The Way Through The Maze
Scripture: Psalm 27
Perhaps some of us are facing the kind of life situation that defies solution. What can we do? How do we find our way through the maze? It's very easy to give simplistic answers. If I were facing some impossible situation what would I want to hear? I believe I would want to hear from God, take whatever the consequences, and go on with my life under God's care and the support of other believers. In Psalm 27 David gives some wise counsel.
The LORD is my light and my salvation-- whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life-- of whom shall I be afraid?
When evil men advance against me to devour my flesh, when my enemies and my foes attack me, they will stumble and fall. Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then will I be confident.
One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple. For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock. Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me; at his tabernacle will I sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the LORD.
Hear my voice when I call, O LORD; be merciful to me and answer me. My heart says of you, "Seek his face!" Your face, LORD, I will seek. Do not hide your face from me, do not turn your servant away in anger; you have been my helper. Do not reject me or forsake me, O God my Savior.
Though my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will receive me. Teach me your way, O LORD; lead me in a straight path because of my oppressors. Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes, for false witnesses rise up against me, breathing out violence.
I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.
Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.
Choose to believe Christ will make a way for you.
Part of David's dilemma was due to his own sin when he had Uriah killed in battle and he stole his wife, Bathsheba. Even though God forgave him, God told David that the sword would never depart from his house. Even though God forgives us, the natural consequences of our sins may, and often do follow us until they run their course. [Editor's note: in fact, the principle of sowing a reaping is quite clear in the scriptures. Just because one accepts Jesus and turns from sin, does not mean that consequences will magically disappear. Still, it is better with Jesus, than without Him.}
David Had A Wicked Family:
2 Samuel 15:12 tells the sad story. In this Psalm (27), David learned an important discipline during a particularly hard time in his life and family. His son, Absalom, was an angry man. His half-brother, Amnon, violated Absolom's sister, Tamar. David was furious over Amnon's wickedness, but he didn't take any corrective action against him, and that made Absalom extremely angry. Two years later, Absalom developed a scheme and had his servant kill Amnon in revenge.There Was Rebellion In The Kingdom.
This created an uproar in the Kingdom. Fearing for his life, Absalom fled to a neighboring country and was in exile for three years.Later, David allowed Absalom back to Judah but refused to see his son for another two years. Finally, David forgave his son. But, it was too little, too late. Absalom organized a rebellion against his father by stealing the hearts of the people of Israel. David, his family and the king's officials had to flee from Jerusalem to save their lives. Eventually Absalom met justice, killed in accident of war and finished off by Joab in spite of David's command to spare Absalam's life. David mourned over his son's death. It was a sad day in the Kingdom.
As David left Jerusalem, scorn and abuse were heaped on him. One man was angry that a descendant of King Saul was not reigning in Jerusalem. He pelted David and his officials with stones and cursed him saying, "Get out, get out, you man of blood, you scoundrel."
David Trusted God.
These must have been difficult words to hear. It's hard to listen as people heap their abuse on you when your defensive action would only make things worse. One of his soldiers wanted to go up and take off the head of the abuser, but David refused saying, "It may be that the LORD will see my distress and repay me with good for the cursing. I am receiving today." This showed great trust in the Lord. When we experience this kind of abuse, we need to see it the way David did.The Lord Is A Stronghold. Ps. 27:1-6
The LORD is my light and my salvation -- whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life -- of whom shall I be afraid? A STRONGHOLD is a fortified place, a defense, a fortress, a rock of strength.
David's Great Trust.
This insurrection in the kingdom was deeply unsettling to David and his family and officials. Yet, he paused to recall God's past faithfulness. He was confident that God would prove trustworthy. He knew that God was the strength of his life. In our own mazes of life, when we are bewildered and confused, we to need to recall God's past blessings - loving protection and provision.We need to develop from our own history a repertoire of God's goodness to us and our friends and family. We also need to be acquainted with God's protection of his servants in the Bible. It helps to read Bible biographies and the lives of other Christians to see how God led them.
David didn't deny the troubles of his life. (3,4) David carefully analyzed every one of them. He didn't know the eventual outcome of all that God allowed in His life. He was greatly distressed and grieved over the developments. It threw him for a loop. We will also be thrown for a loop when the unexpected events of life overwhelm us. If you are devastated and distressed, consider yourself to be in good company. However, David was confident that God was there and had the ability to deal with those who sought to destroy him. David recognizes that, although his enemies were threatening, he could be thankful to the Lord. Through it all, David praised and worshipped the Lord with shouts for joy.
Wait a minute! You have got to be kidding! Shouts of Joy?
Yes! David, have you forgotten that Shimai cursed you and pelted you with stones. Have you forgotten that your son is leading an insurrection against you? David's answer was reassuring. With eager anticipation and confident faith David declared, "For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock. Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me; at his tabernacle will I sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the LORD.See Romans 8:28-39. Romans 8:28 does not say everything that happens is good. God is a faithful heavenly Father who, because He is both omniscient and omnipotent, is able to cause even unfortunate happenings to work for good to those who love the Lord.
In Romans 8:31-39, seven rhetorical questions lead us to five reasons why we should have confidence in God.
God is for us.
He will freely give us all things.
He has justified us.
He prays for us.
We cannot be separated from His love.
All of these precious blessings are granted to those who are in Christ Jesus. With them, the Christian can endure suffering with hope and assurance.
As it is written:
" For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 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." (Romans 8:37-39)So what do you when you don't know what to do? You choose to believe God will make a way for you. You choose to believe that God is your stronghold and you . . .
So what do you when you don't know what to do? You choose to believe God will make a way for you. You choose to believe that God is your stronghold and you . . .
Seek The Lord's Face. Ps. 27:7-12
The Greatest Need!
Not only did David declare his trust but he also sought the Lord. How did David go about seeking the Lord? David prayed.
"Hear my voice when I call, O LORD; be merciful to me and answer Me. My heart says of you, 'Seek his face!' Your face, LORD, I will seek. " (Psalm 27:7,8)Of course, we need the prayer and support of friends when we are going through the maze. But, the greatest need is to "Seek God's Face." What does this mean? It means we do what David did. He humbly requested two things of the Lord that He would hear his voice when he cried out to the Lord. He asked for mercy. In verse nine he prayed.
A Contrasting Picture
"Though my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will receive me." What father or mother in his or her right mind would forsake their own children. It seems impossible, but it is happening all around us. There are rare times when we must let our grown children go to suffer the consequences of their own sin. But a good parent will always be there for the children.
Though all human supports fail us, God will never forsake us. He will always be there for us. He will show a way through the maze. How does he show us the way? He does this through instruction.
Learn His Ways.
"Teach me your way, O LORD; lead me in a straight path because of my oppressors." (Psalm 27: 11)
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. (Isaiah 55:8-11)
Learning God's ways requires patient waiting.
Wait For The Lord. 13-14
"I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD."
Waiting Is The Key. In this situation David didn't have to wait very long for the resolution to the rebellion. It led through great sorrow for him but it was resolved. When standing before a maze what do we do? I recall another Psalm I have gone to frequently for support and encouragement. I read it a lot when people don't know what to do.
Do not fret because of evil men or be envious of those who do wrong; for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away.
Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.
Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret--it leads only to evil. Psalm 37:1-8
I think of one servant of the Lord who said
, "And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left." (Isaiah 30:21) This voice is not audible. It is a still small voice speaking through your mind by God's own Word. The only way to be led through the maze is to be daily in God's Word.One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple. For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock. V 4,5
Today we don't have a physical temple. We do, however, have the body of believers. When we come together, this place should be a temple, a shelter, a stronghold for salvation and healing. All of our energies should be focused on this.
Let us help people through the mazes of life and give hope and joy in believing His Word. This is what we do when we don't know what to do.