20200419

Recovering Your Song

The Bible Guide Introduction

The Psalms were probably collected together after the Jews’ return from their exile in Babylon. Psalm 137 recalls those sad and desperate days:

By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept

when we remembered Zion.

There on the poplars

we hung our harps,

for there our captors asked us for songs,

our tormentors demanded songs of joy;

they said, ‘Sing us one of the songs of Zion!’

How can we sing the songs of the Lord

while in a foreign land (137:1–4)?

The Bible Guide

Simple and subtle

The Hebrew language is full of fun.

It enjoys wordplay and double meaning.

It can express the heights of praise as well as the depths of despair.

Many of the Psalms have a rhythm, and the lines often run in couplets—the thoughts echoing and complementing each other. When this happens it is called ‘parallelism’.

David testifies to the blessings that come from confessing sin and receiving God’s forgiveness.

I. THE CONFESSION (32:1–5): David recalls when he needed to confess his sins.

A. The bitterness (32:3–4): David describes his agony before he confessed his sins.

Psalm 32:3–4 NKJV

3 When I kept silent, my bones grew old Through my groaning all the day long. 4 For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; My vitality was turned into the drought of summer. Selah

1. He was weak and miserable (32:3).

2. His strength evaporated (32:4).

B. The blessedness (32:1–2, 5): David describes his joy after he confessed his sins and received forgiveness.

Psalm 32:1–2 NKJV

1 Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered. 2 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity, And in whose spirit there is no deceit.

Psalm 32:5 NKJV

5 I acknowledged my sin to You, And my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” And You forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah

II. THE COUNSEL (6–7): David advises the godly to repent of their sins.

Psalm 32:6 NKJV

6 For this cause everyone who is godly shall pray to You In a time when You may be found; Surely in a flood of great waters They shall not come near him.

Proverbs 28:13 NKJV

13 He who covers his sins will not prosper, But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.

Psalm 32:7 NKJV

7 You are my hiding place; You shall preserve me from trouble; You shall surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah

The Psalms were probably collected together after the Jews’ return from their exile in Babylon.

Psalm 137 recalls those sad and desperate days:

Psalm 137:1–4 NKJV

1 By the rivers of Babylon, There we sat down, yea, we wept When we remembered Zion. 2 We hung our harps Upon the willows in the midst of it. 3 For there those who carried us away captive asked of us a song, And those who plundered us requested mirth, Saying, “Sing us one of the songs of Zion!” 4 How shall we sing the Lord’s song In a foreign land?

But even as their hopes had been dashed:

Even as they mourned the loss of home and hearth and hope!

Even as their hearts were breaking

Though they had questions....

They preserved for themselves and for us the psalms!

Martin Luther King, Jr.:

Our sermon today brings us face to face with one of the most agonizing problems of human experience. Very few, if any of us are able to see all of our hopes fulfilled. So many of the hopes and promises of our mortal days are unrealized. Each of us like Shubert, begins composing a symphony that is never finished.

There is much truth in George Fredrick Watts imaginative portrayal of Hope in his picture entitled Hope. He depicts Hope as seated atop our planet, but her head is sadly bowed, and her fingers are plucking one unbroken harp string.

Who has not had to face the agony of blasted hopes and shattered dreams. We find a very potent example of this problem of disappointed hopes....

III. THE COMMISSION (32:8–11)

A. What the Lord would do (32:8, 10)

Psalm 32:8 NKJV

8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.

Psalm 32:10 NKJV

10 Many sorrows shall be to the wicked; But he who trusts in the Lord, mercy shall surround him.

1. He promised to lead the King!

2. He promised to love the King!

B. What the King should do (32:9–10): He should obediently follow God, having no need of a bit or bridle.

Psalm 32:9–10 NKJV

9 Do not be like the horse or like the mule, Which have no understanding, Which must be harnessed with bit and bridle, Else they will not come near you. 10 Many sorrows shall be to the wicked; But he who trusts in the Lord, mercy shall surround him.

The Long Road Back

Luke 24:13–32 NKJV

13 Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 And they talked together of all these things which had happened. 15 So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them. 16 But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him. 17 And He said to them, “What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad?” 18 Then the one whose name was Cleopas answered and said to Him, “Are You the only stranger in Jerusalem, and have You not known the things which happened there in these days?” 19 And He said to them, “What things?” So they said to Him, “The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him. 21 But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened. 22 Yes, and certain women of our company, who arrived at the tomb early, astonished us. 23 When they did not find His body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said He was alive. 24 And certain of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but Him they did not see.” 25 Then He said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?” 27 And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself. 28 Then they drew near to the village where they were going, and He indicated that He would have gone farther. 29 But they constrained Him, saying, “Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent.” And He went in to stay with them. 30 Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight. 32 And they said to one another, “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?”

Luke 24:33 NKJV

33 So they rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together,

There is a bewildering and complicated question that hangs over our days. How and when will we ever get back?

Some walks are more difficult than others.

longer

lonelier

“The Long Walk to Freedom” Nelson Mandella (27 yrs in prison)

The trail of tears....

Some walks are much more difficult than others.....

That must have been a long and lonely walk from Jerusalem to Emmaus.

Seniors graduating:

Taking that glorious walk - receive their diploma....

Cancelled, held online.... delayed.

Geographically it was only 7 miles

Emotionally 700 miles

There’s no wind in their sales....

Willing to unburden themselves to any stranger that showed up....May as well of been 7,000 miles!

Are youth only stranger in Jerusalem?

Don’t you know that they took our Lord....

Man, where have you been?

You can’t open the newspaper without knowing what has happened to us?

Where have you been? Sleeping under a rock?

Well since you asked, that’s precisely where I’ve been.

Rock hewn from teh mountain

The rock of ages… sleeping under a rock

We’re heartbroken, didn’t expect to be walking this road!

unemployment.

hospital or clinic

Broke, hurt bewildered, struggling.

He’s gone!

We had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel.

Somebody is struggling with what happens when

your dreams are dashed.

What you had hoped for arrives dead on Arrival.

There is a God who will walk with me (Presence of God)

Sometimes there is something wrong with our eyes.....

Talking, walking with hope at the same time....

Because it doesn’t look like we expected.

He’ll walk with me through the valley of the shaddow of death...

Psalm 139:7–12 NKJV

7 Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? 8 If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. 9 If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, 10 Even there Your hand shall lead me, And Your right hand shall hold me. 11 If I say, “Surely the darkness shall fall on me,” Even the night shall be light about me; 12 Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You, But the night shines as the day; The darkness and the light are both alike to You.

Beginning with Moses....

He Talks with Me (The power of God)

Bearing witness of Me

Lo I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.

God is our refuge and our strength

God is a very present help in the time of trouble.

Did not our hearts burn within

While He was talking with us.

Something re-awakened i nour hearts and assured us.

God is not slack concernign His promise.

Ever now and then, through the dense fog, you’ll get a glimplse of the one who will never leave us.

Boys asking to go to the store/Dad/Dog/

“And don;t you come back”

Stay with us.....

He Stays With Me (The Peace of God)