Pleasant Places, Goodly Heritage
Notes
Transcript
letters that children have written to their pastor - these may or may not have come from students at IBS
Dear Pastor:
Please say in your sermon Peter Peterson has been a good boy all week. I am Peter Peterson. Sincerely, Pete, age 9
Are there any devils on earth? I think there may be one in my class.—Carla, age 10
I know God loves everybody but He never met my sister. Yours Sincerely, Arnold, age 8
I’m sorry I can’t leave more money in the plate, but my father didn’t give me a raise in my allowance. Could you have a sermon about a raise in my allowance? Love Patty, age 10
6 The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; Yea, I have a goodly heritage.
Begin with story of Jacob and Esau
34 Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright.
TO Esau it wasn’t worth keeping, or protecting, or even being thankful for -
It was treated as junk -
despised means he cared very little for his birthright
The New Testament writer of Hebrews warns about Esau:
16 Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.
Why was he numbered among the fornicators and profane persons? Because he cared very little for his birthright - his inheritance - his heritage!!!
This is a contrasting story with that of David nearly a thousand years later
We have in Psalm 16 the musings of King David on confidence in God.
It is such a beautiful and moving piece of literature it is called:
“A Michtam of David” -
In fact Psalm 56-60 are referred to as “michtam” psalms.
Treasures from Treasured Psalms, Volume 1 Chapter 7: Nuggets from the Golden Psalm (Psalm 16)
The word michtam means “to engrave or sculptured writing.” It comes from a noun meaning “gold.” This psalm has been referred to as “The Golden Psalm.” It is worthy of being written in gold
I don’t know if any of your papers are ready to be engraved in gold - but that seems to be the idea of this section of Psalms.
The “Golden Psalms” do begin with prayer, but there is also the inference of some type of trouble - but they are full of confidence, assurance, and gratitude toward God.
There is an element of gratitude that should be evident in a Christian’s life.
There are three ways this gratitude should present itself in our lives
1. Recognition
1. Recognition
The New Testament gives the command:
18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
This doesn’t just mean the good things that come our way- but we are to be thankful people - full of gratitude.
In fact James writes about this in a way that grabs your attention James 1:2
2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
This makes thanksgiving and gratitude more than a matter of manners and etiquette. It becomes a biblical conviction.
Paul points out in Romans that sinful humanity experience God’s wrath... Romans 1:21“21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.”
To insist on one’s self-sufficiency is an idolatrous act, to give thanks, by contrast, is to acknowledge one’s dependence on God.
psychologists ... consider ingratitude as a sign of narcissism even in interpersonal relationships:
To thank someone acknowledges our need to have been helped or enriched in the first place.… Although those of us with predominantly narcissistic concerns may go through the motions of thanking, we frequently resist expressing whole-hearted appreciation, since that would acknowledge a previous insufficiency of some sort, an insult to the grandiose self.71
Colossians and Philemon (A Life of Thanksgiving)
If anyone had the right to take most if not all the credit for winning the recent super bowl it would have been Patrick Mahomes - but to you know what Mahomes said after the close call win?
“With all the adversity we’ve been through this season to come through tonight. … I’m proud of the guys,” “This is awesome. Legendary.”
I recognize my own shortcoming and realize...
I do not stand up here today on my own - I have been lifted up by others
I stand here today on the shoulders of others - greater than I - and yet here I am
David must have been feeling this way when he penned that golden statement Psalm 16:6
6 The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; Yea, I have a goodly heritage.
It’s not just the recognition of God and others in your current state - it also includes ....
2. Appreciation
2. Appreciation
You know appreciation doesn’t always come natural or easy -
Paul knew this and he writes:
11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
Even to Paul it was a learning curve and experience - but contentment and appreciation go together like a hand and glove
David not only recognized his blessing, but it produced a contentment and appreciation
It is so easy to see that the grass is greener in other places - but you know what - its still grass
We get bored with our current surroundings that we look to other places and think the troubles over there must not be near as bad as they are here
We loose the pride in our homes, families, schools, churches because we compare them to other places
I’m all about improving where we can - but I also know we must appreciate what we have -
Appreciation like contentment doesn’t always come automatically - you will have to work at it
3. Participation
3. Participation
David voiced recognition, and appreciation for where he was and where he came from - and it produced a participation
6 The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; Yea, I have a goodly heritage.
Look at the very next verse:
7 I will bless the Lord, who hath given me counsel: My reins also instruct me in the night seasons.
Gratitude is an inherent element of giving and receiving respect.
Dr. Seuss, who’s birthday was real recent, put it this way
“You ought to be thankful a hole heaping lot, for The places and people you're lucky you're not!”
“You ought to be thankful a hole heaping lot, for The places and people you're lucky you're not!”
― Dr. Seuss, Did I Ever Tell You How Lucky You Are?
If you don’t like the way things are - just think about what they could be and say along with Dr. Seuss and David
6 The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; Yea, I have a goodly heritage.