Seeing God as Good (and Gospel Talk)
Notes
Transcript
Intro: One of the most helpful chapters in the Bible for Christians living in my opinion is Col 3.
Let the word of Christ dwell richly among you, in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another through psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.
Did you notice how Psalms made it in that list?
The Psalms are a means of admonishing and teaching.
The phrase “Word of Christ” can be understood as gospel of Christ—the message of Christ
The Psalms are given to us for gospel talk—teaching, encouraging one another in Christ.
*Context—there is a fun and story behind this Psalm 1 Sam 21:13;
David, in fear of his life, fled to Gath (Philistine territory)
There he grew concerned that too much attention would be on his presence, so he faked insanity before King Achish (Abimelek his royal title)
I love the King Achish’s response: just get David out; do I lack madmen? (1 Sam 21:15)
Are crazy people in short suppl? Get him out.
This is recorded for those who need deliverance, and are open to the surprising way he can deliver.
Hear the invitation to share in joy of one who has been delivered (1-3)
*Again, before we get too far into this series, I want to focus on how the Psalms teach us about Gospel-talk.
Gospel—Christ’s rule; gospel of the Kingdom
Gospel talk and Fear (4-7)
Gospel talk and Fear (4-7)
The gospel touches on fear.
Fear is a massive area of human concern;
“Do not fear” is the most repeated command in Scripture;
Note a couple of things
1. Fear provides an opportunity to seek the Lord (v4)
2. Fear is something God can deliver from “all fears” (4,7)
We can appreciate David’s honesty here—David is a man to be feared: that’s why he had to fake being insane
**Yet he does not put on a macho front saying: “I’m not afraid of anything…that’s for the weak-minded.”
How owns his fear, brings it to God—and chooses to fear him above all.
3. The way to deal with fear is through fear (v9)
The way to be delivered from all fears, is to cultivate and grow in the Fear of God.
Though I’m still working through it, Michael Reeves book Rejoice and Tremble is an excellent treatment.
He convincingly shows that Loving God and Fearing God are not in opposition
Apply: There is what the Puritans used to call Gospel Fear
Apply: The gospel touches on fear.
So we have two alternatives;
Either fear millions of things..things that we really can’t control;
or Fear God who can deliver us from all things.
Gospel talk and Goodness (8-10)
Gospel talk and Goodness (8-10)
The Bible is so rich in metaphors--here is one for foodies in the house
The Psalm directs us to “Taste and see that the Lord is Good”
Taste is a metaphor of experience. The Bible refers to “tasting death”—experience of death (Jn 8:52, Heb 2:9)
It’s a call to experience God as good.
Biblical faith is deeply experiential—not for the spectators
Tied to that experience is a blessing:
“Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him”
Last summer we had or family at the Quail Valley pool when it was clear a massive thunderstorm was headed our way. So we quick packed everything in our van to get ahead of the storm.
As we were leaving there was lightening and thunder already in close proximity. We happened to pass a young boy carrying a fishing pole trying to hurry home. As I passed by I saw the fear all over his face.
So I instinctively did a U turn, pulled beside him and asked if he needed a ride. His parents brought him up well because he said “No thanks”
I pushed again and added, “It’s okay, I have a bunch of kids in the van”
Again, “No thanks”
A few seconds later I saw a female jogger and was close to offering her ride…but did not want to end up on the 6:00 news that there was a middle age-man in Quail valley attempting to abduct children and female joggers.
Apply: The point being: You have to trust the man if you take refuge in the van.
You need to know he is good, and a person of safety and security.
When we take refuge in the Lord, it’s not like getting into the van with a stranger—but one we call Father and who calls us Friend.
The result is radiance (v5)
Apply: Looking to the Lord will affect the way we look
There will be joy written on our face; not gloom and doom.
Apply: The gospel touches on our standard of what is good and where we find true joy.
God’s goodness in the gospel is meant to be experienced, not merely analyzed.
Gospel talk and Repentance (11-14)
Gospel talk and Repentance (11-14)
These verses come to us in the Spirit of wisdom (v11)
Col 3:16 Admonishing one another in all wisdom
Wisdom teaches us to walk in the way that is good—even to enjoy a long, good life (v12)
Gospel talk will always touch on repentance
First, it assumes repentance needs to be taught through the fear of the Lord (11)
*growing in the right fear of the Lord is how we grow in repentance
Second, repentance can be understood in these words (13-14)
“keeping, turning; doing, seeking, pursuing”
--Keep your tongue from evil
--Turn from evil
Repentance is what I avoid...but that’s only half the equation
Some people think that repentance is only a STOP THIS
…again that is not the whole picture
repentance is also SEEK THIS
Let love be without hypocrisy. Detest evil; cling to what is good.
**I’ve seen a lot of Christians struggle with besetting sin…because they do not put the focus on what to pursue
Gospel talk teaches us how to walk and talk in light of new life in Christ
Gospel talk and Affliction (15-22)
Gospel talk and Affliction (15-22)
This is a Psalm for the afflicted
v19 sets expectations: Many are the afflictions of the righteous
Why? [4 Reasons Christians will face many afflictions]
1) New enemies seen and unseen.
2) Sin will be a serious thing you want out of your life-- “Irreconcilable war”
3) More relationship (the church) that can get messy
4) A good heavenly Father will bring things into our lives to refine us. God disciplines those he loves
Sometimes a loving father may impose a standard that another family does not, the kids will protest…but so and so is allowed_____
The fitting reply: I’m not their dad.
These chores will do you good. This punishment will teach you something.
Affliction is so common that we need to be ready for some gospel-talk
We can boil this down to 2 ideas
In affliction, remember
God cares
(v15) His eyes and ears are attentive. The metaphor shows us that God pays attention.
(V17) He helps and delivers
(v18) He is near
Apply: Friends, some of you in here the season from 2020-21 you’ve seen many afflictions. Maybe the hardest ever in your life.
The gospel-talk from a friend is that God cares…he’s not left or abandoned you.
2. Jesus knows
In affliction, remember that Jesus knows.
A few years back the so-called reality show Undercover Boss was a hit; people gravitated toward it because they want to see the guy at the top know what it’s like to be the rank and file worker
We dislike elitist detachment
**Elitist detachment does not fit the narrative of our Savior’s life—instead he is a man of sorrows.
V20 is quoted in John Ch 19; it was fulfilled immediately after Jesus died.
Soldiers would break the leg bones so the victim of a crucifixion would suffocate to death—being unable to push themselves up to breathe
But Jesus had died before that point
For these things took place that the Scripture might be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken.”
A few things are going on here.
First, Jesus is the righteous sufferer who God cares for
God did not spare his son—or keep him from pain…yet he continued to care for him.
Apply: Jesus knows suffering, agonizing....yet trusting that God cares.
In that sense, he is like the big brother who can say to us: “ I know what is like to be afflicted, but still know that the Father cares”
Secondly, we have OT Passover symbolism and foreshadowing
It shall be eaten in one house; you shall not take any of the flesh outside the house, and you shall not break any of its bones.
The NT says that Jesus is the Passover Lamb
Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.
Passover was the major festival of deliverance in the OT—so we have Jesus, the Passover Lamb—whose bones are preserved to prepare for the resurrection.....which is God’s surprising deliverance for God’s Son…and for us!
That’s what Gospel talk is about
**The main deliverance in my life is based on what God has delivered me from and the cross is the symbol of that;
“Oh magnify the Lord with me....let us exalt his name together!”
“Taste and see that the Lord is good!”
Conclusion
One interesting detail about this Psalm is that the Hebrew word tasted in v8 is the same root word used to describe David’s change. The Heb David changed is taste
We know that people’s taste can change; so can their lives.
Also, People can fake a change, or it can be genuine.
Q: Has your taste been changed by the Lord?
The gospel is meant to be life changing---down to our very senses.
**The problem with so much American Christianity is that people do the church thing, but their lives never change
Gospel: The first call today is to those whose taste needs to change.
You know your life is in desperate need of change…and it can only come as you give yourself to the Lord Jesus…who gave himself for sinners like you and me.
Second—what about those who have tasted? Those who have believed?
The call is to press into continued growth in that gospel--
Peter also knew Psalms are for gospel talk. He applies a verse from our Ps 34 to the call for gospel living:
So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.
Tasting the Lord’s goodness through the gospel, means that we lose the taste of things that maybe once tasted sweet. e.g. malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, slander
May we taste the goodness of knowing Christ; may we savor the sweetness of the gospel that transforms!