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Queen Elizabeth II has been an icon of the British Commonwealth. She is respected and admired around the world as a symbol of strength, stability, and service to her nation. The beloved monarch recently shared a Platinum Jubilee of 70-years of service with a celebration near Buckingham Palace. And the person who stood out as significant was not
- the 96-year old’s Queen’s majesty
- the regal kingdom’s band excellence
- the Royal Guard’s valor
- Prince Charles’ sagacious charm
- the Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton’s sterling beauty.
- Prince William’s charisma
- Instead, it was the animated 4-year-old Prince Louis who stole the show!
Today’s message “In The Ring” is PROSPERING. We want to explore what it takes for spiritual families to prosper as princes and princesses in the kingdom.
EXAMINE Psalm 144
Of David
1 Blessed be the LORD, my rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle; 2 he is my steadfast love and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield and he in whom I take refuge, who subdues peoples under me.
3 O LORD, what is man that you regard him, or the son of man that you think of him? 4 Man is like a breath; his days are like a passing shadow. 5 Bow your heavens, O LORD, and come down! Touch the mountains so that they smoke!
6 Flash forth the lightning and scatter them; send out your arrows and rout them! 7 Stretch out your hand from on high; rescue me and deliver me from the many waters, from the hand of foreigners, 8 whose mouths speak lies and whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood. 9 I will sing a new song to you, O God; upon a ten-stringed harp I will play to you, 10 who gives victory to kings, who rescues David his servant from the cruel sword. 11 Rescue me and deliver me from the hand of foreigners, whose mouths speak lies and whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood. 12 May our sons in their youth be like plants full grown, our daughters like corner pillars cut for the structure of a palace; 13 may our granaries be full, providing all kinds of produce; may our sheep bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our fields; 14 may our cattle be heavy with young, suffering no mishap [calamity/plague/outbreak] or failure in bearing; may there be no cry of distress in our streets! 15 Blessed are the people to whom such blessings fall! Blessed are the people whose God is the LORD!
Spiritual champion families prosper by training for trials.
1 Blessed be the LORD, my rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle; 2 he is my steadfast love and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield and he in whom I take refuge, who subdues peoples under me.
When a person knows God, they cannot be restrained from celebrating the LORD’s glory and kindness. David praises God for 9 reasons, and notice the pronoun “my” in each element to indicate personal relationship with the LORD. Praise pours out of the people who genuinely know their God.
- my rock. A rock is unmoved by cultural winds, unwavering in the devastating circumstances. In the battle of a bad news world, the rock of Christ helps us to overcome with good news.
- trains hands for war and fingers for battle. Christian faith is not head knowledge without hand application. It prepares us for grueling adversity and grievous hardship.
- my steadfast love. David praises the LORD for being his special grace, His ‘help that never fails.’[1] This term of God’s loyal love means when we are fighting, God never throws in the towel and helps us to keep going.
- my fortress, my stronghold. my refuge. Whether fleeing or marching forward, David had a safe place in the LORD.
- my deliverer. We will not win every battle. When we fall, God rescues us.
- my shield. The enemies flaming arrows fall flat against God’s shield of faith.
- my subduer of enemies. The Lord fights our battles, we need only to be still and wait upon Him. David speaks of the LORD’s heavenly arsenal
6 Flash forth the lightning and scatter them; send out your arrows and rout them! 7 Stretch out your hand from on high; rescue me and deliver me from the many waters, from the hand of foreigners
Enemy language has its place in Psalms and is relevant in today’s life of faith because we live in a cruel world with capacity to harm.[2] Elderly get scammed; workers get cheated out of pensions; beloved family members are lost to a drunk driver; young and old are struck by cancer; men are profiled because of the color of their skin; millions are displaced by war tyrants; Christians are persecuted because of their testimony; children get slaughtered in and out of the womb. We live in a callous and hostile world. One commentator says, “In the face of monstrous evil, the worst possible response is to feel nothing. What must be felt is grief, rage, and outrage. In their absence, evil becomes an acceptable commonplace.”[3]
The purpose of enemy and war-like language in the book of Psalms is not to give us license to take matters into our own hands and exercise violence. Instead, God gave us the Psalms that we might learn to talk to Him, and for God to train us in trials.[4] David’s training included the discipline of praise and prayer. The real and raging battle of spiritual forces against persons of faith and spiritual families requires the weapon of praise and the protection of prayer.
Jesus said, “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, ‘Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.’ (Mt 5:43-44)
The purpose of enemy and war-like language in the book of Psalms is not to give us license to take matters into our own hands and exercise violence. Instead, God gave us the Psalms that we might learn to talk to Him, and for God to train us in trials.
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The turbulent trials and fiercest battles you will face in this world is to live for an audience of One.
8 whose mouths speak lies and whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood. 9 I will sing a new song to you, O God; upon a ten-stringed harp I will play to you, 10 who gives victory to kings, who rescues David his servant from the cruel sword. 11 Rescue me and deliver me from the hand of foreigners, whose mouths speak lies and whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood.
There will always be people who misunderstand or mistreat you. Some will unfairly critique, and others will unduly compliment you. Let neither criticism engulf your heart, nor compliments elevate to your head. We are most Christ-like when we lift our heart and bow our head in humility to pray to our Father in heaven, and praise God with our life.
Action steps that may begin your prospering in trials
- Face a conflict with prayer instead of fleeing problems.
- Forgiving a critic to pursue reconciliation. Few actions grieve the Holy Spirit, give sin a stronghold or the devil a foothold like unforgiveness and bitterness (cf Eph 4:25-32; Mt 6:14-15).
Spiritual champion families prosper with nearness to the LORD.
3 O LORD, what is man that you regard him, or the son of man that you think of him? 4 Man is like a breath; his days are like a passing shadow. 5 Bow your heavens, O LORD, and come down! Touch the mountains so that they smoke!
David did not allow enemies plunge him to despair or victories drive him to conceit. He was frequently conscious that life was fragile and fleeting. His faith was focused on the grace of God to draw humanity near the LORD. David prays with a bold request for the LORD to come down in mysterious glory – smoke-filled mt. top.
When believers have difficult days, they describe their time as living in the valley. Likewise, when believers experience the blessing of God, they describe their time living on a mountain-top spiritual high. The latter is what David requests. He wants to be as near God as he possibly can.
Do you believe that you can be as near God as you want? We can. And while there is a responsibility we have in drawing to God by grace through faith, the primary role has already been provided. Communion with God is not about striving but resting. We reach God’s mountain not through Sinai but surrender at Calvary.
1 Peter 3:18 “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the Spirit.”
The psalmist knows he is nothing without the nearness of God.
- Ps 145:18-19 “The LORD is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth. He fulfills the desire of those who fear Him; He also hears their cry and saves them.”
- John 15:5 “Jesus said, ‘I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”
- The Lord is near with His word. One recommendation is to linger with the Psalms. Personally, I have several Bibles, but I also have a one Bible that is just Psalms. It contains the texts with a blank page to journal or doodle artwork. The Psalms are a place to park your heart to relax your thoughts, calm your emotions, and direct your focus.
- The Lord is near with His people. There are but very few moments that I have had mountain top experiences with God apart from God’s people. I dare say that is the way God designed His pathway to prospering.
15 Blessed are the people to whom such blessings fall! Blessed are the people whose God is the LORD!
Spiritual champion families prosper by blessing others.
12 May our sons in their youth be like plants full grown, our daughters like corner pillars cut for the structure of a palace; 13 may our granaries be full, providing all kinds of produce; may our sheep bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our fields; 14 may our cattle be heavy with young, suffering no mishap [calamity/plague/outbreak] or failure in bearing; may there be no cry of distress in our streets!
David’s praise of God and prayer of protection was not just focused on self. David sought God’s blessing upon his family, and the family of families within the kingdom.
He prayed blessing upon sons – to be like full grown plants. Throughout Scripture, and the Psalms, the purpose of plants and trees is fruit-bearing. David is praying for sons to be strong and established, with the mark of maturity as serving others.
- Today’s little boys will be tomorrow’s leading men. Many people of faith do not value the current vision of today’s generation or our present nation. If you want to change the narrative then you must invest the maturity of young men. As Truett Cathy said, “It is better to build boys than mend men.”[5]
à Nursery & CM / VBS… men can make a difference.
à Trail Life
à Youth
à moMENtum – Plants/Trees plant together than apart so their roots will attach to withstand wind and storms.
Band of Brothers… and Soul Sistas…
- David’s high expectations for men do not exclude women. He prays for daughters to be like corner pillars in the palace. The pillars were structural support and custom designed beauty. Pillars in the palace held multiple stories of a stone building. In the tabernacle, pillars held up the veil (Ex 26:31-32) and separated the inner and outer courts (Ex 27:9-15).[6] In other words, pillars were symbols of God’s presence and signs directing the people of God. Further, the pillars were custom cut to maintain balance and reflect an aesthetic of excellence and intelligence.
Likewise, young ladies, you are not the floor but the ceiling. Your work as pillars is vital to the home, the church, and the kingdom. Whether your work is caring for children with diapers, helping with homework, or serving in the workforce with spreadsheets and systems management, God has called you to stand tall and stand out for the glory of God and the good of others.
*Special note: The Bible teaches men & women were created with equality and complementarity. In other words, though they share equal value bearing the image of God, they complement each other based on their designed differences. This is true not just physically but emotionally and spiritually. Men & Women are interdependent.
David also prays for full granaries and farm fields. He asks God to multiply seeds and sheep, oats and oxen. He envisions a kingdom with a healthy economy, where prosperity is the norm not rarity.[7] Such material blessings are not the aim but the overflow of blessing with a Heavenly Father who provides for our needs and knows how to give good gifts (James 1:17).
- Adversity is a challenge for many, but prosperity is a true test of maturity. The person who has wealth and comfort, and still maintains character to serve others, is one who understands his true master. You cannot serve both God and money (Mt6). Prosperity is provided for generosity.
Last, David prays for no suffering, no mishap, or failure in bearing. He prays against the cries of distress from tragedy. Unfortunately, we live in a Genesis 3 world with trials and tragedy. We persevere with our problems and pains with the power of hope. The reality of God to redeem wrongs and injustices and transform death into life is our only hope.
Ps 16:7-11 “I bless the LORD who gives me counsel; in the night my heart instructs me. I have set the LORD always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken. Therefore, my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure. For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption. You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”
- We are saved to serve.
- Serve for the present. It’s likely a difficult or hard situation: disability or a disruption in one’s life.
- Serve for the future. This involves transforming immaturity (youthfulness) to maturity (ability to reproduce).
APPLY/THINK
Spiritual champion families prosper by training for trials, with nearness to the LORD, and by blessing others.
When Queen Elizabeth was but a young princess, she made her first public speech on October 13, 1940. It was a radio address to the other children of the Commonwealth who were living away from their homes due to the war. She was the daughter of the king and refused to cower in fear. Amid the kingdom sirens from air raids and bomb explosions, she spoke over the broadcast to instill courage and faith to other children and families in the kingdom. She said, “We are trying to do all we can to help our gallant sailors, soldiers and airmen, and we are trying, too, to bear our own share of the danger and sadness of war. We know, every one of us, that in the end all will be well; for God will care for us and give us victory and peace. And when peace comes, remember it will be for us, the children of today, to make the world of tomorrow a better and happier place.”[8]
Church, we are…
- Citizens of heaven.
- Children of the King of Kings.
- Sons and Daughters filled with the Spirit of God,
- Sent to do the work of God as prospering the kingdom.
- And we know God assures us victory because He has conquered sin, satan, and the grave, and eternal joy awaits all who bow their head and bend their knees to Jesus.
- Yet, for those who stiffen their neck to rebel against God’s word and ways, there will be no redemption, no blessing, no joy, no hope, but only judgment.
[1] Derek Kidner, Psalms 73–150: An Introduction and Commentary, vol. 16, Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1975).
[2] W. David O. Taylor, Open And Unafraid: The Psalms As A Guide To Life, p.109, ff.
[3] J. Clinton McCann, A Theological Introduction To The Book Of Psalms, p.119-120; quoted in Taylor, p.111.
[4] Taylor, p.114.
[5] https://www.allprodad.com/book/its-better-to-build-boys-than-mend-men/
[6] Mike Mitchell, “Pillar,” ed. Chad Brand et al., Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2003), 1299.
[7] John Phillips, Exploring The Psalms – Ps 144, p.646.
Growing Godly Generations 