Casting Our Burdens

"Cast your burden on the LORD, and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved."

Psalm 55:22

When David wrote Psalm 55, he was clearly burdened by many things, including a host of enemies, the oppression of the wicked, and betrayal by a friend.  Unable to fly away from his troubling situation or dread, he sought the LORD he knew would hear and answer him.  Toward the end of the song he turned his attention to the reader and urged all to cast their burdens on the LORD who would sustain those made righteous through faith in Him.

To sustain means "to hold."  When people are burdened in a literal sense, it means we are carrying something.  I picture someone encumbered with bags after coming home from the shops or a person carrying a load of firewood on outstretched arms.  When doing work, we like to make our effort and time worthwhile.  Rather than making several trips, we might load an extra bag or log to finish the job more efficiently.  In contrast to physical burdens we carry in doing work, we can be weighed down with mental and spiritual burdens that go to work on us--and not in a good way.  These cares, worries, fears and anxiety can paralyse us under a weight we struggle to carry.  We would rather carry what we able to carry rather than permitting others to assist us, and this tendency can be carried over to our relationship with God.  He allows burdens we cannot even carry for a moment, for we can easily be overwhelmed and collapse under the weight of them.

There are burdens that situations may place upon us, and there are burdens we voluntarily choose to pick up and carry as something we feel responsible to do or bring justice to bear on them.  At times we may not even realise we are burdened by thoughts and feelings that are weighing us down.  We can become rather attached to burdens, even finding our identify or sense of purpose in carrying them.  But David exhorts us to cast our burden (whatever it may be or however we obtained it) on the LORD and pour out our complaint to Him alone, knowing he will never permit the righteous to be moved.  Christians are exhorted in 1 Peter 5:5-7:  "Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble." ⁶ Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, ⁷ casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you."

In Bunyan's allegory the Pilgrim's Progress, the protagonist Christian was loaded with a burden of sin, and it is something he always carried that grew weightier over time.  It was when he knelt at the foot of the cross it fell from his shoulders, and Jesus is able to carry the weight of our sin and all other burdens we accumulate as we cast them upon the LORD.  What we can hardly carry He gives us supernatural strength to cast on Him.  It may be we have known the LORD a long season and perhaps we have burdens we have always carried to this day--and thus feel a bit attached to them, even justifying their existence.  We can proudly hold onto our burdens rather than casting them on the LORD, shrinking back from trusting He will sustain and hold us because we have yet to experience this.  What do we have to lose by casting our cares on Him who cares for us?  He rejoices to exalt and lift up those who humble themselves to cast their burdens on the LORD.

Good Lessons from Bad Examples

The context of the book of Judges is a time marked by everyone doing what was right in their own eyes.  The focus is primarily on God's people who lived just like the heathen nations round about them.  Chapters 17-18 of Judges tell the story of Micah, a Levite from Bethlehem, and men from the tribe of Dan.  All the characters in the passage are unethical and immoral in their relationship to God and one another, everyone aiming to benefit themselves at the expense of God or their fellow man.

Micah's religion was what we call in Australia a "dog's breakfast" because from a biblical perspective it was an absolute mess.  Micah embraced what many people still do today, imagining God would bless and benefit him because of his twisted efforts to honour Him.  Because he did not know God, Micah did not walk in the way God laid forth in the Law of Moses.  He made idolatrous images in violation of the law along with an ephod and consecrated one of his sons as his priest--until the Levite came along.  Micah hired the drifter and grifter Levite, believing God would certainly do him good because he had a Levite as his priest (who was not a qualified priest at all!).

Micah was looking for God to do him good, and the Levite who wandered to find a place (and was treated like a son by Micah) was only too glad to take a better deal with the tribe of Dan after they stole Micah's gods.  The men of Dan were pleased to steal Micah's idols and illegitimate "priest" after he had extended hospitality to them, and then they attacked Sidonians to take their land for themselves.  Every person and group was out for their own interests without thought of others or God, and the heart of mankind has not changed at all.  One of the best sermons I ever heard was taken from these scriptures, titled 10 Shekels and a Shirt by Paris Reidhead.  He used this passage to point out the utilitarian appeal of a modern presentation of the Gospel that is like a Levite pretending to be priest--the offer of forgiveness without repentance, salvation without faith marked by obedience, and appeals to selfish motives rather than the glory of God simply because He is worthy.

How different things would have been if Micah had trusted and believed in the one true God Who is good!  Instead of looking for a place the Levite could have been blessed to serve at the tabernacle where the presence of the LORD dwelt among His people.  The tribe of Dan could have been content to receive their land by lot as an inheritance from God's hand, be satisfied in abundance, and give rather than steal.  How different for the better we would be if we learned from their bad example!  It is good for us to understand that in the worst examples in scripture we can catch glimpses of ourselves so we might repent of our sin and choose to do what pleases God.  And if you haven't heard that sermon yet, it is well worth your time.  Not only will it provide insight into Judges 17-18 but challenges all to examine our hearts so we might humble ourselves before God and by faith and obedience to be more like Jesus. 

New Perspective and Power

A sermon which impacted me greatly concerning the scourge of humanism and the believer's joyful duty to live for the glory of God is Ten Shekels and a Shirt by Paris Reidhead.  In the message he related an incident when a preacher came to him seeking the baptism with the Holy Spirit.  It seemed to Mr. Reidhead this man, who had been successful in Christian ministry without the aid of the Holy Spirit, desired God to be a means to his own end.  He identified with this fellow who came to him looking for God to empower his programs.  Paris related in the sermon:

"I looked at the fellow, and you know what he looked like? ME. Just looked like me. I just saw in him everything that was in me. You thought I was going to say me before. No, listen dear heart, if you've ever seen yourself you'll know you're never going to be anything else than you were. "For in me and my flesh there's no good thing" (Rom 7:18)."

Having adopted a humble posture before the LORD after being convicted of sin, Reidhead received insight about himself and others.  Though he had been filled with the Holy Spirit, he did not think of himself higher than he ought to think.  Paris did not look upon his inquirer as how he "used to be" with a sense of pride but who he was in his flesh currently.  The only thing good about the missionary and teacher Paris Reidhead was really a Who:  Jesus Christ who redeemed, cleansed and spiritually regenerated him by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Paul explained that when we stand in judgment of others for sin it provides insight into our own sinfulness.  Romans 2:1 says, "Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things."  Notice how Paul does not put our wrongdoing in the past tense but the present.  For instance, if we are irked by the proud boasting of others, it sends a clear message to us we also are a proud boaster.  When we take umbrage at someone for complaining, know we complain as well.  Being able to point out the faults of others does not exonerate us from God's judgment as Paul continued in Romans 2:2-3:  "But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things. ³ And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God?"

This principle applies beyond obvious sins.  Should we be offended or annoyed by things others do that are not necessarily sinful but seem insensitive, clueless and rude--like dominating a conversation, avoiding responsibility to deal with conflict, interrupting or finishing the sentences of others--know you too are guilty of the same.  I list these because I have been guilty of all of them.  Often it wasn't until I noticed someone else doing it and it bothered me that I realised I needed to change; it was more my problem than theirs.  I needed to admit I had been wrong in judging others whilst hypocritically doing the same thing myself, repent and show love for one another in my manner of conversing.

The things that trouble us can be the thing God uses to change us for the better by the power of the Holy Spirit Who convicts of sin, guides us into truth and helps us.  Knowing I am doing wrong or what is right does not in itself have the power to change me, but Jesus Christ can.  Attempts to self-help are a snare, but the indwelling Helper sets us free from the shackles of sin and enlightens our path through God's word.  Instead of being conformed to this world, Jesus transforms us as we walk with Him by faith in light of the Gospel.

Trials and Consolation

Today I preached at Calvary Chapel Sydney on 2 Corinthians 1:1-7.  I have been richly blessed in preparing and considering the truths of that passage.  God gave me deeper understanding of His grace, mercy, and comfort through His Word.  It dawned on me how God blesses us whether we recognise it or not.  We can have confidence Paul demonstrated, that even in our trials He will certainly accomplish His redemptive work.

When I think of "good works," I think of sacrificing, serving, or obeying God in some area of my life.  I think of things I choose to do because Christ's love has compelled me.  Yet I am learning sometimes a good work can be our response to situations over which we have little or no control.  It is a good work to endure hard times, trusting God has a plan and purpose He will accomplish despite my ignorance.  When Jesus endured the cross He did a good work.  Jesus did not do this for His own benefit, but His sacrifice accomplished deliverance, redemption, salvation, and comfort for me and all who trust in Him.  It is amazing to consider that even as Christ's suffering benefited me with salvation and consolation, whether I suffer or receive comfort from Him it benefits others with salvation and consolation as well.

I cannot think of any time in scripture when God asks us if we are willing to suffer.  In the life of Paul God divinely revealed to Paul he would suffer greatly for His name's sake.  The 2 Corinthians 1:1-7 passage teaches us with every trial and suffering we experience for Christ's sake there is abundant consolation provided for us.  Sometimes it is God's will we suffer, for in times of trial we mature greatly (James 1:2-4).  The trials we endure are not only for us, but bring salvation and comfort to others through the Holy Spirit.  This is mind blowing, and it is a fundamental truth.  It is not our suffering which enables us to comfort others who suffer, but the fact we have received the Holy Spirit and the comfort He provides.  The more we suffer for Christ's sake, the greater the consolation.

I encourage you to meditate on this passage and see how necessary it is for our souls to align with God's perspective on trials for Christ's sake.  We can suffer as unto the LORD, even as we are to do all things as unto the LORD.  It is a good work when we are in the midst of a trial to say as Paul in 2 Corinthians 4:17-18:  "...for our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, ¹⁸ while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal."  We maintain an eternal perspective when we focus our eyes on the high and lofty One who inhabits eternity.  Through the prophet in Isaiah 57:15 our gracious Father of mercies and of all comfort said He will dwell in the holy place "with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones."  If we humble ourselves before God, He will lift us up.  One day our Saviour will present us faultless before the Father with exceeding joy.  It is all God's doing, and it is glorious in my eyes.

My testimony concerning AUS...

For those who are interested to hear the background on the call upon my life in Australia, I invite you to visit this link to Calvary Chapel El Cajon's website.  On Friday I shared with those in attendance how God made my call to preach in Australia clear.

What is so wonderful about our God is nothing will shift His call from our lives.  Situations can be fluid, changes seem abrupt, difficulties arise:  but the call of God remains.  When Jonah ran from the calling upon his life to preach in Nineveh he ended up in a storm, was thrown overboard, swallowed by a great fish in whose belly he remained for three days, and then was vomited out.  Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah to preach in Nineveh.  No change in calling.  Praise God that He is immutable, cannot be taught, and reigns over all!

Great sermon by A.W. Tozer

Ever wondered how God can be completely just and yet forgive sinners? Tozer lays it down right and proper with this one: http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=823071654412
Click on the green "play" button to listen to the message by this anointed preacher.