The first day the boy had driven 37 nails into the fence.  Over the next few weeks, as he learned to control his anger, the number of nails hammered daily gradually dwindled down.  He discovered it was easier to hold his temper than to drive those nails into the fence.  

Finally the day came when the boy didn’t lose his temper at all.  He told his father about it and the father suggested that the boy now pull out one nail for each day that he was able to hold his temper

The days passed and the young boy was finally able to tell his father that all the nails were gone.  The father took his son by the hand and led him to the fence.  He said, “You have done well, my son, but look at the holes in the fence.  The fence will never be the same.  When you say things in anger, they leave a scar just like this one.  You can put a knife in a man and draw it out.  It won’t matter how many times you say, ‘I’m sorry,’ the wound is still there.”

A verbal wound is as bad as a physical one.  Friends are a very rare jewel indeed.  They make you smile and encourage you to succeed.  They lend an ear, they share words of praise, and they always want to open their hearts to us. 

“A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity”
 (Proverbs 17:17).

The inventions of men continue to gain attention for them and detract from simple Bible truths.  Sometimes the human use of terms and ideas that are fundamentally right are so overused or abused that we might not feel comfortable using them ourselves.  But it simply is not good to give in to this way or thinking!

In recent years, the popular, unscriptural movement known as “Promise Keepers” has capitalized on a Bible concept and built an organization that has taught error to the whole nation. It is unfortunate that people who apparently have good motives so often stop following the Bible pattern after such honest beginnings.

The poem before us is about the greatest “Promise Keeper” in the universe—Our Lord God.  In it, we will find out that true promise keeping continues on in harmony with truth in all matters, not merely the ones that are part of our momentary agenda.  As we study this song, let us note five categories in which the Lord shows His faithfulness.  And then let us imitate Him by keeping ALL of the things that He requires of us (Ephesians 5:1,2).

We have heard with our ears, O God, Our fathers have told us, The deeds You did in their days, In days of old: You drove out the nations with Your hand, But them You planted; You afflicted the peoples, and cast them out. For they did not gain possession of the land by their own sword, Nor did their own arm save them; But it was Your right hand, Your arm, and the light of Your countenance, Because You favored them (vv. 1-3)

In the first section of this psalm, David says that we can know that God is THE promise keeper because He “favored our fathers.”  One of the main things that parents were commanded to do in the Old Testament was to keep the memory of the freedom from Egypt and the conquering of Canaan alive in every generation. These verses show that the main purpose of this was to reinforce the idea of the nature of God in the lives of every new generation.  In other words, SINCE GOD KEPT HIS WORD TO THEM BY GIVING THEM ALL OF THE LAND, He will keep His word to us if we keep His commandments!  Have you taught this lesson to your children from the time they came to your house???

You are my King, O God; Command victories for Jacob. Through You we will push down our enemies; Through Your name we will trample those who rise up against us. For I will not trust in my bow, Nor shall my sword save me. But You have saved us from our enemies, And have put to shame those who hated us. In God we boast all day long, And praise Your name forever. Selah (vv. 4-8).

In the second section of this psalm, David says that we can know that God is THE promise keeper because He “shamed our enemies.”  The way this section is worded implies that the incidents on David’s mind were recent.  God had dealt with enemies that were familiar to his readers.  They knew that He had kept His promises about these matters, because they were the ones who had been threatened by the power of the enemies, and they were the ones who had been delivered from them. They had also been a very real part of the victory.  David’s lesson for his generation is very needed by Christians today, who are God’s only holy nation (I Peter 2:1-12).

But You have cast us off and put us to shame, 
And You do not go out with our armies. 
You make us turn back from the enemy, And those who hate us have taken spoil for themselves. 
You have given us up like sheep intended for food, And have scattered us among the nations. You sell Your people for next to nothing, And are not enriched by selling them.  You make us a reproach to our neighbors, A scorn and a derision to those all around us. You make us a byword among the nations, A shaking of the head among the peoples. My dishonor is continually before me, And the shame of my face has covered me, Because of the voice of him who reproaches and reviles, Because of the enemy and the avenger (vv. 9-16). 

In the third section of this psalm, David says that we can know that God is THE promise keeper because He “permitted our difficulties.”  A first reading of these verses might lead us to think that the difficulties that are described here were due to sin. However, there is no admission of sin or guilt by David here—he is actually doing the very thing that all of the godly do—he is describing the feelings of those who are suffering for the sake of righteousness.  He struggles with the idea that God has often furthered His cause by PERMITTING His Own to go through incredibly difficult times.  And, as we have said in the study of other psalms, let us say again that to “complain” the way David complained in these poems is ENTIRELY APPROPRIATE because he complained to God and committed himself to accept the answer that came from Him.  When God permits our suffering for His cause, He is keeping a promise to use us in such ways, and when we faithfully endure such times, He will keep His promise to bring us through them successfully.

All this has come upon us;  But we have not forgotten You, Nor have we dealt falsely with Your covenant. Our heart has not turned back, Nor have our steps departed from Your way; But You have severely broken us in the place of jackals,
 And covered us with the shadow of death. 
If we had forgotten the name of our God, 
Or stretched out our hands to a foreign god,
Would not God search this out? 
For He knows the secrets of the heart (vv. 17-21).

In the fourth section of this psalm, David says that we can know that God is THE promise keeper because He “honors His covenant.”  Here, the psalm begins to take the direction that will soon complete the circle of the whole theme. The inspired author claims that this is a time when they are not suffering as a result of forsaking God—much like the claims of Job.  However, the suffering can be used by the enemy as “evidence” against God if the Lord does not keep the part of His promise that revolves around SHOWING the enemy that He really is on our side and that they will not accomplish their goals. David also pledges that he and the people are fully aware that God knows their hearts, so they are not interested in trying to get away with anything.

 Yet for Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 
Awake! Why do You sleep, O Lord? Arise! Do not cast us off forever. Why do You hide Your face, And forget our affliction and our oppression? For our soul is bowed down to the dust; Our body clings to the ground. Arise for our help, And redeem us for Your mercies' sake (vv. 22-26).

In the fifth section of this psalm, David says that we can know that God is THE promise keeper because He “provides our redemption.”  This point begins with a statement that is quoted by Paul in Romans 8.  In the last part of Romans 8, the apostle is writing about the very same kind of things that are in Psalm 44: God has made, and He will keep His promises to His people!  Even today, as Christians suffer for the cause of Christ, He is keeping His covenant, and He will keep it to the conclusion of the battle.  Victory is certain for all who are on the Lord’s side. Let us realize that God is not offended when we cry “How long, O Lord?” as long as we do so with the spirit of humility and obedience. So let us serve Him, call on Him, cry to Him, and never—ever—ever—give up.

He has promised, and He will keep His promise—our redemption is certain, if we keep the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end (Hebrews 3:12-19).
    — Skip Andrews
 
 

 

Next Week: Psalm 45:
 Out of the Ivory Palaces

To the McAfees for serving in the education department and for the Meachams and Rileys who are now taking this job.

And continued thanks for the much expanded work that the McAfees
do with the finances!
 

SICK LIST:  Myra Sellers continues to improve following surgery.  Sarah Johnson, Dianne O’Neal’s mother, is doing well after hip replacement surgery.  Dennis Clark’s father, Earl Clark, is hospitalized in West Virginia with pneumonia.  He has suffered a mini-stroke and cannot swallow and now has a feeding tube.  He is gravely ill and he and the family need our prayers.  Hannah Reid and Jared and Jake Davis were ill Sunday.  Let’s remember Electa Wilson and Jan Shifley in our prayers.
GROUP ONE:  Group 1 is in charge of the service at Plantation South at 1:30 Sunday.  Also, please see your group leaders following evening services for visitation assignments.
CHILDREN’S CLASS:  5:30 Sunday.  
LADIES’ CLASS:  Tuesday at 10:00.  
FOR THE RECORD:  
3:00 Service   112
Wednesday Bible Class 104 
Contribution    $6711
Budget    $6500  
SEEKING THE LOST:  Groups 1,2 - 2/10; Groups 3,4 - 2/17.  

SWEETHEART DINNER:  The Sweetheart Dinner is planned for Saturday, February 12, at 6:00.  All the ladies of the congregation are invited as special guests—the men will prepare and serve the food.  Please add your name to the list on the bulletin board in the foyer if you can attend.

RECORDS FOR JANUARY: