Psalm

[0:00] As the Lord may be pleased to help me this morning, I will direct your minds to Psalm 119, the 119th Psalm, verse 175.

[0:29] Let my soul live, and it shall praise thee, and let thy judgments help me.

[0:43] Let my soul live, and it shall praise thee, and let thy judgments help me.

[0:57] I've been very concerned about a text this morning. I have turned the leaves over in the Holy Word, seeking for another word to bring before you.

[1:17] These words remain, let my soul live. And I believe, dear friends, it's a good prayer to commence another year with, desiring that the Lord would keep us alive.

[1:36] I'm not speaking so much of our natural life as I am of us spiritually. Because I believe, the dear psalmist, it was his concern, and I trust it's yours and mine, that our soul may be kept alive spiritually.

[1:58] Spiritually. Spiritually. On the other hand, of course, it is our desire that we may be spared one to another, be spared in this life.

[2:13] And therefore, if we should look at this for a few moments, our prayer, let my soul live, naturally. It is right, I believe in the sight of God.

[2:28] My mind goes to Ezekiah, as you will remember. He had a message, a message from God. Set thy nose in order, for thou shalt die and not live.

[2:43] Where did he take it? Why, he took it to his God, and bowed before God, and wept. And God heard his prayer, and answered his prayer in the dear man's favour.

[3:00] For he had it unto him, did he not some years in his natural life. So we can gather from that, it is right for us to ask the Lord to spare our lives.

[3:15] So often, feeling so unprofitable, unfit even to come to the mercy seat. Yet, it's right for us, for the Lord, ask the Lord in prayer, that he might spare our lives.

[3:32] Let my soul live. So, from a natural viewpoint, we might look at it, from a natural viewpoint, that our lives may be spared.

[3:45] God gives us our natural life. It's so that the world, the world and the dead, the Lord gives them. It comes from the same source, natural life.

[3:58] But, oh, we would come, I trust, a little deeper than this. And I hope, dear friends, that we have an eye to see the difference.

[4:09] And our heart to desire the spirit or life within the soul. Oh, again and again we find in this very, very psalm.

[4:27] I cried with my old heart. Hear me, O Lord. I will keep thy statues. Hear my voice according unto thy lovingkindness.

[4:38] Quicken me. That's the secret of it. Quicken me according to thy judgment. Draw nigh. Oh, how the psalmist desired to be right in the sight of God.

[4:55] Well, let's try and bring out a little of this life that is of a spiritual nature. Who possesses it?

[5:06] Where does it come from? It comes from heaven. It's implanted by the Holy Spirit. It's a gift. We have not in any way never sought for it until we obtained it.

[5:26] Touches our condition by nature. But it's by the operation of the Holy Spirit.

[5:37] And I might say, as will you know, the three so connected. That is, the three in the Trinity. They are one in three, three in one, and their mind and all their dealings with Zion is of the same.

[5:58] One never differs from another in the Trinity, speaking with all reverence. It is one, one in every way.

[6:10] Well, let my soul live. So there is a quickening operation, as you've heard of. And I trust each of us know a little of this quickening of the Holy Spirit within our hearts.

[6:30] Otherwise it is very sad. And if we go through this life eager unto these things, and know nothing of them experimentally, I fail to see the doors open of heaven to take us in.

[6:48] Narrow is the way that leadeth unto life. Few there be that find it. But I sincerely hope we, just a few poor creatures here, know something of this experience of our souls.

[7:06] Being quickened into spiritual life. As a miracle. I've often looked upon it as being a miracle, dear friends.

[7:18] And we will feel it so far deeper if we know what we are. So ruined in sin. So destitute. So vile, as it were, our sins in the sight of God.

[7:34] And then to realize the Lord has remembered us. And given us a blessing. That will last through life and for a never-ending eternity.

[7:45] And the blessing is this. To make our souls alive in spiritual life. Well, the dear psalmist, he knew the experience.

[7:59] Otherwise he'd never pray for it. He'd never breathe out this prayer, let my soul live. If he had not got that very spiritual life within his soul.

[8:14] This is not the cry of the dead. This is not the very desire of those who are still in nature's darkness. Let my soul live.

[8:26] It's the life and the prayer of the living. As I said, it is a miracle. A miracle that God, so great, so holy, so pure, undefiled by sin in every way, should condescend to look upon poor, vile sinners such as you and I, and make us feel it, and put a desire in our hearts for him, and a desire to pray even the words of our text, let my soul live.

[9:02] If we know a little, and I trust we know a little of this experience, of the soul being in prayer. In prayer.

[9:13] I'm not speaking of the prayer of the Pharisee, but I would speak of the prayer of the publican, a vast difference.

[9:25] The prayer of the Pharisee, why, it never went no higher than the roof where he was. But the prayer of the publican went to heaven. It was heard in heaven, and God granted him his request.

[9:41] Let my soul live. Let it live. Quickened by divine grace, born of the Spirit, loved of God, remembered of God, and the Spirit takes up his abode within our earthly tabernacle.

[10:01] Here again, isn't a wonder, isn't a miracle, to know that the Lord, by his Spirit, dwells within us. Dwells within our earthly tabernacle, a principle of divine grace.

[10:17] And as we look at others around us, of the world, we stand more amazed, at least I have at times. Why was I made to hear his voice, and into what's his room?

[10:30] Why? Can we answer that question? Why? And especially as we think, of the wrath of God, to some, not to others, but why me?

[10:44] Jacob have I loved, Esau have I hated. God is a sovereign. He can take one, and mold that one, and prepare that one, for eternal glory.

[10:59] Others, he fits for hell, for the place of wrath, and that for eternity. What's made us to differ, dear friends, is it because, God has a favor toward us?

[11:16] How do we come, to the house of God? How do we come this morning? Is there something, in your heart, and mine? Is there ours, to seek him? More?

[11:27] Is there something, in our hearts, that wants him, desires him, longs to take hold of him, want to find something, in him, that is, it will be an interest, to our soul, in the matters, of eternity?

[11:42] Is there something? Why, if there is, this prayer, is known, within your heart, let her, my soul live.

[11:56] And where do we live then? If this prayer, is answered, where do we live? In the world, the things of it, our minds, taken up, with those things, that are calm, or perishing, no, let my soul live, seeking.

[12:20] And as he not said, seek, and ye shall find. And the poor sinner, having spiritual life, within the soul, that's the one, who will be seeking him.

[12:32] Jesus is the one thing, needful, I without him, perish, must. There's the poor soul, that knows this experience, let my soul live, in an exercise, in a real exercise, within.

[12:51] And thus, it's living in, the fear of God. The fear of God, that's not the, slavish fear, within their hearts, friends, it's a holy principle, implanted, deep in the heart, and out of that principle, of the fear of God, there's this, let my soul live.

[13:17] Oh, if you and I know, a little of our carnal mind, and how often, we forget God, and turn away from him, and the things of the God, and even the word of God, and sometimes, even from the throne of grace.

[13:30] If we know, what this is, we shall come, to the words of our dick, if we have spiritual life, let my soul live. Live in the fear of God.

[13:43] What was the outcome, of the fear of God, in our hearts? Let us mention this. It's the beginning of wisdom. And they that feared the Lord, spake often, one to another, and the Lord heard, and hearkened, and a book of remembrance, verse was written, for them that fear God, and those that thought upon his name, and they shall be mine, in the day that I make up my jewels.

[14:09] The fear of God, dear friends. Oh, it's a wonderful blessing, to have that implanted in our hearts, the little life, and out of that life, there will be the fear of God, manifested in our conversation, in our walk, in the house of God, the fear of God, within.

[14:37] It will keep us from many evils. How often we pray, I have, and I'm sure some of you, who have a family, have prayed for the young, and for your dear ones, children, and so on, that they may possess, the fear of God.

[14:58] It's a tenderness, within. It's God honoring, and it will keep us, shall I say, from sin, many sins.

[15:10] Neither did I, said one of all, neither did I, because of the fear of God. So, it's our desire, that we might live, let my soul live, in the fear of God.

[15:30] To live in reverence, to his holy name. O we would, reverent, the Holy Spirit.

[15:41] Yea, the three in the Trinity. O great, O we little realized, their greatness, friends. O the greatness, I believe, has been resting upon, my spirit, for some considerable time, the greatness of God, and O we ought to bear, in reverence, before him.

[16:03] Holy in every way, pure, no sin, nor can he look upon sin, with any degree, of allowance. O I believe, if we realize this more, there would be, there would be, a more humble, experience in our hearts, to be humble to speak, to know, that he, and to believe, that he has anything, to do with us at all.

[16:31] So great, is he. Let, my soul live then, in, reverence, in the spirit, of humility.

[16:45] And this is, I believe, God honoring, to be found, in that spirit, of humility. Nothing in ourselves. We can see, at times, grace in others, who fear God, but looking within, their own heart, well, we come, to a sad place, where is it?

[17:05] Let my soul, live, in the fear, of God, in reverence, in the spirit, of humility. Just where, the publican was, he was in, the spirit, of humility.

[17:19] The Pharisee, in the spirit, of pride, self-righteousness, not acceptable, to God. God frowns, upon it. But let, my soul, live, live, in those, various, blessed, experiences, and exercise, of soul.

[17:44] Let, my soul, live, at the throne, of grace, and mercy, is it? I believe, one says, that he prayed, morning, and noon, at night.

[18:03] He prayed, and we have it here, with the psalmist, I believe, he, in this very psalm, that he prays God, morning, and, evening, and, at noon.

[18:18] Well, let our souls, live, in prayer. What does the apostle Paul, tell us? Pray, without ceasing.

[18:30] Oh, blessed place, dear friends, the mercy seat. Why, the Lord, the Lord, welcomes poor sinners there, the poor, and the needy, who seek water.

[18:45] And there is none, and their tongue, fadeth the first, I, the Lord, will hear them, I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them. Let my soul, and live, in prayer.

[19:02] Well, if we know anything, of spiritual life, within the heart, and the teaching, of the Holy Spirit, we shall be brought here, to mourn, over our condition.

[19:15] And this will bring forth, another prayer, out of our heart. And that prayer will be, for mercy. Mercy. Let my soul, live.

[19:31] Confessing. Confessing. Repenting. One thing to, confess, dear friends, our sins, rightly.

[19:48] I'll go further. We're compelled to do it, if we have spiritual life, in our soul. We're compelled, to confess, our sins, because our sins, were laid, with such a weight, upon our spirit, that we, must, secretly, leave.

[20:05] And this poor sinner, knows very well, that relief, must come from one source, from the Lord. Not from the creature. It's all, from the Lord.

[20:17] And therefore, there is, this desire, that we might, that we might, live, in, confessing, our sins.

[20:30] To confess, our wrong. In a right way, in a right spirit. Know that, there's many today, in various, so-called places, of worship, will be saying, seeking mercy, and say, they are wretched in us.

[20:47] But friends, it's the poor soul, has to do, as is he kind of old. He turned, his face, to the wall, and wept. That is profitable, to the soul, and God honoring.

[21:06] It's giving God, the honor, of, of, hearing prayer. And also, able to answer prayer, and to forgive sins.

[21:20] Let my soul, let confessing, confessing, go back to the, the, the, publican for a moment. God, he says, be merciful, to me, a sinner.

[21:36] And then there's a true, repenting spirit over it. When we truly, repent of our sins. And that, will be, exercise, the, the exercise in our hearts, at times, in our soul.

[21:57] If we confess, our sins, he is faithful, and just, to forgive us, our sins. And now we decide, to truly repent, over that.

[22:12] Truly repent. One thing is, confessing, our sins of the past, and the other, is to desire, to be separated, from them.

[22:23] As, as, Jabez of old, in that short prayer, you will remember, keep me, he says, from evil, that it may not, leave me.

[22:37] So, there's this desire, in the hearts, of the living. Let my soul, live. That wonderful psalm, you've probably, heard me speak, of it before, of, uh, David's, how he, uh, in his, uh, sad condition, as he'd, uh, previously, had he, previously, um, forsaken God, denied God, uh, turned from God, had no hear, to hear God, and, entered into, a backsliding condition.

[23:23] Let my soul, live. While the psalmist, may have gone back, to those days, in these thoughts, when he came, to the text, I know not. Let my soul, live.

[23:35] And how did he live? What was his prayer? Oh, he says, create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew, a right spirit, within me.

[23:47] Let my soul, live, in a right spirit, in a spirit, that is acceptable, to God. Let my soul, live. Create in me, a clean heart, renew, a right spirit, within me.

[24:05] That was a prayer. And what did he want, with that forgiveness? A broken, and a contrite, spirit. And I believe, these two go together.

[24:19] When our poor sinner, is able, to confess, confess our sins, all he wants, to hear from his God, that sin is forgiven.

[24:30] Create in me, a clean heart, renew thy spirit, within me. Give me, a broken, and a contrite, spirit.

[24:44] And this, follows on, by the God's blessing, when we are enabled, to rightly, confess, and truly, repent, over, our, many, many sins.

[24:56] Your thoughts may be, why bring these, afflictions, these dark experiences, before us, on the first, Sabbath, of another year?

[25:15] Friends, if we do not, confess our sins, we have no one, to forgive. Confessing, sins, repenting, over them, well, again, to the Psalm 51, what did David say?

[25:34] Wash me, is this, and make me, what did I do? And that's the pathway, from the felt, sense, of sin, and wickedness, to find deliverance.

[25:46] Wash me, and cleanse me, from my sins. Let me, let my soul live. And here again, dear friends, these blessings, coming from heaven, we cannot bring them, forth ourselves.

[26:03] We may try, and forgive ourselves, of our sins, perhaps we tried that, when the work, began in our hearts, thinking that we could, but no, we've had to live, to prove, it's impossible.

[26:16] Forgiveness, comes from one source, and one source alone, and that is, from an almighty, and gracious God. Let my soul live.

[26:27] And I believe, dear friends, the heavier we feel, our sins, our wretchedness, the more we shall cry, to God in prayer, that we might live, at the mercy, seeking forgiveness.

[26:41] let my soul, let my soul, let my soul, why the poor soul, knows very well, he can't do anything, himself in it, only try, and plead, the precious, blood of Jesus Christ, to cleanse, from our sins.

[27:03] Let it, let my soul. Dear friends, we can't take one step, can we, towards the mercy, without his help. Without me, you can do nothing. Nothing.

[27:15] You have to think, sometimes we can. I know many there are, today, in the world, and of it, having a, so-called religion, and they think, they're going to heaven, and their good works, and so on.

[27:28] But, it's not so. Let my soul live. Even in this, prepare me, gracious God, to stand before thy face. Thy spirit, must the work perform, for it is, all of grace.

[27:44] Live in that prayer, dear friends. Let my soul live. And what a mercy it is, that there is a place, for poor sinners, such as you and I, to go, and plead, that precious name, of Christ.

[28:00] What a mercy it is, if you've valued it. I believe I can say, I thank God, many times, that there is a price.

[28:14] And especially, as we notice, the world, the whirling, and those who are in, midst of troubles, and trials, afflictions, and yet, nowhere to take them.

[28:27] Nowhere to take them. They know not, this experience, in the text, left by soul, left. They know not the God. They know not Christ.

[28:38] They know not a Savior. Oh, how solemn to go through life. As it were, resting upon, a false foundation.

[28:50] Resting upon it, as something that will sink. And I've thought many times, there are those, building their hope, for eternity, for heaven, on such a ground, as that, sandy.

[29:06] Ground, where there's no foundation, at all. And these foundations, sometimes continue, till they close their eyes, and death, and prove then, prove then, prove then, that the foundation is false, their hope perish, no heaven.

[29:28] let my soul live, in faith, believing, in Christ, that he has opened the way.

[29:39] The truth that he has said, I am the way, the truth, and the life. And that's the only way, dear friends, to heaven, through Jesus Christ, and him crucified.

[29:56] The only way. That's my soul, and death, in faith, believing, in Jesus Christ, believing in the Trinity, to believe in the Father, to believe in his Son, to believe in the Holy Spirit.

[30:12] And this is a gift, for your friends. Faith is a gift, as you know, blessed gift. It's a living faith, not a dead one. It's a faith, that comes, from, from God.

[30:31] A gift, a faith, that we cannot do without. Cannot do without. That is for heaven.

[30:42] There is a dead faith, but there is a living. It's one of those gifts, that James speaks of, in his epistle.

[30:53] Perfect. It's a good gift. It's a perfect gift. And without this faith, we cannot approach God.

[31:11] There again, dear friends, no way, no way to Christ, no way to God, but to this faith. And there's no way to the Father, but by faith, in and through his dear, beloved Son, Jesus.

[31:28] And there are no way, you say, yes, it is a narrow way. And the Lord will have it so. Narrow is the way, that leadeth unto life.

[31:38] And Jesus said, few there be that find it. And no wonder the man, that says, my eyes go upon it, thy word, is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

[31:52] Oh, what a mercy to be brought there, in a living exercise, within our hearts, to be able to say, that the word of God, the word of scripture, is a lamp, shining, upon our feet, or at least upon our hearts, revealing, and showing us the way, to glory.

[32:14] Let, my soul, then, live, in the fear of God, in the spirit of humility, in the spirit of reverence, in the spirit of faith, may our soul, to live, seeking, seeking, for those blessings, that what I've mentioned, and the greatest blessing, what Jabez sought for.

[32:47] Jabez prayed unto the God of Israel, saying, bless thee, indeed, let my soul live. That's just where Jabez was, just where he was, dear friends, in that living experience, of heart, pleading for that greatest blessing, of all, the pardon, the forgiveness, of sins.

[33:16] Let my soul live. You see, here again, I don't know why I should speak thus, this morning, but, let my soul, he knew, very well, that he could do nothing, about it.

[33:31] The inditing, was of the power of the spirit, and not of the creature. He couldn't keep alive, his own soul, naturally, nor spiritually. And therefore, he was seeking, that the Lord, would be pleased, to, grant him this blessing.

[33:50] And let my soul live. And as we have read, this morning, and I believe, I mentioned it in prayer, so it seemed to come again, to my mind. Let my soul live, in a profession, of the name of God.

[34:08] Some of you are ready to say, well, I haven't made, an open profession. Let my soul live, that you might. That is, in a fear of God, in reverence, obey this command, as he not said, if ye love me.

[34:25] Keep my kababas. Is there something, a reply in your heart? If I love you.

[34:37] If I love you. Oh, that is often been a question, to many of the Lord's dear people. Do I love him? Is there something, in my heart, that goes out after him?

[34:49] My affections, do they go out for this one? The Lord Jesus. Let my soul live, obey his commands, his statutes, as the psalmist, throughout this old psalm, cries unto the Lord, Thy testimonies, as thou commanded, are righteous, and very faithful.

[35:14] My zeal hath consumed me, because mine enemies, have forgotten thy word. Thy word is very pure, therefore thy servant, loveth it.

[35:27] So there's this desire, dear friends, in the souls of these people, who can enter into the text, this morning, let my soul live, to obey, the commands of God.

[35:42] To obey, God's command, as he given. As there's one year, this morning, I know not, that the Lord, may have given you a word, and perhaps you are not obeying, the command of God.

[36:04] Perhaps you are turning aside from it. Is that so? Well, when the Lord speaks into the heart, there will be an obedience, to the word, to the command.

[36:23] If I might so speak, from my own experience, many years ago now, when I walked that path, but there was a constraint, in my heart, to follow him.

[36:39] And I desired, to be in the text, let my soul live, in the commandments, and obedience, unto God. Dear friends, we want to see a little, of what he has done for us, and then we shall not, in any way, flinch, as it were, from entering into the path, of commandments.

[37:00] There will be a willingness, in the day of his power, to follow the Lord, and to obey his word, obey his command.

[37:11] Let my soul live. You say, well, I feel I haven't got nothing, to bring before the Lord. What can I speak of? What can I testify of?

[37:22] That is an experience, in my own heart. There was an old lady, once went before the church, and, they couldn't, receive her.

[37:38] As she was leaving, after the meeting, the chapel, one of the members, heard her say, oh God, do help me, be merciful to me, I'm such a sinner.

[37:50] And you know, they had her back, into the vestry. And they repented, of what they had said, of what they had done. And they received, the dear old lady.

[38:03] And she came back, and she was baptized. Let her lie, so, yes. Oh, how wonderful, the Lord works, mysterious, often, mysterious, mysterious ways.

[38:20] Well, the Lord's favor, the Lord's favor, was toward the dear old saint. Oh, we, as a people, at times, can make mistakes, in these solemn matters. Oh, we need, to ask the Lord, to open our understanding, give us an understanding, mind, and so forth.

[38:41] That's why, so, live, live. hungering, in hunger, for heavenly blessings.

[39:00] Well, as a soul, what's the language, of a hungry soul, in Zion? As the heart, parteth after the water, blocks, so, parteth, my soul, after thee, oh, God.

[39:18] There's an hunger, and thirst, in such language, as that, dear friends. Is it yours? Is it mine? Food. Something more, than that, satisfies, the, earthly tabernacle.

[39:34] Good, as it is, we would thank God, for it. See, time, and of it, summer, and winter, and so forth. Sowing, that the seed, and the gathering, in, of the fruit, we would thank, God, for it.

[39:47] But there's a fruit, that is spiritual. Spiritual. There's a fruit, yea, there's a bread, that's coming down, from heaven.

[39:59] Let my soul live. Dear friends, we need a little, do we not? From time to time. We receive it, sometimes, under the preaching, of the word.

[40:11] When the Lord, apprised the word. with willful power, and unction. Or it may be, at breakfast time, or in the evening, as we close, about to close, for the night season.

[40:26] And perhaps, we've opened, I know this experience, I trust, a number of times, opening the scripture, there I sit upon, one portion, and how that has been, a touch, food to one soul.

[40:41] Oh, how mysteriously, the Lord works, but it's for our honor, and glory, it's for his honor, and glory, and for the nourishment, and feeding, of the inner man, of divine grace.

[40:57] Let my soul, live, in thirst, for thirst, manifest life.

[41:08] Have I quoted those words? I believe I have, this morning. Pour at the easy, seek water. How are you seeking?

[41:19] Did you come, dear precious, morning? Have we each come, into the house, seeking a little, water, from those streams, of his love, and mercy?

[41:30] Have we come, seeking, that blessed stream, of his, blood, blood, precious blood, cleanses, from all sin, and all, unrighteousness.

[41:47] Oh, this is what, poor sinner, who is living, in, living soul, longing, panting, wrestling, wrestling with God, wrestling, prayer, and wonders do, bring relief, in deepest strength, prayer, could force a passage, through, higher bars, and brazen gates, let my soul, lift.

[42:16] Just remember, oh, where we, at times, seem to neglect, even the thought, and the, thankfulness, praise, that, our, spiritual life, flows, through, Jesus Christ, our, living God, the living, Savior.

[42:42] Is this your prayer, my, this morning? I'm afraid, I've rambled on, dear friends, I fear, I've tired, some of you, this morning. But I believe, I've spoken, what the Lord has given me.

[42:55] And there, I so often, have to call, Lord help me. I've been, shall I say, condemned by some, in preaching, experimental truths.

[43:11] Instead of, taking a, certain, things that has happened, with the people of God, and so on, and, explaining it.

[43:25] Friends, I've looked sometimes, under this difficult, under this exercise of mind, whether I'm doing right or wrong, you read through the prayers, of the Lord Jesus.

[43:37] What do you find, the experimental truths, are beginning to end. Take that sermon, on the band, blessed, blessed, Jesus. And they that born, for they shall be comforted.

[43:58] And those, in the dark, those hungry, so thirsty, so the, the ministry, of the Lord Jesus Christ, are these, experimental things.

[44:10] And I believe, it's right, in the sight of God. And by God's, blessing, there's food for such. Read the text, let my soul live.

[44:23] I leave it with you, this morning. Amen. And by God's, the moon pool, my knowledge on the right.

[44:47] Serve him to you with him, Thank you.