When I Don’t Know

Psalm 119:1-8

What is right

Is there a right and wrong?

First the exception:

“If you’re saved, spirit filled, sanctified, submissive, suffering, and thankful… do whatever you want.” - John MacArthur on Ps 37:4

Psalm 37:4 “Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”

To even state that there is no objective truth; no true right is to make a definitive statement about what is right.

It’s what is right for me?

YOU can’t tell me what’s wrong, but let me tell you where YOU are wrong…

The truth is that we need something, someone outside ourselves because we are not able self regulate, to make moral judgments apart from a Righteous Standard

Proverbs 14:12 “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.”

Who gets to say?

Genesis 3:1–5 “Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” 2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, 3 but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’ ” 4 But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.””

Our natural resistance to ruling authorities is a lasting remnant of the fall, and a remaining imprint of our first parents… “Eat the fruit Eve. Then you can choose right and wrong on your own; you won’t need to listen to God anymore.”

THE objective source

I. Of the Scriptures

We believe that the Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired, and is a perfect

treasure of heavenly instruction; that it has God for its author, salvation for its end, and

truth without any mixture of error for its matter, that it reveals the principles by which

God will judge us; and therefore is, and shall remain to the end of the world, the true center of Christian union , and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions should be tried.

2 Peter 1:20–21 “knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. 21 For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”

1 Corinthians 2:14 “The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.”

What to say

To the grieving

Romans 12:15 “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.”

In my experience, presence and proximity are more needed, more appreciated, and in actuality communicate more and more important things than most of what we tend to say.

If God gives you words, speak them. If not, be willing to sit with them. In their pain. In their circumstance. If need be, in silence. This may feel awkward, but it can be a meaningful way to love your neighbor.

Job chapters 3-37 his ‘comforters’ spoke out of perceived necessity, and even good intention, but ultimately out of ignorance in a time when the best thing they could have done was shut their mouths.

About things

Try “I don’t know” if you don’t (especially rather than speaking for God)

This is a matter of Integrity & Humility, because you DON’T know everything about everything, and neither do I.

Proverbs 17:28 “Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.”

Job 38:2–3 “Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? 3 Dress for action like a man; I will question you, and you make it known to me.”

Job 42:7 “After the Lord had spoken these words to Job, the Lord said to Eliphaz the Temanite: “My anger burns against you and against your two friends, for you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has.”

To be a witness

A testimony is good

Revelation 12:11 “And they have conquered [Satan] by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.”

It’s why we titled the Youth Group “Servants With A Testimony”

It’s why we begin EVERY youth service with a testimony - to normalize the sharing and hearing of them

It’s why some of you should consider giving one in an upcoming service

It’d be a great practice to give them AT each Baptism

Consider the context

Don’t forget the Gospel

Romans 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”

Where to go

The Bible

God wrote it to instruct us

to know who God is and who we are

It is THE OBJECTIVE standard

The (your) local Church for

help in knowing and understanding

compassion and support

Worship & Accountability

The necessity of Prayer

To renew reliance on God

To put words to feelings & experiences

To hear FROM God