Wednesday
Evening Bible Study
October 29, 2003
Introduction
Psalm 35
:1 A Psalm of David.
It has been suggested that this is one of the Psalms that David wrote
during the time that he was being chased by Saul.
:1 Plead my cause, O LORD, with them that strive with me: fight against
them that fight against me.
strive – yariyb –
contender, opponent, adversary
fight – lacham – to fight,
do battle, make war
:7 For without cause have they hid for me their net in a pit
Lesson
No good reason
Sometimes people have a reason to hate us:
(1 Pet 4:14-16 KJV) If ye be reproached for the name of Christ,
happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their
part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. {15} But let none
of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody
in other men's matters. {16} Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not
be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.
Sometimes we’re simply obnoxious.
(Prov 25:17 NASB) Let your foot rarely be in your
neighbor's house, Lest he become weary of you and hate you.
Sometimes we don’t pay attention to the fact that we’ve
become annoying to others.
Sometimes we do stupid things:
Illustration
A young executive was leaving the office late
one evening when he found the CEO standing in front of a shredder with a piece
of paper in his hand. “Listen,” said the CEO, “this is a very sensitive and
important document here, and my secretary has gone for the night. Can you make
this thing work?” “Certainly,” said the young executive. He turned the machine
on, inserted the paper, and pressed the start button. “Excellent, excellent!”
said the CEO as his paper disappeared inside the machine. “I just need one copy.”
Yet sometimes there’s simply no good
reason.
You may be doing everything correct, and
they’re still going to hate you.
:8 let his net that he hath hid catch himself: into that very destruction
let him fall.
Let them fall into their own traps.
:11 False witnesses did rise up;
There is a prophetic hint here – this is one of the things that Jesus would
go through.
(Mat 26:59-66 KJV) Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the
council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death; {60} But found
none: yea, though many false witnesses came, yet found they none. At the last
came two false witnesses, {61} And said, This fellow said, I am able to destroy
the temple of God,
and to build it in three days.
Jesus said these things, but He didn’t mean it the way that they were
taking it.
{62} And the high priest arose, and said unto him, Answerest thou
nothing? what is it which these witness against thee? {63} But Jesus held his
peace. And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the
living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God. {64}
Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter
shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in
the clouds of heaven. {65} Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He
hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now ye
have heard his blasphemy. {66} What think ye? They answered and said, He is
guilty of death.
How could people be so blind to who Jesus was, and try to put stuff together
to put Him to death? Amazing how evil our human hearts can be.
Lesson
Jesus understands.
There is nothing new under the sun. David went through it. Jesus went
through it. You and I may go through it as well. Jesus knows what you’re going
through.
:14 I behaved myself as though he had been my friend or brother:
Lesson
Don’t treat them like they treat you
Jesus said,
(Mat 5:38-45 KJV) Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for
an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: {39} But I say unto you, That ye resist not
evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other
also. {40} And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let
him have thy cloak also. {41} And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go
with him twain. {42} Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would
borrow of thee turn not thou away. {43} Ye have heard that it hath been said,
Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. {44} 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; {45} 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.
Sometimes we can say to ourselves that this just isn’t fair. Why should
they get away treating me so badly when I’ve treated them so good? Don’t give
in to that kind of thinking. Keep treating them like Jesus wants you to treat
them.
:15 yea, the abjects gathered themselves together against me
abjects – nekeh –
stricken, smitten; the ones attacking David.
:23 Stir up thyself, and awake to my judgment,
Lesson
Trouble with people
Quite a long psalm, and it’s all about having trouble with people who will
hurt you, lie about you, people who want you to be destroyed.
David handles the situation with prayer, asking God to work and deliver
him.
Paul writes,
(Rom 12:18
KJV) If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live
peaceably with all men.
The problem is that many times it simply isn’t possible to
be a peace with all people. Sometimes they’re going to hate you for no good
reason.
(Rom 12:19-21 KJV) Dearly
beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is
written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. {20} Therefore if
thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing
thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. {21} Be not overcome of evil, but
overcome evil with good.
Put the situation into God’s hands. Let Him take care of
it.
:28 And my tongue shall speak of thy righteousness and of thy praise all
the day long.
Lesson
Get back to praising Him
David gets his eyes off of his problems and back to praising God. Even all
day long.
Psalm 36
:1-4 Wicked Men
:1 The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, that there is no
fear of God before his eyes.
(Psa 36:1 NLT) Sin whispers to the wicked, deep within their
hearts. They have no fear of God to restrain them.
:2 For he flattereth himself in his own eyes, until his iniquity be found
to be hateful.
(Psa 36:2 NLT) In their blind conceit, they cannot see how wicked
they really are.
Lesson
Can you see your own faults?
I cringe when I see people who can’t see their own faults.
Then I get to wondering if I can see my faults.
Illustration
British painter and engraver William Hogarth was once commissioned to paint
the portrait of an exceptionally ugly nobleman. As was his custom, he depicted
the subject with the utmost frankness and realism. When the nobleman saw the
portrait, he refused to pay for it, and a bitter discussion ensued. Eventually
Hogarth, needing the money, sent a letter to his client, saying that a certain
showman who specialized in exhibiting freaks and monstrosities was interested
in the portrait. Unless Hogarth received payment within three days, he would
embellish the picture with a tail and other appendages and sell it to the
showman for exhibition. The nobleman paid up, then burned the portrait.
:5-9 A Good God
:5 Thy mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto
the clouds.
mercy – checed – goodness,
kindness, faithfulness
faithfulness – ‘emuwnah –
firmness, fidelity, steadfastness, steadiness
:7 How excellent is thy lovingkindness
lovingkindness – checed –
goodness, kindness, faithfulness
:9 For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.
Lesson
He changes our perspective
When we simply rely on our own “light”, we don’t see very clearly, like the
person who just can’t see their own faults.
When we turn to the Lord and let Him light up our lives, we tend to see
things a little differently.
(Luke 5:1-9 KJV) And it
came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he
stood by the lake of Gennesaret, {2} And saw two ships standing by the lake:
but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets. {3} And
he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon's, and prayed him that he would
thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out
of the ship. {4} Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out
into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. {5} And Simon answering
said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing:
nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net. {6} And when they had this
done, they enclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake. {7} And
they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they
should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that
they began to sink. {8} When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees,
saying, Depart from me; for I am a
sinful man, O Lord. {9} For he was astonished, and all that were with him,
at the draught of the fishes which they had taken:
I find it interesting that Simon didn’t grasp his own condition while Jesus
was teaching. Perhaps he was just too tired from fishing all night. But when
Jesus had him go out in the deep and catch fish, it woke Peter up to who Jesus
was and just who Peter was as well.
Letting the reality of who Jesus is sink in.
:10-12 Deliver me from wicked men
Psalm 37
:1 A Psalm of David.
This was a psalm written when David was an old man:
(Psa 37:25 KJV) I have been young, and now am old
These are principles that are tested and true. These aren’t the fanciful
ideas of a young dreamer who hasn’t experienced life.
:2 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green
herb.
I once heard about an old pastor who gave some advice to a younger pastor
regarding handling his enemies. He said, “Just treat them like God does … out
live them.”
:3 Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and
verily thou shalt be fed.
Lesson
Faith and action
It’s not “trust” and “snooze”, but trust and obey
James writes,
(James 2:14-20 KJV) What
doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not
works? can faith save him? {15} If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute
of daily food, {16} And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed
and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to
the body; what doth it profit? {17} Even so faith, if it hath not works, is
dead, being alone. {18} Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works:
show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works.
{19} Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also
believe, and tremble. {20} But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without
works is dead?
The issue isn’t whether or not we’re saved by faith or
works. We are saved by a faith that works. If we truly trust in the Lord, it
will result in action in our lives.
There is a place for trusting and watching God work. But
there is also a time when we trust and go to work.
A real faith is a faith that will produce changes in our
lives.
:4 Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of
thine heart.
I do believe this verse is saying that if we put God first in our life, we
will find that He will give us new desires, desires for the right things.
Lesson
Wanting the right thing
Illustration
Think of the last thing you prayed about—were you devoted to your desire or
to God? Determined to get some gift of the Spirit or to get at God? “Your
Father knows what you need before you ask him.” The point of asking is that you
may get to know God better. “Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you
the desires of your heart.” Keep praying in order to get a perfect
understanding of God Himself.
-- Oswald Chambers in My Utmost for
His Highest. Christianity Today, Vol. 41, no. 6.
What if God doesn’t give you what you ask for? Are you disappointed? What
was more important to you in the first place, getting the thing or getting more
of God?
Be willing to rethink some of the things on your prayer list.
Prayer should not be about God getting your will done. Prayer ought to be
about us getting in line with God getting His will done.
I find that sometimes as I pray for people I think too much about what I
think ought to be done in their lives. What if God has a different plan?
Look at the verse again. What gets your attention in this verse? Is it the
delighting in the Lord, or is it getting the stuff?
:5 Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it
to pass.
Commit – galal – to roll,
roll away, roll down, roll together
Spurgeon: “Roll the whole burden of life upon the Lord”
:21 The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous showeth
mercy, and giveth.
Lesson
Giver or taker
There is a dangerous mentality that I’ve seen in some folks, the idea that
the world owes them a living. They are always expecting others to pay their
way.
As a Christian, I can get kind of confused by this. I know that it is
important to give to those in need. I know the Scripture where Jesus said that
if you do it unto the least of these, you do it unto Him (Mat. 25:40). The
Bible says to consider the poor (Ps. 41:1), and that he who has pity on the
poor lends to the Lord (Pro. 19:17).
The problem comes when it seems that someone starts to take advantage of
you as a Christian.
I think it’s appropriate to ask the question, is this a way of life the
person has developed? Paul writes,
(Eph 4:28
KJV) Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with
his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that
needeth.
I know that we all can find ourselves in need at times. But what I’m trying
to address is the person who doesn’t seem to want to get out of that place of
need, but rather expects others to always give to them. That’s wrong. David
says this is wickedness.
:30 his tongue talketh of judgment.
judgment – mishpat –
judgment, justice, ordinance
:40 because they trust in him.
Lesson
Keep trusting
This is the advice of the aged David. Keep trusting the Lord. The Lord will
not let you down.
Did you see all the words that David used for “trusting” the Lord?
Trust (vs.3)
Delight (vs.4)
Commit (“roll-off” vs.5)
Rest (vs. 7)
Wait patiently (vs.7)
Wait (vs.9, 34)
There are going to be plenty of difficulties in life, but David says that
he’s learned that the only way to survive is to trust the Lord.
Think of who is writing this. At the end of his life, David has seen a life
full of difficulties.
He was the one who stood to face Goliath.
Most of his life he fought with the Philistines.
When he became popular, Saul became jealous and David’s
enemy became his own boss. He lived a life on the run, hiding out, a desperate
man.
After Saul’s death, David became king of the tribe of Judah,
but was at war with the rest of the nation.
After becoming king of Israel,
he still had wars with the enemies of Israel,
such as Philistines, Moabites, Ammonites, etc.
His son Absalom rebelled against him and ran him out of
town. At the same time he was betrayed by his close advisor, Ahithophel. On his
way out of town people like Shimei stood on the sidelines, threw rocks, and
cursed David.
There were other rebellions against David as well.
And at the conclusion of his life, David writes,
(Psa 37:40 KJV) And the LORD shall help them, and
deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because
they trust in him.
I think we ought to believe it.
Psalm 38
:1 A Psalm of David, to bring to remembrance.
This is a song about guilt and pain.
:7 For my loins are filled with a loathsome disease: and there is no
soundness in my flesh.
loins – kecel – loins,
flank; some have suggested this could be related to the kidneys, perhaps some
inflammation of the kidneys.
(Psa 38:7 NASB) For my loins are filled with burning; And there is
no soundness in my flesh.
(Psa 38:7 NLT) A raging fever burns within me, and my health is
broken.
(Psa 38:7 NIV) My back is filled with searing pain; there is no
health in my body.
David apparently had some sort of disease. He was miserable.
What’s worse is that he sees some connection between his sin and his
disease.
:11 My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my sore; and my kinsmen stand
afar off.
lovers – ‘ahab – to love;
people David loves.
Some of the toughest times can be when people step back from you. Especially
people that normally care about you.
Be careful about abandoning people when they are going through tough times.
Be careful about letting people come between you and your family.
:15 For in thee, O LORD, do I hope: thou wilt hear, O Lord my God.
hope – yachal – (Hiphil)
to wait, tarry, wait for, hope for
Lesson
Hope in the right thing
Everything was going wrong for David, but he was counting on One person to
help, God.
Illustration
The Rabbi's Hat
A Rabbi is walking slowly down the street when a gust of wind blows his hat
from his head. The hat is being blown down the street, but he is an old man and
can’t walk fast enough to catch the hat. Across the street a Gentile sees what
has happened and rushes over to grab the hat and then returns it to the Rabbi.
“I don’t think I would have been able to catch my hat,” said the Rabbi. “Thank
you very much.” The Rabbi then places his hand on the man’s shoulder and says,
“May God bless you.” The young man thinks to himself, “I’ve been blessed by the
Rabbi, this must be my lucky day!” So he goes to the Racetrack and in the first
race he sees there is a horse named Stetson at 20 to 1. He bets $50 and sure
enough the horse comes in first. In the second race he sees a horse named
Fedora at 30 to 1, so he bets it all and this horse comes in first also.
Finally at the end of the day he returns home to his wife. When she asks him where
he’s been, he explains how he caught the Rabbi’s hat and was blessed by him and
then went to the track and started winning on horses that had a hat in their
names. “So where’s the money?” she asks. “I lost it all in the ninth race. I
bet on a horse named Chateau and it lost.” “You fool, Chateau is a house,
Chapeau is a hat!” “It doesn’t matter,” he said, “the winner was some Japanese
horse named Yarmulka.”
Well you shouldn’t be betting at the racetrack anyway. Hope in the Lord.
:18 For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin.
Lesson
Confession under pressure.
David has some sort of illness. He has people out to get him.
But he also realizes that he has sin in his life.
Sometimes we can just dig in our heels and get stubborn about our sin. We
know we’re wrong but we aren’t about to admit it in front of others. Not until
they at least treat us nicely.
Stop running from God and admit your sin.
Illustration
In his book Great Themes of the Bible,
Louis Albert Banks told of the time D. L. Moody visited a prison called “The
Tombs” to preach to the inmates. After he had finished speaking, Moody talked
with a number of men in their cells. He asked each prisoner this question, “What
brought you here?” Again and again he received replies like this: “I don’t
deserve to be here.” “I was framed.” “I was falsely accused.” “I was given an
unfair trial.” Not one inmate would admit he was guilty. Finally, Moody found a
man with his face buried in his hands, weeping. “And what’s wrong, my friend?”
he inquired. The prisoner responded, “My sins are more than I can bear.”
Relieved to find at least one man who would recognize his guilt and his need of
forgiveness, the evangelist exclaimed, “Thank God for that!” Moody then had the
joy of pointing him to a saving knowledge of Christ—a knowledge that released
him from his shackles of sin.
We read last week:
(Psa 32:5 KJV) I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity
have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and
thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.
Psalm 39
:1 To the chief Musician, even to Jeduthun, A Psalm of David.
Jeduthun was one of the three main worship leaders that David set up over
the music of the Tabernacle and eventually the Temple.
His descendants continued to lead worship.
This is another Psalm about dealing with sin and difficult times.
:2 I was dumb with silence, I held my peace, even from good; and my sorrow
was stirred.
Lesson
Silence is okay
Sometimes it’s a good thing to learn to just keep your mouth shut.
(Prov 13:3 KJV) He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he
that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.
(Prov 17:27 KJV) He that hath knowledge spareth his
words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.
(Prov 21:23 KJV) Whoso keepeth his mouth and his
tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.
Or, “It’s better to keep your mouth shut and let them think you’re a fool
than to open it and dispel all doubt.”
:4 LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that
I may know how frail I am.
Lesson
Life is fragile
You’re not going to live forever.
Moses wrote,
(Psa 90:12 KJV) So teach us to number our days, that we may apply
our hearts unto wisdom.
All you have to do is pick up a newspaper and read what is happening with
the fires this week all over Southern California.
Others around us are fragile as well:
Illustration
Dear Ann Landers:
I have a message for that 16-year-old boy who has a “21-year-old
problem”—his brother. My brother drowned three weeks ago. One minute he was
alive and full of fun. The next minute he was gone, forever.
I never felt especially close to my brother. We fought and
didn’t agree on many things. But now I realize how much a part of my life he
was. Sure, he got on my nerves, and I’d tell him to bug off. But now I remember
all the favors he did that only a brother could.
I’m just trying to urge people to think about what their
brothers and sisters mean to them and to express their appreciation. I hope
they do it today because tomorrow may be too late.—Miss Him a Lot
Ann Landers, 8-24-92
:11 When thou with rebukes dost correct man for iniquity, thou makest his
beauty to consume away like a moth: surely every man is vanity. Selah.
(Psa 39:11 NIV) You rebuke and discipline men for their sin; you
consume their wealth like a moth-- each man is but a breath. Selah
:7 And now, Lord, what wait I for? my hope is in thee.
Keep holding on to Jesus.
Psalm 40
We’ll look at this on Sunday morning.
:1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. I waited patiently for the
LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.
:2 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and
set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.
:3 And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many
shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.
:4 Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not
the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.
:5 Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and
thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto
thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.
:6 Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou
opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required.
:7 Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me,
:8 I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.
:9 I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I have not
refrained my lips, O LORD, thou knowest.
:10 I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy
faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy
truth from the great congregation.
:11 Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O LORD: let thy
lovingkindness and thy truth continually preserve me.
:12 For innumerable evils have compassed me about: mine iniquities have
taken hold upon me, so that I am not able to look up; they are more than the
hairs of mine head: therefore my heart faileth me.
:13 Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me: O LORD, make haste to help me.
:14 Let them be ashamed and confounded together that seek after my soul to
destroy it; let them be driven backward and put to shame that wish me evil.
:15 Let them be desolate for a reward of their shame that say unto me, Aha,
aha.
:16 Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: let such as
love thy salvation say continually, The LORD be magnified.
:17 But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my
help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God.