Text: Psalm 34:2-9
Pentecost 12 – Series B
Theme: Taste and See that the Lord is Good
1. The foolishness of misplaced trust.
2. There is hope for those who trust in the Lord.
Psalm 34:2-9
2My soul will boast in the LORD; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. 3Glorify the LORD with me; let us exalt his name together. 4I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. 5Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. 6This poor man called, and the LORD heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles. 7The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them. 8Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.9Fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him lack nothing.
INTRODUCTION:
Today I want to lead you to think about your thankfulness to the Lord by talking about trust. In whom do you trust? Trust and thankfulness are tied together. When you put your trust in the Lord and know by faith that he is good, then you will see so much in life to be thankful for. When you rely on friends, neighbors, yourself, or fellow congregation members instead of trusting in God for all that is needed, then you will be disappointed because of your misplaced trust.
First we will look at the foolishness and tragedy of misplaced trust, and then I want to give you the comfort of God’s Word which tells us, There is hope for those who trust in the Lord.
Our Psalm says, in verse 8: Taste and See that the Lord is Good.
First, let us see The Tragedy of Misplaced Trust.
A. In the days of Noah there were many people who trusted that the days of pleasure which the were enjoying would always continue. They mocked and scorned Noah, who was very much alone in his trust in the Lord who had said a great flood was going to come. Consider the chagrin and foolishness those sinners must have known as the waters rose around them, and they found their trust had been badly misplaced - and they perished from the face of the earth.
B. Or let us consider the giant soldier of the Philistine army, Goliath, who laughed with gleeful scorn as he saw puny David the teenage-rock-thrower approaching unarmed. How shocked he must have been to realize that all his armament and mighty strength would be useless to him, as David’s stone flew true to its mark. Goliath had trusted that he could whip anyone the Israelites had to offer, and he probably could have. But, David trusted in the Lord, the one true God, and Goliath was no match for God.
C. Now remember with me the man Jesus described as a rich man who had a really good, full harvest. He decided within himself that he had it pretty good, and so he determined to tear down his old barns and build new ones to hold all his wonderful wealth of harvest. How the words of the Lord must have burned in his soul as he heard the declaration: “You fool - this night shall your soul be required of you.” He hadn’t thought about that!
APPLICATION: How foolish, how tragic - to misplace our trust!
Satan is constantly searching for ways to get us to trust in anything, he doesn’t care what, more than God. No matter what our problems - physical, emotional, financial – whatever they might be in our homes or in our church life, Satan seeks to have us trust in ourselves, in each other, or in a friend or family member first and then remember God, if we must. We see that in how we react to problems. Who do you go to when you have a problem? Do you keep it inside and try to work it out yourself? Do you go to your spouse first for advice? Do you seek the counsel of a neighbor or friend as the first source of wisdom? Do you commiserate with other people as if God doesn’t know or care?
But too often, we do not trust. This is why God allows so many difficulties into our lives. This is why there is so much trouble throughout our land, why cities live in fear of crime and violence. This is why there is unrest among families, and among the people of God. We have all been guilty of misplaced trust! And now God is calling on us to remember who is still over all and in control of all. He is calling on us to repent and return to him. He drives us to our knees to pray to him for the help that we need. We dare not rely on ourselves; if we reject God’s direction, we will receive our due reward – shame, defeat, and destruction. We need to learn that we cannot trust God TOO MUCH, and ourselves TOO LITTLE.
We need to “Taste and See that the Lord is Good.” (Psalm 34:8)
When we come, and taste, and see, then we will be filled with joy, for we will find comfort in these words: “There is Hope for Those who Trust the Lord.”
A. While wicked men mocked and jeered, poor old Noah kept at the work God had told him to do. Finally, he completed the ark, for to the last detail, and when the springs of earth and heaven burst forth and flooded the world, Noah and those with him in their trust in the Lord were the only ones who were saved.
B. Young David could hardly move when he put King Saul’s armor on, so he put down that earthly armor and trusted the Lord to defend him against all danger. He picked out his stones, prayed, and his trust was rewarded with victory over Goliath.
C. The rich man with the full barns did not trust in God, but the lowly, desperate thief who hung next to Jesus on the Cross did, just in time before he died, and the thief received a reward far greater than any treasure on earth - his treasure was in heaven - “Where you treasure is,” Jesus says, “Your heart will be also.”
APPLICATION: “Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.” (Psalm 34:8)
Has God ever failed anyone who trusted in Him? Did He not deliver Joseph from the slave dealers and make him Lord over Egypt? Did He not lead Israel safely through the wilderness, and conquer all her enemies? Did He not supply legions of angels to destroy the wicked whenever necessary? Did He not send into this world His own, His only Son, to suffer and die for all our damnable sins? Does He not now and always hold out to you and every human being the sure promise of salvation by faith in Jesus Christ?
You, too, can take refuge in him, you can trust him. He will bless you. He wants to bless you. He is ready to bless you. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.” Or, again, as the words of our Psalm say: “Taste and see that the Lord is good.”
Do not let any of the problems of our days in this world - be they physical, emotional or financial, or whatever they might be - cause you to lose your trust and your thankfulness. Don’t make the tragic mistake of misplacing your trust. Do, above all things, do trust in the Lord - Taste and see that the Lord is good. He will do good for you and you will give him thanks.
AMEN.
