NO MAN CARED FOR MY SOUL

BEN F. VICK, JR.

Have you ever been so “down,” so depressed that you felt like no one cared about you?  Maybe you went through some rough times and thought, “Does anyone care about my circumstances, or about me?”  I suppose that all of us have gone through some valleys.  I think in the garden of Gethsemane, the Son of God, the Man of Sorrows acquainted with grief, did.  David certainly did.  The 142nd Psalm expresses the overwhelming of his soul.  It reads:

Maschil of David; A Prayer when he was in the cave. I cried unto the Lord with my voice; With my voice unto the Lord did I make my supplication. I poured out my complaint before him; I shewed before him my trouble.  When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, Then thou knewest my path.  In the way wherein I walked Have they privily laid a snare for me.  I looked on my right hand, and beheld, But there was no man that would know me: Refuge failed me; No man cared for my soul.  I cried unto thee, O Lord: I said, Thou art my refuge And my portion in the land of the living.  Attend unto my cry; For I am brought very low: Deliver me from my persecutors; For they are stronger than I. Bring my soul out of prison, That I may praise thy name: The righteous shall compass me about; For thou shalt deal bountifully with me. (Psa. 142.)

The heading says, “Maschil of David; A Prayer when he was in the cave.”  The marginal note on “Maschil” is “A Psalm of David, giving instruction.”  It is believed that this prayer of David’s was when he was fleeing from King Saul.  He had gone to Gath, but when the servants of King Achish realized this was the man of whom the women had sung, “Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands,” David had to feign being crazy.  Thus, King Achish wanted him gone.  So, David had to escape to the cave of Adullam, near the Philistine border.  He was all alone.  A man without a country; a man who thought he had no friend.  He wrote this psalm having looked back on that occasion.

He wrote, “I cried unto the Lord with my voice; With my voice unto the Lord did I make my supplication.” (Psa. 142:1.)  It was lonely in that cave.  He called out, not to men, but to the Lord.  It was not a silent prayer (1 Sam. 1:9-13).  With his voice, with his voice, he cried out, he made supplication to the Lord.  On those days and nights, as he watched his father’s sheep, he may have cried out to God many times.  Prayer was not foreign to him.  He knew upon whom to call.

David cried, “I poured out my complaint before him; I shewed before him my trouble. When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, Then thou knewest my path. In the way wherein I walked Have they privily laid a snare for me.” (Psa. 142:2-3.)  When his spirit was overwhelmed within him, he poured out his complaint to God.  He told God of his state of unfavorable circumstances, focusing on the emotional pain and distress of his situation.  One might say: Does not God know what things we need before we ask him?  Yes, he knows all, but he still calls upon us to express our heart’s concerns to him.  David did.

Has your spirit ever been overwhelmed within you?  Have you ever felt so faint mentally that you did not know where to turn?  David was mentally overwhelmed to the point of being feeble.  What did David do?  He poured out his complaint to God.  He showed God his trouble.

God knew David’s path.  He knew that David’s enemies were secretly setting a snare for him.  David took his troubles to God in prayer. 

David relates his circumstance in that dark, dank, and depressing cave.  Years later, he wrote, “I looked on my right hand, and beheld, But there was no man that would know me: Refuge failed me; No man cared for my soul.” (Psa. 142:4.)  Someone at your right hand would be your closest confidant, one upon whom you could lean.  But David, at that moment, had no one.  Jonathan was not around.  No one knew him; that is, no one approved of him.  David had fled from his house to Naioth in Ramah to Nob to Gath, and now he was in the cave, all alone.  Refuge failed him; there was no place of safety.  And he cried, “No man cared for my soul.”  Where does one turn when he feels he has nowhere to turn?  No one understands.  Have you ever felt like no one understands your situation?  If so, to whom or what do you turn?

David answers, “I cried unto thee, O Lord: I said, Thou art my refuge And my portion in the land of the living.  Attend unto my cry; For I am brought very low: Deliver me from my persecutors; For they are stronger than I.  Bring my soul out of prison, That I may praise thy name: The righteous shall compass me about; For thou shalt deal bountifully with me.” (Psa. 142:5-7.) Ah, there is the answer.  One should turn to the Lord, cry unto him.   David affirms to the Lord, “Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living.”   God was his safety net.  He can be ours too.  David continued, “Attend unto my cry; for I am brought very low.”  That was his situation. Hear his supplication:  “Deliver me from my persecutors; for they are stronger than I.  Bring my soul out of prison [the prison of despair and depression]….”  Is that your prayer at times when you are down?  Or do you look for crutches that will do you no good in the long run?

David’s supplication was, “Deliver me from my persecutors…bring my soul out of prison.”  For what purpose?  Is it simply that I might feel better?  No, oh no.  David gave the reason:  “That I may praise thy name.”  When that happens, the righteous will surround him, and God would deal bountifully with him.  So shall it be for us.

Not long after this plea for Divine help, when his brethren and all of his father’s house heard, they went down to him.  The historian also tells us, “And every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him; and he became a captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men.” (1 Sam. 22:1-2.)

So, when you are in the cave of Adullam, remember David’s psalm and Peter’s exhortation: “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” (1 Peter 5:7.)  

NOT BY FAITH ONLY

W. L. Totty

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”  (Jn. 3:16.) 

This verse not only declares the great love which God had for the human race, but it also states the means of escaping condemnation.  However, this verse is, perhaps, perverted as much as any verse in the Bible or more than any other verse relating to salvation.  Many denominations will use it in an attempt to make people believe that God meant that if a person would only believe in Christ, he would be saved; but this verse is far from teaching “faith only.”

Faith is one of the steps into Christ, but faith alone amounts to nothing.  If faith alone would save, the devils would be saved, for James says, “Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well:  the devils also believe, and tremble.  But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?”  (Jas. 2:19-20.)  The apostle John also said, “Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue:  for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.”  (Jn. 12:42-43.)  There is no doubt but that those chief rulers believed on Christ for the Bible says they did, but their faith did not work.  Jesus says, “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me:  and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.” (Matt. 10:37.)  Those chief rulers loved the praise of God, but they loved the praise of men more;  therefore, they could not be Christ’s disciples.  A person who believes on Christ but will not obey him is not saved.

James gives an illustration of how faith connected with works will save.  He said, “Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he offered Isaac his son upon the altar?  Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?...Ye see then how that by works is a man justified, and not by faith only.” (Jas. 2:21-24.)

People who teach that faith alone will save are completely ignoring other plain statements in the Bible.  Creeds and disciplines of men often contradict plain statements in God’s word;  for example, in the Discipline of The Methodist Episcopal Church, 1928:  “Wherefore, that we are justified by faith only is a most welcome doctrine, and very full of comfort.”  (Page 7.)  That discipline, written to direct the preachers of the Methodist Church, says that the doctrine of “faith only” is very full of comfort; but to the person who knows and believes the Bible, there is no comfort whatever in the doctrine of “faith only,” because it is not taught in the Bible.  God says that we are justified by works and not by faith only; yet, some teachers will say that one is saved by “faith only” and disregard the plain statement of James that we are not saved by faith only. 

This is not to discredit the importance of faith, because it is impossible to please God without faith.  (Heb. 11:6.)  But there are other steps which an alien sinner must take in order to be saved.  Jesus said, “I tell you, Nay:  but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.”  (Lk. 13:3.)  Again, repentance is unto salvation.  (Acts 11:18.)  To those who inquired what to do to be saved on the day of Pentecost, the apostle Peter said to repent and be baptized for the remission of sins.  (Acts 2:38.)  Writing to the church at Rome, Paul said, “For with the heart a man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Rom. 10:10.)  The apostle Peter, comparing the salvation of the people in the Christian age with that of Noah and his family, said, “The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us…”       (I Pet. 3:21.)  The flood washed away the sins by destroying the sinners, which was a figure of our salvation.  Peter says “baptism doth also now save us.”  Some will say that baptism is the figure, but that is not true.  The figure always precedes the fact of which one is speaking.  The flood was the figure, and Peter was writing of our salvation.  So, we find four things which God definitely says save us.  We must, therefore, obey all those things in order to be saved.

When Christ apprehended Saul of Tarsus on his way to Damascus and told him to go into the city and there it would be told him what he must do, Saul believed Christ and repented of his sins; yet, when Ananias, the man appointed of God, came, he told Saul, “Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.”  (Acts 22:16.)  If Saul had been saved when he believed, he would have had no sins to wash away.

Jesus said, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.” (Mk. 16:16.)  Faith and baptism are connected by the coordinate conjunction.  It is a perversion of the truth to say:  He that believeth is saved and shall be baptized.  But, then, someone might say:  Jesus said, “He that believeth not shall be damned,” and did not say he that is not baptized shall be damned.  A parallel illustration is:  He that eateth food and drinketh water shall live, but he that eateth not shall die.  It takes both food and water to keep a person alive, but it takes the lack of only one to cause death. 

We are baptized into Christ: “For as many of you as have been baptized have put on Christ.” (Gal. 3:27.)  Baptism is the only thing that the Bible says puts one into Christ.  If one can be saved without baptism, one can be saved out of Christ.  But all spiritual blessings are in Christ.  (Eph. 1:3.)  Salvation is a spiritual blessing; therefore, we must be in Christ to be saved; and in order to be in Christ, we must be baptized. (Gal. 3:27.)

This shows that the doctrine of faith alone is not true.  Let us believe and obey God rather than men. 

—The Informer

Vol. 25, No. 32  May 21, 1972

GOD’S WISDOM VS. MAN’S WISDOM

W. L. TOTTY

Some of the “intellectuals”  among us seem to think, judging from their speech, that a doctor’s degree is essential to understanding the Bible, since we are told to love the Lord “with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.” (Matt. 22:37.)  A teacher in one of our colleges has recently said, “We believe that the Word of God can only be known in its depth when studied in the Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek languages in which it was first written.” 

The mind must be educated to think properly.  That does not mean, however, that a person must have a doctor’s degree or the equivalent.  It simply means that we must direct the mind, for Jesus said, “Out of the abundance of the heart (mind) the mouth speaketh.”  (Matt. 12:34.)  If Jesus were referring to an academic education, the larger part of the population would be cut out of his plan.  But he said, “I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast revealed them unto babes.” (Matt. 11:25.)  We are not opposed to education.  We respect education and believe that a person should get all the education which he can command, but it is dangerous when a man lets the education command him. 

This particular teacher under consideration said, “Have you ever given any thought to the position a man is in who says to the public, I am an authoritative interpreter of this book.  I can tell you all about what it says and what it means….I cannot read it because it is written in the languages that I do not know.  I can only take what other men have said the writer said and meant.” (Sic.)

This man was referring to a person who can read only the English language;  and, thus, when he reads the Bible, he isn’t reading what he knows;  he is reading what the translators gave him.  That statement is a reflection upon our Bible.  The King James and American Standard Versions were translated by a total of 101 scholars.  It is amazingly strange that the atheists have never been able to prove those versions wrong, notwithstanding the fact that there are many scholars of high degrees among the atheists;  but a preacher can come along and cast unfounded suspicion toward the Bible. 

We are asked this question:  “Have we understood the Lord to say, ‘Blessed are those of mediocre training for theirs is the kingdom of heaven?’  Is there any way to solve intellectual problems other than by superior intellectualism?” (Sic.)  No, Jesus did not say that; but he did say, through his apostle Paul, that we are not to think more highly of ourselves than we ought. (Rom. 12:3.)  And Jesus said, “Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates unto the city.”  (Rev. 22:14.)  Jesus also said, “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”  (Jn. 8:32.)  Again, Jesus said, ‘If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.” (Jn. 7:17.)  And, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved.” (Mk. 16:16.)  Jesus put his law upon a plane which any normal man can understand and obey. 

Of learned men it is said, “Rather than being the church’s greatest danger (as some seem to feel they are), loyal learned men have been among its greatest benefactors.”  I think no one would deny that some of our learned men have been among the church’s greatest benefactors, but to infer that they have been its only benefactors is exceedingly wrong.  There have been many unlearned men by today’s standard of education who have done as much as and sometimes more than the “intellectual” group.  The word learned is a very flexible word.  A person can be learned in God’s law and know more about what God would have us to do than many men of high degrees.  The apostle Paul was used as an example to prove that educated men are more qualified.  Paul was taught in the schools of his day, but Jesus did not choose Paul because of his education.  He chose him as one who would do his will without fear, even among kings.  Let us not forget the fact that Paul did not depend upon his worldly education, but, rather, upon the inspiration of God to tell him what to teach.  Paul said, “My speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:  that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.”  (I Cor. 2:4-5.)  Moreover, there were 12 other men chosen to be apostles of Jesus Christ to go into all the world and preach the gospel; and what they preached was just as important and just as true as what Paul preached.  And when Paul considered himself, he said, “I was not a whit behind the chiefest apostle.” (II Cor. 11:5.)  He did not say he was above the other apostles; he was only equal with them.  It would be a mistake for any man to point out one apostle and say he was superior to the others, because they were all inspired by the Holy Spirit and spoke as the Spirit gave them utterance.

We are told, “You can grow a broom weed in a few months, but if you want an oak tree it will take a little longer.”  By that we assume the author meant that all of us who are not blessed with an academic education of the higher degree are “broom weeds” while people of his standing are the giant “oaks” among us.  But the great “oaks” among us have opened the door for more innovations than any other group of persons in the church.  They do it because they love the praises of men more than the praise of God.  Of course, all preachers of the church of Christ who have Ph.D. degrees are not included among this group, for some are loyal, faithful defenders of the truth.  But for someone to make higher education a qualification for preaching the gospel or being a Christian is ridiculous.

—The Informer

    Vol. 25,  No. 6;  Nov. 21, 1971 

DEALING WITH THE FALSE TEACHERS AT CORINTH

BEN F. VICK, JR.

       As one comes to the tenth chapter of Second Corinthians, he will note a change in the message and manner of Paul’s writing.  He now addresses the problem of the Judaizing teachers at Corinth.  At least three different groups in the church at Corinth were those loyal to Paul and the truth, the false teachers, and those who were swallowing what the false teachers were saying.  A fourth group might have been some who were neutral, not knowing which way to turn. 

After it had been established, the false teachers had come into Corinth; their modus operandi may have been just like the Judaizing teachers who entered the churches of Galatia – under a cloak of secrecy (Gal. 2:4-5).  At any rate, they did not establish the work there but intended to take over the work.   A failure on the part of the leaders to be vigilant in a congregation makes it vulnerable for the wolves in sheep’s clothing to enter and devour the flock (Acts 20:28-32). 

The false teachers were falsely charging Paul of being weak in appearance.  When he was away, they said his letters were weighty and powerful; but when he was present, he was soft, and his speech was of no account.  So, they charged Paul with being a milksop and a poor speaker.  And in essence, were calling him a coward.  

So, what was Paul to do?  Did he let the false charges against him slide because people would say it is just a personality issue?  Should he fight the matter with “dignified silence,” hoping it would die down?  After all, why rock the boat?  No, as despicable as it was to Paul, a defense of himself was necessary. He did not want to get on the level with the false teachers, but they had to be answered.  Why did they have to be answered?  The truth was at stake.  The life of the church at Corinth was in jeopardy.  All of his work with them would have, so to speak, gone down the drain.  Paul’s apostleship was being questioned.  If he had let it slide, all of his previous efforts might have been hurt, and what would the future hold for his work? 

After pointing out that he would approach in the meekness and gentleness of Christ, he made it clear that contrary to the charges made, carnal weapons such as sophism and unsound arguments would not be used by him in answering these individuals.  He wrote, “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” (2 Cor. 10:3–5.) Macknight commented, “The powerful weapons of which the apostle speaks, were the gifts of inspiration and miracles, the faculty of speaking all kinds of languages, and the ability of communicating miraculous powers and spiritual gifts to others.”  He did not need the fleshly or weak weapons of swords, spears, military engines, cunning stratagems, and false speeches that men of this world use. 

Paul inquired, “Do ye look on things after the outward appearance?”  The American Standard Version makes this into a statement: “Ye look at the things before your face.”  His accusers were saying that was not pleasing to the eye.  They tried to turn members of the church away based on the appearance of the preacher.  Some make quick unfair judgments of a preacher based on his looks.  But Jesus said, “Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.” (John 7:24.)  Keep in mind, the greatest preacher who ever lived was not much to behold: “He hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.” (Isa. 53:2.)

Paul could have boasted of his apostolic authority, which had been given to him to edify the church, but it might be the case that he would have to use his powers for destruction.  You know he blinded Elymas, the sorcerer, who had attempted to turn away Sergius Paulus from the truth (Acts 13: 8-12).  The situation at Corinth might have called for discipline in a destructive sense.

These false apostles undermined Paul’s work at Corinth by saying his letters were severe and powerful, yet he was weak and a terrible speaker when he was here.  In other words, he was a coward.  He was not like the Greek orators.  If memory serves me right ( and it does not always), brother J. A. McNutt talked to sister in Christ who was lauding a certain preacher for his booming voice.  Brother Mac said something like: Well, a mule has a strong voice too.  How often do we misjudge a preacher based on his voice?  Are we too critical about how something is said rather than upholding the truth that is said?  When was the last time you expressed appreciation  for the truth that was taught?

Paul answered these so-called ministers of righteousness by saying, “Let such an one think this, that, such as we are in word by letters when we are absent, such will we be also in deed when we are present.” (2 Cor. 10:11.)  If I might paraphrase Paul:  The way I write when I am absent is how I will be in your presence.  I will be just as bold in person as I am in my letter.  Just wait and see. 

The problem with these false teachers was that they were comparing themselves with each other: measuring themselves by themselves. They were commending themselves for how great they were.  They estimated their greatness by the opinion that they had formed of themselves.  They used the wrong standard.  They had ego problems.  They thought more highly of themselves than they should have thought.  It is still true with false teachers today.  If they even looked into the mirror of God’s word, they quickly go their way, forgetting how they indeed are.  James says, “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.” (James 4:10.)  “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” (Matt. 16:24.)  It is that first step that is hard:  Denial of self.  These false teachers were not thinking about the welfare of the church; they were thinking of themselves.   Pride is still a problem today.

RESPECT FOR AUTHORITY

BEN F. VICK, JR.

One of the great problems in society today is the lack of respect for authority.  In all areas of life, this can be seen.  Ball players and fans, from the Little League level to the professional ranks, do not respect officials; consequently, they curse at them, spit on them and physically attack them.  Many children talk back to their parents in a most disrespectful way with no fear of punishment.  High school and middle school children, and perhaps younger, openly defy their teachers, sometimes using the vilest vulgarities.  Employees will demonstrate their lack of respect for their employers even in the presence of customers.  Husbands and wives are sometimes disrespectful toward each other.  Members of the church can also be guilty of not showing proper respect for each other. 

Since society and the church are but reflections of the home, there is a need to begin teaching children in the home to respect those in authority.  Paul commanded, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.  Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise:) That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long upon the earth.” (Eph. 6:1-3.)  When a child defies or is in rebellion to a parent, then “the board of education needs to be applied to the seat of learning.”  When my sister and brothers were growing up, if we sassed our mother and daddy, punishment came swiftly.  Mother and Daddy both insisted that we said “ma’am” and “sir” when addressing adults.  Mother taught us that we were not on a first name basis with adults.  We were always to put a “handle” on a name.  If we were speaking to Uncle B. B., he was to be addressed, or called, “Uncle B. B.,” not “B. B.”  You say, “That is silly?”  I say that it taught us to respect adults.  We were also taught not to interrupt adults in their conversations.

Respect in the workplace needs to be shown, too.  Employees need to respect their employers and those who are over them.  In a time and place when slavery was a part of the culture, Paul commanded, “Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ doing the will of God from the heart; With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men: Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.”  (Eph. 6:5-8.)

Christians should be the best employees the employer has.  They do not need to be guilty of slacking off when the boss is not around; neither do they need to be whiners nor gripers because of the duties given to them.  They ought to be thankful that they have a job.  I have not been able to figure out why people who have a job complain about it.  If they do not like what they are doing, why don’t they quit?

There are limits on what an employee is obligated to do, however.  For instance, there have been cases where a boss has demanded that the employee lie or cheat.  What should the employee do?  In such situations, it would be wrong to obey the boss.  It is NEVER right to do wrong.  If one is working for another as if he were working for the Lord, he would not think of doing wrong.  If that means losing one’s job, so be it.  The Lord will help you find another job (Matt. 6:33).  Put the Lord first and everything else will fall into place.

Members of the church also have an obligation to obey and submit to the shepherds of the flock.  The writer of Hebrews said, “Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves:  for they watch for your souls, as they that must give an account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief:  for that is unprofitable for you.” (Heb. 13:17.)  Some have the idea that they will obey the elders as long as the elders’ decisions concur with theirs.  However, such is not obedience.  Keep in mind, however, that elders do not have the right to make decisions that go contrary to the Bible. 

Some members may be like that little boy whose daddy told him to sit down.  He finally sat down, but told his daddy, “I’m sitting down on the outside, but I’m standing up on the inside!”  Well, the little boy had an attitude problem.  I think I have known a preacher or two that were like that.  Paul told the church at Thessalonica, “And we beseech you, brethren, to know that them labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; And to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake.  And be at peace among yourselves.” (I Thess. 5:12-13.) 

What if the eldership brings in a false teacher, or begins a practice in the congregation that is unauthorized by God?  It can happen; it has happened; Paul warned that it would happen (Acts 20:28-32).  It is a fact that some brethren, like dumb driven cattle, would follow an eldership even if it were to take the church down the road of apostacy.  Look at the numbers today who are following that course!  We are to follow a man or a group of men only to the degree that they follow Christ (I Cor. 11:1; I Peter 2:21).

Let us respect those in authority, but remember that Christ is King of kings and Lord of lords, and we must always submit to him.