Hope in troubling times
Notes
Transcript
Intro - Hunger, Famine, Cancer, Inflation, Foreclosure, Reposession, Injury, Stroke, Death, Etc. All these words bring a level of stress to us when we hear them. They bring even more stress when you are in the middle of them. Today we begin Psalms of the Summer with a Psalm about a time of great stress in the history of Isreal. 586BC, Babylon has come into Jerusalem, defeated them and taken the final wave of people into exile. Our Psalm is written from the perspective of one left behind in Jerusalem in the rubble, chaos, and stress of defeat.
A Psalm of Asaph. 1 O God, the nations have come into your inheritance; they have defiled your holy temple; they have laid Jerusalem in ruins. 2 They have given the bodies of your servants to the birds of the heavens for food, the flesh of your faithful to the beasts of the earth. 3 They have poured out their blood like water all around Jerusalem, and there was no one to bury them. 4 We have become a taunt to our neighbors, mocked and derided by those around us. 5 How long, O Lord? Will you be angry forever? Will your jealousy burn like fire? 6 Pour out your anger on the nations that do not know you, and on the kingdoms that do not call upon your name! 7 For they have devoured Jacob and laid waste his habitation. 8 Do not remember against us our former iniquities; let your compassion come speedily to meet us, for we are brought very low. 9 Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of your name; deliver us, and atone for our sins, for your name’s sake! 10 Why should the nations say, “Where is their God?” Let the avenging of the outpoured blood of your servants be known among the nations before our eyes! 11 Let the groans of the prisoners come before you; according to your great power, preserve those doomed to die! 12 Return sevenfold into the lap of our neighbors the taunts with which they have taunted you, O Lord! 13 But we your people, the sheep of your pasture, will give thanks to you forever; from generation to generation we will recount your praise.
In the middle of the greatest stress a country could face, the people were honest about the situation, their emotions, and their hope. Notice how they handled these things,
1. They did not trust their feelings but kept a Sovereign perspective. (vs. 1-4)
Your = 4x’s in the section of the text describing their situation.
They didn’t allow their situation to change their Theology, instead they leaned into their theology. They recognized that even though,
Jerusalem was sacked
The Temple Defiled
People killed and uncleaness is rampant in the city
all of it was still God’s.
In the worst of times we do not judge God by our circumstances but our circumstances in light of God’s sovereignty.
2. They did not doubt that God will act correctly. (vs. 5-7)
How Long!? - Perplexity, not doubt.
5 How long, O Lord? Will you be angry forever? Will your jealousy burn like fire?
When will you make this right? not, are you going to make this right?
In the worst of times we do not believe God will not make things right in His time.
3. They did not trust in their worthiness but in His character. (vs. 8-10)
30 “For the sons of Judah have done evil in my sight, declares the Lord. They have set their detestable things in the house that is called by my name, to defile it. 31 And they have built the high places of Topheth, which is in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, to burn their sons and their daughters in the fire, which I did not command, nor did it come into my mind. 32 Therefore, behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when it will no more be called Topheth, or the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, but the Valley of Slaughter; for they will bury in Topheth, because there is no room elsewhere. 33 And the dead bodies of this people will be food for the birds of the air, and for the beasts of the earth, and none will frighten them away. 34 And I will silence in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem the voice of mirth and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, for the land shall become a waste.
They were a sinful mess but so are we. They trusted in God’s saving Character and action and so do we.
9 Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of your name; deliver us, and atone for our sins, for your name’s sake!
GOSPEL
If this is the truth when we begin our walk with Him, why do we think when times get difficult that the game has changed?
In the worst of times God desires you to turn to Him, not clean yourself up so He will then help you.
4. They did not see themselves as victims but as Children. (vs. 11-13)
Identity is everything.
13 But we your people, the sheep of your pasture, will give thanks to you forever; from generation to generation we will recount your praise.
We are yours and you will keep us.
27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.”
In the worst of times do not forget that Christ has you in His hand.
If the people of Isreal can keep this perspective in this moment, why aren’t you?
Turn your eyes upon Jesus lyrics.
O soul are you weary and troubled
No light in the darkness you see
There's light for a look at the Savior
And life more abundant and free
Through death into life everlasting
He passed, and we follow Him there
Over us sin no more hath dominion
For more than conquerors we are
Turn your eyes upon Jesus
Look full in His wonderful face
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace
His word shall not fail you, He promised
Believe Him and all will be well
Then go to a world that is dying
His perfect salvation to tell
Turn your eyes upon Jesus
Look full in His wonderful face
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace