Plagues of Marriage

 

GENESIS 2:18-25

SUBJECT: THE FOUNDATION OF MARRIAGE

THEME: We must Return to the Lord’s Plan and Design for the Help of Our Marriages and the Preservation of Our Culture.  God’s Plan Is over 6, 000 Years Old, but it Still Holds out the Light of Hope and Fulfillment in this Age Darkened by Family Confusion and Social Corrosion. 

RELEVANCE: 

Is There Any Hope for the Institution of "Marriage"?  Some experts are saying that marriage as we now know it is on the way out. As divorce rates continue to climb, or at least stay at incredibly high levels, many people, in and out of the church, are growing doubtful about marriage. Even for seemingly "perfectly matched" couples, marriage has become more of a risk and curse instead of a blessing (H. N. Wright).

INTRODUCTION:

What is Marriage? Marriage is an exclusive relationship in which a man and a woman commit themselves to each other in covenant for life, and on the basis of this solemn vow become “one flesh” physically (Gen. 2:24; Mal. 2:14; Matt. 19:4-6). Christian Marriage involves two Christians, a Covenant of Commitment to each other, physical consummation of the union, and commitment to God’s plan for marriage. Marriage is a gift from God, and it was not just for convenience, nor was it brought about by any culture. It is wonderfully the Creator’s idea and He gave instructions to His creatures regarding it administration.

Many of the problems couples face in marriage persist because of ignorance, lack of diligence, or a failure to adhere to these basic spiritual principles of marriage. There are five major changes taking place in the institution of marriage today:

         ·       A decline in understanding between marriage partners.

         ·       Acceptance of the new morality, which is replacing Judeo-Christian values.

         ·       The spread of secular humanistic philosophy, which rivals Christian truth. 

         ·       The loss of determination to stay married.

         ·       The development of unrealistic marriage expectations.

LESSON:

FIVE CHANGES PLAGUING MARRIAGES.

A.    Decline of Understanding and Lack of Communication Go Together. Many couples today lack the kind of communication skills that produce the understanding necessary for a marriage to grow strong, or even exist.

       1.     Learn to Talk to Achieve Understanding. Understanding in a marriage doesn't mean that there are no differences. It does mean that you and your mate are able to talk about the differences and come to an understanding of each other's views. Mutual submission enables a couple to practice this form of communication (Eph. 5:21; 1Pet. 5:5). You are able to accept the fact that your partner was raised in a different fashion and because of that will react differently than you. Just because something was done in a certain manner in your home when you were growing up does not mean that it has to be done that same way in your new home.

       2.     Learn to Talk To Adjust to Each Other.

a.      Two people who love one another but are unable to understand each other suffer pain—a continual biting pain in their relationship. Understanding may not come easily, but a willingness to share views, to see the "other side of the question," to talk things out can help a husband and wife adjust and adapt to their honest differences of opinion.

b.     ILLUSTRATION:  Someone has likened this adjustment to two porcupines who lived in Alaska. When the deep and heavy snows came they felt the cold and began to draw close together. However, when they drew close they began to stick one another with their quills. When they drew apart they felt the cold once again. In order to keep warm they had to learn how to adjust to one another.

B.     Acceptance of the New Morality, which is Replacing Judeo-Christian Values. 

        1.     Moral refers to ideas of right and wrong behavior along with good and bad motives.  The ‘old morality’ was based on the Bible and the Ten Commandments. However, the new morality rejects this absolute standard for relativism, situation ethics, and whatever makes you happy. Remember, Paul warned Timothy of the perils of deceivers and false doctrines and dangerous philosophies (2Tim. 3:1, 6-9, 13; Col. 2:8).

        2.     I believe the “new morality” is negatively affecting the American family. In fact, this supposed “new morality” has led to a serious breakdown in traditional Judeo-Christian morality.  People are rejecting the Bible-based standards of moral behavior and wholly embracing the culture-based standards.

        3.     Because the culture-based standard of morality relaxes sensual prohibitions and eliminates sexual taboos, society is now suffering the consequences. In fact this ethical shift has resulted in a tremendous increase in sexually transmitted diseases (STD), illegitimate births, and abortions.  No-fault divorces create millions of single-parent families that have inherent difficulties.  Single mothers entered the workforce by the millions and latchkey kids have become a national concern.  Homosexual behavior, palimony, family violence, date rape, pornography, sexual harassment, drugs and alcohol addictions, alternative family lifestyles are some of the additional problems resulting from the disintegration of traditional morality.

C.    The Spread of Secular Humanistic Philosophy, which Rivals Christian Truth. 

         1.     What is secular humanism.  A good working definition of secular humanism can be found in Webster’s Dictionary, “a system of doctrines and practices that reject any form of religious faith and worship.” 

a.      The term secular humanists has been used to identify those who would remove religious influence from the institutions of American society—government, courts, education, economics, and media.

b.     In addition others describe humanists thusly, “In their self-definition God does not exist, and it is a destructive illusion to believe in him.  They promote a way of life that systematically excludes God and all religion in the traditional sense.”

c.      It is “an anti-Christian system of thought that influences every decision and most of a person’s actions.  It is anti-God, anti-moral, anti-self restraint, and anti-American.”—Tim LaHaye

          2.     We must not confuse humanism for humanitarianism.  It is interesting to note that humanist masquerade as humanitarians, but their belief is actually anti-human and they are the number one enemy of the traditional family.

a.      A true humanitarian will promote human welfare and social reform, but secular humanism inspires destructive relativistic value systems.  They firmly reject monogamous marriage as instituted by God. They fervently encourage easy divorces, remarriage, serial polygamy, rejection of biblical authority, situation ethics, hedonism, and extremes forms of women’s liberation, legalizing abortion, and the elimination of marriage.  This is a literal portrayal of life in the last days as Paul described it (2Tim. 3:1-5).  People are lovers of themselves and lovers of pleasure!

b.     There are four basic convictions that distinguish secular humanism from Christian humanism, “confidence in God and Christ; supernatural world-view; the power of Christ acting through the church; and incarnational humanitarianism.” 

c.      Francis Schaeffer insisted that the conflict is between the Judeo-Christian view of God with absolute values of right and wrong and a humanistic system “with only personal, arbitrary, relative values.”  The current conflict between Christianity and humanism is the age-old struggle between God and Satan, right and wrong, darkness verses light, sin against righteousness.

d.     God is the ultimate Final Reality.  He is the infinite personal God who is truly there.  To the God of the Bible things are not neutral.  There are definitely absolutes; there is right and wrong in the world.  He authored the Ten Commandments!

            3.     Since secular Humanists control the media, it would be helpful to beware of their impact.  Has television viewing had a negative influence on the American family?  How does it contribute to the violence in American culture? The impact of television on the American family is a net negative.  Since television programming is largely influenced by secular humanism, it is a moral descent from filth, smut, and innuendo to depravity.  

a.      It is their aim to destroy the country’s moral fiber and with it the traditional family.  They manipulate this communication tool to control the way people think and over exposure to secular input is “dangerous.” 

b.     Many parents use the television as a babysitting method, but this exposes the children to sex, profanity, and violence.  This is one of the leading causes of aggressive behavior in preschool children according to the National Institute of Mental Health.  In addition the violence viewed on television is being carried out in the homes, schools, and streets of the nation.  Generally, young people are desensitized to violence; this is presently a cultural reality in America.

D.    A Lack of Determination to Stay Married Is Seen Today on Every Hand.

         1.     Quitting Marriage is Alarmingly Common and Pervasive. To have had more than one husband or wife is not considered at all unusual.  As one woman filled out an application for a new job, she came to the question, "Married or Single?" Her answer: "Between marriages."

         2.     Impatience is a Massive Character Flaw Among Modern Couples. Many enter marriage with the attitude that if they do not get along they can break the relationship and try again. Many people are too impatient with their marriages. They do not want to live "happily ever after." They want to live "happily right away" and when this does not happen, they bail out. A grand helping of ‘patience’ would do the average marriage a lot of good and help the couple endure to finally experience fulfillment God’s way (Js. 1:2-7; 5:7-11; Rom. 5:1-5).

E.     Too Many Young Couples Enter Marriage Blinded by Unrealistic Expectations.

         1.     Young Couples Want Romance All the Time. They believe the relationship should be characterized by a high level of continuous romantic love. As one young adult said: "I wanted marriage to fulfill all my desires. I needed security, someone to take care of me, intellectual stimulation, economic security immediately—but it just wasn't like that!"

         2.     Young Couples Want a Cinderella “Magic.” People are looking for something "magical" to happen in marriage.  But magic doesn't make a marriage work: hard work does. When there are positive results in a relationship, it is because of two people working together one step at a time.

         3.     Married Couples Need to Return to God’s Enduring Plan for Marriage. This brings us back to the potential of hope, fulfillment, and happiness.  What then is a Christian marriage?

F.     Why should we be concerned about changes in the family? Every one of us should be concerned about changes in the family because the family does not exist in a vacuum.  It is interrelated with four other basic institutions of society: religious, economic, governmental, and educational institutions.  Changes in the family will dramatically affect the others.

CONCLUSION:

The problem is not the institution of marriage, but our view of Marriage and Family have greatly departed from God’s original plan. Our generation is actually watching the death of marriage from a biblical and traditional perspective.  But, God’s Enduring Plan for Married Life still shines like a beacon of hope to every couple and single alike. The preservation of the institution of Marriage can only be realized in our culture as we submit to God’s enduring plan.  It’s time for Christian marriages and families to demonstrate a way of living that is rewarding, meaningful, and fulfilling. God’s Plan for couples should be evident to the world as it looks at Christian marriages and families.  As we realize God’s plan in our lives we supply hope to the many others who need direction, counsel, and hope.

Is God Still Fair?

 

ROMANS 9:14-18 (VS 11)

 

SUBJECT: ROMANS/ISRAEL’S PAST

THEME: The entire redemptive economy of God rests upon the unchanging foundation of his nature and character. We can rest without any prospect of disappointment in his mercy, power, and faithfulness.

INTRODUCTION:

If God is fair in his dealings with the nation of Israel, then the rest of humanity can unreservedly entrust their eternal future with him.  However, if he was unfair in his dealings with Israel, then how can we as Gentile Christians even begin to rest in him for our own eternal destiny? Can God be trusted to be fair in all his dealing?

Once again verse 9:11 says, ^“(For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)” points to the fact that God holds the right to behave like God. The choice is with him alone to reject the will, intentions, works, and goals of mere men that only his election purpose will prevail. Again, “that the purpose of God according to election might stand.” It is God that “calleth;” referring to his declaration, statement, word, promise, provision, and will. Please keep this fact uppermost in your mind as you work through this passage.

There are a few questions I want to answer from this passage:

1) Can God select Israel while rejecting Edom?

2) Was God fair to Pharaoh?    

3) Have the promises of God failed Israel? Can such promises fail in our case also?   

4) After looking at his record, can God still be trusted today?

 

MESSAGE:

I.               GOD’S CHARACTER IN QUESTION. 

A.    IS IT FAIR FOR GOD TO SELECT ONE AND REJECT ANOTHER?   VS 14-18 (GOD’S CHARACTER IS CONSISTENT WITH HIS PLAN)

Rom 9:14, What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.

So, is it fair for God to reject one and receive another? How can God justify selecting between nations, Israel and Edom (Rom. 9:12-13)? God must be ‘unrighteous’ because he did this. Again, justice from a human perspective may have missed the fact that God’s actions were not unrighteous, inconsistent, or unfair…. God was behaving in a manner consistent with his great plan involving election (Rom. 9:11). Electing a person or a group of people is a divine prerogative. It is correct for God to select a person, a group, a nation, or a people for whatever purpose he deems necessary. Expect God the Creator to behave like God…to exercise God-size rights and justices. This would be totally wrong for us mere human beings, but this is the Creator acting like it. 

Paul here clearly and unreservedly rejects any idea of God being unfair (Rom. 9:14).  At the same time he does not even attempt to water down the reality that God is sovereign to make the truth more palatable to those who would question God’s character and object to his right to judge.  The facts of this passage are clear throughout Scripture.  God is never unfair no matter how many people accuse Him of such folly.  God is consistent in His character and His character is reflected in His redemptive economy—his plan.  He must redeem because of His compassion, and He must condemn because of His justice!

1. God Determined to Pardon Sinful Israel with Undeserved Grace.

Rom. 9:15-16, For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.

1. God will Have Mercy on Whom He Wills. It is entirely up to Him and he is govern by His nature and plan to show such mercy (Exo. 33:19). God made this truth about himself known to Moses explaining his delight in being merciful and compassionate.
2. God will Have Compassion on Whom He Wills. Once again God is determined to pardon a sinful people…Israel who like us did not deserve his mercy or compassion. It seems here that God exercised his unique prerogatives to stick with his plan and expose us to His rich character.
3. God’s actions reflect his proclivity toward his very merciful character and rejection of any human efforts, works, or achievements. It was not something that Jacob did or didn’t do. It was not a matter of that Esau did or didn’t achieve…. The reason God did it this way was to exclude their activities entirely and to showcase his merciful character and plan. Beloved, this is pure grace….

God is a merciful and compassionate God who desired to be merciful to Israel. Not because they were good or deserved it, but because they did not.  You can’t be merciful to someone that is deserving!  All men deserve Hell…if God only choose to save two people, He would have been merciful and just at the same time. He obviously opted differently!  It is not that God is unfair in condemning people, we condemned ourselves in sin and God was moved to save undeserving sinners because He is merciful! Beloved, a sovereign God sought to be merciful to us sinners, and this allows him to be consistent with his merciful and compassion nature and purpose!

2. God Determined to Punish Sinful Pharaoh with Deserved Judgment.

Rom. 9:17, For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.

1. An Example of God Exercising His Power to Judge instead of showing Mercy. We blame God for being unfair for judging Pharaoh and not giving him a chance to be saved.  But the truth of the matter is that none of us deserve a chance to be saved.  We were born deserving to go to Hell.  God in His sovereignty is consistent with His Character, He hates Sin and Will Punish it without mercy.  Pharaoh is a clear illustration of this truth!
2. God’s actions with Pharaoh demonstrates his capacity to judge deserving individuals. In fact, it is with an understanding that God can choose to be severe and punish mankind that we begin to appreciate his actions of compassion and mercy. We only begin to see his mercy if we understand that he can be severe also. This also demonstrates a real choice, a decision, a select and the real exercise of grace towards believers and a clear choice of judgment upon unbelievers on God’s behalf.
3. There is no suggestion here that the Egyptian monarch was doomed from the time of his birth. What happened was this. In adult life he proved to be wicked, cruel, and extremely stubborn. In spite of the most solemn warnings he kept hardening his heart. God could have destroyed him instantly, but He didn’t. Instead, God preserved him alive in order that He might display His power in him, and that through him God’s name might be known worldwide.^[1]
4. The Apostle Paul then presented his third illustration, the Egyptian Pharaoh of the Exodus. To him God said through Moses, I raised you up (i.e., brought you onto the scene of history) to display My power in you and that My name might be proclaimed in all the earth (cf. Ex. 9:16). God’s power (cf. Rom. 9:22) was demonstrated as He freed the Israelites from under Pharaoh’s hand. And other nations heard about it and were awed (Ex. 15:14–16; Josh. 2:10–11; 9:9; 1 Sam. 4:8). It is significant that Paul introduced this quotation with the words, For the Scripture says, for he equated the words of God with the words of Scripture. Paul concluded, God has mercy on whom He wants to have mercy (cf. Rom. 9:15) and He hardens whom He wants to harden (“make stubborn”; cf. Ex. 4:21; 7:3; 9:12; 10:27; 14:4, 8; cf. 14:17). Because of God’s choice, Pharaoh then hardened his own heart (Ex. 7:13–14, 22; 8:15, 19, 32; 9:7, 34–35). All this shows that God chooses and works sovereignly, but not arbitrarily. Yet Pharaoh was responsible for his actions.^[2] Rom. 9:18, Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.

5. Some Would Claim That God Was Unfair in Hardening Pharaoh's Heart. It should be noted that on at least seven occasions in the book of Exodus we are told that God hardened the heart of Pharaoh (4:21; 7:3; 9:12; 10:1,20, 27; 11:10). How are we to understand this? A partial (and only partial) answer may be found in the following observation:

ILLUSTRATION:  The manner in which a given object will react when confronted by an outside influence is wholly dependent upon the nature of that object. For example, imagine a winter scene and a frozen river. On either side is a bank of yellow clay. Suddenly the sun comes from behind the clouds and shines brightly down upon the river and the banks. What happens next? The reaction is this: The ice will melt but the clay will harden. Thus we see in nature the some outside, heavenly influence softening one object but hardening the other.  Thus the same sun that melts ice hardens clay.  The same sun that bleaches cloth tans the skin.  The same God who shows mercy to the brokenhearted also hardens the impenitent.  Grace rejected is grace denied.

6.  Furthermore, it Should Be Pointed out That on Four Occasions We Are Informed That Pharaoh Hardened His Own Heart (Exod. 7:22; 8:15, 19; 9:35). The word "hardeneth" in 9:18 (kabed) is translated "heavy" in Exodus 17:12; 18:18; Psalm 38:4; and Isaiah 1:4. Thus, God left his heart heavy with iniquities.

Certainly, a difficult area of Scripture is found in Romans 9:14-18 where the judgment of God falls upon Pharaoh.  Some have mistaken God for hardening Pharaoh’s heart, but in reality he hardened his own heart several times over before God hardened it in judgment.  In both cases this hardening has to do with making the heart ‘hard,’ ‘heavy,’ and ‘firm.’  In Exodus chapter three God merely predicted how unlikely Pharaoh’s cooperation would be.  But, as the situation unfolded, it was Pharaoh who hardened his own heart during the rod-to-serpent miracle in Exodus 7:13-14.  Clearly this was before the ten plagues of divine wrath were unleashed on the nation. Even when the first five judgments were meted out it was the king of Egypt who hardened his own heart (7:22; 8:15, 19, 32; 9:7).  It was after the sixth plague that the Lord actually hardened Pharaoh’s heart (9:12).  Even if the Lord hardened his heart with the very first miracle, He would only be treating a sinner in the manner he deserves.  As sinners, none of us deserve an opportunity for forgiveness, nor a chance of mercy.  Sinners only deserve death and judgment, this is pure justice.  While it is justice that does not fit the human representation of fairness, it is never-the-less pure unadulterated righteous justice. God was already dealing mercifully and patiently with Pharaoh from the very beginning. He did not owe Pharaoh anything at all, except death.  

B.    WHAT ARE SOME IMPLICATIONS FOR US?

1. The Results of Witnessing these Two Extraordinary Truths Should Move Everyone’s to Fear the Awesome Power of the Wrath of God and Run to an All-Merciful God.  Jesus Christ voluntarily took our sin and guilt upon himself—he took the Father’s wrath for us…for me and you. Our Lord embraced every bit of God’s wrath so that we might be spared it and become recipients of God’s great bondless mercy instead! I think we should love the Lord Jesus forever for this! Every sinner should run to God’s mercy, compassion, forgiveness and redemption! The fact that all humanity is at the mercy of a holy God is not something to threat about either, because God is always righteous and fair in His dealings.  It would be far worse to be at the mercy of a fickle human being!

2. God Gave Us the Scriptures to Interpret from a God-Centered Perspective (2 Tim. 3:14-17; 2 Pet. 1:16-21). God’s fairness and righteousness is at the heart of this entire argument; we can learn a great deal about Him and His plan from this chapter alone! The written Word is the revelation of God and not primarily the origin, past, presence, and future of humanity. The Bible contains great history and science, but it is primarily focused on theology. In the Bible God disclosed himself to mankind through many different types of revelations (Heb. 1:1-3; Eph. 1:9-10). The focal point of every created thing is God in Jesus Christ. This encompasses our purpose of life, this is why we pray, this provides our reasons for ministry, and on we could go. A God-centered focus satisfies our ultimate need for purpose, meaning, and significance in life. This is the point of Scripture also. To view this universe from a man-centered perspective is backwards, we could miss the very intent of God giving us the written Word in the first place, and such miscarriages lies at the door of a humanistic philosophy…even though we presume to handle the holy Word. This we must never do, but we are correct in choosing a God-centered view of the universe instead. There is much that can be learned about humanity from the Bible, but the Scriptures are the revelation of God. Many Christians, preachers, cults, and heretics have made the mistake of emphasizing Bible ideas with a segment of society or with people in general at the heart of their argument. This is an error! God alone must be the focal point to get a correct conclusion about our responsibilities, obligations, and benefits. And certainly, much needs to be learned by those who dismiss God and humanity and exalt mere things or something else (Rom. 1:18-32)! No, Paul handles the anticipated objections and counter arguments soundly by embracing and perpetuating this God-centered focus of the Scriptures. We need the same persuasion today.

CONCLUSION:

The whole salvation program of God’s rest solidly upon the foundation of his permanent nature and character. We can confidently live without any fear of Him changing! God will exercise mercy, compassion, or judgment anytime he deems it appropriate. As our Creator he can do that! In the final analysis though he is all-powerful, he is also faithful to himself, his plan, and his character. He can be trusted!

---

^[1] William MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments, ed. Arthur Farstad (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1995), 1718.

^[2] John A. Witmer, “Romans,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 477.

God's Final Decision

 

Psalms 50:16-23

Theme: The revival of our churches begins with a renewal in our worship of God. God’s priority is to restore His people and then return them to heartfelt (spirit) and genuine (truth) worship.

Relevance: the God of astonishing glory demands worship that work. The Christian lives in this tension between rituals and reality! Too often our churches are accused of hypocrisy: “They don’t practice what they preach.” We gather to merely go through the motions of “worship.”  

Introduction:

In Psalms 50 formalism in worship and hypocrisy in living are addressed. In prophetic fashion God exposes Israel’s sins: theft, adultery, and lying (see verses 18–20). God sternly warns of judgment; however, His promise of salvation is preferrable (see verses 22–23). There is something here we desperately must learn now….

Message:

    I.          The Great Judge’s Accusations (Ps. 50:16-21).

God demonstrates his rule and rejects worship that is intensely insincere and flagrantly hypocritical.

These “wicked” individuals only paid lip service to God’s commandments while they habitually violated them.

A.   A Rebuke for Hypocritical Living (Rejecting God’s Word) (Ps. 50:16-17).

                  1.     God decried the nation’s hypocritical living. He addresses “the wicked” (singular) in judgment, rebuking him for reciting His laws and speaking of His covenant as their profession of faith, while they actually hated God’s instruction (“discipline”).  

                  2.     Only the person with a heart for God has any right to approach Him (v. 15).  

                  3.     Though these wicked people assembled with those who loved the Lord, God knew their hearts.^[1] Jesus also knew the hearts of the hypocritical Pharisees in Matt. 23. God knows the heart still today.

                  4.     “A hypocrite is someone who not only does not practice what one preaches, but a person who does the opposite of what one preaches. A parent holding a beer and smoking a cigarette who admonishes a child not to drink or smoke, for instance, may be viewed as being a hypocrite by the child.

Similarly, critics of Christianity who raise the hypocrisy objection usually point to some moral failure in the lives of Christians they know as examples of Christianity being false or at least highly suspect. “See!” they exclaim. “There goes another hypocrite in the church! How can I believe Christianity if the church is full of hypocrites?”” -Focus on the Family, What about Hypocrites in the Church?

B.   A Rebuke for Participating in Theft (Ps. 50:18).

                  1.     The proof of this charge is given in verses 18. The wicked person “consentedst” with a “thief.”

                  2.     The verb for “consent,” meaning “to be pleased, to accept favorably,” of course, violates at least the spirit of the eighth commandment, “Thou shalt not steal” (Ex. 20:15).

                  3.     Those who were dishonest swindlers were just as much "thieves" as those who swiped fruit from open baskets. The former thief was to no longer lie or manipulate others, but personally work to provide for his own needs.

                  4.      Ephesians 4:28, Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.

C.   A Rebuke for Participating in Adultery (Ps. 50:18).

1.     The wicked person has been “a partaker with adulterers.” To be a “partaker” here is to “have a portion” with those who break the marriage vow, violating the seventh commandment. “Thou shalt not commit adultery” (Ex. 20:14).

2.     The seventh Commandment deals with all immorality. If a married person commits adultery, they have sex with someone they are not married to: Many people in public life have committed adultery. Such involvement is a sin against God.

3.     Cultural values: American culture often places a high value on individualism and personal freedom, which can sometimes conflict with traditional notions of monogamous (one spouse) relationships. This may make it easier for people to justify or explain infidelity.

4.     How adultery affects society? Children may experience feelings of guilt, blame themselves for the affair, or struggle with trust issues in their own future relationships. The stability and cohesiveness of their family unit are disrupted, affecting their overall well-being, academic performance, and future relationships. (From MyWellBeing,com)

5.     The command to refrain from adulterous relationships is foundational to the well ordering of the marriage bond and the promotion of intimacy between husband and wife.

         D.   A Rebuke for Participating in Lying (False Accusations) (Ps. 50:19-20).

                  1.     The wicked person has a deceitful and slanderous “tongue.” This includes “evil” coming from his “mouth,” his “tongue” framing “deceit,” and speaking “against thy brother” (Israelite) in “slander.”

                  2.     This violates the ninth commandment, “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour” (Ex. 20:16).

E.   A Rebuke for Practicing Wrong Ideas and Injustices (Ps. 50:21).

                  1.     Previously, God was silent over this, and the wicked took His silence as approval: “thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself.” However, they were wrong; God has come in judgment to Israel and this is the time for Him to take action. The verb for “reprove” (v. 21) means to “judge, convict, correct.” The judgment here then is redemptive in its intention.

                  2.     The case has been made, and God has “set” the evidence “in order before thine eyes,” as in a legal case. Similarly, in Romans 2:17–24 Paul accuses the Jews of knowing the law and yet disobeying it. While preaching against stealing, they steal. While claiming to abhor adultery, they commit adultery. While hating idols, they rob temples. Thus they “boast in the law” and break it at the same time. The judgment of Psalm 50:15–17 retorts, “What business do you have declaring My statutes, seeing you do not live up to My expectations? In fact, you hate My instructions! The nerve of you…what right do you have?”

                  3.     Please do not confuse God’s patience with His approval. God’s silence did not mean that He agreed with their actions. No, the Lord would rebuke them directly for their sins.^[2]

 

II.          The Great Judge’s Decision (Ps.50:22-23).

Offer God, our royal Ruler and Great Judge, worship free of formalism and hypocrisy; offer Him heartfelt and since worship (in spirit and in truth). 

          A.   Notice His Passion—The Urgency of Worship (Ps. 50:22).

1.     God’s rebuke must be heard. If not, He will come against those who “forget” Him. He will rip the wicked apart like a wild animal and “tear [them] in pieces.” No one will be able to “deliver” them. 

2.     God’s judgment will be swift, violent, and final. He is not only against this form of hypocrisy, but he will confront and deal with people on this. He is serious about this…are we?   

          B.   Adopt His Priority—The Glory of Worship (Ps. 50:23).

1.     However, those who worship God correctly, offering (“sacrificing”) “praise” will glorify Him and those who order [their] “conversation” (“way”) according to His law will see “the salvation of God.” 

2.     How then can hypocrisy be banished from our church? How can we have a “whole” gospel? The answer, according to Psalm 50, is in worship and work, faith and obedience. Offer real worship from a heart that is free of formalism and hypocrisy. 

3.     The revival of our churches begins with a renewal in worship. Worship begins with the individual being right with God. This is God’s priority. When God restores His people, He restores them to worship: “Whoso offereth praise glorifieth Me.” 

4.     Asaph instructed the hypocrites to consider their ways before it was too late. Again, he called on them to sacrifice thank offerings (cf. comments on v. 14) from hearts that are right with God.^[3]

C.   Believe His Promise—The Salvation of Worship (Ps. 50:23).

1.     Those who come to Him with sacrifices of thanksgiving glorify Him; all who walk in this pathway of obedience will experience God’s marvelous deliverances in times of peril.^[4]

2.     When our faith grows, obedience will come and God will fulfill His word: “will I shew the salvation of God.”^[5]

Conclusion:

So, the Psalm indicts God’s people for formalism in worship and hypocrisy in living. “Jesus’ advice to “worship in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24) provides the proper correctives for these faults.”^[6]

Why do we play the hypocrite at times? Are there instances when we fail to live up to other’s expectations or our own standards? Perhaps we all are morally smaller than we would like others to believe…so we pretend or fake it until we make it? Perhaps we pretend when we are not Christlike inside…when we are not filled with the Spirit of God. There is only one way to truly live Christian and that is by Jesus Christ living through us. Listen carefully to God’s Word:

John 15:5, I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

Galatians 2:20, I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Let’s start with being honest with God about our need for Christ in all facets of life.

 

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^[1] Allen P. Ross, “Psalms,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 831.

^[2] Allen P. Ross, “Psalms,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 831.

^[3] Allen P. Ross, “Psalms,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 831.

^[4] William MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments, ed. Arthur Farstad (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1995), 629.

^[5] Donald Williams and Lloyd J. Ogilvie, Psalms 1–72, vol. 13, The Preacher’s Commentary Series (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc, 1986), 378–384.

^[6] Allen P. Ross, “Psalms,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 831.