15 - A Stronghold for the Crushed

Psalm 9:9–10 —  The LORD is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. 10 And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek you.

We are finding out in these times (if we didn’t know already) that the Psalms are full of encouragement and comfort for our souls. And if they often say similar things in slightly different words, it can only be because the Lord knows that we need to hear them over and over, because we are weak and easily discouraged.

Today I was drawn to the words above in Psalm 9. As I pondered them (and used my software tools to dig into them a bit) I found some things that were helpful to me, so I thought I would pass them along. Here are some of the key words in 9:9:

• Stronghold: this word has the idea of an inaccessibly high and fortified place - a place of safety and defense - a refuge or a fortress (as it is often translated elsewhere). A place to flee for security.
• Oppressed: has the meaning of being crushed - a related word is used of Christ’s passion in Isa 53:10, “It was the will of the Lord to crush him”. It can refer to physical and emotional pounding and beating.
• Trouble: carries with it the idea of dearth and destitution (my mind went to the desolation brought upon Israel by the Midianites in the days of Gideon, when they were like locusts in the land (Judges 6:1–6)).

This underscores how strong and mighty and (for His enemies) inaccessibly lofty and invincible the Lord is - and therefore what a wonderful defense for those who are crushed and beaten down in spirit. Now for some key words in 9:10 (which is clearly linked to 9:9 by “and”)

• Know: this cannot simply mean those people who intellectually knew God’s name. Rather, it means an experiential (and I think intimate) knowledge.
• Name: in the Bible, a person’s name often says something about their character - and names were changed accordingly (think of “Abram” to “Abraham,” “Jacob” to “Israel,” “Simon” to “Peter”). “The Name” of God is similarly shorthand for all that is true of God in His being and His character. It is holy and precious (God is jealous for His Name). This is what is special about praying in “The Name” of Jesus - resting your prayer on all that’s true of Him and His character.
  If you experientially know the name of the Lord, you have eternal life - it is a work of the Spirit to bring you to this place (John 17:3). God expounded His Name to Moses: “The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.” (Exodus 34:6–7). All this and more is meant when we speak of “the Name of the Lord”.
• Trust: to have confidence in, to rely on. Why wouldn’t we rest in such a God as this?
• Forsaken: abandon, leave. God never, no never, no never forsakes His own (Heb 13:5)
• Seek: seek with care, inquire. Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness.

Put all this together, and what do we have?

Our God is a mighty fortress for us, an inaccessible, unassailable and totally secure tower of defense when we are crushed and oppressed by sin and sorrow within us and around us - when we are in times of dearth and desolation. He has sworn to defend us and to lose none of us - and no-one can touch us when we take refuge in Him!

Knowing His character intimately and experientially as we do, we run to Him in times of trouble - we seek Him out with care and diligence (where else shall we go but to Him who has the words of eternal life?). We rest and rely on Him, we put our confidence in Him because we know that He is not simply the best place, but the only place of safety for us.

We also know that He has never let us down or forsaken us, nor have we ever heard of such a thing happening to any of His children (Ps 37:25) - indeed it can’t happen, since He has called us by His Name and therefore staked His Name on our redemption! It is inconceivable that He would abandon us! And He wants us to know this for sure - hence the five-fold negative in the Greek in Heb 13:5 - “I will no, not ever leave you, nor no, not ever forsake you.”

God moves in a mysterious way

his wonders to perform;

he plants his footsteps in the sea,

and rides upon the storm.

Deep in unfathomable mines

of never-failing skill

he treasures up his bright designs,

and works his sov'reign will.

Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take;

the clouds ye so much dread

are big with mercy, and shall break

in blessings on your head.

Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,

but trust him for his grace;

behind a frowning providence

he hides a smiling face.

His purposes will ripen fast,

unfolding ev'ry hour;

the bud may have a bitter taste,

but sweet will be the flow'r.

Blind unbelief is sure to err,

and scan his work in vain;

God is his own interpreter,

and he will make it plain.

14 - Who is He That Condemns?

Whenever I read verses like these in the Psalms, the prayer they contain looks utterly crazy at first sight!

Psalm 7:8 — The Lord judges the peoples; judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness and according to the integrity that is in me.

Who in his right mind would ask God to be judged based on his own righteousness? This isn’t courageous, as though David on his own would have a shot at vindication were his life brought before God for scrutiny. It’s not even a “high risk strategy” - it’s a “no-chance” approach!

So I think that here, David is considering his circumstances - in which other men are accusing him of wickedness but he knows in his heart that in these matters he has acted righteously and in complete integrity (see verses 1-7). Certainly, David knew that no-one still bearing his own sin could stand before the Lord in judgment. This is not a Psalm attributed to David but he knew the truth of it, nevertheless:

Psalm 130:3–4 — If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? 4 But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared.

But as a believer in Christ, there is a sense in which David (and we) could take the words from Psalm 7:8 on our lips in prayer before God regarding our whole lives and not just specific situations, since Jesus has taken away our sins and the righteousness we now have is not our own “filthy rags righteousness,” but the spotless righteousness of Christ! This is the righteousness according to which we shall be vindicated on the Last Day!

1 Corinthians 1:28–31 —  God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. 30 And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31 so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

Having this righteousness credited to us changes everything for us regarding the outcome on the Day of Judgment:

Romans 8:31–34 — What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.

When Paul asks “Who is to condemn?” the answer is “no-one” first, because God has justified us (we wear Christ’s righteousness) but second, because condemnation belongs to Jesus as the appointed Judge, and (as Paul immediately goes on to mention), He is the One who died, was raised and is now at the right hand of God, praying for us! It has to go well with us in Judgment when the Judge is pleading for our acquittal, having Himself satisfied God’s justice and acquired the righteousness in which we are robed before Him!

This truth should (a) comfort us, (b) give us joy in our salvation and (c) be a valuable weapon in our spiritual armory when the Enemy tempts us to self-condemnation!

13 - He Hears Us!

I spent some time this morning trying to find in my readings a “big idea” or a heartwarming encouragement that I could share. But first time through there was nothing obvious. When I re-scanned the passages though, something did slowly emerge and as it came more and more into focus, it was truly amazing. Here is the passage:

Psalm 6:8–10 — Depart from me, all you workers of evil, for the Lord has heard the sound of my weeping. 9 The Lord has heard my plea; the Lord accepts my prayer. 10 All my enemies shall be ashamed and greatly troubled; they shall turn back and be put to shame in a moment.

Do you see it? “The Lord has heard….., the Lord has heard….., the Lord accepts my prayer”. It’s only 4 or 5 words but it is a huge truth, and worth dwelling on today!

I followed some cross-references from these verses and here are the verses that I found:

Psalm 3:4 — I cried aloud to the Lord, and he answered me from his holy hill. Selah

Psalm 34:4–7 — I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. 5 Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed. 6 This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him and saved him out of all his troubles. 7 The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.

All these Psalms are attributed to David (and I am sure additional ones like this could be found). In Psalm 6, he testifies to an unshakable confidence that God has heard him, on the basis of which he anticipates his certain deliverance. In Psalms 3 and 34 he recounts occasions when the Lord has delivered him in answer to his prayers. So his past experience encouraged his present confidence.

Why was David so confident? These words are from a Psalm that is not attributed to David, but he certainly knew the truth of them (as parts of Psalm 51 make clear):

Psalm 66:16–20 — Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will tell what he has done for my soul. 17 I cried to him with my mouth, and high praise was on my tongue. 18 If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. 19 But truly God has listened; he has attended to the voice of my prayer. 20 Blessed be God, because he has not rejected my prayer or removed his steadfast love from me!

Sin separates us from God - and if we cherish sin and will not repent, we cannot expect that He will hear us. David knew that his sins had been forgiven and he did not cherish sin - therefore God would hear.

I am also reading Leviticus at the moment - with all the blood that had to be shed to make the people outwardly clean so that God could dwell among them. And only the High Priest could enter into the Holy of Holies (where God’s glory was specially present) once a year with atoning blood. But Jesus, our great High Priest, entered heaven itself with His own blood, and opened the way for us to come with confidence into the Holy of Holies in heaven (Hebrews 9:11–14, 10:19–25). And such is the power of His blood and the relationship we now have with God through it that we may approach our Father 7 days a week, 24 hours a day!

Sometimes we can forget our past deliverances in answer to our prayer. That will increase our tendency to  lack confidence that He has heard us in the here and now. Sometimes we doubt, perhaps, that He will deliver us again and again because of His steadfast love - that He will allow no destruction to come upon those for whom Jesus spilt His precious blood at the cross. Sometimes we forget that before the throne of God above, I have a strong, a perfect plea: a great High Priest, Whose Name is Love, Who ever lives and pleads for me”.

To loop full circle back to David in Psalm 6, we have exactly the same grounds for confidence that God will hear us and accept us as David had. And, since we have the benefit of looking back on the fulfilment of Christ’s work to cleanse us, to adopt us into God’s family and to open the way into heaven for us, we have reasons for even greater confidence than David. He only saw these things as distant types and shadows but we have the reality in Christ.

In troubling times especially, we can find great comfort in the certain knowledge that when we cry out to the Father, by the Spirit, in the Name of the Son, He will hear us, accept us and deliver us!

12 - Things That Are Above

Colossians 3:1–4 —  If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Even though the world will say that someone is “too heavenly-minded to be of any earthly use,” Paul writes by the Spirit here to tell us to be more heavenly-minded! How does he justify such an injunction?

It’s a common theme in Paul’s writing, and indeed in the New Testament, that Christians don’t really belong in this world:

Ephesians 2:19 — So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,
 
Philippians 3:20 — But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,
 
This is because the old “us” died with Christ on the cross, and a new “us” was raised to life with him:

Romans 6:1–4 — What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. 

Colossians 2:20 — If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations— 

Colossians 3:3 — For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

Indeed, positionally we are already seated with Christ in heaven:

Ephesians 2:4–6 — But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 

There are other verses that teach the same glorious truth, but these will suffice for now, and  Paul’s argument is clear from them: “Christian, you are truly “other-worldly” in Christ! You have really and truly died to the old way of life and risen with Christ to something new and wonderful - so don’t keep living as you used to, as if none of these things was actually true!”

And because this is true, Paul tells us to focus our attention on home, where our Savior lives, and on the glorious future that is ours in Him. Don’t be seeking things in this world, but heavenly things. Don’t let this world - its treasures and its concerns - consume your thinking but rather contemplate the lasting treasures of heaven - that is where we will spend eternity with Christ!  That has to be good advice for us in these difficult times!

11 - Delighting in God's Law

Psalm 1:1–6 —  Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; 2 but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. 3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.

What a contrast the psalmist draws at the spiritual level between two kinds of people in this Psalm!

The first group is blessed indeed! Spiritually speaking, they are planted by streams of water (think movement, not stagnation - emblematic of the Spirit, of life). There is no hint of shriveling or withering leaves and they produce fruit regularly. In other words, all is life in them and around them, and they are spiritually prosperous in all that they do for the Lord.

The second group has no life. Many commentators have highlighted the gradual disappearance of motion (walk, stand, sit), at the same time as a gradual increase in spiritual enmity toward God (beginning as ungodly, then casting off restraint and becoming sinners, then becoming settled in a vocal and hardened opposition to the Lord as scoffers - “seat” can also mean assembly, so you can almost see this person surrounding him- or herself with a crowd of like-minded folks, confirming each other in their hatred of God).

The one group has had their hearts changed by God so that they no longer desire to hang out with the “in-crowd” of scoffers. They now find that God speaks to them through His word! It was a dead word before, when they were spiritually dead themselves, but now it is alive and full of power and they love it! In fact, they can’t get enough of it and they meditate on it day and night. There are ups and downs, but they always return to that delightful word - that is where their hearts are now, and as they commune with their Lord in the pages of His word, they find life and strength and power to grow and produce more and more fruit!

It is God-given love for the word that alone accounts for the outward difference in the lives of these two groups. We need to make sure we are in the living, word-loving, fruitful group, and not in the group of dead scoffers! Then we will be profitable in all we do - and able to stand strong in the Lord, even when pandemics afflict our country!

10 - Jesus our Friend

It's interesting how the world, in choosing insults for believers, often settles on terms that are actually significant compliments. So, for example, during the Great Awakening in England in the 18th Century, Wesley, Whitefield and their friends were called “Methodists” because they took holiness very seriously. They were called “Enthusiasts” precisely because they were zealous for Christ. Clearly, it’s no bad thing to be a methodist and an enthusiast when the terms are understood in this way!

Jesus also was called many things in His day that I think were intended to be insults but in fact were glorious titles with which to crown our Lord. “Friend of Sinners” was one of them:

Matthew 11:19 — The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.”
 
Many in His generation had no intention of being seen dead in the company of “sinners” who might make them ceremonially unclean. They would cross the street to avoid them and condemn any who would allow “sinners” to touch them.

For those of us who know Jesus, then, it is far from an insult that He would be called “Friend of Sinners” - because that is what He is to us - a friend. And what a friend! He looked upon us when we were hopelessly bound in the foul and wretched pit of our sin. He did not loathe us, but loved us. He did not simply offer advice on how we might get ourselves out. He did not give an opinion on how we may avoid falling back in if we ever did get out. No, no, no! This pure and spotless Lamb of God left heaven in order to come down into our pit, take the blame and the punishment for our sin, cover us with His spotless righteousness, break our chains and lift us fully, freely and permanently up from the pit!

And He is not ashamed to be called the Friend of Sinners - our friend. Nor will He ever stop being our friend:

Hebrews 13:5–6 — Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 6 So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”

And that is how I started to think about this today, because I read this wonderful verse in the Book of Proverbs:

Proverbs 18:24 — A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

He is more than a companion to us, and as our Friend He sticks closer to us than any earthly brother! Quite an encouragement for us to cleave also to Him - especially in these days!  Of course, a hymn came to mind as I dwelt on this topic:

One there is, above all others,

well deserves the name of Friend;

his is love beyond a brother's,

costly, free, and knows no end.

They who once his kindness prove

find it everlasting love.

Which of all our friends, to save us,

could or would have shed his blood?

But our Jesus died to have us

reconciled in him to God.

This was boundless love indeed;

Jesus is a Friend in need.

When he lived on earth abased,

"Friend of sinners" was his name.

Now above all glory raised,

he rejoices in the same;

still he calls them brethren, friends,

and to all their wants attends.

Could we bear from one another

what he daily bears from us?

Yet this glorious Friend and Brother

loves us, though we treat him thus:

though for good we render ill,

he accounts us brethren still.

O for grace our hearts to soften!

Teach us, Lord, at length to love;

we, alas! forget too often

what a Friend we have above:

but when home our souls are brought,

we will love you as we ought.

09 - Take it to the Lord in Prayer!

Philippians 4:4–7 — Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness [gentleness] be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

This is such a precious verse at all times but even more so when we are facing the coronavirus and all the uncertainties it brings with it! What caught my eye this morning, though, was that it is our hearts and minds that are guarded by this peace. Why does Paul call those out when he is focusing on anxiety? First, let's look at those terms:

• The heart in Scripture is the center of our inner lives - it’s where our feelings, emotions, desires and passions live, the place of understanding and reflection, the seat of our will, the source of our resolves.
• The mind often refers to thoughts that proceed from the heart.
• Anxiety simply means “care,” or “concern.” 

Clearly Paul is not telling us in the passage that we should be care-less. There are things that it is right for us to care about and to be concerned for - what kind of parents wouldn’t be concerned about their kids’ well-being? Rather, I think Paul is telling us that we are not to take all the load and all the burden of any particular concern upon ourselves, and leave God out of it - as though it were within our control to fix every issue that comes our way.

What happens to us when we forget about God and assume the whole responsibility to resolve a problem? First, it takes over our thoughts as we fret - turning the matter over and over and looking for a way forward or a way out. Then as often as not we begin to feel badly for ourselves or for someone else - perhaps we get mad because of injustice being done. Then sinful passions begin to flare up. Our whole being gets besieged and overrun with thoughts and feelings about this issue. We stop thinking about the Lord and the blessings of our salvation in Jesus and give ourselves over to worry. In other words, we have surrendered our hearts and minds not to the Lord but to an invading, hostile army.

Did you notice how I started to use military language to describe this situation? That’s because the word “guard” in the passage is a military term - there is a way that we can know our hearts and minds being guarded as by a military garrison. And it is the peace of God that supplies the garrison! I agree with those who take this word “peace” to mean His salvation - peace with God, certainly but more than that - the final and complete salvation of our whole beings through Christ! This truly surpasses all understanding!

We may know this peace, says Paul, when we take our cares to the Lord by “prayer and supplication with thanksgiving” - turning them over to Him. We may know it when we acknowledge honestly before Him that it’s too much for us to bear it all - that even the attempt to do so is full of pride, full of self and is therefore really an offence to Him, because He cares so much for us and doesn’t want us to be overpowered with anxiety! What do we find when we share our burden of care with our omnipotent and sympathetic King? Peace! 

I just noticed the little phrase that is tied to this whole thought but is separated from it by a non-inspired verse number - “The Lord is at hand”. He is not far away and unconcerned with us - He is near and He cares. All we have to do is pray!

What a friend we have in Jesus,

all our sins and griefs to bear!

What a privilege to carry

everything to God in prayer!

O what peace we often forfeit,

O what needless pain we bear,

all because we do not carry

everything to God in prayer!

Have we trials and temptations?

Is there trouble anywhere?

We should never be discouraged;

take it to the Lord in prayer!

Can we find a friend so faithful

who will all our sorrows share?

Jesus knows our every weakness;

take it to the Lord in prayer!

Are we weak and heavy laden,

cumbered with a load of care?

Precious Savior, still our refuge--

take it to the Lord in prayer!

Do your friends despise, forsake you?

Take it to the Lord in prayer!

In his arms he'll take and shield you;

you will find a solace there.