The Wisdom of David in Times of Trouble

Introduction

This evening, we’re going to examine this psalm. It’s one that I read in my devotions this morning that God used to speak to me.

I had went into my devotions this morning, not expecting to find what I was preaching tonight, but I asked God that if it be His Will to please give me the text - and He did.

I’m thankful that we have a God that answers prayer.

I’m thankful that we have a God that not only takes care of the ‘big’ things in life, but also looks after the little things (Ill.) My drivers door window.

This Psalm is written by David - and if you know the story of David, you realize that this was as God described ‘A Man after God’s Own Hearth’.

He was #1 - A Man - and all the faults & frailties that came with it

He was #2 - After God’s Heart - David had the right desires and the right motives

On top of this - David went through great trials in his life.

He had the king seeking to kill him

Actively sending soldiers out to hunt him down

He had to hide in caves

He had to subdue the flesh

(Ill.) Think about this: You had a man out to kill you, and you’re hiding in a cave, and this man comes in unprotected and falls asleep basically at your feet. You know that if you kill him, the kingdom will essentially be yours for the taking - what do you do?

This is great temptation to have to endure. David didn’t submit unto that temptation - because when David was going through trials, the trials brought him closer to God… it’s when David was living the high life when he allowed his flesh to bring destruction to him, his family & his testimony.

Now we don’t know when this Psalm was written, but was most likely during the time of him fleeing from Saul.

It most certainly was in a time when David was close unto God - as you see it reflected in his words.

That being said we’re going to examine the Wisdom of David in Times of Trouble.

The First things that we notice is ‘A Seeking’

I. A Seeking (v1-2)

The psalm opens with David seeking the face of the LORD

The Petition

David describes his petition as a ‘cry’.

That word has essentially two different meanings:

Cry (def) shed tears

Cry (def) shout

Given context I think it’s clear that David is not speaking of shedding tears, though that may be in accompaniment. He’s speaking about ‘shouting’.

But either way, what I want you to focus on here is the PASSION! David is PASSIONATELY speaking unto God!

Let me ask you this: Is there Passion in your prayer life? Are you invested in your prayers? Are you moved with speaking unto God?

The Petition

The Person

‘Unto Thee, the LORD’

David is Crying out unto God!

Do you know why David is crying out unto God? For the same reasons that the COI cried out unto God in Jg. 3.

Because He knows God is ABLE to Help

Because He knows God is WILLING to Hear

The Bible tells us: 2Cor.9:8 “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:”

Church if you ever need anything - especially of a Spiritual nature - I hope that I’m one of the first people you think of reaching out to. But I’ll say this: There’s no one like unto the LORD! There’s no one that can help you like unto Him - AND THANK GOD THAT THOSE OF US WHO’VE BEEN BORN AGAIN HAVE AN AVENUE AND AN INVITATION TO COME TO!

Heb. 4:14-16 “Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”

We see the Person

The Plea

David’s desire was that when God hears His prayer, that it’s not burdensome, it’s not contentious droppings - but that it’s a sweet aroma unto His nostrils.

Church let me ask you - when you pray, are you concerned with how God hears you?

When you pray, are you in a state of constant plea & complaint?

(Ill.) Husbands, wives let me ask you. When you speak to your spouse, how does it make you feel when all you hear is plea’s & complaints? Husband comes home from work and he’s bombarded with ‘the kids have been brats today, the washer is acting up & my big toe is out of joint. When are you going to fix the washer? I would really like that fence put up...’

David was concerned with how his prayer came through. He desired it to be sweet & a blessing - not contentious droppings.

The Plea

We see a Seeking - Next a Setting

II. A Setting (v3)

He Desired a Watch

For those who are unfamiliar - a watch is a guard.

(Ill.) If you remember when Jesus was laid in the tomb the Pharisees went to Pilate and desired that he set a watch at the tomb. They were there as guard to keep anyone from coming to get the body. (But they were obviously powerless to prevent the body from leaving the tomb!)

David desired that God guard his mouth.

There’s reason for this. That’s because one of the greatest weapons known to man is the tongue.

The book of James speaks much about the tongue:

Jam. 1:26 “If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.”

Read Jam. 3:1-10.

As such, David asked God to guard his mouth

He Deemed it Necessary

What I mean by that is, David didn’t trust himself.

(Ill.) Show of hands. Has anyone here said anything foolish that they wish they hadn’t? Don’t you wish God had a guard upon your mouth?

These are words that I pray often - especially when I preach. I ask God to guard my words, let me not say anything extra, nor leave anything unsaid.

I will say this: Many relationships would be a lot healthier if we sought God to set a watch upon our lips!

A Seeking, A Setting - Next a Subduing

III. A Subduing (v4)

He Sought Restraint

David not only sought for God to set a watch upon his mouth - but sought for God to Restrain his heart!

His Cravings

‘Incline not my heart to any evil thing...’

He asked God to restrain the things in which he cared for. That to which his heart longed for. He understood the propensity of his desires to be wicked.

Do you want to know how to give someone really bad advice? Tell them to follow their heart.

Jer. 17:9 “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?”

There are those who speak as though their heart is right with God, but is not: Mat. 15:8 “This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.”

But make no mistake - being born again doesn’t absolve you from wicked desires of the heart either. As Jesus said: Mat. 26:41 “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

David cared that his heart was right with God

His Conduct

‘…to practise wicked works with men that work iniquity...’

David was not only concerned that his Heart was right with God, he also cared that his hands stayed holy & blameless as well.

If you profess to be a Christian, you should conduct yourself in a manner like unto Christ. If you refuse to do so, then stop calling yourself a Christian.

David was Concerned for his Conduct

His Companionship

‘…and let me not eat of their dainties.’

Lastly, David was concerned with consorting with the wrong crowd.

He wanted God to guard who he was hanging around. Who he was breaking bread with.

We should seek to fellowship with like-minded believers.

1Cor. 15:33 “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.”

Pr. 13:20 “He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: But a companion of fools shall be destroyed.”

We have seen what has happened to the COI in our studies in Judges

We see what happened with Peter when Jesus was taken in the garden:

Jn. 18:18 “And the servants and officers stood there, who had made a fire of coals; for it was cold: and they warmed themselves: and Peter stood with them, and warmed himself.” Jn. 18:25-27 “And Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. They said therefore unto him, Art not thou also one of his disciples? He denied it, and said, I am not. One of the servants of the high priest, being his kinsman whose ear Peter cut off, saith, Did not I see thee in the garden with him? Peter then denied again: and immediately the cock crew.”

David understood that hanging around the wrong people would get him in trouble. So he prayed for God to restrain him

A Seeking, A Setting, A Subduing - Next a Smiting

IV. A Smiting (v5)

This is an interesting passage

He Desired Reprimanding

David WANTED the Righteous to tell him when he was wrong.

David DESIRED for the Godly to call out his sin

David WANTED to suffer Rebuke by Godly people that loved him

The common mindset in Americans is that we don’t want anybody else telling us what we should do!

‘You shouldn’t dress like a harlot’

‘You shouldn’t be a whoremonger’

‘You should be in church when the doors are open’

‘You shouldn’t be putting idols before God’

‘You should be telling people about Jesus’

‘Boys should dress like boys & girls like girls’

‘God doesn’t excuse sin, God hates it!’

‘You should reject the reject worldliness & embrace holiness’

‘You should fear the LORD and eschew evil’

If you’re dressing like a harlot - you don’t want to hear that.

If you’re living like a whoremonger - you don’t want to hear that.

If you’re harboring sin in your life - you don’t want to hear that.

Our initial reaction is to say ‘Mind your own business’

This is what separates a David from most everyone else. David desired to hear the truth and be corrected when he was wrong.

(Ill.) Do you remember David’s sin with Bathsheba? David whored around with another man’s wife, got her pregnant, had her husband killed and had a child? Do you remember what it was that finally got him to see clearly? When Nathan came and said ‘THOU ART THE MAN!’

Pro. 27:5-6 “Open rebuke is better than secret love. Faithful are the wounds of a friend; But the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.”

David desired Reprimanding - this is wise!

The Looked to the Righteous For It

Notice he didn’t do like his grandson Rehoboam. Rehoboam took the advice of his stupid friends and split the kingdom.

It’s amazing to me how many kids are willing to listen to their stupid friends and reject the wise advice of their parents & pastor.

David looked to the Righteous for Reproof

A Seeking, A Setting, A Subduing, A Smiting, A Satisfaction

V. A Satisfaction (v6)

He Offered Consolation to the Confounded

Next notice this: David wasn’t looking to just be a taker. He wasn’t wanting to get from the Righteous - he desired to be a help in their time of need as well!

This is the main reason why church attendance is so important.

Heb. 10:24-25 “And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”

For those that believe they are living as Christ would have them to while only watching a livestream or TV, they are but fooling themselves. Church isn’t just about hearing a message or seeing who’s there. It’s about BEING THERE FOR ONE ANOTHER. It’s a give & take. Considering one another. Exhorting one another.

He offered Consolation to the Confounded

A Seeking, A Setting, A Subduing, A Smiting, A Satisfaction, A Scattering

VI. A Scattering (v7)

He Describes His Destitution

In this verse, David is describing how he feels in the situation that he is in. Needless to say, it’s a desperate situation.

Just as dry bones in a valley, David feels as though his bones are but scattered at the graveside.

But church - God is able to make dry bones alive again! If you don’t believe me, read Eze. 37!

He Describes his Destitution - but thank God there’s a Salvation to be had!

A Seeking, A Setting, A Subduing, A Smiting, A Satisfaction, A Scattering, A Salvation

VII. A Salvation (v8-10)

He Cast His Eyes Upon

He looked to the LORD where there is strength!

He looked to the LORD where there is hope!

I hate repetition, though they say it’s the mother of all learning. But to repeat words that I feel I’ve spoken often of late - We’d better start casting our eyes to the LORD for the Saving of our Country and stop placing our trust in politics!

He Cast His Eyes upon the LORD

He Displayed Conviction in His Ability

He placed his Faith in the God of Heaven.

David was a man of faith!

Ps. 62:1-2 “Truly my soul waiteth upon God: From him cometh my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved.” Ps. 62:6-8 “He only is my rock and my salvation: He is my defence; I shall not be moved. In God is my salvation and my glory: The rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God. Trust in him at all times; ye people, Pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.”

Faith is the key to open any door!

Faith moves mountains!

Heb. 11:1-2 “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report.”

David had confidence that God would hear this prayer

He Displayed Conviction in His Ability

He Called for Justice (v9-10)

David closes out this Psalm in essence calling for God to bring Justice - Preserve the Righteous & Judge the wicked.

Conclusion

So as we look at David and his wisdom displayed in times of trouble - how closely does he resemble you?

Are you seeking God’s Face & trusting in Him?

Are you praying that God guard your mouth, Guide your heart & keep you separate?

Are you seeking Reproof and correction so that you might live closer unto Him?

Is your eyes fixed on Jesus?

If you can say yes to those, then you’re a wise individual. If not, why not? Will you continue that way? The choice is yours.