Troubled? Find Peace from Psalm Three
Today’s Reading – Psalms 1 – 8 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)
(Second Milers also read – Philemon – Hebrews 4; Psalms 81 – 85; Proverbs 17)
Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Proverbs 3:5 & 6
Read the “0617 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon
Read previous post from this passage – “A Recipe for Success,” and “Kiss the Son.”
Text
“1 A Psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son. LORD, how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me. 2 Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah. 3 But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head. 4 I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah. 5 I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me. 6 I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about. 7 Arise, O LORD; save me, O my God: for thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly. 8 Salvation belongeth unto the LORD: thy blessing is upon thy people. Selah.” (Ps 3:1–8)
I am excited to begin our journey today through the Psalms. In many of these Psalms, we see the personal experience of King David or whoever happened to write the psalm, but we also often see an application to the Nation of Israel, whether it be in their historical, or sometimes prophetic context (i.e. the Tribulation Period). We can also often see an application to the saints of God everywhere. Many of the trials, feelings, and emotions that David, etc. experienced, we can identify with as well.
Background
This Psalm is known as a Mourning or Lament Psalm. Psalm 1 is known as a Wisdom Psalm. Psalm 2 is known as a Messianic Psalm. There are 6 other categories within the Psalms, which include Testimonial Psalms, Imprecatory Psalms (asking for judgment), Pilgrim Psalms (sung during pilgrimage to Jerusalem, Penitential Psalms (sorrow for sin), Historical Psalms, Creation or Nature Psalms.
The Psalms are written by many different writers: David (73); Asaph (12); Korahthites (12); Solomon (2); Moses (1); Ethan (1); Anonymous (49). Note – Psalm 1 was anonymous; Psalm 2 is technically anonymous, but the Book of Acts tells us that it was spoken by the mouth of David (Acts 4:25)
In Psalm 3, we are introduced to “Selah” – pause – remember these Psalms were originally set to music. This is a musical rest. For us it means stop, look, and listen.
Introduction to Psalm 3
David was running from his own son in this Psalm.
You may remember that the problem began with David’s sin with Bathsheba, along with his murder of Uriah.
“Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in his sight? thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon. Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife. Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house, and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbour, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun. For thou didst it secretly: but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.” – (2 Samuel 12:9-12)
What David went through with Absalom was a result of his sin. We will all eventually pay the piper. We will all reap in judgment what we sow in sin. Thank God, if we are saved, we will not reap all of what we sowed, but there will still be consequences for deliberately sinning against God.
Absalom was the brother of a little girl named Tamar who was raped by their half-brother Amnon. Absalom eventually killed Amnon in retaliation for what he did to his sister. He was banished from David’s kingdom for a while, but was eventually permitted to return, but his relationship with his father was never right. He began to win over the people of Israel and finally became so popular that he was able to lead much of Israel in rebellion against their king, and his father. David was forced to leave the city of Jerusalem and flee to the wilderness. Absalom was killed in the battle that followed, and David was placed back on the throne, but only after enduring the loss of many “so-called” allies, and even friends and family members.
See 2 Samuel 16 for some background on this Psalm (the actual passage that deals with this entirely is 2 Samuel 15:13 – 17:22
Outline of Passage
I A Discouraging Situation (vs. 1 – 2)
There will be times in life when God allows us to go through difficult days. Some of these times may be a direct result of the bad choices we have made in the past. Some of the trials we go through will be simply because we are living for the Lord. The Bible is clear that godly people will go through some dark valleys.
“Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.” – (1 Peter 4:12-14)
“Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:” – (1 Peter 1:6-7)
The valleys of life can be very tough. In these first two verses, David is reflecting on his situation. Thank God for the pause (Selah). When you find yourself focusing on your situation, pause for a second – stop, look, and listen – and turn your attention to the solution – God.
II A Delivering Solution (vs. 3 – 4)
Here the tone shifts dramatically with “But thou, O Lord art …”
- Shield — God’s protection.
- Glory — God’s presence and honor.
- Lifter up of mine head — God’s provision and restoration (contrast with David’s bowed head in 2 Samuel 15:30).
“And David went up by the ascent of mount Olivet, and wept as he went up, and had his head covered, and he went barefoot: and all the people that was with him covered every man his head, and they went up, weeping as they went up.” – (2 Samuel 15:30)
God may let you go through the dark days like this, but you can also trust Him to lift you up. By the way – church is for lifting people up, edifying and encouraging each other.
David cried out, and God heard him from His holy hill. What a comfort! “Call unto me, and I will answer thee…” (Jeremiah 33:3).
“This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them. O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.” – (Psalm 34:6-8)
III A De-stressing Security (vv. 5 – 6)
David slept peacefully and awoke sustained by the Lord. Fear lost its grip. “I will not be afraid of ten thousands…” When we truly fear (reverence) the Lord, we need not fear men or circumstances. Remember what Elisha told his servant: “They that be with us are more than they that be with them” (2 Kings 6:16).
IV A Definite Salvation (vv 7 – 8)
David spoke of deliverance as a foregone conclusion. Salvation belongs to the Lord, and His blessing is upon His people.
Conclusion
- We start out at “Woe is Me” – “the sky is falling” – everything is bad
- We remind ourselves of the promises of God. If we call on Him, He will answer. Nothing can happen to us unless God allows it for our good or his glory.
“And David said to Solomon his son, Be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed: for the LORD God, even my God, will be with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until thou hast finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD.” – (1 Chronicles 28:20)
- We then get that peace that passes understanding.
- All without seeing any change in our present circumstances.
Devotional / Practical Thoughts
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Pause and Remember Who God Is (The Power of “Selah” and “But Thou”) In discouraging situations, we naturally fixate on the “how are they increased” reality. David models the better way: pause, lift your eyes, and declare the truth about God. He is your Shield in battle, your Glory when you feel ashamed, and the One who lifts your head when life beats you down. Church family and fellow believers play a role here too—encouraging and lifting one another up.
- Trust God for Peace and Deliverance – Even Before You See It David went to sleep in the middle of a rebellion with an army pursuing him. He awoke confident because the Lord sustained him. We may not see immediate change in our circumstances, but we can have peace that passes understanding by trusting God’s promises. Nothing touches us unless He allows it for our good and His glory. As David later told Solomon, “Be strong… fear not… for the LORD God… will be with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee” (1 Chronicles 28:20).
Friend, are you in a “Psalm 3” season? Family strife, betrayal, health struggles, financial pressure, or spiritual attack? Remember: God has not abandoned you. Cry out to Him. Rest in His sustaining grace. Salvation and blessing belong to the Lord.
Posted in Devotions, Thoughts from Psalms and tagged Absalom, Absalom's Rebellion, David, David flees Jerusalem, lifter up of mine head, Psalm 3, Selah, shield by Phil Erickson with 1 comment.
I’d Better Keep My Mouth Shut
Today’s Reading – Job 39 – 42 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)
(Second Milers Read – Titus 1 – 3; Psalms 76 – 80; Proverbs 16)
Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Psalm 121
Read the “0616 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon
“Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth.” (Job 40:4)
“Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not.” (Job 42:3)
Have you ever made the statement, “I’d better keep my mouth shut”? Have you ever told your child the same thing? We can really get ourselves in trouble with our mouths, can’t we? Sometimes it’s better not to say anything. I remember when I was a brand new Christian. I was having a discussion with Pastor Thompson about reaching the people around me for the Lord. He said something that I never forgot: he said that if you don’t have an answer to their questions, or even their arguments, tell them that you don’t know the answer. His exact words were, “Don’t snow them”. What he meant was that we shouldn’t try to offer something on behalf of God that isn’t what God said. We shouldn’t offer what we feel or think about God; but only tell people what we know to be true. These friends of Job (and Job himself) were doing a lot of talking about God: each offering their own opinion about the situation; but how much of what they said was actually true.
The Bible says that we are God’s ambassadors. We represent God to this world around us. We speak on his behalf. Shouldn’t we be very careful about what we say? I wonder what God will have to say about me someday, especially the things that I have taught others about Him. Preachers and teachers have an awesome responsibility. Therefore we need to make sure that we are daily spending time with God in His word so that we can know how He thinks; and know what He teaches about any given subject. And then when we are given the opportunity to speak on His behalf, whenever possible, we should tell people what God actually said, instead of what our opinion is. As God’s ambassadors we have no right to represent ourselves, or present ourselves, or try to make ourselves look good in the eyes of the people. We need to make God look good; and we need to give people the actual Words of God.
In God’s rebuke of Job, He said, “will thou condemn me, that thou mayest be righteous”? What God was saying was that Job said things to justify himself; to make himself look good. How often do I do that. I am so afraid of the opinion of men that I have often condemned others in order to elevate myself. Shame on me! and shame on all of us. The Bible is very plain in its teaching that we don’t have to say too much, and that it is wise to hold our peace at times; and then when we do speak, we should be very careful about what we say.
Posted in Thoughts from Job by Phil Erickson with 3 comments.
Gird Up Thy Loins Like A Man
Today’s Reading – Job 36 – 38 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)
(Second Milers Read – 2 Timothy 1 – 4; Psalms 71 – 75; Proverbs 15)
Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Psalm 119:105
Read the “0615 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon
“Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me.” – (Job 38:3)
It is now God’s turn to speak. God hasn’t said anything in this book since His earlier conversation with Satan; and the humans in the story were not privy to that conversation. All of this talk that has been going on since chapter 2 has been by people who really had no idea of the true circumstances regarding the calamity that Job was facing. They were clueless. Job’s friends were accusing Job, and Job was defending himself. They were all speaking on behalf of God; yet much of what they said was not true. However, now we will hear from the Source. God is speaking, and we know that everything that God says is true. By the way, you get the idea from the tone of this passage that God is not very happy about all that has been said. It kind of reminds me of a time when I was much younger and I was rebuked by an authority figure in my life. He had some things to say to me, and I was going to listen. God will take 4 chapters to basically remind Job and his friends that He is God, and they are merely humans.
As we read chapters 39 – 42 together tomorrow, pay close attention to God describing Himself, and His magnificent, omnipotent power. Between now and then, however, think a little bit of how much we are like Job and His friends. We are just little humans, trying to understand an infinite God. Let’s start thinking of ourselves as we really are. We are not much. We are pretty small and insignificant in the big scheme of things. And while we are at it, let us also start trusting God’s wisdom in allowing the things that have happened to us in our lives.
Posted in Thoughts from Job by Phil Erickson with 2 comments.
Multiplying Words
Today’s Reading – Job 33 – 35 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)
(Second Milers Read – 1 Timothy 4 – 6; Psalms 66 – 70; Proverbs 14)
Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Psalm 92:1 – 4
Read the “0614 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon
Read a previous post from this passage – “That Which I See Not“
“Therefore doth Job open his mouth in vain; he multiplieth words without knowledge.” – (Job 35:16)
“Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.” – (Proverbs 26:4)
“Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:” – (James 1:19)
“Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.” – (Proverbs 17:28 )
There is entirely too much talking going on in this entire Book of Job. Job’s so-called friends should be listening to Job rather than rebuking him. He certainly has suffered enough. Even Job is talking too much by arguing with these idiots. They are all “experts” on God; yet there is much that they do not, and cannot understand.
We do the same thing, don’t we? We talk about things, and try to sound like we have complete knowledge on a subject; but half the time we really do not know what we are talking about, especially when it comes to talking about God. The best thing that we can do is quote Scripture if we have to talk at all. The older I get, the more I realize that I really do not know much. I should keep my mouth open proportionately to the amount of knowledge that I have, which means it should not be open much.
Posted in Thoughts from Job by Phil Erickson with 2 comments.
What Are You Looking At?
Today’s Reading – Job 30 – 32 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)
(Second Milers Read – 1 Timothy 1 – 3; Psalms 61 – 65; Proverbs 13)
Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Psalm 92:1 – 4
Read the “0613 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon
“I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?” (Job 31:1)
In our reading we have been following the conversation between Job and his friends. Job has been declaring his innocence; not that he claims sinlessness, but he does contend that his sins were open and confessed to God oand that he was not living a double life. His friends, however, are sure that Job must have some heinous secret sin in his life. In this chapter Job seems to be answering a charge regarding his fidelity. Perhaps the underlying accusation was that Job was an adulterer. Job’s answer in chapter 31 is that he had been faithful, not only in not touching that which is forbidden, but in not looking on another woman besides his wife.
In our culture the accepted instruction is, “you can look but you just can’t touch.” The fact of the matter is that looking might just lead to touching. Job said that he made a covenant, a commitment to himself and his eyes not to think (let alone look) upon a maid. David said something similar when he said that he would set no wicked thing before his eyes.
Men, we need to do the same thing regarding the opposite sex. We need to determine to keep our eyes and our minds on that which is pleasing to the Lord. Turn off the TV if you have to, get rid of the internet if you must, but do what you have to do to keep yourself from sinning against your God and your wife. It is wise to know your limitations and put up some fences to protect yourself. A little accountability will go a long way. And ladies, you’re not exempt from this either. Your lusting may not be for the opposite sex per se, but I am sure you have your weak areas as well. Maybe with you the struggle involves seeing things at the mall or on Amazon that you can’t afford. We all need to make this same covenant that Job made to keep us from seeing and thinking about the things that we know are not part of God’s perfect will for our lives.
“27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: 28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. 29 And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. 30 And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.” (Matthew 5:27-30)
Posted in Thoughts from Job by Phil Erickson with 2 comments.
Where Shall Wisdom Be Found?
Today’s Reading – Job 27 – 29 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)
(Second Milers Read – 2 Thessalonians 1 – 3; Psalms 56 – 60; Proverbs 12)
Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Psalm 89:1
Read the “0612 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon
“12 But where shall wisdom be found? and where is the place of understanding? 13 Man knoweth not the price thereof; neither is it found in the land of the living. 14 The depth saith, It is not in me: and the sea saith, It is not with me. 15 It cannot be gotten for gold, neither shall silver be weighed for the price thereof. 16 It cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx, or the sapphire. 17 The gold and the crystal cannot equal it: and the exchange of it shall not be for jewels of fine gold. 18 No mention shall be made of coral, or of pearls: for the price of wisdom is above rubies. 19 The topaz of Ethiopia shall not equal it, neither shall it be valued with pure gold. 20 Whence then cometh wisdom? and where is the place of understanding? … 28 And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.” (Job 28:12-20, 28)
In today’s reading we have seen a continuation of what we have been reading for the past several days. Job is debating with his three friends regarding his calamity. They are claiming that Job is responsible and Job is declaring his innocence. However, in the middle of this discussion is a passage dealing with wisdom. At first glance I wondered why God would put this teaching right in the middle of the discourse between Job and his friends regarding Job’s suffering, but then I remembered a similar teaching from the New Testament regarding trials and testing from the epistle penned by James. Remember that James admonished us to “count it all joy” in the trials, but then he added some instruction regarding wisdom:
“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” (James 1:5)
Apparently there is an association between enduring trials and wisdom. God doesn’t hold back wisdom to those who fear him and depart from evil. Job had the wisdom of God. We know this to be true because later on when God enters into the discussion He states that Job spoke of Him the thing that is right.
If you are going through a time of testing, don’t seek the world and its counselors for wisdom: go to God. If you fear Him and are seeking to do that which is right, God will give you the wisdom that you need to see your way through the trial. To get to the other side of your trial you will need God’s wisdom, coupled with God’s grace. It is apparent that Job had both of these attributes.
You can find wisdom in God’s Word. The Bible is full of the wisdom of God that will help you when you need it. You can also find wisdom from godly counselors who will take Biblical principles and help you to apply them to your situation.
Posted in Thoughts from Job by Phil Erickson with 4 comments.
Gold
Today’s Reading – Job 22 – 26 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)
(Second Milers Read – 1 Thessalonians 1 – 5; Psalms 51 – 55; Proverbs 11)
Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Psalm 61:1 – 3
Read the “0611 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon
“But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.” – (Job 23:10)
“Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:” – (1 Peter 1:6-7)
There are several great, golden nuggets of truth in the Book of Job, and many of them are in today’s passage. I thought this morning about the statement made by Job in chapter 23, and verse 10. Job is going through the worst trial in his life. I think it would be safe to say that no other man in history was put to the test like Job. Many people have suffered the loss of health, and many others have endured the death of a child, and still more have gone through tough financial situations; but who can say that they have had to face the loss of everything they owned, and all of the children they loved, and then had to suffer through perhaps the most painful health condition known to man, all within the same time frame. Job could certainly stand alongside any man on earth, and win the “pity party” comparison. Yet, Job knew that when it was all over, that God would bring him through to the other side of the trial, and he also knew that the trial would make him a better man.
All of us will endure the hardships of trials, but to experience suffering for no apparent reason can be especially difficult. Job did nothing to deserve the treatment that he was receiving at the hand of Satan, but God would use Job’s suffering to accomplish a few wonderful things. First, He would prove to Satan that there are some men who will retain their integrity even under the most difficult of circumstances. Second, though Job was a good man, even a great man when compared among men, this trial would make him a still better man. I believe Job had a better understanding of the greatness of his Creator, and also a better grasp of his own frail humanity as a result of this ordeal. But, perhaps the greatest thing that God would reveal to us through Job’s trial is that we can trust God. He won’t allow us to go through something that is greater than our ability to glorify Him through. He loves us. He doesn’t punish but He does correct us at times through the trials and sufferings of life. Sometimes the trials are a direct result of sin, but they are also at times just God’s way of bringing us to the next level of faith. And if we will allow God to have His way in our lives, we too can come forth as gold; better servants and better sons; more equipped to represent Him as the ambassadors of His glorious gospel.
Notice another great verse from today’s reading:
“Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.” (Job 23:12)
what an awesome verse. Job stated here that the Word of God which nourishes the soul was more important to him that the physical food that nourishes the body. Jesus said something similar:
“But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4)
I had a professor in Bible college who used to say, “No Bible, no breakfast.” Thank the Lord for giving us His Word.
Posted in Thoughts from Job by Phil Erickson with 3 comments.
The Words of My Mouth
Today’s Reading – Job 19 – 21 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)
(Second Milers Read – Colossians 1 – 4; Psalms 46 – 50; Proverbs 10)
Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Psalm 55:17
Read the “0610 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon
“Then Job answered and said, How long will ye vex my soul, and break me in pieces with words?” (Job 19:1 & 2)
You didn’t have to read long this morning to find a great truth from today’s passage. Job is in the middle of the discourse with his three ‘friends’ who are accusing him of all kinds of wickedness; adding sorrow on top of sorrows. He is already as low as he can go, but these guys continue to beat him and kick him when he is down; and their weapons are their tongues.
“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. … But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.” (James 3:6, 8 )
“Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.” (Ephesians 4:29)
The Bible has so much to say about the deadly nature of the tongue. Why are we so quick to run our mouths when God tells us very plainly that we are to be slow to speak. We all could avoid much of our problems with our mouth by simply not saying anything unless it is absolutely necessary, or unless we are sure we are saying something that is edifying. If we have to speak at all maybe it would be best if we paused and prayed about what would be the best thing to say.
Job’s friends were not helping him at all; they were making him worse. Remember, the purpose for their visit was to ‘comfort’ him. Maybe they should have just listened to him; even let him vent a little. Maybe, I should try the same thing. As a pastor I need to learn to listen more; pray before speaking; and, as much as possible, tell people what God said instead of what I think.
Lord, help me not to kill or maim any more people with my tongue.
Posted in Thoughts from Job by Phil Erickson with 6 comments.
Thoughts About Job from Phil Erickson Jr.
Today’s Reading – Job 15 – 18 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)
(Second Milers Read – Philippians 1 – 4; Psalms 41 – 45; Proverbs 9)
Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Psalm 51
Read the “0609 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon
“I have heard many such things: miserable comforters are ye all.” (Job 16:2)
The story of Job in the Bible has always fascinated me. I have always loved hearing messages preached about his life. For those of you who attend our church, the “Hast thou retained thine integrity?” message is one of the all-time greats. To think that a man could go from being ”the greatest of all the men of the east” as the Bible calls him, to having nothing in just a matter of hours, and still praise God through all of it just boggles my mind. I have often wondered what it was that made Job such a “perfect and upright” man. Was it the fact that he gave his tithes and offerings faithfully? Maybe. Was it the fact that he cared so much about his family and their spiritual condition? Could be. Or maybe did God just like him better than anyone else at the time? God is not a respecter of persons, but who knows? Maybe He did favor him. He obviously blessed him with a lot. But as I read these few chapters a thought jumped out at me. Job is right smack in the middle of the absolute worst time in his life, and here come his ”friends.” They go on and on about why they think this is all happening to Job. And right in the middle of it, I noticed verses 19-20 of chapter 16. And, I may be wrong, but I think these couple verses may be the secret to Job’s “success” as a man of God. The verses say – “And now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and my record is on high. My friends scorn me: but mine eye poureth out tears unto God.” Job cared about what God thought, and ONLY about what God thought. He said ‘my witness is in heaven’ , and ‘my record is on high.’ He knew that God knew everything that was going on. He knew that God knew his heart and his intentions with everything he did in his life. He knew that God knew that his tithes and offerings, his service to God, and his love for his family was out of his love and devotion to God. It had nothing to do with ANYONE else. So, when the chips were down, and everything went down the drain, he didn’t go running to his friends or anyone else. He went to God. He brought his tears to God. He knew that when things were good, it was God. When things were bad, it was God. And he praised God through it all.
As Christians we need to see that everything that happens to us, good or bad, comes from the Lord. He loves us more than we can ever know. He has a plan for our lives, and we need to trust Him and Him alone. When the chips are down, our friends won’t always be there. Sometimes even our family won’t be there. But God is always there. He never turns His back on us…who are we to turn our backs on Him?
Posted in Guest Posts, Thoughts from Job by Phil Erickson Jr. with 4 comments.
We Will Trust in Him
Today’s Reading – Job 12 – 14 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)
(Second Milers Read – Ephesians 4 – 6; Psalms 36 – 40; Proverbs 8)
Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Psalm 48:1 & 2
Read the “0608 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon
Read another post from this passage – “Wisdom“
“Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.” (Job 13:15)
In this statement we see Job’s declaration of faith in God. Though Job certainly has not figured out why God has allowed all of this tragedy to come into his life, he plainly declares here that no matter what God does to him (or allows to be done to him), he will continue to trust Him. When you and I read this book of the Bible it is easy for us from the perspective of history to identify with what Job has stated here. But think for a minute with me. If it were you or me going through what Job went through, how would we be feeling about God? If God were to allow us to lose everything all at once, and then to have excruciating physical pain placed on top of it, how would we react? Could we say, truthfully, “yet will I trust in Him”?
A few years back, I watched a movie / documentary called “Amish Grace” about the Nickel Mines tragedy in Lancaster, PA. The movie recounts the true story of a troubled man who went into an Amish school house, shooting 10 little girls and killing 5 of them. The amazing thing is that the Amish people chose to trust God’s wisdom in allowing what happened. Though it was very painful and though it took a little time for all of them to come to this decision, they chose to forgive the man that shot their children. This was certainly a modern day picture of what Job went through. These Amish folks did not understand why God had allowed it to happened, yet they continued to keep their trust in the Lord.
Most of the time I feel that my faith is so weak, I doubt whether it could stand up to such intense suffering. I guess it will have to be the grace of God that will sustain me through the dark days that seem to find their way into every believer’s life at one point or another. I know that difficult days lie ahead for me as well. I want to be prepared for them by getting so close to God that it will be easier to trust Him when it doesn’t seem like He is even there.
I also wanted to make a comment about the second half of verse 15. Job says that he will maintain [his] ways before him (God). I believe what Job was saying here is that though he was being severely tested by the Lord, he was still going to continue to do what he had always done. In other words, he wasn’t going to quit. He was going to keep on living for the Lord through the difficult trial. I know that when we are going through trials in life it can be very difficult to “maintain” your walk with the Lord, but it is especially important to stay close to God during the tough times. Don’t quit.
Posted in Thoughts from Job by Phil Erickson with 1 comment.