From Sorrow to Joy

"Many sorrows shall be to the wicked; but he who trusts in the LORD, mercy shall surround him. ¹¹ Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you righteous; and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!"

Psalm 32:10-11

Negative symptoms help accurately diagnose illnesses in those who are sick.  There can be sorrows of heart where the cause is not physical but spiritual in origin.  The psalmist said "many sorrows" shall be to the wicked, but the one who trusts the LORD shall be surrounded by mercy.  The weight of sin is a heavy burden the wicked do not realise they carry.  Other times people experience guilt due to their sin and sorrow over being in bondage.  Even followers of Jesus experience sorrow and suffer, for Christ Himself was described as a man of sorrows.  Suffering is not reserved for the wicked, yet they have no healing balm to ease their pains.

In contrast to the wicked whose sorrows are increased, those who are righteous have profound gladness and joy.  The joy of the believer is enabled when we are brought into a healthy relationship with God through repentance and faith.  David began Psalm 32 with saying in verses 1-2, "Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. ² Blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit."  No one is righteous by their own merit, and only the blood of Jesus Christ can wash our hearts clean of sin.  In David's day sins were atoned for by the sacrifice of animals according to the Law of Moses.  Blessed was the man to whom God did not impute iniquity, and more blessed still is the one to whom God has imputed righteousness through faith.  God has sealed every Christian with the Holy Spirit who indwells our hearts, God's glorious presence contained in these earthen vessels.

The Holy Spirit convicts of sin, righteousness, and judgment.  The conviction He brings is not to be sorrowed of because it produces the fruit of repentance.  Psalm 32:5 says, "I acknowledged my sin to You, and my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD," and You forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah."  Think about this!  To plead guilty to sin in a human court of law means a lesser sentence but the perpetrator remains guilty as sin:  when we confess our sins and repent of them before God we are forgiven and deemed righteous by faith.  We are sinners who God declares righteous on account of Christ's sacrifice, and this is something to celebrate and rejoice over.  There is nothing we must or can do to earn God's approval:  we are accepted into the beloved when we admit our sin and forsake it.  Even when we fall as God's precious children He is merciful to draw near when we cry out to him.

Let's be glad in the LORD, all you His redeemed!  What joy is ours when we trust in the LORD.

Into His Hands

I am continually amazed by the things Jesus said and did.  Reading through Old Testament passages can also shed further light on the implications of the words of Jesus.  For instance, I did not always know Jesus was quoting the first line of Psalm 22 when He said, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"  The devout Jews who heard these words would have been familiar with what followed.  The scripture was being fulfilled by the promised Messiah right before their eyes, and the words of Jesus were signposts pointing to that reality they refused to acknowledge.

Another compelling statement is found in Luke 23:46:  "And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, "Father, 'into Your hands I commit My spirit.' " Having said this, He breathed His last."  If one reads these words in the KJV there is no hint this a quote from the Psalms as well.  I was blown away when I came upon these words written by David as inspired by the Holy Spirit in Psalm 31:5:  "Into Your hand I commit my spirit; You have redeemed me, O LORD God of truth."  Jesus only stated the first half of the verse, but having identified Himself with the first part He proclaimed the second.  When Jesus breathed His last it appeared to His enemies their schemes had prevailed, but death had been swallowed up in Christ's victory.

When we read Psalm 31 from the perspective of Christ, one who is described in Isaiah 53 as "...despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief," how encouraging and awesome are the promises for those who fear God.  Those who mocked Jesus as He died on the cross would be silenced forever, but the mouth of Jesus still speaks as our risen LORD.  David wrote in Psalm 31:19, "Oh, how great is Your goodness, which You have laid up for those who fear You, which You have prepared for those who trust in You in the presence of the sons of men!"  A violent death does not seem good, but God redeemed the death of Jesus Christ by providing atonement and salvation for all.

And see the glorious exhortation through the lens of Calvary in Psalm 31:23-24:  "Oh, love the LORD, all you His saints! For the LORD preserves the faithful, and fully repays the proud person. ²⁴  Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all you who hope in the LORD."  The God of heaven and earth is worthy to be loved, having purchased us as His chosen saints.  If you have chosen Jesus to be your LORD and Saviour, than He has chosen you.  God preserves the faithful, though He kills and makes alive, and He strengthens the hearts of all those who hope in Him.  Jesus showed immense courage in the face of certain death knowing His redemption was more sure.  Praise the LORD for His redemption of all those who commit themselves into the hands of our Redeemer.

Responding to Giving with Giving

One passage of scripture which always brings a smile to my face is the interaction between Abraham and Ephron the son of Zohar.  Sarah the wife of Abraham had died, and as a stranger in the land he did not have a place he owned to provide a proper burial.  Abraham gathered the children of Heth together and because he was highly regarded the people invited him to make his request.  Genesis 23:7-9 states, "Then Abraham stood up and bowed himself to the people of the land, the sons of Heth. ⁸  And he spoke with them, saying, "If it is your wish that I bury my dead out of my sight, hear me, and meet with Ephron the son of Zohar for me, ⁹ that he may give me the cave of Machpelah which he has, which is at the end of his field. Let him give it to me at the full price, as property for a burial place among you."  And so began an extended discussion concerning the land and their final agreement.

The way Abraham spoke about buying the field is interesting because he never uses the wording we typically would.  We might say, "I'd like to buy that," or "I'll take that off your hands."  But Abraham asked Ephron to give him the land, and he would give the full price for it.  In our culture when we buy something or pay for a service, we give to receive.  After Ephron agreed to give him the land and cave, Abraham responded to giving with giving. Genesis 23:12-13 reads, "Then Abraham bowed himself down before the people of the land; ¹³ and he spoke to Ephron in the hearing of the people of the land, saying, "If you will give it, please hear me. I will give you money for the field; take it from me and I will bury my dead there."  The price was agreed upon, the money weighed before witnesses, and the title transferred.  Ephron gave him the land, and Abraham gave full price for it.

This transaction between Ephron and Abraham is similar to the Gospel.  Jesus gave His life for us, and we should not be content with His giving alone:  having been born again by grace through faith we ought to give ourselves to Him.  What a privilege it is God would give all things to us, and that He would delight to receive anything from our hands.  We do not give motivated by guilt of all we have received but of thankfulness for all God has given.  Jesus was willing to pay the full price for our sins on the cross, and having been purchased with His blood we too can give.  We are not entitled to receive any gifts, and what a privilege it is we can give to God and others.

Choose Life, Not Death

Suicide is a blight upon the world, and the awful impact has touched virtually everyone.  Today I read an article on the 9 News website about a young man of 24 who committed suicide because "He felt there was no way out."  The article went on to highlight the connection between tradesman and higher than average rates of suicide - and increased alcohol and drug use.  For those who are battling depression, alcohol and drugs make the downward spiral much worse.  The article said the stress the young man faced "was just too much," and suicide was his solution.

What do you do when life is too much?  From a biblical viewpoint, suicide is never a good option.  But the world has romanticised suicide to a degree, and this perspective is held for in the classic cowbell rock tune by the Blue Oyster Cult, "(Don't Fear) The Reaper."  This is a song millions have heard and sing along, but beyond the cowbell and catchy riffs the lyrics could have a sinister interpretation.  Whilst the songwriter says the song is about eternal love rather than encouraging suicide pacts, he admitted his surprise when people took it that way.  After saying the reaper should not be feared the lyrics continued:  "Came the last night of sadness and it was clear she couldn't go on..."  As Romeo was separated from Juliette, she ran to the reaper without fear to be reunited with her love in eternity - where exactly the song does not say.

The song says "it was clear she couldn't go on," and this sounds similar to the news article which said life "was just too much."  Suicide is an ultimate conclusion of a soul which is not regarding God.  Suicide has been the end for unbelievers and Christians alike, and killing self is not the escape it purports to be.  If life feels like a "living hell," it is nothing compared to the eternal hell all souls go who die in their sins.  To live on earth is better than to be bound by eternal chains in darkness.  If a person feels like there is "no way out" of their problems on earth, know there is no way out of the hell people choose for themselves which was prepared by God for Satan and his angels.  Suicide is not an "unpardonable sin" of course, but it is condemned by God as murder.  Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  If we want to be free indeed, it only comes through faith in Him.

Christians are no strangers to depression and difficult times.  I was reading in Spurgeon's proverbs, "Lightness of spirit may bring darkness of soul.  Too often has it been so!  Tender consciences soon discover that something is wrong between God and their souls, and then their sinful levity is followed by heaviness of heart.  Thus Berridge complained of himself:

"Brisk and dull in half an hour,

Hot and cold, and sweet and sour;

Sometimes grave at Jesus' school,

Sometimes light, and play the fool!

What a motley wretch am I,

Full of inconsistency!

Sure the plague is in my heart,

Else I could not act this part."

(Spurgeon, C. H. Spurgeon's Proverbs and Sayings with Notes. Vol. 1, Baker Book House, 1975. pg. 333)

Suicide is a wretched deception because it is a fatal, permanent decision for temporary issues.  Debts can be paid; love can be found again.  In Jesus Christ there is hope, peace, joy, and rest which does not depend upon circumstances.  Suicide offers no hope:  only death and increased pain and suffering.  The deceased body feels nothing, but what of the soul?  What of those who are left to pick up the pieces of their own broken hearts?  This horrendous act creates more questions than provides answers.  If you are someone who is struggling with thoughts of self-harm or suicide, talk to someone who cares for and loves you.  Even if there is not one person in your life you are convinced loves you, remember God loves you with an everlasting love.  He created you, cares for you, and Jesus demonstrated His love for you by dying on the cross for your sins.  We all deserve death but we are granted eternal life through faith in Him.  Why choose death when there is life in Christ?