THE GREAT COMMISSION YET UNFULFILLED

PSALM 67

SCRIPTURE READING

Please click PSALM 67

INTRODUCTION

We are taught in FEBC elementary Hebrew class by our teacher that the intensive stem of "kneeling" is "blessing". This word to be memorized is "barak" "בָּרַךְ".

(1) God's privileged people blessed by His presence (v 1 )

Kneeling is the prayer posture of privileged saint. It is the humbling of the soul in worship before the Thrice Holy God. The intensive act of seeking God in prayer results in God's blessing. This is the privilege of the saint. This action word "bless" is used 3 times in verse 1 and6-7 to underline the saints' privilege.

(2) Constraining them to proclaim His salvation plan to all the world (v 2 )

More so, with privilege comes also responsibility. The responsibility to share the blessing received to a struggling world, lost without God. The message is therefore urgent. Man is created an eternal being. He is created with body and soul. The body may perish and decay with time but the soul is everlasting. The truth that man's soul without God is consigned to everlasting torment in the lake of fire and brimstone is a sobering truth that none like to hear. But there is better news! The soul also has the privilege of being received into heaven, the place of God's greatest blessing. This is the most enlightening truth that needs to be proclaimed to all the world (v 1-2 ).

The message is of the gospel is well-summarized from God's Word in today's reading of the daily light for us:

"Thou shalt call his name JESUS: for He shall save His people from their sins (Mat 1:21 )

Ye know that He was manifested to take away our sins. (1Jo 3:5 ) That we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness. (1Pe 2:24 ) He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him. (Heb 7:25 )

He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed. The Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all. (Isa 53:5 ,6 ) Thus it behoved Christ to suffer, ... that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name among all nations. (Luke 24:46 ,47 ) He appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. (Heb 9:26 )

Him hath God exalted with His right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, ... to give repentance. (Act 5:31 ) Through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: and by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. (Act 13:38 ,39 ) Your sins are forgiven you for His name's sake." (1Jo 2:12 )

(3) That the people of all nations be glad to worship Him and accept His sovereign rule (v 3-4 )

Nations of people that acknowledge the God of the Bible, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ in worship, will be blessed with God-given happiness.

(4) That the people of all nations may prosper for acknowledging Him (v 5-6 )

The blessing of acknowledging and waiting upon God is experienced by God's people and shared with others that they too may experience the goodness of God.

Testimony from Mrs Esther Goh

Lam 3:26 "It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord"

"A nasty fall in June 2003 left me with a traumatized left knee, wrist and several fractured ribs. This was to have a drastic consequence that changed my life. Where I was once an active , fast-paced , fiercely independent person with a strong `DIY' attitude, I have for the past 6 years been transformed into an old person with an infirmity.

Since that fall and yet another fall in 2004, my left knee has been a source of endless troubles. After my first surgery in July 2003, owing to the constant pain, rigidity and `locked' knee effect, I went under the knife again in October 2003. From thence on till 2008- about a 5-year period I have experienced seasons of suffering of different degrees of pain, oedema (swelling) coupled with uncomfortable spells of paralytic weakness of the knee.

More sinister and without my noticing it was the muscle atrophy silently pervading the left leg!

Then, in 2008, it was God's timing that I should go for my third surgery on the same knee. Advised to have a knee replacement procedure, I was given assurance that this would resolve all my pain and suffering once and for all. But I was also warned of possible repercussions of this surgery, stiffness of the knee joint being the most common post surgery side effect to many patients. However, 5 long years of infirmity cried out for release and so I went ahead.

3 months post surgery meant a 3 months regimented physiotherapy program. It was imperative to wake up my 'sleeping' leg, to revive my muscles so to strengthen my leg to enable me to walk normal and to lead a normal life again.

However, it soon became clear this was yet another painful and frustrating process. Days went by but I did not seem to make much progress. Then it was confirmed I was suffering from stiffness of the knee! What I feared most now happened to me! I just could not clear the pain threshold point in my exercises but this I must do if I want to recover. So, when my doctor reviewed me four months after surgery, he was most disappointed that I had not attained the level of competence and dexterity and expected Rom (range of movements) that was expected of patients at this stage. His voice was sombre and it sent a chill into my heart when he warned that if by the next three months at the next review I should still fall short of the expectation, then I would be set for life forever. What is meant here is I would be in a worst off position than before this last surgery which was aimed at putting things right. Before this, I was able to bend at the knee joint slightly. However, after this surgery, I had now to combat stiffness of the joint in addition to all the previous sensation of pain and weakness I already had experienced for so many years.

There was great disquiet in my soul. All my hopes were dashed. 5 years on and after the trauma of three surgeries and the intervening years of pain and suffering I found myself in great despair!

There was no way I could go beyond the pain threshold point. It was already an excruciating intense pain even before I could reach the barrier point. To make a breakthrough would be an impossible feat. I felt so defeated and would rather be handicapped (because of muscle atrophy, there is the possibility of being wheel chair bound in the not too distant future) than to force the issue because I just could not tolerate the pain. Many times I broke down and cried to my God to help to overcome this pain barrier.

Day after day the same tedious routine was carried out with the same helpless agony and heart wrenching despair. 4 to 5 hours every day must be devoted to the exercises. My spirit was sinking into the depths of misery by the protracted pain and affliction. Am I going to live my life in this feeble, infirmed state of a semi -cripple? Is there no way of escape from all this wretchedness? Bouts of frustration, vexation, depression often overwhelmed me. The pressure of the trial all these years was too much for me to bear and I was so worn out, so drained of all my energy, so distracted with the fight in my own strength.

Then, suddenly I recalled Lam 3:26 . God has used a brother who visited me when I was in the ward, to share this very precious promise in His word. As I prayed and pondered over each word slowly and meaningfully, God had finally spoken! Immediately peace pervaded my whole being. There was an inexplicable calmness in my heart and soul. The feeling of helplessness that had overcome me since the doctor's warning vanished almost quite immediately. What I wish to say here is that that big black cloud of foreboding hanging over my brow instantaneously dissipated. Yes, the doctor was right and good in his reminder. A diagnostician and a surgical craftsman, but he is still a man. Only my God is the Healer! Healing is not within my capability nor does it lie within the doctor's power. Only the Lord can do this! Yes, God is here to cheer and help.

My loving Saviour has given to us promises in His word. We all know that all His promises have been fulfilled throughout history. As his child, I certainly should appropriate His promises. It would be to my regret and loss if I do nothing to exact those promises.

He gives but I must take it. If I do nothing, then those promises would merely remain promises waiting to be fulfilled. Yes, it is good that I should both hope and quietly wait upon the Lord and then I shall behold His deliverance.

My hope is in my God and in Him alone. I have exhausted all human help. My hope ought not to be in man and medical science. He is my Creator and He should be the One I must look up to for help to give me grace to tolerate the pain and for my recovery.

My eyes should focus on my Saviour and not on the circumstances. To do so would result in murmuring, whimpering and grumbling which would inevitably end in despair. That is not `quietly waiting' on the Lord. I have to learn to be still and do nothing except be constant in prayer and to know that He is God. He is still on the Throne, interested in my affair, in my condition and I must therefore leave everything to Him. I must repose my hope, my trust completely in God and obediently abide by His time.

As He allows this affliction in the first place, then ,of course, He will see to my deliverance. When we take God at His word, the heart is at peace. I must learn to wait His time. I must not hurry Him nor run before Him. Neither should I dictate to Him to keep my schedule. God has His exact moment for action. I must leave the when, how, wheretofore of matters in His hand. I must leave the process of recovery to Him. He knows what is best for me (Rom 8:28 ). It must be His will, His time and His way. For me the only thing I need to do is to exercise implicit faith in Him, be still and wait to see the result which He will show me in His time.

It is this precious verse that overwhelms me, that enlightens my obtuse and wearied mind. From that day on, I stopped fretting, nor did I count the days when I would meet the doctor's expectations. I just released myself of all this great burden of anxiety and let God do His work. I told myself because God is in control of my life, so whatever the circumstances I am in, nothing should ruffle me. I began to enjoy His peace that passeth all understanding and carried on with the exercises in high spirit.

I became a changed person with a new spiritual insight, perspective and objective. With this correct spiritual attitude, God imparted His strength and helped me to endure. With an unflagging spirit and determination I never felt before, but more so with His promise ringing in my head, by His grace and mercy, I broke through the pain threshold barrier point! It was like the Israelites entering the Promised Land after forty years of wilderness wondering. Once this barrier has been overcome, the pain was reduced. Significantly, this was most crucial to stimulate and strengthen my muscles that I may lead a normal life again and to keep me away from the wheel chair.

Three months later, my doctor told me it was nothing short of a miracle that I had made quantum progress. Before that I was only able to bend my knee at 90- 95 degrees. Three months later, my reading was between 132-135 degrees. My muscles have also been beefed up albeit it is still in its infancy stage. I still have a long way to go to regain the strength of my muscles because of the atrophy.

Just two months ago, I have learnt to climb stairs like a normal person does, though I have been advised not to do it often.

This is not a 100 % full recovery as yet. But I know that I have made great progress though there is still some lingering pain and weakness oftentime. I still have to religiously keep up an exercise program of 4 to 5 hours every day till full restoration and thereafter to maintain strength in the leg. There are still `milestones' on my road to recovery that I need to attain but I can see God's deliverance - it is on the way. it would not be long.

Indeed the Lord Jesus Christ be praised. All glory to His name! I am comforted to know He knows, He loves and He cares for me and all His children who cry out to Him. All He wants us to do is to hope, be quiet and to wait on Him and behold His blessing.

To all who have prayed for me, please accept my heartfelt thanks for by your intercession God is so good to me. May the Lord bless you all richly as we serve Him together in these last days. Amen.

(5) Blessings begin first with God's people that the world may see His presence with them and honour Him (v 7 )

God manifests His presence in the lives of His people. It is most crucial for His people to testify of God's goodness in their experiential knowledge of Him that the world too may acknowledge, worship and honour Him. This is a dying world that needs the salvation grace of God to be carried by His privilege people.