Throughout the history of Israel, God has remained Faithful to the Covenant and promise He made to Abraham to Preserve Abraham's descendants. Even though at times we see the Lord mention to start over...Even though Moses would have still been a descendant of Abraham thus still remaining faithful to His promise.
The only reason Israel remains as a Nation to this day is a result of this promise to Preserve His People. Now this promise is not only now… for the Jews but also to believing Gentiles. (Gal 3:7-9 NKJV) Therefore know that [only] those who are of faith are sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, [saying], "In you all the nations shall be blessed." So then those who [are] of faith are blessed with believing Abraham.
VII. The Preservation of God’s People. (vs. 17-22)
A. A Righteous Cry (17) -- this truth has been repeated throughout this Psalm (4,6,15) as well as repeated here.
The Cry -- Notice the exclusivity -- It’s the Righteous Cry -- as Abraham “believed” God and it was accounted to him for Righteousness…. So also do we who believe in Jesus Christ are accounted as “righteous” by faith. The Point being when you Call on the Lord...He Hears!
The Catch -- Deliver nä·tsal' -- to snatch away, deliver, rescue, save, escape.
The Promise is that of deliverance for those Righteous who cry out. What is not included is the time frame in which this happens.
The Rapture of the Church -- We don’t know when it’s going to happen...we are just assured that it will happen. There is a catching away, a rescue….the “Great Escape!”
Make no doubt….this will be a total deliverance from ALL our Troubles! What a promise! What a glorious Deliverance.
B. A Ruptured Heart (18) I love this passage is lets me know that when I’m at my worst...God is at His BEST!
When your heart is truly broken, and everyone has forsaken you. It breaks the Heart of God when His child's heart is broken.
(Psa 27:10 NKJV) When my father and my mother forsake me, Then the LORD will take care of me.
Blessings in Brokenness! -- From Spurgeon's Notes.
1. A broken heart is acceptable and well pleasing to God, "A broken and a contrite heart, O God thou wilt not despise." Psa 51:17.
2. It makes up many defects in your service and duties, "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit." Psa 51:17.
3. It makes the soul a fit receptacle for God to dwell in, "For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones." Isa 57:15.
4. It brings God near to men, "The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart, and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit." Psa 34:18. And,
6. It puts you in the right road to heaven, where all your wounds and bruises will be cured; for there is a tree Rev 22:2 the leaves whereof are for the healing of the nations; there is no complaining there of wounds or bruises, but all are perfectly healed.
C. A Rocky Road (19-20) My Mother before She died at 47 wrote a Song that I completed after she was dead. “When this rocky road of life turns to Gold”
In this Life we have many afflictions, many hardships. Many Tragedies
(Act 14:22 NKJV) …."We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God."
As Great as some of them are...none of them are GREATERS THAN GOD’S POWER TO DELIVER US FROM THEM.
“Sticks and Stones my break my bones but words will never hurt me” the opposite is really true...We can recover from broken bones, but recovering from hurtful words can only be done through “healing words”
Note the Companion Psalm to this verse:
(Psa 107:19-21 NKJV) Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, [And] He saved them out of their distresses. He sent His word and healed them, And delivered [them] from their destructions. Oh, that [men] would give thanks to the LORD [for] His goodness, And [for] His wonderful works to the children of men!
Final note about this verse: It is Messianc psalms and prophetic in nature.
It points to the Crucifixion of Christ! The Pharisees made a request to break the legs of those who had been crucified to speed of the process so that Most Holy Sabbath Passover could be observed.
Crucifixion is a death of asphyxiation -- it was a slow painful death, hanging there ones body slouched down and thus you couldn't get air, so the person would have to use their legs to push up to get another breath of air. Breaking the legs would prevent that, thus speeding up the process. However when they came to Jesus he was already dead...thus fulfilling this prophecy “He guards all his bones; not one of them is broken.”
D. A Redeeming Rescuer (21-22)
1. Justice (21) -- It may seem that Evil is prevailing in this world we live it. The Wicked prosper and the righteous suffer -- But the Eyes; Ears and the Face of the Lord are keeping accurate books and the defeat of Evil will be realized. And those who hate the righteous will be eternally condemned.
Though Faith those of us who believe the Justice of God fell upon Jesus; the Evil and condemnation that should have been mine; the punishment meant for me...was poured out on Him.
(Rom 8:1-4 NKJV) [There is] therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God [did] by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
2. Justification (22) “Just as if I never Sinned”
He Redeems the soul of His Servants. -- David in the Midst of Madness finds Mirth (Joy, Hope, Confidence, Assurance) in that while those around him are seeking his life...He never loses Faith and Confidence that God ALWAYS COMES THROUGH!
(Rom 10:11 NKJV) For the Scripture says, "Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame."
My Prayer is that this Psalms will become one of your favorites, and that you will continue to lean on it’s many promises and let it comfort you in this trying time we find ourselves in, and in the difficult times that are yet to come.
