DAY 16.
The opening v 113 ties in with the thoughts of the last study, 'I hate vain thoughts' this points us to the many ideas mainly human that seek to belittle the word of God.
There are many Christians who do not see the promises of God in the word and who are content to remain that way but speak out against those who seek to apply it..
Their words are 'vain' that is empty or fleshly that have no eternal value at all, they come from a head and heart that does not want 'teaching' from the Lord.
The original word for 'vain' here means to be divided in thought or to become sceptical and full of doubts, David met many such religious folk as well as those not interested in spiritual issues.
The half hearted way of life is nothing new but it sadly effects the local church producing many weeds when there should be an abundant harvest in view.
What a contrast is seen when the word of God is believed and practised in a community the affects are obvious amongst the young through Sunday School, the youth through Bible class and the adults in their prayer and bible study.
These areas of Christian living that has gradually become defunct through apathy and doubts amongst Gods people.
The double minded person is a half hearted person as 1 Kings 18 and 21 reveal graphically Hezekiah was a King after David's heart 18 v 3 whilst Manasseh was the compete opposite 21 v 2.
Manasseh pulled down not just the fabric buildings but the foundation of society v 3 as he went about his evil ways, it is far easier to pull down than to build up as Manasseh found out to his cost.
David had laid the foundation for society that was wholesome and true to Gods word and Hezekiah continued to build upon it for the nations good but Mannaseh sought to destroy it because his heart was evil.
There are major lessons to learn here in an age when the motto in many churches is 'we've moved on' and I am not sure where they have moved on too.
One thing for sure holiness and righteousness is not seen or found in many places and fewer preachers of righteousness are being heard amongst the noise from the pulpits.
We should hear a clarion sound of truth from the pulpit but alas 'vain' thoughts and empty rhetoric are regularly heard sadly pulling down rather than building on the solid foundation.
The truth is for many saints they go to their 'hiding place' found at the feet of the Master
daily, sitting quietly meditating on Gods word the Author being the Tutor..
The hiding place is covered with promises for which they are truly grateful, what comfort in the promises 'I am with you' surrounding us with the knowledge that our heavenly Father will never leave us no matter the conditions.
Then the 'hiding place' produces the promise of confidence 'as thy days so shall thy strength be' we bow t the footstool of Grace and draw from the divine supply of strength and power enough for today.
The 'hiding place' reveals the consolation that is being prepared for us when we pass from this journey on earth into the King of Kings presence for eternity.
Three delightful promises that bring confidence to us as we wait in our Father's presence seeking instructions for the tasks of today.
We note the phrase 'my shield' David knew the value of the small shield that fitted on the arm that stones and small arrows could be deflected by.
As a shepherd and as a King he knew the tracking enemy would fire to hurt, maim or even kill him but the shield was constantly available for use.
He would not carry an ornate gold with jewelled covering shield but a simple metal one that was far more effective and he reminds us as he did himself that the Lord is our shield on the battlefield of life.
Today we rarely talk about the 'shield of faith' just occasionally we hear a message on the Whole Armour but without pointing to the fact that we need to wear it every day along the way..
Paul is not suggesting that we wear it in Ephesians 6 but the Lord is commanding that we wear it if we are going to be a good soldier of the Lord Jesus Christ.
What man will go to war without being fully covered for warfare, then even more so for the Christian disciple engaged in an endless war on earth with the evil enemy.
David wanted to be the best man he could be for the Living God and certainly did not want to be ashamed at the end of his life for his actions committed during his life.
It is an interesting thought that David enjoyed the same 'hope' that we do, the definite hope of dwelling in the presence of the Almighty God for eternity.
He may have lived in a palace on earth but he desired the presence of God with much greater longing, to dwell with God in the heavenly place, that was his real home.
The 'hope' in v 116 is the guaranteed promise of the Living God that where He is we will be also, there is nothing or no one who can stop the Christian disciple from knowing the reality of this promised 'hope'.
Neither can anyone rob us of the promised 'strength' that our heavenly Father gives to the obedient saint that enables them to triumph openly over the enemy v 117.
We maybe tremble v 120 on the Rock but the Rock will never tremble underneath us, 'Thou art my hiding place' what security this gives to us.
Equally 'thou hast trodden down the enemy of Thy word' v 118, this is one very good reason why we need to keep close to the Lord because we are completely safe walking alongside Him.
'Trodden down' literally means to be rendered null and void, of no use or value, the New Testament picture is of the Roman Legion Commander returning from a war conquest leading the fettered captives along the Arch de Triumph in Rome and putting his foot on the neck of their leader.
Our Lord Jesus has conquered Satan and stands in the heavenly place as the Conqueror before His Father of all our enemies and should triumph with Him.
We look at the enemy and look at naked self deception, their uniform is 'falsehood' and that infers hypocrisy but it also points to the fact that they are speaking lies when the make their claims to us.
They say they will kill us in fact they only assist us to make the simple journey to the heavenly place as Stephen found out in Acts 7.
The promise stands firm in all situations, being 'absent from the body means being present with the Lord' instantly we leave the earthly shell we go to be with our Lord and Saviour.
