God Will Take Care of You

God Will Take Care of You

GOD WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU

July 3, 2011

Sermon in a sentence: “Be not dismayed whate’er betide, God will take care of you” (Civilla D. Martin)

Scriptures:

Gen. 18:25 The Judge of the earth is just

Ex. 22:21-24 God helps strangers, widows and orphans

Is. 25:4a God defends the helpless and needy

Luke 18:1-8 God judges on behalf of His elect

Rom. 14:10-13 All will give an account to God

2 Cor. 5:10 Every person will be judged by Christ

1 Cor. 6:7-8 Take wrong if need be to preserve peace

Rom. 12:9-21 *19: God takes vengeance on the wicked

Main Points:

Injustice is not a new phenomenon. From the beginning of recorded time, we have seen the devastating effects of man against man, the strong overpowering the weak, the rich stealing from the poor, corrupt judges open for bribes and political intrigue for personal gain and power.

Injustice has even gone to the point of a person taking that which is most precious from another – his or her life, as in the case of Cain killing Abel (Gen. 4).

Some people have enslaved others for profit, de-humanized others through persistent psychological abuse and stolen from others through craft and trickery.

For example, 1 Kings 21 records the story of Naboth, a man who was killed by Jezebel through the false witness of evil men, just so her husband could steal Naboth’s vineyard, which he greatly coveted.

So, what do we do when we find ourselves in situations of injustice, abuse, persecution or exploitation?

Some of you know very well that these are not just bad things happening to good people in some theoretical sense. This is the reality of your life.

You may be like David, being chased and hounded by a jealous boss.

You may be like Uriah, whose marriage and life was destroyed through the predatory lust of a powerful king. Isn’t it amazing that David, who had suffered such injustice himself, could now be so unjust toward someone else!

These types of situations impel us to search for answers beyond the boundaries of “that’s just the way it is” or “that’s the way it’s always been”, to seek for real, true, uncorrupted justice in our lives. For this, we have to look beyond human institutions, systems, governments and even churches, all of which are subject to the fickle failings of fallen humanity.

Let’s consider Abraham, who left home to follow an invisible God who had made incredible promises to him. He faced a crisis situation he didn’t know how to handle. As he contemplated the fate of his nephew Lot, who was living in the wicked twin cities of Sodom and Gomorrah that God was about to destroy, he instinctively asked a question which was really a statement of his understanding and belief: “Shall not the Judge of all the earth deal justly?”

The answer is Yes! – the Judge of all the earth will and does deal justly! God will take care of you.

In Ex. 22:21-24 as God gave Moses various laws to transmit to the people, He made it clear that He observes the things going on in our world – the things people say and do. He watches how we treat those who are most vulnerable in our society: strangers, widows and orphans. He sees how we deal with the sick, the elderly,the unborn and infants, the poor, persons with disabilities, our employees, our own families.

He called for the Israelites to deal justly with these people in light of the fact they had also suffered abuse and mistreatment in their past history, and had felt the sting of unwarranted injustice. He said:

Exodus 22:21-24 (NASB) "You shall not wrong a stranger or oppress him, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt. 22 "You shall not afflict any widow or orphan. 23 "If you afflict him at all, and if he does cry out to Me, I will surely hear his cry; 24 and My anger will be kindled, and I will kill you with the sword, and your wives shall become widows and your children fatherless (emphases mine).

This is an unvarnished, un-sanitized, raw expression of God’s heart for justice which may not mean much to those who have never suffered, but for those who have gone through persecution at some time or the other, this is a very great comfort.

Christians went to the lions with this confidence. The martyrs cry out to God from “underneath the altar”, believing in His justice (Rev. 6:9-11).

This understanding is at the base of all righteous non-violent resistance to oppression, and gives hope to those who are otherwise totally hopeless. When it’s all said and done, even if we die under the heel of the oppressor, it’s not over. Justice will prevail. God will take care of us!

So, we live our lives with the realization that it does not all end at the grave. A day of reckoning awaits every one of us, as Paul wrote to the Corinthians:

2 Corinthians 5:10 (NASB) For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

The God we serve is just and righteous. He cannot be bought, badgered or blackmailed. He is totally reliable and we can safely trust He will not allow evil to go unpunished.

If we allow ourselves to be wronged, defrauded and oppressed, without retaliation, is not just because we’re so Christ-like and longsuffering. We are empowered to act this way and continue to exhibit godly character precisely because we know God will take care of us. Whether in this life or the next, wrongs will be righted, sin will be punished, the righteous will prevail and God’s people will be vindicated.

The blood of the martyrs will be avenged. Fraudulent, unlawful dealings will be redressed. Abusers will be brought to justice and unfair dealings will be recompensed. God will take care of His people!

How should we respond to this Word?

Pray for strength to endure hardships.

Pray for the love of God to be demonstrated in our lives, in spite of what others have done to us.

Pray for the mind of Christ to be formed in us so we will think, act and respond as He did while He underwent severe injustice, false witnesses and torture.

If you find yourself in the role of the oppressor, abuser or unjust judge, repent and beseech God for His forgiveness. Cease from evil and follow the path of Christ – the path of love – the path of righteousness – the path of compassion – the path of generosity – the path of self-giving.

All of us need to remember: “Be not dismayed whate’er betide – God will take care of you”.

Appendix:

God Will Take Care Of You

Key: Bb

Lyrics: Civilla D. Martin; Music: W. Stillman Martin

1.Be not dismayed whate'er betide,

God will take care of you;

Beneath his wings of love abide,

God will take care of you.

Refrain:

God will take care of you,

Through every day, o'er all the way;

He will take care of you,

God will take care of you.

2.Through days of toil when heart doth fail,

God will take care of you;

When dangers fierce your path assail,

God will take care of you.

3.All you may need He will provide,

God will take care of you;

Nothing you ask will be denied,

God will take care of you.

4.No matter what may be the test,

God will take care of you;

Lean, weary one, upon his breast,

God will take care of you.

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