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[December 18]
The Lord preserveth all them that love him. Psalm 145:20
WHEN we note the divine providential care over God's typical people it increases our faith and trust as his spiritual children, for with the apostle we reason that if God so loved us while we were yet sinners as to give his Son for us, much more does he love us now that we are no more sinners, aliens, strangers, foreigners, but consecrated to him and seeking to walk in the footsteps of our Redeemer. Likewise we reason that if God exercised his providential care in the interests of the typical people he is both able and willing to do as much and more for his spiritual Israel—Israelites indeed in whom there is no guile—those who have entered into covenant relationship with him and are seeking to walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit. Our text is in accord with this thought. "The Lord preserveth all them that love him." True, he has a sympathetic love for the world which has led him to provide a redemption for all in due time—all the redeemed ones will have a manifestation of divine love and care over their interests—but now, during the Gospel age, divine blessings are conferred upon those who will constitute the church, the body of Christ, who love him more than they love houses or lands, parents or children, or self. All who can thus affirm to their own hearts their loyalty to the Lord, their faith and trust in him, may be assured that all things are supervised for their good and working out for their welfare, in matters temporal and eternal. Z'05-332 R3658:5 (Hymn 252)