Help For The Broken Heart
Psalms 55
I. The Sorrow........His Heart Was Aching.
David was a man after God’s own heart, and yet he experienced heartache. All of us go through difficulties in our life that are so deep, and so painful that it feels as though our heart will break.
David goes on to describe the reason.....perhaps you can identify yourself with some of these things
a. His Heart Ached Because His Foes Were Attacking Him.
*Note V3 He describes his enemies, and what they were doing. They were talking about him, and being oppressive.
Some folks would say that it doesn’t matter what people say about them, but I’ve never known anyone personally who was not affected by the words of others. It hurts when people attack us with words. It pains our heart.
Here’s the sad part of this story....the enemy he describes may have been his own son....Absalom.
It is especially painful when those who attack us are those who are supposed to be closest to us !
Funeral: I did a funeral this wk for a 53 year old woman. Her husband survives her, but they never had any children. She had one sister. The sister was not permitted to attend the funeral. They had a falling out sometime back, and both said things to each other that left a scar.
Words do hurt more than we let on sometime !
b. His Heart Ached Because His Friends Had Abandoned Him.
Ahithophel was a counselor of David who betrayed him, and followed after Absalom.
Ahithophel had walked by the side of David. He was a aide, an advisor, and yet he abandoned him, and turned against him to pursue after Absalom. Ahithophel is a type of Judas, and the anti-christ.
Though Christ knew in advance what Judas would do, it still must have burdened his heart that he did so !
I’ve had my share of disappointments in life, but one of the greatest hurts in my life has been when those who were my friends, those who I had stood by, and those who had once stood by me, abandoned me.
There was a time in my ministry when I felt so alone that I felt as though there was not another preacher friend of mine whom I could call upon !
c. His Heart Ached Because His Fears Were Afflicting Him.
Attacked by his enemies, and abandoned by his friends, David is afflicted by fear. The fear that he fills is produced by loneliness. Loneliness is one of life’s greatest fears. The fear of being alone is much greater than many of the obvious fears in life !
At this point in his life, the great warrior who had slain the giant, was overwhelmed with fear !
Oswald Chambers:It is the most natural thing in the world to be scared, and the clearest evidence that God’s grace is at work in our hearts is when we do not get into panics….The remarkable thing about fearing God is that when you fear God you fear nothing else, whereas if you do not fear God you fear everything else.
Philippians 4:6-8
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-- think about such things.
II. The Solution......His Hope Was Anchored.
a. He longed to flee.
David’s first thoughts are about fleeing. Perhaps he saw a dove take flight from a branch near by, and thought about how wonderful it would be to be able to just fly away from his troubles, and his fears !
Oh that I had wings like a dove ! for then would I fly away, and be at rest !
Illust. Daddy, and old dog !
My mom tells the story of an old dog who showed up at their door back during the days when food was rationed. Her and dad barely had enough to feed the family, most less a stray dog. So daddy loaded up the dog, and carried it off. When daddy got back home after a few errands, the dog had beat him back to the house. He tried taking the dog off with the same results. The dog stayed.
Trouble will follow you no matter how far you might go !
b. He longed for freedom.
Oh, how he longed to be free, to be away from all of his circumstances. Yet true freedom cannot be found from fleeing, but in what David decided to do next.
c. He leaned on faith.
In the end, David turned to the only thing that he could turn to, and to the one thing that he needed to turn to.......he leaned upon his faith, and trusted in the Living God !
III. The Sustainment........His Help Was Adequate.
a. His Call On The Lord.
I am reminded of the great old song.....
LIVING BELOW IN THIS OLD SINFUL WORLD
HARDLY A COMFORT CAN AFFORD
STRIVING ALONG TO FACE TEMPTATION’S SORE
WHERE COULD I GO BUT TO THE LORD
CHORUS :
WHERE COULD I GO OH WHERE COULD I GO ?
SEEKING A REFUGE FOR MY SOUL
NEEDING A FRIEND TO SAVE ME IN THE END
WHERE COULD I GO BUT TO THE LORD ?
I’m thankful that we can always go to the Lord. He is faithful when our foes attack us, when our friends abandon us, and when our fears afflict us !
Where can you go tonight ? Where else can you go ?
b. His Confidence In The Lord.
David believes the Lord will hear him. As he has delivered him in the past, so shall he deliver him now.
Look back on the past.....have you ever found a friend so faithful ?
c. His Casting On The Lord. V22
What a wonderful promise.....he shall sustain ! However, for that to take place we must cast our burdens upon him !
There is another great verse which is only affirmation of how much the Lord cares for us in time of trouble. Just as David found it to be true, so did another
1 Pet 5:8 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you !
The Lord cares for you tonight. He cares about your needs.
Where can you go ? Go to the Lord !
