Old Greenbrier Baptist Church

Blog for Week of February 25, 2018

Leading Like Jesus

Luke 5:1-11

Over the past five weeks in our blog, we have taken a short journey through the First Book of Psalms (Pss 1-41) walking on the path of the righteous. We have learned several things on our journey.

• Psalm 1 - There are two basic paths in life. The path of the righteous is God's way and leads to ultimate blessing and happiness. The path of the wicked is the fallen world’s way and leads to ultimate destruction and unhappiness.
• Psalm 4 - The path of the righteous is not always easy, and we can learn from David how to respond in a healthy, godly manner when adversity comes our way by: 1) calling on God for help at the first sign of trouble; 2) remembering that God gives us space in the tight places of life as we trust in him; 3) not reacting to the empty lies, falsehoods, and deceptions the world throws against us while trusting in the Lord for deliverance and vindication.
• Psalm 19 - Both God's creation and his word gloriously reveal him to us, if we will only open our eyes to see and our hearts to believe.
• Psalm 23 - We all need a partner, better yet a shepherd, to help us find the right path and to stay on it. Jesus, the Good Shepherd, guides, renews, protects, and walks with us on the journey of
• Psalm 29 - God doesn’t have just a little power. He has all the power. When even a little of God’s power is released in us, we can accomplish amazing things with him in life.
• Psalm 41 - As we have discovered, the path of the righteous sometimes leads through the valley of the shadow of suffering and death, but God has blessings in store for those who remain faithful in their walk with him. Jesus knew this truth as he quoted Ps 41:9 at the Last Supper.

Over the six weeks leading to Easter, we will walk with Jesus toward Jerusalem and the cross. Jesus knows the path of the righteous and walked it perfectly. He will help us walk it today. The example of Jesus gives valuable insights for walking the path of the righteous. In Luke 5:1-11, Jesus gives us principles of leadership that can enable us to lead like Jesus.

¹ One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God. ² He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. ³ He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.

⁴ When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.”

⁵ Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”

⁶ When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. ⁷ So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.

⁸ When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” ⁹ For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, ¹⁰ and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners.

Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” ¹¹ So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him (Luke 5:1-11 NIV).

A Message Beside the Lake (1-3)

The first three verses set the scene and introduce the characters. The scene is northwest shore of the Lake of Gennesaret, also known as the Sea of Galilee or Sea of Tiberius. The people were “.  . crowding around . . .  and listening to the word of God” (v. 1). They had heard of the miracles Jesus had been performing (cf., Luke 4:38-43). People today still want to hear a word from God to see miracles.

Leadership Principle #1 – Be approachable and ready to meet the physical and spiritual needs of those who come your way.

Fishermen are among the characters in this narrative. In particular, there was Simon, whose name Jesus later changed to Peter, meaning “rock.” Although un-named in the text, Peter’s brother Andrew was most likely there based on “They” in v. 6. James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners were there (v. 10). They were simple fishermen doing what fishermen do – Getting things ready to go fishing after an unsuccessful previous night of fishing. They had a boat that Jesus borrowed.

Leadership Principle #2 – Use all of the resources available to do God’s kingdom work.

This second principle applies not only to the boat but to the disciples as well. Of course Jesus was the central character. To this point in Luke’s gospel Jesus has acted alone, unaccompanied by disciples. He did what God sent him to do. “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent” (Lk 4:43 [NIV]).

Leadership Principle #3 –  To be a good leader, you first have to be a good follower.

This was a key principle I learned in my basic leader training in Civil Air Patrol. Before I could effectively lead others, I had to learn to follow the lead of my superior officers. Jesus followed his Father by obediently coming into the world to teach, heal, and call people to repentance and salvation through the atoning sacrifice of his life. Luke doesn’t record what Jesus taught that day, but Mark 4:1-34 does. The focus here is not on Jesus’ teaching but on his being with the people and calling these fishermen to be his disciples.

A Miraculous Catch of Fish (4-7)

Jesus had a conversation with Peter that set the scene for his first nature miracle in Luke. Jesus commanded, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch” (4). Peter replied, “Master (Gk., epistata “one with authority”– only in Luke 7x of Jesus), we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets” (5).

Leadership Principle #4 –  Present the possibility and call for a faith-filled, obedient response.

The leader must bring the challenge to see the possibility. Jesus presented this possibility not in a holy place but out in the course of everyday life. God’s kingdom work is often done in the experiences of ordinary life. The key is that the follower responds with faith-filled obedience that brings great results. Without a response of faith, the miracle would not have occurred and the call might never have come. What if Peter had refused and walked away or even ridiculed Jesus for suggesting such a possibility? Would one of the other fishermen have responded and been blessed to be Peter, “the rock?” Peter responded faithfully and in the process he calls on his partners to help when the possibility becomes reality in the miraculous catch of fish.

Leadership Principle #5 – Find a person of faith to rally others to do the work at hand.

Peter’s faithful response to the possibility presented by Jesus resulted in a miraculous catch of fish that almost swamped not one but two boats that day. The disciples did nothing to merit Jesus’ call. He did not call the most capable or most qualified. He called those willing to trust him and to follow obediently.

A Challenge to Fish for Men (8-11)

Peter saw what had happened and became frightened. He had a second conversation with Jesus in which he was called to be a disciple. Peter responded, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man” (v. 8b)! Peter’s response was not unlike that of Isaiah’s when he saw the Lord in a vision: “Woe to me! I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty” (Isa 6:5 [NIV]). Here Peter called Jesus “Lord” (Gk., kurios – a term used for God) instead of epistata (“authority”). His eyes had begun to open to see the divine in Jesus. Jesus replied, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will catch men” (10b).

Leadership Principle #6 – Realize that change is hard and scary for human beings.

Change with the Lord is not a source of fear but of excitement and possibility. He transforms our human fear of change with the power of divine possibility. This was a turning point in Peter’s life similar to that of Paul on the Damascus Road. Jesus said, “catch (Gk. zogreo) men” (v. 10). Fish are normally caught to die, but this verb means “catch alive” or “catch for life.” The tense of the verb is continuous meaning both the work never ends and the results last.

Leadership Principle #7 – Call followers not to a momentary conversion but to a new way of living each and every day.

At the end of this passage the disciples left everything to follow Jesus away to kingdom ministry. The heart of the scene was Jesus’ call to the fishermen to leave their nets and give themselves to the work of the kingdom. They reversed their priorities and reordered their commitments. They just had the greatest day of fishing ever but left the great catch of fish and even their boats to follow Jesus. They were truly on their way to being Jesus’ fully devoted followers.

Leadership Principle #8 – Leaders and followers must make personal sacrifices for the greater good of their shared cause.

The call to follow Jesus comes in the midst of ordinary course of life, often when we least expect it.

Leadership Principle #9 – Discover the extraordinary power of God in the midst of the ordinary things of life.

Ordinary fishermen were caught by Jesus and given a new, extraordinary vocation. They would live from this point by Jesus’ teaching as they called others to follow him as they had. Jesus ordered and directed their lives from this point on. What is your response to Jesus’ leadership; to his call to “catch men” for his kingdom? Will you follow him and call others to join you?

Blog for Week of February 18, 2018

Walking with the Good Shepherd

Psalm 23

A recent check-up with the doctor confirmed the fact that I need to make some changes. I need to eat better--more vegetables and less meat. I need more exercise--at least 30 minutes of walking five times a week. It is easy to know that you need these things, but it is hard to do them. Thankfully, I have Deborah, my life partner, to walk with me and help me stay on this new, healthy path. Making changes and sticking to commitments is easier when we have a partner. When it comes to walking God's path for us in life, we all need help. Isaiah declared about us that "We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way" (Isa 53:6). We need a partner, better yet a shepherd, to help us find the right path in life and stay on it. Thankfully, we have the Good Shepherd, the Lord Jesus, to walk with us on the journey of  life.

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

² He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

³ He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

⁴ Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

⁵ Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

⁶ Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever (Psalm 23:1-6 KJV).

The Lord is our shepherd each day (1-3)

Often we hear Psalm 23 read as part of a funeral sermon. Psalm 23 is the most familiar psalm and maybe the most familiar passage in the whole Bible. We often associate it with funerals. In most of my 157 funerals to date I have used Psalm 23 at some point. Psalm 23 is not only about death but also about living—eating, drinking, being safe and secure.

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” (1) - The king was to be the shepherd for God’s people. King David declared that his shepherd was the Lord (Hb., Yahweh). David knew the responsibilities and work of a shepherd because he had been one as a youth. David submitted himself to the rule of the Lord who shepherded him.

“ He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.” (2a) - The Lord, the Good Shepherd, does what human kings and leaders fail to do. God provides the necessities of life and security. Our lives depend solely on God. We recall the image of Jesus feeding the 5,000 as they sat on the “green grass” (Mk 6:39). God knows what we need and provides it as we look to him with grateful hearts.

“He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.” (3) - God not only provides for our physical needs but also for our spiritual needs. Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd.  The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep . . . I lay down my life for the sheep” (Jn 10:11,15). Jesus is the perfect shepherd and the ultimate servant. He provides for our spiritual needs. The Lord restores our souls by turning us around from the way of sin when we come to him in faith just as David declared in Psalm 19, “The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul” (Ps 19:7a); By his Spirit the Lord leads us in the paths of righteousness for his name as promised in Psalm 1, “For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous” (Ps 1:6). Through Jesus, God re-creates us so that we may walk in his righteous way and honor his name.

The Lord is our shepherd in times of trouble and for eternity (4-6)

“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, (Hb., salmawet = deep dark) . . .” (4a) - This verse is at the heart of the psalm both textually and theologically. God’s righteous path sometimes winds its way through dark valleys in this life. Just as God is the Good Shepherd leading us in good days to “green pastures” and “quiet waters,” He is the Good Shepherd leading us in hard days spent traversing the dark places of life. God’s presence is light in the darkness.

“I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” (4b) - Perhaps our greatest human fear is that of death or at least the pain of death. Only the Lord can lead us through the experience of death. All others turn back. He is the only one who is both here in this life and there in the eternity of heaven. We must fear and honor only God and neither fear nor quake before death.  The rod and staff were the shepherd’s implements of protection, rescue, and direction. God is Sovereign and his powerful presence protects, rescues, and directs our lives.

The word rod (Hb., shebet) used here can also be translated as “scepter” to signify royal authority or rule (cf., Gen 49:10, Isa 14:5). Many times in this life we walk in the deep darkness of disappointment, frustration, and death. The good news is that we never walk alone. “He will never leave you nor forsake you” (Dt 31:6). Truly we can “fear no evil,” even death, because God is with us. He is always there for us.

“Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.” (5-6) - In fact God is not only with us in our darkest days but he prepares a feast for us in the face of our disappointments, frustrations, and even in the face of death. Just as in the image of God as Shepherd, God as our Host provides us with: food – “prepares a table” (5); drink – “my cup overflows” (5); and protection – “and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever” (6). John pictures the great celebration of God’s victory over sin, death, and hell in the wedding feast of the Lamb in Revelation

⁶ Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting:

“Hallelujah!
    For our Lord God Almighty reigns.
⁷ Let us rejoice and be glad
    and give him glory!
For the wedding of the Lamb has come,
    and his bride has made herself ready.
⁸ Fine linen, bright and clean,
    was given her to wear (Revelation 19:6-9 NIV).

In Old Testament days to eat and drink at someone’s table created a bond of mutual loyalty. Eating together was often the culminating event of making a covenant. The elders of Israel “beheld God, and ate and drank” at Mount Sinai (Ex 24:8-12). At the Last Supper Jesus said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood” (1 Cor 11:25). God provides us with both abundant life now and life for eternity. “I have come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (Jn 10:10). God’s goodness (Hb., tob) and love (Hb., hesed) follow (Hb., radap = “pursue”) us every day. We think of being pursued by enemies, but it is God’s nature to pursue us not for destruction but for good things as he shows us his unfailing love. Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.” At the end of our earthly lives, God’s abundant provision is eternal life with him in heaven. At his last supper with his disciples who were distressed over his imminent death, Jesus spoke these words of comfort to them and to us:

Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also (Jn 14:1-3 KJV).

We are members of God’s household. We share a sacred covenant and bond as we walk together on the path of righteousness with God. We belong both to God and to one another as members of God’s household. We live under the rule and sovereignty of God our Good Shepherd and Heavenly Host. All we have we receive from God to whom we must give thanks. We must follow God’s good direction to stay on his path of righteousness and so honor him. We must fear only God, remembering he is with us always and everywhere—even in death. We must come to the Lord’s table for renewal as fellow-members of God’s household. We share the journey of this life both with God and each other. God invites you and all the world to join him at his table of life.

Blog for Week of February 11, 2018

The Creator’s Wondrous Creation

Psalm 19

The German philosopher Immanuel Kant said, “Two things fill the mind with ever new and increasing admiration and awe . . . the starry heavens above and the moral law within” (Dialectic of Pure and Practical Reason, conclusion). Psalm 19 addresses both these sources of human admiration and awe: the heavens and God’s law/Word. God has revealed and continues to reveal himself to us in the glory of his creation. The Apostle Paul said,  “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities; his eternal power and divine nature; have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse” (Ro. 1:20). In Psalm 19, the psalmist reflected on God’s glorious revelation of himself in his creation and his word.

The Wonder of Discovering Creation (1-6)

¹ The heavens declare the glory of God;
    the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
² Day after day they pour forth speech;
    night after night they reveal knowledge.
³ They have no speech, they use no words;
    no sound is heard from them.
⁴ Yet their voice goes out into all the earth,
    their words to the ends of the world.
In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun.
⁵     It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber,
    like a champion rejoicing to run his course.
⁶ It rises at one end of the heavens
    and makes its circuit to the other;
    nothing is deprived of its warmth (Psalm 19:1-6 NIV).

The Psalmist describes the glory, eternity, vastness, beauty, and precision of God’s creation. Man has undertaken a quest to discover God’s creation, especially the heavens. The Chinese were among the first to develop an astral calendar. We know the wise men of Matthew 2 came from the east. Galileo is credited with the first use of a telescope in 1609. Copernicus, Kepler, and Newton measured and described the heavens. Modern space exploration in the last century was led by Robert Goddard and Werner von Braun. The US sent humans to explore in the Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, Skylab, and Space Shuttle programs. But God is the only one with complete knowledge and control of his creation.

Did you know that the earth is perfectly placed in space for life to exist? This fact is known as the Anthropic Principle or Goldilocks Effect. Earth’s atmosphere has just the right mixture of gases to support life. Earth’s temperature is just right. Too close and we fry; too far and we freeze. Earth’s radiation levels are just right since our upper atmosphere/magnetosphere protects us. Earth has plenty of water, a critical resource for life that space explorers look for.

Man continues to peer with awe into the wonder of God’s creation. I spent twelve years working for IBM at NASA. One of the most exciting scientific missions I worked on was the launch of the Hubble Space Telescope on STS-31 April 24, 1990. Because of its size and position above earth’s atmosphere Hubble Space Telescope (HST) can see farther and more clearly than any other telescope in history. Hubble is about the size of an 18 wheeler and weighs 13 tons. Its primary mirror is about 8 feet in diameter. The mirrors were ground by computer control and coated with a layer of reflective aluminum 2.5 millionths of an inch thick to which a 1 millionth of an inch protectant was added.  The result was the smoothest, most uniformly coated mirror ever made. Hubble is so sensitive it can see a firefly in Tokyo from Washington, D.C.  It could see two, if they were just 10 feet apart. Day after day Hubble pours forth speech of God’s heavens, night after night it collects knowledge from God’s vast display.

Joseph Addison was born on May 1, 1672 in Wiltshire, England. He was the son of an Anglican minister and graduated from Magdalen College, Oxford. Although intended for the Church, he gave himself to the study of law and politics and through powerful influences attained some important government posts. He was also known for his hymns. Here is a famous hymn, which he titled “The Spacious Firmament on High” and published in The Spectator in 1712. It captures the spirit of Psalm 19.

 

THE spacious firmament on high,

With all the blue ethereal sky,

And spangled heavens, a shining frame,

Their great Original proclaim.

Th' unwearied Sun from day to day

Does his Creator's power display;

And publishes to every land

The work of an Almighty hand.

Soon as the evening shades prevail,

The Moon takes up the wondrous tale;

And nightly to the listening Earth

Repeats the story of her birth:

Whilst all the stars that round her burn,

And all the planets in their turn,

Confirm the tidings as they roll,

And spread the truth from pole to pole.

What though in solemn silence all

Move round the dark terrestrial ball;

What through no real voice nor sound

Amidst their radiant orbs be found?

In Reason's ear they all rejoice,

And utter forth a glorious voice;

For ever singing as they shine,

'The Hand that made us is divine.'

                                                ---Joseph Addison

 

The Wonder of Discovering the Creator (7-11)

The wonder of discovering Creation leads to discovering the Creator. The glory, eternity, vastness, beauty, and precision of Creation cannot be random. Creation itself points to the Creator behind it all.

⁷ The law of the Lord is perfect,
    refreshing the soul.
The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy,
    making wise the simple.
⁸ The precepts of the Lord are right,
    giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the Lord are radiant,
    giving light to the eyes.
⁹ The fear of the Lord is pure,
    enduring forever.
The decrees of the Lord are firm,
    and all of them are righteous.

¹⁰ They are more precious than gold,
    than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,
    than honey from the honeycomb.
¹¹ By them your servant is warned;
    in keeping them there is great reward (Psalm 19:7-11 NIV).

The writer speaks of the majesty of God’s revelation in his word as an extension of the  majesty of God’s revelation in creation. God’s law, his revealed will, is perfect. God’s statues are as trustworthy as God himself is trustworthy. God’s precepts and commandments are precise and authoritative. Our response to God’s revelation in both his creation and his word is awe and reverence. We know that God’s ordinances for us and his judgments of us are always just. God’s law (Hb., torah = “instruction”) leads us on the path of righteousness as we saw in Psalm 1. God’s Word did not remain written on tablets of stone or dusty old pages but came in flesh that it might be written on our hearts by his Holy Spirit. “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth" (Jn 1:14 NIV). God’s Word written in Jesus is the ultimate revelation of God to us. The revelation of God in Jesus is greater and more glorious than anything we can see in the heavens. “Jesus is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.  He is before all things, and in him all things hold together”(Col 1:15-17 NIV).

If God can create and control all the wonder of the universe, then would not his guidance for us in his word then also be wondrous and true? God loves us and provides a plan for our salvation and fruitful living. As the Creator placed the earth in the perfect position in space for life to exist, so he has placed his word in us so that as we live in relationship with him, we may have both abundant and eternal life.

The Wonder of Serving the Creator (12-14)

As we discover creation and its Creator, we must finally discover the wonder of serving the Creator.

¹² But who can discern their own errors?
    Forgive my hidden faults.
¹³ Keep your servant also from willful sins;
    may they not rule over me.
Then I will be blameless,
    innocent of great transgression.

¹⁴ May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart
    be pleasing in your sight,
    Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer (Psalm 19:12-14 NIV).

God is perfect for “who can discern his errors?” (12a). Man is imperfect and asks God to “Forgive my hidden faults.” (12b). As man is imperfect, so also the Hubble Space Telescope had a hidden fault. It was created to be perfect in every respect. It was carefully tested, but there was a small imperfection in the way the mirror was ground. It was polished too flat at the edges by 1/50 of the thickness of a hair. A set of “eyeglasses” were specially made to correct Hubble’s vision and were installed on STS-61 in December 1993, which was the last mission that I worked at NASA.

God is gracious to imperfect man. God created each of us in his image to be perfect as he is perfect. Sin has made us imperfect and distorted the image that God desired for us. The good news is that God can correct our sin through Jesus’ blood. He doesn’t just correct us; He recreates us into a new creature as he originally intended us to be. Paul said, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here (2 Cor 5:17 NIV)! All we need to do is call on him.

Conclusion

Accept the revelation of God all around you: in the heavens, in his Bible, in the presence of the Holy Spirit of the Living Christ. Remember that we must not only know God by his revelation in creation and written word but also by a personal relationship with him through a life-long walk with the Living Word, Jesus Christ. God wants to know you personally. He knows you are imperfect. Let him perfect you through Jesus’ blood and then reveal himself in you to his glory. Let not only the heavens declare the glory of God and the work of his hands. Let each of  us declare his glory and work as we make the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts pleasing in his sight.

Blog for Week of February 4, 2018

Basking in God’s Light

Psalm 4

How do we respond when adversity, trials, tests, disappointments come our way? It is not a matter of if we will face adversity and disappointments in life but when we will face them. How will we respond when we are betrayed, abused, persecuted, lied about, humiliated, hurt? As we considered in Psalm 1, will we respond the right, godly way or the wrong, worldly way? My observation of our times is that individuals in our society don’t know how to deal with the disappointments of life in a healthy, godly manner. In our pain, we often respond the wrong way with vengeance, retaliation, and selfishness. When people hurt us, we want to hurt them back. We want to get even. We want what we want no matter what it takes to get it.

King David faced  times of adversity in his life. One of the worst was the revolt of his own son Absalom. Absalom was jealous of his father’s power and position. The events of Absalom’s attempted coup d’état are found in 2 Samuel 15-19. Absalom ingratiated himself to the Israelites and had himself declared king. David was forced to flee from Jerusalem for his life. It was a time in which David was humiliated, surrounded by lies, exasperated, and filled with gloom. Psalm 4 is a psalm of David that fits the historical context of Absalom’s coup. We can learn from David how to respond in a healthy, godly manner when adversity comes our way.

¹ Answer me when I call to you,
    my righteous God.
Give me relief from my distress;
    have mercy on me and hear my prayer.

² How long will you people turn my glory into shame?
    How long will you love delusions and seek false gods?
³ Know that the Lord has set apart his faithful servant for himself;
    the Lord hears when I call to him.

⁴ Tremble and do not sin;
    when you are on your beds,
    search your hearts and be silent.
⁵ Offer the sacrifices of the righteous
    and trust in the Lord.

⁶ Many, Lord, are asking, “Who will bring us prosperity?”
    Let the light of your face shine on us.
⁷ Fill my heart with joy
    when their grain and new wine abound (Psalm 4:1-7 NIV).

A Cry for Help (1)

David cried, “Answer me when I call to you, my righteous God” (1a). This is a cry for help, for deliverance in the midst of a distressing situation. The first place, not the last place, that we must turn in adversity is to God. So often we try to fix or control things in our own power. When we realize that we can’t, then we turn to God for help. Often we make the situation worse by our “efforts.” We must recognize the resources that God brings to us—“my righteous God.” God is personally concerned (“my God”) and involved in our lives—“The Lord watches over the way of the righteous” (Ps 1:6). God is “righteous (Hb, zedek).” This word reflects on the totality of God’s character. “The Lord, the compassionate (rehem – “womb love”) and gracious (Hb.,hana) God, slow to anger (Hb., arec aphim – “long nosed”), abounding in love (Hb., rab-hesed) and faithfulness (Hb., amet), maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving (Hb., nasa – “lifts off”) wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished . . .” (Ex 34:6-7b).

We must take our burdens to the Lord: “Give me relief (Hb., rahab – “wide, large”) from my distress (Hb., sar – “narrow, tight” - between a rock and a hard place); be merciful to me and hear my prayer” (1b). God makes the narrow places of life wide. God gives us some space when we are in a tight spot. “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted (Gk, peirasmos – also “tested”) beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out (Gk., ekbasis – way out; escape) so that you can stand up under it” (1 Cor 10:13). God knows we need help when we face the tests, trials, and adversities in life. He is there and ready to respond with righteousness, compassion, grace, love, faithfulness, and forgiveness as we call on him.

A Word to Opponents (2-3)

Verses 2-3 are a word to those who heap shame on others and seek to humiliate them in life’s adversities. Those in this world who wish us ill; who seek their selfish interests at our expense; who put us down instead of lifting us up in hard times are following the world’s ways instead of God’s ways. The way of the world is filled with many “delusions” (Hb, riq – “emptiness, vanity”) and “false gods” (Hb., cazab – “lies, falsehoods, deceptions”). The world tempts us to put others down; to use and abuse others for our own purposes so that we will feel better about ourselves. But that worldly “promise” is a lie that leaves us feeling empty and worthless.

When we are the object of the abuse of others, how should we respond? In Dallas you can go to the Anger Room to release your anger on inanimate objects. A Dallas entrepreneur offers five minutes in a room with appliances, furniture and a baseball bat for only $25. (See http://www.angerroom.com/about-us/) Psychologists state this is not a healthy response. We must be godly in our response to our abusers and trust in God fully in spite of our circumstances. David declared, “Know that the Lord has set apart the godly for himself; the Lord will hear when I call to him” (3). Vengeance belongs to the Lord not to us (Dt 32:35). We are not to take matters into our own hands. We must wait upon the Lord; trust in him; allow him to vindicate us as one of his own.

A Word to the Faithful (4-5)

Verses 4-5 give the keys to a godly, healthy response to adversity by those who are faithful to the Lord. “In your anger (Hb., ragaz – “agitated, quivering, excited, perturbed”) do not sin (Hb., hata – “miss the mark)” (4a). It is okay to be angry when the world comes at you with lies, falsehoods, and selfishness. It makes God angry too! Remember Jesus cleansed the Temple of the selfish money changers and merchants. The key difference in the godly response to adversity is our action in response. We must not respond with our own lies, falsehoods, and selfishness. That is sin. David counseled, “. . . when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent” (4b). Don’t lie in bed at night and brood over the wrongs you have endured. Trust them to God. Also, if you have responded in anger, make peace with God and with the ones you have wronged. When we face adversity and worldly responses, we must keep worshiping God (“Offer right sacrifices”) by making our faith explicit with our actions as we keep believing in Him (“trust in the Lord”). Paul commanded, “. . . Offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the ways of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind . . .” (Ro 12:1b-2a). The writer of Proverbs taught, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; but in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight” (Pr 3:5-6).

Conclusion of the Matter (6-7)

It’s easy to be pessimistic in today’s world—“Who can show us any good?” I am often pessimistic these days about politics and our entire governmental system. We must keep on believing and responding in godly ways no matter what the rest of the world does. We must pray, “Let the light of your face shine upon us, O Lord” (6b). The ancient Hebrew blessing found in Numbers 6 declares, “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace” (Nu 6:24-26). As God shines his light upon us we can bask in it just as we do in the sunshine of a beautiful day. As God shines His holy light into the adversities of our lives, we can be sure that He will illumine a way through whatever adversity we face and that we will have three things for the journey: 1) “joy” (Hb., semehah) – an inward joy of the heart in spite of circumstances; 2) “peace” (Hb., shalom) – an inward peace, wholeness, completeness; 3) “safety” (Hb., beteh) – security, trust, hope for the future.

So, how can we respond in a healthy, godly manner when adversity comes our way? Call on God for help at the first sign of trouble. Know that God in his righteousness, compassion, grace, love, faithfulness, and forgiveness toward you will give you space in the tight places of life as you trust in him. Don’t react to the empty lies, falsehoods, and deceptions the world throws against you. Trust in the Lord for your deliverance and vindication. David found deliverance from the schemes of his son Absalom, who was killed during the rebellion by General Joab. David did not rejoice at Absalom's death but mourned for his loss. Keep the faith by doing what God wants and by trusting in him no matter what comes your way. Bask in God’s light which shows the way through adversity with real joy, peace, and safety.