David's Psalm 28

After spending time with a friend in Psalms 2 and 3 over a cup of tea in a hotel lounge, we were wondering how to approach the Psalms.  How do we "study" another man's prayer, his struggles and the joys of his heart?

Should we try to discern a pattern in the Psalms?  Should we list God's characteristic or the situations, etc.?

I think David usually links his particular situation with God's character.  There is much more I would like to learn about the Psalms.

In the mean time, we are reading them in our Two Year Bible Reading Plan.  Today is Day 28, so it is Psalm 28 to take to heart.

Here are a few notes on David's Psalm 28:

1) Don't ignore me, My LORD, my Rock!

Verse 1 O Lord, to You I call. O my Rock, listen to me. 
If You will not hear me, I will be like those who have gone down to the grave.
2 Hear my cry for loving-kindness as I call to You for help, 
and when I lift up my hands to Your holy place.

• Here David cries out to God in His crisis: don’t ignore me!  
• Most of the time Christians tend to present themselves as “so together.” 
• We can see David’s struggle. He is real - and so can and should we be too.
• His faith is on trail, but David knows who his  God is.
• He knows God is strong, that God loves Him and that God will not change.
• Psalm 28 gives us a peek inside David’s heart.  Compare Psalm 102 the prayer of a unnamed afflicted man.  See verses 9-12. See the honesty of his heart.  See him cling to his immovable Rock!

2)   Answered Prayer

Psalm 28:6 May honor and thanks be given to the Lord, because He has heard my prayer.The Lord is my strength and my safe cover, He is a safe place.My heart trusts in Him, and I am helped. So my heart is full of joy. I will thank Him with my song. 

Hearts can confidently trust this true, hearing, enabling and protective God and sing gratitude!

Psalm 13: But I trust in your unfailing love;

    my heart rejoices in your salvation.

I will sing the Lord’s praise,

    for he has been good to me.

3)    Who carries whom?

Do worshipers carry their gods to whom they entrust their lives? (In Isaiah 46:1-2)
or 

Psalm 28: 9 Save Your people and bring good to what is Yours. Be their shepherd and carry them forever.

Isaiah 46

“Listen to me, you descendants of Jacob,
    all the remnant of the people of Israel,
you whom I have upheld since your birth, 
and have carried since you were born.
4 Even to your old age and gray hairs
    I am he, I am he who will sustain you.
I have made you and I will carry you;
    I will sustain you and I will rescue you.

Isaiah 63:9

In all their affliction he was afflicted……..
  
in his love and in his pity he redeemed them;
    he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.

4) Who are the evil doers and how could we pray for them?

Back to Psalm 28:2-5

The psalmist calls on God to judge the evildoers according to their deeds.

This kind of retribution is commonly expressed in the Psalms especially Proverbs.

 Do not drag me away with the wicked,with those who do evil,who speak cordially with their neighbors, but harbor malice in their hearts. Repay them for their deeds and for their evil work;

repay them for what their hands have done and bring back on them what they deserve.
Because they have no regard for the deeds of the Lordand what his hands have done,he will tear them down and never build them up again.

How could we pray for our enemies while leaving revenge to God

•  for God's mercy on them and they will repent and turn to Him.
•  that God will break the power of the abuser, oppressor and despotic rulers.
•  that God will diminish the influence of those how have no regard of the Lord.

THE WICKED as described in Psalm 28:

• They are two-faced and deceptive in their relations to others.
• They express a concern for others’ well being, while actually harbouring resentments and malice towards them.
• These inner attitudes are invisible to others.
• There is an inner lack of integrity.
• Such deception undermines the closeness in relationships.
• They cloak inner thoughts and feelings behind a deceptive exterior.
• Human beings can succeed in hiding their true selves and motivations., the God who looks on the heart is not deceived.
• Malice would ultimately inform what the hands would do.
• The enemies “do evil”
• They allow their true nature to work themselves out in their deeds. 
• They have no respect for what God is about.
• God’s work of restoring relationships is diametrically opposed to the enemy’s deception.

God can be trusted!

Did  Joseph think God had abandoned Him?

God was still there, God was still working.

Can we trust God to keep His promises and to do the impossible?

Will we trust Him?

God at work, fulfilling the promises He made to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob

Why Egpyt?

• God wanted the family in Egypt for about 400 years - where they could live securely, and grow from 600 persons into a nation. God would then bring them back, able to conquer the war-like tribes of Canaan.
• The Egyptians were proud and exclusive and avoided contact with other nations. In Egypt the Israelites would be formed into a separate nation.

Joseph….

Bright, handsome, innocent, happy Joseph the dreamer was going to play a most important part in God's great plan of redemption for all the nations of the world.

Joseph was clearly his dad’s pet - advertised by the special coat. Unsurprisingly Joseph is highly unpopular with his 10 half-brothers. (He also has one own brother, Benjamin about 4-5 years old)

Joseph’s dreams got him into trouble.

• Dreams about his brothers’ sheaves which bowed down to his sheaf and about the sun, moon, and stars which represented a future bowing down of his family to him.
• Dreams for which his brothers never forgave him and which would eventually came true.

Things took a terrible turn…

One day…… Jacob sent Joseph along (60 miles or so!) to find out how the brothers are doing pasturing the sheep and to take them food. How easy for the brothers to spot him from far off - that multi-colour coat was a dead give away! “Look, here comes that dreamer!”  Come on, and let us kill him, and throw him into one of the pits; and we will say, ‘Some evil beast has devoured him.’”

Envy grew to murder! Hatred turned every bit of warmth to stone. 

But……..Reuben was not ready for murder. As it worked out, all the brothers went with his suggestion to rather throw Joseph into the pit to die.  They wasted no time in carrying out the deed, after which they sat down and ate bread (!) 

But God’s eye was on the boy in the dark dank pit.  

Next thing, the chewing brothers, looked up and saw a caravan coming.  Judah had a light-bulb moment!  Let’s sell the little brat: no blood on our hands, a little bit of money - about $12. And off the dreamer went with the caravan on their way to Egypt.

Ooops they had to tell their father SOMETHING so they quickly killed a goat, dipped Joseph’s coat in the blood and sure enough Jacob surmised Joseph was killed by a wild animal. The father wept inconsolably for his son.  Everyone tried to comfort him - even the two-faced brothers.

And so 20 years went past…….

Joseph was 17 when he became a slave in Egypt.

He was 30 when called from prison and soon after became prime minister of Egypt.

Joseph’s slave-life:

• Potiphar spotted him at the slave market, looked him over and paid for him.  Joseph the free spirit was  sold and sold again:  no longer his own, no life of his own.  
• Did he grapple with a sense of being wronged?   How would he keep his heart free from bitterness about his brother’s treachery?  
• Joseph didn't seem be be a sour, brooding and embittered man. He didn’t let the darkness into his own heart. 

Joseph’s work-life

• Joseph, true and trustworthy,  worked so excellently that Potiphar “left all that he owned under Joseph’s care; he did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate.” Genesis 39:6.  
• Joseph earned his master’s fullest confidence and filled a prominent role.  Did he remember his own boy’s dreams of greatness  as he found himself so honoured?

Joseph’s temptation

Joseph met his temptation on the basis of pure principle. He says to Potiphar’s wife in response to all her approaches,  “No one is greater in this house than I am. My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?"

• Utter loyalty to his master Potiphar who had trusted him implicitly with all that he had. Could he wrong a man who put this confidence in him? Instead of treachery, Joseph ran away from her. 
• Utter loyalty to God. “How can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?" Joseph and king David agreed that all our sin is against God and that all our wrong against others have reference to God. 

Joseph in prison

• Sometimes it costs very dearly—to be true to God. 
• Joseph is in prison through doing right which was nothing in comparison with what would have been the consequences—had he done the wickedness to which he was tempted. 

Prison life - what blot on his CV and his young life.  He could easily have thought: “So, this, then, was the reward of being true to God and to duty!”

Once again, Joseph rose to a place of honour when the chief jailer put him in charge of everything. The jailer had no further worries once Joseph was in charg.

Joseph’s secret of success.

• As a slave:       ”The Lord was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man.” 
• As a prisoner:  “The Lord was with Joseph, and showed kindness unto him, and that which he did, the Lord made it to prosper.” 

Seated at God's Table in His House

My friends and I have now reached day 24 in our Bible Reading Plan in which we are still journeying through Genesis and the Psalms.  
Unless I am very wrong,I cannot see the intense seeking of God's face in the narratives about Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Yes God appears miraculously to them to make His covenant promises known. Yes their righteousness comes from their own faith in what Yahweh's has revealed about Himself.  
And that goes for us too. Our righteousness does not lie in "seek God's face as often as you can and you will be saved". 
We are God's children because we were given a righteousness that comes from Jesus who died and rose from the grave. Children of God delight to draw near to God and be in His presence, in privacy and with God's family.
Here are a few strokes that sketch God's house and table and what takes place there.
You and I are invited to come by faith to enjoy to have our cups run over!

Psalm 23:5,6

TO SIT AT GOD’S TABLE IN GOD’S HOUSE

Psalm 27:4: “One  thing I ask of the lORD this is what I seek that I may dwell in the House of the Lord all the days of my life,

to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek Him in His temple.”

1. The house and table of the Lord is a picture of communion and fellowship with God Himself!
2. Psalm 26:8 “…the  house of God, the place where His glory dwells”.
3. The temple is a symbol of Yahweh’s presence where He is with His people.
4. The temple is where we know we can approach Him, knowing we will find Him.
5. To be present in the temple is to be before God - to have access to Him, weeping, praise and thanksgiving.
6. To be ever dwelling in the temple means to be always in God’s presence.
7. The temple is a place of feasting on God’s abundance, rivers of delight, liberal hospitality ( (Psalm 36:7-8)
8. The temple is a place where God’s people are treated with great honour and care (Psalm 23;5,6)
9. God’s temple is far  more than just escaping an immediate threat.
10. What an honour, what amazing grace, that He wants us, to live with Him.
11. The house of God in Psalm 23:  a spread or set table, anointed heads, overflowing cups, a divine welcoming host. 
12. Psalm 23 -our Host lavishes on his guests honour, lovingkindness , abundant goodness and protective care.
13. At this table we are treated to a feast of God Himself.
14. To dwell with God to see His beauty:  His pleasantness, His delightfulness.
15. To come to Yahweh’s house is to come to the very presence of Yahweh Himself.
16. To come to the dwelling place of God is to come to the very source of light and life.
17. Where Yahweh dwells there His light shines. and illuminates everything (Psalm 26:8)
18. In the House of God as His guest, we have direct access to Him.
19. In God’s house we can ask guidance of Him (Psalm 27:4)
20. In God’s house, in His presence  in His light, we see light and with Him is the fountain of life.
21. At His table we receive His hospitality of abundant provision, steadfast love, forgiveness, light, protection and life.
22. In His presence my brimful cup overflows and head is anointed.

 Dwelling with God is to see God face to face

to know Him fully as  we were first fully known by Him.

 (1 Corinthians 13:12)

It’s a wonderful thing to know our Father and to know Jesus, but the power of the Spirit - it’s a wonderful thing to be known by all of THEM!

Psalm 23:5,6

You prepare a table before me
    in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
    my cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
    all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of theLord
    for ever.

Psalm 23 draft

Psalm 23

On the most familiar and favoured poems in the Bible!  This makes it more difficult to read the Psalm anew and in a fresh way.

At heart the Psalm is an expression of confidence in Yahwehs’s protective care.  And our dependence on Him.

Psalm 23 is about trust, the abundant life God leads us into, the secure life Yahweh provides for us and His blessing on the trusting faithful

which again leads to confidence in Him.

Here we learn about themes like “house of dwelling” where protection and security are to be found.

VERSE 1:

My Shepherd…who goes ahead of me.

I shall not lack anything- my Shepherd God supplies abundantly what his trusting people need.

What shall I not lack?

His leading.

The restoration of my soul.

Being led in paths of righteousness.

His presence and comfort with me in the worst case scenario.

green pastures, quiet streams - what an unusual picture in the Middle East, for that matter in South Africa.

There the natural land is dry and rocky, sparse shrub and tough grass.

Water sources are few.

Grass and water - this is what the sheep need every day.

The Shepherd knows how to find both and lead the hungering and thirsty sheep there.

The Shepherd leads on a right path, a path that gets you there..

The sheep are needy and dependent.

The sheep are not left to their own devices.

The sheep are led by God to the right path that gets sheep to go where they need to get.

The Shepherd acts to benefit the sheep - consistent to His own Name and the nature His Name reveals.

Verse 3

“….for His Name’s sake.”

Fearful threats:

The valley of the shadow of death.

Evil and enemies.

In the wilderness there may be deep canyons, or shadows of high cliffs that exclude light. oppressive heat.

Shadow.  The Hebrew word here means “the shadowiest of shadow”.  The danger and the threat of the deepest

shadow of crossing a canyon wall.

“I will fear no evil”

Despite the scary and threatening setting, despite every reason to the fearful, the sheep is unafraid.

“You rod and your staff.”

His rod and staff keep the sheep safe and secure, guided and protected.

“Rod” 

- a shorter mace-like implement, with a knob at the end,  that can be used to rain heavy blows agains an attacking animal.

- it can also mean a scepter which is a visible ornament of kingly authority.

“Staff”

Longer and supporting like in a walking stick used by the elderly.

What is the comfort these implements provide?

Reassurance of guidance in correct paths to abundant food and water.

Protection  by the shepherd from the dangers and enemies.

We are encouraged to trust Yahweh.

THE IMAGES SWITCHES HERE AND SHIFTS from migrating sheep to having enemies.

HIS TABLE

In these verses Yahweh is not the Shepherd, but He is the Host.

The trusting person sits at His table, as an honoured guest.

It is a picture of communion with God Himself!

To sit at the Yahweh’s table is to enjoy fellowship and communion with Him.

And……..

to do so in the presence of enemies is a PUBLIC declaration of the guest’s divine blessing and security.

HIS HOUSE

The psalmist is looking forward - confidently - to dwell in Yahweh’s house forever.

WHAT MIGHT IT MEAN TO DWELL IN THE HOUSE OF YAHWEH?

The person who is relentlessly pursued and followed by his enemies

takes refuge in the temple

and there finds he or she is relentlessly pursued by God’s goodness and mercy.

We find asylum in God’s temple, refuge, a hiding place, protection and care, goodness and mercy.

God’s house could also refer to heaven.

We are travellers (sheep in the desert)

and can look forward to a heavenly table and house (as God’s guests) in eternal security and uninterrupted relationship.

In this life He guides and protects and provides and sustains and we can look forward to sitting around His table in His house - God our host.

So we see there are two halves in Psalm 23.

As sheep we live in a hostile environment where our faith is constantly stretched and challenged.

Living with a fervent hope of dwelling/residing/spending eternity/living in the presence of God.

Psalm 26:8 “…the  house of God, the place where His glory dwells”.

The temple is a symbol of Yahweh’s presence where He is with His people.

The temple is where we know we can approach Him, knowing we will find Him.

We are going to see more of this in Psalm 24 where the Temple is a place..

where prepared people (Psalm 24:3-6) and a mighty victorious God meet in worship of Him.

To be present in the temple is to be before God - to have access to Him, in lament, praise and thanksgiving.

To be ever dwelling in the temple means to be always in God’s presence.

The temple is a place of feasting on God’s abundance, rivers of delight, liberal hospitality ( (Psalm 36:7-8)

The temple is a place where God’s people are treated with great honour and care (Psalm 23;5,6)

God’s temple forever - this is  more than just escaping an immediate threat - till this is over. 

What an honour to have been chosen, He wants us, to live with Him.

The house of God in Psalm 23:  a spread or set table, anointed heads, overflowing cups, a divine welcoming host who

lavishes on his guests honour, lovingkindness , abundant goodness and protective care.

Ongoing experience of God Himself.

We sit at His table - our divine Host.

At this table we are treated to a feast of God Himself.

Psalm 27:4: “One  thing I ask of the lORD this is what I seek that I may dwell in the House of the Lord all the days of my life,

to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek Him in His temple.”

To dwell with God to see His beauty:  His pleasantness, His delightfulness.

To come to Yahweh’s house is to come to the very presence of Yahweh Himself.

To come to the dwelling place of God is to come to the very source of light and life.

Where Yahweh dwells there His light shines. and illuminates everything (Psalm 26:8)

In the House of God as His guest, we have direct access to Him.

In God’s house we can ask guidance of Him (Psalm 27:4)

In God’s house, in His presence  in His light, we see light and with Him is the fountain of life.

The desire to dwell with God

is  more than just a hope to escape trouble.

Being in God’s presence…

there we gain divine guidance in following the way of Yahwe

there we experience the blessing of diving hospitality

there we receive abundant provision, steadfast love, forgiveness, light, protection and life.

Dwelling with God is (1 Corinthians 13:12)

to see God face to face

to know Him fully as  we were first known (fully) by Him.

Psalm 23 offers several images of life with God that can have significant impact on how we live our contemporary lives of faith :

LIFE AS A PILGRiM - life as pilgrimage.

Life through dangerous territory to the house of God together with the images of shepherd and flock.

Pilgrimage is one of the foundational elements of the Israelites identity - even before the left Egypt.

Abraham left home and family to travel endlessly in search of the new home God had promised.

After the Exodus Israel travelled for 40 years in the wilderness.

Pilgrimage means temporary always a challenge to remain faithful to God in difficult circumstances.

Christians as Pilgrims,

Where we are now is not our final destination - we haven’t arrived!

We stand in the “Already but not yet”.

Through Jesus’ saving grace we have begun to experience the reality of the restoration of the world to its original creation intention.

We are still changing so that our inward selves are conformed to the image of Christ.

We are in process we aren’t there yet.

Much in us is still incomplete and broken.

We live as strangers in a strange land, travellers on the way, not at home yet.

SETTING A TABLE BEFORE US

This  table is a symbol of honour and provision.

Life lived in the presence and power of God is life lived in a broken world with enemies.

Being in Christ does not mean that the troubles and worries and dangers of the world are removed from us.

We are still in the presence of our enemies.

But, day by day God is setting a table for us in the presence  of our enemies.

We have to remember this when we are struggling and we wonder where is God in my life.

Look out for the signs of God’s lovingkindness, His mercy, His goodness of His set table in the presence of the 

people and things that tear us down and shatter our hopes, taunt and ridicule us.

Dwelling in the house of God.

Heaven is the end goal of the Christian pilgrim.

While we are in this life..

we can experience God’s presence in the presence of our enemies, while we experience suffering and while

are still fighting sin.

In this life we can experience God’s presence and mercy, and lovingkindness in the midst of our present

realities of our daily lives.

How can we experience the presence of God in our daily lives?

Be alert to and acknowledge His presence and works in the small details of our lives.

Spot God’s grace and action in life.

We can experience His presence in the hustle and bustle of the city, in a quite moment at home in the beauty

of a sunset.

We know His presence when we pray at any time of the day. Or when we go into a private place and pour our hearts out

to Him in adoration, petitions.  When we find Him in the Bible by the power and presence of the Holy Spirit.

We find God’s presence when we draw near to Him - He draws near to us.

We find His closeness when we are brokenhearted - He is close to the brokenhearted.

I know God’s presence with me when I believe He is sovereign over all the aspects of my life and right here with me.

I experience God’s presence when in church and hear Him talk to us and lifting our voices in song to Him with others.

Being in God’s presence is not escapism.

Being in God’s presence is fleeing into His protective arms, the welcoming arms of my Saviour.

God is with me in the midst of my daily hassles, failures and victories.

Much more can be said about living in the presence of God.

John 17 - God in us, we in Christ, Christ in us as the Father is in the Son!

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall notwant.He makes me lie down in greenpastures.

He leads me beside still waters.
3     He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
    for his name's sake.
4 Even though I walk through the valley ofthe shadow of death,
    I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
    your rod and your staff,
    they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me
    in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
    my cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
    all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
    for ever.

Seeing God's Face! Psalm 17

Psalm 17

THE STRUCTURE OF DAVID'S POEM FROM HIS DIARY OF MEMORABLE EXPERIENCES.

1) An initial plea is backed up by the psalmist’s claim of innocence. (17:1-5)

2) A second plea supported by a description of a virulent attack by the enemies (17:6-12)

3) A third plea accompanied by David’s confidence in God’s good intent for those whom he “cherishes” (17:13-15)

Verse 1-5 A plea and claim of innocence.

 Verse 1 Hear me, Lord, my plea is just;
    listen to my cry.
Hear my prayer—
    it does not rise from deceitful lips.

Verse 2 Let my vindication come from you;
    may your eyes see what is right.

 Verse 3 hough you probe my heart,
    though you examine me at night and test me,
you will find that I have planned no evil;
    my mouth has not transgressed.
 

Verse 4

Though people tried to bribe me,
    I have kept myself from the ways of the violent
    through what your lips have commanded.

What your lips have commanded:

• I am kept from sin and violence by following what your lips have commanded.
• What your lips have commanded is my criterion of divine examination - see verses 2 and 3.
• God’s paths is what He has made known to us by His commanding lips.
• Are my ideas and knowledge of the path of life, sketchy and skimpy?  
• How else can live a life of faith if I don’t know have information?
• Am I in a place where I hear the commands from God’s lips?

Verse 5

 My steps have held to your paths; my feet have not stumbled.

Verse 4 and 5: David understands the words of Yahweh’s lips as the essential guide for life that avoids the path of violence. and keeps firmly to Yahweh’s ways.. 

As in the previous psalm it is Yahweh who provides the psalmist with the accurate roadmap  to life  and joy (Psalm 16:11

EXAMINE ME

• The psalmist invites divine scrutiny and examination confident that God will find no fault. 
• The psalmist expects to survive God’s close inspection and critique for there is no condemning evil to be found. 
• He has been careful about a mouth, that it will not sin. 
• The examination moves from the heart to the mouth (17:3c) and then  to the outward actions (17:4). 
• In all these the psalmist has claimed to avoid sin in thought, word and deed. 
• The psalmist confidently expects to pass the test.

The best comparison I can think of now are the evidences of new birth as found in 1 John.

The person who passes the test here is most definitely not without sin!!

The Enemy Attack in verses 6-12

Verse 6 I call on you, my God, for you will answer me; turn your ear to me and hear my prayer.

The psalmist makes an audible cry to God. - confident that God will answer.

 Verse 7  Show me the wonders of your great love,

God is the one who makes known the wonder of his loyal love and concern.

Verse 9

  you who save by your right hand
    those who take refuge in you from their foes.
 Verse 8 Keep me as the apple of your eye;

The pupil of the eye needs to be carefully guarded against injury.  God exercises zealous care to protect us.

hide me in the shadow of your wings
 from the wicked who are out to destroy me,
    from my mortal enemies who surround me.

Luke 13:34 “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing.

 Verse 10 they close up their callous hearts,
    and their mouths speak with arrogance.

Their hearts are unfeeling and uncaring.

 Verse 11 They have tracked me down, they now surround me,
    with eyes alert, to throw me to the ground.
 Verse 12 They are like a lion hungry for prey,
    like a fierce lion crouching in cover.

The enemy is like a lion passionately eager to tear and lurking, croaching in ambush, next to move in for the kill.

Verses 9-12 is most probably how Jesus, God’s anointed King felt at the time of His crucifixion.

The Final Pleas - Verses 13-15

Verse 13: Rise up, Lord, confront them, bring them down; with your sword rescue me from the wicked.

Yahweh is called to action.

 Verse 14 By your hand save me from such people,Lord,
    from those of this world whose reward is in this life.

The enemy’s rewards only apply to this life, for example an immaculate lawn, impressive children, beautiful home, successful business. 

May what you have stored up for the wicked fill their bellies;
    may their children gorge themselves on it,
    and may there be leftovers for their little ones.

A stark contrast, “As for me,”

15  As for me, I will be vindicated and will see your face;

There’s a great sense of confidence here.

    when I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness.

Questions:  

Am I going to be more attracted to the rewards in this life than to seeing God’s face?  

Where do I look for my satisfaction?  

What is the only source to continuing satisfaction?

1)  Ecclesiastes:

The author of Ecclesiastes has researched this topic far and wide and discovered the futility of human endeavour and reliance on wealth, status and power.  

The rewards of this world is short-lived. Respect and reputation are fleeting.

If I only look to rewards in this life, I’m doomed to frustration and disillusionment. 

“The fear of God: we are completely and utterly dependent on the gracious mercy of God - (the author of Ecclesiastes.

Ecclesiastes 12:13 Here is my final conclusion: fear God and obey his commandments, for this is the entire duty of man.Job lays down his demands and defences when he is confronted at last by the undeniable presence of the Almighty: 

2)  Job lays down his demands and defences when confronted at last by the undeniable presence of the Almighty.  Job 42:5;  My ears had heard of you, but now my eyes have seen you.

3) Psalm 17:15  David’s hope is that the righteous  will see God’s face and find satisfaction there.

NOTES ON SEEING GOD’S FACE:

• Psalm 11:7 - only the upright will see God’s face.
• I’m going to see God’s face, by His grace - I’m going to be so satisfied with my Treasure’s  likeness!
•  1 John 3: 2 Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. 

3 All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.

ABOUT SEEING GOD IN JESUS’ FACE:

While still on earth, we are allowed to see as much of God as is humanly possible without destruction.

• Jesus is the very image of the Father.  John 10:30:  I and the Father are one.”  
• 2 Corinthians 4:4 ….to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
• Colossians 1:15 “…. The Son is the image of the invisible God”.  
• John 14:9 Jesus replied, “Don’t you even yet know who I am, Philip, even after all this time I have been with you? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father! So why are you asking to see him?
• 2 Corinthians 4:6: ‘….. the brightness of his glory that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.

THE FACE OF GOD HAS A FEARFUL POTENTIAL FOR JUDGMENT:

• 1 Peter 3:12; “For the Lord is watching his children, listening to their prayers; but the Lord’s face is hard against those who do evil.
• Revelation 6:16 “……and cried to the mountains to crush them. “Fall on us,” they pleaded, “and hide us from the face of the one sitting on the throne, and from the anger of the Lamb….”

BY CONTRAST HEAVEN IS WHERE GOD’S FACE SHINES ON US

•  Revelation 22:3,4  “No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. 4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.”