“And suddenly angels…” – think about that image.
• I am a Star Tek fan, so when I think about it, I imagine these angels beaming down to Jesus.
• You know, their bodies are just a bunch of particle beans that suddenly become angels (and you have to have that sound effect).
• I know – that’s sort of out there – you all sure do have a weird pastor.
1). But really, the whole temptation in the wilderness story is kind of “out there,” isn’t it.
A). Matthew says the tempter came to Jesus in the wilderness.
• But it was after Jesus hadn’t eaten the forty days.
• I don’t know about you, but I think I know how I would have felt after not eating for 40 days!
• Matthew says that Jesus was ‘famished.’ – what does that mean? Suffering from starvation; severely affected by lack of food.
• Jesus wasn’t just hungry and worn out – He was literally starving (that’s a word we use when we are simply hungry – we haven’t eaten since breakfast – but really, how many of us have suffered from starvation?
• Jesus was starving, and He was a prime target for this temptation.
B). So, here comes Satan (at the most opportune time).
• I know that some Bible scholars want to say that Satan didn’t actually come to Jesus.
• He came to Jesus’ thoughts – Satan wasn’t really there; it was just a voice whispering in his ear - it a hallucination?
• Does it matter if the devil came (as we say it) “in-the-flesh?” YES! The Greek says that the Tempter (Satan) came to Jesus.
C). And pretty much every time we hear a sermon on this, the preacher talks about the temptations Jesus went through.
• And there is nothing wrong with that – I have preached on it several times.
• And while these particular temptations are uniquely for Jesus, we can relate:
• None of us can turn stone into bread, but all of us can think of our own needs first.
• None of us can survive being flung from a high peak, but all of us can focus on doing something sensational to be seen (or even made famous), but that can damage our faith and trust in the Lord.
• None of us can rule the world, but all of us can have a lust for power or greed that leads us into sin.
• So, yes, we can relate to these temptations.
D). But Jesus endures the temptations, Satan leaves, “and suddenly angels” come to care for Him.
2). So, I want us to go back to Psalm 32 (this is another Scripture reading from the Lectionary for today – and it’s on the back of the bulletin.
A). In Psalm 32, we find another wilderness wandering.
• The suffering and wasting away found in Psalm 32, reminds us a lot of Jesus in the wilderness.
• But for David, it is spiritual and not just physical.
B). I am going to divide it up into two sections – because there are two participants (speakers) here, David and God.
• Psalm 32:1-7; 1 Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight! 2 Yes, what joy for those whose record the LORD has cleared of guilt, whose lives are lived in complete honesty! 3 When I refused to confess my sin, my body wasted away, and I groaned all day long. 4 Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me. My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat. 5 Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt. I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the LORD.” And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone. 6 Therefore, let all the godly pray to you while there is still time, that they may not drown in the floodwaters of judgment. 7 For you are my hiding place; you protect me from trouble. You surround me with songs of victory.
• So look, the source of David’s suffering is identified in verse 4 as God– the God of justice and judgment.
• David says that as God’s hand of discipline was on him, David’s strength ‘evaporated like water in the summer heat.’
• Why was this happening? Look at v.3 - Because David refused to confess his sin!
• Folks, today we call this the conviction of the Holy Spirit on us – and it happens because of the love of God for us!
• Look: This isn’t a punishment – it is God calling us to – and desiring us - to repent so that our relationship with Him can be restored!
C). Now look at the second voice in Psalm 32:
• 8 The LORD says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you. 9 Do not be like a senseless horse or mule that needs a bit and bridle to keep it under control.” 10 Many sorrows come to the wicked, but unfailing love surrounds those who trust the LORD. 11 So rejoice in the LORD and be glad, all you who obey him! Shout for joy, all you whose hearts are pure!
• By the way, I wonder how many times God has considered us a ‘senseless horse or mule’ because we refused to repent and suffered because of it.
• This is God’s love for us: The source of suffering is the hand of God laid upon us through the convicting power of the Holy Spirit, but this same God is the source of happiness and healing when confession is made.
• Notice in v.8 where God says, ““I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.”
• Literally, God is saying to those who follow Him, “I’m keeping my eye on you.” – but not to punish you, but to guide and advise you! (That’s another aspect of the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives!)
I want you to understand that the Bible shows us – not only here in Psalm 32, but over and over again that right relationship with God is the source of joy in life.
• God is loving, forgiving and merciful.
• It is in God’s mercy that reconciliation happens, and forgiveness is given.
• This is the source of the celebration that the psalm presents.
• Here is a promise of companionship and support. God is with us in our struggle, in our wandering, and in our suffering.
Look at the beginning of Psalm 32 again:
• “Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight! Yes, what joy for those whose record the LORD has cleared of guilt…”
• How did David get there: v.5 - Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt. I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the LORD.” And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone.
In our Scripture from Matthew, after the temptation of Jesus, “suddenly angels came.”
• But just maybe the angels were there all the time – watching and waiting – commanded to say out of the way while Satan was there tempting Jesus – because it has to be – Jesus had to ‘go it alone.’
• I don’t think that Jesus was distracted by all that was going on with His ordeal – but sometimes we are.
• Sometimes we are so distracted by our own temptation, self, and sin that we don’t notice or lean into the support that is right beside us, even in the depths of the wilderness.
• Sometimes we are surprised by God - not because God suddenly shows up - but because we finally take the time to notice and invite God into our lives.
• We sometimes are like that senseless horse or mule, and we need a bit or bridle to turn in God’s direction.
• But it doesn’t have to be that way.
• We can trust in His presence - rejoice in His loving support and even sing and shout for joy as our hearts and minds follow Jesus.
