God's Call of the Righteous (8) God's Promises
“God's Call of the Righteous”
(Part 8)
GOD’S PROMISES
PSALM 37
We are sharing the message “God’s Call of the Righteous” as brought forth in Psalm 37.
If you recall, Psalm literally means “plucking the strings of a harp.” They convey in words the inner most feelings of our hearts expression. It is our heart “playing” to the Lord our prayers, our concerns, our faith, and our praise.
Psalm 37 is an acrostic poem, the stanzas of which begin with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet. (Aleph, Bet, Gimmel, etc.)
We stated it is: The ABC’s of God’s promise to the righteous.
I. Can you recall the six elements essential for bringing peace to the believer and bringing about God’s promises?
1. Do not FRET.
2. TRUST in the LORD.
3. DELIGHT yourself in the LORD.
4. COMMIT our WAY to the LORD.
5. REST in the LORD.
6. WAIT PATIENTLY on the LORD.
We’ve shared the message “Do not Fret,” concluding that we have peace when we understand God is in control and we do not “fret.” Then we shared knowing that God is in control our part is to “Trust in the Lord.” And then God’s call to the righteous is for us to “Delight ourselves in the Lord.” Then we shared “Commit your way to the Lord.” And then last week “Rest in the Lord.” The sixth element we shared of God’s ABC’s of His promise to the righteous was to “Wait patiently on the Lord.” Today the focus is if we do these things then the promises of God remain for us.
Hebrews 10:36 (NKJV)
For you have need of endurance (patience), so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise:
In other words after you have done the will of God you will receive the promise. As you don’t give into fretting, as you put your trust in the Lord, as you delight yourself in the Lord, as you commit your way, as you rest and as wait on the Lord you will receive the promise.
Some people try to go around this process, try to short change the process. Maybe they do two or three points of the process. But the promise is only assured to those who go all the way, not just part or some of the way, but all the way.
Are you willing to go all the way to receive the promise?
Have you ever heard the story of Onan? He was to bring forth the promise but he interrupted the completion of his sexual relation with his wife and it displeased God and God struck him dead.
Genesis 38:1-30 (NKJV)
It came to pass at that time that Judah departed from his brothers, and visited a certain Adullamite whose name was Hirah. 2And Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite whose name was Shua, and he married her and went in to her. 3So she conceived and bore a son, and he called his name Er. 4She conceived again and bore a son, and she called his name Onan. 5And she conceived yet again and bore a son, and called his name Shelah. He was at Chezib when she bore him. 6Then Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, and her name was Tamar. 7But Er, Judah's firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the Lord, and the Lord killed him. 8And Judah said to Onan, "Go in to your brother's wife and marry her, and raise up an heir to your brother." 9But Onan knew that the heir would not be his; and it came to pass, when he went in to his brother's wife, that he emitted on the ground, lest he should give an heir to his brother. 10And the thing which he did displeased the Lord; therefore He killed him also. 11Then Judah said to Tamar his daughter-in-law, "Remain a widow in your father's house till my son Shelah is grown." For he said, "Lest he also die like his brothers." And Tamar went and dwelt in her father's house.
12Now in the process of time the daughter of Shua, Judah's wife, died; and Judah was comforted, and went up to his sheepshearers at Timnah, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite. 13And it was told Tamar, saying, "Look, your father-in-law is going up to Timnah to shear his sheep." 14So she took off her widow's garments, covered herself with a veil and wrapped herself, and sat in an open place which was on the way to Timnah; for she saw that Shelah was grown, and she was not given to him as a wife. 15When Judah saw her, he thought she was a harlot, because she had covered her face. 16Then he turned to her by the way, and said, "Please let me come in to you"; for he did not know that she was his daughter-in-law. So she said, "What will you give me, that you may come in to me?" 17And he said, "I will send a young goat from the flock." So she said, "Will you give me a pledge till you send it?" 18Then he said, "What pledge shall I give you?" So she said, "Your signet and cord, and your staff that is in your hand." Then he gave them to her, and went in to her, and she conceived by him. 19So she arose and went away, and laid aside her veil and put on the garments of her widowhood. 20And Judah sent the young goat by the hand of his friend the Adullamite, to receive his pledge from the woman's hand, but he did not find her. 21Then he asked the men of that place, saying, "Where is the harlot who was openly by the roadside?" And they said, "There was no harlot in this place." 22So he returned to Judah and said, "I cannot find her. Also, the men of the place said there was no harlot in this place." 23Then Judah said, "Let her take them for herself, lest we be shamed; for I sent this young goat and you have not found her."
24And it came to pass, about three months after, that Judah was told, saying, "Tamar your daughter-in-law has played the harlot; furthermore she is with child by harlotry." So Judah said, "Bring her out and let her be burned!" 25When she was brought out, she sent to her father-in-law, saying, "By the man to whom these belong, I am with child." And she said, "Please determine whose these are--the signet and cord, and staff." 26So Judah acknowledged them and said, "She has been more righteous than I, because I did not give her to Shelah my son." And he never knew her again.
27Now it came to pass, at the time for giving birth, that behold, twins were in her womb. 28And so it was, when she was giving birth, that the one put out his hand; and the midwife took a scarlet thread and bound it on his hand, saying, "This one came out first." 29Then it happened, as he drew back his hand, that his brother came out unexpectedly; and she said, "How did you break through? This breach be upon you!" Therefore his name was called Perez. 30Afterward his brother came out who had the scarlet thread on his hand. And his name was called Zerah.
From Perez came David. David’s gggggggrandson was Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary. Thus establishing the legal lineage of Jesus.
Also from Perez, through David came the gggggggrandson Heli who was the father of Mary the mother of Jesus establishing the blood lineage of Jesus.
So Onan by his disobedience forfeited the right to become part of the lineage of the Messiah. Like Esau he gave up the birthright. Thereby trying to negate the promise of God. But God will fulfill His Word, with or without you.
Some of you are disrupting the process and never getting pregnant with God’s promise or you’re aborting the promise before it has developed to the point of completion.
II. You cannot take a short cut to God’s PROMISES.
God sets before you a blessing and a curse – He admonishes us to choose the Blessing. God gives you the ability to choose, the choice is yours.
III. Psalm 37 gives a PROMISE to BELIEVERS and a CURSE to EVILDOERS.
To walk in the blessing what is the choice the believer must make?
Psalm 37 is very clear.
Don’t Fret, Trust, Do Good, Delight, Commit, Rest, Wait, Cease from Anger, Forsake Wrath, Be Content, Depart from Evil, Speak Wisdom, Speak Justice, Keep God’s Way.
Proverbs 3:1-10 (NKJV)
My son, do not forget my law, but let your heart keep my commands; 2for length of days and long life and peace they will add to you.
3Let not mercy and truth forsake you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart, 4and so find favor and high esteem in the sight of God and man.
5Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; 6in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.
7Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and depart from evil. 8It will be health to your flesh, and strength to your bones.
9Honor the Lord with your possessions, and with the firstfruits of all your increase; 10so your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine.
But for those who are wicked, the evildoers, those who disobey God’s Word a curse.
The future of those who disobey God is bleak, in fact they have no future but the righteous have the promises of God.
IV. The FUTURE of the Believer is PEACE.
The curse of the wicked:
Psalm 37:1-40 (NKJV)
v. 1 - 2
the workers of iniquity. 2For they shall soon be cut down like the grass,
And wither as the green herb.
v. 9
evildoers shall be cut off;
v. 10
yet a little while and the wicked shall be no more; indeed, you will look carefully for his place, but it shall be no more.
v. 13
The Lord laughs at him (the wicked), for He sees that his day is coming.
v. 14 - 15
The wicked have drawn the sword and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, to slay those who are of upright conduct. 15Their sword shall enter their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.
What they had planned for others will be their own recompense.
v. 17
the arms of the wicked shall be broken,
v. 20
the wicked shall perish; and the enemies of the Lord, like the splendor of the meadows, shall vanish. into smoke they shall vanish away.
v. 22
But those cursed by Him shall be cut off.
v. 28
the descendants of the wicked shall be cut off.
v. 32, 34
32The wicked watches the righteous, and seeks to slay him.
34When the wicked are cut off, you shall see it.
v. 35 - 36
35I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a native green tree. 36Yet he passed away, and behold, he was no more; indeed I sought him, but he could not be found.
v. 38
the transgressors shall be destroyed together; the future of the wicked shall be cut off.
Not a very bright future. The believer must maintain his hope and trust in the Lord.
V. In a GENERATION of evil doers our HOPE and TRUST is in the Lord.
But the hope and the future of the believer is optimistic, and truly unbelievable.
1 Corinthians 2:9-10 (NKJV)
But as it is written:
"Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him."
10But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.
Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)
For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Jeremiah 31:17 (NIV)
So there is hope for your future,” declares the Lord. "Your children will return to their own land.
The unrighteous are cursed with a curse but the faithful are blessed with a blessing.
Look at the blessings in Psalm 37:
Psalm 37:1-40 (NKJV)
v. 4
He shall give you the desires of your heart.
v. 5 - 6
He shall bring it to pass.
6He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light,
and your justice as the noonday.
v. 9
But those who wait on the Lord, they shall inherit the earth.
v. 11
the meek shall inherit the earth, and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
v. 17
the Lord upholds the righteous.
v. 18 - 19
The Lord knows the days of the upright, and their inheritance shall be forever. 19They shall not be ashamed in the evil time, and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.
v. 21 - 22
The wicked borrows and does not repay, but the righteous shows mercy and gives. 22For those blessed by Him shall inherit the earth,
Financail blessing when you need to borrow God gives you the ability to repay your debt.
v. 23 - 26
The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in his way. 24Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; For the Lord upholds him with His hand.
25I have been young, and now am old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his descendants begging bread. 26He is ever merciful, and lends; and his descendants are blessed.
v. 28
the Lord loves justice, and does not forsake His saints; they are preserved forever,
v. 29
The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell in it forever.
v. 30 - 31
The mouth of the righteous speaks wisdom, and his tongue talks of justice.
31The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.
v. 32 - 33
The wicked watches the righteous, and seeks to slay him. 33The Lord will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged.
v. 34
34Wait on the Lord, and keep His way, and He shall exalt you to inherit the land; when the wicked are cut off, you shall see it.
v. 37
Mark the blameless man, and observe the upright; for the future of that man is peace.
v. 39 - 40
But the salvation of the righteous is from the Lord; He is their strength in the time of trouble.
40And the Lord shall help them and deliver them; He shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in Him.
What do you notice? There are more blessings than curses.
But the greatest promise is:
VI. The greatest PROMISE to the Righteous is SALVATION, strength, and DELIVERANCE.
So before you is the blessing and the curse. You decide. You make the decision, the choice for your future. There is God’s way and your way. Psalm 37 declares God’s Way, I would urge you for your hope and future choose God’s Way.
WORKSHEET
“God’s Call of the Righteous”
(Part 8)
GOD’S PROMISES
PSALM 37
I. Can you recall the six elements essential for bringing peace to the believer and bringing about God’s promises?
1. Do not ___________.
2. ________________ in the ____________.
3. __________________ yourself in the _____________.
4. _____________ your _________ to the ______________.
5. _____________ in the _______________.
6. __________ _____________ on the ____________.
II. You cannot take a _______ ______ to God’s ___________.
III. Psalm 37 gives a _______________ to __________________
and a ______________ to __________________.
IV. The ______________ of the Believer is ________________.
V. In a __________________ of evildoers our ______________
and _____________ is in the Lord.
VI. The greatest ___________ to the Righteous is
_______________, strength, and _____________________.
ANSWER KEY
“God’s Call of the Righteous”
(Part 8)
GOD’S PROMISES
PSALM 37
I. Can you recall the six elements essential for bringing peace to the believer and bringing about God’s promises?
1. Do not FRET.
2. TRUST in the LORD.
3. DELIGHT yourself in the LORD.
4. COMMIT your WAY to the LORD.
5. REST in the LORD.
6. WAIT PATIENTLY on the LORD.
II. You cannot take a SHORT CUT to God’s PROMISES.
III. Psalm 37 gives a PROMISE to BELIEVERS and a CURSE to EVILDOERS.
IV. The FUTURE of the Believer is PEACE.
V. In a GENERATION of evildoers our HOPE and TRUST is in the Lord.
VI. The greatest PROMISE to the Righteous is SALVATION, strength, and DELIVERANCE.