Christ's Compassion: Hope for the Needy and Helpless
Summary
In Psalm 72:12, we find a profound depiction of Christ as both a sovereign ruler and a compassionate savior. This royal psalm not only highlights the vastness of Christ's dominion but also emphasizes His deep care for the lowly and needy. It is a beautiful paradox where Christ's exaltation is intertwined with the blessing of His people. The psalm presents a comforting truth: where Christ is highest, and we are lowest, there is glory to God and peace on earth.
The special objects of Christ's grace are described as needy, poor, and without a helper. This threefold description resonates with the human condition. We are born needy, dependent on God for every breath and sustenance. As we grow, our spiritual needs become more apparent, revealing our utter dependence on divine grace. We are not only needy but also spiritually impoverished, unable to meet our own needs. Our natural resources are insufficient, and self-reliance in spiritual matters is futile. We are like the prodigal son, destitute and in need of a savior.
Moreover, we have no helper. Until God enlightens us, we may rely on earthly supports, but true salvation comes only through personal faith in Christ. When we recognize our helplessness, we turn to God, who becomes our helper and salvation. This realization is a humbling yet liberating experience, as it leads us to depend entirely on God's grace.
The blessings for God's people are manifold. Christ judges His people with righteousness, delivering them from oppression and saving them from their enemies. He spares the poor and needy, providing for them in their distress. Ultimately, He redeems their souls, ensuring their eternal security. These promises are a source of immense comfort and assurance for believers.
In our spiritual journey, we must come to a point of desperation, where our cries to God are genuine and heartfelt. It is in these moments of deep need that God delivers us. Our prayers, when fervent and sincere, move the heart of God. He delights in our dependence on Him and responds to our cries with mercy and grace.
Key Takeaways:
1. Christ's Sovereignty and Compassion: Christ's exaltation is not just about His power but also His compassion for the lowly. His kingdom is marked by a deep care for the needy, reflecting His heart for those who are humble and dependent on Him. [00:57]
2. The Human Condition of Need: We are inherently needy, both physically and spiritually. Recognizing our spiritual poverty is crucial, as it leads us to rely on God's grace rather than our own resources. [02:39]
3. Helplessness and Divine Help: True salvation comes when we acknowledge our helplessness and turn to God. Earthly supports are insufficient, and only through personal faith in Christ can we find true help and salvation. [09:17]
4. Blessings for the Needy: God's people are promised deliverance, protection, and redemption. These blessings assure us of God's constant care and provision, even in times of distress and oppression. [27:07]
5. The Power of Desperate Prayer: When our prayers are fervent and desperate, they move the heart of God. It is in our moments of deep need and genuine cries that God delivers us, showcasing His mercy and grace. [36:12]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:12] - Introduction to Psalm 72
- [00:43] - Christ's Sovereignty and Compassion
- [01:43] - Special Objects of Grace
- [02:39] - The Human Condition of Need
- [05:09] - Spiritual Poverty and Helplessness
- [09:17] - Turning to God for Help
- [15:20] - God's Sovereign Choice
- [19:06] - Reasons for God's Grace
- [23:35] - Special Blessings for God's People
- [27:07] - Deliverance from Oppression
- [29:34] - Faith in Times of Trouble
- [31:33] - Redemption and Eternal Security
- [35:12] - The Power of Desperate Prayer
- [41:52] - Conclusion and Encouragement
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
- Psalm 72:12
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#### Observation Questions
1. How does Psalm 72:12 describe the role of Christ in relation to the needy and the poor? What specific actions are attributed to Him in this verse?
2. In the sermon, what is highlighted as the paradoxical nature of Christ's kingdom? How does this relate to His care for the lowly? [00:57]
3. According to the sermon, what are the threefold descriptions of those who are the special objects of Christ's grace? [02:39]
4. What does the sermon say about the timing of God's deliverance for the needy? How is this timing significant? [02:22]
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#### Interpretation Questions
1. What does the sermon suggest about the relationship between recognizing our spiritual poverty and relying on God's grace? How does this recognition impact a believer's faith journey? [04:41]
2. How does the sermon explain the concept of having "no helper" in spiritual matters? What does this imply about the nature of true salvation? [09:17]
3. In what ways does the sermon describe the blessings promised to God's people, particularly in terms of deliverance and protection? How do these promises provide comfort to believers? [27:07]
4. How does the sermon interpret the power of desperate prayer? What does it suggest about the nature of prayers that move the heart of God? [36:12]
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#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt spiritually needy or poor. How did you respond to that feeling, and what role did your faith play in seeking help from God? [04:41]
2. The sermon emphasizes the importance of recognizing our helplessness before God. How can you cultivate a deeper sense of dependence on God in your daily life? [09:17]
3. Consider the blessings of deliverance and protection mentioned in the sermon. How have you experienced these blessings in your own life, and how can you share this testimony with others? [27:07]
4. The sermon speaks about the power of desperate prayer. Can you identify a situation in your life where you need to pray more fervently? What steps can you take to make your prayers more heartfelt and sincere? [36:12]
5. How can you apply the concept of Christ's sovereignty and compassion in your interactions with others, especially those who are in need or marginalized? [00:57]
6. The sermon discusses the futility of self-reliance in spiritual matters. What are some areas in your life where you might be relying too much on your own strength rather than God's grace? [07:14]
7. Reflect on the idea that God's deliverance often comes when we are at our lowest. How can you prepare your heart to trust in God's timing and provision, even in moments of desperation? [02:22]
Devotional
Day 1: Christ's Sovereignty Intertwined with Compassion
Christ's sovereignty is not just about His power and dominion but is deeply intertwined with His compassion for the lowly and needy. In Psalm 72:12, Christ is depicted as a ruler who cares profoundly for those who are humble and dependent on Him. This paradox of exaltation and humility reveals a kingdom where the highest glory is found in serving and blessing the least. It is a comforting truth that where Christ is highest, and we are lowest, there is glory to God and peace on earth. This understanding challenges us to see Christ's rule not as distant or authoritarian but as intimately concerned with the well-being of His people. [00:57]
Psalm 113:5-8 (ESV): "Who is like the Lord our God, who is seated on high, who looks far down on the heavens and the earth? He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap, to make them sit with princes, with the princes of his people."
Reflection: In what ways can you reflect Christ's compassion in your daily interactions, especially towards those who are often overlooked or marginalized?
Day 2: Recognizing Our Spiritual Poverty
The human condition is inherently needy, both physically and spiritually. We are born dependent on God for every breath and sustenance, and as we grow, our spiritual needs become more apparent. Recognizing our spiritual poverty is crucial, as it leads us to rely on God's grace rather than our own resources. This realization is humbling yet liberating, as it shifts our focus from self-reliance to divine dependence. Like the prodigal son, we must come to terms with our destitution and turn to the Savior who provides abundantly for our needs. [02:39]
Isaiah 55:1-2 (ESV): "Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy?"
Reflection: Identify an area in your life where you are relying on your own strength. How can you begin to trust God more in this area today?
Day 3: Acknowledging Our Helplessness and Turning to God
True salvation comes when we acknowledge our helplessness and turn to God. Earthly supports are insufficient, and only through personal faith in Christ can we find true help and salvation. This acknowledgment is a humbling experience, but it is also liberating as it leads us to depend entirely on God's grace. When we recognize our helplessness, we turn to God, who becomes our helper and salvation. This turning point is crucial in our spiritual journey, as it marks the beginning of a life lived in the strength and sufficiency of Christ. [09:17]
2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (ESV): "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you feel helpless? How can you invite God into this area and rely on His strength?
Day 4: The Assurance of God's Blessings
God's people are promised deliverance, protection, and redemption. These blessings assure us of God's constant care and provision, even in times of distress and oppression. Christ judges His people with righteousness, delivering them from oppression and saving them from their enemies. He spares the poor and needy, providing for them in their distress. Ultimately, He redeems their souls, ensuring their eternal security. These promises are a source of immense comfort and assurance for believers, reminding us of God's unwavering faithfulness. [27:07]
Psalm 34:17-19 (ESV): "When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all."
Reflection: Reflect on a time when you experienced God's deliverance. How can this memory encourage you to trust in His promises today?
Day 5: The Power of Desperate Prayer
When our prayers are fervent and desperate, they move the heart of God. It is in our moments of deep need and genuine cries that God delivers us, showcasing His mercy and grace. Our spiritual journey requires us to come to a point of desperation, where our cries to God are genuine and heartfelt. In these moments, God delights in our dependence on Him and responds with mercy and grace. This understanding encourages us to approach God with sincerity and urgency, knowing that He is attentive to our cries. [36:12]
James 5:16 (ESV): "Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working."
Reflection: Think of a situation where you need God's intervention. How can you approach Him in prayer with sincerity and urgency today?
Quotes
"Where Christ is highest and we are lowest and the two meet, there is glory to God in the highest and on Earth peace Good Will towards men. I might almost raise the question whether this Psalm is more a tribute of homage to the Messiah or a treasury of comfort for his poor subjects." [01:05]
"We begin life in a needy State we are full of needs in our infancy and cannot help ourselves we continue throughout life in a needy State the very breath in our nostrils have to be the gift of God's goodness in him we live and move and have our being and as we grow old our needs become even more apparent." [02:45]
"Once they thought that they were rich and increased in goods and had need of nothing but now through the enlightenment of God's spirit they feel themselves to be naked and poor and miserable, their needs were great before but they appear now to be incalculable more in number than the hairs of their heads." [04:39]
"Now until God enlightens us we seem to have a great many helpers we fancy perhaps we once fancied that a priest could save us if we have a grain of Grace we have given up that idea perhaps we have imagined that our parents would help us that our Godly ancestry might stand Us in some Stead." [08:51]
"Indeed when a Christian is richest in Grace he is poorest in himself, the Way to Grow Rich in Grace is to feel your poverty, whenever you think you have stored up a little strength a little Comfort a little provision against a rainy day you are pretty sure to have the trouble you bargained for." [11:38]
"God's poor and needy ones you will perceive if you turn a little further down she'll be saved from oppression fourth verse he shall judge the poor of the people he shall save the children of the needy he shall break in pieces the oppressor the Lord's people are like sheep Among Wolves." [27:00]
"Are you tonight oppressed by Satan have you things laid to your charge by him that you know not of and doth conscience oppress you with the remembrance of sins which have been forgiven have you ever believed concerning them in the atonement of Christ will bow your head meekly and go to The Mercy Seat." [27:36]
"You are brought into great troubles you shall be delivered out of them you are just now the subject of many fears you shall be delivered from your fears it seems as though the enemy would soon exalt over you and put his foot upon your neck and make an end of you you shall be delivered." [28:38]
"Prayer is in itself a blessing when the Lord hears us knock faintly at the door he does not open we may knock and knock again he likes us to knock it does US good to knock but when it comes to this that it is all knocking with us and our very soul and bodies seem to knock." [36:59]
"When we shall thus come to appear before God and open our mouth and pant vehemently for the mercy he has promised then it will come when thou canst not take a denial Thou shalt not have a denial the Kingdom of Heaven suffereth violence and the violent take it by force." [37:28]
"There is none so violent as the man who is in desperate need there is a person who has been without bread many hours and he asks you for charity in the street you would pass him by but he is famished and he says oh give me bread I die he compels you to it." [37:49]
"Poor soul go and plead your need before God plead your sin tell him you are wretched and undone without his Sovereign Grace use the strange argument which David used the strangest in all the world for thy name's sake O Lord pardon my iniquity for it is great plead the very greatness of your sin as a reason for mercy." [39:09]
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