SF850 - THE TIME OF TROUBLE - 6 of 21 THE LYRICS OF LIFE (Psalm 6)
Psalm 6
Introduction
It is generally acknowledged that this psalm is the first of the seven penitential psalms, the others being 32, 38, 51, 102, 130 and 143.
It seems evident that David wrote this psalm after he had recovered from an illness which threatened to prove fatal, during which he had been made aware of his sins and of God’s chastening hand upon him. In a very real sense, therefore, this psalm can be entitled “The Time of Trouble.”
We learn from the verses before us that, for the believer, the time of trouble is:
A Time of Discipline
A Time of Distress
A Time of Deliverance
1A. A Time of Discipline (6:1-3)
Divine discipline is one of the evidences of God’s love for His children…
Hebrews 12:6 (NKJV) 6For whom the Lord loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives.”
David in this psalm recognized two methods of divine discipline:
1B. The Word of Correction Applied (6:1a)
“rebuke” = admonition and correction.
When God has to rebuke there will be severity in His tone and anger in His words.
Thus David cried: “O Lord, do not rebuke me in Your anger.”
It is not clear from this psalm just how this word of correction was applied to David.
Today, God speaks to us through the Bible.
Correction may come from sermons, quiet time…
Let us make sure that we “do not despise the chastening of the Lord...” Hebrews 12:5 (NKJV)
2B. The Whip of Chastening Administered (6:1b)
The same idea is conveyed in the words of Hebrews 12:6.
Hebrews 12:6 (NKJV) 6For whom the Lord loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives.”
“scourge,” = a whip of seven thongs weighted with bones or metal.
Sometimes God must use the whip of chastening to bring us to a sense of our sin and our need of forgiveness.
Ø He may use diabolical forces, as in the chastening of Job.
Ø He may employ political forces, as in the life of David, when his entire kingdom turned against him because of Absalom’s rebellion.
Ø Often He ordains material forces, such as those that brought the Prodigal Son to his senses and prompted his return to his father.
Ø Indeed, God will go to any necessary length to bring us to the place of holiness, peace and blessing.
Ø In all this discipline we must remember that “whom the Lord loves he chastens.”
In verses 2 and 3, David described the effect of God’s discipline upon his entire body.
Ø He spoke of weakness, sickness and fearfulness, and then exclaimed, “O Lord, how long?”
Ø There is nothing more serious than soul trouble.
C. H. Spurgeon said, “Soul trouble is the very soul of trouble.” No wonder David cried, “My soul is also greatly troubled: but You, O Lord, how long?” (6:3).
2A. A Time of Distress (6:4-7)
These verses describe in vivid terms the distress of a truly broken soul.
1B. The Distress of Sin (4)
With an awareness of sin comes an awareness of the estrangement which sin creates.
Habakkuk 1:13 (NKJV) 13You are of purer eyes than to behold evil…
David realized that the Lord had turned away from him because of the sin he had condoned in his life, and so he prays that threefold prayer, “Return… deliver… save” (Ps. 6:4).
2B. The Distress of Separation (5)
Ø In David’s day, the view of death was that it terminated the possibility to serve and praise God here upon earth, a view that is consistent with New Testament teaching.
Ø Let us never forget that it was to Christians that Paul wrote, “The wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23); and the Apostle John warned his readers, “There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it” (1 John 5:16).
Ø It is a solemn thing to have failed so miserably that the Lord must cut off the life in judgment and punishment.
3B. The Distress of Sorrow (6)
Ø When true conviction grips the soul, tearful contrition always follows. (Simon Peter - Luke 22:62)
4B. The Distress of Suffering (6:7)
Ø As an old man’s eyes grow dim with the years, so David could say, “Mine eye is grown red and feeble through weeping.”
3A. A Time of Deliverance (6:8-10)
Here it seems as if David was emerging from a battle against sin and failure; and with a sense of deliverance in his soul, he declared what God had done for his soul.
1B. God Acknowledges the Repentance of a Broken Heart (6:8)
His tears of sorrow and suffering had availed in the presence of God.
Psalm 51:17 (NKJV) 17The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart-These, O God, You will not despise.
2 Corinthians 7:10 (NKJV) 10For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.
One of the genuine evidences that we are walking with God is that we are willing to repent of sin whenever the Spirit of God convicts us. With brokenness comes blessedness.
2B. God Accepts the Request of a Believing Heart (6:9)
1 John 3:19-22 (NKJV) 19And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him. 20For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. 21Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God. 22And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.
3B. God Allows the Restoration of a Backsliding Heart (6:10)
This verse was as much a prophecy as it was a declaration. The psalmist, with the eye of faith, saw the answer to his prayer. He visualized the moment of his restoration and vindication, when all his enemies who brought him into sin and failure would be ashamed and sore vexed. He predicted the day when their doom would come upon them suddenly.
Application
How wonderful to know that however much we may be seduced to sin and failure we are ultimately on the victory side! To lose a battle does not necessarily mean to lose a war.
Although God may have to discipline us and bring us into great distress in order to show us the nature and measure of our sin, there is, restoration and vindication to all whose hearts are set on God.
To put it in modern terms: after “undergoing” trouble the Christian will find himself “overcoming” trouble!
It begins with repentance….
First, there must be personal repentance.
Next, there needs to be corporate repentance.
Ø Our church like David is sick, because of sin
Ø The sin that has infected our church like a cancer is deep rooted and has a long history dating back over 20 years.
Ø This sin like all sin is the sin of rebellion against God’s Word and God’s way.
Ø We have allowed a spirit of rebellion and division to exist.
Ø We have allowed members to slander and gossip about other members.
Ø (Some have attacked leaders and sought to destroy ministries, I have felt the sting of these attacks including hate mail, even wishing that I would get cancer.)
Ø The time for repentance has come!
(2 Chronicles 7:13-14 NIV) "When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, {14} if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land."
After Repentance comes commitment…
As a pastor I am asked to fill many roles…
Ø Preacher & theologian
Ø Evangelist & chaplain
Ø Counselor and confidant
It is in this role that I have recently received criticism. I am morally and ethically bound to keep in strictest confidence those things I am told which do not endanger or directly involve others.
As a result I have been criticized and accused of being dishonest concerning the events surrounding Tim Addis’ resignation. This morning I will set the record straight concerning Tim Addis’ leaving and my role. However, I can not break the confidence placed in me in order to give unnecessary details.
Ø On November 14, 1998, Tim Addis came to me in tears confessing that he had an inappropriate contact with a female member of our congregation. He assured me that the contact had not involved sexual relations. He had already confessed his sin to his wife and the Lord and he had confessed his sin to the lady involved. I instructed him to contact the husband of this lady and confess to him and to stay away from her. Within a few days, the lady came to me in repentance and all the evidence indicated that repentance and restoration had taken place.
Ø For the next several months nothing I witnessed gave me reason to believe that the problem had not be completely dealt with.
Ø However on April 13, 1999 the husband came to me and indicated that Tim Addis had been involved in inappropriate conversations with his wife. He assured me that he did not believe that there had been any physical contact and when I asked what I should do, he told me he had approached Tim and told him not to contact his wife again. He wanted to wait to see if Tim would comply with his request.
Ø On May 5, three witnesses met with me in my office. They shared the conversations between Tim Addis and this lady had continued. They offered no evidence or accusation of physical or sexual contact. However, the tone and topic of the conversations were serious enough to warrant action on my part. That evening I met with the husband to confirm the information I had been given.
Ø Acting in accordance with the Biblical instructions of 1 Timothy 5:19 (NKJV) 19Do not receive an accusation against an elder except from two or three witnesses.” And Matthew 18:15 (NKJV) 15“Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. I requested a meeting with Tim Addis his wife and the other couple in my office on the following day.
Ø In that meeting I reminded them of the scriptural standards found in 1 Timothy 3 that calls us to be above reproach. I told them they had left me no alternative but to ask them to step down from their places of service. This request was received in a spirit of humility and repentance. Confession and apologies were made. Having followed the principle of scripture that teaches us to limit confession to the circle of involvement, I believed we had resolved the matter biblically and finally.
Ø In the spirit of Galatians 6:1 I allowed Tim Addis to make his resignation effective on June 6 allowing him and opportunity to seek other employment.
Ø Unfortunately, the vague nature of Tim Addis’ resignation stirred the curiosity of some of our congregation and which led to various rumors as to why he resigned. Poor decisions made by some of the persons involved resulted in a widening of the circle of persons who knew at least some of the details of the situation.
Ø Yet I felt that I was still bound to maintain in confidence the private details of this matter.
Ø In doing so, it was never my intention to deceive or mislead anyone. I believe I have conducted myself according to the highest standards of confidentiality and honesty.
Ø Having reviewed these events with our deacons, they have verbally expressed to me their support. I have asked them to join me on the platform at this time as a public demonstration of their support. Don Rhodes, our deacon chairman would like to share a statement from our deacons concerning this matter.
Ø As a pastor, staff and deacon body we have committed ourselves to uphold the biblical standard in all that we do. We are calling now on you as the church to join us in this commitment.
Ø Let us join together in a commitment and in submission to God’s Word and its principles as we conduct our personal and church lives. I call upon you to stand to your feet as a public demonstration of your commitment.
Ø For those members who did not stand I would remind you of the gravity of your decision. The scripture says…
Amos 3:3 (NKJV) 3Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?
1 John 2:19 (NKJV) 19They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us.
Ø By your refusal to join us in this commitment to God’s Word you have indicated that you are not of us and have communicated your desire to no longer be part of this fellowship.