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The Lord Our Righteousness

Posted on April 21, 2011 by admin

Jehovah Tsidkenu
“The Lord Our Righteousness”

by Robert Murray M’Cheyne

I once was a stranger to grace and to God,
I knew not my danger, and felt not my load;
Though friends spoke in rapture of Christ on the tree,
Jehovah Tsidkenu was nothing to me.

I oft read with pleasure, to soothe or engage,
Isaiah’s wild measure and John’s simple page;
But e’en when they pictured the blood-sprinkled tree
Jehovah Tsidkenu seemed nothing to me.

Like tears from the daughters of Zion that roll,
I wept when the waters went over His soul;
Yet thought not that my sins had nailed to the tree
Jehovah Tsidkenu—’twas nothing to me.

When free grace awoke me, by light from on high,
Then legal fears shook me, I trembled to die;
No refuge, no safety in self could I see—
Jehovah Tsidkenu my Savior must be.

My terrors all vanished before the sweet name;
My guilty fears banished, with boldness I came
To drink at the fountain, life-giving and free—
Jehovah Tsidkenu is all things to me.

Jehovah Tsidkenu! my treasure and boast,
Jehovah Tsidkenu! I ne’er can be lost;
In thee I shall conquer by flood and by field—
My cable, my anchor, my breastplate and shield!

Even treading the valley, the shadow of death,
This “watchword” shall rally my faltering breath;
For while from life’s fever my God sets me free,
Jehovah Tsidkenu my death-song shall be.

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There was once a rich land owner. He had a big farm, a big business and a lot of hired hands. The farm was so big that the workers lived on the farm with him, and they had learned the business. The land owner had to leave town and he was going to be gone for a while, but in farm work, you cannot push pause on the business. Herds need tending and harvest time comes whether you are ready or not for it. The land owner called his workers together and told them that he was going to be leaving.

“How long you going to be gone boss?”

“Don’t concern yourself with my business; you have enough to do before I come back. We have to get ready for the harvest. We have to get the cattle ready for market. We have to get through the harvest, then we have to make sure we sell the goods.”

In a final word to His men, the land owner said “Now, you know how I run my business. You know what the purpose of that business is, I’m going to leave you to the work. I’m going to give you the authority to continue and do what you would be doing if I were still here. Buy, sell, trade, hire, fire, just like when I was here. But watch. I’ll be back, don’t let me catch you sleeping.” (Mark 13:34-37)

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10 Reasons Why Paul Told Timothy to Preach Doctrine

Posted on March 27, 2011 by admin

10 Reasons Why Paul Told Timothy to Preach Doctrine

Gospel — I Timothy 1:10-11
Godly Edification – I Timothy 1:3-4
Good pastor—I Timothy 4:6
Work of the pastor – I Timothy 5:17
What Doctrine Does; Saves –I Timothy 4:16
Who God is –I Timothy 6:1
Promotes Godliness I Timothy 6:3
Preaching without doctrine – Sign of dangerous ground of apostasy –II Timothy 4:3-5
Purpose and profitability of Scripture – II Timothy 3:16
Provides Reproves, Rebukes, Exhorts – II Timothy 4:2

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The Word of God by James Smith

Posted on March 11, 2011 by admin

Continuing our theme on God’s Word, here is a excerpt from a message preached by James Smith at New Park Street Church, London, 1849. You can read the sermon in its entirety at Gracegems.org.

The Bible is God’s book, written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and therefore free from error; “Holy men of God wrote as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.”

It contains God’s law, the church’s history, and Christ’s gospel. It reveals God, opens heaven, and directs man. It makes known God’s thoughts, the world’s doom, and the church’s blessedness. It unfolds eternity to time, brings heaven to earth, and makes invisible realities known. It was written for sinners, has been preserved by a special providence, and is the godly man’s treasure. Infidels scorn it, angels study it with wonder, and the saints delight in it. It is a token of God’s love, a proof of his regard, and a display of his concern for our welfare.

This Word of God contains . . .
the Law—commanding, condemning, and cursing;
the Psalms—disclosing, elevating, and praising;
the Gospel—unfolding, inviting, and directing;
the Prophets—predicting, exhorting, and denouncing.

It contains a rich variety, a divine fullness, and is exactly adapted to meet the case and condition of sinners.

Its histories are true, instructive, and impartial.
Its precepts are just, holy, and good.
Its cautions are beneficial, wise, and useful.
Its exhortations are judicious, adapted, and profitable.
Its reproofs are kind, solemn, and suitable.
Its directions are merciful, practical, and plain.
Its instructions are deep, spiritual, and extensive.
Its corrections are loving, just, and judicious.
Its doctrines are divine, sublime, and glorious.
Its descriptions are vivid, correct, and impartial.
Its invitations are general, attractive, and gracious.
Its promises are great, numerous, and invaluable.
Its warnings are solemn, preventing, and tender.
Its threatenings are dreadful, alarming, and just.
Its parables are simple, instructive, and edifying.
Its types are significant, impressive, and suitable.
Its examples are bright, winning, and worthy.
It is in every part, and every way, worthy of a God!

We have this blessed book as God’s free gift, procured for us by our adorable Redeemer, and bestowed upon us through the Holy Spirit. Its revelations were delivered, first orally, then written, then printed: first given to a few, then written for many, then printed for all: first freely bestowed, then hard to be obtained and now easily to be gotten. Given by God, opposed by the devil, blasphemed by many, rejected by more, unknown to thousands—but highly prized by a few. It is suited to youth, adapted to manhood—but peculiarly applicable to old age. It is the child’s lesson book, the learner’s class book, and the scholar’s text book. Many study it, all Christians believe it—but none fully comprehend it.

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God’s Search for a Good Man

Posted on February 24, 2011 by admin

Psalms 14:2 The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God.

I mean no irreverence to suggest that God is lacking in knowledge, for the bible doesn’t teach that; but in our Psalm, God is described as looking to see if he could find a good person. This poetic view is God looking for a few good men. Will he find any? What will we discover in God’s search? What will God find? What will God see? What will be His verdict, and His sentence?

Here is the answer.

I have combinded Psalm 14 then Psalm 53 then Romans 3:9-12 to show the truth about man.

We have in our reading, the Word of the Almighty God, who, as Spurgeon said ‘does not exaggerate or mistake’. God searched the whole of humanity, looking for one that understood, one, even one that sought after Him. One whom could be said ‘doeth good’, yet we have read the result of the finding.

There is none that doeth good (Psalm 14:1)

There is none that doeth good (Psalm 53:1)

There is none that doeth good (Romans 3:10)

They are all gone aside (Psalm 14:3)

They are all together become filthy (Psalm 14:3)

Every one of them is gone back (Psalm 53:3)

They are altogether become filthy (Psalm 53:3)

They are all gone out of the way (Romans 3:12)

They are together become unprofitable (Romans 3:12)

There is none righteous (Romans 3:12)

No not one (Psalm 14:3)

No not one (Psalm 53:3)

No not one (Romans 3:10)

No not one (Romans 3:12)

All have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Yes, that means you too, that means you are a sinner, in need of a Saviour.

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Bible Study by A.W.Pink

Posted on February 9, 2011 by admin

From our correspondence we gather that in these strenuous days, there are not a few who deplore the fact, that they do not now have the time available for serious reading which they once had. Working conditions are so exacting, competition is so keen and ruthless, the pace has become so feverish—that the majority are too exhausted at the close of the day to apply themselves in the evening to anything which involves much effort. We sympathize with these weary toilers, and would offer to them the following remarks.

First, God is no Egyptian taskmaster, laying upon us a burden grievous to be borne.

Second, there is nothing more restful to the nerves and relief-bringing to an over-taxed mind, than half an hour spent alone with God; say five minutes in reading a Psalm or a portion from the Gospels, 15 or 20 minutes at the Throne of Grace—thanking God for the mercies of the day, pouring out to Him our troubles, seeking fresh supplies of grace: and then reading a chapter from the Epistles.

Third, retire to rest half an hour sooner than you have been doing, and rise that much earlier in the morning, so as to spend it with God, preparing yourself for the demands of the day.

Fourth, be most particular in seeing to it that you spend several hours on Sundays, reading over God’s Word and edifying books. It is not honoring to the Lord for you to rush from one meeting to another, and leave yourself little opportunity for private devotions.

But there is another class of young people or those not so hardly pressed by the exigencies of modern life, who write and ask us what we consider to be “the best way to study the Bible.” Recently it has struck us that the term “study” in this relation has an egotistical sound and savors of carnality. Is it not almost irreverent to employ this language here—a dragging down of the holy and unique Word of God to the level of mere human productions? Is it a clear brain—or a sensitive conscience, which is most essential for profiting from Divine revelation? and which is more likely to be called into exercise by close “study”? “What methoddo you recommend for studying the Bible?” Does not such a question seem to indicate, that the inquirer supposes the Sacred Scriptures to be addressed chiefly to the intellect? The questioner may not be conscious of this (for the heart is very deceitful)—yet is not that what is really implied? Can you imagine one who had received a letter from his sweetheart, proposing to sit down and “study” it? Would not that expression be altogether incongruous in such a connection?

But has not God Himself exhorted us to “study” His Word? Where? In what passage? The actual term “study” occurs but five times in the Bible. Twice in Proverbs (15:28; 24:2) where it signifies to “meditate” beforehand; once in Ecclesiastes 12:12; again in 1 Thessalonians 4:11, “Study to be quiet”; and finally, “study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth” (2 Timothy 2:15), which is addressed to the preacher, and means he is to make it his paramount concern to endeavor to please God in all things, and is to spare no pains in equipping himself to minister the Word in season to needy souls, so that each may receive a suitable portion. Neither the verse itself nor the context has any reference to partitioning off the Scriptures, allotting one book to this dispensation and another book to that dispensation—which is a subtle device of the Enemy to rob God’s children of many needed parts of their spiritual bread.

Are we intimating, then, that the rank and file of God’s people should devote less time to the Scriptures—or that they should be encouraged to scan them superficially? No, indeed —God forbid! That against which we are here protesting is the God-dishonoring idea that His Word is merely a piece of literature, which may be “mastered” by a course of “study.” That which we would warn against is an undue occupation with the technical aspects of the Bible. By all means read and re-read the whole Bible through consecutively, so as to become acquainted with its contents. By all means, “search the Scriptures daily” (Acts 17:11) in order to test all you hear and read, “compare” one part with another, so that you may obtain fuller light upon what is before you. Pray constantly for the guidance and illumination of the Spirit, that He may open to you its Divine mysteries; slowly ponder each word in every verse. Above all, beg God to write His Word more legibly and fully upon the tablets of your heart.

God’s blessed Word is not for dissection by the knife of cold intellectuality—but is to be laid to heart. It is not given for us to display our cleverness and “brilliance” upon—but to be bowed before in true humility. It is not designed for mental entertainment—but for the regulation of our daily lives. Far, far more important than “method”, is our motive when approaching the Word. Not to acquire that which will puff us up in our own conceit—but that which will subdue pride and bring us as supplicants to the footstool of Mercy, is what we should seek. Of what value is a knowledge of the original Hebrew and Greek—or a thorough acquaintance with the history, geography, and chronology of the Bible—if the heart be left cold and hard toward its Author?

We very much doubt then, if this word “study” is an appropriate one to apply unto our perusal of the inspired page. What would be thought of a child, away from home, saying he was going to “study” the letters he had received from his parents? And the Bible consists of a series of letters from the Heavenly Father to His dear children. Then let us cherish them as such, and act accordingly.

As we wrote recently to two young friends in the United States, “I wonder if you will be surprised when I say that, I seriously doubt if God has called or requires you to ‘study’ His Word—what you need to do is FEED thereon. How much nourishment would your body derive from a study of the chemical properties of cereals and fruits—or from seeking to ascertain the various sorts of soil in which they are grown or the different types from which they are derived—or the meaning of their Latin names? None whatever! And I am persuaded that much of the modern ‘study of the Bible’ is equally profitless spiritually. True, such a study as I have mentioned above, would feed pride—acquiring a knowledge which many of your fellows possess not; but would it aid digestion?

Would it not be more practicable to pay closer attention to securing a nutritious and balanced diet? Would it not be more profitable if you gave greater attention to the mastication of your food? So it is, dear friends, with our spiritual food.” “Desire the sincere milk of the Word—that you may grow thereby” (1 Peter 2:2). That is the only nutritive food for the soul!

Dwell not so exclusively upon favorite books of Scripture that you neglect others equally needful—but vary your reading, and then you will obtain a balanced diet. Memorize a verse or two every day and meditate thereon whenever you have a few spare moments, even when journeying to and from your work, and then you will masticate your Food. Put the precepts into practice, heed the warnings of Scripture, and then you will assimilate what you have fed upon.

You can find this devotional, and many other quality writings at www.gracegems.org

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Graves of Lust

Posted on February 1, 2011 by admin

Numbers 11:34 And he called the name of that place Kibrothhattaavah because there they buried the people that lusted.

Kibrothhattaavah means “graves of lust”. Why? Let’s go back to this grave yard and see why it is named graves of lust.

Israel, on their way FROM Egyptian bondage, TO the promised land of blessing, over and over again complained about their condition and murmured against God. The chapter begins with the people complaining, and God sending fire to destroy a portion of the people. You would think that would be sufficient to quiet them down a little, but not so. They “fell a lusting” after what they didn’t have. They were lusting after the food of Egypt. Numbers 11:5 We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick. They were not satisfied with the manna God continually gave them.

There was no reason to complain, Numbers 11:8 And the people went about, and gathered [manna], and ground it in mills, or beat it in a mortar, and baked it in pans, and made cakes of it: and the taste of it was as the taste of fresh oil. So the manna was good, the people just didn’t want it anymore, they lusted after something else.

Moses felt he was at the end of his rope, and basically called them a bunch of babies in verses 10-15. Said they were like nursing babies, always crying after him and Moses asked God just to kill him so he wouldn’t have to hear them complaining anymore and be under the burden of leading Israel.

God heard the prayer of Moses. He didn’t kill Moses, but God did hear the complaining of Israel, and God knew the lusting hearts of the people, they lusted after what God had not given them.

God said in Numbers 11:18-20 And say thou unto the people, Sanctify yourselves against to morrow, and ye shall eat flesh: for ye have wept in the ears of the LORD, saying, Who shall give us flesh to eat? for it was well with us in Egypt: therefore the LORD will give you flesh, and ye shall eat. Ye shall not eat one day, nor two days, nor five days, neither ten days, nor twenty days; But even a whole month, until it come out at your nostrils, and it be loathsome unto you: because that ye have despised the LORD which is among you, and have wept before him, saying, Why came we forth out of Egypt?

They want meat? I’ll give it to them so it will be coming out of their nose. I’ll give you so much you’ll not want it any more. Later on, God sends a wind and a great number of quail. The quail were flying real close to the ground, so the people could just go out and catch them. Not a few, but a whole lot of birds to eat.

Numbers 11:32 And the people stood up all that day, and all that night, and all the next day, and they gathered the quails: he that gathered least gathered ten homers: and they spread them all abroad for themselves round about the camp.

“The homer was originally a donkey load. It consisted of nearly 8 bushels” according to Unger’s Bible Dictionary.

The least person would have gathered around 80 bushels of quail. I used to pick apples for a living and I got paid $0.75 a bushel, and the average was about 100 bushels in an 8 hour day. The apples were put in a bushel crate, and someone on a tractor and wagon would pick them up. The wagon would hold about 80 bushels. A lot of weight, a lot of space, a lot of work to get 80 bushels back to the barn.

The least gathered that many. Now as I picture the people, feverishly picking these quails, and the great quantity they gathered, I wonder what they were going to do with all the quail? It is like those people you see on TV who wait in line for the big deals the day after Thanksgiving. When the doors open, they run and trample all over people, pick up things they might not even know what they are buying, b/c they HAVE to have it; they lusted after other food, they saw it, their lust drove them to this type of greedy behavior.

They wouldn’t have had that much salt to cure all that meat, and how would you transport that much quail meat anyway? It took a big tractor and a 20 foot wagon to get that many bushels of apples.

Well, they ate. They got what they wanted. They lusted after food, they stingily got as much as they could get their greedy little hands on and they feasted. While the food was still in their mouth, God smote the people with a plague.

Read how the Psalmist described it in Psalm 78:17-18; 22-32

Note verse 29– So they did eat, and were well filled: for he gave them their own desire; They were not estranged from their lust.

God often judges by giving us our own desires, and we are being filled.

God gave them over to their lusts, and their lusts killed them, and they were buried in graves of lust.

The wages of sin is death, sin has consequences, lust is destructive and we must to kill lust before sin kills us. Today, I want to go through the graveyard. In the grave yard, there are some open graves, with tombstones over them. I want us to see a few of these graves of lust and avoid them at all cost.

UNFORTUNATELY, You can bury what is precious to you, in GRAVES OF LUST.

James 1:14-15 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

1) YOU CAN BURY YOUR MARRIAGE IN GRAVES OF LUST

Proverbs 5:3-5
Consequences?
Proverbs 5:8-19

2) YOU CAN BURY YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY IN GRAVES OF

3) YOU CAN BURY YOUR LIBERTY IN GRAVES OF LUST 2 Peter 2:17-19

4) YOU CAN BURY YOUR TESTIMONY/NAME/USEFULNESS IN GRAVES OF LUST Proverbs 22:1

5) YOU CAN BURY YOUR HAPPINESS/PEACE/LIFE/WALK IN GRAVES OF LUST

6) YOU CAN BURY YOUR SOUL IN GRAVES OF LUST 1 John 2:15-17

7) YOU CAN BURY YOUR LUSTS

Let’s flip this around, and instead of getting buried by our lust, let’s bury our lust and get out of this graveyard.

Ways to battle lust:

Endure
James 1:12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
1 Corinthians 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it
Walk away from lust
Gal. 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh
Kill lust
Galatians 5:24-25 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit
Child like obedience
1 Peter 1:14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance
Have the mind of Christ
1 Peter 4:1-2 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; (2) That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.

We have made our way through the grave yard tonight, but beware; you will have to go through this grave yard every day of your life. Be on the lookout, because what you may think to be an ordinary day, the Devil may try and lead you to an open grave. How dangerous to walk, especially in darkness or not paying attention. I can imagine someone whose mind is wondering, maybe walking and looking behind them to take a wrong step and fall into an open grave of lust.

Take the lantern of the Word of God, shine the light on your path, and bury your lust; don’t let your lust bury you.

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The Heart of a Child

Posted on December 30, 2010 by admin

The heart of a child is precious to us. We see in a young baby innocence, purity and love. We see a heart that is unspotted by this cruel world and the dark times in which we live. God sees, in this young baby, a heart that is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked (Jeremiah 17:9). Shocking? Perhaps at first, but maybe you have never thought about the fact that babies are born with a nature of rebellion and depravity. Do you have to teach a child to lie? Do you have to teach a child to take things that do not belong to him? Do you have to teach a child to throw tantrums when they do not get there way? Sadly, the answer is no, you don’t.

The child has the same problem that you and I have, a corrupt and sinful nature. Our hearts are naturally set to do evil, and are the enemy’s of God because we are set against His ways. It was not so in the beginning. God created Heaven and Earth and everything in it and said that “It was very good”. There was no death, no disease, and no sickness because there was no sin; everything was perfect. When Adam, the first man whom God created, rebelliously ate the fruit that God commanded him not to eat, he died spiritually (Genesis 3). He thrust all his descendents, all of mankind, into a spiritual death; bringing guilt upon mankind. Man was not born with the good nature God created Adam with, but the inherited the sinful, rebellious nature. Romans 3:10-11 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. None of us are good, we have all sinned. We are born with a sinful nature, and continue to break God’s laws.

Yes, it is natural for us to sin and there is not one person alive that naturally wants to obey God’s laws, but is that an excuse for us, everyone else is just as BAD as I am? That explains the nature, but what of the consequences? The Bible says that the wages of sin are death. There will be a pay day for sin since the wages of sin is death, but after death is the pay day for sin as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.

But, here is the GOOD NEWS! Romans 3:23-26 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. Do you know what that means? It means that man CAN be justified, or looked upon as innocent in God’s eyes! God sent his son to be propitiation or atonement, a substitute for those who have faith in His sacrifice on the cross. Jesus took upon Himself all the sin of His people on the cross and paid that awful wage of sin. He redeemed sinners. He paid the judgment that due sinners, that sinners might have HIS righteousness. He takes away the guilt of the old nature, and puts upon us the Righteousness of Jesus Christ, the Sinless Son of God.

How can a man be justified with God? You are a sinner, and you need a Saviour. I know this because we are all sinners. You have lied, you have coveted, you have looked upon another with lust in your heart, you have not loved God with all you heart and soul. These are sins. The wages of sin is death. We are all guilty. We are BORN guilty; we are naturally rebellious and are hearts are dead set against God. We need a Saviour; YOU NEED a Saviour. The bible says “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.” Repent of your sins, believe that Jesus Christ is the Saviour that He died on the cross for sin that He died and was buried for 3 days and 3 nights and rose again for justification. Trust in Him, that His blood paid the price and penalty for sin. Jesus saves all that come to Him in repentant faith, without fail.

Jesus said in the book of John 6:37; 40 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

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The God of the Overwhelmed: An Exposition of Psalm 61

Posted on December 30, 2010 by admin

Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer. From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy. I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings. Selah. For thou, O God, hast heard my vows: thou hast given me the heritage of those that fear thy name. Thou wilt prolong the king’s life: and his years as many generations. He shall abide before God for ever: O prepare mercy and truth, which may preserve him. So will I sing praise unto thy name for ever, that I may daily perform my vows. (Psalms 61:1-8)

We are weak and needy creatures. Anyone who would observe mankind for a few moments would see how fragile and weak we are. I think that sometimes we are blind, or at least forget, how needy and how weak we really are. In a world filled with sin and the results of sin, we reap the sorrows of our rebellion against God, but all too often forsake the only real comfort we have. Some teach a prosperity gospel that equates possessions with God’s love and trials with sin (they need to read the book of Job). Trusting in Christ for the salvation of your soul does not remove all problems from your life. We are saved, but we are still in this world, and in this world we will have tribulation. The question is how do we live in this present life, facing sore trials? In the 61st Psalm, we find a psalm of David when he was facing such a time in his life. David was a man after God’s own heart, but was no stranger to problems in his life. Many of his problems were the results of his sin, but many of them were not. The pain was real, the sorrow was heavy and the cry was from the depth of his soul. Where did David turn? Where do the children of God go in such times? In this passage we see the overwhelmed go to the God of the overwhelmed and the benefits that are received there. There are two sections of this psalm, and we will see a change from the first part to the second. What was the change, and how did the change occur?

First, David said hear my cry, O God. The saints of God do not escape the sorrows of this life. I may say that not only do we not escape life’s sorrows, but I believe that we also experience deeper sorrow. We experience true joy, but having faced true joy in salvation, we experience deeply the grief of sin. The gospel of the world teaches that Godliness is gain, that true believers do not experience grief. The prosperity gospel teaches that God will give us all that we desire, money, health, possessions to fulfill our lives completely on this earth. No one has the promise of a life of ease, but in fact the Christian will have problems. It says in 2 Timothy 3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. Not only will we not be permitted to pass through life on flowery petals of repose, but we are to expect persecution in this life. Jesus encouraged his disciples, not by telling them they will never experience pain or trial in this life, but to expect it. The comfort came not from taking away all trials, but having peace in Him, that in Christ we will overcome this world. John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. Paul, who was no stranger to the blessings of God as the great servant of God, also was no stranger to problems. Romans 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. There is no question that the saints of God will cry, but notice what the cry was. David’s cry was not “woe is me” but his cry was to His God. He was not a stoic, nor should we be, but his cry was unto God. Hear David as he is in deep sorrow, Hear my cry O God! Hear me Mighty Father, attend unto my prayer. When we cry, let us cry unto our Father. When we are in such despair that we can’t pray, but only cry out unto God, He will hear us. When we don’t know what to say, our heart is heavy with grief and all that can proceed from our weary mouth is a desperate cry unto God, does not our loving Father attend unto our prayers? If our earthly fathers can attend unto a child’s weeping, how much more so will our perfect Heavenly Father hear our prayer? We come to a loving Father hurt, knowing He knows what is best, and that he will attend for our good and His glory.

Where do we cry? From the end of the earth. So many Christians, when they cry, do so unto the world. There is no true comfort here, not for one who has been enlightened by the Holy Spirit. Once we have tasted of that sweet fellowship with the Father, through the Son, by the power of the Spirit, one could travel every inch of this world, and not find the peace and comfort of soul that is found in Christ. Oh, the vanity of life when we are downcast! We don’t need to despair, for where ever we are found, from the ends of the earth, we are never too far from the Masters ear. We are never too far from the love of God. Whether under the depths of the sea, to the farthest reaches of the plains, God will hear our cry. We may be far from friends and family, we may be alone and afraid, but we are never truly alone if we have Christ. He who bore our sins will never leave nor forsake us. David said “when my heart is overwhelmed”. Browns Driver Briggs defines the Hebrew word here ataph translated overwhelmed as ‘to cover, to envelop ones self, or to be feeble, faint, growing weak.’ The heart is weak, feeble, overcome by sorrows. As if shipwrecked at sea, with the waves of grief shrouding the soul. How many times have the children of God been overwhelmed? Our hearts are feeble. Even the most hardened soul, at some point has been overwhelmed. How much more so for the children of the most high? We see our families away from God, our neighbors leaving this world with out Christ, we suffer persecutions and are attacked by our enemy, the Devil, looking about this world which waxes worse and worse each day. Sometimes the saints of God, we once had sweet fellowship with, now forsaking the assembly of our great God. The grief, the pain, the sorrow is overwhelming. That doesn’t even take into consideration the sorrow of our hearts over our own souls for our own sin. How we fail our Lord! Oh how oft we sin against our Saviour! Are not our hearts grieved and overwhelmed at our failures, the sin in our lives? Are we not overwhelmed at times from the great work we have been commissioned to do, and yet it seems we spin our wheels, and toil and labor, with seemingly no results? I cry unto God when my heart is feeble. When I am filled with doubts and fears. When I don’t understand, and strive to serve my God. I cry unto my God when I am alone, when my faith is weak and I’m sorely tried. The children of God have and truly know what it is like to where the cloak of despair, and to languish in the depths of grief, and to have the heart overwhelmed, beyond the ability to express the emotion of our fainting fits of despondency. We will have a heart that is overwhelmed.

But if that was the end of our walk with Christ, we would be of all men most miserable. All the sons of Adam experience such woe, but the joy of the Christian is we do not remain. The world will seek comfort in self, pleasures and other futile attempts of merriment, but we have such a blessed treasure, for when we are weak, He is made strong. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. Jesus is the Rock that is higher than I. When our hearts are overwhelmed, it is Christ in which we find safety and refuge. When we are overcome we are as is we were lost at sea, shipwrecked with no hope of recovery, no hope of making it to shore, with drowning in despair our only conceivable hope. Jesus Christ is the Rock that is higher than I. He is the safety when our hearts are overwhelmed, He is the mighty Rock of refuge, and of our salvation. He is higher than I, higher than our troubles, higher than we could ever get ourselves. Psalm 18:2 says The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. When we are overcome by grief and sorrow, Christ is where we must flee. Jesus is the solid, secure, and safe refuge. Through the blood of Christ, we have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us, which hope we have as an anchor of the soul. Lead me to the Rock, for I can’t go on my own. I am too distraught to find my own way, to weak to see, lead me, Holy Spirit, in my distress, to the Rock. Let me never look for refuge in any other. Lead me, take me, help me! I cry out when I can=t help myself, but not to my own devices, not to my own works, but to the Rock, the solid rock, that is higher, loftier, mightier than I, that has hope and life for all who cling to Him.

O then to the Rock let me fly
To the Rock that is higher than I

For thou hast been a shelter for me. Jesus is our protection from danger. When do you seek shelter? When we need a hiding place from storms or danger. A shelter is a place of refuge, a place of comfort. Though the winds howl and the rains beat down, the thunder roars, we are secure in the shelter we seek. Jesus is our shelter. He is our hiding place. The child of God runs to Christ to find a refuge, to find comfort, to find a hiding place. We are secure in Christ. When all the world forsakes us, He never will. When we are being tormented on every side, we go to God in prayer, and there, in the shelter of Christ, we are reminded of His love, mercy, kindness to us and are strengthened. The storm is never as bad when viewed from a shelter.

Jesus is our strong tower from the enemy. He is our strong defense from certain danger. When in battle, a fortress will make the weak and the outnumbered safe. A strong tower provides protection. If the odds were 1000 to 1, it’s not the power of the one that would protect, but the strong tower. Jesus is our confident strong hold. He has won the victory over any enemy we may face. Jesus came in the flesh that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil. 1Co 15:54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. Notice in First Corinthians 15:55-58 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. He is our strong tower, even in death. What greater enemy could there be? Even in our greatest hour of trial, and our weakest moment in the flesh, Jesus is promised not only to be there, but to give us victory.

I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever. The joy we have abiding in Jesus is unspeakable. To be with Him, to have fellowship with Him, what joy there is in Christ. It could seem a contradiction to those who do not know him, how we could joy in tribulation, have fellowship in suffering, be blessed in persecution because they know nothing of the peace of Christ, or the indwelling of the Comforter. God is the God of peace, and when we are overwhelmed, we abide with Him because he will see us through. How often the saints, when they are troubled say they are too troubled to be in God’s house? Why forsake such a blessing? The television, the lake, the golf course are sought to find rest for their soul. Do we not believe that God speaks to us through His word, and when we are in need, what better place to hear than in the house of God? To dwell in God’s house, to be where God is, to be where God receives glory, to hear praises to His name, and His word expounded, with our brothers and sisters in Christ, there will we find comfort. Coming in from the battle, weary and down, to hear of the grace of God, the goodness of our Lord is what we need to get ready for what ever may come.

I will trust in the covert of thy wings. Fear, sadness, danger, these things send children to their fathers. During the night, when a thunderstorm blows in, a child may become scared of the wind, the lightning and thunder, and run to the safety of fathers arms. The little birds will find comfort under the wings of the hen. How much more will our Heavenly Father give us what we need? The storm is still there, the danger is still present, but how different it seems under His wings. We see in this metaphor the trust of the child in the Father, that under His wings is place to be. Where do you find the disciples of God when faced with doubt and fear? John 13:22-23 Then the disciples looked one on another, doubting of whom he spake. Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved. Could there be a more comforting place for the hurt and broken hearted?

Safe in the arms of Jesus, safe on His gentle breast,
There by His love o’ershaded, sweetly my soul shall rest.
Hark! tis the voice of angels, borne in a song to me.

Over the fields of glory, over the jasper sea.

Safe in the arms of Jesus, safe from corroding care,
Safe from the world’s temptations, sin cannot harm me there.
Free from the blight of sorrow, free from my doubts and fears;
Only a few more trials, only a few more tears!

Jesus, my heart’s dear Refuge, Jesus has died for me;
Firm on the Rock of Ages, ever my trust shall be.
Here let me wait with patience, wait till the night is over;
Wait till I see the morning break on the golden shore.

Safe in the arms of Jesus, safe on His gentle breast
There by His love o’ershaded, sweetly my soul shall rest.

This is the consistent feeling and action of the child of God. Psalm 57:1 is the Psalm of David, when he fled from Saul in the cave. Notice in David’s despair he cry’s Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be past. The hope of the worried soul is in Jesus. Even amongst the worst of calamities, we have faith in God that they will pass. We flee to Almighty God, and rest in Him during the midst of the engulfing ruin of life’s ordeals. Even if the catastrophe results in our death, we will leave this earth clinging to Christ, and then spend eternity clinging to Him! What can separate us from the love of God? Nothing. The loving kindness of Christ our Lord, as it were, stretching out His wings of love, to comfort, protect, keep His beloved. It will be He that faces the trials, He that gets us through, He that sees the end, and guides us safely on. While the tempest rages, and the storm blows, it is our loving master that says, Peace, be still. Oh that we will find peace in the covert of thy wings of our Heavenly Father.

As the child goes to God, and seeks refuge, shelter, protection in Him, we find that there is a change in the tenor of the psalm. We find that something drove him to despair, which drove him to Christ. Now see God’s benefits to the overwhelmed. For thou, O God, hast heard my vows. God hears our prayers. These were not empty words in the night, but prayers unto the Most High God. The pouring our of our souls to the Lord is not a exercise in futility, but God hears us. He hears our words, He hears our pleas. Even when don’t know how to pray, or what to pray for us, the Holy Spirit helpeth our infirmities. When we don’t know what to pray for as we ought, the Holy Spirit maketh intercession for us with groanings that can not be uttered, He searcheth the hearts.

Thou hast given me the heritage of those that fear thy name. Not only does God hear our prayers, and give us refuge, but we are the children of God. We have received the Spirit of adoption whereby we cry, Abba, Father. Abba is the Aramaic word for father, a more tender way of address, like daddy. We are the children of God and not only do we have experience this filial love, but consider the benefits of being son’s and if son’s and heirs of God through Christ and joint heirs with Christ, if so that we suffer with him, we may be glorified together. Thou wilt prolong the king’s life: and his years as many generations. We know that we are eternally secure, and have comfort in that, but we also trust that God answers our prayers. Is there any sick? Pray. And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. The benefit of God toward the overwhelmed child is that He answers prayers. No matter what happens, we will be OK, but God may see fit to remove the sore trial that we are in the midst of, whether persecution, sickness, or any other distress. Believe that God is able to deliver us, not only eternally, but here and now.

He shall abide before God for ever: O prepare mercy and truth, which may preserve him. God will preserve us. God is going to keep us. There may be thorns of the flesh that remain with us, even unto death, but God may be pleased to show His power by removing the distress in our lives. This trial may be a preparatory work, that you will be a great help to some other pilgrim down the way. Second Corinthians 12:9-10 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. So if we do not have the result that we desired, God will give us grace and help in our time of need. The result God has for us is much better than what we think we want. God will keep us by His mercy. God is merciful, and He will always to what is right, and what is truthful. Praise Him who deals with mankind mercifully and truthfully!

So will I sing praise unto thy name for ever, that I may daily perform my vows. We find the psalmist different at the end than when we found him at the beginning. He started the psalm in despair, but ends it in song. He started crying in pain, and left singing in Christ. He started declaring vows, and left fulfilling them. Can’t you see the difference when we go to Christ? How pitiful the Christian who will stay in sorrow, and wallow in misery and not flee to Christ. Daily we should go to Him. The longer we are away, the longer we stay in our misery. The longer we are away, the longer we remain in darkness. The more we stay from our refuge, the more we forget about the joy of our salvation. We can praise God in our troubles because God will always give us comfort. We are always protected by God. The Father will hear our prayers, the Holy Spirit will lead us to Refuge, and we will always have the help and grace which is sufficient for us. Will go through this life, never bearing more than God know we are able to, and God helping us to bear what we are given.

When, not if, but when we face these problems, no matter how dreadful they seem, we have peace in Christ Jesus. We will go to our prayer closets overwhelmed, and leave singing. The problem may still be there, but how sweet to cast ALL our care, ALL our anxieties, ALL our problems upon Him, because He cares for His own. We see in this psalm, that God is sovereign, God is in control and we must trust in Him. Prayer doesn’t change God, prayer changes us. First Peter 5:10-11 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

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