2. Meditation Brings Confirmation! Psalm 77:5-13

Text: “I will meditate also of all Thy work, and talk of Thy doings.  Thy WAY, O God, is in the sanctuary: who is so great a God as our God?”

Psalm 77:12-13.

          “Jesus saith unto him (Thomas) I am the WAY, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.”

John 14:6.

Good morning, meditating Christian!  Not enough for you and for me a mere light, cursory reading of our KJV Bibles.  No!  A light superficial reading of the inspired Word of God is not in our hearts to do – we have enjoyed the ‘milk’ of God’s good Word as babes in Christ, but now, as the Lord God has permitted us to ‘…grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ…’, we are hungry for the ‘meat’ of the Word of the Lord God. 

Meditations on what we earnestly read from God’s Word are, therefore, vital if we are to gain a more certain confirmation of our God-given faith in Christ Jesus.  The faithful Bereans are commended for such diligent mediations of God’s Word.

“And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.  These (Bereans) were more noble that those in Thessalonica, in that they received the Word with all readiness of mind (ready to apply what they were being taught from God’s Word), and searched the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so (checked what they were being taught, by personal search of the Scriptures).” (Acts 17:10-11) 

Verse 5. “I have considered (meditated upon) the days of old, the years of ancient times. Is this not, exactly, what you and I are involved in, when studying our Bibles?  We are considering how the Living Lord God worked with ‘His people’ down through the generations of time, and by doing so, finding confirmation of His loving care and grace towards Hell-deserving sinners just like ourselves.  Such confirmation brings faith anew.

“Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed (at lack of faith and knowledge of the Divine), rightly dividing the Word of truth.”         (2 Timothy 2:15)

“So then, faith cometh by hearing (studying/reading the Word of God), and hearing by the Word of God.”  (Romans 10:17)

Christians, young in the faith must commence absorption of the Gospel of Christ Crucified and arisen in glory as a babe would its mother’s milk.  Sirloin steaks are not recommended as baby-food, nor are profound doctrinal studies crammed down the throats of Christians new to ‘…the faith once delivered unto the saints…’ (Jude 3) Meditate on this for a moment.

“As new-born babes, desire the sincere milk of the Word, that ye may grow thereby: if so ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.”  (1 Peter 2:2-3)

Pastors, Deacons, and Sunday School Teachers often do a wonderful ministry to children, young people, and mature adults who have more recently come to Salvation in Christ Jesus.

However, far too many today, in the church worldwide and international, have no doubt received the great Gospel of Salvation, yet for some reasons have remained as babes in Christ, taking in continually a diet of ‘milk’ from God’s Word.  In this manner, the church international consists, in too many cases, as a large group of Spiritual babes in Christ, instead of growing "…in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.”!   Babes are so easy to lead astray, to confuse, and can become lazy and unable to take care of themselves in a cruel world, never mind fight in a relentless, and unmerciful Spiritual Battle.

Here is what the apostle Paul (whom I believe penned the Book of Hebrews) had to say on this vital matter in his day. Meditate on this, dear Reader: meditate and confirm faith: 

"Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. Therefore, leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. And this will we do, if God permit." (Hebrews 5:11-6:3)

Paul is encouraging the church to progress from ‘the milk of the Word’ to absorption of ‘…strong meat…’, with ‘…senses exercised to discern both good and evil.’  Meditation of what one studies in God’s Word will very soon commence a maturing of all engaged, that we might all take an active-service role in the Spiritual Battle for Christ’s glorious Kingdom.

Look now, and meditate a little on the deeper questions Asaph is asking himself and all who will hear/sing his song:

“Will the Lord cast off for ever? Is His mercy clean gone for ever? Doth His promises fail for evermore? Hath God forgotten to be gracious?  Hath He in anger shut up His tender mercies?” (Psalm 77:7-9)

Can you see what Asaph is doing? He is considering, mediating, asking the vital questions each of us, as Christians, should be asking ourselves, and the Lord while reading/studying His inspired Word!  Ask the questions – the Lord will always give us the answers!  Thus, we grow in grace and knowledge necessary to be soldiers of Christ Jesus and exalters of His Holy and Victorious Name.  All glory to the Lord – Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. 

Thought: Learning how the Lord dealt with ‘His people’ down through Bible history, will confirm how He will deal with us today, our God is unchangeable and ever gracious.  Meditate on the Word; confirm your faith; grow in God’s grace.

Psalm 77: From Human Sadness – to Divine Joy! 1. Human Troubles Confessed Psalm 77:1-4

Text: “Yet man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward. I would seek unto God, and unto God would I commit my cause.”

 Job 5:7-8. 

        “Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you.”                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         1 Peter 5:7.

Good morning, trouble-torn Christian!  At this very point in time, perhaps, you are experiencing a time of deep trouble – fears within, dread and threat without – and it seems as though your Christian joy and peace have vanished like smoke, and you are sore pressed.

If this describes your problem this morning, beloved friend in Christ, fear not, for you are not alone in this type of situation, in fact, “…all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”  (2 Timothy 3:12)

Trouble comes to all in many forms, but it comes in a more profound manner to those of us whom profess the Name of Jesus Christ, for in doing so, and for being ‘His people’, we are the focus of Satan himself, and all his myrmidons in the evil realm. This Satanic oppression can threaten to rob us of our joy in Christ, if we allow it to do so.  In times like these mentioned, you and I must immediately call out our fears, dreads, and problems to the Lord God Almighty, Who is more than able to sustain us, and send us His Divine relief.

Verse 1. “1 cried unto God with my voice. This Psalm has much sadness in it, but we may be sure it will end well, for it begins with prayer, and prayer never has an ill issue.  Asaph did not run to man but the Lord, and to Him he went, not with studied, stately, stilted words, but with a cry, the natural, unaffected, unfeigned expression of pain.  He used his voice also, for though vocal utterance is not necessary to the life of prayer it often seems forced upon us by the energy of our desires.  Sometimes the soul feels compelled to use the voice, for thus it finds a freer vent for its agony.  It is a comfort to hear the alarm-bell ringing when the house is invaded by thieves.” (C.H. Spurgeon, The Treasury of David, page 328)

I well remember the time, when a mere boy at school, when an older, physically stronger, bully came and threw me down in the play-ground, and rubbed my nose in the dirt.  I immediately ran crying to my bigger, older brother, to seek his help to chasten the play-ground bully-boy. The bully very soon regretted picking on a younger, weaker pupil.

So it is with the Christian, when we are being persecuted, oppressed, and bullied by Satan and his evil regime; the world; and even our own often weak and treacherous flesh.  Our best course is to cry out for the help of our Lord God – Who shall never allow ‘His anointed’ children to be forever bullied by our enemies and His.  Hallelujah!  Our God reigns!

“Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and He shall sustain thee: He shall never suffer the righteous (made righteous in Christ Jesus) to be moved.  But Thou, O God, shalt bring them down into the pit of destruction: bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; but I will trust in Thee.” (Psalm 55:22-23)

Verse 2. “In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord.  One day, following the surgical removal of a swollen lymph-node in my neck, a Consultant Surgeon sat me down in his office and with great compassion informed me that I had a condition called Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma: cancer of my lymphatic system.  His nursing assistant and himself seemed to be prepared for some sort of an emotional reaction from me at this announcement, but I was empowered of the Lord God to put them at ease by informing them that my times were in the hands of a Sovereign and all-caring Lord God, Who would call me Home according to the Divine ‘appointment’ He had made with my immortal soul.  I was later informed that the ‘normal’ life time given to patients with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma was 5 years.  Again, I reminded the medical people of God’s Divine appointment with my soul.  Praise God, that was 20 years ago, and, without any treatment, I am still alive today and serving the Lord God Whom I love dearly.  Glory to His Holy Name!

“And as it is APPOINTED unto men once to die, but after this the judgement: so Christ was once offered to bear the sins of MANY (not all!); and unto them that look for Him shall He appear the second time without sin unto Salvation.” (Hebrews 9:27-28)

Verse 2. “In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord.  Days of trouble must be days of prayer; in days of inward trouble, especially when God seems to have withdrawn from us, we must seek Him, and seek till we find Him. In the day of his trouble, he did not seek for the diversions of business or recreation to shake off his trouble that way, but he sought God, and His favour, and grace. Those that are under trouble of mind must not think to drink it away, or laugh it away, but pray it away.” (Matthew Henry 1662-1714)

Deep trouble, when it comes to the Christian, can often be devoid of reason or rhyme, it is during these confusing times that we must simply TRUST the Lord and wait for His help.  He shall always come to our rescue, but we must first go through the turmoil.

“But He knoweth the way that I take: when He hath tried (tested) me, I shall come forth as gold. My foot hath held His steps, His way have I kept, and not declined.”   (Job 23:10-11)

Verse 3. “…My spirit was overwhelmed.  There are moments in the life of all believers when God and His ways become unintelligible to them.  They get lost in profound meditation, and nothing is left them but a desponding sigh. But we know from Paul the apostle that the Holy Spirit intercedes for believers with God when they cannot utter their sighs.” (Augustus F. Tholuck, 1799-877)

“Likewise, the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.  And He that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because He maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.”  (Romans 8:26-27)

Verse 4. “I am so troubled that I cannot speak.  I have been there, have you?  Deeply absorbed in my own mental/emotional turmoil that I can hardly pray, never mind gain the victory.  It is these times of Spiritual dumbness that the indwelling Lord God groans out His groans on our behalf; groans that are ALWAYS heard, for He is the Lord God Himself.

Thought: Wait on the Lord, be of good courage, His help is on the way as you read this, beloved Christian.

3. The Terrible Justice of God! Psalm 76:11-12

Text: “Vow, and pay unto the Lord your God: let all that be round about Him bring presents unto Him that ought to be feared. He shall cut off the spirit of princes: He is terrible to the kings of the earth.”

Psalm 76:11-12.

Good morning, fair-minded Christian!  Since the day of your Eternal Salvation in Christ Jesus, that wonderful day when the Spirit of God brought us to our knees in full repentance from our sins, to follow hard after the Lord Jesus; that life-imparting day, when God the Spirit breathed upon you and I as we lay in the dry-bone valley of our vile sins, and opened our eyes to the Gospel of Christ and Him Crucified for to pay our just penalty – we have been given an entirely new perspective on true justice, fair-play, and equality of discernment.  Hallelujah!  (Ezekiel 37:1-10)

While once we saw things from a selfish, self-centred perspective, we now seek to evaluate all things in a just and unselfish manner.  Only Christ’s Salvation could ever change that selfishness to a sense of real justice.  That sense of fair-mindedness is mirrored on the justice of Almighty Lord God Jehovah, a trait of the Divine nature of the Lord Who has elected us to partake in the Body of Christ, the true and genuine, Spiritually regenerated church. Praise God for His wonderful grace to us!

Dictionary Definition: Justice – (noun) the quality of being just; integrity; impartiality; rightness; the awarding of what is due; the administration of law; a judge; a magistrate. (The Chambers Dictionary, page 873)

Divine Justice: Divine justice is the sole prerogative of Almighty God, Who alone, is righteous, Holy, and infinitely just in all His attributes – He is, in fact, the “…Judge of  all the earth…” which He alone Created; and “…Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” (Genesis 18:25)

“The soul that sinneth, it shall surely die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.  But if the wicked will turn (repent) from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statues, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die (Eternal death, not mortal death).” (Ezekiel 18:20-21) “Ye MUST be born again!” (John 3:3-8)

“…I will publish the Name of the Lord: ascribe ye greatness unto our God.  He is the Rock (capital R), His work is perfect: for all His ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is He.”  (Deuteronomy 32:3-4)   Amen, we worship Thee, O Lord!

God’s Divine justice was enough to banish you and I and every unregenerate soul born of woman since Adam/Eve’s fall from grace in Eden, to a sinner’s Hell. Biblical fact!

God’s Divine and Sovereign grace is applied to every sinner to whom God grants repentance from sin and faith in the finished work of Atonement made by Jesus Christ, God’s Son. Fact.

“For whosoever shall call upon the Name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:13)

Only a Lord God of pure and righteous justice could offer sinners Eternal life in Christ.

Look for a moment at how the great Puritan, Thomas Watson, views God’s justice:

“1. What is God's justice?

'Justice is to give everyone his due.' God's justice is the rectitude of his nature, whereby he is carried to the doing of that which is righteous and equal. Proverbs 24:12. Shall not he render to every man according to his works?' God is an impartial judge. He judgeth the cause. Men often judge the person, but not the cause; which is not justice, but malice. Genesis 18:21. ‘I will go down and see whether they have done according to the cry which is come up unto me.' When the Lord is upon a punitive act, he weighs things in the balance, he does not punish rashly; he does not go in the way of a riot, but a circuit, against offenders.

“Concerning God's justice, I shall lay down these six positions: -

[1] God cannot but be just. His holiness is the cause of his justice. Holiness will not suffer him to do anything but what is righteous. He can no more be unjust than he can be unholy.

[2] God's will is the supreme rule of justice; it is the standard of equity. His will is wise and good. God wills nothing but what is just; and therefore, it is just because he wills it.

[3] God does justice voluntarily. Justice flows from his nature. Men may act unjustly, because they are bribed or forced: God will not be bribed, because of his justice; he cannot be forced, because of his power. He does justice out of love to justice. Psalm 45:7. ‘Thou lovest righteousness.'

[4] Justice is the perfection of the divine nature. Aristotle says, ‘Justice comprehends in it all virtues.' To say God is just, is to say, he is all that is excellent: perfections meet in Him, as lines in a centre. He is not only just, but justice itself.

[5] God never did nor can do the least wrong to his creatures. God's justice has been wronged, but never did any wrong. God does not go according to the summum jus, or rigour of the law; he abates something of his severity. He might inflict heavier penalties than he does. Thou hast punished us less than our iniquities deserve.' Ezra 9:13. Our mercies are more than we deserve, and our punishments less.

[6] God's justice is such that it is not fit for any man or angel to expostulate with Him, or demand a reason of his actions. God has not only authority on his side, but equity. ‘He lays judgement to the line, and righteousness to the plummet.' Isaiah 28:17. It is below him to give an account to us of his proceedings. Which of these two is more fit to take place, God's justice or man's reason? Romans 9:20. ‘Who art thou, O man, that replies against God?' The plumb line of our reason is too short to fathom the depth of God's justice. Romans 11:33. ‘How unsearchable are his judgements!' We are to adore God's justice, where we cannot see a reason of it.” (A Body of Divinity, by Thomas Watson, 1620-1686)

Thought: Verse 12. “He is terrible to the kings of the earth. While they are terrible to others, He is terrible to them. If they oppose themselves to His people, He will make short work of them; they shall perish before the terror of His arm, “…for the Lord is a man of war, the Lord is His Name.”  Rejoice before Him, all ye who adore the God of Jacob.” (C.H. Spurgeon, Treasury of David, page 327) God’s justification from sin is grace indeed. Amen!

2. The Glory of God’s Powerful Victories! Psalm 76:4-10

Text: “Thou art more glorious and excellent than the mountains of prey. The stout-hearted are spoiled, they have slept their sleep; and none of the men of might have found their hands.  At Thy rebuke, O God of Jacob, both the chariot and the horse are cast into a dead sleep.”

Psalm 76:4-6.

Good morning, Christian resting in Christ’s Victories!  Christ’s Holy victories are what holds us, ‘His people’, up, amidst all that would seek, vehemently, to pull us down, and mar our public witness for Him.  Of ourselves, we are weak, and foolish, and too often found wanting in the midst of the daily Spiritual Battle – but, in Christ Jesus, we are always fully assured of the eventual and total victory.  All glory to the Name of all names, King Jesus Christ!  Hallelujah! 

“Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom He hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy…”  (Psalm 107:1-3)

Verse 4. “Thou art more glorious and excellent than the mountains of prey.  What are the honours of war but brags of murder?  What the fame of conquerors but the reek of manslaughter?  But the Lord is glorious in Holiness, and His terrible deeds are done in justice for the defence of the weak and the deliverance of the enslaved.  Mere power may be glorious, but it is not excellent: when we behold the mighty acts of the Lord, we see a perfect blending of the two qualities.”  (C.H. Spurgeon, Treasury of David, page 325)

Because we that are redeemed by Christ’ sinless Blood have been permitted to see Christ Jesus with the eyes of God-given faith – we more fully understand the Lord’s motivations in every act of Spiritual war He engages daily.  All just, all merciful, all gracious, all loving, and all and impeccably Holy, is our Lord God Jehovah – Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Knowing this by faith through His amazing grace, we see that everything that our Lord God does is done in perfect righteousness and grace.  Therefore, ALL that God Almighty is and does, we applaud and give thanks to Him for it.  What a privilege to belong to the Lord God and to be permitted to have a portion in all His most powerful victories.  Glory to the Lamb!

“Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us.”    (Romans 8:37)

When the Living Lord God subdues enemies, they immediately wither and fade into insignificance.  Tyrants and oppressors who show no mercy towards those less powerful than themselves, and especially towards Christian witnesses, are reduced to trembling cowards at the rebuke of the Lord God.

Verse 5. “The stout-hearted are spoiled. Daring men, who fear nothing, are turned into Magor-missabibs (definition: terror on every side), the name given by Jeremiah to Pashur the priest when he smote him and put him in the stocks for prophesying against the idolatry of Jerusalem. ( Jeremiah 20:3 ) – fear round about; their stout hearts are taken from them, and then they are so far from being a terror to other men, that they run from the shadow of a man; their courage is down; they cannot give a child a confident look, much less look dangers or enemies in the face.”  (Joseph Caryl, 1602-1673)

Check out what the Lord did to Pashur the priest, for playing the tyrant with His servant Jeremiah: “For thus saith the Lord, Behold (look, and fully understand), I will make thee a terror to thyself, and to all they friends: and they shall fall by the sword of their enemies, and thine eyes shall behold it: and I will give all Judah into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall carry them captive into Babylon, and shall slay them with the sword. And thou, Pashur, and all that dwell in thine house shall go into captivity: and thou shalt come to Babylon, and there thou shalt die, and shalt be buried there, thou, and all thy friends to whom thou hast prophesied lies.” (Jeremiah 20:1-6)

It is wise to remember that the Lord God is a God of Holiness, wrath against all sin, and a strict upholder of justice – as well as a Lord God of grace, mercy, and matchless love.  He will not be mocked by infidels or Christ-rejecting reprobates.  Take heed!

“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” (Galatians 6:7)

For the angel of death spread his wings on the blast,

And breathed in the face of the foe as he passed;

And the eyes of the sleepers waxed deadly and chill,

And their hearts but once heaved, and forever were still!

And there lay the steed with his nostril all wide,

But through it there rolled not the breath of his pride:

And the foam of his gasping lay white on the turf,

And cold as the spray of the rock-beating surf.

And there lay the rider distorted and pale,

With the dew on his brow and the rust on his mail;

And the tents were all silent, the banners alone,

The lances unlifted, the trumpet unblown.

George Gordon, Lord Byron (1788-1824)

Verse 7. “Thou, even Thou, art to be feared. Not Sennacherib, nor Nisroch his god, but Jehovah alone, Who with a silent rebuke had withered all the monarch’s host. The fear of man is a snare, but the fear of God is a great virtue and has great power for good over the human mind. God is to be feared profoundly, continually, and alone.” (C.H. Spurgeon, Treasury of David, pages 325-236)

Verse 10. “Surely the wrath of man shall praise Thee: the remainder of wrath shalt Thou restrain. …The Devil blows the fire and melts the iron, and then the Lord fashions it for His own purposes.  Let men and devils rage as they may; they cannot do otherwise than subserve the Divine purposes.”  (C.H. Spurgeon, Treasury of David, page 326)

Thought: Contemplate for a moment, all the powerful victories of our great Lord God! Give heart-felt thanks to Him, for His mercies endure forever for 'His people'.