Almost Gone! # 1

Almost Gone! # 1

"But as for me - my feet were almost gone! My steps had well near slipped!" (Psalm 73:2).

Asaph appears, in his own mind, to have been going over the history of the Lord's people in general, and of some of them in particular; tracing out the Lord's dealings with them, and marking his peculiar interventions for them. Full of this subject, he commences his Psalm rather abruptly, exclaiming, "Truly God is good to Israel - even to such as are pure of heart." Good, incomparably good, had he been to Israel literally, and to all the pure, or true heated, among them. But His goodness shines even brighter still, in His dealings with His spiritual Israel. How good, how infinitely good to choose them to eternal life in His beloved Son, to predestine them to the adoption of children, to redeem them from death by His precious blood, to preserve them in the days of their unregeneracy, to quicken and call them by His Holy Spirit, to speak to them in His Word, and to work for them by His providence.

Yes, God has been good, and is good to Israel; even to such as have had their hearts cleansed from guilt - by the blood of Jesus, and from filth - by His Spirit and Word. Being pure-hearted, the hands are washed in innocence, pure paths are chosen, pure companions are selected, and pure conversation is enjoyed.

Asaph's attention had also been directed to himself, and while he marked their course, he compared it with his own, and as he reviewed his narrow escapes, and sinful propensities, he exclaimed, "But as for me - my feet were almost gone! My steps had well near slipped!"

He had been in great danger. Judging by the eye, misled him. He saw the wicked - healthy, wealthy, and prosperous; while some of the Lord's people - were sick, poor, and in adversity. Envy arose in his heart, and began powerfully to work. He began to think that it was folly to obey God, and observe His precepts. A spirit of complaining was produced, and he reflected upon the conduct of His God. At length he went to the Sanctuary - there his mistakes were corrected, his mind was enlightened, and his actual fall prevented. He was almost gone! His steps had nearly slipped! He had only narrowly escaped!

In looking back, how often has this been the case with us: But there are special periods, and some particular spots, which remind us, how near we were to a shameful fall. O this, ALMOST! This, well near! How vividly they bring before us past scenes, and past seasons.

We can remember what danger we were in, from peculiar temptations. satan studied our constitution, and prepared his temptation accordingly. It perfectly matched the lusts of our flesh, and natural bent of our sinful desires. It so exactly suited, was so calculated to make us fall - that we were almost gone.

Then, it was so adapted to our circumstances. satan always observes the circumstances of the Lord's people, when he prepares his traps for them. He has temptations for sickness - and health, for poverty -and wealth, for cheerfulness - and gloom. As every constitution has its suitable temptation - just so has every circumstance in the believers life. Besides which, satan plies his temptations with such power and perseverance. How he does this - we cannot understand; but that he does so - we cannot doubt. An infernal spirit often acts upon the human spirit. It suggests, it excites, it tempts, and alas! how often it prevails!

When the temptation to sin, and the opportunity to commit the sin meets - the conflict is fearful, and the result sometimes shameful!

When the wine sparkled before the eye of Noah - he was tempted and fell.

When Bathsheba's beauty met the eye of David - he was tempted and fell.

When the damsel charged Peter - he was tempted and fell.

And there have been times in our history when solicitation to sin, an inclination for sin, and the opportunity to commit sin - have met together - and we were almost gone! If special grace had not been given to us - we would have surely fallen.

~James Smith~

(continued with # 2)