A Psalm of Joy
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Introduction
Introduction
Hurting back this summer.
You use your back for a lot of things.
Appreciate being healthy after being sick.
David expressing joy after the Lord has rescued him.
Recognize Your Source
Recognize Your Source
vv. 1-3
How David expresses his situation:
v. 3: Sheol (the place of the dead) and the pit.
Whether this was a health concern, physical death, or some other hardship David was facing, he knew he needed help.
We live in a culture where admitting need is thought of as weak.
Fierce independence! Being self-made! I don’t need anyone!
One, what a sad existence. Two, what a false tale they believe.
David recognized that he couldn’t do it alone.
Salvation requires humility.
V. 2 - David recognized his need and called out to God.
David felt the panic of the moment. “I cried out…”
“To utter a successive series of screams.”
Not just a little, “Hey, I could use some help.”
Reminds me of individuals lost at sea when they see a boat in the distance.
God is not distant!
And as God lifted him up, David lifted up God.
This is the natural response to our salvation:
Rescue inspires worship.
Worship In Community
Worship In Community
vv. 4-5
Calling out to those within a relationship with God.
“O you his saints.” HSD.
“Covenantal love”
Why it’s translated so many ways: Saints, godly ones, faithful people.
To be in covenant with God.
God has provided for you salvation.
Because of that covenantal relationship, expectations.
And when we get out of line, as any good parent does, there is discipline.
The nature of discipline (rooted in that word - disciple). Teach.
For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.”
Those lessons we learn as children that help us for the remainder of our lives.
The Lord’s discipline and salvation are things we have all experienced.
The call to weep together and rejoice together.
“I don’t need the church to be a Christian.”
You’re ignoring a whole lot of the Bible to get to that conclusion.
Why Paul can write to a church:
For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
Experiencing joy requires community.
Continue In Prayer
Continue In Prayer
vv. 6-10
How quickly life circumstances can change.
If you had told me a year ago how this last year would go, I wouldn’t have believed you.
The challenges have been overwhelming.
How quickly life circumstances can change.
From v. 6 to v. 7.
Yet, the response we find in v. 8.
Your spiritual life should be independent of circumstances.
Think about the life of Job.
From one extreme to another.
Yet…
In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong.
The example that is given - as long as I can praise God, I will.
Trust The Process
Trust The Process
vv. 11-12
Trends for weddings - Heather Cobb. Emphasis on reception, not ceremony.
Dancing and feasting.
Vastly different vibe than a funeral. Subdued dinner.
These extremes - from a funeral to a wedding.
From grief to gladness.
What we see in v. 11.
God takes a time of grief and He is able to turn it around.
From despair to hope. And this causes Joy!
God meets you where you are.
Conclusion
Conclusion
I was thankful that my back was able to heal on its own.
Spiritually, this is not true.
We don’t just “get better with time.”
We need God to rescue us.
From the reality of our own sin and the consequences of it.
God is able to forgive.
