The superscription placed upon this Psalm, that it was written in a very trying season of David’s life…
A time when… When he pretended to be insane before Abimelek, who drove him away, and he left.
And we looked in brief as to why he pretended to be insane before Abimelek…the scripture tells us that his father in law, King Saul was trying to kill him, and so…he fled in fear of Saul…on two different occasions Saul threw his spear at him trying to pin him to the wall the scripture says, on the second attempt the bible says that…
1 Samuel 21: 10 That day David fled from Saul and went to Achish king of Gath. ( Gath – Goliath’s hometown!)
1 Samuel 21:11 But the servants of Achish said to him, “Isn’t this David, the king of the land? Isn’t he the one they sing about in their dances: “‘Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands’?”
He had just slain their champion Goliath, and rallied the troops of Israel to slaughter the entire Philistine army!
1 Samuel 21:12 David took these words to heart and was very much afraid of Achish king of Gath. 13 So he pretended to be insane in their presence; and while he was in their hands he acted like a madman, making marks on the doors of the gate and letting saliva run down his beard. 14 Achish said to his servants, “Look at the man! He is insane! Why bring him to me? 15 Am I so short of madmen that you have to bring this fellow here to carry on like this in front of me? Must this man come into my house?”
1 Samuel 22:1 David left Gath and escaped to the cave of Adullam. When his brothers and his father’s household heard about it, they went down to him there. 2 All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around him, and he became their commander. About four hundred men were with him.
And so last week I metaphorically referred to the cave of Adullam as a cavern of fear, because it was fear, fear of losing his life…that led him into that cave and it was distress, debt, and discontentment that led 400 others to join him in that cave of Adullam.
Well what do you do when you holed up in a cave because of fear?
Well last week we saw that David who wrote this Psalm during this episode of his life:
1. Praised
a) He get’s out his journal (Book of Psalms) and he writes…
Psalm 34:1a 1 I will extol the Lord at all times; NIV
Psalm 34:1a I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually…NKJV
Psalm 34:1b on my lips.-NIV
Psalm 34:1b in my mouth.-NKJV
i. He Praised Personally – I will…
ii. He Praised Continually – Bless the Lord at all times…
iii. He Praised Audibly – His praise shall continually be in my mouth!
b) And he encouraged others to do so..
2. Encouraged other's to do so
Psalm 34:2a I will glory in the Lord;
Psalm 34:2b let the afflicted hear and rejoice…
Psalm 34:3 Glorify the Lord with me;[COME ON] let us exalt his name together.
3. Prayed
Psalm 34:4a I sought the Lord, and he answered me;
Psalm 34:4b he delivered me from all my fears.
a) Not problems – fears!
b) Purpose Behind Your Problems
i. God uses problems to DIRECT you - Sometimes God must light a fire under you to get you moving. Problems often point us in a new direction and motivate us to change
ii. God uses problems to INSPECT you - People are like teabags if you want to know what's inside them, just drop them into hot water!
iii. God uses problems to CORRECT you - Some lessons we learn only through pain and failure.
iv. God uses problems to PROTECT you - A problem can be a blessing in disguise if it prevents you from being harmed by something more serious.
3. Perspective ( He gained a new perspective in his cave!)
Psalm 34:5a Those who look to him are radiant;
Psalm 34:5b their faces are never covered with shame.
a) Reason?
4. Pardoned?
a) Possibility?
i. Cave could have been one of condemnation!
1 Samuel 22: 9 But Doeg the Edomite, who was standing with Saul’s officials, said, “I saw the son of Jesse come to Ahimelek son of Ahitub at Nob. 10 Ahimelek inquired of the Lord for him; he also gave him provisions and the sword of Goliath the Philistine.” 11 Then the king sent for the priest Ahimelek son of Ahitub and all the men of his family, who were the priests at Nob, and they all came to the king. 12 Saul said, “Listen now, son of Ahitub.” “Yes, my lord,” he answered. 13 Saul said to him, “Why have you conspired against me, you and the son of Jesse, giving him bread and a sword and inquiring of God for him, so that he has rebelled against me and lies in wait for me, as he does today?” 14 Ahimelek answered the king, “Who of all your servants is as loyal as David, the king’s son-in-law, captain of your bodyguard and highly respected in your household? 15 Was that day the first time I inquired of God for him? Of course not! Let not the king accuse your servant or any of his father’s family, for your servant knows nothing at all about this whole affair.” 16 But the king said, “You will surely die, Ahimelek, you and your whole family.” 17 Then the king ordered the guards at his side: “Turn and kill the priests of the Lord, because they too have sided with David. They knew he was fleeing, yet they did not tell me.” But the king’s officials were unwilling to raise a hand to strike the priests of the Lord.
1 Samuel 22:18 The king then ordered Doeg, “You turn and strike down the priests.” So Doeg the Edomite turned and struck them down. That day he killed eighty-five men who wore the linen ephod. 19 He also put to the sword Nob, the town of the priests, with its men and women, its children and infants, and its cattle, donkeys and sheep.
a) The whole town was slaughtered, every man, woman and child!
1 Samuel 22:20 But one son of Ahimelek son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped and fled to join David. 21 He told David that Saul had killed the priests of the Lord. 22 Then David said to Abiathar, “That day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, I knew he would be sure to tell Saul. I am responsible for the death of your whole family.
b) Perhaps, David was feeling the guilt of that!
c) Which led to his own sense of “spiritual poverty?”
5. Poverty!
a) Our own sense of our spiritual poverty!
Psalm 34:6 This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles.
b) Perhaps a troubled mind and heart!
Matthew 5 (NIV)
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
Well perhaps last weeks message helped you. You have been holed up in not a literal cave like David and his men, but perhaps you have been and perhaps for a very long time, you’ve been holed up in a cave of fear, or failure, or distress, or debt or discontentment, or unemployment or sickness or Covid concern, or a bad marriage, or bad relationship, or a bad job, or a bad neighborhood, or a challenging ministry, or thousand and one things that you think of been holding you down…the list is literally endless! And perhaps you’ve felt as though you just been in it to long!!
WLL THIS MORNING FROM THE REMAINDER OF THIS PSALM THAT WE DID NOT COVER LAST WEEK VERSES 7 -22: I would like to bring to you a message that I believe will be a help and a blessing to you. The title of my message to you from this second portion of Psalm 34 – I’ve entitled in the following manner…
Reason’s to Praise, While You’re in Your Cave!
And my proposition to you this Lord’s Day morning is this….that…
A study of Psalm 34:7-22 while give you more than ample reasons, in fact nearly a whole alphabet of reasons as to why you can praise while in you’re cave!
This Psalm is an acrostic psalm. The first verse begins with the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet (Alep). Only one is omitted (Waw).
Let’s launch right into reason 1…
I. PROTECTION!
Psalm 34:7a The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him,-NIV
A) Affirmed in other psalms!
Psalm 32:7 You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.-NIV
Psalm 91:14 “Because he loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.-NIV
Psalm 12:7 You, LORD, will keep the needy safe and will protect us forever from the wicked,-NIV
1. And in the other poetic books of the bible (Psalms, Proverbs, Job).
Proverbs 30:5 “Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. -NIV
Job 1:1 In the land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job. This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil. -NIV
Job 1: 8 Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.” 9a “Does Job fear God for nothing?” Satan replied. 10 “Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? -NIV
Psalm 34:7b and he delivers them. -NIV
II. PERFECTION!
A) Perfection?
1. Delivers them. -??????????????? (way·?al·l?·?êm)
a) to remove, rescue, draw out, withdraw, equip or arm for war, to make strong, brace up, to invigorate.
2. Deliver – ?????- nathan
a) devote, consecrate, dedicate, stretch out, extend
Job 23:10 But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.- NIV
B) Point?
1. We often try to get out of the cave or the crucible that we find ourselves in of problems, or challenges we find ourselves in, etc.
2. We sometimes feel like we go from one cave to another.
3. Or from hiding in a cave to hiding behind a tree!
1 Samuel 22: 3 David went on from there to Mizpah in Moab and said to the king of Moab, “Please let my father and mother come and stay with you until I find out what God is going to do for me.” 4 So David left his parents with the king of Moab, and they stayed there as long as David was hiding out in the cave. -GNT
4. But back in the cave he went until a prophet intervened.
1 Samuel 22: 5 Then the prophet Gad came to David and said, “Don't stay here; go at once to the land of Judah.” So David left and went to the forest of Hereth. -GNT
5.So David went from hiding in a cave, to hiding in a forest amongst some trees!
6. What is the Christian view of these challenges and “trails”?
James 1:2-4a Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. -The Message
7. Christians know what they believe, but trails reveal if they believe what they know!
Charles Spurgeon - “Trials teach us what we are; they dig up the soil, and let us see what we are made of.”
James 1:4 So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way. - The Message
James 1:4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.-NKJV
But I have a problem with that you say…..I find it so difficult to stay in the situation…I WANT OUT OF MY CAVE!!!
Well let me give you another reason to praise and stay put:
III. PRESENCE!
A) Presence?
1. Who encamps about those who fear him?
Psalm 34:7a The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him,-NIV
2. Guardian angel?
a) Better!
3. “The Angel of the Lord” is a term referenced 56 times in the Old Testament.
a) A study of these passages makes it clear that these are “Christophanies” - pre-incarnate appearances of the Lord Jesus.
b) A good example is found in Exodus 3…
Exodus 3:1 Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 2 There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. 3 So Moses thought, “I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up.” 4 When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!” And Moses said, “Here I am.” 5 “Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” 6 Then he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.” At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God. -NIV
B) Point?
1. The PRIMARY reason why you can praise from within the cave is -PRESENCE!
2. GOD IS PRESENT WITH YOU IN THE CAVE OR WHATEVER CRUCIBLE YOU ARE IN- PTL!!
Matthew 28:20b I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.-KJV
Daniel 3:1 King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, sixty cubits high and six cubits wide, and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon.
Daniel 3:6 Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.”
Daniel 3:12 But there are some Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon—Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego—who pay no attention to you, Your Majesty. They neither serve your gods nor worship the image of gold you have set up.” 13 Furious with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.
Daniel 3:16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. 18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” 19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual 20 and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace. 21 So these men, wearing their robes, trousers, turbans and other clothes, were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace. 22 The king’s command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the flames of the fire killed the soldiers who took up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, 23 and these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace. 24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, “Weren’t there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?” They replied, “Certainly, Your Majesty.” 25 He said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.”-NIV
Hebrew 13:5a God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” 6 So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” 7 Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. -NIV
C) Problem?
1. I don’t FEEL the presence of the Lord?
Psalm 16:11b In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.-NKJV
2. I’m not feeling joyful in my cave!!
D) PRACTICE IT!
1. PRACTICE THE PRESCENCE OF GOD!
The Practice of the Presence of God, by Brother Lawrence- Joseph de Beaufort
Brother Lawrence was born Nicholas Herman around 1610 in Herimenil, Lorraine, a Duchy of France. His birth records were destroyed in a fire at his parish church during the Thirty Years War, a war in which he fought
as a young soldier. It was also the war in which he sustained a near fatal injury to his sciatic nerve. The injury left him quite crippled and in chronic pain for the rest of his life…He was educated both at home and by his parish priest whose first name was Lawrence and who was greatly admired by the young Nicolas. He was well read and, from an early age, drawn to a spiritual life of faith and love for God. At mid-life he entered a newly established monastery in Paris where he became the cook for the community which grew to over one hundred members. After fifteen years, his duties were shifted to the sandal repair shop but, even then, he often returned to the busy kitchen to help out. In times as troubled as today, Brother Lawrence, discovered, then followed, a pure and uncomplicated way to walk continually in God's presence. For some forty years, he lived and walked with Our Father at his side
a) His conversion:
The Practice of the Presence of God, by Brother Lawrence- Joseph de Beaufort
The first time I saw Brother Lawrence was upon the 3rd of August, 1666. He told me that God had done him a singular favor in his conversion at the age of eighteen. During that winter, upon seeing a tree stripped of its leaves and considering that within a little time the leaves would be renewed and after that the flowers and fruit appear,
Brother Lawrence received a high view of the Providence and Power of God which has never since been effaced from his soul. This view had perfectly set him loose from the world and kindled in him such a love for God, that he could not tell whether it had increased in the forty years that he had lived since.
i. Creation!
b) His conversations:
The Practice of the Presence of God, by Brother Lawrence- Joseph de Beaufort
Brother Lawrence related that we should establish ourselves in a sense of God's Presence by continually conversing with Him. It was a shameful thing to quit His conversation to think of trifles and fooleries. We should feed and nourish our souls with high notions of God which would yield us great joy in being devoted to Him.
c) His consecration:
The Practice of the Presence of God, by Brother Lawrence- Joseph de Beaufort
We ought to give ourselves up to God with regard both to things temporal and spiritual and seek our satisfaction only in the fulfilling of His will. Whether God led us by suffering or by consolation all would be equal to a soul truly resigned.
d) His concerns?
The Practice of the Presence of God, by Brother Lawrence- Joseph de Beaufort
He said that as far as the miseries and sins he heard of daily in the world, he was so far from wondering at them, that, on the contrary, he was surprised there were not more considering the malice sinners were capable of. For his part, he prayed for them. But knowing that God could remedy the mischief they did when He pleased, he gave himself no further trouble.
e) His commitment:
The Practice of the Presence of God, by Brother Lawrence- Joseph de Beaufort
Brother Lawrence told me he had always been governed by love without selfish views. Since he resolved to make the love of God the end of all his actions…He was pleased when he could take up a straw from the ground for the love of God, seeking Him only, and nothing else, not even His gifts.
f) His confidence:
The Practice of the Presence of God, by Brother Lawrence- Joseph de Beaufort
Brother Lawrence said we ought to act with God in the greatest simplicity, speaking to Him frankly and plainly, and imploring His assistance in our affairs just as they happen. God never failed to grant it, as Brother Lawrence had often experienced.
g) His contentment?
The Practice of the Presence of God, by Brother Lawrence- Joseph de Beaufort
In his business in the kitchen (to which he had naturally a great aversion), having accustomed himself to do everything there for the love of God and asking for His grace to do his work well, he had found everything easy during the fifteen years that he had been employed there. He was very pleased with the post he was now in.
h) His countenance?
The Practice of the Presence of God, by Brother Lawrence- Joseph de Beaufort
Brother Lawrence had found such an advantage in walking in the presence of God, it was natural for him to recommend it earnestly to others. More strikingly, his example was a stronger inducement than any arguments he could propose. His very countenance was edifying with such a sweet and calm devotion appearing that he could not but affect the beholders.
I) His calm?
The Practice of the Presence of God, by Brother Lawrence- Joseph de Beaufort
It was observed, that in the greatest hurry of business in the kitchen, he still preserved his recollection and heavenly-mindedness. He was never hasty nor loitering, but did each thing in its season with an even uninterrupted composure and tranquility of spirit. "The time of business," said he, "does not with me differ from the time of prayer. In the noise and clutter of my kitchen, while several persons are at the same time calling for different things, I possess God in as great tranquility as if I were upon my knees at the Blessed Supper."
j) His communication:
Brother Lawrence –“The most holy and important practice in the spiritual life is the presence of God - that is, every moment to take great pleasure that God is with you.”
Brother Lawrence – “There's no greater lifestyle and no greater happiness than that of having a continual conversation with God.”
Brother Lawrence - "He does not ask much of us, merely a thought of Him from time to time, a little act of adoration, sometimes to ask for His grace, sometimes to offer Him your sufferings, at other times to thank Him for the graces, past and present, He has bestowed on you, in the midst of your troubles to take solace in Him as often as you can. Lift up your heart to Him during your meals and in company; the least little remembrance will always be the most pleasing to Him. One need not cry out very loudly; He is nearer to us than we think."
Brother Lawrence -"It is possible for us to live in the very sense of the Lord's presence, under even the most difficult circumstances. If you and I are going to enjoy the peace of paradise during this life we must become accustomed to a familiar, humble, and very affectionate conversation with the Lord Jesus."
Brother Lawrence -"There is not in the world a kind of life more sweet and delightful, than that of a continual conversation with God; those only can comprehend it who practice and experience it."
Brother Lawrence -"We can do little things for God; I turn the cake that is frying on the pan for love of him, and that done, if there is nothing else to call me, I prostrate myself in worship before him, who has given me grace to work; afterwards I rise happier than a king."
Brother Lawrence-"Let us think often that our only business in this life is to please God. Perhaps all besides is but folly and vanity."
Brother Lawrence –“ Please keep my recommendation in mind that you think of God often; by day, by night, in your business, and even in your diversions. He is always near you and with you. Leave Him not alone. You would think it rude to leave a friend alone who came to visit you. Why, then, must God be neglected? Do not forget Him but think on Him often. Adore Him continually. Live and die with Him. This is the glorious work of a Christian; in a word, this is our profession. If we do not know it, we must learn it.”
Brother Lawrence –“When we are faithful to keep ourselves in His holy presence, and set Him always before us, this hinders our offending Him, and doing anything that may displease Him.
k) His confession:
Brother Lawrence –“ I think it is appropriate to tell you how I perceive myself before God, whom I behold as my King. I consider myself as the most wretched of men. I am full of faults, flaws, and weaknesses, and have committed all sorts of crimes against his King. Touched with a sensible regret I confess all my wickedness to Him. I ask His forgiveness. I abandon myself in His hands that He may do what He pleases with me.”
Brother Lawrence –“My King is full of mercy and goodness. Far from chastising me, He embraces me with love. He makes me eat at His table. He serves me with His own hands and gives me the key to His treasures. He converses and delights Himself with me incessantly, in a thousand and a thousand ways. And He treats me in all respects as His favorite.”
Brother Lawrence- I cannot imagine how religious persons can live satisfied without the practice of the presence of God. For my part I keep myself retired with Him in the depth and center of my soul as much as I can. While I am with Him I fear nothing.”
a. That kitchen is not a cave but a cathedral!!
IV. PERCEPTION!
Psalm 34:8a Taste and see
A) Perception - the act or faculty of perceiving, or apprehending by means of the senses or of the mind; cognition; understanding.
1. Taste -???????? (?a·‘a·mu)
a) to taste, perceive, eat
2. See -???????? (u·r?·’u)
a) to look at, look into, inspect, perceive, consider!
B) Perceive?
Psalm 34:8b that the Lord is good;
1. Good- ???? -towb
a) pleasant, agreeable (to the senses)
b) pleasant (to the higher nature)
c) good, excellent (of its kind)
d) rich, valuable in estimation
e) appropriate, becoming
f) kind, benign
g) right (ethical)
h) beneficial, welfare
Brother Lawrence- “There is not in the world a kind of life more sweet and delightful, than that of a continual conversation with God…
C) Problems?
D) Pain?
1. Good then?
Brother Lawrence- He sometimes permits bodily discomforts to cure the distempers of the soul. Have courage. Do not ask God for deliverance from your pain. Instead, out of love for Him, ask for the strength to resolutely bear all that He pleases, and as long as He pleases. Such prayers are hard at first, but they are very pleasing to God, and become sweet to those that love Him.
Brother Lawrence -Love sweetens pains. And when one loves God, one suffers for His sake with joy and courage. Do so, I beseech you. Comfort yourself with Him. He is the only physician for all our illnesses. He is the Father of the afflicted and always ready to help us. He loves us infinitely more than we can imagine. Love Him in return and seek no consolation elsewhere...
E) Persists?
Brother Lawrence - God knows best what we need. All that He does is for our good. If we knew how much He loves us, we would always be ready to receive both the bitter and the sweet from His Hand. It would make no difference. All that came from Him would be pleasing. The worst afflictions only appear intolerable if we see them in the wrong light.
F) PERSPECTIVE!!
Brother Lawrence -When we see them as coming from the hand of God and know that it is our loving Father who humbles and distresses us, our sufferings lose their bitterness and can even become a source of consolation.
G) PRAY?
Brother Lawrence - I do not pray that you may be delivered from your pains; but I pray earnestly that God gives you strength and patience to bear them as long as He pleases. Comfort yourself with Him who holds you fastened to the cross. He will loose you when He thinks fit. Happy are those who suffer with Him. Accustom yourself to suffer in that manner, and seek from Him the strength to endure as much, and as long, as He judges necessary for you.
H) PREPOSTEROUS!!
Brother Lawrence - Worldly people do not comprehend these truths. It is not surprising though, since they suffer like what they are and not like Christians. They see sickness as a pain against nature and not as a favor from God. Seeing it only in that light, they find nothing in it but grief and distress. But those who consider sickness as coming from the hand of God, out of His mercy and as the means He uses for their salvation, commonly find sweetness and consolation in it.
Brother Lawrence - I pray that you see that God is often nearer to us and present within us in sickness than in health. Do not rely completely on another physician because He reserves your cure to Himself. Put all your trust in God. You will soon find the effects in your recovery, which we often delay by putting greater faith in medicine than in God. Whatever remedies you use, they will succeed only so far as He permits. When pains come from God, only He can ultimately cure them. He often sends sickness to the body to cure diseases of the soul. Comfort yourself with the Sovereign Physician of both soul and body.
Brother Lawrence - Let us live and die with God. Sufferings will be sweet and pleasant while we are with Him. Without Him, the greatest pleasures will be a cruel punishment to us.
I) PERSPECTIVE:
Brother Lawrence- Fifteenth Letter: God knows best what we need. All that He does is for our good. If we knew how much He loves us, we would always be ready to receive both the bitter and the sweet from His Hand. It would make no difference. All that came from Him would be pleasing. The worst afflictions only appear intolerable if we see them in the wrong light. When we see them as coming from the hand of God and know that it is our loving Father who humbles and distresses us, our sufferings lose their bitterness and can even become a source of consolation.
Brother Lawrence- Fifteenth Letter: Let all our efforts be to know God. The more one knows Him, the greater one desires to know Him. Knowledge is commonly the measure of love. The deeper and more extensive our knowledge, the greater is our love. If our love of God were great we would love Him equally in pain and pleasure.
Brother Lawrence- Fifteenth Letter: We only deceive ourselves by seeking or loving God for any favors which He has or may grant us.
Brother Lawrence- Fifteenth Letter: Let us cast everything else out of our hearts. He wants to possess the heart alone. Beg this favor of Him.
Brother Lawrence- Fifteenth Letter: I hope to see Him within a few days. Let us pray for one another.
The Practice of the Presence of God, by Brother Lawrence- Joseph de Beaufort -Brother Lawrence died peacefully within days of this last letter.
J) POINT?
1. That is the way I want to go, how about you?
Psalm 34:8c blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.
Romans 8: 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
K) Pauline view:
Philippians 1:21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22 If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! 23 I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far;-NIV
1 Corinthians 2:9 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.”-NKJV
V. POSSESSION!
Psalm 34:9a Fear the Lord, you his holy people,
A) Purpose?
Psalm 34:9b for those who fear him lack nothing.
B) Possession/Provision!
1 Corinthians 3:21b All things are yours, 22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours,
Q: Why?
Q: How?
1 Corinthians 3:23 and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God. .- NIV
Matthew 19:28 Jesus said to them, "Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.-NIV
Matthew 5:5 Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth.-KJV
Revelation 21:1 Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. .- NIV
Revelation 21: 6 He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. 7 Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children. .- NIV
C) Point:
1. Promised to the “God fearing” man!
Psalm 34:9b for those who fear him lack nothing.
D) Produce?
Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Proverbs 9:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
Proverbs 10:27 The fear of the LORD adds length to life, but the years of the wicked are cut short.
Proverbs 14:27 The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, turning a person from the snares of death.
Proverbs 19:23 The fear of the LORD leads to life; then one rests content, untouched by trouble.
Proverbs 16:6b through the fear of the LORD evil is avoided.
1. A good life according to God!
Psalm 34:10 The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing. 11 Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord. 12 Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days,
E) Principles?
Psalm 34:13 keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies.
1. Watch your lips
Proverbs 18:21 Life and death are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.-BSB
James 1: 26 Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless.-NIV
James 3:6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. NIV
a) Proverbs?
i. Bad speech
"Violence covereth the mouth of the wicked" (Proverbs 10:11).
"The mouth of the foolish is a present destruction" (Proverbs 10:14).
"He that uttereth a slander is a fool" (Proverbs 10:18).
"In the multitude of words there wanteth not transgression" (Proverbs 10:19).
"The perverse tongue shall be cut off" (Proverbs 10:31).
"The mouth of the wicked speaketh perverseness" (Proverbs 10:32).
"The words of the wicked are of lying in wait for blood" (Proverbs 12:6).
"In the transgression of the lips is a snare to the evil man" (Proverbs 12:13).
Thomas Manton -Most of a man’s sins are in his words.
Matthew 12:36 But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. 37 For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”-NIV
Anonymous - Words are our thoughts going public!
Thomas Watson -Words are the looking-glass of the mind.
Matthew 12:34 Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
ii. Good speech
Proverbs 10:11 The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, But the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.
"In the lips of him that hath discernment wisdom is found" (Proverbs 10:13).
"He that refraineth his lips doeth wisely" (Proverbs 10:19).
"The tongue of the righteous is as choice silver" (Proverbs 10:20).
"The lips of the righteous feed many" (Proverbs 10:21).
"The mouth of the righteous bringeth forth wisdom" (Proverbs 10:31),
Thomas Brooks -Of all the members in the body, there is none so serviceable to Satan as the tongue.
Thomas Manton -A tongue that is set on fire from hell, shall be set on fire in hell.
Life Application Study Bible - James compares the damage the tongue can do to a raging fire. Idle and hateful words are damaging because they spread destruction quickly, and no one can stop the results once they are spoken. We dare not be careless with what we say, thinking we can apologize later, because even if we do, the scars remain. A few words spoken in anger can destroy a relationship that took years to build. Before you speak, remember that words are like fire—you can neither control nor reverse the damage they can do.
2. Watch your life
Psalm 34:14a Turn from evil….
Psalm 34:14b and do good;
Thomas Watson- Negative goodness is not sufficient to entitle us to heaven. There are some in the world whose religion runs all upon negatives; they are not drunkards, they are not swearers, and for this they do bless themselves. See how the Pharisee does it in Luke 18:11, "God, I thank thee that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers," etc. Alas! the not being scandalous will no more make a Christian than a cypher will make a sum. We are bid, not only to cease from evil, but to do good. It will be a poor plea at last -- Lord, I kept myself from being spotted with gross sin: I did no hurt. But what good is there in thee, [He may ask?] It is not enough for the servant of the vineyard that he doeth no hurt there, he does not break the trees, or destroy the hedges; yet if he does not work in the vineyard he loseth his pay. It is not enough for us to say at the last day, we have done no hurt, we have lived in no gross sin; but what good have we done in the vineyard? Where is the grace we have gotten? If we cannot show this, we shall lose our pay, and miss of salvation.
James 2:14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? 15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.-NIV
Psalm 34:14C seek peace and pursue it.
VI. PEACE!
Romans 5:1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
A) Peace with God!
B) Peace of God?
1. Prayer
2. Philippians formula for that peace:
Philippians 4:6 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
a) I do that in my cave, but have no peace?
Donald Barnhouse - Peace with God was already theirs, as it is already the portion of all who are placed in Christ. But the peace of God comes afterwards to those who are willing to accept the paradox of unconditional surrender. How many unsaved people there are today who are in misery because they will not accept the peace ("peace with God") that God made at the cross when He declared that the war was over and that sin was dealt with. And how many Christians are going to Heaven miserably because they are not willing to accept the riches of His grace and the wonders of His peace that He is so willing to give if we will only acknowledge Him as our Lord as well as our Savior
ARMS FULL OF GRACE DEVOTIONAL- “Instead of dwelling on that which makes us anxious, present it to God with thanksgiving! In exchange, we gain peace. What a trade!
It seems so simple and I wonder why it’s not? I wonder what I do to complicate the process? Usually, for me, the complication comes from a lack of surrender. I do not really want to “give” my requests to God, because, somehow, it doesn’t feel safe to do so. It feels safer to keep my concerns around and turn them over and over, trying to figure them out. If I let them go–truly let them go, I will have no more control.
Of course, I never really have control in the first place, so why do I hold on to the illusion of it? I do not know the answer. But, I do know I desperately want the peace that only God gives. I NEED His peace. Holding on is only causing turmoil.
ARMS FULL OF GRACE DEVOTIONAL- I need to surrender and to trust. That is the essence of what this verse is saying and also the very essence of our faith in our Heavenly Father. He can be trusted–completely. With our doubts, our worries, our anxieties, our very lives. In my life, and I’m willing to guess, in yours as well, He has proven His faithfulness over and again.
I am desperate for peace, but today I know both the Source and the formula. I am going after both. Won’t you join me?
Precious Heavenly Father, I know I can trust You. You have proven it countless times throughout my life. I am sorry for not trusting you with my worries. I am sorry for holding on to them rather than surrendering. Thank You for the truth You speak into my life through Your Word. Please, Lord, help me today to walk in that Truth and grant me, please, the peace You have promised. Thank You, Jesus. Amen!
Warren Weirsbe- "The peace of God" is one test of whether or not we are in the will of God. "Let the peace that Christ can give keep on acting as umpire in your hearts" (Colossians 3:15). If we are walking with the Lord then the peace of God and the God of peace exercise their influence over our hearts. Whenever we disobey, we lose that peace and we know we have done something wrong. God's peace is the "umpire" that calls us "out"!
c) PETER PERSPECTIVE
I. N. T. Perspective:
1 Peter 3: 10 For,
“Whoever would love life
and see good days
must keep their tongue from evil
and their lips from deceitful speech.
11 They must turn from evil and do good;
they must seek peace and pursue it.
Bruce Hurst- Peter quotes statements from Ps 34:12, 13, 14, 15. It describes what God means by “good days.” They are not necessarily days free from problems, for the psalmist wrote about fears (Ps 34:4), troubles (Ps 34:6, 17), afflictions (Ps 34:19), and even a broken heart (Ps 34:18). A “good day” for the believer who “loves life” is not one in which he is pampered and sheltered, but one in which he experiences God’s help and blessing because of life’s problems and trials. It is a day in which he magnifies the Lord (Ps 34:1, 2, 3), experiences answers to prayer (Ps 34:4, 5, 6, 7), tastes the goodness of God (Ps 34:8), and senses the nearness of God (Ps 34:18). The next time you think you are having a “bad day,” and you hate life, read Ps 34 and you may discover you are really having a “good day” to the glory of God!
The Practice of the Presence of God, by Brother Lawrence- Joseph de Beaufort
Brother Lawrence said that the worst that could happen to him was to lose that sense of God which he had enjoyed so long. Yet the goodness of God assured him He would not forsake him utterly and that He would give him strength to bear whatever evil He permitted to happen to him. Brother Lawrence, therefore, said he feared nothing.
The Practice of the Presence of God, by Brother Lawrence- Joseph de Beaufort
Brother Lawrence said the greatest pains or pleasures of this world were not to be compared with what he had experienced of both kinds in a spiritual state. As a result he feared nothing, desiring only one thing of God - that he might not offend Him. He said he carried no guilt. "When I fail in my duty, I readily acknowledge it, saying, I am used to do so. I shall never do otherwise if I am left to myself. If I fail not, then I give God thanks acknowledging that it comes from Him."
ii. NT definition of good:
Romans 8: 28a We are assured and know that all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good ….-AMPC
a. ALL THINGS = GOOD!
John MacArthur – “All things is utterly comprehensive, having no qualifications or limits. Neither this verse nor its context allows for restrictions or conditions. All things is inclusive in the fullest possible sense.”
Romans 8: 28b to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose. .-AMPC
Romans 8: 29 For those whom He foreknew [of whom He was aware and loved beforehand], He also destined from the beginning [foreordaining them] to be molded into the image of His Son [and share inwardly His likeness], that He might become the firstborn among many brethren.-AMPC
Our Daily Bread -Like Him - By: M.R. DeHaan
Whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son. — Romans 8:29
God is not interested in just saving us from hell and taking us to heaven. He wants to conform us “to the image of His Son” (Romans 8:29). Someone has said that the Father was so pleased with His Son that He has determined to fill all of heaven with others just like Him.
When Jesus returns, “we shall be like Him” (1 John 3:2), but the process of becoming like Him begins here and now. How does that happen? It is explained by the “all things” of “all things work together for good to those who love God” (Romans 8:28). This includes testings and trials, chastenings and purifications, denials and suffering. To become like Him, we must follow Him, and that is the path of sacrifice and trial (Hebrews 2:10).
Following Jesus means we must be willing to go with Him to the Garden of Gethsemane and the hill of Calvary. We must be willing to endure suffering and rejection by those who reject Him (John 15:18-21). But following Him also leads us to the empty tomb and the place at the right hand of God. The apostle Paul said that those who follow Him will also share in His resurrection (Romans 6:5). And “if we endure, we shall also reign with Him” (2 Timothy 2:12).
Yes, God uses “all things” to make us like Christ. By: M.R. DeHaan
If you walk every day with the Savior,
Use His Word as your unfailing guide,
Then you surely will grow to be like Him,
And with Him you'll forever abide. —Hess
VII. PREFERENCE
Psalm 34:15 The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are attentive to their cry;
Charles Spurgeon -He observes them with approval and tender consideration; they are so dear to him that he cannot take his eyes off them; he watches each one of them as carefully and intently as if there were only that one creature in the universe. His ears are open unto their cry. His eyes and ears are thus both turned by the Lord towards his saints; his whole mind is occupied about them: if slighted by all others they are not neglected by him. Their cry he hears at once, even as a mother is sure to hear her sick babe; the cry may be broken, plaintive, unhappy, feeble, unbelieving, yet the Father's quick ear catches each note of lament or appeal, and he is not slow to answer his children's voice.
Psalm 34:16 but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to blot out their name from the earth.
Charles Spurgeon - God is not indifferent to the deeds of sinners, but he sets his face against them, as we say, being determined that they shall have no countenance and support, but shall be thwarted and defeated. He is determinately resolved that the ungodly shall not prosper; he sets himself with all his might to overthrow them. To cut off the remembrance of them from the earth. He will stamp out their fires, their honour shall be turned into shame, their names forgotten or accursed. Utter destruction shall be the lot of all the ungodly.
Psalm 34:17 The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles.
Charles Spurgeon - Like Israel in Egypt, they cry out under the heavy yoke of oppression, both of sin, temptation, care, and grief. And the Lord heareth; he is like the night watchman, who no sooner hears the alarm bell than he flies to relieve those who need him. And delivereth them out of all their troubles. No net of trouble can so hold us that the Lord cannot free us. Our afflictions may be numerous and complicated, but prayer can set us free from them all, for the Lord will show himself strong on our behalf.
A) Prefer?
1. Righteous
Psalm 34:18 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
2. Brokenhearted
3. Crushed in spirit
B) Provide?
Psalm 147:3 He heals the brokenhearted And binds up their wounds.
1. Healing!
a) Through Jesus Christ!
Luke 4:18a The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed;
C) Permit?
John Spalding -1703 - The ADVANTAGES of a broken heart:
1. A broken heart is acceptable and well-pleasing to God, "A broken and a contrite heart, O God thou wilt not despise." Psalms 51:17 .
2. It makes up for many defects in your service and duties, "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit." Psalms 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." Isaiah 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." Psalms 34:18 . And
5. It lays you open to Christ's sweet healing, "I will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick." Ezekiel 34:16 . And, oh, who would not be broken that they might find Christ's soft hand healing them, and find the proof of that sweet word, "For I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith the Lord." Jeremiah 30:17 . Yea,
6. It puts you in the right road to heaven, where all your wounds and bruises will be cured; for there is a tree Revelation 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.
Warren Wiersbe - Have you ever studied the broken things in the Bible? A woman broke a vessel at the feet of Jesus and anointed Him. Jesus took bread and broke it as a picture of His body given for us. God uses broken things, and He starts with broken hearts. This is what repentance is all about. God doesn't listen to the lips. He doesn't measure a material sacrifice. He looks at the heart and says, "If your heart is broken, then I can cleanse it."…. God looks at the heart, not the hand. He wants sincerity from the heart, not religious routine. A broken heart is not remorse, nor is it regret. It is repentance, a turning away from sin. It's telling God you hate sin, are judging it and claiming his forgiveness.
VIII. POSSIBILITES?
Psalm 34:19 The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all;?
Joseph Excell - When they have done their appointed work of purging, purifying, instructing, improving, or whatever else their work may be, God removes the afflictions with which he has visited us or allowed us to be visited.
Hebrews 2:10 In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered.
Acts 14:22b "We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God," they said.
IX. PROVIDENCE!
Psalm 34:20 he protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken.
A) Problem?
1. Hey I’m a Christian, and I’ve had broken bones?
B) Perspective:
1. Providence
a) Divine providence is the governance of God by which He, with wisdom and love, cares for and directs all things in the universe. The doctrine of divine providence asserts that God is in complete control of all things. He is sovereign over the universe as a whole (Psalm 103:19), the physical world (Matthew 5:45), the affairs of nations (Psalm 66:7), human destiny (Galatians 1:15), human successes and failures (Luke 1:52), and the protection of His people (Psalm 4:8).
C) Point?
Thomas Fuller-Christ's bones were in themselves breakable, but could not actually be broken by all the violence in the world, because God had fore decreed, a bone of him shall not be broken. So we confess God's children mortal; but all the power of devil or man may not, must not, cannot, kill them before their conversion, according to God's election of them to life, which must be fully accomplished.
X. PROMISE!
A) PROMISE?
1. A declaration or oath that something will or will not be done!
Psalm 34:21a Evil will slay the wicked;
Charles Spurgeon - Ungodly men only need rope enough and they will hang themselves; their own iniquities shall be their punishment. Hell itself is but evil fully developed, torturing those in whom it dwells.
Psalm 34:21b the foes of the righteous will be condemned.
Psalm 34:22 The Lord will rescue his servants; no one who takes refuge in him will be condemned.
Albert Barnes-They shall not be held to be guilty; they shall not be punished. This is designed to be in contrast with the statement respecting the wicked in Psalm 34:21. The psalm, therefore, closes appropriately with the idea that they who trust the Lord will be ultimately safe; that God will make a distinction between them and the wicked; that they will be ultimately rescued from death, and be regarded and treated forever as the friends of God.
John Gill- None of them that trust in him shall be desolate; or "be guilty", or "condemned", or "damned"; because they are justified from all the sins they have been guilty of, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus; and having believed in him, they shall not be damned and they shall be far from being desolate, and alone, and miserable; they shall stand at Christ's right hand, be received into his kingdom and glory, and be for ever with him.
Romans 8:1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,!
B) Promise?
1. The believer will never stand before God as Judge to be condemned or punished for his sins. The condemnation has once and for all fallen fully and finally upon Christ our Substitute
Charles H Spurgeon - Oh, for faith to lay hold on this! Oh, for an overpowering faith that shall get the victory over doubts and fears, and make us enjoy the liberty with which Christ makes men free! You that believe in Christ, go to your beds this night and say, "If I die in my bed, I cannot be condemned!" Should you wake the next morning, go into the world and say, "I am not condemned!" When the devil howls at you, tell him, "You may accuse, but I am not condemned!" And if sometimes your sins rise, say, "I know you, but you are all gone forever. I am not condemned! "
2. Romans 8 beautifully begins with "no condemnation," and it marvelously ends with no separation!
Romans 8: 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
1. Sin?
Bruce Hurst- The Christian’s war with sin does not end until he goes to be with the Lord. Nevertheless, there is still no condemnation-because the penalty for all the failures of this life (and who of us does not have many, yea, even many every day!) has been paid in full at Calvary.
Romans 4:4 Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift but as an obligation. 5 However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness. 6 David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the one to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:
Romans 4:7 “Blessed are those whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.
8 Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord will never count against them.”
Bruce Hurst-The holiest of believers are warned that, although they are no longer slaves to sin’s dominion, they will continually experience conflict with this old nature in this present life. The weakest of believers are promised that, although they still stumble and fall into sin’s power in their flesh, they will experience ultimate victory over sin in the life to come.
F. F. Bruce -There is no condemnation" therefore there is no reason why those who are in Christ Jesus should go on doing penal servitude as though they had never been pardoned and liberated from the prison house of sin.
Matthew Henry -It is the unspeakable privilege and comfort of all those that are in Christ Jesus that there is therefore now no condemnation to them. He does not say, "There is no accusation against them,’’ for this there is; but the accusation is thrown out, and the indictment quashed. He does not say, "There is nothing in them that deserves condemnation,’’ for this there is, and they see it, and own it, and mourn over it, and condemn themselves for it; but it shall not be their ruin. He does not say, "There is no cross, no affliction to them or no displeasure in the affliction,’’ for this there may be; but no condemnation.
C) Point?
1. In a cave of condemnation?
a) Thank Him!
b) Praise Him!
c) Believe Him!
i. THAT THERE IS NO CONDEMNATION FOR YOU!!
Conclusion:
1. I’ve given you an alphabet of reasons for you to praise in your cave!
2. Will you praise in your cave for:
a) Protection
b) Perfection
c) Presence
d) Perception
e) Possession
f) Peace
g) Preference
h) Possibilities
i) Promise
Titus 1:1 Paul, a bond-servant of God and an apostle (special messenger, personally chosen representative) of Jesus Christ, for the faith of God’s chosen ones and [to lead and encourage them to recognize and pursue] the knowledge of the truth which leads to godliness, 2 based on the hope and divine guarantee of eternal life, [the life] which God, who is ever truthful and without deceit, promised before the ages of time began, -AMP
