We Need To Talk

Psalm 39

I. David Had Said Too Much

A. David was determined to take charge of
what he had to say.  "To the chief Musician, even
to Jeduthun, A Psalm of David.  I said, I will
take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my
tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while
the wicked is before me."  (Psalm 39:1)

1. What a person says can make or break a
testimony.  "If any man among you seem to be
religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but
deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is
vain."  (James 1:26) Some minds are too small to
share.

2. Speech can generate incalculable
disaster.  "For in many things we offend all. If
any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect
man, and able also to bridle the whole body.
Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that
they may obey us; and we turn about their whole
body. Behold also the ships, which though they be
so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are
they turned about with a very small helm,
whithersoever the governor listeth. Even so the
tongue is a little member, and boasteth great
things.  Behold, how great a matter a little fire
kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of
iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that
it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire
the course of nature; and it is set on fire of
hell. For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and
of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed,
and hath been tamed of mankind: But the tongue can
no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly
poison."  (James 3:2-8)

B. The experiment did not work well.  "I
was dumb with silence, I held my peace, even from
good; and my sorrow was stirred."  (Psalm 39:2)

C. Anxiety compounded to the exploding
point.  "My heart was hot within me, while I was
musing the fire burned: then spake I with my
tongue, LORD, make me to know mine end, and the
measure of my days, what it is; that I may know
how frail I am."  (Psalm 39:3-4)

D. Moses, who lived with words, faced a
similar challenge and made a corollary appeal.
"So teach us to number our days, that we may apply
our hearts unto wisdom."  (Psalm 90:12)

II. Life Is Too Short for Silence

A. Life is not very long and human dreams
and desires make little impact.  "Behold, thou
hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age
is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his
best state is altogether vanity.  Selah."  (Psalm
39:5)

B. God is eternal but people are ephemeral; people
must deal with God as the opportunity presents
itself rather than wait for some future time.
"For a thousand years in thy sight are but as
yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the
night. Thou carriest them away as with a flood;
they are as a sleep: in the morning they are like
grass which groweth up. In the morning it
flourisheth, and groweth up; in the evening it is
cut down, and withereth. For we are consumed by
thine anger, and by thy wrath are we troubled.
Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our
secret sins in the light of thy countenance.  For
all our days are passed away in thy wrath: we
spend our years as a tale that is told.  The days
of our years are threescore years and ten; and if
by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet
is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is
soon cut off, and we fly away."  (Psalm 90:4-10)

C. The hopes and ambitions of the human
heart amount to little; the Holy Auditor comes
quickly to settle accounts on Heaven's terms.
"Surely every man walketh in a vain shew: surely
they are disquieted in vain: he heapeth up riches,
and knoweth not who shall gather them."  (Psalm
39:6)

III. Return To Talking with God

A. Believers trust God to hear them and
take care of them.  "And now, Lord, what wait I
for?  my hope is in thee. Deliver me from all my
transgressions: make me not the reproach of the
foolish."  (Psalm 39:7-8)  "Now the God of hope
fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that
ye may abound in hope, through the power of the
Holy Ghost."  (Roman 15:13)

B. The God of Providence set the crook in
the lot and He knows what to do; pleading differs
from whining.  "I was dumb, I opened not my mouth;
because thou didst it. Remove thy stroke away from
me: I am consumed by the blow of thine hand."
(Psalm 39:9-10)

C. Forget the worry and take the final;
the Designer knows what He made and understands
all the properties and strengths of His building
materials.  "When thou with rebukes dost correct
man for iniquity, thou makest his beauty to
consume away like a moth: surely every man is
vanity.  Selah."  (Psalm 39:11)  "For whom the
Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son
whom he receiveth."  (Hebrews 12:6)

D. Believers pray to the Lord Who
understands the problem intimately.  "Hear my
prayer, O LORD, and give ear unto my cry; hold not
thy peace at my tears: for I am a stranger with
thee, and a sojourner, as all my fathers were."
(Psalm 39:12)  "Who in the days of his flesh, when
he had offered up prayers and supplications with
strong crying and tears unto him that was able to
save him from death, and was heard in that he
feared;" (Hebrews 5:7)

E. A believer will want an opportunity to
benefit from the lessons of Providence before
leaving the school of this world.  "O spare me,
that I may recover strength, before I go hence,
and be no more."  (Psalm 39:13)

If You Have It, Flaunt It

Isaiah 60:1-14; Mark 4:21-25 / Psalm 40:1-11

I.  Eventually Christianity Will
   Become Obvious

A. Jesus used parables to teach believers,
not to obscure the truth from them.  "And he said
unto them, Is a candle brought to be put under a
bushel, or under a bed? and not to be set on a
candlestick?" (Mark 4:21)

1. Light cannot be hidden away to advantage or
hoarded like gold; light finds its meaning in its
use. "Holding forth the word of life; that I may
rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run
in vain, neither labored in vain."  (Philippians
2:16)

2. The prophet takes what is obscure to
the world and opens it for the people of God.  "I
will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark
sayings of old: Which we have heard and known, and
our fathers have told us. We will not hide them
from their children, shewing to the generation to
come the praises of the LORD, and his strength,
and his wonderful works that he hath done."
(Psalm 78:2-4) cf. Perkins, William:  The Art of
Prophesying

B. Ultimately, everyone will understand.
"For there is nothing hid, which shall not be
manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but
that it should come abroad." (Mark 4:22)  "For the
earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the
glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea."
(Habakkuk 2:14)

1. All genuine truth comes from God when
it is peeled back to its roots.  "That was the
true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh
into the world."  (John 1:9) "For with thee is the
fountain of life: in thy light shall we see
light."  (Psalm 36:9)

2. The whole world benefits as God opens
His parables through His people.   "Arise, shine;
for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD
is risen upon thee.  For, behold, the darkness
shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the
people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and
his glory shall be seen upon thee.  And the
Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the
brightness of thy rising."  (Isaiah 60:1-3)

3.  There are no limits for Christians who
understand that darkness is defenseless against
light.  "For God shall bring every work into
judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be
good, or whether it be evil."  (Ecclesiastes
12:14)  "The spirit of man is the candle of the
LORD, searching all the inward parts of the
belly."  (Proverbs 20:27)

C. Anyone with the capacity to hear God
should listen to Him.  "If any man have ears to
hear, let him hear."  (Mark 4:23)  "Therefore
judge nothing before the time, until the Lord
come, who both will bring to light the hidden
things of darkness, and will make manifest the
counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man
have praise of God."  (1 Corinthians 4:5)

II. Pay Attention 

A. Listening is an interactive matter with
eternal consequences; there is a direct
relationship between how people listen to God and
what He tells them.  "And he said unto them, Take
heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it
shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear
shall more be given."  (Mark 4:24)

B. Berea and Thessalonica illustrate the two ways
of hearing and the inevitable consequences of
each.  "And the brethren immediately sent away
Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming
thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. These
were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in
that they received the word with all readiness of
mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether
those things were so. Therefore many of them
believed; also of honorable women which were
Greeks, and of men, not a few. But when the Jews
of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God
was preached of Paul at Berea, they came thither
also, and stirred up the people."  (Acts 17:10-13)

C. The Berean pattern works because it is
faithful to the established revelation of God in
Scripture.  "Beloved, believe not every spirit,
but try the spirits whether they are of God:
because many false prophets are gone out into the
world."  (1 John 4:1) "But though we, or an angel
from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than
that which we have preached unto you, let him be
accursed. As we said before, so say I now again,
If any man preach any other gospel unto you than
that ye have received, let him be accursed."
(Galatians 1:8-9)

D. The detractors who twisted everything He said
so that He had to say everything in parables have
their surrogates in every age.  "But there were
false prophets also among the people, even as
there shall be false teachers among you, who
privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even
denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon
themselves swift destruction."  (2 Peter 2:1)
"Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the
spirits whether they are of God: because many
false prophets are gone out into the world."  (1
John 4:1)

E. Each person will get more of what that
person most desires. "For he that hath, to him
shall be given: and he that hath not, from him
shall be taken even that which he hath."  (Mark
4:25)

F.  I am a pastor because I live to study and
teach the Word of God - every faithful saying of
it. "Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is
none upon earth that I desire beside thee." (Psalm
73:25)

More about Jesus would I know,
More of His grace to others show;
More of His saving fullness see,
More of His love Who died for me.

More, more about Jesus,
More, more about Jesus;
More of His saving fullness see,
More of His love Who died for me.

More about Jesus let me learn,
More of His holy will discern;
Spirit of God, my teacher be,
Showing the things of Christ to me.

More, more about Jesus,
More, more about Jesus;
More of His saving fullness see,
More of His love Who died for me.

More about Jesus; in His Word,
Holding communion with my Lord;
Hearing His voice in every line,
Making each faithful saying mine.

More, more about Jesus,
More, more about Jesus;
More of His saving fullness see,
More of His love Who died for me.

More about Jesus; on His throne,
Riches in glory all His own;
More of His kingdom's sure increase;
More of His coming, Prince of Peace.

More, more about Jesus,
More, more about Jesus;
More of His saving fullness see,
More of His love Who died for me.

Righteousness Pays Better

Psalm 37 [Part 2 of 2]

I. Some Consequences Are Immediate

A. Wicked people make themselves obvious by doing less than they promise while in contrast the righteous do more than they promise. “The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth.” (Psalm 37:21)

B. God entrusts assets to the righteous but evil people eventually experience appropriate payback. “For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off ” (Psalm 37:22) “Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:” ( Matthew 25:41)

C. God coaches the righteous to their advantage. “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.” (Psalm 37:23-24)

D. Across David’s long life he saw righteousness lead to blessing. “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.” (Psalm 37:25-26)

II. Other Consequences Develop Over Time

A. The rule is simple: Live God’s way joyously or suffer irreparable harm for yourself and your descendants. “Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore. For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved forever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off. The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever.” (Psalm 37:27-29)

B. Misplaced values are forms of idolatry and the consequences of both faith and corruption are long term. “Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.” (Exodus 20:5-6)

C. Good people live surrounded with the protection of God’s direction. “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.” (Psalm 37:30-31)

D. Wicked people try to hurt the righteous, but God guards His own. The LORD will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged.”(Psalm 37:32-33)

1. Wicked people go to great lengths to hurt the righteous. “The wicked watcheth the righteous, and seeketh to slay him. “For I heard the defaming of many, fear on every side. Report, say they, and we will report it. All my familiars watched for my halting, saying, Peradventure he will be enticed, and we shall prevail against him, and we shall take our revenge on him.” (Jeremiah 20:10)

2. The pattern was a constant feature of Jesus’ ministry. “And the scribes and Pharisees watched him, whether he would heal on the Sabbath day; that they might find an accusation against him.” (Luke 6:7)

E. Death, which the wicked fear, is no great problem for the righteous. “And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” (Hebrew 2:15) “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.” (Psalm 116:15)

III. God Saves the Righteous

A. Leave the big picture to God. “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.” (Psalm 37:34) “Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee.” (Proverbs 20:22)

B. David testified that he had seen the process; the triumph of evil is always temporary. “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.” (Psalm 37:35-36) “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:” (1 Peter 5:6)

C. Take notes and keep records; history is on the side of the righteous. “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.” (Psalm 37:37-38)

D. Remember the story of Job. “There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.” (Job 1:1) “So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses. He had also seven sons and three daughters. And he called the name of the first, Jemima; and the name of the second, Kezia; and the name of the third, Kerenhappuch. And in all the land were no women found so fair as the daughters of Job: and their father gave them inheritance among their brethren. After this lived Job an hundred and forty years, and saw his sons, and his sons’ sons, even four generations. So Job died, being old and full of days.” (Job 42:12-17)

E. Trust in God works for the righteous, but it isn’t present to work in the wicked. “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.” (Psalm 37:39-40)

Wait for the 9th Inning

Psalm 37 is an acrostic written when reflecting as an old man on lessons learned in the school of grace. (v. 25) [Part 1 of 2]

I. Do Not Assume the Wicked Have It all That Good

A. Do not fret over the prosperity of the wicked; evildoers die like mown grass. “A Psalm of David. 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.” (Psalm 37:1-2) Who envies Kobe beef as it feasts in the stall?

1. Even serious believers misinterpret the apparent prosperity of evil; Asaph made the problem the subject of Psalm 73. “A Psalm of Asaph. Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart. But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped. For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.” (Psalm 73:1-3)

2. Evildoers are actually moving into dangerous places; such people are oblivious to the trouble they cultivate for themselves. “Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction. How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors. As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image.” (Psalm 73:18-20)

B. Seek contentment in the Lord and it will develop eventually. “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.” (Psalm 37:3-4) There are many thing nature might want which grace will not seek.

C. Worry only makes life unnecessarily more unpleasant; God knows what needs to be done and He will do it. “Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth 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.” (Psalm37:7-9)

D. Life is too short to worry about the wicked; they don’t last long. “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.” (Psalm 37:10-11) “Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.” (Matthew 5:5)

II. The Wicked Are Clueless

A. The Lord laughs as the wicked throw their tantrums. “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.” (Psalm 37:12-13) Wicked people will still bark when they can’t bite.

B. The wicked seem unable to comprehend that their own weapons strike back at them rather than at people under God’s protection. “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.” (Psalm 37:14-15) Like Haman, the wicked build their own gallows.

C. The final accounting in life is the only one that matters; worldly wealth and prosperity, which disappear instantly at death, cease to be impressive compared to the eternal treasures of the redeemed. “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.” (Psalm 37:16-17)

D. Nothing escapes the mind of God; the final accounting will be good for upright people and irremediable for wicked people. “The LORD knoweth the days of the upright:and their inheritance shall be for ever. 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.” (Psalm 37:18-20)

E. Avoid the deadly attractions of the damned. “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” (2 Timothy 3:1-5)

The Limit to Free Speech

1 Kings 12:1-20; Mark 3:20-30 / Psalm 22:1-31

I. Jesus’ Ministry Disrupted Life

A. People demanded so much from Jesus that He did not have time to deal with the basic necessities of His own life. “And the multitude cometh together again, so that they could not so much as eat bread.” (Mark3:20) “Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.” (John 4:34)

B. Friends proposed an intervention under the assumption that Jesus had lost control of His life; some of his own family did not believe in Him. “And when his friendsheard of it, they went out to lay hold on him: for they said, He is beside himself.” (Mark 3:21) “For neither did his brethren believe in him.” (JOHN 7:5)

C. People who refused to listen to Jesus came up with evil alternate explanationsfor what people were seeing in the Lord’slife and work. “And the scribes which came down from Jerusalem said, He hath Beelzebub, and by the prince of the devils casteth he out devils.” (MARK 3:22) Beelzebub [Lord of the Dung or Master of the Flies] was the abomination of the Philistines.

D. Fear factored significantly into the decision to call Jesus a liar and servant of Satan; any other decision would have compelled detractors to recognize Him as the Son of God, the Messiah of Israel. “The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say unto us, Why did ye not then believe him? But if we shall say, Of men; we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet.” (MATTHEW 21:25-26)

II. Jesus Countered Detractors with a Parable

A. To label opposition to Satan as satanic requires an impossible stretch of the imagination; Jesus was being slandered. “And he called them unto him, and said unto them in parables, How can Satan cast out Satan?” (Mark 3:23)

B. Division yields destruction in spiritual matters just as it does in civil matters. “And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.” (Mark 3:24)

C. The principle of destruction through division applies in every field of endeavor. “And if a house bedivided against itself, that house cannot stand.” (MARK 3:25)

D. If Satan divided his kingdom, it would come to an end. “And if Satan rise up against himself, and be divided, he cannot stand, but hath an end.” (Mark 3:26)

III. Do Not Lie about Grace

A Satan is the strong man, his house the body of the demoniac, and his goods the evil spirit within the man; Jesus had entered Satan’s house and seized his goods, proving that, instead of being in partnership with Satan, Jesus had overpowered Satan. “No man can enter into a strong man’s house, and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house.” (MARK 3:27)

B. The power of grace is enormous. “Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme:” (MARK 3:28)

C. Free speech stops at the point of condemning the truth-bringer as a liar. “But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation:” (Mark 3:29) “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.” (John 16:13)

D. When people reverse truth and error, they cut themselves off from life-saving truth and serve Satan [Father of Lies}. “Because they said, He hath an unclean spirit.” (MARK 3:30) “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.” (John 8:44)

E. Trust in God and be careful when speaking; mistakes can kill. “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!” (Isaiah 5:20-21) “The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going.” (Proverbs 14:15)

F. Even God gets tired of some things people say; occasionally it is best to stop talking. “Ye have wearied the LORD with your words. Yet ye say, Wherein have we wearied him? When ye say, Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight of the LORD, and he delighteth in them; or, Where is the God of judgment?” (MALACHI 2:17) “Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.” (James 3:12)

Foolish Fearlessness

Psalm 36

I. People Who Refuse Grace Demand Disaster

A. When people do evil things, their actions demonstrate that they do not expect terrible consequences; functionally such people are atheists. “To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David the servant of the LORD. The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, that there is no fear of God before his eyes.” (Psalm 36:1) “To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.” (Psalm 14:1)

B. People who defend themselves with flattery do not understand their peril till the situation becomes disgusting to the surrounding world; rottenness eventually smells bad. “For he flattereth himself in his own eyes, until his iniquity be found to be hateful.” (Psalm36:2) “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” (Isaiah 5:20)

C. Wisdom and goodness simply have no place on the fool’s agenda; evil people in effect repent of their righteousness in a cruel mockery of people who turn from sin to God. “The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit: he hath left off to be wise, and to do good.” (Psalm 36:3)

D. The background noise in an evil heart promotes evil and accepts evil as normal. “He deviseth mischief upon his bed; he setteth himself in a way that is not good; he abhorreth not evil.” (Psalm 36:4)

II. God Is Totally Different

A. In contrast to the self-centered evil, God’s mercy reaches everywhere. “Thy mercy, O LORD, is in theheavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds.” (Psalm 36:5)

B. Rather than consume, God preserves life. “Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgments are a great deep: O LORD, thou preservest man and beast.” (Psalm 36:6) “He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.” (Deuteronomy 32:4)

C. God illustrates lovingkindness. “How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.” (Psalm 36:7)

1. God’s compassion stretches across Scripture and history. “The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy.” (Psalm 145:8)

2. David’s family knew God’s compassion vividly in the story of Ruth who trusted in God and received a blessing, which would ultimately bring eternal life to multitudes from her time to the end of the world. “And Boaz answered and said unto her, It hath fully been shewed me, all that thou hast done unto thy mother in law since the death of thine husband: and how thou hast left thy father and thy mother, and the land of thy nativity, and art come unto a people which thou knewest not heretofore. The LORD recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust.”(Ruth 2:11-12)

D. God delivers the pleasure which evil seeks in devious and hidden ways. “They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures.” (Psalm 36:8) “Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.” (Psalm 23:5-6)

E. God produces abundant life and through Him comes insight to understand all levels of wisdom. “For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.” (Psalm 36:9)

1. The light David was praising is ultimately Jesus. “In him was life; and the life was the light of men.” (John 1:4)

2. The ignorance and distress of evil people cannot change the fact that Jesus is the great wisdom of reality. “That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.” (John 1:9-10)

3. In contrast to evil, which promotes decay and yields death, God produces unending life. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

III. Believers Can Live Confidently

A. Believers seek what God provides. “O continue thy lovingkindness unto them that know thee; and thy righteousness to the upright in heart.” (Psalm 36:10)

B. God protects people who want protection. “Let not the foot of pride come against me, and let not the hand of the wicked remove me.” (Psalm36:11)

C. God continually pours out goodness on those who turn to Him while evil people experience the inevitable consequences of their destructive lives. “There are the workers of iniquity fallen:they are cast down, and shall not be able to rise.” (Psalm 36:12)

D. Ultimately, peace and healing are reserved for those who rely on God. “I create the fruit of the lips; Peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near, saith the LORD; and I will heal him. But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.” (Isaiah 57:19-21)

The Temple and City of Our God

1 Kings 8:22-53; Revelation 22:1-21 / Psalm 133:1-3

I. God Explained the Temple

A. The great I Am is unlike anyone or anything else; He keeps His promises. “And Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven: And he said, LORD God of Israel, there is no God like thee, in heaven above, or on earth beneath, who keepest covenantand mercy with thy servants that walk before thee with all their heart:” (1 Kings 8:22-23) “God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?” (Numbers 23:19)

B. The Temple was to be a place to approach God; prayer is an offering up of our desires unto God for things agreeable to His will, in the name of Christ, with confession of our sins, and thankful acknowledgement of His mercies. “Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people.” (ISAIAH 56:7)

C. Solomon testified that it was not God who needed the Temple. “But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded?” (1 Kings 8:27) “Thus saith the LORD, The heaven ismy throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest?” (ISAIAH 66:1)

D. The Temple is where people find rest from the burdens of sin. “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” (Matthew 11:28-29)

II. A Greater Temple Now Exists

A. St. John the Evangelist explained how God in Christ has become the Temple. “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” (JOHN 1:14)

B. St. John the Baptist confirmed the testimony. “John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.” (John 1:15)

C. In Christ, people come to the dwelling place of God. “And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.” (JOHN 1:16-18)

D. Solomon’s Temple pointed toward the Temple of the Holy Saints John. “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 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; 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;” (Hebrews 1:1-3)

III. Approach the Temple and City of God

A. St. John the Evangelist described the ultimate Temple and New Jerusalem. “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.” (Revelation 21:1-5)

B. Christ is the cornerstone of the Temple. “Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.” (1 Peter 2:6)

C. The people of God are the living stones of the Temple. “Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.” (Ephesians 2:19-22)

D. The builders in Jesus’ day did not understand the Biblical doctrine of the Temple and therefore rejected the starting point for understanding God; do not make the same mistake. “Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,” (1 Peter 2:7)