THE ABIDING PRESENCE

PSALMS 73:2

A. "NEVERTHELESS I AM CONTINUALLY WITH THEE"
  1. There are some words, as is often said, that speak volumes:
    1. No other book is as full of them as the Bible
    2. And one of these is the word "Nevertheless"
  2. That word generally means:
    1. Standing up against things, arguments, fears, difficulties, which can be met in no other way but by standing
    2. Says Paul, "Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all to stand" - Eph. 6:13 B. THE ABIDING PRESENCE
  3. Let us take another closer look at the Bible use of the word "Nevertheless":
    1. This word is generally a preface to something the man did or said or confessed in the name of God against overwhelming tyranny of things, or the teaching or tempting of the world
    2. When the world or the flesh have done their worst, and their would-be victim quietly rises and says, "nevertheless", we know that he has won a spiritual victory; Examples: David and the stronghold of Zion - 2 Sam. 5:4-7; Asa and some neglected duties 2 Chron. 15:17; Solomon and the outlandish women - Neh. 13:26
  4. Let us look at some of the things over which this deeply wrought experience of God was able to give this man the victory:
    1. It was God's answer to the shame and regret which his own disloyalty had left with him
    2. He had done some terrible things and had spoken hard things against God
    3. But in spite of it all, God had not forsaken him; he could sense the Divine presence just the same
    4. Is this not the experience of most of us today; How often do we stray away from the path that has been marked out for us - and yet the Lord does not utterly forsake us
    5. How condescending God is to us erring being; He knows our frailties - Ps. 103:13-14 C. "NEVERTHELESS I AM CONTINUALLY WITH THEE"
  5. In this attitude:
    1. There is victory over the glamour, over outward success and outward prosperity, which tempts us to think that in missing them we are missing the best; Examples: Think of the rich young ruler - Matt. 19:16-22; Nabal is another example - I Sam. 25:3-39
    2. The secret of real satisfaction is not what a man has, but what a man is; Examples: compare the rich man and Lazarus in our Lord's parable - Luke 16:19-31, or compare the poor widow that gave all her living with those who put of the abundance into the treasury - Mark 12:41-44
    3. When a man's affections are so knit with the Lord, that no occasion, adversely as it may be, can hold to the Lord that is glorious triumph over sin
  6. But there is still a brighter side to this wonderful text:
    1. This resolve is the victory over the coming dissolution of all things
    2. That is what the Psalmist saw when he went into the sanctuary and saw the end of the wicked
    3. He saw the later end of the successful materialist - their satisfaction will perish, their hope too will perish. They were of the earth - and as such they will perish - 2 Pet. 3:1-11; I John 2:15-16
  7. What a consolation to all who may find themselves to have to use the word, "nevertheless" often:
    1. When adversity strikes and life looks dark and dismal like Job's
    2. When our own loved ones seek to destroy us, as was the attempt of Absalom to take the kingdom from his father
    3. When all our friends forsake us and speak evil of us
    4. When sickness and sorrow strike and all hope seems to vanish
    5. When we can say with the Psalmist, "nevertheless I am continually with Thee"
    6. May this be our personal experience to stay with His loving presence forever and ever


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