GRACE GAZETTE
Volume XIIIssue 26
Published occasionally for Zion’s mourners
Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. Hebrews 12::12-13

FEEDING THE POOR

I will abundantly bless her provision: I will satisfy her poor with bread. Psalm 132:15

Every blade of grass, every grain of sand, and every creature under the sun exists solely to fulfill the purpose of the Sovereign GOD who created them out of nothing. Just as surely as the orbits of the planets about the sun are marked out with precision and the bounds of the sea are set so that it cannot pass, so too is every event under the sun ordered to occur in its timely fashion to fulfill that same exact purpose.

Thus we read the words of the LORD JESUS, “For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always.” (John 12:8) HE has ordained that in every age there should be men who are lacking in the riches of this world and has chosen them to represent the inhabitants of HIS kingdom. Each time we see those who are begging for bread, unwashed and unkempt, in debt with no means to pay their obligations, we should be reminded that the inhabitants of Zion are likened unto them. “Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?” (James 2:5)

The poor are seldom, truly, pitied and quite often despised by those who have an abundance of this world’s goods. They are looked upon as slackers and irresponsible by those who are convinced that they have gained their own good fortune by their own effort, education, and the tugging of their “bootstraps” rather than the favor of GOD who creates one vessel unto honor and another unto dishonor as it hath pleased HIM. In this they are much like those Jews whom Paul says, “For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.” (Rom 10:3)

The LORD would demonstrate that the way into the Kingdom of Heaven is “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour.” (Titus 3:5-6) In keeping with this very principle the LORD declared “I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight. All things are delivered to me of my Father: and no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him.” (Luke 10:21-22)

The sons of GOD are likened to the poor, because they are without power. “when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Rom 5:6-8)

The sons of GOD are likened to the poor because they have no one (apart from the LORD) who truly pities their plight, or who will be their advocate. “That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.” (Mat 8:17) “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” (Heb 4:15) “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:” (1John 2:1)

The sons of GOD are likened to the poor because they have nothing with which to pay their enormous debt.“For the wages of sin is death” (Rom 6:23)” “For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.” (Rom 7:14) “Ye have sold yourselves for nought; and ye shall be redeemed without money” (Isa 52:3) “Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.” (Isa 53:10)

The sons of GOD are likened to the poor because they cannot make provision for themselves. “I will abundantly bless her provision: I will satisfy her poor with bread.” (Ps 132:15) This is a promise which is totally without conditions. It is the LORD’s purpose to provide everything that the sons of GOD stand in need of. To this end HE has ordered all things to occur in the earth for their benefit and does so provide them with HIS abundant grace. “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ.” (Rom 8:16-17) “Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.” (Isa 55:1)

In the 132 Psalm the LORD mentions that HE will “satisfy her poor with bread” (or feed the poor). The question might be asked why are the rich not mentioned? The reason is that there are no “rich men” in the Kingdom of heaven. This is a kingdom which is specifically given to the destitute. “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Mat 5:3) Those who know they have nothing wherewith to pay that which they owe. Those that see a mountain of debt (i.e.; sin) which overwhelms them and leaves them in a hopeless condition.

This is not a kingdom for those who find themselves to be faithful, or those who have overcome their sin, or are able to perform deeds of righteousness. This is not a kingdom for those who expect to recount their triumphs before the LORD and bask in their victories. This is a kingdom for the outcasts and failures of the world, and not its model citizens For this reason the LORD said to the Pharisees, “Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.” (Mat 21:31)

It is natural for men in the flesh to desire to have an abundance of this world’s goods. All who would be honest would confess that they had rather have plenty of food to eat and nice clean clothes to wear rather than to be hungry and naked. Yet this Kingdom which the LORD JESUS has seen fit to manifest is not prepared for those who consider that they are in possession of anything which would fit them for its citizenship or give them reason to boast in themselves.

The LORD has designed this world for the purpose of manifesting the glory of HIS grace, in the redemption of sinners, through the blood sacrifice of HIS only begotten SON. HE has come into the world to seek and to save that which is lost. Something cannot be “lost” unless it is first in one’s possession and one has ownership of it. So too has the LORD declared HIS intention to subject that people which HE chose in CHRIST from before the foundation of the world, to the vanity of this world, (see Rom.8:20) that HE according to HIS good pleasure might manifest HIS everlasting love for them in redeeming them and saving them from its sure destruction.

To this end HE has declared HIS intention to seek them out and to provide everything which they might need to bring them out of darkness and into conformity with CHRIST. Thus HE has made faithful provision for them even when they were confessing rebellion against HIM, and walking in unfaithfulness, even as HE demonstrated this same principle through HIS prophet, as Hosea left corn and wine for his wife, Gomer, even when she was walking in whoredom.

The promises of GOD are yea and amen. HE is ever faithful to bring those whom HE loves out of the poverty which they are in by nature and into the glorious light of salvation in CHRIST. “He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the LORD'S, and he hath set the world upon them. “ (1Sam 2:8)

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