Which Door Do You Choose?

John 10:1-10

Every day each of us will likely go in and out of various doorways.  Throughout our homes there are several doorways.  Then as we go out for our day we go in and out of office doors, store doors, even our car doors.  We need to be careful that each of these doors are the correct ones.  We wouldn’t want to accidentally try to go through the wrong apartment or house door, or the wrong car door!  That might get us into trouble!  As important as it is to choose the correct doors in our life, it is even more important that the door we go through as we enter eternity is the correct one!  Our Scripture today from the Gospel of John speaks of the door that we need to make sure that we enter through.  Let’s see what door that is.

A common theme throughout the Bible is that of representing people as sheep with a shepherd looking after them.  The kings of Judah were sometimes spoken of as shepherds guiding the flock of God’s people.  King David was both a literal shepherd in his youth, and then a figurative one as king.  The prophets throughout the Old Testament were frequently referred to in Scripture as a type of spiritual shepherd, guiding the flock of God’s people into His ways.  Just like in life, there were good shepherds that genuinely cared for the sheep, and then there were bad shepherds who didn’t.  There were good kings and good religious leaders who led the people in following God, and bad ones who led the people astray into idolatry and false teachings.

Just prior to the beginning of our Scripture Jesus had healed the man who had been born blind, and the Pharisees in protest, cast him out of the synagogue for believing in Jesus, and then proceeded to challenge Him.  Jesus began to teach the people about false shepherds who lead the flock astray, as that is what the Pharisees were doing.  Sheep were kept in a fenced-in sheepfold overnight, which had a gate or doorway to enter.  There was only one proper way to enter the sheepfold, and that was through the gate, and anyone who tried to enter another way, was up to no good, he was a thief (vs. 1).  The flock was God’s people, and the proper door was God’s appointed way to eternal life which His proper shepherds were to lead to.  False spiritual leaders who claim authority but do not lead by God’s appointed ways, are thieves and robbers.  God alone determines the correct spiritual way.  Any leader who chooses some other teaching besides the Bible is a false shepherd.

A true, God-appointed shepherd will come through God’s appointed means (vs. 2).  Jesus is the Chief Shepherd, and the prophets of the Old Testament and true godly priests and preachers of today come through God’s approved way.  The Chief Shepherd calls the sheep by name. Just like sheep recognize the voice of their shepherd, genuine believers will recognize the voice of the Shepherd Jesus (vs. 3).  He personally cares for His sheep, His children, and knows them each intimately, knowing their name.

Shepherds in the Middle East during Biblical times would always lead their flock from the front, not from behind (vs. 4-5).  That is the way that Jesus leads His sheep, by His example, not by coercion.  His sheep will follow Him because they can trust Him, they know His character, and recognize His voice.  True believers have spiritual discernment.  They may be temporarily confused, but they will not ultimately follow false doctrine or false teachers.  Some of the people listening, including the Pharisees, refused to accept Jesus’ words (vs. 6).  They were spiritually blind, closing their hearts and minds to Him.

Jesus is not only our Shepherd, He is also the Door through whom we must enter to come to God’s Kingdom (vs 7).  Access to God is exclusively through Him, and salvation is only through Him.  This is consistent with John 14:6, where Jesus said He is the Way, and no one can come to the Father except through Him.  All of the false messiahs, the corrupt religious leaders, and self-appointed spiritual authorities, both then and now, are thieves and robbers (vs. 8).  They steal, taking what is not theirs.  They kill by destroying spiritual life, leading to eternal ruin.  How many of today’s false preachers continue to take money to live their lavish lifestyle, and preach their false messages which send their followers to eternal doom?

However, those who follow Jesus, going through His door, will be saved, finding spiritual nourishment (vs. 9-10).  He is not merely the beginning of salvation, He is the ongoing source of spiritual life.  The thief destroys, but Jesus gives eternal life more abundantly.

Whose voice are you following, that of Jesus or some other religious leader or philosophy?  Jesus is the only Door.  No other religion, ritual, or leader can replace Him.  True under-shepherds will lead those in the flock they are looking after through His Door, His way.  They won’t try to climb in some other way, which leads to destruction.  There is only one safe and true Door.  When we walk through the door of Jesus, we are promised eternal life.

Suffering for Righteousness

I Peter 2:19-25

Have you ever been wrongly accused of something that you had never done, and then been punished for it?  Perhaps as a child one of your teachers blamed you for something that another student had done.  As you get older, it could get more serious.  A police officer could claim you didn’t yield when driving, or speeding when you weren’t, and issue you a ticket.  More serious than that would be if your boss falsely accused you of something and you lost your job, and even worse you could be falsely accused of a crime and spend time in prison.  In the Apostle Peter’s first letter to Christians who were going through some seriously difficult times for their faith in Jesus, including many having to leave their homes, he spoke about such circumstances, and what their reaction should be.  Let’s see what God’s Word can teach us.

Peter was writing to give encouragement to Christians in Asia Minor (modern day Turkey) who were being persecuted for their faith.  He explains here why righteous suffering matters, as it reflects the Lord Jesus to others.  Peter begins this segment of Scripture to say that God is pleased when believers endure unjust suffering, because they are conscious of Him (vs. 19).  It is commendable, as God looks with favor on their endurance when they don’t give up their faith in Him.  This, as Peter states, is if they are going through this suffering wrongfully, not because of sin or any wrongdoing that they have done.  The motive of the suffering is important for meriting God’s blessing and favor.  It must be for righteousness, not sin, stoicism, or self-glory.  Righteous suffering is meaningful because it is focused on the Lord.

Some suffering is deserved for the wrong that was done, and this suffering has no spiritual value (vs. 20).  If you were speeding, you deserve the ticket.  If you committed the crime you deserve the prison sentence.  However, often good people suffer for doing well.  The bad treatment they are enduring is undeserved.  Not all suffering is noble.  Only  the suffering endured for righteousness’ sake is commendable to God.  If a person does wrong and then suffers the consequences, even though they patiently endure the punishment, nobody applauds.  But when you do what is right and suffer for it with grace and patience, God applauds.

Now Peter gets to the heart of this passage.  Believers are called to righteous suffering (vs. 21).  This is not because God delights in pain, but rather because such suffering follows the example of Jesus Christ, and it displays Him to the world.  We are conformed to the image of Jesus because He also suffered unjustly.  His suffering was substitutionary because He suffered for us, and also left us an example to follow.

Verse 22 is a quote from Isaiah 53:9, which establishes that Jesus was sinless and perfectly righteous.  He alone was qualified to be the spotless Lamb of God, the substitutionary sacrifice for our sins.  Only a sinless substitute can bear the sins of others.

What was Jesus’ response to the unjust suffering that He endured?  So often when someone is wrongly accused and punished for something they didn’t do, they try to defend themselves, raising their voice in anger.  On that Good Friday, Jesus did not retaliate.  He did not answer back.  Instead, He left the judging to God.  He did not seek revenge (vs. 23)  This is the pattern for believers to follow.  We do not need to vindicate ourselves as God will do that for us.

Jesus bore our sins upon Himself, in His own Body, on the Cross (vs. 24).    Because He bore our sins, we are to die to sin and live for righteousness.  Following in Jesus’ steps means pursuing holiness and enduring suffering.  The Cross of Christ reveals man’s sin at its worst, but also God’s love at its deepest.  In taking our place on the Cross, Jesus experienced the wrath of God against our iniquities.  As a result, the penalty for our sins has been fully paid.

Peter closes with a pastoral reminder (vs. 25).  We were like wandering sheep (Isaiah 53:6).  However, Jesus’ substitutionary death brings us back into God’s fold.  He is now our Shepherd, protecting and providing for us.  He is also our Overseer or Bishop of our souls, guarding and taking care of us for all eternity.

As the day of Christ’s return draws closer, there will be more persecution and suffering of His followers.  As Peter has told us, suffering for doing right is never wasted.  It is precious to God.  We need to imitate Jesus’ humility, patience, and trust in God during any time of suffering we go through.  And now, the One who suffered before us and for us, watches over us.

Trusting in the Correct One

Psalm 20

Sometimes in life we find ourselves doing battle.  Of course there are literal, physical battles, whether it is a war that our country may get involved in, or if someone picks a fight with us.  Then there are figurative battles, such as battling an illness or disease, or economic or financial battles we deal with.  And then equally as serious are the spiritual battles we fight against Satan and his minions.  Our psalm for this week is a prayer for the king as he goes forth to battle, and can also be a prayer for us in any type of battle that we may face in our daily lives.

King David often went to battle against the enemies of both Israel and also of Yahweh.  When he would prepare for battle he and the people of Israel would pray for God’s protection and help.  They prayed that the Lord would answer David when danger comes, in “the day of trouble” (vs. 1).  This refers not only to a literal battle, but also can apply to any crisis we face.  Jesus told us that trouble is to be expected and should not be considered unusual (John 16:33), but that He will hear us when we pray to Him in time of trouble (Psalm 34:17).  We should always remember to pray for ourselves and each other before the crisis hits, not only while we are in it.

As the people prayed, they knew that help comes from God’s presence, not from any type of human strategy (vs. 2).  God is the source of our victories in any type of battle (Psalm 121:2).  The spiritual battles that we face require spiritual help (Ephesians 6:10-18).  God’s help should always be sought first, not as a last resort.

David had offered sacrifices before going into battle, and the people prayed that God would accept them (vs. 3).  When our worship is offered in obedience to His Word, God will respond.  Victory is connected to a life aligned with God, not just merely asking for His help.  The people prayed that God would fulfill David’s desires and plans (vs. 4).  God will bless the desires of ours that align with His will.  We need to pray that our desires will be shaped by the Bible so that God can bless them.

As we read further, the people anticipated a victory before the battle even began.  Faith will celebrate God’s deliverance before it arrives, and praise Him in advance for what He will do.  Next David spoke, giving testimony that he knew that God would save “His anointed”, which is what the word Messiah in Hebrew means (vs. 6).  David had been anointed king by the prophet Samuel, however Jesus Christ is the greater Anointed One.  God’s salvation is certain because it rests upon His covenant.

Where or in whom are we placing our trust when we encounter the battles that we face each day? (vs. 7).   What “chariots” do we trust in?  Our abilities, strength, human wisdom, friends or relatives?  Worldly goods are sometimes useful in daily life, but they don’t give us security in times of trouble.  If we place our trust in things, possessions, or wealth, we find that they eventually give way, and then we wonder why we fail, and why certain problems continue to affect us.  In a world of change, we can trust our unchanging God.

While God may use the resources of this world to help us, ultimately victory over our problems comes from Him.  Whether He gives us a resolution or the grace to endure, we can trust that He’ll be for us all that He says He is.  We don’t have to be overwhelmed by our troubles, but we can face them with His hope and peace.

Those who trust in theirs or others human strength will eventually collapse.  But those who trust in God will stand firm (vs. 8).  God promises to exalt the humble, and brings down the proud.  This victory is not always physical, but is spiritual.  Standing firm in trials is evidence of trust in God.  The psalm ends with a final prayer for God’s salvation and for the king’s success.

As we look back over our psalm of today, we realize that God is the source of both salvation and victory.  It is not in our human strength, planning, or resources. Prayer is always essential before any type of battle we face.  We also learn to pray before the crisis hits, not just during it.  Finally, we should examine where our trust lies - is it in God or in human strength?  As believers and followers of Jesus, our trust should be in Him rather than in any worldly security.

The Martyrdom of Stephen

Acts 7:51-60

We often remember the first person to do something, like Neil Armstrong being the first man on the moon, Edmund Hillary and Sherpa, Tenzing Norgay being the first to reach the summit of Mt. Everest, or Roald Amundsen being the first to reach the South Pole.  Countless other “firsts” were never recorded so we have no idea who would get the honor.  However, we do have a “first” recorded in our Scripture for today, that being the first martyr of the Christian Church.

Today we look at a pivotal event that happened in the very early Church, that of the martyrdom of St. Stephen.  Though the exact date is not given in the Book of Acts, most Biblical scholars place his death between two to four years after the Day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit came down upon the believers, and the Christian Church began.  Stephen was one of seven men who were chosen by the Apostles to be deacons in the church in Jerusalem (Acts 6:1-6).  In addition to assisting in the day-to-day ministries for the needs of the poor, Stephen was also a very gifted preacher.  His teachings were very powerful and convicting, so much so that he quickly came to the attention of the Jewish religious leaders and the Sanhedrin (the Jewish court and legal council).  Stephen was promptly arrested and brought before these religious and legal leaders where he was questioned.

Our Scripture passage picks up just as Stephen ended a rather lengthy testimony, tracing Israel’s history of resisting God’s messengers.  He brought his message to a conclusion by stating that the leaders of the people now have repeated the sins of their fathers by rejecting the Messiah (vs. 51-53).  This would be the final rejection of the Gospel by the Sanhedrin.  Stephen called these religious leaders “stiffnecked”, as they stubbornly refused to bow to God, just as their fathers also refused. And they were “uncircumcised in heart and ears”.  They were outwardly religious, but inwardly they were disobedient.  They willfully rejected God’s revealed truth.  Israel had a history of rejecting God’s messengers.  Stephen pointed out that they prided themselves on possessing God’s Law, however, possession is not obedience.

The religious leaders were “cut to the heart” (vs. 54).  They knew that what Stephen said was true.  There was no denying it.  However, they did not repent.  Instead of yielding to the Holy Spirit, they responded with rage.  Stephen remained controlled, calm, and focused on Christ in contrast to the mob’s fury (vs. 55-56).  As he looked up he saw the Lord Jesus standing at God’s right hand.  This is the only time in Scripture that Jesus is described as standing at God’s right hand.  Jesus was standing as Stephen’s advocate (I John 2:1).  He was standing to receive His servant, the first of countless martyrs, into glory.

When these religious leaders and members of the Sanhedrin heard Stephen speak of seeing Jesus at God’s right hand, they flew into a murderous fury (vs. 57-58).  They stopped their ears and rushed upon him, casting him out of the city.  There they began to stone Stephen.  This was not a legal execution, but instead a lynching driven by their religious fury.

As Stephen fell down dying, he prayed to Jesus, repeating some of the same words that the Savior did as He died upon the Cross (vs. 59-60).  He asked Jesus to receive his spirit (Luke 23:46), and also asked Him to forgive those who had killed him (Luke 23:34).  As we can all imagine, stoning is a very brutal form of death, yet Stephen forgave them.  Would we be able to do the same?  This was evidence of the Holy Spirit’s work in Stephen, even in his suffering.

In this Scripture passage we are first introduced to Paul, who at this time was known as Saul (vs. 58).  Saul was a devout Pharisee, and was possibly also connected to the Sanhedrin.  As one who at this time strongly opposed this new faith of those who followed Jesus, he approved of the death of Stephen.  The blood of the first martyr watered the tiny seeds of faith that would, in a couple of years, bring forth fruit in the heart of Saul with his conversion, which we read of in Acts 9.

As we close, we see that Stephen boldly spoke the truth, even when it was unpopular, and even when he knew the danger of doing so in front of the Jewish religious leaders and Sanhedrin.  We must do the same today.  There are many different groups which are hostile to true, genuine Christians today.  However, like Stephen, we need to stand for Biblical truth, and refuse to compromise anything under pressure. Stephen’s eyes were on Jesus, not on his circumstances.  Because of that, he was able to see the Savior clearly.  He valued eternity over comfort, and so must we, living with heaven in view.  This passage challenges us to forgive our enemies.  We need to release all bitterness, and instead pray for our persecutors.  Finally, as we look, we see Saul off in the corner.  His presence there shows God’s hidden purposes.  What looks like tragedy may be the seeds of future triumph, as we know how God used Saul/Paul in a mighty way to spread the Gospel he once fought against.

Marks of a Spirit-Filled Church

Acts 2:36-47

If someone from the very early Church were to time-travel to today and visit any number of churches, would they feel that they could recognize where they were?  Aside from the language difference, and modern technology, would there be any key marks or similarities that they would recognize, or would it feel like some public social gathering where some music was played and a speaker gave a message?  In our Scripture passage taken from the second chapter of Acts, we read about the very early beginnings of the Church, and what some of the birthmarks of that early New Testament Church were.

The setting for our Scripture is immediately following the first sermon that the Apostle Peter gave on the Day of Pentecost, the people’s reaction, and the establishment of the Church in the weeks that followed.  The immediate results of that first sermon was conviction brought on by the Holy Spirit, repentance, faith in the Lord Jesus, believer’s baptism, and the formation of a Spirit-filled, Scripture-centered Church.  The Holy Spirit had just descended upon the believers who had gathered together, and Peter had just given a message.  In his first sermon he proclaimed that Jesus is the promised Messiah, that the people of Israel had the Messiah crucified, that God had raised Him from the dead, and now Jesus is exalted at God’s right hand.  Now as we come to our opening verses, we see what the crowd’s response was.

In Peter’s closing statement to his sermon, he proclaimed the deity of the Lord Jesus, that He is both Lord and Christ (vs. 36).  “Lord” is a divine title, stating that He has power and authority over us, and “Christ” is the Greek word for Anointed One, which is what the word Messiah means.  He also stated their human responsibility for the crucifixion.  Peter did not soften the truth.  Instead, he preached sin, responsibility, and the exaltation of Christ.  Would our time-traveling 1st century visitor hear that in our churches today?  All too many churches today never mention sin, that we are all sinners who need salvation, or any mention of repentance.  However, a faithful Gospel presentation must include the identity of Jesus Christ, that we are guilty sinners, and the necessity of responding to this truth.

When Peter presented this message to the crowds, the Holy Spirit brought conviction (vs. 37).  When our preachers give this type of message today, He will also come in power as He did then.  True conviction will include an awareness of their sin before God, taking responsibility for that sin, and also recognizing who Jesus truly is.  No one is saved without conviction.

Once they had received and believed the truth, the crowds asked Peter what they needed to do.  Peter responded for them to repent, be baptized, and receive the Holy Spirit (vs. 38).  Repentance is a change of mind about sin and who Jesus truly is.  It is a turning from unbelief to faith, and is a necessary part of salvation.  Being baptized does not save us.  It is not a part of salvation.  It is the public identification of ourselves with the Lord Jesus. Salvation is by grace through faith alone (Ephesians 2:8-9).  Baptism is the first act of obedience, not a means of receiving forgiveness.   Then after one is saved, the Holy Spirit comes to indwell the believer.  This is the permanent indwelling promised to all believers (Ephesians 1:13-14).

This message that Peter preached, and the promises therein was for everyone (vs. 39-40).  The Gospel is for everyone - for the Jewish people “you”, for the Gentiles “all who are afar off”, and to each’s descendants “your children”.  Are our churches today welcoming to everyone, regardless of race or national origin, educational level, or income?  This message was urgent.  It was urgent back then, and it is even more so today.  Do our preachers have that same earnestness and sense of urgency to see people in their neighborhood saved?  Do they warn of judgment to come and to turn to Jesus for salvation, or are their messages only feel-good, motivational talks?  The response to Peter’s sermon was the salvation of at least 3,000 people! (vs. 41).

Next we read a brief description of what the early church was like - the teaching was grounded in Scripture, the “apostle’s doctrine”, in fellowship with mutual care for each other, the breaking of bread - both Communion and likely shared meals, and in prayer (vs. 42).  Are our churches like that?  Do we have frequent Holy Communion, frequently praying together, have doctrinally sound preaching, and genuinely caring about each other and their needs.

The early believers had a fear of the Lord, a holy reverence for Him, not a casualness too often seen today (vs. 43).  They voluntarily shared their possessions to meet the needs of everyone (vs. 44-47).  This wasn’t socialism or communal ownership, nor was it forced.  It was voluntary and motivated by love.  Some species of trees, when planted near each other, allow their roots to intertwine and sometimes even fuse together.  They share water, nutrients, and support in storms.  God designed Christians to support one another through all of life’s storms.

So how would our Early Church visitor feel in the churches of today?  Is your church like that of the Church in the immediate years following Pentecost?  Is it marked by unity, generosity, reverent worship, prayer, and Biblical preaching and teaching?  Those were the birthmarks of the New Testament Church.

The Precious Blood of Jesus

I Peter 1:17-23

If you had to make a list for your homeowners or apartment insurance of what you considered valuable or precious, what would you put on that list?  Probably any expensive jewelry you might have.  If you had some special collection of items or antiques, they might go on the list. Perhaps important documents.  The reason we insure these items is because they can be destroyed or stolen.  If a fire, flood, tornado, or hurricane happens, they are likely gone or ruined.  Or if a thief breaks into your house, they will be stolen.  If there is an economic collapse, your possessions might end up losing value, and the insurance is useless.  Their worth is gone or lost.  What about something which is worth far more than anything we insure, something that can never lose its value or be lost or destroyed?  Our Scripture today speaks of something that is the most precious thing in all of the universe for believers, something that will never lose its value, that we can never lose, nor can it be taken from us, and because of that, how we should respond.  Let’s look into God’s Word.

The Apostle Peter wrote his two epistles to believers who had been scattered from their homes and neighborhoods, and were suffering persecution for their faith.  He wanted to strengthen their identity in Christ, and to call them to holy living while they remain in a hostile world.  As our Scripture begins, Peter was reminding these believers to continue to live in reverent fear of the Lord.  He is not only their Father, but He is also the impartial Judge (vs. 17).  When we are saved, we do obtain an intimacy with God that the unsaved do not have, but that should not mean that we treat Him with casualness.  He will judge each believer’s works with fairness.  This isn’t works that one might do to be saved, as works don’t and can’t save us, but speaks of works for the Lord that we do out of love for Him after salvation.  This fear Peter speaks of is not terror of losing our salvation, but is a sober awareness that God sees, knows, and evaluates our conduct.

Peter then reminded his readers, and us as well, of the cost of our redemption (vs. 18-19).  Because of our sins, we were all destined to an eternity in hell, and there was no amount of earthly wealth that could purchase our salvation.  However, the Precious Blood of Jesus did just that.  It was the highest possible price, as Jesus is the perfect, sinless sacrifice.  Our redemption is substitutionary, blood-based, and rooted in Jesus’ sinlessness.  It didn’t cost us anything, but it cost Jesus the shedding of His life-blood.

Again, we consider what we think of as precious.  When it comes to our Christian faith, often people think of grace, forgiveness, and God’s love.  However, with our sanitized Christian culture today, we don’t speak much of the Blood of Jesus.  Yet His Blood is the only basis for our salvation.  What do you have if you remove the blood from a body?  You just have a lifeless corpse.  The same is true of the Bible.  Scripture would be no more than historical literature if we edited all of the "unpleasant" parts regarding the blood sacrifice, Jesus dying on the cross, or the power of His Blood.

As we continue to read, Jesus Christ’s sacrifice was foreordained before creation  (vs. 20).  The cross was not an accident.  It wasn’t that the religious leaders in Jerusalem somehow got the upper hand and crucified Jesus, taking God by surprise, and then He had to resort to Plan B, by raising Him from the dead.  No, this was God’s eternal plan from the start.  Jesus came to earth for the sole purpose of dying for our sins.

Peter continued by explaining that our faith and hope in God comes through the Lord Jesus Christ (vs. 21).  He is the Mediator through whom we come to God.  The resurrection of Jesus validates that His death was adequate and sufficient for our salvation.  We can have confidence in God’s completed work.  Knowing the price that was paid for our salvation, Peter closes this segment of Scripture by admonishing us to obey the Gospel, applying God’s Word to our heart (vs. 22-23).

As we look back over this Scripture passage, let us remember the cost of our redemption, and let it shape our choices in life.  The Blood of the Lord Jesus is too precious for us to live carelessly.  God sees every motive and action, so let us pursue holiness with reverent fear.  And let us stay rooted in the Bible, God’s Word.  Our new life came through the Word, and our growth depends on it.

A Cry of Desperation

Psalm 116

A frequent theme in movies or TV shows is someone in a life or death situation who, even if they aren’t religious, will make a desperate prayer to God.  They pray that if He will rescue them, they will start going to church, or read their Bible, or otherwise amend their life, a sort of frantic bargain.  Even genuine Christians, when in a desperate life or death situation make similar promises to God.  However, if they come out of these situations alright, these promises to God are often forgotten about.  The psalmist of today’s psalm was in a critical situation, enough that he despaired of his life.  However, as we will read, he had all full intention of keeping the vows he made to God.  Let’s take a look and see what God’s Word can teach us.

Psalm 116 is a personal testimony of our psalmist’s deliverance by the Lord from a near-death crisis.  This is a testimony of a believer who has been brought back from the brink.  He praised God for His rescue, and then vowed to commit himself to giving thanksgiving, obedience, and public worship throughout the rest of his life.  This psalm is also one of the Hallel Psalms (Psalms 113-118), which were traditionally sung at Passover.  Thus, it is likely that Jesus and His disciples sang this psalm after the Last Supper, right before His sacrificial death (Matthew 26:30).

Once rescued, the psalmist openly proclaimed his love for Yahweh because He heard his cry for help, and responded (vs. 1-2).  He called upon Him, and the Lord proved to be faithful.  God’s hearing of our prayers is not passive.  He bends down and inclines His ear to hear His children’s cries.  Unlike the pagan’s futile prayers to their false gods, our prayers to Yahweh are effective because He is personal, attentive, and near.  Our love for Him should grow as we remember His past mercies and answers to prayer.

The next several verses describe our psalmist’s brush with death (vs. 3-4).  We don’t know the details of this crisis in his life, perhaps a critical illness, or some bad accident.  He described the “pains of death”, the “pangs of Sheol” or the realm of the dead, along with “trouble and sorrow”.  Death is our enemy (I Corinthians 15:26), and it is a believer’s instinct to call upon the Lord when we are in a deadly crisis.  The psalmist didn’t give a long, deeply theological prayer, as that is not necessary.  He called out in desperation, and God responded to his sincere, humble cry.

In the psalmist’s tribute to the Lord following his rescue, he mentions three of His attributes - gracious, righteous, and merciful (vs. 5-7).  God is gracious in that He gives us what we do not deserve.  He is righteous in that His actions are always just.  And the Lord is merciful in that He withholds from us what we do deserve.  He also praises the Lord because his soul can now rest since Yahweh has brought him peace.

The psalmist returns again to speaking of the crisis that he was in, describing his deliverance (vs. 8-11).  The author speaks of being delivered from death.  Whatever his situation was, there was physical danger and a near-death experience.  He was in emotional anguish with tears.  He also spoke of falling, which could either speak of actually physically falling, or refer to a moral or spiritual collapse.  He spoke out to others about his deliverance because his renewed faith in the Lord produced such a testimony.  Because of the fallenness of humanity, such as mankind being liars, we know that trust must be placed in God alone.

What can he give or do for the Lord in payment for his deliverance?  (vs. 12-14).  He will take the cup of salvation from the Lord.  He does that by receiving God’s salvation with gratitude, and not trying to repay it.  He will also call upon the Name of the Lord, not worshiping or praying to any of the false gods around.  He will fulfill the vows and promises he made, in obedience and with integrity in front of people in public worship.

Verse 15 is a beloved verse of many, as it affirms how God values the death of His children, those who have put their faith in the Lord Jesus.  He is not indifferent to their suffering.  Their passing is not a tragic loss, but a precious transition from their life here on earth into the realm of His presence and kingdom.  We can have confidence in eternal security and God’s tender care at our life’s end.

As the psalm comes to a close, the writer declares that since the Lord “loosened his bonds” bringing him freedom from the crisis, he will give Him service, not just living his life like he might want.  He gives the Lord a sacrifice of thanksgiving in public worship.

If we truly have gratitude for what God has done for us we will express it in obedience to His Word, in public testimony by telling others what He has done, in giving joyful worship, and living a life filled with service to Him.  When we cry out to God in desperate times, He will hear, answer, and act on our behalf.  His deliverance is complete, in both body and soul.