Grace To Stumble And Not Tumble

Don’t Take Matters Into Your Own Hands

Psalm 37:23–29 “The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way; though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the Lord upholds his hand. I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread. He is ever lending generously, and his children become a blessing. Turn away from evil and do good; so shall you dwell forever. For the Lord loves justice; he will not forsake his saints. They are preserved forever, but the children of the wicked shall be cut off. The righteous shall inherit the land and dwell upon it forever.”

INTRODUCTION

Wes Brown once said, “There is nothing wrong with falling as long as you get back up.”

In this life, all of us will fall at some point and because of something.

Even though Psalm 37 says, the footsteps of a righteous man are ordered by God, still God will allow him to fall.

What kind of God allows you to fall?

Just as a loving parent corrects their child for their own good, God may allow us to experience falls in order to redirect our paths, refine our character, or deepen our dependence on Him.

It's not a question of if we'll fall, but rather, how we fall. The Psalm does not say “If a righteous man falls.” He says, “though he falls.” You are gonna fall.

The good news is that when the righteous fall, they do not fall headlong. A headlong fall is dangerous, leading to fractures, spinal injuries, concussions, or other severe trauma.

In the realm of righteous living, there is a distinction between stumbling and tumbling. A stumble, it's a momentary loss of balance—a minor misstep, a gentle fall.

However, tumbling, when you tumble, it is a rough and uncontrolled descent; you hit the ground with force, completely losing control.

So, let's clarify: a righteous individual may indeed stumble, but they will not tumble. Though they may experience a fall, it's not a headlong plunge, nor is the fall fatal. The fall is not final. A tumble ends your journey. A tumble stops you in your tracks. A stumble is a momentary pause or interruption.

Evil doers, the devil, or life itself will cause you to stumble. But there is something that buffers, breaks, and protects the fall of the righteous. What is it? What keeps the righteous man from the headlong fall? It is the grace of God.

The grace of God is divine favor. The grace of God is the help God gives a righteous man to overcome challenges and make it through the storms of life.

When you take footsteps, you plant one foot in front of the other. You take one step at a time. God is orchestrating, navigating your journey, step by step. Such that even when you encounter trials or temptations that could lead to a hard fall, God's grace intervenes. He directs around the land mines. He plants your feet on solid ground. He guides you away from the sinking sand.

As believers, your stumbles are not more than setbacks.

Your falls are not final.

Your falters are not fatal.

1. He Does Not Stumble Because God Upholds Him.

First, the righteous do not stumble because, according to verses 23-24, the Lord upholds them. The word uphold means to lean upon or support.

When we would fall, we don’t, because we have a God to lean upon, a God who supports us.

When the righteous experience times of trial and trouble, the Holy Spirit empowers them to overcome and preserves them to make it through. He gives them strength to endure and encouragement to hold on.

When the righteous stumble and fall, God extends His comforting hand to reassure them of His presence and love. Through repentance and seeking forgiveness, they find redemption and restoration in His grace.

When the righteous face uncertainty and confusion, God offers His guiding light to illuminate their path. Through prayerful seeking and attentive listening, they receive wisdom and direction for their journey.

When the righteous are weary and burdened, God provides them with rest and renewal. He restores their soul and refreshes their spirit, lifting their heavy burdens and giving them peace.

When the righteous encounter obstacles and challenges, God strengthens them with courage and resilience. He equips them with the tools they need to overcome adversity and emerge victorious.

It was the hand of God that upheld the great poet Maya Angelou. At the age of seven, she was raped by her mother's boyfriend. She was traumatized for years and sat in silence and isolation. But it was in the silent moments that Maya found peace and comfort in literature and the arts, which led her to become a writer and poet. Maya Angelou said it was the grace and the hand of God that gave her the strength and resilience to overcome adversity. Won’t he do it?

Paul said it this way: 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 - "We are persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed."

2. He Does Not Stumble Because God Preserves Him.

Psalm 37 Verse 28 - says, “For the Lord loves justice, and will not forsake his saints; they are preserved forever, but the children of the wicked shall be cut off."

If you know something about injustice, if you have been treated unfairly, then you know that it is a challenging experience

Not only does justice strike at the core of our own sense of fairness, it also violates the character of God. We serve a God who is just, fair, and good. Injustice goes against who he is and what he represents. So that when you have experienced injustice in the body of Christ, it is the worst kind of hurt. Because injustice goes against what God represents and what the body of Christ is about.

When you feel the emotional impact of injustice, it can be overwhelming. Anger, frustration, and sadness flood your being, making it difficult to find peace or understanding in the face of wrongdoing.

When you find yourself in a situation of injustice, you may feel a sense of powerlessness. It seems as though you have little control over the circumstances or the actions of others, leaving you feeling helpless and vulnerable.

Injustice cuts deep. It hurts the heart.

Justice will cause you to behave in contrary ways, make you behave badly, act like somebody you are not.

It was David who wrote Psalm 37. If anybody ever knew anything about injustice, it was David.

During Absalom’s rebellion, David was indeed struck down in terms of his authority and emotional state as his own son conspired against him, turning the hearts of Israel from their king (2 Samuel 15-17). David fled Jerusalem, physically and spiritually struck down, as Absalom occupied the capital and declared himself king.

Despite these crushing blows, David was not destroyed. Throughout his flight, David remained in prayer and continued to find support among his faithful followers. God's grace was manifest when Absalom's plans unraveled and David eventually returned to Jerusalem, restoring his kingship. David's resilience during this time showcased the sustaining power of God’s grace, enabling him not to be destroyed but restored.

2 Corinthians 4:8-9 - "We are hard-pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed."

3. The Righteous Do Not Stumble Because He is Never Forsaken.

2 Corinthians 4:9 - "Persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed."

Psalm 37 Reference**: Verse 24 - “I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread. He is ever lending generously, and his children become a blessing.”

In the verse from Psalm 37:25, the original Hebrew word translated as "forsaken" is עָזַב (`azav). This word carries a range of meanings primarily centered around the concepts of leaving, abandoning, or relinquishing.

Leaving or Abandoning The root עזב (`azav) generally means to leave something or someone behind, often implying neglect or cessation of care or support. It conveys a sense of departure where one previously present withdraws their presence or support.

In some contexts, it can also mean to relinquish or give up on something, further emphasizing the idea of abandonment.

Deception: Absalom, King David's son, secretly begins to plot against his father to take the throne for himself. He stands by the city gate and cunningly wins the favor of the people by showing kindness and offering to hear their grievances.

Rebellion: After gaining the people's support, Absalom publicly declares himself king in Hebron, a city in Judah. Many people join him, and his rebellion gains momentum. News of Absalom's uprising reaches King David, who realizes he must flee Jerusalem to avoid confrontation with his son.

David's Flight: King David, along with his household and loyal followers, leaves Jerusalem to escape Absalom's forces. They travel through the Kidron Valley, weeping as they go, and climb the Mount of Olives. David's heart is heavy with sorrow as he realizes the seriousness of the situation.

Prayer: As David flees, he prays to God, expressing his trust in His protection and guidance. He acknowledges his own unworthiness and asks God to thwart the plans of his enemies and bring him safely back to Jerusalem.

Loyalty: Along the way, David encounters Hushai, one of his trusted advisors, who offers to accompany him in his exile. David instructs Hushai to return to Jerusalem and feign loyalty to Absalom, acting as a spy to thwart Absalom's plans.

Loyalty: David also sends Zadok and Abiathar, the priests, back to Jerusalem with the ark of the covenant. He instructs them to remain loyal to him and to keep him informed of Absalom's actions.

In summary, 2 Samuel Chapter 15 tells the story of Absalom's rebellion against his father, King David, and David's flight from Jerusalem to escape his son's forces. Despite the turmoil and betrayal, David puts his trust in God and seeks His protection as he navigates the challenges of exile and uncertainty.

WHOOP/CELEBRATION In this life, you may stumble, but you don’t tumble.

You may fall, but it is not final.

You may fall, but it is not fatal.

You may falter, but you won't fail.

You may waver, but you won't wither.

You may trip, but you won't topple.

You may sway, but you won't sink.

You may bend, but you won't break.

You may pause, but you won't perish.

You may hesitate, but you won't halt.

You may lose balance, but you won't lose the battle.

You may slip, but you won't surrender.

You may err, but you won't end.

You may drift, but you won't drown.

Abraham took Isaac up the mountain to sacrifice him, but God saved him; there was a ram in the bush.

Joseph was thrown in the pit. His brothers wanted to kill him, but God kept him. The pit led him to Potiphar’s House, and Potiphar's House led him to prison, and prison led him to the palace.

The three Hebrew boys were thrown in the fiery furnace but the fire was not final.

Esther was "targeted" by Haman, but "triumphed" as queen.

Daniel was "thrown" into the lions' den, but "thrived" by God's deliverance.

Ruth was "widowed" and vulnerable, but "welcomed" into a new, blessed life.

Job "lost" everything, but was later "lavished" with more than before.

David was "pursued" by Saul, but "protected" by God.

Jonah "ran" from God, but was "restored" for His mission.

Peter "denied" Jesus, but was "destined" to lead.

Paul was "shipwrecked," yet "strengthened" to spread the Gospel.

Moses "fled" from Egypt, but "found" his calling as a leader.

Jesus was "rejected" by His own, but "received" by those He saved.

He was "mocked" as king, yet "manifested" true kingship.

He was "forsaken" by the Father, yet "fulfilled" the prophecy.

He was "scourged" by whips, but "secured" our healing.

He was "judged" by Pilate, but "justified" many through His sacrifice.

He was "taunted" with pain, but "triumphed" over sin.

He was "bound" in chains, but "broke" the chains of sin for humanity.

He was "abandoned" by disciples, but "assembled" a new faith community.

He was "buried" in a tomb, but "broke" the bonds of death.

Jesus was "spit" on by man, but was "strengthened" by God.

He was "pierced in the side" by the soldiers, but is "protected in the spirit" by God.

He was nailed in the hands, but "held" the sins of the world.

He was nailed in the feet, but "founded" a pathway to salvation.

They put a crown of thorns on his head, but he became the "crowned" King of Kings.

He died on Friday, but "freed" us on Sunday.