05-19-19 Know Thine Enemy

So that will be our theme for the summer you're going to see that video a lot and it's purposeful there because it's easy to get lost in the Psalms to just look at them as individual stepping stones or just information and great stories and I know but there's a collection to the Psalms. There's a coordination to the songs to the to the entire book of Psalms. It's so this video will remind us that with the words that you see in there the various types of language and words that you see throughout the Psalms. You saw that that video started with lament and a lot of the Psalms the song we look at today. It's it's a Psalm of lament. It's a Psalm of Anguish. It's a Psalm of almost really fear. It's the real people experiencing life. But what will find is that the book of Psalms and all the individual songs inside. They don't leave you in that anguish crying out to the Lord lost. They then bring you to trust They didn't give you wisdom. They then foreshadow the Messiah and his royalty in his kingdom. Which leads us to praise to Thanksgiving to Joy into peace. And as you walk through. We're not going to make it there all 150 songs, but we've done this in years past where we do a summary of Psalms and will continue to do this and as we go through these we want to see the connected nature of this of this worship book. It is a book of love songs that they used in the old and in the in the early days of Judaism as it was put together there seems to be some clear-cut organization to it. And as you just come to the Book of Psalms, you just read that you're okay the song after song after song but there are there five divisions at five books and 75% of our study which is about we're going to do study through 13 of them and 10 of them are from book one and they're all from Psalms of David David wrote a large portion of the book of of the ball the Psalms and what you see Please individual stories is is the personal and the passionate you see the lives of the people as they tried to live a life before the Lord and they were crying out to God you get a glimpse into the struggle of faith for the Old Testament Jew. In the book of the Psalms and the collection of the Psalms man's needs meet God's glory and the messiah's promised Kingdom. Wait a minute. Jesus hadn't come yet. So, how are they talking about Jesus? That's the beauty of it. All is there not mentioning the name of Jesus David and many of the psalmist. Look forward and say God is bringing one. He will be a messiah on him will be laid out chastisements our sin. They didn't have a full picture of what that would look like, but they write about it. They write about the hope that is there today. We are looking at Psalm 3. It is a Psalm of lament. It is a Psalm of grief a Psalm of Sorrow a Psalm of crying out to God the the title to this you read in your your copies of God's word. You'll see if you have the ESV copy of God's word. You'll see save me. Oh my God, that title is one that was added by men later on you'll then see the title A Psalm of David when he fled from Absalom his son. That is the though. Those are the words of God given to us. That is the direction of God telling us that what the context of the song was that was actually included in the Hebrew text as it was given to us. And so what we will look at today is the store. Absalom cuz I want to give you the history and all that of what's going on, but I've titled this sermon know thine enemy, we will hear that phrase throughout history. It's important as we read through what David's telling us in and crying out about in Psalm 3 that we understand who he believed his enemies to be it. So let's look at first the story of David as you go into 2nd Samuel if you'll remember David was anointed king who was the first King Saul he after the. Of Judges they would God would raise up a judge and they would have glorious Victory. They would feel restored to the Lord and then instead of building off of that and I'm continuing their heights of praise and honor to God life would get easy and they begin to turn from God and they would begin to take upon themselves all of the paganism that was around them in the traits. And God would have to stay with David cast themselves away from God and God will send another judge in overtime. They said We want a king like all these other nations and God said I'll give you a king then gave them Saul. I chose saw I know it's all for you. Here is Saul Saul turn from God disobeys. God loses his kingdom and then 2nd Samuel we see where David anointed king. I didn't verses 5 through 10 of 2nd Samuel things are going really, well. You have Conquest you have celebration of Conquest. You have kind in this David takes mephibosheth who was Saul's son and doesn't wipe all of Saul's people out of to protect his own kingdom. He put He loves them and he's kind to them. They had Conquest over the edomites over the Philistines over the moabites over zoba over the syrians over the ammonites over the amalekites and those verses that talks about David went and had Conquest over all of these nations. That we may think war is not a fun time, but it is never fun. But when you're winning and you're you're spending your yourselves and you feel like you're in God's will and you're doing what you think is God's Will and things are going well for you it is those are happy days for the people. Then versus chapter 11 we hear the story about the Chiba. David committed adultery David committed murder. He had joab send your Raya to the front lines because he did not want to the thing that he had done with this batsheva to be found. And then he was in verse chapter 12. He was rebuked by Nathan. You are the man. Oh my God. I was David's response. But his repentance in his repentance, he still has his child died. Solomon's born in chapter 12, but then inverse 13. We begin to see the chaos. a David's family begin We moved to the story of Absalom because Absalom is where this chaos begins to surround a Chapter 13 of 2nd Samuel. We have em Don who was Absalom his brother and Tamar who is Absalom sister. They were David's children am numb rapes tomorrow. Some crazy things going on in the life of David sibling their children.

Absalom had a hatred for amnon for that. How could you violate my sister? So within a couple of years Absalom kills amnon Well, when one son kills another sign chaos ensues Absalom fleece gets out of town. Repens David and Absalom out of there. But this this these are his children. He loves them and he's he's being he's in pain. He's always crying out in longing for Absalom and joab is the commander of his army recognizes this and says, we should bring him back so he goes to the king and so it looks bring Absalom back. I know you want to so Absalom returns not allowed into the presence of the king, but he's he's in the cities in the area. Well, this is what we picked up on when we were reading where Absalom begin to conspire against David has people came. He said you know, what if if I were in charge I would be a judge for you. I would take care of these things for you. I can't speak to what's happening over there. But if I were the one who would you would let me know? Let me help you I can help you. So Absalom begins to conspire against David and all of Israel begins to follow Absalom. And this is where we get to Psalm 3. Absalom is chasing David to kill him and David has infiltrated one of his man one of his men said they would let me come with you. David said you. You actually better serve me if you went and gave your homage to Absalom and stayed and then you could sneak information to me. I met this great to make a great movie. And what's going on here is is an out working of David's life and he's fleeing and he's and he's a struggling. and David comes and writes Psalm 3 in the midst of all this

First thing in Psalm 3 we see is David's need let me read to us the entirety of the song to give you the picture and then we will walk through it step-by-step. Psalm chapter 3 a Psalm of David when he fled from Absalom his son. Oh Lord. How many are my foes many are rising against me many are saying of my soul. There is no salvation for him and God.

But you oh Lord are a shield about me my glory and the lifter of my head. I cried aloud to the Lord and he answered me from his Holy Hill.

I laid down and slept I woke again for the Lord sustains me I will not be afraid of many thousands of people who have set themselves against me all around arise. Oh Lord, save me. Oh my God for you strike all my enemies on the cheek. You break the teeth of the wicked. Salvation Belongs to the Lord your blessing be on your people.

We begin. that song with a picture of David's need it reminds us of what he said in 2nd Samuel 15 verse 12 the people with Absalom kept increasing the people with Absalom kept increasing and then he goes on to verse 13 and the hearts of the men of Israel have gone after Absalom. That was the message that came to David. Hey David, they're all following Absalom. Now, you better get out of Jerusalem, cuz they're coming for you. They will no longer side with you and David cries out in verse 1 and Psalm 3 O Lord, how many are my foes many are rising against me. David had people that went with him and fled Jerusalem, but he had the weight of the world upon him. He had people coming after not only his kingdom but his very life. And then reverse to we begin to see a little bit more about David's enemies. He says many are saying of my soul. There is no salvation for him. And God. He thinks God's going to save them maybe says they're laughing at me. They think I'm foolish for trusting in you because the hearts are gone after Absalom. Oh God, what should I do? Please help me. I am crying out to you. And grief and pain and misery. I don't know what to do. And then to make matters worse.

We see in 2nd Samuel 16 verse 5 the story of shimmy. I haven't mentioned this yet. Shimmy. I says was a was part of the House of Saul. It has David was fleeing Jerusalem running out of a house on the hill screaming curses at David because they said he came out yelling curses at David. I don't know where he was exactly what this is supposed to look like, but he was basically saying to him the Lord has Avenged on you all the blood of the House of Saul you stole the Kingdom from my household. This is on you that all these bad things are happening to you. You shouldn't have ever been King David. You shouldn't have taken the Kingdom from my my father saw from our household. This is on this blood is on you this these enemies are on you. This is on your head. You've done it all wrong. You you you you you are the problem David. You feel that way. I'm the problem and David goes but I was just a little Shepherd boy. Haven't you heard the song The Little Shepherd boy David. I didn't want this. It was thrust upon me. The Lord called me Samuel. Call me. He heard the voice of God calling him. But his enemies and in that moment, we're telling him there's no salvation for you. And God he can won't save you. He doesn't even want to save you you see Shimmer as message. Is that The Lord has given the kingdom your kingdom into the hands of Absalom. There's nothing you can do about it. He didn't want you to be king if you're evil is on you David for you are a man of blood. You're not God's chosen one. Look around look at the circumstances David can't you see and this man screaming curses at him chasing him out. He didn't say that God's not able to save you show me ice telling him. God doesn't want to save you. He wants you gone. God is kicking you out. and David says

Are all around me. I know but I know Lord the why have you allowed this many a rising up against me? They're telling me that there's no salvation for me and God.

And we move on to David's confidence. Here's what David believed he believed that God was his shield against these fiery arrows that were targeting David's trust. I want to trust you, but these people are all after me. I'm starting to believe it and he says but you're my shield. You're the one that I stand behind that guards my rear and my front and my side my top. You're the one that will protect me. Oh my God, but you oh Lord are a shield about me verse 3 my glory and the lifter of my head. There's this show that David wills and he trusted to protect him according to God's holy will According to God's holy will I'm going to hold this Shield up and whatever comes May Come. Shimmy, aye the guy that was cursing David. I'm going to spoiler alert Absalom dies. Case you didn't know that later on down the road with Absalom dies David returns to Jerusalem. Shimmy. I comes running out to forgive me a guy. I didn't mean to say all those things to you and David commanders and leader said you want us to to kill him. He's clearly your enemy. David said know who am I to take revenge? When David says he stands behind the shield and trust the Lord, he's saying Lord whatever comes if there are fiery darts the need to get through that shield and take me out. So be it I'm not going to do your work. I'm not going to presume to know everything about your will. I'm going to speak to live a holy life. I am the David was called the man after God's Own Heart was it because he was perfect snowing CBA killed Uriah. He was a murderous. I mean that they're avenging and warm sure he had sin after sin after sin, but his desire and his Hope was to trust in the Lord to not take things into his hand all the time and then to repent when he was called out for his son when he recognized it. Verse for I cried aloud to the Lord and he answered me. We begin to see David's confidence. I cried to you. Oh god. Oh and you answered me from your Holy Hill. I laid down I slept and I woke again for the Lord sustains me. I think this is the point where the adults really understand that children. You going to have a hard time understanding this because I've watched children sleep fall asleep. Don't wake up until something till the bike the house about falls on top of them. But adults how many of you had that anxiousness. I can't sleep.

How many get that anxiousness just when you eat something that doesn't sit well and you can't sleep that night how many of you don't sleep as well out here it gets even better as you have teenagers who stay out later. David says Lord. I trusted you and here was my here was my evidence that you're there with me. I laid down. And I slept and I woke up again. I'm still here kids. What? Yeah that happens. I'm surprised when I wake up every morning and every year old and older you're more and more surprised. David's attributing that the same God protected me. He has eyes to see the world in the context of God is in control. God is the one who was protecting me who gives me life. And even though I have enemies surrounding me coming out and everywhere that I go. They're telling me God cannot sustain. May God cannot protect me. You will be overtaken you will be cast out he says but I trust and this my God has protected me up to now he has sustained me. I will not be afraid verse 6 of the many thousands of people who have set themselves against me all around. David is speaking here of that childlike faith. Because I had lunch with a friend this week and has a 18 month-old daughter and they are looking for wisdom feel like you've come to the wrong place. But if I like to tell people things so I told him some things and I said, let me ask you this. What have I forgotten about young children? Cuz you know as you get older children, you begin to treat your younger ones a little differently. He said. pause he said it's just fun watching them be amazed. To look at to go with tri they're everywhere. There's a bit to be amazed. So I came home and was telling Peggy about it. She goes. Yes y'all I was just playing with soap like it was the most amazing thing in the world. It's been fun to Paul's. Stop for just a moment and to look at a child and with different eyes and to realize what's going through their head. They're not worried like us. They're not concerned like us. This is the trust that David's longing for in trying to show to us. Or I got enemies all around me. He's preaching to himself. I know I know that you're the one that sustains me. I know that when I go to sleep that the only way I will wake up a live as if you're the one protecting me. I know that the only way I will actually be able to close my eyes and rest is if you're the one that gives me that piece and I trust you like a little child who was looking at life. That was totally different eyes. Who's trusting their father in Heaven to give what it is that we need? And then he says with that childlike faith. I recognize that each day is proof that my shield is holding.

David Reveals His trust and his praise of God against these tangible physical enemies like they're literally trying to kill him. Very few of us have experienced that someone literally trying to kill me some of us have but not every one of us have experienced people trying to kill us physically, but maybe David begins to recognize here. And as you look at David's wife and you read the story of 2nd Samuel and the way he treats people the way he responds to his enemies maybe he's recognizing that his battle was not against the flesh. We read that in a fission 6 verse 12 for we do not wrestle against flesh and blood but against the rulers against the authorities against the cosmic Powers over this present Darkness against the spiritual forces of evil in the Heavenly places. I'd rather fight against flesh and blood that sounds hard. And the reality is it's impossible. We cannot win that battle. It's what David prays this number seven arise. Oh Lord and save me. Oh my God. For you strike all my enemies on the cheek. You break the teeth of the wicked when I read that. That sounds painful. There's there's some analogy there, but that really sounds like that hurts. Mercedes salvation Belongs to the Lord The only time I'm a Victorious ruler who has overthrown the edomites the ammonites and Malachi saw all these different I can destroy these people. I'm powerful. He wasn't able to overcome David. I've got these mighty men that fight for me. I'm very wise you've given me all these things. But I know this one thing that my victories have come from the Lord and whatever may come to me will, because the Lord wants it and that my strength to overcome the spiritual battle that is Raging in this world. I am not capable of that. So oh Lord save me because true salvation Eternal salvation. We may say Belongs to the Lord. David's hope rests and God Alone. David laments the situation he don't like it. He wants to be chased out of their City hunted by their own son. Chastise by people that you're passing along the way who wants that no-one and who is willing to say Lord if you bring that to me, I'm willing to accept it. Very pretty much. No one no one no one wants that to come upon them. But in this David says I'm doing everything I can to rest in you got because I know that is where it is at now.

The thing we got to recognize here then as we need to know our enemy David's enemy is our enemy. Wait, we have the same enemy, but I don't even know when Absalom. What are you talkin about? It's a spiritual. Enemy the same enemy that was in the life of Absalom that was driving every movement in and to enrage and overthrow God's anointed one, which was David that that that that force was a spiritual evil from the Heavenly realms We're eating 2nd Samuel 12 a little bit about that. God promised absalom's Calamity would come because of that see but we read this now the sword shall never depart from your house because you have despised me and have taken the wife of Uriah the hittite to be your wife David way back when you're going to have troubles you're going to struggle because of what you've done. There are consequences to your sin that will last and will be ongoing and will be forthcoming and there you won't get away from the David. That's what Nathan told him. In chapter 18 of 2nd Samuel verse 33. We see David's response and the King was deeply moved and went up to the chamber over the gates and wet. This is when his son Absalom died, so I didn't tell you the whole story about that happened before we the rest of this. They went out to fight they were you know, they're trying to win this battle is Brian for victory the songs of would give me Victory within yeah. David wants to kill Absalom get rid of the one in charge. He says but don't take out Absalom was joab. He's kind of rash and just does his own thing. Sometimes he's the leader of the army one of his men says Hey Absalom head stuck in a tree which by the way is really funny. So he was riding on a donkey and its head somehow got lodged in the trainees hanging there between Heaven and Earth and joab says, well, did you kill him with David told us not to the When you bring him down and carry him to jail if they just left him hanging there according to the biblical account. He's hanging in this tree by his head and then Joanne goes with fine. I'll go to it and I don't really know the story. There's just as you read it. I might even give us every detail here. I guess something's not quite adding up by joab cast 3 Spears into absolon and tells his men finishing.

David Freiburger dancer Lord protect me from my enemies. David response He went up to the Chamber of the gate and he wept. it has it when he said oh my son Absalom. My son my son Absalom would that I had died instead of you. Oh Absalom my son my son.

Play joab came today. They're so I can't believe you're weeping over this man Absalom. You want all these people to follow you. You can't start weeping over this guy. And David said fast is my son. and David knows is anime

His enemy was sad.

What caused this Absalom said? What caused this to come about the cause of the sword to never leave David's house? his said it entered into the world in Genesis chapter 3. And it has not left the world even though it's been defeated by Christ. Is the only God can save us it is not enough to say God's going to save us. It is faith alone and Jesus Christ Alone that will help us to overcome this and then the more and more we believe that the more and more we begin to respond to people with Grace. Should I kill shimmy? Aye this crazy old guy who's blaming you for all this? Be gracious to them the Lord will protect us. He is my shield if the Lord wants Mei to kill me or kill me if the Lord doesn't want shimmy. Aye to kill me. He won't kill me. Do we trust the Lord to that extent? That's our goal. And when we're not there we've repaired asked the Lord to help us strengthen us forgive us. Do we trust him when the Lord says stay away from this end don't do this when our parents say you shouldn't be involved in this or that or the other that we trust and believe them and fight against it.

You see David was a man after God's Own Heart. And here's what he believed and will close with these few statements. he believed that salvation belongs to God that only God could give it he didn't know the name of Jesus Christ, but he said Only God can save me only God can save me here physically. Now only God can save me from what was brought into the world with Adam and Eve they knew about that part. Right? Only God can save me from the Calamity that is around us because my enemies while they surround me they are spiritual enemies first and foremost. It says only God can save me my only true Shield is God almighty. That is my shield my protector.

my enemy my only enemy is spiritual. The Last Enemy is death. But we are in a spiritual battle and we shouldn't look at one another in those around us with hatred and frustration. We should look at each other with pity and grace and mercy. If that doesn't convictus, I don't know what does guilty. Sin, and its consequences are put to death by faith. And not my Conquest we will never overthrow the sinfulness of this world. Only Jesus Christ can do it and has actually done it and will bring it to fruition full in finally on the day of the Lord Jesus Christ. That's our hope that is our trust. And yes, we cry out with David Lord my enemies surround me help me help me to be self-controlled help me to respond to them in a gracious kindness way protect. Me and Lord Whatever May Come Weatherby sickness, whether it be a human being that is against me whether it be an institution that I'm struggling with whether be a boss my work. Whatever it is. Oh God. Save me for salvation Belongs to You sustain me day in and day out because I know you will and help me to have eyes to see. and ears to hear and a heart and a mind to know that my only hope is in Jesus Christ was by father.