Sermon Tone Analysis
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When we we last together I addressed Parallelism
Figures of Speech
Hebrew poetry is loaded with figures of speech, and you must recognize that fact in interpreting various passages.
For example, describes the power of God 6 as seen in a thunderstorm which apparently was sent in answer to David’s prayer in battle.
It describes God in anthropomorphic terms.
Literal interpretation of the Bible does not mean that you interpret such figures of speech literally.
God doesn’t have smoke coming out of His nostrils or fire coming from His mouth ()!
Read
IN PSALM 11 David declares his confidence in God while the world seems to be falling apart.
Psalm 11 contains faith’s response to fear’s counsel
Someone is speaking into David’s soul … perhaps some well meaning friends
The advice received comes through the ear and went straight to the heart.
David is in some kind of danger … the counsel received is to get out of Dodge … NOW
Run David … Run
Or as it says in our text … “Flee like a bird to your mountain”
Why Run?
Why Flee?
See …
For behold the wicked bend the bow; they have fitted their arrow to the string to shoot in the dark at the upright in heart - v:2
Trouble is brewing and you are the target!
If the foundations are destroyed what can the righteous do? - v:3
You have done all you can, there is no point carrying on.
Nothing you can do will make a difference!
“When life crumbles, the desire to run away and hide in despair is strong.”
Tim Keller
The Background of this Psalm is unclear … Heading simply “To the Choirmaster, Of David”
Doesn't seem to fit his conflict with Saul
Nor does it fit the conflict with Absalom
In Both cases David did flee to the mountains (Probably En Gedi - on the Dead Sea coast)
We probably cannot fit this Psalm into any one conflict in David’s Life ...
That’s OK … It opens the possibility of interpreting it more broadly.
This is not just about running away from something physically … It’s about
David is in the cross hairs of the attacks of some person or persons
And the foundations of stability are in danger of falling apart
Does it sound like our day?
The question is simple … How do you worship and pray when everything falls apart?
When danger lurks and when the old foundations seem to be crumbling?
How do you pray and worship when you feel that nothing is coming of your effort, everything is against you and you need strength to go on?
1.You CHALLENGE the voices you hear
11:1 “How can you say to my soul “Flee like a bird to your mountain”?
Well meaning advice … given out of fear and frustration.
The temptation is great to give in …
The bows are bent … the arrows are ready … and the foundation is crumbling … Thats fear causing and frustration energizing
Notice how David Challenges these voices …
How can you say these things to my soul?
He is not addressing the Lord in these words …
This is a teaching Psalm … He starts out … “IN the Lord I take Refuge” - Strong statement of purpose and resolve …
Now He addresses/challenges the voices … How can you say
He is giving us a framework for worshipping and praying when you feel like giving up.
He is challenging the thoughts of his own soul … the voices of well meaning advice … He is talking to himself in the presence of God
In many of the psalms David talks to himself and challenges the competing voices …
He is challenging the distrubanceswithin his own soul … It’s Ok to talk to yourself … just say the right stuff.
ML Jones “One of the main Problems in the Christian life is that we spend too much time listening to ourselves and not enough time talking to ourselves.”
We spoend way too much time listening to the voices of fear and frustration and complaint
We need to speak to ourselves … truth … speak the gospel to ourselves
Challenge the fear and uncertainty in prayer and worship.
Come to Him … Tell him what you are feeling and what you are hearing
Bring him your worst thoughts … and fears
Challenge the voices in the presence of God
Come into the presence of the Father with Jesus Christ beside you.
Tell him what you are feeling and what you are hearing.
Bring your worst thoughts into the open, then take yourself in hand, and challenge the voice of fear and frustration right there in the presence of God.
“Lord, here’s what I am afraid of.
Lord, here is where I feel frustrated to the point of despair…” You may need to do this in regard to your own thoughts, and you may need to do this in regard to the well-meaning advice you are receiving from others.
They may mean well, but what they are actually doing is sapping your will.
Everything in VV:1-3 is framed by the phrase:
In the Lord I take Refuge!
Luke
His Response:
The word for refuge = a Place to Hide and find cover
And again:
Matthew 16:
2.You RECOGNIZE the hand of God in your testing
Look at verses 4c and 5a
His Eyelids test the Children of Men
The Lord Tests the Righteous
Remember when the foundations are shaken … the Hand of God is in the shaking.
When God shakes us up … He does so for a reason
Listen to:
Hebrews
He shakes up our familiar to remind us of what can never be shaken
In His commentary onm the Psalms Derek Kidner comments … “The Collapse of what is built on sand may be distressing; it can also be a beginning”
Remember Job … Lost everything … wealth, flocks, herds, family …
Foundations shaken
Job’s wife’s voice …
Whats the point?
Everything is gone, Give it up
Those words … went right to Job’s soul
Job’s response ...
The testing of God is intended to purify our faith and fortify our resolve … do you recognize HIS testing in your struggles?
3.You AFFIRM the sovereignty of God in the hardest times
Psalm 11:
David addresses fear, frustration, weariness, sorrow … HOw?
David affirms the sovereignty of God
I may be experiencing fear, frustration … But He is not in a panic
David affirms that God rules.
He is the sovereign King over Heaven and earth.
“The LORD is in his holy temple; the LORD’s throne is in heaven” (11:4a).
4.You ANTICIPATE the joy of the FINAL outcome
His throne is a symbol of his authority to rule and to judge.
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