What does it mean to have a steadfast heart (Psalm 108:1)?

Meditation hindered by roving thoughts. There must be in meditation a fixing the heart upon the object; carnal Christians are like quicksilver which cannot be made to fix; their thoughts are roving up and down and will not fix; like the bird that hops from one bough to another, and stays nowhere. David was a man fit to meditate: "O God, my heart is fixed" (Ps. 108:1). In meditation there must be a staying of the thoughts upon the object: "Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart" (Luke 2:19).

This Psalm is not a patchwork of two other Psalms as the critics declare (Ps. 72:8-12 and 60:7-14), but it comes in as a Psalm of David to give another hint on Israel 's praise in the day of deliverance. Their heart is fixed to sing His praise. It is a praise not only amongst themselves, but a praise among the nations. Where they were once a byword they are now a blessing. And their deliverance and possession they will enjoy is not of themselves; it is through God and His power. The second part of the Psalm looks back to the time when deliverance had not yet come.

My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast" v. 7). This is a true result of new birth, for the motives of the heart are purified by faith, though the details of conduct may not always show the same unvarying steadfastness. But new birth produces results in the heart that issue in genuine praise to God. Thus, the psalmist urges himself to "awake," for his glory is in the Lord. Lute and harp also are bidden to join in this glad celebration of the glory of God, and David affirms, "I will awaken the dawn" (v. 8). Is this not the dawn of a new day for Israel? — and therefore, implying that the Lord Jesus Himself speaks through His servant David.

In writing to the Corinthians Paul says "He that standeth stedfast in his heart … doeth well". Whilst this verse has what is special in view, the principle involved would, without question, cover every detail of the Christian pathway. Stedfastness is not the result of fleshly effort, it springs from the affections being right with God. We have seen from Psalm 78 that stedfastness was absent from God's earthly people because "their heart was not right with Him" (verse 37). Nothing is more calculated to regulate our affections than the wonderful expression of God's own love in the gospel — "how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the scriptures" (1 Corinthians 15:3). As we read this most remarkable chapter we see the mighty results of Christ's holy movements into and out of death — the triumph of the resurrection; the establishment of the Kingdom and the ultimate glory of the "day of God". But the end of the chapter reveals that we are ourselves to be an integral part of this wonderful matter - "thanks be to God which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord".

But further, we read of Josiah that "he walked in the ways of David his father, and declined neither to the right hand nor to the left." What a testimony for the Holy Ghost to bear concerning a young man! How we do long for this plain decision! It is invaluable at all times, but especially in a day of laxity and latitudinarianism — of wise liberality and spurious charity like the present. It imparts great peace of mind. A vacillating man is never peaceful; he is always tossed to and fro. "A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways." He tries to please everybody, and in the end pleases nobody. The decided man, on the contrary, is he who feels he has "to please but One." This gives unity and fixedness to the life and character. It is an immense relief to be thoroughly done with men-pleasing and eye-service — to be able to fix the eye upon the Master alone, and go on with Him through evil report and through good report. True, we may be misunderstood and misrepresented; but that is a very small matter indeed; our great business is to walk in the divinely appointed path, "declining neither to the right hand nor to the left." We are convinced that plain decision is the only thing for the servant of Christ at the present moment; for so surely as the devil finds us wavering, he will bring every engine into play in order to drive us completely off the plain and narrow path. May God's Spirit work more mightily in our souls, and give us increased ability to say, "My heart is fixed, O God; my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise."

Verses 6-8. "Therefore we are always confident," etc. These verses reveal in a striking manner to our view the moral condition of a mind that has been formed by the truth which it receives. Staying itself upon the living God, and by faith abiding in the sanctuary of His peace, it abounds in hope by the power of the Holy Ghost (Rom. 15:13). Confidence and joyful contentment are the habitual temperament of the apostle's spirit, while he fulfils as a hireling the unknown number of his days below (Job 14:6). Knowing what God has wrought, and with what end, his heart is fixed, awaiting in quiet expectation the set time for the manifesting of that work in its abiding glory. Meanwhile he occupies with patient and watchful assiduity for the Master whom he knows and loves. Everywhere he is alike confident: in the body he is for the Lord; out of it he will be with the Lord. Walking now by faith and not by sight, he longs exceedingly for that which is not seen, and would rather, if choice were his, forsake his mortal body for awhile before its change, to be present with the Lord. For duty, though born of love, is weaker than its source. He stays willingly because his course is not yet run, and though groaning will bear joyfully his burden to the end; yet would he be well pleased if released from that wherein he groans. The state of a disembodied soul in Paradise with Christ is better than that of an honoured but toil-worn bearer of His cross on earth. But neither state fulfils the promise of the Lord.

Verse 9. "Wherefore also we strive earnestly (philotimoumetha), that, whether present or absent, we may be acceptable (euarestoi) unto Him." To-day is the believer's only certain opportunity of service; for to-morrow's light may bring him to his rest, with such a place and honour in God's kingdom as shall answer to the proof made of him here below. To hold faith with a good conscience in this present world, and to be commended of the Master when His presence is revealed, is the one care therefore of all those who serve and follow Him. But it must be constantly remembered, that an absolute trust in God as our Saviour is the sole foundation of all acceptable service in His sight. The question of our personal acceptance as forgiven sinners is entirely excluded from the apostle's doctrine in this verse. It is the language of one who had "obtained mercy"(ante, 2 Cor. 4:1), and been "wrought of God" (v. 5) for glory, that we are here considering. In order therefore to extract, as is sometimes attempted, an Arminian sentiment from such a text, it is necessary first to shut one's eyes to the whole drift of the apostle's teaching, and to confound together the widely different ideas of acceptance with a Saviour, and acceptance with a master, — between a believer's standing as an heir of grace, and Christ's commendation of His chosen when their race is done, and their work and service for His name are at an end. The former is the effect of a ruined sinner's faith in Jesus, the latter is the crown of a believer's honour as a steadfast maintainer of the faith. Paul, whose love flowed ardently along the channel of his faith, looks ever through his labours to the prize beyond. The God of His mercy will in that day also be his righteous Judge (2 Tim. 4:8). He serves a Master who has bound him to Himself in love; as a Christian he has entered on a race which both begins and ends with Christ. The faith which justified him is a growing power also to sustain him in the path of service. The aim on which his heart is fixed is the reward of spiritual ambition, not the uncertain prospect of an ultimate escape from wrath. Knowing the mind and spirit of his Master, that he serves not "an austere man," but the gracious lover of his soul, his only care is to be found unto well-pleasing in His sight.

Even my earthly people shall yet say, Blessed is He who cometh in Jehovah's name. Meanwhile I am re-entering heaven to give you who have fore-hoped in Me, the Christ, a better portion, even a part with Me on high. Instead of abandoning you, I will as your divine Saviour both prepare you for the place as already set before you, and prepare the place for you by going to the Father's house. My heart is fixed, as is the Father's will, on bringing you there. “In My Father's house are many abiding-places.” No doubt you have never aspired to such a home. You have expected Me to abide forever with you in your house when I have purged it of all adversaries and evils by the power which I have even to subdue all things to Myself. But there is ample room for you as well as Me in that intimate home of divine love and heavenly glory. “If it were not so, I would have told you, because I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go, and prepare a place for you, I am coming again and will receive you unto Myself that where I am, ye also may be.”

But the heart goes farther. It owns the blessedness of Jehovah Himself, known in His ways, His goodness, His mercy, that endureth for ever. There, in the midst of its distress, the renewed heart finds its resource and its rest. "Blessed art thou, O Jehovah." This makes the heart look for what He has decreed and ordained, and for divine teaching in it. This looking at God gives courage and the consciousness of integrity and faithfulness. When the heart is right, this is the case. The heart, however humble, when it walks in integrity, has the consciousness of it before God. It may see weakness and infirmity in its ways, shortcomings of which it will judge the cause; but with God it will have the consciousness of entire guilelessness and purpose of heart. "This one thing I do"; "to me to live is Christ." This does not affect humility; entire dependence on grace and divine strength for willing and doing is felt (we are in result unprofitable servants, had we done all), it is duty and delight. But there is the joyfulness with and from God that the heart is right.

Faith is next exhorted to, in view of Jehovah's faithfulness. The soul may be pastured upon this, and dwell secure; — the peaceable fruits of righteousness being thus encouraged. Let the heart cleave to the Lord in love, and love will be sure to respond, and the requests of the heart so purified be fulfilled.

God alone is the strength of His people's heart from first to last. For example, when the returning wanderer knows and counts upon his father's love, his heart will be in the way that takes him home. The road may be rough and dreary, and he may have many smitings of conscience for his past undutifulness, but the thought that his father's house is at the far end of it is strength for the way, whatever the difficulties may be. Already he sees the overflowings of his father's heart, and the rough path is smoothed — the long way is shortened. The beautiful green lanes and flowery paths which lead in another direction have no attraction for him now. Once, alas! they had, but not now — they lead not to home, his heart is set on his father's house.