A Changeless God in a Changing Age - By: Dr. Lloyd A. Peterson

This message comes to us from the 27th Psalm. It is a song precious to the hearts of most Christians. David wrote this Psalm probably after his experience of II Samuel 21:15-17. You must read this portion to understand the Psalm. David was evidently aged when he went out to war with these Philistines. He very nearly lost his life in the battle. His friends said, 'Thou shalt go no more out with us to battle, that thou quench not the light of Israel.' In Hebrew and the Chaldee this Psalm is captioned 'ledavid' which is 'to and for David'. It is the testimony of sweet confidence in the living God.   There is a confidence because of divine protection. Verses 1-3. Confidence is given in the realm of spiritual, mental and physical anguish. He declares, 'When the wicked ... ' Verse 2. 'Wicked' here is not personified; it is wickedness in general. The Hebrew word is 'ra-a'. It means the breaking up of all that is good and desirable. If a Greek word were chosen it would be 'poneros', which is moral depravity and corruption. A day like this is not only spoken of as coming but some of us believe that it is here. We who have children and grandchildren care for their souls and we are tempted to worry. But let the age come, twisted and warped as it is, we may have confidence in the living God that He cares for His own. Isaiah said of Him, 'When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard.' Isaiah 59: 19.   Again the Psalmist declares, 'Though an host should encamp against me.' Verse 3. This is MENTAL ANGUISH. It is a picture of the threats about us. None of these have actually engaged us in struggle yet, but they are like the Philistines encamped round about Israel. It engenders a spirit of uneasiness. It disturbs the rest that belongs to the chosen of God. Our Heavenly Father wants us to rest in the Lord. These threats come to all of us at all ages of life, but God says that we should not be disturbed. David in the Psalms says, 'I shall not fear'. Dearly beloved, God does not permit one thing to be an accident in your life. We call them such but this is improper. Our Father knows what we have need of and when we need His protection. Sometimes the Lord lets the host encamp about us so that we may more carefully examine both ourselves and our God. The host sometimes becomes His tool to make us a vessel unto honor. A dear brother in the Lord gave me a piece of paper. It had this message on it: 'The present circumstance which presses so hard against you is the best shaped tool in the Father's hand to chisel you for eternity. Trust Him then. Do not push away the instrument lest you lose its work.'   Once more the Psalmist declares, 'Though war should rise against me.' Verse 3. This is PHYSICAL. This is actual contact with the enemy. It is not only threat but experience in the physical. We all know what this is and will as long as we live in these bodies. Young people are not so cognizant of this but time brings all face to face with this issue -- the care of the physical.   What about age? With it come infirmities. Oh, how rich the Word is here!  David said, 'I will be confident.' How could he say this? If you care to study, read on in the Psalm. David begins to pray and as an old pilgrim along life's road he wisely asks for some items of life, even in late years, that God sees fit to give all those who seek His guidance. No wonder we may say 'Selah' (think of that) for this is our unchanging God in this changing world.   David wrote this Psalm when he was aged. He probably was tempted to feel that the days of his usefulness were over. (As suggested, read II Samuel 21:15-17.) He was told that he should not go out to battle any more. He was not able and capable as in former days. David was told that he should not 'quench the light of Israel'. It is not the easiest experience in life to be set aside from service. This is what Paul dreaded most. 'Lest I myself should become a castaway (set aside or disapproved)'. I believe that the Scripture teaches that until God takes us to heaven we are used of Him. When David saw that this particular phase of his ministry had come to an end he said, 'There is more for me to do, that will I seek after'. In so many words he declared that there was a ministry of prayer and through this he would reach areas that he had not before touched for God, and in this, confidence would be restored. By such communion several experiences would be his: No. 1 - Prayer would reveal God's presence. Verse 4. 'I wiII seek ..... that I may dweII in the house of the Lord. ' He was speaking of the sanctuary. He knew what he would see there. There he would see the candlesticks, the table of shewbread, the altar of incense, the Mercy Seat, etc. These all spoke of God and His faithfulness and care for the children of men. In short, these items of furniture revealed the person and the nature of God. They spoke of God and His undying love for man. No one could abide here and ever worry. The storms of life that come with age, or any period of life in this age or any age, must abate when we stand in the presence of God. It is impossible as a Christian to have communion with God and worry at the same time. Do you remember what Martha said when Jesus came to the grave of her brother? She said to the Master, 'If thou hadst been here. ' There is a motto that reads: 'If I could hear Christ praying for me in the next room, I would not fear a million enemies; yet distance makes no difference, He is praying for me.' Try, my friend, to spend time in the Holy of Holies; see what God's presence will do when you behold Him.  No.2 - Prayer would reveal His beauty. Verse 4. David said, 'To behoId the beauty of the Lord'. Another translation reads, 'To consider the pleasantness of Jehovah and to look upon Him with admiration in his temple'. David is saying, 'There is a great ministry for me even now and that is to reveal the beauty of the Lord.'  No one can abide in God's presence and not reveal and reflect God's person. Moses did when he came down from the Mount. I know that his (Moses') experience was unique, but II Corinthians 3:18 says that the Holy Spirit through the Word has a way of revealing the beauty of the Lord. 'But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. ' There is a tremendous ministry for all of us until Jesus calls us to heaven regardless of age. Think of it! While the world and its religion are so busy and taken with the peddling of their wares, denominationally and otherwise, God can use a few humble and dedicated souls to reveal HIS BEAUTY. Does not this verse in Corinthians teach us that this is possible? Be sure to note, however, it is through THE WORD. This by prayer brings us into His presence.   No.3 - Prayer would reveal his power and purpose. Verse 5. 'He shall hide me in His pavilion'. What is better than to know the power and purpose of God? This can be a reality in and by communion with the Lord. The word 'pavilion' comes from the words 'papilio' and 'papilion' which means butterfly. It signifies a tent made of cloth stretched out on poles which in form resembles the butterfly. Here God hides the trusting soul. Does it mean that a man in the Old Testament who felt the judgment of man and fled to the Tent Tabernacle and laid hold of the horns of the altar could feel security here; or does it mean that as God has taken and transformed the worm, a creature of dust, into the beautiful butterfly to flit about in glorious splendor, so He has done for those that trust in Him? Whatever it does mean, it speaks of the POWER and PURPOSE of God. When a believer learns this, that he is in God's tender and purposeful care, rest quickly comes to the searching heart.   May the Lord help up to find and take time for a ministry of prayer; then the above named pleasures will be ours.    Video Archive - Les Feldick Bible Study How God Saves Men Believing Christ DIED, that’s HISTORY. Believing Christ DIED for YOU SINS and Rose again that’s SALVATION. Read Romans 1:16, Romans 10:9-10 and 1. Corinthians 15:1-4 Read the KJV BIBLE in large print (Click Here) (A 10 Minute Video) Jesus is JEHOVAH The One True GOD (Click Here)  Posted By Cecil and Connie Spivey cspivey1953@gmail.com E-mail this BIBLE STUDY to all your friends