Psalm 43

Vindication and Deliverance through the Resurrection

    John G. Patton was a missionary who lived in the 19th century and worked in the South Seas. He decided he was going to preach to the cannibals on the New Hebrides Islands. As he was preparing to leave his home church in Scotland, a church member lamented: “The cannibals, the cannibals! You will be eaten by the cannibals!”

    Without hesitating, Patton answered: “I confess to you that if I can live and die serving my Lord Jesus Christ, it makes no difference to me whether I am eaten by cannibals or by worms; for in that Great Day of Resurrection, my body will rise as fair as yours in the likeness of our risen Redeemer!”

    Does the resurrection make a difference to you? Does it make a difference to you that Jesus rose from the dead? Is it important to you? Do you live your life, through the lens of the resurrection of Jesus Christ and your own future resurrection?

    Over the next three days, I want us to consider a psalm, Psalm 43, and look at the thoughts of this psalm through the lens of the resurrection of Christ. We do not know who the author of this psalm is.  Let’s study together…

STANZA ONE - A PRAYER FOR VINDICATION AND DELIVERANCE - 43:1-2:

    The text: “Vindicate me, O God, and plead my case against an ungodly nation; O deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man! For You are the God of my strength; why have You rejected me? Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?”

    We notice first that the author is dealing with persecution from an “ungodly nation” whom he also identifies as “deceitful and just.” In verse 2, the author refers to these individuals as the “enemy.”

    It has almost never been easy to live a faithful life to God in this world. The pressure to conform to the world is probably not any stronger in 21st century America than it was in the 10th century before Christ. We live in a society today that can be unjust and might get even more unjust.

    So the author calls on God to “vindicate” him. “Vindicate” means to “clear someone of blame or suspicion” or “to show or prove to be right.” So the author is calling on God to prove to his enemies, this ungodly nation, that his faith in God is right! That his chosen lifestyle, as it follows the Law of Moses, is the right lifestyle.

    At the same time, he calls on God to deliver him from this wickedness. Deliverance. Freedom.

    The author is able to call on God, and expect God to answer him, because of who God is. Notice verse 2 - “You are the God of my strength.” It seems the power and influence of the wicked, ungodly nation was overwhelming the author. Because God is his source of strength, he expects vindication and deliverance. Yet, he is having doubts, doubts that are stimulated by the enemy. Where is God, when it hurts?

    Do you ever feel the loneliness that is reflected in these two verses? Do you have feel like crying out to be proven right as this author does here? Do you see the resurrection of Christ in this text?

    When are Christians vindicated? The grounds of our vindication is the resurrection of Christ. We live our lives as we do because we are convinced that Jesus of Nazareth rose from the dead. That’s why we have the faith we do. That’s why we hope as we do. Yes, it’s because of the resurrection that we are persecuted and slandered and mocked, sometimes. But what else can you do with the empty tomb? And it’s because of that empty tomb that we know, one day, our faith will be vindicated. When we rise from the dead to receive eternal life and the scoffers rise from the dead to receive eternal destruction, our faith will be vindicated. We will be proven true at the resurrection.

    Yes, God is our strength! The resurrection of Christ gives strength to our faith. It provides vindication and deliverance.

    --Paul Holland

Examples of God's Providence

Gen 46:3  And he said, I am God, the God of thy father: fear not to go down into Egypt; for I will there make of thee a great nation.

The sons of Jacob returned to Canaan and informed him that Joseph was alive and was now the prime minister of Egypt and that Joseph had requested for all of them to go to Egypt so that he could take care of them. The famine would last another five years and Egypt looked like their only hope. But Jacob hesitated and was fearful. Should he go down to Egypt? God appeared to him and assured him that it was alright to go to Egypt. Every doubt was dispelled by this Divine manifestation.

Why was Jacob apprehensive about going down to Egypt?
1. He was already 130 years old and feared he might not make the journey.
2. He feared lest his sons should be influenced by the idolatrous ways of the Egyptians.
3. He remembered that God had said to Abraham concerning the bondage and affliction of his seed in a foreign land (Gen 15:13) and was fearful it might proved to be true.
4. He remembered that God had called his father Abraham out of Ur to come to Canaan, the Promised Land given by God to them (Gen 17:8) and he was not sure if he should leave the land of promise and settled elsewhere.

God appeared to him and removed all his fear. Jacob knew it was the will of God. He believed now that it was the Providence of God who had sent Joseph to Egypt to preserve life, even as Joseph himself had said (Gen 45:5). Jacob obeyed and left Canaan for Egypt.

Egypt was part of God’s plan in the scheme of redemption. In Egypt, the nation of Israel was born. Egypt provided the perfect environment for the nation of Israel to multiply exceedingly and at a speed beyond our wildest imaginations (Exo 1:9).

We see the Providence of God in the making. We are short sighted. But God can see the future; He has been there long before we get there. Hence, as we read the life of Joseph, we see how Providence made used of the characters of his brothers and used them for His purpose. And we see how Providence chose Joseph, a young man who was innocent, pure, holy, and steadfast in his faith, to accomplish His will.

Do you allow God to use you? If God could use the character of Joseph’s brethren, the seductress Delilah, the wicked Haman in the book of Esther, and the covetous Judah, and fit them into His divine plan, He could certainly use anyone too. Don’t get me wrong: God did not make them wicked and sinful people above all men; they were already of such devious characters and God just fitted them into His scheme of redemption. Providence uses anyone and anything that is available on hand and fit them for His purpose. God did not make Judah to be covetous; he was covetous by his own making.

God can use you. He would use the kind of character that is in you to fit in His daily providence. The question is: Are you Judah or Joseph? What kind of character will you be playing in God’s Providences?

The apostle Paul wrote concerning the church: “But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour” (2 Tim 2:20).

There are many kinds of character in the Lord’s church. Some are spiritual and some are not. Some are godly and some are worldly. Some are faithful and some are not. Which part in God’s big jigsaw puzzle are you? God did not cause some to be unspiritual, worldly, or unfaithful; they become such themselves by their own choice. The question therefore is: What am I in the house of God?

You can be an instrument for good or for bad; the choice is yours. Of course, God desires you to be good and make the church grow. If you know you are unspiritual, unfaithful, worldly, inactive, and you want to be spiritual and faithful, you have to make the change yourself. Paul wrote: “If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work” (2 Tim 2:21).

Are you fitted for the Master’s use for bad or good? If you desire to be good vessels in the great house of God, you have to purge yourself and become holy and sanctified, meet for the Master to use you.

Jimmy Lau
Psa 119:97  Oh how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day.

Vernal Equinox

        “Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines  the   commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men........   Mark 7:7-8

Well, it has arrived - the first Sunday after the first full moon after the Vernal Equinox.  Otherwise known in the realm of man-made holidays, Easter Sunday.  Even though, as far as the Gospel is concerned, this particular Sunday is of no more significance than any other Sunday, much of the “religious world” celebrates it as such.  It’s “special” only because man has made it so. 

A direct effect of the traditions of man, especially when they involve religious events, is that the aforementioned “religious world” believes them to be true.   It believes that this particular Sunday is more “special” than any other Sunday which in turn adds even more “traditions” to this day. 

And, in my way of thinking, these added “traditions” somehow involve some type of commercial aspects.  For example, one can’t go to church in the same old clothes you wore last year.  You must be adorned in new ones and they must be in keeping with the latest fashions.  And, you can’t just follow your normal diet, you have to either prepare a “traditional” meal at home or join millions of others at a fancy restaurant.

Speaking of the “religious world” believing traditional things relating to Easter to be true, I heard a radio personality asking people on the street about certain practices done at Easter time.  One question asked was regarding “Easter eggs” and their origin.  One person actually believed that they were from the scriptures and instituted by Jesus.  Many interviewees knew that this day was somehow connected to Jesus, but really didn’t know how or why.  But, that it is “special” and we need to observe it as such.

Another troubling aspect of making this a “special Sunday” is that people see all other Sundays as not being important.  The subsequent result of that impression is that it isn’t as important to attend worship services on just “run-of-the-mill” Sundays.   With that kind of thinking, a person only has to attend on this “special” Sunday and everything will be alright with God. 

I mean, I’ve bought my new clothes.  I’ve even gone the extra mile and attended a “Sunrise Service” and possibly even a religious “pageant.”  I’ve participated in the “special days” preceding Easter Sunday, such as, “Ash Wednesday” and “Good Friday.”  (More of man’s traditions).  That ought to be sufficient, religious-wise, for this year, shouldn’t it?

No, I’m sorry to inform you that attending a “passion play” or a worship service, even if it’s on a “special Sunday,” is not sufficient as far as the Scriptures are concerned.  I base that statement on what I read in the Gospel.  Counter to what man has taught by his “traditions” I note that Christ defines for us what true worship is when He says in John 4:24 that we are to worship God in “spirit and in truth.”   And how did we get that “truth?”  “... but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.”   (John 1:17)

Here’s the point of what I’m saying, wrapped up in one short verse. “Sanctify them through thy truth; thy word is truth.”  (John 17:17)   We are “sanctified” (purified or made holy) by following the “truth” delivered to the world by Jesus Christ.  Not by following any “traditions” of men, even if they are of a “religious” nature.

Plus, if you want to know what Christ thought about “religious” sounding “traditions” you only have to look at what He said to and about the Pharisees and their “traditions.”  When you read the following passage, keep in mind what we’ve already discussed: that God’s Word is “truth” as you read it: “Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered; and many such like things ye do.”  (Mark 7:13)

The Word of God does command that we remember and celebrate the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ EVERY first day of the week and not just one “special” Sunday per year.  And nowhere are we told that any one first day of the week is more “special” than the others.

Something that may cause some to think that “Easter” has a Biblical basis for being observed is because, in the King James translation of the Bible is found the word “Easter” in Acts 12:4.  Here’s something you might be interested in knowing.  That Greek word (Pascha) is used 29 times in the New Testament and is translated as “Passover” in 28 of them.  Only once and in the KJV is it called “Easter.”  All other times and translations it is “Passover.”

In wrapping up today’s thoughts I’m reminded of a movie that came out in 1973 entitled “Jesus Christ Superstar.”  It’s a scene from that movie that leads me to my closing remarks.  That scene is where Jesus is making His triumphant entry into Jerusalem just a few days before His crucifixion.  (Can read it in Matt. 21)

In the movie, the crowd is waving palm fronds and singing “Christ you know I love you, did you see I waved?”  Allow me to extrapolate that scene to today and our thoughts on the world’s observation of “Easter.”  I can visualize the “crowd” today singing “Jesus you know I love you.  Did you see my new clothes and that I attended a worship service today?”

Respectfully submitted,

Ron Covey

Forgiveness is a choice

Gen 45:15  Moreover he kissed all his brethren, and wept upon them: and after that his brethren talked with him.

“Reunited and it feels so good.” Moved by Judah’s moving appeal, Joseph revealed his true identity to his brethren. The scene in which the sacred writer describes the reconciliation of Joseph and his brothers is one of the most touching on record. Joseph had been controlling his emotion and hardening his heart towards his brethren. He refused to acknowledge them and had treated them in a harsh manner. But now, all were forgiven; vengeance was replaced with tears. Judah’s speech broke his heart. It compelled him to make himself known and to acknowledge them as his brethren.

How does it feel like to hold on to a grudge? It feels terrible, right? That’s what resentment does to a person; it is a poison that kills the person who harbours it. Forgiveness releases the pain that has been mounting and haunting the conscience. I like this quotation: “To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you.” (Lewis B. Smedes).

I think the brother of Joseph didn’t have it easy too. For all those years, they had to live with a lie they had told their father that his favourite son was dead and knowing they had sold their very own brother. Their conscience hurt them every time they see Benjamin and their father. Judah’s speech has this message in it: “We can’t repeat this sin again. We can’t do to Benjamin what we had done to his brother.” Today, they found relieve. They had found their brother and they could finally tell their father that Joseph was alive. They had found peace in themselves.

The world says vengeance is sweet; that’s the devil’s lie. Vengeance only invites more vengeance. Someone said: “An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.”

Forgiveness is the sweet medicine to cure the world of returning an eye for an eye. Only through forgiveness can there be reconciliation. The result of forgiving a person is reconciliation. Joseph had reconciled with his brethren. He had chosen to forgive them.

God wants us to be reconciled with our brethren. There was a misunderstanding and the friendship has been broken. Reconciliation is bringing back the friendship that has been broken. Forgiveness is the first step towards reconciliation.

Forgiveness is a choice. We choose whether to forgive or not to forgive. It is also a choice between whether to live the rest of our lives in bitterness or sweetness. To harbor resentments is to live the rest of our lives in bitterness. Love is sweet. Love will result in forgiving a person. Reconciliation is sweet and peace to the soul.

Joseph chose to forgive. He let go of his resentments and found peace. He was reconciled to his brothers. I have found that the most unhappy person is the person who cannot forgive. He is a person who keeps holding on to his resentments and refuses to let go. You can see the bitterness on his face. He has no peace with himself.

Christ came and reconciled the world unto Himself (2 Cor 5:18). God chose to forgive the world. He made the first move by sending His only begotten Son to die for us (John 3:16). He has extended His invitation to everyone to come to Him and be reconciled with Him (Matt 11:28). The choice is now ours: do we want to be reconciled to Him? God has extended His hand; are we stretching out ours to shake His hands and be reconciled?

God also wants us to live in peace with our brethren: “Follow peace with all men” (Heb 12:14). Our Lord Himself said: “Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another” (Mark 9:50). He wants us to be reconciled with our brethren before we offer our thanksgiving to Him (Matt 5:23-24). It is hypocrisy of one’s part if in his mouth he praises God but in his heart he hates his brother (1 John 4:20).

Are you holding a grudge against a brother? You need to learn to love and forgive. You need to let go of your bitterness. When you forgive, you have peace not only with the other person, but also with yourself. Reconciliation is peace also to your soul.

Let us be like Joseph: be reconciled with our brethren. “Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye” (Col 3:13).

Jimmy Lau
Psa 119:97  Oh how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day.

I love you

This Much More

“I love you, Papa!” his children and grandchildren would often exclaim.

Papa (Marvin Irvin) would often ask, “How much?”

I’m sure that through the years the answers would range from “a whole bunch” to “this much” as a grandchild stretched his or her arms as wide as possible.

But then Papa would hold out his hand and measure an inch or two between his thumb and forefinger and say, “I love you this much more than you love me.”

Meme (Martha Irvin) said that at first their children and grandchildren thought Papa was saying that he only loved them a little bit.  But with tender explanations backed by an abundance of demonstrations of that love throughout his lifetime, they began to fully understand that Papa was saying he loved them more than they loved him.

Truth be told, that love was reciprocated, but the depth of that love has been realized more and more as Papa has gone to be with Jesus. *

The message from Heaven to you and to me is, “I love you.”

As we consider how much we have messed up our lives through our sins, we may wonder how God could love us.

God responds: “I love you because I made you.  I created you in My image (Genesis 1:26-27).

“But God, we have marred that image because of our foolish choices and our sins.”

“I still love you.  In fact…”  Imagine now that God holds out His divine hand measuring an inch or two between His thumb and forefinger, and He says, “I love you this much more than you love Me.”

“God, how much do You love me?” we may ask.

He responds:  “I love you this much.”  And He spread out His arms and died on the cross for you and me.

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

“This is how God showed his love among us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him.  This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins” (1 John 4:9-10).

God loves us so much more that He gave His Son to die on the cross for our sins so that we might be saved from our sins and receive the gift of eternal life (John 3:16).

God will save those who place their faith and trust in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turn from their sins in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and are baptized (immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38).  He will continue to cleanse from sin those who continue to walk in the light of His Word (1 John 1:7).

God loves us so much more; His love is immeasurable!

Won’t YOU reciprocate that love by surrendering your life in grateful trusting obedience?

-- David A. Sargent

* In loving memory of Marvin “Papa” Irvin (May 27, 1929 – March 16, 2016), a recipient of the love of God who shared that love with his family, his friends, his church family, and all with whom he came in contact.

David A. Sargent