Above all, I was a fighting man. . . it was deeply ingrained in my being, a part of me. Hurt, I would fight; dying, I would still try to fight.”
–Louis L’Amour (The Sackett Brand)
“Fight the worthwhile battle of the faith, keep your grip on that life eternal to which you have been called, and to which you boldly professed your loyalty before many witnesses.”
–1 Timothy 6:12 (Phillips)
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I’m going to finish Psalm 89 this morning. There are several verses, but read them slowly, contemplating on what is being said and how it relates to you. Remember, God is on our side no matter what the circumstances look like, no matter what seems to be the dictation of the situation. “God is faithful; his will must ultimately triumph; but whether or not we triumph depends upon how we relate ourselves to that will.” (W. Graham Scroggie)
38 — But You have cast off and abhorred, You have been furious with Your anointed.
39 — You have renounced the covenant of Your servant; You have profaned his crown by casting it to the ground.
40 — You have broken down all his hedges; You have brought his strongholds to ruin.
41 — All who pass by the way plunder him; he is a reproach to his neighbors.
42 — You have exalted the right hand of his adversaries; You have made all his enemies rejoice.
43 — You have also turned back the edge of his sword, and have not sustained him in the battle.
44 — You have made his glory cease, and cast his throne down to the ground.
45 — The days of his youth You have shortened; You have covered him with shame. Selah
46 — How long, LORD? Will You hide Yourself forever? Will Your wrath burn like fire?
47 — Remember how short my time is; for what futility have You created all the children of men?
48 — What man can live and not see death? Can he deliver his life from the power of the grave? Selah
49 — Lord, where are Your former lovingkindnesses, which You swore to David in Your truth?
50 — Remember, Lord, the reproach of Your servants–how I bear in my bosom the reproach of all the many peoples,
51 — With which Your enemies have reproached, O LORD, with which they have reproached the footsteps of Your anointed.
52 — Blessed be the LORD forevermore! Amen and Amen.
This is directed to the nation of Israel. Think of it, David, Solomon, then there is turmoil and the nation is split in two. It is said that desperate circumstances demand desperate measures and that is true of Israel, and could be of each of our lives. Idolatry, the loss of identity, false worship–Jeroboam had constructed golden calves and encouraged the people to worship them. Oh woe to the nation who forgets God. Within two centuries Israel ceased to exist as a nation.
John I. Durham points out, “It is no accident that unchanging love is used five times in this psalm and faithfulness seven times.” Even with the questions brought forward toward the end of the Psalm there is a final note of praise and triumph shown. It seems that God is hiding Himself from Israel (and He has), and the psalmist is asking how long.
How long will Israel be forgotten? We may say the same thing when we are facing circumstances that seem overwhelming. How long? we may cry. Read the last verse, then go back and read verse one. “The unchanging faithfulness of God, forever reliable and firm, is a glorious treasure to believers.” (Steven J. Lawson)
God is faithful even when it seems He has forgotten and hidden Himself from you. He will bring you through–hang on. In tough times we need to be like the old cowboy in the midst of the storm and “just hunker down.” He will lift us up; He will see us through. “How blessed to lift our eyes above this scene of ruin, and behold One who is faithful in all things, at all times.” (Arthur W. Pink)
“If all were easy, if all were bright,
Where would be the cross, where would be the fight?
But in the hardness, God gives to you
Chances for proving what He can do.”
–unknown
————————————
I’m going to finish Psalm 89 this morning. There are several verses, but read them slowly, contemplating on what is being said and how it relates to you. Remember, God is on our side no matter what the circumstances look like, no matter what seems to be the dictation of the situation. “God is faithful; his will must ultimately triumph; but whether or not we triumph depends upon how we relate ourselves to that will.” (W. Graham Scroggie)
38 — But You have cast off and abhorred, You have been furious with Your anointed.
39 — You have renounced the covenant of Your servant; You have profaned his crown by casting it to the ground.
40 — You have broken down all his hedges; You have brought his strongholds to ruin.
41 — All who pass by the way plunder him; he is a reproach to his neighbors.
42 — You have exalted the right hand of his adversaries; You have made all his enemies rejoice.
43 — You have also turned back the edge of his sword, and have not sustained him in the battle.
44 — You have made his glory cease, and cast his throne down to the ground.
45 — The days of his youth You have shortened; You have covered him with shame. Selah
46 — How long, LORD? Will You hide Yourself forever? Will Your wrath burn like fire?
47 — Remember how short my time is; for what futility have You created all the children of men?
48 — What man can live and not see death? Can he deliver his life from the power of the grave? Selah
49 — Lord, where are Your former lovingkindnesses, which You swore to David in Your truth?
50 — Remember, Lord, the reproach of Your servants–how I bear in my bosom the reproach of all the many peoples,
51 — With which Your enemies have reproached, O LORD, with which they have reproached the footsteps of Your anointed.
52 — Blessed be the LORD forevermore! Amen and Amen.
This is directed to the nation of Israel. Think of it, David, Solomon, then there is turmoil and the nation is split in two. It is said that desperate circumstances demand desperate measures and that is true of Israel, and could be of each of our lives. Idolatry, the loss of identity, false worship–Jeroboam had constructed golden calves and encouraged the people to worship them. Oh woe to the nation who forgets God. Within two centuries Israel ceased to exist as a nation.
John I. Durham points out, “It is no accident that unchanging love is used five times in this psalm and faithfulness seven times.” Even with the questions brought forward toward the end of the Psalm there is a final note of praise and triumph shown. It seems that God is hiding Himself from Israel (and He has), and the psalmist is asking how long.
How long will Israel be forgotten? We may say the same thing when we are facing circumstances that seem overwhelming. How long? we may cry. Read the last verse, then go back and read verse one. “The unchanging faithfulness of God, forever reliable and firm, is a glorious treasure to believers.” (Steven J. Lawson)
God is faithful even when it seems He has forgotten and hidden Himself from you. He will bring you through–hang on. In tough times we need to be like the old cowboy in the midst of the storm and “just hunker down.” He will lift us up; He will see us through. “How blessed to lift our eyes above this scene of ruin, and behold One who is faithful in all things, at all times.” (Arthur W. Pink)
“If all were easy, if all were bright,
Where would be the cross, where would be the fight?
But in the hardness, God gives to you
Chances for proving what He can do.”
–unknown