David's Little Instruction manual provides only seven precepts for a fulfilled life, yet those seven could easily be purveyed over the 511 advisory tips that H. Brown shared with his son. Real quick, nothing wrong with Brown's little book at all, just using that as a springboard into the guidelines for a committed choice to the life God would have us live. Not a thing wrong with "Floss your teeth" or "Teach a class", yet if we choose to abide in the advice that David provides in Psalm 37 we will probably end up doing pretty much everything Brown suggested to his son anyway! So, here we go a look into "David's Little Instruction Book for a Life Well Lived - Psalm 37"
I teetered on whether to go ahead and copy the full psalm in today's message, but figured if I don't then maybe you'll take a few minutes to turn to the Book of Psalms and take in the full context of the Word. With that being said the first tip David provides is found in verse 1 - Don't get caught up worrying about what those who don't follow God are doing or how good their life looks on the surface. It is easy to start comparing your life to those around you, and when those who seem to be getting away with wrong choices are living a "better" life than you. Your life is for you to live and their life is for them to live, when you are going through what appears to be unfair circumstances or life events that seem to be working against you, keep in mind that God has a plan for your life and what is going on in your life is part of God's overall plan. It may not be for you to understand right now, but you can understand this, God has a plan you just have to live it and do so abundantly in the state that you are right now.
Verse 3 provides the second precept to "Trust in God and do good". This is a challenge for many, life isn't always fair, but we choose how we approach and respond to every event in our life. Easy to say, more complicated when a major life event occurs. I get it, but do you get it? Trusting in God tells me that it may seem like the world is falling apart, yet if we are trusting God it more accurately is that the world is actually falling into place for God's plan to be fulfilled. Coupled with that thought is the advice to "Delight in God's ways" verse 4. Not saying to be bouncing around like Tigger when a loved one is facing a traumatic medical issue, or when your financial world is collapsing, but I believe what David is saying is to find a certain level of peace in knowing that God is in control. Our desires become not ours, but instead God's desires, his will not ours just as Jesus proclaimed in his prayer to God in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26). I didn't say it was easy, yet when you get there you will obtain peace in knowing that God's ways are always going to be for good.
The fourth life tip from David is to "Commit to the Lord" found in verse 5. Being committed to anything means you are going to be making some sacrifices and when you are willing to sacrifice self for the sake of Christ, life's decisions start to change. I think about the apostle Paul, he was imprisoned in Philippi facing the possibility of being put to death, and his mind is set on serving God by saving others (Philippians 1:21-23). Just like so many servants of God throughout the Bible they forfeited their own life to be committed to and trust in God's plan for their life. Look at the lives of Joseph, Job, Paul, and yes Jesus, it is safe to say that none of them were jumping up and down about what they went through, yet they were committed to see it through and because of their commitment countless lives were and are still being changed today!
In verse 7 David advises us to "Rest in the Lord". Find peace through patience. I have to admit I struggle with this one as much as any of David's tips. I'm sure most of us want resolution now. I mean let's identify the problem and then let's fix it. Not tomorrow, not next week, let's fix it today right now! That's not how it works in God's plan. We must come to a place where we are at peace, resting in our faith that God is in control. This peace is a challenge for me, because I want to be part of the solution, yet many times that creates a situation where I am part of the problem. Prayer, mediation, and a trusting faith tell me that God's way, God's timing, and God's plan are not going to always align with what I envision. That means I have to be willing to submit and trust in God's plan, peacefully and willingly.
"Refrain from anger and turn from wrath" is David's advice found in verse 8. We aren't the judge, we aren't the jury, and this is not the People's Court. When things don't appear fair, remember that life is not about fair, it is about the ultimate outcome. God's timing is long term and we may not find it in the short term. Isaiah 40:31 tells us that those who wait on the Lord will mount up with wings like eagles! That is the promise that David is talking about here. It isn't our place to make the decisions about God's mercy and grace, he showed both on me and I most definitely did not deserve either. I am thankful I did not receive the anger or wrath of God when I probably most deserved it, show that same grace to those we want to show anger.
The last piece of advice is one that directs us to do two things, "Turn from evil, and do good". What is evil? Do we have to be murderers to be classified as doing evil? Well our old buddy Paul gave us a short list that encompasses what we can probably label as "evil" in Galatians 5. Everything from idolatry down to hatred and discord are mentioned there and probably if we are honest we could place a check by at least one or two items on the list. But not being fatalistic, Paul then gives us the alternative option that David refers to as doing good. In the same chapter 5 of Galatians verses 22-23 Paul exhorts us to carry out the following actions; "love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law." How are you doing on this list? Plenty of opportunities to live life more abundantly here wouldn't you say?
Currently we are all living in pretty much uncharted waters. The COVID-19 virus has wrecked what we know as normal, while fear and panic have quickly blanketed society. It would be hard to pin down exactly when David wrote this particular psalm, yet I would feel comfortable that if David were living today this is the exact advice he would give us today. Don't spend all day fretting over evil, trust in God and do good, be content in God's ways, commit to the Lord, rest in the Lord, refrain from anger and wrath, and turn from evil and do good! Now that's some advice we can all work on today and tomorrow!
Praying for our country, other countries around the world, and for all that place their own safety at risk each day as they fight to save the lives of others.
Coach Carter
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