Salvation of my Countenance

"Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; for I shall yet praise Him, the help of my countenance and my God."

Psalm 42:11

There are occasions in the book of Psalms David gave himself a pep talk, rousing himself from a spiritual malaise brought on by a combination of factors.  The circumstances of David's life, how he was feeling and stress from enemies who rose against him contributed to David being downcast.  Everyone can relate to this, for disappointments and hardships are sure to come.

The way people are feeling is often expressed in the face, and David's soul--his entire being--was cast down and troubled.  David knew the divine remedy for his depression was to put his hope and trust in God.  This would work to shift his perspective from David's problems to his God, from feelings of hopelessness and failure to his glorious Saviour.  In light of God's goodness, glory and power, ought not David's countenance reflect it with gladness rather than gloom?  But David realised he was downcast, so he reminded himself of God's praiseworthiness and His salvation.

The KJV I read this morning reads, "...the health of my countenance."  The Hebrew word translated "help" and "health" is defined "help, salvation, acts of salvation" in the Strong's Concordance.  The Bible connects the appearance of a person's countenance with light, lightning, even the sun shining in its strength.  The priestly blessing in Numbers 6:26 says, "The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace."  David requested God's favour in Psalm 4:6:  "There are many who say, "Who will show us any good?" LORD, lift up the light of Your countenance upon us."  Knowing God looked upon His people with grace, salvation and help, David was comforted as he waited on the LORD.

The questions David asked are good for us to consider personally:  why do we remain cast down when there is hope in the LORD?  Why complain and be troubled over situations out of our control when God is the sovereign ruler over all who looks upon us favourably?  When David's countenance turned to God in gladness, his downcast soul was sure to rise.  Looking to Jesus our Saviour helps us to regain the proper, God-glorifying perspective and to experience fullness of joy by exercising faith in Him.

The Strength of Sin

Blessed be the LORD God who has provided the remedy for our sin by atoning for it with the blood of Jesus.  In a sermon preached concerning the sting of sin and how the strength of it is the law (1 Corinthians 15:56-57), C.H. Spurgeon did well in building a strong case that every person has a deadly problem with sin we cannot shake by anything we do.  Sin goes deeper than our words and actions but our very thoughts teem with sin we have been steeped in from birth.  Justice can do nothing to help us, because the Law makes no allowance for mercy in judgment.  Spurgeon wrote:

"Before thou canst destroy sin thou must in some way satisfy the law.  Sin cannot be removed by thy tears or by thy deeds, for the law is its strength; and until thou has satisfied the vengeance of the law, until thou hast paid the uttermost farthing of its demands, my sting cannot be taken away, for the very strength of sin is in the law."  Now, I must try and explain this doctrine that the strength of sin is the law.  Most men think that sin has no strength at all.  "Oh," say many, "we may have sinned very much, but we will repent, and we will be better for the rest of our lives; no doubt God is merciful, and he will forgive us."  And we hear many divines often speak of sin as if it were a very venial thing.  Inquire of them what is a man to do?  There is no deep repentance required, no real inward workings of divine grace, no casting himself upon the blood of Christ.  They never tell us about a complete atonement having been made.  They have, indeed, some shadowy idea of an atonement, that Christ died just as a matter of form to satisfy justice; but as to any literal taking away of our sins, and suffering the actual penalty for us, they do not consider that God's law requires any such thing.  I suppose they do not, for I never hear them assert the positive satisfaction and substitution of our Lord Jesus Christ.  But without that, how can we take away the strength of sin?"

The strength of sin is in the law, first, in this respect, that the law being spiritual, it is quite impossible for us to live without sin.  If the law were merely carnal, and referred to the flesh; it if simply related to open and overt actions, I question, even then, whether we could live without sin; but when I turn over the ten commandments and read, "Thou shalt not covet," I know it refers even to the wish of my heart.  It is said, "Thou shalt not commit adultery;" but it is said, also, that whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath already committed that sin.  So that it is not merely the act, it is the thought; it is not the deed simply, it is the very imagination, that is a sin.  Oh now, sinner, how canst thou get rid of sin?  Thy very thoughts, the inward workings of thy mind, these are crimes--this is guilt and desperate wickedness.  Is there not, now, strength in sin?  Hath not the law put a potency in it?  Has it not nerved sin with such a power that all thy strength cannot hope to wipe away the black enormity of thy transgression?"

Then, again, the law puts strength into sin in this respect--that it will not abate one tittle of its stern demands.  It says to every man who breaks it, "I will not forgive you."  You hear persons talk about God's mercy.  Now, if they do not believe in the gospel, they must be under the law; but where in the law do we read of mercy?  If you will read the commandments through, there is a curse after them, but there is not provision made for pardon.  The law itself speaks not of that; it thunders out without the slightest mitigation, "The soul that sinneth it shall die."  If any of you desire to be saved by works, remember one sin will spoil your righteousness; one dust of this earth's dross will spoil the beauty of that perfect righteousness which God requires at your hands.  If ye would be saved by works, men and brethren, ye must be as holy as the angels, ye must be as pure and immaculate as Jesus; for the law requires perfection, and nothing short of it; and God, with unflinching vengeance, will smite every man low who cannot bring him a perfect obedience..." (Spurgeon, Charles Haddon. Spurgeon’s Sermons: V. 1-2. Baker Books, 2004. pages 285-287)

Spurgeon masterfully cut off all excuses and exits people utilise to deny culpability before God and demonstrated by additional points mankind's utter powerlessness to purify self from sin.  We do not realise how profoundly deep our malady is, how bent our minds and desires naturally are, and we are incapable of delivering ourselves from sin's corrupting influence.  God's mercy has been revealed in the Gospel, that God has sent His only begotten Son Jesus Christ to provide atonement for our sin.  When we were sinners and without hope, God sent a Saviour as it is written in Titus 3:4-7, "But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, ⁵ not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, ⁶ whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, ⁷ that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life."  Accepting the sharpness of God's law prepares our hearts to repent and receive God's grace, forgiveness and salvation.

The Kingdom of God

During a Bible study recently, we briefly discussed the kingdom of God as a group.  There is a large amount of detail scattered throughout the pages of scripture that provide information about God's kingdom.  Some may assume it must include everything that is, similar to how Psalm 24:1 sums up creation:  "The earth is the LORD'S, and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell therein."  Because God is the sovereign creator and ruler over all things, they view everything as His kingdom.  This is similar to saying, "We're all God's children."  Christians know this is only true to a point:  mankind has been created in God's image, yet the only way to become a child of God is by faith in Jesus Christ.  Jesus will say to many on the day of judgment and cast them out:  "Depart from me...I never knew you!"  God knows every child of God who knows Him by faith in Christ.

While God does rule over all things, it is important to maintain a distinction between what is physical and temporal (what is passing away) and what is spiritual and eternal.  When Jesus was grilled by Pontius Pilate concerning His kingdom, Jesus told Him it was not of this world (John 18:36).  Christ's kingdom is a spiritual kingdom where some are received into it, and others are unable to enter it.  Jesus revealed He is the Door to the kingdom of God, and it is possible for people to see and enter His kingdom by faith in Him as John 3:3 said to Nicodemus:  "Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."  It is difficult to enter into God's kingdom, but Jesus exhorted believers to greater faith in God in Luke 18:25-27:  "For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." ²⁶ And those who heard it said, "Who then can be saved?" ²⁷ But He said, "The things which are impossible with men are possible with God."

The kingdom of God is a spiritual kingdom which can be entered by faith in Jesus, and Jesus revealed knowledge of His spiritual and eternal kingdom to people who thought it was like an earthly kingdom in 

Luke 17:20-21:  "Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, "The kingdom of God does not come with observation; ²¹ nor will they say, 'See here!' or 'See there!' For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you."  Since Jesus was speaking with Pharisees who largely rejected Him as God and Messiah, Jesus explained how He brought God's kingdom near them--and entry into it was at hand and in their grasp through faith in Him.  In their case His kingdom being within them (as unbelievers) was theoretical, but Jesus is able to establish His kingdom in the hearts of all who trust Him.  Jesus brought the kingdom of God to people when He cast out demons, demonstrating the power of God over the rule of Satan (Matthew 12:28; Luke 11:20)

Many parables Jesus spoke concerned the "kingdom of heaven" and illustrated various aspects of it:  that it is inclusive (available to all people) but at the same time exclusive (reserved only for those who are born again by faith in Him), is most precious and valuable, starts small yet will increase exponentially, and what is hidden now will be revealed and declared.  The kingdom of God will take one form when Jesus Christ returns and establishes His throne in Jerusalem, and His kingdom will endure forever in the new heavens and new earth God will create where only righteousness dwells.  We are not told everything about God's kingdom, but Jesus has revealed enough to demonstrate it is the greatest, everlasting, most wonderful kingdom to be included in and to be citizens of by His grace.  The question is, are we willing to meet God's conditions to enter in His kingdom's narrow gate by faith in Jesus?

Knowing God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life, we sinners are wise to repent of sin and receive Jesus by faith.  Those who are poor in spirit God will make rich in faith, and He will also make us heirs of the kingdom He has promised to them who love Him (James 2:5)!  Rather than worrying and seeking things of this world to meet our needs, Jesus taught His disciples in Luke 12:31-32:  "But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you. ³² Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom."  Since the KING OF KINGS has given Himself for us, will any good thing of His kingdom be withheld from us?  Ought we not seek Him and give our lives to Him as His loyal, loving servants?

Know Your End

In a world that hypes up how strong, fierce and independent people can be, God leads His people to consider their frailty so He might be their strength.  David prayed humbly according to God's will in Psalm 39:4-5, "LORD, make me to know my end, and what is the measure of my days, that I may know how frail I am. ⁵ Indeed, You have made my days as handbreadths, and my age is as nothing before You; certainly every man at his best state is but vapor. Selah"  Slaying the Philistine champion did not bolster David's self-confidence but worked to increase God-reliance when enemies came against him.  Esteeming God above others and himself was key to David's successful rule.

David asked for God to impress his own mortality upon him, the realisation that his days on earth were relatively short.  It is good we would recognise and acknowledge our weakness so we might seek strength in God; it benefits us to remember our lives on earth will have an end so we will not take moments God has given us for granted.  At our wisest, strongest, wealthiest and influential, we are altogether vanity.  Knowing our frailty and brevity of life compels us not to live our lives in vain, for Jesus Christ our LORD redeems us so our lives can be profitable for the kingdom of God and for eternity.

We cannot know the times and seasons God has in His own power, and we do not know how many hours, days or years we have left on earth.  Yet the LORD has told us in His word the end of all those made righteous by faith in God.  By the prophetic power of the Holy Spirit, David answered his own query in Psalm 37:37:  "Mark the blameless man, and observe the upright; for the future of that man is peace."  Jesus has been revealed as our peace who imputes righteousness to all who trust in Him, has reconciled Jew and Gentile to Himself and united us in His Body (Ephesians 2:14-17).  By His atoning sacrifice Jesus has come and preached peace to all, and all who have received Him are given the right to become children of God.

The mighty men and women of the earth will be brought to the grave, and not one is able to reverse the consequences of sin that brings death.  The lives of Christians can end in a most violent fashion, yet by the Gospel we know our future is peace and rest in our glorious Saviour who is risen and reigns on high.  Our lives are vapour, yet God has redeemed us from the power of the grave and promised us a home in His glorious kingdom forever.  This is a better end to our life story than we could have ever dreamed--made possible by God's grace--a new beginning in heavenly glory for eternity.