¤[uplifting music]¤
00:00:00.53\00:00:04.30
¤[uplifting music]¤
00:00:11.77\00:00:13.78
>>Eric Flickinger:
Welcome to "Sabbath School,"
00:00:14.78\00:00:16.08
brought to you by It Is Written.
00:00:16.11\00:00:17.88
We're glad that
you could join us today
00:00:17.91\00:00:19.21
as we continue our journey
through the book of Psalms.
00:00:19.25\00:00:21.72
This week is lesson number 8,
"Wisdom for Righteous Living,"
00:00:21.75\00:00:25.69
and the book of Psalms
gives us no shortage of wisdom
00:00:25.72\00:00:29.19
on how to live a right life.
00:00:29.22\00:00:31.73
We're gonna begin our
study today as we do each week
00:00:31.76\00:00:34.56
with prayer.
Let's pray together.
00:00:34.60\00:00:36.90
Father, we want to thank
You again for being with us
00:00:36.93\00:00:39.23
and guiding us
through our study week by week
00:00:39.27\00:00:41.80
of the book of Psalms,
and we ask that, again today,
00:00:41.84\00:00:44.47
You will do exactly the same.
00:00:44.51\00:00:46.34
We thank You in
Jesus' name, amen.
00:00:46.37\00:00:49.44
Well, we're happy once again
to have with us as our guest
00:00:49.48\00:00:51.95
the author of this quarter's
"Sabbath School" lesson,
00:00:51.98\00:00:54.22
Dr. Dragoslava Santrac.
00:00:54.25\00:00:56.02
She has a PhD in Old
Testament and absolutely loves
00:00:56.05\00:01:00.82
the book of Psalms,
and if you've been with us
00:01:00.86\00:01:02.59
week by week, you can tell that.
00:01:02.62\00:01:04.83
Slava, thank you for
being with us again today.
00:01:04.86\00:01:06.90
>>Dragoslava Santrac:
I'm delighted to be here,
00:01:06.93\00:01:08.56
as always.
00:01:08.60\00:01:09.90
>>Eric: So we're looking at
"Wisdom for Righteous Living"
00:01:09.93\00:01:11.83
this week.
00:01:11.87\00:01:13.17
Now, last week, we looked
at God's mercy, His grace.
00:01:13.20\00:01:17.57
If we've truly received
God's grace and His mercy,
00:01:17.61\00:01:21.48
it should somehow change
our hearts, there should be
00:01:21.51\00:01:24.81
some tangible, practical
ways in which our lives change.
00:01:24.85\00:01:29.25
How does that fit in
with what we're looking at
00:01:29.28\00:01:31.39
this week in "Wisdom
for Righteous Living"?
00:01:31.42\00:01:35.49
How's that connection made?
00:01:35.52\00:01:37.29
>>Dragoslava: Yes,
wisdom, this week's lesson,
00:01:37.33\00:01:39.49
"Wisdom for Righteous Living,"
is the logical continuation
00:01:39.53\00:01:44.23
of the story we've been trying
to tell through the Psalms,
00:01:44.27\00:01:48.77
because the question
comes-- we learned about
00:01:48.80\00:01:51.77
God's marvelous deeds,
His salvation, His judgment,
00:01:51.81\00:01:56.41
His mercy redeemed us
and saved us, and now what?
00:01:56.44\00:02:00.55
How do we continue living?
00:02:00.58\00:02:03.08
See, once we are saved
and receive God's mercy,
00:02:03.12\00:02:06.55
we continue to
live in this world.
00:02:06.59\00:02:09.69
Unlike the person who died
on the right side of the cross
00:02:09.72\00:02:14.93
of Jesus, who received
the salvation and then died,
00:02:14.93\00:02:19.90
most of us, by God's
grace, we continue to live.
00:02:19.93\00:02:24.11
And sometimes,
people struggle with it.
00:02:24.14\00:02:26.74
They understand
receiving God's mercy,
00:02:26.78\00:02:29.08
but then what? How do I live?
00:02:29.11\00:02:31.91
And the Psalms, as you
said, Eric, have many examples
00:02:31.95\00:02:36.58
and provide
wonderful instructions
00:02:36.62\00:02:39.99
about how we should
continue living in God's mercy.
00:02:40.02\00:02:44.86
And above everything, the
Psalms call us to obtain wisdom
00:02:44.89\00:02:50.63
for righteous
living, which goes beyond
00:02:50.67\00:02:53.54
mere observance of certain
moral or ethical standards.
00:02:53.57\00:02:59.47
It is a wisdom,
and wisdom is always
00:02:59.51\00:03:02.24
something practical
and something very deep.
00:03:02.28\00:03:05.78
And I would like to
point us to Psalm 1,
00:03:05.81\00:03:09.45
which is a
wonderful wisdom psalm,
00:03:09.48\00:03:13.19
which also shows us how to live.
00:03:13.22\00:03:16.32
What is that righteous
life we are called to pursue?
00:03:16.36\00:03:21.90
It's a short
psalm but very deep.
00:03:21.93\00:03:24.47
It says, "Blessed is the
man"-- and woman--"who walks not
00:03:24.50\00:03:29.97
"in the counsel of the
ungodly, nor stands in the path
00:03:30.01\00:03:34.08
of sinners, nor sits in
the seat of the scornful."
00:03:34.11\00:03:38.75
Here we see this progression:
walks, stands, sits.
00:03:38.78\00:03:44.52
These are very general
terms, but they describe life
00:03:44.55\00:03:48.99
in its various aspects.
00:03:49.02\00:03:50.86
It describes walk, which
means this is our way of life.
00:03:50.89\00:03:57.43
Then it describes standing
in the path, which describes
00:03:57.47\00:04:01.90
our interests, where
our interest in life.
00:04:01.94\00:04:05.74
So wisdom for righteous
living wants to penetrate
00:04:05.77\00:04:10.45
our way of life
and also our interest,
00:04:10.48\00:04:13.42
our inner
motivations, and then it says,
00:04:13.45\00:04:16.79
"Nor sits in the
seat of the scornful."
00:04:16.82\00:04:19.42
Sitting implies more than
just interest, like standing.
00:04:19.45\00:04:24.43
It implies commitment,
00:04:24.46\00:04:26.83
and wisdom for righteous
living wants to penetrate
00:04:26.86\00:04:30.80
our commitment
that we have in life.
00:04:30.83\00:04:33.80
And then it provides
the source of that wisdom:
00:04:33.84\00:04:38.24
"But his delight is
in the law of the Lord,
00:04:38.27\00:04:42.28
"and in His law he
meditates day and night.
00:04:42.31\00:04:46.45
"He shall be like a tree
planted by the rivers of water,
00:04:46.48\00:04:51.22
"that brings forth its
fruit in its season, whose leaf
00:04:51.25\00:04:54.86
"also shall not wither;
00:04:54.89\00:04:57.29
and whatever he
does shall prosper."
00:04:57.33\00:05:00.63
And here we see again
this wisdom in action,
00:05:00.66\00:05:04.20
this righteousness in action.
00:05:04.23\00:05:06.27
It delights in the
law, but not just delight
00:05:06.30\00:05:10.57
in a sense of
emotional response--
00:05:10.61\00:05:13.21
"Oh, I'm excited; I love this,"
but then I go my way and forget.
00:05:13.24\00:05:17.75
It does not just
delight, but it also meditates,
00:05:17.78\00:05:21.98
which means it
ponders; it tries to adopt it
00:05:22.02\00:05:26.12
and to become part of
life, and then, finally,
00:05:26.15\00:05:30.43
shall be like a tree
planted by the river.
00:05:30.46\00:05:34.00
Now, instead of
sitting where we used to sit
00:05:34.03\00:05:37.10
once we did not
have the mercy of God,
00:05:37.13\00:05:39.87
now we are planted or seated
by the rivers of God's water
00:05:39.90\00:05:45.84
of His Word, His
law, His righteousness.
00:05:45.87\00:05:49.41
>>Eric: You know, you've
touched in here on the law,
00:05:49.44\00:05:52.45
and the Psalms
speaks to a massive extent
00:05:52.48\00:05:56.48
about the law--"Oh,
how I love [Thy] law!
00:05:56.52\00:05:59.52
It is my
meditation all the day."
00:05:59.55\00:06:01.39
David spent a lot of
time talking about the law.
00:06:01.42\00:06:03.93
>>Dragoslava: The longest
psalm, 119, is about God's law.
00:06:03.96\00:06:08.36
>>Eric: Very much so,
so it's a powerful theme
00:06:08.40\00:06:10.50
throughout the book of Psalms.
00:06:10.53\00:06:12.80
But when you talk to some people
today, even within Christianity,
00:06:12.83\00:06:16.17
about God's law, sometimes
there's a different perspective
00:06:16.20\00:06:20.14
about it. What
is the perspective
00:06:20.18\00:06:23.35
that the psalmists give us about
God's law, and how does that
00:06:23.38\00:06:27.52
compare to or contrast
with some of the perspectives
00:06:27.55\00:06:30.85
on God's law today?
00:06:30.89\00:06:32.29
>>Dragoslava: Yes, I
believe today many people
00:06:32.32\00:06:35.56
think of the law
as a list of rules
00:06:35.59\00:06:39.49
of things that must
not be, could not be done
00:06:39.53\00:06:43.70
or the things that we must do.
00:06:43.73\00:06:45.80
So it's mostly
like to-do and not-to-do
00:06:45.83\00:06:48.54
and something that
we need to fulfill,
00:06:48.57\00:06:51.47
almost like a checklist:
00:06:51.51\00:06:53.81
"Okay, I'm good.
I didn't do this,
00:06:53.84\00:06:55.88
didn't do that; then I'm fine."
00:06:55.91\00:06:59.05
Where is delight in that?
00:06:59.08\00:07:01.32
And when people
read, as we read Psalm 1,
00:07:01.35\00:07:05.52
"But his delight is in the
law of the Lord," people won't--
00:07:05.55\00:07:09.46
how can one
delight in a set of rules,
00:07:09.49\00:07:12.06
in a code of requirements?
00:07:12.09\00:07:14.60
Well, let's turn to Psalm 119.
00:07:14.63\00:07:18.10
There, as I
mentioned, is the longest psalm
00:07:18.13\00:07:22.14
or song, and it's
all about God's law.
00:07:22.17\00:07:26.64
And from this psalm, we
learn that the law of God
00:07:26.68\00:07:32.01
is about the way of life.
00:07:32.05\00:07:34.78
The psalmist will say,
"Blessed"--I'm reading verse 1--
00:07:34.82\00:07:39.49
"the undefiled in the way, who
walk in the law of the Lord!"
00:07:39.52\00:07:45.59
Keeping the law is
walking in the law,
00:07:45.63\00:07:48.76
meaning it's a way of life.
00:07:48.80\00:07:50.90
It is something that you
do, not just from time to time.
00:07:50.93\00:07:55.07
It is the way of living.
00:07:55.10\00:07:57.27
And the psalmist involves
almost like a progression.
00:07:57.31\00:08:02.08
In verse 32, it's
so interesting he says,
00:08:02.11\00:08:07.42
"I will run the
course of Your commandments,
00:08:07.45\00:08:11.22
for You shall enlarge my heart."
00:08:11.25\00:08:13.89
So he not only walks in the
path of God's law, but because
00:08:13.92\00:08:19.19
his heart has been enlarged
by God's mercy, he now runs.
00:08:19.23\00:08:24.17
And running conveys this message
of excitement, of gratefulness
00:08:24.20\00:08:29.30
for being able to be on
that course and path in life.
00:08:29.34\00:08:34.01
And then we see that
the psalmist not just runs,
00:08:34.04\00:08:38.11
but then he says,
"I walk in liberty,"
00:08:38.15\00:08:41.22
which is verse 45,
"And I will walk at liberty,
00:08:41.25\00:08:46.25
for I seek Your precepts."
00:08:46.29\00:08:48.72
And here is another
point where the psalmist,
00:08:48.76\00:08:51.99
the biblical view of the law,
00:08:52.03\00:08:53.96
differs from most modern
understanding of the law.
00:08:54.00\00:08:58.33
Most people think that the
law is there to restrict us,
00:08:58.37\00:09:03.71
to somehow limit our liberties
by "Thou shall not do this,
00:09:03.74\00:09:08.31
shall not do that,"
but the psalmist understood
00:09:08.34\00:09:11.58
that God's law gives
liberty, liberty from sin,
00:09:11.61\00:09:16.55
which imprisons, liberty
from the consequences of sin
00:09:16.58\00:09:21.86
that people suffer from.
00:09:21.89\00:09:23.49
So, keeping the
law is the way of life
00:09:23.53\00:09:27.46
that gives
liberty, that gives delight,
00:09:27.50\00:09:29.90
that brings us closer to God.
00:09:29.93\00:09:31.90
>>Eric: So it's a
natural experience
00:09:31.93\00:09:34.80
when someone loves the
Lord and recognizes the judgment
00:09:34.84\00:09:38.41
that they could be
under, but the mercy
00:09:38.44\00:09:42.04
that God extends to them.
00:09:42.08\00:09:43.61
Then when they see God's will,
it becomes a natural expression
00:09:43.65\00:09:47.88
of who they are
to walk in that will
00:09:47.92\00:09:49.72
or, as you just
mentioned, to run in that will.
00:09:49.75\00:09:53.46
And it brings
liberty, not condemnation,
00:09:53.49\00:09:56.96
not restraint, not
kind of a holding back,
00:09:56.99\00:10:01.33
but a freedom in one's life.
00:10:01.36\00:10:04.13
>>Dragoslava: Yes,
yes, and it also brings us
00:10:04.17\00:10:06.90
a better
understanding of God's character
00:10:06.94\00:10:09.87
and what God loves,
the justice, the freedom,
00:10:09.90\00:10:15.31
the grace, that He loves.
00:10:15.34\00:10:18.41
All of that is
contained in His law.
00:10:18.45\00:10:21.02
And we will see
that the psalmist
00:10:21.05\00:10:22.48
in the same Psalm 119, he says
that he not just keeps the law;
00:10:22.52\00:10:29.09
in verse 8, he also
rejoices in it in verse 14.
00:10:29.12\00:10:33.83
He delights in it.
00:10:33.86\00:10:35.60
He clings to it and observes
it with his whole heart.
00:10:35.63\00:10:40.07
He even finds learning and
light and liberty and comfort,
00:10:40.10\00:10:45.57
all these wonderful things.
00:10:45.61\00:10:47.31
All of that he finds in
the law, and some people
00:10:47.34\00:10:50.45
may actually
wonder, "Is the psalmist
00:10:50.48\00:10:54.18
almost deifying the law?"
00:10:54.22\00:10:57.42
Not at all, but the
psalmist understood that the law
00:10:57.45\00:11:00.82
is the reflection
of God's character.
00:11:00.86\00:11:03.63
And that's why he finds
light and mercy and joy in it,
00:11:03.66\00:11:08.23
because through the law,
he gets to know God better.
00:11:08.26\00:11:12.43
>>Eric: Slava, I wanna
read you something from the book
00:11:12.47\00:11:14.10
of Ecclesiastes,
chapter 12, verses 13 and 14.
00:11:14.14\00:11:17.84
It says, "Let us
hear the conclusion
00:11:17.87\00:11:19.41
"of the whole matter: Fear
God and keep His commandments,
00:11:19.44\00:11:22.44
"for this is man's all.
00:11:22.48\00:11:24.28
"For God will bring
every work into judgment,
00:11:24.31\00:11:27.25
including every secret
thing, whether good or evil."
00:11:27.28\00:11:31.12
So with that in
mind, what conclusion
00:11:31.15\00:11:32.59
do the Psalms reach?
00:11:32.62\00:11:34.76
>>Dragoslava: Yes, you see,
well, the psalmists are aware
00:11:34.79\00:11:39.43
that, yes, the law of God
is there, and I cherish it,
00:11:39.46\00:11:43.50
and I love it, but they also are
aware of the shortness of life.
00:11:43.53\00:11:49.37
So there is this humility
that always keep them on track,
00:11:49.40\00:11:54.11
and I love the memory text
for this week, which says--
00:11:54.14\00:11:57.75
it's from Psalm 90--"So
teach us to number our days,
00:11:57.78\00:12:02.25
that we may gain
a heart of wisdom."
00:12:02.28\00:12:05.05
So, one aspect of
wisdom for righteous living
00:12:05.09\00:12:08.92
is cherishing the law
of God, getting to know God
00:12:08.96\00:12:13.56
through His law, appreciating
God's holiness and wishing
00:12:13.60\00:12:17.67
to live a life that is
described and given in His laws
00:12:17.70\00:12:22.34
and precepts.
00:12:22.37\00:12:23.67
On the other hand,
it's also the awareness
00:12:23.71\00:12:26.41
of the shortness of life.
00:12:26.44\00:12:28.51
When the psalmist says,
"Teach us to number our days,"
00:12:28.54\00:12:32.55
you know, when you
can number something,
00:12:32.58\00:12:34.95
it means that
there is an end to it,
00:12:34.98\00:12:37.89
and we always need to
live with this perspective
00:12:37.92\00:12:40.96
of our end. And
there is wisdom in it, yes.
00:12:40.99\00:12:45.63
>>Eric: So there is a
recognition of that fact,
00:12:45.66\00:12:49.03
but resting in the fact that
God wants us to come through
00:12:49.06\00:12:54.57
on the right side of things.
00:12:54.60\00:12:56.07
And if we have that
right relationship with Him,
00:12:56.10\00:12:59.27
then a right
relationship with the law
00:12:59.31\00:13:01.68
should be a
part of that as well.
00:13:01.71\00:13:02.94
>>Dragoslava: Yes, yes.
>>Eric: We're gonna come back
00:13:02.98\00:13:04.45
and dig into this
a little bit more.
00:13:04.48\00:13:06.15
If you're
interested in this subject,
00:13:06.18\00:13:08.02
the subject of the
Psalms and digging into it
00:13:08.05\00:13:10.05
and how God desires
us to live our lives
00:13:10.09\00:13:13.12
in light of what we're learning,
make sure that you pick up
00:13:13.15\00:13:15.56
the companion
book to this quarter's
00:13:15.59\00:13:17.19
"Sabbath School" lesson.
00:13:17.23\00:13:18.53
You'll find it
at itiswritten.shop.
00:13:18.56\00:13:21.36
Again, itiswritten.shop.
00:13:21.40\00:13:23.67
It's, of course,
on the book of Psalms.
00:13:23.70\00:13:25.97
Grab that book, pick it
up, share it with others,
00:13:26.00\00:13:28.47
read it, digest it, and put into
practice what you find there.
00:13:28.50\00:13:32.94
You're going to find that your
life is blessed as a result.
00:13:32.97\00:13:36.24
We're going to come
back in just a moment
00:13:36.28\00:13:37.71
as we continue taking a look
00:13:37.75\00:13:39.48
at "Wisdom for
Righteous Living."
00:13:39.51\00:13:41.45
We'll be right back.
00:13:41.48\00:13:42.78
¤[uplifting music]¤
00:13:42.82\00:13:45.82
>>John Bradshaw:
It's the longest chapter
00:13:46.82\00:13:48.36
in all of the Bible: Psalm 119--
00:13:48.39\00:13:52.23
176 verses long, with all but
just a very few of those verses
00:13:52.26\00:13:59.10
speaking about the Word of God.
00:13:59.13\00:14:02.54
Don't miss "Great Chapters
of the Bible: Psalm 119"
00:14:02.57\00:14:07.34
and journey through
this beautiful psalm:
00:14:07.38\00:14:10.58
the law of God,
the statutes of God,
00:14:10.61\00:14:13.62
the commandments of
God, the Word of God,
00:14:13.65\00:14:16.62
focused on by David,
the writer of Psalm 119.
00:14:16.65\00:14:21.22
Psalm 119 gives us deep insights
into not only the Word of God
00:14:21.26\00:14:26.06
but the faithfulness, the love,
and the heart of a mighty God.
00:14:26.09\00:14:31.87
Don't miss "Great Chapters
of the Bible: Psalm 119"
00:14:31.90\00:14:36.87
and grow your appreciation
for the Word of God.
00:14:36.91\00:14:40.14
"Psalm 119," brought to
you by It Is Written TV.
00:14:40.18\00:14:45.51
>>John: Thank
you for remembering
00:14:46.78\00:14:48.08
that It Is Written
exists because of the kindness
00:14:48.12\00:14:50.42
of people just like you.
00:14:50.45\00:14:52.32
To support this international
life-changing ministry,
00:14:52.35\00:14:55.36
please call us
now at 800-253-3000.
00:14:55.39\00:14:59.79
You can send your
tax-deductible gift
00:14:59.83\00:15:01.43
to the address on your screen,
or you can visit us online
00:15:01.46\00:15:04.20
at itiswritten.com.
00:15:04.23\00:15:06.57
Thank you for your prayers
and for your financial support.
00:15:06.60\00:15:09.44
Our number
again is 800-253-3000,
00:15:09.47\00:15:13.78
or you can visit us
online at itiswritten.com.
00:15:13.81\00:15:16.68
¤[uplifting music]¤
00:15:17.81\00:15:21.95
>>Eric: Welcome
back to "Sabbath School,"
00:15:21.98\00:15:23.28
brought to you by It Is Written.
00:15:23.32\00:15:25.25
We're taking a look
here at God's wisdom
00:15:25.29\00:15:28.09
for righteous living.
00:15:28.12\00:15:30.29
Slava, let me ask you this.
00:15:30.33\00:15:32.06
There are some people who
feel a little uncomfortable
00:15:32.09\00:15:35.53
with the idea of
God testing them.
00:15:35.56\00:15:38.03
Psalms talks a
little bit about testing.
00:15:38.07\00:15:39.90
Does God really
test us, and if so,
00:15:39.93\00:15:43.24
what does that test look like?
What is it, and what isn't it?
00:15:43.27\00:15:47.34
What are these testing things?
00:15:47.38\00:15:48.88
>>Dragoslava: Yes,
well, the Psalms do speak
00:15:48.91\00:15:51.28
about God testing
people, and you are right;
00:15:51.31\00:15:54.92
we feel uncomfortable
with the idea of testing.
00:15:54.95\00:15:58.55
Let's just remember our school
days and how much we enjoyed
00:15:58.59\00:16:02.39
the quizzes and
tests, but they're necessary
00:16:02.42\00:16:05.66
in order for us to
progress and mature in our faith
00:16:05.69\00:16:10.40
and understanding.
00:16:10.43\00:16:11.93
But you're correct; it
is important to understand
00:16:11.97\00:16:15.27
what God's testing
is and what it is not,
00:16:15.30\00:16:19.31
so we do not get a wrong idea.
00:16:19.34\00:16:22.48
There are a few texts
we can read to help us
00:16:22.51\00:16:25.88
in understanding
this issue better.
00:16:25.91\00:16:29.38
For example,
Psalm 105, verse 19,
00:16:29.42\00:16:34.79
here it speaks about
Joseph, who was in prison.
00:16:34.82\00:16:39.79
The verse says, "Until the
time that his word came to pass,
00:16:39.83\00:16:45.27
the word of the
Lord tested him."
00:16:45.30\00:16:48.64
Here we see that
the Lord tested Joseph.
00:16:48.67\00:16:52.34
What was there to be tested?
00:16:52.37\00:16:54.71
Well, the Lord gave
him wonderful revelations
00:16:54.74\00:16:57.75
about his future.
00:16:57.78\00:16:59.28
He gave him great
promises, and I'm sure Joseph
00:16:59.31\00:17:03.08
was delighted and felt
honored and really loved by God.
00:17:03.12\00:17:07.66
But then, somehow, life
took him down some difficult
00:17:07.69\00:17:11.49
and challenging
paths as much as to end up
00:17:11.53\00:17:15.56
in prison for something he
was completely innocent for.
00:17:15.60\00:17:20.94
And here the text says
00:17:20.97\00:17:22.77
that "the word of
the Lord tested him."
00:17:22.80\00:17:26.07
Did God test Joseph in order
to discourage him and test him?
00:17:26.11\00:17:30.91
When we read the book
of Genesis, we see that
00:17:30.95\00:17:33.25
the Lord was with Joseph.
00:17:33.28\00:17:35.35
It's highlighted; it's in there.
00:17:35.38\00:17:37.55
Therefore, the
purpose of God's testing
00:17:37.59\00:17:40.62
is not to fail Joseph,
but quite the contrary,
00:17:40.66\00:17:44.59
to strengthen him,
to remove every possible
00:17:44.63\00:17:48.30
remaining doubts
or misconceptions.
00:17:48.33\00:17:51.63
That's why God
allowed these things,
00:17:51.67\00:17:54.10
to test Joseph, but
to make him stronger
00:17:54.14\00:17:57.31
and victorious.
00:17:57.34\00:17:58.77
Maybe then, Psalm 81,
and let's see, Psalm 81,
00:17:58.81\00:18:04.88
verse 7, also
speaks about God's test,
00:18:04.91\00:18:11.42
81, verse 7, where God
said, "You called in trouble,
00:18:11.45\00:18:17.86
"and I delivered
you; I answered you
00:18:17.89\00:18:20.66
"in the secret place
of thunder; I tested you
00:18:20.70\00:18:24.37
at the waters of Meribah."
00:18:24.40\00:18:26.84
Now, this recalls an
incident in the Old Testament
00:18:26.87\00:18:31.07
when the
Israelites were on their way
00:18:31.11\00:18:33.38
to the promised land,
40 years in the wilderness,
00:18:33.41\00:18:37.11
and God says, "You
called in the trouble,
00:18:37.15\00:18:40.98
and I always delivered you."
00:18:41.02\00:18:42.98
And then there was
one time when God delayed
00:18:43.02\00:18:45.79
just a little
bit His deliverance
00:18:45.82\00:18:49.49
to test His people's faith--
00:18:49.52\00:18:51.86
again, not to fail
them but to strengthen them.
00:18:51.89\00:18:57.70
Unfortunately, in that case,
they failed, but in His mercy
00:18:57.73\00:19:02.37
God gave them a
lesson, and they moved on.
00:19:02.40\00:19:06.24
You see, this
testing is very important.
00:19:06.27\00:19:08.91
I love the
Hebrew word for "hope."
00:19:08.94\00:19:12.01
It comes from the root "qavah,"
which means "to stretch."
00:19:12.05\00:19:17.39
You see, in order to
hope, we need to stretch.
00:19:17.42\00:19:21.39
Likewise, in order
to grow, God tests us
00:19:21.42\00:19:24.79
just to stretch us a bit.
00:19:24.83\00:19:27.40
So God's testing is
always a good thing.
00:19:27.40\00:19:30.93
He does that to strengthen us.
00:19:30.97\00:19:33.97
Now, there is another
type of testing, Eric, which is
00:19:34.00\00:19:37.41
a bad testing, and,
unfortunately, this is something
00:19:37.44\00:19:41.18
that we people do to God.
00:19:41.21\00:19:44.75
And in Psalm 95, we read
about that bad type of testing.
00:19:44.78\00:19:53.32
It says in verse 8 and 9
of Psalm 95, "As in the day
00:19:53.36\00:19:59.89
"of trial in the wilderness,
when your fathers tested me;
00:19:59.93\00:20:05.43
they tried me,
though they saw my work."
00:20:05.47\00:20:09.04
It's interesting
it is the same event
00:20:09.07\00:20:11.37
as Psalm 81, the incident
at Meribah in the wilderness
00:20:11.41\00:20:15.98
when they needed and
asked for water, and God delayed
00:20:16.01\00:20:19.38
just for a little bit.
00:20:19.41\00:20:20.92
God says, "There you
tested me; you tried me,
00:20:20.95\00:20:25.12
though you saw my works."
00:20:25.15\00:20:27.62
You see, when people test God,
it is usually to diminish Him
00:20:27.66\00:20:32.66
in their own eyes and in
the eyes of other people.
00:20:32.69\00:20:36.16
It's to ascribe to God
things that He does not deserve,
00:20:36.20\00:20:41.77
things that He does not do,
that are contrary to His will.
00:20:41.80\00:20:46.37
And this type of testing
God never does to people.
00:20:46.41\00:20:50.21
So there is a big difference
and a wonderful lesson
00:20:50.25\00:20:53.21
for us in here.
00:20:53.25\00:20:54.55
>>Eric: So, God's type
of testing is helpful to us.
00:20:54.58\00:20:57.69
It helps us to
grow; it stretches us;
00:20:57.72\00:20:59.52
it increases and improves
our faith and our trust of Him.
00:20:59.55\00:21:05.16
Now, from time to time, okay,
well, with great regularity,
00:21:05.19\00:21:09.93
we face temptations.
00:21:09.96\00:21:11.73
And we might
consider these unfortunate.
00:21:11.77\00:21:17.67
I don't think we
want temptations,
00:21:17.71\00:21:19.47
but they're a part of life.
00:21:19.51\00:21:21.11
Temptations come.
00:21:21.14\00:21:22.71
Where do temptations come from?
00:21:22.74\00:21:26.21
How do we--how do we
respond to these temptations?
00:21:26.25\00:21:29.98
What's at the core
of these temptations?
00:21:30.02\00:21:32.85
And when we face temptations,
how can the book of Psalms
00:21:32.89\00:21:36.62
help us through to
find the right way out
00:21:36.66\00:21:39.93
of the temptations?
00:21:39.96\00:21:41.26
>>Dragoslava: Yes,
well, at the beginning,
00:21:41.30\00:21:42.86
let's just stress that
temptation itself is not sin.
00:21:42.90\00:21:48.37
Sometimes people misunderstand
that and say and think,
00:21:48.40\00:21:52.41
"Well, now that
I've been tempted,
00:21:52.44\00:21:54.34
or I've been thinking, let
me just do it. Anyway, I fell."
00:21:54.38\00:21:58.75
No, temptation in
itself is not sin.
00:21:58.78\00:22:03.12
However, it does
appeal to some remnants
00:22:03.15\00:22:07.96
of a weakness and sin
in our nature, but as long
00:22:07.99\00:22:11.93
as we don't yield to
the temptation, we are safe.
00:22:11.96\00:22:16.90
And that's the
time, when we are tempted,
00:22:16.93\00:22:19.83
it is the time to turn to
God and ask for His strength
00:22:19.87\00:22:23.74
and protection.
00:22:23.77\00:22:25.44
But the core of
temptation is in the heart.
00:22:25.47\00:22:28.81
Sometimes we blame
other people, or we blame
00:22:28.84\00:22:33.92
the life's
circumstances, or we blame
00:22:33.95\00:22:36.52
these new modern times
with all these temptations.
00:22:36.55\00:22:40.06
And, yes, they do play
a significant part in it,
00:22:40.09\00:22:45.06
but if we, in our
heart, place ourselves
00:22:45.09\00:22:49.96
in circumstances to be tempted
even more, then we should
00:22:50.00\00:22:54.57
understand that this possibility
is definitely coming from us.
00:22:54.60\00:22:59.17
And Psalm 141 is
a wonderful psalm
00:22:59.21\00:23:04.55
to help us understand
the temptation, how it works.
00:23:04.58\00:23:10.95
Here it says in verse 3 and 4,
and I will read verse 4 first:
00:23:10.99\00:23:17.19
"Do not incline my
heart to any evil thing."
00:23:17.23\00:23:21.43
So, you see, it is the
inclination of the heart.
00:23:21.46\00:23:24.87
But then the next step
is "to practice wicked works
00:23:24.90\00:23:30.84
"with [the] men who work
iniquity; and do not let me
00:23:30.87\00:23:35.21
eat of their delicacies."
00:23:35.24\00:23:38.01
So there is this
progression from the inclination
00:23:38.05\00:23:42.48
that exists in our heart;
that's when we are tempted.
00:23:42.52\00:23:46.42
But then falling into temptation
00:23:46.45\00:23:48.69
means practicing
the wicked works,
00:23:48.72\00:23:52.53
and what's really sad and
terrible about practicing,
00:23:52.56\00:23:57.77
because people sometimes
think, "Ah, God will forgive.
00:23:57.80\00:24:00.70
"I'll just do it once. I
just need to satisfy myself.
00:24:00.74\00:24:04.11
I'll do it once
and never again."
00:24:04.14\00:24:07.01
Well, it never works that
way because a sin practiced
00:24:07.04\00:24:11.31
leads to the third
line, "Do not let me eat
00:24:11.35\00:24:15.38
of their"--what?--"delicacies."
00:24:15.42\00:24:18.39
A practiced
temptation-- a practiced sin
00:24:18.42\00:24:22.39
leads to liking the sin,
and then we're in big trouble.
00:24:22.42\00:24:27.23
But the solution is in verse 3.
00:24:27.23\00:24:30.03
It is a prayer: "Set a
guard, O Lord, over my mouth;
00:24:30.07\00:24:34.87
keep watch over
the door of my lips."
00:24:34.90\00:24:38.51
It is God in His
mercy who can protect us
00:24:38.54\00:24:42.88
and deliver us, but we
need to submit our will to God.
00:24:42.91\00:24:48.68
>>Eric: You know, when you speak
of submitting your will to God
00:24:48.72\00:24:51.39
and Him delivering
us from the temptation,
00:24:51.42\00:24:54.99
from the sin, even though
the temptation has been there,
00:24:55.02\00:24:58.26
how are wisdom--
knowing what's right
00:24:58.29\00:25:01.53
and what's wrong-- how
are wisdom and happiness
00:25:01.56\00:25:03.83
related in the Psalms?
00:25:03.87\00:25:05.70
We've seen how
God can deliver us
00:25:05.73\00:25:07.50
from temptations, if we want to.
00:25:07.54\00:25:09.17
But I have a feeling
that knowing what's going on,
00:25:09.20\00:25:13.41
the bigger
picture, and what's going on
00:25:13.44\00:25:15.01
beneath the surface,
as it were, could play
00:25:15.04\00:25:17.35
a big role in
helping us find the happiness
00:25:17.38\00:25:19.45
that we're looking for,
more than the fleeting happiness
00:25:19.48\00:25:21.98
that these "delicacies" provide.
00:25:22.02\00:25:23.75
>>Dragoslava: Absolutely,
and in today's times,
00:25:23.79\00:25:26.99
it looks like that
people are searching
00:25:27.02\00:25:29.82
more for
happiness than for wisdom.
00:25:29.86\00:25:33.40
Everyone wants to be
happy, have fun, happiness.
00:25:33.43\00:25:36.40
And as you said,
and many times this is
00:25:36.43\00:25:38.37
just a fleeting happiness. Why?
00:25:38.40\00:25:41.40
Because it is devoid of
true content that can make it
00:25:41.44\00:25:46.57
a lasting happiness, a
truly beneficial happiness.
00:25:46.61\00:25:52.65
And in the Psalms,
happiness is always related
00:25:52.68\00:25:57.02
or connected to wisdom.
00:25:57.05\00:25:58.99
And it's interesting,
even in the Hebrew vocabulary,
00:25:59.02\00:26:03.06
the word for "happiness" is,
almost sounds almost the same--
00:26:03.09\00:26:08.30
it has a similar
root as the word "steps"--
00:26:08.33\00:26:12.90
steps to wisdom,
walking in the law of God,
00:26:12.93\00:26:15.84
walking these
steps brings happiness.
00:26:15.87\00:26:19.17
There is no true
happiness without the wisdom
00:26:19.21\00:26:22.51
for righteous living.
00:26:22.54\00:26:24.21
>>Eric: So that wisdom helps
us to find the steps to head
00:26:24.25\00:26:28.18
in the right direction
that brings us true happiness.
00:26:28.22\00:26:31.85
So somebody's
watching and wants happiness.
00:26:31.89\00:26:34.99
Give them some encouragement.
00:26:35.02\00:26:36.49
Help them find that right
path. What would you tell them?
00:26:36.52\00:26:38.73
>>Dragoslava: Yes,
well, if you're wondering,
00:26:38.76\00:26:41.83
"How can I keep the law of God?
00:26:41.86\00:26:44.40
"The law of God is difficult.
00:26:44.43\00:26:46.53
"I'm weak; I don't know
how to walk in this path
00:26:46.57\00:26:50.91
of
righteousness," here is a prayer
00:26:50.94\00:26:53.94
and encouragement for you
and all of us in Psalm 119.
00:26:53.98\00:26:59.38
Let us pray this
prayer, and God will lift us up:
00:26:59.41\00:27:04.45
"Teach me, O Lord,
the way of Your statutes,
00:27:04.49\00:27:08.52
"and I shall keep it to the end.
00:27:08.56\00:27:11.03
"Give me understanding,
and I shall keep Your law;
00:27:11.06\00:27:15.40
indeed, I shall observe
it with my whole heart."
00:27:15.43\00:27:20.20
We're not left alone.
00:27:20.24\00:27:22.37
We are not left alone
to seek and find wisdom
00:27:22.40\00:27:25.67
and to keep God's law.
00:27:25.71\00:27:27.41
God invites us to
come to His classroom
00:27:27.44\00:27:31.15
and be taught
by His Holy Spirit,
00:27:31.18\00:27:33.48
and He will give us this delight
in His path of righteousness.
00:27:33.52\00:27:38.42
>>Eric: Slava, thank you
for helping us to understand
00:27:38.45\00:27:40.36
a little bit more
about how we can find wisdom
00:27:40.39\00:27:42.59
for righteous living
in the book of Psalms.
00:27:42.62\00:27:45.16
And thank you for
joining us again this week.
00:27:45.19\00:27:47.66
We've been looking at
the importance of the law
00:27:47.73\00:27:50.00
and the right interaction
that we can have with it
00:27:50.03\00:27:52.50
so that we don't end
up misunderstanding this.
00:27:52.53\00:27:55.37
We look forward to having
you join us again next week
00:27:55.40\00:27:57.87
as we continue our journey
through the book of Psalms.
00:27:57.91\00:28:00.81
This has been "Sabbath School,"
brought to you by It Is Written.
00:28:00.84\00:28:03.68
¤[uplifting music]¤
00:28:03.71\00:28:08.72
¤[uplifting music]¤
00:28:24.70\00:28:27.94
[Captions provided by Aberdeen
Captioning www.abercap.com]
00:28:27.97\00:28:29.80