Psalm 41 - 2008.04.26

"I said, Lord, be merciful unto me: heal my soul; for I have sinned against Thee." — Psalm 41:4

From a study of the context, it would appear that David wa suffering from some grievous malady when this Psalm was written. In v. 3 he mentions his "sickness." In v.8 he notes the charge of his enemies that he was the victim of :an evil disease." And in v. 10 he pleads with God, to "raise me up," evidently from his bed of affliction. That is the backdrop of this Psalm, and helps in the interpretation of our text.

The afflicted believer does not flee from the Lord, but to Him. That immediately reveals one of the benefits of our trials. In times of tranquillity it is easy to be distracted from a proper spiritual focus. Sometimes, in order to win our attention, the Lord lays a heavy hand upon our shoulder, so to speak. Those trials good things that are a means of reminding us of our dependence upon Him and serve to restore our fellowship with Him.

However, that does not seem to be the situation here. The Psalmist is convinced that his affliction is reproof for some transgression: " for I have sinned against Thee." We do not know the nature of his affliction, nor the sin that he recognized, but we do know that David understood and appreciated the truth expressed in the New Testament, "Whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son who He receiveth [Heb. 12:6]." This, too, is a manifestation of God's mercy.

Sometimes, like petulant children, we are tempted under His disciplining hand to cry out, "You don't love me any more!" The fact is, as a wise parent might respond, He says in principle, "I love you too much to let you go too long in the wrong direction."

Our "nugget" is a study in the proper response of a true believer to the chastening hand of God. Consider his confidence, his cry, his confession.

Where faith is genuine, divine discipline never generates doubt about God's goodness. From his bed of affliction David prevails upon the mercy of God, confident He is merciful still. For those of us privileged to live in this New Testament era, Calvary is the ultimate ground for confidence in God's mercy. If the Lord loved us enough to send His only begotten Son to the cross for us when we were His "enemies" (Rom. 5:10), then there is no reason to doubt His will to be merciful toward us now that we are "the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus [Gal. 3:26]." All suffering of the saints should be understood, then, as either disciplinary or developmental and, as we have noted above, as having ultimately a benevolent purpose.

Next to be noted is the cry of the afflicted child of God, "heal my soul." Is it not fascinating that he does not pray, "heal my troubled body"? The true believer, convicted by his adversity of some transgression against his holy and merciful God, will be more concerned for the health of his soul than of his body. In the familiar 23rd Psalm we have the emphasis, "He restoreth my soul; He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake [Ps. 23:3]." Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb, our highest calling is to glorify His name. If our "enemy" succeeds in drawing us away from "paths of righteousness," we will bring reproach upon His name and impoverish our own souls. Essential to our ultimate well being is the health of our souls.

Finally, with his cry for mercy and spiritual restoration, there is the believer's confession. It is not elaborate, but honest, earnest and genuine: "I have sinned against Thee." How wonderful and remedial is the honest facing up to our departure from the way of righteousness when the Holy Spirit arranges for us to see it. Through Solomon He said, "He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy [Prov. 28:13]." And the beloved apostle declares, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness [I John 1:9]."

"Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth [III John 2]." If your health matched that of your soul, how healthy would you be?

For our good and God's glory,

"Pastor" Frasier

Psalm 40 - 2008.04.19

"… I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God." — Psalm 40:17

This text may best be appreciated in the light of the context (as is often the case,) especially v.12, "For innumerable evils have compassed me about: mine iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I am not able to look up; they are more than the hairs of mine head: therefore my heart faileth me." Our spokesman is the victim of spiritual heart failure. It is against that background that we would examine our "nugget" for today.

It is often the case with David, and should be with us, that adversity drives to a proper introspection. If we stand in the right relationship with holiness, our response to life's difficulties, whatever their nature, will not be "What have I done to deserve this?", but "Why should I deserve anything better?"We are so out of touch with the divine standard today that there is little consciousness of sin. Not so the psalmist. Close to the Light, he is mightily convicted of his woeful condition, assessing his sins as "more than the hairs of mine head." That is not hyperbole, but sober assessment which results in his self evaluation, "I am poor and needy."

It is of some importance to note that this is not the conviction of an unconverted man, but of a believer caught in the inevitable and never ending struggle between the flesh and the spirit. One is reminded of the contrasting disposition of the church of Laodicea, against which the Lord laid the charge, "… I will spew thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked… "[Rev. 3:16-17]."

It is imperative as believers that we remember, as David does, that apart from divine grace we are by nature spiritually destitute. Observe, however, the benefit of that conviction: it does not drive him to despair, but to the encouragement of God's grace. "Yet the Lord thinketh upon me; thou art my help and my deliverer." How much there is in the divine revelation to assure us that the Lord "thinks upon" those who discover themselves as "poor and needy." "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." This grand text is so familiar to us as believers that we generally miss its powerful, encouraging import. If God truly loves this lost, rebellious world, how much more does He love His children, their wretchedness notwithstanding? The apostle Peter reminds us, "Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you [I Pet. 5:6-7, italics added]. "And again, for an Old Testament example, "The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all [Ps. 34:18-19]." Such is His grace toward those who learn how frail they are, and recognize themselves as "poor and needy."

It is this reflection, then, that encourages the writer to make his appeal to God. Someone has said, we need to pray most when we least feel like praying. There is in this "God of all grace" both a refuge and a resource for the believing soul in every circumstance of life, whatever its origin, whatever its dimension. "Make no tarrying, O my God."

Whatever your present trial or affliction may be, its' ultimate design is to generate the awareness, "I am poor and needy." Then by His word be encouraged: He thinks upon you; "The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry [Ps. 34:15]." And the righteousness that qualifies is not self generated, but conferred upon us by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Let the discovery of our wretchedness stimulate an appeal to the throne of grace and draw us nearer to Him who is "able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think [Eph. 3:20]." He will "make no tarrying;" i.e., He will not be late!

For victory,

"Pastor" Frasier

Psalm 39 - 2008.04.12

"Lord, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am." — Psalm 39:4

Here is a simple, but profound prayer that every believer would do well to echo from the heart. It deals with destiny, dimension and dependence. Fortunate indeed is the soul who discovers these from a spiritual perspective.

Destiny: "Lord, make me to know mine end… " It is not how the race of life is run, but how it is finished, that matters most. From the standpoint of divine revelation, there are but two possible answers to this query. One's "end," no matter whether life is 'good" or evil, is either heaven or hell, and the difference is determined solely by one's relationship to Jesus Christ. "He that hath the son hath life, and he that hath not the son of God hath not life [I John 5:12]." Nothing could be simpler, clearer, more uncompromising that this. And aside from this not much else really matters.

Dimension: "… the measure of my days… " It is a wise thing to reflect upon the brevity of life, especially over against the concept of eternity. What happens here is of relatively little significance; what happens there is of paramount importance. We have but a short time to address the issue of our eternal destiny. "Man that is born of woman is of few days, and full of trouble. He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not [Job 14:1-2]."

Not only is life short, it is woefully uncertain. We have no claim on the future as far as our present life is concerned. Illness, accident, natural disasters—all loom like clouds on the horizon of life, capable of bringing uis abruptly and without notice to our "end." Conversing this week with my daughter, and recovery room nurse, I remarked about the uncertainties of "old age." She quickly responded, "Dad, you don't have to be old… ," and went on to tell of two patients under her care of late, one a twenty-three year old male, the other a twenty-nine year old female, stricken with life threatening disease. Illustrations to the point can be readily multiplied. We all know this, yet most of us live as though we had a firm grip on tomorrow.

Dependence: "… that I may know how frail I am." It is only in the measure that we recognize that our destiny does not lie here, and that the only time we have to settle it is now, that we will begin to live wisely. The natural man prides himself in his strength and self-sufficiency. The wise man recognizes his frailty and need for something — Someone— beyond himself to provide reinforcement for his woeful inadequacy.

The writer to the Hebrews, reviewing the hall of fame of the faithful, notes some who "out of weakness were made strong [Heb. 11:34c]." The apostle Paul declared, "When I am weak, then am I strong [II Cor. 12:10]," and observes even of Christ, "… He was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God [II Cor. 123:4]." Finally the principle is developed, "For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to naught things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence [I Cor. 1:26-29]."

The Savior said, "Without Me ye can do nothing (cf. John 15:5)." The implication is that whatever we accomplish apart from dependence upon Him amounts to "nothing" where the real scores are kept. If and when we realize our frailty, that we are weak to the point of impotence, we may be ready to cast ourselves upon the resources of the One who is "able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think [Eph. 3:20]." In a wonderful counterpoint, the apostle declares, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me [Phil. 4:13]."

Nothing without Him; all things through Him. Thus, and thus only, is God glorified in us.

For God's glory and our good,

"Pastor" Frasier

Psalm 38 - 2008.04.05

"But I, as a deaf man, heard not; and I was as a dumb man that openeth not his mouth. Thus I was as a man that heareth not, and in whose mouth are no reproofs. For in thee, O LORD, do I hope: thou wilt hear, O Lord my God. " — Ps. 38:13-15

The context will show the writer, burdened within by the consciousness of his sin, and without by the unjustified opposition of his enemies; yet, as our text reveals, he turns not to self defense nor to retaliation, but to God, exemplifying how a believer should behave himself before God and the watching world.

As to our sins, there are only two alternatives; either to confess them, or to attempt to cover them up. But, attempting to cover them (be they little or large, be they many or few) is an exercise in futility, because nothing is hid from "the eyes of Him with Whom we have to do (Heb. 4:13)." From God there is no place to hide. And to confess our sins to anyone else is to address the issue to those who are utterly incapable of dealing effectively with them. As an acquaintance of mine used to say, "He who would flee from God must flee to Him." Again, there is a divine principle which reads, "He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy[Prov. 28:13]." Wise beyond words is the man who, confronted with his sins, takes them directly to God, for "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness [I John 1:9]."

As for attempting to rail or retaliate against our adversaries (real or imagined,) to do so is to violate the principles of God's word. Our issue is never with the opposing individual, but with the alien spirit behind him, against whom we have in ourselves no adequate power. The psalmist here sets an example for the New Testament believer who is instructed by the Savior Himself, "… Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you… That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven [Matt. 4:44]."

Subsequently the Holy Spirit's teaching for the New Testament believer includes, "For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously [I Pet. 2:19-23]."

Again the Holy Spirit instructs us, with special reference to the body of Christ, "Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it. For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil [I Pet. 3:8-12]."

How different would history be, and church history in particular, if believers heeded this divine instruction. There are wars that would never have been fought, churches that would never have been splintered, relationships that would never have been broken, had Christians learned how to practice this pattern of behavior. Someone has said, with tragic humor, we have not only failed to love our enemies; many of us have never learned to love our friends!"

Illustrated in this Psalm, enjoined upon us in the New Testament, we must learn to carry our sins and our sorrows to God Who alone can deal with them in the right way and at the right time. To do otherwise is to do "evil" (cf. I Pet. 3:12!), to corrupt the testimony of Jesus Christ and to grieve the Holy Spirit.

For the praise of the Savior,

"Pastor" Frasier