WEBVTT 00:00:00.960 --> 00:00:04.740 As we come this evening, we're going to look at Psalm 31. 00:00:06.320 --> 00:00:11.220 And this is a psalm that has much to do with trust. 00:00:12.140 --> 00:00:23.480 And one of the things with trust is that I think it's something that's much more needed in times of distress than in times of ease. 00:00:24.160 --> 00:00:27.019 And I was thinking of seatbelts. 00:00:27.739 --> 00:00:36.079 When I get into my van and put on the seatbelt, I don't think much about it because rarely have I ever needed the seatbelt actually in the van. 00:00:36.399 --> 00:00:45.039 But then I thought of those moments when I'm at the amusement park and I sit in that roller coaster and the belt comes on. 00:00:45.239 --> 00:00:51.519 At that moment, I'm a little more concerned about the viability of that belt that I'm wearing. 00:00:51.939 --> 00:00:54.299 Because I know I'm going to be in distress. 00:00:54.299 --> 00:00:54.519 Yes. 00:00:55.099 --> 00:00:58.399 But I know that I'm going to need that seatbelt to work. 00:00:59.199 --> 00:01:08.340 So when we come and we think of trusting in God, the moments of distress will lead us to an even greater trust. 00:01:08.340 --> 00:01:17.359 As we come and look at this psalm, I want you to think I'm about to read the first five verses of the psalm. 00:01:17.800 --> 00:01:22.600 And what we're going to find there is going to be a proclamation of trust by the psalmist. 00:01:22.599 --> 00:01:30.319 And words that are repeated here in these first five verses are rock, fortress, and refuge. 00:01:30.780 --> 00:01:33.399 Let me read those verses for us. 00:01:33.400 --> 00:01:37.660 In you, O Lord, do I take refuge. 00:01:37.980 --> 00:01:39.840 Let me never be put to shame. 00:01:40.200 --> 00:01:42.080 In your righteousness deliver me. 00:01:42.700 --> 00:01:44.320 Incline your ear to me. 00:01:44.700 --> 00:01:45.960 Rescue me speedily. 00:01:46.580 --> 00:01:49.020 Be a rock of refuge for me. 00:01:49.280 --> 00:01:51.400 A strong fortress to save me. 00:01:51.740 --> 00:01:54.380 For you are my rock and my fortress. 00:01:54.860 --> 00:01:58.300 For your namesake you lead me and guide me. 00:01:58.299 --> 00:02:02.859 You take me out of the net that they have hidden for me. 00:02:03.379 --> 00:02:05.140 For you are my refuge. 00:02:05.359 --> 00:02:07.459 Into your hand I commit my spirit. 00:02:07.920 --> 00:02:12.099 You have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God. 00:02:16.019 --> 00:02:19.719 As we come, I want to focus there on the verse five. 00:02:20.759 --> 00:02:23.419 Into your hand I commit my spirit. 00:02:23.419 --> 00:02:30.139 Perhaps that phrase strikes a moment of recognition with you. 00:02:30.459 --> 00:02:32.159 Because it's said later in scripture. 00:02:32.859 --> 00:02:36.259 It's what Jesus says in his great moment of distress. 00:02:36.959 --> 00:02:39.339 In his great moment of distress he says to God, 00:02:39.779 --> 00:02:42.699 Into your hand I commit my spirit. 00:02:43.139 --> 00:02:46.199 So we find Jesus at that moment trusting in God. 00:02:46.199 --> 00:02:50.419 And as the psalm continues, 00:02:51.419 --> 00:02:54.879 It speaks of the psalmist's distress. 00:02:55.079 --> 00:02:57.839 The difficulty that the psalmist is facing. 00:02:57.959 --> 00:03:00.259 In fact, here are the terms that are going to be used 00:03:00.259 --> 00:03:01.919 As I read through the next few verses. 00:03:02.039 --> 00:03:03.839 I want you to think about these words. 00:03:03.899 --> 00:03:04.620 Here's what you're going to hear. 00:03:04.679 --> 00:03:05.879 You're going to hear about distress. 00:03:06.419 --> 00:03:06.859 Affliction. 00:03:07.120 --> 00:03:07.459 Enemy. 00:03:08.099 --> 00:03:08.539 Grief. 00:03:08.739 --> 00:03:09.120 Sorrow. 00:03:09.359 --> 00:03:09.739 Sighing. 00:03:09.959 --> 00:03:10.399 Fails. 00:03:10.599 --> 00:03:11.280 Waste away. 00:03:11.659 --> 00:03:12.120 Adversaries. 00:03:12.439 --> 00:03:12.919 Reproached. 00:03:13.339 --> 00:03:13.759 Dead. 00:03:13.979 --> 00:03:14.339 Flee. 00:03:14.879 --> 00:03:15.299 Broken. 00:03:15.599 --> 00:03:15.959 And terror. 00:03:16.199 --> 00:03:17.599 All these things will be mentioned. 00:03:17.859 --> 00:03:20.759 Let me read verses 6 through 13 for us. 00:03:22.019 --> 00:03:25.259 I hate those who pay regard to worthless idols. 00:03:25.560 --> 00:03:27.159 But I trust in the Lord. 00:03:27.519 --> 00:03:30.619 I will rejoice and be glad in your steadfast love. 00:03:30.799 --> 00:03:32.560 Because you have seen my affliction. 00:03:32.919 --> 00:03:34.979 You have known the distress of my soul. 00:03:35.219 --> 00:03:38.079 And you have not delivered me into the hand of the enemy. 00:03:38.079 --> 00:03:41.120 You have set my feet in a broad place. 00:03:41.799 --> 00:03:43.519 Be gracious to me, O Lord. 00:03:43.699 --> 00:03:45.120 For I am in distress. 00:03:45.120 --> 00:03:47.759 My eye is wasted from grief. 00:03:48.080 --> 00:03:49.740 My soul and my body also. 00:03:50.340 --> 00:03:52.280 For my life is spent with sorrow. 00:03:52.640 --> 00:03:54.099 And my years with sign. 00:03:54.539 --> 00:03:57.060 My strengths fail because of my iniquity. 00:03:57.340 --> 00:03:58.840 And my bones waste away. 00:03:59.780 --> 00:04:03.580 Because of all my adversaries, I have become a reproach. 00:04:03.800 --> 00:04:05.060 Especially to my neighbors. 00:04:05.460 --> 00:04:08.020 And an object of dread to my acquaintances. 00:04:08.020 --> 00:04:11.700 Those who see me in the street flee from me. 00:04:11.700 --> 00:04:14.800 I have been forgotten like the one who has dead. 00:04:14.800 --> 00:04:17.300 I have become like a broken vessel. 00:04:17.300 --> 00:04:19.560 For I hear the whispering of many. 00:04:20.000 --> 00:04:21.300 Terror on every side. 00:04:21.680 --> 00:04:23.600 And they scheme together against me. 00:04:23.740 --> 00:04:27.519 And they plot to take my life. 00:04:27.519 --> 00:04:33.000 And in that moment of distress, the psalmist then will come. 00:04:33.079 --> 00:04:34.379 Here in the following verses. 00:04:35.060 --> 00:04:37.079 And seek the favor of God. 00:04:37.399 --> 00:04:39.379 He will seek God's intervention. 00:04:40.099 --> 00:04:42.959 Recognizing the great difficult situation that he is in. 00:04:43.159 --> 00:04:45.219 He says, God in you I will seek. 00:04:45.740 --> 00:04:46.859 Let me read that for us. 00:04:46.859 --> 00:04:48.419 Beginning in verse 14. 00:04:48.420 --> 00:04:52.240 But I trust in you, O Lord. 00:04:52.420 --> 00:04:54.840 I say, you are my God. 00:04:55.439 --> 00:04:57.140 My times are in your hand. 00:04:57.460 --> 00:04:59.439 Rescue me from the hands of my enemies. 00:04:59.640 --> 00:05:01.200 And from my persecutors. 00:05:01.560 --> 00:05:03.740 Make your face shine on your servant. 00:05:04.160 --> 00:05:05.939 Save me in your steadfast love. 00:05:06.300 --> 00:05:08.819 O Lord, let me not be put to shame. 00:05:08.819 --> 00:05:11.080 For I call upon you. 00:05:11.800 --> 00:05:13.639 Let the wicked be put to shame. 00:05:13.980 --> 00:05:15.980 Let them go silently to shale. 00:05:16.200 --> 00:05:18.340 Let the lying lips be mute. 00:05:18.660 --> 00:05:21.319 Which speak entily against the righteousness. 00:05:21.840 --> 00:05:23.540 In pride and contempt. 00:05:24.220 --> 00:05:26.460 Oh, how abundant is your goodness. 00:05:26.879 --> 00:05:29.379 Which you have stored up for those who fear you. 00:05:29.620 --> 00:05:32.100 And work for those who take refuge in you. 00:05:32.460 --> 00:05:35.020 In the sight of the children of mankind. 00:05:35.639 --> 00:05:38.160 In the cover of your presence you hide them. 00:05:38.160 --> 00:05:39.620 From the plots of men. 00:05:39.980 --> 00:05:41.580 You store them in your shelter. 00:05:41.920 --> 00:05:44.319 From the strife of tongues. 00:05:44.319 --> 00:05:52.099 As the psalmist has come and proclaimed his distress. 00:05:52.599 --> 00:05:54.579 And has sought God's intervention. 00:05:54.779 --> 00:05:56.159 Sought God's favor in that moment. 00:05:56.500 --> 00:06:01.120 We now find the psalmist switching to praise. 00:06:01.620 --> 00:06:04.300 Praise for the deliverance that will come from God. 00:06:04.800 --> 00:06:05.759 In this psalm. 00:06:05.980 --> 00:06:08.340 We find almost a story being told. 00:06:08.980 --> 00:06:10.639 As the psalmist lays out. 00:06:11.600 --> 00:06:13.879 A moment of trust at the beginning. 00:06:14.139 --> 00:06:15.319 It says, look what's happened. 00:06:15.439 --> 00:06:16.840 Look what the situation am I in. 00:06:17.040 --> 00:06:19.060 God, I believe you can do something about it. 00:06:19.180 --> 00:06:20.920 And finally the psalmist says, yes God. 00:06:21.280 --> 00:06:23.100 You will do something about it. 00:06:23.100 --> 00:06:25.319 And I'm going to give you praise for that. 00:06:25.319 --> 00:06:28.740 Let me read beginning in verse 21. 00:06:29.740 --> 00:06:30.939 Blessed be the Lord. 00:06:31.240 --> 00:06:34.839 For he has wonderfully shown his steadfast love to me. 00:06:35.079 --> 00:06:37.339 When I was in a besieged city. 00:06:37.719 --> 00:06:39.500 I have said in my alarm. 00:06:39.699 --> 00:06:41.159 I am cut off from your sight. 00:06:41.539 --> 00:06:44.199 But you heard the voice of my pleas for mercy. 00:06:44.420 --> 00:06:46.199 When I cried to you for help. 00:06:47.120 --> 00:06:48.379 Love the Lord. 00:06:48.899 --> 00:06:51.420 All you his saints. 00:06:51.420 --> 00:06:53.600 The Lord preserves the faithful. 00:06:53.600 --> 00:06:56.900 But abundantly repays the one who acts in pride. 00:06:57.540 --> 00:06:58.400 Be strong. 00:06:58.700 --> 00:07:00.220 And let your heart take courage. 00:07:00.680 --> 00:07:03.960 All you who wait for the Lord. 00:07:06.939 --> 00:07:08.560 When we are in distress. 00:07:08.939 --> 00:07:10.920 Let us trust the Lord. 00:07:11.820 --> 00:07:14.260 Let me reread verses 23 and 24. 00:07:16.080 --> 00:07:17.600 Love the Lord. 00:07:18.000 --> 00:07:19.420 All you his saints. 00:07:19.420 --> 00:07:22.000 The Lord preserves the faithful. 00:07:22.000 --> 00:07:25.180 But abundantly repays the one who acts in pride. 00:07:25.860 --> 00:07:26.399 Be strong. 00:07:27.139 --> 00:07:28.720 And let your heart take courage. 00:07:29.259 --> 00:07:32.819 All you who wait for the Lord. 00:07:33.620 --> 00:07:34.439 Let me pray. 00:07:36.779 --> 00:07:37.839 God we come. 00:07:38.579 --> 00:07:41.139 And ask that the words of the psalmist would be our right. 00:07:42.100 --> 00:07:45.560 God that we would indeed take courage in you. 00:07:46.000 --> 00:07:48.560 God that we would indeed wait for you. 00:07:48.560 --> 00:07:50.259 Because God we do know. 00:07:50.639 --> 00:07:52.240 That you will rescue us. 00:07:52.420 --> 00:07:54.199 And you will deliver us. 00:07:54.420 --> 00:07:55.639 So God we come. 00:07:55.980 --> 00:07:57.620 And thank you for the great deliverance. 00:07:57.680 --> 00:07:59.939 That you have provided in our life thus far. 00:08:00.579 --> 00:08:02.360 God we're thankful for the great deliverance. 00:08:02.420 --> 00:08:03.340 That you have provided. 00:08:03.459 --> 00:08:05.019 And sending your son Jesus Christ. 00:08:05.300 --> 00:08:07.340 So that he might die on our behalf. 00:08:07.819 --> 00:08:08.600 And God we come. 00:08:08.660 --> 00:08:09.680 And as we look forward. 00:08:09.920 --> 00:08:11.579 To that which you have before us. 00:08:11.939 --> 00:08:13.939 God we know that you will deliver us. 00:08:14.139 --> 00:08:16.120 Regardless of the situations that we face. 00:08:16.120 --> 00:08:19.079 God we come and give you praise this evening. 00:08:19.579 --> 00:08:19.819 Amen.