I had the pleasure of speaking at the open-air in Kilskeery this evening.
It was lovely to have the weather to get outside to speak to our neighbours.
Please ignore my singing at the start -- it was unavoidable. We wanted you to hear all of the brief witness.
The Lord bless you.
Sincerely in Christ’s name,
Ivan Foster.
“I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread,” Psalm 37:25.
“And Elihu . . . answered and said, I am young, and ye are very old; wherefore I was afraid, and durst not shew you mine opinion. I said, Days should speak, and multitude of years should teach wisdom,” Job 32:6-7.
That is an ancient truth though it is commonly cast aside today. However, even though that be so, what Elihu said is true still.
David here states what has been his lifelong observation.
I. HIS BASIS FOR SPEAKING
1. “I have been young, and now am old.” The passage of time should make us wiser as we observe life’s lessons and learn from our own mistakes and experiences and the experiences of others!
2. He is stating what he had witnessed. He was not passing on the opinion of others.
3. There has been no exception to the rule he declares. “Yet have I not seen . . .” The life of David was one of great variety. He had been a shepherd boy, a soldier, a fugitive, a king and above all, a pilgrim bound for glory. But here is a clear observation. There would have been plenty of opportunities to have seen departures from this order of affairs.
II. THOSE HE IS SPEAKING OF
“The righteous.”
1. Who are they? This word ‘righteous’ is first used of Noah. “These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God,” Genesis 6:9. That clearly tells us the meaning of the word. It is referring to those who are saved and reconciled to God He is a friend of God’s and a companion who walk in obedience to His Law. He is a person who has obeyed the gospel. John 3:16.
2. Such are under God’s special care. “The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry,” Psalm 34:15. “The LORD. . . heareth the prayer of the righteous,” Proverbs 15:29.
3. They enjoy eternal life. “The just (same word) shall live by his faith,” Habakkuk 2:4. “But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith,” Galatians 3:11.
III. WHAT HE SAYS OF THE RIGHTEOUS
“I (have) not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.”
1. The word ‘forsaken’ means ‘leave’. It is first used in Genesis 2:24, marriage. A new relationship is formed and the old one broken. Union with Christ will never be broken.
2. Christ is ‘married’ to His people, and will not abandon them. “Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it,” Eph 5:25.
3. The care God gives to those who believe in Him extends to the smallest needs and on to their children. Who can measure the kindness and grace and mercy and love of God toward those who trust in Him!