E-pistle for April 27, 2012
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E-pistle
FreeWay Foundation April 27, 2012
By the rivers of Babylon
(Psalm 137:1-9)
Dr. Curt Scarborough
I. Concentration: on the sad situation of Israel (II Chronicles 36:15-21)
1. The nation of Israel had been defeated by the Babylonians.
2. Jerusalem had been completely destroyed and looted.
3. The Temple had been desecrated and burned.
4. The people had been carried away as slaves into Babylon.
II. Meditation: on the song of the Israelite captives in Babylon
1. They sat down by the rivers (Tigris and Euphrates) of Babylon, and
they wept, v. 1.
2. They remembered with bitter sorrow the former glory of Zion, v. 1.
3. They laid aside their musical instruments, unable to play them because
of their deep grief, v. 2.
4. They refused to make mirth (be joyful and glad), as their enemies had requested
mockingly: "Sing us one of the songs of Zion," vv. 3-4.
III. Revelation: on the attitudes of the captives
1. They were determined never to forget Jerusalem . . . nor the lesson which God
had taught them there, v. 5.
2. They were determined to exalt the memory of Jerusalem, with faith and hope
that their joy would be great in the future when God would restore His holy city, v. 6.
3. They asked God to remember and judge Edom's sin of joining with Babylon against
Jerusalem, v. 7.
4. They cursed Babylon, asking that they be destroyed . . . repaid just as they had "served"
Jerusalem, vv. 8-9. (This was fulfilled 70 years later when Persia defeated Babylon,
Ezra 1:1; 2:1; Daniel 5:30-31.)
IV. Applications: as a Christian, I need to . . .
1. Recognize that disobedience to God's commands brings sure, swift, and severe
punishment.
2. Realize that one of the saddest elements of God's punishment is remembering our
rejections of His mercy and grace . . . thinking: "What might have been, if only . . . "
3. Rejoice, with faith and hope, that God will restore His people who truly repent and return to Him.
4. Remember that a day is coming when God will judge the world in righteousness.
God will perfect whatever concerns me
(Psalm 138:1-8)
Dr. Curt Scarborough
I. Concentration: on the worship of God
1. Worship involves praises from the heart, v. 1.
2. Worship involves singing as a testimony about God in the presence of unbelievers
and false gods, v. 1. (See Psalm 137.)
3. Worship involves thanksgiving for God's holy name, for His loving-kindness, and
for His truth (word), v. 2.
4. Worship involves crying out to God in prayer and receiving His strength and courage,
v. 3.
II. Meditation: on the results of worshipping God
1. The rulers of the earth shall come to hear God's word, and will praise Him, v. 4.
2. The earthly leaders shall join with believers in singing and glorifying the Lord, v. 5.
3. The Father in heaven sees, knows, and "regards" (respects; esteems) each individual,
from the lowly to the proud, v. 6.
4. The Lord answers believers' prayers, bringing them protection, revival, and salvation,
v. 7.
III. Revelation: on "The Lord will perfect that which concerns me," (v. 8)
1. The Lord is Almighty God, and nothing is too difficult for Him to accomplish,
Jeremiah 32:17, 27.
2. The promise is that the Lord will "perfect" that which concerns me . . . meaning "to finish
or complete; to improve and make faultless; to correct and make excellent" . . . His purpose
and destiny for my life.
3. This promise is personal . . . God is speaking directly to me!
4. God's providential care includes everything that "concerns" me . . . my soul, my life, my family,
my dreams, my health, my work, my church, my community, etc.
IV. Applications: as a Christian, I need to . . .
1. Praise and worship the Lord my God, Who is omnipotent!
2. Allow God to work in my life, developing me toward true spiritual maturity, Romans 12:1-2;
II Corinthians 3:18; Ephesians 4:13.
3. Realize that God has a divine destiny for me . . . a specific plan for my life; therefore, I need to seek,
find, love, and fulfill His will and purpose.
4. Thank God because He is concerned about everything in my life, and because He supplies all my
needs through Christ, Philippians 4:19.
"It would be nice if we could pay our taxes with a smile,
but normally cash is required."
Unknown
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