This is the second of twelve Psalms bear the name of Asaph

Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.  But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold.  For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.  They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong.  They are free from the burdens common to man; they are not plagued by human ills.  Therefore pride is their necklace; they clothe themselves with violence.  From their callous hearts comes iniquity; the evil conceits of their minds know no limits.  They scoff, and speak with malice; in their arrogance they threaten oppression. Their mouths lay claim to heaven, and their tongues take possession of the earth.  Therefore their people turn to them and drink up waters in abundance. They say, “How can God know? Does the Most High have knowledge?”  This is what the wicked are like always carefree, they increase in wealth.  Surely in vain have I kept my heart pure; in vain have I washed my hands in innocence.  All day long I have been plagued; I have been punished every morning.  If I had said, “I will speak thus,” I would have betrayed your children.  When I tried to understand all this, it was oppressive to me till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny.  Surely you place them on slippery ground; you cast them down to ruin.  How suddenly are they destroyed, completely swept away by terrors!  As a dream when one awakes, so when you arise, O Lord, you will despise them as fantasies.  When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered, 22 I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you.  Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand.  You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory.  Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you.  My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.  Those who are far from you will perish; you destroy all who are unfaithful to you.  But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds. (NIV)

My purpose in life is found in verse 28.

This is the second of twelve Psalms that bears the name of Asaph and is probably one of the Psalms that has had the most material written about it.

In this psalm Asaph tackles several difficult questions that believers will face in life.  The first question he addresses is the question is why a sovereign God permits evil and why this evil behavior seems to prosper.  Below is some of the reasons that Asaph gives to address this issue.

Verse 1.  Stated as a fact: ^“Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.”

Psalm 15 gives the characteristics of this type of person:

• walk is blameless
• does what is righteous
• who speaks the truth from his heart
• has no slander on his tongue
• does his neighbor no wrong
• casts no slur on his fellowman
• despises a vile man
• honors those who fear the LORD
• keeps his oath even when it hurts
• lends his money without usury
• does not accept a bribe against the innocent

He who does these things will never be shaken

Verses 2 and 3: The problem is stated as “I almost slipped”.  Why? Because I envied the arrogant.  I saw their prosperity and desired it.

Verses 4 thru 12 Characteristics of the Arrogant:

They have no struggles

Their bodies are healthy and strong

They are free from the burdens common to man

They are not plagued by human ills.

They wear pride is their necklace

They clothe themselves with violence.

Their callous hearts are full of iniquity

The evil conceits of their minds know no limits.

They scoff, and speak with malice

In their arrogance they threaten oppression.

Their mouths lay claim to heaven

Their tongues take possession of the earth.

Therefore their people turn to them and drink up waters in abundance.

They say, “How can God know?”

They say “Does the Most High have knowledge?”

This is what the wicked are like always carefree

They increase in wealth.

Verses 13 -16 The reasons I almost slipped (I saw their earthly treasures and desired them):

Surely in vain have I kept my heart pure.  In vain have I washed my hands in innocence.  All day long I have been plagued I have been punished every morning. If I had said, “I will speak thus,” I would have betrayed your children.             When I tried to understand all this, it was oppressive to me

Verses 17 thru 20 The answer to my question:

When I entered the sanctuary of God

I understood their final destiny             Surely you place them on slippery ground

You cast them down to ruin             How suddenly are they destroyed

They are completely swept away by terrors!    As a dream when one awakes, so when you arise, O Lord, you will despise them as fantasies.

Verses 21, 22 How the knowledge of God’s way has an effect me:

When my heart was grieved

My spirit embittered,            I was senseless and ignorant

I was a brute beast before you

Verses 23 thru 28 My relationship with God:

I am always with you

You hold me by my right hand            You guide me with your counsel

Afterward you will take me into glory            Whom have I in heaven but you

And earth has nothing I desire besides you            My flesh and my heart may fail

But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever            It is good to be near God

I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge

I will tell of all your deeds.

Verses 18, 19, 20, 27 The Ungodly relationship with God:

Surely you place them on slippery ground

You cast them down to ruin.           How suddenly are they destroyed, completely swept away by terrors?

Those who are far from you will perish

You destroy all who are unfaithful to you

        You will despise them as fantasies

This sentence from Oswald Chambers’ book My Utmost for His Highest from the reading on March 13 “ The consequences and circumstances resulting from our surrender will never even enter our mind, because our life will be totally consumed with Him”   This is what I believe the psalmist is trying to portrait in this psalm.  There is the way in which we should walk daily.  However, we see many that live life-styles we envy even through their walk is not in truth.  We then begin to question our walk with God.  The life of surrendering to God is a day by day actively.  Some days it seems to be a moment by moment actively where we must constantly go back to him for strength.  As I watched the Lord of the Rings, I marveled at the job that J.R. Tolkien did of portraying the Christian’s journey through life through the character of Frodo Baggins.  This journey is full of good times, bad times, times of failure, times of success, times of friendship, times of betrayal, but the journey does continue.  We can give up or go on.  However, if we are totally consumed to Christ as Frodo was to his mission we will keep moving forward in the task that is ahead of us.  Frodo could have just given up, but he did not.  The greatest purpose that a believer can have in his or her life is to grow into a closer relationship to God.  However, as in any great relationship such as a marriage this takes years.

May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine upon us, Selah that your ways may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations. May the peoples praise you, O God; may all the peoples praise you. May the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you rule the peoples justly and guide the nations of the earth. Selah May the peoples praise you, O God; may all the peoples praise you. Then the land will yield its harvest, and God, our God, will bless us. God will bless us, and all the ends of the earth will fear him. (NIV)

I really did not know where to begin as I study this Psalm.  This is a simple Psalm with a simple message “may God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine upon us”.   Yet it was this simple prayer that Moses (Numbers 6:22-27) instructed Aaron and his sons to use to bless Israel.  This benediction recognizes that God is the source of all good blessings in a person’s life.

Verse two presents two request for knowledge from the writer of this Psalm to God.  First that His ways may be known on the earth.  The second was that his salvation might be known among all nations.  The interesting issue in this verse is the focus on the whole earth, not just the nation of Israel.  We have the tendency just focus on the issues around us, but in this verse the author of this Psalm makes us realized that the knowledge of God and his salvation is for the whole world.

The last two verses are the realization of the results that can come from following God’s ways.  The land will yield it harvest, we will be blessed of God, and all the ends of the earth will fear him. As I reflect upon these verses I am reminded of the great Christmas hymn “I Hear the Bells on Christmas Day” by Henry Longfellow and the words of this song:

And in despair I bowed my head; “There is no peace on earth,” I said;  “For hate is strong,     And mocks the song Of peace on earth, good-will to men!” Then pealed the bells more loud and deep: “God is not dead, nor doth He sleep; The Wrong shall fail,  The Right prevail, With peace on earth, good-will to men.”

Yes these verses might not seem possible today; yet, one day soon Christ will return, there will be a new heaven and a new earth and man will enjoy a new relationship with God. The barrier of our sinful nature removed forever by the blood of Christ. Then the people of the earth will praise God.

My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken. How long will you assault a man? Would all of you throw him down this leaning wall, this tottering fence? They fully intend to topple him from his lofty place; they take delight in lies. With their mouths they bless, but in their hearts they curse. Selah Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken. My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge. Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge. Selah Lowborn men are but a breath, the highborn are but a lie; if weighed on a balance, they are nothing; together they are only a breath. Do not trust in extortion or take pride in stolen goods; though your riches increase, do not set your heart on them. One thing God has spoken, two things have I heard: that you, O God, are strong, and that you, O Lord, are loving. Surely you will reward each person according to what he has done.  (NIV)

As I read this psalm today it shed a lot of light on the verse found in Matthew:13:23 “The seed that fell on good soil represents those who truly hear and understand God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted.”   What is the seed? It is the word of God. Therefore the harvest that is spoken here is not lost souls, or works that one does for the Lord; but your own personal growth in God’s word. Verse eight in this psalm points to three areas that a Christian needs to focus on: walk in faith and lean not on your own understanding (trust Him), a life devoted to prayer (pour out your heart to Him), and applying Romans 12:19 in your life “Dear friends never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God.” so make God your refuge.   Ask these questions to yourself today: did I let God’s word grow in me today? Did I surrender to sinful acts or ways or did I look to God’s Word for direction in my decision-making today? And last of all did I really believe his word even when I read a sentence like verse twelve in this psalm “Surely you will reward each person according to what he has done.”

This sentence from Oswald Chambers’ book My Utmost for His Highest from the reading on December 9 “It is not a question of giving up sin, but of giving up my right to myself, my natural independence and self-assertiveness, and this is where the battle has to be fought” reflects the life that we must live.   The last part of verse twelve reads “Surely you will reward each person according to what he has done” points to the direction we must live our life as we go about our day by day activities.   Are we living our life for the rewards that the world heaps upon us or are we heeding the words of I John 2:15, 16 ” Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the vain glory of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world”.   Going back to the Psalm one we must realize that there are only two directions in which we walk; the way of the righteous or the way of the wicked. Therefore, if we are reward for what we do let’s look at this chapter in light of this verse.

1. My soul finds rest in God alone. This verse points to our faith. Do we trust God and lean not on our own understanding?
2. My salvation comes from Him, I cannot earn it and do I deserve this salvation.
3. I should never be shaken because I trust in him.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me, for in you my soul takes refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed. I cry out to God Most High, to God, who fulfills {his purpose} for me. He sends from heaven and saves me, rebuking those who hotly pursue me; Selah God sends his love and his faithfulness. I am in the midst of lions; I lay among ravenous beasts men whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth. They spread a net for my feet I was bowed down in distress. They dug a pit in my path but they have fallen into it themselves. Selah My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and make music. Awake, my soul! Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn. I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples. For great is your love, reaching to the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth. (NIV)

This is another psalm of David as he fled from Saul into the caves. David’s starts out this psalm off in the same manner as he did in psalm 56. He asks for God’s mercy as he takes refuge in Him.

Key Facts:

We must ask for mercy because we have no righteousness to stand on.

God has provided a refuge for us and that is where we need to hide.

God has his purpose for me.

God does save me.

He rebukes those who are against his chosen.

David’s faith was steadfast and so must our faith in God.

The wicked will fall in their own traps.

I will praise Him. Why?

For great is His Love.

Great is His faithfulness

And He alone is exalted.

As I read verse two “I cry out to God Most High, to God, who fulfills {his purpose} for me” it takes me back to Matthew 26:39 where Jesus prays “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” as his purpose. Yes David became king as God purposed him to be as we will someday be made Christ-like when Christ appears the second time. However, until this event takes place we must that refuge in the shadow of God’s wing and pray the same prayer that Christ our example prayed in the garden of Gethsemane. It is God who fulfills his purpose, not us fulfilling the purpose that God has given us. As a good soldier puts his life on the line to fulfill the military commander’s objectives so must we put on life and our dreams on the line to serve Christ.

When studying David’s life at this time we must realize that he was going through a period of self-examination.  Everything that he believed was being tested.  At this time he was surrounded by a small band of followers who like him was running and hiding.  It is a setting like this that even when you are part of a group you still feel like you are alone with God.  It is in these times of testing that God will slowly work to conform us to his purpose.

Why do you boast of evil, you mighty man? Why do you boast all day long, you who are a disgrace in the eyes of God?  Your tongue plots destruction; it is like a sharpened razor, you who practice deceit.  You love evil rather than good, falsehood rather than speaking the truth. Selah You love every harmful word, O you deceitful tongue!  Surely God will bring you down to everlasting ruin: He will snatch you up and tear you from your tent; he will uproot you from the land of the living. Selah The righteous will see and fear; they will laugh at him, saying, “Here now is the man who did not make God his stronghold but trusted in his great wealth and grew strong by destroying others!”  But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God’s unfailing love for ever and ever.  I will praise you forever for what you have done; in your name I will hope, for your name is good. I will praise you in the presence of your saints. (NIV)

As you read this psalm go back and read I Samuel 22 where Doeg the Edomite informed Saul that David has gone to the house of Ahimelech. This was the start of David’s running which probably lasted about seven years. Seven years running as a criminal of the state. And yet during this time he placed his hope and trust in the Lord. So no matter what comes into your life remember this truth; the righteous will see and fear. I trust in God’s unfailing love for ever and ever. As you live your life on this earth do you live it in the light of today’s rewards or the rewards that eternality offers? Have you made God our stronghold and the one who will guide you, or have you made yourself the controller of your life? In Philippians chapter 4 Paul gives us an example of how to handle disputes. The key is to agree with each other in the Lord. However this does not always happen. So Paul gives us these final instructions on handling disputes in Philippians 4:8,9 “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.  Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you”.  This is the path we must follow when we make God our stronghold.

How do you make a decision?  How do you handle the daily tough situation around you which forces you to make tough decisions?  One of the keys to making good decisions is found in the principles that Paul outlines for us in Philippians 4:8, 9.  However, I have come to realize in the last several years that following these principles and being Christ-like is not an easy task.   Consider what Paul is saying is these verses:

• whatever is true
• whatever is noble
• whatever is right
• whatever is pure
• whatever is lovely
• whatever is admirable
• if anything is excellent or praiseworthy
• THEN think about such things

These principles taken individuality are easy to understand, however when taken as a group can cause much confusion.  That is why verse eight ends in the phase “if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things” or as Psalm One states “mediate”.   As I look into God’s Word daily and see his word reflecting back the imperfections of my daily activity I am reminded how much I need my Bible study to get me started every morning.  Just as my looking into a mirror in the morning reflects back my physical appearances that must be corrected before I go out and face the world each morning, God’s Word reveals the things in my life that are not true, noble, right, pure, lovely, or admirable.  This is why we must mediate and think about all things in light of these six attributes working together.  David’s life is a great example of this process.  Samuel had anointed him to be the next King of Israel.  That was truth?  However these verses were written as he was running from Saul and being treated as a criminal of the state.  Should he not stand up and fight for what was rightful his position, knowing that God had rejected Saul and chosen David to be the next King?  What was noble, right, pure, lovely, and admirable?  What route then should David take to secure this kingdom that he was anointed to take?  This was the issue that David was facing in this Psalm.

In John 1:10-12 it states of Christ “He was in the world and though the world was made him, the world did not recognize him.  He came to that which was his own, but his own did not received him.”  Christ came to this earth two thousand years ago as King, and yet the world rejected him and crucified him on the cross. Just as David was rejected by Israel to take his rightful place during the time of this psalm, Christ also was rejected by the world when he came to earth the first time.  Why did he not take the world by force since he was the King of Kings?  This is a mystery that many struggle with, “why does God not intervene immediately to right the wrongs in this world?”  To me the answer is simple, He did.  The answer is Christ.  As I study the psalms I have seen several features in David’s life that seem to reflect in Christ’s earthly ministry.  The three characters in this psalm, God, the evil, and the righteous are the three main characters in the world around us today.   By studying the psalms may I learn the principles of Philippians 4:8, 9 and apply them to my life.  May I like David learn to rely totally on the Lord, for guidance and direction?

Opinion is defined as a view, judgment, or appraisal formed in the mind about a particular matter.  In a stronger form it means a formal expression of judgment or advice by an expert upon which a legal decision is based.  It is opinions that either bring people together, or divides people into different groups.  What happens when the mighty men of a nation look at their evil ways and call them good?  How do we make a stand against these evil ways?  Do we wait on God or do we make a stand and fight against evil?  Sometimes it seems the route in which the righteous chose to make their stand against evil practices results in greater separation in the forces against evil practices rather than the evil practices themselves.  By studying David’s life we can get a picture of what it means to truly wait on the Lord.

The very start of evil can be traced back to Satan.  By studying Isaiah chapter fourteen we see these I wills used by the son of the morning:

I will ascend into heaven

I will exalt my throne above the stars of God

I will sit upon the mount of congregation, in the uttermost parts of the north;

I will ascend above the heights of the clouds;

I will make myself like the Most High.

Evil is simply going against the way of God.  As I looked at this Psalm today in light of Isaiah fourteen I asked myself a simply question “Do I have the characteristics of a man who did not make God my stronghold or do I look to God to fulfill in me his daily purpose?”  To answer this question I went to Matthew chapter 20 verses one through fifteen:

¹ For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man who was a householder, who went out early in the morning to hire laborers into his vineyard.

² And when he had agreed with the laborers for a shilling a day, he sent them into his vineyard.

³ And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing in the marketplace idle;

⁴ and to them he said, Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way.

⁵ Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did likewise.

⁶ And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing; and he saith unto them, why stand ye here all the day idle?

⁷ They say unto him, because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard.

⁸ And when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the laborers, and pay them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first.

⁹ And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a shilling.

¹⁰ And when the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise received every man a shilling.

¹¹ And when they received it, they murmured against the householder,

¹² saying, these last have spent but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.

¹³ But he answered and said to one of them, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a shilling?

¹⁴ Take up that which is thine, and go thy way; it is my will to give unto this last, even as unto thee.

¹⁵ Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Or is thine eye evil, because I am good?

The characters:

Householder

12 hour Laborers for a shilling a day

9 hours Laborers for whatsoever is right

6 hours Laborers for whatsoever is right

3 hours Laborers for whatsoever is right

1 hour Laborers for whatsoever is right

The Plot:

A householder hired workers at different times to work in his vineyard.  He agreed with the first to pay them a shilling for their day’s work.  The others hired during the day were promised to be paid with the promise of whatsoever is right.  At the end of the day the householder paid the last to start to work a shilling and continue to pay the reminder of the workers a shilling.  These who worked longer expected to be paid more, but they were not.  Then they murmured against him.  The householder’s answer was simple “I did you no wrong I paid you what we agreed to.”  Is it not lawful for me to do what I want with mine own?

The conclusion:

The Questions you must answer:

Was the householder right in what he did?

Who does the householder represent?

Who do the laborers represent?

Did the laborers who worked all day had a right to question the householder’s decision?

How does this parable relate to evil?

Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy.  How awesome is the LORD Most High, the great King over all the earth! He subdued nations under us, peoples under our feet.  He chose our inheritance for us, the pride of Jacob, whom he loved. Selah God has ascended amid shouts of joy, the LORD amid the sounding of trumpets.  Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises.  For God is the King of all the earth; sing to him a psalm of praise. ⁸ God reigns over the nations; God is seated on his holy throne.  The nobles of the nations assemble as the people of the God of Abraham, for the kings of the earth belong to God; he is greatly exalted.  (NIV)

As I read this psalm this morning I stop and reflect about all the influences that have already occurred today in my life.  On my daily commute to work every morning I either listen to the radio or to my CDs on the scriptures.  When I listen to radio it seems that half of the time I am listening to advertising that makes claims on how to improve and make your life better and more productive.  Yet, most of these claim leave out one major compound and that is God.  By reading the psalms daily the reader will soon truly grasp how awesome the Lord really is in heaven and on earth.  When I listen to these claims that promise to give me a great and better life they leave God out.  They usually have one purpose and that is to make the person or company offering them a profit.  When hearing these claims I have to reflect on the very fall of man in the Garden of Eden. Man took the fruit from his wife who had taken it from the serpent, who had convinced her that there was more to life than God had provided.  He convinced Eve and she convinced Adam “that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise”.   However after they eat of the fruit their eyes were opened and they saw their own nakedness.

I see the same with all the claims that the world offers us today.  Even the claims of most Christian ministries seem to fall short of meeting the needs and desires of fallen man.  Unless fallen man truly returns to a dependence on God he will perish just like the beast of the field.  As Psalm 49: 20 states”A man who has riches without understanding is like the beasts that perish”.  However, when we truly get to a point in our life that we trust God and pursue a desire to live a blameless life in the light of his Word, then we will see that he will cloth us in His glory.   How awesome would our lives be if our daily routines in this world would truly reflect our true dependence upon God to manage the affairs of our life?

As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God.  My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?  My tears have been my food day and night, while men say to me all day long, “Where is your God?”  these things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go with the multitude, leading the procession to the house of God, with shouts of joy and thanksgiving among the festive throng. Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.  My soul is downcast within me; therefore I will remember you from the land of the Jordan, the heights of Hermon from Mount Mizar.  Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me.  By day the LORD directs his love, at night his song is with me a prayer to the God of my life.  I say to God my Rock, “Why have you forgotten me? Why must I go about mourning, oppressed by the enemy?”  My bones suffer mortal agony as my foes taunt me, saying to me all day long, “Where is your God?” Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. (NIV)

This psalm centers on these two questions.

Why are you downcast, O my soul?

Why so disturbed within me?

This psalm centers on these answers.

Put your hope in God,

I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.

Sometimes during our walk on this earth we seem to walk in a dry and thirsty land.  It is during these times that we must remember that the earth is under the curse of sin.  We are not in heaven yet but on a journey.  We sometimes forget that we are on a journey and live as if this life on earth is it and there is no life after we depart from this earth.   However, it is God that leads and sometimes these paths will lead us through a period of testing or should I state a desert place.  The key to getting through these times is to remember who God is (the One that our mind can not comprehend) and that this is just our journey and not our home.  The psalmist also reflects upon his time of worship with others (how I used to go with the multitude, leading the procession to the house of God, with shouts of joy and thanksgiving among the festive throng) during this time of testing.  Remember Psalm 62:11-12 “one thing God has spoken two things have I heard: that you , O God are strong, and that you O, Lord are loving.”  It is these times of worshiping and praising God that we must look back to when we are in these periods of testing to give us hope for the future.

As I was studying the book There was a Time written by Mary Alice Wilhelm this week I ran across a list title Nine Aspects of Life written by a source not known in the second chapter.  Reflecting on these nine aspects can help us as believers when we face the two questions that this Psalm presents to us.

Nine Aspects of Life

1. The adventure of life is to learn.
2. The purpose of life is to grow.
3. The nature of life is to change.
4. The challenge of life is to overcome.
5. The essence of life is to care.
6. The opportunity of life is to serve.
7. The secret of life is to dare.
8. The spice of life is to befriend.
9. The beauty of life is to give.

Source not known

As we age and realize that our journey through this world is now much nearer to the end we begin to look back and reevaluate our understanding of the true meaning of life.  For those who know God and the work that Christ paid for us on the cross this reevaluation will usually lead to a more rewarding life for us in our later years.

Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.  For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.  Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.  Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.  Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.  And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.   Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospered in his way, because of the man who brings wicked devices to pass.  Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.  For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth.  For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.  But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.  The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth.  The Lord shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming.  The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright conversation.  Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.  A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.   For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the Lord upholdeth the righteous.  The Lord knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be forever.  They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.   But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the Lord shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away.  The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth.  For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off.  The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way.  Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand.  I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.  He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed.  Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore.  For the Lord loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.  The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein forever.  The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment.  The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.  The wicked watcheth the righteous, and seeketh to slay him.  The Lord will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged.  Wait on the Lord, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.  I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree.  Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found.  Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.  But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off.  But the salvation of the righteous is of the Lord: he is their strength in the time of trouble.  And the Lord shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him. (KJV)

This psalm is a psalm that reader’s turn to when they face difficult times in their life.  These times are not just trouble times, but usually a time when the only one a person can turn to is God.  However, it is also a time when God has also seem to have forsaken them.  It was this psalm that I turned to at one of the most difficult times in my life.  It is a time when the wickedness of someone who at one time was very close to me turned and tried to destroy everything in my life.  It was a time like Joseph faced when his own brothers sold him as a slave.  It was a time in my life that I learned how to pray thy will be done instead of my will be done.  Verses four and five gave me at that time an insight on how to pray.  Three things on my part were required: delight myself in the Lord, commit my ways to the Lord, and trust in the Lord; by following these three simple steps the Lord will give to me the desires of my heart.

I now realize that these principles become clearer as one ages and applies life experiences to the scriptures.  It is in the example that God gave me from the life of Joseph that I can see how these principles governed his life.  He was only seventeen when his own brothers sold him into slavery.  However, instead of trying to gain his freedom and taking vengeance on his brothers for this act he accepted the place where the Lord placed him and committed his ways to the Lord.  The phase “but the Lord was with Joseph” characterized his life.  Joseph learned to apply the principles of trust and obey in his life and knew that God would be with him, both in the hard times as well as the good times.  He was a slave and a prisoner of the state for thirteen years, yet he still followed the principles of committing your ways to the Lord and trusting in Him (trust and obey).  It was at the time of Jacob’s death that we truly see how these principles played out in Joseph’s life.  As I read Genesis chapter fifty I realized Joseph’s brothers had not ask for forgiven yet for their treatment of Joseph at age seventeen.  This selfish act on their part not only effected Joseph life, but also had a profound effect on Jacob his father and Benjamin his brother.  It took thirty-nine years, the death of their father, and the fear that Joseph would pay them back in full for all the wrong they did to him  before they tried to patch up the incident with Joseph.  And even in this process they did not want to address the real issues which was the fact of their own sinfulness in the way they handed Joseph over into slavery.  Joseph weep when they spoke, because he had already forgiven them, but he saw how they lived in fear because they could not face the truth of forgiveness.  Joseph answer to them reveals his trust on the Lord to guide his life.  When you are following these principles then you like Joseph can say “for I am in God’s place”.   When walking with God in this world we will face times in our life when people (even our own family) do evil things against us.  However, if we wait on the Lord and keep his ways then we will see the desire of our hearts fulfilled and will be able to say “therefore what you meant for evil against me, God meant it for good”.

“The law of his God is in his heart; his feet do not slip” the righteous will not fall.  As we see the fruit of wicked schemes of greed and corruption around us fall we must realize that God is our stronghold the one we take refuge in these times of trouble.  So when the topic about the economic failures and other events of disaster from around the world come about in your conversation you can take comfort in these verses.  Live by the phases highlighted in yellow and know that God is our refuge.  Then let the world see God’s law alive in your life so that the light of his law will reflect God to them.  These phases are:

Do not fret (3 times)

Do not be envious of those who do wrong Trust in the Lord (2 times)

Delight yourself in the Lord

Commit your ways to the Lord

Be still before the Lord

Wait patiently for him (2 times)

Refrain from anger

Turn from wrath

Hope in the Lord

Give generously

Turn from evil and do good

Utters wisdom and speak what is just

Keep the Lord way

Consider the blameless

Observe the upright

Seek refuge in the Lord

Verse 25 “I was young and now I am old” lets us know that this psalm was written when David was old.   This psalm reflects David’s beliefs and pattern of life that as a king and a father he wanted to pass on to others.  In Psalm 51:12, 13 he write “Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.  Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will turn back to you.”  His desire was to live by God’s ways and teach others of the joy of living in God’s ways.  Ecclesiastes is another example of scripture that was written by an old man.  However, this was written by Solomon who at the end of his life was told that the kingdom that God had given his father and when to him would not be passed to his son.  Why?  Because he forsook God’s ways and served other God’s.  It is interesting to see his words in Ecclesiastes: 12:8-14 “Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher; all is vanity.  And further, because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yea, he pondered, and sought out, and set in order many proverbs.  The Preacher sought to find out acceptable words, and that which was written uprightly, even words of truth.  The words of the wise are as goads; and as nails well fastened are the words of the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd.  And furthermore, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.  This is the end of the matter; all hath been heard: fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man.  For God will bring every work into judgment, with every hidden thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.”   Therefore heed the words of David in this psalm so that in your old age you will not have to write as Solomon did in Ecclesiastes 12:1 “Remember also thy Creator in the days of thy youth, before the evil days come and the years draw nigh, when thou shall say I have no pleasure in them.”

Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.  Blessed is the man whose sin the LORD does not count against him and in whose spirit is no deceit.  When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.  For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. Selah Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD” and you forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah Therefore let everyone who is godly pray to you while you may be found; surely when the mighty waters rise, they will not reach him.  You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.  Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you.  Many are the woes of the wicked, but the LORD’s unfailing love surrounds the man who trusts in him.  Rejoice in the LORD and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart!  (NIV)

After you read this psalm go to psalm 51.  These psalms were written after David’s great sin.  These psalms show us the way we are to handle sin in your life.  Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD” and you forgave the guilt of my sin.

However, if I continue to hide my sin then: When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. ⁴ For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer.

Blessed is the theme of this psalm.  The word is only used twice in this psalm, however it describes the right relationship we must have with the Lord.  Look at the four conditions to be blessed of the Lord:

He whose transgressions are forgiven.

He whose sins are covered.

He who sin the Lord does not count against him.

He in whose spirit is no deceit.

As you read this psalm realize how easy it is to be in a right relationship with God.

God does pursue us when we go astray.

When we go astray the peace of God leaves us.

When we acknowledge our sin God forgives us and we are at peace with God once more.

We make God our hiding place our refuge.

We let God teach us in the way, protect us, counsel us, and watch over us.

Then the Lord’s unfailing love will surround us and we will be blessed.

This psalm points us back to the beginning of this book Psalm Chapter One.

As I was listening to my tapes on the New Testament I realized that Paul also explained these verses in Romans chapter four.  Paul describes the blessings of this psalm as a blessing that comes from faith not by works or the keeping of the law.  He also writes in Romans chapter four that this blessing of forgiven was not just to Abraham, but to all who believe on him that raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was delivered up for our trespasses and was raised for our justification.  However like this psalm which describes the entire relationship that David could enjoyed with God, Paul goes on in Romans chapter five to explain he relationship that we could also enjoy with God.   Paul states in verses one and two that we have peace with God as well as access to God unto life eternal.

However, we do not have to wait for death to enjoy an intimate relationship with Christ.  In John 14:9 Christ ask Philip this question “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me?”  As I read this verse I am reminded of my journey on developing an intimate relationship with Christ.  When I first believe in the work that Christ did on the cross to secure my salvation for me I called him Lord.  He was this all-powerful being who was far away in heaven.  He was the Savior for mankind, a great figure to me just like the President of the USA is to an American.  But, now after walking with him for over fifty years he is my friend, someone I know.  As Christ told his disciples in John 15:14 “You are my friends, if you do the things which I command you” is the same relationship we can have with Christ.

Oswald Chambers describes this type of an intimate relationship in his devotional for January 7th:

The Christian who is truly intimate with Jesus will never draw attention to himself but will only show the evidence of a life where Jesus is completely in control. This is the outcome of allowing Jesus to satisfy every area of life to its depth. The picture resulting from such a life is that of the strong, calm balance that our Lord gives to those who are intimate with Him.

As we grow in the Lord we realize that he will never leave us or desert us.  The more you walk with Christ the more you realized that people and friends will disappoint you.  Sometimes even your closest friends including your family or spouse will turn and become your enemies, but not Christ.  It was only after the person closest to me turned against me that I was about to have this calm and balance life that is in Christ.  However, this calm and balance life that is in Christ only came after a lot of heartache and a turning everything over to God to handle.

The LORD is my light and my salvation whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life of whom shall I be afraid?  When evil men advance against me to devour my flesh, when my enemies and my foes attack me, they will stumble and fall.  Though an army besieges me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then will I be confident.  One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple.  For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock.  Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me; at his tabernacle will I sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the LORD.   Hear my voice when I call, O LORD; be merciful to me and answer me. My heart says of you “Seek his face!” Your face, LORD, I will seek.  Do not hide your face from me, do not turn your servant away in anger; you have been my helper. Do not reject me or forsake me, O God my Savior. ¹⁰ Though my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will receive me.  Teach me your way, O LORD; lead me in a straight path because of my oppressors.  Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes, for false witnesses rise up against me, breathing out violence.  I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.  Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.  (NIV)

As I read verse four I am drawn to John 14: 2-3 “”In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”  American society is overexposed to the daily outlet of media broadcasting that has had a great impact unto our lifestyle.  This media overexposure impacts many believers with a great desire to live for today and building a brighter future for living their life on this earth than seeking heavenly treasure.  However, the true believer’s focus should also be looking for the Lord’s coming and the arrival of the New Jerusalem and the New Heaven and the New Earth.

Key points from this chapter:

Can you state the same truths in your life with the (I) statements as David did in this psalm.

• whom shall I fear
• whom shall I be afraid
• I ask of the LORD that I may dwell in his house
• I seek that I may gaze upon his beauty
• I seek him in his temple
• I sacrifice with shouts of joy
• I will sing and make music
• I call on the Lord
• I will seek his face
• I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living

Can you state the same truths in your life with the (me) statements as David did in this psalm.

• LORD is my light
• LORD my salvation
• LORD is the stronghold of my life
• He will keep me safe in his dwelling
• He will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle
• He set me high upon a rock
• my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me
• Hear my voice when I call
• LORD; be merciful to me
• Lord answer me
• Though my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will receive me
• Teach me your way
• lead me in a straight path because of my oppressors
• Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes
• false witnesses rise up against me

Can you wait for the LORD and can you be strong and take heart?

A text sent to me:

Sincerely the Fallen

At what point in our life do we reach the crossroads?

How do we determine which path to follow?

Do we follow our heart or our ambitions?

Why is there enough religion to insight war, but not enough to find peace?

When is it time to give up on the world and seek a better place?

Only the truth will set you free.

Where do you find it in a world of lies?

God have pity on the fallen.

May you find peace in this life for it has failed me?

Sincerely the Fallen

My reply:

At what point in our life do we reach the crossroads?

This crossroad is reached when you must decide which path you desire to follow, the way of the wicked or the way of God.

How do we determine which path to follow?

You make this choice.  Do I travel and walk with the wicked, stand with the sinners, and sit with the mockers or do I travel and walk, stand, and sit with the righteous?  The choice is yours.

Do we follow our heart or our ambitions?

Neither, we follow Christ.

Paul states that we should have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had in our relationship to others.  Christ was Lord, yet he humble himself and died as a criminal on the cross.  The human nature struggle with the issues of pride and humility daily.  To aid us in this struggle Paul gives us this advice: don’t be selfish, do not try to impress others, think others as better than yourself, do not look to your own interest but take an interest in others.

Why is there enough religion to insight war, but not enough to find peace?

You must realize that religion is man-made and attempts to find peace.  Real peace only comes when we have a true relationship with God.

When is it time to give up on the world and seek a better place?

Christ stated it as simply “Come unto me all who are weak and heavy laden and I will give you rest”.

Only the truth will set you free.

Ask must add to this statement “free from what?”  As I look at John chapter 18 in the discourse between Pilate and Christ:

Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou say that I am a king. To this end have I been born, and to this end am I come into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth hearth my voice.  Pilate said unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and said unto them, I find no crime in him.  But ye have a custom that I should release unto you one at the Passover: will ye therefore that I release unto you the King of the Jews? They cried out therefore again, saying, Not this man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber.

I once heard of a man who went searching for Truth, met Truth and turned and walked away.  This is what Pilate did.  Yes, Truth can set you free, but only if you face it.

Where do you find it in a world of lies?

In Christ who is the truth, the life, and the way and the only way to the Father.

God have pity on the fallen.

He has for we are all fallen creatures.  However, God so loved us that he sent his only son into this world to die on the cross to pay for my sins.  In his love he pitied us, but also made a way out in Christ.

May you find peace in this life for it has failed me?

Read Psalm 88.