Times of Trouble

Well, it’s time for me to get back into the groove.  I’ve been absent from the blog long enough.  This just seems to be the busiest time of year, not just for me, but for everyone.  So, without further ado, let’s get immersed in God’s Word by taking a look at Psalm 3.

Notice, this Psalm is titled “A Psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son.”  If you’ve ever read 2 Samuel 15, it tells us of a time when Absalom, David’s son, wanted to be king, and he would stop at nothing to attain that goal.  So, Absalom plotted to have David killed.  His own son plotted his death, just so that he could become king.  Powerful is the temptation of power itself.  David finds himself fleeing Jerusalem to protect himself.  Now, put yourself in David’s position.  How would you feel if you own son was trying to kill you for a position of power?

David could have done what we all think about.  He could have taken matters into his own hands.  But, his faith allowed him to call out to God for help.  Do we call out to God in our times of trouble?  Sometimes the answer to that question is no.  But, David provides us a simple prayer that we can sing out to God when we are facing troubles in life.  Prayer begins when we realize that we cannot help ourselves.  This Psalm can be broken down into four sections.  Let’s look at each one.

The first section of this Psalm says,

“¹O Lord, how many are my foes!
Many are rising against me;
² many are saying of my soul,
there is no salvation for him in God"

David is saying that his situation is so bad that his companions think that he is beyond God’s help.  They didn’t feel that God was able to help him.  Have you ever felt that your situation is so dire that God cannot help you?  Or, that because of past sin, that you deserve this trouble?  Do your friends fell like you are just getting what you deserve?

Now look at the second part of the Psalm:

“But you, O Lord, are a shield about me,

my glory, and the lifter of my head.

I cried aloud to the Lord,

and he answered me from his holy hill.."

Faith.  That is what David had.  He felt that his situation could and would be handled by God alone.  David says that God is his shield.  Like in war, if you’re under attack, you need a shield.  It is your first line of defense.  Notice, David isn’t asking God to be his shield.  This is a statement of fact, that God is David’s shield.  The image of God being out shield is mentioned several times in the Psalms.  David goes on and says that he is the “lifter of my head.”  David was recognizing that God is more than just his protection.  God is the one that shows him glory.  What do you find your glory in?  Fame?  Power?  Prestige?  Possessions?  Beauty?  Position?  Achievements?  David found his glory in the Lord.  David cried out to the Lord.  Charles Spurgeon said this, “Surely, silent prayers are heard.  Yes, but good men often find that, even in secret, they pray better aloud than they do when they utter no vocal sound.”  Do you cry aloud to God?  Sometimes I have a hard time saying my prayers aloud.  What if what I say doesn’t make sense to others?  I know God hears my heart rather than what comes out of my mouth when I pray to him.  But sometimes, I just find it difficult. 

The third part of this Psalm says,

“⁵ I lay down and slept;
I woke again, for the Lord sustained me.
⁶ I will not be afraid of many thousands of people
who have set themselves against me all around."

David says that because God is able to sustain him, he is able to rest.  David was under a lot of pressure.  When you’re under pressure, you have a tendency of not being able to sleep, to toss and turn.  David also points out that he was able to wake.  When you’ve got a son out there trying to kill you, waking up is a blessing indeed.  God is also makes it possible for David to be unafraid even when ten thousand people surround him.  God makes it possible to stand against any foe or trouble that we may face.  God will deliver us in our times of trouble if we turn to Him.

The last section of this Psalm says this,

“⁷ Arise, O Lord!
Save me, O my God!
For you strike all my enemies on the cheek;
you break the teeth of the wicked..
⁸ Salvation belongs to the Lord;
your blessing be on your people!”

David’s faith was on what God had done in the past, this gave him the confidence of what God was going to do in the future.  David isn’t looking for just protection, but victory as well.  He knew that the victory was his if he relied on God to see him through.  When you face a threat, who do you rely on? 

What kind of trouble are you facing right now?  Use this Psalm to help you pray to God for help in your troubled time.  Place your trust in God to deliver you from your trouble.  God is the source of salvation and blessing to His people.

Prayer:  "Heavenly Father, you are a shield in times of trouble.  Thank you for providing protection to me when I face trials and temptations.  I ask that you continue your protection, even when I know I don't deserve it.  As the Psalm says, "Salvation" belongs to you alone.  Thank you for salvation from my enemies, from my troubles, and especially, thank you for your Salvation that was offered through your son, Jesus Christ.  Give us, O Lord, strength to stand against the enemy.  In Jesus name I do pray, Amen.

Worship

What does it mean to worship?  Well worship is defined as "the reverent LOVE and devotion accorded a deity, an idol, or a sacred object."  God wants us to worship Him.  We worship God out of fear (not being afraid, but of awe), devotion, reverence.  How do we do that?  We can sing, shout, cry out.

Why do we worship?
For starters, we worship because of the blessings that He gives.  Second, we worship in spite of difficult circumstances.  And also, because of His grace and mercy.

Psalm 66:18 says, "If I had cherished iniquity (sin) in my heart, the Lord would not have listened."

What kind of worshiper does God want me (and you) to be?  He tells us in Psalm 1:12:  "Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night." 

Stuart Townsend and Keith Getty penned the song "In Christ Alone".  You may have heard portions of it from the Newsboys in a song by the same name.  It says these profound words:

"In Christ alone my hope is found, He is my light, my strength, my song; this Cornerstone, this solid ground, firm through the fiercest drought and storm."

Psalm 34 tells us how to praise and worship and the promise that comes from that action. 

Let's look at those verses:

Action                                                       Promise
(v.1)    extol (praise)                                always speak His name
(v.2)    boast                                              rejoice who God is
(v.3)    magnify                                         exalt His name forever
(v.4)    seek                                                deliver from fears
(v.5)    look to Him                                  never be ashamed
(v.6)    cry                                                  save from troubles
(v.9-10) fear                                              not lack good things

My final thoughts I will close with Psalm 103:1, "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name!"

prayer

I started a journal some time ago.  I haven't kept up with it.  But here was my first entry.  I used it during a Sunday School lesson on a Sunday that we didn't have a planned lesson.  I hope that you can take something out of it.  Journaling isn't one of my strong suits.  I'm not very artistic, so I don't do it very often.

prayer

1.  Prayer begins in solitude.

• "Solitude" means "the state or quality of being alone or remote from others".

2.  Prayer includes speaking honestly to God.

• When you are being honest verbally to God you deepen your relationship with Him.
• He already knows.

3.  Prayer involves asking God for help and thanking Him when he provides it.

4.  When tempted to complain, pray.

Solitude:

Psalm 46 and 62

verse 1 of Psalm 46:

"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble"

verse 10 of Psalm 46:

"Be still, and know that I am God."

"Be still" is a Hebrew verb that can be translated "to relax".

verse 5 of Psalm 62:

"For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from Him."

Matthew 9 is the Model Prayer

"The first thing we need to do when we get in God's presence is be still.  The second thing we need to do is be still some more.  Then we can begin to listen, and then we can begin to hear from Him and experience His power in our lives."  - Steve May, "Silence in Solitude"

Speak Honestly

Psalm 73:1, "Truly God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart."

Tell God your deep, dark, secret thoughts.

Asking & Thanksgiving

Psalm 13

David had four burdens:

1.  feeling forgotten by God

2.  feeling cut off from God's favor

3.  experiencing deep depression

4.  suffering the humiliation of losing

Be patient and wait for the Lord.

Temptation to Complain

When you're tempted to complain, use your temptation as an opportunity to ask for God's help and thank Him for His blessings and love.


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The Good Life

I’m practicing for the real thing!  Sunday starts “Blogging Through The Bible” with the book of Esther.  But, I need the practice now. 

Psalm 1:1 – “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers.”

Today’s reading is from Psalm 1.  The book of Psalms is a book filled with worship, prayers, thanksgiving, from the nation of Israel to God.  We could learn a lot by delving into the book of Psalms about how we should worship.  Do you worship like that?  I know I don’t most of the time.  I think it’s time to change that.  God is worthy of our worship and praise. 

This first Psalm tells us what we must do to truly have “the good life”.  If we choose the right road, we’ll be graced with blessedness (happiness and full of blessings).  What does the blessed man do that the wicked does not?  Well, first he doesn’t ask the ungodly for advice.  Don’t ask counsel of those that are lost.  That will only lead you away from the light.  Secondly, the blessed man doesn’t “stand in the path of sinners”.  That means we must not follow the same path as those who are sinning.  Yes, I know, everyone sins.  This is different.  Sometimes, we sin unintentionally.  That’s not what I’m talking about.  I’m talking about intentionally going out and doing something that you know is not pleasing to God.  What about that party that you went to where all of your friends got drunk and you joined right in?  I’m guilty.  I made a choice to do something that I knew wouldn’t please God.  Was I blessed?  Only with regrets and a heavy heart.  Thank goodness for God’s grace and forgiveness.  Finally, the blessed man doesn’t “stand in the path of sinners”.  Well, what in the world does that mean?  Well, it means that we must not be involved or influenced in the conduct, behavior or habits of the sinners.  Really, it means that we must not act like the world.  It’s hard, isn’t it?  I know I struggle with it.  Don’t you?

Have you ever heard the song “The Ole Crossroads” by the Kingsmen?  Of course, this is a bluegrass song.  It’s one of my favorites.  You’ll find out, I have A LOT of favorites.  Would you expect anything else from me?  Here is the chorus:

“The ole crossroads now is waiting
Which one are you going to take?
One leads down to destruction
The other to the pearly gate”

This song, to me, depicts Psalm 1.  You have a choice, are you going to “walk in the counsel of the wicked”, or are you going to be the one that “delights in the law of the Lord”?  Are you going to go down the path of destruction by following what the world and society wants us to do, or are you going to follow the narrow path to the “pearly gate”?  You know, only Jesus can help us with this.  Will you ask Him to help him with your temptations?

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, you alone are worthy of my worship.  Forgive me when I don’t praise you like I should.  Help me, I pray, to be the one that chooses the right path on the crossroads that I am presented with.  Guide my way.  Create in me a heart that only wants to choose the path that doesn’t go down the “worldly” road.  Forgive me of the times that the path that I chose wasn’t pleasing to you.  Thank you, Father, for the blessings of life, health, family and friends.  In Jesus’ precious and holy name, Amen!