Psalm 35:17-22 – What We Must Do – Bible study

Psalm 35:17-22 What We Must Do This Psalm is like so many others. It is a Psalm of distress, danger, discouragement, and possible death. This Psalm is not a psalm of deliverance. It will be when the deliverance comes, but the psalm ended before the deliverance came. It is believed that this Psalm was written by David when King Saul was seeking to kill him. It is hard to know for certain how long that lasted but most say at least 4 years and perhaps as long as 10 years. This Psalm also played a role in our America history. Before the delegates from the 13 colonies met in Independence Hall to write and sign the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, they first met in Carpenters Hall (about 2/10s of a mile away) in 1774. That is where the delegates met one another for the first time and began their discussions on the direction they wanted the nation to go. One of their first acts at their first meeting was to open in prayer, but they did not pray as we might pray today. First, they went to Christs Church (not far from there), and asked the pastor, Jacob Douche, to come lead them. Their opening prayer session lasted for two hours, during which they also studied four chapters of the Bible, including Psalm 35. In fact, while studying this chapter, the Holy Spirit so spoke to some of the men in attendance that they later testified they made some life-changing decisions while studying it. https://wallbuilderslive.com/independence-day-special-from-americas- hidden-history/ Aired: June 30, 2021 Selected material ran from 5:30 to 7:00 minutes. Much has changed since those days. 1. Politically-Instead of being oppressed by the British, today we are under attack from the socialist and communists. It appears that they already own a clear majority of Congress, perhaps half of the current Supreme Court, the White House with all of its cabinet positions, most of the major cities of our country, and some of the most powerful businesses including news, entertainment, and social media. 2. Socially-For the last year, we have been isolated, locked in, lined up, limited, and masked. 3. Financially a. Many businessesmost of them localas well as a large numbers of households either have or will fold. (1) Unemployment hit 14.8% last year. https://usafacts.org/articles/which-workers-were-most-affected-by- job-loss-in-2020/ (2) Home foreclosures have been put on hold since April, 2020. (Chapter 65 of the Acts of 2020) https://www.mass.gov/doc/chapter-65-dob-faq/download (3) And some expect it to keep being extended until 2022. https://themortgagereports.com/75868/cfpb-foreclosure-moratorium d. As many as 8 million homes could be affected. https://www.forbes.com/sites/zackfriedman/2021/06/22/8-million- households-face-foreclosure-or-eviction/?sh=45925de74e6f b. Economically, as of July 1, our nation owed almost $28.5 trillion. (1) That is $85,249 per citizen (non-citizens dont pay). https://www.usdebtclock.org/ (2) That amount is due for every man, woman, and child legally living in our country. (3) The figure is up $5,000 since July of last year. 4. Morally-Well, who could describe how bankrupt Americas morals are? What is really ironic is that some people think we are in the midst of some kind of moral awakening. I could go on, but you get the idea. Things are bad in many ways; and if we are living in the last days of the Bible, things will get worse. But no matter if we are or arent, our Deliverer will come. We do not know when, but Jesus will return to take His bride. Until He comes Christians are not to be controlled or even influenced by circumstances. Christians do what we do not because of circumstances but because Christ has commanded it and because God is in control. 1. God is in control if America has a spiritual awakening. God is control if America falls further into darkness. 2. God is in control if the economy is a boom. God is in control if the economy is a bust. 3. God is in control if there is a pandemic. God is in control if there isnt. 4. God is in control if we have freedom. God is in control if our freedoms are taken away. 5. God is in control if we have jobs. God is in control if we have no jobs. 6. God is in control if we have food. God is in control if we have no food. 7. God is in control if we have prospects of a long life. God is in control if our lives are fleeting. So no matter what the circumstances or conditions, we are to do what we have always done, and we are to be what we have always been. (That is supposing of course that we have always done what Christ would have us to do and to be to begin with!) For a few moments, let us consider what WE MUST DO. I. We must stand for Christ. A. I am an America, and I love my country. (I dont care much for her politics or her politicians, but I do love my country.) B. However, my loyalty (and the loyalty of every Christian) is to Jesus Christ first and foremost! 1. The writer of the book of Hebrews described the saints of old: Heb 11:13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 2. Abraham spake: Ge 23:4 I am a stranger and a sojourner with you 3. Peter wrote: 1Pe 2:11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims. 4. All of these writers were making the same point. a. Christians are not to be tied to this world. b. This world is NOT our home. c. We are just passing through. d. Our loyalty and love is to Jesus Christ. C. Understand, this is not the way things have become in our changing world. It is the way things have always been. 1. That is one of the differences between the church and Old Testament Israel. a. Both were called to the same task, to represent God on this world. b. But Israel was a nation of people with loyalties and national duties while the church is a people of nations with loyalties and heavenly duties. 2. When the laws of our nation conflict with the laws of God, we will stand with Godboth in our actions and with our words. a. While mans law calls it birth control, Gods law calls it murder. b. While mans law calls it religious tolerance, Gods law calls it idolatry. c. While mans law protects alternate lifestyles, Gods law calls it an abomination. d. While mans law condones sexual freedom, Gods law calls it fornication. e. While mans law says "It takes a village," Gods law commands the parents to rear their children. D. Sadly, the true church not only stands for the things of Christ against the world we live in, but we also stand for Christ against the many faces of religion itself. 1. The Bible does teach that there should be unity of the brethren. 2. I often regret that our church is so isolated from others who name the name of Christ; yet, when I get around some who claim His name I see how carnal so many areand I am reminded of Gods command: Eph 5:11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. 3. I honestly do not know where the line of separation should be, but I know that would rather be alone in the world and be right with Jesus than to have many friends in the world and not be right with Jesus. II. We must worship and tell others about Jesus. A. In the last year, these have become threatened rights. 1. In America, we do not have the privilege to worship and serve our God. 2. We have the right. Not many nations can say that. B. I trust last year was an eye-opening year for all. 1. Churches were closed and in some cases, even outdoor services were fined or stopped or both-and not just in California either. a. Last April, church goers as close as Greenville, Mississippi, were fined $500 each for attending outdoor worship services in their automobiles. https://www.wreg.com/news/coronavirus/mississippi-churchgoers-fined- 500-while-attending-drive-in-service/ b. I know that was at the onset of the "pandemic," and I know that the fines were eventually dismissed. 2. But Christians need to understand what this means. a. Whenever anyone can tell the church when it CAN meet, it can also tell the church when it CANNOT meet. b. And while I agree that churches need to exercise good sense and discretion, WE ALL NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE ACTIONS OF OUR POLTICIANS ARE TELLING US THAT THEY THINK THEY HAVE CONTROL OVER THE CHURCH. c. Let me be clear: THEY DO NOT. a. They may control whether the church pays taxes or not. b. They may control whether the gifts given by the people will be tax exempt or not. c. They may control how many cars can be parked on the property the church uses. d. They may control whether the church can even have property or not. e. But they do not control the church. f. Do not misunderstand: (a) I do not think our government should be able to do ANY of those things. (b) But in most cities and counties across our land, they already doand it will come to pass in Green Pond, AL, one day. C. The Bible commands us to obey the government, and we will as long as they do not tell us to disobey God. D. There are some things the church cannot stop. 1. The church cannot stop praying and reading the Bible. a. That means we cannot surrender our praying. (1) Maybe you think no one is concerned about that, but the days of Daniel are coming again! (2) The day will come when to bow before God will again mean being cast to the lions. b. That means we will not surrender our Bibles. (1) I know that sounds foolish today, but one day, it will happen. (2) People are worried about the government coming for our weapons (and with the people we have in politics it is a rightful concern), but soon after they do thatif not beforethey will come for our Bibles. (3) They have already tried changing them. (4) One day, they will put a moratorium on printing and selling them. 2. The church cannot stop preaching and teaching the Bible. (That is both among ourselves and to the world.) 3. The church cannot keep silent about sin, salvation, and Jesus. a. We cannot hush or be quiet. b. We cannot be seen and not heard. c. We cannot keep it inside the church. d. Both by our actions and our words, we must proclaim to a lost and sinful world that it is lost and sinful and that Jesus is the only answer. 4. The church cannot stop their group worship of God. 5. The church cannot stop helping the sick, the orphans, the elderly, and the poor. 6. The church cannot stop living a life that glorified God. III. We must not be afraid. Psalms 56:4 In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me. A. God repeatedly and consistently tells the Christian NOT to fear. Isaiah 41:10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. 2 Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 1. To "fear not" may not mean that we will never be afraid. a. Some people say, "I cant help being afraid." (1) Perhaps that is true. (2) I do not know for sure. b. But I know that "fear not" means we will never let fear stop us from doing what we know God wants us to do. 2. To fear not is not a suggestion. It is a command. a. Obeying Gods command is good for us. (1) Being controlled by fear never helps. Never. (2) Pray for courage and for strength. (3) Pray for wisdom and for grace. (4) Then do what you believe God wants you to do regardless of how much your body trembles or how much your mind panics. b. Obeying Gods command is good for others. (1) Whether we mean to or not, when we fear we are demonstrating doubt in God. (2) If you are a Christian, I know that is not the message you want to send. (3) If you know what God wants you to do, stand as tall as you can, stay as steady as you can, and do it. B. Obeying Gods command will be a lot easier if we remember God is in control no matter who the enemy is or how the enemy may attack. 1. Did you know God has made promises to us regardless of whether the enemy attacks with arrows or disease? Psalm 91:5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; 6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. 7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. 8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked. 2. I do not mean to imply that we are indestructible. a. This Psalm shows that we are not. b. But we should know that nothing will happen to us unless God allows it, and we must remember that while we may not have chosen to be in this battle, we are engaged in a battle that we cannot lose. c. Our God and our Deliverer will make sure of that. 3. Be wise. Be prudent, but dont be fearful. We must remember, the church is the body of Jesus Christ in this world. as such, these are a few of the things that we must do. There are more that the church must do and there are more that you as an individual should do.