THE LORD IS FAITHFUL

 

Good morning we are continuing on our summer with the Psalms.  Today our theme is the Lord is faithful and just.  To summarize this psalm is written by Ezra.  It is an acrostic psalm declaring 22 themes using the Hebrew alphabet.  Ezra is using this form to help the new settlers in Judah to become familiar with Hebrew in its oral and written form.  He is also using this form to help re-establish their language, culture and religion which had been lost because of their 70 year captivity. 

1.      Today Ezra brings to light four things about the Lord.  Which we will look at this morning.   The first is found in verse 7, The works of his hands are faithful and just.  This is both in the external world and in the world of the believer.  In the external world or creation we see order and consistency.  The sun shines, water is provided, the seasons change on time, gravity, the right amount of air, the tides rise and fall every day, the earth is right distance from the sun, and the cycles of the moon are consistent.  Ezra points this out.  This is important because his people are following the one true God but for the last 70 years they have been living in a polytheistic society.  It is not Marduk, Isis, Baal or some other man made deity that created this consistent creation it was the intelligent designer, God.  We today are God’s ambassador to the evolutionist or animist, atheist, or polytheist today. 

a.      To the believer God will be faithful in His love, provision, grace mercy, healing, compassion and guidance.  Jesus made this clear in Matt 28:20 also in Matt 6:33.  Paul made it clear in Phil 4:19.  Faithful means to remain loyal and steadfast.  You are always able to count upon Him.  He is constant, true and devoted.  Faithfulness is part of God’s character.  When he makes and agreement or covenant He will always honor it.  Every man may be a liar but the word of God is true.

b.      His works are just or done with justice.  Just means to behave according to what is morally right and fair.  The consistency of God’s character is something we can depend on.  He is the same yesterday, today and forever.  God will always do what is right because He is all knowing.  He knows every aspect of your story.  He is writing your story.  God is fair, equitable, even-handed, impartial and unbiased.  Remember Paul says in Rom 2:11, that God is no respecter of persons.  All will be dealt with justice.  For the believer 1 John 1:9, is our salvation.  This insures God’s grace, mercy, compassion and full redemption. 

 

2.      Ezra then states, “all his precepts are trustworthy.  This means you can absolutely depend on his word.  Precept means, “a general rule intended to regulate behavior or thought.”  This is God’s word.  The Bible is the last word on faith and practice.  When God puts down a rule, principle, tenet, code, doctrine and guideline.  The Bible is our compass, rule book, manual for how to live and navigate in this storm filled world. 

a.      You are not left alone to try and figure this out.  It is not like an ikea instruction sheet.  If you follow the word you can avoid, the pitfalls, problems, tests, traps of the world, the flesh and the devil.  Listen to what Paul says in 1 Cor 10:11, “These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come.”  You do not have do an Abraham, or a Cain, David, Judah or Peter.  You can be a Daniel, Joseph or Jesus.  This book is our instruction manual.  Follow it and you will avoid so many heartaches, sorrows and regrets.

b.      God’s word is trustworthy.  This means, “Able to be relied on as honest or truthful, dependable

And honest.  We have already alluded to the faithfulness of God.  You can depend on God.  I have found this true in all my years of serving God.  Talk about winning car supply my family during a down time.  I have had five cars given to me, 2 homes and multiple miracles of finances.  God is faithful, just and His word works.  I am living proof.  The promises of God are yes and amen in Christ.  You can trust God’s promises, words and this Book.

 

3.      In vs 8, Ezra tells his readers that the word of God is established for ever and ever.  Heb 13:8 reminds us that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.  God does not change.  Just because, culture, society and social systems change God does not.  If God’s word says it is wrong your opinion does not matter.  To the social constructionist, activist or governmental leader you may try but things will not change.  Society always swings back.  In Canada we have had social experiments before and they have always failed.  For example the Howe institute this week said our Federal government projections for climate change are not based in reality.  These it said were based on magical fairies and unicorns. 

a.      God’s word is based on the character, essence and nature of God.  You cannot change the sun just because you dislike the light.  You cannot change gender just because you don’t like what you are.  Babies will always be male and female.  If you don’t like gender than try milking a bull or getting eggs from a rooster.  Men will never be able to have babies.  God must be having a big laugh right now.  We are so foolish.  The biggest fool is the one who says there is no God. 

b.      God’s word is constant, consistent and forever.  You may not like the truth but it is truth that sets you free.   Ezra wants to make sure covenant people know this.  Folks foolish ideas have always been around and always will. 

 

4.       Enacted in faithfulness and uprightness.  Again Ezra uses Parallelism which is the Jewish writers of summarizing restating that God’s word will be always done in the same manner as His character.  God holds His word above His name.  Enact means to establish by legal and authoritative means something.  God is making things happen in a faithful and trustworthy way,  This is again the consistency, stability and maturity of God in action.  This is also why Jesus said we can do greater things than He did.  These signs will follow them who believe.  This is why we can go into our world and bring the gospel.  This reemphasis is again pointing out the character, nature and essence of God to stand behind everything He say in this book.  You can trust God every moment of your day in every moment of your life and in every situation you face.  Sometimes we just need to hear it again.  We know it in our head but God’s word brings it to where it does the most good, the heart.  There are two examples of incredible faith in the gospels and they were not Jews they were Gentiles.  The centurion and the woman from Sidon.