From the Pit to A Praise

3 Turn and answer me, O Lord my God! Restore the sparkle to my eyes, or I will die. 4 Don’t let my enemies gloat, saying, “We have defeated him!” Don’t let them rejoice at my downfall.

Today we’re going to talk about going, “From the Pit to a Praise”.

So we’re in the holiday season where people are

5 But I trust in your unfailing love. I will rejoice because you have rescued me. 6 I will sing to the Lord because he is good to me.

So we’re in the holiday season where people are

shopping for toys and gifts

decorations are going up from the minimal to people literally adding extra electrical, to power all of the stuff they display and they’re giving tours

• shopping for toys and gifts

Christmas songs are on every venue you could name

• decorations are going up from the minimal to people literally adding extra electrical, to power all of the stuff they display and they’re giving tours

The holiday movies and tv favorites and classics are playing once again and those that would like to become classics are playing too.

• Christmas songs are on every venue you could name

• The holiday movies and tv favorites and classics are playing once again and those that would like to become classics are playing too.

It would seem the season to be merry and bright is here, and yet, that’s not the case for everyone. For some this is a season of sorrow, of stress of trying to do too much, give too much, shop too much. For some this is a time that highlights what they don’t have and it brings about feelings of despair, sorrow, guilt and a desire to want to do more, but because they can’t, there are feelings of inadequacy.

And so it’s not all it’s chalked up to be and no one expresses sorrow and despair better than King David. David had his days and times where he just felt abandoned by God; and this Psalm was on of those times. Anybody ever feel that way?

It would seem the season to be merry and bright is here, and yet, that’s not the case for everyone. For some this is a season of sorrow, of stress of trying to do too much, give too much, shop too much. For some this is a time that highlights what they don’t have, and it brings about feelings of despair, sorrow, guilt and a desire to want to do more, but because they can’t, there are feelings of inadequacy.

You’re doing all you know to do, you believe you’re following God, you’re giving, you’re serving, you’re praising and yet—you’re sad, you’re disappointed, you’re overwhelmed, you’re feeling as if God has left you and you’re having to navigate this field we call life with all its traps and land mines and trials and tribulations and troubles and struggles, all—by—your—self; and like David you’re thinking, “God where are you”?

And so it’s not all it’s chalked up to be and no one expresses sorrow and despair better than King David. David had his days and times where he just felt abandoned by God; and this Psalm was one of those times. Anybody ever feel that way?

As this passage begins, David is in a pit of despair and he asks the question, “O Lord, how long will you forget me? Forever?” Sometimes, when you’re going through something, when you’re waiting on God to intervene in your situation, when you’re waiting on God to answer your prayer; minutes can seem like hours, hours can seem like days, days can seem like months and months can, yep you got it, months can seem like years. David says, Lord are you going to forget me, “Forever!”

You’re doing all you know to do, you believe you’re following God, you’re giving, you’re serving, you’re praising and yet—you’re sad, you’re disappointed, you’re overwhelmed, you’re feeling as if God has left you and you’re having to navigate this field we call life with all its traps and land mines and trials and tribulations and troubles and struggles, all—by—your—self; and like David you’re thinking, “God where are you”?

As this passage begins, David is in a pit of despair and he asks the question, “O Lord, how long will you forget me? Forever?” Sometimes, when you’re going through something, when you’re waiting on God to intervene in your situation, when you’re waiting on God to answer your prayer; minutes can seem like hours, hours can seem like days, days can seem like months and months can, yep you got it, months can seem like years. David says, Lord are you going to forget me, “Forever!”

You’re waiting and waiting and waiting and waiting and you’re not good at waiting and so while you wait, what are you doing? Are you waiting patiently? Are you complaining while you wait? Are you working while you wait? Are you serving while you wait? Perhaps you’re doing the last thing God told you to do and you’re doing it with joy and gladness—while you wait. How are you waiting? What’s your posture? What’s your attitude?

You’re waiting and waiting and waiting and waiting and you’re not good at waiting and so while you wait, what are you doing? Are you waiting patiently? Are you complaining while you wait? Are you working while you wait? Are you serving while you wait? Perhaps you’re one of those people who’s doing the last thing God told you to do and you’re doing it with joy and gladness—while you wait. How are you waiting? What’s your posture? What’s your attitude?

It’s important—the way you wait is important. Now don’t get me wrong we all have our days when like David we say golly Lord, what are you doing? Why are you taking so long? Can you hear me, do you see what’s going on down here? Lord, when are you going to move?

David said, “How long will you look the other way?” If you watch the news and see and hear all the terrible things people are doing to each other, you may ask the question does God really know what’s going on here? He can’t. Right? Because if he did, surely he would stop it…right?

It’s important—the way you wait is important. Now don’t get me wrong we all have our days when like David we say golly Lord, what are you doing? Why are you taking so long? Can you hear me, do you see what’s going on down here? Lord, when are you going to move?

In this particular Psalm, it’s personal for David. Sometimes you just get to a place where you say like the old Winans’ song, “It’s me, it’s me, it’s me O Lord standing in the need of prayer, not my mother, not my father, but it’s me oh Lord standing in the need of prayer. Not my sister, not my brother but it’s me oh Lord standing in the need of prayer.” They had another song that said, “This time it’s personal.”

It’s not selfish to pray for yourself. You’d better learn to treat prayer like the oxygen masks on the plane. If the masks deploy, they tell you to place your mask on yourself first, then assist those around you. You can’t help others when you’re oxygen deprived.

David is in a place where he feels like God has forgotten about him, not only that he feels God has forgotten his promises to him, his covenant with him, his lovingkindness he had experienced before and his mercy.

David is in a place where he’s wondering, God do you even remember that I exists? Come on, I need some relief, these folks, my enemies are coming against me, they’re accusing me of things I didn’t do, Lord where are you? How long are you going to allow them to mistreat me like this?

David asks God, “How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul, with sorrow in my heart everyday?” Anybody ever been there? you know God is there, you know God is on your side, yet, there’s this doubt that arises because of your situation. Can I tell you something right here…God’s abilities are not dictated by your situation. God is…God can…and God will despite your situation and your circumstance.

But when you have doubt, don’t feel like the Lone Ranger, don’t beat yourself up, instead, recognize you are in good company; you can see King David’s heart in this passage of Old Testament Scripture, but Jesus himself, cried out to God from the cross, in his time of anguish and despair saying, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me!”

David was at a loss, he didn’t have a friend to advise him, he didn’t have anyone he could put his confidence in and he didn’t know what to do to help himself. David was at his wits end and he was in a state of agitation. Do I have any agitated people out there? Come on now, you can be honest, God already knows. Who out there has someone that is just worrying the dickens out of you and you want God to take them out?

David has sorrow everyday, all day and he had a question for God, “How long will my enemies have the upper hand?” In other words, how long is it going to seem like they’re winning? You see they may win some battles, but you will ultimately win the war.

How long am I going to be persecuted? Come on God, when are you going to move for me, when are you going to vindicate me? When am I going to get my day in court?

But again, if you’ve ever felt this way, you’re in good company, because the Bible says, Jesus was a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief. Jesus knows what you’re going through, so don’t allow your trouble and the appearance of God’s absence cause you become despondent, and that despondency turn to despair and that despair cause you to lose your joy and then to ultimately lose your hope.

But isn’t good to know we have a Father we can go to and just pour out our hearts to him? He won’t be offended, he won’t cut you off. He’ll listen and He’ll answer. I was telling someone yesterday, our relationship with God is personal and the way he responds to us is based on who we are as individuals. We don’t have a cookie cutter God.

But for me, I imagine in my sometimes impetuous, impatient nature God saying to me, come on daughter, come sit down and tell me all about it. At which point I can tell God everything and He won’t be upset, or disappointed, or angry or hurt, instead he will wrap his love around me and tell me it’s going to be ok, just wait and you’ll see. I got you and I have a plan for you that’s better than anything you can imagine. Just wait.

Do I always wait with joy? No. Do I always wait patiently? No. Do I wait in silence? No. Do I stop asking? No. I continue to ask until I get a sure ‘nough answer to my need. I ask until my enemy is dealt with, until they leave me alone, until the situation, until the circumstance, until the problem is resolved, until it’s gone away, until I get what I want, something better, or I hear God telling me no you can’t have that. But let me tell you this, when the answer is no to what I want, He always, always, always has something better for me, so I don’t get messed up anymore, when the answer is no.

Sometimes when you’re waiting on God to answer, you get to a place of desperation and you want to demand that God do something…in verse three David says, “Turn and answer me, O Lord my God!” Anybody ever have a child take your face in their little hands and turn it toward them so they could get you full undivided attention? This is the picture I see in this text, David trying to get God to turn around and answer him. Could David perhaps be exhibiting a flare of drama here? Isn’t that what we do too? Come on now, be honest, God already knows.

He says, “Restore the sparkle to my eyes, or I will die.” He’s asking God to help him see past his present situation, to strengthen his faith so he can see beyond where he is now, he’s asking God to show him the traps that his enemies have set for him so he can avoid them. You don’t have to get caught up in every trap your enemy sets; pray and ask God to show you what they’re doing so you can go around the snare. What you need to know is while experience may be the best teacher—it doesn’t have to be your experience, you can learn from others’ experience. It’s important to be teachable, when you’re on this journey for God.

David said, “How long will you look the other way?” If you watch the news and see and hear all the terrible things people are doing to each other, you may ask the question does God really know what’s going on here? He can’t. Right? Because if he did, surely he would stop it…right?

David continues and in verse four he prays to God, “Don’t let my enemies gloat, saying, ‘We have defeated him!’ Don’t let them rejoice at my downfall.” There are always going to be people who will rejoice in your trouble, who will be there to add fuel to the fire and guilt and shame to the situation. Who will be happy and cheer about your problem.

In this particular Psalm, it’s personal for David. Sometimes you just get to a place where you say like the old Winans’ song, “It’s me, it’s me, it’s me O Lord standing in the need of prayer, not my mother, not my father, but it’s me oh Lord standing in the need of prayer. Not my sister, not my brother but it’s me oh Lord standing in the need of prayer.” They had another song that said, “This time it’s personal.”

There were literally some people in other nations who were reveling and cheering in the death and destruction that occurred on 9/11. Yes there are people who will delight in your despair, David is asking God to not let that happen. Sometimes we call it, kicking a person while they’re down.

And then something happens between the end of verse four and the beginning of verse five, there’s a word that turns everything around. Up to this point David is travailing, saying God has forgotten about him, asking him is it going to be forever, talking about his daily struggle and anguish and sorrow and how his enemy has the upper hand, and the word is, “But”. That word changes everything; a word that takes him from the pit to a place of praise.

It’s not selfish to pray for yourself. You’d better learn to treat prayer like the oxygen masks on the plane. If the masks deploy, they tell you to place your mask on yourself first, then assist those around you. You can’t help others when you’re oxygen deprived.

David says, “But” meaning in spite of all that other stuff I said, in spite of all I feel, in spite of the sorrow and anguish and despair and feelings of abandonment and isolation, despite all those emotions, David says— “But I trust in your unfailing love.”

David is in a place where he feels like God has forgotten about him. Not only that, he feels God has forgotten his promises to him, and his covenant with him. He believes he’s no longer receiving the lovingkindness that he experienced before, nor God’s mercy.

No matter what’s happening in your life, despite your situation, regardless of your circumstance, no matter who betrays you, leaves you, hurts you, or plots against you, you can trust that God’s love will never fail and because God’s love is unfailing, you can rejoice because God has—not will—he has rescued you from whatever you’re going through. It’s already done.

David is in a place where he’s wondering, God do you even remember that I exist? Come on, I need some relief, these folks, my enemies are coming against me, they’re accusing me of things I didn’t do, Lord where are you? How long are you going to allow them to mistreat me like this?

And so now, you like David can sing to the Lord, because he is good to you. Sing unto the Lord a new song for he has done marvelous things.

David asks God, “How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul, with sorrow in my heart every day?” Anybody ever been there? you know God is there, you know God is on your side, yet, there’s this doubt that arises because of your situation. Can I tell you something right here?…God’s abilities are not dictated by your situation. God is…God can…and God will, despite your situation and your circumstance.

We can get so overwhelmed at times we lose sight of the goodness of the Lord, if we just looked at the facts of our lives, there is one thing that should stand out for us, one thing that changed the very course of our lives and that is

But when you have doubt, don’t feel like the Lone Ranger, don’t beat yourself up, instead, recognize you’re in good company; you can see King David’s heart in this passage of Old Testament Scripture, but Jesus himself, cried out to God from the cross, in his time of anguish and despair saying, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me!”

For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life. Do I have any whosoever’s out there? Is there anybody under the sound of my voice that recognizes Jesus came and gave his life just for you. That he died for your sins, that he loved you just that much.

David was at a loss, he didn’t have a friend to advise him, he didn’t have anyone he could put his confidence in, and he didn’t know what to do to help himself. David was at his wits end and he was in a state of agitation. Do I have any agitated people out there? Come on now, you can be honest, God already knows. Who out there has someone that is just worrying the dickens out of you and you want God to take them out?

Is there anybody who didn’t know that Jesus was beaten all night long, they slap and punched him in the face, they pulled out his beard, they beat him with a cat of nine tails, ripping the skin from his back, they mocked him, they placed a crown of thorns on his head, they nailed him to a cross, they pierced him in his side and when he had paid for all the sins that would ever be committed he said, “It is finished” and he gave up the ghost. Jesus died for a sinful and ungrateful world who until God pricks their heart will never fully understand the magnitude of his suffering. He did it all while we were yet sinners.

David has sorrow every day, all day and he had a question for God, “How long will my enemies have the upper hand?” In other words, how long is it going to seem like they’re winning? You see they may win some battles, but you will ultimately win the war.

So you see, if he never does anything else, he’s already done more than enough for us to sing to the Lord because he’s been good to us.

How long am I going to be persecuted? Come on God, when are you going to move for me, when are you going to vindicate me? When am I going to get my day in court?

If he woke you up this morning—he’s been good

But again, if you’ve ever felt this way, you’re in good company, because the Bible says, Jesus was a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief. Jesus knows what you’re going through, so don’t allow your trouble and the appearance of God’s absence to cause you become despondent, and in turn that despondency turn to despair and that despair cause you to lose your joy and then to ultimately lose your hope.

If he gave you the activity of your limbs—he’s been good

But isn’t good to know we have a Father we can go to and just pour out our hearts to him? He won’t be offended; he won’t cut you off. He’ll listen and He’ll answer. I was telling someone yesterday, our relationship with God is personal and the way he responds to us is based on who we are as individuals. We don’t have a cookie cutter God.

If you are able to speak—he’s been good

But for me, I imagine in my sometimes impetuous, impatient nature God saying to me, come on daughter, come sit down and tell me all about it. At which point I can tell God everything and He won’t be upset, or disappointed, or angry or hurt, instead he will wrap his love around me and tell me it’s going to be ok, just wait and you’ll see. I got you and I have a plan for you that’s better than anything you can imagine. Just wait.

If you were able to get here this morning—he’s been good

Do I always wait with joy? No. Do I always wait patiently? No. Do I wait in silence? No. Do I stop asking? No. I continue to ask until I get a sure ‘nough answer to my need. I ask until my enemy is dealt with, until they leave me alone, until the situation, until the circumstance, until the problem is resolved, until it’s gone away, until I get what I want, something better, or I hear God telling me no you can’t have that. But let me tell you this, when the answer is no to what I want, He always, always, always has something better for me, so I don’t get messed up anymore, when the answer is no.

If you were able to watch online—he’s been good

Sometimes when you’re waiting on God to answer, you get to a place of desperation and you want to demand that God do something…in verse three David says, “Turn and answer me, O Lord my God!” Anybody ever have a child take your face in their little hands and turn it toward them so they could get you full undivided attention? This is the picture I see in this text, David trying to get God to turn around and answer him. Could David perhaps be exhibiting a flare of drama here? Isn’t that what we do too? Come on now, tell the truth and shame the devil.

If you’re in your right mind—he’s been good

He says, “Restore the sparkle to my eyes, or I will die.” He’s asking God to help him see past his present situation, to strengthen his faith so he can see beyond where he is now, he’s asking God to show him the traps that his enemies have set for him so he can avoid them. You don’t have to get caught up in every trap your enemy sets; pray and ask God to show you what they’re doing so you can go around the snare. What you need to know is while experience may be the best teacher—it doesn’t have to be your experience; you can learn from others’ experiences. It’s important to be teachable when you’re on this journey for God.

If you have place to sleep—he’s been good

David continues and in verse four he prays to God, “Don’t let my enemies gloat, saying, ‘We have defeated him!’ Don’t let them rejoice at my downfall.” There are always going to be people who will rejoice in your trouble, who will be there to add fuel to the fire and guilt and shame to the situation; who will be happy and cheer about your problem.

If you have food to eat—he’s been good

There were literally some people in other nations who were reveling and cheering in the death and destruction that occurred on 9/11. Yes, there are people who will delight in your despair, who’ll get pleasure from your predicament, and David is asking God to not let that happen. Sometimes we call it, kicking a person while they’re down.

If you’ve got clothes on your back and shoes on your feet—he’s been good

No matter what it looks like, no matter what you’re going through, no matter how you feel you must…

And then something happens between the end of verse four and the beginning of verse five, there’s a word that turns everything around. Up to this point David is travailing, saying God has forgotten about him, asking him is it going to be forever, talking about his daily struggle and anguish and sorrow and how his enemy has the upper hand, and that word is, “But”. That word changes everything; a word that takes him from the pit to a place of praise.

Trust, in God’s unfailing, unwavering, unending and unconditional love.

Rejoice because he has rescued you from the snare of the enemy and…

David says, “But” meaning in spite of all that other stuff I said, in spite of all I feel, in spite of the sorrow and anguish and despair and feelings of abandonment and isolation, despite all those emotions, David says— “But I trust in your unfailing love.”

Sing unto the Lord because he’s been good to you.

No matter what’s happening in your life, despite your situation, regardless of your circumstance, no matter who betrays you, leaves you, hurts you, or plots against you, you can trust that God’s love will never fail and because God’s love is unfailing, you can rejoice because God has—not will—he has rescued you from whatever you’re going through. It’s already done.

When you can remember that, you can go from the pit to a praise for the God who is the I Am that I Am.

The doors of the church are open, let us stand

And so now, you like David can sing to the Lord, because he is good to you. Sing unto the Lord a new song for he has done marvelous things.

We can get so overwhelmed at times we lose sight of the goodness of the Lord, if we would just looked at the facts of our lives, there is one thing that should stand out for us, one thing that changed the very course of our lives and that is

For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life. Do I have any whosoever’s out there? Is there anybody under the sound of my voice that recognizes Jesus came and gave his life just for you. That he died for your sins, that he loved you just that much.

Is there anybody who didn’t know that Jesus was beaten all night long, they slap and punched him in the face, they pulled out his beard, they beat him with a cat of nine tails, ripping the skin from his back, they mocked him, they placed a crown of thorns on his head, they nailed him to a cross, they pierced him in his side and when he had paid for all the sins that would ever be committed he said, “It is finished” and he gave up the ghost. Jesus died for a sinful and ungrateful world who until God pricks their heart will never fully understand the magnitude of his suffering. He did it all while we were yet sinners.

So you see, if he never does anything else, he’s already done more than enough for us to sing to the Lord because he’s been good to us.

• If he woke you up this morning—he’s been good

• If he gave you the activity of your limbs—he’s been good

• If you are able to speak—he’s been good

• If you were able to get here this morning—he’s been good

• If you’re able to watch online—he’s been good

• If you’re in your right mind—he’s been good

• If you have place to sleep—he’s been good

• If you have food to eat—he’s been good

• If you’ve got clothes on your back and shoes on your feet—he’s been good

No matter what it looks like, no matter what you’re going through, no matter how you feel you must…

Trust, in God’s unfailing, unwavering, unending and unconditional love.

Rejoice because he has rescued you from the snare of the enemy and…

Sing unto the Lord because he is good to you.

When you can remember that, you can go from the pit to a praise for the God who is the I Am that I Am.

The doors of the church are open, let us stand.