Untitled Sermon (12)

PSALM 27

A Song of Lament and Patient Confidence

FOCUS: Patient Confidence in the Lord during times of trouble.

OVERVIEW of PSALM: David expresses confidence in the face of trouble because God has been a “stronghold”, a place of security in the past and he believes God will continue to be faithful in trouble that he finds himself in NOW. David chooses to be PATIENT and CONFIDENT – “Wait for the Lord”.

CONTEXT: This is a personal “TRUST LAMENT” written by David. David could have written this Psalm during a time of conflict with Saul; a time of war; or a during the days of rebellion from his son Absalom. Whatever was going on in David’s life at the time, this Psalm reveals trouble in David’ life and what was going on in David’s heart in poetic language. This Psalm is like listening to country cowboy song that describes a time of trouble with vivid, poetic language. The figures of speech paint pictures we understand and can relate to. David pulls us into this moment or season of life that is HARD/SCARY/UNFAIR/… Learning how to lament is an important part of dealing with stress, sorrow and fear in life. We don’t have to pretend everything is “fine” when everything is clearly “not fine”. David’s circumstances were NOT FINE – he expressed his troubles openly and honestly and even expressed the doubts and fears he was feeling.

3 Poetic Stanzas:

1. Verses 1-6 “David declares great confidence in the Lord during times of trouble”

a. David express confidence in the Lord during a time of trouble (evil men attack, slander, surround him)

b. Why be afraid when the evil men attack and slander? The lord is my light in dark places; my stronghold and place of safety in times of danger; the Lord will keep me safe.

c. APPLICATION: We can experience confidence during times of trouble because we believe God is faithful and powerful; he is a promise keeper and a stronghold/refuge in difficulty; because he has rescued us in the past we know he can do it again.

d. David can sing a song of CONFIDENCE in his trouble because he knows God is more powerful than his enemies.

e. David decides to SING and make music to the Lord in times of trouble.

2. Verses 7-12 “David expresses great anxiety in times of trouble”

a. Poetic phrases – “hear my voice”; “be merciful to me”; “do not hide your fact from me”; “do not turn”; “do not reject” = these are all expression of anxiety and fear of abandonment.

b. David asks God for guidance and mercy and for God to respond to his request for help/deliverance from trouble.

c. The expression “though my father and mother forsake me” – paints picture of abandonment by even those who should never abandon him – a way of saying if everyone else abandons me = God will always be faithful. The word “receive me” paints the picture of a father lifting up a child in distress to comfort and protect the child.

d. TROUBLE can feel like abandonment – when life is good we tend to feel like we are experiencing the favor of God – God is blessing me with these good gifts – I feel his presence all over my life… THEN when life takes a turn and becomes hard, we may wonder where did God’s favor and blessings go? Did God abandon me?

e. David expresses the PROBLEM: slander and a desire to harm him. David is experiencing trouble or perhaps an upcoming battle.

f. “Don’t abandon me” – expressing a need for God’s presence (not just God’s deliverance - “Help me do the right thing in times of stress. Don’t let my enemies defeat me”)

g. Interesting that David expresses such bold confidence in the Lord AND also expresses such unsettling fear that God may not be there for him this time. We can relate to this tension! We know God has been faithful in our past troubles. We know God promises to be present in our current struggles. AND YET, the pain/fear of our circumstances creates an environment for DOUBT to attack.

h. The tension between bold, confident trust in the Lord AND feelings of fear/sorrow/desperation/doubt = AT THE SAME TIME.

i. We understand this tension! HOW DO WE MANAGE this tension?

3. Verses 13-14 “Wait for the Lord in times of trouble.”

a. “Be strong” – “Be confident”

b. “Wait for the Lord” – Patiently wait with confidence for the Lord to demonstrate his presence and deliverance.

c. SINGING SONGS of LAMENT and PATIENT CONFIDENCE is spiritually healthy in times of trouble.

d. ILLUSTRATION: My dad’s death; the fog of sorrow; couldn’t sleep; wondered if the images would ever go away. God has been faithful in the past, but the fog of sorrow is too thick, I can’t seem to find the Lord, I can’t seem to feel his presence. So I got alone – and I SANG a song of Lament and Confidence = “It is Well with My Soul.”

e.

APPLICATION: We live in a world filled with war, political unrest, suffering and corruption. Then there are the personal struggles we face: People who treat us poorly; unfairly; health problems; church tensions; sorrow from loss… We know the Lord is GOOD. We know he can be trusted. We know he has not failed us before. But in the moment when trouble knocks on the door; in the fog of sorrow; in the uncertainty of battle = FEAR/DOUBT attack our confidence, “Maybe this time the Lord will drop you; forget you; abandon you… We feel this tension between the TWO emotions of confidence and anxiety – The solution to managing this tension is to “WAIT FOR THE LORD” – Wait patiently for the Lord’s deliverance = How? By finding confidence in his presence. The Lament of Patient Confidence is an expression of honesty before God = MY LIFE IS NOT FINE – LIFE IS HARD RIGHT NOW – I desperately need you to help me and give me victory. It is also an expression of FAITH – patient confidence that God will provide.

REAL TENSION in Times of TROUBLE is resolved with patient confidence in the Lord – PATIENT (resting in the presence of God); CONFIDENCE (faith in the coming deliverance of God)

David’s TRUST LAMENT reminds us to WAIT PATIENTLY on the Lord with Confidence. The Lord WILL provide his PRESENCE and His DELIVERANCE over the ENEMIES of FEAR and DOUBT.

STORY: “It is Well with my Soul” – 1871; Chicago Business man Horatio Spafford had it all! A loving wife, a son and four daughters, the friendship of Dwight L. Moody and an extensive property empire. THEN IT ALL CAME CRASHING DOWN. The great fire of Chicago destroyed most of his wealth and then he lost his 4 year old son to scarlet fever. Thinking a vacation would be good for his family, he sent his wife and four daughters on ship to England, planning to joing them afer finishing up some business. However, the ship never made it across the Atlantic Ocean – there was an accident and 200 people lost their lives, including all 4 of his daughters. Only his wife survived. The SONG “It is well with my soul” is like the “TRUST LAMENT” of Psalm 27