HELP, I NEED SOMEBODY
Psalm 3:1-8
S: God
Th: Prayer: A Passion for His Presence
Pr: SALVATION BELONGS TO THE LORD.
?: Inductive
KW: Stages
TS: We will find in our study of Psalm 3 four unfolding stages that reveal God at work.
The ____ stage is the…
I. PROBLEM (1-2)
II. PRESENCE (3-4)
III. PEACE (5-6)
IV. PUNISHMENT (7)
Version: ESV
RMBC 10 Nov 02 AM
INTRODUCTION:
1. Do you live with the consequences?
ILL Notebook: Consequences (truth or consequences)
One day, a mother explained to her five-year-old daughter that if she chose to disobey her, she would have to live with the consequences. "Oh, Mommy!" she said with a terrified look on her face. "Please don’t make me live with the Consequences. I want to live here with you!"
Well, we all live with the consequences, don’t we?
We all live with the consequences of the choices we have made.
This is also true of a familiar Bible character known as “the man after God’s own heart.”
2. David had to live with the consequences of his sin.
Today we are giving study to Psalm 3 that was written by David.
The background of the psalm is the betrayal of his own son, Absalom.
To truly understand the betrayal, though, we have to look further back into David’s life.
David’s problems began when he took to himself the wife of Uriah the Hittite.
This act of adultery led to an even more despicable act on David’s part.
Instead of protecting and looking out for the interests of loyal Uriah, he chose to take Uriah’s life to cover up his own sin.
David’s adultery led to murder.
From this point onward, David had to live with the consequences of his sin.
Many years later, one of David’s sons, Amnon, became a bit too enamored with his half-sister Tamar and raped her.
This enraged Tamar’s full brother, Absalom who sought revenge, and got it, by killing Amnon.
When David learned about Absalom’s crime, instead of dealing with him in a just manner, he simply allowed him to leave Jerusalem.
Why?
Because David had committed the same crime.
He too had committed the crime of murder over a sexual sin.
Thus, as a result, David had lost the moral authority to deal effectively with Absalom.
In time, the undisciplined Absalom, who thought he was morally superior and a worthier leader than his father, mounted a rebellion.
It was a rebellion that caught David by surprise, so much so, the historical text tells us that he fled barefoot and weeping.
Think for a moment of the shame David must have felt being opposed and hunted down by his own son.
But David was reaping the consequences of the bad choices he had made.
So, as a result, this man who was known as “the man after God’s heart” and who had rejoiced in great victories because of God’s intervention, now was characterized by failure, loneliness, disappointment, and agony.
Has that ever been true for you?
Have you ever felt like a failure because of the poor choices you have made?
And you know that more than anything else, you need God’s intervention in your life because you are powerless to make it different.
Well, this study is for you…
3. We will find in our study of Psalm 3 four unfolding stages that reveal God at work in the life of those who will believe.
The psalm reveals that God is at work in David’s life.
And same can be true of us as well.
Psalm 3 A Psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son.
(1) O Lord, how many are my foes! Many are rising against me; (2) many are saying of my soul, there is no salvation for him in God. (3) But you, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head. (4) I cried aloud to the Lord, and he answered me from his holy hill. (5) I lay down and slept; I woke again, for the Lord sustained me. (6) I will not be afraid of many thousands of people who have set themselves against me all around. (7) Arise, O Lord! Save me, O my God! For you strike all my enemies on the cheek; you break the teeth of the wicked. (8) Salvation belongs to the Lord; your blessing be on your people!
OUR STUDY:
I. The first stage is the PROBLEM (1-2).
O Lord, how many are my foes! Many are rising against me; many are saying of my soul, there is no salvation for him in God.
1. There are times when we feel outnumbered.
David cries out to God because he was dealing with the rising tide of disloyalty.
Both family and friends have turned against him.
Now they are enemies and they surround him.
It was a real mess.
It all seemed so hopeless.
You know…
2. There are times when we feel like giving up hope.
David’s enemies were saying that God had given up on him.
God was not going to deliver him.
These are words that make a profound emotional impact, don’t you think?
It not only seemed hopeless, but it was communicated to him that he was hopeless.
Have you ever felt like that?
The situation was hopeless.
You felt hopeless.
This brings us to…
II. The second stage is the PRESENCE (3-4).
But you, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head. I cried aloud to the Lord, and he answered me from his holy hill.
It is at this point that David becomes God-centered, for…
1. We must realize that God’s protection is all encompassing.
David refers to God as His shield.
The shield was an instrument of defense, and so, David understood that God was his defense.
David knew this because of God’s very own words to Abraham (Genesis 15:1):
“Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.”
Notice how David describes God though.
He is a shield about him.
He is shielded on all sides.
The protection is from above, beneath, around, without and within.
So, though David is feeling the pressure by being surrounded, he also recognizes that his protection is even better.
David then refers to God as his glory.
What is interesting about this proclamation is that it has nothing to do with David and everything to do with God.
David’s hope is not wrapped up in himself.
No, his hope is wrapped up in God’s Presence.
You see…
2. When we are passionate for His Presence, we have all that we need.
When we are God-centered, when it is God’s presence that we truly desire, we are in the right place.
It is like what Paul writes to the Corinthians (I Corinthians 1:31):
Therefore, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
David may have been a failure, but he knows he doesn’t have to stay that way.
He realizes that earthly esteem is transient and fickle.
But if what he truly desires is God’s heart, if what he truly desires is the Presence of God, then he is on the right track.
And the same is true for us.
If we truly desire God’s heart, God will meet us.
For…
3. God gives us an upward outlook when we can’t look up.
David doesn’t have to stare at the ground ruminating on his failure.
He can raise his eyes, because it is as if the Lord puts His hand on David’s chin and lifts his head.
And the Lord does the same for us.
He lifts us up in the midst of rejection and dejection.
When we feel weak, unable and incapable and diabolical schemes seem to take us down, we find that the Lord uses these for His glory.
For God wants to use such circumstances to move us toward Him.
David, though on the run, looks back to Jerusalem and the temple, the holy hill, and knows that God hears.
God answers from His holy hill.
And he is relearning the lesson that Jesus would some day teach (Matthew 6:33):
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
ILL Notebook: Hope (Don Moen)
Have you ever heard the song written by Don Moen called God Will Make a Way? Most who sing the lyrics don’t know their origin.
Many years ago, Don was awakened in the middle of the night. His mother-in-law called to tell him of a tragic car accident involving his wife’s sister, Susan. Susan and her husband, Craig, and their four little boys were on a trip when the tragedy occurred. Jeremy, age eight and the oldest of the four boys, was killed instantly. The others were seriously injured.
As Don and his wife grieved and poured out their hearts to the Lord, they felt helpless at communicating hope and grace to Susan and Craig.
But God did give Don the words and the music. Here is how it goes:
(play song)
God will make a way when there seems to be no way.
He works in ways we cannot see.
He will make a way for me.
He will be my guide; hold me closely to his side.
With love and strength for each new day, he will make a way.
When we desire God’s Presence, we will see that He will make a way.
This leads us to…
III. The third stage is the PEACE (5-6).
I lay down and slept; I woke again, for the Lord sustained me. I will not be afraid of many thousands of people who have set themselves against me all around.
When we feel paralyzed by anxiety and inner turmoil, it is good to know that…
1. God desires us to rest in Him.
There is a saying that everything looks better in the morning.
And there is a truth to that, for a good night’s sleep gives one perspective.
But for David, it is even more powerful.
For David, a good night’s rest means he has survived another night on the run.
And so his faith swells and his courage soars.
He recognizes the source of his comfort and that God is with him.
We need to understand the same thing…
2. We need to understand that God sustains us over and over again.
Although encircled, perhaps even by the consequences of our own sin, we can confidently face the worst when we are dependent on God’s Presence.
It is then that we realize that if we were sustained yesterday, and last night, then we will also be sustained again today.
We do not have to be afraid.
We can celebrate God’s goodness and His kindness, even though we do not deserve it.
This now brings us to…
IV. The fourth stage is the PUNISHMENT (7).
Arise, O Lord! Save me, O my God! For you strike all my enemies on the cheek; you break the teeth of the wicked.
The tone of the song now takes an interesting turn, for David becomes even more emotional.
So David shows us that…
1. We can tell God how we really feel.
For David, it is a real emotional outburst, doesn’t it?
Get up!
“Arise, O Lord!”
I am in trouble!
“Save me, O my God!”
Don’t let my enemies have their way!
It’s not right!
David tells God how he really feels.
I do, however, think it is right to desire justice.
2. We are to desire and seek justice.
Why?
Because when we do so, we are like God.
God is a God of Justice.
The metaphor that David uses is very striking.
The cheekbones and teeth represent cutting words, detractions, and injuries, perhaps even words that bitten his soul.
“Strike them Lord, where they have stricken me!”
David has been ridiculed and the subject of evil scheming.
So David simply asks the Lord to make it right.
APPLICATION:
Notice that David is not looking for the opportunity to make it right himself.
No, he asks God to do it.
He asks God to do it because salvation belongs to God.
This is why David finishes the song with…
Salvation belongs to the Lord; your blessing be on your people!
David knows full well now that without the Lord, there is no solution.
At least, there is no solution worth having without Him.
So let us learn from his example and…
1. Celebrate salvation!
Jesus has said (Matthew 11:28-30):
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
ILL Notebook: Encouragement (easy yoke)
A Sunday School teacher was sharing this text with her young pupils. “My yoke is easy. Who can tell me what a yoke is?” A boy raised his hand and said, “A yoke is something they put on the necks of animals.” Then the teacher asked, “What is the yoke God puts on us?” A quiet little girl raised her hand, “It is God putting His arms around our necks.”
I think this is exactly how David felt.
Though he was filled with guilt, shame and humiliation, and as bad as it felt to be on the run from Absalom, God was giving him something greater.
It was the loving hand on the chin to lift his face.
It was God’s loving arms around his neck.
So realize today, that whatever you are facing today, that…
2. SALVATION BELONGS TO THE LORD.
Any rescue that comes your way is not from your ingenuity.
No, it comes from God’s grace and mercy.
It is God’s work alone.
So…
3. Celebrate the blessing!
God blesses!
And realize that God’s blessing takes us way beyond victory.
It takes us into His eternal Presence.
This is why Jabez prays, “Oh Lord that you would bless me…”
God’s blessing demonstrates to us the height, breadth and depth of His love for us.
Failure does not have to be the last word.
God’s love can be.
And this is why we sing!
(“Salvation Belongs to Our God”)
BENEDICTION: [Counselors are ]
Salvation belongs to the Lord—so failure is not the last word; our problems are not the last word; loneliness is not the last word; guilt and shame are not the last words—so rejoice in that.
Salvation belongs to the Lord—so rest in the Lord, even if the circumstances have your head spinning; realize that God will make a way.
Salvation belongs to the Lord—seek to be in God’s Presence—let Him be your glory and the lifter of your head—let Him do in you what will be for your best.
Salvation belongs to our God, who sits upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. Praise and glory, wisdom and thanks, honor and power and strength be to our God forever and ever. Amen.
