- All our happiness comes from God's mercy; therefore the first
thing prayed for is, God be merciful to us, to us sinners, and
pardon our sins. Pardon is conveyed by God's blessing, and
secured in that. If we, by faith, walk with God, we may hope
that his face will shine on us. The psalmist passes on to a
prayer for the conversion of the Gentiles, which shows that the
Old Testament saints desired that their advantages might also be
enjoyed by others. And many Scripture prophecies and promises
are wrapped up in prayers: the answer to the prayer of the
church is as sure as the performance of God's promises. The joy
wished to the nations, is holy joy. Let them be glad that by his
providence the Lord will overrule the affairs of kingdoms; that
even the kingdoms of this world shall became the kingdom of the
Lord, and of his Christ. Then is declared a joyful prospect of
all good when God shall do this. The success of the gospel
brings outward mercies with it; righteousness exalts a nation.
The blessing of the Lord sweetens all our creature-comforts to
us, and makes them comforts indeed. All the world shall be
brought to worship Him. When the gospel begins to spread, it
shall go forward more and more, till it reaches to the ends of
the earth. It is good to cast in our lot with those that are the
blessed of the Lord. If nothing had been spoken in Scripture
respecting the conversion of the heathen, we might think it vain
to attempt so hopeless a work. But when we see with what
confidence it is declared in the Scriptures, we may engage in
missionary labours, assured that God will fulfil his own word.
And shall we be backward to make known to the heathen the
knowledge with which we are favoured, and the salvation we
profess to glory in? They cannot learn unless they are taught.
Then let us go forward in the strength of the Lord, and look to
him to accompany the word the Holy Ghost; then Satan's kingdom
shall be destroyed, and the kingdom of our Redeemer established.
prayer for the enlargement of Christ's kingdom.