside for the welfare, spiritual welfare I mean of others. One of the features of divine grace that it doesn't lead to selfishness.

[1:08] And therefore the heart's desire of David goes out at the end of his confessional psalm here to Zion.

[1:23] The Lord would do good to other people. As I said this morning, those that he had caused to stumble.

[1:36] Before whom he had set a bad, indeed worse than that, example. This is one of the wonders of grace that to God belonged.

[1:50] And how many, even in our little company, have been the subjects of prayer. There well be how many of you children.

[2:04] To know what costs you are to your parents. What does regard your earthly prosperity, though that is important.

[2:19] But your spiritual prosperity. So many temptations like David had. Perhaps not murder.

[2:29] But so many temptations surrounding your young feet. So that none can ever know the volume of prayer that has been put up on their behalf.

[2:44] But it behoves us to hold fast to this truth. That we do pray for others.

[2:58] By that I do not mean merely mention them. Although that in itself is good. But strive with the Lord for the spiritual welfare of others.

[3:15] This Paul, in his epistle to the Hebrews, calls watching for your souls.

[3:27] Which is one of the exhortations and burdens of the ministry of the gospel. That your soul has to be watched for.

[3:42] Your spiritual care. The truth set before you. The truth that one day. It is to be hoped the Lord will lead you into.

[3:58] So that when in mature years. You'll be able to say, well this is exactly. What I heard when I was a boy or a girl.

[4:09] When responsibilities fall on your head. And you come to be the senior generation.

[4:21] Then you will realize. That there is a great value. In the exercise of prayer for others.

[4:36] They may be in your own family. They possibly are. They may be well outside it. But ministerially one over many years is brought into considerable concern over so many different people.

[4:55] And as I look back over the years of my labors here. Since 1940.

[5:05] Since 1940. I can remember those who lay with heavy and solemn weight upon my spirit.

[5:16] Because. Because. That there. Seemed no evidence whatsoever. Of the work of grace.

[5:28] God's good pleasure begun in their hearts. Evidently had none. On the other hand. On the other hand. There are those for whom he has had good pleasure.

[5:40] And done good to. And called. Quickened. And what blessedness there is in this. So that this is universal.

[5:54] Not peculiar to some isolated belief. Or some denominational belief. But it is the record of the universal church of God upon this earth.

[6:10] Spiritual well-being of others is inherent with the work of grace. Which is largely what we were saying this morning.

[6:20] From the first part of this verse. That David now turns his eyes outside of himself. And he thinks of those that is damaged.

[6:34] And the injury that is done to the cause of God. And should you ever come to that place. You too will realize.

[6:48] That it was injury. And that you were a stumbling rock. And that you did put barriers in the way of those who were following after you.

[7:02] And you were not consistent. That there is much grief. To be found in this pathway. The psalmist follows with the second part.

[7:18] And build thou the walls of Jerusalem. A beautiful figure. Who has said anything about the walls of Jerusalem being broken down?

[7:32] We might ask David. What do you really mean? Your sin it is true.

[7:42] Caused many to stumble. Your inconsistency and wickedness. Were a cause of grave anxiety throughout the land.

[7:55] And that as far as we know. No stones were removed from the walls of Jerusalem of David.

[8:07] Not like they were in the time of the captivity. Or preceding it. Or the time when they returned from captivity.

[8:19] To repair the walls first. And they recalled that there was much rubble.

[8:32] What is the meaning then of this? Build thou the walls of Jerusalem. The beauty of it. Lies in the explanation we have.

[8:45] In the New Testament. As well as in the psalm that precedes this. And the one that we read. The 48. There we see Zion.

[9:00] As viewed by the psalmist. That Zion rejoice. That the daughters of Judah be glad.

[9:12] Because of thy judgment. Walk about Zion. And go round about her. Tell the towers thereof. And she's just a casual picture of the temple.

[9:26] Walking about and admiring as you might some ancient castle or building. And be quite well able to grasp the magnificence of that building that has stood for centuries.

[9:42] In all weather. In all weather. This is a very common. And profitable naturally experience.

[9:54] To see the handiwork of ancient men. And also the strength with which these buildings were erected.

[10:07] But is this really the point? And then. And then. And then. Marky well her bull. Look at those buttresses. Look at their nature.

[10:19] Look how they are placed. They must touch the earth. They must be deeply embedded. They must have foundations to maintain the walls.

[10:31] Mark these. Mark these. Says the psalmist. And mark them well. Do not give a casual look at them.

[10:46] But see the ability of the builder. So that this is the Zion.

[10:57] That is set before us in this text. And when we come to the gospel explanation of this. We have such words.

[11:09] Which I think I quoted this morning. In whom all the buildings. Pitchley. Praying together. Groweth. And to an habitation of the Lord.

[11:24] Through the Spirit. How wonderfully. Considering the distance between the two writings.

[11:36] The length of time that has elapsed. How beautiful is this thought. That David asked the Lord to build.

[11:52] The walls of Jerusalem. Were they damaged? Yes. Some of the living stones. Some of the people of God.

[12:03] Were deeply injured and hurt. They have no lengthy record at all. Of the sorrow and suffering.

[12:17] With David's sin cause. They are not given any deep insight. Or detail into. The reaction of the godly.

[12:29] In that day. But undoubtedly. There was. And David knew it. The pain. And. This has gone on. Through.

[12:40] All ages. I must return. To the. Subject. That I was. On this morning. And that is. The inconsistency.

[12:52] Of older ones. To the damage. To the injury. Of the younger. Or. For that matter. The. Inconsistency.

[13:04] Of the. Older ones. To damage. Their neighbors. And to. Stand in their lives. Closest place.

[13:16] This can be done. Is in the home. Of course. As well as in front. Of the children. What an important place. Home is. Isn't it. Where our religion.

[13:29] Is tested about. Who can lift up their heads. When they consider. Some of the things. That have transpired.

[13:40] Within their own home. Which they themselves. Are solely concerned. In the church of God.

[13:50] Do. Look at the. Sad inconsistency. The. Bad example. Those.

[14:03] Grievous departures. And sins. Those errors. That creep in. Look how they. Wound. And hurt. Where is the cause. That has not been.

[14:14] Wounded. By seeing. Some. Depart. From the truth. What wounds.

[14:27] Pastors in particular. Have to suffer. That go. Right to their hearts. And bring them into. Deep grief.

[14:38] About which they cannot speak. What tears. We have had to shed. At the departure. And the inconsistency.

[14:51] And the falls. Of those. Who. Were. Once in our flock. And some. Who may.

[15:02] Well have returned to it. God. You think that you. Might be a cause. Of. Grief. To anyone. Think your children.

[15:14] Will rise up. And call you blessed. Or think you. That they may. Have. Some word. To say. About. Your.

[15:26] Inconsistency. To call it. No more. God. Now David. Knew. That. Figuratively. He had.

[15:37] Done. Damage. Caused. The enemies. Of God. To bless. Him. And for this. God. Told him. That war. Should never.

[15:48] Depart. From him. And it never. Did. Them. From his own. House. There. Should arise. Those. Who. Would. Bring him.

[16:00] Deep grief. And. Truly. They did. Absalom. In particular. It was. Many years. After. Probably.

[16:11] Ten. Or more. That dark. Cloud. Hung over. David's. Head. Some of you. May know. What these. Dark clouds.

[16:22] Are. Over your. Head. And you. Feel. That there's. Something. Coming. The Lord.

[16:32] Is going to do. Something. By way. Of. Instruction. And teaching. Not to cut you down. But to. Correct.

[16:43] You. In measure. Of. Oh. This. Will. Bring you. To your. Senses. Spiritually. This.

[16:54] Will. Stop. You. Getting about. After this. That. And the other. Father. Oh. With David. The time. Came. When Absalom. Rose.

[17:07] All well. Knowing. Why. He rose. In rebellion. Against. His. Beloved. Father. He. Immediately.

[17:21] Evacuated. The throne. of. I've often. Spoken. Of this. Haven't I? Of what a. Sacred scene.

[17:32] It is. He is a warlike. Man. Who feared. No. A. Given demonstration. Of his prowess.

[17:43] And ability. On the battlefield. Now. Comes a time. When Absalom. Rises. Takes a throne.

[17:53] And he. Quietly vacates. His friends. Follow him. With the ark. Of God. Thinking. To. Comfort him.

[18:03] And take. At least. God. With them. But now. He says. Take it. Back again. It can't. Come. With me.

[18:14] Now. Into this. Unknown. Pathway. Put it. In its. Place. If it be. God's. Will. I may see it again. If not.

[18:25] I am fully resigned. Here is grace. In the midst. Of the fire. Like the three Hebrew children.

[18:37] Only their bonds. Were burnt. Nothing else. The love. The love. To be. The love. The love. The love. The love. And this is what is the Lord's dealings with us today. And happy are we if we can see it.

[18:50] And bear the truth. Such as though it may. It is. It is far better to be served. As the old Puritan said better.

[19:04] That this should be. Than that we should be left to rot in honey. By these things.

[19:15] As David learned. And his affections now run out. To this beautiful prayer.

[19:28] Build down the walls of Jerusalem. Lord. I've. Knocked them down. Some of them. I've done that injury.

[19:39] Harm and hurt. Put them back in their places. Now the time came. When. He did. And the Lord helped him to do it.

[19:53] That beautiful chapter. Where he says. It's only left. At the house of Saul. To whom I can do good. And all the fire was taken out of him.

[20:06] And when there was that spirit of forgiveness. The traitor Shimei. Who cursed him. Threw dust at him. And whom.

[20:19] David soldierly. Said shall we go over and take off his head. David said so. Tenderly.

[20:30] God hath bitten him curse. I understand. I understand. I know why Shimei curses me. I know.

[20:40] God hath bitten him curse. Let him curse. These are. Solemn things. Aren't they? And yet. What lessons are bound up in them?

[20:52] There were these men. There were these men therefore. Who were injured. And so with error.

[21:05] What a solemn thing that is. As regards. The injury that it does. And the grief that it causes. The church of God is deeply grieved today.

[21:19] The numerous errors that arise on all sides. And one of them. And one of them. Is the varied attacks upon the authorised version.

[21:34] And the endeavour. And the endeavour. Under cover. Of greater wisdom. To say that this. Is not reliable.

[21:46] And that we can. Improve upon it. I only met. Recently. A young relative. He got.

[21:57] I think it was. A Jerusalem Bible. In his hand. And I said to him. What do you want that for? What is wrong.

[22:07] With the. Old one. Oh he says this. Gives us a. Better description. A more simple description.

[22:19] Written in plainer. Language. I said. Do you need it more simple? Do you need it. Plainer. See a soul.

[22:31] Convicted of sin. Wants to hold fast. To the old fast. If you said. Dave. Any of you.

[22:42] If you want. To change over. And. Who can tell. That you might. Be faced. With this. Suggestion.

[22:54] And title. God has honored. This. The authorized motion. It is. In the lives.

[23:05] Of. Many. Even. Today. And. What of the. Hosts. In heaven. Who gave their lives.

[23:16] For this. And those. Who spent their lives. Preaching it. It is. But a sign. Of the times. Of the times.

[23:27] Is this decadence. As regards. The word of God. And pouring. A slight. Oily. Contempt. Upon it.

[23:38] Cutting out. The. Lord. Jesus. In his office. And his holy work. And his holy relationship.

[23:51] To his father. We are faced. With these things. We need. To be stabilized. In our own soul.

[24:02] Firmly cemented. In the heavenly. City. That we do not. Stumble. And fall. Over.

[24:13] These things. Which. Lead nowhere. They will not. Advance. Your. Footsteps. Nearer. To the throne.

[24:23] Of grace. One iota. Now let me. Tell you. What will. A broken. And a contrite. Heart. Oh God.

[24:34] I will not. Despise. Doesn't it. Ring. Of the reality. True. Confession.

[24:46] This is what. He was experiencing. Now. A broken. Heart. I spoke. Last sabbath. Didn't I. Of Peter.

[24:56] Weeping. Bitterly. And those. Bitter tears. Do a wound. Good. Whilst. One. Wouldn't ask. For you.

[25:07] That you might. Know them. By some. Deliberate act. Yet. May well. Be. That the Lord. Intends you.

[25:18] To taste. Something. Of. In some way. Or other. In your life. These tears. May even.

[25:29] Flow. On your deathbed. A broken. And a contrite. Heart. Doesn't. Drop in. With. Current. So called.

[25:40] Religion. Does it. But there is a people. Know what it means. And can set their seal to it. That it is.

[25:51] A. Great. Blessing. Sacrifice. An offering. Thou didst not desire. Else. I would give it.

[26:02] Says David. I'm well. Able. To give anything. In the way. That you could ask. Of me Lord. As regards.

[26:12] Sacrifice. But thou dost not. Desire this. This isn't a rich man's. Purchase. Though he may. Possess his.

[26:23] Thousands. Of sheep. And. Their cattle. No. It is entirely. Out of court.

[26:33] Says David. Thou dost not. Desire it. Sacrifices. Of God. That is. That are acceptable.

[26:44] To God. Are a. Broken spirit. All these are. The gifts. That the Lord Jesus. Has ascended.

[26:55] Up on high. To give. A broken spirit. And how. Did you get it. David. By this. Terrible fall of mine.

[27:08] This is where it came from. This does not lay down. A standard. That everyone. Has to. Do what David did. Of course.

[27:21] How beautifully. The gospel. Unfolds. This in the. Epistle to the. Philippians.

[27:32] But now in Christ Jesus. Ye who sometimes. Were far off. Are made nigh. By the blood of Christ. For he is our peace.

[27:46] Who has made. Both one. Who has broken down. The middle wall. Of petition. Between us. This is Paul's word.

[27:57] To the. Ephesians. In the. Second chapter. That he might. Reconcile. Both. Unto God. In one body.

[28:08] By the cross. Having slain. The enmity. Thereby. And came. And preached. Peace. To you. Which were. Far off.

[28:19] And to them. That were nigh. What a beautiful. Chapter. To walk about it. To mark her. Towers.

[28:29] See how high. They go. Look at this. First chapter. In the. Ephesians.

[28:40] The height. Of these. Glorious. Towers. Blessed be. The. God. And father. Of our. Lord. Jesus. Christ. Who has.

[28:52] Blessed us. With all. Spiritual. Blessings. In heavenly. Places. In Christ. Look at her. Towers. Look at the. Towers. God.

[29:03] Everlasting. Love. In Christ. Jesus. Can you. Not see. The parallel. Between. This. And the. Tower.

[29:14] That David. Speaks of. In Psalm. 48. Can you. Reach. The height. Of it. Only by. Faith. But it is. To be. View.

[29:24] Having. Predestinated. Us. Unto the. Adoption. Of children. Have you. Ever. Been. Able. To see.

[29:34] The height. Of the. Tower. Of adoption. Adoption. One. Of the. Family. Adopted.

[29:47] Into. The kingdom. Of God's. Grace. Can you. Look. At this. With a. Steady. Eye.

[29:58] And see. And believe. Paul. Touches. Upon it. Also. Doesn't he. In the. Ephesians. In the. Romans. This was his.

[30:10] Term. And. Believe. It is. The. Tower. Of the. Gospel. One. Of them. Because. It's. In the. Plural.

[30:21] Having. Predestinated. Us. Unto the. Adoption. Of children. By. Christ. Jesus. To himself. According. To the. Good.

[30:32] Pleasure. Of his. Will. Well. This is. A height. An. Imaginable. To human.

[30:43] Thought. No man. Could ever. Have. Conceived. Such language. As this. In whom. We have. Redemption. Through his.

[30:54] Blood. And so on. And where. Do we look. For the. Foundation. Of. Of these. Bulwarks.

[31:06] And these. Walls. And these. Stones. If it is not. In the. Person. Of the. Lord. Jesus. Christ. Where are we.

[31:18] To turn. For anything. Comparable. Or by way. Of substitute. Where would you. Have us. Turn. Surely.

[31:30] This is. Walking about. Zion. Isn't it? Looking at. Her. Wonderful. Construction. Her. Stones. Says.

[31:41] Psalm. 102. For thy. Servants. Take. Pleasure. In her. Stones. And.

[31:51] Favour. The. Dust. Thereof. He will. Regard. The. Prayer. Of the. Destitute. Not. Despise. Their. Prayer. This is. Dust.

[32:03] And. Does not. The. Gospel. Give. Full. Warrant. To. Favouring. The. Dust. The. Unworthiness. Poverty. That.

[32:14] To. Encourage. Those. Who. Feel. A. A. Destitute. Tore. Needed. And. Do not.

[32:25] The. Lord's. Servants. Take. Pleasure. In. Her. Stone. Why. What. Wonders. Of. Grace. To.

[32:36] God. Belong. What. Rejoicing. When. There's. A. New. Stone. Placed. In. The. Building. Upon. Earth. When. Christ. First.

[32:46] Shows. Her. Bare. Face. In. Another. Life. Oh. What. Joy. If. On. Earth. So.

[32:56] In. Heaven. Thy. Servants. Favour. The. Dust. They. Roll. The. Bull.

[33:06] Walks. Are. Upon. Earth. The. Shore. Foundation. Look. The. Eight. Proverbs. There. We. See. Or. Hear. Rather. The. Lord. Jesus.

[33:17] Speaking. Of. Himself. In. The. Previous. Days. To. His. Coming. Where.

[33:29] He. Declares. That. His. Delights. Were. With. The. Sons. Of. Men. Here. We. Have. It. In. Ephesians. Before.

[33:41] The. Foundation. Of. The. Earth. Far. Far. Greater. Point. And. Purpose. In. This. In.

[33:52] The. Believer's. Life. Than. There. Is. In. Any. Other. Point. As. Regards. The. Beginning. Of. Time. Before.

[34:03] Time. Began. Can you. See. This. Marvellous. Bulwark. In. Your. Life.

[34:13] That. The. Lord. Dealt. With. You. In. Grace. Brought. To. Among. His. Family. Gave. You. Such. A. Remarkable. Year.

[34:24] For. The. Gospel. And. Open. It. To. Such. Strange. Things. Which. You. Never. Thought. Of. Before. Showed. You. Such. Beautiful.

[34:34] Stones. In. The. Heavenly. Building. That. You. Little. New. Existed. You. May. Have. Thought. You. Knew. Your.

[34:45] Bible. You. No. Doubt. Did. But. Now. You. Could. See. It. The. Spiritual. Eye. You. Can. See. These. Stones.

[34:55] They. They. Cut. Out. An. A. Quarry. Of. Nature. They. Cut. Out. As. Was. The. Stone. The. Solomon's. Temple. At.

[35:07] A. Distance. From. The. Temple. There. Was. No. Sound. Of. Any. Axe. Or. Hammer. Heard. In. The. Temple. Those.

[35:18] Stones. Were. Taken. Out. And. Shaked. And. Marked. By. Skilled. Masons. And. The. Architectural.

[35:29] Arrangements. Of. That. Temple. Must. Have. Been. Wonderful. Accurate. To. A. Degree. There. Was. The.

[35:40] Mighty. Stone. As. In. Some. Cases. Brought. Out. And. Fitted. In. Its. Proper. Place. Sinner. What.

[35:51] A. Beautiful. Thought. She. Saw. Me. Ruined. In. The. Fall. Here. I. Was. In.

[36:01] Nature's. Quarry. Without. Hope. Without. God. Without. Desire. There. I. Was. Born.

[36:11] In. Sin. For. As. David. Might. Say. There. I. Was. With. The. Sheep. No. One. Thought. Anything. Of. Me.

[36:23] Nor. Did. I. Think. Anything. Of. Myself. As. To. Being. Brought. Out. To. The. Kingdom. It. Never. Entered. My. Head.

[36:33] David. Might. Have. Said. No. Doubt. Did. But. He. Saw. Me. Before. I. Saw. Him. He.

[36:44] Loved. Me. Before. I. Loved. Him. I. Said. He. To. Bull. Wolf. Mark. Them. Well. Dear. Friend. Mark.

[36:56] Them. In. Your. Life. Now. Be. Really. Vital. To. You. As. The. Days. Pass.

[37:06] Along. This. Prayer. Of. David. Therefore. Takes. Us. To. What.

[37:16] Paul. Says. In. Whom. All. The. Building. Pitch. Lay. Rave. Together. I. Doubt. Not. That. Paul.

[37:27] Had. The. Temple. In. Mind. It. Was. To. The. Ancient. View. A. Master. Piece. Of. Construction. There.

[37:38] Was. Nothing. To. Equally. Even. Solomon's. House. In. Lebanon. Did. Not. Equal. All. The. Majesty. Of. The.

[37:49] Temple. Of. God. And. This. Says. Paul. Is. Fixly. Fried. Together. They.

[38:02] Doubt. Our. One. End. With. The. Other. In. Whom. Ye. Also. Are. Builded. Building. Is.

[38:13] Not. Quick. Work. Is. It. If. There. Should. Be. Any. Haste. In. The. Building. More. Than. Likely. It. Is. Out. Of. True. No.

[38:26] Building. Is. According. To. Plan. Is. It. It. And. Don't. Hurry. God. Work. If. You. Are. Young.

[38:37] Or. Even. Older. What. You're. Learning. Now. And. How. Even. Unhappy. You. May. Feel. About. Your. State. May.

[38:49] Well. Be. Part. Of. God. Teaching. You. And. Fitting. You. Into. Your. Proper. Place. In. The. Heavenly. Building. One.

[39:00] Of. These. Marks. That. You. Will. Have. Is. A. Well. Known. Scriptural. Mark. That. Will. Be. That. I. Am. Not.

[39:10] Worthy. And. You. Can. Trace. It. All. Through. The. Scripture. And. You. Can. See. These. Men. That. Were. Ways.

[39:21] Down. With. Responsibility. Saying. Like. Moses. I. Cannot. Speak. Like. Gideon.

[39:32] I. Am. The. Least. In. My. Father's. House. Like. Jeremiah. Like. Isaiah. It.

[39:42] Is. No. Coincidence. That. These. Men. All. Step. Back. Rather. Than. Step. Forward. And. Said. Lord.

[39:52] I. Do. It. You. Leave. It. To. Me. I. Manage. Lord. Now. That. Sabre. Of. Flesh.

[40:03] And. Dies. With. Flesh. Doesn't. It. But. These. Are. Fittery. Framed. Together. Oh. Praise. David.

[40:14] Do. Good. Put. The. Stones. Back. Lord. Do. Again. The. Work. That. I. Have. Undone. I. Say. Beware.

[40:25] Of. Your. Life. You. Older. One. Beware. Lest. You. Should. Bring. Shame.

[40:35] Upon. Your. Master's. Name. That's. The. Finger. Could. Be. Pointed. At. You. For. Inconsistency.

[40:46] Irregularity. There. There. There. Are. No. Laws. As. Regards. This. Save. The. Law. Of. Love. And. It. Is. This.

[40:56] Which. Predominates. So. Much. The. Kingdom. Of. Grace. Do. Good. In. Thy. Good.

[41:07] Pleasure. The. Prodigal's. Return. Servant. What. Shall. We. Do. With. Him. Leave. Him. Outside. Or. Say.

[41:17] Yes. We'll. Make. Him. A. Hired. Servant. You. Can't. Come. Back. Again. Into. The. Family. Circle. Or.

[41:28] Shall. We. Put. The. Prodigal. Back. In. Shall. We. Take. Off. His. Rags.

[41:39] And. Tatters. His. Self. Righteousness. Shall. We. Put. Shoes. On. His. Feet. And. A. Ring. On. His. Finger. Shall.

[41:50] We. Give. Him. Welcome. Oh. This. Wonderful. Grace. Of. Recovery. Restoration. Bringing.

[42:02] Back. The. Wanderer. Putting. Them. Back. Where. They. Belong. In. The. Purposes. Of. God. These.

[42:13] Happy. Days. In. The. Church. Of. God. When. The. Sinner. Repent. And. The. Prodigal. Returns.

[42:23] These. Days. Days. To be. Much. Admired. Here. He. Is. Prodigal. David. Here.

[42:33] He. Is. Prying. Do. Good. Lord. To. Others. Rebuild. The. Walls. That. I. Broke. Down. Hard.

[42:44] Man. Iniquity. What. Is. Great. So. Does. God. Speak. To us. Today. Give. Us. The. Added. Super. Added.

[42:55] Blessing. Of. His. Tender. Gospel. To. The. Recovery. Of. The. Greatest. Of. Sinners.

[43:06] Such. As. David. Amen. Amen.