The Tears of God’s People Psalm 42:3-4

Text: “My tears have been my meat day and night, while they (the reprobate, unbelieving) continually say unto me, Where is thy God?”

Psalm 42:3.

          “Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews.”

Acts 20:19.

Good morning, tearful Christian!  The Lord God has granted you a very real passion for prayer to Him; a very real compassion for His Body - the international church made up of individuals from all nations who have been washed in Christ’s sinless Blood, and born again of the God the Spirit – and thus, because of the state of the world today, you are frequently found in tears, crying out to the Living Lord God for the souls of ‘His people’.  You do well, beloved Christian, praise God for Christians that are passionate about their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ!  Praise and all glory to His Holy and Victorious Name!

“And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the Cross.  Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a Name which is above every name: that at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in Heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth: and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:8-11)

The Origin of Tears:  The tears of God’s elect people shed throughout the pages of Holy Scripture, and throughout the history of mankind, would be a subject of enormous study to write about and to understand.  Tears only came about as a consequence of Adam/Eve’s sin in Eden’s garden – for all before the time of their disobedience to the Lord God Jehovah was seen by God to be ‘very good’.

“And God saw everything that He had made, and, behold (look, and understand), it was very good.  And the evening and the morning were the first day.”  (Genesis 1:31)

After Adam and Eve committed their sin of original disobedience to God in the Garden of Eden, the Scriptures teach us that “...the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons...and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the Presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden.”  (Genesis 3:7-8)

This phrase contained within Spirit-inspired Scripture, “...the eyes of both of them were opened...” denotes for me the origin of mankind’s tears today; and the cause of such tears was originally brought about by human sin.  When something is ‘opened’, it is usually to let something else out; and the something else that came out of our progenitor’s guilty eyes was tears – revealing also, of course, that they were indeed sorry for their disobedience to God.

Furthermore, an integral part of the Creator’s Lord God’s curse upon the creature and the earth that He had created, was the curse of human ‘sorrow’ – which would continually bring about such human tears.

“Unto the woman He said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children...”  (Genesis 3:16)

“And unto Adam He said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and has eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life.”   (Genesis 3:17)

Mankind has been weeping tears ever since the time of God’s curse upon His Creation for the disobedience of His created people, Adam and Eve.  You and I weep tears today, but, praise God, because of Calvary and because of God’s Sovereign grace in providing Christ as a Sacrifice of full Atonement for us, we can also now shed tears of joy and tears of profound compassion for other souls.  

In Christ Jesus, the Lord God promises to rescind the tears of ‘His people’: all Spiritually regenerate souls whom He has called unto Salvation in Christ shall have our tears wiped away in a truly joyful Eternity in Heaven.  Hallelujah!  This is good news indeed!

“He will swallow up death in Victory; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all (all the elect) faces; and the rebuke of His people shall He take away from off the earth: for the Lord hath spoken it...Lo, this is our God; we have waited for Him, we will be glad and rejoice in His Salvation.”  (Isaiah 25:8-9)

The ‘Victory’ spoken of here, that will eventually take away all tears from God’s people, is the Victory of the Lord Jesus Christ’s Sacrifice for our sins, at the Cross of Calvary.  He is the only One Who can Eternally remove all tears from our eyes, our hearts, and our very souls.  For He alone holds the key to Eternal Salvation.  All glory to His Holy Name!

“Neither is there Salvation in any other: for there is none other name under Heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”  (Acts 4:12)  “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.” (John 14:6)

Open-Eyed Ministries: Today, because of God’s Sovereign grace towards sinners, and Christ’s Salvation of human souls – we can have what I might define as ‘Open-Eyed Ministries’: personal and organisational ministries by Spiritually born again Christian people, who really care enough for the precious souls of other sinners to labour in prayer and evangelical Missions, that sinners might be both saved and discipled in sound doctrine through the proclamation of the written Word of God.  ‘...faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.’ (Romans10:17)  ‘...Grow in grace, and in knowledge of...Jesus Christ...’ (2 Peter 3:17-18)

Many of the tears true Christians shed today are shed for the unsaved nations of the world; the increased state of apostasy within the ‘professing’ church worldwide; and the growth of gross doctrinal error that is spreading like a cancer among many church denominations – as we see whole societies rushing headlong to live their lives in gross sin, ‘...as in the days of Noah...’  Let us cry out unto the Living Lord God, that we might turn all nations to Him!

Thought: “Verse 3. My tears have been my meat day and night. When a man comes to tears, constant tears, plenteous tears, tears that fill his cup...he is earnest indeed.  Perhaps it was well for him that the heart could open the safely valves; there is a dry grief far more terrible than showery sorrows.”  (C.H. Spurgeon, Treasury of David, page 203)

Book 2: Searching In Psalms Thirsting For Fellowship With God Psalm 42:1-2

Text: “As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after Thee, O God.”

Psalm 42:1.

          “Seek ye the Lord while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near: let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.”

Isaiah 55:6-7.

Good morning, soul-thirsty Christian!  Like the author of these words, you are blessed with a soul that is constantly thirsty for sweet fellowship with the Living Lord God.  Being made thus thirsty, you are consistently and continually found reading and studying the Word of God contained in our KJV Bible, as the Lord commands us to do.  The Spiritual thirst you and I have is a blessed gift from the Lord God, for He knows how vitally important it is for all of His children to keep close in fellowship with Him.  Praise God for soul-thirsty Christians!

“Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth.”  (2 Timothy 2:15)

“Subject: It is the cry of a man far removed from the outward ordinances and worship of God, sighing for the long-loved house of his God; and at the same time, it is the voice of a Spiritual believer, under depressions, longing for the renewal of the Divine Presence, struggling with doubts and fears, but yet holding his ground by faith in the Living God.” (C.H. Spurgeon, The Treasury of David, page 202)

“And ye shall seek Me, and find Me, when ye shall search for Me with all your heart.  And I will be found of you, saith the Lord: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the Lord...”  (Jeremiah 29:13-14)

Verse 1.  “As the hart (deer) panteth after the water books, so panteth my soul after Thee, O God.  Debarred from public worship, David was heartsick.  Ease he did not seek; honour he did not covet; but the enjoyment of communion with God was an urgent need of his soul.  He viewed it not merely as the sweetest of all luxuries but as an absolute necessity, like water to a stag.”  (C.H. Spurgeon, Treasury of David, page 202)

Spurgeon, ‘the prince of preachers’, portrays David as the author of Psalm 42, and envisages him on the run, with King Saul pursuing hard after him, and forced to hide in caves and lonely desert places, far from the Temple of Jerusalem and thus barred from public worship of the Lord God Jehovah.  His heart and very soul thirsts hard for the Lord’s Presence.

Now, take this situation into the present day and gaze with Spiritual eyes upon the sound, born again believer, smitten in latter life perhaps with illness, feebleness, or severe disabilities; lying in ‘shut-in’ circumstances, or a bed of sickness; constantly longing for sweet fellowship and communion with others of ‘...like precious faith...’ in Christ Jesus.  This thirsting of the regenerate soul is just the same as David’s was at the time he penned this great Psalm.

Do YOU have a ‘shut-in’ Christian acquaintance you might visit and share fellowship with today?  If so, go swiftly to their side and bring them sweet water from the Word.

Yet, the primary thirst that the Psalmist is here manifesting in verse one of Psalm 42, is for close fellowship with the Lord God Himself.  We can go without fellowship with other sound believers, but we cannot survive Spiritually without close fellowship with our Saviour Lord God and Friend – Jesus the risen Christ.

“I am the Vine, ye are the branches: he that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without Me ye can do nothing.  If a man/woman abideth not in Me (Jesus Christ), he/she is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.  If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.”  (John 15:5-7)

“Give him/her his God and he/she is content as the poor deer, which at length slakes its thirst and is perfectly happy; but deny him/her his Lord, and his/her heart heaves, his bosom palpitates; his whole frame is convulsed, like one who gasps for breath or pants with long-running.”  (C.H. Spurgeon, Treasury of David, page 202)

It is God’s Presence that makes the feast; nothing else will satisfy the born-again soul!

“Thou wilt show me the path life: in Thy Presence is fullness of joy; at Thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.”  (Psalm 16:11)

Verse 2.  “My soul thirsteth for God. See that your heart rest not short of Christ in any duty.  Let go your hold of no duty until you find something of Christ in it; and until you get not only an handful, but an armful (with old Simeon, Luke 2:28); yea, a heartful of the blessed and beautiful babe of Bethlehem therein.  Indeed, you should have commerce with Heaven, and communion with Christ in duty, which is therefore called the Presence of God, or your appearing before Him.

“Augustine said he loved not Tully’s elegant orations (as formerly) because he could not find Christ in them: nor doth a gracious soul love empty duty.  Rhetorical flowers and flourishes, expressions without impressions in praying or preaching, are not true bread, but a tinkling cymbal to it.”  (Christopher Ness’s ‘Chrystal Mirror’ 1621-1705)

When the altogether lovely Christ Jesus saves our never-dying souls, He spoils us for deep and real and lasting pleasure in any other aspect of our former lives.  Our very souls, which He has redeemed by His own precious Blood shed for us at the cruel Cross of Calvary, cry out for close fellowship with Him and the opportunity to worship His Holy Name.

Verse 2. “...For the Living God. A dead ‘god’ is a mere mockery; we loathe such a monstrous deity; but the ever-living God, the perennial fountain of life and light and love, is our soul’s desire.”  (C.H. Spurgeon, Treasury of David, page 203) Hallelujah!  Jesus Lives!

Thought: “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.”  (The Lord Jesus Christ, in Matthew 5:6) Only Christ can satisfy the saved soul.

New Series Commencing Next Week. Tell all your Christian friends!

 

Searching In the Psalms

Book 2 

By

Dr C.K. McClinton

BA (Hons); M.A.; Ph.D.; D.Litt.

Simple Bible-based expositions from the Book of Psalms for the encouragement, direction and admonition of true Christian believers - reintroducing Spurgeon’s ‘Treasury of David’ (T.O.D.) into the teachings of the 21^st Century Church.

 

 

John’s Journey in the Gospel John 21:24-25

Text:  “This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things; and we know that his testimony is true.”

John 21:24.

          “That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.”

1 John 1:3.

Good morning, Gospel-believing Christian!  The Lord God gave His Word to Christ’s disciples by His own mouth, and, by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, they made a number of written records.  

The disciples faithfully recorded God’s Word for us, especially focusing on the four Gospel accounts given.  John’s Gospel is the account that John wrote of the ’good news’ that Jesus Christ, the promised Messiah, has indeed come; walked among us for thirty-three and a half years; was rejected by the Jewish nation; crucified on a cruel Roman Cross; suffered unto death; was placed in a tomb - yet arose again from the dead and now lives forever.  This Gospel truth we solemnly believe (trust) and by trusting in God’s truth, we are graciously saved.  Praise God.  Amen.  (John 14:6)

John’s Eye-witness Account:  John’s first epistle general, his letter written to all Christians of his time, was written in Ephesus about 85-90 AD.  The theme of John’s first letter is the need to maintain true fellowship with God.

“That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us (regenerate Christians); and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.”      (1 John 1:3)

The disciple, John, was singularly focused on his mission for Christ - to make sure that his eye-witness account of the good news of Messiah’s coming - to suffer and die for our sins - would be faithfully recorded for posterity.  Salvation in Christ Jesus, God’s Son, is the only true way of Salvation from sin and for Eternity.  John was trying to make certain that we had the Gospel account of Christ’s Sacrifice on the Cross written down, as he had personally experienced the wondrous event.  Praise God he succeeded in his mission.

“Neither is there Salvation in any other; for there is none other Name under Heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”  (Acts 4:12)

John’s Tangible Evidence:  The facts of this great Salvation story was not some tale that John had been told; or something his father had passed down to him as a national tradition. No!  John had not only personally seen the first coming of Christ Jesus, but he had indeed walked the highways and bye-ways in close fellowship with Him; had actually looked upon Him; and touched Him with his own bare hands.  John’s experience of Christ Jesus was very real.

“That (Christ Jesus) which was from the beginning, which we (the apostles) have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; for the life was manifested (revealed), and we have seen it, and bear witness, and show unto you that Eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us.“ (1 John 1:1-2)

The author of John’s Gospel had experienced tangible evidence of Christ Jesus in all His Divine wonder - and therefore, we can fully believe his irrefutable Gospel account.

John’s Personal Experience:  Not only had the apostle John physically seen with his own human eyes, and touched with his own actual hands the God-sent Salvation that was Christ Jesus; he had also a full and very real experience of receiving Eternal life through the Christ who had personally invited him and his brother James, and Peter and his brother Andrew, to ‘Come, and be a fishers of men…’.

“And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishers.  And He saith unto them, Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men…And going on from thence, He saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and He called them.  And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed Him.”  (Matthew 4:18-22)

John’s experience of following Jesus, in newness of Eternal life, was both a real and very personal calling.  We can fully believe his first-hand Gospel account.

John’s Precise Conclusion:  The concluding words of John‘s Gospel account not only assures us of the miraculous nature of Christ’s ministry on earth, but clearly reflects how precise, to the point, devoid of flowery details, is the Spiritually-inspired content of the four Gospel records. 

The Spirit of God only dealt with the precise facts necessary to enlighten us to the truth of Salvation in Christ Jesus alone.  God the Spirit did not, for example, go into all the terrible and gory details of what Christ’s Crucifixion entailed.  He merely inspired the writers to write: “…they Crucified Him…”; “And they Crucified Him…”; “…And when they had Crucified Him…”; “And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they Crucified Him…” (John 19:18) (Matthew 27:35) (Mark 15:24) (Luke 23:33)

Thought:  We need to know nothing else but Christ, and Him Crucified for us!  Knowing this Gospel truth, and receiving it by God-given faith - we are Eternally saved.

To the Greater Glory of the Risen Christ Jesus.

Dr Cornelius Kenneth McClinton, BA (Hons); M.A.; Ph.D.; D. Litt

Ulster Christians Ministry   www.ulsterchristians.org   

Copywrite: © Dr C.K. McClinton 2021

Beware of a Critical Spirit! John 21:20-23

Text:  “Judge not, that ye be not judged.  For with what judgement ye judge, ye shall be judged; and with what measure ye mete (weigh, or apportion), it shall be measured to you again.  And why beholdest thou the mote (speck, or small particle) that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam (large plank of wood) in thine own eye? 

Matthew 7:1-5.

Good morning, self-effacing Christian!  Knowing yourself, and all your hidden faults, as deeply as you do; and measuring yourself, your talents, your gifting, in the light of Christ’s total perfection - you would rather seek to avoid the limelight than be more extrovert in your ministry for Christ.  You do well, my friend, and you exercise great wisdom and Spiritual discernment in Christian service.  The Lord loves to bless the humble Christian disciple.

“For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.”  (Luke 14:11)

“Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.  Speak not evil one of another, brethren.  He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law; but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.  There is one Lawgiver, Who is able to save and to destroy; who art thou that judgest another?”  (James 4:10-12)

Today’s four short verses of Scripture, coming close to the end of John’s Gospel account, teaches us again of the importance of personal Christian responsibility, and the error of criticizing another Christian’s ministry.

The Law of the Double Mention:  (Vs.22;23)  I have often referred to what has been called by many Christian teachers, ‘the law of the double mention’.  It is a belief that, If the Spirit of God - the true and Divine Author of God’s inspired Word - sees fit to make mention of some aspect of Scriptural belief or practice TWICE in the one verse, or in verses of close proximity, then He is actually flagging up the fact that there is a particular importance being taught by Him.  We do well to take special heed in such cases, brethren.

Thus, we get the double mention: ‘What is that to thee?’ in verses twenty-two and twenty-three.  Let us look at the significance God makes of this teaching.

After a most striking reversal of Peter’s former public denials of Christ Jesus, Peter, like many Christians today, seeks to turn Christ’s attention away from himself and his own fallibilities to enquire as to what Christ’s plans were for his fellow disciple John. ‘…Peter seeing him (John) saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do?’

In this manner, the repentant and forgiven Peter sought to focus Christ’s attention on another disciple; sought to deflect attention from himself and unto one of his fellow Christian believers.

How often do we latter day Christians practice a similar deflection of focus?  How often do we pray outwardly about the problems of other believers, while seeking to conceal our own sinful faults and failings?

“And why beholdest thou the mote (speck, or small particle) that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam (large plank of wood) in thine own eye?”  (Matthew 7:3)

Yet, see the response the Lord Jesus gave to Peter’s attempt to deflect His attention unto the disciple John:  ‘If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?’

In other words, ‘Never mind what My will is for John, Peter!  Even if I ordain that John lives on until I return - it is no business of yours!’

The ‘law of the double-mention’ of this response clearly teaches us that we are not to focus our attention on how Christ is leading, directing, or using any other Christian believer - we are to focus daily, and continually, on what we ourselves are doing, saying, becoming involved in, in the service of Christ Jesus.  We are clearly instructed by the Word of God to, in the present day absence of Christ Jesus:  "…work out (our) own Salvation with fear and trembling."  (Philippians 2:12)  "...For every man shall bear his own burden…"

It is not our responsibility as to how another regenerate Christian is living their lives, or seeking to serve Christ Jesus; whether they wear a hat to church or not; whether they break bread daily, weekly, monthly, or not; what they believe concerning Christ’s Second Coming - or any other secondary doctrine or any other fully persuaded view of Scripture that they hold. 

But it IS our responsibility that all things be done decently and in order in the church, and that we, ourselves, are ‘…walking worthy…' of Christ Jesus.

Thought:  Let us, seek to build each other up positively in faith, not negatively criticise each other into discouragement.  We have all sinned!

Jesus: the All-Knowing Lord! John 21:18-19

Text:  “His disciples said unto Him, Lo now speakest thou plainly, and speakest no proverb.  Now we are sure that Thou knowest all things, and needest not that any man should ask Thee: by this we believe that Thou camest forth from God.”

John 16:29-30.

          “And He (Jesus) saith unto them (the Pharisees), Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts (entire essence); for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.”

Luke 16:15.

Good morning, Divinely known Christian!  Belonging to the Lord God Almighty, the great Jehovah, the Creator Lord God - you and I are Divinely known.  Our every iota of being,; our every inner thought and deepest motive; the most secret and private desires and feelings of our humanity are all completely known by the Lord God Who has redeemed our very souls.  We are Divinely known.

“Known unto God are all His works from the beginning of the world.”  (Acts 15:18)

The Lord God Almighty is not a mere three-dimensional being such as we, my Christian friend.  The Lord God is absolutely Omnipotent in power; Omnipresent, (all-present at all times); and Omniscient in knowledge.  He is the all-powerful; ever-present; and all-knowing Lord God.  Hallelujah!

“Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time?  Who hath told it from that time?  Have not I the Lord?  And there is no God else beside Me; a just God and a Saviour; there in none beside Me.  Look unto Me (the Lord God Jehovah), and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth (elect souls out of every nation); for I am God, and there is none else.  (Isaiah 45:21-22)

What facts and truths about Christ do we glean, therefore, from our two short verses of Scripture from today’s Bible reading? 

Peter’s Past:  The Lord Jesus told his disciple Peter: "When thou wast young, thou girdest thyself, and walked whither thou wouldest…" (V.18)  Peter’s entire past life was known unto Christ - because He is our all-knowing God.

Peter’s Present:   Peter’s present time life was more obviously known by Christ, for Peter had walked in Christ’s Holy Presence and ministered with Him for over the three and a half years of Christ’s ministry in human form. 

Christ told Peter he would betray him, and Peter did.  Christ forgave Peter’s denials of Him, and Peter was sanctified afresh for service to Jesus in that present time.  Christ the Lord knew with infinite and Divine knowledge, all about Peter’s present life at that time.

Peter’s Future:  The risen Lord Jesus Christ further informed Peter of things yet to take place in his future life:  "…But when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.” (V.18)

Peter would be taken prisoner for his faith, for his trust in Christ Jesus; and for his service to Christ in preaching the Gospel truth.   He would, according to church tradition, be crucified upside down on an X-shaped cross!  It is believed that he was executed in this manner because he told his tormentors that he felt unworthy to die in the same way that Jesus Christ, his Lord, had died.

Jesus, the Lord God Who knows the past, the present, and the future of us all - plainly foretold what type of death Peter would suffer for His sake: "This spake He, signifying by what death he (Peter) should glorify God."  (V.19)

Let us now seek to apply this lesson to our own personal Christian lives:

Do we, born again Christian believers, ever worry about the gravity of our past sins?  Christ knows all about them and has cleansed us from them by shedding, on that Cross, His own precious Blood to redeem us from all sin.  (1 John 1:6-7)

Are we concerned, or fearful about our present circumstances, health; position in life; service to Christ?  Jesus knows our every fear and encourages us to "Fear not, for I am with thee…"  (Isaiah 41:10)

Do future events cause us anxieties? Leave them in the Lord’s caring hand - He has promised to never leave us nor forsake us, EVER!  (Hebrews 13:5-6)  Hallelujah!

Thought:  The Lord Jesus knows everything - let us trust in His will.