Hope Defended

Hope: Where Appreciation Meets Anticipation • Sermon • Submitted 4 months ago • Presented 4 months ago

0 ratings

· 12 views

Hopeful people are often attacked by the cynical, who see the hopeful as “a leaning wall” or a “tottering fence.” They scoff and say things like, “He trusts in the Lord; let him deliver him; let him rescue him, for he delights in him!” (Psalm 22:8). If we’re not careful, we can take these cynical words to heart and believe that we are foolish for trusting in God. We can begin to put our hope in people, wealth, power, or position. Psalm 62 fortifies our hope against such assaults, reminding us, “God is my rock and my salvation.”

Notes

Transcript

Introduction:

The weeks leading up to Christmas are all about WAITING

When I was a kid, I hated the wait.

I was completely impatient.

But the waiting is kind of the whole point

Learning to wait is good and healthy

Because we spend a lot of our lives waiting…

* Waiting to hear back from the doctor

* Waiting to hear back about a job

* Waiting to see what kind of decisions our kids are going to make

* Waiting to see what’s going to happen

But mostly…as Christians, we are WAITING for Jesus

When we’re waiting, we’re plagued with the question…

Will it be WORTH the WAIT?

This is what HOPE is all about.

Last week we said that when we exercise biblical hope, we…

1. acknowledge the present reality (hope is for people with problems)

2. appreciate God’s proven character

3. anticipate God being who he has promised to be

Hope doesn’t always know HOW or WHEN, it just knows WHO.

But there are always voices saying,

“It’s not worth the wait.”

“You’re a fool for waiting.”

“You’re a fool for hoping.”

We’re tempted to put our hope in something

tangible

visible

Biblical Text:

Psalm 62:1–2 ESV

1 For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation. 2 He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken.

For God ALONE

alone / only

multiple times in this psalm

“Wait in silence”

“wait quietly before God” (NLT)

“finds rest in God” (NIV)

God alone is my…

rock

salvation

fortress

Jesus slept in the boat, in the middle of the storm

Psalm 62:3–4 ESV

3 How long will all of you attack a man to batter him, like a leaning wall, a tottering fence? 4 They only plan to thrust him down from his high position. They take pleasure in falsehood. They bless with their mouths, but inwardly they curse. Selah

David’s enemies thought he was

weak

a leaning wall

a tottering fence

MAYBE he felt like he was those things at times

How we might phrase it now…

“They think I’m a pushover”

“Think laugh at me fore being such a nice guy that they can take advantage of.”

People of HOPE are nearly always mocked (openly or behind their backs)

[NO SLIDE] “All who see me mock me; they hurl insults, shaking their heads. “He trusts in the Lord,” they say, “let the Lord rescue him. Let him deliver him, since he delights in him.”” (Psalm 22:7–8, NIV)

““O God my rock,” I cry, “Why have you forgotten me? Why must I wander around in grief, oppressed by my enemies?” Their taunts break my bones. They scoff, “Where is this God of yours?” Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again— my Savior and my God!” (Psalm 42:9–11, NLT)

“Passion for your house has consumed me, and the insults of those who insult you have fallen on me. When I weep and fast, they scoff at me. When I dress in burlap to show sorrow, they make fun of me. I am the favorite topic of town gossip, and all the drunks sing about me.” (Psalm 69:9–12, NLT)

“Help us, O God of our salvation! Help us for the glory of your name. Save us and forgive our sins for the honor of your name. Why should pagan nations be allowed to scoff, asking, “Where is their God?”” (Psalm 79:9–10a, NLT)

You are not a…

leaning wall

a tottering fence

you are safe and secure behind an impenetrable fortress wall

Psalm 62:5–7 ESV

5 For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him. 6 He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. 7 On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God.

Spoken to his own soul…

O my soul,

wait in silence

“God ALONE is my…

hope

rock

salvation

fortress

mighty rock

refuge

Then he speaks to others…

Psalm 62:8 ESV

8 Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us. Selah

Sometimes we need to encourage others

Or have others encourage us

wait patiently for God

hope in him

pour your heart before him

take refuge in him

Psalm 62:9–10 ESV

9 Those of low estate are but a breath; those of high estate are a delusion; in the balances they go up; they are together lighter than a breath. 10 Put no trust in extortion; set no vain hopes on robbery; if riches increase, set not your heart on them.

You’re going to be tempted to hope in other things

to take a short cut

to trust in something visible/tangible

don’t fall for it!!!

Every human

low estate - “but a breath”

high estate - “a delusion”

“lighter than a breath”

hevel

vapor

No Trust / No Vain Hopes / Set Not Your Heart on WEALTH

extortion

robbery

or any other means of gaining wealth

“Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment (NOT JUST YOUR PERSONAL ENJOYMENT, BUT ALSO THE ENJOYMENT OF OUR NEIGHBORS). Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.” (1 Timothy 6:17–19, NIV)

Psalm 62:11–12 ESV

11 Once God has spoken; twice have I heard this: that power belongs to God, 12 and that to you, O Lord, belongs steadfast love. For you will render to a man according to his work.

Two things that belong to God

POWER

STEADFAST LOVE

The power of ________ is an illusion

Wealth

Kingdoms

Militaries

No one else has this sort of steadfast love for you!

We must constantly remind ourselves and others…

Application: