The good news of Christ
Psalm 91.17; Isaiah 55.11
Make your hand rest lightly upon us,
Lord, show your grace without delay.
Bless all our work with good success—
Yes, prosper our hands in all they do.
And when the plant is slow to bear,
The fields show little sign of fruit,
Work in our hearts, that we have faith
Your Word will not return to you empty.
Read Psalm 89
Reality seems far from your promises, Lord.
The Kingdom’s glory seems trampled in the dust.
How long can your people bear up under suffering?
What happy subjects who have learned to worship you!
They joyfully walk in the light of your presence.
They delight in your righteousness.
The heavens praise all your wonders, O Lord.
Who in the heavens can be compared to you?
Among us you are powerful and fearful.
Do not forget us, O God of all eternity.
Enemies overrun your Kingdom.
Where, O Lord, is your former love?
You act with reason and move with purpose.
We trust in you, consoled by your faithfulness.
May you be praised forever. Amen!
The answer to the question: because it works! The world is large and scary, and although we see ourselves as Christians as great warriors for the faith standing our ground, it is doing a great job of containing the gospel and our works of service to the walls of our church buildings. In the 21st century we fear the world more than we fear God (Psalm 2:1-12).
I. John 11:47-50. “Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?” the psalmist asks. After all, don’t they know that it’s useless to fight against the God that created the universe and sustains us? It didn’t stop those in power from scheming to put Jesus to death and thus falling into God’s plan to bring about redemption for mankind. God’s wrath for them is expected (Romans 1:18-23). In the 1st century, Christians did not shrink back from the world’s attacks but were emboldened because they feared God (Acts 4:24-26).
II. Hebrews 1:2-8. It’s vain because God has set His Son on His holy hill in Zion, who will destroy His enemies with a rod of iron (Hebrews 10:26-31). The best that the world could muster to oppose the gospel in the 1st century fell woefully short (Acts 4:27-28) because God had planned beforehand how to bring about such a salvation (Acts 2:23-24). Since none can oppose His will, we should fear God and not the world.
III. Matthew 10:26-28. It is with fear and trembling that mankind should approach God. The world can only kill the body, not put body and soul in hell. Therefore, it is God we should fear. We should work out our salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12) and take refuge in God, not the false friendship of the world. When the world sought to intimidate early Christians, they prayed for boldness and it was given to them (Acts 4:29-31). We too must be of those who do not shrink back and are destroyed but of those who through faith preserve their souls (Hebrews 10:35-39).
Is the church (and not God) a refuge for you to escape the world or a gathering of warriors regrouping to battle the world?
The person who waits until he’s in the midst of a struggle to turn to God is like the one who doesn’t repair his roof when the sun shines because it isn’t raining. The rain will come; crises hit our lives like storms. The question is: are you prepared spiritually to meet them (Psalm 1)?
I. 1 John 2:3-6. The righteous don’t go through this life like the wicked do. They don’t stand up with sinners nor sit with the scoffers. Rather their delight is in the law of the Lord. On this they meditate as they seek His commands (Psalm 119:10-16).
II. Galatians 5:18-24. Just as a willow tree drinks deeply from a nearby water source, so we must drink deeply from God’s Word. Just as the righteous and wicked are contrasted in Psalm 1, so they are here. But, like the deep-drinking willow, we can grow the fruits of the spirit. Those who don’t are like chaff that is gathered only to burn (Matthew 13:27-30).
III. Matthew 25:41-43. The wicked will not stand with the righteous in the Judgment, but often they don’t realize they are wicked. “When did we see you in need?” they ask, but they are guilty of not grasping the opportunities to do good that God has given them. Instead, the righteous seek first the kingdom and righteousness of the Rock of Ages (Matthew 6:31-33).
Psalm 1 serves as wisdom to guide godly people. It’s no wonder that Psalms is a favorite book of many. It gives comfort if you’ve made godly choices and warning if you’ve strayed.
Psalm 43.3-5 NIV (1984)
Send forth and guide me your truth and light
To your holy mountain where you dwell;
I then will worship in joyful delight,
With praise, O God, my heart will swell.
Why, my soul, be so downcast?
Why in your heart be so distraught?
Put hope in God, to faith hold fast;
Yet will I praise him for all he’s wrought.
I have been dependent on you since birth;
from the time I came out of my mother’s womb you have been my God.
Psalm 22.10 NET
My Shepherd, danger nears — to you I flee.
You’ve led me every step, at every turn;
Dependence is the sweetest word for me.
You’ve always been my God since I was born.
You welcome prayers — your serving angels descend.
There’s still so much to know, so much to learn:
Establish me in truth, until the end.
Whom do I have in heaven but you?
On earth there is no one I desire but you.
Psalm 73.25.
Presence. Glory. Hallowed Name.
To us great Truth these all proclaim.
We seek you, Lord, even unaware,
That our pursuit is your acclaim.
Yes, you, not things, must be our prayer.
On earth can I but you desire.
For life only you do I require.
2 Samuel 22; Psalm 18
You, the living Lord, are God of victory;
My enemy shall not prevail against me.
To save my life your hand extends from heaven,
With shouts and fire and smoke and flying angels.
Long have I sought my Rock and strong protection,
Take notice, Lord, of my unflagging devotion.
Put armies to flight, tear down the walls of hatred;
Before me clear the paths so I may pursue.
My Savior reigns, he lives to rescue his people,
His ways are true, his word is always faithful.
You are my shield, my strong, unbending defender,
Before the war is won, we sing the outcome.
None is like the Lord, no other deity
Can turn the battle — both sky and earth are shaken
When God, our God, descends to scatter
The nations — Praise him! Praise him in the highest!
This poem was inspired by this comment
For our transgression we lament,
O God, whose eyes see naught of sin;
With broken pride, our strength is spent,
Against the world we cannot win.
Your heavy hand upon us weighs,
How long to rest, O Lord, how long?
Why must we wait? Why such delays?
Why must we sing this tearful song?
Reveal your power, your upraised hand,
Come heal our sad and broken soul;
Break now your silence, give command —
To bring relief and make us whole.
Psalm 1.2
O God, help me to find pleasure in obedience. Let my thoughts be taken up day and night with your blessed word. Keep me from the wicked way.
I want to please you. I want to know you better. I want to live in your light.
Make me the difference in this world that shows where love and peace and hope abide.