THE STRESS BUSTERS # 7
WHAT GOD DOES WHEN LIFE HURTS
"You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows."
Psalm 23:5
INTRODUCTION: We're concluding Psalm 23 today. In Psalm 23 we have seen how much God loves you. We've seen how much God cares for you, how He says "I want to be your shepherd." Today, I want us to discover together, How the Shepherd Heals our Hurts.
Several years ago the American Heart Association published the results of a remarkable scientific study. In 1998 Dr. Randy Bird did a study of 393 coronary care patients at Duke University Hospital. Dr. Bird is not a Christian and this is not a Christian study. But it asked the question:
“Does prayer have any impact on patient’s healing?”
Without the patients knowing it, people were asked to pray for only half of the heart patients.
The groups were comparable in age & severity of medical conditions. The people praying were given the names of the patients and their diagnosis and were asked to pray everyday for their healing and recovery.
Dr. Bird compared the outcome of each group and found those patients who were prayed for did better than those who were not. It was amazing! Everything from recovery rates, hospital stay, length of medication, type of procedure needed, was better for the group that was prayed for.
Just to prove this was not a Christian study they observed that distance of those praying for the patients made no difference. ( Like, that’s a surprise!?) But that’s significant because the people who were being prayed for didn’t know they were being prayed for. So it wasn’t psycho-somatic or a psychological trick.
The truth is God cares about your hurts and He still heals! And not just physical hurts.
Psa.147:3 " He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds." ( NIV)
Everyone experiences hurt. People say things or do things that cause us pain. Most of the time, we can slough it off. However, there are things that happen to us, words that are spoken, that are not that easily ignored.
Last week, we studied the Valleys of life. We learned that, you are at one of three points in life. You are either in a valley, or you have come through a valley, or you are about to enter a valley.
Just as each of us go through valleys in life, we will also experience times of hurt. Hurt can come from circumstances out of your control, they can arise from words spoken from people you care about, or from the evil devises of people bent on hurting us.
The question is not if you will experience hurt, but how will you respond to the hurts you experience in life.
1. You can IGNORE IT
There are several ways we do this:
A. Deny it – That didn’t hurt me. I’m not mad.
B. Delay it – I’ll deal with that later. I don’t get mad I get even.
C. Minimize it – It’s no big deal. It didn’t hurt so bad.
Ignoring your hurt never heals it. You’ve heard it said, “Time heals all wounds” – but sometimes time makes the infection grow worse.
Denying it, delaying it, minimizing it turns minor problems into major ones. Wounds get infected and spread when they aren’t dealt with. Look at what Psalm 39 says about trying to ignore hurt.
So I remained utterly silent, not even saying anything good. But my anguish increased. Psalms 39:2 (NIV)
Ignoring our hurt does not work – it makes it worse.
Some people react to hurt by trying too,
2. RUN FROM IT
When people hurt they run. People run to: television, movies, drugs, shopping, divorce, alcohol, sex, food wherever we can use to find relief. But when we return the problem is still there. Running doesn’t solve it.
"I wish I had wings like a dove. Then I'd fly away and rest. I would hurry to my place of escape..." Ps. 55:6+8 (NCV)
Can you identify? Maybe what weighs you down is just the burdens of life. An addiction; a sad family life; constant physical pain; or just an unrest in your soul that you can’t put a name to, but it is there.
God offers something better than dove’s wings. He offers something better than escape. He offers release to the captives; victory to the downtrodden; ultimate glory with Him in heaven.
That doesn’t mean all of life’s troubles will be instantly taken away. It means that as we trust in God, He will develop us into warriors and, who overcome through His word.
Another reaction to hurt is to,
3. HIDE IT
"When I kept things to myself, I felt weak deep inside me. I moaned all day long." Ps. 32:3 (NCV)
Many of us are good at doing this. We wear a mask. We don’t tell anyone we hurt. We are quite good at camouflaging our pain. When someone asks if we are OK we say that everything is fine. We don’t like to admit that someone has hurt our feelings. If we admit that we are hurt we open ourselves up to more hurt – so we hide it.
And for some it works…for a while. Eventually the mask falls off.
The problem is, that the longer we ignore it, the more it festers and if left untreated, will eventually explode.
Joel Osteen in the book, YOU BEST LIFE NOW, writes,
A few decades ago, several American companies authorized by the U.S. government attempted to bury toxic waste products underground. They filled large metal containers with chemical waste and other life-threatening products, sealed the drums tightly, and buried them deep down below the topsoil. They thought that was the end of it. Within a short time, however, many of the containers began to leak and the toxic waste started seeping to the surface, causing all sorts of problems. In some locations, it killed off the vegetation and ruined the water supply. People had to move out of their homes. In one section near Niagara Falls, known as the Love Canal, an inordinate number of people began dying of cancer and other debilitating diseases. Many communities are still suffering the effects of toxic-waste burials to this day
What went wrong? They tried to bury something that was too toxic. It couldn’t be contained. They thought they could bury it, and be rid of it once and for all. But they didn’t realize that the materials they were attempting to bury were so powerful. They were too toxic for the containers to hold. They never dreamed that one day these contaminants would resurface, and they would have to eliminate them all over again. But this time, the toxic materials would be dispersed, and much more difficult to deal with. Had they disposed of them properly in the first place, they wouldn’t have had this terrible problem. [‘Your Best Life Now’ By Joel Osteen].
It’s the same with us. When somebody hurts us, somebody does us wrong, instead of letting it go and trusting God to make it up to us, we bury it deep down on the inside.
We put on a mask, and pretend that everything is ok.
“Ya, no probs…” On the outside you are casual, but inside you are churning with anger and bitterness.
We attempt to cram unforgiveness, resentment, anger, and other destructive responses into our "leak-proof" containers.
We seal those lids tightly. Then we put them aside and say, "Good. I’m not going to have to deal with that. I’m rid of it once and for all."
BUT YOU ARE ONLY FOOLING YOURSELF!
The sad truth is just as that toxic waste tends to resurface, one day the things you have crammed into your subconscious or buried deeply in the recesses of your heart will rise to the surface and begin to contaminate your life. We can’t live with poison inside of us and not expect it to eventually do us harm.
Everybody has a hurt. You’re not alone. You’re not even the only one with the hurt. You can try to run from it, hide from it and deny it. And you may find a temporary peace.
I am glad that whether I am resting by the quiet streams or walking the unknown corridors of the valley, the Good Shepherd has promised me His presence.
The Bible says, that the Shepherd goes before me, and He is with me. In fact He does three things for me to experience His healing.
1. HE PREPARES MY HEART : "You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies."
When David says the Lord PREPARES a table, he is using the word ‘arak, which means to arrange, set or put or lay in order, set in array, prepare, order, ordain, handle, furnish, esteem, equal, direct,
God is preparing the way, He is setting things in order, He is getting things ready.
Some of the hardest things to handle are the times in our lives when God seems like he is a million miles away and is not answering our prayers. God promised in his word to always be there but it seems as if he giving us the silent treatment. Where are you God when I hurt? Job wrote in the Old Testament,
“But if I go to the east, he is not there; if I go to the west, I do not find him. 9 When he is at work in the north, I do not see him; when he turns to the south, I catch no glimpse of him….
Job is saying that no matter where I look, how hard I pray, God is silent. Is that how you feel, today? Then be encouraged with the rest of Jobs testimony,
10 But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold. (Job 23:8-10 NIV).
Job understood that God had a plan that was wider than his problems. His circumstance was part of the process to something bigger and better. Like Job, David knew that God was preparing him fro something better. What was He preparing?
He is preparing the TABLE.
When I was younger, I read this verse and I had a weird picture in my head. I pictured this Queen Anne dining room dinner table, ornately set with the finest of china and silverware. Everything was in its place. There were two chairs placed at the table. One was for me and the other was for God.
Philip Keller, says that David is referring to a pasture scene here. You see, when David talks about a table he’s not talking about an eating table, he’s using the word that means "tableland." A level, flat-topped, grassy plateau.
I thought of an old Hymn I used to sing in church as a child, the first verse went like this
I’m pressing on the upward way,
New heights I’m gaining every day;
Still praying as I’m onward bound,
“Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.”
Then the chorus said,
Refrain
Lord, lift me up and let me stand,
By faith, on Heaven’s table land,
A higher plane than I have found;
Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.
The writer of that hymn had this Psalm in mind when he wrote those words.
According to Philip Keller, the shepherd early in the spring would go ahead of the flock finding the best high, summer range for his flock. Once he’s found it he looks over it with great care.
Keller writes: He will check to see if there are poisonous weeds appearing, and if so, he takes drastic steps to eradicate them. ... Plus, while looking over this tableland the shepherd keeps a sharp eye out for predators. He will look for signs of wolves, coyotes, bears. If he finds evidence of these wild animals he will look for another place or hunt down the killers and kill them or at least drive them from the tableland.
All this prepares the table in the presence of the enemy.
The point is that, when all around causes me to fear, and take flight, I can rest in the protection and provision of the SHEPHERD. HE goes before me, had sets things right so that I can be at peace even when all around me is disaster.
2. HE POURS OUT HIS SPIRIT OF HEALING: "You anoint my head with oil"
David said, "You anoint my head with oil." Shepherds put oil on the heads of sheep for two reasons: to soothe or provide protection and to heal.
Phil Keller writes, One enemy of sheep is flies. They can’t shake off the flies either by their hooves or by swatting them with a long tail. The worst enemy is the nose fly. This insect actually flies up in sheeps nose and lay eggs. And the larva drives them crazy. Sometimes in the summertime you’ll see a sheep banging its head against a rock because he’s going crazy from the flies. He can’t do anything about it. So, the shepherd takes olive oil and mixes it with sulfur and anoints the head of the sheep and the oil becomes an insect repellant.
One other way the shepherd would protect the sheep with oil. Often in these tablelands there would be snakes that live under the ground. When the sheep bends down to eat they would pop up and bite them on the nose or head. The bites were poisonous and could make them very sick. So the shepherd walked through the pasture and whenever he came to a snake hole he would pour oil in it. This made it almost impossible for the smooth snake to get out of his hole. And the shepherd would also place oil on the sheep’s head and nose so that if the viper did get out it would smell the same oil and be repelled by it.
So David is saying: Let God take care of your hurts and irritations, let God soothe you by taking care of the things that hurt you.
The second way oil was used is as a salve, an ointment. When a sheep had an open wound the oil would help to heal. When David says, "You anoint my head with oil" he is saying God is going to heal my wounds.
There are going to be times when we are hurt. God promises that He will heal our hurt if we will let Him. Read with me. Psa. 147:3- "God heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds."
David declares in this Psalm that the Shepherd pours out oil on the head of the sheep. The Holy Spirit wants to bring healing to your hurts today
But God always heals if we trust Him. He heals the brokenhearted – is a promise you can count on.
And even when we have been totally healed there are scars. There always are scars after you have been hurt. You have a choice when you look at those scars – you can either look at the scars and remember the hurt – or you can look at the scars and remember the healing. That’s your choice. You can focus on the hurt or focus on Healer. Reminding ourselves that God cares for us brings comfort.
"You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over." Psalms 23:5 (NKJV)
The third thing you can do is:
3. HE FILLS MY LIFE WITH HIS EVERLASTING PRESENSE. "My cup overflows"
In the Bible, an overflowing cup, is a symbol for total fulfillment. In the Middle East, it’s mostly desert so a shepherd would often have to give his flock water from a well. He would draw up water for hours in order to fill large stone jars for the sheep. But sheep do not like to put their heads inside anything closed, like a jar so the shepherd kept the cups or jars overflowing, so the sheep could drink without fear. Don=t you see? God will meet your needs, especially when you’re hurt.
The problem is, when we get hurt, instead of drawing closer we withdraw from the shepherd. And yet, one of the major reasons we get hurt is we expect other people to meet needs only God can meet. No person can give you absolute security in life. No person can give you all the love you need.
God never designed you to have all your needs met by another human being. You have needs that only God can meet, you have a cup that only God can fill.
When you expect other people to meet those needs you’re going to end up resentful because they can’t do it. They can’t love you unconditionally 24 hours a day. They can’t make you secure 24 hours a day. They can’t make you happy 24 hours a day. They can’t meet all your needs..Why? Because they’re not God.
On the other hand, God can and will! He never runs dry. Jesus declared in Jhn 10:10, “I am the Good Shephers… I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. One translation says, ‘My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.’
Here is the point. Jesus never fails. He never has a bad mood. If you look to Him your cup will overflow. Overflow with what?
a) With hope- Romans 15:13 "God will help you overflow with hope in him through the Holy Spirit’s power within you."(LB)
You never run out of hope because you know He’s never going to let you down. When we came to Christ, eternity started for us.. 1 Peter 1:3 calls it a living hope, and it will never end.
b)Your cup will also overflow with love. I Thess. 3:12- "May the Lord make your love grow and overflow."(NLT) You’ll never know absolute unconditional love except from God!
c)Overflow with joy- Jesus said in John 16:24- "Ask, using my name, and you will receive, and your cup of joy will overflow." (LB)
Will God ever shut off the tap?
Have you ever wondered when you go to somebody’s house how long you’re supposed to stay? Or have you had someone come to your house and you didn’t know how to tell them to "go".
There is a custom in the Middle East that everyone knew that had to do with filling the cup. If you came to somebody’s house, the first thing you do is offer them a cup of water or drink.. They drink that cup and you refill it.. As long as the cup kept being refilled it meant you were welcome to stay. If you came to somebody’s house and after several refills, they left the cup empty, it meant it was time to leave. If the host decided he really liked the person and wanted him to stay a long time, they would take the cup and fill it not only to the rim but they would let it overflow. An overflowing cup was a sign that you can stay as long as you want. And something else.. you are special.
When God says to you, "I’m going to fill your cup to overflowing" it means you matter to God and you’re special to Him. If you’re hurting because somebody has hurt you, God is saying this morning, I’ll protect you so let me settle the score; I’ll take care of your hurt so let me soothe your wounds and I love you and want to satisfy all of your needs.
In God’s words, He says, "I’ll prepare a table before you in the presence of your enemies. I’ll anoint your head with oil. Your cup will overflow." Now, that’s a deal you can’t refuse.
CONCLUSION:
What's the bottom line of these seven weeks? What have we learned? If I summed it up in one sentence it's this: Jesus is all you need. You don't need anything else.
That covers it all. The good shepherd provides protection, provision, peace, providence, companionship (His presence), and paradise.
Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever
God cares for you, how He says "I want to be your shepherd." What's the bottom line of these seven weeks? What have we learned? If I summed it up in one sentence it's this: Jesus is all you need. You don't need anything else.
Jesus spoke of us having an abundant life. “I have come,” he said, “that you may have life and have it more abundantly.” That’s what David was describing when he wrote: “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.” With God by our side, life is good. Our lives are fulfilled in ways we cannot even begin to imagine. Not the fullness of possessions, not the abundance of things, but the abundance of God: God’s love, God’s peace, God’s joy, God’s goodness. And I can guarantee you -- if you have these things and nothing else, you are infinitely more rich than if you had all the material prosperity in the world.
But there is more to this life than this present earthly existence. The Shepherd’s Psalm reminds us that God has prepared for us a marvelous future, an eternal security, a heavenly home.
Many people have only an uncertain hope of eternity. Ask them if they will go to heaven and often they answer with words such as, “I think so,” or “I hope so.” But these words of Psalm 23 are not a vague expression of uncertainty. They are a declaration of certainty -- a confidence that God has provided a glorious future and eternal home for us.
David does not say, “I hope to be there.” He says “I will be there.”
And in the New Testament the reason for our confidence is made clear. Paul said, “It is not by works, lest any man should boast.” It is “by the grace of God we are saved.” What is this grace of God? It is God who “loved the world so much that he gave his only Son that whoever believes in him would not perish but have eternal life.” It is through Christ’s death on the cross that our sins are forgiven. It is through his resurrection from the grave that we are given an assurance of eternal life. And it is through faith in what God has done in Jesus Christ that we receive his precious promises. And when we come to God in faith, trusting in his provision, depending on his protection, we know that we can rely upon his promise. And with the assurance of faith we can declare our confidence as well.
“I SHALL not want” ....
“I WILL not fear” ....
And “I WILL dwell in the house of the Lord... FOREVER!”
I want you to know that you can know the confidence of David this morning if you will open up your hearts to God and invite Christ into your life.
You don’t have to go through life searching for that which will make you happy, only to be disappointed and left empty by the material things of life. God will provide the things you need. And God will fulfill your lives in ways you can never dream of.
You don’t have to live worried and fearful lives because of the troubles and struggles and uncertainties of life. God will give to you an inner calm, a peace that surpasses all understanding.
You don’t have to live with the uncertainty of tomorrow. God will fill you with the assurance of an eternal hope.
But there is one thing you must do: and that is to let Christ come in. To open your hearts and say, “Oh, Jesus, I need you to forgive me and set me free, to fill my heart with your presence and your love. Come into my life, Lord Jesus.”
Won’t you pray with me?
Dear Jesus, I know that because of my sin I need Your forgiveness. I believe that You died on the cross for my sins. I believe You rose again so I could live with You. I want to stop living for myself and start living for You. I want Your peace in my life. I want forgiveness for my sins. Please come into my heart and change my life. I want to live with You forever. I want You to be my Lord and Savior. In Jesus' name. Amen."
