Verse: My heart was hot within me, While I was musing the fire burned; Then I spoke with my tongue:  Psalm 39:3

How to respond when we are in deep pain?  Where else we will go to get answers other than the Bible, Psalm 39 is such a chapter that David wrote when he was in deep pain.

Background: David’s Psalm 39 resonates with anyone who has faced the harsh realities of life. David’s raw honesty and deep introspection remind us of our own struggles. His turning to God in his pain is the principle. Jeduthun (mentioned also in the titles of Psalm 62 and Psalm 77) was one of the musicians appointed by David to lead Israel’s public worship (1 Chronicles 16:41; 25:1-3). It is possible that it was from David’s last few years of life.

David, in an attempt to avoid sin, kept silent even when in pain. However, his anguish was too great, and his heart burned within him until he could no longer remain silent, thereby voicing his concerns. Lessons to apply from the first 4 verses

1. Guard Ways: I said, “I will guard my ways That I may not sin with my tongue; Psalm 39:1 – We can give up, can become bitter, angry, and probably question and murmur against God. David said he would guard his ways, pray more, fast more, read the word more, fellowship more, and cry to the Lord more.
2. Guard Words: I will guard my mouth as with a muzzle While the wicked are in my presence.” Psalm 39:1 – In pain, we can grumble, speak negative words and the list can go on. Here David’s very first words, I will guard my mouth, do not sin with words, and David says even in the presence of the wicked, surely the wicked would have mocked, questioned still David said in their presence I guarded my mouth
3. Guard Actions: I was mute and silent, I refrained even from good, and my sorrow grew worse. Psalm 39:2 – A time of refrain is needed probably even from good, a time alone in isolation with the Lord is needed, like John in Patmos, Elijah at the brook, Joseph in pit list goes on
4. Guard Prayer: My heart was hot within me, While I was musing the fire burned; Then I spoke with my tongue:  Psalm 39:3 –  “Lord, make me to know my end And what is the extent of my days; Let me know how transient I am. Psalm 39:4 – But pour out your pain to the Lord of loving Father, be honest to him, David here is asking Lord show me my end. David pleads to God to remind him of the fleeting nature of life, describing human existence as brief and futile. He compares life to a mere breath, and worldly possessions to shadows, asserting that all human endeavors are ultimately meaningless.

Verse: The Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? Gen 4:6 

Background: Genesis 4 is the first time we see sacrifice in the Bible. Abel became a shepherd, but Cain was a farmer. Cain brought some of his harvest and gave it as an offering to the Lord. Then Abel brought the first lamb born to one of his sheep, killed it, and gave the best parts of it as an offering. The Lord was pleased with Abel and his offering, but he rejected Cain and his offering. Cain became furious, and he scowled in anger.

In response to Cain’s anger in his heart the Lord Almighty asks him this question – Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen?  – Are we angry – have our faces fallen, and really happened to Cain

• Started with small Compromises: but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell. Gen 4:5 – Here it says the Lord was not happy with Cain and His offering, so our personal life is so connected to our worship and prayers, The Lord looks at our life and our worship. True worshippers are transformed people
• Ignoring the prompting: The Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? Gen 4:6 –  If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it.” Gen 4:7 – four parts to the warning

1. Examine: Do examine the state of your heart – Cain you are angry for the wrong reason
2. Recognize the root cause is your lifestyle, the reason for the current situation is your own doing
3. Warning: If you do not change and repent, sin will overpower you
4. Remember: Sin always destroys, there is a payday, sin’s desire is to rule over you and it leads to eternal damnation

• Continued in Sin: What a disaster, first murder, first man cursed, all because one man was not ready to listen and change. Sin ignored will multiply and destroy

The word says – Cain spoke to Abel his brother and when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him. Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” He said, “I do not know; am I my brother’s keeper?” And the Lord said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood is crying to me from the ground. Gen 4:8-10

Jesus delivered this message near the beginning of His ministry, and it is the longest of Jesus’ sermons recorded in the New Testament.

What are things we need to do in secret as per Jesus? Jesus taught 3 things to be secret, giving, prayer, and fasting, Jesus explained it by exposing the malpractice and pointing out how to do it.

Secret of Secret Giving:

Warning:

1. Do not make it a public show: Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. Math 6:1
2. Do not give to impress others: “Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Math 6:2

Principle of Giving:

1. Important to You, as it is what you really want to do: But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing Math 6:3
2. Important to Father: so that your giving may be in secret. And your father who sees in secret will reward you. Math 6:4

The Secret of Secret Praying

Warning:

1. Display of outward spiritualism: “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.Math 6:5
2. Misunderstanding to think we can change God’s mind: “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Math 6:7

Principle of Praying:

1. Very Personal: But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. Math 6:6
2. Confidence: Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Math 6:8

Secret of Secret Fasting

Warning:

1. Thinking it as a sacrifice: “And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites,
2. Holier than Others: for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. Math 6:16

Principle of Fasting:

1. Be at your best:  But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, Math 6:17
2. It is for Encounter with Father: that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your father who is in secret. And your father who sees in secret will reward you. Math 6:18

Verse: But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first Rev 2:4

Study: The meaning of the word Ephesus is desirable, this was the church where Paul stayed 3 years, scholars believe Timothy pastored and even John served there. Jesus himself in His message to Ephesus commends them – “‘I know your works, your toil, and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not and found them to be false Rev 2:2

This church is excellent, Jesus again said I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary. Rev 2:3

 Jesus was introduced to the church this way – To the angel of the church in Ephesus writes: ‘The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands. Rev 2:1

Failure: With all this great work, endurance, patience, discernment, and not getting weird, Jesus says – He has this against them – that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the works you did at first. Rev 2:4-5

It is so tough to comprehend what happened to this church, I believe ministry overtook the relationship they had with Jesus. The success and fruitfulness of the church might have led this to focus on the church’s growth and they stopped doing what they started, that is to love Jesus. When we all came to Jesus we just wanted one thing, forgiveness, hearing the voice of the Lord, prayer, and worship, how did we abandon the basics, our master taught parables to everyone. 

How did we end up serving the Lord using the strategies of the world, sophisticated music, highly intellectual apologetic interactions, and we are convinced all these are needed. Where is a simple message, simple living together?

Warning: Jesus gave them a very strong warning – If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place unless you repent. Rev 2:5

Encouragement: Jesus ends the message to Ephesus with a word of encouragement, what a loving savior – Yet this you have: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.’ Rev 2:6-7

Verse: Therefore, we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea Psalm 46:2

Story: Dathan and Abiram along with the company of Korah contended against Moses and Aaron and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up together with Korah, when that company died when the fire devoured 250 men. But the Bible says “But the sons of Korah did not die.” Num 26:11. They did not follow the rebellion along with their father but followed the Lord and kept the Lord’s ways.

Destiny: They ended up writing eleven beautiful Psalms. After seven generations, the prophet Samuel was from the Korah genealogy. The Korahites became doorkeepers and custodians for the Tabernacle. One group of Korahites joined King David in various military exploits and won the reputation of being expert warriors

Lesson: Never rebel with the Lord, do not live a life to bring the spotlight to ourselves, always let us have one ambition to bring glory to God, and always please the Lord Almighty. Pain or pleasure should never let us lose the focus on the Lord. 

Learn to trust and say we will not fear, even if the earth gives way; remember when the earth opened Korah’s sons were saved and that taught them to say we did not fear Ps 46:2, When you do not know what is happening, they learned to “Be still, and know that I am God” Ps 46:10. Lord can make you a testimony when you see no hope. The future is in the hands of the Lord not depend on our situations.

Prayer: Lord, give the lifestyle of Korah’s sons, and show how their beautiful psalms expressed a spirit of great gratitude and humility to an awesome, mighty God. They express a longing for God and deep devotion. Let that be our expression in all situations. Amen.