MAKING HISTORY
Psalm 78: 36-72
|
A PRESBYTERIAN PSALTER - by Pastor Max A Forsythe |
Years ago I remember seeing a recruiting poster for the U.S. Navy. The words were few, but choice: "Don't read history, make it!" Too often we think that it is a handful of people who guide the destiny of nations, those who are set aside specifically for greatness! Thinking that, we fail to give our full attention to what we can accomplish as individuals. In the course of five short decades ago, I have witnessed the sad fall of several once great Christian denominations, the decline of western civilization and many assorted public institutions and offices. Too often within the evangelical camp, we have stood awkwardly by and done nothing more than lament the passing parade. Well, it doesn't always have to be this way.
About six weeks ago, at Bible Study, we lamented what the translators and publishers were about to do to our beloved New International Version. Only one small biweekly publication had the intestinal fortitude to expose the whole tawdry mess of corporate shenanigans. Since then we have learned that for once in a long time, the good guys really scored a point for literary faithfulness and continuing submission to the revealed word given to us by our Father in heaven.
There are other small examples of what people can do. A syndicated writer by the name of John Leo was able to publish a one page commentary on the decades long transformation of our public educational system to something entirely other. I would think just getting that truth printed is nothing short of miraculous. In addition, a police chief in Charleston, South Carolina has shown the country how to really take a bite out of crime. His methods plus tried and true means have begun to turn things around in New York City as well as many other places. In the past year our session became concerned with the exceptions being taken by young candidates to the ministry. So after several months of prayer and study, a lengthy letter was sent to the appropriate committee in our Presbytery. We were very heartened to see the how our standing against the liberal tide has caused a more serious consideration of appropriate theological standards.
These are all examples of small steps to be sure! But hopefully more and more people will take it upon themselves to speak out for civility in schools, submission to God in churches and Christian publishers, and a renewed focus on rule by law in the public square. You see, all the slick operators could not have gotten their dirty hands on the reins of power if more and more people hadn't sat back and watched the decline of our western culture these last few decades.
The American people truly deserve the government that is currently in power. It has been a long time since the integrity minded Truman observed that if a politician's wife couldn't trust him, neither should anyone else! Fifty years of decline, and a once great nation is floundering in the gutters of immorality, new age paganism and a much diminished Christian witness. See how perfectly our own society mirrors that described by Asaph in the second half of Psalm 78 this morning? Here is a sad dirge of the decline in the fortunes of the leading light of Israel. Eventually Ephraim's leadership was transferred to the tribe of Judah. Eventually the holy ground at Shiloh was abandoned in favor of Mount Zion. All of this was within the will of God. All of this happened as part of God's plan for the coming of David's greater Son Jesus Christ.
And in His providence God chose David as Asaph tells us in the last verses of this psalm. "He chose David his servant and took him from the sheep pens; from tending the sheep he brought him to be the shepherd of his people Jacob, of Israel his inheritance. And David shepherded them with integrity of heart; with skillful hands he led them." Here we see that God chooses whom he may for the important tasks of bringing forward His eternal purposes. And this is the incentive that we should take to heart this day as we consider how our poor powers may be used for rebuilding Christ's own church in our time and place.
We as well have important tasks at hand as members of Christ's Kingdom. And our purpose as elect members of Christ's own Kingdom is to do the will of our Father in Heaven. This purpose is to be servants in the same way as David served. That is to use our hands as skillfully as we are able in the works that God places before us. We must also serve with David's own integrity of heart, loving our Lord with all our heart and mind and soul. Contrast this end of our psalm portion with verses thirty-six and thirty-seven where the repentant Israelites merely give lip service to the idea of God. Like David, we must have a heart for God. We must love Him with an intensity of zeal that sets the world on fire!
This summer in our Bible Study we are looking at the means of preparing for the great work of evangelism. One of the key things that we are going to learn is that the revival which ultimately comes from the Lord by passes the leaders usually and infects the people who must do the real work of presenting the Word of God to their generation! If we do not purpose ourselves to do the work of the Kingdom we may see our future lives described here in detail just as was described the history of Israel. What will the true history of this last decade of the twentieth century read like to your grandchildren. Will they even be able to read it? Will they even have a church where Christ is known, honored and loved before everything else? Would you read history, or would you make it?
May we learn most earnestly from these lessons of History and apply them to our own life for the benefit of our children and for the growth of Christ's own Church. And if the final word of our history is not revival, renewal and reformation, let it not be because we didn't even try! Amen.
|
|
Resources Used: |
|
|
Leo, John. |
"Don't Listen to Miranda", US News & WR (16 June) | |
|
Spurgeon, C.H. |
The Treasury of David. | |
|
IBS: The Holy Bible, New International Version (1984) | ||
|
Psm 78c |
15 June 97 | |