Confirmation 2

Introduction:  In this eight-verse section of our psalm, the main theme has been the confirmation of the Lord’s love within the life of David the king.  Last week we looked over four marks of confirmation in the lives of the saints, today we consider that study through to the end of this section.  Of course there is a lot of basic doctrine wrapped up in the blessed assurance that is confirmed in the life of those who belong to the Lord.  Thomas Brooks describes this portion that we have in and through the Lord:  “A man that has God for his portion is the rarest and happiest man in the world; he is like the morning star in the midst of the clouds; he is like the moon when it is at full; he is like the flower of the roses in the spring of the year; he is like the lilies by the springs of waters; he is like the branches of frankincense in the time of summer; he is like a vessel of gold that is set about with all manner of precious stones.”

To put this sweet fragrance of sainthood in the proper perspective – we have only to consider the blatant attack upon the World Trade Center a few weeks ago.  Just as the decaying bodies give the smell of death to that area of lower Manhattan, so too does the despicable work of extremist fanatics raise a stench before the noses of the world at large.  Now, in the context of that attack, American liberals and conservatives alike have put the best possible spin on the religious implications associated with the supposed “faith” of the several dozen terrorists who planned and participated in that gross travesty.  However, it would be better for the leaders of Islam to also participate in that denial – if they truly wish to present themselves in a peaceful light!  Just as all good Christian men in this country disassociate themselves from and just as all true churches would expel any members of the Klu Klux Klan and related bigoted organizations, so must the “Nations of Islam” distance themselves from the work of similar extremists.

Certainly, David the king was an abject sinner, even as we all are.  Yet he, like many southern politicians have distanced themselves from any unthinking acts of association in their youth.  David learned from his brief stay as a guest of the Philistines.  He pretended to be mad in order to survive and escape to do better in his choice of friends later in life.  In spite of murderous and prideful acts during his kingship, he repented and tried to do better than his human prejudices would lead him.

Development:  This brings us to the sixty-first verse of the psalm portion before us today:

“Even though the cords of the wicked bind me,

                I have not forgotten Your law.”

How well does David appreciate the worldly vanities, those vane things that continue to charm us and focus our attention away from our precious Lord, King and Savior.  Well does Martin Luther entitle one of his writings as The Bondage of Will.  Clear through to the end of our lives, there will be worldly temptations that ensnare our mental capacities.  And yet, as we follow our Lord and King, we are continually enabled to cast off the worst of those snares and to escape their hold because of what Christ has done for us.  An older translation reads this verse this way:  “Though the wicked bind me with ropes, I will not forget your law.”  I am reminded of a story that I have often used as a children’s illustration.

When I was actively farming, I had all manner of livestock in my barn.  Because of the ongoing problems associated with the animal wastes, I would often hang fly stripes to trap the pesky insects that harassed man and beast.  One year I found a large economy sized fly strip – ten feet long and 8 to 10 inches wide.  It worked very well until our Tom Cat took to swatting at a large white moth that was snared.  Somehow or other he brought down the fly strip and wound-up wrapped in it!  When I went out to the barn the next morning – I heard this mournful meow from our chief mouser.  Since he was in no mood for consolation, the best I could do was peal back the layers and let him pull his fur loose bit by bit!  Finally, he was free and he remained standoffish for several weeks!

This is what we mean when we talk about the cords of sin throughout the scriptures.  And in the context of our two-week meditation on this psalm portion, a fifth mark confirming our salvation is simply twofold:

1.       when we return from sin to the Lord again and again – that is evidence that we belong to him even as we resolve to do better time after time.

2.       when the world persecutes us and seeks to bind us to their sinful presuppositions – in remembering His laws we may find escape.

A sixth mark of confirmation is the trouble we go to in thanking the Lord for His sovereign grace and mercy.  These are the habits of thankful prayer and worship.  Daily and weekly habits these are the habits that the worldly see no point in participating.

“At midnight I rise to thank You,

                because of Your righteous rules.”

Not too many churches celebrate the ancient catholic prayer rituals any more.  In our fast paced society, even expecting a mid-week Bible Study or an evening Prayer Service on the Lord’s Day is considered extremism – decried even, by a former Attorney General of the United States.  Yet in spite of the worldly considerations – it is a precious mark of confirmation that we believe when we set aside specific times and places to give honor, thanks and glory to the Creator God and His only Son Jesus Christ.   Midnight, here is David’s habit – you may have other daily habits that fit your age, place and station in life.

The perceived difficulty in going out of our way to honor the God of heaven is perceived by the worldly as a waste of time, time better spent in some other, any other pursuit.  Yet, this mark of confirmation that we belong to God is most important because taking the trouble to pray and worship reminds us of our first joy in salvation.  Continually we must stand in joyful awe at what God has done through His gracious mercy, and the trouble we take is the best witness to the world that we are serious about the faith once given to the saints!  One caution in this regard, if we would keep this mark we need the grace of the company of the saints as we see in verse sixty-three:

“I am the friend of all who fear You,

                of those who keep Your precepts.”

This association is the seventh mark of confirming our allegiance to our saving God and King.  Birds of a feather do flock together.  New Christians are usually mystified to see their old associations with the worldly break up – even as new relationships are forged with like-minded kindred who too have been called out of a sinful world into the fellowship of the Holy Spirit and those members of the Bride of Christ where the Lord has led them to participate.

I remember well, one of our first converts here at Christ Covenant Reformed.  A young lady had just moved to the city to make her career in journalism.  She had a good job and sweet fellowship with the sinners at work.  But as the Holy Spirit began to change her and her worldly habits, the common crowd began to shun her and undermine her professional reputation on the job.  Initially, she was saddened by the disassociation – but continued to grow in grace and knowledge in the better fellowship of the saints.

The reality of the implied friendship in verse sixty-three is indeed wonderful.  When I traveled in Europe, the little cross on my jacket brought me into contact with many more people than my Jewish companion could comprehend.  I think he actually became jealous of the attraction of the cross.  When he became standoffish and went out drinking with another group of GI’s, a young Christian lady who was in Europe visiting her fiancée suggested that we take in the sights together.  So for a week on tour we (she and two friends and I) saw the good side of town in the low-countries and my friend came away with a very different perspective.  On another occasion, later in life, I visited an ethnic church where Scots were scarce and was made to feel right at home – it was almost like heaven will be.  Wherever two or three are gathered in His Name, there He is, in the very midst of those who hold fast to the Son of God.

Conclusion:  The wideness of God’s grace never ceases to amaze me, men and women of every nation and tribe are called into the glorious kingdom of grace.  Disciples are being made in every time and place.

“The earth, O Lord, is full of Your steadfast love;

                teach me Your statutes!”

The fullness of the Lord’s love throughout the earth is our eighth confirmation that the enterprise of faith is not just a private fantasy.  Even as we sense the wideness and depth of God’s kingdom here on earth, so should we realize that we must regularly and earnestly petition and participate in increasing the saving knowledge and fruitful obedience beyond our own kin.  Even as we are called to continue learning, we do so in order that we may then teach the doctrines of grace.

As the verse above implies, a Christian is a person who is teachable and one who having learned the basics is not afraid to share what they have learned far and wide.  This is one of many areas that I most appreciate about our little congregation.  Those who have stayed are those who are teachable and you all have made the task of teaching a joyful endeavor.  Not everywhere is this Christian endeavor appreciated or tolerated.  Many remarks and innuendo in the press presume a worldly pluralism amongst the “people of faith” which in their minds include Christians, Jews and Muslims.  While we may respect and tolerate the organized religions of this world, we have to be very careful to hang tough on the Christian essentials. 

While we remain civilized in our dialogue with mainline liberalism, the various cults and even pagan religions – we must remain faithful to our first love of Christ and Him crucified, resurrected and glorified.  “I and the Father are one”, John reports from the lips of Jesus, and further Jesus notes “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”   This is the essential lesson that the Lord God of heaven and earth would teach us.  May we learn that lesson well and go on to learn all that David and the other saints encourage us – so that even as David realized because God confirmed it in His heart:  We are His and He is ours.  Amen!