What Can the Righteous Do?

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Psalm 11:1-7
In the Lord I take refuge. How then can you say to me: “Flee like a bird to your mountain. 2 For look, the wicked bend their bows; they set their arrows against the strings to shoot from the shadows at the upright in heart. 3 When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?”

Stand Tall: The Righteous in Times of Trouble

Bible Passage: Psalm 11

Summary: Psalm 11 reflects the turmoil and uncertainty that often confronts believers. David addresses the reality of a world filled with threats and injustices, asserting that despite external circumstances, the integrity and faithfulness of God remain unshaken. This psalm serves as an anthem of hope for the righteous amidst disputes and betrayals, reminding them of their unwavering foundation in the Lord.
Application: This sermon emphasizes the necessity for Christians to stand firm in their faith and to actively choose trust over fear when faced with societal collapse or moral decay. It will equip believers to respond to crises with confidence in God's justice, guiding them to seek divine intervention rather than succumbing to despair.
Teaching: The teaching could center on the importance of courage and faithfulness, encouraging the congregation to reject fear and embrace their identity as the righteous. It illustrates that true strength comes from God, and that by placing faith in God’s justice, believers can cultivate resilience and intentional action even in the face of adversity.
How this passage could point to Christ: In context, Christ's steadfastness in the face of persecution echoes David's sentiments in Psalm 11. He became the embodiment of righteousness facing the ultimate injustice, ensuring that believers can now live confidently, knowing He has vindicated them through His resurrection.
Big Idea: Even when faced with overwhelming adversity, the righteous can trust in God’s protection and justice, drawing strength from their relationship with Him to remain steadfast in faith and action.
Recommended Study: As you work on this message, I recommend delving into the historical and cultural background of the psalm, considering the threats David faced from both adversaries and despair. In your Logos library, look for thematic studies on themes of justice and God’s sovereignty across the psalms, as well as interpretations of this passage from notable theologians to gain insights on application for contemporary struggles.

1. Flee or Face Fear?

Psalm 11:1-3
You could highlight how the initial verses of Psalm 11 reflect the immediate reaction to fear and danger, urging believers to reject panic and choose faith. Emphasising the reality of threats that seem overwhelming, these verses showcase the temptation to flee when foundations seem destroyed. This point can inspire your audience to actively decide against fear, instead finding courage in God during turbulent times, embodying righteousness through their unwavering trust in Him amidst societal collapse.

2. Focus on Divine Perspective

Psalm 11:4-5
Perhaps discuss how verses 4-5 of Psalm 11 serve as a reminder of God's omnipresence and omniscience, affirming His sovereignty over all creation. Encourage believers to take comfort that God remains on His heavenly throne, observing humanity and examining their righteousness. By understanding that God is in control and hears their cries, the righteous can find peace knowing He is their ultimate protector and judge, urging them to act faithfully rather than succumb to despair.

3. Find Strength in Justice

Psalm 11:6-7
Maybe explore how the concluding verses of Psalm 11 declare God's judgment and justice over the wicked, but also highlight His love for righteousness. This point can reassure believers of God's active role in vindicating the just, emphasizing His hatred for violence and unrighteousness. By recognizing God's promises to those who are upright in heart, encourage your congregation to remain steadfast and live out their faith confidently, assured of His ultimate justice and protection.
4 The Lord is in his holy temple
the Lord is on his heavenly throne.
He observes everyone on earth; his eyes examine them. 5 The Lord examines the righteous, but the wicked, those who love violence, he hates with a passion. 6 On the wicked he will rain fiery coals and burning sulfur; a scorching wind will be their lot.
7 For the Lord is righteous
he loves justice; the upright will see his face.
The world is a place that doesn’t make sense. All the claims of modern society have not created a utopian place where people love each other in spite of each other.
With all of modernity’s advance in technology, knowledge and supposed ability to reason, we have…
· Sunni’s vs. Shiites
· Muslims vs. the world
· Israeli’s vs Palestinians
· Republicans vs. Democrats
· Race determining status and opportunity
Isn’t David’s question ours?
When the foundations are being destroyed,
what can the righteous do?”
David didn’t give an answer that involved action. He answered with a declaration! “The Lord is in his holy temple; the Lord is on his heavenly throne.”
1. Remember, God is on the Throne!
God is unaffected by our storms. He is undeterred by our problems.
It was in the year that King Uzziah died that Isaiah the prophet saw the Lord, High and lifted up with His glory filling the temple!!!!
Kings, Presidents, Nations, Dynasties have toppled but God has not; He has made a business of turning tragedy into triumph.
We don’t have to look far in the Bible to see this played out again and again.
Consider Joseph in the Egyptian Prison. His brothers sold him, his master’s wife has turned on him, even his prison mates have forgotten him. Sounds like his foundation was getting a bit shaky!
Consider Moses watching sheep and goats in the wilderness. His life seemed over, what a waste!
Consider Daniel, the brightest and best among the young men of Israel. But due to the sin of the nation, he and all his generation are chained and marched into captivity by a wicked invader.
How could anything good come of this?
Who could have known that
· Joseph the prisoner would soon become Joseph the Prime Minister?
· God was giving Moses 40 years of wilderness training in the very desert through which he would lead the children of Israel?
· Daniel the captive would soon be the King’s Counselor?
God does things like that. He did it with Joseph, with Moses and with Daniel, but most of all He did it with Jesus and He can do it for you!
It was in the middle of great anxiety and national tragedy that the prophet Habakkuk declared, “The righteous person will live by His faithfulness.”
WHY? Because the Lord is on the throne!
That’s great! But you need to understand that not only is He on the throne, ruling and reigning, He has established that throne in the life of every person who has put their trust in Him through a living relationship with his Son, Jesus Christ.
Not wanting to teach a class this morning, but I ask you to consider John’s record of Jesus.
Purpose of John found in the following passage:
John 20: 30-31 Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 31 But these are written that you may a believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name
7 Miracles in John
1. John 2:1-11 Turning of the water into wine (Master of quality)
2. John 4:43-54 Healing of officials son (Master over distance)
3. John 5:1-15 Healing at pool of Bethesda (Master over time)
4. John 6:1-15 Jesus feeds the 5000 (Master over quantity)
5. John 6:16-24 Jesus walks on water (Master over nature)
6. John 9:1-12 Jesus heals the man born blind (Master over circumstances)
7. John 11:1-44 Lazarus (Master over death)
He has promised to care for His children.
I’ve heard many speak of a greater awareness of the Lord’s presence during dire circumstances.
He has said, I will be there! One of God’s covenant names is Jehovah Shammah, the Lord is There!
Where? He is there!
Psalm 139:7-12 7Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
10 even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.
11 If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,”
12 even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.
Power of Jesus’ Presence brings us
a. Comfort – the difference when a friend comes alongside of you in a trial. Jesus is the Friend that sticks closer than a brother and has given us His Holy Spirit, whom He called the “comforter”; one who walks alongside of us through all of life’s difficulties.
b. Courage – Think about who is standing with you.
· King of Kings, Lord of Lords, the Almighty, the all- sufficient, all-powerful, all-wise, all-loving Savior and Deliverer.
· With Jesus beside us, who can stand against us!
c. Confidence – know that the trial or time of trouble will come to an end and with the Lord we will go through it and not set up home to stay in it.
· Jesus always comes as a victor. When He comes with us, the Devil must flee His presence
· When we are aware of His presence, our confidence is no longer in ourselves to be able to survive, to endure, or to conquer. Our confidence is in Jesus!
No storm, no fire, flood or terrorist act can keep us from the love of Christ
Romans 8:35, 38-39. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?
38For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Disciples in the boat
Paul and Silas in Prison
You this morning!
Our confidence is based upon who Jesus is and what He will do for us, which always will be for our ultimate and eternal good.
Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
2. Recognize the supernatural and the life of the Spirit
a. Christ for me
b. Christ in me
c. Christ through me
d. Christ as me!!!!!
3. Reconnect with the eternity of your life
Man was not created for time, but for eternity
We must trust Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord and receive Him by personal invitation.
John 1:12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.
Romans 10:9 That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believer with your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
Where are you today? Will you receive Christ Jesus right now?
Here is how you do it!
· Admit you need Him (I am a sinner)
· Be willing to turn from your sins. (repent)
· Believe that Jesus Christ died for you on the Cross and rose from the grave.
· Through prayer, invite Jesus to come in and control your life through His Holy Spirit.
Romans 10:13 Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
Ephesians 2: 8,9 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.
4. Reach
· Up to God in prayer and praise
· Out to others.
Tom Burnet. He was a passenger on flight 93. Minutes before the plane crashed in the fields of Pennsylvania he reached his wife by cell phone. “We’re all going to die,” he told her, “but there are three of us who are going to do something about it.”
We are all going to die someday, what are you going to do about it now!!!!
Do you think any of the folks died with regrets?
He is on the throne. Lets serve Him!!!
· Don’t be distracted or frightened by what’s happening around you.
· Keep running the race with endurance
· Keep looking to Jesus
· Remember God loves you
· Listen and obey
· Receive grace day by day to serve
· Live with reverence and godly fear
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