After about five years, our Wednesday night adult class is finishing a study of the life of Christ.  We have used the first four books of the New Testament as our text.  Supplements have included The Fourfold Gospel, by J. W. McGarvey and Philip Y. Pendelton, and 52 lessons that we produced here at Duluth.

The entire study has been conducted with no additions or subtractions from the Bible.  We have respectfully approached and used the 89 chapters written by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

As a class of faithful students who know that we need the Bible for all of life’s decisions and directions, we are grateful to God that we have these words about Jesus and that we have been privileged to study them so carefully in this way.

In light of the “Jesus” TV movie that is being shown this week (on Sunday and Wednesday PM no less!)—it is fitting to say that there is no way to improve on that which is written—and the TV version comes up very short.  It is inaccurate, unscriptural, and blasphemous.  The advertising says that the story is being told “as it has never been told before.” 

We hope it will never be told this way again.

If any of our readers would like to study the real story—simply and beautifully—we invite you to read your Bible, come and worship with us, and walk in the footprints of Jesus from “hearing to heaven.”

          — Skip
 

In a highly personal cry, David uses personal pronouns to present his situation to the Lord. He, according to the heading of the psalm, was in this difficulty during the events of 1 Samuel 23:19 and 26:1.  These two references provide us with two occasions when the Ziphites worked against David by attempting to help Saul capture him.  Ziph was an area slightly southeast of Hebron, in the hill country of Judah.  The Ziphites were the people who lived there, and they clearly thought that they would be better off by having an alliance with Saul.  The problem was that the Lord had already made it clear that Saul was rejected and David was anointed!  Thus, their allegiance to the rebellious king was doomed to be a failure.

The structure of Psalm 54 is very simple: there are two sections, and they are separated by the word “selah.”  Although the meaning of this word has always been a difficulty for Bible students, it is my view that it should be used as an attention getting, thought provoking word—thus, when we see it, let us pause and ponder the words we have just finished reading.

On the first side of “selah” in Psalm 54, we have three verses with the theme “Calling During Crisis.”  On the second side of the word “selah,” we have four verses with the theme “Confidence During Consolation.”

Please take the time now to carefully read the poem with these things in mind.  (It would also be worth your time to turn to the two stories in 1 Samuel and read them.)

CALLING DURING CRISIS (54:1-3).

The call of David came from four cries: “save me,” “vindicate me,” “hear my prayer,” and “give ear.”  He had already spent several years calling on God in every circumstance, so he knew how to do this well.  He also knew how to address God and how to use words correctly.  Note, for example, this phrase: “by Your name.”  The very name of the Lord is such an important word and powerful source that we, in the Christian age, are to do “all in his name” (Colossians 3:17).  This one point is important enough that it will direct all who are willing down the one path of faithfulness in service to Him.  This specific time in the life of David was a crisis brought on by the sins of Saul and the treachery of the Ziphites. Possibly he referred to them as “strangers” in a figurative sense, for there is no evidence that they were new to the land—they were strangers in that they were conducting themselves as strangers.  They were clearly not following the principles that thinking people would usually follow in Israel!  This is very much akin to the conduct of many in the church today, isn’t it?

CONFIDENCE DURING CONSOLATION (54:4-7).

His confidence could come from a number of reliable sources, all of which are linked to God and His word.  Confidence comes from our own experiences, the experiences of others, prayer, discussions with those of like faith, texts such as Psalm 54, and the NAME OF THE LORD JEHOVAH.  Let us develop confidence, and let us hold it fast to the end (Hebrews 3:12,13).  In this section God is referred to as the helper, upholder, rewarder, and cutter. In light of this, He deserves sacrifice and praise. And all of this is true, because HIS NAME IS GOOD!  Finally, David says that God has delivered, and that he has provided that which his enemies really did deserve.  We must never desire punishment just for the sake of revenge; but it is not wrong to desire that God will mete out that which He said He would do to those who treat Him and His people as the enemies of David did.

The title that I gave to this article—“My Helper, My Enemy, My Eye”—comes from phrases in verses 4, 5, and 7. The psalm reminds us that God is the Helper (see Psalm 121), His enemies are our enemies, and that through His word our eyes can see that they will receive that which is their due.  Let us worship, work, and live in such a way that such enemies as Saul and the Ziphites will recognize our integrity, grieve over their own sins, and turn to God “before it is everlastingly too late.”
    — Skip Andrews
 

SICK LIST:  Donna Fields and Steve Fishel are receiving chemotherapy.  Let’s remember them and their families in our prayers.   
 
 
RESPONSE:  Angela Morman asked for the prayers of the church Sunday.  Our prayer is that she will be faithful in her service to Christ.
GROUP 3:  Group 3 is in charge of the services at Plantation South at 1:30.  Also, please meet up front following evening services for visitation assignments.
SALAD FELLOWSHIP:  Please bring a salad and stay for a while Sunday evening following the last lecture.
SEEKING THE LOST:  Sunday evening, May 28.
CHILDREN’S CLASS:  No class today.
LADIES’ CLASS:  No class this week.
FOR THE RECORD: 
 AM Class  126 
 AM Worship  142
 PM Worship  107
 Wednesday Class 116
 Contribution  $6938
 Budget   $6500 
BIBLE CAMP:  Please turn in your registration forms to Lynn or Helen.  The deadline is June 4.
 
 
APPRECIATION:  Helen and I want to thank everyone for the money tree at our open house.  We are overwhelmed by your generosity.  Thank you!
 
 
WEB-SITE:  Check out our web-site (www.duluthcofc.org).  Thanks to Peter DeGraff for his work on this!