Oh How Great Is The Goodness Of Our Lord!
Psalms 31:19 KJV – “[Oh] how great [is] thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; [which] thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men!”
For the SIH devotional on this subject;
Psalms 31:19 – David’s Praise (Part 1)
INTRODUCTION TO OUR SERIES:
Throughout the years, this Psalm, or portions of it, have been a great blessing to me in several difficult situations that I have faced in life. Although, the Psalm does not reveal to us the exact situation that David was facing, it is obvious he was facing a very difficult hardship that, from his perspective, appeared to be insurmountable.
Throughout our lives as Christians, most, if not all of us, have faced the same type of issues. This Psalm gives us many wonderful truths that will give us comfort, hope, and even joy in the midst of these hardships of life.
This is the basic outline we will be using… our devotional will be covering approximately one verse per day…
1. David’s Request (1-2)
2. David’s Recognition (3-4)
3. David’s Commitment (5-8)
4. David’s Sufferings (9-13) (Due to his sin 9-10; Due to other’s sin 11-13)
5. David’s Faith (14-16)
6. David’s Desire (17-18)
7. David’s Praise (19-22)
8. David’s Exhortation (23-24)
TODAY’S TEXT:
Psalms 31:19 KJV – “[Oh] how great [is] thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; [which] thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men!”
Psalms 31:19 ESV – “Oh, how abundant is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you and worked for those who take refuge in you, in the sight of the children of mankind!”
TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL:
Following David’s bringing his needs and desires to the Lord, he now takes time to praise the Lord for who He is and what He has done for His people…
“[Oh] how great [is] thy goodness,
David begins by praising the Lord for His “goodness” (ie His kind, merciful nature and beneficial works He does on behalf of others). David describes His goodness as being overflowing and never-ending.
David understood that the Lord’s kindness had no limits, His forgiveness has no bounds, His beneficial works on behalf of His people never ends. He is good all the time!
Lamentations 3:22 KJV – “It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.”
which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee;
The Lord has reserved His forgiveness and mercies to those who come to Him in saving faith and exhibit a reverence for Him in their lives. Those who are truly saved will exhibit a reverential fear of Him. If a person does not reverence the Lord, they have never experienced the wondrous mercy of the Lord.
This is a very important point that cannot be overemphasized… reverence for the Lord is one of marks of those are His redeemed. When we are accepted into the kingdom of Christ, through God’s grace, we are given a reverential, Godly fear attitude towards our King…
Hebrews 12:28 KJV – “Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:”
[which] thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men!”
This wondrous mercy and kindness of the Lord was gained solely through Christ’s work on the cross. It was “wrought” for His people, through His sufferings and death as He paid the price for their sins, which opened the flood gates of His blessing to those who trust in Him.
Psalms 126:2-3 KJV – “Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them. The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad.”
Summary Of Our Study:
Even in the midst of David’s trying times, he understood the need to keep his eyes upon his Lord, concentrating on His greatness and the wonderful works He has done on his behalf.
Knowledge, and a recollection of the Lord’s goodness, gives the saint the needed encouragement and strength to continue on in troublesome times. It forces us to recognize our need to rely upon Him for our strength and continued safety and not to rely upon our own fleshly, sinful ways to escape from the trials we face.
David emphasizes this same truth in Psalm 25:1-6,15-22…
“O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me. Yea, let none that wait on thee be ashamed: let them be ashamed which transgress without cause. Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths. Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day. Remember, O LORD, thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindnesses; for they have been ever of old….
Mine eyes are ever toward the LORD; for he shall pluck my feet out of the net. Turn thee unto me, and have mercy upon me; for I am desolate and afflicted. The troubles of my heart are enlarged: O bring thou me out of my distresses. Look upon mine affliction and my pain; and forgive all my sins. Consider mine enemies; for they are many; and they hate me with cruel hatred. O keep my soul, and deliver me: let me not be ashamed; for I put my trust in thee. Let integrity and uprightness preserve me; for I wait on thee. Redeem Israel, O God, out of all his troubles.”
May we all learn from David’s writings and come to trust in Him during every season of our life… the good times, the bad times, the happy times and the sad times…. May we always keep our eyes on the Lord and recognize His never-ending blessings on our behalf!
Homepage… http://www.settledinheaven.org
Text Blog… http://www.settledinheaven.wordpress.com
Video Blog… http://www.youtube.com/settledinheaven
Email… settledinheaven@gmail.com
The Verbal Attacks Of The Lost Will Be Silenced At Christ’s Coming!
Psalms 31:18 KJV – “Let the lying lips be put to silence; which speak grievous things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous.”
For the SIH devotional on this subject:
Psalms 31:18 – David’s Desire (Part 2)
INTRODUCTION TO OUR SERIES:
Throughout the years, this Psalm, or portions of it, have been a great blessing to me in several difficult situations that I have faced in life. Although, the Psalm does not reveal to us the exact situation that David was facing, it is obvious he was facing a very difficult hardship that, from his perspective, appeared to be insurmountable.
Throughout our lives as Christians, most, if not all of us, have faced the same type of issues. This Psalm gives us many wonderful truths that will give us comfort, hope, and even joy in the midst of these hardships of life.
This is the basic outline we will be using… our devotional will be covering approximately one verse per day…
1. David’s Request (1-2)
2. David’s Recognition (3-4)
3. David’s Commitment (5-8)
4. David’s Sufferings (9-13) (Due to his sin 9-10; Due to other’s sin 11-13)
5. David’s Faith (14-16)
6. David’s Desire (17-18)
7. David’s Praise (19-22)
8. David’s Exhortation (23-24)
TODAY’S TEXT:
Psalms 31:18 KJV – “Let the lying lips be put to silence; which speak grievous things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous.”
Psalms 31:18 ESV – “Let the lying lips be mute, which speak insolently against the righteous in pride and contempt.”
TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL:
In this section of our text, David reveals to us his desires for those who oppose the righteous. By “the righteous” David would be referring to himself and all others who are servants of Jehovah, seeking to live their lives for him…
“Let the lying lips be put to silence;
David desired for the criticisms, judgments and deceit of the lost to be brought to an end.
Two of the greatest ways that the lost oppose the servants of God is through false teaching and deceitful judgments of the servants of God. David’s desire was for this speech to be brought to an end by God.
Isaiah 54:17 KJV – “No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.”
John 8:44 KJV – “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.”
which speak grievous things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous.”
The words of the lost which are pointed against the servants of the Lord are spoken in a prideful and disrespectful way. They produce great pain and sorrow in the lives of God’s servants…
Psalms 123:3-4 KJV – “Have mercy upon us, O LORD, have mercy upon us: for we are exceedingly filled with contempt. Our soul is exceedingly filled with the scorning of those that are at ease, and with the contempt of the proud.”
Acts 25:7 KJV – “And when he was come, the Jews which came down from Jerusalem stood round about, and laid many and grievous complaints against Paul, which they could not prove.”
Folks, this has been a weapon of the opposition throughout both the Old and New Testaments. The lost will always be fault-finding, judgmental, and critical of all those who seek to serve the Lord.
The greatest example of this was the many lies told about Christ Himself, by the Jews…
Mark 14:55-59 KJV – “And the chief priests and all the council sought for witness against Jesus to put him to death; and found none. For many bare false witness against him, but their witness agreed not together. And there arose certain, and bare false witness against him, saying, We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands. But neither so did their witness agree together.”
Summary Of Our Study:
Folks, we should never be surprised at the lost speaking deceitful, critical words against us. It is to be expected if we are following in the footsteps of Christ.
John 15:18 KJV – “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.”
How are we to respond to the lies and insults of those who oppose us? We are to do as David did, and give these things to the Lord and rely on Him to bring them to silence. While in the midst of these things we are to put the Lord desires for us first. We are to love, bless, do good and pray for those who oppose us.
By doing this, we are using this difficult life situation to be a witness and testimony of the love of Christ within us…
Matthew 5:44-45 KJV – “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.”
Homepage… http://www.settledinheaven.org
Text Blog… http://www.settledinheaven.wordpress.com
Video Blog… http://www.youtube.com/settledinheaven
Email… settledinheaven@gmail.com
There Is No Shame In Trusting In Christ… He Will Always Be Faithful To Us!
Psalms 31:17 KJV – Let me not be ashamed, O LORD; for I have called upon thee: let the wicked be ashamed, [and] let them be silent in the grave.
For the SIH devotional on this subject:
Psalms 31:17 – David’s Desire (Part 1)
INTRODUCTION TO OUR SERIES:
Throughout the years, this Psalm, or portions of it, have been a great blessing to me in several difficult situations that I have faced in life. Although, the Psalm does not reveal to us the exact situation that David was facing, it is obvious he was facing a very difficult hardship that, from his perspective, appeared to be insurmountable.
Throughout our lives as Christians, most, if not all of us, have faced the same type of issues. This Psalm gives us many wonderful truths that will give us comfort, hope, and even joy in the midst of these hardships of life.
This is the basic outline we will be using… our devotional will be covering approximately one verse per day…
1. David’s Request (1-2)
2. David’s Recognition (3-4)
3. David’s Commitment (5-8)
4. David’s Sufferings (9-13) (Due to his sin 9-10; Due to other’s sin 11-13)
5. David’s Faith (14-16)
6. David’s Desire (17-18)
7. David’s Praise (19-22)
8. David’s Exhortation (23-24)
TODAY’S TEXT:
Psalms 31:17 KJV – Let me not be ashamed, O LORD; for I have called upon thee: let the wicked be ashamed, [and] let them be silent in the grave.
Psalms 31:17 ESV – O LORD, let me not be put to shame, for I call upon you; let the wicked be put to shame; let them go silently to Sheol.
TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL:
In this section of our text, David reveals to us his desires for himself, and those who persecute him…
Let me not be ashamed, O LORD; for I have called upon thee:
One of David’s desires concerning himself was that he would not be found confused and shamed in the eyes of others.
David had come before the Lord trusting in Him to accompany and deliver David from his hardships. David wanted the Lord to intervene on his behalf and work deliverance in his life. If the Lord did not come to David’s aid, he would not be looked upon as confused and shamed by those who opposed him.
Joel 2:26-27 KJV – “And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed. And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the LORD your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed.”
let the wicked be ashamed,
David did not want to be brought to shame based upon his profession of trust in his Lord.
However, David did desire for the wicked around him to be put to shame in public. What would be the basis of that shame? The wicked had mocked David’s Lord, many claiming the Lord did not exist, while others claimed the Lord could do nothing to help David.
By desiring for the wicked to be brought to shame, David was desiring for the Lord to be publically glorified and vindicated through David’s deliverance. In doing so, David’s faith would also be vindicated and David would not be brought to shame.
(Please note this was not a selfish desire on David’s part. He did not want His Lord to be evil spoken of, nor did he want his faith to become an instrument for his enemies to dishonor the Lord. Instead, he wanted the Lord’s glory to be shown in his deliverance and wanted the lost to see the need to look to the Lord…)
Psalms 83:15-18 KJV – “So persecute them with thy tempest, and make them afraid with thy storm. Fill their faces with shame; that they may seek thy name, O LORD. Let them be confounded and troubled for ever; yea, let them be put to shame, and perish: That men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the most high over all the earth.”
[and] let them be silent in the grave.
Not only did David want to silence the enemies of Christ during their lifetime, but also wanted them to be shamed in the life to come. In other words, David wanted the Lord to glorify and vindicate Himself to the point the lost, when they stand before Christ. They will not be able to open their mouth, or in any way attempt to justify themselves, based upon the Lord’s seeming unfaithfulness to David during his times of trials.
Romans 3:19 KJV – “Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.”
Summary Of Our Study:
When we are abused at the hands of others, what is our attitude towards them?
Do we desire for them to be put to misery and die in their lost state to avenge our mistreatment?
OR…
Do we desire the Lord to be glorified through their salvation, or their eternal punishment?
In other words, when afflicted are we more desirous of vengeance, or the Lord to be glorified in every aspect of the situation at hand?
The truthful answering of these questions tell us much about the closeness of our walk with Christ.
Homepage… http://www.settledinheaven.org
Text Blog… http://www.settledinheaven.wordpress.com
Video Blog… http://www.youtube.com/settledinheaven
Email… settledinheaven@gmail.com
Is The Lord’s Face Shining On Us?
Psalms 31:16 KJV – Make thy face to shine upon thy servant: save me for thy mercies’ sake.
For the SIH devotional on this subject:
Psalms 31:16 – David’s Faith (Part 3)
INTRODUCTION TO OUR SERIES:
Throughout the years, this Psalm, or portions of it, have been a great blessing to me in several difficult situations that I have faced in life. Although, the Psalm does not reveal to us the exact situation that David was facing, it is obvious he was facing a very difficult hardship that, from his perspective, appeared to be insurmountable.
Throughout our lives as Christians, most, if not all of us, have faced the same type of issues. This Psalm gives us many wonderful truths that will give us comfort, hope, and even joy in the midst of these hardships of life.
This is the basic outline we will be using… our devotional will be covering approximately one verse per day…
1. David’s Request (1-2)
2. David’s Recognition (3-4)
3. David’s Commitment (5-8)
4. David’s Sufferings (9-13) (Due to his sin 9-10; Due to other’s sin 11-13)
5. David’s Faith (14-16)
6. David’s Desire (17-18)
7. David’s Praise (19-22)
8. David’s Exhortation (23-24)
TODAY’S TEXT:
Psalms 31:16 KJV – Make thy face to shine upon thy servant: save me for thy mercies’ sake.
Psalms 31:16 ESV – Make your face shine on your servant; save me in your steadfast love!
TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL:
One of the greatest needs David had was the Lord’s presence to be clearly shown to him. In the midst of life trials what a blessing it is to know that the Lord is by our side… this is the request David is making in this mornings devotional.
Make thy face to shine upon thy servant:
David desires for the Lord to allow His face to “shine” upon him. In other words, he desired for the Lord to be accompany him and be pleased with him.
Numbers 6:25-26 KJV – “The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.”
Psalms 30:7 KJV – “LORD, by thy favour thou hast made my mountain to stand strong: thou didst hide thy face, and I was troubled.”
save me for thy mercies’ sake.
David asks the Lord to save (deliver) him from his trials. The Lord was to do this, not because David deserved it, nor because He was obligated to fulfill David’s prayer. He was to do it entirely of His grace and mercy being shown to David.
The Hebrew word that is translated “mercies sake” carries with it the ideas of love, faithfulness, and undeserved aid. Basically David is asking the Lord to aid Him, not because he deserved the help, but because of God’s great love that caused God to be faithful to His people.
Summary Of Our Study:
When in the midst of our trials do we find ourselves concerned about the Lord’s presence and fulfilling the Lord’s desires for His life?
When in the midst of our trials are we concerned about our relationship with the Lord, or are we self-consumed with our life issues? Do we seek His presence in our life? Do we know that any help the Lord may give to us is entirely by His grace and undeserved by us?
All the above are keys to handling our times of trials in ways that please the Lord. May we never allow our personal problems to stand between recognizing the greatness of God and seeking to please the Lord with our lives.
Homepage… http://www.settledinheaven.org
Text Blog… http://www.settledinheaven.wordpress.com
Video Blog… http://www.youtube.com/settledinheaven
Email… settledinheaven@gmail.com
During Times Of Life’s Oppostions Do We Look To The Lord For Our Deliverance?
Psalms 31:14 KJV – My times [are] in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me.
For the SIH devotional on this subject:
Psalms 31:15 – David’s Faith (Part 2)
INTRODUCTION TO OUR SERIES:
Throughout the years, this Psalm, or portions of it, have been a great blessing to me in several difficult situations that I have faced in life. Although, the Psalm does not reveal to us the exact situation that David was facing, it is obvious he was facing a very difficult hardship that, from his perspective, appeared to be insurmountable.
Throughout our lives as Christians, most, if not all of us, have faced the same type of issues. This Psalm gives us many wonderful truths that will give us comfort, hope, and even joy in the midst of these hardships of life.
This is the basic outline we will be using… our devotional will be covering approximately one verse per day…
1. David’s Request (1-2)
2. David’s Recognition (3-4)
3. David’s Commitment (5-8)
4. David’s Sufferings (9-13) (Due to his sin 9-10; Due to other’s sin 11-13)
5. David’s Faith (14-16)
6. David’s Desire (17-18)
7. David’s Praise (19-22)
8. David’s Exhortation (23-24)
TODAY’S TEXT:
Psalms 31:14 KJV – My times [are] in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me.
Psalms 31:14 ESV – My times are in your hand; rescue me from the hand of my enemies and from my persecutors!
TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL:
Following David’s declaration of faith in the Lord and His role in his life, David now brings his needs before the Lord…
My times [are] in thy hand:
Before David asks the Lord to intervene in his life situations, David recognizes that His Lord is in absolute control of all his life. All the happenings of David’s life …every day, hour, minute and second is in the hand of the Lord who will work everything according to His will.
King Solomon understood this same truth when he said…
“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.”
The Lord has a set time appointed for all of these types of events to take place in the lives of men. When these things take place, it is because the Lord has decreed them to take place and are then brought about in alignment with His sovereign will. This includes all the events that take place in the midst of mankind.
Truly, the many various “times” of our life are in His hand…
Daniel 4:34-35 KJV
“And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation: And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?”
Based upon David’s understanding of the Lord’s control over all his life events, he now has the foundational knowledge to ask the Lord to intervene in his life’s situations. Whether we realize it or not, every time we come before the Lord in prayer, asking Him to intervene in the trials we may be facing, we are acknowledging His sovereign control over all things.
If He is not in control of everything what makes us think He can intervene in any of our life’s problems?
deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me.
David is asking the Lord to rescue (or “snatch”) him from the power of his enemies. David knew that the Lord “overrule” the will of his enemies at any time. The best laid plans of his enemies would be brought to an end, if the Lord desired it to be so.
Proverbs 19:21 KJV – “There are many devices in a man’s heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand.”
David describes those who oppose him as his “enemies” and “them that persecute me”. We all have this type of people show up from time to time during the course of our lifetimes….
“enemies” – those who oppose due to hatred of heart
“them that persecute me” – to chase motivated by resentment
Both of these titles can teach us much about those who stand against us…
1. The title “enemy” teaches us that those who oppose us, many times do it out of hatred and malice. The big question is this…. Are we hated because we are taking a stand for Christ, or are we hated for being inconsiderate and mistreating others?
We should always strive to make certain we are loving and kind towards others, reflecting Christ’s love in a world filled with hate. If we are hated for showing the love of Christ… so be it.
However, if we are hated and opposed due to selfish attitudes and actions, we need to repent of our sin and seek to make restitution with our “enemies” that we have wronged.
1 Peter 2:19-20 KJV – “For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.”
1 Peter 3:14 KJV – “But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;”
2. The title “them that persecute me” helps us to see that many times we are opposed because people resent us. Many times resentment comes from the differences between the lifestyle of the lost compared to the lifestyle of the saved…
a. When lost men are faced with great trials they find themselves irritated and anxious, compared to a saved person who can face great trials with kindness and peace knowing the Lord is with them and using the trial for their good.
b. When lost men are mistreated by others, many times they seek vengeance and retribution holding bitterness with them. For the saved, when mistreated, they respond in love and compassion, motivated by an unselfish desire to show Christ’s love in their lives towards those who oppose them.
c. When the lost man receives bad news, they have doubts, fears, and feelings of impending doom believing that many of their life events are out of their control. When the saved receive bad news in their life, they understand the Lord is in control and there is always hope and joy in the midst of these times knowing the Lord can change their life circumstances at any time.
All of these type of differences can bring about a spirit of envy and resent in the hearts of those who are lost and watching our lives. It is just as Christ taught us…
John 15:18-19 KJV – “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.”
Summary Of Our Study:
When we are faced with opposition from the lost around us it is important we keep in mind…
1. The Lord is in control… He can remove the opposition from us any time He sees fit. Until the opposition is removed, it remains in our life for our good and His glory.
2. We are to make certain the opposition we face is not because of selfishness or sin in our lives which causes us to mistreat others.
3. When we are opposed due to our faithfulness to Christ, we are in the best of company, Christ Himself was persecuted for His faithfulness to His Father.
4. When we are opposed due to our faithfulness to Christ, may we accept it with loving hearts and a self-sacrificial spirit, seeking to win the souls of those who oppose us for the cause of Christ.
Homepage… http://www.settledinheaven.org
Text Blog… http://www.settledinheaven.wordpress.com
Video Blog… http://www.youtube.com/settledinheaven
Email… settledinheaven@gmail.com
Isaiah’s Vision Of The New Heavens and New Earth (Part 1)
“But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
[Seeing] then [that] all these things shall be dissolved, what manner [of persons] ought ye to be in [all] holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.” (2 Peter 3:10-13)
Isaiah 65:17-25 is one of the most encouraging prophecies given to God’s people. It is a prophecy of the eternal state of God’s people as they enjoy the eternal blessings that are promised to them by God Himself.
For us to come to a fuller and more accurate understanding of this prophecy, we need to understand its relationship to the first five verses of a vision that John received in the book of Revelation that is found in chapter 21.
Please notice the table that follows. In this table, we can see that the prophecy found in Isaiah 65: and the beginning of the vision received by John in Revelation are clearly parallel prophecies. They both speak of the same time period (eternity), the same location (the New Heavens and New Earth) and the same blessings that will be received by the people of God…
The Basic Contents Of Both Passages:
| Main Themes: | Daniel 65: | Revelation 21: | ||
| The Setting: New Heavens/New Earth | 17a | 1a | ||
| The Condition: All Things Are “New” | 17b | 5 | ||
| The Location: The New Jerusalem | 18 | 2 | ||
| No Weeping, Crying | 19 | 4a | ||
| Longevity Of Life | 20 | 4b | ||
| No Mistreatment, Loss | 21-23,25 | 4c,d,e | ||
| God Will Be Present | 24 | 3 | ||
Let’s take a few moments of time to come to a better understanding of the wonderful blessings that await God’s people as we enter into eternity with our Lord.
THE SCRIPTURES:
(Isaiah 65:17-25)
17) For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.
18) But be ye glad and rejoice for ever [in that] which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy.
19) And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying.
20) There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner [being] an hundred years old shall be accursed.
21) And they shall build houses, and inhabit [them]; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them.
22) They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree [are] the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands.
23) They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they [are] the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them.
24) And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.
25) The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust [shall be] the serpent’s meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD.
(Revelation 21:1-5)
1) 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.
2) And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
3) 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.
4) 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.
5) 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.
THE STUDY:
Isaiah 65:17-25…
17) For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth:
As the Lord delivers this message to Isaiah, we find that He tells Isaiah that He is going to “create” a New Heavens and Earth as an eternal dwelling place for His people.
The word translated “create” involves to form, or shape, it doesn’t, necessarily, mean to create out of nothing. We see this use of bara in Genesis 5:2 where we are told that “Male and female created he them”. However, we know from Genesis chapter 2:7 that “the LORD God formed man [of] the dust of the ground”. This helps us to understand that bara can refer to forming from previously existing material.
This same principle applies to the creation of the New Heavens and New Earth. God will not destroy our current heavens and earth and create the New Heavens and New Earth out of nothing. Instead, He will purify and reform or renovate the existing heavens and earth into our sinless, eternal dwelling place (Romans 8:18-24 and 2 Peter 3:10-13).
(For more information on this subject please refer to our study entitled “The Deliverance Of Creation” which is an in depth study of Romans 8:18-24 and 2 Peter 3:10-13).
In Revelation 21: is it described in this way…
1) And I saw a new heaven and a new earth:
John bore witness of the future existence of this renovated earth and heaven in the vision that was given to him. As a matter of fact from Rev 21:1 to Rev 22:5 John gives us great details about our eternal dwelling place. Please notice a very basic outline of John’s teachings on this subject:
- Revelation 21:1-5 – basic background information on our eternal dwelling place (we will be looking at these verses in this study.)
- Revelation 21:9-27 – An in-depth look at our eternal dwelling pictured as a beautiful city (New Jerusalem)
- Revelation 22:1-5 – An in-depth look at our eternal dwelling pictured as the Garden of Eden restored to man.
and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.
The Lord explains to Isaiah that this New Heavens and New Earth would absolutely replace that which came before it. The replacement would be so complete that no one would mention the old again, nor would they think of it ever again.
In Revelation 21: is it described in this way…
1b) for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
John describes them as being “passed away”, in other words it simply “went away”.
The Lord caused the first (the earth that cursed due to sin’s presence) to go away (using fire to purify it), He then renovated it bringing forth the new earth (sinless eternal dwelling for His people). It is in that sense, the first simply “passed away” (2 Peter 3:10-13, Heb 1:10-12, Isa 51:6).
Why will there be “no more sea” on the New Earth?
- Literally – Water is an indispensable need for life on this earth. In a remade earth, when it is inhabited only by humans in glorified bodies, there will be no need of water to support life.
- Symbolically – Throughout the Bible, the sea and its waves are pictures of lost mankind and the unrest, tribulation, and disunity that accompanies them (Isaiah 57:20, Jude 1:8-13). Also in Revelation it is a symbolic picture of lost mankind as the origin of the evil political powers of this world (Rev 13:1). This could be a symbolic description that helps us to understand that this New Earth will no longer contain any of these.
- Symbolically – Eternal punishment and separation from God is pictured as a burning body of water (“the Lake of Fire”) only in Revelation (Rev 19:20, 20:10, 14, 15). Perhaps this is a symbolic way of showing that the New Earth holds the exact opposite conditions for saved mankind.
5a) And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new.
As the renovation will be brought to completion, the New Heavens and New Earth will be radically changed. No longer will the effects of sin be seen in it. In a very real way, it will be as if the Garden of Eden has been restored to mankind (Rev 22:1-5). In this case, it will be given permanently to the people of God never to be defiled by sin again. Truly all things will be made new (Romans 8:19-25).
18) But be ye glad and rejoice for ever [in that] which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy.
Isaiah now speaks of the “New Jerusalem” that is prepared for His people to live eternally (Jeremiah 3:14-18, John 14:1-3). It is the giving of “New Jerusalem” that is the fulfillment of the many Old Testament prophecies of Israel being restored to the land and Jerusalem being the center of the worship of Jehovah (Zechariah 8:1-8, Jeremiah 33:14-16).
Keep in mind that these wonderful promises were made to all who are a part of the spiritual nation made up of all the believers of all time, the Israel of God (Romans 2:17, 28-29; Galatians 6:15-16).
What great joy and praise will be had when God’s people will dwell with their Lord and Savior eternally within the gates of New Jerusalem on the New Earth (Isa 44:21-23, Isa 51:11).
In Revelation 21: is it described in this way…
2) And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
Following the renovation of the Heavens and Earth (Rev 21:1), John then sees “New Jerusalem” (the eternal abode of God) coming down out of heaven to be situated on the New Earth (Joel 3:16-18).
As New Jerusalem appears, she looks much like a bride being presented to her husband for their permanent relationship to begin. Can you imagine the great joy of God’s people as they see their eternal dwelling place presented to them?
One of the reasons why the eternal abode of God is described as “New Jerusalem” is based upon the temporal city of Jerusalem, home of the Israelite’s temple in the Old Testament Scriptures (1 Chron 6:10, Psa 68:29). The OT temple, and by implication, the city of Jerusalem was known as the dwelling place of God among men (Psa 9:11, Psa 76:1-2 etc).
19) And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people:
“New Jerusalem”, located on the renovated “New Earth” will not only be the home of the rejoicing OF the people of God, but it will also be the home of the rejoicing of God FOR His people (Isa 62:4-5, Zeph 3:17).
With the entrance of His people into His presence eternally, we have the culmination of all His plans and workings on behalf of His chosen people (Eph 1:4-6, John 3:16). The full, absolute completion of His plans is one of the main sources of His great joy (John 6:35-40, John 15:3-7).
and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying.
Not only will there be great joy and rejoicing that will be taking place at the presentation of New Jerusalem, but also there will be absolutely no weeping or crying. Everyone will be rejoicing, as they understand that this is their permanent, eternal dwelling. Instead of facing eternal death and the curse of sin placed upon the old fallen earth, they are looking forward to an eternity with the Lord who gave Himself for them (Isa 35:10, Isa 51:11).
In Revelation 21: is it described in this way…
4a) And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes;
At this point in time, God’s grace has given to His people the elimination of sin’s curse and eternal life with Him in the New Jerusalem. It is entirely the workings of God that has brought His people into this state of everlasting joy and peace.
This is why He is said to be the One that wipes all tears from the eyes of His people throughout eternity (Isa 25:8, Isa 60:20, 1 Cor 15:24-28).
We will continue our study with verse 20 next week.
Please visit…
Settled In Heaven Ministries Home On The Web: http://www.settledinheaven.org
Settled In Heaven Ministries Text Blog: https://settledinheaven.wordpress.com
Settled In Heaven Ministries Video Blog: http://youtube.com/settledinheaven
Email Us At: settledinheaven@gmail.com
May the Lord bless your study of His Word. Like God’s Word… may your soul’s salvation and your life’s faithfulness be “Settled in Heaven.”
Is Jesus Our God, Through Faith In His Name?
Psalms 31:14 KJV – But I trusted in thee, O LORD: I said, Thou [art] my God.
For the SIH devotional on this subject:
Psalms 31:14 – David’s Faith (Part 1)
INTRODUCTION TO OUR SERIES:
Throughout the years, this Psalm, or portions of it, have been a great blessing to me in several difficult situations that I have faced in life. Although, the Psalm does not reveal to us the exact situation that David was facing, it is obvious he was facing a very difficult hardship that, from his perspective, appeared to be insurmountable.
Throughout our lives as Christians, most, if not all of us, have faced the same type of issues. This Psalm gives us many wonderful truths that will give us comfort, hope, and even joy in the midst of these hardships of life.
This is the basic outline we will be using… our devotional will be covering approximately one verse per day…
1. David’s Request (1-2)
2. David’s Recognition (3-4)
3. David’s Commitment (5-8)
4. David’s Sufferings (9-13) (Due to his sin 9-10; Due to other’s sin 11-13)
5. David’s Faith (14-16)
6. David’s Desire (17-18)
7. David’s Praise (19-22)
8. David’s Exhortation (23-24)
TODAY’S TEXT:
Psalms 31:14 KJV – But I trusted in thee, O LORD: I said, Thou [art] my God.
Psalms 31:14 ESV – But I trust in you, O LORD; I say, “You are my God.”
TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL:
Following a recounting of the results of David’s personal sins and sins in the life of others, David saw that things had gotten entirely out of his control. In the midst of his seemingly hopeless condition, David turned to his Lord, trusted in Him, and acknowledged His position as the only true God…
But I trusted in thee, O LORD:
The “LORD” refers to Jehovah, the Only True God, the Self-Existent One. He is the genuine God over all. He is not reliant upon any others for His existence, or His sustenance. He is God alone and needs no one or no one thing to exist eternally.
The Hebrew word that is translated “trusted” implies “hiding for refuge”. David was in the midst of a fearsome storm of life. He had sinned against his Lord and his family, his friends, his acquaintances and his subjects knew of his sin, had exaggerated it, and had turned against him. The circumstances he now faced was entirely out of his control.
In the midst of his fearful, helpless condition he runs to the Lord as his refuge in the midst of this life storm. He trusted in the Lord, knowing He is in control and was always ready to forgive him, grant him peace and keep David safe in His hands.
Psalms 56:3 KJV – “What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.”
Psalms 18:1-4 KJV – “To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, the servant of the LORD, who spake unto the LORD the words of this song in the day that the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul: And he said, I will love thee, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies. The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid.”
I said, Thou [art] my God.
Not only did David run to the Lord as his Refuge and Strength in the midst of life’s storms, but he also recognized Jehovah as the One that deserved his worship and his allegiance. By this David is recognizing his responsibilities towards Jehovah.
He is not simply a refuge that we run to in times of need and abandon during the good times of life. He is the One who is to be continually worshipped and served throughout the many days of our life, whether in good times or in bad times.
Psalms 42:11 KJV – “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.”
Summary Of Our Study:
Oh how important it is for all of us to recognize the great need of the Lord in every aspect of our lives on earth…
He is in control of what we cannot control.
He enables us to withstand, and do, what is impossible for us if left alone.
He is the One who leads us, feeds us and protects us in the midst of our life on earth.
Therefore, we own Him our all… Our worship, our allegiance, and first place in our lives!
Luke 20:38 KJV – “For he is not a God of the dead, but of the living: for all live unto him.”
May we all learn from King David and seek to rid our lives of sin on a daily basis, not only for eternity’s sake but for our earthly well-being also!
Homepage… http://www.settledinheaven.org
Text Blog… http://www.settledinheaven.wordpress.com
Video Blog… http://www.youtube.com/settledinheaven
Email… settledinheaven@gmail.com
When Things Seem Hopeless and Out Of Your Control…. Look To Christ!
Psalms 31:13 KJV – For I have heard the slander of many: fear [was] on every side: while they took counsel together against me, they devised to take away my life.
For the SIH devotional on this subject:
Psalms 31:13 – David’s Sufferings (Part 5)
INTRODUCTION TO OUR SERIES:
Throughout the years, this Psalm, or portions of it, have been a great blessing to me in several difficult situations that I have faced in life. Although, the Psalm does not reveal to us the exact situation that David was facing, it is obvious he was facing a very difficult hardship that, from his perspective, appeared to be insurmountable.
Throughout our lives as Christians, most, if not all of us, have faced the same type of issues. This Psalm gives us many wonderful truths that will give us comfort, hope, and even joy in the midst of these hardships of life.
This is the basic outline we will be using… our devotional will be covering approximately one verse per day…
1. David’s Request (1-2)
2. David’s Recognition (3-4)
3. David’s Commitment (5-8)
4. David’s Sufferings (9-13) (Due to his sin 9-10; Due to other’s sin 11-13)
5. David’s Faith (14-16)
6. David’s Desire (17-18)
7. David’s Praise (19-22)
8. David’s Exhortation (23-24)
TODAY’S TEXT:
Psalms 31:13 KJV – For I have heard the slander of many: fear [was] on every side: while they took counsel together against me, they devised to take away my life.
Psalms 31:13 ESV – For I hear the whispering of many— terror on every side!— as they scheme together against me, as they plot to take my life.
TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL:
Following a recounting of the results of David’s personal sins (vs 9-10), David has turned his attention to the effects of other’s sins in his own life (vs 11-13). David concludes his look at this subject in our text for this morning…
For I have heard the slander of many:
David heard many of the slanderous things that were being said about him. Although he had sinned, those around him exaggerated and twisted what he had done, ultimately misrepresenting everything and bringing undue disgrace to his name.
This is the nature of those who gossip, what may start as a factual account very quickly is distorted and embellished until the truth can no longer be found as the narrative is passed on to others.
James 3:5-6 KJV – “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.”
fear [was] on every side:
As David heard what was being said about him, the level of his anxiety increased. He saw his safety was being threatened as hatred against him grew with the spreading of the smears against him. As the hatred toward David grew ….
Psalms 57:4 KJV – “My soul is among lions: and I lie even among them that are set on fire, even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword.”
while they took counsel together against me, they devised to take away my life.
The people began to work together and plot how they could take David’s life. All of this was taking place because of David’s personal sin and sin that was in the lives of others.
Jeremiah 11:19 KJV – “But I was like a lamb or an ox that is brought to the slaughter; and I knew not that they had devised devices against me, saying, Let us destroy the tree with the fruit thereof, and let us cut him off from the land of the living, that his name may be no more remembered.”
Summary Of Our Study:
This was the basis of David’s fear…
1. He knew he had sinned against the Lord
2. He knew that his communion with the Lord was hindered
3. He knew others were bringing it into the public
4. He knew many were exaggerating his sin and defaming him publically
5. He knew many were believing this defamation and hating him
6. He knew that those who hated him were now plotting to take his life
From a human standpoint, he had much to fear. Things were totally out of his control. He could deal with his personal sin, but he could not control what was being said about him, nor could he control the attitudes of the people for him. His own actions had created a mess in his life, and now this mess had totally snowballed out of his control.
All he could do is run to the One who could control these things… his Lord.
Psalms 71:10-12 KJV – “For mine enemies speak against me; and they that lay wait for my soul take counsel together, Saying, God hath forsaken him: persecute and take him; for there is none to deliver him. O God, be not far from me: O my God, make haste for my help.”
May we all learn from King David and seek to rid our lives of sin on a daily basis, not only for eternity’s sake but for our earthly well-being also!
Homepage… http://www.settledinheaven.org
Text Blog… http://www.settledinheaven.wordpress.com
Video Blog… http://www.youtube.com/settledinheaven
Email… settledinheaven@gmail.com
Ruining Our Public Testimony By Sin Renders Us Useless In God’s Service
Psalms 31:11 KJV – I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind: I am like a broken vessel.
For the SIH devotional on this subject:
Psalms 31:12 – David’s Sufferings (Part 4)
INTRODUCTION TO OUR SERIES:
Throughout the years, this Psalm, or portions of it, have been a great blessing to me in several difficult situations that I have faced in life. Although, the Psalm does not reveal to us the exact situation that David was facing, it is obvious he was facing a very difficult hardship that, from his perspective, appeared to be insurmountable.
Throughout our lives as Christians, most, if not all of us, have faced the same type of issues. This Psalm gives us many wonderful truths that will give us comfort, hope, and even joy in the midst of these hardships of life.
This is the basic outline we will be using… our devotional will be covering approximately one verse per day…
1. David’s Request (1-2)
2. David’s Recognition (3-4)
3. David’s Commitment (5-8)
4. David’s Sufferings (9-13) (Due to his sin 9-10; Due to other’s sin 11-13)
5. David’s Faith (14-16)
6. David’s Desire (17-18)
7. David’s Praise (19-22)
8. David’s Exhortation (23-24)
TODAY’S TEXT:
Psalms 31:11 KJV – I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind: I am like a broken vessel.
Psalms 31:11 ESV – I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind: I am like a broken vessel.
TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL:
Following a recounting of the results of David’s personal sins (vs 9-10), David now turns his attention to the effects of other’s sins in his own life. Not only was David suffering from his own sins, but he was also suffering due to the abuse and sinful attitudes of others…
I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind:
David used to hold a very influential place among the Israelites, not only was he their king who could force his beliefs upon them, but he looked upon as a very wise, Godly person who had gained the respect and admiration of those over which he ruled.
But now, due to David’s sin, and the public revelation of it, he had lost the respect of his citizens and was looked upon as being one to be ignored, forgotten and quickly put out of mind.
His current existence was much like the condition of a dead man who had long been forgotten and dismissed as totally irrelevant by the current generation of the living. How sad to see this take place. With one sin made public, we can totally destroy our testimony which took years to build up.
1 Timothy 1:18-19 KJV – “This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare; Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:”
I am like a broken vessel.
Due to the destruction of David’s godly testimony, he found himself rendered useless among his own people, much like a broken vessel that could no longer retain water, only to be cast aside upon the rubbish heap to be used to scrape the sores of the destitute.
Job 2:7-8 KJV – “So went Satan forth from the presence of the LORD, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown. And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself withal; and he sat down among the ashes.”
Summary Of Our Study:
David has shared with us another devastating result of personal sin that was aggravated by sin in the lives of others….
Ruining your public testimony and no longer being a strong influence for Christ in the lives of others.
Folks, there is a very high price to pay for your sins. It is not enough to feel the pain and personal guilt of the burden of our sins but many times our sin becomes a public issue that results in our public humiliation, shame resulting in dishonor being brought upon our Lord.
May we all learn from King David and seek to rid our lives of sin on a daily basis, not only for eternity’s sake but for our earthly well-being also!
Homepage… http://www.settledinheaven.org
Text Blog… http://www.settledinheaven.wordpress.com
Video Blog… http://www.youtube.com/settledinheaven
Email… settledinheaven@gmail.com
Sin In A Christian’ s Life Gives The Lost Opportunity To Judge and Put To Shame
Psalms 31:11 KJV – I was a reproach among all mine enemies, but especially among my neighbours, and a fear to mine acquaintance: they that did see me without fled from me.
For the SIH devotional on this subject:
Psalms 31:11 – David’s Sufferings (Part 3)
INTRODUCTION TO OUR SERIES:
Throughout the years, this Psalm, or portions of it, have been a great blessing to me in several difficult situations that I have faced in life. Although, the Psalm does not reveal to us the exact situation that David was facing, it is obvious he was facing a very difficult hardship that, from his perspective, appeared to be insurmountable.
Throughout our lives as Christians, most, if not all of us, have faced the same type of issues. This Psalm gives us many wonderful truths that will give us comfort, hope, and even joy in the midst of these hardships of life.
This is the basic outline we will be using… our devotional will be covering approximately one verse per day…
1. David’s Request (1-2)
2. David’s Recognition (3-4)
3. David’s Commitment (5-8)
4. David’s Sufferings (9-13) (Due to his sin 9-10; Due to other’s sin 11-13)
5. David’s Faith (14-16)
6. David’s Desire (17-18)
7. David’s Praise (19-22)
8. David’s Exhortation (23-24)
TODAY’S TEXT:
Psalms 31:11 KJV – I was a reproach among all mine enemies, but especially among my neighbours, and a fear to mine acquaintance: they that did see me without fled from me.
Psalms 31:11 ESV – Because of all my adversaries I have become a reproach, especially to my neighbors, and an object of dread to my acquaintances; those who see me in the street flee from me.
TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL:
Following a recounting of the results of David’s personal sins (vs 9-10), David now turns his attention to the effects of other’s sins in his own life. Not only was David suffering from his own sins, but he was also suffering due to the abuse and sinful attitudes of others.
I was a reproach among all mine enemies,
David was disgraced and shamed among those that hated him.
Why was he being put to shame publically by his enemies? The reason is two-fold:
1. First of all, his personal sins had opened an opportunity for public criticism and shame to be place upon him. In that sense, he was to blame due to the sin he committed.
2. Secondly, the reason why his sins were being brought out in the public was due to sinful judgmental, hateful attitudes of others. They were eagerly awaiting the opportunity to find fault and put him to public shame. In that sense, his public humiliation was due to sin in the lives of his enemies.
What should their attitude have been towards David?
Matthew 5:43-45 KJV – “Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.”
but especially among my neighbours,
Sadly the public ridicule of David did not end with his enemies, but was even spread by those in his neighborhood. Those to whom he lived closely, who he had to see every day, was taking part in public ridicule of David.
Those who lived next to him began to gossip and speak about David only spreading his public shame and guilt.
What should have been their attitude toward David?
1 Timothy 5:13-15 KJV – “And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not. I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully. For some are already turned aside after Satan.”
and a fear to mine acquaintance:
Due to David’s sin, and the sinful attitudes of others, those who had loving, close relationships with David were alarmed at David’s sin. They were afraid to share a close relationship with him, fearful of being affected by the sins in his life.
These were David’s friends who should have loved him and tried to help him by pointing him back to the Lord and his need of Him. Instead, they selfishly feared for their own welfare and desired to keep David at a distance from them.
What should have been their attitude toward David?
Galatians 6:1-3 KJV – “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.”
they that did see me without fled from me.
The general public ran from David wanting to have nothing to do with him. What a sad state of affairs, the King of Israel, due to the sin in his life and the sinful attitudes of those around him, was despised and rejected by his own people.
Who was to blame? David for allowing the sin in his life, and those around him for not handling their relationship with David in a proper way. Both parties were guilty of sin and dishonoring the Lord.
Summary Of Our Study:
David has shared with us four results of personal sin that was aggrevated by sin in the lives of others….
1. giving your enemies an opportunity to put you to public shame
2. giving your neighbors a reason to gossip about you
3. giving your loved ones motivation to stay at arm’s length, fearing a close relationship
4. giving your subordinates a reason to reject your leadership and the example you have set.
Folks, there is a very high price to pay for your sins. It is not enough to feel the pain and personal guilt of the burden of our sins but many times our sin becomes a public issue that results in our public humiliation, shame resulting in dishonor being brought upon our Lord.
May we all learn from king David and seek to rid our lives of sin on a daily basis, not only for eternity’s sake but for our earthly well-being also!
Homepage… http://www.settledinheaven.org
Text Blog… http://www.settledinheaven.wordpress.com
Video Blog… http://www.youtube.com/settledinheaven
Email… settledinheaven@gmail.com
The Earthly Results Of Sin In Our Lives….
Psalms 31:10 KJV – For my life is spent with grief, and my years with sighing: my strength faileth because of mine iniquity, and my bones are consumed.
For the SIH devotional on this subject:
Settled In Heaven Blog 