God's Call of the Righteous (6) Rest
“God's Call of the Righteous”
(Part 6)
REST IN THE LORD
PSALM 37:7
We are sharing the message “God’s Call of the Righteous” as brought forth in Psalm 37.
If you recall, Psalm literally means “plucking the strings of a harp.” They convey in words the inner most feelings of our hearts expression. It is our heart “playing” to the Lord our prayers, our concerns, our faith, and our praise.
Psalm 37 is an acrostic poem, the stanzas of which begin with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet. (Aleph, Bet, Gimmel, etc.)
We stated it is: The ABC’s of God’s promise to the righteous.
That there are six elements that are found if followed give peace to the believer regarding God’s promises and they are;
Do not FRET. TRUST in the LORD. DELIGHT yourself in the LORD. COMMIT our WAY to the LORD. REST in the LORD. And WAIT on the LORD.
We’ve shared the message “Do not Fret,” concluding that we have peace when we understand God is in control and we do not “fret.” Then we shared knowing that God is in control our part is to “Trust in the Lord.” And then God’s call to the righteous is for us to “Delight ourselves in the Lord.” Last time we shared “Commit your way to the Lord.” Today the fifth element of God’s ABC’s of His promise to the righteous, “Rest in the Lord.”
Psalm 37:7 (NKJV)
A Psalm of David.
Daleth (Dalet)
7Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him; do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass.
Have people ever done you wrong?
Have they spoken against you and defamed your name and character?
David says to the righteous, Rest in the Lord. But what does it mean to rest?
The Hebrew word damam “daw-man” comes from the root word dumb – to be unable to speak, to be astonished, stopped in your tracks, to be cut off, to hold your peace, to be quiet, silent, put to silence, to stand still, tarry, wait, rest.
I don’t know about you but this is one of the hardest things for me to do – to be quiet, silent, don’t say a word in your defense.
But if I’m going to have that perfect peace in my life that God has promised me then that is exactly what I must do!!!!
Our human nature wants to defend and justify itself.
Adam & Eve
Cain and Able
Job
Saul
Peter
It doesn’t matter what so and so does what are you going to do?
God has promised for us to enter into His rest –
Hebrews 4:1 (NKJV)
Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it.
Hebrews 4:3-5 (NKJV)
For we who have believed do enter that rest, as He has said:
"So I swore in My wrath,'They shall not enter My rest,' " although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. 4For He has spoken in a certain place of the seventh day in this way: "And God rested on the seventh day from all His works"; 5and again in this place: "They shall not enter My rest."
Hebrews 4:8-11 (NKJV)
For if Joshua had given them rest, then He would not afterward have spoken of another day. 9There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. 10For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His.
11Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience.
God’s rest is a place of stillness, a confidence in God that He will bring peace to every area of our life. A place free from turmoil. It is a place of fulfillment where you are at total peace no matter what the surrounding circumstance may appear.
It all begins as taught in this Psalm:
How do we respond to what is taking place around us?
The do’s and don’ts of God’s Call to the Righteous on how to have the peace that passes understanding is found in how we respond to evil and wicked individuals who misuse, mistreat, and abuse us.
OUR RESPONSE: Psalm 37:1-10
DON’T DO
v. 1 - Don’t FRET; v. 3 - Do TRUST in the Lord.
v. 1 - Don’t be ENVIOUS; v. 3 - Do GOOD.
v. 7 - Don’t FRET; v. 3 - Do ENJOY your BLESSINGS.
v. 8 - Don’t be ANGRY; v. 4 - Do DELIGHT in the Lord.
v. 8 - Don’t FRET; v. 5 - Do COMMIT your way to God.
v. 5 - Do TRUST in Him.
v. 7 - Do be STILL before God.
v. 7 - Do WAIT patiently for Him.
Listen to the teachings of Jesus
Matthew 5:1-12 (NKJV)
And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. 2Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying:
3"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
5Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
6Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.
7Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
8Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
9Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
10Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11"Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. 12Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Matthew 5:38-48 (NKJV)
"You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' 39But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. 40If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. 41And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. 42Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.
43"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? 48Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.
Rejoice and be glad – this kind of teaching was revolutionary. It is what turned the world upside down. It goes contrary to our sinful nature. Yet it is the core value and principles of the Kingdom of God.
And then how do we deal with individuals who attack us. We love, we bless, and we pray for them!!
This is the “rest” God wants us to enter into. A place where we know God is in charge and God will do what is right.
Listen to the Psalm again,
Psalm 37:7 (NKJV)
A Psalm of David.
Daleth (Dalet)
7Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him;
Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way,
Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass.
Rest in the Lord – do not fret.
1. Rest – R RELAX - be anxious for nothing, CHILL out!
Luke 10:41-42 (NKJV)
And Jesus answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. 42But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her."
Philip. 4:6-9 (NKJV)
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
8Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things. 9The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.
Just “Chill Out”!!!! Quit Stressing.
2. Rest – E EMOTIONLESS - don’t let someone push your BUTTONS.
How we are to react toward what the enemy is trying to do to us. – don’t let him push your buttons.
In the movie “Ghosts of Mississippi” Myrlie Evers quoting her slain husband Medgar Evers said, ”When you hate, the only one that suffers is you because most of the people you hate don't know it and the rest don't care.”
People have and do say mean things about me and untruths. But I have learned to leave it in the hands of the Lord.
You may want to get angry, subdue that anger. Rest means not to move to be motionless. You may have fear don’t show it keep trusting.
Illustration:
A fawn instinctively lies perfectly still. The animal of prey is not alerted to its position because it lies still.
Isaiah 53:6-7 (NKJV)
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.
7He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so He opened not His mouth.
Matthew 26:52-54 (NKJV)
But Jesus said to him, "Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. 53Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels? 54How then could the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen thus?"
Matthew 27:13-14 (NKJV)
Then Pilate said to Him, "Do You not hear how many things they testify against You?" 14But He answered him not one word, so that the governor marveled greatly.
Luke 23:8-12 (NKJV)
Now when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceedingly glad; for he had desired for a long time to see Him, because he had heard many things about Him, and he hoped to see some miracle done by Him. 9Then he questioned Him with many words, but He answered him nothing. 10And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused Him. 11Then Herod, with his men of war, treated Him with contempt and mocked Him, arrayed Him in a gorgeous robe, and sent Him back to Pilate. 12That very day Pilate and Herod became friends with each other, for previously they had been at enmity with each other.
3. Rest – S SILENT - be SILENT; be STILL; don’t MURMUR; and don’t COMPLAIN.
Exodus 14:1-18 (NKJV)
Now the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: 2"Speak to the children of Israel, that they turn and camp before Pi Hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, opposite Baal Zephon; you shall camp before it by the sea. 3For Pharaoh will say of the children of Israel, 'They are bewildered by the land; the wilderness has closed them in.' 4Then I will harden Pharaoh's heart, so that he will pursue them; and I will gain honor over Pharaoh and over all his army, that the Egyptians may know that I am the Lord." And they did so.
5Now it was told the king of Egypt that the people had fled, and the heart of Pharaoh and his servants was turned against the people; and they said, "Why have we done this, that we have let Israel go from serving us?" 6So he made ready his chariot and took his people with him. 7Also, he took six hundred choice chariots, and all the chariots of Egypt with captains over every one of them. 8And the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued the children of Israel; and the children of Israel went out with boldness. 9So the Egyptians pursued them, all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, his horsemen and his army, and overtook them camping by the sea beside Pi Hahiroth, before Baal Zephon.
10And when Pharaoh drew near, the children of Israel lifted their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians marched after them. So they were very afraid, and the children of Israel cried out to the Lord. 11Then they said to Moses, "Because there were no graves in Egypt, have you taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why have you so dealt with us, to bring us up out of Egypt? 12Is this not the word that we told you in Egypt, saying, 'Let us alone that we may serve the Egyptians?' For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than that we should die in the wilderness." 13And Moses said to the people, "Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. 14The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace."
15And the Lord said to Moses, "Why do you cry to Me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward. 16But lift up your rod, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it. And the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea. 17And I indeed will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall follow them. So I will gain honor over Pharaoh and over all his army, his chariots, and his horsemen. 18Then the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I have gained honor for Myself over Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen."
Sometimes the Lord speaks loudest in the silence. He doesn’t have to yell and scream. He speaks and the storms are silenced.
Mark 4:37-41 (NKJV)
And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. 38But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, "Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?" 39Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace, be still!" And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. 40But He said to them, "Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?" 41And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, "Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!"
Luke 4:33-37 (NKJV)
Now in the synagogue there was a man who had a spirit of an unclean demon. And he cried out with a loud voice, 34saying, "Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are--the Holy One of God!" 35But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be quiet, and come out of him!" And when the demon had thrown him in their midst, it came out of him and did not hurt him. 36Then they were all amazed and spoke among themselves, saying, "What a word this is! For with authority and power He commands the unclean spirits, and they come out." 37And the report about Him went out into every place in the surrounding region.
4. Rest – T TROUBLED - don’t be TROUBLED; STIRRED up; get RILED.
Rest – don’t be TROUBLED - stirred up, riled – like boiling water
John 14:1-6 (NKJV)
"Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. 4And where I go you know, and the way you know." 5Thomas said to Him, "Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?" 6Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
WORKSHEETS
The do’s and don’ts of God’s Call to the Righteous on how to have the peace that passes understanding is found in how we respond to evil and wicked individuals who misuse, mistreat, and abuse us.
OUR RESPONSE: Psalm 37:1-10
DON’T DO
v. 1 - Don’t _____________; v. 3 - Do ________________ in the Lord.
v. 1 - Don’t be ___________; v. 3 - Do ____________________.
v. 7 - Don’t _____________; v. 3 - Do ____________your __________.
v. 8 - Don’t be ___________; v. 4 - Do _________________ in the Lord.
v. 8 - Don’t ______________; v. 5 - Do ____________ your way to God.
v. 5 - Do ________________ in Him.
v. 7 - Do be ______________ before God.
v. 7 - Do ___________ patiently for Him.
Rest in the Lord.
1. Rest – R _______________ - be anxious for nothing, _________ out!
2. Rest – E ___________ - don’t let someone push your ____________.
3. Rest – S _______________ - be __________; be ___________;
don’t __________________; and don’t ___________________.
4. Rest – T ______________________ - don’t be _________________;
________________ up; get ________________.
The do’s and don’ts of God’s Call to the Righteous on how to have the peace that passes understanding is found in how we respond to evil and wicked individuals who misuse, mistreat, and abuse us.
OUR RESPONSE: Psalm 37:1-10
DON’T DO
v. 1 - Don’t FRET; v. 3 - Do TRUST in the Lord.
v. 1 - Don’t be ENVIOUS; v. 3 - Do GOOD.
v. 7 - Don’t FRET; v. 3 - Do ENJOY your BLESSINGS.
v. 8 - Don’t be ANGRY; v. 4 - Do DELIGHT in the Lord.
v. 8 - Don’t FRET; v. 5 - Do COMMIT your way to God.
v. 5 - Do TRUST in Him.
v. 7 - Do be STILL before God.
v. 7 - Do WAIT patiently for Him.
Rest in the Lord.
1. Rest – R RELAX - be anxious for nothing, CHILL out!
2. Rest – E EMOTIONLESS - don’t let someone push your
BUTTONS.
3. Rest – S SILENT - be SILENT; be STILL;
don’t MURMUR; and don’t COMPLAIN.
4. Rest – T TROUBLED - don’t be TROUBLED;
STIRRED up; get RILED.