Encouragement during a time of Uncertainty
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Handout
Welcome
Welcome
Hello everyone.
Happy Sabbath.
I hope you are all well and continue encouraged in the Lord.
Opening Prayer
Opening Prayer
Slide
Hymn 522 – My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less
Hymn 522 – My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less
Our opening hymn is hymn no. 22
Read verse 1.
That hope on Jesus endures all.
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Tithe and Offering
Tithe and Offering
As you can imagine Tithe and Offerings are well down at this time.
Some of you might be holding back your tithe and offering till we meet again in the church.
But unfortunately that may be some time.
i would like to encourage those of you than can,, to donate online.
If you can buy online, I assure you you can also donate online via the conference website.
It is very easy to use.
You can also contact me if alternative arrangements are needed.
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Prayer - Mike Clarry
Prayer - Mike Clarry
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Children Story - Norma Borrett
Children Story - Norma Borrett
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Special Music - Victorio Family
Special Music - Victorio Family
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Sermon Introduction
Sermon Introduction
Sermon Introduction
Sermon Introduction
Friend of the Bridegroom
One of the biggest complaints about our modern society is that we are far too busy.
Running to and fro.
How times have changed.
Busyness was almost seen as a badge of honour, regardless of your job.
And Families suffered
COVID 19 is creating a new reality for most of us.
Many of us are being forced to slow down.
As individuals, as couples, as families, and even as communities.
Familes
We have two scripture readings today, from and .
They were both written by a young David, not yet King, who was forced to slow right down by his circumstances.
Scripture Reading
Scripture Reading
To the Chief Musician. Set to “Do Not Destroy.” a Michtam of David When He Fled from Saul into the Cave.
1 Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me!
For my soul trusts in You;
And in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge,
Until these calamities have passed by.
2 I will cry out to God Most High,
To God who performs all things for me.
3 He shall send from heaven and save me;
He reproaches the one who would swallow me up.
Selah
God shall send forth His mercy and His truth.
4 My soul is among lions;
I lie among the sons of men
Who are set on fire,
Whose teeth are spears and arrows,
And their tongue a sharp sword.
5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;
Let Your glory be above all the earth.
6 They have prepared a net for my steps;
My soul is bowed down;
They have dug a pit before me;
Into the midst of it they themselves have fallen.
Selah
7 My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast;
I will sing and give praise.
8 Awake, my glory!
Awake, lute and harp!
I will awaken the dawn.
9 I will praise You, O Lord, among the peoples;
I will sing to You among the nations.
10 For Your mercy reaches unto the heavens,
And Your truth unto the clouds.
11 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;
Let Your glory be above all the earth.
Slide
1 Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me!
For my soul trusts in You;
And in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge,
Until these calamities have passed by.
Slide
4 Look on my right hand and see, For there is no one who acknowledges me; Refuge has failed me; No one cares for my soul. 5 I cried out to You, O Lord: I said, “You are my refuge, My portion in the land of the living. 6 Attend to my cry, For I am brought very low; Deliver me from my persecutors, For they are stronger than I. 7 Bring my soul out of prison, That I may praise Your name; The righteous shall surround me, For You shall deal bountifully with me.”
Slide
Ps 142:
1 Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me! For my soul trusts in You; And in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge, Until these calamities have passed by.
A Contemplation Of David. A Prayer When He Was in the Cave.
1 I cry out to the Lord with my voice;
With my voice to the Lord I make my supplication.
2 I pour out my complaint before Him;
I declare before Him my trouble.
3 When my spirit was overwhelmed within me,
Then You knew my path.
In the way in which I walk
They have secretly set a snare for me.
4 Look on my right hand and see,
For there is no one who acknowledges me;
Refuge has failed me;
No one cares for my soul.
5 I cried out to You, O Lord:
I said, “You are my refuge,
My portion in the land of the living.
6 Attend to my cry,
For I am brought very low;
Deliver me from my persecutors,
For they are stronger than I.
7 Bring my soul out of prison,
That I may praise Your name;
The righteous shall surround me,
For You shall deal bountifully with me.”
The Setting
The Setting
We just read portions of two Psalms, and .
As I said before, both of these Psalms written by David.
A young David.
The New King James Version Psalm 142
A Contemplation Of David. A Prayer When He Was in the Cave.
1 Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me! For my soul trusts in You; And in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge, Until these calamities have passed by.
And they were both written from a Cave.
Emphasis
From a cave
To the Chief Musician. Set to “Do Not Destroy.” a Michtam of David When He Fled from Saul into the Cave. 1 Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me! For my soul trusts in You; And in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge, Until these calamities have passed by. 2 I will cry out to God Most High, To God who performs all things for me. 3 He shall send from heaven and save me; He reproaches the one who would swallow me up. Selah God shall send forth His mercy and His truth. 4 My soul is among lions; I lie among the sons of men Who are set on fire, Whose teeth are spears and arrows, And their tongue a sharp sword. 5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; Let Your glory be above all the earth. 6 They have prepared a net for my steps; My soul is bowed down; They have dug a pit before me; Into the midst of it they themselves have fallen. Selah 7 My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and give praise. 8 Awake, my glory! Awake, lute and harp! I will awaken the dawn. 9 I will praise You, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing to You among the nations. 10 For Your mercy reaches unto the heavens, And Your truth unto the clouds. 11 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; Let Your glory be above all the earth.
Scribal Subscripts
Scribal Subscripts
The New King James Version Psalm 57
To the Chief Musician. Set to “Do Not Destroy.” a Michtam of David When He Fled from Saul into the Cave.
The scribal subscripts at the beginning of each Psalm says,
The New King James Version Psalm 57
To the Chief Musician. Set to “Do Not Destroy.” a Michtam of David When He Fled from Saul into the Cave.
Slide (Mik-tam)
Mik-tam
To the Chief Musician. Set to “Do Not Destroy.” a Michtam of David When He Fled from Saul into the Cave.
A Contemplation Of David. A Prayer When He Was in the Cave
It is highly likely that they were both written from the same cave.
Cave
Overview of events from Goliath to Cave
Overview of events from Goliath to Cave
After killing Goliath, David entered the military service of King Saul.
Psalms, Volume 3: (Psalms 107–150): An Expositional Commentary This Lonely Prison
After killing Goliath, the Philistine hero, David entered the military service of King Saul, but his natural abilities and successes provoked Saul’s jealousy, and after a short time David needed to escape from Saul’s court into the wilderness. David had no provisions, no followers, and no place to turn
But his abilities and successes provoked Saul’s jealousy
And after a short time David was forced to escape from Saul’s court, into the wilderness.
This seems to be a repeated theme in his life, even when he becomes King.
David ran for his very life.
From Saul.
He had no provisions, no followers, and no place to turn.
Eventually, after two key events, David finds himself in a cave.
Slide (Add-u-lamb)
We read in ,
1 David therefore departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam. So when his brothers and all his father’s house heard it, they went down there to him.
At first he was totally alone, in isolation
It is during this time, in the cave, that it is believed David wrote these two Psalms.
Psalms, Volume 3: (Psalms 107–150): An Expositional Commentary This Lonely Prison
After killing Goliath, the Philistine hero, David entered the military service of King Saul, but his natural abilities and successes provoked Saul’s jealousy, and after a short time David needed to escape from Saul’s court into the wilderness. David had no provisions, no followers, and no place to turn
They are really worth reading in full, even if time does not allow us here and now.
And they are very relevant to our current days of isolation, hiding as it were, in our caves, from an unseen enemy.
Danger and Anxiety
Danger and Anxiety
Ella Wilcox, a poet, wrote, “Laugh and the world laughs with you; weep and you weep alone”.
A-bit cynical, but also mostly true.
David’s Loss
David’s Loss
The young David is in real danger.
He fears for his life, and finally finds himself isolated in a Cave, some 16 miles south east of Jerusalem.
He has gone from the Palace, to the Cave.
From Hero, the one who slayed Goliath, to Zero, fearing for his life, in a very short space of time.
When a storm is coming, the most needful is to find shelter.
Danger
The young David had to work through out how to deal with an imminent threat to his life, the loss of so much, and all the anxiety that came with that.
David had lost his home at the Palace
He had lost his position in Saul’s court
Isolation
With that came the loss of income and provisions from the King’s table.
The
And David has lost his closet relationship, his best friend, Jonathan, the King’s son.
He dare not travel to his family home, not wanting to put his family in danger.
David has lost his confidence in God.
What happened to the young man who said,
Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.
1 Sam 17:
So He ends up in a Cave, hiding out.
As we just read, when his family finally hear about his predicament, they come to him.
Covid-19
Covid-19
I think danger, loss and anxiety is something we can all relate to at this time.
Fear
There is a particular strain and anxiety that comes to us, when we are waiting for a threat that is gliding toward us.
There are many people trying to get our attention at this time.
And where we have lost control of the situation.
Our news feeds are full of every kind of news, stories, humour and advice.
A fellow Pastor wisely wrote “But sadly, they have no one to calm and restore their souls”.
Devising our own schemes and plans to survive
Devising our own schemes and plans to survive
It is very easy for us to try and devise our own schemes and plans to survive in such difficult times.
I know I am guilty of that.
Emphasis
“To take back control”, as it where.
“I’ve got this”.
The loss of his home at the Palace,
The young David certainly tried that, before he finally ended up in that Cave.
The loss of position
One of the reasons I love reading the bible is that it is so honest in how it portrays the heroes of faith within its pages.
The loss of income and provisions from the King’s table
The loss of his closet relationship in Jonathan, the King’s son
And not wanting to put his family in danger,
I think danger, loss and anxiety is something we can all relate to at this time.
The young David certainly tried that, before he finally ended up in that Cave.
One of the reasons I love reading the bible is that it is so honest in how it portrays the heroes of faith.
That is something I can relate to.
There is a particular strain and anxiety that comes when we are waiting for a threat that is gliding toward us.
Not perfect, far from it!
And yet God was still gracious to them and engineered their circumstances.
We read of two events in , before David end up in that cave.
Both involve deception by David.
Both involve David trying to take back control of his situation.
And where we have lost control.
He was alone, afraid and lacked trust in the Lord.
Trust that often only comes as we mature in the faith.
The Preist, Ahimelech (a-mel-ech)
The Preist, Ahimelech (a-mel-ech)
The first event happens at Nob, some 2 miles from Jerusalem, with the Priest, Ahimelech (a-mel-ech).
After fleeing from King Saul, from the Palace, we read,
Slide (a-mel-ech)
1 Now David came to Nob, to Ahimelech the priest. And Ahimelech was afraid when he met David, and said to him, “Why are you alone, and no one is with you?” 2 So David said to Ahimelech the priest, “The king has ordered me on some business, and said to me, ‘Do not let anyone know anything about the business on which I send you, or what I have commanded you.’ And I have directed my young men to such and such a place.
David eventually leaves Nob with Holy Bread (as the Tabernacle was at Nob during this time) and the sword of Goliath.
But only after deceiving the Priest, and pretending he had been sent by King Saul.
That deception would eventually cost Ahimelech (a-mel-ech) his life on the orders of Saul.
You can read that in the next chapter.
The King of Gath
The King of Gath
David then flees from Nob to Gath, a journey of about about 25 miles.
But soon he realises he is in even more danger from the King of Gath.
“Out of the frying-pan, and into the fire”.
And So out of fear, he pretends to be insane.
Slide
We read,
10 Then David arose and fled that day from before Saul, and went to Achish the king of Gath. 11 And the servants of Achish said to him, “Is this not David the king of the land? Did they not sing of him to one another in dances, saying: ‘Saul has slain his thousands, And David his ten thousands’?” 12 Now David took these words to heart, and was very much afraid of Achish the king of Gath. 13 So he changed his behavior before them, pretended madness in their hands, scratched on the doors of the gate, and let his saliva fall down on his beard. 14 Then Achish said to his servants, “Look, you see the man is insane. Why have you brought him to me?
10 And he inquired of the Lord for him, gave him provisions, and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.” 11 So the king sent to call Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub, and all his father’s house, the priests who were in Nob. And they all came to the king. 12 And Saul said, “Hear now, son of Ahitub!” He answered, “Here I am, my lord.” 13 Then Saul said to him, “Why have you conspired against me, you and the son of Jesse, in that you have given him bread and a sword, and have inquired of God for him, that he should rise against me, to lie in wait, as it is this day?” 14 So Ahimelech answered the king and said, “And who among all your servants is as faithful as David, who is the king’s son-in-law, who goes at your bidding, and is honorable in your house?
1 Sam 22:10
If Saul saw me as a threat because of these things, why would not the King of Gath?
And we get the sense that
The Cave at Adullam
The Cave at Adullam
1 Sam
All we can say to conclude those events, is that the next stop is the Cave.
And we get the sense that God has David exactly where He wants Him
As we read before,
Same Slide
1 David therefore departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam. So when his brothers and all his father’s house heard it, they went down there to him.
And we get the sense that God has David exactly where He wants Him!
The Lord can finally get David’s attention.
Slide
And David writes,
1 Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me! For my soul trusts in You; And in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge, Until these calamities have passed by.
Does not that context of the events David went through light up this verse and this Psalm?
David’s urgent need is reflected in the repetition of his opening words for God’s mercy.
Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me!
And how merciful God is to David.
Did he deserve it? Did He earn it?
God slowed David right down.
God got David alone and got His attention
And David responded to that grace and mercy.
True Shelter in the Storm
True Shelter in the Storm
There are many people trying to get our attention at this time.
Most of us have been forced to slow down, but that has not applied to information or misinformation.
Our news feeds are full of all kind of news, stories, humour, advice, and the latest so called prophetic pronouncements.
It can be difficult to sort through the clutter of all the mixed messages .
A person said,
28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
It is not unusal for scripture to seemingly tells us to do 2 contradictory things at the same time.
The New King James Version Psalm 57
Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me!
For my soul trusts in You;
And in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge,
Until these calamities have passed by.
When a storm is coming the most needful is to find shelter.
We looked at an example of that on Monday Night where we were studied and submitting to goverments and authorities
A fellow Pastor wisely wrote “But sadly, they have no one to calm and restore their souls”.
That would seem like a good test.
We looked at one example where Jesus paid the Temple Tax but also condemned the unethical practices that went on at the Temple.
Are we lead to Jesus, the cross and his second coming, as central truths for life.
David has to learn the lesson
Are we calm and are our souls restored, under the shadow of the Lord’s wings and besides the still waters.
Even in the midst of the storm.
But of-course, from God’s perspective there is no contradiction in the things he asks us to do.
Only Jesus can do that work in us!
We have to remember, no matter how bright we think we are, we see
Here in and in , we are clearly taught at a time of calamity to take refuge in the shadow of the wings of our most high God.
And yet we are also told that during the end times, that is in these days, many calamities will happen, and yet we are to minister to others and preach the three Angel’s message, which all starts with the everlasting gospel. The everlasting good news!
Slide
Until these calamities have passed by
Until these calamities have passed by
When a storm is coming, what is most needful is to find shelter. We read in , “Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me! For my soul trusts in You; And in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge, Until these calamities have passed by”. David wrote these words while fleeing for his life from King Saul. He was in a cave in Adullam, about 16 miles south west of Jerusalem. David’s urgent need is reflected in the repetition of his opening words for God’s mercy.
, “Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me! For my soul trusts in You; And in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge, Until these calamities have passed by”. David wrote these words while fleeing for his life from King Saul. He was in a cave in Adullam, about 16 miles south west of Jerusalem. David’s urgent need is reflected in the repetition of his opening words for God’s mercy.
How are we doing with the trying times we are all facing?
Are we running to and fro in our minds, devising our own plans and schemes?
Are these things crushing us?
Are they badgering us out of the presence of God and out of worship for God?
Emphasis
If so, Stop.
Call a Halt.
Be still
And get into a living relationship with God .
One writer says,
My Utmost for His Highest April 4th—Those Borders of Distrust
Until we have been through that experience, our faith is bolstered up by feelings and by blessings. When once we get there, no matter where God places us or what the inner desolations are, we can praise God that all is well. That is faith being worked out in actualities.
The Lord is doing a work in our Days
The Lord is doing a work in our Days
I conclude with this from Habakkuk
Slide
5 “Look among the nations and watch— Be utterly astounded! For I will work a work in your days Which you would not believe, though it were told you.
May it not be said of us.
I invite you today to find shelter “in the shadow of the wings of our most high God, until these calamities have passed by”. Jesus said “ Come to Me, all you who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest”. (Matthew 11:28)
At first David’s reaction to his present crisis was to the large extend in error.
Is it so with us today? We can run ahead of the Lord.
My Utmost for His Highest April 1st—Heartiness v. Heartlessness Towards Others
Begin with the circumstances we are in—our homes, our business, our country, the present crisis as it touches us and others—are these things crushing us? Are they badgering us out of the presence of God and leaving us no time for worship? Then let us call a halt, and get into such living relationship with God that our relationship to others may be maintained on the line of intercession whereby God works His marvels.
42 saying, “If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes.
David was led to realise his utter weakness, folly and his necessity of constant dependence on the Lord.
Many times the Lord has to get us to that place as well.
And re-get us to that place.
Then the Lord will come to us through the sweet influences of the Holy Spirit.
He will calms us.
He will encourage us.
He will strengthen us.
He will give us courage for the day.
Patriarchs and Prophets Chapter 64—David a Fugitive
Yet this experience was serving to teach David wisdom; for it led him to realize his weakness and the necessity of constant dependence upon God. Oh, how precious is the sweet influence of the Spirit of God as it comes to depressed or despairing souls, encouraging the fainthearted, strengthening the feeble, and imparting courage and help to the tried servants of the Lord! Oh, what a God is ours, who deals gently with the erring and manifests His patience and tenderness in adversity, and when we are overwhelmed with some great sorrow!
Every failure on the part of the children of God is due to their lack of faith. When shadows encompass the soul, when we want light and guidance, we must look up; there is light beyond the darkness. David ought not to have distrusted God for one moment. He had cause for trusting in Him: he was the Lord’s anointed, and in the midst of danger he had been protected by the angels of God; he had been armed with courage to do wonderful things; and if he had but removed his mind from the distressing situation in which he was placed, and had thought of God’s power and majesty, he would have been at peace even in the midst of the shadows of death; he could with confidence have repeated the promise of the Lord, “The mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but My kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of My peace be removed.” Isaiah 54:10.
He will restore us.
34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
The Lord is doing a work in our time.
Be utterly astounded!
What Satan means for harm, God will use for good.
Remember The Lord wants none to perish, but for people to repent and turn to Him.
Jesus still hears, still cares, still stops, still listens and still saves
All who call upon the name of the Lord will be saved.
That is still the message for this time.
Slide
Hymn 367 – Rescue the Perishing
Hymn 367 – Rescue the Perishing
Rescue the perishing, care for the dying,
snatch them in pity from sin and the grave;
weep o’er the erring one, lift up the fallen,
tell them of Jesus, the mighty to save
Slide
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