IGNORANT SERIES: GOD IS ALWAYS NEAR
PSALM 73:21-28
INTRODUCTION
According to the American Heritage Dictionary, the word “ignorant” means unaware or uniformed. I would like us, for the next few weeks, to look at some spiritual facts that you may be unaware of or have forgotten. Most of the time we forget important spiritual truths when it comes to God and our relationship with Him. I am not sure why we forget such important matters, but I know it to be true. That is why God had Israel erect monuments and write down accounts and tell stories about all the events that took place in their relationship with Him. They forgot easily! We forget easily! This word “ignorant” occurs 13 times in the Bible and is connected with some important spiritual facts we should all know. That is why today we cover the spiritual Truth that God is always near.
Abby and Nate have a ton of books at home and like Kelly and I to read through them quite often. A few of the books I just hate to read. One of them is “Angie’s Heavenly Journey.” It is a wonderful book about this little girl angel who shines some trumpets for the bug angels and these are played to announce the birth of Jesus. The book talks about the love of God and the birth of Jesus in a wonderful manner. Your question of course, is why do you hate to read it with such a great message?! I have a problem (not really) because the little angel, Angie, talks to St Peter about the birth of Jesus! Talk about theologically incorrect! Actually it is a long and involved book and usually we don’t get to the third page before the kids are off doing something else. It’s for older kids I suppose.
One of the other books that I have trouble reading is entitled “Mommy is Always Near.” It centers on a barn and a small family of cats. It is nighttime and these three kittens wake up and find their mother gone. They get scared. It’s dark. It’s storming. They become very afraid of all the shadows and sacks of flower that look like monsters. At the end of the book, the mother cat shows up and says “don’t be afraid, mommy is always near!” And my thought is, yeah, if that’s so where were you the last 5 pages!
READ PSALM 73:21-28
“When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered, I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you. Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory. Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Those who are far from you will perish; you destroy all who are unfaithful to you. But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds.”
I. LIFE SOMETIMES GETS THE BETTER OF US
The Psalm describes a life situation that we all sometimes face. The Psalmist says that his heart is grieving and his spirit is embittered. He describes himself as a “brute beast.” I would say that he is of the opinion that life is getting the better of him. He feels like life has kicked his teeth in. He walks around the growls at all his family members and feels as though the weight of the world is on his shoulders. Life many times is not an easy place to live!
There are always health concerns and stresses
There are always money troubles and unexpected bills
There are always family problems and tensions
There are always spiritual questions and wanderings
There are always questions about death and grief
Perhaps some of these are creeping around you. Maybe all of them. Jesus never promises that our life in Him will be trouble free. Jesus never says that. In fact, Jesus assumes trouble will come (Matthew 5:10-12) and says that we are blessed. Blessed? Are you kidding me?! Where is the blessing in my stack of bills? Where is the blessing in my sickness? Where is the blessing in the death of my loved one? Where is the blessing?
I imagine that some of the people in Scripture wondered the same question. Where is the blessing or the good in any of this?
o I imagine Adam and Eve asking this at the death of Abel.
o I imagine David asking this as several of his sons rebelled against him and died.
o I imagine Daniel asking that question as they lowered him into the lion’s den.
o I imagine Jonah asking this as he was tossed off the boat and swallowed by a whale.
o I imagine Esther asking this when she is taken from her home and married to a pagan king.
o I imagine Paul and Silas asking this as they were tossed into a jail cell for preaching the Gospel.
o I imagine Mary asking this as she held her dead son after they took Him off the cross.
ILLUSTRATION… Mery Rosell
God could have kept Daniel out of the lions’ den. . . he could have kept Paul and Silas out of jail.. . . he could have kept the three Hebrew children out of the fiery furnace. . . but God has never promised to keep us out of hard places . . . what he has promised is to go with us through every hard place, and to bring us through victorious.
God promises us that He will always be near.
II. GOD IS ALWAYS NEAR
Psalm 73 describes a God who is active in our lives. He is actively aiding us in getting through these tough times. The Psalm tells us that God holds us by the hand as a loving parent holds a child as they cross a busy street. It tells us that God guides us with His counsel and I would add to this thought that we have boundless advice and help in the form of God’s Word. Our God has anticipated our life struggles and has not left us alone without any directions… we have the Bible as our guide and we must read this Word and avail ourselves of His counsel. The Psalm also tells us that God strengthens our heart in times when we are weak and heavy laden.
The last statement of this passage I think is one of the most powerful. He says, “But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds.” This person knows without any doubt that whatever comes his way, that God is with him. He has decided to rest in God and His wisdom. He has decided to tell everyone about the things God has done in his life so that he does not forget that God is always near.
ILLUSTRATION… by Dennis Jones
A small boy was in his sand box playing and digging in the sand. He finally struck a rock as he dug in deeper. He kept on digging and found it to be a huge rock that he could barely move. He struggled and fought to get the rock out of the box. With one final effort he used all his strength to get the rock out of the box. All it did was roll back and smashed his fingers. So he just sat there and cried. All of a sudden he felt a big shadow come over him. As he looked up through is tear filled eyes he saw his dad. He explained to his dad that he used everything he had to get the rock out of the box but failed. His dad said, “You did not use everything you had. You did not ask me to help”....
I would like to know this morning, without any doubt in your mind, that God is near to you in all situations and at all times. God never moves. He is constantly in our hearts and in our minds.
CONCLUSION
We can draw near to God by praying to Him à Deuteronomy 4:6-8: “Observe them carefully, for this will show your wisdom and understanding to the nations, who will hear about all these decrees and say, "Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people." What other nation is so great as to have their gods near them the way the LORD our God is near us whenever we pray to him? And what other nation is so great as to have such righteous decrees and laws as this body of laws I am setting before you today?”
We can draw near to God by asking Him à Psalm 145: 17-19: “The LORD is righteous in all his ways and loving toward all he has made. The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them.”
We can draw near to God by fearing Him and worshipping à Psalm 85:8-10: “I will listen to what God the LORD will say; He promises peace to his people, his saints- but let them not return to folly. Surely his salvation is near those who fear him that his glory may dwell in our land. Love and faithfulness meet together; righteousness and peace kiss each other.”
