Lincoln's Forgiving Attitude To Stanton / Psalm 2

As a struggling lawyer, Lincoln was employed on an important case. Catching a glimpse of him, one of the lawyers said, "Get rid of him! I will not be associated with such a gawky ape as that!"

As the trial got underway, Lincoln was ignored. The lawyer who had cruelly insulted him brilliantly defended his client and won the case.

Time passed, and Lincoln became President of the United States. Among his most outspoken critics was the lawyer who had so sorely wounded him. But Lincoln never forgot that the lawyer of the brutal words was also the lawyer of the brilliant mind.

When he selected a man for the vital post of Secretary of War, he chose Edwin M. Stanton, the one who had wounded and insulted him! Only a man of Lincoln's character and forgiving spirit could have risen above Stanton's insult!

Later, Lincoln lay dying—the victim of an assassin's bullet. When Lincoln's eyes finally closed in death, Stanton, filled with inconsolable grief, said, "Now he belongs to the ages!"

—W. B. K.

Psalm 2

GOD HEARS (1‑3). He hears the raging of the nations and the plots of the rulers. What do they want? Freedom from God! BUT THE WAY TO REAL FREEDOM IS BY SUBMISSION AND NOT BY REBELLION. TO THROW OFF GOD'S WILL IS TO INVITE BONDAGE AND DESTRUCTION.

GOD LAUGHS (4). Puny man does not worry God with all his noise and threats. GOD IS ON HIS THRONE AND HAS EVERYTHING IN CONTROL. When the world's noise frightens you, TURN TO THE LORD AND LET HIM TAKE OVER (Acts 4:23‑31).

GOD SPEAKS (5‑12). GOD THE FATHER announces that His King is enthroned in the heavenly Zion where the nations cannot touch Him. GOD THE SON announces that the nations are His, so their rebellion is futile (vv. 7‑9). Finally, GOD THE SPIRIT invites the rebels to submit and be blessed instead of destroyed (vv. 10‑12).

OVER THE NOISE OF THE NATIONS, LISTEN FOR THE ASSURING VOICE OF GOD.

With the Word - Warren W. Wiersbe

Thomas Nelson Publishers

Nashville

"Used by permission of Thomas Nelson, Inc."

WHO DO YOU SERVE?

While traveling in Ghana, I learned that in the dominant language of Ghana the only way to ask the question, "What is your religion?" is to ask, "Whom do you serve?" I like that. Regardless of denominational loyalties and official creeds, your true god is the one you serve.

¨Don McCullough, "Whom Do You Serve?" Preaching Today, Tape No. 110.

(Psa 2 NIV) Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain? {2} The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the LORD and against his Anointed One. {3} "Let us break their chains," they say, "and throw off their fetters." {4} The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them. {5} Then he rebukes them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath, saying, {6} "I have installed my King on Zion, my holy hill." {7} I will proclaim the decree of the LORD: He said to me, "You are my Son ; today I have become your Father. {8} Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession. {9} You will rule them with an iron scepter ; you will dash them to pieces like pottery." {10} Therefore, you kings, be wise; be warned, you rulers of the earth.

{11} SERVE THE LORD WITH FEAR AND REJOICE WITH TREMBLING.

{12} Kiss the Son, lest he be angry and you be destroyed in your way, for his wrath can flare up in a moment. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

TEACH US TO SERVE

Teach us, Lord, to serve you as you deserve,

to give and not to count the cost,

to fight and not to heed the wounds,

to toil and not to seek for rest,

to labor and not to ask for any reward

save that of knowing that we do your will.

-- Ignatius Loyola. Leadership, Vol. 12, no. 2.