In Part One of this lesson we looked at how David “David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.”. How about us today? In times of trouble, do we follow David’s example? Consider a few thoughts along this line in dealing with our problems today. We face many problems, even as Christians. Some are related to family, or other matters of personal concern. Some are related to jobs, and the issue of financial security. In many cases, people try to tackle their problems alone. They leave God completely out of the picture. Sometimes they even forsake Him entirely.... By no longer praising Him and praying to Him daily. By neglecting the assembly in which we gather to edify one another and worship God. The reasoning is often expressed this way: “Let me get my life straight, then I will be able to serve God and live for Him.”
But God is angry if we seek to solve our problems without Him…! God considers such a person as cursed! - Jer 17:5-8 “Thus says the LORD: "Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the LORD. He is like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see any good come. He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land. "Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit."’ A good example of God’s displeasure when His people fail to look to Him for strength is found in Isaiah.... When attacked by Assyria, Israel placed her trust in Egypt - Isa 30:1-2 ‘"Ah, stubborn children," declares the LORD, "who carry out a plan, but not mine, and who make an alliance, but not of my Spirit, that they may add sin to sin; who set out to go down to Egypt, without asking for my direction, to take refuge in the protection of Pharaoh and to seek shelter in the shadow of Egypt!” Because of this, God promised to frustrate the efforts of Israel to solve her problems by herself! - Isa 30:3 “Therefore shall the protection of Pharaoh turn to your shame, and the shelter in the shadow of Egypt to your humiliation.”; 31:1-3 “Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help and rely on horses, who trust in chariots because they are many and in horsemen because they are very strong, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel or consult the LORD! And yet he is wise and brings disaster; he does not call back his words, but will arise against the house of the evildoers and against the helpers of those who work iniquity. The Egyptians are man, and not God, and their horses are flesh, and not spirit. When the LORD stretches out his hand, the helper will stumble, and he who is helped will fall, and they will all perish together.” Yes, God wanted Israel to trust in Him, not themselves - Isa 30:15-16 “For thus said the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, "In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength." But you were unwilling, and you said, "No! We will flee upon horses"; therefore you shall flee away; and, "We will ride upon swift steeds"; therefore your pursuers shall be swift.”
Even so today, God wants us to put our trust in Him - Ja 4:8 “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”; 1 Pe 5:6-7 “Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.” The truth of the matter is this, it is not “God helps those who help themselves”, but rather “God helps those who trust in the Lord with all their heart, and lean not on their own understanding”! - Pro 3:5-6 “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” When we leave God out of the picture in solving problems one thing is certain: God leaves us to deal with those problems on our own, and without His help! Another thing is possible: In an act of loving discipline, God might frustrate our efforts to solve our problems independent of His help (He certainly disciplined Israel that way!)
So let us learn from one experienced in dealing with problems (David).... In times of trouble, look to the Lord for your strength! Trust in the Lord, and be steadfast in praising Him and praying to Him. Don’t forsake Him, nor forsake the assembly of the saints in which we draw near to Him. Let what David said of himself be true of us as well: “My soul follows close behind You; Your right hand upholds me.” - Psa 63:8. Remember that those who trust in God will find strength, deliverance, and true happiness! Do you trust in the Lord, or in your own strength? Let the Lord be your deliverance! Especially when it pertains to the problem of the guilt of sin...
But God is angry if we seek to solve our problems without Him…! God considers such a person as cursed! - Jer 17:5-8 “Thus says the LORD: "Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the LORD. He is like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see any good come. He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land. "Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit."’ A good example of God’s displeasure when His people fail to look to Him for strength is found in Isaiah.... When attacked by Assyria, Israel placed her trust in Egypt - Isa 30:1-2 ‘"Ah, stubborn children," declares the LORD, "who carry out a plan, but not mine, and who make an alliance, but not of my Spirit, that they may add sin to sin; who set out to go down to Egypt, without asking for my direction, to take refuge in the protection of Pharaoh and to seek shelter in the shadow of Egypt!” Because of this, God promised to frustrate the efforts of Israel to solve her problems by herself! - Isa 30:3 “Therefore shall the protection of Pharaoh turn to your shame, and the shelter in the shadow of Egypt to your humiliation.”; 31:1-3 “Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help and rely on horses, who trust in chariots because they are many and in horsemen because they are very strong, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel or consult the LORD! And yet he is wise and brings disaster; he does not call back his words, but will arise against the house of the evildoers and against the helpers of those who work iniquity. The Egyptians are man, and not God, and their horses are flesh, and not spirit. When the LORD stretches out his hand, the helper will stumble, and he who is helped will fall, and they will all perish together.” Yes, God wanted Israel to trust in Him, not themselves - Isa 30:15-16 “For thus said the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, "In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength." But you were unwilling, and you said, "No! We will flee upon horses"; therefore you shall flee away; and, "We will ride upon swift steeds"; therefore your pursuers shall be swift.”
Even so today, God wants us to put our trust in Him - Ja 4:8 “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”; 1 Pe 5:6-7 “Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.” The truth of the matter is this, it is not “God helps those who help themselves”, but rather “God helps those who trust in the Lord with all their heart, and lean not on their own understanding”! - Pro 3:5-6 “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” When we leave God out of the picture in solving problems one thing is certain: God leaves us to deal with those problems on our own, and without His help! Another thing is possible: In an act of loving discipline, God might frustrate our efforts to solve our problems independent of His help (He certainly disciplined Israel that way!)
So let us learn from one experienced in dealing with problems (David).... In times of trouble, look to the Lord for your strength! Trust in the Lord, and be steadfast in praising Him and praying to Him. Don’t forsake Him, nor forsake the assembly of the saints in which we draw near to Him. Let what David said of himself be true of us as well: “My soul follows close behind You; Your right hand upholds me.” - Psa 63:8. Remember that those who trust in God will find strength, deliverance, and true happiness! Do you trust in the Lord, or in your own strength? Let the Lord be your deliverance! Especially when it pertains to the problem of the guilt of sin...
