As I’m writing the title I recall my almost four year old daughter throwing a fit because she had just learned the words of a song that said “ He will not let you fall” and she fell while running outside. Oh the faith of a child. Do we have it today? I had to explain what falling meant but I don’t think she bought my explanation. I do believe God chuckled that day, and He has kept her from falling for the thirty two years that she’s been born again. Glory to God!
The Psalmist alluded to that truth and wrote as much. God is faithful to keep us if we want to be kept. He will indeed keep us from falling. Solomon said the righteous man falls seven times, why not eight or nine times? Because I don’t believe He’s speaking of sinning here, but more about discouragement or weariness through trials which the righteous suffers or falls to because of evil men, not falling into sin because of it. Proverbs 24:16. Now read what happens to the wicked when he falls because of his wickedness. But we rise or get back up with God’s help. As is demonstrated in the lives of Elijah and Jeremiah, and so many others. They were weary mentally, emotionally and physically but He picked them up. They didn’t backslide, they were weary. They had allowed what they were going through to bring discouragement at times. The righteous fall but we don’t quit. He picks us back up-Encourages and strengthens us. Hallelujah! See 1 Kings 18. Jeremiah 12 or most of his writings. See also Lamentations 3
“I will praise the Lord at all times. I will constantly speak His praises. I will boast only in the Lord; let all who are helpless take heart. Come, let us tell of the Lord’s greatness; let us exalt His Name together. I prayed to the Lord, and He answered me. He freed me from all my fears. Those who look to Him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces. In my desperation I prayed, and the Lord listened; He saved me from all my troubles. For the angel of the Lord is a guard; He surrounds and defends all who fear Him. Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in Him! Fear the Lord, you His godly people, for those who fear Him will have all they need. Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry, but those who trust in the Lord will lack no good thing. Come, my children, and listen to me, and I will teach you to fear the Lord. Does anyone want to live a life that is long and prosperous? Then keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies! Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it. The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right; His ears are open to their cries for help. But the Lord turns His face against those who do evil; He will erase their memory from the earth. The Lord hears His people when they call to Him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; He rescues those whose spirits are crushed. The righteous person faces many troubles, but the Lord comes to the rescue each time. For the Lord protects the bones of the righteous; not one of them is broken! Calamity will surely destroy the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will be punished. But the Lord will redeem those who serve Him. No one who takes refuge in Him will be condemned.” Psalms 34:1-22 NLT
The verse I underlined is similar in its meaning to Proverbs 24 isn’t it? Falling to trouble isn’t always indicative of sin. It could be you’re doing everything right and Satan is ticked off. Rejoice! God will help you rise up. A saint is not a sinner who falls down, a saint is a saint who encounters trouble and gets back up. The storm the disciples faced had the same plan both times. To steal, kill and destroy. But when Jesus is with you whether walking on the waves or sleeping in the boat, we will rise and get to the other side! Hallelujah to the Lamb of God!
The Psalmist said every time and all the time, in every circumstance and all circumstances, bless the Lord. Did you notice how many times the little three letter word was mentioned. That is a dynamite waiting to explode in the life of those who believe. He said in Psalms 103 that God in Christ before Jesus came to earth and Healed all of our diseases, forgave all our iniquities and told us not to forget all His benefits. What does all mean? Exactly. Nothing missing, nothing forgotten. God has not forgotten anything that will benefit us. But He’s forgotten everything that was against us. Every sin that would keep us from His presence is forgiven and forgotten. So we can read the Psalmist words with confidence. David says let me teach you what has helped me. Glory to God! That’s the great cloud of witnesses I was talking about. Their words help champion us on to victory.
He’s sharing his experiences with God. That’s why we can’t casually read the Bible as a duty or we’ll miss the intimacy. He said start with praise. Acknowledging who He is before you get to what He’s done. God said Israel knew his acts, His hands, but Moses knew His ways, His heart, His character. Moses had intimacy with God, so did David. We’re learning from the best. This isn’t theory or just words on a page. This is experience speaking. I refuse to write or teach what I don’t believe or haven’t experienced and live. That would make me an inauthentic babbler. That’s why God in His great wisdom allows us to go through some things. You can’t share what you haven’t experienced, not with any conviction anyway. David lived what he wrote.
After he invites us to praise and tell of the Lord’s goodness, He shares why: “I prayed and He answered me.” You have to understand that this writing took place while he was running from Saul and living among Israel’s enemies. You can’t write what he wrote without being in the secret place with God. Man, I'm writing myself happy! This is good stuff right here! Jesus!!! He continues. “He freed me from all my fears.” Say what David? You mean to tell me you’re in enemy territory, running from a lunatic and you’re talking about being free from fear? Yup! God had allowed him to leave the camp of Abimelech, the enemy of Israel without being killed. David had put on quite the show, go read about it in 1 Samuel 21. If you haven’t been through something where only God could bring you out, you won’t appreciate what David is saying. He’s speaking to those who look to God alone for help. Is that you?
He said “oh the joys of those who take refuge in Him!” Hallelujah! Glory! He said “Come let me teach you what it means to fear the Lord.” O my, I pray you’re getting this. It would be a shame to miss all this sweetness. It’s honey to my mouth, sweet decadent goodness to my soul. From verses 12-14 he tells us how. We keep our hearts right, we watch over the gates of our mouths. Don’t speak evil and deceit. Live in peace with each other. These things show reverence for God and add years to our lives. Then the Lord’s eyes and ears will be open towards us. Just like I recognized Sheri’s cry over every baby in the nursery, so our Heavenly Father hears our cry over the wailing of the unrighteous. That’s why we can’t live a mixed up life. We can’t give off a discordant sound. If we can’t praise Him in the struggle we can’t praise Him in the peace time. That’s mixture. He recognizes our cry whether we’re down or up. Because our hearts haven’t changed towards Him. He’s always good no matter what.
That’s what David was talking about. He is God in the enemy camp and He’s God when we walk out. We don’t just pray because it’s rough, we don’t pray because the waves are boisterous. If we have kept our composure in the good and bad times, the sound God hears coming from us will be the same. And we will say like David: “He heard me, and delivered me.” A lifestyle of intimacy with God, produces a lifetime of answers from God. “This poor man cried out, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.” Are you that poor man today? A broken spirit and a contrite heart, He will not despise.
Surely, He will not let you fall! Are you trusting in Him? Then you can take that to your grave. He will not let the righteous fall.
Written by permission of the Holy Spirit
W. Tennant
October 18, 2021
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