E-pistle for February 18, 2011
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E-pistle
Dr. Dan Hite, President FreeWay Foundation February 18, 2011
Jesus: our light and our truth
(Psalm 43:1-5)
Dr. Curt Scarborough
I. Concentration: on David's petitions to God
1. Vindicate me (to justify; to maintain as true and correct;
to clear of suspicion and dishonor), v. 1.
2. Deliver me from deceitful and unjust men, v. 1.
3. Send out Your light and Your truth, v. 3. ("Come, Lord Jesus!)
4. Lead me, Lord; bring me to Your holy hill, to Your tabernacle,
to Your altar, vv. 3-4.
II. Meditation: on David's questions of "why?"
1. Why do You (God) cast me off? v. 2.
2. Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy? v. 2.
3. Why are you cast down, O my soul? v. 5.
4. Why are you disquieted within me? v. 5.
III. Revelation: on the answers to David's questions
1. God has not cast me off; rather, my hope is in Him, v. 5.
2. I will not mourn and grieve; rather, I shall worship Almighty God
with exceeding joy, v. 4.
3. My soul is not cast down (discouraged); rather, I am encouraged as I
praise Him, vv. 4-5.
4. My soul is not in turmoil; rather, I enjoy peace that passes understanding
because God is my help (salvation), v. 5; Philippians 4:7.
IV. Applications: as a Christian, I need to . . .
1. Come boldly to the throne of grace (Hebrews 4:16) with my petitions
and questions, which Father God hears and answers.
2. Know that God's "light and truth" are available to me through His word
and His Spirit . . . to enlighten my thoughts and my pathway.
3. Recognize that Psalm 43 foreshadows Jesus Christ as the Light of the
World, John 1:4-5; 9, 8:12.
4. Realize the Jesus Christ not only taught the truth, He is the Truth
incarnate, John 14:6.
Awake, o lord! Arise o lord!
(Psalm 44:1-26)
Dr. Curt Scarborough
I. Concentration: on the acts of God which our forefathers experienced
1. God's uprooting of the heathen nations out of Canaan, vv. 1-2.
2. God's giving the Promised Land to His chosen people, v. 3.
3. God's victories in battle, vv. 4-8.
4. God's wrath upon sin, which always brings disgrace, vv. 9-16.
II. Meditation: on the nation's responses in the midst of tragedy
1. God's people remembered Him ("have not forgotten"), v. 17.
2. God's people kept the covenant, v. 17.
3. God's people remained faithful to God's ways, v. 18.
4. God's people suffered persecution and "the shadow of death"
. . . yet held onto their faith in God, vv. 19-20, 22.
III. Revelation: on their urgent prayers for God's help
1. Why are You, O Lord, allowing all these calamities and defeats
to come upon us? vv. 9-14.
2. Cleanse us from dishonor and shame! v. 15.
3. Be merciful, O Lord, because You know our hearts . . . You know
all about us, vv. 21-22.
4. Awake! Arise! . . . Come and redeem us for Your mercies' sake,
and do it now! vv. 23-26.
IV. Applications: as a Christian, I need to . . .
1. Remember and thank God for His manifold blessings upon His
people down through the many centuries of history.
2. Remain faithful to God and His commands in spite of heavy
persecution, while at the same time begging Him to send help
immediately. (Such an urgent prayer for immediate relief and
deliverance is NOT a sinful lack of faith.)
3. Even in the midst of asking "WHY?" . . . maintain my faith and
hope in God ultimate victory over His enemies.
4. Ask for forgiveness and spiritual cleansing, so that I may come
to a clear comprehension of God's purposes in the persecutions
and sufferings which I am experiencing today.
"Life is nothing without friendship."
--Marcus Tullius Cicero
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