The word of God - rediscovered, read, revered, bringing repentance and reform

Sermon notes from Sunday 1 June 2014

2 Kings 22

We can trace every revival back to the word of God.  Even in our land and province revival came through the word of God.  Think of the revival in the 1700’s with John and Charles Wesley and Whitfield.  God really touched them and set them on fire for the things of God.  The church doors were shut down to them, there was a great apathy and coldness in the society they lived in.  Everything was at a low ebb.  Think of the 1859 revival in our province - men looking into the word of God and preaching it to people.  4 men in Kells gathered together for prayer and to read God’s word.  Revival came from those men.  They not only had the word of God in their hands but in their hearts.  Josiah was only a young man, 8 years of age when he came to the throne and began to seek after the God of heaven.  He hadn’t much going for him.  Manasseh was his grandfather.  He was the one who lay on his bed and pleaded with God for an extra 15 years of life.  In those years his own son Amon was born.  Amon was one of the wickedest men who ever ruled.  In later years he had a change of heart.  When he died Josiah came to the throne.  He turned his heart towards the God of heaven.  Things began to happen in his kingdom.  Think of Josiah and the word of God.  Verse 11 it was the book of the law that brought conviction to his heart.  The book of the law was God’s word.

A book that was rediscovered – verse 8 “I have found the book of the law in the house of the Lord and Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan and he read it.”  It was not any old book but God’s word.  Moses first wrote down the words God spoke to him on the mountainside.  That book had been set aside.  Ammon had turned against God.  The temple was misused, bolted up, doors closed so that no-one could enter in.  Replaced the worship of God and set up idols and they worshipped the sun, moon and stars.  It stands to reason didn’t need the word of God.  So it was set aside in the nation of Israel.  Everyone turned their back on the word of God.  Even the very leaders did at one time.  No special search was made for this book.  Perhaps set aside by some old apostate king who had turned his back on God.  So many philosophers and teachers tell us today the bible is an ancient book, it is out of touch with the young people and we need something else now.  ‘Our land doesn’t need this book’ we hear it day after day.  Without this book people were living by ritual.  They didn’t know which way to turn.  “Every man did that which was right in his own eyes.” (Judges 17 verse 6)  In the days of Naomi the family gathered together when the head of the house made a decision to go to Moab because he had heard there was food to eat there.  Moab was a wicked place.  The man died and so did his 2 sons.  Naomi was left with her 2 daughters in law - all because they thought they were doing what was right.  We need to get before the God of heaven and ask for his direction - is this the correct way to go?  The Lord will show us if only we ask.  Here was a rediscovered book.  Paul in Romans talked about the word of God being held down – chapter 1 verse 18 “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who hold the truth in unrighteousness.”  They are supressing the word of God and not opening it up.  Isn’t that what we have today?  People who don’t hold the word of God in high regard.  The 2 men on the Emmaeus road, their hearts were opened as Jesus opened the word of God to them.  Maybe someone had set the book aside because they felt they didn’t need it.  Maybe some apostate king did it or perhaps godly scribe did it to keep it safe for another generation.  Are we doing that – safeguarding the word of God for another generation?  The old sceptic said he couldn’t believe the bible because he couldn’t believe a book where the author is unknown.  A Christian in the meeting spoke to him – do you believe in the multiplication tables?  Yes the sceptic replied.  The Christian asked who compiled them?  The sceptic said I do not know but I believe them because they work.  I believe in the Bible because it works the Christian said to him.  Queen Victoria said “this is what made Britain great – standing on the word of God.”  Joshua told the people to meditate on the word of God day and night.

This book was read in Josiah’s day – verse 11.  He heard the book and rent his clothes.  The priest read it in his presence.  When the priest found that book he realised it was no ordinary book, something that should be in possession of the king.  Not a possession of the nation to be set aside in a glass cabinet and only read on special occasions but rather to be read day and daily.  “Thy word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against you.” (Psalm 119 verse 11) The Psalmist wrote.  The word of God is to be meditated on, kept hid in our hearts, taking time to ponder over it.  In many homes today the word of God is not present.  The only time it is taken out is when death comes to the home.  The goal of the great reformers was to place the Bible in every person’s hand, in their own language.  There were many who translated it and for some it cost them their lives.  We need to get back to the reading of God’s word.  You and I need to get back into the word of God and read it and meditate on it.

This book was revered – verse 14.  2 Chronicles 34 this was no ordinary book – verse 14.  It was given by Moses.  This priest realised the importance of the book.  It was God’s word given to the nation through Moses.  Many think it is an old book and out of date but it is perhaps more relevant than tomorrow’s papers.  2 Chronicles taken into the palace revered, given a place of prominence, priority and importance.  This book was revered, taken to the highest position.  The bible should receive the highest esteem.  Is it so in my life?  Are there so many books in my life that I take it for granted?  I wonder do we take this book into homes and other places where we go?  Is it upon our lips?  Do we tell others about this book or is it hidden in our hearts?  Do we love to get together just to talk about this book?  Malachi 4 verse 16 “then they that feared the Lord spake one to another.”  The Lord hearkened to their words.  Acts 8 as they went they were scattered about preaching the word of God.  Such was the revered word.  As we celebrate 40 years we need to be making sure we revere the word of God.  We might give generously to our missions, to those who take the gospel to other lands but we need to take the word of God to our neighbours, to people who haven’t heard the word of God.  Will you take the word of God to them?  Will we seek to share the word of God with others?

The book brought repentance.  The king rent his clothes and put on ashes.  Ashes were a symbol of repentance.

The book brought reform.  The king asked the priest to ask God what would happen in the future. He sent to consult the prophetess Huldah, who assured him that the evil foretold would indeed come, but not in his day; "because," she said, "thine heart was tender and thou didst humble thyself before the Lord." An assembly of the elders of Judah and Jerusalem and of all the people was called, and the ancient covenant with God was renewed.

The Lord is My Shepherd

Sermon Notes from Sunday 8 June 2014

PSALM 23

This is one Psalm that gives the illustration of life itself.  The Psalmist talks of the various stages of life.  Imagine the Psalmist sitting on the hillside watching the sheep grazing.  They are so content and as the Psalmist looked he could think of the goodness of God bringing him to that very hour.  The sheep had food to sustain them.  The shepherd himself was looking away to the splendours of heaven and saying “the Lord is my shepherd”.

Verse 1 – the decision of the Psalmist – “my”.  Can you say the Lord is my shepherd today?  For the Psalmist he put the Lord first in his life.  Have you trusted the Lord as Saviour?  Has he forgave you of all your sin and do you know that experience of the Lord taking away your sin?

Verse 2 – the direction of the Psalmist.  The moment he put his trust in the Lord, the Lord was leading him.  Are you still going on with the Lord?  Maybe you made that decision some years ago but is the Lord as real to you today as then?  Are you still being guided and led by the Lord?

Verse 3 – the delight of the Psalmist.  Every step the Psalmist took the Lord was with him – “he restoreth my soul.”  The Lord is feeding us all the time.

Verse 4 – the despair of the Psalmist.  Now the Psalmist is in the valley.

Verse 5 – the defence of the Psalmist.  Once we put the Lord first in our lives, have made that decision to take him as Saviour and he is leading us so we know the delights moment by moment but there will be despair in the midst.

Verse 6 – the destiny of the Psalmist.  We have 2 destinies.  One is the awful place called hell for those who are not saved but the Psalmist sees the splendours of heaven waiting for him on that day when he steps from this scene of time.

In verse 4 we want to look at the valley experience of the Psalmist.  In that low place he hears every sound and it frightens him.  The sun seems far away, he is right at the deepest part of the valley.  He is looking for some glimmer of light but there is none there.  In verse 2 the Psalmist says “he leadeth me”.  The shepherd is so certain of this.  In the shepherd’s leading the Psalmist has to pass through many dark valleys just to get where God wants us to be in life.  In Psalm 40 the Psalmist was in an awful pit.  There was nothing solid in that miry clay.  There was nothing he could do for himself.  All he could do was lift his voice and cry to the God of heaven.  What a place to be in, on the run from Saul the King of Israel.  Saul did not like David, the crowd was on his side.  “Saul has killed his thousands and David has killed his tens of thousands” the people shouted.  Saul chased him out into the forests and dens.  His own son Absalom turned against his father.  David the shepherd boy became the King of Israel.  2 Samuel 22 “as for God his way his perfect.”  On all occasions David could say “the Lord knows best.”  Job was also in a valley.  Remember one morning he arose, washed and dressed and went out to make sacrifice for his family.  News came later in the day that his flocks, herds and family were all wiped out and sickness then prevailed against him.  Right down in the valley he could say “he knoweth the way that I take” (Job 23).  This is what the Psalmist is saying.  He knows the way I take yet he had to go through the valley of the shadow of death.  Maybe it is hard to see a glimmer of light.

The valley’s pace – “yea thou I walk”.  He is walking through it.  The Lord doesn’t run him through it.  It strikes me as slow process, taking time to get right through that valley.  It is not a fleeting thing.  The commentators would say Job’s sorrow lasted 2/3 years.  The heartbreak of his family no longer around him.  He had to go through it before there was a glimmer of light.  Sometimes we want to rush through things.  Life can be a real plod, a slow pace.  Maybe in this valley time you feel yourself not going anywhere, you are really trying but you are going nowhere.  That problem exists.  Maybe you have prayed about it for 20 years day in and day out but the situation has not changed.  Jairus was a leader of the synagogue, an upright man, a bible teacher, a man of prayer.  In his own home he had a daughter of 12 years of age.  He loved her with all his heart.  One day she fell sick and became worse as the days went on.  Do you think he prayed about it?  I think he did.  Imagine his prayers “please heal my daughter, have mercy on her.”  We don’t know how long that situation prevailed, how long she was ill or how long Jairus prayed.  He contacted Jesus and poured out his heart to the Lord asking him to come and lay his hand on his daughter.  The Lord followed after him.  Another woman with an issue of blood was also healed.  Jairus I am sure was impatient with all that was happening.  The pace in the valley is slow.  You would love something to happen but you must wait on the Lord.

The valley’s presence – “for thou art with me.”  The Psalmist will enjoy something in this valley he had never experienced before.  David’s proved the presence of the Lord in the midst of this.  John Wesley was on his deathbed in 1791 with his followers gathered around his bedside.  They sang hymns and prayed with him and then started to say farewell as the dark clouds closed around him.  Wesley said “best of all God is with us.”  He knew the presence of God.  Are we enjoying the presence of God today?  Even in the depths of sorrow we can enjoy God’s presence.  Daniel was in the lions den, not there because of anything he had done wrong.  Others were jealous of him but even in the den fear could not even annoy him there.  Why?  Because God had closed the mouth of the lions.  He felt God’s presence in his midst.  Paul talked about his “thorn in the flesh” and how it prevailed on him for some considerable time.  Imagine his prayers asking the Lord to take it away.  The Lord told him “no I will not take it away, my grace is sufficient for you.”  Every day Paul you will have the grace on you.  Even though Paul was in the prison house, had been beaten and was tied in stocks and he wrote letters to the churches to encourage them but he never once asked for any of them to pray for him.  The Lord promised Paul his presence instead.  You will never enjoy the grace of God until you are in that situation, until you are going through that time of sickness.

The valley’s peace.  The hymn writer could say “there is peace in the valley for me”.  One night after D L Moody preached someone spoke to him.  That person was going through a difficult time but he said he rested on this promise “what time I am afraid I will trust in thee.”  D L Moody asked him if he could give him something better – “God is my salvation I will trust and not be afraid.” (Isaiah 12 verse 2)  There is a peace we can get – Hebrews 13 verse 5 “The Lord will never leave you nor forsake you.”  The people the writer was speaking to were afraid.  They were going through a difficult time, afraid of losing their homes, their finances, their families and even their lives.  The verse goes on to say “so that you might boldly say the Lord is my helper I will not fear what the enemy will do to me.”  David went out to fight Goliath.  He didn’t have the support of his brothers who thought he was just an upstart and seeking his own glory.  When he went down into the valley to meet that man with all his cursing and swearing he was able to say “you have come to me with all your armour, your military ability, great stature and history behind you but I am come in the name of the Lord of Israel.”  He had a peace even standing with just a slingshot and 5 stones in his pouch.  You can have that peace in the valley today.

The valley’s prize – “yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death”.  Whatever problem you have today the Lord will go through it with you walking beside it.  As we go back to the first line of the Psalm is he your shepherd?  No matter how dark the valley he will take us through it.  The Psalmist had his eye on the glories of heaven as he walked through the valley.