How God Delivers Us From Trouble

Introduction: Trouble in life is inevitable, that is why faith in God is indispensable. David recognizes the blessing of having a God who hears and answers prayers in the various moments of a person’s life, and specifically during times of trouble. Through the text, we learn how God responds to our praise and prayers during troubled times. 

Penman: David the Songwriter, Shepherd, Soon-to-be-King. 

Period: David is running from King Saul 

Trouble - Straits, distress, trouble

This is not the same type of trouble that is used in Job’s story when he says, “Man that is born of a woman is of a few days, and full of trouble.” 

This word for “trouble” means straits or distress. 

David uses this word for trouble more than any other person in the Old Testament using it 24 of the 72 instances found. 

Trouble is when every move, decision, and choice has no good outcome. 

Jeremiah describes it in these words, “For I have heard a voice as of a woman in travail, and the anguish as of her that bringeth forth her first child.” 

I. The Lord Pays Attention to Us During External Trouble (34:17)

Righteous Cry (34:17a) - “The righteous cry…” 

Psalm 51:17 (HCSB) - “17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.” 

Psalm 91:15 (ESV) - “15 When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him.”

Isaiah 65:24 (NLT) - “24 I will answer them before they even call to me. While they are still talking about their needs, I will go ahead and answer their prayers!” 

Royal Response (34:17b) - “and the Lord hearth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles”

Psalm 145:18-20 (HCSB) - “18 The Lord is near all who call out to Him, all who call out to Him with integrity. 19 He fulfills the desires of those who fear Him; He hears their cry for help and saves them. 20 The Lord guards all those who love Him, but He destroys all the wicked.”

2 Chronicles 32:24 (NLT) - “24 About that time Hezekiah became deathly ill. He prayed to the LORD, who healed him and gave him a miraculous sign.” 

II. The Lord is Present Despite Internal Troubles (34:18) 

Close God (34:18a) - “The Lord is nigh unto them…” 

Psalm 145:18 (HCSB) - “24 About that time Hezekiah became deathly ill. He prayed to the LORD, who healed him and gave him a miraculous sign.”

Isaiah 55:6 (HCSB) - “Seek the Lord while He may be found; call to Him while He is near.” 

Romans 8:38-39 - “38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor heights, nor depth, nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” 

Caring God (34:18b) - “that are of a broken heart”

Isaiah 61:1 (HCSB) - “1 “The Spirit of the Lord God is on Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and freedom to the prisoners;”

Luke 4:18 (HCSB) - “18 The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim freedom to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free the oppressed,”

Comforting God (34:18c) - “And saves such as be of a contrite spirit” 

Note: The word “contrite” from the Hebrew word “da-ka,” which means to crush or pulverize.  This suggests that those who have been brought low and crushed under the weight of their circumstance ore in the best position to be renewed and restored by God.

2 Kings 22:19 (NLT) - “19 You were sorry and humbled yourself before the LORD when you heard what I said against this city and its people—that this land would be cursed and become desolate. You tore your clothing in despair and wept before me in repentance. And I have indeed heard you, says the LORD .” 

Isaiah 57:15 (HCSB) - “15 For the High and Exalted One who lives forever, whose name is Holy says this: "I live in a high and holy place, and with the oppressed and lowly of spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and revive the heart of the oppressed.” 

Note: “Pray as if everything depends on God, then work as if everything depends on you.”  - Martin Luther

I’ve seen the lightening flashing, I’ve heard the thunder roll. 

I’ve felt sin’s breakers dashing, trying to conquer my soul. 

I’ve heard the voice of Jesus, bidding me still to fight on. 

He promised never to leave me, never to leave me alone! 

III. God’s Providence Secures Us During Intense Trouble (34:19) 

Righteous Designation (34:19a) - “Many are the afflictions of the righteous” 

John 16:33 (HCSB) - “33 I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world."

Righteous Deliverer (34:19b) - “but the Lord delivereth him out of them all..” 

2 Corinthians 4:17 (HCSB) - “17 For our momentary light affliction is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory.” 

2 Timothy 3:11 (NLT) - “11 You know how much persecution and suffering I have endured. You know all about how I was persecuted in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra—but the Lord rescued me from all of it.” 

What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!

What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!

O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear, 

All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer. 

Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere?

We should never be discouraged, take it to the Lord in prayer. 

Can we find a friend so faithful who will all our sorrows share?

Jesus knows our every weakness; take it to the Lord in prayer.