The Baptist Bible Hour now comes to you under the direction of Elder LeSaire Bradley, Jr. O for a thousand tongues to sing, my great Redeemer's praise, the praise of my God and King, the triumphs of his grace.
This is LeSaire Bradley, Jr. inviting you to stay tuned for another message of God's sovereign grace. Alleluia, praise Jehovah, from the heavens praise his name. Praise Jehovah in the highest, all his angels praise proclaim. All his hosts together praise him, sun and moon and stars on high. Praise him, all ye heaven and heavens and he floods above the sky. Let them praise his gift, Jehovah, for his name alone is high.
And his glory is exalted, and his glory is exalted, and his glory is exalted far above the earth and sky. I want to thank each of you who have sent a special donation during the month of December. Many of our listeners on a regular basis send a special contribution at the year end to help and there's still time to do that before the year is out. So if you can help to keep us on your local station or on the website where you hear the program, your support will be greatly appreciated.
Our address is the Baptist Bible Hour, POX 17037, Cincinnati, Ohio 45217, or you can contribute at our website BaptistBibleHour.org. As we draw near the end of another year, it's good to look back and reflect on the mercies of the Lord, how gracious he has been to us. Some have been through great trials, but God's mercy has sustained you. There may be some very special and unique blessings you want to recall and be careful to give thanks to the Lord for them. And then as we look ahead, people begin to think about a new year, they often consider making New Year's resolutions. And there's nothing wrong with that if they're the right kind.
The sad part is that generally they're forgotten after a few weeks. Also there are times to give thought to a particular theme or passage of scripture that we might want to give a place of special prominence in the year ahead. And giving thought to that, I want us to look at a passage in the 31st Psalm, reading verse 15. My times are in thy hand, deliver me from the hand of mine enemies and from them that persecute me. As David wrote this psalm, he was experiencing great grief. In the 10th verse he says, For my life is spent with grief and my tears with sighing. My strength faileth because of mine iniquity and my bones are consumed.
You can see that this was a deep trouble, enemies from without, struggles within. But he speaks of his hope in the mercy of God. Verse 16, Make thy face to shine upon thy servant, save me for thy mercy's sake.
He wasn't pleading any merit or worth of his own. He full well realized that any blessing and deliverance that he would enjoy would have to be on the basis of the mercy of God. And surely we all are keenly aware of that truth today. We can't appear before the Lord expecting that he will bestow the blessings that we so desperately need because of our worth, our merit, or our accomplishments. But only on the basis of his mercy that is given us through Jesus Christ. And then in this 15th verse which we have read, he describes a closeness with God. If you understand, my times are in thy hand.
This is talking about an intimate relationship, a closeness on a day-to-day, hour-by-hour basis. My times are in thy hand. And then he concludes the psalm with a word of encouragement. Verse 24, Be of good courage and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord. You find the encouragement because you place your hope not in the changing circumstances around you, not in that which the world has to offer, not in any scheme or plan of your own, but your hope is in the Lord and therefore, he says, to be of good courage.
My times are in thy hand. We want to look at some of the great blessings that will come our way when we understand and lay this text to our heart. First of all, it gives peace while living in a troubled world. No one could deny that this world is full of trouble. If you pick up the newspaper, if you listen to the news on radio or television, you're made keenly aware of how great the troubles are the world over. We need not be surprised because we're living in a fallen world that's under the curse of sin. In the book of 2 Timothy chapter 3, we read verses 1 to 5 that give a vivid description of this condition. This know also that in the last days perilous times shall come, for men shall be lovers of their own selves. Does that not describe the condition of the day in which we're living?
Men are selfish, self-seeking and they're encouraged to focus on self-esteem, a thing that's been very popular in many circles in our time. And the Scriptures teach us just exactly the opposite, that our esteem is not to be of self but to esteem Jesus Christ. We find the solution to our problems in him and not within ourselves.
They're covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce-makers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God. By the millions of dollars that are spent in a year's time, as people seek after the temporary pleasures that are offered them in the world, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof from such turned away. There are troubles everywhere. Our government moving away from many of the principles upon which it was founded. You can't help but be concerned when you see such dramatic changes, such a different attitude and outlook, constant attempts being made to remove God in every way possible, where prayer may be denied in certain places, reference to God as the Creator, totally frowned upon.
When in contrast, our forefathers were constantly recognizing God and our desperate need of Him. We see so much violence. Violence sometimes in the workplace where someone who is disgruntled comes back and kills their former boss and other employees. We've seen several incidents of that in the past year. Who would have ever thought in years gone by that we would see such violence in our schools, where children are killed sometimes in significant numbers. And if you listen to the daily news in our own city, what violence is here?
There's hardly a day goes by that somebody has not been shot and left dead in the streets of our city. And then there are those broken marriages that bring heartbreak, that have such an impact on children. I counseled one couple which not only were thinking about a divorce, but ultimately pursued it. And the attitude was, it's not that big a deal as far as the children are concerned. Of course, the first and primary concern ought to be that it's not right before God. But then when parents consider how disruptive and harmful it is to their children, that ought to at least be a consideration. These people said, we're confident the children can handle it, it's not going to be that big a problem. But I saw the end result of that and I saw how devastating it was to their children, the sad consequences of it. In our day we see children sometimes totally forsaken and neglected. There have been several arrests in our city this year where parents went off and left their small children alone, or the child was found wandering in the street.
And even in some cases where children are still in the home, very little effort is made to train them, to discipline them, to see children and young people totally out of control. There are troubles wherever you turn. Now if you focus on all these troubles, you could easily become disheartened, become terribly discouraged about the future, feel at times I might as well throw up my hands and quit.
Nothing seems to be going right and what influence could I have anyway as just one individual? But let's go back to this thing, my times are in by hand. What peace to know that in spite of the fact that it may appear to you that everything is chaotic in this day, God is still in charge. We read from the book of Daniel chapter 2 verse 20. Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God forever and ever for wisdom and might are his, and he changeth the times and the seasons. Now my times are in his hand and he's the one that changes the times. He's the one that controls the future. He removeth kings and seteth up kings.
The king occupies the throne. He's elevated in pride. He says, I'm in charge.
I'm my own man. I do what I please. He doesn't realize that God is the one that raises up kings and brings them down. You may sometimes be disturbed about what some of your leaders do and be frustrated about how little influence you may have to change the direction things are going. But just remember, God is still in control of putting up kings, putting up leaders and bringing them down. He giveth wisdom unto the wise and knowledge to them that know understanding. He revealeth the deep and secret things. He knoweth what is in the darkness and there's much darkness in this sinful world. And there's no way for you to penetrate the darkness and know of all that's going on behind the scenes. But God sees into the darkness.
He knows what's there. And the light dwelleth in him. Proverbs chapter 21 of the first verse says, The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord. As the rivers of water he turneth it whithersoever he will. Isn't that reassuring? If there should be a tyrant occupy the throne, if there should be an ungodly man in a high position leading a nation, you tremble at the thought of what may transpire. But it gives a peace to understand.
No king, no monarch, no president is out of his control. He can turn their heart as easily as he does water. And then in Psalm 76 verse 10, he says, Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee, the remainder of wrath shall thou restrain.
Somebody may say, that's a puzzle to me. How is he going to make the wrath of man? Some of man's wicked deeds, how is he going to make that to praise him?
Well the scriptures are full of examples which we'll not try to pursue at the moment other than to cite the classic example of all. That when the wrath of man was meted out against Jesus Christ, yet at his crucifixion there was accomplished the greatest victory of all ages, the redemption of his people. He makes the wrath of man to praise him. He'll take that which man intended for evil and destruction and turn it around and bring something out of it to the glory of his name and the rest of it he'll restrain. In other words, if you think things are bad now, if God did not restrain what wicked men would really like to do, it'd be so bad you couldn't exist on this earth. It's only by the restraint of our sovereign God that we're able to survive.
No matter what the conspiracy may be in the shades of darkness or what the changing times may be in the year that is before us, peace can be enjoyed when you embrace this truth that God is sovereign and he's ruling today. Secondly, this truth provides comfort in our trials. Life is full of many afflictions and trials that come our way. Some of them we encounter just because we're a part of the human race as a result of the Adamic sin and then our own committed sins that complicate life and make things difficult. Some of these trials and afflictions come because of the sinful attitudes of others.
Some are arranged by divine appointment. He says it is given us to suffer, it's the purpose of God that his people pass through trials and afflictions here because it is in them that they are trained. They're brought to see their own weakness, their own need, they're brought to complete dependence upon the Lord, they're conformed more to his image. Trials come in keeping with the purposes of God. Can't think of a young man that encountered any greater trials than Joseph, hated by his brothers, put in a pit as they considered killing him, sold into slavery, falsely accused, put in prison, everything was going wrong. But in Genesis chapter 50 and the 20th verse, he says, but as for you, ye thought evil against me, but God meant it unto good to bring a pass as it is this day to save much people alive.
You were responsible, you were accountable for your evil deeds, what you did was wrong. But God meant it for good because God was leading me to be in this position so that now when you are hungry and in need of food, I'm able to provide it for you. Isn't it amazing how God works?
Trials come in keeping with the purposes of God. What a startling thing it was to Job, but in short order, Job received the bad news that he had been robbed, he'd been a rich man, suddenly his riches are gone. And then the news comes that his children have been feasting in a house and a great storm came and blew the house down and its ten children are dead.
And then he has boils all over his body. His wife says, why don't you curse God and die? And when you see Job out on the ash heap scraping himself because of the terrible discomfort that the boils are causing, and say, Job, I'd like to tell you, one of the things in view here is that there's going to be an assembly of people in Cincinnati, Ohio on a Sunday morning that are going to hear about your experience and God is going to use that in their life.
He would have been totally taken back, not being able to comprehend anything about Cincinnati, Ohio, not being able to comprehend what all God might be doing in the future. But in the book of James, chapter 5, verse 11, it says, Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job and have seen the end of the Lord, that the Lord is very pitiful and of tender mercy.
So, way back there when God was working in Job's life through the trials and afflictions that pressed him down, he was yet bringing him to give a testimony that's of benefit to us today. He was able to say, though he slay me yet, well, I trust him. I've got nowhere else to go. I'm not going to leave God. My wife says, give up. I'm not going to give up.
There's no other source of help. And so trials come for a purpose. Job obviously couldn't see all of the purposes at that time. He had no idea what God would do by recording his experience and his inspired word and using it for the benefit of multitudes through the years.
But God was at work, though Job didn't understand. First Peter chapter 4, verse 19 says, Wherefore, let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well-doing as unto a faithful Creator. He's talking about suffering according to the will of God. Some would have you believe that if you just have enough faith you'll never have any afflictions, you'll never have any trials. He says this is according to the will of God that you have trials because God is at work in your life and using your trials to your good.
James chapter 1, the first verse says, James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting. My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into divers temptations. That seems like an unreasonable demand. How can I count it joy? I'm devastated. I feel to be wiped out. I'm in deep trouble and I'm supposed to count it joy when I fall into these testings and trials, knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work that she may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
In other words, don't look for the escape hatch. Patiently work through it because God is bringing you to a level of spiritual maturity that you could never attain otherwise. The trials that come your way are for a purpose. There are many things about his providences that we struggle with.
We can't figure it all out. Somebody says, why am I struck with this illness at this particular time when I have so many things that I need to do? I've got so many responsibilities and it may well be that the things that you need to do are good and worthwhile.
So you say, why should I now be confined to the hospital or to the sick bed and why am I unable to go on? The answer can't be readily discerned, but you can know this, my times are in thy hands. This thing hasn't come up unawares. This thing didn't overtake the Lord by surprise.
He's in charge. Somebody says, why do I have to struggle so with financial burdens? I've tried so hard to keep up with things and pay my bills, but it just seems like it's a trouble that never goes away. Get one thing taken care of and something else falls apart. It seems like it's the most inopportune times. I have repair bills and medical bills and all kinds of things that are distressing to me. Now obviously some of these things can be brought on by our own carelessness and our failure.
The failure to follow biblical principles and the use of our money and the use of our time. But some of them come over which you have no control. And then somebody will say, which I've heard this over the years a number of times, a wife will say, I just don't understand why the Lord would take my husband at this time. I needed him so much. I depended on him. We had such a good marriage.
I don't understand it. And then the heartbreak and devastation that comes when a child dies. I guess those have been some of the most difficult funerals I've preached over the years. I preach the funeral of a lot of little babies, of young children, of teenagers.
And you see parents lean over that casket and shed tears and you can tell they feel their heart is going to break. We certainly are not saying that those events can be made easy to bear. They are painful.
They are devastating. But suppose you had to travel that path by yourself. Suppose you had to say this is just a bad turn of luck. But if you can say, my times are in thy hand.
What a difference. Remember that you're in his hand means that when you go through these dark times and the grief is so intense that you feel physical pain from it. You're not left alone. God says in Isaiah 43 verse 2, when thou passes through the waters I will be with thee. You go through those cold chilly waters of the deepest of sorrows. God says you're not going to be by yourself. I will be with thee. And through the rivers they shall not overflow thee. When thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned, neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.
He's there. He can give you strength to bear up under the losses that you never thought possible. I've had people give that kind of testimony. I've had them say my heart is broken but I'm amazed at how the Lord has given me strength and how close I feel him to be at this dark time. First Peter 5, 7 he says, casting all your care upon him for he careth for you. He cares for you. He knows all of your pains, all of your hurts, all of your disappointments.
He cares for you. My times are in thy hand. What a comforting reassuring truth to be able to say with the psalmist, my times are in thy hand.
We find security there. Jesus spoke of his people being in the Father's hand and none able to pluck them out. As we anticipate the challenges of a new year, we can be thankful that we face them not in our own strength and wisdom but as we trust in the Lord our God and admire his sovereign majesty. I encourage you to write us and until next week at the same time may the Lord richly bless you all. In darkness of night God leads his dear children along.
Some through the waters, some through the flood, some through the fire, but all through the flood. Some through great sorrow, but God gives a song in the night season and all the day long. The Baptist Bible Hour has come to you under the direction of Elder LeSaire Bradley, Jr. Address all mail to the Baptist Bible Hour, Cincinnati, Ohio 45217.
That's the Baptist Bible Hour, Cincinnati, Ohio 45217. Though sorrows befall us and saves our foes, God leads his dear children along. Through grace again, God, with thee be our foes, God leads his dear children along. Away from the fire and away from the flame, God leads his dear children along. Away up in glory, eternity's day, God leads his dear children along.
