Lesson 240 - Senior
Memory Verse
"LORD, thou hath heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear" (Psalm 10:17).
Cross References
I God's Attitude Toward the Proud
1. God's purposes, when chastening His people, may not then be apparent, [PS:10:1]; [JOB:23:10]; [ISA:48:10]; [2CO:12:7]; [1PE:1:6-7]; [1PE:4:12-13].
2. Pride and conceit are in the heart of the wicked, evidenced by unmistakable characteristics, [PS:10:2-6]; [PS:49:18]; [PRO:3:7]; [PRO:13:15]; [PRO:21:4]; [ROM:8:5-8]; [ROM:12:16]; [1JHN:2:16]; [1CO:8:2]; [GAL:6:3].
3. The wicked's outward conduct is far from righteousness, [PS:10:7-11]; [PS:37:1-2], [PS:37:9], [PS:10:12-15], [PS:10:17], [PS:10:21], [PS:10:32], [PS:10:35-36]; [ROM:1:18-32]; [PRO:6:12-19].
4. God's attitude toward the rebellious is shown in David's prayer, [PS:10:12-18]; [REV:6:10]; [JOB:10:14]; [ECC:8:11]; [JER:2:22]; [JER:17:9-10]; [AMO:5:12]; [ROM:6:23]; [2PE:3:9].
II The Universal Depravity of Mankind and Israel's Kingdom Hope
1. Atheism and atheists are plainly branded by God, [PS:14:1]; [PS:10:4]; [PS:36:1]: [JER:5:12-14].
2. Our merciful God, desiring that everyone be saved, observes that they wilfully enter the paths of wrong instead, [PS:14:1-3]; [ROM:1:21-32]; [ROM:3:10-12], [ROM:3:23]; [GEN:6:5]; [GEN:18:23-26]; [2CH:16:9]; [ISA:1:6]; [ISA:59:1-8]; [ISA:64:6].
3. An indictment is brought against certain ones, naming them workers of iniquity, [PS:14:4-6]; [PS:119:86]; [PS:143:3]; [MAT:10:17]; [LUK:21:12-18]; [JHN:16:2].
4. Here is shown the providence and mercy of the eternal God who does not show respect of persons, [PS:14:4-6]; [ACT:10:34-35].
5. A marvellous statement is made regarding Israel's covenant failure and their future Millennial joy, [PS:14:7]; [EXO:19:5];[EXO:19:6]; [DEU:4:7-13], 23; [DEU:5:2];[DEU:5:3]; [HEB:8:6-13]; [JER:31:31-34]; [JER:32:37-42]; [ROM:4:9-16]; [ROM:11:1-15].
III The Sinner's Lack of Hope in God
1. The attitude and conduct of the evil ones prove they have no hope in God, [PS:36:1-4]; [PRO:12:15]; [PRO:20:6]; [PRO:30:12]; [2CO:10:12].
2. Those who trust in God benefit from His mercy, faithfulness, righteousness, judgments, and loving kindness, [PS:36:5-9]; [PS:63:3]; [PS:103:17]; [PS:108:4]; [LAM:3:22-23]; [ISA:63:7].
3. The prayer of the righteous echoes the desire of God toward the righteous, [PS:36:10-12]; [ROM:4:21]; [2PE:1:4].
Notes
The Word of the Lord and Its Attitude Toward Sin
David, King of Israel, is known in the Scriptures as a Prophet. We also know this to be true because his writings set forth many Gospel truths and messages from the God of Heaven concerning His plan for mankind. In the three Psalms we are now considering we can see the Unmistakable work of the Holy Spirit as it led this man of God to write the eternal truths that God would have us receive. In these messages we see the mercy, faithfulness, and loving-kindness, as well as the righteousness of the judgments of the eternal God who will "not at all acquit the wicked" [NAH:1:3]).
Here, in these Psalms, we see God's attitude toward sin and the sinner. Here we see that there is no middle ground between righteousness and depravity. Here we see that there are but two ways, the way of life and the way of death. Men may temporise with sin, but all God's ways are equal. Men may make allowances and excuses for iniquity, but God labels it what it really is and punishes the one who harbours it in his heart.
There are many kinds of sin, according to man's ideas and classifications. Different punishments are meted out, in our systems of justice for the different degrees of sin and transgression of our earthly laws. But with God, even the smallest sin brings a complete separation from His fellowship and covenant-privileges. And, having taken the way of the transgressor, there is nothing for the erring one to do but accept the results of that way unless he flees to Bleeding Mercy and asks forgiveness for his sins. Therefore, God does not classify sin, as does man, with the intent that certain eternal punishments will be meted out for certain gross sins, and judgments of less than eternal length for sins of lesser guilt. God looks at sin in the heart and sees what it truly is, and His judgments are pronounced accordingly.
The Basic Sin of Mankind
We are told that Satan fell from Heaven when he exalted himself and attempted to take the place of the Most High. Satan tempted man with pride and man fell. Pride, therefore, was the cause of the fall of man. It is the basic sin that prompts the other sins men commit. It is not confined to Satan alone, for we shall see that it is present in all unregenerated mankind. It is a constant threat to the most godly, an avenue of temptation that seems to be the most difficult for many to overcome. Being a sin, God hates it! [PRO:6:16-19]).
We can see, in these writings of David, what terrible sins can develop in an unrestrained, proud heart. The proud person persecutes the poor and boasts of his heart's desire. He blesses the covetous and says, in his heart, that he is self-sufficient and above all opposition. If he allows himself to continue his natural course he will actually deny the God of Heaven, and then, in his pride and arrogance, will say that he -- a mere man -- will never be moved or overthrown. Eventually, if he should allow himself to admit that there is a God, he will deny that, that God is interested in mankind, or that He is capable of asserting Himself should He be interested. Such are the terrible consequences of unres-trained pride.
But the Prophet of God has gone farther into the matter and has proved that this seed-sin is present in the heart of all the unregenerated, because all men who are outside the fold of God are totally depraved and wholly departed into the ways of sin and error. He has stated that the God of mercy is looking down from His Heaven upon the world of sinners and that He sees that all these sinners have departed from the right way and have gone aside into the ways of their own choosing. He states that they have all become filthy. He emphasizes that there are none who do good unless they have turned from their evil ways and are pardoned, justified, born again, and received into the family of God.
These Psalms show us that the sinner who has not been touched by the Holy Spirit when He comes to convince men of their need of God, has no fear of God. This sinner, instead, flatters himself in his own eyes. There is nothing that is actually good in the nature of such a one. He is full of iniquity and deceit and has left off from doing good. He says, "There is no God." He deliberately plans his sins and then carries them out according to his plan. He denies that God will punish him for his sin, and says that God has forgotten to look upon him and that He will not see the extent of the sin nor render a punishment for it.
This is the picture of fallen man, depraved by sin, who follows his own desires and ambitions. He is hatefully rebellious against that which is good, as well as being rebellious against the Author of all good. Surely there can be no honest contention in the heart of any that the full judgment and justice of God is not deserved by all who thus rebel against Him and who follow their own ways instead.
The Merciful God of Heaven
But we read that God has seen this sin. We are comforted with the assurance that God will be the helper of all who put their trust in Him, that the wicked will be punished, and that power and authority will eventually be taken by Him to whom it rightfully belongs. The Holy Spirit has given us assurance, in these three Psalms, that God has heard the desire of His people, that He will prepare their heart, and that the oppressed shall be set free from every bond and opposing force.
The guarantee for this deliverance is given in the fact that the Lord is King over all, and that some day He will come to set up His Kingdom and rule over the rulers of this earth. We are here given another glimpse of the glory of that Kingdom, where righteousness and equity will be the ruling principles and where the people of God will reign with their Christ and Lord.
Israel will be restored at that time, the Holy Spirit assures us, and the fullness of God's covenant- plan will be in operation upon the earth. Great joy and gladness will be upon the earth in those days of righteous rule. God's full blessings will be manifest then in a degree that is not known today. The mere contemplation of these glories has caused the Psalmist -- and should cause us also -- to break out into exulting praise of the God of Heaven who alone has power and goodness sufficient to do such wonderful things.
What a contrast is apparent when the evil thoughts and vile designs of the wicked, and of Satan their diabolical master, are compared with the righteousness and infinite goodness of the God of all the earth! God's mercy is boundless! His faithfulness reaches to the clouds! God's righteousness is like the great mountains! His judgments are a great deep! Here the Holy Spirit has utilized the greatest, loftiest, deepest, and most awe-inspiring things known to man to teach us the much greater fact of God's infinite power and fullness. No wonder He has also said that we can know the invisible things of God, even His eternal power and godhead, by the things which we see -- the works of His hands [ROM:1:20]).
"O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever."
"Who remembered us in our low estate: for his mercy endureth for ever:
"And hath redeemed us from our enemies: for his mercy endureth for ever."
"O give thanks unto the God of heaven: for his mercy endureth for ever." [PS:136:1];[PS:136:23-24];[PS:136:26]).
Questions
1. After studying the verses indicated in the outline, that concern our chastening by God, what would you say is the purpose of that chastening?
2. Is the full reason for God's chastening and purging always known to us at the time of the trial? If not, why not?
3. What can be called the basic sin of mankind?
4. What is the contention of an atheist as regards our God?
5. What does God call an atheist?
6. Contrast the description of the godly, as shown in the Beatitudes [MAT:5:3-12]), with the description of the ungodly given in our lesson text.
7. Has God forgotten the world? Is He taking no notice of the sins of fallen mankind? Quote a verse to support your answer.
8. What is the hope of the godly, as set forth in our lesson text?
9. Upon what is this hope based?
10. What great prophecy concerning Israel is set forth in our lesson?