Sermon Tone Analysis

This Sunday, we are in the book of Psalms (and Sundays throughout the summer).

Some of you will remember that we studied several of the Psalms in 2015.

It was 2015 that I preached on the 2nd Psalm.

It seems like it was forever ago that I preached on Psalm 1, but it was just two Sundays ago.

So, since we’ve studied Psalm 1 and Psalm 2 together, we’re ready for Psalm 3.

My plan for the last few months was to take the first Psalms in order—just knock out the first 10-15 psalms this summer.

When I realized I’d be preaching this Psalm in the middle of everything with my father, it’s one more evidence of how perfect God’s Word is even in times of trouble, especially in times of trouble.

I decided to entitle this sermon “Times of Trouble” when the most difficult thing I was dealing with was 4th-6th Grade Church Camp.

How fitting my study and meditation upon Psalm 3 has been over the last few weeks.

It’s a Psalm that i wasn’t really familiar with prior to my study of it for this sermon.

And over and over again, throughout this journey with my Dad, the Lord has brought to mind verses, phrases, words of this Psalm.

It’s perfect.

Times of Trouble.

David is facing some serious stuff as he writes this song, as he sings it to the Lord.

The title of the Psalm tells us what we need to know.

It gives us the setting, the situation facing David.

This song comes from one of the worst moments in David’s life; he had to flee from his own son.

David’s own son is trying to kill him.

2 Samuel 15-18 tell the story of Absalom and David.

Absalom is conspiring against his father, David, the king of Israel.

Absalom wants the throne, and so he works to that end.

Before long, we read in 2 Samuel that the hearts of the people of Israel were with Absalom and not God’s chosen king, David.

David knows what his son is capable of, and so he decides to flee.

As David leaves, we read that he is walking up the Mount of Olives, he’s weeping as he goes; he covers his head.

He walks barefoot.

In other words, David is as low as he can get.

His own son wants him dead.

Absalom is willing to send twelve thousand men out to find David and attack him.

Things are not going well for David at this point in his life.

These are not good days.

These were, for David, times of trouble.

Immense trouble.

You can rest assured that life was, at this point for David’s, nearing rock-bottom.

Times of trouble.

We need to pause here for station identification and a brief public service announcement: remember, we are not David.

We are not living in the place or time time of David.

We are not in his situation, unless some of you have kingdoms I don’t know about.

I would be surprised to hear that any of your children are conspiring to dethrone you.

We are not in the same situation as David, but we do serve the same God—the God who is faithful and steadfast, the God to whom we can turn in times of trouble.

Trouble—that could very well be a synonym for life, couldn’t it?

This life is full of trouble—trouble at school (you know who you are), trouble at work, trouble at home, trouble with friends and family.

Trouble abroad and trouble right here.

The modern day prophet, Ray LaMontagne says it well:

“Trouble...

Trouble, trouble, trouble, trouble

Trouble been doggin' my soul since the day I was born.”

We all face trials of many kinds.

We are, as the Bible says, hard pressed on every side.

You cannot live this life without facing times of trouble.

Psalm 3 gives us space to deal with the troubles we face; a place to hang our hats and find comfort and confidence in God so that, just like David, we will, by the grace of God, be people of genuine faith in times of trouble.

If you have your Bibles (and I hope you do), please turn with me to Psalm 3. If you are able and willing, please stand for the reading of God’s Holy Word.

May God add His blessing to the reading of His Holy Word!

This, Psalm 3, is the first psalm with a title: “A psalm of David.

When he fled from his son Absalom.”

I’m of the belief that songwriter David wrote the music and lyrics to Psalm 3 right in the middle of the trouble he was facing.

Some say, “Well, we don’t know for sure when David wrote this song.”

And that’s true enough; I can’t say that I know for a fact David wrote this during the events of 2 Samuel 15-18, but it seems to me like he did.

This psalm is very real.

It seems very in-the-moment.

I think it would read differently if David penned this song after the fact.

Listen to verses 1 & 2:

David’s got a big problem.

It’s not a flat tire problem or “my hair just won’t do what I want it to do” problem; this is a matter of life and death.

This is David being run out of town by his own son, his son who wants to kill him, his son who has the means to kill him, his son who has the support and favor of a large chunk of David’s kingdom behind him.

Absalom is predator; David is prey.

David is on the run.

His foes/enemies are many.

So, so many of his own people have risen up against him.

Feel the weight of that, the anguish, the despair.

Have you been there?

Again, not in this exact situation, but have you been at that place where you felt surrounded on every side, where nothing was going your way, where your friends, even family have betrayed you?

This is the water David’s swimming in, and he probably feels like he’s drowning.

This is rough.

All these people are against him.

Tens of thousands are against him, and that’s likely no exaggeration.

What’s worse is what the people have to say about David:

Many are saying of me, “God will not deliver him!”

This is the worst thing anyone could say about someone else.

The worst reproach that could be made against another person was that God did not come to his rescue.

They’re taunting David for trusting in God.

“God won’t help you, David!”

“God’s not interested in saving you.”

The truth is, David is not deserving of God’s deliverance or salvation.

And neither are we.

But God does deliver.

He does save.

It’s just not dependent on us.

His enemies, his foes, his former friends, even his own family taunt him: “God will not deliver him!” they say.

David knows, however, that his enemies do not, will not have the last word.

His enemies are many; many are rising up against him, taunting him, saying God will not save him.

But David knows better.

He turns his attention away from his enemies and toward his God.

In times of trouble, David knows who God is.

May the same be said of us, church!

Instead of giving up or rolling over in times of trouble, our faith in God (in who He is) will steady us and hold us fast.

The you in verse 3—“But you, Lord”—the you is emphatic.

It should be underlined or italicized.

“My enemies are doing this and saying this, but no matter.

Because YOU, Lord are greater than they.”

David knows who God is; He knows: