Psalm 89:1 (tune and arrangement by James Fillmore (between c1864-1896), and Psalm 16:2 (tune by jws, c2014).

I met my Shepherd in His green pastures this morning where we visited briefly last night: Jeremiah 7:1-7. After I read through the passage this morning, He directed me to 1 Kings 8:46-54, and I thought of the mercy of our LORD. More than 380 years before God offered mercy to Judah through Jeremiah, He had moved Solomon to secure that mercy on their behalf. I woke singing Psalm 16:2, and came out of my prayer closet singing Psalm 89:1:

Psalms 16:2 O my soul, thou hast said unto the LORD, Thou art my Lord: my goodness extendeth not to thee;

Psalms 89:1 ¶ I will sing of the mercies of the LORD for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations.

Along the still waters, Jesus reminded me that the greater than Solomon prayed for His House, too. At the dedication service, when He had “finished the work” (John 17:4), Jesus declared that the hour for His glorification had come (John 17:1), and prayed specifically for His disciples (John 17:9-10, 20). He prayed the Father would “keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are” (17:11). He prayed the Father would “keep [us] from the evil” (17:15), that He would “sanctify [us] through thy truth” and declared: “Thy word is truth” (17:17). He declared that the glory the Father gave to Him, He had passed on to us (17:22), that He would be in us as the Father is in Him, “that [we] may be made perfect in one” (17:23). He prayed that the world would know the Father loves the Son, and that He has loved us as He loved Him (17:23). He prayed that we will be gathered to be with Him in Heaven to behold His glory (17:24).

I lost it right there, when Jesus prayed “Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world” (17:24). Our Saviour was loved “before the foundation of the world.” He was the Lamb slain “from the foundation of the world” (Revelation 13:8). God so loved the world, He gave His only begotten Son (John 3:16), to purchase the “field” (Matthew 13:38) in which He spied the “treasure” (Matthew 13:44).

In the valley, kneeling in the shadow of His Cross, I presented this body to Him as a living sacrifice, thinking it no more than my “reasonable service” (Romans 12:1-2). He gave His body for me and presented it to bear my sin. I am called upon to present mine to Him that “the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh” (2 Corinthians 4:11). Reasonable? Indeed!

My Shepherd, the Good Shepherd, Who gave His life for the sheep (John 10:11), Who knows those who are His, and are known by them (John 10:14), spoke: “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23). I heard, and heeded!

At the table, we supped in sweet fellowship (Revelation 3:20). He then anointed my head with His oil and filled my cup with His grace. Goodness and mercy followed us into the field. I looked over my shoulder, and I must say my heart was especially gladdened to see mercy!

Praying for revival! 🙏