Sound Instruction

by K. Drain, Belfast. N. Ireland | Category: Meditations In The Psalms | Sept 1990

"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; hut the foolish despise wisdom and instruction" (Prov. 1:7).

Today many of us are seeking for instruction which is palatable rather than sound or healthful. We want it to be permissive rather than restrictive, accommodating rather than exclusive. If we wish to seek sound instruction we must seek for it in a spirit of godly fear and reverence, that same godly fear which characterized the Lord (Heb. 5:7).

We shall concentrate our meditations on Sound Instruction particularly in three Psalms - 37, 49 and 73, the fff5t a Psalm of David, the second a Psalm of the sons of Korah and the third a Psalm of Asaph.

In times of spiritual weakness we often look past ourselves to the successes of others; rather than be preoccupied in a spirit of thanksgiving for God's many blessings to us we disregard the plight of those less well off and compare ourselves to those who appear to be better off. Sadly this comparison is often with those who have never received the riches of Christ, which we possess, yet we envy them their material wealth and forget about their spiritual poverty. At such times we should be directed by His words, not our own.

Out of the riches of Psalm 37 let us highlight a number of direct instructions to us and selected responses from the Lord.

Instructions to Us

1. Trust in the LORD, v.3 This trust is seen as total reliance and confidence in the One who is able to protect and provide for our every need. We think of the trust of a baby in the arms of the mother who cherishes him. Has not the Lord proved the depths of His love to establish our trust?

2. Delight ... in the LORD, v.4 We should gain great pleasure from Him whose own delight or pleasure was to do the will of God. Is the Lord truly our delight or do we allow the material pleasures of this world to captivate us and meet our heart's empty desires with their equally empty and transient satisfactions? "Thy wounds, Immanuel, all forbid, that I should seek my pleasure there".

3. Commit thy way unto the LORD, v.5 The margin says "Roll thy way upon the LORD", suggesting the easy transfer of a burden on to the strong and capable shoulders of Another. We do not need to be concerned for our lives if they are entrusted to His care. As the burden of sin rolled from us at Calvary so too the burden of daily living for Him need not weigh us down.

4. Rest in the LORD, v.7 Another lovely rendering in the margin for this is "Be still before the LORD", and those choice words in Psalm 23 are echoed - "He leadeth me beside the still waters (or waters of rest)". When the Lord spoke to Elijah in the cave at Horeb, at a time when Elijah was depressed and could only see the problems surrounding him, the Lord was not in the wind, not in the earthquake, not in the fire, but in a still small voice (or a sound of gentle stillness). In these days of sounding brass and clanging cymbals how refreshing it is to rest by the still waters, savouring of their coolness and peacefulness.

5. Wait upon the LORD, v.9 "But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength" (Is. 40:31). This is not the waiting associated with a time delay but rather the patient yet eager expectation of what the Lord has to offer us. In what better way are we to be built up and enriched than in the strength of the Lord. "Stand in His strength alone; the arm of flesh will fail you".

6. Wait on the LORD, v.34 It is so easy to convince ourselves that we are waiting on the Lord, but our everyday living belies any close association with Him. Waiting is here qualified by three short words - keep His way. The Lord desires to bless those whose lives are in accordance with His will, and in His inestimable grace He calls us daily to be cleansed of our sin and to be

used in service for Him.

Responses from the Lord

1. The Lord shall laugh, v.13 There is no pleasure in the laugh of derision when the Lord views with contempt and scorn the last days of the wicked who seem to carry out their evil doings unrestrained. What a contrast this is to the darkness of Psalm 22 foretelling when the wicked would laugh to scorn the Lord as He became a worm and no man for us. In Job chapter 18 we read of the terrible end of the wicked when his light shall be put out and his remembrance shall perish from the earth. Let us not be guilty of envying the wicked man his current material prosperity, but rather give God thanks for His many blessings to us.

2. The LORD upholdeth, v.17 Our support or help comes from the Lord. What a picture of strength and protection is conveyed in those words - "I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto Myself". We view the mighty eagle, not grasping her prey in her talons, but carefully and protectively nestling the young on her back, soaring away from danger and bringing them to the safety of the mountaintop abode. Then we think of the security of knowing that, for the child of God underneath are the everlasting arms. "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I come again, and will receive you unto Myself' (John 14:3).

3. The LORD knoweth, v.18 Our every thought and action is known to Him. Doesn't this calm our troubled thoughts and ease our many worries?

Consider the lilies of the field, we are exhorted. May we rest content knowing that the One who cares for the lilies also cares for us with diligence and divine omniscience.

4. The LORD upholdeth, v.24 Peter's ability to walk on the water ceased when he took his eyes off the Lord and looked around him. Immediately the Lord stretched forth His hand and upheld him in safety. As we stumble because of the attacks of the adversary the Lord is standing beside us to uphold us with His nail-scarred hand. "And Thy right hand hath holden me up" (Ps. 18:35).

5. The LORD loveth, v.28 We read in Psalm 11:7 that the Lord loveth righteousness and in Psalm 146:8 that the Lord loves the righteous, but in this verse it is judgement which the Lord loves. Perhaps we see in this the outworking of Proverbs 3:12. "For whom the LORD loveth He reproveth". It is only in the godly judgement of wrongdoing that the Lord can refine His people, removing the dross and bringing them forth purified.

6. The LORD will not leave, v.33 He will not suffer us to be tempted above that we are able, but rather knows how to deliver the godly out of temptation (see 1 Cor. 10:13 and 2 Peter 2:9). What a comfort it is to know that He will not leave us in the hand of the wicked to be utterly destroyed. The same power which did not allow the soul of Jesus to be left in Hades will not permit the righteous to be abandoned to the mercy of the ungodly. "I will not fail thee, nor

forsake thee" (Josh. 1:5).

7. The LORD helpeth, v.40 Reassurance of our security in Him must surely be found in the fact that "My help cometh from the LORD" (Ps. 121:2), and "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble" (Ps. 46:1). Help is not something we wish to make application for and then wait for its arrival. Help must be immediate. Help must be sure. Help must rescue as soon as disaster strikes.

As Psalm 37 concentrates on explaining why we should not be envious of the wicked, so Psalm 49 instructs us on the relative worthlessness of material assets. In a world where social standing is dictated to a large extent by material values it is not difficult for the child of God to get drawn into a similar appreciation and evaluation.

The redemption of one soul is beyond the realm of material wealth. How terrible it is to realize that when God takes away life all the wealth which a man has accumulated cannot be exchanged to gain him one extra breath. But how much more terrible to realize that, as his last breath finally

severs his association with his wealth, so too that money cannot redeem his soul.

The tragic end of those who have trusted in their wealth is graphically described as a flock of sheep going to Sheol under the care of the awful shepherd Death, but let us rejoice in the hope expressed for those who are upright, whose souls have been redeemed not with corruptible things but with the precious blood of Christ. Their reward is to be received by God. "Thou wilt shew me the path of life: In Thy presence is fulness of joy; In Thy right hand are pleasures for evermore" (Ps. 16:11). "I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with Thy likeness" (Ps. 17:15).

Psalm 73 offers help on the problem of sin which appears to go unpunished in the world. The Lord seems to allow evil men to prosper and succeed while His saints suffer and are deprived. This introduces a feeling of resentment and envy. Asaph was caused to say - "Surely in vain have I cleansed my heart" (v.13). Often we wonder too if it is all worthwhile. How terrible that at the height of material wealth and success, man often rejects God and flaunts his position before the Almighty. How true it is that not many wise after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called.

Let us go into the sanctuary of God and consider for a time. It is here that the Lord speaks to us and shows how futile and empty are the lives of those who pursue earthly wealth - they become a desolation in a moment. Once again we are reassured of the Lord's constant overruling protection of His people, holding their hand, guiding them and, in His time, receiving them to glory. It is understandable that in the light of this revelation Asaph should feel ashamed of his earlier reaction and recognize his total dependence on God. When we feel weak and our heart is failing us may we turn to the Lord as our refuge and draw near to Him for shelter and sustenance.

K. Drain, Belfast. N. Ireland | Sept 1990
Meditations In The Psalms