INTRODUCTION - Read Psalm 141; 1 Samuel 26; Hebrews 12,
Revelation 3:7-22
No one ever enjoys being REBUKED AND PUNISHED when we do something wrong, but we can LEARN SO MUCH - especially that GOD CARES FOR US. David, when writing this Psalm regards discipline and rebuke as a KINDNESS, and we need to continually LIFT OUR PRAYERS UP TO THE LORD.
"Let a RIGHTEOUS (godly) MAN strike me - it is a KINDNESS; If they correct (rebuke) me, that is SOOTHING MEDICINE (oil on my head). Don't let me refuse it, for my PRAYER is still against evildoers (the wicked) and their deeds." Psalm 141:5 (NIV/NLT)
"God's discipline is always GOOD FOR US, that we might share is in HIS HOLINESS. No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening! But afterward, there will be a PEACEFUL HARVEST OF RIGHT LIVING for those who are trained in this way." Hebrews 12:10-11 (NLT)
"As we go through the REFINER'S FIRE, it is in the form of DISCIPLINE. He wants us to be EARNEST AND REPENT." Nicky Gumbel
When Jesus allows us to go through rebuke and discipline, it is because HE LOVES US. John writes some messages from Jesus to the Early Churches, reminding them, that even though they may often fail, we still have HIS ENCOURAGEMENT.
"Look, I will force those who belong to Satan's synagogue...... to come and bow down at your feet. I will acknowledge that you are the ONES I LOVE." Revelation 3:9 (NLT)
How do we respond to these challenges:
* BY MAKING THE MOST OF EVEVY SITUATION. Doors may "open and shut", but we, like the Christians in Philadelphia, need to "endure patiently". Jesus promises to be with us always, through all trials.
"Because you have obeyed my command to PERSEVERE, I will protect you from a great TIME OF TESTING, that will come on the whole world." Revelation 3:10a (NLT)
* OPEN YOUR HEART TO JESUS. Like the Christians in Laodicea, we are not to be "lukewarm" in our faith, or "spiritually poor". Jesus wants us to go through the "open door" and to have a meal with Him.
"Here I am, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and OPENS THE DOOR, I will come in and EAT WITH THAT PERSON, and THEY WITH ME." Revelation 3:20 (NIV)
David wrote this Psalm (prayer) to show how he was dealing with the sin and evil in his life. David promised David, as He does us, that we can cast all our anxities (troubles) on Him.
"Cast your burden on the Lord and He will sustain you. He will never permit the righteous to be moved." Psalm 55:22 (NIV)
WORSHIP AND PRAISE THE LORD - Read Psalm 141:1&2
"Lord, I lift up my hands and my voice IN WORSHIP. I FIX MY EYES UPON YOU. Set a guard over my mouth and lips and keep my heart from evil." Nicky Gumbel
"May my prayer be set before You like INCENSE, may the lifting of my hands be like an evening sacrifice." Psalm 14:2 (NIV)
When a child cries out to his father, he HEARS HIM, just as the LORD HEARS US as we "lift our hands" and voices to him in PRAISE AND WORSHIP. The lifting of our hands symbolizes the whole "opening of our body to God".
"Prayer RISES TO HEAVEN like incense. Prayer PLEASES GOD as incense has a pleasing smell. Prayer NEEDS FIRE TO BE EFFECTIVE, as does incense." David Guzik
David wrote this Psalm in a cave, when a fugitive from Saul. The incense was used for his evening sacrifice and WORSHIP, when he couldn't go to the Tabernacle in Jerusalem. INCENSE connected to WORSHIP needs to be "pure and prepared", as prayers are offered to God.
"Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls FULL OF INCENSE, which are the PRAYERS OF GOD'S PEOPLE.... worthy is the Lamb who was slaughtered - to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength, and HONOUR AND GLORY AND BLESSING." Revelation 5:8b&12 (NLT)
COMMITTMENT TO RIGHTEOUSNESS - Read Psalm 141:3-7, Matthew 5:3-16; 1 Samuel 26
"Therefore, confess your sins to each other and PRAY FOR EACH OTHER so that you may be healed. The PRAYER OF A RIGHTEOUS PERSON is powerful and effective." James 5:16 (NLT)
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for RIGHTEOUSNESS, for they will be filled." Matthew 5:6 (NIV)
Our commitment to righteousness is seen in the WAY WE LIVE - our integrity with words and actions, the correction that comes as "soothing medicine' and our leadership which is in God's hands.
1. INTEGRITY SHOWN IN OUR WORDS AND ACTIONS
"Set a guard over my MOUTH, Lord. Keep watch over the door of my LIPS. Do not let my heart be drawn to what is evil." Psalm 141:3 (NIV)
David didn't want the MOUTH used in worship, to be for sinful words (lying, bad language, complaints). He asks God to 'GUARD HIS MOUTH AND WATCH OVER HIS LIPS". When ever we speak to people or perhaps share with them, with the preaching of a sermon, it is important that we pray for the Lord's blessing over our words.
David also didn't want his HEART to be affected by the evil around him. He didn't to be filled with a vengeful spirit. He did not want to follow people "iniquity". When Jesus taught his disciples to pray, He told them: "Do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil." We too need to make sure our hearts and thoughts are not drawn into evil. Our actions need to "become our habits", and these become a "righteous character". The Holy Spirit helps us develop these righteous ways.
"But seek first His Kingdom and HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS, and all these things will be given to you too." Matthew 6:33 (NIV)
2. CORRECTION COMES AS SOOTHING MEDICINE.
"Let the godly strike me! It will be A KINDNESS! If they correct me, it is SOOTHING MEDICINE. Don't let me refuse it. But I pray constantly against the wicked and their deeds." Psalm 141:5 (NLT)
"Blessed is the one whom God corrects; do not despise the discipline of the Almighty." Job 5:17 (NKJV)
David was willing to accept the "righteous (godly)" correction from the Lord, for it was HEALING AND HELPFUL, "as oil in the head" - soothing medicine. He would accept the kind rebuke from a friend, like Jonathon, and he prayed constantantly for his enemy Saul. He too would rebuke him in kindness.
"David answered Saul: "Let the young men come over and get your sword. The Lord rewards everyone for their RIGHTEOUSNESS AND FAITHFULNESS. The Lord delivered you into my hands today, but I would not lay a hand on the LORD'S ANOINTED. As surely as I value your life today, so may the Lord value my life and deliver me from my trouble." 1 Samuel 26:22-24 (NIV)
"As many as I love, I REBUKE AND CHASTEN. Therefore, be zealous and REPENT." Revelation 3:19 (NKJV)
3. LEADERSHIP IN GOD'S HANDS
"When their leaders have been thrown down a cliff, the wicked will listen to my words."
Psalm 141:6 (NLT)
The meaning of this verse - having "judges and leaders" thrown over a cliff, is unsure. David could have been talking about King Saul, his chief enemy. Over his years of wandering, David had learnt about TRUSTING AND WAITING ON THE LORD. He knew that one day he would be a King - the leader of God's people. Yet, unlike King Saul, who was indeed, "the Lord's anointed one." and had fallen away in his service of the Lord, David had developed a "true integrity" when it came to sin and forgiveness - living a life worthy of His Father God. HE WAS INDEED THE LORD'S ANOINTED ONE.
"Then Saul said: "I have sinned. Come back David, my son. Because you considered my life precious today, I will not try to harm you again. Surely I have acted like a fool and have been terribly wrong. Here is the king's spear .........May you be blessed, David, my son; you will do great things and SURELY TRIUMPH". So David went away and Saul returned home." 1 Samuel 26:21&25 (NIV)
TRUST IN THE LORD - Read Psalm 141:8-10; 1 Samuel 26:9-11; Hebrews 12:1&2
"But my eyes are fixed on the SOVEREIGN LORD. HELP ME TO TRUSY IN YOU (my refuge). Keep me safe from the traps set by evildoers, from the snares they lead for me. Let the wicked fall into their own nets. LET ME PASS BY SAFELY." Psalm 141:8-10 (NIV/NLT/CEV)
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a such a great cloud of witnesses. and let us throw off EVERYTHING THAT HINDERS and the SIN THAT SO EASILY ENTANGLES. Let us run with PERSERENCE the race that is marked for us, FIXING OUR EYES IN JESUS, the pioneer and perfecter of OUR FAITH." Hebrews 12:1&2
We are urged to FIX OUR EYES ON JESUS. Even though, we may still, at times, have some evil thoughts, we shouldn't PUT THEM INTO ACTION. With our eyes on the Lord, we can trust Him and follow His will for our lives.
David knew that he needed GOD'S PROTECTION. He trusted in the Lord to KEEP HIM SAFE from all his enemies' "traps and snares". We too know that we can be SAFE IN GOD'S HANDS. We will not "grow weary or lose heart", if we keep our eyes on our SOVEREIGN LORD AND HIS SON JESUS.
"But David said to Abishai, "Don't destroy King Saul. Who can lay a hand on the Lord's anointed and be guiltless? As surely as the Lord lives, He himself will strike Saul, or his time will come and he will die, or he will go into battle and perish. But the Lord forbid that I should lay a hand on the Lord's anointed." 1 Samuel 26:9-11 (NIV)
"GOD'S SOVEREIGNTY IS ABSOLUTE! Nothing can overrule HIS PLANS. Because of GOD'S SOVEREIGNTY, we can REST AND TRUST IN HIM. We can know that in EVERY CIRCUMSTANCE IN OUR LIVES, we are in GOD'S CARING HANDS." Ruth Chou Simmons
CONCLUSION
"No matter how great the difficulty we face, GOD IS GREATER." Ruth Chou Simmons
Do you feel unable to bear your burdens and worries ALONE? Are they weighing on your HEART? Do you lack courage at times to continue your journey? God is always ready to be with YOU. He will give you PERSEVERENCE. GOD SUSTAINS US in His will. God is our SUSTAINER, our STRENGTH, our SUPPORT , our RESCUER, COMFORTER AND PRESERVER.
"Even in your OLD AGE, with grey hairs, I AN HE, I AM HE WHO SUSTAINS YOU. I have made you and will CARRY YOU; I will SUSTAIN YOU and I will RESCUE YOU." Isaiah 46:4 (NIV)
"My flesh and my heart may fail, but GOD IS THE STRENGTH OF MY HEART, and my PORTION FOREVER." Psalm 73:26 (NIV)
David's journey to KINGSHIP was not an easy one, but because He never failed to follow the Lord's path with his whole body - his 5 senses, his heart and the Holy Spirit, he was a SURVIVOR! Even when he took those steps back to Jerusalem, as the KING OF ISRAEL, we see a committed and strong FOLLOWER OF THE LORD.
Our PRAYER, like David's is that we too will PUT GOD FIRST IN OUR LIVES, wherever and however DIFFICULT THE JOURNEY.
FLINT, Annie Johnson, "He Giveth More Grace" (Pilgrim- 25 Ways God's Character Leads Us Onward), 1930/2023, Harvest House Publishers
"The Holy Bible - New Century Version", 2005, Thomas Nelson
"The Holy Bible - New International Version", 2011, Biblica Inc.
"The Holy Bible - New King James Version", 1987, Thomas Nelson
"The Holy Bible - New Living Translation" 2015, Tyndale House Publishers
CHOU SIMMONS, Ruth, "Pilgrim - 25 Ways God's Character Leads Us Onward", 2023, Harvest House Publishers.
GUMBEL, Nicky & Pipppa, "The Bible - Classic Version", 2024, Alpha, New Version
GUZIK, David, "Psalm 141 - No Compromise, Enduring Bible Commentary", 2020, www.enduringword.com
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