Text: “Come now, let us reason together, saith the
Lord; though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though
they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”
Isaiah
1:18.
Good morning,
Christian on constant trial! Day and daily, you and I as true,
Spiritually regenerate Christians, stand continually accused of faults,
failings, and sin. Fact. Our constant accusers are our gravest
enemies: the world; the flesh; and the Devil. Yet, too often we also
suffer at the hands, or in many cases the tongues, of ‘other professing
Christian believers‘! In all such circumstances, we seem to be perpetually
‘on trial’ in the court of daily life.
“Beloved, think it
not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some
strange thing happened unto you; but rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of
Christ’s sufferings; that, when His glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad
also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the Name of Christ,
happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you; on their
part he is evil spoken of, but on your part His is glorified.” (1 Peter
4:12-14)
“Title: ‘A Psalm of David’. The sweet singer of Israel
is before us in this Psalm as one enduring reproach; in this he was the type of
the great Son of David and is an encouraging example to us to carry the burden
of slander to the throne of grace. It is an ingenious surmise that this
appeal to Heaven was written by David at the time of the assassination of
Ish-bosheth by Baanah and Rechab to protest his innocence of all participation
in that treacherous murder. The tenor of the Psalm certainly agrees with
the supposed occasion, but it is not possible with such a slender clue to go
beyond conjecture.” (C.H. Spurgeon, Treasury of David, page 131)
Ish-bosheth Definition: ‘man of shame or humiliation‘, the youngest of Saul's
four sons, and the only one who survived him. (2 Samuel 2-4). His name
was originally Eshbaal (1 Chronicles 8:33; 9:39). He was about forty years of
age when his father and three brothers fell at the battle of Gilboa. Through
the influence of Abner, Saul's cousin, he was acknowledged as successor to the
throne of Saul, and ruled over all Israel, except the tribe of Judah (over whom
David was king), for two years, having Mahanaim, on the east of Jordan, as his
capital (2 Sam. 2:8). After a troubled and uncertain reign he was murdered by
his guards, who stabbed him while he was asleep on his couch at mid-day (2 Sam.
4:5-7); and having cut off his head, presented it to David, who sternly rebuked
them for this cold-blooded murder, and ordered them to be immediately executed.
(2 Samuel 4:9-12) (Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary)
Verse1.“Judge me, O
Lord. Such an appeal as this is not
to be rashly made on any occasion; and as to the whole of our walk and
conversation (entire life-style), it should never be made at all except as we
are justified in Christ Jesus: a far more fitting prayer for a sinful mortal is
the petition, Enter not into judgement with Thy servant.” (C.H.
Spurgeon, Treasury of David, page 131)
It is God’s good grace and mercy that prevents Him from both hearing and answering some of our more foolish petitions - as in the case of Elijah when he prayed, ‘O Lord, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.’ (1 Kings 19:4-8)
Verse
1. “…For I have walked in mine integrity. He held integrity
as his principle and walked in it as his practice. David had not used any
traitorous or unrighteous means to gain the crown or to keep it; he was
conscious of having been guided by the noblest principles of honour in all his
actions with regard to Saul and his family. What a comfort it is to have
the approbation of one’s own conscience! If there be peace within the
soul, the blustering storms of slander which howl around us are of little
consideration. When the little bird in my bosom sings a merry song it is
no matter to me if a thousand owls hoot at me from without.”
“I
have trusted also in the Lord. Why should I steal when God has
promised to supply my need? Why should I avenge myself when I know that
the Lord has espoused my cause? Confidence in God is a most effectual
security against sin.”
“Therefore
I shall not slide. Slippery as the way is, so that I walk
like a man upon ice, yet faith keeps my heels from tripping and will continue
to do so. The doubtful ways of policy are sure sooner or later to give a
fall to those who run therein, but the ways of honesty, though often rough, are
always safe. We cannot trust in God if we walk crookedly; but straight
paths and simple faith bring the pilgrim happily to his journey’s end.”
(C.H. Spurgeon, Treasury of David, page 131)
As
Christians, we cannot do evil and expect good to come from it - ever!
“Let
us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts
sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; )for He is
faithful that promised;) and let us consider one another to provoke unto love
and to good works.”
(Hebrews
10:22-24)
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