You Can Trust The Lord

Psalm 138:title–8 (KJV 1900)

A Psalm of David. 

1I will praise thee with my whole heart: Before the gods will I sing praise unto thee. 

2I will worship toward thy holy temple, And praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: For thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name. 

3In the day when I cried thou answeredst me, And strengthenedst me with strength in my soul. 

4All the kings of the earth shall praise thee, O Lord, When they hear the words of thy mouth. 

5Yea, they shall sing in the ways of the Lord: For great is the glory of the Lord. 

6Though the Lord be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: But the proud he knoweth afar off. 

7Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: Thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, And thy right hand shall save me. 

8The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me: Thy mercy, O Lord, endureth for ever: Forsake not the works of thine own hands.

CONTEXT

The Psalms are a book of songs.

It is the hymn book of Israel.

The Bible tells us that God gave His Word to Man at various times and diverse manners (Hebrews 1:1)— and interestingly , that included many songs.

The Bible includes at least 185 recorded songs - including 150 hymns.

They were written for all sorts of occasions — and it reveals how that God’s people have always found through the gift of song:

an expression of their faith, their praise, their love for God.

An avenue of communication with God.

THE WRITER - KING DAVID We don’t know when it was written, or what the exact occasion was.

David grew up as the youngest boy in his family.

He was serving his father, watching the sheep, and in the meantime, he developed a close relationship with God.

He was anointed King by Samuel before anyone knew his name.

He became the instrumentalist for King Saul.

Even though he was not an official solder of Saul’s army, he volunteered, and fought Goliath, and won.

He became well-known in the Kingdom of Israel - so well known that Saul got jealous and for years, tried to have David killed.

David lived a life on the run - in the wilderness, being chased, hunted, and yet, retaining his integrity.

A band of men came to him there in the wilderness, and they became his warriors - his friends, his mighty men.

When Saul died, David became king of Judah, and finally, King of Israel - as God had said.

He was no stranger to trouble - VERSE 7.

He knew what it was to fear for his life.

He knew what it meant to be rejected, hated, betrayed.

He faced trouble from his enemies, his countrymen, his friends, his men, his family, and of course, from within himself.

He knew what it meant to be discouraged.

He knew what it meant to deal with stress, and weariness, and pain, and failure, and grief.

David wasn't perfect.

But throughout his life, David continued to trust in God.

He continued to love God.

He continued to walk with God.

He continued to give God His heart.

He became the sweet psalmist of Israel.

He became the greatest King Israel ever had.

And it was not greatness only in the eyes of men - it was a life of success in the eyes of God.

The name David appears over A thousand times int he Bible - more than any other man.

Jesus was born of the lineage of David.

Jesus was born in the city of David.

He was called the Son of David.

Jesus will rule on the throne of David.

When God gave the testimony of Davids life - he siad in Acts

Acts 13:22 (KJV 1900)

22And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.

King James Version Chapter 13

36 For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep

What does it take to be a David?

How can I do the will of God for my life?

How can I finish well?

How can I make it through the trials of this life and all of the things that threaten to destroy me?

THE FIRST PRIORITY

King James Version Psalm 138

1 I will praise thee with my whole heart:

Before the gods will I sing praise unto thee.

2 I will worship toward thy holy temple,

And praise thy name

FIRST OF ALL —- I will praise the Lord.

I will praise thee

I will sing praise to thee

I will worship.

notice the phrase - before the Gods.

The word is elohim - which is a reference to the God of Heaven - but in other instances it refers to angels, or people in positions of power.

David is saying this: it does not matter to me what ANYONE ELSE MAY THINK - I WILL PRAISE THE LORD.

I’m going to pray.

I’m going to sing!

I’m going to PRAISE HIM!!!

I’m going to worship Him.

Why was David so concerned to praise God no matter who was watching.

THE FOUNDATION FOR HIS FAITH

for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: For thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.

What is a name?

Reputation.

Everything you know about a person is associated with their name.

Here’s the thing that has happened with God’s name.

That which is known of God (the name of God) is not always consistent with who God really is.

Just go and ask people what they think of God — you’ll find all sorts of things - some of which align with who He is, and other things that are not at all who He is.

When people think of GOD:

An impersonal force - like Mother Nature - there but cant be known.

Some think He is cruel

Some think he does not exist

People have strange opinions about God.

If we were to ask out on the street what people believed about God - we would get an idea of HIS NAME among the heathen today.

If we were to ask in the church what we believed about God - and if we were examine how people lived in light of what they believe - we would get and idea of the NAME of God.

But then we ask ourselves, do we really believe what we say we believe?

I know from experience that what I believe up here doesn’t always match the way I live.

Sometimes:

We fail to trust Him because we forget about God’s power, and his perfect faithfulness

We complain because we forget his sovereignty

We get anxious because we forget His care for us.

We get frustrated and angry because we forget about his patience and His plan.

We get discouraged because we forget about His exceeding great and precious promises.

We get confused because we forget that He is LIGHT and in HIM IS NO DARKNESS AT ALL

We run from God because we forget that God is LOVE.

We fail to praise Him because we forget that God is GOOD

So what happens is some difficulty comes into our life - and it threatens in our minds WHO GOD IS

HIS VERY NAME IS AT STAKE

When trouble comes -WHERE IS GOD?

When tragedy strikes - WHERE IS GOD?

When things happen that are unfair — WHERE IS GOD?

When things happen that do not make sense — WHERE IS GOD?? WILL HE HELP ME? DOES HE CARE?

ENEMIES MAY SAY: If your God is so great - why doesn't he do something ??

But David said this:

Psalm 138:2 (KJV 1900)

2I will worship toward thy holy temple, And praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: For thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.

WHAT WAS THE FOUNDATION FOR HIS FAITH?

The objective truth of God’s Word- specifically, the promises of God.

You need to build your life on God’s Word.

You need to base your thinking on God’s Word.

You need to speak God’s Word.

You need to hear God’s Word.

You need to Know God’s Word

Read

Meditate on

Keep

Do

Rely on

Obey

Love

Trust

LIVE BY GODS WORD

LIVE ON GODS WORD

LIVE IN GODS WORD

Why becase faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God.

And only by faith can you please GOD because without FAITH IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE HIM.

You cannot be FAITHFUL without faith

If we look at our experience, our circumstances, our predicaments alone — we will fail.

If we live based upon our feelings we will falter.

We MUST HAVE A FOUNDATION for our life that goes beyond what we feel, what we see etc.

But notice verse 3.

Psalm 138:3 (KJV 1900)

3In the day when I cried thou answeredst me, And strengthenedst me with strength in my soul.

His Faith culminated in experiencing God’s saving power in his life.

Look in Ps. 40:1-12

When he cried - he found an answer.

When he needed strength - GOD strengthened him!

In his soul

In his mind

In his emotions

In his heart .

He received from God a supernatural strength that could only come from HEAVEN

And he received it: By faith.

His faith in this particular psalm is expressed in the following verses in 3 ways.

Through God’s Word, David understood:

The Lord’s Exalted Position V4-5

David understood this about God.

God is exceedingly glorious.— “ GREAT is the GLORY OF THE LORD”

The kings of this earth may not see it now - but ONE DAY THEY WILL.

And one day, the greatest men on the earth will fall down before the Lord — and say JESUS CHRIST IS LORD.

They will hear the words of His mouth and realoze - there is noone wiser, there is noone greater, there is noone higher, there is noone mighteier than OUR GREAT GOD.

They will see the angels woshipping and the saints, clothed in pure white around him - bowing down, singing the praises of the Lamb WORTHY is the Lamb who was slain — WORHTY of all glory and all honour and blessing and power. HOLY HOLY HOLY is the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY!!!!

This same LORD:

HE IS MY GOD — He is MY LORD — He is MY SAVIOUR — I WORSHIP HIM.

If all of the kings of the earth will bow - surely I can bow!

If they will praise Him - I can!

If they will sing — I will!

Even if everything in MY LIFE goes wrong — yet still I will praise Him!!!!!

Here’s why: It’s not about me.

It’s all about HIM!!

He understood the Lord’s exalted position.

The Lord’s Extended Hand

David realized something in his life. “I cant do it without God.”

Psalm 138:6–7 (KJV 1900)

6Though the Lord be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: But the proud he knoweth afar off. 

7Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: Thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, And thy right hand shall save me.’

This high, exalted God, cares about me and wants to help me.

What would keep Him from helping me?

Pride.

Man’s pride does two things: It creates distance from God. It brings resistance from God.

I need God to strengthen me with LIFE if I am going to make it.

I need Him to protect me against my enemies if I am going to make it.

And his outstretched arm is certainly able to do such a task but there is one thing that is required of me if I am to experience this blessing: HUMILITY.

1 Peter 5:5 (KJV 1900)

5Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

Isaiah 57:15 (KJV 1900)

15For thus saith the high and lofty One That inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, With him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, To revive the spirit of the humble, And to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

David knew that God would take him safely through the trials:

He knew he would make it:

But he knew it wouldnt be alone.

He understood His need of the Lord’s Extended Hand

Finally: He believed in

The Lord’s Eternal Plan

VERSE 8

Psalm 138:8 (KJV 1900)

8The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me: Thy mercy, O Lord, endureth for ever: Forsake not the works of thine own hands.

God is not finished with you yet.

He is not done working

His plan for your life isn't to take you into a pile of problems and misery and leave you there.

NO.

The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me

That means that He will bring it to completion.

He will not leave me.

He will not forsake me.

He will not give up on me.

NOT THAT I DESERVE IT

But- his mercy endureth forever.

And David’s prayer:

Forsake not the works of thine own hands.

Philippians 1:6 (KJV 1900)

6Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

We did not create ourselves.

We did not make the world or anything in it - God did.

We did not save ourselves - God did.

We did not devise the plan of savlaiton - God did.

We did not amke oursleves new Creatures in Chrsit - we were created in Christ Jesus - by GOD!

HE STARTED THE WORK

HE WILL FINISH IT!

Can I remind you today that whatever might be going on around you, there is something very special happening in your own life.

God is molding you. He is making you more like his Son Jesus.

He has an eternal plan.

You can trust the Lord.