The sevenfold occurrence of the phrase “the voice of the LORD” in today’s Psalm (29) intrigued us.  When we came to the Matthew reading, the words of Isaiah Jesus quoted caught our attention, “This people honours me with their lips but their heart is far from me” [Ch.15 v.8].   The contrast between God’s “voice” and man’s could not be greater.

What is the nature of the LORD’s “voice”?  The description of that voice given in the Psalm reminded us of the saying that actions speak louder than words!   The point is that God’s “voice” is heard through his actions – except by those with whom he seeks to have a special relationship – then it can be “a still small voice” (or ‘the sound of a low whisper’ -1 Kings 19 v.12) as Elijah heard in the cave.

To godless men God “speaks” through his actions.  This is the point David is making. At the time of Noah’s flood “the voice of the LORD is over the waters”  [v.3]   When the fearful people of Israel were at the foot of Mount Sinai, “the voice of the LORD is powerful” [v.4]   In the ultimate future, “the voice of the LORD is full of majesty” [v.4] with a preview of this when, after Solomon dedicated the Temple, “the priest could not enter the house … because the glory of the LORD filled the LORD’s house” [2 Chron.7 v.2,3]

“The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars” [v.5] takes our thoughts to Isaiah 2 and its dramatic picture of events before the Kingdom is established [v.2-4] “For the LORD of hosts has a day against all that is proud … against all the cedars … against every high tower … and the haughtiness of man shall be humbled … and the LORD alone will be exalted in that day.” [v.12,13,15,17]    Great quantities of cedar were brought to Jerusalem to build the Temple; it was a most prized wood, but God brought destruction on that temple because the hearts of those worshipping there became far from him.

The word translated “voice” is the simple Hebrew word qol.  Young shows it occurs almost 500 times in the Old Testament, but what intrigued us was its very first occurrence.  A situation impossible to picture in our minds!  

    “And they heard the sound (AV has ‘voice’) of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and (Adam & Eve) hid themselves” [Gen. 3 v.8].  There will come a time, we read in Rev.  21 v.3 when “the dwelling place of God is with men. He will dwell with them …” Those privileged to be there will have no need to hide when they hear “the voice of the LORD”   Those there will honour the Lord with their lips – and with all their hearts. How unbelievably wonderful!  Can you imagine it?  Can you imagine being there?

Today Matthew’s gospel tells us of the occasion when Jesus walked on the water.  Jesus had been “up on the mountain by himself praying” [Ch.14 v.23] he had “made his disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side,”   The boat “was a long way from land beaten by the waves” [v.24]. Jesus “came to them walking on the sea.”  

    This was an unbelievable experience for them right outside anything they could possibly have expected.  They are fearful, is this some kind of apparition?  Jesus speaks to them and Peter responds, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water” [v.26].   Jesus simply says, “Come.”

“So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus” [v.29].   But then, all of a sudden the reality of the situation hits home to his human sense, “he was afraid, and beginning to sink, he cried out, ‘Lord save me’.  Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him. ‘O you of little faith, why did you doubt?’”  [v.30,31]   It is most important that we take special notice of this event!  Why? 

    When our world reaches its ultimate point of crisis with “distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves” [Luke 21 v.25] then, as we read two days ago [Ch.13 v.41] and will read again next week in more detail, “he (Jesus) will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect … “ [Ch.24 v.31] This will be an event totally outside human experience; will we do even as well as Peter? Will some be as bad as Lot’s wife who, as we read in Genesis 2 days ago, she lagged “behind him” [Ch, 19 v.26] instead of going with the angels. 

    We are in the boat of this world and the world is experiencing extreme situations which are now threatening to exceed previous experiences. We say we believe these predictions of Jesus, predictions which indicate it will get much worse! We will read tomorrow the comment of Jesus that “This people; honours me with their lips” which is the case today, in some countries more than others. But then Jesus adds, “but their heart is far from me” [Ch.15 v.8].   With all such, there is no likelihood they will respond to the angel, but like Lot’s sons-in-law law they will be seen to be “jesting.”  Peter’s heart was fairly much fixed on Jesus – what about our hearts?  How will we respond to the command to “Come”?

We were rather overwhelmed by the multitude of the thoughts that arose from today’s readings.  Psalm 25 is less known than the very familiar Psalm 23, but it contains many inspiring words. “None who wait for you shall be put to shame” [v.3] and the word “wait” is very significant; more and more we feel we are waiting for God to act – although there are different senses to the word “wait.   With seemingly more climate situations of a fearful nature, is God starting to bring greater judgements because of the increasing godlessness of the nations?

In verse 5 we read, “Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long”   What is God’s truth?  Well, it is the opposite of godless human thinking.  May God and his Son lead us in true ways of thinking and doing; and surely he caused the Bible to be written and preserved for that purpose. 

Next week we will read in Psalm 37, “Wait for the LORD and keep his way, and he will exalt you to inherit the land (or earth); you will look on when the wicked are cut off” [v.34].  We must not become impatient in our waiting.  Paul wrote, “May the Lord direct your hearts into realizing and showing the love of God, and into the steadfastness and patience of Christ in waiting for his return” [2 Thess.3 v.5 Amplified Version]

Returning to Psalm 25 we read “The friendship of the LORD is for those who fear him … My eyes are ever toward the LORD … Oh guard my soul and deliver me” [v.14,15,20]  Let’s appreciate the intensity of David’s attitude toward God!  What a relationship he developed with God – no wonder he is called by Samuel, a man after God’s own heart (1 Sam. 13 v.14)  Can we try to be a person at least a little like that as we wait for God to act?  

Finally, underline verse 21 of this Psalm. “May integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for you.”  It is not that David was perfect, as we know – and we noted that in v. 11 of this Psalm he wrote, “For your name’s sake, O LORD, pardon my guilt, for it is great.”

    Can we make this prayer of David – our prayer?   Then God will make us one of his children – as he did David.

Our Psalms reading today (22) begin with the last words Jesus utters on the cross, “My God, why have you forsaken me.”  This is a Psalm of David and must reflect an experience of his when he was in deep depression – almost certainly when he was being pursued by Saul and his henchmen and forced to hide in the wilderness. 

It is not difficult to have some appreciation of this desperate prayer of David.  After going forth so valiantly against Goliath and then being so successful that the people could sing, “Saul has struck down his thousands and David his ten thousands” [1 Sam. 18 v.7] suddenly David’s situation changes.  Now he is hiding in caves, Saul is seeking clues as to where he might me, does David have any friends?  Some who learn where he is report this to Saul. (I Sam. 23 v.19; 1 Sam 24 v. 1) This Psalm expresses how David was feeling; it was a natural reaction for him to pray, “My God, why have you forsaken me.”

He goes on to write, “O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest.” [v.2]   It is natural from our human perspective that we should think in terms of cause and effect – but God sees the bigger picture, the larger perspective of spiritual training such as when Jesus was “led up by the spirit into the wilderness to be tempted (tested)” as we read last week in Matt. 4 v.1

What is very instructive about this and several other Psalms is how, after starting with desperate questions in a spirit of depression his words then move forward and seek to grasp what we might call the “bigger picture.”  Yet David’s life in some of his experiences was a prophecy of what happened to Jesus.  David, in fleeing, left clothing behind and he notes “they divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.” [v.18]  An event which was to repeat itself in the life of Jesus. 

Then David’s thoughts move on to think positively and he tells God, “I will tell of your name to my brothers, in the midst of the congregation I will praise you.” [v. 22]  Then comes a greater and more far reaching vision of the future., “All the ends of the end shall remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations shall worship before you.” [v.27]   We should take a valuable lesson from David in this progression into positive thought, especially when we feel depressed. 

 We read this morning how Jesus asked a question, “to what shall I liken this generation?” [Matt. 11 v.16]  and gave a strange answer.  Each generation has had those who search for answers as to the meaning of life, but today many think they have all the answers!  John the Baptist, shut up in prison appears to have wanted reassurance when he sent his disciples to Jesus, asking, are you really the one?

Notice how Jesus never gives plain ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ answers; his response was to say, look at what is happening and consider events in the light of what God revealed through the prophets. (v.2-6) Those with their own way of thinking were offended at him, he refused to fit into a mould.  We read today in Genesis of Abraham’s conversation with the angel of the LORD [Ch. 18] who said, “because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great and their sin very grave, I will go down to see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry that has come to me” [v.21].   Abraham obtains a promise that even if only 10 righteous are found there God would not destroy the city.  But only 3 were found and saved!  Tragic!

Yet Jesus, as we read today, mentions Sodom, saying [v,22] that if the amazing miracles that the people of Capernaum were witnessing had been done in Sodom they would have responded and it would not have been destroyed.  Jesus then states, “I tell you that it will be more tolerable on the day of judgement for the land of Sodom than ]for you” [v.24}     What is this is telling us?   At the day of judgement it will not be a case of getting a high enough mark, like you need to be able to go to University; rather God will know how you have responded according to the evidence available to you.  No one will “earn” a place in God’s Kingdom.  The cities in which Jesus did his miracles failed the test [v.20-21].  But all him accepts into his kingdom will need his mercy and grace, for he sees the motivations of our heart against the background of the circumstances in which we have lived. 

Jesus said the generation that heard him (v.16-19) were like children at play who refused to grow up, wilfully misinterpreting the actions of Jesus, saying he was “a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners”   So what would he say of today’s generation and its attitude to the Bible?  Are you influenced by that attitude?  Today, the world has discovered far more of the absolute wonders of creation. It refuses to face the obvious meaning of the evidence, just as many in the generation that saw the wonders Jesus refused.  Each will answer for their own failures: what failures will you have to answer for?

Today’s Chapter 10 in Matthew has quite a number of the sayings of Jesus that challenge us to correctly understand what they mean as he speaks to his disciples and sends them out to preach [v.5].   Take the example above:  what is the soul as distinct from the body?  The answer to this question only becomes clear when we clearly see the point Jesus is making. 

Jesus had first said, “Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul” [v.28] and this makes sense when we understand he means others killing you because of your preaching. This was to later happen as we read in the Acts of the Apostles. But what is this “soul” that other humans cannot kill?  And what is the greater power to be feared who is able to “destroy both soul and body in hell?”

The meaning becomes clear when we understand that this greater power, the power we should really fear, is God.  Then we note that the Greek word for “hell” is, in this case, Gehenna.  This means the rubbish dump area over the wall in one part of Jerusalem.  Fires continually burned there to consume all that was useless, that was totally waste. Jesus used it as a symbol of divine rejection in the day of judgement.

So we can understand Jesus is telling his disciples as he sent them out “to the lost sheep of the house of Israel;” [v.6] not to fear the opposition they would encounter, the worst that could happen would be the end of their mortal life.  But there will be a “day of judgement” [v.15] following the resurrection when even such as “Sodom and Gomorrah” will be judged!  This might surprise us, but Abraham initially thought that there could be 50 righteous there (as we will read tomorrow – Genesis 18 v.24). It will be following that judgement that God will make an eternal end of “both soul and body” of all those who have not believed in Him and his Son and failed to dedicate their lives in faithful service as a result of that belief. 

We read of this last week in the book of Revelation!  John told his readers of the vision when “I saw the dead great and small standing before the throne and the books were opened.  Then another book which is the book of life … if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire … this is the second death, the lake of fire.” [20 v.12,15,14] 

 Our readings in Matthew demonstrate the power of human nature to deny the evidence. Jesus did a number of remarkable miracles and “when the crowds saw it, they were afraid (struck with fear and awe AMPLIFIED VERSION) and they glorified God … “[9 v.8].  But many of the religious leaders, seeing their authority and prestige threatened “said to themselves, this man is blaspheming” [v.3].

As the miracles multiplied and the crowds said, “never was anything like this seen in Israel”, those religious leaders became more urgent in their efforts to discredit him. They said, “He casts out demons by the prince of demons” [v.33-34] – for they had embraced the demoniac ideas of the Greeks; it is interesting that there is no reference to demons in the Old Testament.  Even if such spirits and an evil leader existed, which they didn’t, their allegations defied all logical reasoning as Jesus told them (see Luke 11 v.15-23).

Their position and authority dominated their minds, they were unable to face the reality of the situation. We need to think whether such a mindset could happen to us.  Their mindset reached its peak when they discussed putting the resurrected Lazarus to death as, because of him, even greater numbers were believing in Jesus and undermining their standing.(John 12 v.10-11).  This example of the extreme limits to which humans will go to maintain a belief and support a cause made us think of the present obsession to believe that the world and everything in it, evolved of its own accord, that all that exists is the result of an endless series of “chance” happenings.  

The recent discovery of the remarkable properties of DNA is certain evidence to those who think clearly and logically of a master-designer, but all the comments by “learned” people, show their determination to see all life as one super-colossal accident!  Part of the reason for this determination, we suspect, arises from the poor image of the Church.  People turn away from Christianity as the answer as a result.  How great the need for all people to get back to reading the Bible.  We must all ask ourselves what we are doing to set the example!

 David’s chaotic early life after he killed Goliath led him into and through situations which caused him to pen many very meaningful Psalms on his relationship with God.  These Psalms are part of the Hymn Book of Israel and they challenged the thinking of all Israelites who sang them – and they challenge all who read (and sing) them today. 

David was such a godly man; we must try to get our thinking into ‘tune’ with his ways of thinking for it is clear God guided him into penning these words and then preserved them for our reading and meditation – and some of them we even sing.

Psalm 15 begins with 2 questions. “O LORD, who shall sojourn in your tent?” and “Who shall dwell on your holy hill?”  In David’s days the LORD dwelt in the ark in a tent; it seems the tabernacle Moses made no longer existed.  In his son Solomon’s days’ the ark was placed within the Temple he built on God’s “holy hill.”  This was the very spot where Abraham long before, as we shall soon read in Genesis, had been willing to sacrifice Isaac.

Now let us carefully note the answers David gives to those two questions.  Those who will “dwell” in the presence of God are “He who walks blamelessly and does what is right and speaks the truth in his heart; who does not slander with his tongue and does no evil to his neighbour, nor takes up a reproach against his friend; in whose eyes a vile person is despised, but who honours those who fear the LORD” [v.2-4] 

This short Psalm concludes in v.5 with the words, “He (or she) who does these things shall never be moved.”  That means, they will stand firm when all around are shaking with fear.  We specially noted that God looks to those “who speak the truth” in their heart, that is, those who are totally honest with themselves.

The next Psalm (16) shows the extent to which David was granted a vision of ‘the holy one’ who was to be his greater son. But let us not miss the verses in this Psalm in which he acknowledges his own wonderful relationship with God. “I will bless the LORD who gives me counsel in the night also my heart instructs me. I have set the LORD always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.” [v.7,8] Let us follow David’s example.

 The Psalms are the Hymn Book of Israel and most of their hymns address situations among the people of God – as David understood God’s all seeing eyes would perceive them.  We learn that human mentality never changes – except when it is influenced by divine words and messages to “lay up treasure in heaven” – thoughts which we expressed yesterday.

Much of the world has been blessed because 400 years ago, the A.V. version of the Bible was first printed and then sold in tremendous quantities.  Many blessings came at that time because so many human minds were influenced to think godly thoughts and, as a result, to live in godly ways: that influence slowly faded away over time; it was an influence on individuals most of all. 

However, those who know the Bible well know that it frankly considers the whole of our human situation.  David grew up in a world that was far from godly: King Saul was a man of very limited spirituality.  In one of today’s Psalms we read David’s words deploring the godlessness around him.   He did what he could when he became king to influence his people to better ways of thinking and living. 

Some of the Psalms he wrote are so true of life today. He pleaded for God’s help – “Save O LORD … for the faithful have vanished from among the children of men.  Everyone utters lies to his neighbour; with flattering lips and a double heart they speak” [Psalm 12 v.1,2]  Further on we read, “On every side the wicked prowl as vileness is exalted”  [v.8]  It sounds so much like the days of Noah that we read about 2 days ago; thankfully God promised Noah he would never again destroy all life on earth. 

Nevertheless, our readings last week in Revelation again indicated that awesome judgements from God would occur when “the Word of God”, obviously meaning Jesus, returned to judge and punish the world (Ch. 19 v. 11-15)  But looking at Psalm 12 again lets specially note David’s words, “The words of the LORD are pure words, like silver refined in a furnace …” [v.6]  How great our need to feed on such words, may all who read this give priority  to reading God’s words every day. 

That’s impossible – in a literal sense!  But what sort of treasure was Jesus talking about when he said, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven…” [Matt. 6 v.19,20].   Jesus goes on to say, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” [v.21]    How can your heart be in heaven? 

We hear love songs about individual’s stealing hearts – meaning affections.  Jesus is talking about where your affections are focussed. Now Jesus “mines” many of this sayings from the book of Proverbs.  For example there is the proverb which reads, “Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.” [4 v.23]  A spring is the source of pure water, often bottled water on sale is said to be spring water.  

How vital to keep the thoughts of our hearts pure!  Another proverb says, “Like a muddied spring or a polluted fountain is a righteous person who gives way before the wicked.” [25 v, 26]  Tragically there are many muddied springs and polluted fountains around these days, never has it been more vital – and difficult – to keep our minds clean.

Paul wrote to the Ephesians that “Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of the water with the word” [5 v.25,26]  Think carefully about the point he is making.   Jesus loves those who become believers in him; his sacrifice was to inspire them to become clean in their minds. The first step is baptism, down into water, but there is a lifetime of steps to follow in walking in the footsteps of Christ.  His word, and the words his father inspired others to write provide what we might call,  the washing powder, that will keep the hearts of believers from becoming polluted. 

A final thought on treasure in heaven.  Did you notice when we read the final chapter of Revelation last week that in the last chapter Jesus said, “Behold I am coming soon, bringing my recompense (reward) with me to repay everyone for what they have done” [v.12]  We do not have to go to heaven to claim our treasure and reward, Jesus will bring it to us when he comes – and the way the world is now – that could be very “soon.”  Do you have treasure in heaven that he can bring?