Conviction by Affliction

Do convicts like verdicts?  Have you ever heard of a a guilty person asking to be sentenced?  "Please, PLEASE give me my sentence!"

Oddly enough, that's exactly what David requests.  He asks God to "quicken" or revive him with a verdict, a sentence.

 

"Great are thy tender mercies, O LORD: quicken me according to thy judgments." Psalm 119:156

The word 'judgment' means verdict or sentence.  So David is speaking to God the Father as his judge - a judge who passes down both tender mercies and verdicts/sentences.  David acknowledges God's tender mercies, but he asks to be quickened, not according to those tender mercies, but according to God's judgments.  Strange.

How do God's verdicts "quicken" us?  How do God's sentences "quicken" us?  In what way does a verdict or a sentence bring life?

Maybe David's experience with God's mercy and judgment will shed some light on his strange request.  Remember when Nathan the prophet told King David the story about the rich man who stole and killed the poor man's only ewe lamb?  King David indignantly pronounced judgment on the rich man - that he would repay fourfold for the lamb.  When Nathan replied, "You are the man", David knew he was convicted and judged by the words of his own mouth.  David openly and publicly confessed and repented of his sin in Psalm 51.

God showed the repentant David great mercy in many ways; by forgiving him, allowing him to continue as King, allowing him to keep Bathsheba.  But the fourfold judgment that David pronounced upon himself did come to pass.  David lost four of his children throughout the years to come. The first repayment occurred immediately as God struck the infant son of Bathsheba and David with an illness and he died.  The other three repayments occurred throughout David's life as he lost three sons by the sword: Amnon, Absalom, and Adonijah.

David lived to see three of the fourfold repayments. Each time, David experienced a personal revival.

The First Payment: David's infant son dies by the hand of God

Upon hearing of his infant son's death, David immediately left off mourning for his son to worship God.  David accepted the blame and the judgments.  He harbored no animosity toward God for his verdict, no animosity toward Bathsheba as his partner in sin, no animosity toward Nathan as the messenger of his sentence.  Rather, he worshipped God, comforted Bathsheba, sent for Nathan, and named his next child "beloved of the Lord".  All these things are evidence of a personal revival. 

The Second Payment: Amnon dies by the sword

After Amnon's death, Absalom fled, and David mourned for three years.  Then "the soul of David longed to go forth unto Absalom: for he was comforted concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead" (II Sam 13:39 ).  Although David allowed Absalom to return to Jerusalem, he still would not see Absalom.  David had not fully forgiven Absalom for murdering Amnon.  Five years after Absalom murdered Amnon, David finally showed true forgiveness by seeing Absalom and kissing him.  David's forgiveness is evidence of personal revival.

The Third Payment: Absalom dies by the sword

After Absalom's death in the uprising he orchestrated against his own father, a grieving, but gracious King David pardons treason and excuses failure in his subjects.  He sets aside his personal grief for Absalom in order to comfort and thank his subjects for their loyalty.  David doesn't demand the throne as the prize of victory, but rather seeks his subjects' consent to his rule.  David returns to Jerusalem, not in the frame of mind of a conquering king, but in the frame of mind of a humble servant.  These things are evidence of a personal revival.

David surely recognized these events as part of the sentence he had pronounced upon himself.  Each time a payment was made, it brought back the remembrance of his great sin.  Each time his family suffered turmoil, he traced its root to his sin.  The rest of David's life was lived in the shadow of the next payment, the realization that the fourfold payment had not yet been fulfilled.  The fourth payment was finally made after David's death, when Adonijah died by the sword.

The judgments and the way they played out over the course of his life seemed to make David a better subject of God as well as a better king.  In a way, the judgments did "quicken" him.  Perhaps his exalted position as king was "quickened" by the sense of humility that the judgments wrought.  Perhaps his willingness to forbear and forgive the failures and betrayal of others was "quickened" by the "my sin is ever before me" awareness that the judgments wrought.  Perhaps his zeal for the cleansing Word of God was "quickened" by the realization of his own depravity that the judgments wrought.  Perhaps the conviction of affliction created in David a desperate desire for God that "quickened" his kingdom to desire God.

Revival By Affliction

Nobody likes affliction.
Except God.
Affliction pleases God because affliction brings revival.

In Psalm 119:154-160, David is in the midst of affliction.  And he asks God to "quicken" him three times.  The first time David asks God to quicken the joy of his salvation.

"Plead my cause, and deliver me: quicken me according to thy word." Ps 119:154

'Deliver' means to redeem, to act as kinsman-redeemer, to ransom.  This verse speaks of God the Son as Kinsman-Redeemer, who ransomed me with His own blood from the destruction I earned as a sinner.  At the moment I trusted in Jesus Christ to save me, my dead spirit was quickened, or made alive.  I was born-again as a new creature with a new capacity to know, love, and obey God.

I don't ever need to be born-again... again, and neither did David.  So I don't believe that David is asking for salvation in this passage.  But he is definitely asking for something connected with his salvation.

I think the next verse clarifies it.  "Salvation is far from the wicked: for they seek not thy statutes."  David is observing that the wicked peopel around him are not turning to God for salvation;  David is observing his fruitlessness.  David is not asking to be quickened as in "I'm dead in my trespasses and sins.  Save me".  He's asking to be quickened as in "I'm not bearing fruit.  Make me fruitful."

I can relate.  I can look back on my life and see seasons of fruitlessness.  And those seasons of fruitlessness - those periods of drought - were broken by affliction.  God brought a storm into my life before He allowed the rain to fall.

The affliction brought me back to the basics.  Back to a remembrance of my salvation.  Back to a joy in my salvation.  God used affliction to restore the joy of my salvation to me, and when that joy was restored, or quickened, a new season of witnessing, teaching, discipling, and bearing fruit commenced.  Thank you, God, for the afflictions you use to restore the joy of my salvation.

Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee. Psalm 51:12-13

Seeing is Believing... right?

Some thoughts provoked by a stirring sermon on Father's Day...

Seeing is Believing...

It's a common expression. It's a common way of life. Walking by sight. In fact, it seems to be the most socially acceptable way of life. Nothing wins the approval of the masses like following the herd, drifting with the currents of conventional wisdom.


The reverse holds true, too, though. Nothing draws such fierce criticism as breaking from the herd, or rowing against the current. When we "walk by faith, not by sight" - our actions won't make much sense to those who are walking by sight. In fact, they may see our actions as "irresponsible", "immature", "careless".


How did Abraham's actions look to his community? He "went out, not knowing whither he went...". His actions may have appeared "irresponsible" to his community. What about later when he offered Isaac? His actions may have appeared "cruel" and "uncaring" to others.


How did Gideon's actions look to his community? After raising a good-sized army, he sent most of them home. Then he armed the few he had left with lanterns and trumpets. His actions may have appeared "careless".


What about George Mueller? He took in orphans with no plan of feeding them - apart from prayer. And everybody knows you can't eat prayers. His actions may have appeared "irresponsible", "careless", "immature".


What about my husband? He's done some things that others see as being irresponsible, immature, careless, even foolish. Like working with bus kids who (everybody knows) will eventually drop out of church and live a wicked life just like their parents. Like giving his children to God instead of grooming them for "real" paying jobs. Like sending his children to Bible school with no scholarships, no loans, and no visible means of paying the tuition - apart from prayer. Like discipling the sort of down-and-out people who will obviously never change. Like obeying in these things in the midst of criticism... and bearing it with grace.


What a privilege to walk hand in hand with a man who "believes to see", who "walks by faith and not by sight". What a privilege to witness firsthand the faithfulness of God to him. What a wonder to see the fruit of a faithful man following a faithful God all these years down the road.

I had fainted, unless I had BELIEVED TO SEE the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Psalm 27:13

What's in Your Wagon?

Christians in this world are like pilgrims on a journey, pulling our little red wagons along behind us.  The "Dreamers" pile up their wagons with high lofty dreams.  The "Planners" load their wagons down with heavy contingency plans.  The "Hopers" - oddly enough, they don't actually load anything into their wagons, but they do pull their empty wagons along behind them, hoping to come across something nice put into it as they travel.  The "Rollers" also set out with empty wagons, convinced that an empty wagon may come in handy somewhere down the path.  They all set out to make their way in life, pulling their little red wagons behind them.
As happens on all journeys on all roads, the pilgrims come to a fork in the road.  A narrow path leads up into some hills while a broad path cuts straight through the plain.  The narrow mountain path immediately appeals to the rather adventurous "Dreamers" and as well as the artifact-seeking "Hopers".  The "Planners" like the looks of the narrow mountain path, but feel it would be irresponsible to unload their heavy contingency plans.  So the "Planners" opt for the broad path, which is more suitable for pulling wagons weighed down with contingency plans.  The "Rollers" opt for the narrow mountain path, assaying that empty wagons must be of some use there.

After a while the narrow path forks again.  A very narrow path leads up into wooded mountains, while a more heavily-traveled path winds back down into the plains and rejoins the broad path.  The "Dreamers" yearn for the adventure the very narrow path promises, but the trees present a problem.  You see, the high lofty dreams in the "Dreamers" wagons are taller than the tree branches.  The "Dreamers" therefore reluctantly decide to cut short their adventure on the narrow path to rejoin the broad path.

The "Hopers" and the "Rollers" continue along the very narrow path, pulling their empty wagons.  Eventually, they come to a country store.  The Proprietor asks them to use their empty wagons to transport mail, supplies, and ammunition back and forth between several base camps and the store.  At this, the "Hopers" wince, envisioning themselves finally coming upon the nice things they've been hoping to find - but with no cargo space for them in the wagon.  They politely decline, feeling it wise to reserve all the cargo space for the nice things they hope to find.  Thus, the "Hopers" continue on the very narrow path, pulling their empty wagons behind them.

Meanwhile, there's quite a commotion in the "Rollers" group.  Upon hearing the Proprietor's proposal, they've gotten all excited!  They're smiling and hugging, laughing and singing, whistling and working.  They're busy as beavers cleaning their wagons, oiling the wheels, and tightening the bolts.  Now they're loading up their wagons as the Proprietor directs and setting out up the very narrow trail.

This arrangement with the Proprietor goes on for the rest of their lives.  Sometimes they enjoy the work, sometimes they don't.  But even on the days when they don't enjoy the work, they're satisfied that their wagons are useful to the Proprietor and the folk at the base camps.

Meanwhile, the "Dreamers", the "Planners", and the "Hopers" have continued on the broad plain path, pulling their wagons loaded with lofty dreams, heavy contingency plans, and vain hopes.  Sometimes they've enjoyed the path, sometimes they haven't.  But even on the days when they've enjoy the path, they've had the nagging feeling that something is just..... missing.  Always dreaming, but never doing.  Always planning, but never implementing.  Always seeking, but never finding.



You see, we tend to walk through life pulling our little red wagons full of our hopes, dreams, and plans. And somewhere along the way, we realize that our own hopes, dreams, and plans just do not satisfy us.  But they often prevent us from being useful to the Lord.  Sometimes we turn away from God's purpose for us in order to hang on to our own hopes, dreams, and plans.  We fail to realize that we're sacrificing our true purpose for a mirage.

The Bible urges us to "Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established (Proverbs 16:3)".  The word "commit" actually means "to roll".  In other words, "Roll your undertaking unto the Lord, and your plans will be securely determined and settled."

If something is just.... missing.... perhaps it's time to become a "Roller".  Commit our works unto the Lord.  Roll our undertakings unto the Lord.  Let Him pack the wagon.  Let Him choose the path.  Only then will be we experience satisfaction and fulfillment.

A Fool and His Foolishness Are Not Parted

Though thou shouldst bray a fool in a mortar among wheat with a pestle, yet will not his foolishness depart from him.  Proverbs 27:22

Correction by itself works nothing

for the fool that despises it.

Yes, the rod will drive foolishness from the heart of a child (Proverbs 22:15), but when the child becomes a man in strength of habit, and stubbornness of will, a hardness will take hold.  Pharoah, Ahaz, the generation of Noah - all were brayed in the mortar, yet all clung to their foolishness.

If a rock be broken, the broken pieces

will retain their hardness.

Likewise, a man may be crushed,

yet not humbled.

Sermon Notes: Pulling Down Strongholds - Fear

Most people who are not living right

are motivated by fear.

The devil is just as happy

to SCARE YOU into sin

as he is

to DARE YOU into sin.

You may be living in fear if you are experiencing hopelessness, constant worry, or inability to trust.

(1) HOPELESSNESS or thinking that things will never get better.  It's also known as stinkin' thinkin'.  Hopelessness ignores the truth expressed in Jeremiah 29:11-14.

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.  Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.  And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.  And I will be found of you, saith the LORD: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the LORD; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.

(2) CONSTANT WORRY.  It is said that worry is the interest we pay on borrowed trouble.  What good does it do to worry?  After all, worry never prevents a problem from occurring; rather, worry often causes more problems.  Furthermore, worry ignores the truth of God's goodness and providence as expressed in Matthew 6:27-34.

Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?  And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:  And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.  Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?  Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink?  or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?  (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.  But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.  Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

(3) INABILITY TO TRUST God and other people.  Okay, now, you've been hurt, disappointed, let down by other people, right?  Well, so has everyone else.  In fact, you may have been the source of someone else's hurt, disappointment, and let down.  And you're right, it's going to happen again.  It's not just a possibility or a probability; it's a CERTAINTY.  But here's something to consider: your lack of trust won't prevent it from happening.  All that you will accomplish by not trusting others is isolation - walling yourself off from being blessed by and being a blessing to others.

So how do we STOP living in fear?

Answer: By strengthening our faith.

So how do we strengthen our faith?

Answer: "Faith cometh by hearing,

and hearing by the Word of God."

Romans 10:17

God's Hidden Treasure

He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly. He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints. Proverbs 2:7-8

LAYETH UP means "hides, treasures, stores up"


The same Hebrew word is used when Jocabed hid baby Moses...
And the woman conceived, and bare a son: and when she saw him that he was a goodly child, she hid him three months. Exodus 2:2


... and when Rahab hid the spies...
And the woman took the two men, and hid them, and said thus, There came men unto me, but I wist not whence they were. Joshua 2:4


... and when God protected David from Saul...
For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock. Psalm 27:5


... and in David's epic psalm in the very heart of the Bible...
Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. Psalm 119:11


... and at the mouth of Solomon's fountain of wisdom...
Wise men lay up knowledge: but the mouth of the foolish is near destruction. Proverbs 10:14


God's treasure is the wisdom that He has hidden, treasured, and stored up for those who trust in His Son for salvation.  May the Holy Spirit guide us into all truth as we glean God's wisdom from the Bible.

Wisdom? Sounds stuffy... why bother?

Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.  Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee. Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her. She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.  Proverbs 4:5-9

Get wisdom, get understanding...

Learn from wise men and apply what you learn to your daily life.

Forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth...

Don't forget what you've learned or thrust it away from you.

Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee:  love her, and she shall keep thee...

Don't abandon wisdom, but let wisdom be your chaperone to prevent you from indulging in mischief.  Cherish wisdom, and let wisdom be your body-guard to prevent mischief from assaulting you.

Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. 

Wisdom is the first thing, the chief thing, the choice thing.  Wisdom is the basic building block, the foundation, for all else in your life.  So get all the wisdom you can and apply it as you get it.

Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her. 

Esteem and prize wisdom, and wisdom will exalt you.  Wisdom will bring you abundance and glory when you clasp your life to wisdom.  Sort of like getting towed by a star.

She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee. 

Wisdom places a wreath of grace on your head, which means she causes others to bestow favor and grace upon you.  Wisdom places a crown of glory on your head, which means she causes others to bestow rank and renown upon you.

So why bother with stuffy old wisdom? Why indeed!