Living In GodSpace

February 24, 2019                            NOTES NOT EDITED          

GodSpace: Living Within the Boundary Lines of Blessing

Psalm 16

SIS—Living within the boundary lines of God’s Word brings unimaginable blessings. I call this:  Living in God Space.

As most of you know, I spent my military career on a Nuclear Submarine.  Submarines sort of define the idea of “tight spaces.”  I worked in a space with three guys per shift that was smaller than most walk-in closets.  I slept in a space with a bunk six feet by two and a half feet.  All the space on a submarine is used—bulkhead to bulkhead, fore to aft.  My favorite space was a little section in the lower missile deck.  We carried 16 nuclear missiles and in between each four missiles was a space about 5 feet square.  The lower deck was quiet, so I’d crawl into this space and read my Bible and pray, in the rare moments I had free time.  It became my “GodSpace.”  It was my refuge from the activities of mundane life.  It was where I “dwelt in the shadow of the Almighty” (Ps. 91:1).  It is where I found security and purpose in life.  In GodSpace, I had the “boundaries that bring blessing.”

In GodSpace we learn not to live according to our own dictates and desires but according to the decrees of God as He has presented them in His Word, the Bible.  Living within the boundary lines of God’s Word brings unimaginable blessings.  It means living in obedience to God.

The Bible sets forth the idea of obedience by the strictest measure.  It’s always: black and white, cursing or blessing, pleasure or pain, light or dark, broad way or narrow way.  There are no multiple-choice questions in GodSpace.  Obedience is a “fill in the blank” with our devotion kind of test.

Most of us prefer a multiple choice test to a fill in the blank because we at least have some hope of a right answer based upon shear luck.  But not so with God’s Word.  It’s fill in the blank all the way.  It’s a choice between two options as I said above.  Living in God Space is a “black and white” issue.  Blessing is about knowing God’s fence lines.

God has always set boundaries upon the freedom of His children:  including His first children, Adam and Eve.  Adam and Eve had near free reign of the creation – but God established a clear boundary line for our ancient parents.  The Tree of Life was “out of bounds.”  All the misery in the world today stems from Adam and Eve stepping “out of bounds,” crossing God’s clear boundary lines.

Inside the lines was unimaginable pleasure—beyond, indescribable pain.

The Psalmist expounds upon the issue of “boundary lines” in a beautiful poem about the pleasures and blessing of obedience.  Let’s read that together:

1 Protect me, God, for I take refuge in You. 2 I said to the LORD, “You are my Lord; I have no good besides You.” 3 As for the holy people who are in the land, they are the noble ones in whom is all my delight. 4 The sorrows of those who take another ⌊god⌋ for themselves multiply; I will not pour out their drink offerings of blood, and I will not speak their names with my lips. 5 LORD, You are my portion and my cup ⌊of blessing⌋; You hold my future. 6 The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance. 7 I will praise the LORD who counsels me — even at night my conscience instructs me. 8 I keep the LORD in mind always. Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. 9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my spirit rejoices; my body also rests securely. 10 For You will not abandon me to •Sheol; You will not allow Your Faithful One to see the •Pit.   11 You reveal the path of life to me; in Your presence is abundant joy; in Your right hand are eternal pleasures.

The phrase that seems to jump off the page at me in this passage is v. 6

6 The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;

indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.

This passage and the Word in general, from Genesis through Revelation, teaches this important principle: “obedience to God’s Word brings blessing.”  The safest, most productive, indescribably beautiful place in the world to live is in what I call “God Space” – Living Within the Boundary Lines that Bring Blessing.

Most people think of any rules or boundaries of any type as being “restrictive upon our freedom.”  The opposite is actually the case.  The world is full of boundary lines. 

Like the boundary lines on a roadway with two-way traffic.  The center line marks each traveller’s lane clearly.  When someone crosses that boundary line, disaster and death often follow.

Think about the boundary lines, or fences of a gated community (for those who can afford such).  The fences do not “restrict”  one’s freedom, but actually insures it. 

Years ago a famous study investigated the affect of boundaries on the behavior of children.  A group of children were observed playing in a large area that had no fence.  They were observed without their knowledge over a period of several days.  They noticed that the children would congregate in the middle of the large open area.

A fence was added to the area that enclosed the wide open space.  The children again were observed.  At first, by force of habit, they huddled in the middle of the large area.  Then, gradually, as they discovered the fence, they began to spread out until they were enjoying the entire area from fence line to fence line.

Boundaries promote safety and exploration.  Boundaries give us the freedom to experiment, to explore, and to investigate our world.  Even the act of taking a risk can be calculated because there are boundaries.

God has established boundaries for our lives and had them recorded in His Word.  When we move out of the space God has outlined for us, we move into an area of danger, disaster, despair, defeat, and oftentimes even death.

Before I get to the “blessings” that come from Living In God Space, let me outline 3 prominent “boundaries” God has established for our lives.

1.  The Boundary of His Presence (1)—Daily, personal devotions

2.  His People (3)—Regular, enthusiastic fellowship and worship

3.  His Precepts (11)—Memorizing and meditating on His word

All throughout the Bible we watch the principle of God outlining the boundary lines between blessing and cursing.  History is littered with the broken lives, unfulfilled dreams, and horrible atrocities of those who leave the God Space to live in rebellion.  My hope this morning is we will all be inspired to stay within God’s boundary lines and enjoy the blessings of living in God Space.  These blessings are:

1.  In God Space, He Guards (1, 8)

1 Protect me, God, for I take refuge in You.

…………………….

          8 I keep the LORD in mind always. 
Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. 

In these two verses there are actually three different ways in which God’s care and protection over His children is described.

❶In verse 1 the word, “Protect,” is a word that means to preserve in a manner that one cares for and tends a garden.  This word first shows up in Genesis

2:15 The Lord God took the man and placed him in the garden of Eden

to work it and watch over it.

God guards our lives by keeping the weeds of Satan’s influence from taking hold and growing out of control.

❷Another description of how God guards our lives comes in the second half of that verse:

1. . . for I take refuge in You.

This word provides a picture of shade (as shade of a tree) or as a roof or structure (as in a house, or even the temple).  The idea is that God guards us by protecting us from external attacks or circumstances.  Even though our circumstances may put us in the midst of very stormy weather, God will protect us from destruction.  We will “weather the storm” as long as we abide in God’s shelter.

❸The third word picture describing how God guards our lives is in verse 8:

8 He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.

The idea expressed here is one of a “courtroom.”  The “right side” is where one’s defense attorney would stand to defend you against any accusation. 

Psalm 109  31For He stands at the right hand of the needy,
to save him from those who would condemn him.

As we will see in a minute, this is a Psalm which is quoted twice in the New Testament in reference to Jesus Christ, particularly His resurrection.  God guards us ultimately when Satan accuses us by bringing up our sin, Jesus Christ defends us by bringing up our salvation.

This Psalm, as many of David’s psalms, was written during a time when David was under pursuit and attack from his enemies. David realized that the only safe place for Him was in the God Space, where God would guard and protect him.

The safest place on earth is the center of God’s will.  In the God Space God will guard our hearts, minds, and souls.

The early American Indians had a unique practice of training young braves. On the night of a boy's thirteenth birthday, after learning hunting, scouting, and fishing skills, he was put to one final test. He was placed in a dense forest to spend the entire night alone. Until then, he had never been away from the security of the family and the tribe. But on this night, he was blindfolded and taken several miles away.

When he took off the blindfold, he was in the middle of a thick woods and he was terrified! Every time a twig snapped, he visualized a wild animal ready to pounce. Night fell and there was only enough light to produce frightening shadows.  After what seemed like an eternity, dawn broke and the first rays of sunlight entered the interior of the forest. Looking around, the boy saw flowers, trees, and the outline of the path. Then, to his utter astonishment, he beheld the figure of a man standing just a few feet away, armed with a bow and arrow. It was his father. He had been there all night long.

When we are in the God Space, we can count on God being near, armed and ready to guard us against any and all evil.

2.  In the God Space, He will GUIDE us (7)

7 I will praise the LORD who counsels me — even at night my conscience instructs me.

I don’t usually read long passages from books or articles I come across in my sermon study.  But, I’m going to make an exception this morning.  A great preacher by the name of John Phillips has described the terrible result of ignoring God’s boundaries in our modern culture.  Please listen closely,

“Nearly all the old guidelines have been broken down today.  Old restraints, old moral standards have been swept away and people are frightened, confused, lonely, and at their wits end.  They run to professional counselors for help as never before in history.  They turn to the dark world of the occult and devour the prognostications of [fortune tellers]. . . . They are looking to [other] religions hoping to find answers there, all in vain.  The Christian has [a great advantage] over them.  [A Christian] can know what it is to be guided by God.  In this life!”

Wow!  How true.  People are turning in every direction imaginable for guidance – accept the direction where they can actually get help.  In God Space, God not only guards us, but He guides us.

The word for “instructs me” in verse 7 is presented in a particular stem that gives a word intensity.  The idea here is more of giving a warning than just providing information.  God knows where all the pitfalls and dangers are for our lives and when we get too close, His Word – if we have hidden it in our hearts – sounds a strong warning to keep us within the boundary line.

This may sound odd or even crude, but God’s guidance is sort of like those “electronic” collars you can buy for your dog.  If they venture too close to the boundary line, it gives them a “shock” that will keep them in a safe space.   God’s Word, empowered by God’s Holy Spirit, reminds us when we get too close to the edge and “nudges” us back into the safety of God Space.

When we abide in God Space, God guards us, God guides us, and

3.  God GLADDENS us (9)

It’s a good thing to be glad.  Verse 9 says,

9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my spirit rejoices;

Living in God Space brings us great joy and gladness.  And, the Bible says joy and gladness bring us health.

Prov 17:22  A cheerful heart is good medicine.

Laughter has been proven to have therapeutic effects—everything from lowering blood pressure to helping you lose weight.  It always amazes me how eventually science always catches up with what God has said.

Living in God Space will gladden your heart.

Consider the man who was driving down a secluded country road and his car breaks down.  A little ways up ahead he sees the lights of a monastery.  He goes to the monastery, knocks on the door, and says, "My car broke down. Do you think I could stay the night?" The monks graciously accept him, feed him dinner, even fix his car. As the man tries to fall asleep, he hears a strange sound. The next morning, he asks the monks what the sound was, but they say, "We can't tell you. You're not a monk." The man is disappointed but thanks them anyway and goes about his merry way. Some years later, the same man breaks down in front of the same monastery. The monks gain accept him, feed him, even fix his car. That night, he hears the same strange noise that he had heard years earlier.      The next morning, he asks what it is, but the monks reply, "We can't tell you. You're not a monk."

     The man says, "All right, all right. I'm dying to know. If the only way I can find out what that sound was is to become a monk, how do I become a monk?" The monks reply, "You must travel the earth and tell us how many blades of grass there are and the exact number of sand pebbles. When you find these numbers, you will become a monk."    The man sets about his task. Some forty-five years later, he returns and knocks on the door of the monastery. He says, "I have traveled the earth and have found what you have asked for. There are 145,236,284,232 blades of grass and 231,281,219,999,129,382 sand pebbles on the earth."  The monks reply, "Congratulations. You are now a monk. We shall now show you the way to the sound." The monks lead the man to a wooden door, where the head monk says, "The sound is right behind that door."

     The man reaches for the knob, but the door is locked. He says, "Real funny. May I have the key?"  The monks give him the key, and he opens the door. Behind the wooden door is another door made of stone. The man demands the key to the stone door. The monks give him the key, and he opens it, only to find a door made of ruby. He demands another key from the monks, who provide it. Behind that door is another door, this one made of sapphire. So it went until the man had gone through doors of emerald, silver, topaz, amethyst.  Finally, the monks say, "This is the last key to the last door." The man is relieved to no end. He unlocks the door, turns the knob, and behind that door he is amazed to find the source of that strange sound. What he saw and heard was absolutely beyond anything a person could ever hope to experience.  Would you like to know what it was?  I can't tell you what it is because you're not a monk.

The point of that story is this: there’s no point.  I just wanted you to experience a little gladness of heart.  That’s one of the benefits of living the God Space:  He guards, he guides, and He gladdens.

But, the most important reason of all for staying within the boundary lines of blessing, or living in God Space is:

4.  God GATHERS (10-11)

For You will not abandon me to •Sheol; You will not allow Your Faithful One to see the •Pit. 11You reveal the path of life to me; in Your presence is abundant joy; in Your right hand are eternal pleasures.

These are two of the most remarkable verses in the O.T.  They refer to the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Peter quotes from this Psalm in his Pentecost sermon and Paul uses this text in Acts 13.  Both apply these verses to the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  The Psalmist is declaring prophetically what we know now historically. 

just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father,
we too may live a new life. (Rom. 6:4)

There are many reasons to live within boundary lines God has established:  God guards, God guides, God gladdens—but most importantly, God GATHERS! Those who abide in God Space will one day ultimately enjoy the eternal rewards of heaven.  Look at verse 11:

11 You reveal the path of life to me; in Your presence is abundant joy;

in Your right hand are eternal pleasures.

Then verse 6,  “The boundary lines have fallen for me

in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.

It is so sad that most people in our world never enter into the God Space—they never surrender their lives to the Lord Jesus Christ and so they will never experience eternal pleasures. 

Most people forfeit an eternity of bliss for a few earthly moments of fleshly gratification.  Most people sell out to cheap and settle for a few crumbs of happiness in this world, when they could experience the full loaf of God’s blessings in the next world. 

The Psalmist points out that one day God will “gather” His people to Himself and to His eternal home and we will experience what can only be described by the Ancient Poet as, “abundant joy and eternal pleasures.”

Will you be in that “gathering?” Are you committed to staying within God’s boundary lines?

Heartache, despair, disease, and even death can happen if one ignores the boundary lines of God Space.  But, living within the boundary lines of God’s Word brings unimaginable blessings.

The Psalmist declares for all who will listen:

“6 The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places
indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.”