How To Survive Life’s Storms
Psalm 62:1-7
Last year, the highly populated northeast was getting ready for an uninvited guest. A category one hurricane, was so large they Weather Channel dubbed it “Superstorm Sandy” The storm destroyed stretches of land along the Jersey shore and was at one point almost 1,000 miles wide.
There are times in life when we as children of God face certain storms…. Then, there are times when we face extreme storms, storms unlike any we have ever faced before! A “Superstorm” so to speak.
The Psalm that we have read is one of those times for King David:
Description of the Psalm - The superscription here is “To the chief Musician, to Jeduthun, A Psalm of David.” He was one of the chief musicians. Apparently he led the choir when this psalm was used.
This is a simple psalm. It is one of simple faith. It reveals a faith and confidence in God that is akin to a child’s faith in his parents. – J. Vernon McGee
Background – 2 Samuel 15:30 And David went up by the ascent of mount Olivet, and wept as he went up, and had his head covered, and he went barefoot: and all the people that was with him covered every man his head, and they went up, weeping as they went up.
David is at a very disturbing and discouraging time in his life. His son, Absalom is seeking to forcefully ascend to his throne. At this point you would think that David may be bitter or questioning God… Quite the contrary… David uses this occasion to sing praises unto the Lord!
How is it that David could be so positive in this storm? How could he set forth an example of praise? That is what I would like to consider this evening.
What is the prescription for enduring a storm in your life? How can you survive.. what should you do? We find 3 things in this Psalm that I would like to consider. The first is:
I. Wait Patiently v1-4
A. Wait Patiently When Your Enemies Attack - v3 How long will ye imagine mischief against a man? ye shall be slain all of you: as a bowing wall shall ye be, and as a tottering fence. 4 They only consult to cast him down from his excellency: they delight in lies: they bless with their mouth, but they curse inwardly. Selah.
David says many are coming against him, they are trying to kill him! They saw him as a broken-down wall Their plan was to remove him from the throne. They were telling lies about him They were two-faced (praising him to his face and speaking evil behind his back)
There are some who were loyal to The King and others who were going after Absalom. At this point David has a good idea who is with him and who is against him. David’s trusted advisor Ahithophel has betrayed him and join ranks with Absalom. Also at this point in David’s life Ziba came and falsely accused Mephibosheth of turning on him
Have you ever been there? Have you ever felt that you were all alone in the fight and couldn’t trust anyone? Maybe you are there right now… HOW SHOULD YOU RESPOND?
Respond by waiting upon the Lord! - Psalms 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen; I will be exalted in the earth.
It seems that when you are facing difficulty there is always someone present to kick you while you are down. Consider the actions of a man named Shimei - 2 Samuel 16:5 ¶And when king David came to Bahurim, behold, thence came out a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera: he came forth, and cursed still as he came. 6 And he cast stones at David, and at all the servants of king David: and all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left. 7 And thus said Shimei when he cursed, Come out, come out, thou bloody man, and thou man of Belial: 8 The LORD hath returned upon thee all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose stead thou hast reigned; and the LORD hath delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom thy son: and, behold, thou art taken in thy mischief, because thou art a bloody man.
There is no way that Shimei would have cursed the King when he was on the throne! David had a servant named Abishai who sought vengeance on Shimei but David patiently handled the situation and continued on his journey even as Shimei cast (literal) stones at him. How could David handle this attack with such grace? How could David continue to sing in this storm? Because He “Waited Patiently”
How can you “Wait Patiently” when the enemy attacks and when trouble comes in your life?
1) Because The Lord Is Your Provider - v1 truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation.
Let’s put this in perspective: This was “A man after God’s own heart!” David was God’s chosen man to be the King of Israel This is the man who as a young boy slew a great giant! This is the one whom the people of Israel sang praises to!
A man walking in the flesh would allow his ego to interfere… He may have even had advisors who gave counsel for him to stand his ground”
We have some insight as to David’s mindset at this point found in 2 Samuel 16:10 As Shimei was cursing David and Abishai was ready to attack his King’s accuser David said… “What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah? so let him curse, because the LORD hath said unto him, Curse David. Who shall then say, wherefore hast thou done so? 11 And David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, Behold, my son, which came forth of my bowels, seeketh my life: how much more now may this Benjamite do it? let him alone, and let him curse; for the LORD hath bidden him. 12 It may be that the LORD will look on mine affliction, and that the LORD will requite me good for his cursing this day.”
David realized that God was working out His will in the King’s life! David realized that in the midst of this Superstorm… GOD WOULD PROVIDE – “truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation”
Notice that David was waiting with the assurance that the Lord would provide deliverance/salvation. He did not know when this deliverance would come but he knew that God would provide! If you are enduring a “superstorm” rest assured that the Lord is your help and provider. Know that He has a plan for this storm and that deliverance will come in His time! The tough part for us to grasp is the fact that we must wait PATIENTLY!
But we can and must wait patiently because He is our Provider as well as our PROTECTOR!
2) Because The Lord Is Your Protector -v2 He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defense; I shall not be greatly moved.
David not only trusted that God would eventually deliver him from his enemies… He trusted that God would protect him in the midst of this attack!
When is the time of faith? Is it on a sunshiny day when there is not a cloud in your sky? Is it a time when everything is going exactly right, with nothing to mar your outlook? David’s answer is that the best time to trust God is at the crisis moment of your life — J. Vernon McGee
David wasn’t waiting on the Lord to come to him, He was waiting for the Lord to deliver him.
When we wait patiently on the Lord, we are not waiting on Him to arrive, we are waiting on Him to act. He is ever with us, but His timing may not be as we desire. If you are in the midst of a superstorm in your life you can rest assured that the Lord is with you, you can hide in Him HE IS YOUR REFUGE! And when the timing is right He will stand up on the boat and speak “peace be still!”
In order to Survive The Superstorm, we must “Wait Patiently as well as “Walk Prayerfully”
II. Walk Prayerfully v5 My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.
Even as things continue to get worse around David, as the winds blow and the sea rages he says within himself “my hope is in God”
David saw the Lord as a refuge, a hiding place… a fortress! The King walked with God and talked with God even as his enemies seemed to be prevailing. His throne was stolen by his own flesh and blood, his servants * followers abandoned him and even as he was fleeing Jerusalem!
Paul said in -1 Thessalonians 5:17 Pray without ceasing.
Many times the “superstorms” that we face will draw us closer to God! In fact, this may be God’s purpose for putting us in the storm in the first place! David has fled his home & kingdom, been betrayed by close friends & advisors, lied to by servants and attacked by his enemies. This may sound like a bad place but we see that many distractions have been removed from his life… GOD HAD A PLAN!
Sometimes when you find yourself in the worst storms of your life you feel all alone! You may lose a job, a house or other goods. You may not be able to find those that you thought were the closest friends. GOD HAS A PLAN!
I wonder how many Christians were affected by Hurricane Sandy? Maybe there were some who had forgotten about God. Their jobs became their priority, maybe they had a summer home on the Jersey Shore with boats and jet skis… Maybe they spent their spare time with friends and family living the life of luxury… maybe their life was “better that ever before” and God became an afterthought.
I wonder how many that have lost everything they owned are now renewed in their walk with God… praying fervently and trusting Him to get them through each day! It is sad that we have to face storms sometimes to turn to God, but praise God He is there and we can turn to Him! If you are looking for the answer to the loneliness in your storm… turn to Jesus… Trust in Jesus… TALK TO JESUS!!!
If you are facing your own “superstorm” and are looking for the way to survive the storm, wait patiently…. WALK PRAYERFULLY!! And Worship Passionately
III. Worship Passionately v6-8
We all like to proclaim that God is God on the mountain & in the valley… but if we are honest, it is sometimes easier to worship when we are on the mountaintop! David had sat on the highest throne in the land and he was put there by God Himself. And David praised the Lord from that throne… Now the King is in one of the greatest valleys of his life and we see that he is still WORSHIPPING HIS LORD!
I can tell you that praising the Lord in a superstorm is not easy but it is possible. How you ask? Look to verses 6-8:
A. This Requires Persistence - v6 He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defense; I shall not be moved.
Notice the phrase “I Shall not be moved” As things went from bad to worse David remained steadfast! Can you imagine the heartbreak that the origination of David’s troubles came from his own Son?
David was at a place where he thought that things couldn’t get any worse and then they did! What was his response? PERSISTANCE! - v8 ¶Trust in him at all times
There are many people who enter a storm with faith but as the rain continues and the winds pick up they lose that faith. You have got to remain faithful even when things get extremely difficult!
Remember Paul’s exhortation in 1 Corinthians 15:58 ¶Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord…
Plant your feet… seek refuge in Christ and remain until the storm is over! And like David, sing the Lord’s praises all the way!
B. This Requires Perspective - v7 In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.
David did not look to himself for the answer. His advisors were no help. He didn’t seek vengeance. He knew where to find deliverance strength & refuge… In THE LORD! David gave God praise, Honor & Glory for the storm that he was facing!
Are you looking at your troubles or are you looking to God to handle them? If you have proper perspective you CAN worship passionately in a Superstorm!
v8 “Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.
David uses this time of heartache in his life to encourage others… what was his advice to them? - Pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.
Conclusion: I don’t know what the storm is in your life… but do know that you have a shelter… a refuge… A PLACE OF SAFETY!
You may be here and you are not in the midst of a “superstorm” The actions described in this Psalm are actions that we must observe each and every day:
a) Wait Patiently!
b) Walk Prayerfully!
c) Worship Passionately!
