God's Faithful Guidance, Part 1 - Oct. 8th, 2023

Bible Text: Psalm 105

I. Introduction to the Sermon

A. The power and relevance of remembering (Deuteronomy 4:9-10)

Deuteronomy 4:9–10 KJV 1900

9 Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons’ sons; 10 Specially the day that thou stoodest before the Lord thy God in Horeb, when the Lord said unto me, Gather me the people together, and I will make them hear my words, that they may learn to fear me all the days that they shall live upon the earth, and that they may teach their children.

Fireside Chat Analogy: Reflect on the power of family tales told by elders, connecting the idea to Psalm 105 as a spiritual recount of God's faithfulness.

Relevance in Today's World: Highlight the contrast of our fast-paced life with the Psalm's call to remember God's actions.

Purpose of Today's Sermon: Navigate Psalm 105 to understand God's unwavering promises and interventions; emphasizing God's continued faithfulness in our present lives.

II. Body of the Sermon

A. Remembering and celebrating God's wondrous deeds (Psalm 105:1-5)

1. The call to worship and give thanks (Psalm 105:1-2)

State the point: We are invited and commanded to express gratitude to the Lord and to share His magnificent deeds with others.

Anchor the point: Psalm 105:1-2 urges us to give thanks and proclaim His wonders.

Psalm 105:1–2 KJV 1900

1 O give thanks unto the Lord; call upon his name: Make known his deeds among the people. 2 Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him: Talk ye of all his wondrous works.

a. Singing praises (Ephesians 5:19)

Validate the point: The emphasis on "giving thanks" and "making known" underscores the dual nature of our worship - both private gratitude and public proclamation.

Ephesians 5:19 KJV 1900

19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;

b. Telling of His deeds (1 Chronicles 16:8-9)

Explain the point: Much like a child excitedly shares a story of their day, we too should bubble with excitement to share God's works. This isn't just a duty but a joyous response to His faithfulness.

1 Chronicles 16:8–9 KJV 1900

8 Give thanks unto the Lord, call upon his name, Make known his deeds among the people. 9 Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him, Talk ye of all his wondrous works.

(a)pply the point: In our daily lives, how often do we pause to thank God, and how eagerly do we share His deeds with those around us?

2. Seeking the Lord's strength and presence continually (Psalm 105:3-4; 1 Chronicles 16:11)

State the point: Our relationship with God isn't one of passing interest but of continuous pursuit.

Anchor the point: Psalm 105:3-4 calls us to not only seek God but to do so always.

Psalm 105:3–4 KJV 1900

3 Glory ye in his holy name: Let the heart of them rejoice that seek the Lord. 4 Seek the Lord, and his strength: Seek his face evermore.

1 Chronicles 16:11 KJV 1900

11 Seek the Lord and his strength, Seek his face continually.

Validate the point: This isn't a mere suggestion but a central aspect of our faith walk.

(a)pply the point: In the busyness of our lives, are we making God an afterthought or our primary focus?

B. The covenant with Abraham and its significance (Psalm 105:6-11)

Psalm 105:6–11 KJV 1900

6 O ye seed of Abraham his servant, Ye children of Jacob his chosen. 7 He is the Lord our God: His judgments are in all the earth. 8 He hath remembered his covenant for ever, The word which he commanded to a thousand generations. 9 Which covenant he made with Abraham, And his oath unto Isaac; 10 And confirmed the same unto Jacob for a law, And to Israel for an everlasting covenant: 11 Saying, Unto thee will I give the land of Canaan, The lot of your inheritance:

1. Israel's chosen status (Genesis 12:1-3; Genesis 15:18)

State the point: God's calling of Abraham was the beginning of a unique relationship with Israel.

Anchor the point: Genesis 12:1-3 records God's specific promises to Abraham, emphasizing his chosen status.

Genesis 12:1–3 KJV 1900

1 Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: 2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: 3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

Validate the point: God's covenant wasn't a general proclamation but a specific commitment to Abraham and his lineage.

Genesis 15:18 KJV 1900

18 In the same day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates:

Explain the point: Just as a parent might make a unique promise to a child, God chose Abraham and promised to bless him uniquely.

(a)pply the point: As believers, what promises of God do we hold onto and how do they shape our identity?

2. God's promise upheld through generations (Genesis 17:7-8)

State the point: God's covenants are enduring and pass from generation to generation.

Anchor the point: Genesis 17:7-8 reaffirms the lasting nature of God's covenant.

Genesis 17:7–8 KJV 1900

7 And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. 8 And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.

Validate the point: Despite the time that had passed and the challenges faced, God's promise remained unchanged.

Explain the point: God's faithfulness is like a parent's unwavering commitment to their child's well-being despite the ups and downs of life.

(a)pply the point: How do we uphold and pass on the promises and teachings of God in our own families and communities?

C. God's protective providence for His people (Psalm 105:12-15)

Psalm 105:12–15 KJV 1900

12 When they were but a few men in number; Yea, very few, and strangers in it. 13 When they went from one nation to another, From one kingdom to another people; 14 He suffered no man to do them wrong: Yea, he reproved kings for their sakes; 15 Saying, Touch not mine anointed, And do my prophets no harm.

1. Journeying as sojourners (Genesis 26:3-4)

State the point: God's protection and guidance are assured even when His people are in unfamiliar territories.

Anchor the point: Genesis 26:3-4 highlights God's directive to Isaac, assuring him of blessings in a foreign land.

Genesis 26:3–4 KJV 1900

3 Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee; for unto thee, and unto thy seed, I will give all these countries, and I will perform the oath which I sware unto Abraham thy father; 4 And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed;

Validate the point: Even as a sojourner, Isaac wasn't alone; God's promises from the past extended to his present.

Explain the point: (Life is like a dark stairwell) Like a guiding light in the darkness, God's assurances provide direction and comfort in uncertain times.

(a)pply the point: In our moments of uncertainty, do we rely on our understanding or seek God's guidance?

2. God's rebuke to kings for their sake (Genesis 20:3-7)

State the point: God actively intervenes on behalf of His chosen, even if it means confronting the powerful.

Anchor the point: Genesis 20:3-7 shows God's intervention to protect Sarah and Abraham from King Abimelech's unintentional wrong.

Genesis 20:3–7 KJV 1900

3 But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, Behold, thou art but a dead man, for the woman which thou hast taken; for she is a man’s wife. 4 But Abimelech had not come near her: and he said, Lord, wilt thou slay also a righteous nation? 5 Said he not unto me, She is my sister? and she, even she herself said, He is my brother: in the integrity of my heart and innocency of my hands have I done this. 6 And God said unto him in a dream, Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart; for I also withheld thee from sinning against me: therefore suffered I thee not to touch her. 7 Now therefore restore the man his wife; for he is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live: and if thou restore her not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all that are thine.

Validate the point: This wasn't just about protecting an individual but preserving the sanctity of God's covenant.

Explain the point: God's protective care is like a parent stepping in when they see their child being treated unjustly.

(a)pply the point: How do we respond when we see God's intervention in our lives, especially when we least expect it?

D. God’s provision and fulfillment of prophecy through Joseph (Psalm 105:16-22)

Psalm 105:16–22 KJV 1900

16 Moreover he called for a famine upon the land: He brake the whole staff of bread. 17 He sent a man before them, Even Joseph, who was sold for a servant: 18 Whose feet they hurt with fetters: He was laid in iron: 19 Until the time that his word came: The word of the Lord tried him. 20 The king sent and loosed him; Even the ruler of the people, and let him go free. 21 He made him lord of his house, And ruler of all his substance: 22 To bind his princes at his pleasure; And teach his senators wisdom.

1. The famine and Joseph's rise to power (Genesis 41:39-41)

State the point: Amidst adversity, God's purposeful design can uplift His chosen to positions of influence.

Anchor the point: Genesis 41:39-41 portrays Joseph's rise in Egypt, directly tied to God's divine intervention.

Genesis 41:39–41 KJV 1900

39 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art: 40 Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou. 41 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt.

Validate the point: Joseph's journey from the pit to the palace was orchestrated by God to preserve many lives.

Explain the point: God's ways are often unexpected, turning what appears as misfortunes into blessings.

(a)pply the point: When faced with challenges, do we trust in God's plan, knowing He can turn our situation around?

2. Joseph's wisdom and influence (Genesis 50:20)

State the point: What man intends for evil, God can use for tremendous good.

Anchor the point: Genesis 50:20 captures Joseph's acknowledgment of God's providential plan.

Genesis 50:20 KJV 1900

20 But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.

Validate the point: Even betrayal by family was turned into a divinely orchestrated plan for preservation.

Explain the point: Like a tapestry with complex threads, God weaves our experiences into His grand design.

(a)pply the point: In moments of betrayal or pain, can we step back and seek God's bigger picture?

E. Israel’s growth and Egypt’s plagues (Psalm 105:23-38)

Psalm 105:23–38 KJV 1900

23 Israel also came into Egypt; And Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham. 24 And he increased his people greatly; And made them stronger than their enemies. 25 He turned their heart to hate his people, To deal subtilly with his servants. 26 He sent Moses his servant; And Aaron whom he had chosen. 27 They shewed his signs among them, And wonders in the land of Ham. 28 He sent darkness, and made it dark; And they rebelled not against his word. 29 He turned their waters into blood, And slew their fish. 30 Their land brought forth frogs in abundance, In the chambers of their kings. 31 He spake, and there came divers sorts of flies, And lice in all their coasts. 32 He gave them hail for rain, And flaming fire in their land. 33 He smote their vines also and their fig trees; And brake the trees of their coasts. 34 He spake, and the locusts came, And caterpillers, and that without number, 35 And did eat up all the herbs in their land, And devoured the fruit of their ground. 36 He smote also all the firstborn in their land, The chief of all their strength. 37 He brought them forth also with silver and gold: And there was not one feeble person among their tribes. 38 Egypt was glad when they departed: For the fear of them fell upon them.

1. Israel's sojourning in Egypt (Exodus 1:1-7)

State the point: Even in foreign lands, God's blessings can cause His people to flourish.

Anchor the point: Exodus 1:1-7 records Israel's multiplication in Egypt.

Exodus 1:1–7 KJV 1900

1 Now these are the names of the children of Israel, which came into Egypt; every man and his household came with Jacob. 2 Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah, 3 Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin, 4 Dan, and Naphtali, Gad, and Asher. 5 And all the souls that came out of the loins of Jacob were seventy souls: for Joseph was in Egypt already. 6 And Joseph died, and all his brethren, and all that generation. 7 And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them.

Validate the point: Despite being in a foreign land, God's blessing was evident as Israel grew abundantly.

Explain the point: God's blessings aren't confined by geography or circumstances.

(a)pply the point: How do we perceive God's blessings, especially when we're outside our comfort zones?

2. The ten plagues as signs (Exodus 7-12)

State the point: God's might can manifest in undeniable ways, asserting His supremacy.

Anchor the point: The ten plagues, from turning the Nile to blood to the death of the firstborn, are powerful demonstrations of God's authority.

a. Turning the Nile to blood (Exodus 7:20-21)

Exodus 7:20–21 KJV 1900

20 And Moses and Aaron did so, as the Lord commanded; and he lifted up the rod, and smote the waters that were in the river, in the sight of Pharaoh, and in the sight of his servants; and all the waters that were in the river were turned to blood. 21 And the fish that was in the river died; and the river stank, and the Egyptians could not drink of the water of the river; and there was blood throughout all the land of Egypt.

b. Darkness over the land (Exodus 10:21-23)

Exodus 10:21–23 KJV 1900

21 And the Lord said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even darkness which may be felt. 22 And Moses stretched forth his hand toward heaven; and there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days: 23 They saw not one another, neither rose any from his place for three days: but all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings.

c. Death of the firstborn (Exodus 12:29-30)

Exodus 12:29–30 KJV 1900

29 And it came to pass, that at midnight the Lord smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle. 30 And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he, and all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt; for there was not a house where there was not one dead.

Validate the point: These weren't mere coincidences but divine interventions challenging the gods of Egypt.

Explain the point: Through these plagues, God wasn't just freeing Israel but was also making a statement about His unparalleled power.

(a)pply the point: Are there "plagues" or clear signs in our life that urge us to recognize and submit to God's authority?

F. The journey of Israel from Egypt to the Promised Land (Psalm 105:39-45)

Psalm 105:39–45 KJV 1900

39 He spread a cloud for a covering; And fire to give light in the night. 40 The people asked, and he brought quails, And satisfied them with the bread of heaven. 41 He opened the rock, and the waters gushed out; They ran in the dry places like a river. 42 For he remembered his holy promise, And Abraham his servant. 43 And he brought forth his people with joy, And his chosen with gladness: 44 And gave them the lands of the heathen: And they inherited the labour of the people; 45 That they might observe his statutes, And keep his laws. Praise ye the Lord.

1. Miracles in the wilderness (Exodus 13:21; Exodus 16:10-15)

State the point: God's guidance and provision are constants, even in wilderness experiences.

Anchor the point: From the pillar of cloud and fire to the provision of manna, God's miracles were evident during Israel's wilderness journey.

Exodus 13:21 KJV 1900

21 And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night:

Exodus 16:10–15 KJV 1900

10 And it came to pass, as Aaron spake unto the whole congregation of the children of Israel, that they looked toward the wilderness, and, behold, the glory of the Lord appeared in the cloud. 11 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 12 I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel: speak unto them, saying, At even ye shall eat flesh, and in the morning ye shall be filled with bread; and ye shall know that I am the Lord your God. 13 And it came to pass, that at even the quails came up, and covered the camp: and in the morning the dew lay round about the host. 14 And when the dew that lay was gone up, behold, upon the face of the wilderness there lay a small round thing, as small as the hoar frost on the ground. 15 And when the children of Israel saw it, they said one to another, It is manna: for they wist not what it was. And Moses said unto them, This is the bread which the Lord hath given you to eat.

Validate the point: These weren't just random events but tailored provisions for Israel's specific needs.

Explain the point: Like a guide in a dense forest, God provides direction and sustenance in our life's wilderness.

(a)pply the point: How do we respond to God's provisions, especially when they come in unexpected ways?

2. The gift of the Promised Land (Joshua 21:43-45)

State the point: God's promises always come to fruition.

Anchor the point: Joshua 21:43-45 encapsulates the fulfillment of God's promise of the land to Israel.

Joshua 21:43–45 KJV 1900

43 And the Lord gave unto Israel all the land which he sware to give unto their fathers; and they possessed it, and dwelt therein. 44 And the Lord gave them rest round about, according to all that he sware unto their fathers: and there stood not a man of all their enemies before them; the Lord delivered all their enemies into their hand. 45 There failed not ought of any good thing which the Lord had spoken unto the house of Israel; all came to pass.

Validate the point: This wasn't a fleeting or forgotten promise, but one that God remembered and fulfilled.

Explain the point: Like a promise made by a parent to a child, God's commitments are sure and steadfast.

(a)pply the point: How do we hold onto God's promises, especially when fulfillment seems distant?

III. Conclusion

Reiterating the importance of remembering God's faithfulness in every season (Lamentations 3:22-23).

Lamentations 3:22–23 KJV 1900

22 It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. 23 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.