HAVE IT YOUR WAY!
Psalm 81: 11-16
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A PRESBYTERIAN PSALTER - by Pastor Max A Forsythe |
There is an old proverb which sums up the biblical teaching that we are concerned with today. It goes something like this: "Those who who will not submit to God and say 'Thy will be done', God eventually says to them 'Your own will be done'" This is the way of God's judgement and is aptly described by Paul at the end of Romans One where we see oft repeated the phrase: "God gave them over to ..." And you can pretty much fill in the blank that humans would choose instead of the faithful God of heaven.
Derek Kidner paraphrases the opening verse in these tragic words: "The distaste of my people for my voice". It is almost like having to listen to Fran Drescher's television voice hour after hour and day after day! Sadly when the people of Israel in the desert heard the sound of thunder instead of the voice of God, that is exactly what they really wanted to hear. In how many households across the land is hearing just as selective? I should have had tubes put in my ears over a year and a half ago. But, there was so much mindless chatter and cursing where I spend nine months of the year, that I really didn't want to hear what was being said. When I go back to school in a few short weeks, I will have to learn to deal with the background noise once again! Thanks to the God of heaven who through His Spirit has spoken clearly to my heart so that I can at least hear Him through His word.
But His word is what two-thirds or more of the population would like last to hear. I once gave some literature to a person who seemed interested in what God had to say. Their closest friend was so disturbed at the implications of the pamphlets that they took them away and destroyed them. So it is in our society today, God continues to speak, but since His very nature is suspect and particularly politically incorrect, His words, commandments and revelations are hidden away on purpose. One library that I am familiar with had one copy of the Bible, a gilt edged Textus Receptus on very thin paper of the finest quality. It was a museum piece and it was stored in a wooden box with a latch and even a key hole! At least the librarian didn't lock the box, but it might as well have been locked because the word was so in accessible!
But God's word tells us here in our passage today, that even if we were in the midst of a great revival and reformation of the church, still most of the people would not hear and would not listen! In our time, God has only given to world over to what the world really wants - no word of wisdom, no prophecy, and no gospel evident anywhere in the public square! And look where society is going as people follow their own devices. "To hell in a handcart" as an older wisdom once observed. Of course, I do believe the handcart has been replaced by a jet ski, snowmobile, dirt bike or other appropriate vehicle fit for the fast lane of our late twentieth century.
So much for the world, the next two verse of our psalm show us the Shepard heart of our great God and King. "If my people would but listen to me, if Israel would follow my ways." There has to be a certain eternal sadness in the fallen nature of all of mankind. Here is an apt description of the eternal Creator God of heaven and earth, holding out His hand inviting the worldly throng to come home to spiritual paradise. Under His wings, as another passage goes, we should be protected and the wickedness done to us avenged with a passion that would surprise us. Just this week, three mothers were arrested, tried and found guilty of only tormenting a pervert who had abused a child in their area. At least the original judge could have let him stay in jail and there let the criminal element cleanse their "home sweet prison" of his perverted presence. Of course we have to remember that all wickedness that is done publically is finally and always done against the God of heaven. And in our last three verses we see described the great and final divide between the goats and the sheep.
Recently, one of the labor unions complained against a particular city because the city had laid off some workers and replaced them with goats to graze the grass and weeds. In the ongoing complaint, the union observed that at the very least, the goats could come under the oversight and protection of the union! The reporter neatly observed that perhaps the union already had enough bully goats to go around. And so does the world! Sometimes we wonder why there are so many goats and so few sheep. I am reminded of a passage in Romans where I have written a note that helps me understand what God is really doing. The passage is this (Romans 9:22-24): "What if God, choosing to show his wrath and make his power known, bore with great patience the objects of his wrth - prepared for destruction? What if he did this to make the riches of his glory known to the objects of his mercy, whom he prepared in advance for glory - even us, whom he also called. ..."
The note that I have written beside this text is about a nursery tale and sometimes those old nursery tales have more wisdom than is regularly appreciated. "The ugly duckling would not have known he was a swan if he hadn't grown up with a flock of ducks." So is the great divide between the elect and the worldly. The worldly go on to become all that they can be. Like the popular fast food phrase, they readily have life their way! "Those who hate the Lord would cringe before him, and their punishment wuld last forever."
But you, an elect Cygnet instead of a common duckling are being prepared for glory. We may have the finest wheat and honey from the rock that is offered here at the end of the immeasurably wise psalm. Will you have salvation and eternal life His way or would you prefer to go down, down, down to the despicable depths of your own desires? May the Holy Spirit lead you up and point you always towards heaven. Amen.
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Resources Used: |
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Kidner, Derek. |
Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries: Psalms. | |
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Spurgeon, C.H. |
The Treasury of David. | |
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IBS: The Holy Bible, New International Version (1984) | ||
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Psm 81d |
10 August 97 | |