The
Solution to the Mess that
the World , and Each of Us are In Today Part XXI
Psalm 53 & 59
Various New Testament Passages
November
2, 2025
“Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou
wilt revive me: thou shalt
stretch forth
thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies,
and thy right hand shall save me.”
The Lord
will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy O Lord endureth
for
ever: forsake not the work of thine
own hands.” (Psalm 138:7-8)
This perfection is a result of
God’s Plan of Salvation.
“Now unto
Him that is able to present you faultless before the presence of His glory
with esceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour,
be glory and majesty, dominion
and power, both
now and for ever.” (Jude 1:24-25)
14 Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they might have right
to the
treeof life, and may enter through the gates into the city.
15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers (φαρμακοι - pharmakoi
- pharmakoi
-
especially one who uses drugs), and idolaters,
and whoremongers, and whosoever
loveth and maketh a lie.”
I want to get into things which will not only keep you out of heaven, (if unrepented)
but will keep you dissatisfied
for the rest of your earthly life!
10 “They shall fall by the sword:
they shall be a portion for foxes.”
They
shall fall by the sword; i.e. in battle - the natural end of those who stir
up civil strife. (Psalm
63:10)
In Galatians 5:20 - φαρμακεία = pharmakeia - sorcery - progression:
medicine, drugs,
poisoning, sorcery, witchcraft -
associated with the occult - professedly designed to
keep the user from the attention
and power of demons, but actually to impress the
user with the mysterious resources
and powers of the sorcerer. (Vine’s
Expository
Dictionary of New Testament
Words)
19 Now the works of
the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery,
fornication, uncleanness,
lasciviousness (ἀσέλγεια - aselgeia - excess; absence
of restraint; moral abandonment,
20 Idolatry,
witchcraft (φαρμακεία), hatred, variance , emulations (ζηλοι), wrath,
strife,
seditions, heresies,
εἰδωλολατρία -
idolatry; φαρμακεία -
sorcery, ἔχθραι -
enmities,
ἐριθεῖαι - contentions, ἔρις -
strife, διχοστασίαι -
dissensions - divide in two,
ζῆλος - jealousy - a sinful, negative sense of
"jealousy," "strife," and "envy," ,
θυμοί -
outbursts of anger, αἱρέσεις - factions,
21 Envyings, murders,
drunkenness, revelings, and such like: of the which
I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which
do such
things shall not
inherit the
9 Know ye not that
the unrighteous shall not inherit the
Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers,
nor
effeminate, nor abusers of
themselves with mankind,
The phrase "abusers of
themselves with mankind" is a historical and religious term,
most famously from the King James
Version of the Bible in Leviticus 18:22, which
refers to homosexual acts,
specifically those involving a man with another man.
In this context, "abusers
of themselves" refers to a form of "self-abuse" that, in
he biblical and historical view,
harms the individual and the community.
This next clause is the first crack
that I have noticed in AI’s concession to anti-christian
dogma:
This phrasing is now considered archaic and offensive by many, and
interpretations vary, with some modern scholars questioning the translation
and intent. (AI)
10 Nor thieves, nor
covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners,
shall inherit the
11 And such were
some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified,
but ye are
justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
(I Corinthians 6:9-11)
Reiterate:
“Now unto
Him that is able to present you faultless before the presence of His glory
with esceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour,
be glory and majesty, dominion
and power, both
now and for ever.” (Jude 1:24-25)
Emphasize Psalm 69:13 - “But as for me, my prayer is unto thee, O
Lord, in an
acceptable time. O God, in the multitude of thy mercy hear me,
in the truth
of thy
salvation.”
Psalm 53:1-3
“The fool
hath said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they and have done
abominable iniquity:
there is none that doeth good. God
looked down from heaven
upon the
children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, that did
seek God.”
18 “For the wrath of God is revealed (one of the four
root words - the others being
manifest, knowledge, understanding)from heaven against all ungodliness and
unrighteousness of men, who
hold the truth in unrighteousness;”
19 “Because that which may be known of God is manifest (another of the
words)
in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
The knowledge of God's
mercy rests mainly on revelation" (Kay).
“The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament showeth His handiwork.
(Where have you been all your life?) Do you think at the Judgment that
God will
convince you that you should have known better?)
Day
unto day uttereth speech,
and night unto night showeth
knowledge. There is no
speech nor language where their voice is not heard.” (Psalm 19:1-3)
Contrast the two recent “nos) “no
God” and “no voice where His explanation is
not heard!”
(Ephesians 2;12, without God, without Christ - How did this happen?
The New Testament way and shortcut to what you and I are
really looking for
is found in the first few verses of Hebrews !:1-3)
1 “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past
unto the fathers by
the prophets,”
"sundry times"
means at various times or on many different occasions throughout history,
referring to how God communicated with the prophets in the
past. The phrase, along with
"divers manners,"
emphasizes that God's revelation to the Old Testament fathers
was not a single event but occurred over many periods and
through a multitude
of different methods, such as visions, dreams, and direct
speech. (AI)
2 “Hath in these last
days
spoken unto us by His Son, whom He hath
appointed heir of all
things, by whom also He made the worlds;”
3 Who being the brightness of His glory, and the express
image of His
person, and upholding
all things by the word of His power, when He
had by Himself
purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the
Majesty on
high:
20 “For the invisible things of Him from the creation of
the world are
clearly seen, being understood by the things
that are made, even His
eternal power and Godhead; so that they
are without excuse:”
21“Because that, when they knew God, they glorified Him not
as God,
neither were thankful;
but became vain in their imaginations, and
their foolish heart was darkened.” (reason being II Corinthians 4:4)
22 “Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,”
23 “And changed the glory of the uncorruptible
God into an image
made like to
corruptible man, and to birds, and four-footed beasts,
and creeping
things.”
24 “Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through
the lusts
of their own
hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves:
25 “Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped
and served
the creature more than
the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.”
26
“For this cause God gave them
up unto vile affections: for even their
women did change the
natural use into that which is against nature:”
( I can guarantee you that abortion on demand is against nature
[God said in
Jeremiah 19:5 - “...neither came it
unto my mind.”] Not only is
abortion
against nature, which humanists like to recognize as their
authority, but
lesbianism is against nature - note v. 26)
27 “And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of
the woman,
burned in their lust
one toward another; men with men working that
which is unseemly,
and receiving in themselves that recompence of
their error which
was meet. (due, worthy, fit, reward - it is necessary,
it is proper, it is
fitting)
28
”And even as they did not like to retain God
in their knowledge,
God gave them
over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which
are not
convenient;”
29 “Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication,
wickedness,
covetousness,
maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit,
malignity; whisperers,”
30 “Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters,
inventors of
evil things,
disobedient to parents,”
31 “Without understanding, covenantbreakers,
without natural
affection, implacable, unmerciful:”
(I counted 24 things - more than a catch all)
32 “Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit
such
things are worthy of
death, not only do the same, but have
pleasure
in them that do
them.”
Contrast these 24 descriptions
of the evil that mankind can fall into with
the seven things God hates in
Proverbs 6;
The Danger of Dissatisfaction With One’s
II Timothy 3:1-5
Ezekiel 16:18-63;
Proverbs 5:15-23
July
7, 2024
At the end of last
week’s lesson I was dealing with the saturation point of iniquity
filling up
one’s life - I was using comments by Charles Spurgeon on Genesis
15:16, about
God’s revelation to Abram, before his name change.
“....the iniquity of the
Amorites is not yet full.”
Sexual
immorality and sexual deviancy are just two ways to fill up the
measure (of iniiquity allotted to an individual ??????????????) Abuse of alcohol
and drug
usage are two other common ways that mankind in our age are on the road to
eternal
separation from God.
II Timothy
3:1-5
1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 For
men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters,
proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful,
unholy,
3 Without
natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers,
incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers
of God;
3:5 Having
a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from
such turn away.
Add these nineteen (19) characteristics of the times with the
twenty-four (24)
from Romans 1 and seven (7) things God
hates from Proverbs 5:16-19)
Consider the Seven Things God Hates from Proverbs
6:16-19:
As I have said on other occasions, these seven things
are characteristics
of
American Culture in 2024.
16
These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an
abomination unto
Him:
17
A proud look, a lying
tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
18
An heart that deviseth wicked
imaginations, feet that be swift in
running to
mischief,
19
A false witness that speaketh
lies, and he that soweth discord
among brethren.
But wait, in true Biblical fashion, characteristic
of God Himself, the next four verses
are the remedy for any of our situations in which we might
hem ourselves, making
available for all, some timely and sound advice:
Advice
for Americans and the People of the World Today
Proverbs 6:20-24
20
My son, keep thy father’s commandment, and forsake not
the law
of thy mother:
21
Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them
about thy neck.
22
When thou goest, it shall lead
thee; when thou sleepest, it shall
keep thee; and
when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee.*
24
For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs
of instruction
are the way of life:
It is a very happy circumstance when the commandment of our father and
the law
of our mother
are also the commandment of God and the law of the Lord. (As I have
said the last two weeks, now three weeks, the revelation of God’s
will was intended
to be COORDINATE
WITH THE SUPREME SECULAR AUTHORITY!
You kinda get the
picture of the condition the world has been in, is now, and
shall be, until Jesus comes to bring in eternal righteousness and may our
prayer
be “Even so, Come Lord Jesus! =
Revelation 22:20.
In verses 2-3
of II Timothy 3, prior to and following the word “incontinent” are these
words
descriptive of the last days:
“....unthankful, unholy,
without natural affection, trucebreakers, incontinent,
fierce, despisers of those who are good.” - These are other ways to fill
that cup of
iniquity to the point of no return.
ἀκρατεῖς - akrateis - without
self-control- powerless, impotent
Do you remember
the parable of Jesus in Luke 13:6-9?
It was prefaced
by:
5
I tell you, Nay:
but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
6
He spake also this parable; A
certain man had a fig tree planted in
his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and
found none.
7 Then said he unto the
dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three
years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none:
cut it
down; why cumbereth it the ground?
8 And he answering said
unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till
I shall dig about it, and dung it:
9 And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it
down.
All
these lots in life, situations, and predicaments that we get ourselves in,
we
either address or ignore.
In II Timothy
Incontinency is
flanked by all sorts of biblical terms that Americans and the rest
of the world
should, though they be not Bible students, yet understand, in 2024.
While I am at
it, I want to wander farther from the lesson title,
but hitting
the bull’s eye of what we are talking about - by addressing conditions
in the
or
unfortunately, in our hearts.
Atheism Contrasted with Godliness (Psalm 53:1-2)
I. ATHEISM. “No God.” This implies:
1. Denial of God’s existence
This is folly. The assertion
proves nothing.
Negatives are not arguments.
Besides, there may be a God, though you,
the denier, have not found Him. You have not yet explored the
universe.
2. Denial of God’s moral government of the world. “No God!” if so,
then
there is nothing but chance. There can be no law without a
lawgiver, no
order without a controlling mind. “No God!” then we are
free to do our
own pleasure. “Let us eat and drink; for tomorrow we
die.” (Isaiah
22:13; I Corinthians 15:32)
3. Denial of God’s grace in the redemption
of sinners by Jesus Christ.
“No God!” then the Bible is a fable, heaven and hell are dreams, the
benefits of the gospel are a delusion, faith in Christ and the
resurrection is a
mockery and a lie.
II. GODLINESS. “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no
God;” but
the
wise man says that there is a God, and that “He is the Rewarder
of all
who diligently seek Him.” Godliness implies:
1. Faith in God as revealed in Christ Jesus. Here is the
satisfaction of the
soul.
2. Life ruled by the law of Christ, which is holy, just, and good. Here
is the
true ideal, and the Spirit,
by
the gospel, shows how it may be realized.
3. Prayer and holy endeavor to the end. We are not left to struggle alone,
but have the Word to guide us, the promises to cheer us, the
love of Christ
to inspire us, that we
may go from strength to strength, and that when
called hence we may enter upon the blessed and perfect life beyond
this
world. Thus
the godly witness for God. They testify
to His being, for in Him
they live; to His character, for their aim is to be holy as He
is holy; to His
will and government, for they strive to do justly AS HE DOES
JUSTLY and
to be merciful as He is merciful, who “maketh
His sun to rise on the evil and on
the good, and sendeth rain on the
just and on the unjust.” (Matthew 5:45)
All the good in themselves, in society, in the world, IS FROM GOD!
What has been is in agreement with what is now. The progress of all things
is towards a perfect end.
AND TO NOT SEE THAT END, TO BE NOT
INCLUDED - the tragedy of all tragedies - CY - 2025) The cross, which
overthrew paganism, and triumphed over the eagles of
win greater and yet greater victories. Yet a little while, and the great voices
of heaven shall cry, “The
kingdoms of this
world arc become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ, and
he shall
reign for
ever and ever” (Revelation 11:15).
I
ran across this: Job 21:7-20 Ponder -
this isn’t what you want at the end!
A
Pathetic Prayer (Psalm 55: 6-8)
“Oh that I had wings,” etc.! A very natural wish, pathetically and
beautifully expressed. The Prophet Jeremiah gave utterance to the same
wish, and for
similar reasons (Jeremiah 9:2). Hence some
have
conjectured he was the author of this psalm. The title, ascribing it
to David,
represents ancient Jewish tradition, which there is no adequate
ground for
rejecting. But the psalm contains nothing certainly to indicate at
what time
in
David’s history it was composed, or who was the treacherous friend
referred to. The fact is, the Book of Psalms is a treasury, not of
history
(thus I have on this website
Charles H. Spurgeon’s Treasury of David - a full
commentary on all 150 Psalms, to go along with these of the Pulpit
Commentary,
CY - 2025), but of spiritual
experience; a manual of prayer, praise, meditation,
faith, for the
Church in all ages. (I don’t know how many
times in my life I have
had
great need to turn to the Psalms for personal help and guidance, where I found
solace in time of need - the book of Psalms are quoted more often
in the New Testament
than any other book - CY - 2025) Its
perennial meaning and value are rather raised than
lowered by the uncertainty besetting special occasions and dates
which keen critics
labor to drag to light.
I. THESE WORDS PICTURE FOR US A HEART WEARY OF
THE
WORLD. The writer longs passionately to be quit of it, out of
sight and
hearing, in restful solitude. He feels as our English poet, when
taking up
Jeremiah’s thought he wrote:
“Oh for a
lodge in some vast wilderness,
Some
boundless contiguity of shade,
Where
rumor of oppression and deceit,
Of
unsuccessful or successful war,
Might never reach me more!”
The Task by William Cowper (1785)
This world-weariness may be of different kinds —
from widely opposite
causes. There is the case of the man who has loved the world with
all his
heart, and is sick
and sated, and still hungry and unsatisfied.
He
has loved
pleasure, laid the
reins on the neck of his lusts; and his reward is a diseased
body, a worn-out heart, a blighted character, a guilty
conscience. Or
money; and while he
has been piling up what men call a fortune, his heart
has dried up,
friends have grown estranged, the power of enjoyment has
dwindled as the
material means of buying it grew. Or political power;
and
has learned how
thankless a task it is to serve people against their
prejudices, how futile is
popularity, party allegiance, how unstable earthly
greatness. Like many a monarch
and statesman, he is longing for freedom
and rest. Is ir not these kinds of
world-weariness the Holy Spirit depicts
here. Those
tired-out worldlings do not write psalms. They have sown
to
the flesh, and reaped
corruption. What David and
Jeremiah were so weary
of was the wickedness of the world (vs. 3, 9, 11, 19). This is the key to
the
tremendous denunciations of the guilt and fate of sinners, in other
psalms as well as here. Intense personal feeling is no doubt
implied; but it is
as rebels
against God, not as private foes, they are described. The king —
the
Lord’s anointed — ought to have punished them if he could; feeling his
inability, he appeals to God. And be it borne in mind, God did punish
them;
as (e.g.) Ahithophel and Absalom.
Ezekiel
9:1-6
Condense
A Pathetic
Prayer (vs. 6-8)
“Oh that I had wings,” etc.! A very natural wish, pathetically and
beautifully expressed. The Prophet Jeremiah gave utterance to the same
wish, and for
similar reasons (Jeremiah 9:2). Hence some
have
conjectured he was the author of this psalm. The title, ascribing it
to David,
represents ancient Jewish tradition, which there is no adequate
ground for
rejecting. But the psalm contains nothing certainly to indicate at
what time
in
David’s history it was composed, or who was the treacherous friend
referred to. The fact is, the Book of Psalms is a treasury, not of
history
(thus I have on this website
Charles H. Spurgeon’s Treasury of David - a full
commentary on all 150 Psalms, to go along with these of the Pulpit
Commentary,
CY - 2025), but of
spiritual experience; a manual of prayer, praise, meditation,
faith, for the
Church in all ages. (I don’t know how many
times in my life I have
had
great need to turn to the Psalms for personal help and guidance, where I found
solace in time of need - the book of Psalms are quoted more often
in the New Testament
than any other book - CY - 2025) Its
perennial meaning and value are rather raised than
lowered by the uncertainty besetting special occasions and dates
which keen critics
labor to drag to light.
I. THESE WORDS PICTURE FOR US A HEART WEARY OF
THE
WORLD. The writer longs passionately to be quit of it, out of
sight and
hearing, in restful solitude. He feels as our English poet, when
taking up
Jeremiah’s thought he wrote:
“Oh for a
lodge in some vast wilderness,
Some
boundless contiguity of shade,
Where
rumor of oppression and deceit,
Of
unsuccessful or successful war,
Might never reach me more!”
The Task by William Cowper (1785)
This world-weariness may be of different kinds —
from widely opposite
causes. There is the case of the man who has loved the world with
all his
heart, and is sick
and sated, and still hungry and unsatisfied.
He
has loved
pleasure, laid the
reins on the neck of his lusts; and his reward is a diseased
body, a worn-out heart, a blighted character, a guilty
conscience. Or
money; and while he
has been piling up what men call a fortune, his heart
has dried up,
friends have grown estranged, the power of enjoyment has
dwindled as the
material means of buying it grew. Or political power;
and
has learned how
thankless a task it is to serve people against their
prejudices, how futile is
popularity, party allegiance, how unstable earthly
greatness. Like many a monarch
and statesman, he is longing for freedom
and rest. Is ir not these kinds of
world-weariness the Holy Spirit depicts
here. Those
tired-out worldlings do not write psalms. They have sown
to
the flesh, and reaped
corruption. What David and
Jeremiah were so weary
of was the wickedness of the world (vs. 3, 9, 11, 19). This is the key to
the
tremendous denunciations of the guilt and fate of sinners, in other
psalms as well as here. Intense personal feeling is no doubt
implied; but it is
as rebels
against God, not as private foes, they are described. The king —
the
Lord’s anointed — ought to have punished them if he could; feeling his
inability, he appeals to God. And be it borne in mind, God did punish
them;
as (e.g.) Ahithophel and Absalom. It is often asked — How can we
reconcile these denunciations with our Lord’s prayer, “Father,
forgive
them”? Answer: Remember the ground on which this forgiveness was
possible: “They know not what they do.” They were to have room for
repentance. Remember, that only two or three days before, Jesus had
uttered, in the temple,
denunciations more severe than any in the Psalms;
and, lastly, that
these woes were fulfilled to the letter, after forty years, in
the destruction of
II. EVERY REAL CHRISTIAN MUST KNOW SOMETHING OF
THIS
HEART-SICKNESS,
PREVALENCE
OF SIN IN THE WORLD. The better he
knows the
world, the more he feels this. Once our Saviour
gave a momentary glimpse
of
the daily burden this was to him (Matthew 17:17). If so very imperfect a saint
as
the
Holy One of God have endured in the hourly contact with sin! He was the
“Friend
of sinners.” The Christian Church
of the present day — and society
outside the Church — shows more than in any former age of the likeness of
his compassion for
sinners. But are we not sorely lacking in
that righteous
indignation against wrong, and deep grief at the dishonor offered to
God’s Name,
which are no less part of “the mind that was in Christ Jesus”?
III. WE MUST NOT ALLOW THIS HEART-WEARINESS TO SLIDE
INTO
DESPAIR. It must not abate hope,
slacken effort, hinder prayer.
The temptation may be strong — partly from forgetfulness or
ignorance of
the
past. When a great poet allows himself to exclaim, “When was age so
crammed with meanness, madness, written, spoken lies?” the reply is
—
What former age was less so? Not the age of Isaiah, or of
Jeremiah, or of
Malachi. Not the age which cried, “Not this Man,
but Barabbas!” Nor the
ages
of the decline and fall of
others, more justly, “the dark ages.” Nor of the Tudors and
Stuarts. Nor
the
coldhearted, cruel eighteenth century. No!
It is an old story, “The
whole world lieth in wickedness.” (I Johbn 5:19) It is an ancient cry, “How
long, O Lord, how long?” We are “as they that watch for the morning.” But
courage!
“The night is far spent” (Romans 13:12). Armor is not for
flight, but
fight. “Like a dove!” Yes, David; if thou wert
a dove! But thou art a king
— God’s
servant,
(Are yoiu a man or a mouse? - CY - 2025) If this prayer is David’s, it is
pathetic
and
instructive to remember that it was granted, though not as he desired
(II Samuel 17:23). God can show us the unwisdom
of our prayers by granting
as
well as denying. For the present, our Saviour’s
prayer for His own is not that
they be taken out of
the world (John 17:15). But whatever is
right and true in this
prayer shall in due time be
answered (Revelation 21:3-4, 27).
Wearily
glean from this:
Prayer
(v. 16)
“As for me, I will call upon God!” In this verse — the crisis or turning-point of
the
whole psalm — you see the storm-tossed vessel making for the
harbor, and casting anchor in safe shelter. A sorely wounded
soul, vexed
and
out of heart with the tumult and strife of life, the wickedness of men,
longs for:
“A lodge
in some vast wilderness,
Some
boundless contiguity of shade;”
where, far from the
sight of violence and fraud, the din of business, politics,
or war, he might be alone with God. But he discerns that if
he cannot flee
from mankind, he can take
refuge in God. He appeals from an unjust
and
cruel world to eternal righteousness, infinite love, Divine
faithfulness. He
pours out his heart
to God, and lays hold on Him; and light and peace begin
to stream in (vs. 18, 22, ch. 62:8 and
closing words of psalm). The text suggests
some very important views of prayer.
I. ITS PERSONAL CHARACTER; as expressing individual need and
desire; the voluntary confidential converse of the heart with
God. Custom,
fashion, human sympathy, and opinion are all out of court. If in
the whole
world not another heart or voice were raised in prayer, the
believer would
yet
say, “As for me, I will call upon God.” There are other kinds of prayer:
the
united prayer of two or three, agreed touching what they shall ask; the
public prayer of the assembled Church. In private prayer, too, all is not
petition for one’s self or
others; there is confession, thanksgiving,
consecration, submission,
adoration. Worship may be wordless,
silent. But
the
most wonderful, instructive, encouraging examples of prayer recorded
in
the Bible show us some strong
earnest spirit face to face with God, in
direct petition; alone
with the Father of spirits, the Almighty Creator, even
though a multitude were looking on. Abraham; Jacob; Moses;
Joshua;
Elijah; Hezekiah; Paul. This is what makes this Book of Psalms so precious
a
manual for the Church and for each Christian; a storehouse of liturgies, a
magazine of prayers. This makes David’s life, in spite of his
faults and sins,
so
true and grand a type of real
godliness; the clear, full sense and
unhesitating utterance, of personal relationship to God; the reality,
blessedness, duty, glorious
privilege, of drawing nigh to God. Think
of it.
There is something more than sublime — appalling — in this
view of
prayer. That a child of dust, yesterday in the cradle, hanging on
God’s
absolute power over the
gulf of nothingness, whose voice can reach so
few, even of his
fellow-men, whose knowledge, thought, will, are bounded
in such strait
limits, should be
able at will to speak with the Ruler and
Author of the universe; to make his wish, weakness, misery,
or his boldest
hope and
loftiest purpose, known beyond the stars, above the thrones of
archangels, behind all the laws and causes and inmost springs of
nature —
to God
himself; and that he should have a right to expect an answer! Is not
this, I say, an amazing, sublime, appalling contemplation? How poor and
low
are all the heights of worldly dignity compared with the point to which
these words lift our thoughts, to which you or I may soar if we
make them
our
own! “As
for me, I will call upon God!”
II. THE CERTAINTY THAT GOD HEARS PRAYER; its sure warrant,
reasonable assurance, joyful encouragement. “And the Lord
shall save
me.” If this certainty were merely an inward persuasion, born of
strong
desire, it would be worthless. If based on any supposed claim of
merit or
special favoritism, it would be blind presumption. If on the
experience of
fact, that God does
answer prayer, it would rest on as sure
foundation as the discoveries
of science, and what we call “laws of
nature”
But the haunting uncertainty would paralyze faith — Will
God hear my
prayer? IT RESTS:
1. On God’s promises. If the Bible contains
any Divine promises, they are
promises to prayer.
2. On the mediation of the Lord Jesus. The Old Testament
believer took
his stand on the ground of God’s covenant; and securely,
because, though
the priesthood and sacrifices were but shadows, they were shadows of THE
GREAT REALITY - CHRIST. How much more
boldly may we draw near, to
whom the reality stands unveiled (Hebrews 4:16; Romans 8:34)!
3. On the promised help of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 8:26, 24.)
Let us
take up David’s purpose (v. 17), and hold fast David’s faith, “He
shall
hear my voice.”
From a lesson of yesteryear that is applicable here - CY -
2025
The True and the False
Way of Encountering the Difficulties of Life
(vs. 1-8)
Sorrow, danger, and terror had come upon the psalmist with
the force of a
tempest. He thinks of two ways of escape:
Ø
casting himself upon
God and
Ø flight.
These suggests the
true and the false way of encountering the difficulties
of life.
I. TAKE THE FALSE FIRST. “Oh that I had wings,” etc.! (vs. 6-8).
We must conquer difficulties, not fly from them:
1. Because the post of difficulty is often the post of duty. And we find no
rest in flight, because we have sought to evade or neglect our
duty.
2. The post of
difficulty is the post of discipline. Difficulty is one
of the
Divine instruments of our training; gives health and
strength.
3. Solitude brings an exchange of difficulties, and does not free us from
the power of the world. It is better to fight the battle of life than for the
heart to prey upon itself apart from the fellowship of men and
women.
II. THE
LIFE. By
seeking the help of God. (vs. 1-2.)
1. God will help us to a greater faith. “This is the
victory that overcometh
the world, even your faith’ (I John 5:4) - faith in
Divine help, and faith in the
good and righteous cause.
2. God will inspire us with a truer courage. “In the world ye
shall have
tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” (John
16:33)
3. God will give to those who are faithful all needed
strength. Will fulfil
the promise, “As thy day’[or, ‘need’] is so
shall thy strength be.” (Deuteronomy
33:25)
4. Victory is easier to us than to the psalmist, through Christ. Faith in God
through faith in Christ will give every believer the
victory.
Facing Death
Ecclesiastes
9:1-10
August
22, 2021
I used to teach this in Health
Class at
EVERYONE
HAS PROBLEMS.
Adaptive Behavior is reacting to situations we face in live in healthful
ways.
Maladaptive Behavior is reacting to situations in our lives in
unhealthful ways.
Characteristics of people who use adaptive behaviors are:
o they have the ability to solve problems in healthful
ways
o flexibility
o they have ability to handle their emotions in
healthful ways
o they have short-term plans
o they have long-term plans
o they are able to develop and maintain close
relationships.
Characteristics of people who use maladaptive behavior are generally
opposite
of those who use adaptive behavior strategies:
o they try to solve their problems in unhealthy
ways.
o they are inflexible.
o they have not short-term plans.
o they have no long-term plans.
o they do not develop nor cultivate close
relationships.
Five problems associated with Maladaptive Behavior:
Ø Frustration
Ø Loneliness
Ø Depression
Ø Substance Abuse
Ø Suicide
The following is
added since I retired from teaching in 2000 - yea
much more recent because
of Covid and cryptocurrency
21st Century
Problems
Add to this the coin shortage - a clever way to get everyone to go to
plastic,
or as the man above says, “microchips
- cryptocurrency - no doubt
early
steps in One World Government, the
revealing of the “man of sin”
or “antichrist”
which is prophesied in the Bible.
A cryptocurrency, crypto-currency, or
crypto is a binary data designed to work as
a medium of exchange
wherein individual coin ownership records are stored in a
ledger existing in a form of a computerized
database using strong cryptography
to secure transaction
records, to control
the creation of additional coins, and to
verify the transfer of coin
ownership.
“But evil men and seducers
shall wax worse and worse, deceiving,
and being deceived. But continue thou in the things
which thou hast learned
and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast
learned them;
And that from a child thou
hast known the holy scriptures, which
are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith
which is in
Christ Jesus. All
scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for
doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in
righteousness:
That the man of God may be
perfect, throughly furnished unto all
good works. (II Timothy 3:13-17)
The Solution to the Mess that
the World , and Each of Us are In Today Part XIX
Psalm 48-53
October
12, 2025
I have fourteen (14) pages of
notes today but I do not claim to cover them all.
I have them on the website for
any needy souls, serious Bible students, the lost,
or any person made in the image of
God to peruse if you are so inclined.
There is enough for you to keep
busy for a while but today I want to emphasize
and re-emphasize things that are
important to salvation and to guidance in everyday
life in a time such as this.
“For the
Lord is good, His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endureth
to all
generations.” (Psalm 100:5)
“He shall
send from heaven, and save me from the reproach of him that would
swallow me up.
Selah. God shall send forth His mercy
and His truth.” (Psalm 57:3)
“Though I
walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shalt stretch
forth
thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies,
and thy right hand shall save me.”
The Lord
will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy O Lord endureth
for
ever: forsake not the work of thine
own hands.” (Psalm 138:7-8)
______________________________________________________________________
“Now unto
Him that is able to present you faultless before the presence of His glory
with esceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour,
be glory and majesty, dominion
and power, both
now and for ever.” (Jude 1:24-25)
Emphasize Psalm 69:13 - “But as for me, my prayer is unto thee, O
Lord, in an
acceptable time. O God, in the multitude of thy mercy hear me,
in the truth of thy
salvation.”
Psalm 53:1-3
“The fool
hath said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they and have done
abominable iniquit: there is none that doeth good. God looked down from heaven
upon the
children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, that did
seek God.”
18 “For the wrath of God is revealed (one of the four
root words - where have you
been all your life? - the
others being manifest, knowledge, understanding)from
heaven against all
ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in
unrighteousness;”
19 “Because that which may be known of God is manifest (another of the
words)
in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
“The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament showeth His handiwork.
Day
unto day uttereth speech,
and night unto night showeth
knowledge. There is no
speech nor language where their voice is not heard.” (Psalm 19:1-3)
Contrast the two recent “nos) “no
God” and “no voice where His explanation is
not heard!”
The New Testament way and shortcut to what you and I are
really looking for
is found in the first few verses of Hebrews !:1-3)
1 “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past
unto the fathers by
the prophets,”
2 “Hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son, whom
He hath
appointed heir of all
things, by whom also He made the worlds;”
3 Who being the brightness of His glory, and the express
image of His
person, and upholding
all things by the word of His power, when He
had by Himself
purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the
Majesty on
high:
20 “For the invisible things of Him from the creation of
the world are
clearly seen, being understood by the things
that are made, even His
eternal power and Godhead; so that they
are without excuse:”
21“Because that, when they knew God, they glorified Him not
as God,
neither were thankful;
but became vain in their imaginations, and
their foolish heart was darkened.”
22 “Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,”
23 “And changed the glory of the uncorruptible
God into an image
made like to
corruptible man, and to birds, and four-footed beasts,
and creeping
things.”
24 “Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through
the lusts
of their own
hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves:
25 “Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped
and served
the creature more
than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.”
26
“For this cause God gave them
up unto vile affections: for even their
women did change the
natural use into that which is against nature:”
( I can guarantee you that abortion on demand is against
nature [God said in
Jeremiah 19:5 - “...neither came it
unto my mind.”] Not only is
abortion
against nature, which humanists like to recognize as their
authority, but
lesbianism is against nature - note v. 26)
27 “And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of
the woman,
burned in their lust
one toward another; men with men working that
which is unseemly,
and receiving in themselves that recompence of
their error which
was meet.
28
”And even as they did not like to retain God
in their knowledge,
God gave them
over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which
are not
convenient;”
29 “Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication,
wickedness,
covetousness,
maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit,
malignity; whisperers,”
30 “Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters,
inventors of
evil things,
disobedient to parents,”
31 “Without understanding, covenantbreakers,
without natural
affection, implacable,
unmerciful:” (I counted 24 things - more than a catch all)
32 “Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit
such
things are worthy of
death, not only do the same, but have
pleasure
in them that do
them.”
Contrast these 24 descriptions
of the evil that mankind can fall into with
the seven things God hates in
Proverbs 6;
The Danger of Dissatisfaction With One’s
II Timothy 3:1-5
Ezekiel 16:18-63;
Proverbs 5:15-23
July
7, 2024
At the end of
last week’s lesson I was dealing with the saturation point of iniquity
filling up
one’s life - I was using comments by Charles Spurgeon on Genesis
15:16, about
God’s revelation to Abram, before his name change.
“....the iniquity of the
Amorites is not yet full.”
Sexual
immorality and sexual deviancy are just two ways to fill up the
measure (of iniiquity allotted to an individual ??????????????) Abuse of alcohol
and drug useage are two other common ways that mankind in our age
are on the road to
eternal
separation from God.
II Timothy
3:1-5
1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 For
men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters,
proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful,
unholy,
3 Without
natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers,
incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers
of God;
3:5 Having
a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from
such turn away.
Add these nineteen (19)
characteristics of the times with the twenty-four (24)
from Romans 1 and seven (7) things God hates from Proverbs
5:16-19)
you kinda get the picture of the condition the world has been
in, is now, and
shall
be, until Jesus comes to bring in eternal righteousness and may our prayer
be “Even so, Come Lord Jesus! =
Revelation 22:20.
In verses 2-3
of II Timothy 3, prior to and following the word “incontinent” are these
words
descriptive of the last days:
“....unthankful, unholy,
without natural affection, trucebreakers, incontinent,
fierce, despisers of those who are good.” - These are other ways to fill
that cup of
iniquity to the point of no return.
ἀκρατεῖς - akrateis - without
self-control- powerless, impotent
Do you remember
the parable of Jesus in Luke 13:6-9?
It was prefaced
by:
5
I tell you, Nay:
but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
6
He spake also this parable; A
certain man had a fig tree planted in
his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and
found none.
7 Then said he unto the
dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three
years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none:
cut it
down; why cumbereth it the ground?
8 And he answering said
unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till
I shall dig about it, and dung it:
9 And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it
down.
All
these lots in life, situations, and predicaments that we get ourselves in,
we
either address or ignore.
In II Timothy
Incontinency is
flanked by all sorts of biblical terms that Americans and the rest
of the world
should, though they be not Bible students, yet understand, in 2024.
While I am at
it, I want to wander farther from the lesson title,
but hitting
the bull’s eye of what we are talking about - by addressing conditions
in the
or
unfortunately, in our hearts.
Consider the
Seven Things God Hates from Proverbs 6:16-19:
As I have said
on other occasions, these seven things are characteristics
of American
Culture in 2024.
16 These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an
abomination unto Him:
17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent
blood,
18 An heart that deviseth
wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in
running to mischief,
19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord
among brethren.
But wait, in
true Biblical fashion, characteristic of God Himself, the next four verses
are the remedy for
any of our situations in which we might hem ourselves, making
available for all, some timely and sound advice:
Advice for Americans and the People of the World Today
Proverbs
6:20-24
20 My son, keep thy father’s
commandment, and forsake not the law
of thy mother:
21 Bind them continually upon thine heart,
and tie them about thy neck.
22 When thou goest, it shall lead
thee; when thou sleepest, it shall
keep thee; and when thou awakest,
it shall talk with thee.*
24 For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and
reproofs
of instruction are the way of life:
It is a very happy circumstance
when the commandment of our father and the law
of our mother are also the
commandment of God and the law of the Lord. (As I have
said the last two
weeks, now three weeks, the revelation of God’s will was intended
to be COORDINATE WITH THE SUPREME SECULAR AUTHORITY!
Atheism Contrasted with Godliness (Psalm 53:1-2)
I. ATHEISM. “No God.” This implies:
1. Denial of God’s existence
This is folly. The assertion
proves nothing.
Negatives are not arguments.
Besides, there may be a God, though you,
the denier, have not found Him. You have not yet explored the
universe.
2. Denial of God’s moral government of the world. “No God!” if so,
then
there is nothing but chance. There can be no law without a
lawgiver, no
order without a controlling mind. “No God!” then we are
free to do our
own pleasure. “Let us eat and drink; for tomorrow we
die.” (Isaiah
22:13; I Corinthians 15:32)
3. Denial of God’s grace in the redemption
of sinners by Jesus Christ.
“No God!” then the Bible is a fable, heaven and hell are dreams, the
benefits of the gospel are a delusion, faith in Christ and the
resurrection is a
mockery and a lie.
II. GODLINESS. “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God;”
but
the
wise man says that there is a God, and that “He is the Rewarder
of all
who diligently seek Him.” Godliness implies:
1. Faith in God as revealed in Christ Jesus. Here is the
satisfaction of the
soul.
2. Life ruled by the law of Christ, which is holy, just, and good. Here
is the
true ideal, and the Spirit,
by
the gospel, shows how it may be realized.
3. Prayer and holy endeavor to the end. We are not left to struggle alone,
but have the Word to guide us, the promises to cheer us, the
love of Christ
to inspire us, that we
may go from strength to strength, and that when
called hence we may enter upon the blessed and perfect life beyond
this
world. Thus
the godly witness for God. They testify
to His being, for in Him
they live; to His character, for their aim is to be holy as He
is holy; to His
will and government, for they strive to do justly AS HE DOES
JUSTLY and
to be merciful as He is merciful, who “maketh
His sun to rise on the evil and on
the good, and sendeth rain on the
just and on the unjust.” (Matthew 5:45)
All the good in themselves, in society, in the world, IS FROM GOD!
What has been is in agreement with what is now. The progress of all things
is towards a perfect end.
AND TO NOT SEE THAT END, TO BE NOT
INCLUDED - the tragedy of all tragedies - CY - 2025) The cross, which
overthrew paganism, and triumphed over the eagles of
win greater and yet greater victories. Yet a little while, and the great voices
of heaven shall cry, “The kingdoms
of this
world arc become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ, and
he shall
reign for
ever and ever” (Revelation 11:15).
I
ran across this: Job 21:7-20 Ponder -
this isn’t what you want at the end!
A Pathetic Prayer (Psalm 55: 6-8)
“Oh that I had wings,” etc.! A very natural wish, pathetically and
beautifully expressed. The Prophet Jeremiah gave utterance to the same
wish, and for
similar reasons (Jeremiah 9:2). Hence some
have
conjectured he was the author of this psalm. The title, ascribing it
to David,
represents ancient Jewish tradition, which there is no adequate
ground for
rejecting. But the psalm contains nothing certainly to indicate at
what time
in
David’s history it was composed, or who was the treacherous friend
referred to. The fact is, the Book of Psalms is a treasury, not of
history
(thus I have on this website
Charles H. Spurgeon’s Treasury of David - a full
commentary on all 150 Psalms, to go along with these of the Pulpit
Commentary,
CY - 2025), but of
spiritual experience; a manual of prayer, praise, meditation,
faith, for the
Church in all ages. (I don’t know how many
times in my life I have
had
great need to turn to the Psalms for personal help and guidance, where I found
solace in time of need - the book of Psalms are quoted more often
in the New Testament
than any other book - CY - 2025) Its
perennial meaning and value are rather raised than
lowered by the uncertainty besetting special occasions and dates
which keen critics
labor to drag to light.
I. THESE WORDS PICTURE FOR US A HEART WEARY OF
THE
WORLD. The writer longs passionately to be quit of it, out of
sight and
hearing, in restful solitude. He feels as our English poet, when
taking up
Jeremiah’s thought he wrote:
“Oh for a
lodge in some vast wilderness,
Some
boundless contiguity of shade,
Where
rumor of oppression and deceit,
Of
unsuccessful or successful war,
Might never reach me more!”
The Task by William Cowper (1785)
This world-weariness may be of different kinds —
from widely opposite
causes. There is the case of the man who has loved the world with
all his
heart, and is sick
and sated, and still hungry and unsatisfied.
He
has loved
pleasure, laid the
reins on the neck of his lusts; and his reward is a diseased
body, a worn-out heart, a blighted character, a guilty
conscience. Or
money; and while he
has been piling up what men call a fortune, his heart
has dried up,
friends have grown estranged, the power of enjoyment has
dwindled as the material
means of buying it grew. Or political power;
and
has learned how
thankless a task it is to serve people against their
prejudices, how futile is
popularity, party allegiance, how unstable earthly
greatness. Like many a monarch
and statesman, he is longing for freedom
and rest. Is ir not these kinds of
world-weariness the Holy Spirit depicts
here. Those
tired-out worldlings do not write psalms. They have sown
to
the flesh, and reaped
corruption. What David and
Jeremiah were so weary
of was the wickedness of the world (vs. 3, 9, 11, 19). This is the key to
the
tremendous denunciations of the guilt and fate of sinners, in other
psalms as well as here. Intense personal feeling is no doubt
implied; but it is
as rebels
against God, not as private foes, they are described. The king —
the
Lord’s anointed — ought to have punished them if he could; feeling his
inability, he appeals to God. And be it borne in mind, God did punish
them;
as (e.g.) Ahithophel and Absalom.
Ezekiel
9:1-6
Condense
A Pathetic
Prayer (vs. 6-8)
“Oh that I had wings,” etc.! A very natural wish, pathetically and
beautifully expressed. The Prophet Jeremiah gave utterance to the same
wish, and for
similar reasons (Jeremiah 9:2). Hence some
have
conjectured he was the author of this psalm. The title, ascribing it
to David,
represents ancient Jewish tradition, which there is no adequate
ground for
rejecting. But the psalm contains nothing certainly to indicate at
what time
in
David’s history it was composed, or who was the treacherous friend
referred to. The fact is, the Book of Psalms is a treasury, not of
history
(thus I have on this website
Charles H. Spurgeon’s Treasury of David - a full
commentary on all 150 Psalms, to go along with these of the Pulpit Commentary,
CY - 2025), but of
spiritual experience; a manual of prayer, praise, meditation,
faith, for the
Church in all ages. (I don’t know how many
times in my life I have
had
great need to turn to the Psalms for personal help and guidance, where I found
solace in time of need - the book of Psalms are quoted more often
in the New Testament
than any other book - CY - 2025) Its
perennial meaning and value are rather raised than
lowered by the uncertainty besetting special occasions and dates
which keen critics
labor to drag to light.
I. THESE WORDS PICTURE FOR US A HEART WEARY OF
THE
WORLD. The writer longs passionately to be quit of it, out of
sight and
hearing, in restful solitude. He feels as our English poet, when
taking up
Jeremiah’s thought he wrote:
“Oh for a
lodge in some vast wilderness,
Some
boundless contiguity of shade,
Where
rumor of oppression and deceit,
Of
unsuccessful or successful war,
Might never reach me more!”
The Task by William Cowper (1785)
This world-weariness may be of different kinds —
from widely opposite
causes. There is the case of the man who has loved the world with
all his
heart, and is sick
and sated, and still hungry and unsatisfied.
He
has loved
pleasure, laid the
reins on the neck of his lusts; and his reward is a diseased
body, a worn-out heart, a blighted character, a guilty
conscience. Or
money; and while he
has been piling up what men call a fortune, his heart
has dried up,
friends have grown estranged, the power of enjoyment has
dwindled as the
material means of buying it grew. Or political power;
and
has learned how
thankless a task it is to serve people against their
prejudices, how futile is
popularity, party allegiance, how unstable earthly
greatness. Like many a monarch
and statesman, he is longing for freedom
and rest. Is ir not these kinds of
world-weariness the Holy Spirit depicts
here. Those
tired-out worldlings do not write psalms. They have sown
to
the flesh, and reaped
corruption. What David and
Jeremiah were so weary
of was the wickedness of the world (vs. 3, 9, 11, 19). This is the key to
the
tremendous denunciations of the guilt and fate of sinners, in other
psalms as well as here. Intense personal feeling is no doubt
implied; but it is
as rebels
against God, not as private foes, they are described. The king —
the
Lord’s anointed — ought to have punished them if he could; feeling his
inability, he appeals to God. And be it borne in mind, God did punish
them;
as (e.g.) Ahithophel and Absalom. It is often asked — How can we
reconcile these denunciations with our Lord’s prayer, “Father,
forgive
them”? Answer: Remember the ground on which this forgiveness was
possible: “They know not what they do.” They were to have room for
repentance. Remember, that only two or three days before, Jesus had
uttered, in the temple,
denunciations more severe than any in the Psalms;
and, lastly, that
these woes were fulfilled to the letter, after forty years, in
the destruction of
II. EVERY REAL CHRISTIAN MUST KNOW SOMETHING OF
THIS
HEART-SICKNESS,
PREVALENCE
OF SIN IN THE WORLD. The better he
knows the
world, the more he feels this. Once our Saviour
gave a momentary glimpse
of
the daily burden this was to him (Matthew 17:17). If so very imperfect a saint
as
the
Holy One of God have endured in the hourly contact with sin! He was the
“Friend
of sinners.” The Christian Church
of the present day — and society
outside the Church — shows more than in any former age of the likeness of
his compassion for
sinners. But are we not sorely lacking in
that righteous
indignation against wrong, and deep grief at the dishonor offered to
God’s Name,
which are no less part of “the mind that was in Christ Jesus”?
III. WE MUST NOT ALLOW THIS HEART-WEARINESS TO SLIDE
INTO
DESPAIR. It must not abate hope,
slacken effort, hinder prayer.
The temptation may be strong — partly from forgetfulness or
ignorance of
the
past. When a great poet allows himself to exclaim, “When was age so
crammed with meanness, madness, written, spoken lies?” the reply is
—
What former age was less so? Not the age of Isaiah, or of
Jeremiah, or of
Malachi. Not the age which cried, “Not this Man,
but Barabbas!” Nor the
ages
of the decline and fall of
others, more justly, “the dark ages.” Nor of the Tudors and
Stuarts. Nor
the
coldhearted, cruel eighteenth century. No!
It is an old story, “The
whole world lieth in wickedness.” (I Johbn 5:19) It is an ancient cry, “How
long, O Lord, how long?” We are “as they that watch for the morning.” But
courage!
“The night is far spent” (Romans 13:12). Armor is not for
flight, but
fight. “Like a dove!” Yes, David; if thou wert
a dove! But thou art a king
— God’s
servant,
(Are yoiu a man or a mouse? - CY - 2025) If this prayer is David’s, it is
pathetic
and
instructive to remember that it was granted, though not as he desired
(II Samuel 17:23). God can show us the unwisdom
of our prayers by granting
as
well as denying. For the present, our Saviour’s
prayer for His own is not that
they be taken out of
the world (John 17:15). But whatever is
right and true in this
prayer shall in due time be
answered (Revelation 21:3-4, 27).
Wearily
glean from this:
Prayer
(v. 16)
“As for me, I will call upon God!” In this verse — the crisis or turning-point of
the
whole psalm — you see the storm-tossed vessel making for the
harbor, and casting anchor in safe shelter. A sorely wounded
soul, vexed
and
out of heart with the tumult and strife of life, the wickedness of men,
longs for:
“A lodge
in some vast wilderness,
Some
boundless contiguity of shade;”
where, far from the
sight of violence and fraud, the din of business, politics,
or war, he might be alone with God. But he discerns that if
he cannot flee
from mankind, he can take
refuge in God. He appeals from an
unjust and
cruel world to eternal righteousness, infinite love, Divine
faithfulness. He
pours out his heart
to God, and lays hold on Him; and light and peace begin
to stream in (vs. 18, 22, ch. 62:8 and
closing words of psalm). The text suggests
some very important views of prayer.
I. ITS PERSONAL CHARACTER; as expressing individual need and
desire; the voluntary confidential converse of the heart with
God. Custom,
fashion, human sympathy, and opinion are all out of court. If in
the whole
world not another heart or voice were raised in prayer, the
believer would
yet
say, “As for me, I will call upon God.” There are other kinds of prayer:
the
united prayer of two or three, agreed touching what they shall ask; the
public prayer of the assembled Church. In private prayer, too, all is not
petition for one’s self or
others; there is confession, thanksgiving,
consecration, submission,
adoration. Worship may be wordless,
silent. But
the
most wonderful, instructive, encouraging examples of prayer recorded
in
the Bible show us some strong
earnest spirit face to face with God, in
direct petition; alone
with the Father of spirits, the Almighty Creator, even
though a multitude were looking on. Abraham; Jacob; Moses;
Joshua;
Elijah; Hezekiah; Paul. This is what makes this Book of Psalms so precious
a
manual for the Church and for each Christian; a storehouse of liturgies, a
magazine of prayers. This makes David’s life, in spite of his
faults and sins,
so
true and grand a type of real
godliness; the clear, full sense and
unhesitating utterance, of personal relationship to God; the reality,
blessedness, duty, glorious
privilege, of drawing nigh to God. Think
of it.
There is something more than sublime — appalling — in this
view of
prayer. That a child of dust, yesterday in the cradle, hanging on
God’s
absolute power over the
gulf of nothingness, whose voice can reach so
few, even of his
fellow-men, whose knowledge, thought, will, are bounded
in such strait
limits, should be
able at will to speak with the Ruler and
Author of the universe; to make his wish, weakness, misery,
or his boldest
hope and
loftiest purpose, known beyond the stars, above the thrones of
archangels, behind all the laws and causes and inmost springs of
nature —
to God
himself; and that he should have a right to expect an answer! Is not
this, I say, an amazing, sublime, appalling contemplation? How poor and
low
are all the heights of worldly dignity compared with the point to which
these words lift our thoughts, to which you or I may soar if we
make them
our
own! “As
for me, I will call upon God!”
II. THE CERTAINTY THAT GOD HEARS PRAYER; its sure warrant,
reasonable assurance, joyful encouragement. “And the Lord
shall save
me.” If this certainty were merely an inward persuasion, born of
strong
desire, it would be worthless. If based on any supposed claim of
merit or
special favoritism, it would be blind presumption. If on the
experience of
fact, that God does
answer prayer, it would rest on as sure
foundation as the discoveries
of science, and what we call “laws of
nature”
But the haunting uncertainty would paralyze faith — Will
God hear my
prayer? IT RESTS:
1. On God’s promises. If the Bible contains
any Divine promises, they are
promises to prayer.
2. On the mediation of the Lord Jesus. The Old Testament
believer took
his stand on the ground of God’s covenant; and securely,
because, though
the priesthood and sacrifices were but shadows, they were shadows of THE
GREAT REALITY - CHRIST. How much more
boldly may we draw near, to
whom the reality stands unveiled (Hebrews 4:16; Romans 8:34)!
3. On the promised help of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 8:26, 24.)
Let us
take up David’s purpose (v. 17), and hold fast David’s faith, “He
shall
hear my voice.”
"Excerpted text Copyright AGES
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rights reserved.
Materials are reproduced by
permission."
This material can be found at:
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If this exposition is helpful,
please share with others.
From a lesson of yesteryear that is applicable here - CY -
2025
The True and the False
Way of Encountering the Difficulties of Life
(vs. 1-8)
Sorrow, danger, and terror had come upon the psalmist with
the force of a
tempest. He thinks of two ways of escape:
Ø
casting himself upon
God and
Ø flight.
These suggests the
true and the false way of encountering the difficulties
of life.
I. TAKE THE FALSE FIRST. “Oh that I had wings,” etc.! (vs. 6-8).
We must conquer difficulties, not fly from them:
1. Because the post of difficulty is often the post of duty. And we find no
rest in flight, because we have sought to evade or neglect our
duty.
2. The post of
difficulty is the post of discipline. Difficulty is one
of the
Divine instruments of our training; gives health and
strength.
3. Solitude brings an exchange of difficulties, and does not free us from
the power of the world. It is better to fight the battle of life than for the
heart to prey upon itself apart from the fellowship of men and
women.
II. THE
LIFE. By
seeking the help of God. (vs. 1-2.)
1. God will help us to a greater faith. “This is the
victory that overcometh
the world, even your faith’ (I John 5:4) - faith in
Divine help, and faith in the
good and righteous cause.
2. God will inspire us with a truer courage. “In the world ye
shall have
tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” (John
16:33)
3. God will give to those who are faithful all needed
strength. Will fulfil
the promise, “As thy day’[or, ‘need’] is so
shall thy strength be.” (Deuteronomy
33:25)
4. Victory is easier to us than to the psalmist, through Christ. Faith in God
through faith in Christ will give every believer
the victory.
Facing Death
Ecclesiastes
9:1-10
August
22, 2021
I used to teach this in Health
Class at
EVERYONE
HAS PROBLEMS.
Adaptive Behavior is reacting to situations we face in live in healthful
ways.
Maladaptive Behavior is reacting to situations in our lives in
unhealthful ways.
Characteristics of people who use adaptive behaviors are:
o they have the ability to solve problems in healthful
ways
o flexibility
o they have ability to handle their emotions in healthful
ways
o they have short-term plans
o they have long-term plans
o they are able to develop and maintain close
relationships.
Characteristics of people who use maladaptive behavior are generally
opposite
of those who use adaptive behavior strategies:
o they try to solve their problems in unhealthy
ways.
o they are inflexible.
o they have not short-term plans.
o they have no long-term plans.
o they do not develop nor cultivate close
relationships.
Five problems associated with Maladaptive Behavior:
Ø Frustration
Ø Loneliness
Ø Depression
Ø Substance Abuse
Ø Suicide
The following is
added since I retired from teaching in 2000 - yea
much more recent because
of Covid and cryptocurrency
21st Century
Problems
Add to this the coin shortage - a clever way to get everyone to go to
plastic,
or as the man above says, “microchips
- cryptocurrency - no doubt
early
steps in One World Government, the
revealing of the “man of sin”
or “antichrist”
which is prophesied in the Bible.
A cryptocurrency, crypto-currency, or
crypto is a binary data designed to work as
a medium of exchange
wherein individual coin ownership records are stored in a
ledger existing in a form of a computerized
database using strong cryptography
to secure transaction
records, to control
the creation of additional coins, and to
verify the transfer of coin
ownership.
“But evil men and seducers
shall wax worse and worse, deceiving,
and being deceived. But continue thou in the
things which thou hast learned
and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast
learned them;
And that from a child thou
hast known the holy scriptures, which
are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith
which is in
Christ Jesus. All
scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for
doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in
righteousness:
That the man of God may be
perfect, throughly furnished unto all
good works. (II Timothy 3:13-17)
"Excerpted text Copyright AGES
Library, LLC. All
rights reserved.
Materials are reproduced by
permission."
This material can be found at:
http://www.adultbibleclass.com
If this exposition is helpful,
please share with others.
From a lesson of yesteryear that is applicable here - CY -
2025
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