Evidence you belong to God

Read Psalm 39.

This song continues a similar theme as Psalm 38.  David tried to ignore his sin and not talk about his feelings.  But his stress only increased.  Stuffing one's emotions eventually leads to an eruption.

Reading into Psalm 38 and 39 only slightly, it appears he suffered from some debilitating physical ailment.  He hurt inside and out.  This caused him to consider how short life truly is.  Note his descriptions of human life.

-fleeting

-a few handbreadths

-nothing before God

-a mere breath

-a shadow

-all the gain will be left behind

While those things are true, he did not stop there.  What else did he know?

1. God was the source of his hope. (v.7)

This is the difference-maker.  If in this life only we have hope, our time here will prove to be empty and without lasting meaning.  Without genuine eternal hope many will behave foolishly, fall into depression, or worse.  Faith in God provides a very different perspective on life and eternity.  The brevity of life should cause one to live with eternity's values in view.

2. His sin was the source of this suffering. (v.8)

He came to realize that there was no one to blame but himself.  His guilt was good in that it led him to agree with God about his sin and to seek restoration.

2. God was the source of this discipline. (vv.9-10)

The pressure he experienced came from God.  One of the evidences that we belong to the LORD is His discipline.  A parent does not discipline the neighbor kids.  Parents are responsible to discipline their own.  God's love and eternal commitment to us is demonstrated as He pursues us in restoring our relationship with Him.

"My son, do not despise the LORD's discipline or be weary of his reproof, for the LORD reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights." (Proverbs 3:11-12)

When guilt is Good

Read Psalm 38.

He brought this on himself.  It was his own foolish decision.  David had sinned.  Many scholars believe that this is one of several songs written after Nathan confronted him in 2 Samuel 12.

The inscription states "for a memorial".  David did not write this to remember his sin, but that he would never forget the consequences.  All sin carries a price to pay.  Convicting individuals of their sin is one of the ministries of the Holy Spirit (John 16:7-8).  God brings the full weight of guilt upon us to bring us back to Himself.

1. The guilt caused him to look inward. (vv.1-10)

He paid a price physically and emotionally for what he did.  He lost his health (v.3).  It was as if he had been wounded.  The wounds festered and began to stink.  The pain became so great he lay flat on the floor in agony.

"And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account." (Hebrews 4:13)

2. The guilt caused him to look outward. (vv.11-14)

He paid a price relationally.  To say, "I'm hurting no one but myself" is not true.  Sin carries consequences for everyone around us.  He paid a great price in lost relationships.  His family and friends backed away from him.  Those closest to us may feel anger, embarrassment, and disappointment when we mess up.  Then, his enemies started plotting against him.  With his reputation and position weakened, they became emboldened to attack.

"When my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will receive me." (Psalm 27:10)

3. The guilt caused him to look upward. (vv.15-22) 

He paid a price spiritually.  The convicting work of the Holy Spirit is not merely to make us feel bad.  It should motivate us to come clean with God and to restore our fellowship with Him.  It was when he looked up that he made the following commitments:

>He turned to God for hope. (v.15)

>He confessed his sin to God. (v.18)

>He renewed his direction to do good. (v.20)

6 things we need when life does not go our Way

Read Psalm 37.

A believer in Jesus may tithe and be driving a car that needs to be replaced.  Meanwhile, the local drug dealer buys a new luxury car.  We may work hard at our jobs and try to stay ahead.  Meanwhile, a co-worker lies, inflates their numbers, and gets promoted.  How are we to respond?

Three times David admonished not to worry about evil doers and the wicked who prosper (vv.1, 7-8).  If our focus is only on temporal gain, we will become discouraged.  But the believer's perspective looks at the end.  This life is as good as it will get for the unbeliever and has only eternal punishment ahead.

Here is the principle: "Better is the little that the righteous has than the abundance of many wicked" (v.16).

So, what are we to think and do?

1. "Trust in the LORD." (v.3)

"Those who seek the LORD lack no good thing." (Psalm 34:10)

2. "Do good." (v.3)

Our job is to continue to be honest, faithful, and helpful, adding value to everyone around us.  We are not to allow any envy of evil gain to taint our thinking or behavior.

3. "Delight yourself in the LORD." (v.4)

Literally, "keep your heart soft for God".  If we are not careful, the cares of this world can harden our hearts and cause us to be cynical.  He knows what we need.  Our greatest need is to keep our eyes and attention on Jesus.  Our eternal future is where the true rewards are being stored up for us.

4. "Commit your way to the LORD." (v.5)

Surrendering one's self to God is the starting point of a successful life.  Give it all to Him and follow through by obeying His word.  "This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it.  For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success."  (Joshua 1:8)

5. "Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him." (v. 7)

This is where our faith is put to the test.  If we truly trust God and have committed our lives to His plan for us, then how do we behave when things do not go our way immediately?  Waiting on God's timing, waiting while He works in the lives of those around us, waiting while He works mightily in us is part of the process in spiritual growth.

6. "Refrain from anger." (v.8)

We cannot allow our emotions to control us when we experience injustices and things are not resolved on our time table.  That is why we need numbers 1-5 above in place first.

For those who want to live on their own Terms

Read Psalm 36.

Here is a contrast for all to consider.  Does it make a difference if a person chooses to live independently of God?  Do those who live for God truly experience something better?

Those living independently of God

-They have no fear of God. (v.1)

-They are self-focused. (v.2)

-They speak words that are deceitful. (v.3)

-They behave foolishly. (v.3)

-They have stopped doing good. (v.3)

-They lie awake thinking about their next sin. (v.4)

-They do not reject evil. (v.4)

-They fall and cannot get up. (v.12)

Those living dependently on God

-They know the immeasurable love of the LORD. (v.5)

-They experience the faithfulness of God. (v.5)

-They are taught what is right. (v.6)

-They trust in God's ultimate justice. (v.6)

-They have been delivered by God. (v.6)

-They have a refuge in His care. (v.7)

-They enjoy the abundant blessings of God. (v.8)

-They have a personal relationship with the very source of all life. (v.9)

-They can see and understand the world around them. (v.9)

As he begins the conclusion of his assessment, David asks God to keep pouring it on.

"Oh, continue your steadfast love to those who know you, and your righteousness to the upright in heart!"

Betrayed by so-called Friends

Read Psalm 35.

In bad times one discovers who their true friends are.

We are not told what took place, but in David's life there was "stumbling" (v.15).  The Hebrew word has to do with a "limping".  Perhaps, it was a slip-up on his part.  Was it an innocent mistake or a weak area in his life?  Whatever happened, there were those who could not wait to pounce upon him.  "Aha!" they proclaimed (v.21), as if they finally caught him in a weak moment.  The lying, gossip, and plotting of evil began.  They turned on this good man without just cause.

Even worse, these were the same people that David had helped in the past.  When they were sick and in need, he had come alongside them, hurt with them, and prayed for them (v.13).

Feeling betrayed by the very ones who should have been his support, he prayed again.  He asked God to deliver him.  He also asked God to deal with those who were fighting against him so they would feel ashamed and that their plans would be disappointed.

Surely, all of us have experienced disappointment in the behavior of those we trusted.  Retaliation or withdrawing in self-protection are natural inclinations.  Harboring anger and bitterness will only hurt us.  Sadly, some refuse to release the hurts of the past.  There is a better choice, however.

In Romans 12:9-21, the Apostle Paul provided strict instructions regarding how we are to treat one another.  “Never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God.”  (v.19)  The list of our positive actions includes love, hospitality, "rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep", and "overcome evil with good."  Putting that list into practice is the only path that will lead to the praise that David sings at the end of this song.

The assurance of answered Prayer

Psalm 34

In 1 Samuel 21 David was literally running for his life.  Saul and his army were trying to hunt him down.  David crossed the border into Philistia to hide, but he was recognized and captured.  Fear of torture and death ran through his mind.  So, he feigned insanity and prayed to God for deliverance.  This psalm is a song of thanksgiving to God answering his prayer that day.

At least three times, he wrote:

I prayed.

The LORD heard.

He delivered me.

In the middle (vv.8-11), he extended an invitation for others to experience the same joy of answered prayer.

1. "Taste."

Try it for yourself.

2. "See that the LORD is good!"

God delights in showing Himself strong on behalf of those who fear Him.

3.  "Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!"

Blessings come when we seek God as our place of safety and help.

4. "Fear the LORD, you his saints."

This is a surrender of life.  God alone is awesome.  We stand in holy reverence and bow in humility before Him.

5. "Those who seek the LORD lack no good thing."

He knows what is best for us.  He is trustworthy in the most perilous times.  God knows how to provide for us and protect us.

The music never Ends

Read Psalm 33.

Shouting, praising, giving thanks by playing instruments and singing!  Why?  What brought on this exuberance?

The answer is so simple to some of us that we may miss it.  We can easily take for granted the daily evidences of God's presence and power.  Not David.  He wrote this song for the entire nation to sing so they would not overlook and never forget the goodness of God.

1. The word of the LORD is right. (v.4a)

When God speaks, it is correct and without error.  Many who reject God's word have never read it for themselves.  Those who have read it and reject it want inexplicably to continue in going their own perilous way.  Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, to whom shall we go?  You have the words of eternal life." (John 6:67)

2. The work of the LORD is faithful. (v.4b)

He is trustworthy.  What He says He will do.  What He commands will be done.  Exhibit A in this Psalm is the creation of the heavens and the earth.  It was accomplished at His spoken word, by "the breath of his mouth".  All these things were brought forth instantaneously with His voice.

3. The watch of the LORD is personal. (vv.13-15, 19)

He sees.  He looks.  He "fashions the hearts" "and observes all their deeds."  Why is the God of the universe paying such close attention to us?  So that He may "deliver" and "keep" us.

With that kind of attention and care from Almighty God, we should be audibly rejoicing all day, everyday.