Blessedness (2)

“Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.” Psalm 119:2

“The blessed are those who treasure God’s testimonies.  That is, they understand them, love them, and practice them.”

“To keep God’s testimonies means to consider them with the mind.  They must be studied and understood thoroughly.  But certainly it also means more than just cognitive apprehension of propositions.  For unless the “head” knowledge of the law trickles down into the “heart,” it would be impossible to “keep” the testimonies of the Lord in such a way as to affect ones outward life.  To keep the testimonies in one’s heart requires an emotional affection for them.  The believer must love God’s testimony. Simply expressed, the blessed are so attached to the truths of God’s testimonies that they are disposed to abide by them in their daily life,”

“The blessed man has drunk deeply from God’s reservoir of truth written in the Scriptures.  Having tasted this sweet drink, he desires more and more the maker of this elixir of life.”

“The blessed one seeks after God with his whole heart.  He desires to follow his master more closely and to conform his will and lifestyle to the perfect divine will.  Of course, the blessed on e will also be zealous for his Master’s glory here on the earth.  As he seeks after God with his whole heart, he will not tolerate those who despise God and curse him.  As a result of his own delight in the law, his heart and soul will yearn for others to join with him in this seeking.  For the seeking itself is blessedness, and who but a beast would not desire it for others?”

“This Psalm sets before us a way of life.  The blessed stand undefiled, walking in God’s law, keeping his truths hidden deep within their hearts.  The blessed demonstrate this hidden treasure to those about them in their fruitful lives.  Finally, the blessed run toward the giver of all these blessings as they find God’s Word a continuous “well of water springing up to eternal life” (John 4:14NASB).”
 

Gamble, Richard. The Whole Counsel of God, Vol. 1. Phillipsburg: P&R Publishing Company,2009. P534-535

Blessedness

“Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD.” ~ Psalms 119:1

“Blessedness is found in being conformed to the word of God. The more complete the Christian’s sanctification is here on earth, the more complete his blessedness will be as well.”


“The blessed walk in the law of the Lord. They do not walk in God’s law only some of the time; they follow his commands each day and every minute. The law of the Lord is not reserved for special times of prayer and devotion; rather, no part of their day is out of the sphere of conformity to God’s holy will. The blessed walk steadily in the law; it is the road map directing today’s journey, and it plots the course for the rest of their days.”

Gamble, Richard. The Whole Counsel of God, Vol. 1. Phillipsburg: P&R Publishing Company,2009. P534

“Eyeing and considering the hand of God in an affliction presently becalms and quiets a gracious soul."

“When tribulations come upon you: look to that sovereign Lord, that commisionates and sends them upon you.  You know troubles do not rise out of the dust, nor spring out of the ground, but are framed in heaven, Jeremiah 38:11.  Troubles and afflictions are of the Lord’s framing and devising, to reduce his wandering people to himself.  In the frame of your afflictions you may observe much of divine wisdom in the choice, measure, and season of your troubles: sovereignty, in electing the instruments of your affliction; in making them as afflictive as he pleaseth; and in making them obedient both to his call, in coming and going, when he pleaseth.  Now, could you in times of trouble look up to this sovereign hand, in which your souls, bodies, and all their comforts and mercies are; how quiet would your heart be!  Oh, when we have to do with men, and look no higher how do our spirits swell and rise with revenge and impatience! But if you once come to see, that man as a rod in your Father’s hand, you will be quiet.”

“Be still, and know that I am God;” Psalms 46: 10, q.d. consider with whom you have to do; not with your fellow but with your God, who can puff you to destruction with one blast of his mouth; in whose hand you are, as the clay in the potter’s hand.  It is for want of looking up to God in our troubles, that we fret, murmur, and despond at the rate we do.”

Flavel, John. The Works of. Vol. 1. Edinburgh: The Banner of Truth Trust, 1997. 364-65. 6 vols. Print.

The Covenant of Grace

“And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me.” ~ Jeremiah 32:40

"God has made a covenant with His people. He has given Himself for their portion, His Son for their price, His Spirit for their guide in the way, His earth for their accommodation by the way, His angels for their guard, the powers of darkness and death for their spoils, and everlasting glory for their crown. And because their way is difficult and their word is contrary to them, He has given them all the grace that is necessary to bring them to glory. In general, they have a new heart, in all things suited to their way, and thoroughly furnished for every good work. In particular, they have knowledge to guide, oneness to fix and intend, tenderness to submit to and yield, love to constrain and bring on, fear to fence and hold in, obedience to perform and bring forth, and perseverance to go through and hold out to the end – and there grace and glory meet."


"This is the covenant of grace; this is the word which, by the gospel, is preached unto you."


Alleine, Richard. Heaven Opened The Riches of God's Covenant. Morgan, PA: Soli Deo Gloria, 2000. 235-236. Print.