Worship in WORD
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For the director of music. A psalm
of David. 11 Because of all my enemies, I am the utter contempt of my neighbors; I am a dread to my friends — those who see me on the street flee from me. 12 I am forgotten by them as though I were dead; I have become
like broken pottery. 13 For I hear the slander of many; there is terror on
every side; they conspire against me and plot to take my life. 14 But I trust in you, O Lord; I
say, “You are my God.” 15 My times are in your hands; deliver me from my
enemies and from those who pursue me. 16
Let your face shine on your servant; save me in your unfailing love. NIV |
Ps 31 For the choir director: A psalm of
David. 11 I am scorned by all my enemies and despised by my neighbors—even my friends are afraid to come near me. When they see me on the street, they run the other way. 12 I am ignored as if I
were dead, as if I were a broken pot. 13 I have heard the many rumors about me, and I am surrounded by terror. My enemies conspire against me, plotting to take my life. 14 But I am trusting you, O Lord,
saying, “You are my God!” 15 My future is in your hands. Rescue me from those who hunt me down relentlessly. 16 Let your favor shine on your servant. In your unfailing love, rescue me. Holy
Bible, New Living Translation ®, copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable
Trust. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers. All rights reserved. |
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Ps 31 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of
David. 12 I am
forgotten as a dead man out of mind: I am like a broken vessel. 13 For I have heard the slander of
many: fear was on every side: while they took counsel together against me,
they devised to take away my life. 14 But I trusted in thee, O LORD: I
said, Thou art my God. 15 My times are in thy hand:
deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me. 16 Make thy face to shine upon thy servant: save me for thy mercies' sake. KJV |
Ps 31 Into Your Hand I Commit My Spirit To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. 14 But I trust in you, O
Lord; I say, “You are my God.” 15 My times are in your hand;
rescue me from the hand of my enemies and from my persecutors! 16 Make your face shine on your servant; save me in your steadfast love! ESV |
A. Verse 1:
Action
B. Verse 2:
Appeal
C. Verses 3
& 4: Acknowledge
D. Verse 5: Abandon
E. Verse 6: Abhor
F. Verses 7 & 8: Acclaim!
II. Help! – vv. 9-18
1. Soul sickness – vv. 9-10
2. Societal scorn – vv. 11-13
b. Verses: 14-16: Sovereign
C. Verses: 17-18: Silence
IV. Heart – vv. 23-24
Societal Scorn – vv. 11-13
I suppose I could site research
about the effects rejection and cyberbullying have on the human psyche in an
effort to contextualize this passage to make it more “relevant” for the 21st
century. But that would just be a waste of time, and admittedly, out of my area
of very limited expertise. But you don’t need to be a Social Science
or Psychology Major to understand the effects that rejection, shunning, and false
allegations have on one’s sense of well-being. Of course, no one likes to be at
the receiving end of rejection because of false reports or rumors. Nor do we
like it when our so-called friends and acquaintances have nothing to do with us
– who fear their own personal rejection by being associated with us. Fairweather
friends, whose loyalty is shallow, have no deep roots. And for others, it may
be the threat of actual personal harm if they continue to support us.
We saw in verses 9 & 10 the effects it had on David’s entire being:
9 Be merciful to me, O Lord, for I am in distress; my eyes grow weak with sorrow, my soul and my body with grief. 10 My life is consumed by anguish and my years by groaning; my strength fails because of my affliction [or → iniquity – ESV], and my bones grow weak. NIV
In verses 11-13, David further elucidates why he feels as he does, how he felt from experiencing the brunt of societal rejection and persecution.
11 Because of all my enemies, I am the utter contempt of my neighbors; I am a dread to my friends — those who see me on the street flee from me. 12 I am forgotten by them as though I were dead; I have become like broken pottery. 13 For I hear the slander of many; there is terror on every side; they conspire against me and plot to take my life. NIV
Though the ultimate source of
David’s dilemma and deliverance may be found in the sovereign designs of God, the immediate cause was from the slanderous propaganda and seditious plotting of
his enemies.
As a result of this, David feels forsaken and forgotten by those who once professed loyalty – or at least respected him. Translators find it difficult to translate verse 11, and thus the differences between the various translations. However, the meaning is still evident. David’s enemies wrought societal scorn among his neighbors and acquaintances. The word translated as “contempt” or “reproach” conveys the idea of “taunt” or “scorn.”* And not only did they invite scorn from the neighbors, but his so-called friends were scared to be around him as well.
In verse 12, we see the depth
of despair David felt. The KJV translation is a more literal rendition of the
Hebrew here.
“I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind: I am like a broken vessel.”
The word “mind” is literally
“heart,” which has a wide range of meanings in Hebrew – one of those being the
mind. However, it also can refer to the seat of our affections and emotions. As
David’s neighbors and friends hid from him, the modern idiom “out of sight, out
of mind” may be an appropriate way of looking at how David viewed his
situation. Yet, I cannot help but feel that it goes further than this. David
was once dear to the hearts of his people. Now he feels like these affections
have died, and he might as well be dead too.
12a They have forgotten me. I might as well be dead. NIrV
Not only dead but useless and discarded.
12b I have become like broken pottery. NIV
They deleted David from their
thought “inbox” into the “trash”
What did David do? Did he pack
it in? Withdraw from it all? Give up? David didn’t “pack it in” or “up” as the
World War I song says – “Pack up your troubles in your old kit bag and smile,
smile, smile.” But he did withdraw. Not from life but the “Bank of Hope and
Trust!” He didn’t give up. Instead, he looked up. To the One who owned the bank!
The One who held all the reserves necessary to deliver him from the poverty of
hopelessness.
14 But I trust in you, O Lord; I say, “You are my God.” 15 My times are in your hands; deliver me from my enemies and from those who pursue me. 16 Let your face shine on your servant; save me in your unfailing love. NIV
In the depths of despair, David remembered the One who was
there even in the “valley of the shadow of death.”
Worship
in Witness:
Conjunction
Junction, what's your function?
Conjunction
Junction, how's that function?
I got
three favorite cars
That get
most of my job done.
Conjunction
Junction, what's their function?
I got
"and", "but", and "or",
They'll
get you pretty far.
https://www.lyricsmania.com/conjunction_junction_lyrics_schoolhouse_rock.html
Those who
were alive in the ’70s may remember this classic song from Schoolhouse rock on
PBS about conjunctions and their “function.” These words may seem small and
insignificant, but
as the song says, “they’ll get you pretty far.”
One of the most powerful words
in the life of faith is the conjunction, “but.” This word may build a contrast
between what precedes and proceeds a particular
juncture in our walk by faith.
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.
Phil 3:12 NIV
It deepens and clarifies:
21 "You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' 22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, 'Raca,' is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell.
Matt 5:21-22 NIV
It may follow a warning that
precedes a promise:
17 For behold, I will bring a flood of waters upon the earth to destroy all flesh in which is the breath of life under heaven. Everything that is on the earth shall die.
18 But I will establish my covenant with you, and you shall come into the ark, you, your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives with you.
Gen 6:17-18 ESV
It perseveres when we are about
to give up:
My soul faints with longing for your salvation,
but I have put my hope in your word.
Ps 119:81 NIV
And when doubt assails, “but”
will prevail!
14 But I trust in you, O Lord;
I say, “You are my God.”
15a My times are in your hand...
Ps 31:14-15a ESV
And if you think David had no
doubts despite what he had said in verses 9-13, verse 22 will dispel that thought.
I had said in my alarm,
“I am cut off from your sight.”
But you heard the voice of my pleas for mercy
when I cried to you for help.
Ps 31:22 ESV
It will prevail because God is
in control:
19 But Joseph said to them, "Don't be afraid. Am I in the place of God? 20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.
Gen 50:19-20 NIV
https://www.newhope.in/uploads/8/4/0/1/84014798/butgod_1_orig.jpg
Worship
in Promise, Poetry, Prayer, and Praise:
What’s
in Your Hands?
I walked
with a heavy heart today
Fear and
doubt dogged me on the way
My
anxious thoughts filled the air
I was
burdened down with a load of care
And then
a voice came from behind.
A voice
that was firm and yet so kind
He asked me: “What's in your hands?”
I replied: “I do not understand.”
“Are
those anxious thoughts you hold tight?
With clenched fist as if to fight?
My child,
open your hands and cast them on me
I will
bear them as I bore your sins at Calvary
Let go of
your unbelief of stressing
Open one
hand and receive My blessing
Then open
the other hand to me,
I will
take hold of it, and you will see
That all
your time was wasted on worry
Leading
to nothing but sound and fury
But I
will guide you and give you peace
And from
these thoughts, a sweet release.”
Another Poem
Another pain, another poem
My heart is hurting, and wants to roam
In debt, I'm drowning
As my bills are mounting
I cannot sleep and worries I reap
But I've prayed the Lord my soul to keep
I know You do what's right and best
So help me God, in You to rest
Take my worries and my fears
Take my sorrows and take my tears
I cast them on You, who bears my cares
Who hears my cries and answers my
prayers
- Amen
I chose
to end in worship with two songs. They are of two different music genres but
contains one message – “But God!”
But God by
Larnelle Harris
Verse 1:
Verse 2:
Chorus:
Tag:
Lyrics (corrected): https://www.elyrics.net/read/l/larnelle-harris-lyrics/but-god-lyrics.html
Video: https://youtu.be/8oH3JEScceA
Live version: https://youtu.be/Ikcp-08gMFM
But God by John Waller
“But God”
Lyrics (slightly corrected): https://www.invubu.com/music/show/song/John-Waller/But-God.html
Video: https://youtu.be/1t1mUHbFCGg
Further Notes:
* OT:2781 cherpah —
reproach, scorn
a) taunt, scorn
(upon enemy)
b) reproach
(resting upon the condition of shame, disgrace)
c) a reproach
(an object)
(from The Online Bible Thayer's Greek Lexicon and Brown
Driver & Briggs Hebrew Lexicon, Copyright © 1993, Woodside Bible
Fellowship, Ontario, Canada. Licensed from the Institute for Creation
Research.)
*****************************************************************************
9–13. His isolation. The deepening demoralization of
the victim, from gloom to hopelessness (12) and terror (13), shows how
murderous is the impact of hatred, especially when it takes the form of
rejection. In Psalm 6, which has the same rare word for waste away, and the
same helpless grief, the root cause of the depression is left unspecified. Here
it is partly guilt, according to the Hebrew text of verse 10, where misery
should read ‘iniquity’ (RSV mg.); but it is man, not God, who is determined to
condemn, as verses 14ff. make clear. Jeremiah knew this cruel encirclement, and
borrowed the phrase terror on every side as a motto theme (Jer. 6:25; 20:3, 10;
46:5; 49:29; cf. Lam. 2:22).
Kidner, D. (1973). Psalms 1–72: an introduction and
commentary (Vol. 15, p. 149). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
*****************************************************************************Psalms
31:11-13
11, 12, 13. "I was a reproach among all my enemies, but
especially among my neighbors, and a fear to my acquaintance; those who saw me
outside fled from me. I am forgotten as a dead man, out of mind; I am like a
broken vessel. For I have heard the slander of many; fear was on every side;
while they took counsel together against me, they devised to take away my
life."
The Spirit vividly foreshows the sufferings of Jesus when He
was despised and rejected of men. His chosen followers forsook Him and fled. He
was carried as a dead man to the tomb. He was regarded as a broken piece of
pottery worthless for further use. The Jews conspired to destroy Him. Nothing
could allay their malice. Their cry was urgent, 'Let Him be crucified.'
Much of this cruel usage was experienced by the type. David
fled as an outcast. Conspirators laid plots. Evil counselors took evil counsel.
Similar enmity burns against every true disciple. Outward restraints may bind,
but the inward hatred is the same.
(from Commentary on the Psalms, by Henry
Law, Biblesoft formatted electronic database Copyright © 2014 by Biblesoft,
Inc. All rights reserved.)