When all seems lost, and we feel defeated, let us hold fast to His promises.

• January 8, 2017

Worship: You Are by Colton Dixon

When I can't find the words to say how much it hurts

You are the healing in my heart

When all that I can see are broken memories

You are the light that's in the dark

You are the song

You are the song I'm singing

You are the air

You are the air I'm breathing

You are the hope

You are the hope I needed

You are

And when my circumstance leaves me with empty hands

You are the provider of my needs

When all my dirtiness has left me helpless

You are the rain that washes me

You are the song

You are the song I'm singing

You are the air

You are the air I'm breathing

You are the hope

You are the hope I needed

f I had no voice

If I had no tongue

I would dance for you like the rising sun

And when that day comes and I see your face

I will shout your endless glorious praise

You are the song

You are the song I'm singing

You are the air

You are the air I'm breathing

You are the hope

You are the hope I needed

Lyrics: http://www.metrolyrics.com/you-are-lyrics-colton-dixon.html

Video: https://youtu.be/tLgpi8uuX6M

Witness:

Sleep is invading as my eyes struggle to stay open. I am thankful that the Lord put a song in my heart for worship tonight. That part of my journaling which sometimes becomes a source of stress as I search for a song and then the lyrics and a video to sing to. Tonight, however, the song arose in my heart, and I was able to copy and paste the lyrics, video, and their links without any struggle. Praise God!

Today the turmoil came at church tonight as I was reminded that my church does not always do the things that I believe are scriptural. They may have the Lord’s supper once a year when it serves as an illustration of the message being preached. Otherwise, they leave a tray of juice and bread near the side of one of the exits from the auditorium for anyone who wishes to celebrate the Lord’s supper. This certainly different than the early church which celebrated it weekly.  Another issue I have is their terminology when it comes to church leadership. First of all, I do not believe there is any formal ordination ceremony that takes place when it comes to putting someone in the office of Pastor. I may be wrong about this and will have to inquire about this. However, looking at the wall in the fellowship foyer of the church building which contains the pictures and names of all the “pastors” in the church, one can see that they do not follow the inspired words of the Apostle Paul literally. Examining his writings one can clearly see that this role is an office reserved for a called and committed man of God. However, looking at the names of those who are considered leaders in the church, many women carry the title pastor. Even the senior pastor’s wife bears the title of pastor.  This, I believe is unbiblical. Now, it is possible that they may make a distinction between these more administrative positions and that of the senior pastor. Perhaps instead of calling them pastors, the less controversial title of deaconess might be used instead (though in some circles that is still controversial also). I have decided not to attend churches that believe that Paul was speaking in the context of the culture he was in and not of a normative practice for the church to follow. That is something I am still mulling over at the moment. I have good friends there, and I am on good terms with the campus pastor (a man) and the Lifegroup pastor (a man also). I love the worship portion of the service though I wish there were more variety of music including the hymns of the church written over the last few centuries. I don’t mind ones that have been set to a more modern tune. The music of Sovereign Grace Ministries is a good example of combining the deep theologically rich songs of yesteryear with a more modern-sounding melody. Being faithful to scripture must still take precedence over striving for cultural relevance. The church is to be counter-cultural.

WORD:  

Ps 25:16-21 16 Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. 17 The troubles of my heart have multiplied; free me from my anguish. 18 Look upon my affliction and my distress and take away all my sins. 19 See how my enemies have increased and how fiercely they hate me! 20 Guard my life and rescue me; let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you. 21 May integrity and uprightness protect me, because my hope is in you. NIV

Ps 25:16-21 16 Turn to me and have mercy, for I am alone and in deep distress. 17 My problems go from bad to worse. Oh, save me from them all! 18 Feel my pain and see my trouble. Forgive all my sins. 19 See how many enemies I have and how viciously they hate me! 20 Protect me! Rescue my life from them! Do not let me be disgraced, for in you I take refuge. 21 May integrity and honesty protect me, for I put my hope in you. Holy Bible, New Living Translation ®, copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers. All rights reserved..

Ps 25:16-21 16 Turn thee unto me, and have mercy upon me; for I am desolate and afflicted. 17 The troubles of my heart are enlarged: O bring thou me out of my distresses. 18 Look upon mine affliction and my pain; and forgive all my sins. 19 Consider mine enemies; for they are many; and they hate me with cruel hatred. 20 O keep my soul, and deliver me: let me not be ashamed; for I put my trust in thee. 21 Let integrity and uprightness preserve me; for I wait on thee. KJV

Ps 25:16-21 16  Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. 17 The troubles of my heart are enlarged; bring me out of my distresses. 18  Consider my affliction and my trouble, and forgive all my sins. 19 Consider how many are my foes, and with what violent hatred they hate me. 20 Oh, guard my soul, and deliver me!  Let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you. 21 May integrity and uprightness preserve me, for ESV

To wrap up what some commentators have said concerning this verse let me share what Calvin has to say to those who object to David referring to his integrity and uprightness.

Psalms 25:21In my opinion, therefore, David protests that such was the rectitude of his behavior amongst men, that the persecution of his enemies was wholly unmerited and unjust; and being conscious of having given no offense to any, he calls upon God as the protector of his innocence. But as he has already, in three different places, acknowledged that he was justly visited with affliction, it may seem strange that he should now glory in his integrity. This apparent inconsistency has already been explained in another place, where we have shown that the saints, in respect of themselves, always come into the presence of God with humility, imploring his forgiveness: and yet this does not prevent them from setting forth before him the goodness of their cause, and the justice of their claims. At the same time, in saying that he trusted in God, he only states what indeed is essentially necessary; for, in undertaking our defense, it is not enough that we have justice on our side, unless depending upon his promises, we rely with confidence upon his protection. It often happens, that men of firmness and prudence, even when their cause is good, do not always succeed in its defense, because they confide in their own understanding, or rely upon fortune. In order, therefore, that God may become the protector and defender of our innocence, let us first conduct ourselves uprightly and innocently towards our enemies, and then commit ourselves entirely to his protection.
(from Calvin's Commentaries, PC Study Bible formatted electronic database Copyright © 2005-2006 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)

The Christ life is a grace walk. It is understood that any good us is of God. However, this does not keep us from in humility speak of our integrity and uprightness. The mature can say that they have these and know that they are still growing in them (2 Cor. 3:18; Phil. 3:1-15).

Before we look at scripture, let us consider the meaning of the word “integrity” since that may be a word not as well-known as uprightness.

The root word for the Hebrew word used in this passage is:

tom OT:8537, "completeness." This noun, which occurs 25 times, signifies "completeness" in the following senses: fullness Job 21:23, innocency or simplicity 2 Sam 15:11, integrity Gen 20:5.(from Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words, Copyright © 1985, Thomas Nelson Publishers.)

Merriam -Webster defines Integrity as:

1: firm adherence to a code of especially moral or artistic values: incorruptibility. 2: an unimpaired condition: soundness. 3: the quality or state of being complete or undivided: completeness.         https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/integrity

ISBE says:

The basic meaning of "integrity" in the OT is "soundness of character and adherence to moral principle," i.e., uprightness and honest (from International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, revised edition, Copyright © 1979 by Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. All rights reserved.)

When we look at Scripture, we can see not only that David was a man of integrity but that Scripture promises protection as a result of living a life of integrity and uprightness.

First, as to David’s character, we see from the following scriptures what is said by him and about him.

David testifies:

            Vindicate me, O Lord,

            for I have led a blameless life;

            Ps 26:1 NIV

             But I lead a blameless life;

            redeem me and be merciful to me.

            Ps 26:11 NIV

            In my integrity you uphold me

            and set me in your presence forever.

            Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel,

            from everlasting to everlasting.

            Amen and Amen. Psalm 41:12 NIV

Asaph declares in Psalm 78:

            And David shepherded them with integrity of heart;

            with skillful hands he led them.

            Ps 78:72 NIV

When speaking to David’s son Solomon, God spoke these words. Notice what He declares of David:

 "As for you, if you walk before me in integrity of heart and uprightness, as David your father did, and do all I command and observe my decrees and laws, I will establish your royal throne over Israel forever, as I promised David your father when I said, 'You shall never fail to have a man on the throne of Israel.'1 Kings 9:4-5 NIV  

We have looked at the proclamations of Scripture concerning David which show that it was not wrong to see Psalm 25:21 as referring to David’s integrity and uprightness. Now let us look at the promises of Scripture concerning integrity and uprightness. This is I no way an exhaustive look at these promises, but it will demonstrate the reasonableness of seeing the preservative or protective force of these attributes. When I say this, I am not saying that they in themselves place some sort of force field around the believer that will keep them safe from all harm or experiencing trouble in their life. That would be foolish in light of the context of this Psalm and the rest of Scripture. They will help the godly to endure while they wait (hope in) on the Lord v21b).

The Lord declares through Solomon in Proverbs (did he not learn this through the instruction he received in 1 Kings 9:4-5?):

The way of the Lord is a refuge for the righteous,

but it is the ruin of those who do evil.

Prov 10:29 NIV (integrity = tom; righteous = latom)

Righteousness guards the man of integrity,

but wickedness overthrows the sinner.

Prov 13:6 NIV

The man of integrity walks securely,

but he who takes crooked paths will be found out.

Prov 10:9 NIV

He holds victory in store for the upright,

he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless (tom),

Prov 2:7 NIV

This last promise I have shared is a powerful reminder that:

• The life of faith is also a walk of integrity.
• That ultimately our protection is in Him and not us.  
• The fact that our “victory” is “in store” means we wait patiently for the fulfillment of this promise..

When all seems lost, and we feel defeated, let us hold fast to His promises. Let us declare with the Psalmist “my hope is in you - NIV” or “I wait for you – ESV.”  Let us heed the exhortation of the author of Hebrews who said:

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.

Heb 10:23 NIV

Or as the Message puts it:

Let's keep a firm grip on the promises that keep us going. He always keeps his word

(from THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language © 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved.)