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Intro
Intro
Setup: Tonight, I know that we are in a long series on the sermon on the mount, but as I was praying and preparing, I just felt the subtle nudge of the Holy Spirit to go a different direction tonight.
Opening Story/Illustration: My parents live in Mississippi, and it’s a nice enough place, but their interstate system is horrible. One of the worst parts about it is the way that you get on the interstate. So they have the on ramps and the exit ramps in like the same place. So you get on and there are people trying to merge over into the ramp lane to get off. If you aren’t used to it, it an be confusing, and if you don’t watch it, you’ll get hit. Transitioning onto the interstate there is a nightmare if you’re not used to it. And, if you’ve driven on I4, you know one of the worst spots is Disney world. Not just Disney world, but right there at 417 where you merge off and merge onto I4. Most of the time it’s a parking lot. I think life is a lot like this sometimes. That the hardest parts are the areas of transition. Where we are moving off of our old road and we are moving onto a new path. This is where sometimes it seems like we bog down (like on I4) and other times merging into something new makes us feel like everyone around us is about to run into us (Like in Mississippi). So what do we do in these moments? How can we effectively navigate the transitions life is throwing at us? What do we do when it’s time to switch roads?
When it’s time to move on from high school and to college or a career
When we land a new job
When we move to a new place
When our kids are starting school
When life throws us things we didn’t expect and causes us to face a new reality.
Transition to Scripture: In the Old Testament, David dealt with a lot of transitions in his life. He transitions from sheep herder to national hero when he kills Goliath, then he makes King Saul Jealous and he transitions into a fugitive, he then transitions into being King, and later transitions back to a fugitive again, only to come back to being King again. Many of these moments are captured in the Psalms. You get his raw, unfiltered prayers and emotions as he deals with the changes taking place in his life.
I don’t know about you, but one of the biggest issues when facing a new Challenge, for me anyway, is fear.
This Psalm that I want us to look at tonight talks a lot a bout fear.
There’s debate over who wrote this Psalm or exactly why they wrote it. But tradition says David wrote it when he was on his run as a fugitive. He’s had to make a transition out of Israel and into a place called Gath - to hide from Saul. Only Problem - Gath is home to his enemies. So he has to figure out a way to live here and have issues. Let’s check out David’s situation
11 But the officers of Achish were unhappy about his being there. “Isn’t this David, the king of the land?” they asked. “Isn’t he the one the people honor with dances, singing, ‘Saul has killed his thousands, and David his ten thousands’?” 12 David heard these comments and was very afraid of what King Achish of Gath might do to him. 13 So he pretended to be insane, scratching on doors and drooling down his beard. 14 Finally, King Achish said to his men, “Must you bring me a madman? 15 We already have enough of them around here! Why should I let someone like this be my guest?”
Scripture: And now let’s look at David’s Journal - His inward thoughts regarding the situation.
For the choir director: A psalm of David, regarding the time the Philistines seized him in Gath. To be sung to the tune “Dove on Distant Oaks.” 1 O God, have mercy on me, for people are hounding me. My foes attack me all day long. 2 I am constantly hounded by those who slander me, and many are boldly attacking me. 3 But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in you. 4 I praise God for what he has promised. I trust in God, so why should I be afraid? What can mere mortals do to me? 5 They are always twisting what I say; they spend their days plotting to harm me. 6 They come together to spy on me— watching my every step, eager to kill me. 7 Don’t let them get away with their wickedness; in your anger, O God, bring them down. 8 You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book. 9 My enemies will retreat when I call to you for help. This I know: God is on my side! 10 I praise God for what he has promised; Yes, I praise the Lord for what he has promised. 11 I trust in God, so why should I be afraid? What can mere mortals do to me? 12 I will fulfill my vows to you, O God, and will offer a sacrifice of thanks for your help. 13 For you have rescued me from death; you have kept my feet from slipping. So now I can walk in your presence, O God, in your life-giving light.
Transition to points: Let’s take a look at this and let’s see a few things we need to do when we are in new places and perhaps even when we are dealing with fear.
Points
Points
David Takes his situation to God
Notice David’s raw, unfiltered language -
They are hounding me.
I’m being attacked
They are slandering me
They are plotting to harm me
They are twisting my words
They are out to Kill me
He takes all of his fear and anger and takes it God.
We should take our situation to God
Maybe you’re not being attacked like David..But maybe things aren’t going so well.
Are you the type of person who always thinks the worst? So you go into your new position or new school or new place - and like you’re always thinking of the worst possible scenario?
Or maybe It’s just not going well..maybe everything that can go wrong is going wrong and you’re just ready to give up.
Illustration: I told my Sunday school class this story some time a go..Moving to Lakeland.
All of these frustrations, fears, doubts, and moments - This Psalm shows us - Take it all to God. Dump it all on him. He’s big enough to handle the raw honesty of what you’re feeling.
David places his trust in God
I love verse 3 - When I’m afraid, I will trust You.
Verse 4 - I trust in God - Why should i be afraid? What can people really do to me?
Verse 8 - God you’re keeping track of all my sorrow. You’re collecting my tears.
Verse 9 - God is on my side!
Verse 11 - I trust in God Why should I be afraid? What can people really do?
After David deals with all of his fear and emotions he forces himself to come back to a reality that is bigger than his situation - GOD IS IN CONTROL. HE CAN TRUST IN GOD AND NOT BE AFRAID.
We must place our Trust in God
There are times in life where you just have to make yourself trust in God. You’ve got to shake yourself back into the reality that God is good and in control and he can be trusted.
There is a reality that you see - and a reality that you don’t see. The reality that you don’t see is bigger and more real than what you see. Truth is, even when you can’t see it, God can be trusted! Even when you can’t see it, God is on your side. Even when it doesn’t seem like it, God is working!
Don’t be afraid, trust in God!
Illustration: Bailey last year was in like an online Christian PreK program. They taught her this Psalm as a memory verse - “What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.” It’s so sweet and innocent to hear here when she gets afraid she’ll just start quoting it. She believes it. It makes a difference.
We need this childlike trust that says, “I might be afraid, but I’m going to trust in you!” My situation may look bleak. I may not enjoy where I am, but I’m going to trust in you.
David Worships God
Notice twice David says, “I praise God for what he has promised.”
Sometimes, especially in moments of transition, it’s hard to see what God has promised.
David isn’t necessarily seeing God’s promises at this moment - But he praises God because he knows God is a promise keeping God who is going to be faithful and come through!
We should Worship
Worship reminds us that God is a God who keeps his promises!
Illustration: I was driving down the road the other day and I just said, Hey Siri, play me some worship music. And this song came on I hadn’t heard before. And it spoke right to my situation. In that moment as I began to worship, God showed up.
Worship is a reminder that God is faithful and trustworthy and that your current moment doesn’t tell the whole story.
Conclusion
Conclusion
Where are you tonight?
Are you fearful because you’re in a new place?
Are yo going through a tough situation?
Take all that fear, worry, anxiety, and give it God.
Trust Him
Worship Him
And watch him come through!
2. Let’s Pray!