Psalm 52 talks about the ungodly man. The “wicked” as a class of doomed people! God rejecters!

Here is one of their nefarious traits … “He strengthened himself in his wickedness.” (Verse 7)

This action may be comparable to that vile man’s “devising mischief upon his bed.” (Psalm 36:4) Or allowing his heart to “devise wicked imaginations.” (Proverbs 6:18) Even Paul, in Romans 1:30, says they are “inventors of evil things.”

But all that is different from “strengthening oneself” in wickedness!

I believe that means practicing wicked deeds over and over again until one becomes quite proficient, skilled, adept at that particular sin or family of sins! (One sin does lead to another, if you recall. And each successive sin is worse that its predecessor!)

In that sense one unwisely strengthens himself in sin!

Once the King James Version of the Bible translates the verb “strengthened” (as used in Palm 52:7) as “hardened!”

Sin will harden a heart!

Stay away from it!

Again the Apostle Paul, being extra cautions: “Abstain from all appearance of evil.” 1 Thessalonians 5:22

Now the opposite of becoming strong in evil …

We go to 1 Samuel 30:6 … “But David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.” Where the verb “encouraged” means “to strengthen” 28 times in the Old Testament!

I trust you see my “point” today …

A man or woman has a choice. He can strengthen himself in sin and wickedness. Or she can strengthen herself in the Lord!

In both instances the “key” process is that of repetition, habitual action, (even) faithfulness to the matter at hand!

Which path do you choose, freind?

There are only two.

To be strong in wickedness (as the man in Psalm 52:7) or to be strong in the Lord (as David chose to be)?

John called it “doing righteousness,” this being “strong in the Lord” business! (1 John 3:7)

But one might also call it pursuing a life “filled with the Holy Spirit of God” as well.

Amen!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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Actually the Lesson title is taken from a Line in Psalm 51. It is first to be understood as a prayer from David, a repenting David, unto the dear Lord of forgiveness!

“Uphold me with thy free spirit,” David pled, David prayed. .

But our King James translators (honest scholars as they were) slanted (italicized) some words in this Request. Let me show you what I mean …

“Uphold me with thy free spirit.” Verse 12, part of it.

The verb “uphold” is spelled “samak” in Hebrew. It means “prop me up,” O Lord. “Sustain” me, please.

Plus … this little verb is here framed as “imperfect,” meaning that the action it is depicting is “ongoing, linear, habitual, repetitive!”

“Lord, keep on holding me up, continually confirming me, I pray.”

The first time the verb is used in the Bible (Genesis 27:37) it is linked to providing food and nourishment to a hungry man!

Lord “uphold me,” feed and strengthen me day by day!

Furthermore, numerous times in Exodus and Leviticus the verb is used of “laying one’s hands” upon someone or something.

Wow!

Lord, “uphold me,” lay Thy Mighty Hands upon me for good!

In 2 Kings 18:21 the verb (samak) is used of “stabilizing” something, leaning against it to keep from falling!

Lord, “uphold me,” lean Thyself against me to keep me from stumbling, tripping, falling!

Again, here’s our verb “uphold” in Psalm 3:5 … “I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the Lord SUSTAINED me.”Protection is in view now!

In Psalm 88:7 the verb “samak” is translated “lieth hard” upon something. Grip me, Lord! Get rough, if need be! So hard, I will know Thou art present!

Christian brother or sister, even when we fall … “The Lord UPHOLDETH(samak) all that fall.” Psalm 145:14

David prayed it (successfully) … so can we! “Uphold me with thy free spirit.”

But let me make one more quick point. Look at the Verse carefully. The Agent God uses to “uphold” us … His Holy Spirit!

Here, His “FREE” Spirit!”

Noble, willing, generous Spirit!

We Believers in Christ Jesus sure ought to be strong!

We are “UPHELD!”

Hallelujah!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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Just a Line of Scripture this morning … with God Himself speaking through His Word: “If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof.” Psalm 50:12

God is the greatest Giver ever! James was right ,.. “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights.” No doubt!

He gives us daily of His Grace, Provision, Protection. “Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation.” Psalm 68:19

But now let’s look at “the other side” of the giving/receiving cycle. How is God at “receiving?”

He of course desires (demands) our praise and worship, because He is God! But I mean more along this line … “God’s philosophy concerning making His Needs known?”

Our verse today sure brings clarity to that issue!

“IF I WERE HUNGRY” … poses God, what would I do?

Answer … “I would not tell thee!”

“I own the world and all that’s therein!”

(Psalm 24:1 … “The earth is the LORD’S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.”)

God would provide His Own Needs, it seems! That’s what He says! Again our Lesson’s Text … “If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof.”

Oh how I wish Christians today would adopt that approach to giving and receiving!

I hear and read of so many Believers doing nothing but begging for personal needs to be met.

We need this!

We need two of those!

We need a new, not used of course, that!

Jesus had a novel idea about getting our needs met. “And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” John 14:13

George Mueller of Bristol England, years ago, ran an orphanage for hundreds of children … and would never ask a human being for anything but prayer!

And God, Who owns cattle and grain and everything else … fed those folks gloriously well!

I think He’d love to do the same thing today.

But some of us can’t keep our mouths shut and let Him work!

God will never be a Beggar!

“If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof.”

His Theology on giving/receiving!

What an Example!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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In the Psalms?

Yes, from Psalm 49:4 … “I will incline mine ear to a parable: I will open my dark saying upon the harp.” (And thereafter he writes 16 more verses!)

A Parable Psalm!

Jesus spoke many Parables, but obviously He did not “invent” parabolic teaching. God instituted that pedagogical device during the Old Testament. (Jesus is, I believe, the greatest Example of Teaching in Parables the world has ever seen. Or ever will see!)

Maybe the greatest Old Testament Parable ever told was the one Nathan the Prophet used that finally brought conviction to King David. (Concerning his sins during the Bathsheba, Uriah affair.)

“And the LORD sent Nathan unto David. And he came unto him, and said unto him, There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor. The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds: but the poor man had nothing, save one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished up: and it grew up together with him, and with his children; it did eat of his own meat, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter. And there came a traveller unto the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring man that was come unto him; but took the poor man’s lamb, and dressed it for the man that was come to him. And David’s anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, As the LORD liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall surely die: and he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity. And Nathan said to David, THOU ART THE MAN.” 2 Samuel 12:1-7

Powerful!

Psalm 49:1, that first Clause (“I will incline mine ear to a parable”) suggests that the Psalmist plans to listen and learn from the Parables of Scripture. Notice also he almost compares a Parable to a “Dark Saying.”

In fact, Jesus did say that one purpose for His using Parables was to “enlighten” His Own children, and “exclude” the rebels who had already hardened their hearts against the Truth!

Matthew 13 is Jesus’ Premier Parable Chapter and there He explains more fully … “Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: for this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.”

Wow!

Fools can’t understand, comprehend, or obey Parabolic Truth! “As a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.” (Proverbs 26:9) And … “The legs of the lame are not equal: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.” (Proverbs 26:7)

Truthfully, only the Holy Spirit can expound the Parables of God’s Word, since He is the Author!

Still, we should “incline our ears” to those parables, as did the Wise Man of Psalm 49.

Hint … it looks to me like the Psalmist also planned to sing about the Parables! Or at least write music to express their beauty! Something about “his harp!”

The point being today … add to your Bible Study goals a thorough examination of the Parables of the Word of God!

That would be time well invested!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

A year or so ago I preached a couple of whole weeks (in the Revival Meetings) on the Parables of Jesus! My, how thrilling and informative!

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We live in days when many are drifting from once-held convictions. Especially regarding the things of God!

Paul said this would happen: “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits.” 1 Timothy 4:1

Love for the Lord God is waning in lots of places.

Jesus said this would happen. “Because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.” Matthew 24:12

Some psychologists now specialize in helping (professing) Christians back away from, even boldly deny … their once dear beliefs!

Multitudes of Christians have become more and more lax in Church attendance, Bible study, financial support (tithes), daily demonstration of their faith, etc.

So earlier this morning Psalm 48 came to my aid. A Verse there encouraged me as I see such lethargy in the family o f God.

The Psalmist thundered, vowed, determined: “For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death.” Psalm 48:14

Amen!

Let us resolve, like him, to never go back!

To, with the Help of God the Holy Spirit, be faithful all the way to the end of this earthly life!

Amen!

“For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death.” Psalm 48:14

Jesus said “It is finished!”

Paul said “I have finished my course!”

Surely then, none of us wants to be a quitter!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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