Aspects Of Spiritual Maturity

Text: ,

1 The heavens declare the glory of God,

and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.

2 Day to day pours out speech,

and night to night reveals knowledge.

3 There is no speech, nor are there words,

whose voice is not heard.

4 Their voice goes out through all the earth,

and their words to the end of the world.

In them he has set a tent for the sun,

5 which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber,

and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy.

6 Its rising is from the end of the heavens,

and its circuit to the end of them,

and there is nothing hidden from its heat.

If we can get in a state of stillness, like the Psalm says, “Be still, and know” Somehow, if we can just get to that place of acknowledgement, there is a correction that can happen, when we see who is speaking. There is no place, in the world, where the voice of the heavens, and the creation pours out speech of the knowledge of God. Their words, it says here, keeps on going. Even though the created order has lost it’s original utter perfections, due to the cosmic impact of sin, the heavens still declare his glory. There still can be a meteor, that flies into this earth, and kills you, if it hits you. This means, at some point things are not perfect - as they were. But God still speaks, and his creation declares him and says, “worship, the One, who made me, this, and that!”. It shows that he is a holy God.

Read , “

The law of the LORD is perfect,

reviving the soul;

the testimony of the LORD is sure,

making wise the simple;

8 the precepts of the LORD are right,

rejoicing the heart;

the commandment of the LORD is pure,

enlightening the eyes;

9 the fear of the LORD is clean,

enduring forever;

the rules of the LORD are true,

and righteous altogether.

10 More to be desired are they than gold,

even much fine gold;

sweeter also than honey

and drippings of the honeycomb.

11 Moreover, by them is your servant warned;

in keeping them there is great reward.

12 Who can discern his errors?

Declare me innocent from hidden faults.

13 Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins;

let them not have dominion over me!

Then I shall be blameless,

and innocent of great transgression.

14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart

be acceptable in your sight,

O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.

As we examine this text of Scripture, the psalmist moves us. He moves us to personal relations between the creator and the created being. And moves us to that this creator instructs us. This creator and this divine being, gives a perfect law. This law brings knowledge of him and exposes the truth about our existence. It comes to the stupid and makes them wise, or at least has that power to do so. When the precepts and the truths in this law are seen and embraced, it causes rejoicing in the heart, because of the truth that these decrees and principles applied to the believing heart gives.

The believer agrees, that God is good, when he peers into the law of God and sees how wonderful and righteous and just God is. So much so, that the sweetness of honey, the love of earthly precious metals, cannot compare to the spiritual benefits of the knowledge of God in his glory.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

The Psalmist explains how, the word, that comes to him, has the power to discern the errors of his way, and to protect him from entering into sinful patterns that the psalmist can easily be blind to. Even, we can be blind to great transgression. And the Psalmist gives us the encouragement that the word of God keeps us, from such error.

Such are so many benefits of righteous living and also in keeping the words, and commands and decrees of God, the Psalmist explains, that the reward is tremendous.

This lofty insight, when king David wrote this Psalm, led him to his inner life, and to explain, that with such wonderful truths, and to know such wonderful truths, all these things, thus should inspire such a holy reverence and fear of the Almighty, that his words, and even his thoughts, should be carefully sought out, that they would be honorable. And seeing that he is redeemed, that his life be worthy of that grace. David then ends the Psalm, declaring and assuring his heart that God, is truly his rock.

Others, can be extremely quick to speak “into and about” your life and my life. This is the fruit of sinful nature, and is a disgrace.

A little bit of truth, mixed with censure, or condemnation, about suffering that we face, can be a dangerous trap, and we can feel like we are in a very difficult place. “But they are saying a lot of truth about God? And they are condemning me, or opposing me, or presuming that they have a right to speak into my life, even though they have not earned that right”.

Read , “15 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said:

2 “Should a wise man answer with windy knowledge,

and fill his belly with the east wind?

3 Should he argue in unprofitable talk,

or in words with which he can do no good?

4 But you are doing away with the fear of God

and hindering meditation before God.

5 For your iniquity teaches your mouth,

and you choose the tongue of the crafty.

6 Your own mouth condemns you, and not I;

your own lips testify against you.

7 “Are you the first man who was born?

Or were you brought forth before the hills?

8 Have you listened in the council of God?

And do you limit wisdom to yourself? “

“Job! you’re a sinner, that is why you suffer. You don’ listen to God, and you think you are the limit of wisdom! You are the one to blame you wicked person! - Your iniquity and sin teaches your mouth to speak!”

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

Can you imagine this? Job, a humble man, probably self doubted himself, and asked, “God, are you using him to tell me that something is wrong?” That is what happens when truth is mixed with deceit.

We are to listen, but not to listen to lies. In these cases, we are to flee these types of people. And let God deal with them. Sometimes, it’s because these peoples times are over. If the case of Job, God restored

Conclusion: We need to be those who are worshipers, and mature in our faith. People, who flee evil situations, and flee false doctrines, and evil influences, and to flee to Jesus, and worship at his altar. Which, in this Psalm, we see, is even in the midst of the creation, which gives worship and praise to him continually. In the midst of creation, we can give him praise and in the midst of misunderstanding people around us, we can endure, knowing God, and holding to truth, and resisting false advice.

Aspects Of Spiritual Maturity

Who Speaks To You?

Moving From General To Personal

Don’t Let Others In The Way

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