Devotion for September 24, 2008

Turn and Be Restored

"To the Chief Musician. Set to "Lily of the Testimony." A Michtam of David. For teaching. When he fought against Mesopotamia and Syria of Zobah, and Joab returned and killed twelve thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt. O God, You have cast us off; You have broken us down; You have been displeased; Oh, restore us again! You have made the earth tremble; You have broken it; Heal its breaches, for it is shaking. You have shown Your people hard things; You have made us drink the wine of confusion. You have given a banner to those who fear You, That it may be displayed because of the truth. Selah That Your beloved may be delivered, Save [with] Your right hand, and hear me. God has spoken in His holiness: "I will rejoice; I will divide Shechem And measure out the Valley of Succoth. Gilead [is] Mine, and Manasseh [is] Mine; Ephraim also [is] the helmet for My head; Judah [is] My lawgiver. Moab [is] My washpot; Over Edom I will cast My shoe; Philistia, shout in triumph because of Me." Who will bring me [to] the strong city? Who will lead me to Edom? [Is it] not You, O God, [who] cast us off? And You, O God, [who] did not go out with our armies? Give us help from trouble, For the help of man [is] useless. Through God we will do valiantly, For [it is] He [who] shall tread down our enemies." (Psalms 60:1-12 NKJV)

There are times when the Lord will allow a state of confusion to dominate your life. It is often designed to chasten you to repentance. Some commentators believe this casting off was a result of Israel's past. David had gained his kingdom but it was in terrible shape at the end of Saul's reign. Others believe this points to a future time speaking prophetically of the rejection of the Messiah when Israel is cast off as a nation. Notice the following verses from Romans.

"For if their being cast away [is] the reconciling of the world, what [will] their acceptance [be] but life from the dead?" (Romans 11:15 NKJV)

 "You will say then, "Branches were broken off that I might be grafted in." Well [said]. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear. For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either." (Romans 11:19-21 NKJV)

Honestly, this writer is not sure. However, the specifics of the situation do not damage the lesson to be learned. If referring to the past or to the future the problem is the same. The people of God had sinned in unbelief.

Now learn this pattern from David. When God has brought calamity upon you, return to Him by prayer. Notice first David complains before God about the situation. Believers must acknowledge the sovereign hand of God in every situation. David cries, "You have cast us off. You have cast us down."

Then he acknowledges their sin. "You have been displeased." Repentance is first recognition of the wrong then turning away from that wrong and finally turning to God.

This is the cure, turning to God and Him retuning His favor upon you. Without God's favor there is no hope.

However, my friends take note. There is a difference between being cast off and not knowing it and being cast off and knowing it. The former is seen in Israel by their self-righteous and murderous attitude which they displayed when they crucified the Lord. The latter is in every believer when chastened by the Lord.

His Spirit bears witness with the believer's spirit that he is a child of God. When the Lord desires to get a believer's attention, the first thing that usually happens is a pulling back of God's Spirit leaving the believer with a lonely, longing heart.

If you have been longing for a closer walk with the Lord, examine your life to see if there are sin issues that need to be confessed and repented. Acknowledge your dependence upon God and ask Him to reveal your sins. It could be that you have been so long removed from the narrow path that the stumbling block eludes your memory. Really there is likely a sin pattern that has taken you captive. However, a broken and contrite spirit the Lord will not despise (Ps 51:17).