Psalm 37 – The world is not as it appears to be

The world we live in is not what it appears to be. Living in a world of obvious inequity poses a significant challenge for the true follower of Christ. As God sees it we live among people who appear to have better lives yet who do not follow Christ. They may even go so far as to harass, ridicule, and even act in hostile ways to believers.

Psalm 37 presents a picture of the life and outcome of both those who follow Christ and those who don’t. It is a study of contrasts, confidences, and conclusions. It is a picture of a world that doesn’t fear God and how the believer in Christ is to live in it. Two major themes are explored: the problem of the apparent prosperity of the wicked and the need for the faithful to trust fully in the Lord and to find refuge in Him.

What matters most for the believer here is not whether or not God can be trusted, but whether or not we will trust Him. It seems He is oblivious to the prosperous and godless lives of those around us. And if they carry out hostilities against God’s people, God appears to be uninvolved or uninterested. Unless of course He is unable to do anything.

But God clearly paints a picture where He is sovereign over His people and those who are not. He makes it plain that He will eventually act justly against those who do not truly follow Him and will give an eternal reward to those who do.

The question is: Will I really trust God in times of anxiety, fear, perplexity, unbelief, terror, or inequity? God does promise specific blessing to those who fear Him enough to fellowship with Him:

1. When I fail Him I will not be rejected because He is holding onto my hand – vs. 24.
2. No matter how desperate the situation, no matter how much I am unfaithful, He will not fail to care for me – vs. 25.
3. I WILL possess forever what He has promised me – vs. 29.

For Reflection:

1. Let the Bible guide your thoughts about the Lord rather than the ways things appear to be.
2. Cultivate a relationship with Him by focusing on what He says about Himself and what He does for His own people.
3. Examine where your confidence is in your life. Is it in your job, the government, your retirement, accumulations, or other people?
4. God actually promises in vs. 18 to be intimately involved in the details of every day life.

Psalm 3 – Confidence in God In Spite of Failure

How could David remain so confident in the Lord even though David was experiencing the painful consequences of his own unwise choices? There was a lot to be afraid of at the time yet how could David fear God more than anything or anyone else around him? Why could he be so confident God would work in him and act on his behalf?

David knew God heard him from God’s holy hill. It is because of Calvary, the ultimate holy hill, that God will answer, not reject His flawed and often failing followers, will forgive and restore them when they sin against Him.  (see 1 John 1:5-2:2)

There are several eternal, unchangeable truths reflected in this psalm David knew that strengthened his confidence in God in spite of personal failure:

 

• God chose him. (Ephesians 1:4-5; John 15:16)
• God is always present with him. (Matthew 28:20; Hebrews 13:5-6)
• God hears and answers him. (Hebrews 4:12-16; Psalm 116:1-2)
• God will care for him all the way to the end. (Psalm 94:19; 1 Peter 1:3-5)

God uses our greatest struggles, our most mundane frustrations, our deepest fears, our own messes to deepen our trust in Him.

For Reflection:

1. Often our feelings do not reflect biblical truth. Therefore it becomes necessary to review what Scripture says about how God sees us.

2. Review the above verses often; especially before going to sleep at night. Regardless of how we may see ourselves after failure, this is how God sees us.

Psalm 3 – When I Have Failed (or not), The Lord Will Not Let Me Go

There are three things in this psalm that are true about God all the time. And these things are how God is with those who are really His. Regardless of the unfaithfulness of God’s people, He is always faithful in these three things.

What makes the psalm so remarkable is that David was very unfaithful to God and was experiencing the devastating consequences of his unfaithfulness. He knew He was forgiven for his disobedience to God. He doesn’t seem to indicate anywhere he struggled with doubts regarding whether or not he had been forgiven by God. He was told: “God has forgiven you” (2 Samuel 12:13). So his struggle was not over forgiveness but where is God in the consequences.

It is important to understand that if God is this faithful when we have brought trouble on ourselves, we can be assured of His faithfulness when we go through difficult times that we did not directly cause. These three things are just as true in His relationship with His flock no matter what.

Last time we saw in Psalm 3:1-3 that David experienced the Lord as his shield; God stood between David and his troubles. God was his protector in trouble though not a protector from trouble. David knew the Lord was on his side—he had been forgiven by the Lord. The second thing he shares with us that is always true about God is He sustains us (vs. 4-6).

Notice that David continually goes to the Lord in prayer about everything. He constantly pours out his heart to God about his troubles. This is what Peter is talking about when he instructs us to “cast all our cares on the Lord because He cares for us” (1 Peter 5:7). Rather than first go to someone else, Facebook, or choose a temporary escape, we are to keep going to the Lord. And we know God hears from His holy hill, which eventually was where Jesus was crucified. Because of Calvary we can know God will hear us.

To sustain has the idea of “grasp” and “support.” God is holding onto us and will never let go. We are not always good at holding onto the Lord, but He holds us; He grasps ahold of us and is our constant support. This is present tense—it is always happening, it is always true about God.

As a result David could confidently sleep at night because he really knew he was in God’s hands that were closed around him. The stresses of his circumstances did not keep him awake at night. He knew God was sustaining him. He knew he was in God’s hands and God was not going to let go.

For Reflection:

1. Where do you turn first when things are not well? To whom do you go or what do you do first? How is that working out for you?
2. Sometimes it is helpful and necessary to review what is true about the Lord before going to sleep at night. So far we see God is our shield and sustainer.
3. The New Testament also gives us unchangeable truths about the Lord that are good reminders before sleep:
4. Romans 8:1 – There is no condemnation to those in Christ.
5. 2 Corinthians 5:21 – I am righteous in Christ; this is how God sees me.
6. John 17:26 – God loves me as much as He loves Jesus.
7. Colossians 2:13 – I have been forgiven ALL sins.

Psalm 3: Some Consequences Never Go Away; Ever. So Where is God?

David has pulled aside the veil to his inmost thoughts and the struggles he experienced during a dark time of his life. He is living the painful consequences of unwise decisions made years before. He stole another man’s wife and had that man put to death. When he was confronted for this by his friend and spiritual advisor Nathan, he repented and received forgiveness from God (2 Samuel 12:13). God’s forgiveness doesn’t necessarily prevent or eliminate consequences. It is not punishment. It is the result of sowing sin (Galatians 6:7-9).

What makes this time of experiencing the painful consequences of his unwise choices so hard is how much it has affected his family. They have been devastated and a few even acted just as sinfully as David did years before. When you have betrayed your family (not to mention the Lord), you will never forget it. The loss of relationships within the family, the loss to time involved with them, and knowing you placed them in positions of unbelievable temptation and struggle is often more than some can handle. So they make more unwise decisions which only add to the trouble.

Since David knew God had forgiven him (we know because of Psalms 32 and 51), he shows us not only where God is in the consequences, but also what God is doing during this period. He understands he is not being punished but in New Testament terminology he is being disciplined (Hebrews 12) or pruned (John 15).

We learn three things about God that are always true in the lives of His followers whether they are facing the consequences of their stupidity or just experiencing the normal struggles of life. These three things are ALWAYS true no matter what!

The first thing we see is that God is a shield about us (vs. 3). The word means “to cover.” God is protecting us on all sides (2 Thessalonians 3:3). God stands between us and our troubles no matter the cause. He doesn’t promise to protect us from troubles but to protect us in them. David is sure of this because he uses “LORD” which is the covenant name; the name of relationship. We sin, suffer the consequences, but God promises to be our shield in those and at all times.

When the memories of incalculable failure surface, remember: God is a shield about you. He never abandons His own even when they fail Him. He has already forgiven sin confessed and repented of (1 John 1:5-2:2). So forgiveness is not the issue; it is God protecting us from false guilt. It is God protecting us in painful memories. It is God covering us with Himself because we are His even if the most important people in your life at one time have abandoned you. God is right now, right here, at this very moment and every moment to follow a shield about you.

For Reflection:

1. Is there a particular failure that still haunts you?
2. Have you really confessed the sin and forsaken it? (see Proverbs 28:13).
3. Focus on what God is focused on—He is your shield. He is not focused on your failure.

Incredible! We mess up but God will forgive, restore, and remain our shield at all times.

Psalm 3 – God in the Consequences

This is one of the psalms where we know its actual context. David is fleeing from his son Absalom. The story is found in 2 Samuel 15. What can easily be missed is that David  is experiencing the consequences of what he did to Bathsheba and her husband years earlier. David is reaping the bad he had sown.

The Bible is very clear that we will reap what we sow (Galatians 6:7-9), whether good or bad. What we often fail to realize is that we do not reap immediately. Ask any farmer. And what we reap is always more than what we sow. Ask David.

This psalm can be applied to any situation that is working against you (vs. 1). But for this study I am going to stick to its significance when we struggle and suffer for the wrong choices we have made. We experience loss, fear, overwhelming regret, and realize that sometimes there are consequences that never go away.

It is easy to mistake consequences for punishment. It is also easy to think that forgiveness from God would eliminate the consequences. But we are helped to correct this thinking by digging further into the story. In 2 Samuel 12:13-14 David experiences God’s forgiveness for what he did. Proverbs 28:13 says: “Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.” Yet there may still be consequences, not punishment. Jesus took the punishment for our sins (Isaiah 53:6-8). David confessed and repented of what he did and God forgave him (see 1 John 1:8-10).

The BIG question then is: Where is God in the consequences? Does God forsake His people when they sin big or a lot? Does He leave them alone to figure it out by themselves. Does He give the silent treatment? Has His love diminished or ceased?

For Reflection:

1. Do you fear God has given up on you for how you have not been faithful to Him?
2. Have you truly confessed specific sin, forsaken it, and asked for God’s forgiveness?
3. Do you still doubt God has forgiven you? If so camp out in 1 John 1:5-2:2 until you are assured of God’s forgiveness and continued acceptance because of what Jesus has done.

As For God, His Way (what He is doing in my life) is …”

How would you finish that statement for yourself? This is how the psalmist said it: “As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in him” — Psalm 18:30.

His confidence to say that was informed and shaped by the flawless Word of God. He let God’s Word speak to his life and what he experienced. It is too easy to let emotions dictate the moment but emotions simply reveal what is going on in the heart. Rather than listen to himself, the psalmist spoke the flawless and proven Word of God to himself.

In saying that God’s way is perfect, he reveals at least three things about the work of God in our lives. Remember, the word perfect is from God’s perspective, not ours.

God’s way reveals He is absolutely sovereign. He rules every detail. In a previous post I referred to the way silver is refined. The impurities rise to the surface when under extreme heat. I can see those; I cannot see below the surface so I have to trust that God really is in control.

His way is sanctifying. That is, He is after my spiritual growth, my holiness. He will relentlessly pursue that for He sees the final outcome. All that God does in me is about sanctification.

But His perfect way is also satisfying. After all it is the God of all creation at work in me. Even through the tears and pain, we can find complete satisfaction in Him and in His perfect way with us. Nothing else in this life really is perfect.

The Normal Christian Life at Two Levels

Psalm 119 begins by describing the life of faith at two levels. I believe the writer, David, is describing the normal “Christian” life from both God’s perspective and his own. These two perspectives are not contradictory but reveal a tension in our growth in Christ. He begins by describing this rich life of faith from God’s perspective in vs. 1-3. I am going to reverse the order to show how he gets to being truly blessed in God.

• A believing life – this is a life of faith taught and shaped by the Word of God. David firsts explains this in Psalm 1 where we understand that our lives are thoroughly influenced by the Bible or by everything else around us. Whichever we listen to most-our friends, music, what we watch and read—that is what influences us and shapes us most. David chooses to have his whole life (thoughts, motives, desires, attitudes, dreams, and will) shaped by God’s Word.
• A blameless life – this is the result of a life that is being changed by God’s Word. Blameless means whole-hearted devotion to the Lord (vs. 2, 4). Our steady commitment to fellowship with Him in His Word will reveal areas in our lives that are not fully committed to Him. It is a life of steady growth in each area of our lives that needs to mature. It doesn’t mean sinless but it does mean we grow so we sin less in each area. Total sinlessness will never happen in this life.
• A blessed life – this life God offers to His people isn’t just a life filled with the good things God gives to us, although that could be included. In the Bible the word “blessed” describes a life deeply satisfied in God. It is knowing at this moment you are right with God because of Jesus. He does bless us with health and material things-1 Timothy 6:17, but these are meant to be ways to enjoy Him. It is a life that knows even without these things Jesus is enough. He is enough in the face of inconvenience. He is enough in the face of need. He is enough in the face of sickness and pain. He is enough in the face of persecution, even death. It is a life deeply satisfied in Him that comes from being changed by His Word.

David isn’t describing something impossible in this present life. Reading through the Psalms that he wrote we see a man walking in rich fellowship with his Lord even though he didn’t always get it right. But “blessed” living is the way it is meant to be – vs. 4.

The second level or perspective (vs. 5-8) reveals that it wasn’t always this way for David. It is similar to Paul’s confession in Romans 7:14-25. He knows he doesn’t always choose to obey the Lord. The realities of being a sinner (although a redeemed sinner) living in a fallen world that sometimes falls on us can seem more real to us than a blessed life of commitment to the Lord. David is describing a life of “three steps forward, two steps back.” We weave and stumble, yet unevenly in the right direction. We don’t always get it right. Sometimes we pursue our own selfishness rather than Jesus.

We also see in spite of our spiritual failures that can overshadow our successes in Christ, we still yearn for ultimate deliverance. We do not want to give up. We do not want God to stop working in our lives or give up on us. And God keeps urging us onward shaped by His Word to be far more satisfied in Him than we can be any other way.

 

 

Why All This Stuff This Year?

Though the old body may not be back to something resembling normal for another two or three months, what has been the purpose of all this? What do I think God has been up to?

When the psalmist in 66:10 spoke of being purified as silver is, the image is one of heat that brings everything to the surface that is not silver. And that is about all that can be seen by us—surface stuff. The ways of God are so far beyond our finite minds. But this also ties in with God’s discipleship process in Hebrews 12:1-17. He is out to purify us, or as He says in vs. 10, make us holy. But then He says there is a peaceable fruit of righteousness that follows the purification process. This is something far deeper, richer, and more satisfying than I can find anywhere else.

For the past two or more years I have been praying a prayer of David from Psalm 86:11: “Give me an undivided heart that I may fear You.” What is it worth to have an undivided heart? How important is it to learn to love, want, and fear God more than anyone or anything else? What is the worth of your soul? In Hebrews 12:14 we read that “without holiness no one will see the Lord.” Seeing the Lord appears to be on at least three levels: seeing God in the present situation, seeing things the way God sees them, and eventually seeing Him face to face.

 

That helps me see there is an eternal perspective in the present situation. God is working in me now but for eternal purposes. What is more important than seeing God at all three levels? What is worth more than that? What is it I treasure now more than His work in me—treasures that one day will be gone forever?

An undivided heart is truly worth more than I realize or can see right now. And the fruit of it far surpasses anything that is not “pure silver.” The song says it well:

Lord, You are more precious than silver.                                                                                                                                          Lord, You are more costly than gold.                                                                                                                                            Lord, You are more beautiful than diamonds,                                                                                                                                  And nothing I desire compares to You.

Where God Really is in this Season of Life

I have been looking afresh at Psalm 37 today and have seen anew where God is in this current picture of my life. In this passage God assures His true children He will never forsake (abandon, reject, ignore, neglect, give up on, forget) them. With that assurance He calls His own to trust Him when things are not going well, even when things are very difficult and painful.

Fret not (vs. 1) – The word means to burn, be agitated. The writer is tempted to envy those who have it better than he does at the moment. His thoughts are on them. His heart is burning with the desire to change his situation to be like theirs. What is my heart burning for right now?

Trust in the Lord (vs. 3). It is definitely easier to obey God than to trust Him. But here God calls me to trust then obey. Am I focused on trying to obey or believe?

Dwell in the land (vs. 3) – That is, stay where God has put you right now. This immediately reveals whether I trust my loving heavenly Father. Where would I rather be right now than in this _______?

Feed on His faithfulness (vs. 3) – Keep reading in the Bible how God always keeps His promises. Keep reading how He promises to care for His own. Let those truths occupy your thoughts instead of vs. 1. Do I really believe He will be faithful in spite of how things look?

Delight yourself in the Lord (vs. 4) – Find Him to be the most eternally satisfying reason to live. Discover how richly rewarding are those things He delights in. What do I think about most that I think would make my life better?

Commit your way to the Lord…trust in Him (vs. 5) – Fully surrender to what He is doing right now and trust Him. This is the second time I am encouraged to trust the Lord in what I am going through. Do I believe His ways really are best and He really can be trusted right now?

Be still and wait patiently for Him (vs. 7) – Let Him change the situation in His time. Am I working at trying to change the situation myself? Or am I letting God change me?

There are rich promised results in this psalm if I will trust the Lord, if I will see His ways are best. I will discover the Lord to be the best reason to be alive, to go through this difficult time because He walks through it with me. He promises true purpose and fulfillment as I trust Him in this season of life.

“It is easier to obey God than it is to trust Him.”

As I write this I am flat on my back in bed as it is the only way to find relief from the pain of this most recent surgery. This title statement from Jerry Bridges came to mind today as it seemed all I could focus on is the pain.

“And there was given to me a pain…and I begged God three times to remove it” (2 Corinthians 12:7-8 – my paraphrase). I cannot remember how many times I have asked God to ease this pain. Maybe it is more spiritual to ask for relief than for total removal. Either way it is not happening. So then I am thinking how it really is easier to obey God than to trust Him.

I can reduce biblical directives to bite size manageable duties. In my own mind I am trusting God if I am obeying Him. But didn’t the Pharisees obey God? You could not find an outward fault in their lives. But they sure didn’t trust Him.

The Apostle Paul was placed in a situation where all his obedience to Jesus did not remove the pain he was experiencing in that particular situation. Rather, God promised Paul that he could experience the grace of God most in his weakest moments (vs. 9-10). Right now I am not reducing the Bible into manageable bites that even unsaved people can do, but I am reduced to trusting Him. Do I believe He is all wise? Do I really believe nothing can ever separate me from His love? Do I believe He is the sovereign Father who is gives me all His attention right now in order to help me know He is better than great health? Than a pain free existence? Will I trust Him beyond what I can see or control?

This time will likely pass and I should be on me feet again. But will I be able to look back and say I would not have traded the opportunity to trust Him as never before for anything? For it is Jesus Himself who is my grace; He comes to me in this situation that is beyond my control to assure me He is still in control, and I will not learn how great and loving He really is any other way right now.