The Lord is My Salvation

Introduction

What makes you happy? This is one of the most frequently asked questions in our world today but it’s often phrased a little differently. Sometimes it is like this, “What do you like to do?” “What is your favorite ______?” “What brings you joy?” “How do you like to spend your free time?” (Whatever that is!)

Consider how people have historically answered this. Survival. Science. Sports. Success. Spending time with family. Money. Relationships. Fame. Social Media. Power. Possessions. The list goes on and on, however the goal of happiness remains as elusive as ever in our world! Why is this the case? CS Lewis once shared that, “Human history is the long terrible story of man trying to find something other than God which will make him happy.” Have you experienced this to be true in your life? Trying to find happiness divorced from God? Even as believers, this can become a temptation… not for us to reject God or to stop trusting in God, but failing to trust in Him alone. So often, even as believers, there is a temptation to add things to God. To think that we’ll finally be satisfied if we have God and just a little bit more money or power or friendships.

This morning as we look to Psalm 62 we’re going to be reminded that everything that we need is found in God alone. We’ll look at false refuges that people trust in and how those refuges are unable to provide what we need. If you’re here looking for refuge, hope, peace, or salvation - you’ve come to the right place. Let’s look at this beloved Psalm - Psalm 62.

Psalm 62 CSB

For the choir director: according to Jeduthun. A psalm of David. 1 I am at rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. 2 He alone is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I will never be shaken. 3 How long will you threaten a man? Will all of you attack as if he were a leaning wall or a tottering fence? 4 They only plan to bring him down from his high position. They take pleasure in lying; they bless with their mouths, but they curse inwardly. Selah 5 Rest in God alone, my soul, for my hope comes from him. 6 He alone is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I will not be shaken. 7 My salvation and glory depend on God, my strong rock. My refuge is in God. 8 Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts before him. God is our refuge. Selah 9 Common people are only a vapor; important people, an illusion. Together on a scale, they weigh less than a vapor. 10 Place no trust in oppression or false hope in robbery. If wealth increases, don’t set your heart on it. 11 God has spoken once; I have heard this twice: strength belongs to God, 12 and faithful love belongs to you, Lord. For you repay each according to his works.

This Psalm led the Getty’s to compose the hymn “The Lord is My Salvation” and the chorus goes like this

Who is like the Lord our God? Strong to save, faithful in love My debt is paid and the victory won The Lord is my salvation

In a season of despair, discouragement, division and distractions, what a timely and helpful reminder it is to know that God not only is present with His people, but that He alone provides for His people exactly what we need, exactly when we need it. Let’s give Him thanks for being our refuge and the giver of rest today. Let’s pray

This morning in our text we see a text that is naturally divided in a back and forth manner as we see what not to do and what to do. Verses 1-2 tell us to trust in God alone and then verses 3-4 tell us not to trust in people. Verses 5-8 tell us to rest in God alone because of His power and then verses 9-10 tell us not to rest in people because we’re here one minute and gone the next like a vapor. As a result of this back and forth in the text, we’re dividing up our message into 4 parts: What to do and what not to do as people. First,

Don’t Find Refuge in Praise (3-4)

Due to smartphones, Artificial intelligence, and technology in general, we’re truly living in unprecedented times! There are many positives about this, it’s not all bad news. We are able to check in with loved ones and family members around the world with the click of a button. Not only this, but we can see that person on our phone! We are able to learn about just about anything that we want to learn about with a couple of clicks on a computer or phone. From a Christian standpoint, we’re able to study God’s Word wherever we are with our phone and due to awesome software programs like Logos Bible Software, you’re able to have more study resources on your phone than in the largest of libraries on this planet. These are good things that are the result of God’s grace! However, we also know that there is a dark side to technology. Not just in terms of illegal activity and the propagation of things that are immoral and sinful according to God’s Word. Just think of the way that people communicate to one another nowadays compared to even 10 years ago. There are exceptions to this, but in general people are far worse at communicating face to face than they’ve been before, especially young people. Not across the board, but this is a trend that we can’t miss! Not only has face to face communication suffered, but we also see record numbers of people struggling with their self image, followers, popularity, and perception in the eyes of others largely due to social media.

People who from the outside looking in seem to have it all - fame, fortune, followers - are among the least satisfied in our society! For one this is because many look for meaning and purpose apart from God, and we know that this is an impossibility, but in addition to this, we also know how empty praise can be and how quickly praise changes to complaints. A few months ago, there was a professional athlete who was struggling with depression and the athlete said that one of the things that was fueling this was people on social media commenting hurtful and hateful things in their direction. Social media in many respects has turned into the drug of choice for the 21st century. People love the “high” of likes, followers, shares, clicks, comments… but with that, especially when you’re someone in the spotlight, is negativity. Toxic comments. Spam. Hurtful reviews. And then there’s the mental game - this person posted this, so I have to post something too. This post got ____ likes, so my post better get the same. This person hasn’t liked any of my posts, so I’m not going to like any of theirs. People willingly subject themselves to this day after day! Why? Because we love the praise… but the chase of praise is literally killing kids. Chasing the praise of people is painful because it doesn’t last. People bless with their mouths but they curse inwardly, as Psalm 62:4 says. People say one thing in one place, and then the opposite in the next place. People are your best friend one minute, and then the next minute they want nothing to do with you. They praise you, and then they want nothing to do with you. Y’all, speaking from experience here, don’t find refuge in praise - it’s fleeting. It doesn’t last. It’s doesn’t satisfy.

David is being opposed in some capacity here by these individuals. These are enemies. We aren’t told which enemies, but individuals who oppose him. Individuals who believe that they are in control and powerful and who desire to attack David with words and deeds in order to bring him crashing down. Very few people like being opposed in life as it’s part of our human condition! Why would David have enemies? At times he faced enemies because of his actions - David wasn’t a perfect person and made mistakes, and there were times in his life where he faced enemies because of his own sinful actions and wrongdoings. However, we can think of a multitude of times where David was opposed not because of a sin he had committed, but because of God’s work in his life. Consider King Saul after David killed Goliath - Saul loved David… he praised him… until he felt like David was his enemy… then he sang a different tune. So it was then, and so it is today. Whenever we face opposition there are times where we are tempted to seek to avoid confrontation or opposition simply by falling in line and going with the flow. But when your trust is in the Lord, you stand on what He calls you to do. When you do this, you might be opposed, but notice what David says about them. His enemies are like a leaning wall. In other words, they are like a wall built without enough stone to cover the space and they have a weakened foundation. They appear mighty and fearsome, but when your strength is in God, your opponents are nothing more than a leaning wall of tissues compared to our mighty fortress called God.

Friends, don’t place your refuge and trust and hopes in the praise of men. It’s fickle. It’s temporary. It’s like chasing the wind - it never satisfies. Likes, comments, pats on the back, nice words, these can be good things… but they can’t be where we find our meaning and purpose and they certainly can’t be our goal. It is a blessing to have people who care for us and who speak truth to our lives. But we can’t find refuge in nice words. We can’t find refuge in social media. We can’t find refuge in praise. It is here one minute and gone the next. Don’t find refuge in words of praise.

Don’t Find Refuge in People (9-10)

After another back and forth, in verses 9 and 10, David reminds us that we also cannot find refuge in people because we are only a vapor and we can’t find refuge in possessions because they too are but a vapor and an illusion. What is the point that David is making in this section? Not only does praise not satisfy or offer security, but life itself is not forever. Our life and the lives of those around us are called throughout Scripture a vapor.

James 4:14 CSB

14 Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring—what your life will be! For you are like vapor that appears for a little while, then vanishes.

Notice, too, that this isn’t only true for “common people” but also for important people as the Psalmist says that they are an illusion. People love to create hierarchies in our world and corporate ladders and in doing this we make it out to be that some people matter more than others. Some are important and others are less important. Some are special, others are common. We’re tempted to put stock in important things and important people - and there’s an extent to which this is a good thing. While people are often our greatest problem, people also provide us with friendship and joy, especially brothers and sisters in Christ. God’s Word instructs us to trust in people and to follow the example of people. Ephesians 6:1

Ephesians 6:1 CSB

1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, because this is right.

Hebrews 13:17 CSB

17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, since they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account, so that they can do this with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.

Proverbs 17:17 CSB

17 A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a difficult time.

Children are called by God to obey and honor their parents. Church members are called by God to trust in their pastors and to follow them. Friends are called to be present and to still be brothers in Christ, even in difficult times. These are good things! I pray that you’ve had friends who have stuck by your side whenever you’ve been in a difficult situation or had to make a challenging decision in life. I hope that other pastors have had congregations that love them and follow them like you all have faithfully done for the past few years, not because you’ve had a perfect pastor, but because that’s the instruction the Bible gives to churches and their members, to trust and follow and love their pastors. It is good to have family members, friends, and brothers and sisters in Christ who are there for us… but this Psalm is reminding us that life is short and people let us down. People are here one minute and gone the next, in the grand scheme of eternity. Even at our best, when we are most closely resembling Christ to those around us, we still will not be with our loved ones forever. And if we’re honest for more than 2 seconds, we’re quick to point out that we’re not always at our best. We still sin and make mistakes. We let people down. While we strive to be Christlike, we are not Christ. We can’t place our hope in people alone.

Throughout the life of Jesus, we see over and over again that people, even His own disciples, routinely let Him down. They were by His side and His greatest supporters one minute, and then sleeping the next. Charles Spurgeon, the prince of preachers, had over 5,500 members and hundreds more would travel to London regularly to hear him preach. He was immensely popular among Christians because of his faithfulness to the Word of God and boldness in the pulpit. However, in the late 1800s, Spurgeon went through what has been called the Downgrade Controversy. People who at one point were his greatest supporters, suddenly called for his head. Many pastors began denying 3 things: The infallibility of Scripture, the substitutionary atonement, the existence of hell, and a widespread affirmation of universalism - that everyone goes to heaven. Spurgeon faced pressures from people and supporters to go with the flow and please the masses - but Spurgeon, much like Martin Luther during the Reformation, was captive to the Word of God. He didn’t find refuge in people or their praise or their possessions… that’s because, like David, Spurgeon did find refuge in God’s power

Do Find Refuge in God’s Power (1-2, 5-8)

Last week, I had some friends in Texas share about hurricane Beryl recking havoc in their communities. In Missouri we have to endure the occasional tornado warning, but I’m thankful that we don’t have to experience hurricanes. Have you seen the destruction that these massive storms cause? They cover up entire states and even countries on the radar map. They move quickly and cause tornadoes and floods and disaster left and right. Whenever we face destruction and disaster, we long for security. We crave safety. It might seem like there is no possibility of security and safety in the middle of those types of storms… until the eye passes over and the chaos is replaced with calm. The wind largely stops. The rain slows down. But then what happens? The eye passes over and the storm continues. Friends, God’s presence and power provides us with peace even in middle of serious storms where we don’t know if we’re going to make it or not. David says that he is at rest in God alone. This isn’t saying that David stopped facing problems… in fact, even after becoming king he faced many problems from many people, even his own family! But in the midst of his problems, he had peace because his refuge wasn’t in a person, but in the power of his God!

We must find refuge in God’s power today as well. We find refuge and strength and peace and rest and hope as David says in this wonderful Psalm. In fact, David says that he finds everything that he needs in God - my salvation and glory depend on God, my strong rock. Just as the person in a storm depends on the structure surrounding them to protect them from the destruction outside, we depend on God to protect us from those who would love to do us harm and from the sin that would love to ensnare us from within. Our only hope in this storm is God alone. The wonderful thing about depending on God is that it is impossible for Him to let you down. People? Let us down. Possessions? Let us down. Protection? Lets us down. God? Completely faithful with zero possibility of failure. He has all power, not just some or most, all of it.

David is sharing that for him to be delivered from danger, God would have to act. Are you thankful that we serve a God who continues to act for His glory and the good of His people today? This provides us with hope. Rest. Peace. Security. Even in the midst of storms. Even when we don’t know what life will throw at us. Even when friends abandon us. You’ve been there, haven’t you? Someone who has had your back for years and years, and whenever you need them, they’re not there. Whenever you tell them something in confidence, they betray that confidence and tell other people. We know what it’s like to get burned. Hear me clearly, you don’t have to worry about God burning you or betraying your trust. You can trust in Him. You can pour our your hearts to Him. He is our refuge. He is our confidence.

So, why do we struggle with doing this? Why do we continually run to these other things - people first, possessions that can’t satisfy? Why do we do this? Because we often fail to wait for the Lord. Whenever we look for peace and rest in other people and things, we will not find the rest our souls desperately need. It’s easy to fall into despair. If you look within, you’ll be depressed… but if you look to the cross, you’ll be at rest. In a world at war and with sinful hearts and with people who are prone to disappoint us, look upward. Realize God’s power and take refuge in Him alone.

We must acknowledge God’s sovereignty as Psalm 46:10 instructs us to

Psalm 46:10 CSB

10 “Stop fighting, and know that I am God, exalted among the nations, exalted on the earth.”

Cease striving. Stop fighting. Be still. In the midst of the storms and situations we face, remember that our help comes from the Lord. Our God is always on time. He is faithful. He is all-powerful. He is worthy of our praise and deserving of our trust. We must find refuge in His power… second,

Do Find Refuge in God’s Provision (11-12)

Not only does strength belong to God, but we see that faithful love belongs to Him as well. If you are in Christ, there are promises that are found throughout the Bible that apply to you. You are an adopted child of God. You are justified from the penalty of your sins and though the accuser tries and tries to get you to look at your sin, those sins are paid in full. You have a promise that God is working all things for your ultimate good - though they might not feel good. You have a promise that Christ will never leave nor forsake you. You have a promise that suffering doesn’t win

Romans 8:18 CSB

18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us.

You have a promise that Jesus is coming back and when He does, it won’t be as a sacrificial lamb but a roaring lion. These are wonderful truths to remind ourselves of and it’s because strength and love belong to our God. He is not some far off deity who is unconcerned with His people. He cares. He loves. He sees. He hears. He continues to provide, maybe not with what we’d expect, but with what we need.

FBC Salem is preparing to enter a season of transition - all churches do from time to time! Where is your focus today? Is it on vying for position or power? Are you placing your trust in people? Are you placing your trust in finances and possessions? Those things won’t satisfy. Do you know what will? God’s Word. God’s will. He is our strength. He is our hope. He is our refuge! Friends, in the days to come, look to Jesus Christ. Love one another. In essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty, in all things charity. Trust in Romans 12:2

Romans 12:2 CSB

2 Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.

What is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God? We find the will of God in the Word of God. He has spoken to us through His Word. God’s Word provides us with stability in a world that is in chaos. This is David at the end of this Psalm, surrounded by enemies who want to do him harm, surrounded by worldly comforts like wealth and strength, and in the midst of this David stands and says that his strength is not found in those things - it comes from God because true strength is only from God. Consider how this has been said over and over in this Psalm - salvation comes from God. He is my rock and salvation and stronghold. I am at rest in Him. Hope comes from God. I will not be shaken. Christian, find refuge in God’s perfect provision today! He is all powerful. He gives good gifts to His children.

Psalm 46:1 CSB

1 God is our refuge and strength, a helper who is always found in times of trouble.

He is our mighty fortress. In times of uncertainty, as David experienced often, one of the best things that we can do is to remember God’s faithfulness throughout history. Consider God’s provision throughout the Bible. Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden and in the midst of this problem, God made a promise. From the seed of the woman would come a snake-crushing Savior. What do we see throughout the whole Old Testament? God providing one generation after another after another as that seed marches forward. The prophets in the Old Testament continue to remind the people, especially in difficult times, of this promise. The Messiah is coming. Suffering doesn’t win. God has not forgotten us. God has a plan. Remember our study in Daniel? The importance of remaining faithful in the fire. God continues to work and provide for His people. And then what do we celebrate each year at Christmas? God is faithful. He doesn’t provide another prophet. He provides His Son. He sends a Savior. Jesus said things like this

John 14:6 CSB

6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

What does this mean? If you’re in Christ, you have true refuge not only over problems and people, but over sin and death. You are a new creation with access to the Father through the finished work of Jesus. Friends, rest in God alone. Not Jesus plus something. Not the Bible plus another book. Not faith plus works. God has an eternal plan to provide salvation for sinners and He accomplishes this through the finished work of Jesus Christ. Rest in the finished work of Jesus. Realize that it is Jesus Christ who provides us with true refuge. He is our rock and salvation! We can always trust in Jesus, even in the doldrums and deserts of despair. As Jesus says in Matthew 11, come to Me all who are weary and I will give you rest

Not only do we trust in Jesus and His perfect provision, but we are saved in order to serve. Look at the conclusion of our text - you repay each according to his works. This isn’t to say that our works save us… it is to remind us of the danger of placing our faith and searching for refuge in anything other than Jesus. If you find refuge in people, not only will you be miserable during your life, but you will be separated from God forever. If you find your refuge in possessions, you might find happiness here and there, but you too will be separated from God forever. But if you find your refuge in your perfect Savior, you have joy for today and hope for tomorrow because there is therefore now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus! This is your story - this is your song. And if it’s true for you, if the finished work of Jesus has impacted your life, if you have turned from sin and trusted in Christ, then you are saved in order to serve.

How can you serve where God has planted you? Some of you are presently serving and seeking to glorify God while doing so - continue to serve for the glory of God and the good of the body. Possibly others are here, though, and you’re struggling with what to do. Maybe you’re focusing on your enemies or on your problems. Learn from David and remember that at all times, God calls on us to

Praise Him

Trust in Him

Serve Him

We don’t do these things to gain the approval of man, we do them for the glory of God. He is our salvation. He is our rock. He is our refuge - even in difficult situations, He is our firm foundation and He will always have our back. In a world that loves to divide, remember that brothers and sisters in Christ are not your competitors… they are your team mates. Depend on Jesus Christ today and serve Him well as a family, because He is our salvation.