Sermon Central
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The Lord Come Quickly!
Contributed by Alan Hughes on Oct 16, 2004 (message contributor)
Summary: This passage of the Psalms speaks of the Lord’s protection, salvation, and exaltation and how it should affect our lives
The Lord Come Quickly!
October 13, 2004 PM
Introduction:
When you were a child, did you ever get lost and was hoping your mom or dad would come and rescue you?
Have you ever felt God’s protection?
Read Psalms 40:11-17
I. The Lord’s Protection vs 11-12
Illustration of God’s protection:
It was Christmas Eve 1875 and Ira Sankey was traveling on a Delaware River steamboat when he was recognized by some of the passengers. His picture had been in the newspaper because he was the song leader for the famous evangelist D.L. Moody. They asked him to sing one of his own hymns, but Sankey demurred, saying that he preferred to sing William B. Bradbury’s humn, "Savior Like a Shepherd Lead Us." As he sang, one of the stanzas began, "We are Thine; do Thou befriend us. Be the Guardian of our way." When he finished, a man stepped from the shadows and asked, "Did you ever serve in the Union Army?"
"Yes," Mr. Sankey answered, "in the spring of 1860."
"Can you remember if you were doing picket duty on a bright, moonlit night in 1862?" "Yes," Mr. Sankey answered, very much surprised.
"So did I, but I was serving in the Confederate army. When I saw you standing at your post, I thought to myself, ’That fellow will never get away alive.’ I raised my musket and took aim. I was standing in the shadow, completely concealed, while the full light of the moon was falling upon you. At that instant, just as a moment ago, you raised your eyes to heaven and began to sing...’Let him sing his song to the end,’ I said to myself, ’I can shot him afterwards. He’s my victim at all events, and my bullet cannot miss him.’ But the song you sang then was the song you sang just now. I heard the words perfectly: ’We are Thine; do Thou befriend us. Be the Guardian of our way.’ Those words stirred up many memories. I began to think of my childhood and my God-fearing mother. She had many times sung that song to me. When you had finished your song, it was impossible for me to take aim again. I thought, ’The Lord who is able to save that man from certain death must surely be great and mighty.’ And my arm of its own accord dropped limp at my side." K. Hughes, Liberating Ministry From The Success Syndrome, Tyndale, 1988, p. 69.
11 Do not withhold your mercy from me, O LORD;
may your love and your truth always protect me.
12 For troubles without number surround me;
my sins have overtaken me, and I cannot see.
They are more than the hairs of my head,
and my heart fails within me.
A. His Mercy
Heb 4:16
16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. KJV
B. His Love
:1 It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love. (NIV)
C. His Truth
31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (NIV)
D. His Protection
12 For troubles without number surround me;
my sins have overtaken me, and I cannot see.
They are more than the hairs of my head,
and my heart fails within me.
II. The Lord’s Salvation vs 13-15
13 Be pleased, O LORD, to save me;
O LORD, come quickly to help me.
14 May all who seek to take my life
be put to shame and confusion;
may all who desire my ruin be turned back in disgrace.
15 May those who say to me, "Aha! Aha!"
be appalled at their own shame.
A. His Pleasure
13a Be pleased, O LORD, to save me;
B. His Promptness
13b O LORD, come quickly to help me.
C. His Punishment
14 May all who seek to take my life
be put to shame and confusion;
may all who desire my ruin be turned back in disgrace.
15 May those who say to me, "Aha! Aha!"
be appalled at their own shame.
Aha!" from ’ahahh (a-haw’);
apparently a primitive word expressing pain exclamatorily; Oh!: KJV-- ah, alas.
III. The Lord’s Exaltation vs 16
16 But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who love your salvation always say,
"The LORD be exalted!"
All who seek:
A. Their rejoicing
