Triumphing in Praise

16 MARCH

Save us, O LORD our God, and gather us from among the heathen, to give thanks unto Thy holy name, and to triumph in Thy praise. Psalm 106:47

SUGGESTED FURTHER READING: Acts 2:40-47

This psalm was composed during the sad and calamitous dispersion of the people of Israel. It was necessary for the people to be completely humbled to prevent them from further murmuring against God's dispensations. Seeing that God had extended pardon to their fathers, who were undeserving of it, he aimed to inspire their children with the hope of forgiveness, provided they carefully and cordially sought to be reconciled to Him. This was especially the case because of God solemnly remembering His covenant with them. Through faith they might draw near to God, even though His anger had not yet turned away.

Moreover, God had chosen them to be His peculiar people, so they could call upon Him to collect into one body their dissevered and bleeding members. For, according to the prediction of Moses, "If any of Thine be driven out unto the outmost parts of heaven, from thence will the LORD thy God gather thee, and from thence will He fetch thee" (Deut. 30:4). This prediction eventually came true when the widely separated multitude was gathered together and grew in the unity of the faith. For polity, yet they were grafted with the Gentiles into the body of Christ, which was a more preferable gathering.

Wherever they were, the children of God were united with each other and to the Gentile converts by the holy and spiritual bond of faith. Together they constituted one church that extended over the whole earth. They came together to fulfill the purpose of their redemption from captivity, namely, that they might celebrate the name of God and employ themselves continually in praising Him.

John Calvin

FOR MEDITATION: The psalmist asks for deliverance for the people of Israel so that they might give thanks and triumph in praising God. This is a great lesson for us to remember when we ask the Lord for blessings: our ultimate motive should be His glory, not simply our comfort. What means can we use to learn this transforming lesson more profoundly and consistently?

365 Days With Calvin

Selected and Edited by Joel R. Beeke