Lesson 204 - Senior
Memory Verse
"Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salva-tion of God" (Psalm 50:23).
Cross References
I The Majesty of God
1. God is over all the earth, [PS:50:1].
2. His law goes forth from Zion, [PS:50:2].
3. God is a consuming fire, [PS:50:3].
4. The saints of Heaven and earth are called to witness against Israel, [PS:50:4-7].
II God's Controversy with Israel
1. Formal sacrifice is not sufficient, [PS:50:8-13].
2. Thanksgiving, vows, and sincere prayer are God's delight, [PS:50:14-15].
III The Judgement of Wickedness
1. Hypocrisy is condemned, [PS:50:16-17].
2. The hypocrites were guilty of stealing, adultery, and slander, [PS:50:18-20].
3. Delayed judgement does not mean divine consent, [PS:50:21-22].
IV The Will of God
1. Praise glorifies God, [PS:50:23].
2. Our conversation, or walk, must be upright, [PS:50:23].
Notes
The Majesty of God
"The mighty God, even the LORD, hath spoken." The God of Israel was not like the gods of the nations around them. He is the God of the universe, the Creator of all things. "Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance?" "Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one faileth.... Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding" (Isaiah 40:12, 26, 28).
This God of all the earth is the same God who had chosen Israel and made Zion His capital. "Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined." The Israelites were favoured above all people of the earth, to have the mighty God as their God. His greatness was demonstrated in their midst when He gave them the Law on Mount Sinai. "The sight of the glory of the LORD was like devouring fire on the top of the mount in the eyes of the children of Israel" (Exodus 24:17). "Mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because of the LORD descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly" (Exodus 19:18).
It is well for us to realise that we are serving that same God today. Let us meditate upon Him and try to get a glimpse of His greatness and power. That the One who spoke the world into existence will listen to our cry and answer our petition, be it ever so small, should fill us with humility and love for Him. He manifested His great love in that He sent His Son to die that we might be rescued from our sinful ways. Do we not owe Him eternal praise and thanksgiving?
A Covenant by Sacrifice
The Psalmist pictures the mighty God calling the saints of Heaven and earth together to witness and attest His righteous judgement against Israel. "Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice." The true saints of God are those who have made a covenant with Him by sacrifice. When a person realises the value of eternal life, no price is too high to purchase it. What sacrifice could be so great as to cause man to hesitate if God requires it? Millions of martyrs counted not their lives dear unto them that they might be true to the cause of Christ. Shall not their blood witness against those who refuse to present their bodies a living sacrifice unto God for His service? God wants us to be willing to forsake mother, father, sister, or brother, and lose our own life, if need be, that we might be true and faithful to Him who has called us. Jesus said, "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me" (Matthew 16:24).
A man once came to Jesus with these words, "Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first. . . ." The reply of Jesus was, "No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God" (Luke 9:62). Some are willing to serve God if they can first do those things, which they desire. God is calling all who will serve Him to make a covenant with Him by sacrifice. They must be willing to give up that which costs them something, like David of old who would not offer unto the Lord that which cost him nothing.
The Indictment Against Israel
God made it very plain to Israel that it was not because He needed their sacrifices that He was bringing Israel into judgement. "If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fullness thereof." God was not reproving them for failure to offer burnt offerings -" though that was just cause for punishment. The indictment against them was that they had not paid their vows and were not thankful to God.
Our Offerings to God
Today God does not need our possession; He does not need our wealth; He does not need our cattle, or anything else of our temporal possessions. But oh, how much we need God! He gives us the power to accumulate some of this world's goods; therefore, we are absolutely dependent upon Him for everything we receive, whether it be spiritual or material blessings. If He wanted cattle, He could reach down and take them from a thousand hills.
"Then," you say, "if God does not need my substance, my time, my talent, why offer it to Him? Why make consecrations to Him?" It all belongs to Him. If we have talent, strength, or ability, it came from God. "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights" (James 1:17). We are merely stewards over the substance and gifts, which God has bestowed upon us; and should not gratitude impel us to return the gifts to Him by using them in His work? Surely we do not want to hear the indictment pronounced against us, "Cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness."
Every one of us will some day give an account to God of the disposition we have made of that with which He has entrusted us. The Gospel today is forging ahead. Are you sharing in the work? Are you helping to lighten the load for those at the front of the battle? Are you placing at the disposal of the Lord those gifts, those talents, those things He has given you? If not, the Gospel will go on; but perhaps one soul at your right hand, another at your left, will not hear the message of salvation because you failed to do your part. The need for workers was never so great as it is today; the harvest fields are white, and the Lord asks, "Whom shall I send?" Are you among those who say, "Let me first...."? The Lord's work cannot wait! It must come first in your life. The final call for labourers is going out. Answer the call today.
A Deliverer
"Call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me." Oftentimes it is man's own ill-doings that get him into trouble. Even so, God has promised that if we will call upon Him in the day of trouble, He will deliver us. Our hearts should overflow with gratitude to such a God.
A Form of Godliness
To some of those who were going through routine worship -" taking His covenant in their mouths and even declaring His statutes -" God pointed out their specific sins. They were in partnership with a thief; perhaps they were buying his stolen goods. They were guilty of adultery, a sin that is being permitted in some religious circles today. John the Baptist lost his head because he very plainly told Herod that it was unlawful for him to have his brother's wife. They were also guilty of speaking evil and telling lies. They talked about their brother in a slandering way. All of this was going on, and still they thought they could "get by" with God by bringing Him an offering without true repentance.
Delayed Sentence
"Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil" (Ecclesiastes 8:11). "These things hast thou done, and I kept silence" (Psalm 50:21). The Lord in His mercy gives man an opportunity to come to repentance; but if he continually refuses to repent, judgement is certain. Israel thought God was indulgent, as they were. They thought their sins were unnoticed and God would not punish the wicked. God told Israel that judgement would come, and they would see it. "God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap" (Galatians 6:7). God issued a stern threat to Israel because of their slipshod way of worshiping and loose way of living. "Now consider this, ye that forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver." But even with this stern threat there was an offer of mercy: "Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God."
A Sinless Life
God delights in mercy and loves praise, but nothing will take the place of an upright walk. There is no substitute for a life free from sin. No one can offer thanksgiving unto God like the one who has been washed in the Blood of the Lamb and whose life is above reproach. Let the redeemed of the Lord offer praise unto Him and be thankful for His great salvation.
Questions
1. What is meant by making a covenant by sacrifice?
2. Find verses of Scripture that describe the greatness of God.
3. What is the essence of the indictment against Israel?
4. What promises are given in this chapter?
5. What are the conditions of these promises?
6. What is meant by the word "conversation" in verse 23?
7. Which of the Ten Commandments did God say the wicked had broken?
8. What did God want Israel to do?