In Psalm 66 the psalmist presents many works of God. He also calls us to bless Him "and make the voice of His praise to be heard," because He "holdeth our souls in life and suffereth not our feet to be moved." He also declares that God has proved us, that is, "tried us, as silver is tried."
Plainly he is writing about what we call sanctification, which means making us holy. And that is the truth we should appreciate more than we do. The unbeliever likes to be saved from the punishment of sin. And that is a great blessing. But if we do not want to be purified, made holy, as silver is by fire separated from its dross, we are adding to our sins. Sanctification makes us spiritually pure. And it is that that we should intensely desire.
The psalmist had that desire and was thankful to God for having it wrought upon him. That is why in Psalm 66:16 he wrote, "Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul."For in his soul God had wrought sanctification, that is, had made him holy.
The question therefore is whether you want that purification. Do you want to have pure thoughts and desires? Do you want greater love for God and for things spiritual? Do you have disgust and hatred against sin?
There is another question here. The psalmist says, "Come and hear." The question then is whether you do want to hear the kind of preaching of which the psalmist speaks? Are you interested in being taught about our being made holy? Do you want to sing about that wonder work of God? Is that a very important part of salvation for you?
Only if we desire the salvation of our souls will we be assured of salvation of the body. We must be tried as silver, be purified in our souls. Only such will be delivered from the punishment of sin.
Read: Psalm 66
Through the Bible in One Year
Read today:
2 Samuel 18
2 Samuel 19:1-10
John 20:1-31
Psalm 119:153-176
Proverbs 16:14-15
Daily Meditations on the Heidelberg Catechism
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Quote for Reflection:
"Ah, dear child, to think that you must be raised up and will shine as the stars, yea, like the sun. I am joyful in spirit, but I am sad according to the flesh. The flesh doesn't take kindly to this. The separation caused by death troubles me above measure. It is strange to know that she is surely at peace and she is well off there, very well off, and yet to grieve so much." ~ Martin Luther, at the death of his daughter Magdalene
