GOODNESS AND MERCY FOREVER
PSALM 23:6
INTRODUCTION:
A LITTLE BOY WAS ASKED ONE DAY IF HE KNEW WHERE THE LORD LIVED? HE SAID, YES! THE LORD LIVES IN OUR BATHROOM!” THE SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER ASKED HIM, “WHATEVER MAKES YOU THINK THAT?” THE CHILD RESPONDED, “WELL EVERY SUNDAY MORNING I HEAR DADDY BANGING ON THE BATHROOM DOOR AND HOLLERING, ‘GOOD LORD! ARE YOU STILL IN THERE!’
THERE HAVE BEEN SOME UNUSUAL PREACHERS IN THE BIBLE. IN THE OLD TESTAMENT FOR EXAMPLE, A SERMON WAS PREACHED ONE TIME BY A DONKEY TO A MAN NAMED BALAAM. KNOWING SOME OF THE LIBERAL TEACHING THAT’S INFECTING OUR CONVENTION NOW, I THINK I’D RATHER HEAR THE DONKEY THAN SOME OF THESE GUYS.
IN THE NEW TESTAMENT A ROOSTER PREACHED A SERMON TO SIMON PETER. WHEN PETER SAID HE WOULD NOT DENY HIM, THE CROWING ROOSTER PREACHED A SERMON OF PETER’S DENIAL.
HERE IN PSALM 23 WE HAVE A SERMON THAT IS PREACHED BY A SHEEP. KING DAVID PLACED HIMSELF IN THE ROLE OF A SHEEP, TO ALLOW US TO LOOK AT CHRISTIANITY THOUGH THE EYES OF A SHEEP AS THEY LOOK ON THE SHEPHERD.
HE KNEW GOD TO BE A RESTORER OF HIS SOUL IN TIMES OF BROKENNESS, AND ONE THAT LED HIM IN RIGHTEOUS PATHWAYS, FOR HIS NAMES SAKE. HE KNEW HIM TO BE A PROTECTOR, THAT EVEN WHEN HE WENT INTO THE LOW VALLEY OF DEATH HE KNEW HE HAD NOTHING TO FEAR BECAUSE THE LORD WAS CERTAINLY WITH HIM, WITH A ROD AND A STAFF. GOD WAS EVEN PREPARING TABLES TO FEAST OFF OF RIGHT IN THE PRESENCE OF HIS ENEMIES, AS IF THERE WAS ALREADY A CERTAINTY TO VICTORY. HE KNEW GOD TO BE ONE THAT ANOINTED HIM, CAUSING HIS CUP OF JOY TO OVERFLOW.
GOD HAD PROVEN TO HIM OVER AND OVER THAT HE WILL BE ANYTHING YOU NEED, ANY MOMENT, ANY TIME, FOR ANY REASON! HE IS OUR GOD, HE IS OUR SHEPHERD, AND AS LONG AS YOU ARE FOLLOWING HIM, YOU WILL NEVER WANT FOR ANYTHING!
THIS LAST VERSE HAS THREE IMPORTANT AREAS TO REMEMBER, AND WE CAN SEE THESE AREAS IN THREE WORDS: GOODNESS, MERCY, AND FOREVER. THEY ARE PREFACED BY A FOURTH IMPORTANT WORD IN THE VERSE, SURELY. TONIGHT WE WILL LOOK AT THESE FOUR WORDS AND HOW THEY APPLY TO US.
THE VERSE BEGINS WITH THE WORD “SURELY”. THERE IS A LOT IN THIS WORD. THIS WORD IS A WORD OF AFFIRMATION. IT IS A VERBAL EXCLAMATION POINT. HE IS SPEAKING WITH A VOICE OF AUTHORITY HERE.
WE OFTEN USE THIS WORD MUCH THE SAME WAY AS WE COMMUNICATE. HOW OFTEN HAVE YOU HEARD THE EXPRESSION “SURELY, YOU DON’T MEAN THAT!”, OR “THAT SURE WAS AN EMOTIONAL GAME.” IT’S A WORD THAT SPEAKS WITH CERTAINLY, NOT JUST A POSSIBILITY.
HUMANITY FEARS THE FUTURE, BECAUSE WE HAVE NO SECURITY IN IT. EVENTS WILL CHANGE, PEOPLE CHANGE, THE WORLD CHANGES, AND WE WILL ALWAYS SEE CHANGE. HUMANITY DOES NOT KNOW THE GOD OF THE BIBLE.
TWO BUSINESSMEN WERE TRAVELLING TOGETHER ON AN AIRPLANE. ONE WAS TAKING A NAP AND THE OTHER WAS BUSY WORKING ON A CROSSWORD PUZZLE. HE NUDGED HIS NAPPING FRIEND AND ASKED, “WHAT IS A WORD WITH THREE LETTERS, WITH THE LETTER “O” IN THE MIDDLE, MEANING MAN’S BEST FRIEND? HIS FRIEND MUMBLED “DOG”. AFTER WORKING THE PUZZLE A BIT MORE HE DISCOVERED “DOG” DIDN’T FIT, BECAUSE THE LAST LETTER IN THE WORD WAS A “D”. NOW CAN YOU GUESS THE WORD. EVEN WITH THE TWO LETTERS “OD” IN A THREE LETTER WORD DESCRIBING MAN’S BEST FRIEND, THEY NEVER DID THINK OF THE FIRST LETTER AS BEING “G” AND THE WORD BEING GOD.
BUT WE AS CHRISTIANS FACE THE WORLD WITH ASSURANCE. YES CIRCUMSTANCES WILL CHANGE, BUT WE FACE THE FUTURE WITH A CLAM AND CERTAIN ASSURANCE THAT GOD WILL NOT CHANGE. BECAUSE GOD DOES NOT CHANGE, NEITHER DO HIS PROMISES, AND DAVID IS ABLE TO MAKE THE GREAT CLAIMS OF THE SIXTH VERSE” GOODNESS AND LOVE WILL FOLLOW ME ALL THE DAYS OF MY LIFE, AND I WILL (NOT MIGHT) DWELL IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD FOREVER.
INDEED GOD IS OUR ONLY SECURITY.
PSALM 91:11-12:
For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; 12 they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
WITH A SENSE OF SECURITY AND CERTAINESS THAT THE WORD “SURELY” BRINGS LET US LOOK AT THE THREE THINGS THAT THIS VERSE SAYS IS THE INHERITANCE OF THE CHRISTIAN.
POINT ONE: GOODNESS
SOMEONE HAS ONCE REFERRED TO GOODNESS AND MERCY IN THIS VERSE AS BEING THE SHEPHERD’S SHEEPDOGS. THIS IS A GOOD ANALOGY. SHEEPDOGS DON’T CHASE THE SHEEP TO ATTACK THE SHEEP. SHEEPDOGS HELP KEEP THE SHEEP IN THE FOLD, GUIDE US TO THE NEXT PASTURE, AND SCARE OF PREDATORS.
GOD DOES PROMISE US GOODNESS IN OUR LIVES IF WE ARE TRUE TO HIM.
ROMANS 8:28: And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
NOTE THE CONDITIONS THAT ARE GIVEN TO US IN THIS VERSE. FIRST GOD IS WORKING FOR OUR GOOD IN ALL THINGS, IF WE ARE WALKING WITH HIM. THIS VERSE IS VERY CLEAR THAT GOD’S GOODNESS IS NOT FOR THE NON-BELIEVER.
PSALM 31:19: How great is your goodness, which you have stored up for those
who fear You, which you bestow in the sight of men on those who take refuge in
you.
GOD CARES FOR US, PROTECTS US, AND WATCHES OVER US. GOD DESIRES TO SEE GOODNESS IN OUR LIVES, AND A LOT OF TIMES WHEN THIS DOESN’T HAPPEN IT’S BECAUSE OF SIN IN OUR LIVES, OR WE ARE WALKING CONTRARY TO HIS NATURAL LAWS.
GOODNESS IS THERE TO KEEP US FROM STRAYING. IT IS OUR REWARD FOR WALKING WITH CHRIST AND NOT STRAYING.
POINT TWO: MERCY
THE SECOND OF THE TWO SHEEPDOGS MENTIONED IS MERCY. MERCY CAN BE DEFINED AS GOD’S PITY ON YOU AND ME. IT IS AN ASPECT OF GOD’S LOVE THAT CAUSES HIM TO HELP US. IT’S THE REASON GOD KEEPS GETTING US OUT OF MESSES WE DRAG OURSELVES INTO, WHY IN OUR CARNAL STATE GOD KEEPS LOVING US. WE CAN THANK GOD HE GRANTS US MERCY INSTEAD OF JUSTICE.
GOD SHOWS MERCY TO THOSE WHO HAVE BROKEN THE LAW.
DANIEL 9:9: The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him;
MERCY IS EXTENDED BEYOND THE PUNISHMENT THAT IS WITHHELD.
EPHESIANS 2:4-6:
But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,
MERCY IS EXTENDED TO CIRCUMSTANCES BEYOND INDIVIDUAL’S CONTROL
MATTHEW 9:27-31:
As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, calling out, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!” 28 When he had gone indoors, the blind men came to him, and he asked them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” “Yes, Lord,” they replied. 29 Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith will it be done to you”; 30 and their sight was restored. Jesus warned them sternly, “See that no one knows about this.” 31 But they went out and spread the news about him all over that region.
MERCY IS SHOWN SO THAT WE CAN BE MERCIFUL TO OTHERS.
MATTHEW 5:7: Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
James 1:27: Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
ALSO NOTE THE LENGTH OF TIME THAT THESE TWO SHEEPDOGS WILL BE WITH US. THE SCRIPTURE STATES “ALL THE DAYS OF MY LIFE.” AS SHEEP WE WILL GO THROUGH MANY DIFFERENT TYPES OF DAYS: DISCOURAGING DAYS
DISTRESSING DAYS
DANGEROUS DAYS
IN ALL THESE DAYS GOD PROMISES MERCY FOR ALL MY FAILURES AND GOODNESS FOR ALL MY NEEDS – THAT IS VICTORY.
POINT THREE: FOREVER
THERE IS A BLUEGRASS GOSPEL SONG THAT SAYS:
THIS WORLD IS NOT MY HOME, I’M JUST A PASSING THROUGH
MY TREASURES ARE LAID UP, SOMEWHERE BEYOND THE BLUE
THE ANGELS BECKON ME, TO HEAVEN’S GOLDEN SHORE
AND I CAN’T FEEL AT HOME IN THIS WORLD ANYMORE.
DAVID KNEW THIS SENTIMENT IN HIS HEART AS WELL. HE WAS LONGING TO DWELL IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD. DAVID WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO HEAVEN.
THERE WAS A PREACHER WHO HAD TO FLY A LOT. HE SAID WHENEVER HE CHECKED HIS BAGGAGE, HE WAS ASKED MANY TIMES, WHAT IS YOUR FINAL DESTINATION? HE SAID, “IT REALLY SHAKES THEM UP WHEN HE SAYS, HEAVEN.”
NOW I WANT YOU TO TURN WITH ME TO 2 CORINTHIANS 5:1
2 CORINTHIANS 5:1: Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.
NOW IN THIS PASSAGE TWO DWELLING PLACES ARE MENTIONED, A “TENT’ AND A “BUILDING.” WHEN PAUL REFERS TO THE TENT HE IS REFERING TO OUR PHYSICAL BODY. A TENT IS A TEMPORARY STRUCTURE USED FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. A BUILDING IS A DWELLING OF PERMANENCE. YOU CAN’T TAKE IT DOWN FOLD IT UP AND PUT IT IN THE TRUNK.
IN HEAVEN IT WILL NOT BE THIS WAY. WE’LL HAVE A HOME PREPARED FOR US BY THE MASTER CARPENTER. WE WILL LIVE THE BLEST LIFE OF THE AGES. PAUL REALIZED THIS WHEN HE SAID:
PHILIPPIANS 1:21: For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
WE WILL GAIN A NUMBER OF THINGS IN OUR ETERNAL HOME.
BLESSING ONE: WE WILL GAIN AN INCREDIBLE LIFE: IN THIS PRESENT BODY WE ARE SUBJECT TO THE DISAPPOINTMENTS OF LIFE. WE ARE SUBJECT TO THE GROWING AS WELL AS THE AGING PROCESS OF LIFE. WE CAN FEEL PLEASURE OR PAIN, SICKNESS OR HEALTH. WHEN WE GET TO HEAVEN IT WILL NOT BE THAT WAY.
REVELATION 21:4: He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
BLESSING TWO: WE GAIN AN ETERNAL LIFE; IN HEAVEN THERE IS NO AGING PROCESS OR DEATH. WE WILL LIVE FOREVER. CONSIDER THE LAST PHRASE OF JOHN 3:16:
JOHN 3:16: For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
BLESSING 3: WE GAIN A GLORIOUS HOME: NO MATTER HOW BEAUTIFUL AND ELABORATE YOUR HOME MAY BE IN THIS WORLD, IT IS NOTHING COMPARED WITH THE HOME GOD HAS PREPARED FOR US.
JOHN 14:1-3:
Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.
BLESSING 4: WE GAIN PERFECTION: THE BIBLE TEACHES THAT WE “BECOME JUST LIKE CHRIST”. I BELIEVE THIS MEANS THAT WE WILL SHARE THOSE QUALITIES WITH CHRIST THAT WERE ONCE TAINTED BY THE CURSE OF THE SIN NATURE.
1 JOHN 3:2: Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.
