Coventry, 11.13.22

Yes, we're going to be looking at Psalm 118 today. We're going to continue. I've got a four-part series on this leading us up to Thanksgiving and Beyond Thanksgiving sandwich. I'll explain that a little bit more in here in a sec but let's pray. Lord, I just ask that you would bless us now with your word. Lord, as we study the scripture today, I asked that we would be enlightened by it and Talons Lord help us to deliver it out. So Lord, as you instruct us today may we be obedient to your will. We thank you in Jesus name, amen. So we have a Thanksgiving sandwich in Psalm 118 because verse one, which says, give thanks to the Lord for he is good for his lovingkindness is Everlasting. That's exactly the same as verse 29, which ends the song between these two bread. Slices of Thanksgiving, we find all the fixings and ingredients of Praise that. Build a Hardy sandwich for us, the Hardy sandwiches worship. So last Sunday, we looked at the first 9 verse of Psalm 118. And remember, the setting is that of a worship service in Jerusalem and in, David's day, it would be before the tent of meeting the tent of the Ark of the Covenant. But later when the song was still used in worship, it would be before the temple in Solomon, in Solomon's day, and I'm beyond the temple was there. Now, this song is a Psalm of Victory. It say it was used by Israel to celebrate a great occasion worship began when the leader would sing. Or shout out, give thanks to the Lord for. He is good and the congregation would respond singing, his lovingkindness is Everlasting. And then the worship leader would shout out all that Israel say, then the congregation his lovingkindness is Everlasting, and that's how it went through the first four verses. So this is a response of him which engaged everyone in worship before the Lord. We also noticed last week that the the encouragement from the king's own personal experience in verses 5 through 9. And it's most likely, David wrote this song and I'm assuming that and Testify as to how God answered his prayer in a time of Anguish, which reaffirmed him that God is for him. Remember what we saw in verses 5 and 6 from my distress I called upon the Lord, the Lord answered me and set me an alarm. Place the Lord is for me. I will not fear what can man do to me. So the Lord is my help. He's he he is for me, he's on my side. And then David's council is stated in repeated in verses 8 and 9, where he says it is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in. Man, it is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes. I think those are two good verses to remember in light of an election better to take refuge in the Lord, but what was it? That had stress David out in verse five. He says he was distressed or deep anguish. What caused that? What? Specifically? Well, in Summit, 118 verses 10 through 16, we shall see two aspects of victory that will produce Thanksgiving. He was an English, but he came in to Victory and he's thankful. And the first, what we're going to see is the testimony of King David about his dilemma and his deliverance, and 2nd. Hey, we're going to see the effect of the Kings Victory upon the people of Israel. The people he led So, may you be grateful for any and all victories that Jesus grants you in your personal spiritual journey, you know, when we win. Let's rejoice when we find Victory. Let's be thankful. And let's tell God how glad we are. The point of today's lesson, Triumph brings praise. So be thankful for victories, the first aspect of winning here is the testimony of Victory by Israel's King. And again, I believe this is David who is writing this and the we're going to consider the Dilemma of David, the king. What was he facing? Look at verse 10 of 118. Verse 10, says all nations surrounded me in the name of the Lord. I will surely cut them off. They surrounded me. Yes, they surrounded me in the name of the Lord. I will surely cut them off. They surrounded me like bees they were extinguished as a fire of thorns. In the name of the Lord. I will surely cut them off. So David his dilemma was that he was surrounded by the enemy and this is what caused his distress. Now when when this song was used in worship Services, the leader usually the high priest or whatever like a Soph the leader would sing out verse 10 And then the congregation was would respond with the refrain. So it's just like the beginning of the chapter verses, 1 through 4. We have another participation and worship in verses 10 through 12. The leader would would cry out all nations. Surrounded me than the people. In the name of the Lord, I will surely cut them off. Then the leader, they surrounded me. Yes, they surrounded me. The people in the name of the Lord, I will surely cut them off. Then the leader, they surrounded me, like bees and so forth and the people. Yes. In the name of the Lord, I will surely cut them off. But this is really the testimony of David word originates. And David says, that all nations, all the nation surrounded me, that is how he was feeling. Is like, he's being overwhelmed, and this is the distress from which David for today would ask prayer. And ask God to help him verse 5 from my distress. I'm surrounded by call the palm of the Lord, the word distress. If you remember from last week, 2 picks anyting narrow or confining a tight place, and David was in a tight spot causing him great stress. You ever find yourself in a tight spot? And stress and distress and the battle that ensues in our heart, in verses 10 through 12, David elaborates on, just how bad the trouble was. He was encircled by Nations. Joy is the Hebrew word for nation, which is used. Here is the plural, meaning Gentile, people's Davidoff, and waged war with neighboring Nations, the Philistines, the more B, the edomites, the ammonites. In fact before he was King, he even found himself surrounded by Saul and his army. And Saul employed Gentiles to pursue David like doeg the Edomite. So we're not in one of these occasions. David is feeling this pressure. This encirclement And a David, speaking of a time when the enemy was massive and the odds were overwhelmingly against him. It was a dire place to term surrounded. If you notice carefully, it's used for times for emphasis once in verse 10 twice, and verse 11, 12 verse 12. Now, the NIV translates to of those four times differently, for example, and verse 11, where it says, they surrounded me on every side is the NIV. Well, on every side is surrounded me, okay? And then, reverse 12 where it says they surrounded me like bees and Ivy. They swarmed me but it's the same word is the same words around. Now there are there are two other ways, too. Kind of you all the nations surrounded me. I think I saw David was feeling and certainly felt the pressure, literally all Nation surrounded him. Well there's another way to look at this or the way the Bible actually can use this verse as a there's the prophetic view of this where verse 10 is actually a prophetic statement looking into the future because one day all nations will surround Jerusalem. They will encircle the city. And here's some examples of scripture that tells us that Zachariah 12/3 and it will come about in that day, that I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples, all who lift it will be severely injured hernia, I guess it's heavy, but notice the next statement that he has there and all the nations of the earth will be gathered against it. That's a prophetic statement that's going to happen, you know, Jesus said something very similar in his day. He said, in Luke 19 43 for the days will come upon you, meaning Jerusalem, when your enemies will throw up a barricade against you and Surround you and him you in on every side, the nations are coming to surround the city of Jerusalem and then finally well this isn't the only other time but The Apostle John in the Book of Revelation. Come on, here we go. Writes this is at the end of the millennial Kingdom. When the thousand years are completed, Satan will be released from his prison and will come out to deceive the Nations which are in the four corners of the earth, God and may God to gather them together for the war. The number of them is like, the sand of the sea shore and they came up on the broad plain of the earth. And what surrounded the camp of the Saints and the Beloved City. That's the Jerusalem. That's in existence or in the millennial Kingdom and fire came down from heaven and devoured them. So, there is a day when literally all the nations will come around and Surround Jerusalem. So, there's a future aspect 2 verse 10 of 118. There's also a Messianic aspect to this. Psalm 118 is a Messianic song and that comes out loud and clear in the last paragraph. Starting a 20:22 to the end, which will see later. But in Messianic Psalms the Messiah himself often speaks through the writer In other words of Jesus is speaking through David, giving him a perspective from from Christ View and this may be the case here because when it says all Nation surrounded, me is very reminiscent of what we find in a song. Like some to, which is also a Messianic song, why are the nation's in an uproar and the people's devising of anything. Why the Gentiles the guy he came out devising. This weird planet of all the kings of the Earth, take their stand and the rulers. Take counsel together against the Lord and against his anointed, the heads of a nation's coming together to oppose the Christ, the anointed one. The Messiah, And I was literally fulfilled fulfilled by when pilate and Herod get together to crucify Christ. And then when Jesus was hanging on the cross out of Psalm 22, another Messianic song, many bowls have surrounded me, strong Bulls of Bashan. Have encircled to me they open wide, their mouths at me as a ravening and roaring lion. So Jesus felt surrounded by unbelievers when he hung on the cross for you and me. So there's another aspect to verse 10 being Messianic overtones. Whichever view you want to take. The outcome is always the same. The king wins in the end the king wins. God, grant his King and then, and there by his people, a great Victory and this is exactly where David goes next. He says, and in 11810, in the name of the Lord, I will surely cut them off. This statement is repeated three times and is very likely. The refrain that was sung responsibly by the congregation when this song was used in worship. Now, how did David win? He overcame his anguish, how in the name of the Lord is crucial for us? He drew his strength, not in his own name. Because I'm King David. But in the, in the name of God, Yahweh is my deliverer in for us. Jesus, there's something about that name. Write Jesus in the name of Jesus, I can find Victory. And you know, this is exactly how David fought battles and it's how he started his whole career in fighting Goliath. In 1st Samuel, 17:45 then, then David said to the Philistine to Goliath. You came to me with a sword, a spear and a javelin but I come to you in the name of the Lord. There it is. I come to you in the name of the Lord. The name of the Lord of hosts, the god of the armies of Israel, whom you have taunted, you have dared to taunt. You know what? That's how the battle, you know, we know how that battle turned out, right. David one. And how was he doing battle in the name of the Lord?

David goes on in this text at 1:18 to give us to illustrations in verse 12. He says, well first verse 11, they surrounded me. Yes, they surrounded me in the name of the Lord. I will surely cut them offers 12. They surrounded me like bees. That's a simile. They were extinguished as a fire of thorns in the name of the Lord. I will surely cut them off the face of the first illustration is bees. The enemy surrounded him and circled him and vision. A swarm of bees, they're buzzing all around you. If you disturb their nest there, inflicting you with stings ever, done that. Disturbed, a timer when I was a kid playing in the field and I stepped on a bee's nest and all the sudden I felt these things coming out of my leg and man, I never ran so fast in my life but so they surrounded me like bees but they were extinguished as a fire of thorns. Another words they were defeated quickly and completely in God's name. I will cut them off. The imagery is a burning dried Thorns Thorn bushes. Like, when I get into the summer once in awhile, I burn a brush pile. Old pallets in this year, my picnic table, my old one deserve the fire, so it got it. But I usually, when I do that, I go down to the wood line, and I grab the old Christmas trees that I stick down there in the middle of the winter. And this year, I fished out for trees, so it's been 4 years since I've had a fire, but you put those dry trees on on the pile and you light it and wish, right, they take right off, they very quick and then they die right out. And that's the imagery that we have here before us. And so it was with the king's enemies. God enabled, David to destroy his enemies. He says, I will surely cut them off and the idea of cut off is destroy them and this is how God answered David's prayer in verse 5, from my distress, I called upon the Lord, the Lord answered me. And set me an alarm, Place member, David went from confinement, a city that he couldn't get out of there cuz it was surrounded to Freedom the broad. Plain, he got out into the open. God is how because the enemy was destroyed by God's power. David was delivered from his tight spot. you know, if you're in a tight predicament right now, We need to turn to the Lord. You need to turn to the Lord. And in the name of the Lord, in the name that we Bank on is Jesus Christ, right. There is no other name, greater than that one, we Bank on the name. Jesus Christ, we called to him and we asked him for help and Rescue. When facing a fight, this is also interesting, when David was facing a battle, he had to go the enemy's crumb coming at him. He decides it's time to fight. You can see it coming but he would always do two things one, he would pray. The first thing you would do is pray and ask God to questions. Number one, should I go up against them? God, should I engage in this fight? And the second thing that he would pray, will you give them into my hand? And when God said, yes you should go up. I will give them into your hand. David was Fearless right? And he engaged in Divine often. God gave him strategies that. Don't don't attack him. Just come from the other way and so forth. Your one, God your general, how can you go wrong, right?

But this is how we should fight spiritual battles to in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. And why, and that name? Because Jesus said, whatever you ask in my name, I will, it will be done for you. We need to ask for things in the name of Jesus Christ. That's where the power lies. Lord. Jesus, should I engage in this fight, the spiritual battle that I see looming, maybe in a buy do something is going to provoke it to be even some more severe. Should I do that? Lord, what do you want me to do? You allow me to Prevail and you know, what is your will? And as I read the scripture and learn about his will and specific Christian Living, am I willing to do it? Am I willing to see follow? God strategy in waging spiritual warfare which means obedience to his commands. Am I willing to do that? Whatever you say? Lord that's what I will do. I trust you whether I win or lose the battle I'm going to trust you through it all. Through it all, you know what David said to Goliath in front of two armies. The Philistine Army and the army of Israel in 1st Samuel 17 47 he says All this assembly, may know that. The Lord God does not deliver by sword. Or by spear for the battle. Is the Lord's and he will give you into our hands Goliath you're going down. I'm fighting this in the name of the Lord. I'm going to. You got a spear Javelin and shield. I've got a sling and five smooth stones. And God use David to take down a giant who is an unbelieving? Gentile what James has Jesus rescued you from Your benejam. They were called on Jesus. Did it get you out of it? You know, we need to call Upon Jesus and ask him and trust him and we need to rely on him to fight the battle for us, stand back and watch the salvation of the Lord. That's what Moses says just before he Parts. The Red Sea. Watch what God will do to fight the battle for you. Down, according to verse 13, this battle was fierce for David. Look at verse 13, David says you pushed me violently so that I was falling, but the Lord helped me. You pushed me violently? David was hard-pressed towards the feet or the NIV. It uses first person pronoun. I was pushed. There's a textual variant there but more likely, the reading is second person pronoun. You pushed me? And if that's the case, then David is addressing his enemy directly saying you pushed me. You pushed me violently how hard to the point that David nearly fell? I was falling that I might fall or I was about to fall it. He seemed like he was going to lose the battle in the moment. David was going down. But just in the nick of time, God intervenes verse 13, you push me violently so I was following, but the Lord helped me, you know, isn't that what we all need? For the Lord to step in and help us in the moment of conflict. And what comes from here is the Deliverance of King, David. Look at verse 13. The Lord helped me a verse 14. The Lord is my strength and song and he has become my salvation. The Lord delivered David and David gives testimony here. The Lord helped me according to verse 5, David prayed and it out of his distress, you were surrounded and God answered his prayer because he was able to cut off his enemy that we don't have all the details of how that particular battle in that moment took place. But it happened, the enemy was removed. The Lord prove himself faithful and he keeps his own from stumbling. You know, that's what the scripture says to us in Psalm 121. My help comes from the Lord. Do you agree with that statement? Where else could it come from? My help comes from the Lord who made Heaven and Earth. I mean does he have any power to help us? The only created everything He will not allow your foot to slip. He who keeps you will not Slumber. He's not going to sleep and ignore you. He knows what's going on and he can keep you from stumbling and falling. Do we take confidence in this? You say, are we helped hopeful and David his deep trust in? God made him Fearless. He knew Psalm 121 but he also said this, I will not be afraid of ten. Thousands of people who have set themselves against me round about even if they encircle me, even if I find myself surrounded, I'm not going to be afraid cuz my God is for me, right? He's on my side. You know, and David prevailed. In fact, in verse 14, David gives three praises to God. Three phrases from from his mouth first, 14 says, the Lord is my strength and song and he has become my salvation. The first praise, the Lord is my strength. God gives us strength for the conflict. This word hose in the Hebrew for strengthening to power and might rely on God's power to help you out of trouble. You know, if you're just doing everything that you can on your own ignoring the Lord. Why that? That's why you're still in trouble. Okay. Lord, I need help. And look, here's another song of David or David says, for you have girded me with strength for battle. I need a strength for the fight and you gave it to me. Do you have subdued under me? Those who rose up against me? You strengthen me, you saw me through. You have also made my enemies turn their backs to me and I destroyed those who hated me, you know, if the enemy has his back to you, that means he's on the Run. Seasoned Retreat. He is losing the fight. And then we have this verse for us. I can do all things through him. Who, what strengthens me in the ham is Jesus is Christ, who strengthens me? It's the same thing. We're David Drew strength from the Lord. We draw strength from Jesus. So, the Lord is my strength. I hope he's yours today. The Lord is my song, that's the second Praise. Jesus Is My Melody. You know, song is a reference here, to music singing, making Melody, a hymn of praise. And when we win, we sing, It's like when your favorite sport team wins like when the Patriots to win, right? Where all our happy. Well, maybe you're not, but I'm in luck, we beat up on the Colts right to look how great we are. Core server is beating up on the cold, so maybe it's not such a big deal. Alright, we sing and that's what Psalm 98 1 says, oh, sing to the Lord a new song for he has done wonderful things. His right hand and His holy arm have gained victory for him. Notice right arm, right hand Jeremih. I like this verse out of Jeremiah 20 verse 13. Sing to the Lord, praise the Lord for he has delivered the soul of the needy one from the hand of evil doors. I'm no longer surrounded by Satan and demons that are dragging me down. I've been put on a broad, plain set free. You know, the truth shall set you free and the Lord might my soul the needy. One that I am, my soul has been set free from the hand of evil doors, so that I'm going to sing about that. The Lord is my salvation news, the third praise, I'm saved because of my God, Jesus, Christ's salvation here is a reference to the whole process of God's Mighty and merciful acts to rescue the believer. He helps us, he brings judgment on our enemies. He gives us joy within us. When we see good things, it's a great Victory celebration. And when you get saved, there's no greater Victory than that. But then as we live out the Christian Life, we find the battle was fierce, but victories come, we see someone else get saved, or maybe, I finally overcome that bondage to send that was dragging me down a particular habit. And it's finally is broken and I could put it behind me and I can move on. So, I like again, what? David says here in Psalm 18? He delivers me from my enemies. Surely you lift me above those who rise up against me. You rescued me from the violent man. Well, that's they were surrounded me like bees and now I'm set free. They've been destroyed there for and here comes the result of a victory. Therefore, I will give thanks to you among the Nations. Oh, Lord, and I will sing praises to your name. They give great. Deliverance to his King and shows, loving kindness to his annoy. To David and his descendants forever. A great Victory, not only for the king, but for his, his family, and even for the nation itself. And, you know, and we need to remember the Lord is for us. I like this verse to the Lord knows how to rescue The Godly from Temptation and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgement. You know, what the Lord is coming to get us. He knows how to rescue the righteous right out from among the wicked, and you knows how to save us from Temptation when we face it. And we also know that those who are evil and unrepentant and just bent on Wicked. This they're going to have their due date in court with the Lord Jesus Christ, as judge. The second aspect of winning here of Triumph is the effect of Victory upon God's people. Look at verses 15 and 16 the sound of Joyful shouting and salvation is in the tents of the righteous. The right hand of the Lord does valiantly the right hand of the Lord is exalted, the right hand of the Lord does valiantly. Now, the Believers are happy in their homes. That's what we get out of these two verses. And, and there's evidence, the evidence of that is three things that the sound of shouting. Within the home. Now, we're not talking about arguing and no nastiness. We're talkin about joyful rejoicing shouting when the team wins kind of shouting and do. The kings Joy is infectious and spreads to the population merrymaking occurs throughout the kingdom. The King has won a great victory. That the enemy is gone. We are saved. Let's Rejoice, let's have a party. So there's sound shouting joyful shouting. There's also the sound of Salvation God has saved us. We are grateful that we're solvation, as it is the same word, we saw a 14, he has become my salvation. In verse 52, the sound of Joyful shouting and salvation are enemies to bring harm and Destroy and kill has been frustrated by our God. We have been defended, we have been protected and we are saved, you know? Where do you find these expressions of joy and salvation? And the third thing here is, you find it right in the tents of the righteous. That means this joyful singing is happening in the homes of the Believers in Israel.

Give me Kings King David's Victory causes rejoicing throughout the land starting in the home front before they even come together for public worship. They're already rejoicing in their own homes you know made joy and rejoicing. Characterize our houses this upcoming holiday season with Thanksgiving and then Christmas know if we keep the Lord and focus for Thanksgiving, let's give thanks to the Lord and if we keep our Focus On Christ and celebrate his birth for Christmas, the reason for the season is Jesus Christ, Oakstone that we can get through a stressful time. With great joy. Right is is is this not a stressful time for us? I got to buy how many presents. I got to go where I got to be here. I got to be there. I can be stressful, but hey, Jesus, it's all about Jesus. I'm going to worship Him throughout. You know. But let me ask you. This has Christ victory over sin and death brought you Joy in your heart and in your home because this was the king that we're, we're not all about King. David were all about King Jesus and look at the victory. He's won over evil enemies. He conquered sin and death by Rising again from the dead. Does that bring joy to your house? You know? One more thing to end this sermon today and it's that the Believers are trusting in God's power, because we see in the latter half of verse 15, the right hand of the Lord does valiantly the right hand of the Lord is exalted, the right hand of the Lord does valiantly, there were talking about the right hand of the Lord, the strong arm of God, this represents the almighty and omnipotent power of our awesome. God, the right hand, these these words are probably part of the song lyrics, sung by the righteous and other words, how this would unfold in the public worship setting is the leader, would Savers 15, the sound of Joyful shouting and salvation is in the tents of the righteous and the congregation respond, the right hand of the Lord does valiantly the leader, the right hand of the Lord is Exalted, the people, the right hand of the Lord does valiantly and that kind of interaction in worship. Now, to truth about God's right hand are expressed here. First of all, it does valiantly. Now, what does that mean? Strength might efficiency? Even wealth or an army is portrayed by Valiant, you know. But God's single right hand is like an even greater than a Grand Army. He can do more with his little finger than all the armies of the Earth can do together. God's God has worked to accomplish Mighty and efficient acts to save us. He has done. Awesome. Deeds to rescue us. And therefore, in light of that, his right hand is exalted. That means to be lifted up or even lifted high. No one can miss the mighty works of God. They're just too awesome. Now, you might deny it, you might not believe it, but it's there. Look. The enemy is defeated. They are dead. They are gone forever. You can't argue with that. You know what? It was at sennacherib that came against Jerusalem and the 180,000 Assyrians surrounded, the city and Isaiah went to Hezekiah and they prayed and God delivered, the city and the King, get up, the enemy can get up the next day and 180,000 Assyrians were dead. Cuz God fought the Battle on behalf of his people. You know, what? No matter, how great the trouble, the lord's name to keep things. Hear the lord's name and the lower right-hand are sufficiently powerful to bring you a victory. Do you believe it? Do you believe it? You know, his right hand, his name, his powerful arm is enough to bring you home to Glory. That's how you're going to get there. You understand. That's how you're going to get the glory is through God's name and his powerful right hand. There's no other way for you to get the glory through Christ, right? So, when you are being pushed hard by your foes in order to bring about your downfall, That's what Satan is up to writing in each of Our Lives. Then remember the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Remember, his name and trust in Jesus we trust in the power of His Almighty right hand because remember, Jesus Christ is for you Christian.

David says 47, the Lord is for me among those who help me praise God for the other helpers but God is for me. And that's what matters. Are you forgot?

He's for you, if you love him, you know him. So listen, I want to close with the statement. May you be as confident of Victory as was King David because you have put your trust In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. so my friends be thankful for the victories, Sometimes They Come few and far in between, but whenever they happen rejoice and give God the praise and the Thanksgiving, Oh, Lord. Fight for us this week, right? Jesus. I thank you that we can call out to you in your name and ask for things in your name knowing that you hear us knowing that you will act in Harmony and accordance with your will to meet our needs. And Lord, we are all facing some level of distress and anguish. Maybe just simple stress right now, but Lord, help us to keep our focus upon you. And may, we believe that in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I will surely cut off the enemy, especially the devil and his demons that are encroaching me. And even the unbelievers that are attacking me for my face. Lord, I believe that you will stretch out your awesome right hand and do Battle For Me. Lord fight the good fight, on my behalf and my brothers in Pictures here today. Lord, Jesus fight for your family. We thank you, Lord bless us. May we continue to give you praise and thanksgiving for the victories that we've already won. And for the victories that are sure to come in Jesus name. Amen.

But we want to sing bless.