Who May Rejoice by Mrs. M. J. Bahler

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Sep 9, 1886

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 12, No. 35.

Who May Rejoice.

By Mrs. M. J. Bahler

“Oh give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good; for his mercy endureth forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy.” Ps. 107:1, 2.

DAVID sang of the redemption from Egyptian bondage; but how appropriately can the soul which has been brought to see itself all stained and polluted by sin, “sunk in deep mire where there is no standing,”—how appropriately can such an one adopt the language of Israel’s sweet singer, when that peace which passeth all understanding flows into the weary, sin-sick soul! When, loathing its bondage to sin, it is brought to comprehend that “where sin abounded, grace did much more abound” (Rom. 5:20), then it must rejoice in Him who hath become its strength and salvation.

When a soul finds that in itself “there is no good thing,” that sin is the natural fruit of the heart, how comforting then the precious assurance that although sin exists in the heart, a God of love extends grace; that because we are sinners, Jesus died to save us. That even though the sin piles up until it seems mountain high, and “abounds” on every side until we seem to be hedged in with it, yet “grace doth much more abound.” That God’s mercy and favor extends above and beyond all the sin. “That as sin hath reigned [in our hearts] unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life.” How? “By Jesus Christ our Lord.” Rom. 5:21.

May not the redeemed of the Lord, redeemed from the galling bondage of sin, sing with a joyful heart, “Oh give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good; for his mercy endureth forever”? Surely, if any being endowed with power to rejoice and give praise to God can do so intelligently, it is the soul redeemed from sin. When with David we have bowed low in humiliation, and cried “Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgression, and my sin is ever before me,” then we are made to realize that a broken and contrite heart God does not despise, and that “the Lord raiseth them that are bowed down.”

Can a heart that has truly become conscious of its own sinfulness and its utter helplessness to resist evil and overcome sin of itself, alone, unaided by Christ, once realize the cleansing power of the Holy Spirit, the transformation which will be wrought in the soul by the love of Christ,—can such an one, I ask, taste the joy of sins forgiven and keep silent? Nay, verily. Such a thing is an impossibility. The soul that has found this priceless blessing can no longer bow low in mourning over sin. It will ever maintain a consciousness of its own danger without Christ, and this very consciousness will increase the gratitude which culminates necessarily in glad rejoicing.

In the consciousness of its own weakness the heart throbs and swells with glad praises to that Friend who hath not only redeemed, but who can also keep. Such an one will not be ashamed to proclaim, “He brought me up also out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God; many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord.” Ps. 40:2, 3.

Even “as the hart panteth after the water brooks,” so will such an one pant and long for a closer union with Christ. He will sing “Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.” And then, glad to acknowledge the reason for his joy, he will not fail to add, “Who forgiveth all thine iniquities.” Ps. 103:1, 2, 3.

Then is it not our privilege to rejoice in the Lord? May we not say, “He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defense; I shall not be greatly moved”? Ps. 65:2. Yes, we may make these glad words ours if we forget not to confess, “O God, thou knowest my foolishness; and my sins are not hid from thee.” Ps. 62:5. Thus ever blending a sense of our weakness and sinfulness by nature with a sense of his abundant mercy and abounding grace, we may rejoice evermore. MRS. M. J. BAHLER.