Psalms 80:19

REFLECTIONS

READER! if the church of old, with reference to Christ, as he who was to come as the Shepherd of Israel, thus prayed him to shine forth, and to show himself from between the cherubim, well may you and I look up to Jesus now, who not only hath come and led his sheep-fold, and gone before them, but, like the good Shepherd, hath laid down his life for his sheep. If the church's deliverance from Egypt is spoken of with such praise, and Jesus, who was then only looked to through type and figure, was so dear to the people, surely believers now ought to behold Christ in everything, and enjoy him in everything. Let us, therefore, Reader, look up to God the Holy Ghost, the Glorifier of Christ Jesus, and beg of him for grace to make these two more especial improvements from this very precious Psalm: First, to have more frequent and lively actings of faith upon the person of Christ; and, secondly, to improve those actings of faith upon his Person, by keeping up a constant communion and fellowship with him.

Yes, thou great Shepherd of Israel, for I would call thee, thou blessed Jesus, by that name, do thou give me daily, and every moment, to act faith upon thy glorious Person! Thou art he whom the Father calleth his Shepherd, the Man his fellow! And thou art to all thy people the good Shepherd, the chief Shepherd, the great shepherd, whom the God of peace brought again from the dead! Oh! do thou show thyself to my soul in all the actings of faith, as feeding thy flock, taking account of them, knowing all their names, going before them, leading, guiding, feeding, healing, restoring, and keeping them, and causing them to lie down in green pastures. Yes, Lord! thou art thyself the food of their souls, and their portion forever.

And while, by thy blessed Spirit, thou enablest me to keep up a lively view of thy Person, and to act faith also upon thine offices, help me, Lord, to improve those actings of faith by maintaining constant communion and fellowship with thee. Precious Jesus! while thou art coming forth to bless me, help me to see thy coming, and to be going forth continually to meet thee: Lord, help me to be pressing after greater knowledge of thee, greater improvement of thee, and greater enjoyment of thee. And oh! let thy love, thy grace, thy tenderness, thy compassion, and the infinite preciousness of thy salvation, be my daily, hourly joy, and the food of my soul: and let the hymn of my heart be like this of the church: Give ear, O thou Shepherd of Israel, thou that dwellest between the cherubim, cause thy face to shine, and we shall be saved.