Wednesday
Evening Bible Study
May 26, 2004
Psalm 137
This is a song that was written by the exiles who had been taken off to Babylon
after Nebuchadnezzar leveled Jerusalem
in 586 BC.
:1-6 Songs in Babylon
:1 By the rivers of Babylon,
there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion.
rivers – the Euphrates and the canals that
were built in the area.
:3 …Sing us one of the songs of Zion.
The people are being taunted by the Babylonians.
:5 If I forget thee, O Jerusalem,
let my right hand forget her cunning.
cunning – the word is not in Hebrew.
Perhaps the idea is that the musician’s right hand would forget it’s
ability to play the lyre.
:7-9 Vengeance for enemies
:7 Remember, O LORD, the children of Edom
in the day of Jerusalem; who said,
Raze it, raze it, even to the foundation thereof.
When the Babylonians conquered Jerusalem,
the Edomites stood on the sidelines and cheered on the Babylonians.
Ezekiel had a record of it (Eze. 25:12-13).
Obadiah wrote about this:
(Oba 1:11-16 KJV) In the day that thou stoodest
on the other side, in the day that the strangers carried away captive his
forces, and foreigners entered into his gates, and cast lots upon Jerusalem,
even thou wast as one of them. {12} But thou shouldest not have looked on the
day of thy brother in the day that he became a stranger; neither shouldest thou
have rejoiced over the children of Judah
in the day of their destruction; neither shouldest thou have spoken proudly in
the day of distress. {13} Thou shouldest not have entered into the gate of my
people in the day of their calamity; yea, thou shouldest not have looked on
their affliction in the day of their calamity, nor have laid hands on their
substance in the day of their calamity; {14} Neither shouldest thou have stood
in the crossway, to cut off those of his that did escape; neither shouldest
thou have delivered up those of his that did remain in the day of distress.
{15} For the day of the LORD is near upon all the heathen: as thou hast done, it
shall be done unto thee: thy reward shall return upon thine own head. {16} For
as ye have drunk upon my holy mountain, so shall all the heathen drink
continually, yea, they shall drink, and they shall swallow down, and they shall
be as though they had not been.
Lesson
Rejoicing at the calamity of others
We need to be careful that we don’t find ourselves laughing with glee when
people “get what’s coming to them”.
We ought to weep with those who weep.
We ought to weep with those who have stumbled and are trapped in a
distant land.
When the prodigal son returned, there were two different reactions:
The Father’s reaction:
(Luke 15:20-24 KJV) And he arose, and came to his father. But
when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and
ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. {21} And the son said unto him,
Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy
to be called thy son. {22} But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the
best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his
feet: {23} And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and
be merry: {24} For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and
is found. And they began to be merry.
The elder son’s reaction:
(Luke 15:28-30 KJV) And he was angry, and would not go in:
therefore came his father out, and entreated him. {29} And he answering said to
his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any
time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make
merry with my friends: {30} But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath
devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.
He felt the younger brother shouldn’t have gotten
compassion. But he was wrong.
:9 Happy shall he be, that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the
stones.
This sounds pretty mean and cruel.
But the idea is that this is probably what the people saw happen in Jerusalem
when it was sacked by the Babylonians.
He’s asking God to give the Babylonians what they gave the Israelites
(vs. 8).
Spurgeon writes,
“Let those find fault with it who have never seen their temple burned,
their city ruined, their wives ravished, and after children slain; they might
not, perhaps, be quite so velvet mouthed if they had suffered after this
fashion. It is one thing to talk of the bitter feeling which moved captive
Israelites in Babylon, and quite
another thing to be captives ourselves under a savage and remorseless power,
which knew not how to show mercy, but delighted in barbarities to the
defenseless.”
Lesson
Getting what you give
The Babylonians leveled Jerusalem. They had a fun time dashing the children
against the stones.
They would get what they gave out.
Jesus said,
(Mat 7:1-2 NLT)
"Stop judging others, and you will not be judged. {2} For others
will treat you as you treat them. Whatever measure you use in judging others,
it will be used to measure how you are judged.
Psalm 138
:1 before the gods will I sing praise unto thee.
gods – could refer to the pagan “gods”, could also refer to human
rulers or judges.
:2 for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.
What does this mean?
Ryrie: God's answer to the
psalmist's prayer surpassed all that he had previously known His name to
signify.
(Psa 138:2 NLT) your
promises are backed by all the honor of your name.
(Psa 138:2 NASB) Thou hast
magnified Thy word according to all Thy name.
We use the phrase:
“A man is as good as his word”
God keeps His Word. He keeps His
promises.
David is praising God because He has kept His word and answered David’s
prayers.
:6 Though the LORD be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the
proud he knoweth afar off.
Lesson
Humility and nearness to God
There is a connection between humility and closeness to God.
(James 4:6-10 KJV) But he
giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth
the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. {7} Submit yourselves therefore to
God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. {8} Draw nigh to God, and he
will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts,
ye double minded. {9} Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be
turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. {10} Humble yourselves in the
sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
Pride is a relationship killer.
When we have pride in our hearts, we find that our relationships with
others are hurt. Someone doesn’t treat
us the way we think we deserve and we feel “hurt”.
Somehow, when you walk in humility, you don’t seem to
notice those kinds of things.
The same thing goes in our relationship with God.
We get closer to Him on our knees.
Illustration
As a young Christian, I thought that our group’s evangelism efforts should
focus on celebrities. My theory was that the poster people could influence more
folks for Christ than us ordinary-Joe types. Occasionally I would hear of a
celebrity conversion, but I was usually disappointed that not many seemed to
follow. That taught me an important lesson: God doesn’t build His kingdom on
the fragile backs of star power. Glitz doesn’t go very far with the Lord, and
Isaiah tells us why: “This is the one I esteem: He who is humble and contrite
in spirit, and trembles at my word” (Isaiah 66:2).
-- Dana Key of Degarmo and Key, By Divine Design (Nashville, 1995), p. 97.
Illustration
Hudson Taylor once noted that “God uses men who are weak and feeble enough
to lean on him.”
:8 The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me
(Psa 138:8 NLT) The LORD
will work out his plans for my life-- for your faithful love, O LORD, endures
forever. Don't abandon me, for you made me.
Lesson
Unfinished business.
God knows what He has planned for you, and He doesn’t quit until He’s done
what He wants to accomplish in you.
Illustration
At our old house, a fellow bought the house next door and it was quite a
“fixer-upper”. He was a fellow who had a
lot of fix-it skills. He seemed to have
some wonderful plans for the house next door.
One of the first things he did was to tear out much of the inside. He told me he built a new kitchen for his
wife. He supposedly tore out walls,
replaced all kinds of stuff. On the
outside of the house, he began all sorts of projects. He started building very neat looking pillars
and fences around the front yard. He
began to put nice siding on the house.
He replaced some of the windows and doors. But he seems to have one interesting
quality. Before we moved I hadn’t seen
him finish any of the projects. He seems
to move on to the next project before finishing the one he’s on.
On the other hand, God finishes His projects.
(Phil 1:6 KJV) Being
confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will
perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
(1 Th 5:24 KJV) Faithful is he that calleth you, who also
will do it.
God has a plan in mind for each of us.
He knows what He’s doing.
Illustration
When Jesus decided to change Peter’s name in John 1:42, it demonstrated how Jesus looks at men. He does not only see what a man is; he also
sees what a man can become. He sees not
only the actualities in a man; he also sees the possibilities. Jesus looked at Peter and saw in him not only
a Galilaean fisherman but one who had it in him to
become a rock on which his church would be built. Jesus sees us not only as we are, but as we
can be; and he says: “Give your life to
me, and I will make you what you have it in you to be.”
Once someone came on Michelangelo chipping away with his chisel at a huge
shapeless piece of rock. He asked the sculptor what he was doing. “I am releasing the angel imprisoned in this
marble,” he answered. Jesus is the one
who sees and can release the hidden hero in every man.
-- William Barclay's
Commentary on The Gospel of John
Illustration
At one time Andrew Carnegie was the wealthiest man in America.
He came to America
from his native Scotland
when he was a small boy, did a variety of odd jobs, and eventually ended up as
the largest steel manufacturer in the United
States.
At one time he had forty-three millionaires working for him. In those days a millionaire was a rare
person; conservatively speaking, a million dollars in his day would be
equivalent to at least forty million dollars today.
A reporter asked Carnegie how he had hired forty-three millionaires. Carnegie responded that those men had not
been millionaires when they started working for him but had become millionaires
as a result.
The reporter’s next question was, “How did you develop these men to become
so valuable to you that you have paid them this much money?” Carnegie replied
that men are developed the same way gold is mined. When gold is mined, several
tons of dirt must be moved to get an ounce of gold; but one doesn’t go into the
mine looking for dirt—one goes in looking for the gold.
That’s probably how we ought to learn to look at each other as well.
Sometimes we get frustrated with each other because we see so much dirt in
people’s lives. We see lots of
unfinished “projects”, things that need attention.
Perhaps we need to think about the “gold” that God has been mining in their
lives. Perhaps we need to see if we can
catch a glimpse of the “angel” God is trying to release in the marble.
God isn’t finished with them yet.
God isn’t finished with me yet.
Psalm 139
We looked at this last Sunday morning.
Psalm 140
:1-5 Bad people out to get me
:3 …adders' poison is under their lips
adder – The Egyptian cobra, one of the most poisonous snakes.
:5 they have set gins for me. Selah.
gins – traps or snares.
Lesson
There are bad people
There will be bad people who will try and “get you”.
Some of us are surprised when this happens.
:6-8 Prayer for help
:9-13 Get the bad guys
:10 Let burning coals fall upon them: let them be cast into the fire; into
deep pits, that they rise not up again.
Some have suggested that the “burning coals” paints a picture like Sodom
and Gomorrah, with fire and
brimstone raining down from heaven.
(Ps 140:10 The Message) Let God pile hellfire on them, let him bury
them alive in crevasses!
Lesson
Vengeance belongs to God
We think of the harsh language as not being very nice, but David is doing
what we are supposed to do – he’s letting God take vengeance.
David’s son, Solomon, wrote,
(Prov 25:21-22 KJV) If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to
eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink: {22} For thou shalt heap
coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee.
Paul quotes Solomon:
(Rom 12:17-21 KJV)
Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight
of all men. {18} If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably
with all men. {19} 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.
Paul says we can heap “coals of fire” on a person by doing
good to them instead of evil.
Illustration
Dr. S. I. McMillen illustrates in a chapter entitled “The High Cost of
Getting Even,” from his book, None of These Diseases, how physical maladies
including ulcers, high blood pressure, and strokes are connected to harboring
resentment and hatred toward others. He says, “It might be written on many
thousands of death certificates that the victim died of ‘grudgitis.’”
Dr. McMillen describes how hating a person enslaves the one who hates:
The moment I start hating a man I become his slave. I cannot enjoy my work anymore because he even controls my thoughts. My
resentments produce too many stress hormones in my body; I become fatigued
after only a few hours of work. The man
I hate may be miles from my bedroom, but more cruel than any slave driver he
whips my thoughts into such a frenzy that my inner-spring mattress becomes a
rack of torture. I really must acknowledge that I am a slave to every man on
whom I pour out my wrath.
Illustration
An Indian brave found an eagle’s egg. Since he couldn’t find the nest to
put it back, he did the next-best thing. He put the eagle’s egg in a nest with
prairie chicken eggs. So the eagle was hatched and began to live with the
prairie chickens. All it saw were chickens, so it clucked and scratched and
pecked around and was a chicken for years. And then one day it saw a glorious
sight in the sky, a great bald eagle soaring up there. He said, “What is that?”
The chicken said, “That is the eagle, the king of birds. But forget it.
That’s not for you; you are a chicken.” And he lived the rest of his life
clucking, pecking, and scratching, and not flying.
- Bruce Larson,
“When Your Enemy Prospers,” Preaching Today, Tape No. 78.
We can live like a chicken and just hate our enemies, or we can learn to
love our enemies and soar like an eagle.
Psalm 141
:2 Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of
my hands as the evening sacrifice.
Incense in the Bible is a picture of prayer. It smells sweet. It ascends upward.
(Rev 8:3-4 KJV) And another
angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given
unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints
upon the golden altar which was before the throne. {4} And the smoke of the
incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out
of the angel's hand.
Your prayers are sweet to the Lord.
:3 Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.
Lesson
The tongue
One of the most dangerous parts of our body is our tongue.
(James 3:1-10 KJV) My brethren, be not many masters (“teachers”) , knowing that we shall
receive the greater condemnation. {2} For in many things we offend all. If any
man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the
whole body.
It’s REALLY hard to go through life without saying
something offensive. Don’t think it’s a
fun and easy thing to be a teacher. You
will find yourself saying many stupid things, many hurtful things, and even
hurting the ones you love the most. I’ve
done it MANY times.
{3} Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey
us; and we turn about their whole body. {4} Behold also the ships, which though
they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about
with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.
{5} Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth
great things.
The tongue may be small, but it’s pretty powerful. It can change the direction of things.
Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! {6} 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.
The tongue can cause all sorts of trouble.
{7} For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of
things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: {8} But the tongue
can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. {9} Therewith
bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after
the similitude of God. {10} Out of the same mouth proceedeth
blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.
It’s pretty hard to tame our tongue. We need God’s help.
David asked God to help him with what comes out of his
mouth.
:4 …let me not eat of their dainties.
David asks God for help with his heart, his deeds, and what kinds of things
he enjoys (don’t enjoy the things of the world too much)
:5 Let the righteous smite me; it shall be a kindness: and let him reprove
me; it shall be an excellent oil
Lesson
Hearing Hard Words
One of the keys to growing up in life is learning to listen when someone
has “hard” things to say to you.
As children, we want to stop up our ears, hum, and not listen to what
someone says.
But as we grow up, we find that we need to listen to hard things.
Paul wrote,
(Eph 4:14-15 KJV) That we
henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every
wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they
lie in wait to deceive; {15} But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into
him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
Growing up requires that we listen to truthful things,
even if they’re difficult to listen to.
Solomon wrote,
(Prov 12:1 NASB) Whoever loves
discipline loves knowledge, But he who hates reproof is stupid.
(Prov 27:6 KJV) Faithful are the
wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.
Some people are very pleasant to communicate with, as long as you say nice
things to them. But sometimes
communication has to include constructive criticism. Parents will say a hearty “amen” to this, but
sometimes even parents need a little, loving guidance.
When someone criticizes you, be careful not to respond with a knee-jerk
criticism back.
If your relationships have a habit of playing “tit-for-tat” (like the Three
Stooges hitting each other), then you’re not going to be growing. Areas of your life that you need to grow in
will be neglected because you are afraid to hear it.
In J. Oswald Sanders’ Book, Spiritual Leadership (pg.120), he
writes:
Samuel Brengle,
noted for his sense of holiness, felt the heat of caustic criticism. Instead of rushing to defend himself, he
replied: “From my heart I thank you for
your rebuke. I think I deserved. Will you, my friend, remember me in
prayer?” When another critic attacked
his spiritual life, Brengle replied: “I thank you for your criticism of my
life. It set me to self-examination and
heart-searching and prayer, which always leads me into a deeper sense of my
utter dependence on Jesus for holiness of heart, and into sweeter fellowship
with Him.”
This was a wise man.