THE LORD GOD HEARS THE VOICE AND THE CRIES OF HIS PEOPLE

Proclamation:

“The Lord said, ‘I have indeed seen the misery of My people in Egypt.  I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering.’”  Exodus 3:7 (NIV)

Explanation:

These are the words of God which were written by Moses under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  After his father, Jacob, died and was buried in Canaan, Joseph returned to Egypt and lived to be 110 years old.  Near the end of his life he made his brothers swear to an oath not to bury him in Egypt but to carry his bones back to the land that God promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. (Genesis 50:22-26)  After Joseph died, a new king rose up in Egypt who did not know Joseph and who was worried about the numerous Israelites.  So he placed taskmasters over them and made their lives bitter. (Exodus 1:8-14)  However, the Israelites continued to increase in number and Pharaoh decreed that all male Israelite babies shall be killed at birth. (Exodus 1:15-22)  One Hebrew mother hid her son for as long as she could, then placed him in a basket and put it in the river.  The child was found by the daughter of Pharaoh, who felt sorry for the Hebrew boy and kept him as her own. (Exodus 2:1-10)  This boy, Moses, was raised in the palace of Pharaoh.  When he was grown, he killed an Egyptian who was beating a Hebrew male.  The next day, he stopped two Hebrews from fighting, and one of them asked him, “Are you thinking of killing me as you did the Egyptian?”  Then Moses became afraid and fled to Midian.  There he stayed, married, began a family, and became a shepherd. (Exodus 2:15-22)  It was there that Moses saw the burning bush which was not consumed and he heard the voice of The Lord God. (Exodus 3:1-10)  God told him that He had heard the cries of the Israelites (Exodus 2:23-24 and 3:7-8) and He was sending Moses to bring His people out of Egypt (Exodus 3:10) and into the land flowing with milk and honey. (Exodus 3:8)

Application:

Believers still suffer and go through trials and tribulations during this earthly journey.  It is comforting to know that The Lord God hears our prayers and cries.  When the time is right, according to His will, He will do something about our plight.  Things are allowed to happen to us for a reason.  Sometimes bad things happen to us to keep us humble, (2 Corinthians 12:7) sometimes they are to keep us focused on Him, (Matthew 14:25-31) and sometimes they are punishment for our behavior. (Numbers 14:26-31)  However, our trouble won’t last always. (Psalm 30:5)  He hears the prayers of the righteous and He sees our situation. (1 Peter 3:12)  We just need to keep the faith and obey His Holy Word, (Deuteronomy 7:9) and know that He hears us.

KING DAVID'S PREDICTION OF THE CRUCIFIXION OF CHRIST

Proclamation:

“Dogs surround me, a pack of villains encircles me; they pierce my hands and my feet.  All my bones are on display; people stare and gloat over me.  They divide my clothes among them and casts lots for my garment.”  Psalm 22:16-18 (NIV)

Explanation:

The words of this psalm were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by King David.  He begins by presenting suffering from his personal point of view, (Psalm 22:1-2 and 6-7) from that of his forefathers, (Psalm 22:3-5) and from that of Jesus, The Christ. (Psalm 22:13-18)  Then David changes and presents praise and thanksgiving, and the rationale for doing so, in the second half of this psalm. (Psalm 22:21-31)  However, he begins this psalm stating the words which Jesus would say on the cross. (Psalm 22:1, Matthew 27:46, and Mark 15:34)  Then in verses 16 through 18 he clearly make reference to events which would occur during the crucifixion of Christ on the cross. (Matthew 27:35, Mark 15:24, Luke 23:34, and John 19:23-24)

Application:

While most believers are aware of the prediction of the crucifixion of Jesus, The Christ, by the prophet Isaiah, (Isaiah 53:6-12) many did not know that King David also predicted it and included it in the words of a song which the people of God sang.  Additionally, because of his long history of reliance on The Lord God, (Psalm 22:9-10) David knew that He would save him and he boldly proclaimed his praise to Him. (Psalm 22:21-22)  Then he exhorted all believers to praise The Lord. (Psalm 22:23)  Hallelujah!!!  Praise The Lord!!!  Praise His holy and righteous name!!!

Trials That Refine Strengthen Purify And Prove

"In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.  These have come so that your faith, of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire, may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed."  1 Peter 1:6-7 (NIV)

While writing under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God, the Apostle Peter told the believers that they should rejoice in their sufferings.  He said that their suffering was just a brief trial in a refining fire which was designed to purify them and strength their faith

Under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God, the Apostle Peter wrote that although we may suffer grief, trials, tribulations, and troubles, for a little while, we should rejoice because we are put through these things in order to refine, strengthen, purify, and prove our faith in Christ.  He also said that if we keep the faith, and pass our tests, we will be rewarded when we see Jesus.

Have Mercy On Us

"Have mercy on us, O LORD, have mercy on us, for we have endured much contempt."  Psalms 123:3 (NIV)

The unknown author of this psalm asked The Lord God to have mercy on His people who had suffered much at the hands of non-believers.  The exact situation which he was referring to is unknown, but it is clear that he and the people of God had suffered and endured much.

The Bible says that believers would suffer.  We suffer because we are born into this world of sin. (Job 14:1)  We suffer because we believe in The Lord. (Matthew 26:31, Mark 14:27, and John 7:7)  We suffer at the hands of non-believers when we speak up for Jesus. (Matthew 5:11-12)  That is not to mention the suffering we bring on ourselves. (Ephesians 5:6)  We need for God to have mercy on us.  O Lord God, have mercy on us because we are weak and sick. (Psalms 6:2)  Lord, have mercy on us because we are in trouble and suffering. (Psalms 9:13)  Lord, have mercy on us because we need help. (Psalms 30:10)  Lord, have mercy on us because we are in trouble and consumed with grief. (Psalms 31:9)  We need to pray, O Lord God, please have mercy on us, because we can't make it without You.  We need The Lord, for only He can supply all of our needs. (Philippians 4:19)

After We Suffer God Will Restore Us

"And The God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast."  1 Peter 5:10 (NIV)

The Apostle Peter, part of the inner circle of the disciples of Jesus, wrote to young men and the elders telling them to resist their enemy, the devil, and stand firm in the faith. (1 Peter 5:9)  All will suffer, but after they had suffered for a little while, God will comfort, heal, restore and strengthen them.

This is an important lesson for all of us to learn and remember.  The devil is after us, he will tempt us, and he will cause us to suffer.  However, we are not to give in to him, even in the midst of our suffering.  If we stand firm and keep the faith, God will comfort us (Jeremiah 31:13 & 2 Corinthians 1:3-5),  heal us (Deuteronomy 32:39 & Job 5:18),  restore us (Psalms 41:3 & Isaiah 57:18), and strengthen us (Isaiah 41:10 & 2 Thessalonians 3:3).  No matter what the devil does to us, or what storms we go through in life, we know that all things work together for good for them who love The Lord and are called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28) 

Believers Will Be Judged First

"For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?"  1 Peter 4:17 (NIV)

The Apostle Peter, writing to the scattered Christians who were being persecuted, said that God's judgment, with rewards and punishments, would begin with the believers.  According to the Bible scholars John MacArthur, Matthew Henry, and Finis Dake, this would not be condemnation but a purging and purifying of the Church.  The suffering by God's people refines them.  This thought is also stated by King Solomon (Proverbs11:31)

Believers will suffer now and in the judgement, but our salvation is assured.  While others may not appear the suffer now, there will be greater suffering, without salvation, for the non-believers in the future.  Make sure that you are in the family of God.

We Will Be Tested

"In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith; of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire; may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed." 1 Peter 1:6-7 (NIV)

After the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Apostle Peter told the scattered Christians who were being persecuted by the Romans and the Jewish religious leaders, that for a little while they would have to suffer. However, the suffering, trials, and tribulations were part of a process that would test their faith and make them stronger, better Christians, just as gold is refined and purified by fire.

Today we can be assured that we will have troubles and that they will come in many forms, family, relationships, employment, finances, sickness, and the death of loved ones. We need to know that our troubles are temporary, they will only last for a season. We need to understand that our troubles, trials, and tribulations are only tests of our faith to see if we will persevere or give up. Finally, we need to remember that we will triumph over our troubles if we keep the faith. Jesus has already overcome the world and if we believe we will also overcome. (1 John 5:4) If we keep the faith, we are on our way to hearing, "Well done, good and faithful servant ..." (Matthew 25:23) "We've come this far by faith..." don't give up now.

Be Patient And Persevere

"Be patient, then, brothers, until The Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because The Lord's coming is near. Don't grumble against each other, brothers, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door! Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of The Lord. As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job's perseverance and have seen what The Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy." James 5:7-11 (NIV)

James was encouraging the people to be patient, not just with the trials and tribulations of life, but to be patient with each other. Things will happen in God's due time. Pain and suffering are a part of living. Those who had gone on before them had suffered, persevered, and were blessed. He reminded them of Job and what he went through, and how God blessed him.

Most of us are very impatient people. We want what we want, and we want it right now. We need to develop patience. Some of the things that we go through are part of our preparation and development, so that God can use us. Personal growth takes time. We also need to recognize that others also need time to learn and grow. We need to be patient with, and to pray for, others as they learn and grow. All of us can say, "We are a work in progress, be patient with us, God is not finished with us yet."

Seek Good Not Evil That You May Live

"Seek good, not evil, that you may live. Then The Lord God Almighty will be with you, just as you say He is. Hate evil, love good; maintain justice in the courts. Perhaps The Lord God Almighty will have mercy on the remnant of Joseph. Therefore this is what The Lord, The Lord God Almighty, says: 'There will be wailing in all the streets and cries of anguish in every public square ... There will be wailing in all the vineyards, for I will pass through your midst,' says The Lord ... the day of The Lord ... That day will be darkness, not light." Amos 5:14-18 (NIV)

After lamenting to the people that they turned away from God, Amos calls them to repentance. Then he warns them that if they do not repent, they will suffer the wrath of God. There will be crying in the streets and suffering everywhere. The day of The Lord is coming.

There are people today who do not want to hear The Word of God. They are living in sin and want to continue to do so. Do not be one of those people, and do not associate with them. Confess your sins, believe in birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, The Christ, The Son of God, repent and turn from your sinful ways. Judgement day in coming.