Psalm 60: 1-3, "1. O God, Thou hast cast us off, Thou hast scattered us, Thou hast been displeased; O turn Thyself to us again. v. 2 Thou hast made the earth to tremble; Thou hast broken it: heal the breaches thereof; for it shaketh. v. 3 Thou hast shewed Thy people hard things: Thou hast made us to drink the wine of astonishment. "
8 times in the first 4 verses, DAvid writes, 'Thou hast. . .' unto God. He is speaking unto the Lord about the current conditions they are facing and have gone through. I believe it would do well for us to learn a lesson from history here. David says in verse 1, that God had cast them off. Had He? No; but they were in severe trial and problems. Why were they in trouble? Because of sin. Sin separates us from the Lord; it brings punishment; it brings sorrow. If there was no sin we would be in paradise, we would be in bliss; we would be in His holiness. But we are not. sin is within, without and all around. In the secret chambers of our heart; in the rooms of our homes and loved ones; in the churches, abiding in the pews and pulpits; and in our nation from coast to coast. Sin has costs us much and will continue to do so, until we learn our lesson. Three things of learning here: casts off, scatterd and He is not pleased with us. All directly linked, caused and related to because of sin. If we are to see revival; If we are to enjoy His PResence; if we are to see His mighty hand work; if we are to have great answers to prayer; it will be because our sin is gone.
But why must we get here? Here is the lesson to learn. This scattering, casting off (void of His Presence) and His hot displeasure with us does not need to happen. His attributes are revealed to us, and He desires to show forth His Divine love, His mercy, and His grace. But as long as the sin continues, then these things are absent. But if wisdom comes in, some heart and head is brought to wise reason to say, 'Why should I sin and reap His wrath? I will acknowledge my sin and the sin of my people. I will call upon Him and I will find His mercy and help.' Then God moves suddenly upon such a one that has learned the lesson of history. WE do not need to repeat the folly of sinful man. 'Cease to do evil; learn to do good.'
"Thou hast cast off. .. Thou hast scattered. . .Thou hast been displeased" God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. One of His attributes is found in Malachai, 'the God that changes not'. Having a knowledge of Who God is helps us understand these truths about God. That if God did these things to Isarel, His promised people; then how can we think He would wink at our iniquity? God is the same, and will do the same. And if He did these toward Israel, toward saints in days gone by, He will do so again upon us. However, to those that sought Him, He was intreated with and did not pour out His wrath upon them. Look at the story of Josiah. Manasseh had done more evil to provoke the LOrd than all the other kings of Judah. Israel had already been sent into captivity. Judah had not been faithful. When the book of the law was found Josiah humbled himself before the Lord and sought mercy. He found it. God had said He would destroy Judah and send them into captiivty. Yet, because Josiah sought the Lord with tears and humility, He would not send it in his days. I believe we are in the days of Josiah. Our nation and the church has done much to offend God. Where much is given, much is required. We must answer for this. We have provoked Him to much anger and wrath. There is nothing else to do but come humbly before Him and seek for mercy. 'You are merciful, O Lord; show Yourself merciful to them that seek it'.
Turn Thyself to us agian - how needful do we need this!
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