Welcome, friends, to another
broadcast of Morsels for Zion's Poor. One of the most heartbreaking
and yet instructive moments in all of the Bible occurs in the
gospel narrative as Peter denies knowing the Lord. Peter, a man
who the Lord himself called Cephas, that is, a stone, a man who had
declared his willingness to die for his master and who would
later do exactly that, a man whom the Lord endued with great
spiritual insight, found himself confronted squarely with his
sin and unfaithfulness. One of the reasons that we believe
the Bible is the God-breathed word is because it is always
so truthful without any pretense in its presentation of the people
of God. Normally in man's writings, the heroes and main characters
are always presented in a larger-than-life manner, and their frailties and
failures are seldom mentioned let alone described in detail.
Such is not the case with the Holy Scriptures. King David is
one of the central and beloved characters in the Bible, as well
as in the Jewish tradition. He is one who is described as
a man after God's own heart. Yet King David's flaws and his
terrible sin with Bathsheba are put on display for all to see,
with no attempt to present medicating circumstances, situational ethics,
or other excuses so commonly used today to lessen the extent
of man's sinful acts. As we consider David and Peter,
we are confronted with these truths. Even though we belong
to the Lord, we have both the propensity and ability to fall
into sin. Paul said, For I know that in
me, that is, in my flesh, dwelleth no good thing. There are a lot
of well-meaning people in our day who think that by putting
the Ten Commandments in public places that the desire of men
to walk contrary to that law will somehow be altered. While
we are certainly not opposed to the Word of God being published
anywhere and everywhere, we are convinced that the sinful nature
of man is not changed by the law, nor will his love for unrighteousness
be diminished by greater exposure to it. When a man is born again,
he is given a new heart which has a delight in the righteousness
of the Lord. But he is then locked in a death
struggle with the flesh, who still exercises himself from
time to time. Both David and Peter were instructed
and knowledgeable of the law of the Lord, and had a heart
to follow His way. Yet both of them were overcome
by the weakness of their flesh, and thereby demonstrate the exact
reason the law cannot produce righteousness. The Lord is faithful
to uncover sin in his people. While the flesh may wound us
and we be under its siren spell for a season, the Lord will not
allow his people to be destroyed by it. He will convict and convince
those that belong to him of their sin. Just as the prodigal son
came to himself, so the Lord will deliver his own from the
hog pen. Though reprobates may go on in their wickedness unhindered,
enjoying themselves to the last, those elect children upon whom
the Lord has said His love shall be arrested and rescued from
the path of destruction. Their pet sins and secret desires
will be brought to light, perhaps not to the light of others, but
surely into the light of His fatherly gaze, as both Peter
and David could attest. The uncovering of that sin in
the elect always produces repentance. The Lord does not use the terror
of his law nor the fear of impending doom to bring his children here.
In Peter's case, it was the Lord's sorrowing look and the crowing
of the cock. In David's, it was the faithful
voice of the prophet saying, thou art the man. The result
of his exposure of their sin produces more than fleshly sorrow.
For he gives his children a tender heart that they might understand
that the awfulness of their sin is primarily that they have sinned
against Him who loves them with an everlasting love, and not
that they have broken some law which demands punishment. Sorrow
for causing displeasure to the Lord is as natural in the children
of God as self-satisfaction is in the children of the wicked.
Once repentance has accomplished its work, the Lord restores his
people. God does not bring sorrow to
his children in order to punish them, but that they may be fitted
for the application of his mercy. He told Mary to be sure and include
Peter when she told the disciples of his resurrection. He then
singled out Peter and brought him to confess his love to him
and gave him great responsibility to feed the flock of God. David's
sin was great, yet the Lord restored him and used him for his glory.
And the very God of peace sanctify you holy, and I pray God your
whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the
coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is he that calleth you
who also will do it. Has the Lord brought you to a
place of repentance before him? None shall enter his presence
without him. For a free CD containing 15 of
these radio broadcasts, send an email to forthepoor at windstream.net.