GOD PLEADING FOR SAINTS, AND SAINTS PLEADING FOR GOD – Charles Spurgeon
GOD PLEADING FOR SAINTS, AND SAINTS PLEADING FOR GOD
Introduction: The Importance of Personal Experience in Understanding Divine Truth
“O Lord, You have pleaded the case for my soul; You have redeemed my life.” Lamentations 3:58.
The prophet speaks experimentally, as someone who has personally experienced this divine truth. There is no true understanding of the truths of God except through personal experience. We have heard of men sitting in their drawing rooms and writing volumes on voyages and travels, but such books always bear the marks of fiction. They can never compare in interest and freshness to the accounts of men who have actually traversed unknown lands. Similarly, the botanist who has never seen a flower is nothing more than a pretender to the science. The soldier who has never shouldered a gun is a raw recruit. In the same way, the person who knows the truth of God only by what he has heard, but has not experienced it personally—who has not tasted it, handled it, and seen the Word of Life—knows nothing of true value and would do well to confess his ignorance.
The prophet does not say, “Lord, You have pleaded the case of another man’s soul,” but rather, “You have pleaded the case for my soul.” At the beginning of this discourse, I invite you to ask yourselves: Has the Lord pleaded the cause of your soul? This question may be of great service to you. That eminent Puritan preacher, Mr. Thomas Doolittle, was once teaching the catechism to the children of the congregation, as was the custom of the Puritans on Sundays. He asked the children the question, “What is Effectual Calling?” The answer was given, as it stands in our catechism: “Effectual Calling is the work of God’s Spirit, whereby, convincing us of our sin and misery, enlightening our minds in the knowledge of Christ, and renewing our wills, He does persuade and enable us to embrace Jesus Christ freely offered to us in the Gospel.”
The good man stopped and said to the children, “Let us use the personal pronoun in the singular—are there any among you who can say that all this is yours?” To his great joy, one child stood up, tears streaming, and said, “Effectual calling is the work of God’s Spirit, whereby, convincing me of my sin and misery, enlightening my mind in the knowledge of Christ, and renewing my will, He has persuaded and enabled me to embrace Jesus Christ freely offered to me in the Gospel.” This is the true way to understand any doctrine—by being able to say, from personal experience, that God has worked in your soul, brought you into reconciliation with Him, and enabled you to rejoice in His promises.
You are greatly blessed if, like the prophet, you can speak from a place of personal experience. It is important to note how positively the prophet speaks. He does not say, “I hope, I trust, I sometimes think that God has pleaded the case for my soul.” He speaks of it as a fact, something not to be disputed: “You have pleaded the case for my soul.”
Brothers and sisters, by the help of the Holy Spirit, let us shake off those doubts and fears that hinder our peace. Let us pray today that we can speak with the clear, confident voice of assurance, saying, “I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him.”
I enjoy hearing a Christian speak about their experience as though they truly know what they are talking about—not as if it were all guesswork, but as one who, with the witness of the Holy Spirit, knows they are speaking the truth of God! “You have pleaded the case for my soul.”
Notice how the prophet speaks gratefully, ascribing all glory to God alone. He does not mention himself or his own pleadings, but simply says, “You, O Lord, have pleaded the case for my soul; You have redeemed my life.” A grateful spirit should always be cultivated by the Christian, especially after deliverances. After deliverance, we should prepare a song of thanksgiving for our God.
Gratitude and Joy for Deliverance
O believers, wake up your hearts, and tune your tongues to compete with angels before the Throne of God! Earth should be a temple filled with songs of grateful saints, and every day should be a censer burning with the sweet incense of thanksgiving! How joyful Jeremiah is while he records the Lord’s mercy! He has been in the low dungeon, and even now, in the book of “Lamentations,” we hear his voice rising triumphantly, saying, “You have pleaded the case for my soul; You have redeemed my life!”
Children of God, seek after a deep experience of the Lord’s loving kindness, and when you have it, speak positively of it. Sing gratefully, shout triumphantly, and let no enemy stop your glorying on this side of heaven, for on the other side, the free grace of God shall be your glory forever. And there, you will sing eternally, “You have pleaded the case for my soul; You have redeemed my life.”
We will now consider divine pleading as the Christian’s joy and discuss the Christian’s role in pleading the cause of God as his duty and delight.
I. Divine Pleading as the Christian’s Joy
- God Pleads Our Cause in the Court of Providence
Jeremiah was confined to a low dungeon, a wet, damp pit. He would have been left to rot there had not Ebedmelech, an Ethiopian eunuch in the king’s service, gone to King Zedekiah to plead for Jeremiah’s release. The king allowed Ebedmelech to take Jeremiah out of the pit. Yet, while Ebedmelech had a role in the deliverance, Jeremiah ascribes his ultimate deliverance not to the eunuch, but to God: “You have pleaded the case for my soul.”
As Christians, we may expect that God, in the course of Providence, will raise up people in unexpected places to take an interest in us and be the means of our deliverance. God sits at the helm of Providence. When the vessel of our life is near the rocks, He can steer it safely into calm waters. And when our lives are caught in a storm, He can change the winds in such a way that we can sail forward with ease.
Sometimes, God pleads the cause of His people by silencing their enemies. Take the case of Jacob, whose sons had murdered the Shechemites. Jacob feared for his life, but despite the wrongs committed by his sons, God silenced the Canaanites around them, preventing them from seeking revenge. This is a powerful example of how God pleads our cause by raising up friends or silencing enemies.
2. Pleading in the Court of Divine Law
Imagine, this morning, being led into the court of divine law. The law arraigns you for having broken God’s commandments. “He has broken every one of them,” says the Law, “either in deed, word, or thought.” The witnesses—Satan, the Omniscience of God, and our own conscience—testify against us. What will we say in our defense? We stand silent because we know our guilt. But then, our Advocate, Jesus Christ, steps forward.
What does He plead? “O Justice,” He says, “I plead not that these men have not sinned. I do confess on their behalf that they have grievously sinned; but I plead for them that their sin has been punished—punished in Me. The curse of their sin was laid on Me. I loved them before the foundations of the world and took their sin upon Myself. Therefore, Justice, you cannot punish two for the same offense. You struck Me for them—now you cannot strike them!” And when the Law brings further charges—asking how we shall be rewarded for service never performed—Jesus pleads again, “I have kept the Law on their behalf. I have fulfilled all righteousness.”
And so, the Law bows its head in submission. It acknowledges that Jesus has perfectly fulfilled the requirements, and we are set free.
3. Pleading in the Court of Conscience
Sometimes, doubts and fears arise within us, and conscience joins in the accusations. Conscience may remind us of our guilt, saying, “You know what a guilty worm you are. How can you claim to be saved when you have been so unfaithful?” But when these thoughts arise, how sweet it is to remember the finished work of Jesus Christ! Though conscience and the devil may accuse us, the blood of Christ answers. I will hold on to Christ,” says Rutherford, “and if I must drown, I will not let go of Him.
When Jesus pleads for us, even conscience and the devil are silenced. We are guilty in ourselves, but in Christ, we are “complete in Him.” We may feel low, but we are perfect in Christ Jesus. We may be lost and undone in the first Adam, but we are saved and redeemed in the Second Adam. The doubts may come, but if we keep our grip on Jesus, we will be more than conquerors.
Conclusion: The Assurance of God’s Pleading
Jesus pleads for us in the court of heaven, in the court of divine law, and in the court of conscience. Through His finished work, we are acquitted. The weight of our sin is lifted, and we stand justified before God. This is the source of our joy. But as we rejoice in His pleading for us, let us also take up the cause of God, pleading for Him and proclaiming His truth with zeal and joy. If God has pleaded for us, then it is our privilege and duty to plead His cause.
Let us rejoice that, in the courtroom of heaven, we can say, “You have pleaded the case for my soul.” If Christ has pleaded for you, then let us rejoice together and give thanks for His work on our behalf. May God bless us all as we reflect on His mercy and our responsibility to proclaim His greatness. Amen.
Jesus Christ Pleading for Us and Our Duty to Plead His Cause
I. The Pleading of Jesus Christ in the Courts of Heaven
We have thus explored three important courts—the Court of Providence, the Court of Justice, and the Court of Conscience—and now, I would have you pause and reflect on something even more profound: the way Jesus Christ pleads our case in the Court of Heaven.
For a true-hearted person who lives a life of prayer, it is a great consolation to know that his prayers do not ascend to Heaven alone. Jesus, our great High Priest, never ceases to intercede for His saints. We are assured that Jesus Christ is continually at the right hand of the Father, advocating on our behalf, even when we are unaware of the dangers surrounding us.
To illustrate this, consider a story of a poor man wishing to have a favor granted by a great lord. This lord had a son, who, seeing the poor man’s need, offered to take his petition directly to his father. The son offered to take the poor man’s flawed petition, written in haste and full of errors, and present it in his own hand, making the plea not just the poor man’s, but his as well. When the poor man saw his petition beautifully rewritten, he knew that success was certain because the petition was placed in the hands of the son, whose relationship with the father guaranteed a favorable outcome.
This is precisely what Jesus Christ does for us! He takes our poor, unworthy prayers, amends them, makes them perfect, and presents them to the Father. He sprinkles His own precious blood upon our petitions and offers them to the Father, saying, “Father, for My sake, hear this sinner; for My sake, forgive him, accept him, and preserve him.” And the gracious Father, who can deny nothing to His beloved Son, grants the request. This is a great mercy, but there is an even greater mercy to behold.
II. Jesus Christ Prays When We Cannot
What is even more encouraging is that when we do not pray, Jesus still prays for us! Consider the passage from Luke 22:31-32, when Jesus speaks to Peter, saying, “Simon, Simon, Satan has desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat; but I have prayed for you, that your faith fail not.” The beauty of this statement lies not just in the fact that Jesus prays for us, but in the assurance that He does so even when we are unaware of the dangers. He prays for us before Satan even gets the chance to tempt us, forestalling the evil that may come our way.
When we go through life’s trials, we may be unaware of the perils lurking around us. Much like Christian in Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress, who, in the Valley of the Shadow of Death, could hear the howls of danger but could not see the traps, we too often find ourselves in a similar situation. However, when we look back from the heights of Heaven, we will be astonished to see the perils from which we were saved. As we reflect on our lives, we will lift our hands in praise, realizing that Jesus was always there, interceding for us.
What a comfort it is to know that, even when we are asleep in our sin or in danger, Jesus is awake, actively pleading for our souls. Even when we are unaware of the spiritual dangers around us, He is our ever-vigilant advocate before the Father. His intercession is constant and powerful.
III. The Final Judgment and Jesus Pleading Our Cause
Lastly, Jesus Christ will plead the cause of His people on the Last Great Day of judgment. It is not uncommon for those who honestly serve God to have their reputations taken from them. In every age, true men of God have been slandered and misrepresented. The world often resorts to character assassination, using lies to tarnish the good names of those who stand for truth. For example, Martin Luther was accused of being a drunkard, John Wesley was accused of every crime imaginable, and John Bunyan’s name was smeared in the most vile ways.
But despite these attacks, the joy of every true believer is knowing that, in the end, God will plead the case for their soul. At the Last Day, there will be a resurrection of reputations. The reputations that were once buried under false accusations and slander will rise again, shining in the glory of God. The men and women who were despised and rejected in this life will be raised up to glory, while their accusers will face eternal shame.
This final vindication of the faithful is a glorious truth. While the wicked may prosper for a time and falsely accuse the righteous, in the end, God will set things right. As believers, we can take comfort in the knowledge that, though we may face scorn and rejection in this life, God will ultimately plead the case for our soul and make all things right.
IV. Our Duty to Plead the Cause of Christ
Now, with that as our foundation, let us turn our attention to what should be our reasonable service: if the Lord has pleaded the case for our soul, we should plead His cause while we have breath to pray or a tongue with which to witness for Him.
Pleading the cause of Christ is the lifework of every Christian. In this age, many have abandoned the responsibility of bearing witness to the truth of God. The world has become enamored with a false charity that says, “We must be tolerant of every belief; it does not matter what truth we stand for.” But this is a dangerous compromise. The truth of God cannot be watered down or ignored. We cannot love Christ and trample on His truth. We cannot separate Christ from the truth He has given us.
The example of our spiritual forefathers—those who stood firm for the truth of God in the face of persecution and death—should inspire us. Men like Samuel Rutherford, who never compromised the truth for the sake of comfort or liberty, showed that the truth of God is worth more than all the comforts of this world. Rutherford declared, “I thank God that I never compromised the truth of Christ for a single moment.” He valued the truth more than liberty, more than life itself.
We must adopt the same attitude. If the truth of God requires us to bear reproach, we must be willing to endure it. If the truth of God demands that we lose our reputation, we must be ready to lose it. We must stand firm for Christ, even when it costs us. And if we are unable to speak out as loudly as others, we must speak with the clarity and sincerity that we can. We must be willing to give up everything for the truth of God.
V. Bearing Witness for Christ in Our Daily Lives
One powerful way to plead the cause of Christ is by living a holy and consistent life. Holiness is the mightiest weapon a Christian can wield. Let us strive to live as Christ did—pure, separate from sin, and wholly devoted to the will of God. Our conduct should reflect the holiness and purity of Christ, and through this, we bear witness to the world.
When we live according to God’s Word, we become living testimonies of His grace. We might not always have the opportunity to preach from a pulpit, but we can witness through our actions. Holiness speaks volumes, and by walking in purity and righteousness, we proclaim the goodness of our God to the world.
VI. Pleading for God in Private Conversations
Lastly, we can all plead for God in a private way. Consider the story of a man who worked with a colleague named Joseph. Though Joseph initially ridiculed the Christian faith, one day, a co-worker named John, filled with compassion, spoke a word for God. Joseph mocked him, but when John wept over Joseph’s soul, the tears were a powerful testimony. Joseph, seeing John’s earnestness, began to reconsider his stance on Christ. Sometimes, our most powerful witness is not in our words, but in our actions and tears.
In your private life, let your earnestness for Christ shine. Speak to others about the salvation Jesus offers. Tell them that He can save to the uttermost all who come to Him. In doing so, you will be pleading the cause of God, just as He has pleaded for your soul.
Conclusion: Plead for Christ
Beloved, let us take up the cause of Christ with zeal and passion. Let us stand firm for His truth, live holy lives, and speak out in love for His glory. Let us never forget the great mercy of our Savior who pleads for us, even when we are unaware of the dangers surrounding us. And as we reflect on His advocacy for us, let us also advocate for Him in all that we do, both in public and in private, so that others may know the truth of His salvation.
May God empower us to be bold witnesses for Him, for His glory and our good. Amen.