E-pistle for February 24, 2012
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E-pistle
FreeWay Foundation February 24, 2012
Watch the lord's hand
(Psalm 123:1-4)
Dr. Curt Scarborough
"Behold, as they eyes of servants look to the hand of their masters, as the eyes of a maid to the
hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the Lord our God, until He has mercy on us."
Psalm 123:2
I. Concentration: on "watching" the Heavenly Father
1. Watching involves acknowledging that God exists, and that He is present in our
lives today, Psalm 139:7-10.
2. Watching involves a deliberate action of the will (v. 1), not an accidental or
happen-stance observation . . . man must "seek the Lord," Isaiah 55:6.
3. Watching involves having open eyes spiritually (v. 1) . . . because "closed" eyes
(unbelieving eyes) cannot see, nor can they discern, spiritual things, I Corinthians 2:14.
4. Watching involves looking up . . . "I will lift up my eyes," v. 1 . . . for our God is high
and lifted up (Isaiah 6:1), and His thoughts and ways are far above ours (Isaiah 55:8-9).
II. Meditation: on the "hand" of the master being watched
1. It is a directing hand – indicating what work the servant should do.
2. It is a supplying hand – providing resources for all the servant's needs.
3. It is a correcting hand – disciplining the servant to improve productivity.
4. It is a rewarding hand – acknowledging the servant's faithfulness, loyalty, and sincere effort.
III. Revelation: on "until He has mercy on us," (v. 2)
1. God's mercy directs us with gentleness.
2. God's mercy supplies us with abundance.
3. God's mercy corrects us with loving-kindness.
4. God's mercy rewards us with graciousness and generosity.
IV. Applications: as a Christian, I need to . . .
1. Look to the Lord's hand for personal guidance.
2. Look to the Lord's hand for personal provision.
3. Look to the Lord's hand for personal discipline.
4. Look to the Lord's hand for personal commendation.
If the lord had not been on our side
(Psalm 124:1-8)
Dr. Curt Scarborough
I. Concentration: on a hypothetical case
1. In this Psalm, David urged the nation to consider god's blessings by reflecting on what
would have happened if the Lord had NOT been on their side, vv. 1-2.
2. David emphasized his thesis first by stating it, then by asking the people to repeat it
themselves . . . "Let Israel now say," v. 1.
3. David pictured Israel without God's help as being prey swallowed alive, vv. 3, 6.
4. David also pictured Israel without God's help as drowning persons in the overwhelming
waters of a flood-swollen river, vv. 4-5.
II. Meditation: on praise and thanksgiving because God is on our side
1. "Blessed be the Lord!" v. 6.
2. The Lord provides us a way of escape from the evil one, v. 7; I Corinthians 10:13.
3. The Lord breaks the power of our bondage and delivers us into freedom, v. 7; Psalm 129:4.
4. "Our help is in the name of the Lord," . . . the Creator, v. 8.
III. Revelation: on a similar New Testament hypothetical case (I Corinthians 15:13-20)
1. If there is no resurrection, then Christ is not risen, vv. 13, 16.
2. If Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty, v. 14.
3. If Christ is not risen, then your faith is empty, vv. 14, 17.
4. If Christ is not risen then we are false witnesses, v. 15.
5. If Christ is not risen, then we are still in our sins, v. 17.
6. If Christ is not risen, then the dead have perished, v. 18.
7. If Christ is not risen, then we are hopeless and pitiful, v. 19.
"But now Christ IS risen from the dead!" v. 20.
IV. Applications: as a Christian, I need to . . .
1. Consider what my spiritual condition would be outside of the grace and mercy of God.
2. Praise the Lord for His involvement in the lives of His people . . . His love in action toward us.
3. Thank God for His salvation (protection and deliverance) provided through Jesus Christ.
4. Rejoice in the fact that Christ is risen from the dead, and that He gives us eternal life, John 3:16.
"And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count.
It's the life in your years."
--Abraham Lincoln
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