Not utterly cast down

Psa 37:24  Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.

Yesterday, in the previous verse, we saw that God is directing the course of our life.  However, that does not exempt us from difficulty.  “Though he fall”…..It has the idea of falling in the sense of calamity, or falling into loss, being knocked down by an event of life; trouble and adversity coming into our life.  One can have the course of their life directed by God and yet fall, or be knocked down.  The encouragement of this passage is found in this verse: Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down.  Not utterly cast down, not cast headlong, not wiped out.  Calamity is temporary in the life of one who is directed by God.  Mistakes, failures, losses don’t have to dictate our life’s course. Failure is not permanent.  Notice, we are not utterly cast down because of God’s strength:    for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand. God is able to lift us back up.  The fall does not remove us from the course of life God is establishing us in.  This is a source of great confidence and strength in our life; this is a source of great joy in our life.  Press forward with confidence in the Lord.

Joy in living under God's direction

Psa 37:23  The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.

What a blessing to know God directs our life!  God establishes the overall course of our life.  God providentially cares for us in the course of our life.  There is a security that comes from our life being under God’s control. The control, care and supervision exercised by God over His children is called the Providence of God. The Providence of God refers to God’s wise planning – in advance.  God knows the beginning from the end.  God sees the future, nothing takes Him by surprise.  Therefore, God is able to successfully plan the course of our life. There is a confidence, a sense of safety and protection knowing that the God who looks out for us is both wise and good.  There is a joy that comes from knowing God is directing our life.  We can delight, or find joy in living our life under His direction. 

How shall we come to worship God?

(Micah 6:6 KJV)  Wherewith shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before the high God? shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old?(Micah 6:7 KJV)  Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?(Micah 6:8 KJV)  He hath showed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

      How shall we come to worship God?  What do we bring that will please Him? Our text tells us what God is looking for, what pleases Him.  First of all, it isn’t just about being religious, not just going through the form, the rituals.  It isn’t about doing some great sacrifice, not about self inflicted suffering, pain.  What the Lord requires, what it takes to make heaven our home is still pretty simple:  Our text summarizes it this way:  do justly, love mercy and walk humbly with thy God.  First of all, we are instructed to do justly, do what is right. This is the standard we are to apply to our selves, this is how we are to judge our own life. We need to cultivate a sincere desire to know what is right and to live that way. We need to give serious attention to doing what is right in every situation, with every one, all the time.  We cannot allow those things that are wrong to continue in our life and expect to be pleasing to God.

      The first instruction was how we are to deal with our self; the next is how we are to deal with others.  We are to love mercy. This has to do with the attitude in which we view others, how we deal with others.  Not with a hard, harsh spirit or attitude, but with an attitude that loves mercy. This is a heart like Gods, one that prefers mercy, is bent toward mercy. There is a tendency to grow harsh in our judgment of others if we resent the strong discipline, strict obedience we are to apply to our own life.  We are to be compassionate, kind, merciful toward those around us.  This is not condoning sin, ignoring sin.  But it is an attitude of one who has been forgiven to desire that others find forgiveness as well, patient in our dealing with others. 

All your needs

(Phil 4:19 KJV)  But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Paul was thanking the church at Phillipi for remembering him and helping supply his needs. Paul was unable to repay them for their love and care, but he was confident that God wouldn’t overlook what they had done.  The promise was that “My God shall supply all your needs”. This isn’t limited to things spiritual. My God shall supply all your needs, ALL our needs. ALL our needs, all those things we are tempted to worry about. God will supply all our needs according to His riches in glory. Does God have enough to get the job done?  Enough wealth, enough wisdom, enough love, enough grace? Resist the temptation to worry. Resist the temptation to focus your time and attention on the things of this world. Continue faithful, continue to trust God. My God shall supply all your needs.

Our Father

(2 Cor 6:18 KJV)  And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

God identifies Himself as our Father, the Supreme Being, the Creator of the universe, is our Father.   What more could we ask for?  We have been brought into a special personal relationship with the very creator of the universe.  The One who knows all, sees all, the very Creator of all, has promised to take us as His children.  Is there anything too hard for our Father?  Is there anything beyond His knowledge?   Is there any need to great for His resources?  Trust your Father, He loves and cares for you.  He is truly all we need. 

Fear not

(Isa 41:13 KJV)  For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.

There are many things in life that can cause us to fear and worry.  The promise of this passage is that we need not fear because God will help us.  Like a parent takes hold of a child’s hand, God takes hold of our hand and says “Fear not, I will help thee.” There is no fear when we have His very presence with us to protect us and to guide us.  There is no fear when He is guiding and directing us.  There is no fear when God is keeping us.  There is no fear though we are in the very midst of danger when our hand is help tightly by His.  Keep reaching up; keep your hand in His.

Don't neglect your prayer life

(1 Th 5:17 KJV)  Pray without ceasing.

Don’t let anything keep you from maintaining your prayer life.  This is how our relationship and faith grows, by talking to God, by seeking what we need, by seeing God answer our prayers. We are to be consistent in our prayer, and we are also to be continual in our prayer.  By that, I mean we are to learn to live with God throughout the day.  Talk to God all day long as we live out the day, seeking His help in everything.  This is how our relationship grows and how we experience the felt presence of God in a greater way.

Seek ye first...

Mat 6:24  No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. 25  Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? 26  Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? 27  Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? 28  And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: 29  And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30  Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? 31  Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32  (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33  But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Living a successful Christian life requires that we keep our priorities in order.  The things which pertain to this life only thrust themselves upon us….things like making a living, acquiring things, taking care of our things.  If we are not careful, we can begin to believe that life consist of things and making a living.  Our life can be consumed worrying about material things, and cause us to forget the most important things of life.  Instead of worrying about and pursuing money and things, our spiritual life and the things of God are to be the most important pursuits of our life.  This passage reminds us that God does a good job looking after the needs of His creation.  If He takes such care of the birds and the flowers of the field, how much more can He be depended on to take care of His children.  Don’t let your life be consumed with pursuing material things….this is how those who don’t know the Lord live.  Instead, let’s give priority to the kingdom of God and God can be depended on to supply what we need.  Let’s keep our priorities in order.    

The change

Pro 14:21  He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he.

Being a Christian is more than just having our sins forgiven.  The experience of salvation changes us from loving our self above everything else to loving God supremely and loving others as our self.  One who despises his neighbor sins; despises them by words, scorn or by ignoring their needs.  On the contrary, one who shows mercy, has compassion on the poor will be blessed.        

God cares

Luke 12:6  Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? Luke 12:7  But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.

God sees all, knows all.  He sees everything that happens in His creation.  Even the little sparrows, which have little value or significance in this world, are seen of God.  Not one of them falls to the ground without God seeing and caring.  God knows all about us.  He knows more about us than we know about our selves.  He knows every detail, even insignificant details like the number of hairs on our head.  Jesus reminds us that we need not fear, need not worry.  If God concerns Himself with these lesser things, how much more can He be depended on to take care of His own children.  I pray our faith take in God’s great concern and care, and allow our faith to replace our worries and fears.  

Waiting for the Lord

(Psa 130:5 KJV)  I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope. (Psa 130:6 KJV)  My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning.

There are times when disappointment and discouragement seem to come in like a flood.  In such times, our hope is in God and in the promises of His Word.  The Psalmist expresses an intense longing for God’s help.  The expectation and intensity is even more than that of those who are waiting for the dark night to pass with the dawning of morning. We share that same longing during times of intense or prolonged trouble and trials.  Notice in this passage that we have more than hope; we have an expectation.  There is an expectant waiting and looking for His help and deliverance.  Stay steady, continue to trust and expectantly wait; God’s help is as certain as the bright morning of a new day after a long night.  

The best life

Pro 15:17  Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith.

How easy it is for us to get our priorities mixed up.  Too often we strive to obtain things, to get ahead, to accumulate money, to live the good life.  However, these are not the things that really make life good and pleasant.  What makes life good and pleasant is the warmth and security of being loved, the joy of an atmosphere of love.  It is better to have fewer of the finer things of life and enjoy love, than to live the “good life” and contend with bitterness and ill will.  Let us strive for the best life, to show love, to promote love, to build those things that make life truly good.  

I will yet praise Him

(Psa 42:11 KJV)  Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.

There are times when we find ourselves mired down in worry, discouragement and restlessness.  As the Psalmist, we need to remind our self of God’s care and faithfulness. We can revive our hope in the midst of our difficulties by knowing that God is our God and will never forsake us.  We can be praise Him now for who He is and in confidence that He will once again prove faithful.       

Wise words

Pro 12:18  There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.

There probably isn’t any area that gives Christian more trouble than controlling our words.  We often talk without thinking, or let our emotions spill out in our words.  Our words are very important.  They can cut and pierce and do much damage.  On the other hand, wisely chosen words can bring health and healing.  Let’s purpose to wise in our words, to build up and not tear down.        

A good Father

Mat 7:11  If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

How often Satan tempts us to believe that God is hard, difficult to move, tight fisted.  God is good, all the time, perfectly good, in every way.  He is compassionate, tender hearted toward His children.  We know it is not difficult for our own children to get those things they need from us.  God is so much more holy and good than we are.  How much more, then, should we trust Him to give us those things that we need.  Trust Him, as a good and compassionate heavenly Father. 

Wait with hope

(Psa 27:13 KJV)  I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.

Hope is essential to faith and courage.  If we lose hope, our faith and courage will fail, we will faint, give up.  The foundation of our hope is our confidence that God is good and that, in time, we will experience His goodness.  No matter how difficult the situation we find our self in, we must continue to believe and trust in the goodness of God.  God’s goodness is not reserved for the life to come, we will experience His goodness in this life, in the land of the living.

Wait expectantly

(Psa 130:5 KJV)  I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope.

Waiting is the hard part.  Waiting for answers to prayer, waiting to see God’s promises fulfilled.  Delays test our faith.  Waiting tests our faith.  This Psalm describes waiting in faith.  The waiting in this passage has expectation, anticipation.  It is like waiting for a bus, with an expectation that it will come.  Waiting in faith has the same expectation…we are waiting, looking and expecting the Lord to come, to answer, to move.  This waiting in faith hopes and expects God to honor His word.  Wait on the Lord in faith, in anticipation, in expectation. Rely on His Word, rely on His promise…..wait on the Lord.

Restore the joy of your salvation

Psa 5:11  But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.

Our God is faithful and trustworthy.  He is our provider and our protector.  He can be depended on in every situation, every time.  There is a thrill, a joy, that comes from knowing God is watching over you, caring for you, loving you.  There is a deep joy and happiness that comes from knowing God loves us and we love Him in return.  In the midst of difficulty, don’t forget that God is still loves you, and He is faithful and trustworthy.  Allow God’s faithfulness to restore the joy of your salvation.

God is working...trust Him

(Isa 46:9 KJV)  Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me,  (Isa 46:10 KJV)  Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:

Our God is indescribable; there is none like Him, nothing that He can be compared to.  Only God knows all there is to know; only God knows the end from the beginning.  Only God knows everything that has happened, everything that is happening and everything that will ever happen.  For that reason, God will accomplish everything He intended to accomplish in this world.  This is our God, our Savior.  Trust Him, He is still working His plan.   

Let everything be done with love

1 Co 16:14  Let all your things be done with charity.

We have many responsibilities in life, duties to our family, to our employer and to our God.  There are many “do’s and don’ts” commanded us.  There are also many opportunities in life, many things to pursue.  In everything we do, both religious and secular, we are to conduct ourselves in love.  Everything we do should be done with love, love for God and love for our brothers and sisters.  It is not enough to just do or not do.  It is essential that we do all things with the right motive, the right intention.  We are to be governed by an overriding spirit of love to God and good will toward our neighbor.