Make Peace Your Possession • Psalm 125
1:03:26 Teaching begins
Notes
Usually on the last day of the year you’re supposed to look back at God’s faithfulness but I was more concerned for the future. As we get closer to Jesus’ return we are heading into thick darkness.
The world is only more unsure, more agitated. War and protests only increase. We can only wonder how things are going to work out.
Jesus said, Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, don’t let it be afraid.
Okay, how does peace work?
In Psalm 125 God reveals that He covers you completely, in all ways. You are secure in Him.
You are to make peace your possession this year.
Let’s read Psalm 125
1. God always meant Zion to be a permanent refuge.
A. There have only been two places in Israel where God made His name dwell, where the centre of the nation was, where God was to be worshipped. Those places are Shiloh and Mount Zion, which is also Jerusalem.
B. Shiloh was located in Ephraim.
1. Joshua was from the tribe of Ephraim and he set that place up when he first brought Israel in to possess the land.
2. That lasted until Eli was high priest. God warned him and his two sons to repent and they refused. In judgment God allowed the Philistines to completely destroy His sanctuary at Shiloh. It was out in the open and had no natural defenses that we know of. The Philistines had no problem overrunning Shiloh.
C. Zion is the second place God placed His name.
1. David had become king in place of Saul. He chose Zion, or Jerusalem to be his capitol.
2. It was already a stronghold for the Jebusites, a Canaanite people that Israel had failed to conquer when they came into the land.
3. The Jebusites mocked David and said, the blind and the lame will repel you, thinking the location and its defenses were enough to protect them. David took the stronghold to be his own. Late in his reign he realised Jerusalem was the place where God wanted His temple built. God made His name to dwell in Jerusalem.
D. There is no third place where God put His name. It’s a repeating theme in the Bible that what comes first is earthly and temporary, what comes second is heavenly and permanent.
1. Paul says of the human body in 1 Corinthians 15:46-47 However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural; then the spiritual. The first man is from the earth, earthy; the second man is from heaven. This life is temporary, the next life is permanent.
2. Another example, Saul was the first king of Israel, his dynasty would not endure. David was the second king of Israel, God said his dynasty would last forever.
3. Esau and Jacob are twins, but Esau is first and is earthy, and Jacob is second and spiritual. You can see this happen often in scripture.
E. It’s the same here. Shiloh was the first place God made His name dwell, and it was a temporary, not very protected place. Jerusalem is the last place, and is meant to be a permanent refuge forever.
1. Psalm 132:13-14 For the LORD has chosen Zion; He has desired it for His habitation. “This is My resting place forever; here I will dwell, for I have desired it.
2. Ezekiel 43:7 He said to me, “Son of man, this is the place of My throne and the place of the soles of My feet, where I will dwell among the sons of Israel forever.“
3. Even when God makes a new heaven and a new earth, out of heaven comes the New Jerusalem. Jerusalem is intended by God to be a permanent refuge for His people forever.
2. But Jerusalem is really an illustration of a greater fact, that God surrounds His people to be their refuge.
A. Again, here’s a picture of defense: mountains surrounding Jerusalem.
1. Man-made walls can be rammed and broken down. What was built can be torn down.
2. You look at those mountains and you can see: they can’t be moved. They can’t be set aside or ignored by an invading army. They have to deal with immovable formations of God. I’m sure that’s what the Jebusites were thinking: “Good luck getting around these mountains.” Joab didn’t try. He went up a water shaft.
B. God designed the land to be a refuge. He knew what He was going give His people Israel this land as a possession. Here at the heart of it is where His name dwells, and it’s a refuge. His purpose is to demonstrate that He is a refuge. He says, “I’m like these mountains for you, a refuge that can’t be moved.”
C. He’s better than mountains because if He was like a physical location then you would only be safe in one location. You could never leave Jerusalem.
D. But God is everywhere at once. There’s no place you can go where God is not there.
1. Psalm 139:7-10 Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend to heaven, You are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the dawn, if I dwell in the remotest part of the sea, even there Your hand will lead me, and Your right hand will lay hold of me.
2. Even right now, the Lord surrounds you. He is on all sides.
E. Other places in the Bible say the same thing.
1. Psalm 34:7 The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him, and rescues them.
2. Psalm 32:7 You are my hiding place; You preserve me from trouble; You surround me with songs of deliverance.
F. This benefit is for those who trust in the Lord. They believe what He says, because He is the truth and He can’t lie.
1. It doesn’t feel like He’s there, does it? You don’t get a tingle.
2. Regardless of your feelings, He says that He surrounds you.
G. You have to make a choice. Do you trust what you feel or do you trust in what God says?
1. If you go by your feelings, throw your Bible away. It will be useless to you. Your feelings will contradict the Bible.
2. If you believe what God says then you have to tell yourself the truth. Psalm 42:5 Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him for the help of His presence.
3. Your feelings are to serve you, not rule over you. You trust what God says regardless of what you feel, then your feelings will get in line eventually.
3. The Lord surrounds His people and He is the ultimate ruler over them.
A. The scepter of wickedness refers to an evil government, those who turn aside to their crooked ways.
1. The fact that God is your refuge does not prevent wicked rulers from coming into power. It’s a broken world, and it will break down more as time goes on.
2. They are crooked because they do not trust what God says, that this life is temporary, the next is permanent, live for what is permanent. They don’t believe God. They say, you only go around once in life, you have to get it all and get it now. They’re taking their inheritance now, and it looks like they’re taking your inheritance.
C. Over crooked rulers God still rules. He will not let that crooked authority rest upon the land of the righteous.
1. The word translated “land” is a word that means “lot”. That is how the land was distributed when Israel came into the land. And many translations use the word “land”. But it gives you the impression that it refers to a nation. There isn’t a righteous nation on the earth.
2. “Lot” refers to your inheritance, what God says you can have, and no one can take it away from you. Lot is your inheritance that you can keep.
3. “Rest” is a way to express permission, allowing something to happen. The wicked may get into power, but God will not allow the wicked to be your example, so that you learn to act like they act.
4. You might get frustrated and say, everyone else is getting ahead of me, I have to look out for number one and get something for myself before I die!
D. Before He lets that happen God will do good for His people who do good and are upright in their hearts.
1. He will remind you of the truth, that this life is short, that you can’t take it with you. Don’t labor for the food that perishes but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you, for on Him God, the Father, has set His seal (John 6:27). Your inheritance is not based on anything in this life. He reminds you to lay it up in heaven where no thief steals, it doesn’t decay or get mouldy, it’s preserved forever for your coming.
2. God gives you His peace even in the midst of this world’s distresses. He made peace by the blood of Jesus’ cross. Not because you have earned God’s favour, but because Jesus loved you and died to redeem you by His blood. That’s what saves you.
3. He will do good for you forever by giving you Himself. You will see His face and be changed into His likeness and be with Him forever.
E. When you know God covers you and rules over you and protects you, you have security and peace.
4. So what?
A. Make God surrounding you yours for 2024. God gives it to you, now you make it your possession.
1. God gave Israel the promised land but they had to fight and conquer and possess it and make it theirs.
2. There is a potential that God gives and there is a practical that is realised in our lives.
3. Why does God do it this way? You wish that God just gave and that’s it. I think God does it this way because He wants His people to participate with Him in their lives.
4. You don’t do this apart from God, you do it with God, depending on Him to help you.
B. One way you make this yours is to realise you are covered on all sides by God.
1. You are covered in your sins. You have sinned against God and there is no way in yourself that you can be perfect in His sight. That ship has sailed. Everyone who trusts in Jesus is freed from everything that you could not be freed from under the law of Moses. Jesus’ blood cleanses you from all sin. You know that in your head. Now make it yours everyday. That forgiveness of God surrounds you completely.
2. You are covered in your inabilities and weaknesses. There are certain things that you can’t do and you are sharply aware of it. Other people can do it and they wonder why you don’t just do it, too. But it’s just not in you. God covers you in this. Paul said I have learned the secret of having an abundance and going without. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. You know that in your head, but now make it yours everyday. Ask Jesus, how does this cover me today? I can’t do this, but I have to do it, please help me.
3. You are covered in your fears and anxieties. Some scepter of wickedness will arise to threaten your lot, your inheritance. What you do for Jesus gets opposed by your boss, an opponent. Something will happen and you will think, I wish I hadn’t stuck my neck out. Now I’m in trouble. God will cover you so that you can do what God calls you to do and not be overcome by anxiety and worry.
4. God knows where you are, you’re in Him. He knows what you face, He knows what you need. He is promising to cover you in all your ways.
C. This can be your daily prayer: God, thank You for surrounding me. Thank You that You are always with me. Give me what I need and cover me today.
D. Your feelings will come up and say, that isn’t true. The devil will say, that isn’t true. A scepter of wickedness will say, that isn’t true. Let God be true though every man is a liar. You can practice this all year long: this is true, God is with me, You surround me. You said so.
E. God Himself is your security for this year.
Shall we pray?