Indeed, What a Friend We Have in Jesus!
10/4 Reading Portions: 1 Kings 7; Ephesians 4; Ezekiel 37; Psalms 87-88
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10/4 Reading Portions: 1 Kings 7; Ephesians 4; Ezekiel 37; Psalms 87-88
Psalm 88:18
You have caused my beloved and my friend to shun me; my companions have become darkness.
SHUNNED
At the end of his own expositions for this psalm, Mr. Sprugeon states,
“We have not attempted to interpret this Psalm concerning our Lord, but fully believe that where the members are, the Head is to be seen pre-eminently.” —C. H. Spurgeon, The Treasury of David
Yes, this psalm may cause conflict and be a confusing one for many, since it is a song of triumph in its inscription, yet a dirge about God’s wrath (Psa 88:7) and inescapable sorrows (Psa 88:8) by its content. This passage gives us insights into the wrath of God; however, to delve into the mystery of God’s wrath apart from wisdom gleaned from the sufferings of God’s Son on Calvary’s tree would not only be the acme of foolishness, I personally believe its truth is enough to drive the natural man (1 Cor 2:14) insane. Not only is God merciful to us in abounding grace by pouring His holy wrath out upon His only Son, whereas through faith in Jesus we may be saved, but God is also merciful to us so that in Christ and through Christ we may understand the enormous penalty we’ve been saved from. Again, though redundant, we cannot possibly know the depths of wrath Christ Jesus suffered on the cross; He who was infinitely united in intimate fellowship with the Father like no other man who ever lived (John 1:18), yet knew forsakenness from God as no other man could ever know or experience (Psa 22:1). In our verse today, we see that Christ’s Beloved and closest Friend, His heavenly Father, shunned Him while He hung upon the cross. Jesus truly died alone as a Man for God’s glory, and on the cross, darkness had become the only companion to the Light of the World. Since we are saved by God’s grace through faith in Christ, we are saved from eternity in outer darkness; and more than that, we’ve been saved from an eternity without Jesus, the well-pleasing Beloved of God— this Messiah, who is our precious Beloved (Song 6:3) and our Friend who sticks closer than a brother (Prov 18:14). Remember, Jesus is heaven: the crucified and living One who makes heaven heavenly. Hallelujah! What a Friend we have in Jesus!