We are turning again to the book of Psalms for our encouragement and instruction today. Why?
2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. -NIV
Jesus used the Psalms to explain Himself..
Luke 24:26 Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.
Luke 24:44 He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.”
The NT epistles tell us that we are to teach and admonish one another from them,,,
Colossians 3:16a Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms…KJV
Ephesians 5:19a Speak to one another with psalms -BSB
And that is what I will be using again today…Psalms is a song book, prayer book,
Acts 4:24 And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them,
Psalm 146:6 He is the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them-- he remains faithful forever.
Acts 4:25 Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things?
Psalm 2:1 Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?
And so anyway today we are again going to used this incredible book called The Psalms, that was composed probably by 8 authors over a span of nearly 1,000 years, that still remain timeless treasure to even to 21st century Christians for within it is a collection of relatable prayers, praises, complaints, and wisdom that is inspired by God to help instruct us on how we are to live!
Anyway our Psalm today is…Psalm 34 and notice the superscription placed upon this Psalm…
Psalm 34 (NIV)
Of David. When he pretended to be insane before Abimelek, who drove him away, and he left.
1 I will extol the Lord at all times;
his praise will always be on my lips.
2 I will glory in the Lord;
let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
3 Glorify the Lord with me;
let us exalt his name together.
4 I sought the Lord, and he answered me;
he delivered me from all my fears.
5 Those who look to him are radiant;
their faces are never covered with shame.
6 This poor man called, and the Lord heard him;
he saved him out of all his troubles.
We often can recall the years of our earthly pilgrimage, but the notable events that happened in that specific year. If I were to categorize the year that just expired, 2020, I will always remember it as the year of fear!
I don't believe that I am the only one. Fear, as legitimate as it may seem to us does have an adverse effect on our lives. I read a few articles this weeks that support this:
.
Kaiser Family Foundation - The Implications of COVID-19 for Mental Health and Substance Use -Published: Feb 10, 2021- The COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting economic recession have negatively affected many people’s mental health and created new barriers for people already suffering from mental illness and substance use disorders. During the pandemic, about 4 in 10 adults in the U.S. have reported symptoms of anxiety or depressive disorder, a share that has been largely consistent, up from one in ten adults who reported these symptoms from January to June 2019 .
Is that something to be concerned about?
Time Magazine - Depression Has Skyrocketed During the COVID-19 Pandemic, Study Says BY JAMIE DUCHARME
Almost as soon as coronavirus lockdowns went into effect in March, discussion turned to mental health. It’s well-documented that natural disasters, wars and other mass traumas can lead to significant increases in population-wide psychological distress. Weeks or months of anxiety, fear, sadness and social isolation can take their toll, leading many experts to fear the U.S. would face a mental health epidemic at the same time it fights a viral pandemic.
And the fear is not age discriminatory…
Forbes Magazine- 25 Million Students On COVID-19: ‘Depression, Anxiety And Loneliness’ Hitting Peak Levels
20% of college students are more depressed.
11% are more anxious.
16% are more lonely.
COVID-19 has caused serious emotional challenges for young people. In fact, according to Wisdo, a peer-to-peer counseling community, “pandemic anxiety is almost three times more to this age group than any other stress-creating experiences pre COVID-19.”
The U.S. Census Bureau recently reported that a third of Americans show signs of clinical depression and anxiety. These and other mental conditions are becoming amplified during the recent pandemic,
But isn’t there a vaccine? Hasn’t that alleviated the anxiety?
Time -Too Many Americans Still Mistrust the COVID-19 Vaccines. Here's Why
According to a December survey undertaken by the Pew Research Center, nearly 40% of Americans say they will definitely not or probably not get the COVID-19 vaccine when it becomes available to them. Gallup polls put the number at 37%.
Miami University News- For Black Americans, fear fuels doubt about COVID-19 vaccines
Mistrust of the coronavirus inoculations is rooted in a long history of medical mistreatment of patients of color. More efforts are needed to gain their confidence, University of Miami medical authorities say.
LA Times -Some healthcare workers refuse to take COVID-19 vaccine, even with priority access
At St. Elizabeth Community Hospital in Tehama County, fewer than half of the 700 hospital workers eligible for the vaccine were willing to take the shot when it was first offered. April Lu, a 31-year-old nurse at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center, said she refused to take the vaccine because she was not convinced it was safe for pregnant women. She is six months pregnant. Clinical trials have yet to be conducted on pregnant women who take the vaccine.
CBS News - Many health care workers are refusing to get a COVID-19 vaccine -BY MEGAN CERULLO -JANUARY 19, 2021 -As many Americans scramble to arrange appointments for their first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, some health care workers are declining to be inoculated. A significant percentage of doctors, nurses, EMS workers, support staff and other health care employees said they turned down the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines over concerns they may not be safe or effective, according to a recent survey.
Well the reason that I’m pointing this out to you is because even the best of us, can get stuck in a cave or cavern of fear, and I will explain to you this allegory in just a little while! Because our hero David, the man who wrote this Psalm, a biblical hero who apparently never seemed to be afraid but was in fact many times afraid, and even become holed down in a caver because of fear!!
And maybe you are there today. Stuck in some kind of fear. You call it concern, but that concern has become a cocoon, forbidding you from living the abundant life for this last year!
Well I hope for you today, that today’s message becomes for you one that is inspirational and instructive if you happen to be living in that cavern of fear. And I will even give it legitimacy this morning, because as we will see, David’s is. But we can learn some phenomenal things from David through this Psalm. And it is what I’ve entitled today’s message after:
How to Turn your Cavern of Fear, into a Faith Cathedral!
And my proposition to you this Lord’s day morning from this Psalm is this that:
A study of the principles, perspective and practices recorded in the 34th Psalm, when applied can help turn your cave of fear into a cathedral of faith!
Ok what is wonderful about this Psalm is that the superscription give us the context of how David got into that cave in the first place, so we are going to look at first of all..
I. The PROBLEMS that led David into a Cavern of Fear!
A) Problems?
1. A pandemic? – no, something far worse!!
a) A king and father-in-law who was trying to KILL HIM!
i. Background:
1 Kings 17:1 Now the Philistines gathered their forces for war and assembled at Sokoh in Judah. They pitched camp at Ephes Dammim, between Sokoh and Azekah. 2 Saul and the Israelites assembled and camped in the Valley of Elah and drew up their battle line to meet the Philistines. 3 The Philistines occupied one hill and the Israelites another, with the valley between them. 4 A champion named Goliath, who was from Gath, came out of the Philistine camp. His height was six cubits and a span. 5 He had a bronze helmet on his head and wore a coat of scale armor of bronze weighing five thousand shekels; 6 on his legs he wore bronze greaves, and a bronze javelin was slung on his back. 7 His spear shaft was like a weaver’s rod, and its iron point weighed six hundred shekels. His shield bearer went ahead of him. 8 Goliath stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, “Why do you come out and line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not the servants of Saul? Choose a man and have him come down to me. 9 If he is able to fight and kill me, we will become your subjects; but if I overcome him and kill him, you will become our subjects and serve us.” 10 Then the Philistine said, “This day I defy the armies of Israel! Give me a man and let us fight each other.” 11 On hearing the Philistine’s words, Saul and all the Israelites were dismayed and terrified.
1 Kings 17:32 David said to Saul, “Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him.”
1 Kings 17: 45 David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. 47 All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.” 48 As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him. 49 Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown on the ground.
1 Kings 17: 50 So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him.
B) Provoke?
1 Samuel 18:6 When the men were returning home after David had killed the Philistine, the women came out from all the towns of Israel to meet King Saul with singing and dancing, with joyful songs and with timbrels and lyres. 7 As they danced, they sang:
“Saul has slain his thousands,
and David his tens of thousands.”
8 Saul was very angry; this refrain displeased him greatly. “They have credited David with tens of thousands,” he thought, “but me with only thousands. What more can he get but the kingdom?” 9 And from that time on Saul kept a close eye on David.
1. Saul’s jealousy!
1 Samuel 18: 10 The next day an evil spirit from God came forcefully on Saul. He was prophesying in his house, while David was playing the lyre, as he usually did. Saul had a spear in his hand 11 and he hurled it, saying to himself, “I’ll pin David to the wall.” But David eluded him twice.
1 Samuel 19:4 Jonathan spoke well of David to Saul his father and said to him, “Let not the king do wrong to his servant David; he has not wronged you, and what he has done has benefited you greatly.
1 Samuel 19:6 Saul listened to Jonathan and took this oath: “As surely as the Lord lives, David will not be put to death.”
1 Samuel 19:9 But an evil spirit from the Lord came on Saul as he was sitting in his house with his spear in his hand. While David was playing the lyre, 10 Saul tried to pin him to the wall with his spear, but David eluded him as Saul drove the spear into the wall. That night David made good his escape.
1 Samuel 21:1 David went to Nob, to Ahimelek the priest. Ahimelek trembled when he met him, and asked, “Why are you alone? Why is no one with you?” 2 David answered Ahimelek the priest, “The king sent me on a mission and said to me, ‘No one is to know anything about the mission I am sending you on.’ As for my men, I have told them to meet me at a certain place.
2. David’s 1st lie
1 Samuel 21:3 Now then, what do you have on hand? Give me five loaves of bread, or whatever you can find.” 4 But the priest answered David, “I don’t have any ordinary bread on hand; however, there is some consecrated bread here—provided the men have kept themselves from women.” 5 David replied, “Indeed women have been kept from us, as usual whenever I set out. The men’s bodies are holy even on missions that are not holy. How much more so today!” 6 So the priest gave him the consecrated bread, since there was no bread there except the bread of the Presence that had been removed from before the Lord and replaced by hot bread on the day it was taken away. 7 Now one of Saul’s servants was there that day, detained before the Lord; he was Doeg the Edomite, Saul’s chief shepherd. 8 David asked Ahimelek, “Don’t you have a spear or a sword here? I haven’t brought my sword or any other weapon, because the king’s mission was urgent.”
2. David’s 2nd lie
1 Samuel 21:9 The priest replied, “The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you killed in the Valley of Elah, is here; it is wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod. If you want it, take it; there is no sword here but that one.” David said, “There is none like it; give it to me.” 10 That day David fled from Saul and went to Achish king of Gath.
3. David fleeing to the hometown of Goliath!
1 Samuel 21:11 But the servants of Achish said to him, “Isn’t this David, the king of the land? Isn’t he the one they sing about in their dances: “‘Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands’?”
12 David took these words to heart and was very much afraid of Achish king of Gath.
4. Achish’s possible vengeance!
a) So how did this brave warrior preserve himself?
C) Preservation?
1. He pretended!!
1 Samuel 21:13 So he pretended to be insane in their presence; and while he was in their hands he acted like a madman, making marks on the doors of the gate and letting saliva run down his beard.
a) A great acting job!
1 Samuel 21:14 Achish said to his servants, “Look at the man! He is insane! Why bring him to me? 15 Am I so short of madmen that you have to bring this fellow here to carry on like this in front of me? Must this man come into my house?”
1 Samuel 22:1 David left Gath and escaped to the cave of Adullam. When his brothers and his father’s household heard about it, they went down to him there. 2a All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around him,
b) Wonderful company!
1 Samuel 22:2c and he became their commander. About four hundred men were with him.
c) Wonderful calling, being the commander of 400 distressed, indebted, discontented men!
II. The Principles, Practices, and Perspectives that turn a cavern of fear into a cathedral of faith?
A) Possibilities?
1. David could have whined!
2. David could have worried!
3. But David did something far different – he worshipped!
As he is holed up a cave with 400 malcontents, what do you do?
A) Principles, Practices, and Perspectives that turn a cavern of fear into a cathedral of faith??
1. Praise
a) He get’s out his journal (Book of Psalms) and he writes…
Psalm 34:1a 1 I will extol the Lord at all times; NIV
Psalm 34:1a I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually…NKJV
Psalm 34:1b on my lips.-NIV
Psalm 34:1b in my mouth.-NKJV
i. He Praised Personally – I will…
ii. He Praised Continual – Bless the Lord at all times…
iii. He Praised Audibly – His praise shall continually be in my mouth!
Hebrews 13:15 Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name.
b) Point?
i. No matter what you are going through you can turn your cave of fear, your jail cell, into a cathedral of faith through - praise!
a. Paul & Silas
Acts 16:16 Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a female slave who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. 17 She followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved.” 18 She kept this up for many days. Finally Paul became so annoyed that he turned around and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” At that moment the spirit left her. 19 When her owners realized that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to face the authorities. 20 They brought them before the magistrates and said, “These men are Jews, and are throwing our city into an uproar 21 by advocating customs unlawful for us Romans to accept or practice.” 22 The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten with rods. 23 After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. 24 When he received these orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.25a About midnight….
b. Paul & Silas decided to turn their cell into a cathedral!
Acts 16:25b Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God…
c) Premise?
1 Peter 1: 6 In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
1 Peter 2: 9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
d) Proof!
i. That your faith is the real deal!
ii. You can praise no matter what the problem, or pain level may be!
iii. Not only that but you implement the next principle or practice of:
2. Partnership!
a) By that I mean you solicit participation in your praise with the distressed, indebted, discontented that surround you!
i. Though the pronouns are personal:
Psalm 34:2a I will glory in the Lord;
ii. They are meant to be publicized!
Psalm 34:2b let the afflicted hear and rejoice…
Acts 16:25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.
iii. David goes as far as to solicit the praise of others!
Psalm 34:3 Glorify the Lord with me;[COME ON] let us exalt his name together.
iv. Let’s get out of self-pity and let’s make a symphony of praise!
b) Point?
c) Principle!!
i. The Importance of Corporate Worship!
Theodore Roosevelt - “You may worship God anywhere, at any time, but the chances are that you will not do so unless you have first learned to worship Him somewhere in some particular place, at some particular time.”
c) Pivotal?
i. It is because:
a. It creates a sense of community (belonging)!
Acts 2:42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
Acts 2:44 All the believers were together and had everything in common.
Acts 2:46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
ii. Because it is commanded!
Hebrews 10:24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
iii. Because of the consequences!
Hebrews 10:26 If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, 27 but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.
R. W. De Haan (Our Daily Bread) The Man Who Refused to Attend Church
A book in my library includes a humorous tale about a man who refused to attend church. When a pastor asked him why, he answered, “I don’t go to church because every time I do they throw something at me.” “What do you mean?” the preacher inquired. The man went on to explain. “When I was just a baby and my parents took me to church, the minister threw water on me. When I got married, the wedding ceremony took place in a church, and they threw rice at me.” Hearing this the pastor quickly responded, “And if you don’t start going to church soon, the next time you do I’m afraid they’ll throw DIRT on you!”
Sadly, this describes the situation for many people. As far as church attendance is concerned, it’s “three times and out.” They go to church to be baptized, married, and buried—and that’s about all. For an obedient child of God, however, that will never do. He does not forsake “the assembling together commanded in Hebrews 10:25. Rather, thanking God for the church, the dedicated believer takes advantage of the opportunities his local assembly offers for fellowship, for the ministry of God’s Word, for the observance of the ordinances, and for service. The church is a special blessing that God Himself has provided for believers.
3. Prayer
1. Get can’t out -turn that cave into a closet of prayer!
a) Why?
Psalm 34:4a I sought the Lord, and he answered me;
i. God answers!!
b) How?
Matthew 6: 6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
i. Open rewards!!
Augustine (AD 425) What God is going to give them is not something He has made; He is going to give them Himself!
Hebrew 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
Augustine (AD 425) Toil then to lay hold of God; yearn long for what you are going to possess forever
Augustine (AD 425) The sole purpose of life in time is to gain merit for life in eternity
ii. But in the meantime:
Psalm 34:4b he delivered me from all my fears.
a. Not problems – fears!
i. (F)alse ( E) vidence (A)ppearing ( R) eal
iii. Proper perspective on problems!
iii. He gives us the proper perspective on problems!
b. Perspective?
Rick Warren - God's Purpose Behind Your Problems
1. God uses problems to DIRECT you - Sometimes God must light a fire under you to get you moving. Problems often point us in a new direction and motivate us to change. Is God trying to get your attention? "Sometimes it takes a painful situation to make us change our ways." Pr. 20:30 (GN)
2. God uses problems to INSPECT you - People are like teabags if you want to know what's inside them, just drop them into hot water! Has God ever tested your faith with a problem? What do problems reveal about you?
When you have many kinds of troubles, you should be full of joy, because you know that these troubles test your faith, and this will give you patience. (James 1:2-3, NCV)
3. God uses problems to CORRECT you - Some lessons we learn only through pain and failure. It's likely that as a child your parents told you not to touch a hot stove. But you probably learned by being burned. Sometimes we only learn the value of something - health, money, a relationship - by losing it.
It was the best thing that could have happened to me, for it taught me to pay attention to your laws. (Ps. 119:71-72, LB)
4. God uses problems to PROTECT you - A problem can be a blessing in disguise if it prevents you from being harmed by something more serious. Last year a friend of mine was fired for refusing to do something unethical that his boss asked him to do. His unemployment was a problem - but it saved him from being convicted and sent to prison a year later when his boss actions were uncovered.
You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good . (Gen. 50:20, NIV)
5. God uses problems to PERFECT you. - Problems, when responded to correctly, are character builders. God is far more interested in your character than your comfort. Your relationship to God and your character are the only two things you're going to take with you into eternity.
We can rejoice when we run into problems they help us learn to be patient. And patience develops strength of character in us and helps us trust God more each time we use it until finally our hope and faith are strong and steady. (Rom. 5:3-4, LB)
4. Perspective?
a) Focus on a Person!
Psalm 34:5a Those who look to him are radiant;
a) Point?
Charles Spurgeon - Looking to their Lord were brightened up, their faces began to shine, their spirits were uplifted. What a means of blessing one look at the Lord may be! There is life, light, liberty, love, everything in fact, in a look at the crucified One. Never did a sore heart look in vain to the good Physician; never a dying soul turned its darkening eye to the brazen serpent to find its virtue gone. And their faces were not ashamed. Their faces were covered with joy but not with blushes. He who trusts in God has no need to be ashamed of his confidence, time and eternity will both justify his reliance.
Psalm 34:5b their faces are never covered with shame.
b) Possibly?
5. Pardon!
a) Possibility?
i. Cave could have been one of condemnation!
1 Samuel 22: 9 But Doeg the Edomite, who was standing with Saul’s officials, said, “I saw the son of Jesse come to Ahimelek son of Ahitub at Nob. 10 Ahimelek inquired of the Lord for him; he also gave him provisions and the sword of Goliath the Philistine.” 11 Then the king sent for the priest Ahimelek son of Ahitub and all the men of his family, who were the priests at Nob, and they all came to the king. 12 Saul said, “Listen now, son of Ahitub.” “Yes, my lord,” he answered. 13 Saul said to him, “Why have you conspired against me, you and the son of Jesse, giving him bread and a sword and inquiring of God for him, so that he has rebelled against me and lies in wait for me, as he does today?” 14 Ahimelek answered the king, “Who of all your servants is as loyal as David, the king’s son-in-law, captain of your bodyguard and highly respected in your household? 15 Was that day the first time I inquired of God for him? Of course not! Let not the king accuse your servant or any of his father’s family, for your servant knows nothing at all about this whole affair.” 16 But the king said, “You will surely die, Ahimelek, you and your whole family.” 17 Then the king ordered the guards at his side: “Turn and kill the priests of the Lord, because they too have sided with David. They knew he was fleeing, yet they did not tell me.” But the king’s officials were unwilling to raise a hand to strike the priests of the Lord.
1 Samuel 22:18 The king then ordered Doeg, “You turn and strike down the priests.” So Doeg the Edomite turned and struck them down. That day he killed eighty-five men who wore the linen ephod. 19 He also put to the sword Nob, the town of the priests, with its men and women, its children and infants, and its cattle, donkeys and sheep.
a) The whole town was slaughtered, every man, woman and child!
1 Samuel 22:20 But one son of Ahimelek son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped and fled to join David. 21 He told David that Saul had killed the priests of the Lord. 22 Then David said to Abiathar, “That day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, I knew he would be sure to tell Saul. I am responsible for the death of your whole family.
b) Perhaps, David was feeling the guilt of that!
c) Pardon?
6. Poverty!
a) Our own sense of our spiritual poverty!
Psalm 34:6 This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles.
b) Perhaps a troubled mind and heart!
Matthew 5 (NIV)
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
c) Example of the power of Psalm 34:6
i. David Berkowitz
David Richard Berkowitz (born Richard David Falco, June 1, 1953), also self-proclaimed with the name Son of Sam and christened by the media as .44 Caliber Killer due to the weapon he used, is an American serial killer who pleaded guilty to eight separate shooting attacks that began in New York City during the summer of 1976.
Berkowitz grew up in New York City and served in the United States Army before committing his crimes. Using a .44 caliber Bulldog revolver, he killed six people and wounded seven others by July 1977. The killing spree terrorized New Yorkers and gained worldwide notoriety. As the number of victims increased, Berkowitz eluded the biggest police manhunt in the history of New York City while leaving letters that mocked the police and promised further crimes, which were highly publicized by the press.
On May 30, 1977, Daily News columnist Jimmy Breslin received a handwritten letter from someone who claimed to be the .44 Caliber Shooter. The letter was postmarked early that same day in Englewood, New Jersey. On the reverse of the envelope, neatly hand-printed in four precisely centered lines, were the words: Blood and Family – Darkness and Death – Absolute Depravity – .44. The letter inside read:
Hello from the gutters of N.Y.C. which are filled with dog manure, vomit, stale wine, urine and blood. Hello from the sewers of N.Y.C. which swallow up these delicacies when they are washed away by the sweeper trucks. Hello from the cracks in the sidewalks of N.Y.C. and from the ants that dwell in these cracks and feed in the dried blood of the dead that has settled into the cracks. J.B., I'm just dropping you a line to let you know that I appreciate your interest in those recent and horrendous .44 killings. I also want to tell you that I read your column daily and I find it quite informative. Tell me Jim, what will you have for July twenty-ninth? You can forget about me if you like because I don't care for publicity. However you must not forget Donna Lauria and you cannot let the people forget her either. She was a very, very sweet girl but Sam's a thirsty lad and he won't let me stop killing until he gets his fill of blood.
August 10, 1977, police investigated Berkowitz's car that was parked on the street outside his apartment building at 35 Pine Street in Yonkers. They saw a rifle in the back seat, searched the car, and found a duffel bag filled with ammunition, maps of the crime scenes, and a threatening letter addressed to Inspector Timothy Dowd of the Omega Task Force. Police decided to wait for Berkowitz to leave the apartment, rather than risk a violent encounter in the building's narrow hallway… at about 10:00 p.m. Berkowitz left the building and entered his car. Detective John Falotico approached the driver's side of the car. Falotico pointed his gun close to Berkowitz's temple, while Detective Sgt. William Gardella pointed his gun from the passenger's side.
A paper bag containing a .44-caliber Bulldog revolver of the type that was identified in ballistics tests was found next to Berkowitz in the car. Berkowitz then stated flatly, "Well, you got me," with as described, Detective Falotico a big, inexplicable smile on the man's face:
"Now that I've got you", Detective Falotico said to the suspect, "who have I got?"
"You know," the man said in what the detective remembered was a soft, almost sweet voice.
"No I don't. You tell me."
The man turned his head and said, "I'm Sam."
"You're Sam? Sam who?"
"Sam. David Berkowitz.
Berkowitz was interrogated for about 30 minutes in the early morning of August 11, 1977. He quickly confessed to the shootings and expressed an interest in pleading guilty. Three separate mental health examinations determined that Berkowitz was competent to stand trial. Despite this, defense lawyers advised Berkowitz to enter a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity, but Berkowitz refused. He appeared calm in court on May 8, 1978, as he pleaded guilty to all of the shootings.
At his sentencing two weeks later, Berkowitz caused an uproar when he attempted to jump out of a window of the seventh-floor courtroom. After he was restrained, he repeatedly chanted "Stacy [his last victim] was a whore" and shouted "I'd kill her again. I'd kill them all again." The court ordered another psychiatric examination before sentencing could proceed. Nonetheless, Berkowitz was again found competent to stand trial.
On June 12, 1978, Berkowitz was sentenced to 25-years-to-life in prison for each murder, to be served consecutively (6 consecutive life sentences). He was ordered to serve time in Attica Correctional Facility, an Upstate New York supermax prison.
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ii. His testimony:
David Berkowitz -Ever since I was a small child, my life seemed to be out of control. I was like a wild and destructive animal. My mother had no control over me. My father had to pin me to the floor until I calmed down. When I was in public school, I was so violent and disruptive that a teacher had to grab me in a headlock and throw me out of his classroom. I got into a lot of fights. Sometimes I started screaming for no reason. I was plagued with bouts of severe depression. Eventually my parents were ordered by the school officials to take me to a child psychologist or else I would be expelled. I had to go to the psychologist once a week for two years, yet the therapy sessions had no effect on my behavior. During this period of my life I was also plagued with bouts of severe depression. When this feeling came over me, I would hide under my bed for hours. I would also lock myself in a closet and sit in total darkness from morning until afternoon. I had a craving for the darkness and I felt an urge to flee away from people.
David Berkowitz -Thoughts of suicide often came into my mind. Sometimes I spent time sitting on a window ledge with my legs dangling over the side. We lived on the 6th floor of an old apartment building. When my dad saw me doing this he would yell at me to get back inside. I also felt powerful urges to step in front of moving cars or throw myself in front of subway trains. At times those urges were so strong that my body actually trembled. I remember that it was a tremendous struggle for me to hold on to my sanity. I had no idea what to do and neither did my parents. They had me talk to a Rabbi, teachers, and school counselors, but nothing worked.
David Berkowitz -When I was 14, my mother was stricken with cancer. Within several months she was dead. I had no brothers or sisters, so it was just my dad and me. He had to work 10 hours a day, six days a week. We spent very little time together. For the most part, my mother had been my source of stability. With her now gone, however, my life quickly went downhill. I was filled with anger at the loss of my mom. I felt hopeless, and my periods of depression were more intense than ever. I also became even more rebellious and began to cut out of school. My dad tried to help as best he could. He managed to push me through high school. The day after I graduated, I went into the Army. Even in the service I had trouble coping, though I did manage to finish my three-year enlistment.
David Berkowitz -I got out of the service in 1974 to start life again as a "civilian." All my friends that I knew before had either married or moved away. So I found myself living alone in New York City. In 1975 I met some guys at a party who, I later found out, were heavily involved in the occult. I had always been fascinated with witchcraft, Satanism, and occult things since I was a child. When I was growing up, I watched countless horror and Satan-type movies, some of which totally captivated my mind. one of which was Rosemary’s Baby. Now I was 22 and the forces of Satan were becoming more and more evident in my life. I felt as if something was trying to take control of my life. I began to read the Satanic Bible by the late Anton LaVey who founded the Church of Satan in San Francisco in 1966. I began, innocently, to practice various occult rituals and incantations.
David Berkowitz -I am utterly convinced that something satanic had entered into my mind and, looking back at all that happened, I realize that I had been slowly deceived. I did not know that bad things were going to result from all this, yet over the months the things that were wicked no longer seemed to be such. I was headed down the road to destruction and I did not know it. Maybe I was at a point where I just didn't care.
David Berkowitz -Eventually, I crossed that invisible line of no return. After years of mental torment, behavioral problems, deep inner struggles, and my own rebellious ways, I began committing horrible crimes. I became the criminal that, at the time, it seemed as if it was my destiny to become.
David Berkowitz - In 1978 I was caught and sentenced to about 365 consecutive years, virtually burying me alive behind prison walls. When I first entered the prison system I was placed in isolation. I was then sent to a psychiatric hospital because I was declared temporarily insane. Eventually I was sent to other prisons including the infamous "Attica." As with many inmates, life in prison is a struggle. I have had my share of problems, hassles and fights. At one time I almost lost my life when another inmate cut my throat.
David Berkowitz -Ten years into my prison sentence, when I was feeling despondent and without hope, another inmate came up to me as I was walking the prison yard one cold winter evening. He introduced himself and began to tell me that Jesus Christ loved me and wanted to forgive me. Although I knew he meant well I mocked him because I did not think that God would ever forgive me or that He would want anything to do with me.
David Berkowitz -Still this man persisted, and we became friends. His name was Rick, and we would walk the yard together. Little by little he would share with me about his life and what he believed Jesus had done for him. He kept reminding me that no matter what a person did, Christ stood ready to forgive if that individual would be willing to turn from the bad things he was doing and would put his full faith and trust in Jesus Christ and what He did on the cross--dying for our sins.
David Berkowitz - He gave me a Gideon Pocket Testament and asked me to read the Psalms. I did. Every night I would read from them.
David Berkowitz -One night I was reading Psalm 34. I came upon the 6th verse which says, "This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles." It was at this moment, that I began to pour out my heart to God. Everything seemed to hit me at once--the guilt of what I had done and the disgust at what I had become. Late that night in my cold cell I got down on my knees and began to cry to Jesus Christ.
I TURNED MY PRISON CELL IN A CATHEDRAL OF PRAYER AND PRAISE! HALLELUJAH!!
David Berkowitz -I told Him that I was sick and tired of doing evil. I asked Jesus to forgive me for all my sins. I spent a good while on my knees praying to Him. When I got up it felt as if a heavy but invisible chain that had been around me for so many years was broken. A peace flooded over me. I did not understand what was happening. In my heart I just knew that somehow my life was going to be different.
David Berkowitz -More than 11 years have gone by since I had that first talk with the Lord. So many good things have happened in my life since. Jesus Christ has allowed me to start an outreach ministry right here in the prison where I have been given permission by prison officials to work in the "Special Needs Unit." This is where men who have various emotional and coping problems are housed. I can pray with them as we read our Bibles together.
Psalm 34:3 Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt his name together.
David Berkowitz -I get the chance to show them a lot of brotherly love and compassion. I have worked as the Chaplain's clerk and also have a letter writing ministry. In addition, the Lord has made ways for me to share with millions via TV programs such as Inside Edition in 1993 and A & E Investigative Reporter in 1997, what He has done in my life as well as to warn others about the dangers of getting involved in the occult. I have also shared my testimony on several Christian TV programs such as the 700 Club in 1997, the Coral Ridge Hour (Dr. James Kennedy), and on Larry King Live in 1999. For all these opportunities I am most thankful, and I do not feel I deserve this. I have been able to share what He has done in my life, as well as warn others about the dangers of involvement in the occult.
David Berkowitz -There Is Hope for You Too! One of my favorite passages of Scripture is Romans 10:13. It says, "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." Here it is clear that God has no favorites. He rejects no one, but welcomes all who call upon Him. I know that God is a God of mercy who is willing to forgive. He is perfectly able to restore and heal our hurting and broken lives. I have discovered from the Bible that Jesus Christ died for our sins. Yet He was without sin. He took our place on that cross. He shed His blood as the full and complete payment God required for our wrongdoing. You must believe that Jesus Christ died and was buried, and on the third day He rose again in victory, for death could not hold Him. Ask Christ to forgive you. Declare Him as Lord of your life and do not be ashamed to do so.
Psalm 34: 1 I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips.2 I will glory in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
David Berkowitz-To reject Jesus Christ and His work on the cross is to reject God’s perfect and only gift of salvation and eternal life. Friend, here is your chance to get things right with God. The Bible says, If you confess with your mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord, and if you believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved. For with the heart mankind believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession of salvation is made (Romans 10:9,10)." So believe in your heart that these words from the Bible are true. Please consider what I am saying. I beg you with all my heart to place your faith in Christ right now. Tomorrow is promised to no one.
Close:
1. Trapped in a cave of fear? Turn it into a cathedral of prayer and praise!
2. In a cell of sin and condemnation? Turn to Jesus Christ for salvation!
3. Our you a follower of Christ? Let your light shine and your voice be heard! You may break the bondage of others when they hear your victorious song!
