‘Fixed, trusting in the Lord.’ Here is the means of the fixing—trust. He works the trust in us by sending the Holy Spirit to reveal God in Christ to us as absolutely, infinitely worthy of our trust. When we ‘see Jesus’ by Spirit-wrought faith, we cannot but trust Him; we distrust our hearts more truly than ever before, but we trust our Lord entirely, because we trust Him only. For, entrusting our trust to Him, we know that He is able to keep that which we commit (i. e. entrust) to Him. It is His own way of winning and fixing our hearts for Himself. Is it not a beautiful one? Thus ‘his heart is established.’ But we have not quite faith enough to believe that. So what is the very first doubting, and therefore sad thought that crops up? ‘Yes, but I am afraid it will not remain fixed.’
That is your thought. Now see what is God’s thought about the case. ‘His heart is established, he shall not be afraid.’
Is not that enough? What is, if such plain and yet divine words are not? Well, the Gracious One bears with us, and gives line upon line to His poor little children. And so He says, ‘The peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds, through Christ Jesus.’ And again, ‘Thy thoughts shall be established.’ And again, ‘Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee, because he trusteth in Thee.’
And to prove to us that these promises can be realized in present experience, He sends down to us through nearly 3000 years the words of the man who prayed, ‘Create in me a clean heart, O God,’ and lets us hear twice over the new song put by the same Holy Spirit into his mouth: ‘My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed’ (Ps. lvii. 7, cviii. 1).
The heart that is established in Christ is also established for Christ. It becomes His royal throne, no longer occupied by His foe, no longer tottering and unstable. And then we see the beauty and preciousness of the promise, ‘He shall be a Priest upon His throne.’ Not only reigning, but atoning. Not only ruling, but cleansing. Thus the throne is established ‘in mercy,’ but ‘by righteousness.’
I think we lose ground sometimes by parleying with the tempter. We have no business to parley with an usurper. The throne is no longer his when we have surrendered it to our Lord Jesus. And why should we allow him to argue with us for one instant, as if it were still an open question? Don’t listen; simply tell him that Jesus Christ is on the long-disputed throne, and no more about it, but turn at once to your King and claim the glorious protection of His sovereignty over you. It is a splendid reality, and you will find it so. He will not abdicate and leave you kingless and defenceless. For verily, ‘The Lord is our King; He will save us’ (Isa. xxxiii. 22).
| Our hearts are naturally— | God can make them— | ||
| Evil, | Heb. iii. 12. | Clean, | Ps. li. 10. |
| Desperately wicked, | Jer. xvii. 9. | Good, | Luke viii. 15. |
| Weak, | Ezek. xvi. 30. | Fixed, | Ps. cxii. 7. |
| Deceitful, | Jer. xvii. 9. | Faithful, | Neh. ix. 8. |
| Deceived, | Isa. xliv. 20. | Understanding, | 1 Kings iii. 9. |
| Double, | Ps. xii. 2. | Honest, | Luke viii. 15. |
| Impenitent, | Rom. ii. 5. | Contrite, | Ps. li. 17. |
| Rebellious, | Jer. v. 23. | True, | Heb. x. 22. |
| Hard, | Ezek. iii. 7. | Soft, | Job xxiii. 16. |
| Stony, | Ezek. xi. 19. | New, | Ezek. xviii. 31. |
| Froward, | Prov. xvii. 20. | Sound, | Ps. cxix. 80. |
| Despiteful, | Ezek. xxv. 15. | Glad, | Ps. xvi. 9. |
| Stout, | Isa. x. 12. | Established, | Ps. cxii. 8. |
| Haughty, | Prov. xviii. 12. | Tender, | Ephes. iv. 32. |
| Proud, | Prov. xxi. 4. | Pure, | Matt. v. 8. |
| Perverse, | Prov. xii. 8. | Perfect, | 1 Chron. xxix. 9. |
| Foolish, | Rom. i. 21. | Wise, | Prov. xi. 29. |
Chapter XI.
Our love kept for Jesus.
‘Keep my love; my Lord, I pour
At Thy feet its treasure-store.’