Fat Bodies and Lean Souls

 Temple Baptist Church - 10-9-2022

Psalms 106:15; Revelation 3:14-18

 

Introduction: 

 

A.  The historical significance of this Psalm is found in Exodus, chapter 16.  I stand amazed at all that the LORD did for Israel to bring them to this point.  The miracles done in Egypt, the opening of the Red Sea, manna from heaven (I could do with a little that right now!), and then gave them their desire for meat by bringing in quail.

 

B.  Psalm 78 calls their desire for meat “lust.”  Though God had been so good to them and worked wonders that only He can do, it seems that none of this was ever enough.  They complained about the manna, so God allowed:

 

Psalm 78:26-29 – “an east wind to blow in the heaven: and by his power he brought in the south wind.  (27)  He rained flesh also upon them as dust, and feathered fowls like as the sand of the sea:  (28)  And he let it fall in the midst of their camp, round about their habitations.  (29)  So they did eat, and were well filled: for he gave them their own desire.”

 

C.  Will the quail was still in their mouths, God slew the fattest of the chosen men of Israel. 

 

Psalm 78:30-31  But while their meat was yet in their mouths,  (31)  The wrath of God came upon them, and slew the fattest of them, and smote down the chosen men of Israel.

 

D.  God judged Israel for their request though He allowed it.  There is an old saying: “God will give you what you want but it will cost you what you have.”  Though God judged them, they chose to continue in their sinful lust and failed to trust God with what He supplied.

 

Psalm 78:32  For all this they sinned still, and believed not for his wondrous works.

 

E.   For this cause, the LORD consumed their days with vanity (to no avail) and their years in trouble!  “Fat bodies and Lean souls!”

 

F.  Temporal blessings tend to make for spiritual decline.  Fatness of the body almost invariably leads to leanness of the soul.  The classic examples are:

 

Sodom (Ezekiel 16:49  Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.),

 

Israel (Psalms 106:15  And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul.), and

 

Laodicea (Revelation 3:17  Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.). 

 

G.  There has never been a time of plenty like the time in which we live.  We truly have need of nothing in a right way.  For this I am truly grateful.  As I look around us at others both here and abroad, it causes me to be thankful to the Lord.  The problem is not found in the things of life but the attitude that sometimes prevails in good times.

 

Revelation 3: 14-18  And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;  I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.  So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.  Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; (Fat Bodies) and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: (Lean Souls)  I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

 

H.  Our days are characterized by “fat bodies” and “lean” souls.

 

J.  SEVEN DANGERS OF GOOD TIMES.

 

1.  We tend to forget God!  Deuteronomy 8:11  Beware that thou forget not the LORD thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee this day:

 

2.  We lose our fear of God!  Ecclesiastes 12:13  Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

 

3.  We begin to worship other “gods.”  1 John 5:21  Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.  Where our treasure is, there will our hearts be also.

 

4.  We begin to live carelessly in sin.  James 1:14-16  But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.  Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.  Do not err, my beloved brethren.

 

5.  We give Satan the advantage.  2 Corinthians 2:11  Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.  His devices still work to day as he has effectively swayed the hearts to people in our day.

 

6.  We fail to set an example for our children.  Psalms 78:6-7  That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children:  (7)  That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments:

 

7.  We cause God to remove His hedge of protection.  Job 1:10  Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.