"Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs." Matthew 5:10 (CSB)
So, How do we develop this attitude? We are using David’s Psalm. David
gives us some good thoughts – He gives us five steps to consider. (Open your
Bible to Psalm 7 and follow along)
First, we must rely on God
– verses 1-2.
“A small boy
riding a bus home from Sunday school was very proud of the card he had
received, which had a picture and a caption that read: “Have Faith in God.”
Then to his dismay, the card slipped from his hand and fluttered out the window.
“Stop the bus!” he cried. “I’ve lost my ‘faith in God!’” The driver pulled the
bus to a stop, and as the lad climbed out and went to retrieve his card, one of
the adult riders smiled and made a comment about the innocence of youth. A more
perceptive adult observed, “All of us would be better off if we were that
concerned about our faith." David had that concern and reliance on God as
well.”
For David, God is his refuge, his impenetrable protection. He knew
the power of God to save him from his persecutors. He knew the consequences if
God did not intervene for him
How many times do we fail to get the protection of God because we
fail to ask for the protection of God? It is not that God does not protect His
children anyway. But, He desires to hear that we trust Him. We exercise faith and He responds to that
faith – Matt.7:7 - “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will
find; knock, and it will be opened to you.”
God never fails us – Zephaniah 3:5 - The LORD is righteous in
her midst, He will do no unrighteousness. Every morning He brings His justice
to light; He never fails, but the unjust knows no shame.
When we suffer for doing what is right, God defends us - 1 Pet.
4:19 - Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit
their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.
Second, review your innocence
– verses 3-5.
“Setting out
from Hamburg, Germany, one day to give a concert in London, violinist Fritz
Kreisler had an hour before his boat sailed. He wandered into a music shop,
where the proprietor asked if he could look at the violin Kreisler was
carrying. He then vanished and returned with two policemen, one of whom told
the violinist, "You are under arrest."
"What
for?" asked Kreisler.
"You have
Fritz Kreisler’s violin."
"I am
Fritz Kreisler."
"You can’t
pull that on us. Come along to the station."
As Kreisler’s
boat was sailing soon, there was no time for prolonged explanations.
Kreisler asked
for his violin and played a piece he was well known for. "Now are you satisfied?"
he asked. They were!
Here, David sets the wheels in motion asking for God to review his
actions. “If” is an awfully big word. Here it does not imply doubt in one’s
innocence – it reveals confidence in one’s innocence.It is like saying, “go
ahead and check me out; you will find nothing wrong; of this I am sure!”
If he is guilty, then allow his enemies to trample him and take his
life (lay my honor in the dust = a picture of death). This is confidence that
no wrong will be found in Him. This is confidence in righteous behavior David
was self-confident of his purity and could say these things comfortably in the
midst of false accusations (because of his self-examination).
We can face our persecutors with confidence because:
· Our
consciences are clear as we live honestly - Heb. 13:18 - Pray for us; for we
are confident that we have a good conscience, in all things desiring to live
honorably.
· When we
live with a heart of integrity - Proverbs 10:9 - He who walks with integrity
walks securely, but he who perverts his ways will become known.
Third, request God’s
vindication – verse 6-13. Here, David looks at an aspect of God and it’s
relation to his situation; that of Judge
David prays for two different types of judgment (8-9):
a.
David, the believer – he recounts his righteousness
and integrity (8). For us, that would be our salvation and good works. Salvation
– already justified by Christ and made perfectly acceptable to God. Works –
what we will be judged on at the Bema Seat for rewards, not salvation (2nd Cor.
5:10).
b.
For the unbeliever – his wickedness will be
judged (9) on this earth in various ways. Also at the Great White Throne
judgment for condemnation (Rev. 20:11-15)
David acknowledges God as a just and ready judge (10-13). God is always
prepared for judgment at just the right time (11-13). For the believer, God will
save and defend (10). His vindication is the confirmation of innocence and the
judgment of his enemies.
Fourth, we must remember the
consequences – verses 14-16.
“One day, a
mother explained to her five-year-old daughter that if she chose to disobey
her, she would have to live with the consequences. "Oh, Mommy!" she
said with a terrified look on her face. "Please don’t make me live with
the Consequences. I want to live here with you!"
We should want to live with God, not the consequences of wrong
actions. David now turns his attention to what the wicked do and its
consequences:
·
Surprise, evil men do evil things (14) – it is
their nature (Matt. 12:35).
·
The wicked eventually get caught in the trap
they lay for others, especially the righteous (15). The pit speaks of not only
animal traps but pits prepared in times of warfare. Pits would be dug to trap
the enemy but would often backfire and the person would fall into his own trap.
We can take comfort in this and also learn:
·
The comfort – that there is no lasting success
for the enemy of our souls.
·
The lesson – Gal. 6:7-8 - Do not be
deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For
he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to
the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.
Every action has its consequences –
·
When we do right, it will reap the reward.
·
When we do wrong, it will reap retribution
Finally, react with praise
– vers 17.
“There was a
tenant in an apartment building who was a widow woman who loved God dearly. Her
landlord, on the other hand, despised God and her faith. One day she ran out of
food and money and with no one to help she turned to God in prayer. She prayed,
“Oh dear God please help me in my time of need, I look to you and you alone to
provide my needs, now please send me some food, for I’m tired and hungry. The
landlord heard the prayer through the wall and thought, “ I’ll show her once and
for all that God doesn’t care for her, that He doesn’t hear and answer
prayers.” So he went to the grocery store and bought a bill of groceries and
used his access key to get into her apartment and set the groceries on her dining
room table. When the woman came in and found the groceries she began to praise
God and thank Him for answering her prayers. The landlord was listening and
went to her apartment and told her she was a religious fool and that God didn’t
give her the groceries he said, “I gave you the groceries.” No, she said, “Your
wrong and I’m right, God sent me these groceries even if He had to send them by
the devil.”
David sums up his feelings about God. He does not dwell on his
situation. He closes with honor and glory to God.
Not only is it good to start with praise but also good to end with
praise. This Psalm makes a giant circle. Verse 17 takes us back to verse 1. In
verse 1 we praise God for who He is. In verse 17 we give God His proper place
as the most supreme One in our lives. We need this circle because of the many
times we go through the persecutions and problems in life.
Tomorrow, we ill discuss the reward for doing this the right way.
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