THERE are perhaps few simpler and more practical tests of the character and depth of what we may call “our religion,” than our ability to enter into and realize the words before us. Do you “sing psalms” when you, are “merry,” dear reader? Does your heart in its seasons of fullest joy habitually and naturally turn to God thus, to utter it 1 If it be so indeed with you, happy are you! Your joy has in it the essential element of all true joy: — perpetuity. That joy will last. None other will.
Perhaps you will think this extreme and fanatical. But at least you must own, it is Bible fanaticism. The inspired writer, — that is, God by him, — does certainly enjoin upon the merry-hearted to sing psalms. Is it indeed a strange thing with you to go to God with your joy? Your sorrow, I suppose you would think it all right to take to Him; you can understand the beginning of this verse I am quoting: “Is any among you afflicted, let him pray.” Well, is it quite unnatural, that He who is the best and surest Comforter in sorrow, should be the sharer also, and companion of our joy; of all our joy?
Alas, is the breach in Eden still so unhealed with you? Are you still so like that “elder son” in the parable, to whom music and dancing in the Father’s house are such strange things, that he must call a servant and ask what it all means?
Perhaps you too, like him, are bard at work for Him you call your Father. Perhaps you are saying, with as good a conscience as he, “Lo, these many years do I serve Thee.” Come now, honestly, — is there no hardness in the service? Are you never saying, like him, “And you Thou never gavest me a kid that I might make MERRY―with my friends”?
It is very true, this hard working, painstaking religion that so many have, too careful for the holiness of God to allow Him to kill a fatted calf for returned prodigals, — it does bring little joy, little brightness, little peace for the present, does it not, dear reader? Oh, what does your heart say to all this? You that say, you have to “keep the commandments” to “enter into life” — and can quote (as you think) Scripture for it, — but are not keeping them, — you that have to do the best you can to be saved, but, alas, are not doing it; — poor, careless professor, or sad and weary worker after a life which is “God’s gift,” — will you not ask yourself oven now, whether this is “peace with God” you have I whether this is the “rest” Christ gives to those who come to Him?
O I would I could assure you, that there is “music and dancing” in the Father’s house; nay, that it is ‘the only place where joy in its reality is to be found. You may never have known it, and yet none the less is it there. If it be not, tell me, O tell me, where is that home of joy? Can the world furnish better “mirth” than heaven? or the poor blighted earth than the One who fashioned its unfallen beauty? No, but the secret is, you are unreconciled to via, aid thus you cannot understand Him nor His love. You “sing psalms,” perhaps; but you are not “Merry.” Your religion is a sad and cheerless thing. You never did think certainly of singing psalms just because you were “merry.” Perhaps you did it because you liked the tunes. Perhaps because it was part of the decent ceremonial by which you thought God would be propitiated; and at least for the time it pacified your conscience, and male you think you were not irreligious. No matter much why it was you did it. It was not “joy in God,” as those joy, who “have received the reconciliation” (Rom. 5:12,12Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: (Romans 5:12) margin). You do not joy in him, because you have not received it.
Poor, wretched soul, thou art, whoever thou art. The rags of the “far country” are still upon thee! Knowest thou not, “all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags?” But come, arise and come to thy Father! There is bread enough, and to spare, and thou art perishing with hunger. Take with thee words and return: say only,” I have sinned.” He against whom have been all thy sins, “will in no wise cast thee out.” The very enemies of Christ preach the gospel to thee, as they cry “This man receiveth sinners.” “This man.” Yes, verily; and yet “God manifest in the flesh.” He that hath seen Him hath seen the Father. His own picture of your reception is: “his father saw him and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.”
Oh, when you have heard for yourself God’s own justification of His joy over you, “It was meet that we should make merry and be glad” — you, too, will find how meet it is to be merry, and what joy there is in His presence. It will no more be strange to you to carry your joy, as well as your sorrow to Him, — or when “merry,” to “sing-psalms.”