Lesson 447 - Senior

Memory Verse

"Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple" (Psalm 65:4).

Cross References

I David's Spiritual Thirst and Trust in God

1. The Psalmist's heart cries out for God, [PS:42:1-4].

2. When his soul was cast down his hope was in God, [PS:42:5-6].

3. Through the waters of affliction God will comfort him, [PS:42:7-9]; [ISA:43:2].

4. When his enemies reproach him God will help, [PS:42:10-11]; [MAT:5:10-12].

II David's Desire for God's Service in the Sanctuary

1. He will seek God, His power and glory, [PS:63:1-2]; [PS:27:8].

2. He will rejoice and praise God for His help and blessings, [PS:63:3-8]; [PS:91:4].

3. The wicked will not always stand, [PS:63:9-11]; [PS:101:7].

III God's Goodness

1. Prayer and praise are offered to God; He purges away sins, [PS:65:1-2].

2. Blessed is the one whom the Lord chooses and who approaches to God, [PS:65:3]; [JHN:15:16].

3. His might and power causes people to fear Him, [PS:65:4-8].

4. God visits His goodness and blessing upon the whole earth, [PS:65:9-13]; [ACT:14:17].

Notes

Spiritual Desire

The Psalmist, in desiring God, was doing what man was created to do. Man was created for God's pleasure. He was to have fellowship with his God and the fulfilment of his purpose upon this earth was to be realized in the joy of God's presence and in His wonderful provision for man's every desire for good, and his every need. The joy and fellowship that Adam and Eve had with God in the Garden of Eden knew no bounds. And ever since that fellowship was lost through their fall, all mankind has had something within that makes them know they need God whether they acknowledge it or not. To those who follow that desire comes the sweet fellowship with their Maker that He intended for all men everywhere to enjoy. The one who knows Him the best has the deepest desire to know Him better. The one who spends most time with Him in prayer has the more desire to pray and finds the ultimate of joy when in His presence. This communion and fellowship with Him here is only a foretaste of what one will enjoy when one enters into His presence to abide forever in Heaven.

It has been noticed in all generations that they who cultivate a spiritual hunger have obtained God's best. They who leave their spiritual development in a state of disinterest and unconcern soon suffer from a lack of growth; and they die a spiritual death unless they begin to concern themselves with the things of God and seek for the things of God. We do have desires of one kind or another and it behoves us to cultivate the spiritual desires which will leave no room for the worldly interests that entangle many and leave them destitute in their soul.

The Psalmist rejoiced in his privilege of going to the house of God. He rejoiced there and kept hope before him even in times of trial. He said in [PS:122:1], "I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD." We are commanded in God's Word to attend services, "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching" [HEB:10:25]).

The spiritual desires that God wants to keep in all our lives will cause us to rejoice in the privileges that we have to meet with God's people and to fellowship with them. One with such a desire will not have to be prompted to be in meetings but his heart's desire will be to hear God's Word, to hear the praises of God coming from the lips of God's redeemed and to have the opportunity to pray with people who have a like spiritual desire.

Trust in God

Even in affliction, when the waves rolled high, the Psalmist was assured that God would not forsake him. He would be with him in the day, and in the night He would give him a song. He said in [PS:91:7-11]: "A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked. Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; there shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways." Such promises are far beyond human power, and serve to show us how merciful our God is and how desirous He is of doing us good.

Job is one of the best examples of trusting God that we have in the Bible. When he had lost everything, he said: "The LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD" [JOB:1:21]). He was later afflicted with boils from the crown of his head to the soles of his feet, but in all his trials he "sinned not, nor charged God foolishly." God rewarded him for his trust and brought him out with greater blessings than he had had before, and with his simple trust in God unchanged.

The Psalmist knew the same trust and victory even though the circumstances were different. Just so does each Christian today find the same joy and victory in putting his trust in the promises of God. What Jesus did when He walked the shores of Galilee, He will do today. "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever" [HEB:13:8]).

Divine Goodness

It is impossible for mere man to comprehend the goodness and greatness of God. He can but praise Him in prayer, song, and worship. Many of the best-loved hymns of all ages have spoken of God's goodness and mercy to the children of men, and many of them have been paraphrases of the praises that the Psalmist wrote.

In the Psalms we read of the Saviour and of His forgiveness of our sins. What greater manifestation could there be of God's love for us! In fact, the whole Bible, of which the Psalms are only a part, speaks of God, His love and concern for man and His desire to do him good. If man rested on his own merits none could save himself, but because of God's love in sending Jesus to die in man's stead he can find peace with God and reconciliation through His Son Jesus.

Even though any sin against a Holy God is enough to damn a soul and is awful to think of, it is wonderful to know that any troubled soul can find peace of mind and heart through repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. The sinner realizes his guilt when he looks upon Jesus, but through Him finds forgiveness and has as clean a slate as though he had never sinned. He is then conscious of God's continual goodness to him and is kept by the power of God. ``Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee" [ISA:26:3]).

We can safely trust the keeping of our souls in God's hands. Even those who rise up against us, God will judge. We need not trouble ourselves nor defile our hearts with a spirit of revenge. He sent His Son to die for them also. Our part is to love them and to look upon them as those for whom the Lord died. God will bring judgment upon them not only because they fight against God's people, but also because they continually refuse the mercies He offers them.

"Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord'' [ROM:12:19]). In the beatitudes in the first part of the 5th chapter of Matthew, we read: "Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you', [MAT:5:10-12]).

The blessings of God are showered upon even the most unthankful. All the living have every reason to praise God for His benedictions. If they could only see that they are coming from God's hand! Life is a blessing, and God holds the brittle thread of life in His hand. So the joy we have with our friends and loved ones is possible only because God has given us this life to live and to enjoy. Health is a blessing. It should be a greater blessing to enjoy God's goodness through good health than to be healed of a terrible disease after Satan has sent it our way. After all, he, the devil, desires to do his worst but God controls or limits his actions. Satan can go only so far. That is a blessing even to the unsaved, but the blessing has to be seen to be appreciated so the child of God who knows all these things and thanks God for them, in this very thanksgiving has an added blessing. It delights his soul to glorify and praise the name of the Lord.

Questions

1. What is the promise to the hungry soul?

2. How did man lose that sweet fellowship with God in the first place?

3. Why does everyone have a yearning to know God?

4. How does one increase his interest and depth in spiritual things?

5. Why would the Psalmist be happy at the thought of going into God's house?

6. What are some of the things for which we all have to thank the Lord?

7. Do the good things come to us as our right? Why?