Divine Fingerprints
Psalm 37 • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
0 ratings
· 2 viewsNotes
Transcript
Welcome & Opening Prayer
Welcome & Opening Prayer
TURN—PSALM 37...V12
!! Open in Prayer !!
——————————————————————————————
——————————————————————————————
II. Introduction
II. Introduction
One of the most fascinating things to me about the Bible is...
remembering that the Bible characters didn’t know…
the end of their stories as they were being written.
WE BELIEVE: REAL PEOPLE W/ REAL STORIES—TESTIFYING of REAL GOD.
Focus: BECAUSE of THIS—THEY COULDN’T SEE GOD’S HAND in REAL TIME
———————————————
Biblical Examples:
Biblical Examples:
Joseph—Son—Pit—Prison—Palace (God w/ Him)
David & Goliath
Daniel & Lion’s Den
Paul in Jail
Etc.
———————————————
Reading stories—WE see God’s involvement
Characters—Probably struggled to see in moment
——————————————————————————————
Relate: OUR LIVES = SIMILAR
AS YEARS PASS—WE CAN LOOK & SEE GOD’S HAND
HARD to SEE in MOMENT
Truth: WE CAN REST ASSURED GOD = INVOLVED in OUR LIVES… MORE THAN WE’LL EVER KNOW.
HIS FINGERPRINTS = ALL OVER OUR STORIES…
——————————————————————————————
Focus: TODAY—WE’RE GOING to SEE GOD’S ACTIVE INVOLVEMENT in LIVES of HIS PEOPLE—
CONTRASTING W/ HIS JUDGMENT UPON the UNGODLY
************
Transition ➡ LOOK W/ ME @ PASSAGE…
READ: V12-26
🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢 --- 31 minutes left---🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢
🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢
III. Passage Reading
III. Passage Reading
12 The wicked plots against the righteous and gnashes his teeth at him,
13 but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he sees that his day is coming.
14 The wicked draw the sword and bend their bows to bring down the poor and needy, to slay those whose way is upright;
15 their sword shall enter their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.
16 Better is the little that the righteous has than the abundance of many wicked.
17 For the arms of the wicked shall be broken, but the Lord upholds the righteous.
18 The Lord knows the days of the blameless, and their heritage will remain forever;
19 they are not put to shame in evil times; in the days of famine they have abundance.
20 But the wicked will perish; the enemies of the Lord are like the glory of the pastures; they vanish—like smoke they vanish away.
21 The wicked borrows but does not pay back, but the righteous is generous and gives;
22 for those blessed by the Lord shall inherit the land, but those cursed by him shall be cut off.
23 The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way;
24 though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the Lord upholds his hand.
25 I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread.
26 He is ever lending generously, and his children become a blessing.
Church, this is God’s Word for us this morning.
🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢 --- 29 minutes left---🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢
🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢
IV. Context Recap: Don’t Fret
IV. Context Recap: Don’t Fret
Series Recap: Part 2 of a 3-part series in Psalm 37.
——————————————————————————————
Last Week: “DON’T FRET”
BACKWARDS NATURE of WORLD
PROSPERITY of WICKED
GOD BRINGS RAIN on JUST & UNJUST…
——————————————————————————————
Response:
TRUST GOD & DO GOOD
DELIGHT OURSELVES in BRINGING GLORY to GOD
COMMIT OUR WAY (CAST OUR BURDENS) to the LORD
WAIT PATIENTLY—HE WILL ACT.
——————————————————————————————
GREAT REVERSAL COMING… PRESENT ISN’T END of STORY…
Passage Idea: Don’t fret about the wicked but faithfully do good while waiting on the Lord.
————————————————————————————
Focus: DAVID CONTINUES PSALM…
RIGHTEOUS VS. WICKED…
Setup:
➡ GOD ISN’T JUST a FUTURE JUDGE.
➡ ➡ HE IS ALSO a PRESENT HELP!
************
Transition ➡ TODAY—WE’LL SEE GOD’S HAND on HIS PEOPLE…
READ: V12-15
🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢 --- 27 minutes left---🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢
🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢
V. Passage Exposition: Psalm 37:12–26 (ESV)
V. Passage Exposition: Psalm 37:12–26 (ESV)
1. The Futility of Wickedness (v12–15)
1. The Futility of Wickedness (v12–15)
12 The wicked plots against the righteous and gnashes his teeth at him,
13 but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he sees that his day is coming.
14 The wicked draw the sword and bend their bows to bring down the poor and needy, to slay those whose way is upright;
15 their sword shall enter their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.
First Section: David Presents “Futility of Wickedness”
WICKED VS. RIGHTEOUS/POOR/NEEDY/UPRIGHT…
Psalm Presents: Two Kinds of People:
THOSE WHO SUBMIT to GOD’S RULE/REIGN— RIGHTEOUS
THOSE WHO REJECT HIM—WICKED.
——————————————————————————————
Pt. 1 Wicked’s Mission: DESIRE to OPPOSE/DESTROY UPRIGHT
Background: DAVID’S LIFE—HE WAS FAMILIAR WITH THIS LITERALLY
SAUL
PHILISTINES/AMALEKITES
————————————————
Modern Day: DESTROYING REPUTATION/UNDERMINING WORK…
GOOD & EVIL = ALWAYS COMPETING FORCES…
Believer’s Battle = SPIRITUAL—SPIRITUAL ADVERSARY…
——————————————————————————————
End of Story:
End of Story:
GOD LAUGHS—FUTILITY of OPPOSITION to HIS REIGN
for HE KNOWS THEIR DAY is COMING
Sword of Wicked: ENTERS OWN HEART
Biblical Testimony:
Biblical Testimony:
DANIEL & LIONS’ DEN — ACCUSERS CAST IN
HAMAN & GALLOWS
——————————————————————————————
THIS IS NOT KARMA—BUT the ACTIONS of a JUST GOD.
Truth: Judgment might not be immediate—but w/ Just God—it’s definite.
************
Transition ➡ DAVID WILL CONTINUE—COMPARING RIGHTEOUS & WICKED…
LOOK W/ ME @ VS. 16-17
🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢 --- 23 minutes left---🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢
🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢
2. Little with Righteousness (v16–17)
2. Little with Righteousness (v16–17)
16 Better is the little that the righteous has than the abundance of many wicked.
17 For the arms of the wicked shall be broken, but the Lord upholds the righteous.
Takeaway: END of STORY = MORE IMPORTANT THAN PRESENT.
Relate: TODAY—WORLD FREQUENTLY FEELS BACKWARDS…
GODLESS PROSPER
GODLY STRUGGLE
——————————————————————————————
David’s Conclusion: LITTLE W/ RIGHTEOUS = BETTER.
FOR the ARMS of the WICKED WILL BE BROKEN
BUT the LORD UPHOLDS the RIGHTEOUS…
——————————————————————————————
Exhortation: The Need for an Eternal Perspective
Exhortation: The Need for an Eternal Perspective
Remember: EVERY OBJECT of ENVY,, is NATURAL & TEMPORARY…
YOU CAN’T TAKE STUFF to HEAVEN W/ YOU!
Contrast: GOD OFFERS an ETERNAL, HEAVENLY INHERITANCE!
Quote, “I’m Rich” by Gold City:
He has redeemed and forgiven me for all of my sins
He took me in
He's building me a mansion beyond compare
Hallelujah, I'm a millionaire
EYES of FAITH REVEAL the END is WHAT MATTERS MOST
IF I’M HIS—HE UPHOLDS ME in the PRESENT
************
Transition ➡ WE’LL SEE MORE on THIS—LOOK W/ ME @ VS. 18-20
🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢 --- 21 minutes left---🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢
🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢
3. The Days of the Blameless (v18–20)
3. The Days of the Blameless (v18–20)
18 The Lord knows the days of the blameless, and their heritage will remain forever;
19 they are not put to shame in evil times; in the days of famine they have abundance.
20 But the wicked will perish; the enemies of the Lord are like the glory of the pastures; they vanish—like smoke they vanish away.
GOD KNOWS the DAYS/LIVES of the BLAMELESS
KNOWS = COVENANT LANGUAGE…
ONE TRANSLATION “The LORD = INTIMATELY ACQUAINTED”
———————————————
GOD UPHOLDS the RIGHTEOUS
GOD KNOWS/CARES for the BLAMELESS…
(v19) Result: in “EVIL TIMES” —NOT PUT to SHAME… PROVIDED for in FAMINE…
——————————————————————————————
(v20) Contrast: WICKED = LIKE GLORY of PASTURES—VANISHING LIKE SMOKE
Explanation: FLOWERS/GRASSY FIELDS = TEMPORARY
Illustration:
Buying wife flowers: LAST 1-2 WEEKS, GONE.
Flowers in Field: PART of SEASON, GONE.
**Enemies of the Lord = Like Flowers: ENJOY BLESSEDNESS TEMPORARILY—THEN QUICKLY GONE…
🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢 --- 19 minutes left---🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢
🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢
Gospel Invitation
Gospel Invitation
PSALM FOCUSES on TWO KINDS of PEOPLE…
REPRESENTING 2 WAYS of LIFE
CULMINATING in 2 DISTINCT ENDS
**DIFFERENCE HINGES UPON RESPONSE to GOD’S REVELATION**
RIGHTEOUS—RESPOND APPROPRIATELY to GOD’S REVELATION…
WICKED—REJECT GOD’S RULE & REIGN.
——————————————————————————————
Two Ways of Life:
Two Ways of Life:
Quote, C.S. Lewis: “There are only two kinds of people in the end:
those who say to God, "Thy will be done,"
and those to whom God says, in the end, "Thy will be done."
All that are in Hell, choose it.”
MANY PUSH GOD AWAY in THIS LIFE…
Illustration: “APPEARANCE of DESIGN”
SUPPRESSING the TRUTH—PROOF for GOD is ALL AROUND…
THOSE WHO LIVE THEIR WHOLE EARTHLY LIVES TELLING GOD to GO AWAY…
… WILL ETERNALLY HAVE THEIR REQUEST GRANTED in the LIFE to COME…
The Presence of God is what makes heaven, heaven.
Separation from God is what makes hell, hell.
——————————————————————————————
The Glory of Heaven:
The Glory of Heaven:
NOT ETERNAL RETIREMENT
NOT FISHING on DUSTY ROADS
BUT BEING W/ OUR CREATOR & REDEEMER, GOD!
——————————————————————————————
The Gospel of Pursuit:
The Gospel of Pursuit:
WE MIGHT FLEE… DENY… RUN… SHEEP = PRONE to STRAY
JESUS CAME AFTER US!
HE CAME to SEEK & SAVE the LOST
YOU CAN PUSH HIM AWAY—OR YOU CAN COME to HIM TODAY
BROKEN, SINFUL…
HE’LL TAKE YOU AS YOU ARE—MAKE YOU NEW…
———————————————
Gospel Invitation:
Gospel Invitation:
REPENT & BELIEVE
DIED for SIN, ROSE 3RD DAY
Hope of a New Creation—beginning today
Invitation: HAVE QUESTIONS, SEE ME AFTER SERVICE…
************
Transition ➡ IN LIGHT of GOD’S REVELATION//BEING GOD’S PEOPLE
THERE ARE BOTH ASSURANCES
& EXPECTATIONS
LOOK W/ ME @ VS. 21-22
🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢 --- 13 minutes left---🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢
🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢
4. The Contrasting Ways of the Wicked & Righteous (v21–22)
4. The Contrasting Ways of the Wicked & Righteous (v21–22)
21 The wicked borrows but does not pay back, but the righteous is generous and gives;
22 for those blessed by the Lord shall inherit the land, but those cursed by him shall be cut off.
From “Two Ways of Life” = Responding to God
to Living Before God.
——————————————————————————————
Truth: GOD’S PEOPLE SHOULD REFLECT THEIR GENEROUS GOD.
Exhort: HEARD TESTIMONY of BELIEVERS BORROWING MONEY,, WITHOUT INTENDING to REPAY.
THAT’S STEALING—THAT’S SINFUL.
——————————————————————————————
Addressing Debt:
Addressing Debt:
Truth: THE BIBLE DOESN’T PRESENT DEBT as SINFUL, BUT as FOOLISH.
NOWHERE is it HONORED in SCRIPTURE
Challenge: MOST DEBT is SIMPLY a REFUSAL to TELL YOURSELF “NO”
Exhort: “RATIONALIZING YOUR BUTT OFF”
Personal Testimony: NEW CAR SEAT BEFORE NEW CAR
-> DEBT = UNWISE… BUT IF YOU DON’T INTEND to REPAY IT, THAT’S STEALING & THAT’S WRONG.
YOU CAN’T BE GENEROUS IF ALL YOUR MONEY is GOING to the BANK.
GOD’S PEOPLE SHOULD BE GENEROUS—BECAUSE GOD is GENEROUS & HE TAKES CARE of US
************
Transition ➡ WE’LL SEE THIS FURTHER in VERSES 23-24
🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢 --- 10 minutes left---🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢
🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢
5. The Surety of Steps (v23–24)
5. The Surety of Steps (v23–24)
23 The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way;
24 though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the Lord upholds his hand.
AGAIN: GOD TAKES CARE of THOSE WHO ARE HIS…
HE UPHOLDS/HE BLESSES—NOW HE ESTABLISHES…
———————————————
THIS = PROMISE “WHEN HE DELIGHTS in HIS WAY”
THIS = PROMISE “WHEN HE DELIGHTS in HIS WAY”
Background: AMIGUOUS PHRASE—NO CLEAR SUBJECT
MAN DELIGHTING in GOD’S WAY…?? NIV: "The LORD makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him."
GOD DELIGHTING in the MAN’S WAY? … NLT: The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives."
Conclusion: NOT MUTUALLY EXLUSIVE… PROBABLY INTENTIONALLY AMBIGUOUS/DOUBLE ENTENDRE…
GOD DELIGHTS in the ONE WHO HAS DELIGHTED in HIM
——————————————————————————————
Exhort: TAKE HEART—WHEN BUILDING for GOD
Exhort: TAKE HEART—WHEN BUILDING for GOD
1 Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.
Other Side: IF the LORD BUILDS the HOUSE—THOSE WHO LABOR DO NOT LABOR in VAIN!
IF WHAT YOU’RE DOING is GOD’S WORK—HE DELIGHTS in YOUR WORK & WILL PROSPER IT…
——————————————————————————————
(v24) EVEN STUMBLING, GOD WILL UPHOLD the ONE WALKING in HIS WAYS…HE WILL NOT FALL/FAIL
**ONCE AGAIN WE SEE GOD’S HIDDEN HAND—HIS FINGERPRINTS—ON OUR STORIES…
************
Transition ➡ DAVID has a FINAL WORD on THIS…
LOOK W/ ME @ VS. 25-26
🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢 --- 6 minutes left---🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢
🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢
6. David’s Conclusion (v25–26)
6. David’s Conclusion (v25–26)
25 I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread.
26 He is ever lending generously, and his children become a blessing.
living LOT of LIFE—CLEAR TESTIMONY: GOD is FAITHFUL
Exhort: HE WILL NEVER LEAVE, NOR FORSAKE.
Testimony: LOVE TALKING to OLDER PEOPLE WHO CELEBRATE the FAITHFULNESS of GOD…
Example,, J. MacArthur: LIFETIME of PROVIDENCE ELIMINATES DOUBT
——————————————————————————————
Encourage: AS YEARS PASS BY—YOU SHOULD HAVE MORE & MORE TESTIMONIES of GOD’S FAITHFUL CARE…
DAVID CONCLUDES: GOD’S PEOPLE ARE TAKEN CARE OF—THEY WILL BE a BLESSING,, NOT BURDEN to OTHERS…
———————————————
DOESN’T MEAN a LAVISH LIFE—BUT a SUFFICIENT ONE—HE PROVIDES for OUR NEEDS…
************
Transition ➡ ALL in ALL…
🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢 --- 2 minutes left---🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢
🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢
VI. Application & Conclusion
VI. Application & Conclusion
Passage Idea: God will take care of His people but those who reject Him will ultimately be cast off.
IF YOU ARE in CHRIST—YOU ARE BLESSED W/ SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS UNTOLD
& HAVE ASSURANCE HE WILL CARRY YOU THROUGH THIS LIFE…
Takeaway: GOD’S WORK ISN’T ALWAYS CATACLYSMIC UPHEAVALS...OFTENTIMES IT’S FINGERPRINTS…
————————————————————————————————
Recognizing Divine Fingerprints from PS. 37 (P2):
The Lord upholds us.
The Lord knows our days.
The Lord blesses us.
The Lord establishes our steps and upholds our hand.
App: Challenge—Look for fingerprints in your life.
——————————————————————————————
Conclusion:
Conclusion:
PSALM ASSURES US: GOD is WITH US,, CARRYING US THROUGH
IN the END—IT’LL ALL BE WORTH IT…
Question is: DO WE TRUST HIM?
!! Close in Prayer !!
Transition to Communion…
