Four Great Comforts in Evil Days
Text Psalm 94:12-23 Time 24 08 08/03 09 08 Place Capel Y Fron, Penrhyndeudraeth Childs Hill Baptist Church
I'd like us to look this evening at the second part of Psalm 94. We looked at the earlier part of the Psalm last week beginning with verse 3, where the psalmist asks How long will the wicked, O LORD, how long will the wicked be jubilant? He was writing at a time when the wicked were jubilant, exultant, triumphal. They were full of themselves. We live, I think it is fair to say, in similar times.
Sinners exist in all ages but there are times when their deeds are done largely in secret, behind closed doors, hidden from view. At other times sinners are brazen. Little attempt is made to excuse sin or to cover it up. Sin flaunts itself in provocative ways, parading itself. We live, by and large in a day like that, a day when the wicked are jubilant in their wickedness.
The wicked are described in 4-7 – They are proud (They pour out arrogant words; all the evildoers are full of boasting) anti-Christian (They crush your people, O LORD; they oppress your inheritance) oppressive (They slay the widow and the alien; they murder the fatherless) godless (They say, The LORD does not see; the God of Jacob pays no heed). At such times, like the psalmist, we must pray. Pray O LORD, the God who avenges, O God who avenges, shine forth. Rise up, O Judge of the earth; pay back to the proud what they deserve.We must also reason with people. Look at how he speaks in 8-11 Take heed, you senseless ones among the people; you fools, when will you become wise? Does he who implanted the ear not hear? Does he who formed the eye not see? Does he who disciplines nations not punish? Does he who teaches man lack knowledge? The LORD knows the thoughts of man; he knows that they are futile.I came across this quotation from B B Warfield recently (post-Penrhyn) that puts it well
I'd like us to look this evening at the second part of Psalm 94. We looked at the earlier part of the Psalm last week beginning with verse 3, where the psalmist asks How long will the wicked, O LORD, how long will the wicked be jubilant? He was writing at a time when the wicked were jubilant, exultant, triumphal. They were full of themselves. We live, I think it is fair to say, in similar times.
Sinners exist in all ages but there are times when their deeds are done largely in secret, behind closed doors, hidden from view. At other times sinners are brazen. Little attempt is made to excuse sin or to cover it up. Sin flaunts itself in provocative ways, parading itself. We live, by and large in a day like that, a day when the wicked are jubilant in their wickedness.
The wicked are described in 4-7 – They are proud (They pour out arrogant words; all the evildoers are full of boasting) anti-Christian (They crush your people, O LORD; they oppress your inheritance) oppressive (They slay the widow and the alien; they murder the fatherless) godless (They say, The LORD does not see; the God of Jacob pays no heed). At such times, like the psalmist, we must pray. Pray O LORD, the God who avenges, O God who avenges, shine forth. Rise up, O Judge of the earth; pay back to the proud what they deserve.We must also reason with people. Look at how he speaks in 8-11 Take heed, you senseless ones among the people; you fools, when will you become wise? Does he who implanted the ear not hear? Does he who formed the eye not see? Does he who disciplines nations not punish? Does he who teaches man lack knowledge? The LORD knows the thoughts of man; he knows that they are futile.I came across this quotation from B B Warfield recently (post-Penrhyn) that puts it well
"It is the distinction of Christianity that it has come into the world clothed with the mission to reason its way to dominion. Other religions may appeal to the sword, or seek some other way to propagate themselves. Christianity makes its appeal to right reason, and stands out among all religions, therefore, as distinctively, 'the Apologetic religion.'"
(Introductory Note, Francis R Beattie, Apologetics, or the Rational Vindication of Christianity, Vol I: Fundamental Apologetics [1903])
Praying and putting arguments before people is not easy but we must do this and not give into the temptation to stop because we feel prayer will make no difference or are afraid to speak out.
To encourage us I want to focus on verses 12-23 where we find four encouragements to press on in these things. If we can understand and take to heart these things, it will be of tremendous help to us. And so I say to you
1. Remember the comfort that the Lord's discipline givesSometimes we feel ourselves thinking 'Why doesn't God do something?' Why is evil allowed to advance to such a degree? Such questions are not easily answered but part of the answer lies in the fact that God often uses such means to discipline his people. Cf Prov 3:11, 12 My son, do not despise the LORD's discipline and do not resent his rebuke, because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in. The psalmist understands this and we should too. We should see that
1. Far from being a curse, days of trouble can be a means of blessing
Praying and putting arguments before people is not easy but we must do this and not give into the temptation to stop because we feel prayer will make no difference or are afraid to speak out.
To encourage us I want to focus on verses 12-23 where we find four encouragements to press on in these things. If we can understand and take to heart these things, it will be of tremendous help to us. And so I say to you
1. Remember the comfort that the Lord's discipline givesSometimes we feel ourselves thinking 'Why doesn't God do something?' Why is evil allowed to advance to such a degree? Such questions are not easily answered but part of the answer lies in the fact that God often uses such means to discipline his people. Cf Prov 3:11, 12 My son, do not despise the LORD's discipline and do not resent his rebuke, because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in. The psalmist understands this and we should too. We should see that
1. Far from being a curse, days of trouble can be a means of blessing
12 Blessed is the man you discipline, O LORD, the man you teach from your law. But how can discipline be a blessing? As the writer to the Hebrews says no discipline is going to be pleasant at the time but if we have a handle on what lies behind it we can take it better. By means of discipline much good is done in the lives of believers. Indwelling or remaining sin in us is weakened. We are driven to God himself. Such things enable us to become more conformed to Christ, the man of sorrows. Pride is brought down and humility is encouraged. Our love for this world is weakened. It is vital to remember Rom 8:28 and the promise that God is working all things together for the good of believers, according to his purposes.
2. Discipline is effective only in conjunction with God's Word
2. Discipline is effective only in conjunction with God's Word
There is an idea about called 'learning from experience' and there is something in it but we must not suppose that mere experience will teach us anything. Rather it is our experiences seen in the light of God's Word that leads to learning. Blessed is the man you discipline, O LORD, says the psalmist - the man you teach from your law. Discipline will only be effective if we see it in the light of God's Word. Similarly, sometimes the Word is not enough for us, we need the experience to reinforce what is plainly taught in Scripture. In days gone by children would be punished if they got their sums wrong. What ever we think of that it is clear that no matter how many punishments were given, without some teaching the children would learn nothing. The answer to all our troubles is in the Word of God. Look there in trouble. The great thing about troubles is that they can concentrate our minds on the Word.
3. Such a realisation can be a great relief to a believer
3. Such a realisation can be a great relief to a believer
In 13 we read you grant him relief from days of trouble, till a pit is dug for the wicked. He can see that even his troubles are working for his good. Our natural bent is to want relief from our troubles immediately. Augustine says “You wish to bury him at once: the pit is as yet being dug for him: do not be in haste to bury him.” Picture a man running from a wild beast. He looks to be in fear. He is not really. He knows a pit has been dug for the creature and once he reaches a certain point the animal will fall into it. That is our position as believers.
2. Remember the comfort that the Lord's faithfulness givesAnother great comfort in times of trouble is to remember who we are. Back in 5 he says of the wicked They crush your people, O LORD; they oppress your inheritance. In 14 we have For the LORD will not reject his people;he will never forsake his inheritance. It is unthinkable to suppose that God would reject or forsake his people. However strong the wicked may become, how ever low we may go – God will never forget his own inheritance. We are too dear to him. He has invested too much in us. See Deuteronomy 31:6 Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.This leads to the conclusion (15) Judgement will again be founded on righteousness, and all the upright in heart will follow it. At times justice seems to lose its moorings. Everything is up in the air. But do not be afraid Judgement will again be founded on righteousness. We can expect such days – if not in this life then certainly in the one to come. Then the upright in heart will not only follow it but triumph in it. Today we see righteousness and judgement being slowly but surely separated out. It is frightening to see. The upright in heart are experiencing a time when all that is good is dragged down and ridiculed – with the connivance sometimes of the law itself. For example, acts of parliament have been passed supporting abortion, homosexuality, gambling, etc. We see corruption in the courts, the police, etc. We must not be afraid though. Better days will come one day. Set your hope on that.
3. Remember the comfort that the Lord's help givesJust because we know that all will be well in the end does not mean to say that we should just sit back and wait. Like the psalmist, again, we should be looking to others for help and seeking to encourage them to oppose the wicked. The psalmist asks (16) Who will rise up for me against the wicked? Who will take a stand for me against evildoers? Our experience will often be like the psalmist's, however, it will chiefly be the Lord who proves our help. Notice here how he shows us
1. How to respond to the stridency of the wicked
He was desperately looking for help; his foot was slipping and he was tempted to unbelief; his anxiety was great – how he feared, tossed to and fro by his worries and concerns.
We can identify with him in these similarly desperate times.
2. Where to find help in all this
So where did he find help?
He says
1 The Lord gave him help (17) Unless the LORD had given me help, I would soon have dwelt in the silence of death. Full help came from the Lord. We are always dependent on the Lord, of course, whether we realise it or not. We become especially aware of it, however, when all other hope is gone. The Lord can and will help you.
2 The Lord's love supported him
(18) When I said, "My foot is slipping," your love, O LORD, supported me. It will support all who turn to him. There is nothing like God's love. While looking at this verse up in Penrhyndeudraeth in the home of a walker I came across a pair of crampons. The owner explained to me how, amongst other things, they are used to give a secure footing when on packed snow. It's not the most obvious illustration, perhaps, but the love of God is like wearing crampons! That is the import of what he says here. Never forget the love of God. Underneath are the loving and everlasting arms of God.
3 He knew joy even in the midst of anxiety
3 He knew joy even in the midst of anxiety
(19) When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul. What an amazing thing – joy in the midst of anxiety. Yet the believer can know this sort of thing. Many of you have experienced it no doubt. Such joy is God given. This joy comes when we think of God's unchanging purposes, his covenant faithfulness, his complete redemption, the Saviour – risen, interceding in heaven for us, our union with him, etc.
4. Remember the comfort that the Lord's justice givesFinally, remember something that we have already touched on a little – God's justice. The description in 20, 21 reminds us again perhaps of some aspects of our own day where the psalmist asks Can a corrupt throne be allied with you - one that brings on misery by its decrees? then says They band together against the righteous and condemn the innocent to death. There is certainly a lot of opposition to the gospel from various, sometimes powerful, quarters, these days. People band together against the righteous. They condemn the innocent - such as unborn babies and the elderly – to death.
The psalmist feels safe despite all this, however. 22 But the LORD has become my fortress, he says and my God the rock in whom I take refuge.Has the Lord become your fortress? Is God your God, the rock in whom you take refuge? The only safe place to hide in times of trouble is in Jesus Christ.
The ultimate answer to such opposition is to remember that the wicked will be paid back. 23 He will repay them for their sins and destroy them for their wickedness; the LORD our God will destroy them. One writer (Greenall) puts it this way “They make fetters for their own feet and build houses to fall on their own heads”
Here are four great comforts then for believers living in evil days - God's discipline, God's faithfulness, God's help and God's justice, which will surely triumph. Let's take all the comfort we can from these truths.
4. Remember the comfort that the Lord's justice givesFinally, remember something that we have already touched on a little – God's justice. The description in 20, 21 reminds us again perhaps of some aspects of our own day where the psalmist asks Can a corrupt throne be allied with you - one that brings on misery by its decrees? then says They band together against the righteous and condemn the innocent to death. There is certainly a lot of opposition to the gospel from various, sometimes powerful, quarters, these days. People band together against the righteous. They condemn the innocent - such as unborn babies and the elderly – to death.
The psalmist feels safe despite all this, however. 22 But the LORD has become my fortress, he says and my God the rock in whom I take refuge.Has the Lord become your fortress? Is God your God, the rock in whom you take refuge? The only safe place to hide in times of trouble is in Jesus Christ.
The ultimate answer to such opposition is to remember that the wicked will be paid back. 23 He will repay them for their sins and destroy them for their wickedness; the LORD our God will destroy them. One writer (Greenall) puts it this way “They make fetters for their own feet and build houses to fall on their own heads”
Here are four great comforts then for believers living in evil days - God's discipline, God's faithfulness, God's help and God's justice, which will surely triumph. Let's take all the comfort we can from these truths.
