Psalm 3 - Faith Brings God's Victory- Trial, Trust & Triumph
"Faith is a living, daring confidence in God's grace, so sure and certain that a man could stake his life on it a thousand times", Martin Luther.
Psalm 3 - Author: David - re: the time that David fled from his son, Absalom.
vs. 1&2 - David's problem
>The first Psalm titled a Psalm.
(Personal experience) * Every personal trial teaches believers to trust in the Lord more fully (in absolute truth), knowing that faith in God leads to triumphant living.
David's Problem - 1-2 The werd mercy is repeated 3 times in 2 verses. The word Psalm is mizmor - which has to do with the pruning or cutting off of superfluous twigs. Here we find David cutting off the fluff - He is in trouble.
< vs. 2 - David says - they are lying about me and you - they say:
You have abandoned me
You are not a God who honors Your Word
Selah - interlude - reflection - pause and calmly think
Selah is mentioned calmly 3 times - vs. 2, 4, 8
To Jesus on the cross they said, "Where is your God?" Many will say - "God will never rescue _____________. That is a lie from hell!
For the lost, those who reject Christ there is:
No one to wash away sin
No one to clothe him with righteousness
No one to present him faultless before the throne
No blood
No altar
No sacrifice
No great High Priest
No Christ
No Calvary
No cleansing
No conversion
No help in God!
Voltaire's nurse said, "Not for all the wealth in Europe will I see another infidel die."
But! Not from David:
He knew God
He was a failing, stumbling saint
He knew God and he received the salvation God offers
When man looks at our situation, our churches, the economy, do they say, "This is too big for God?" Do they think it is too big for God, or perhaps God is not willing because of our history/sin? Don't believe their lies.
David remembers who God is !
No help? "But, You O Lord are a shield around me (an impenetrable defense) He is my! Lord - the existing One - Jehovah - the King
The God who keeps His Word
The God of the covenant
Jesus, when going to the Cross - I don't have to do this - God is My shield - He is My Glory
Our assurance, like David's, is based on God's Word - not on:
circumstances
feelings
what other people say
lies of Satan
that which seems logical
God is Worthy of Our Confidence and Trust!
The world was trying to bring David to defeat - His choices allowed God to be "the lifter of his head" - When the world tried to destroy David, he remembered:
Who God is
The promises of God
Times when he called out to God and God answered him - Ps. 51
He did what he had done before. He cried out knowing that God would hear and answer his call - and the glory of God lifted him. (Selah) then Praise God!
Absalom had the 10,000s but David had God!
So....
He lay down, he slept, he woke up in safety- God had the watch. He was running but in God he found rest.
Blessings from God -
Sleep
I awoke sustained by God:
He breathed
His heart continued to beat
His organs continued to function
The same God sustains us in our difficulties - Romans 8:31 "If God be for us who can be against us?"
A good night's sleep - (I am not afraid of the 10,000s)
A healthy body
A new day with God!
David begins to praise God for the victory before it is won -
Ps. 121 - David is unaware of the conversations between Absalom and Ahithophel. The advise of David's loyal servant was chosen -
God's plan is in place.
The Victory is won - Whose team are you on? God' team is the winning team!
Salvation is of the Lord
*Not the property of a nation or sect!
To be saved one must choose God and His plan.
Deliverance (Salvation is of the Lord) can only come from God, then and now!
Romans 8:28 - God causes all things to work together for good...
God still speaks peace to the storms in life. He is still our shield and strength. He will empower His children to stand strong in trouble.
He, Himself, will be their deliverer.
Faith, when tested and toughened in adversity, results in Victory & Deliverance!
God had lifted the pressures from David in the midst of the circumstances
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