'LIFE ON DEATH ROW
"LIFE ON DEATH ROW!”
PSALM 79:11
INTRO: In an 1992 article discussing the US Justice System, newspaper
columnist Cal Thomas mentioned that nearly 2,000 prisoners in
America are living on death row-sentenced to die to pay for their
crimes. (A mere 15 years later that number has risen to over 3200).
Think for a moment about what it must be like to live every day under
the sentence of death. Imagine the fear that may be on the minds of
these people knowing that they have a date with death. Let us take
our thinking a step further. Although we may feel bad for the inmates
on death row, in actuality we all face a similar plight. Each one of us
lives with death on the horizon! (J. David Brandon. Our Daily Bread.
Volume 36. Number 12. March 12, 1992). Hebrews 9:27 tells us—
“And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the
judgment."
All of us, if the LORD tarries, will one day die! It is how we die that
counts! If we have placed our trust in Jesus Christ, our death will be
a time of celebration for us and God. Psalm 116:15 says—“Precious
in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints." Once we all lived
on "spiritual" death row. Ephesians 2:1-3 tells us—“And you hath he
quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins Wherein in time past
ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince
of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of
disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times
past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the
mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others."
The lost person still lives on "spiritual" death row! Not only does that
person face physical death but also spiritual death—forever separated
from God in hell—without Jesus! John 3:36 tells us—“He that
believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the
Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him." Ezekiel
18:20 says—“The soul that sinneth, it shall die...". Not only is the lost
person dead already in trespasses and sins, but that verse implies he
continues to die apart from Jesus Christ! In Psalm 79:11, we see
the plea of those who had been taken captive and carried away in
exile during the Babylonian Captivity. They, according to our text,
were "appointed to die" or "doomed to die." They were literally called
"the sons of death." They prayed that God would hear their
"sighings" the word is translated from a Hebrew word that means
"groans". They prayed God would hear them and save them. I want
to focus our attention this morning on those "Living On Death Row."
Those who are without Christ are spiritually dead and awaiting the
judgment of God! Note with me…
(1) THE PRISONER
PSALM 79:11a—"The prisoner…"
*CONSIDER—
A. THE PRISONER’S DWELLING. Those who had been carried away into
captivity found themselves in a very distressing situation. They were
confined to:
AN OPPRESSIVE PLACE. They had no freedom. They slept when they
were told to sleep. They ate when they were told to eat. They followed the
will of those keeping them or else they paid the consequences for it.
AN OFFENSIVE PLACE. They lived among a vile and heathen people.
Their captors did not love God nor care for the things of God. In fact, their
captors made fun of them and their worship of God. They mocked them—
“Sing us one of the songs of Zion.” (Psalm 137:2).
Friends, we live in an oppressive and offensive world. 1 John 5:19b tells
us—“The whole world lieth in wickedness…". Those without Christ mock,
ridicule, and scoff at the things we hold dear. But you know something—
before we were saved—we were the same way.
ILLUS: In our criminal Justice System, the most violent, the most obstinate,
and the most unremorseful of offenders on death row are placed in
what is called solitary confinement. In solitary, the only contact a
prisoner has is the bringing of food and an occasional check by the
guard to see if the prisoner has injured himself or become ill! All
apart from the saving power of God, are the most wicked of sinners!
The best we can do apart from the Lord is not good enough! (Isaiah
64:6).
B. THE PRISONER’S DISTRESS. All apart from Jesus Christ are under the
power and the control of Satan! Under the bondage of sin and Satan (John
8:44). The lost are blinded to the saving power of God—the freedom
available in Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 4:3-4). The lost sinner is:
➢ UNDER FORCED BONDAGE TO SIN. Why were the Israelites in Captivity? Because of sin! Jeremiah 25:7-9—“Yet ye have not hearkened unto me, saith the LORD; that ye might provoke me to anger with the works of your hands to your own hurt. Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts; Because ye have not heard my words, Behold, I will send and take all the families of the north, saith the LORD, and Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and will bring them against this land, and against the inhabitants thereof, and against all these nations round about, and will utterly destroy them, and make them an astonishment, and a hissing, and perpetual desolations.” The Bible makes it plain that:
1. ALL MEN ARE BORN SINNERS. (Psalm 51:5; Romans 5:12).
2. ALL MEN REMAIN SINNERS BECAUSE OF:
o Unbelief (John 3:18).
o Disobedience (John 5:24, 40).
All men are born sinners but men do not have to stay that way! God
has provided a way that man can be free from the bondage of sin!
(John 8:31-32, 34-36; Romans 6:16-18).
➢ UNDER THE BONDAGE OF CONVICTION. We read in Psalm 79:11a—“The sighing of the prisoner...". The word "sighing" is translated from a Hebrew word that means “shrieking, crying, mourning." It implies a deep remorse for sin! Two things will happen in true conviction:
1. A PERSON WILL ACKNOWLEDGE THEIR SIN (Psalm 79:4, 8). David after his sin with Bathsheba said in Psalm 51:3-4—“For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.” True conviction which leads to repentance will always acknowledge sin! (2 Corinthians 7:10). When a person he has sinned he can truly repent, but until he acknowledges his sin he will never repent!
2. A PERSON WILL ASK FORGIVENESS FOR HIS SINS (Psalm 79:9) (1 John 1:9).
These two conditions must be met or there is no true repentance!
➢ UNHAPPY IN THE DUNGEON OF DESPAIR. The prisons in those days in the East were a place of great misery. It had a limited supply of water to the prisoners (Charles H. Spurgeon. The Treasure of David. Volume 1. p. 1463) and the darkness was horrifying! The exiles, thinking and contemplating their plight, could do little but sigh, cry, and mourn. What a graphic picture of the lost sinner! We read in Job 14:l—“Man that is born of woman is of few days and full of trouble." The psalmist describes the condition of the lost in Psalm 40:2a—“He brought me up also out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay…”. The lost sinner has:
1. NO HOPE (Job 8:13; 27:8).
2. NO STRENGTH (Romans 5:6, 8).
3. NO PEACE (Isaiah 57:20-21).
But in Christ a man can have HOPE, STRENGTH, and PEACE! (Romans. 5:1-2; Psalm 29:11). We have considered THE PRISONER but also let us see…
(2) THE PRISONER'S PLEA
PSALM 79:1la—“Let the sighing of the prisoner come before thee..."
A. THE MEMORY OF THE PRISONER. The exiles, remembering their life in
Israel before the Captivity, and wishing they could be back in their
homeland, offered this plea to God! Was it heard? Of course, Why?
Because Psalms 34:17-18 tells us—“The righteous cry, and the LORD
heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles. The LORD is nigh unto
them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.”
B. THE MERCY FOR THE PRISONER. God is ready, and always willing, to
hear and answer those who call upon Him from the heart! Psalm 145:18
assures us—“The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that
call upon him in truth.” All the lost sinner must do is by faith believe God
and call upon Him and God will save him! (Romans 10:9-10, 13). That
little word "whosoever" assures us that God will answer, in spite of:
➢ OUR WEAKNESSES—“Whosoever".
➢ OUR WEALTH—“Whosoever". ISAIAH 55:1 invites—“Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.” The GOSPEL is FREE! PRAISE GOD!
➢ OUR WICKEDNESS—The magnitude of our sins—“Whosoever". (Romans 5:20).
God's GRACE is sufficient for all! We have looked at THE PRISONER and THE PRISONER’S PLEA but finally let us see…
(3) THE PRISONER'S HELP
PSALM 79:1lb—“According to the greatness of thy power preserve
thou those that are appointed to death"
A. THE CRY TO THE LORD. The exiles cried out to God—“Let the sighing of
the prisoner come before thee…” because they needed His help. They had no
hope without HIM! This was literally a cry from the ashes (vv. 1-3). It was
the power of God only which could rescue them, as it is only by the power of
God that sinners can be saved. (Albert Barnes. Barnes’ Notes on the Old
Testament. Electronic Edition STEP Files Copyright © 1999, Parsons
Technology, Inc. QuickVerse 2007. Version 11.0. 1. Copyright 2003-2007.
, Inc). If a person desires to be saved he must cry out to the
Lord (Romans 10:13).
B. THE CONFIDENCE IN THE LORD. The exile's only help and hope rested
in the greatness of the power of God! He and He alone, could deliver. He
and He alone could save! The same is true of the lost sinner on death row
today! Only the power of God can save him from his plight! (Romans 1:16).
Salvation is:
➢ FREE BECAUSE OF GRACE! (Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5). By…
➢ FAITH! (John 3:16).
➢ FOREVER TO ALL WHO BELIEVE! (1 Peter 1:3-5; Romans 8:35-39).
Lost friend, the provision has been made and the price has been paid; all you must do now is believe! (1 John 5:11-12). You don't have to live a life afraid to die, fearing the judgment of God! But in Christ Jesus you can have assurance knowing that when you die Heaven will be your home! (Romans 8:1; 2 Corinthians 5:8).
CLOSING: How will you die? Will you leave this life lost and spend an eternity
in Hell or will you leave this life and enter into the joys of Heaven?
The choice is yours today! What will you choose?
You don’t have to continue to live a life on spiritual death row but
you can be free in Christ today! The song writer wrote:
FOR ALONG TIME I TRAVELED, DOWN A LONG LONELY ROAD,
MY HEART WAS SO HEAVY, IN SIN I SANK LOW.
THEN I HEARD ABOUT JESUS, WHAT A WONDERFUL HOUR.
I'M SO GLAD THAT I FOUND OUT.
HE WOULD BRING ME OUT. THROUGH HIS SAVING POWER.
II
LIKE A BIRD OUT OF PRISON, THAT'S TAKING IT'S FLIGHT.
LIKE A BLIND MAN THAT GOD, GAVE BACK HIS SIGHT.
LIKE THE POOR WRETCHED BEGGAR,
THAT'S FOUND FORTUNE AND FAME.
I'M SO GLAD THAT I FOUND OUT,
HE WOULD BRING ME OUT THROUGH HIS HOLY NAME.
CHORUS
THANK GOD I AM FREE, FREE,, FREE,
FROM THIS WORLD OF SIN,
BEEN WASHED IN THE BLOOD OF JESUS,
BEEN BORN AGAIN.
HALLELUJAH I'M SAVED, SAVED, SAVED,
BY HIS WONDERFUL GRACE.
I'M SO GLAD THAT I FOUND OUT,
HE WOULD BRING ME OUT AND SHOW ME THE WAY
Prepared by Brother Bryan L. Browning, Pastor of Beechmont Baptist Church, Beechmont, KY for Sunday Morning, July 29, 2007.
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