Is it worth striving for?

The seventy-second Psalm is one of the most beautiful and comforting Psalms in the Bible. It takes us to the time when the vengeance of God on the nations has been accomplished, and the blessings of Christ’s reign about to begin. It then carries us into the millennium, and gives us a glimpse of God’s glory so soon to be revealed. As we reflect particularly upon verses 2 to 4, and 12 to 14, let us . . . “lift up our heads and rejoice; for our redemption drawth nigh” (Luke 21:28). And not only is our re­demption to be accomplished, but peace is to descend upon a war-torn world, the poor and needy are at last to be avenged and freed from their oppressors, the oppressors are to be broken in pieces, and the sick and sin-weary will be healed.

Are there oppressors today ? Are there any poor and needy? Is there suffering from pain and sickness in the earth? We have only to read the magazines and newspapers and listen to radio and television to learn of atrocities committed in some countries, and of oppression and distress in others. No country, even the most enlightened, is exempt from its share of graft, greed, in­justice and oppression. The poor and needy everywhere are, to some extent at least, under the heel of the oppressor, and only Christ and His saints will be able to deliver them.

And certainly we do not need to go very far to encounter the sick and the suffering. We see them every time we walk on the street, use transportation facilities, enter the stores — in fact we see them every­where. The hospitals and doctors’ offices are overflowing with them, and our hearts are filled with pity as we behold them. How we long with an intense longing to be able to say to them as did Jesus of old: “Thy faith hath made thee whole,” and to see them rejoicing in deliverance from their terrible bondage. Will we ever be able to do these things?

Let us see what the Psalm tells us will happen when Jesus and the saints take over the kingdoms of the earth. They will break in pieces the oppressor, and the poor and needy will no longer be trodden down. The sick shall be healed, and “the lame man shall leap as an hart.” There will be no more wheel chairs or crutches, no blind eyes and no deaf ears. The dumb shall speak and praise the Lord (Isaiah 35:5, 6). If the called out ones are faithful they can indeed have a part in this glorious work ! Then there will be no hospitals filled with suffer­ing and dying humanity; no more need of doctors and drugs; no more weary striving after the mere necessities of life; no more crimes and violence. And, looking forward to the end of the millennium, there will be no more death, no more sad gatherings around the graves of loved ones that have been lost. Is this worth striving for?

The sixth verse tells us that “he (Christ) shall come down like rain upon the mown grass: as showers that water the earth.” What a beautiful simile this is! The earth has many times suffered from drought. How dry it becomes without the life-giving water! The trees begin to droop; vegetation suffers; streams dry up, and water becomes scarce. The grass turns brown and flowers lose their freshness and beauty. And man, together with all creation, suffers. And then the showers come! The earth springs to life, the flowers lift their heads; the grass and trees become fresh and green again.

The Scriptures tell us that a great spiritu­al drought will prevail in the earth in the last days. The people shall seek the word of the Lord, and shall not be able to find it (Amos 8:11, 12). Then Christ comes as refreshing showers and “the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea” (Hab. 2:14). Can we, in this present evil world, with sickness, sin and death all about us close our eyes for a moment and visualize such a wonderful condition? Do we wish to have a part in bringing these things to pass? Are e willing to give up the transitory and disillusioning pleasures of this earth for eternal life and glory, and for the privilege of helping to bring about a peaceful and happy world where each man may have the privilege of sitting under his “own vine and fig tree,” free from the haunting specters of poverty, sickness. oppression and sin ? Is it worth striving for?

Verse 7 of this Psalm tells us that in his (Christ’s) days there shall be an abundance of peace. There has been no real peace in the world since the time of Adam’s fall. And today, as never before, “men’s hearts are failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming upon the earth . . .”(Luke 21: 26). We live in the shadow of war, and can no longer understand the meaning of peace. But in those days there will be no more war, for men” shall beat their swords into plow­shares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against na­tion, neither shall they learn war any more” (Micah 4:3). No more mothers, wives and sisters weeping when their sons, husbands and brothers march off to war! No more young men coming back from the battle­field crippled or wounded so they will be invalids for the remainder of their lives! No more making of destructive weapons with which to kill each other if the neces­sity arises. Then and not until then will there be universal brotherhood of man. Will we be ready when Christ comes? Are these things worth striving for?

Again the Bible tells us in 2nd Samuel 23:4 that Christ shall be as the light of the morning, a morning clear shining after rain. If we arc stumbling along in the dark on a cloudy, cold night, how happy we are to see a small ray of light streaming out from a window! Better still, how we re­joice if even a crescent moon comes out from behind the clouds, or a few stars emerge to light our way. It is night now, but the morning is coming, a morning clear shining after rain, beautiful beyond our dreams. Already we glimpse the dawn! “… Darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people . . .” (Isaiah 60:2), but in that day the multitudinous Christ will shine as the sun and there shall never again be darkness. “Now we see through a glass darkly, but then we shall see face to face …” (I Cor. 13:12).

Yes, there will come a day when the Lord and His saints SHALL judge the poor and the needy with righteousness, break in pieces the oppressor, and heal the sick. There shall be no more war, but an abundance of peace and joy. This beautiful Psalm tells us so, and ends by declaring that the whole earth shall be filled with the glory of God. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. May we be faithful and be clothed with a portion of Thy glory! And may we have a place in Thy kingdom so soon to come! Amen And Amen.

Is it worth striving for?