I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death [Phil 1:20]
“What a fool I have been, to lie like this in a stinking dungeon, when I could have just as well walked free. In my chest pocket I have a key called Promise that will, I am thoroughly persuaded, open any lock in “Doubting-Castle.” “Then,” said Hopeful, “that is good news. My good brother, do immediately take it out of your chest pocket and try it.” Then Christian took the key from his chest and began to try the lock of the dungeon door; and as he turned the key, the bolt unlocked and the door flew open with ease, so that Christian and hopeful immediately came out.” [From Pilgrim’s Progress, written by John Bunyan]
Paul had one passion: to spread the glory of Christ to the ends of the earth. He saw the beauty of Jesus and that vision radically changed the trajectory of his life. He was not only saved, he was sent. You could not separate Paul’s mission from his life. He was obedient to his commission and he went. His obedience not only led him into great victories for the cause of his Lord, it also led him into shipwrecks, beatings and prisons. That is where we find him in our text.
I think we all have times when we have done things right and got ourselves in trouble. Our experience may have been surprising but it was not unique. Joseph, Daniel and John the Baptist and a host of faithful witnesses have done what was right and because they did were thrown into jail. Those moments are groaning and growing times. One moment we are feeling the winds of God’s pleasure pushing us onward and the next moment we find ourselves shipwrecked, dead in the water. It is a perilous time where many disturbing questions can afflict our peace and confidence.
For over forty years I was a part of the ministry of a local church. Every week Sunday stood before me as a goal and an opportunity to fulfill my calling. The needs of the church family provided me with plenty of opportunities to find joy in personal ministry to my church family throughout the week. That has now changed. I am pretty much “out there,” much of the time alone, writing or preparing for ministry to people with whom I will spend little face-to-face time with. I confess I have had times when I wondered what God was doing, wondered if my best days were behind me.
But, like Christian, I have been given a key that I have hid in the pocket of my heart. Those promises, remembered and believed, open the door and set me free from “Doubting Castle.” Here is what came to me this morning in a little one room school house in the midst of the cornfields of Wisconsin. The promises I found are in Isaiah 43.
But now, this is what the LORD says — he who created you, O Jacob,
he who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.
First, I realize that some sanctified interpretation is needed. This is written in poetic language and it is specifically written to the people of Israel. I need to do some hermeneutics so that what was said then to Israel can be applied to me now. I know that we who are in the Church of Jesus Christ are a part of the new Israel. The promises of God to them are promises to me in Jesus Christ. The same God who created and formed Israel created and formed me. I am owned by Him. His name is on me. I exist for his glory and he takes his glory very seriously. He simply will not allow any “accident,” “tragedy” or “enemy” to keep Him from glorifying His awesome name in and through his people. That means me!
Second, there will be waters, rivers and fires to pass through. That is the nature of the pilgrimage. The glory of our God is seen not just when He delivers us from trouble but when he delivers us through trouble. When we are joyful in prosperity we are no different from the world. But when we are joyful in adversity, we display an unseen but powerful illustration of God’s faithfulness operating in our hearts. We have the assurance that we may suffer and we may go through dark times, but they won’t last. They will end in God’s time when they have fulfilled His purposes.
It is crucial for us to know that God’s ultimate purpose in all of His works is to enable me to see and enjoy more of His majesty. Life is so much bigger and wonderful and eternal than our puny desires for safety and comfort. As we enjoy Him above all other things, He is glorified. We will spend the rest of our days both now and into eternity discovering the infinite perfections of our God. So, the Lord says in Isaiah 43:10, "You are my witnesses," declares the LORD, "and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am He.”
One of the truths that keep us strong and persevering in joy is the promise of future, greater blessings. The more we know and understand God, the greater gifts he can pour into our lives. That is the sense of Isa 43:18-19: "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?”
This is not an exhortation to forget the wonderful things God has done for us in the past, but not to dwell on them. The past is gone. What God did then was awesome, but he is not dead nor are we. If we are still breathing, there is more and even greater things that He desires to do in our lives. We are sure of this because there are always more of the infinite riches of Christ to be discovered. For an old man who left what he thought would be his vocation for life and ventured out into the unknown, these are encouraging words. In the strength that Christ supplies, my best days are not in the past but lie ahead. All that He has shown me, all of the experiences he has faithfully lead me through, are under me, giving me a foundation for greater heights of the pleasure of being a witness to his beauty.
Although Paul is in prison, he is not alone. Neither am I. God has given me an army of prayer support, people who love me and believe God is working through me. Through the prayers of those friends, the Spirit is working, making the truth of God’s promises come alive in my heart. Although I do not know the details of my deliverance, I can expect to be granted the courage and the hope to fulfill God’s purpose for my “prison time” unashamed. The key to freedom from “Doubting Castle” are the promises of God hidden in my heart. I pray that you will take that key out of your pocket and find true freedom and joy in Jesus.
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Seems that I will never get through preparing for the mission field. But I've been comforted this week thinking over the Lord's thirty silent years of readying himself at home with family and bending over a carpenter's bench. Were those days any less fragrant to God than His later work before the eyes of the people? I think not. A well-made piece of furniture and a healed blind man represented the same thing to the Father- a job well done; mission accomplished. So with us here. Nothing great, but what is that to Him whom there is no great or small. Jim Elliot
Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly. Phil 1:12-14
If there were no great evils and no deaf hearts and no eternal consequences, perhaps fitting forms of love would be a soft touch and tender words. But such a world does not kill the Son of God and hate his disciples. There is no such world. John Piper
It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart; for whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God's grace with me. God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus. And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ — to the glory and praise of God. [Phil 1:7-11]
It is incredible to see the fervor with which the people of that religion help each other in their wants. They spare nothing. Their first legislator [Jesus] has put it into their heads that they are brethren. Lucian A.D. 120-200
I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Phil 1:3-6
Jesus expressed this request on our behalf: “I pray….that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you.” [John 17:21] We who believe in Jesus have been linked to God and one another in a profound and life altering way. The unity we share is both a mystery and a reality. It defies our full understanding but we know it whenever we experience it. No matter where I go in the world, whenever I come into contact with a body of believers, I am instantly accepted as one of their own. It goes beyond agreement on a set of doctrines. It is a miracle of the Holy Spirit making us one in spirit. [1 Cor. 12]
I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD. Ps 27:13-14
“God aims to exalt himself through those who wait for him.” John Piper
[Note: I write this to my dear friends and family who are going through painful times that have been stretched out into many days. I have not experienced all of the hurt and pain you are now dealing with, but I do know what it means to wait in pain, while waiting for my God to deliver me. I write with the prayer that these words will strengthen your faith in Jesus, who though he may delay, he is never late. He is near and he is working, through trials and time, to bring about your good and His glory.]
The Approval of One
“Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes, for false witnesses rise up against me, breathing out violence.” Ps 27:12
“The mists of criticism do hang about a mountain. Men who want no mists must be content with plains and deserts. Mists come with mountains. Soon the mists will evaporate, and the mountain will stand out in all its grandeur in the morning sunlight. Multitudes will stay in the valley, for there are few who aspire to reach the summit.” Richard Froude
“Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me.” That is not really true. Words may not be able to break our bones but they can put some serious hurt upon our hearts. Proverbs 12:18 makes this statement, “Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.” The words of others have a profound effect upon the way we view our lives, our value and our purpose. There are many reckless voices out there that do not have our best interests at heart. It is absolutely essential that we listen to the words that bring healing rather than hurting.
How to Avoid an Ambush
Teach me your way, O LORD; lead me in a straight path because of my oppressors. Ps 27:11
Last night I watched on national TV, with millions of other viewers, the horrible aftermath of a man who was ambushed. He appeared to have possessed everything life in America could offer. The governor of a state, national prominence, mentioned as a possible presidential candidate, a lovely wife and four young boys, money, power, fame, living the American dream. But, there he stood, trying to explain why he betrayed the trust of his wife, his family, his state and his own integrity. The scene was sad, embarrassing, shocking, and tragic. Deluded by months of lies and deep betrayal, he rambled on and on, one moment taking responsibility for his behavior, the next moment exhibiting self-pity.
I write this not to “pile on” to this man who is obviously in deep trouble. I write to remind us all of the terrible enemy we face and his subtle schemes devised to surprise, capture and destroy the souls of men and women. This man did not wake up one day and say, “I think I will give up all of these things for an illicit love affair.” No, it happened over time, as he was led down a path that looked safe and exciting and oh so rewarding. Then, one day he found himself surrounded. He was trapped. He was controlled by desire that would destroy his integrity and give great pain to the innocent. He couldn’t get out. What we saw yesterday was the tragic results of being ambushed by an adversary who is evil, devious and totally committed to the destruction of the souls of men. We are all vulnerable to his attack. There is only one way we can survive the devil’s treachery: “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. [Ps 119:11]
Ambushes have always been one of the most effective tactics of war. They have literally changed the course of history. One example is the battle that took place at the Teutoburg Forest. It was between the Germanic forces of Arminius and the Romans. The Germanic forces executed a perfect ambush against the famed Roman elite. They took cover in a forested terrain and using the element of surprise, they sprung their attack when the Romans were most vulnerable- after they had left their fortified camp and were marching in a heavy rainstorm. They attacked quickly, using a massive series of short, rapid, vicious charges along the whole length of the Roman line. The ambush resulted in the slaughter of three Roman legions and the end to Roman expansion, establishing the Rhine River as the boundary of the Roman Empire for the next four hundred years.
An army training manual gives this simple but profound counsel: “The best way to survive an ambush is not to encounter them." It goes on to describe how this would happen.
Patrol movement mustn't be predictable in timing or route, and should avoid the most obvious routes. Rather than moving at a constant speed and direction, the patrol should vary these, with occasional stops to observe both the route ahead, and changes behind. Units should move in such a way that they are close enough together for mutual support, but far enough apart so that one burst of automatic fire wouldn't take out the entire unit. When on foot, if possible, the patrol should move in such a way as to maximize their firepower; for example, with the arrowhead and spearhead formation, they should not allow themselves to be skylined. Units on foot should have a point man some way ahead of the main body, and, if possible, a rearguard as well.”
The whole point of this instruction is to tell the soldier to expect the unexpected. Preparation is everything. The battle is real. The enemy is clever. The weapons kill. Lives are destroyed. If the soldier is not equipped with a wise strategy, he will be ambushed.
The psalmist was a soldier like us. The bad news was that evil men were advancing against him to “devour his flesh.” [1-2] It is possible that their numbers were so great that they had him surrounded. [3] At any moment, all hell might break out against him [3]. The good news was that the Lord was his light and his salvation [1], the Lord was the stronghold of his life [1]. He was safe under the protection of the Lord, the Supreme Commander of the hosts of heaven who has at his disposal all of the “firepower” of the universe.
However, the nature of the war demanded that he go out on patrol. God’s army is not to hold up in a fortress, but are to go out to “seek and destroy” enemy forces. My son Chad is now in training as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Marines. If you are a Marine, you don’t put in for a “cushy” deployment. Marines go to where the battle rages. Yesterday he called me on Father’s Day. He told me that last week his platoon went out on maneuvers. Their first orders were to go on a night patrol in search of “enemy forces.” Chad was at the point, so it was his job to lead the platoon and to be ready at any moment to react to any hostile forces that might lay in ambush of the patrol. He is not playing soldier. In a matter of months he will be facing real enemies, shooting real bullets, alert to real ambushes.
We are in a similar battle with spiritual forces of evil. They hate God and his army. They are led by a wily veteran of spiritual warfare who seeks to deceive and kill God’s people. Peter described him as “a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” [1 Peter 5:8] Don’t misunderstand, he doesn’t roar until after he has caught his prey. He lies in the brush, silently strategizing and scheming how he can deceive and ambush the passing, unsuspecting soldier. That is why Peter tells us that we must be “self-controlled and alert.” We never know when or from where he will launch his next attack.
And, that is why the palmist prays to the Lord, “Teach me your way, O LORD; lead me in a straight path because of my oppressors. [Ps 27:11] He is much wiser than most of us. Few of us think in terms of warfare or oppressors. Oh, we have our frustrations when our wishes and desires don’t come through, but we seldom look at life as a constant battle between a scheming devil and a reigning Lord. Consequently, we are undisciplined and unprepared soldiers, easy marks and vulnerable to ambush.
The psalmist asks for two things: 1] To be trained in the way of godly warfare; and 2] to be led in places not given to ambush.
First, The most important thing we must learn is the way of the Lord. We must be trained in the tactics of God. When you know someone is going to be shooting at you in a matter of months, it makes a difference in how you train. A U S Army officer stationed at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, told of the different responses of his artillery students in two different eras. In 1958-1960, the attitude was so lax that the instructors had a hard time keeping the students awake. During the 1965-67 classes, however, the men, hearing the same basic lectures, were alert and took copious notes. The reason: these men knew that in less than six weeks they would be facing the enemy in Vietnam.
The psalmist actually prays that God will take the point, that he will lead him to victory. Those who follow God’s way win. Righteousness and godliness fulfills God’s purpose for his people and brings them safely home to glory. Our great enemy is sin. Our war manual is the Bible. Everything depends upon preparation and training. We must become experts in the use of our primary weapon. It is like a Marine’s rifle. It is his closest friend. He eats with it, sleeps with it and fights with it. It is protected, inspected and tested. In times of battle, it is the one weapon that will silence the fiery missiles of the enemy. God’s truth enables us to uncover and blast the enemy’s position.
Second, we need to be schooled in the tactics of the enemy. That is why the psalmist prays that God will lead him in “straight paths.” That word comes from the Hebrew miyshowr, which means a plain or flat area. He is actually praying that the Lord would lead away from the narrow, forested, rough terrain that lends itself to ambushes. The enemy does not fight fair, if you haven’t noticed. He seldom announces his next attack. He lies in wait looking for an opportunity to catch us vulnerable and unprepared. So, the psalmist prays that on one hand, he will be kept from deliberately entering into areas that will subject him to surprise attack; on the other hand; he prays for wisdom and insight to anticipate and avoid the ambushes that lie ahead.
Like the psalmist, like the governor, we have an evil adversary who seeks to devour our soul. He will not roar until after he has us in his mouth. We heard him roar on national TV yesterday. The good news is that this tragedy, like all sin, can be reversed. What is impossible with man is possible with God. By God's grace, this man can be forgiven, restored and reconciled. The scars and the consequences of his sin will go on. But, the mercy of God and his grace are infinitely more powerful than the destructiveness of sin. We need to pray for this family.
This a warning for all who love Jesus. It reminds us that we could be caught in a similar tragedy if we don't adopt this strategy: “The best way to survive an ambush is not to encounter them.” We must be very careful in choosing the paths we take. We must avoid the dangerous and narrow passages that lead to temptation, if we can. When we can’t, we must have a strategy. We must vary our speed, taking occasional stops to observe the road ahead and the changes behind. We must align ourselves with fellow soldiers for mutual support. We must plan our advance to maximize our firepower. We must be self-controlled and alert to every movement in the bush. Surprise is the enemy’s favorite tactic.
That is why we must follow the orders that come down from, our Point Man, Jesus Christ. He is the seasoned veteran. He has never been defeated. His Word will show us the paths that will keep us safe. We are called to do battle. We know what to do. And, when surrounded, we can get on the walkie talkie and call for help. Reinforcements are on the way. “Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me." [Ps 50:15]
Churchill once said something like this: “There is nothing more exhilarating than being shot at and missed.” When France fell to the Germans and the British were left alone to fight, many of his cabinet felt great gloom and dread. Walking into the war room and seeing the faces of his colleagues, he said, “Gentlemen, I find this rather inspiring.” We are also engaged in a great battle, and at times it looks like the enemy is winning. But, like Churchill, we are not going to be intimidated or back off. Our Point Man has never lost a battle. So, let us train ourselves in his ways and be wise to the enemy’s traps. One man has fallen, but, it is not the time to withdraw or retreat. We are God's Marines! Let us go out on patrol to expose and dispose of the enemy. In the power of the Spirit and in the wisdom of the Word, let us go to where the battle rages, for the deliverance of those held in bondage and for the glory of our God!
May we finish the fight, wounded, bruised and scarred, but faithful, standing to the end. Then, we will be able to stand with Paul and say, "I have fought the good fight , I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." 2 Tim 4:7
Rejected on Earth-Accepted in Heaven
Do not reject me or forsake me, O God my Savior. Though my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will receive me. [Ps 27:9-10]
Rejection is a part of life. It is not fun nor is it fatal. We all experience it at some level but it does not have to mean the end. Would be crime novelist John Creasey received an unbroken succession of 743 rejection slips. He now has over 60 million books published. At his first audition, Fred Astaire was described as “balding, skinny, can dance a little.” Beethoven’s teacher described his attempts at composing as “hopeless.” Albert Einstein’s parents thought he was sub-normal. Professor Erasmus Wilson of Oxford University declared, “I think I may say without contradiction that when the Paris Exhibition closes, electric light will close with it, and no more will be heard of it.” At a Billy Graham crusade, a missionary’s daughter fought the urge to run out of the meeting because she considered the preaching appalling. Later she would marry the evangelist. The rest is history.
My heart says of you, "Seek his face!" Your face, LORD, I will seek. Do not hide your face from me, do not turn your servant away in anger; you have been my helper. Ps 27:8-9
“How can a man extinguish pride? By knowing God. For if we know of him, all pride is diminished.” Chrysostom
Humility is not one of our most venerated values. The self-made man, who pulls himself up by his bootstraps and conquers all opponents by his superior will and tenacity of purpose, he is the one we idolize. British poet, William Earnest Henley’s Invictus captures the spirit of this ideal, when he boasts, “It matters not how strait the gate, how charged with punishments the scroll, I am the master of my fate; I am the captain of my soul.”
My heart says of you, "Seek his face!" Your face, O LORD, I will seek. Ps 27:8
“These sacred Words give you the very image of Christ speaking, healing, dying, rising again and make him so present, that were he before your eyes you would not more truly see him.” Erasmus
In our earlier studies, we indicated that verse 7 marks a significant change in the character of this psalm. Before, God is spoken “about.” From now on, he is spoken “to.” We see this same pattern in Psalm 23, where the Good Shepherd is described in verses 1-3. Then at verse 4, the psalmist stops talking “about” God and talks directly “to” God. “Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will not fear for you are with me.” The same pattern repeated in Psalm 119. In verses 1-3, the psalmist describes how those who walk in the ways of the law are blessed. Then, in verse 4, the psalmist directs his words upward, “You have laid down precepts that are to be fully obeyed. Oh, that my ways were steadfast in obeying your decrees! [Ps 119:4-5]
