God A stronghold in time of need
God: A Stronghold in Our Time of Need
Psalm 27:1-3
Introduction:
We were going to finish up Genesis this morning but plans change
I have a bookmark in my Bible given to me with a reference to Psalm 27
As I turned there and read this week it came to my attention that this may have been written by David, it could have just as easily been written by Joseph
Read vv. 1-3
I want to look at three things in these three verses in thinking about God as our stronghold in difficulty
1. Confidence does not come from a lack of problems
2. Confidence does come from the presence of God in our problems
3. Confidence can be gained from looking at God’s work in the past
I. Confidence in the Lord does not come from a lack of problems v. 1
1. David is writing in the midst of problems
§ V. 2 mentions his enemies coming against him with the purpose of destroying him
§ V. 3 mentions armies encamping against him and also war
§ David had faced lions and bears as a shepherd, As a man he faced enemies like Goliath, Saul, Absalom, and others
§ David face the loss of family members and extremely loneliness at times
2. David has confidence in the Lord vv. 1, 3
Psalm 23:4, 6
3. Joseph in our study had many enemies and difficulties
§ Hated and betrayed by his brothers
§ Sold as a slave into Egypt
§ Falsely accused and sent to prison
§ Used and forgotten about in prison
Yet again and again we see Joseph as a man confident in the Lord
4. Many other examples: Daniel, Nehemiah, Esther, Disciples, others
Faced many hardships and difficulties and yet they stood firm and had confidence in the Lord
Doesn’t mean that these never doubted or struggled with doubt and questions, they did. Yet in the end they always came back to confidence in the Lord.
5. We face many hardships and difficulties as well:
Health, finances, career related, family issues, etc.
Yet we can face them with a strong confidence in the Lord
John 16:33 Jesus said, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
II. Confidence in the Lord does come from God’s presence even in our problems v. 1
1. David kept himself focus on the Lord
v. 1 “The Lord is my light and my salvation, who shall I fear?”
The Lord is the strength of my life of whom shall I be afraid?
Psalm 23:4 “For you are with me”
Psalm 23:6 Nothing can take that away from me.
David was able to stand fearlessly before Goliath, why? “The battle is the Lord’s.” I.E. “the Lord is with me in this.”
2. Joseph must have had this same confidence in the Lord
Genesis 45:7 i.e. “God was with me.”
Genesis 50:19-20 i.e. “God was with me.”
3. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in Daniel 3:13-15
4. Psalmist in Psalm 46 recognized God as a refuge and strength
5. To us: Hebrews 13:5 reminds us of Jesus’ promise never to leave us or forsake us.
6. Illustration:
One tribe of Native American Indians had a ritual for training young braves
§ On boy’s 13th birthday he was placed in dense forest alone
§ Until then he had never been away from the security of his family
§ On that night he was blindfolded and lead to middle of thick, dark woods and left by himself
§ Can only imagine fear of twigs snapping, etc. Must have been a terrifying experience
§ After long night, at first light he would see his father standing a few feet away armed to protect his son. He had been there all night unknown to his son.
God does the same thing for those who belong to him
In John 14:26-27 Jesus told His disciples that He would give them peace and that they were not to let their hearts be trouble or afraid. Why? His Spirit would come and be present with them always.