WHEN DIFFICULTIES COME, WHAT DO WE SAY?

READ PSALM 39

DO WE CONTINUE TO PLACE OUR HOPE IN GOD?

Psalm 39:1-3

1 I said, “I will guard my ways,

that I may not sin with my tongue;

I will guard my mouth with a muzzle,

so long as the wicked are in my presence.”

2 I was mute and silent;

I held my peace to no avail,

and my distress grew worse.

3 My heart became hot within me.

As I mused, the fire burned;

then I spoke with my tongue: 

As David dealt with the distresses in his life, he had determined not to sin by his speech. His silence protected him from rebelling against God, as well as from damaging his testimony before the wicked.

As the agony of his difficulty mounted within him, he could not keep his silence any longer:

Psalm 39:4-6

4 “O Lord, make me know my end

and what is the measure of my days;

let me know how fleeting I am!

5 Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadths,

and my lifetime is as nothing before you.

Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath! Selah

6 Surely a man goes about as a shadow!

Surely for nothing they are in turmoil;

man heaps up wealth and does not know who will gather!

David does not sin, he does not rebel or speak against God, he just asks his Lord to help him remember the frailty and shortness of human life.

This psalm should be a warning about how we react to our own difficulties. Are we committed not to speak against God and not to damage our testimony of faith in Him before the unsaved? When we complain, or become angry or bitter, we are rebelling against God.

Our testimony of faith in Christ can be tainted by the way we deal with life’s situations. Are we shining witnesses to our spouse and children? Do those people who live in close contact with us know us as complainers? David had committed not to speak against his God, no matter what his circumstances were.

David’s reflection also caused him to look at his life with an awareness of its frailty and brevity. Are our reactions and attitudes so earthly that we forget how momentary our life is?

God’s intention is always to draw us to Him, to promote dependence upon Him. Our trials are a gift of God, as they put our priorities in perspective and expose our frailty.

Psalm 39:7-11

“And now, O Lord, for what do I wait?

My hope is in you.

8 Deliver me from all my transgressions.

Do not make me the scorn of the fool!

9 I am mute; I do not open my mouth,

for it is you who have done it.

10 Remove your stroke from me;

I am spent by the hostility of your hand.

11 When you discipline a man

with rebukes for sin,

you consume like a moth what is dear to him;

surely all mankind is a mere breath! Selah 

David’s reactions are a good example for us. Totally dependent on God, he recognizes that all is under the control of His Sovereign Lord, and repents, asking God to deliver him.

Are these our reactions to the difficulties of life? Do we continue to place our hope in God? Do we examine ourselves before we judge others? Do we guard our hearts and minds, as we recognize the sovereignty of God in all our situations?

I am afraid that often we are driven by pride, thinking that we deserve better than what we have been given. We look at others as the cause of our misery. We spin our wheels, in our desire to change our circumstances.

Psalm 39:12-13

“Hear my prayer, O Lord,

and give ear to my cry;

hold not your peace at my tears!

For I am a sojourner with you,

a guest, like all my fathers.

13 Look away from me, that I may smile again,

before I depart and am no more!” 

David does not desist from asking God for reprieve. But he realizes that he is just a pilgrim on earth.

Do we look at our lives on earth the way we should? We are temporary sojourners, pilgrims, progressing through life not as victims, but as witnesses of God’s power and glory.

1 Peter 2:11-12

Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation. 

Life is hard! We certainly can ask God for reprieves, knowing that He is in control. We should commit to keep our tongue from sinning. And remembering the brevity of our lives, we should make sure that they invite others to recognize the presence and power of our God, Who deserves all glory.

7 TRUTHS ABOUT SIN WE SHOULD NEVER FORGET

READ PSALM 38

OUR SIN SHOULD DRIVE US TO GOD!

Psalm 38

A Psalm of David, for the memorial offering.

1 O Lord, rebuke me not in your anger,

nor discipline me in your wrath!

2 For your arrows have sunk into me,

and your hand has come down on me. 

In this psalm that David has designated for the memorial offering, he speaks about his sin and the anguish that it has caused. We do not know if this memorial is David’s request to God to remember him, or it is for himself, to remember his sin and God’s forgiveness. As we read through this psalm, though, it is abundantly clear that sin has had a profound effect in David’s life.

He knows that he deserves the discipline of God and that God has not remained indifferent. We certainly know from the Word of God, that David had to endure the consequences of his sin; we also know that he repented of his sin before God.

When we sin, we are not thinking about how foolish it is to sin, to be willing to trade the peace and wisdom that comes from God for some temporary pleasure. In verse five, David makes it very clear that his choice to sin was certainly foolish.

His sin brought both internal consequences and external ones, leaving David in distress, bearing its weight. His inner tumult is the result of his sorrow for the effect of God’s indignation about his iniquities.

David’s repentance and sorrow are real. They are directed to his Lord. He knows that he has offended his God and is bearing the weight of His judgment. He really does not have anything to offer God, apart from his sorrow and repentance. He knows that God is totally aware of what is going on in his heart. He is utterly dependent on God for forgiveness and for protection from his enemies.

He realizes that his enemies are also part of God’s rebuke and discipline, but His pressing priority is to be close to his God, living in repentant and humble submission to Him.

Only God has an acceptable solution, and David is willing to wait upon Him. The Lord is the One who can save him and forgive him. David is expectant, relying upon God’s rescue.

As we meditate on these words, some thoughts come to mind about how we should approach our own sin.

1 - We should never be attracted by momentary pleasure. Sin is always the result of our foolish rebellion. The author of Hebrews, in chapter 11, reminds us that Moses chose to serve God instead of being allured by the pleasures of sin.

2 - We should never minimize it.  God is always offended by it, and it will always bring consequences in our lives.

Romans 6:23

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

3 - We should never justify it. We should never blame our sin on our circumstances or the behavior of others.

Proverbs 28:13

Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper,

but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.

4 - We should never overlook the heavy hand of God. God will let the weight of sin come upon us. We should be questioning our relationship with Him, if, when we sin, we do not experience His heavy hand upon us.

Hebrews 12:5-6

“My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,

nor be weary when reproved by him.

For the Lord disciplines the one he loves,

and chastises every son whom he receives.” 

5 - We should never blame God for the consequences for our sin. Sin will leave scars that will be constant reminders of our foolishness.

Colossians 3:5-6

Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. 

6 - We should never believe that we are slaves to sin. If we have justified our sin because “we cannot help it”, we must repent. Only unbelievers are slaves to sin!

1 Corinthians 10:13

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. 

7 - We should never forget that God forgives sin. We must believe that God is faithful to His promises and will forgive confessed sin.

1 John 1:9

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 

Although David felt the weight of his sin, he knew that he needed to turn to God and repent. He knew that God could refresh his soul and protect him from his enemies.

Psalm 38:18

I confess my iniquity;

I am sorry for my sin. 

As we recognize sin and its gravity before God, we have only one place to go: to the feet of Jesus. May the Lord help us to view sin the way God sees it, and may we rejoice in forgiveness, with a renewed appreciation for the amazing gift that it is to us.

Psalm 38:21-22

21 Do not forsake me, O Lord!

O my God, be not far from me!

22 Make haste to help me,

O Lord, my salvation! 

ARE YOU CONVINCED THAT GOD IS IN CONTROL?

THERE IS AN EVERLASTING FUTURE, AND IT IS IN THE HANDS OF OUR MIGHTY GOD

READ PSALM 37

Psalm 37:34-40 

34 Wait for the Lord and keep his way,

and he will exalt you to inherit the land;

you will look on when the wicked are cut off.

35 I have seen a wicked, ruthless man,

spreading himself like a green laurel tree.

36 But he passed away, and behold, he was no more;

though I sought him, he could not be found.

37 Mark the blameless and behold the upright,

for there is a future for the man of peace.

38 But transgressors shall be altogether destroyed;

the future of the wicked shall be cut off.

39 The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord;

he is their stronghold in the time of trouble.

40 The Lord helps them and delivers them;

he delivers them from the wicked and saves them,

because they take refuge in him. 

When Jesus prayed in the Garden: “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours be done.” The cost of the Father’s will was very clear to Him. He knew He would carry the weight of the sins of men. He knew they were sins that He had never committed. He knew that He would receive the full, perfect and holy wrath of His Father. He would experience the separation and the abandonment from God the Father that every human deserves. How did He do it? He kept His eyes fixed on the goal.

Hebrews 12:1-2

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. 

Jesus knew that because of His obedience to the Father’s will, you and I would be saved, and that we would be spending eternity worshiping His Father. It was a joy to Him, to be the means of the salvation of the elect, in submission to the Father’s will.

David concludes this psalm by inviting us to wait on God, to trust His purposes, to rest in His justice, to enjoy the wonder of His promises.

God wants men and women to humbly place their complete trust in Him, and thus enjoy the peace of God, as they promote peace with Him to others. When we become unsatisfied and ungrateful, when we lose sight of the eternal purposes of God and the privilege we have to be His instruments, we not only lose that peace, but we can no longer be promoters and preachers of peace.

We cannot fix our eyes on ourselves or on the present. There is an everlasting future, and it is in the hands of our mighty God.

The psalms have often referred to life’s hardships. We can spin our wheels, trying to make our lives more comfortable as we place ourselves at the center of our efforts, or we can trust God to give us the necessary strength to endure and trust Him for the perfect outcome that He has planned.

Our eternal salvation is dependent totally on the work of Christ, we cannot do anything to invite it or pay for it. Our lives, what we possess, what we endure, our health -- everything is dependent on God. We can choose to go through life gratefully, satisfied with what God gives us, or with dissatisfied bitterness. But either way, our circumstances will continue to be in the hands of God.

Paul, in all the trials of his life, had learned to trust God.

2 Timothy 1:8-12

Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me. 

We have the privilege of being a testimony for Christ and trusting God through the hardships of life. May our lives today reflect that trust.

GOD IS HOLDING YOUR HAND!

READ PSALM 37 

WHY WOULD WE ALLOW THE TEMPORAL TO DRIVE OUR EMOTIONS, DESIRES, AND REACTIONS?

Psalm 37:18-19

The Lord knows the days of the blameless,

and their heritage will remain forever;

19 they are not put to shame in evil times;

in the days of famine they have abundance. 

Even though the wicked seem to prosper, David continues to give reasons to trust in God to the readers of this wonderful psalm.

God is totally aware of the lives of those who are His and trust in Him. Their lives will leave a legacy of righteousness, and He will take care of them during every hardship of life.

God promised to take care of His own many times in the Scriptures.

Isaiah 41:10

fear not, for I am with you;

be not dismayed, for I am your God;

I will strengthen you, I will help you,

I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

1 Peter 5:6-7

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. 

The Apostle Peter reminds us that our trust must be preceded by humility. Humility requires our admission of inability, our recognition of God’s ability and consequential total trust and dependence on Him. Only then will we have the peace and rest that we so desire.

Why would we not be satisfied with God, when the final outcome is certain?

It is certain for the wicked.

Psalm 37:20

But the wicked will perish;

the enemies of the Lord are like the glory of the pastures;

they vanish—like smoke they vanish away. 

It is certain for the righteous.

Psalm 37:21-22

The wicked borrows but does not pay back,

but the righteous is generous and gives;

22 for those blessed by the Lord shall inherit the land,

but those cursed by him shall be cut off. 

Why would we ever focus on what we can see now? Why would we allow the temporal to drive our emotions, desires, and reactions? Not only should we look to God for our provision, but we should be generous with what we have. The wicked accumulates because he believes that his sustainability rests on his ability; the godly is generous because he knows his provision is unending, adequate, and timely.

Psalm 37:23-24

23 The steps of a man are established by the Lord,

when he delights in his way;

24 though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong,

for the Lord upholds his hand. 

What a beautiful image! God is holding our hands! I am reminded of walking with my children along the sidewalk in the city of Rome. There were the dangers for them from the traffic, the possibility of stumbling and falling, or of getting lost. My grasp on the hand of my squirming child was not restrictive, but protective.

God is holding our hands, too, as we walk through the difficulties of life, and while we are evaluating what we have and observing what others are enjoying. We are not being deprived, we are not being abandoned. God is protecting us from what we really don’t need, keeping us close and dependent on Him.

I remember how many times my children stumbled, but did not fall because I was holding their hand. Those mishaps usually were followed by pleasurable times, when their little unaware hand stopped struggling to get loose and found comfort in being held.

God is so kind in reminding us today, that we should not be squirming in our trusting dependence on Him. We are certainly not wise enough to even know what we really need. We are not knowledgeable enough to know the dangers of possessing what would certainly not be good for us.

David had observed God’s provision; his experience had proven God to be faithful.

Psalm 37:25-26

25 I have been young, and now am old,

yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken

or his children begging for bread.

26 He is ever lending generously,

and his children become a blessing. 

David had observed the continuous care of God. His care is not only sufficient, but generous. Let’s not forget that as God takes care of our needs, not our wants, He wants us to be generous and to be a blessing to others.

May we go out today and live with satisfied dependence on God, being generous with what He has given us. May we be a blessing to others!

THE WICKED WILL NOT PROSPER FOREVER!

GOD IS WATCHING; HE IS TOTAL CONTROL

READ PSALM 37

Psalm 37:9-11

9 For the evildoers shall be cut off,

but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land.

10 In just a little while, the wicked will be no more;

though you look carefully at his place, he will not be there.

11 But the meek shall inherit the land

and delight themselves in abundant peace. 

We should not be disturbed by the prosperity of the wicked or envy them, but instead we should entrust our lives to the Lord. David has been clear that we should act righteously when we see evil men prosper, for their wellbeing is only momentary. They will not prosper forever.

The end of those who will not follow Christ is set. Only those who humbly repent before Him will have everlasting life and abundant peace. Jesus repeated these same words in the Sermon on the Mount.

Matthew 5:5

“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. 

Jesus meant that after a person has recognized himself as destitute, without anything good to offer God, and has repented of his sins, then the natural consequence is to entrust oneself into the arms of God. There are no demands, no rights claimed, just humble submission and dependence on God.

Matthew 11:29

Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 

Jesus was meek, He was gentle, He was not arrogant, He did not look for revenge: He was our perfect example. When we truly submit and trustingly depend upon God, we will find rest. We say we want rest, but are we willing to allow God to work and to wait on Him?

James 3:13-18

Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.  But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth.  This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.  But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. 

Our actions will expose the direction of our hearts.

Psalm 37:12-15

12 The wicked plots against the righteous

and gnashes his teeth at him,

13 but the Lord laughs at the wicked,

for he sees that his day is coming.

14 The wicked draw the sword and bend their bows

to bring down the poor and needy,

to slay those whose way is upright;

15 their sword shall enter their own heart,

and their bows shall be broken. 

God is watching; He is total control. The wicked will never commit any action that God will not permit. We will never be beyond God’s arm of protection and love. The wicked only seem to be victorious. If we truly trust God, we should never feel defeated.

Psalm 37:16-17

16 Better is the little that the righteous has

than the abundance of many wicked.

17 For the arms of the wicked shall be broken,

but the Lord upholds the righteous. 

If only we could learn to be satisfied with what we have, for God is providing for us. He never promised to meet our wants. God is the one Who defines our needs and meets them with timeliness, care and love.

Philippians 4:19

And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

God does not lack ability, desire or provision! Why, then, would we fret? Why would we go elsewhere? Why would we ever envy?

May our day today be filled with joyful and grateful awareness of God’s provision.