WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:12.000 You know, a while back, I heard a story of an absolutely insane, disastrous, bureaucratic blunder that literally put hundreds of lives in jeopardy. 00:00:12.000 --> 00:00:21.000 ! It was an incident in Florida when one of those huge hurricanes hit. I think it was Hurricane Hugo or something like that. 00:00:21.000 --> 00:00:32.000 But in any case, a particular inland school was designated as a storm shelter. And when the hurricane hit, literally hundreds of people filled the building. 00:00:32.000 --> 00:00:40.000 The building I can imagine, not unlike this building right here, imagine hundreds of people packed in here looking for shelter from the storm. 00:00:40.000 --> 00:00:50.000 But somehow, years earlier, when that building was designated as a storm shelter, it was somehow overlooked that the building was lying in a flood plain. 00:00:50.000 --> 00:00:57.000 So, when the storm came, the surge of water came and the building was flooded. 00:00:57.000 --> 00:01:07.000 Now, imagine the scene. Hundreds of people crowded into a large room with no power in the middle of the night with 100 mile an hour winds outside. 00:01:07.000 --> 00:01:14.000 And then the water comes in. And at first it was only a foot. And then it kept rising and it was three feet. 00:01:14.000 --> 00:01:30.000 And then, as the water kept rising, panic began to set in among the crowd. And for literally hours, hundreds of people were crouched on tables and standing in water up to five feet deep with their kids on their shoulders as the storm raged outside. 00:01:30.000 --> 00:01:44.000 It's a miracle that no lives were lost. But as you can imagine, after the storm was over, there was a huge uproar because people almost lost their lives being directed to an unsafe storm shelter. 00:01:44.000 --> 00:01:52.000 You know, it makes me think of a spiritual parallel. I mean, just as there are physical storms that we may have to endure, you know, there are spiritual storms as well. 00:01:52.000 --> 00:01:58.000 Times when we may suffer to one degree or another, sometimes through no fault of our own. 00:01:58.000 --> 00:02:11.000 My question for you today is how does your faith hold up in times like that? Is God your refuge? Is he your storm shelter, as it were? Your sanctuary that you can run to when things get tough? 00:02:11.000 --> 00:02:21.000 Is he your hiding place, your strength, your anchor, that one unmovable constant that you can surely have faith in? If not, he should be. 00:02:21.000 --> 00:02:30.000 Because throughout scripture we see God presenting himself as a strong refuge for his people. And that's what we have here in Psalm 27. 00:02:30.000 --> 00:02:45.000 You see, God is David's help in time of need. When things are going bad, when his life is falling apart, he knows that he can run to God and he will find in God shelter from the turmoil and hardship. 00:02:45.000 --> 00:02:49.000 And that brings us to our proposition statement. All right, so Dr. Carter, what's the sermon about? 00:02:49.000 --> 00:02:57.000 What's the sermon about? Well, here it is in a single sentence. Trust God. Trust God to see you through the storms of life. 00:02:57.000 --> 00:03:04.000 Because he is your strong refuge. That's what Psalms 27 is about in a nutshell. 00:03:04.000 --> 00:03:09.000 And let's unpack it and you'll see where I get that from here in the text. 00:03:09.000 --> 00:03:16.000 The first thing I want you to observe about this passage is David's unshakable confidence in the Lord. 00:03:16.000 --> 00:03:21.000 You see, David understood that God was his refuge in time of storm. 00:03:21.000 --> 00:03:28.000 And so when the battles raged all around him, he stood confident knowing that God was going to protect him. 00:03:28.000 --> 00:03:31.000 Now, I want to go back and look at the text and we'll look at verses one to six again. 00:03:31.000 --> 00:03:36.000 And I want you to notice David's confidence here in these verses, beginning with verse one. 00:03:36.000 --> 00:03:41.000 The Lord is my light and my salvation, so why should I be afraid? 00:03:41.000 --> 00:03:45.000 The Lord is my fortress protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble? 00:03:45.000 --> 00:03:50.000 When evil people come to devour me, when my enemies and foes attack me, they will stumble and fall. 00:03:50.000 --> 00:03:54.000 Though a mighty army surrounds me, my heart will not be afraid. 00:03:54.000 --> 00:03:57.000 Even if I am attacked, I will remain confident. 00:03:57.000 --> 00:04:03.000 The one thing I ask of the Lord, the thing that I seek most is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life. 00:04:03.000 --> 00:04:06.000 Delighting in the Lord's perfections and meditating in his temple. 00:04:06.000 --> 00:04:09.000 For he will conceal me there when troubles come. 00:04:09.000 --> 00:04:12.000 He will hide me in his sanctuary. 00:04:12.000 --> 00:04:15.000 He will place me out of reach on a high rock. 00:04:15.000 --> 00:04:19.000 Then I will hold my head high above my enemies who surround me at his sanctuary. 00:04:19.000 --> 00:04:24.000 I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy and sing and praising the Lord with music. 00:04:24.000 --> 00:04:26.000 So what do you see here? 00:04:26.000 --> 00:04:29.000 You see David confident in his status before God. 00:04:29.000 --> 00:04:31.000 He knows he's a child of God. 00:04:31.000 --> 00:04:34.000 He knows that God is going to protect him. 00:04:34.000 --> 00:04:36.000 Notice his confidence here. 00:04:36.000 --> 00:04:40.000 Now let's take these verses and put them into their historical context a little bit. 00:04:40.000 --> 00:04:44.000 As you may know, this psalm was written fairly late in David's career. 00:04:44.000 --> 00:04:49.000 A scriptural parallel would be somewhere in the latter half of the book of 2 Samuel. 00:04:49.000 --> 00:04:55.000 You see when David wrote this psalm, things were not going very well for him in his life. 00:04:55.000 --> 00:04:59.000 As you might recall, as a result of David's sins, Bathsheba, 00:04:59.000 --> 00:05:03.000 the prophet Nathan confronted the king in 2 Samuel 12 00:05:03.000 --> 00:05:09.000 and pronounced upon him the stiff penalty that he would pay for his murderous adultery. 00:05:09.000 --> 00:05:12.000 Let's actually, let's take a look at that briefly. 00:05:12.000 --> 00:05:15.000 If you flip over to 2 Samuel chapter 12, 00:05:15.000 --> 00:05:19.000 you'll see the prophet Nathan confronting David 00:05:19.000 --> 00:05:23.000 and we see the consequences that he's going to have to pay in his life. 00:05:23.000 --> 00:05:27.000 Picking up in verse 7 of 2 Samuel 12. 00:05:27.000 --> 00:05:28.000 Then Nathan said to David, 00:05:28.000 --> 00:05:30.000 You are that man. 00:05:30.000 --> 00:05:32.000 The Lord, the God of Israel says, 00:05:32.000 --> 00:05:35.000 I anointed you king of Israel and saved you from the power of Saul. 00:05:35.000 --> 00:05:39.000 I gave you your master's house and his wives and the kingdom of Israel and Judah. 00:05:39.000 --> 00:05:42.000 If that had not been enough, I would have given you much, much more. 00:05:42.000 --> 00:05:45.000 Why then have you despised the word of the Lord and done this horrible deed? 00:05:45.000 --> 00:05:50.000 For you have murdered Uriah the Hittite with the sword of the Ammonites and stolen his wife. 00:05:50.000 --> 00:05:57.000 From this time on, your family will live by the sword because you have despised me by taking the wife of Uriah to be your own. 00:05:57.000 --> 00:05:59.000 This is what the Lord says. 00:05:59.000 --> 00:06:02.000 Because of what you have done, I will cause your own household to rebel against you. 00:06:02.000 --> 00:06:07.000 I will give your wives to another man before your very eyes and he will go to bed with them in public view. 00:06:07.000 --> 00:06:12.000 You did it secretly, but I will make this happen to you openly in the sight of all Israel. 00:06:12.000 --> 00:06:19.000 So we see David here under the sanction of the Lord because of his terrible sin there. 00:06:19.000 --> 00:06:25.000 That he was going to reap hardship and adversity because of this sin. 00:06:25.000 --> 00:06:31.000 That turmoil and trouble and violence would follow him all the days of his life. 00:06:31.000 --> 00:06:34.000 That his own sons would rise up in rebellion against him. 00:06:34.000 --> 00:06:40.000 And of course, if you follow the story in 2 Samuel, you see exactly how all these things came to pass. 00:06:40.000 --> 00:06:50.000 Wars from without, rebellion and insurrection from within, cunning, deceit, treachery even in his own household. 00:06:50.000 --> 00:06:55.000 You have the regrettable incident between David's children, Amnon and Tamar, and Absalom's revenge 00:06:55.000 --> 00:06:57.000 and his ultimate rebellion against his father. 00:06:57.000 --> 00:06:58.000 It's a fascinating story. 00:06:58.000 --> 00:07:03.000 It's a real Netflix special if they ever make a movie out of it. 00:07:03.000 --> 00:07:05.000 It would be fascinating to watch. 00:07:05.000 --> 00:07:09.000 But if these stories don't ring a bell with you, then I commend the story of 2 Samuel to you again. 00:07:09.000 --> 00:07:15.000 But the point is that David's latter life was not a life of ease and plenty. 00:07:15.000 --> 00:07:16.000 No, he had it hard. 00:07:16.000 --> 00:07:17.000 He suffered. 00:07:17.000 --> 00:07:20.000 Tragedy followed him wherever he went. 00:07:20.000 --> 00:07:25.000 But even in the middle of all that turmoil and trouble and drama and chaos and strife, 00:07:25.000 --> 00:07:28.000 David knew that he could look to God. 00:07:28.000 --> 00:07:31.000 Now I want you to read Psalm 27 in that light again. 00:07:31.000 --> 00:07:36.000 And I want you to see how David knew that he could look to God for deliverance. 00:07:36.000 --> 00:07:37.000 Again, look at verse 1. 00:07:37.000 --> 00:07:43.000 Despite his troubles, David's focus is not on the chaos around him, but his focus is heavenward. 00:07:43.000 --> 00:07:46.000 The Lord is my light and my salvation. 00:07:46.000 --> 00:07:48.000 Look at where David's treasure is. 00:07:48.000 --> 00:07:50.000 It's not in his earthly kingship. 00:07:50.000 --> 00:07:51.000 I mean, look at verse 4. 00:07:51.000 --> 00:07:53.000 In verse 4 he says, 00:07:53.000 --> 00:07:58.000 The one thing I ask of the Lord, the thing I seek most, is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life. 00:07:58.000 --> 00:08:02.000 Delighting in the Lord's perfections and meditating in his temple. 00:08:02.000 --> 00:08:05.000 My goodness, his heart is set after the things of God. 00:08:05.000 --> 00:08:06.000 I mean, he's a king. 00:08:06.000 --> 00:08:09.000 But he really sounds like he wants to be a priest there, doesn't he? 00:08:09.000 --> 00:08:15.000 He just wants to spend his time in the Lord's presence and set all these earthly troubles aside and focus on the majesty of God. 00:08:15.000 --> 00:08:17.000 Minister to the Lord in his tabernacle. 00:08:17.000 --> 00:08:20.000 I want you to see David's confidence in these verses. 00:08:20.000 --> 00:08:26.000 And his strong conviction that when he cries out to God, that God is going to hear him. 00:08:26.000 --> 00:08:28.000 And that God is going to answer him. 00:08:28.000 --> 00:08:31.000 Yes, he was under God's sanction. 00:08:31.000 --> 00:08:34.000 These things were happening to him because of his sin. 00:08:34.000 --> 00:08:36.000 Yet he knew that God had not rejected him. 00:08:36.000 --> 00:08:40.000 That God had made promises to him that God fully intended to keep. 00:08:40.000 --> 00:08:47.000 And so David knew that he was still a child of God in spite of suffering the temporal consequences of his sin. 00:08:47.000 --> 00:08:53.000 David knew, verse 2, that his faith is going to see him victorious over all his enemies. 00:08:53.000 --> 00:08:55.000 Verse 6 says essentially the same thing. 00:08:55.000 --> 00:09:01.000 You see, David is convinced that no matter what this fallen world might throw at him, he's going to be safe. 00:09:01.000 --> 00:09:04.000 Because God is his refuge. 00:09:04.000 --> 00:09:08.000 Again, verse 3, though a mighty army surrounds me, my heart will not be afraid. 00:09:08.000 --> 00:09:11.000 Even if I am attacked, I will remain confident. 00:09:11.000 --> 00:09:14.000 Verse 5, for he will conceal me there when troubles come. 00:09:14.000 --> 00:09:16.000 He will hide me in his sanctuary. 00:09:16.000 --> 00:09:19.000 He will place me out of reach on a high rock. 00:09:19.000 --> 00:09:22.000 You see, David knows that God is going to protect him. 00:09:22.000 --> 00:09:24.000 That God's going to keep him safe. 00:09:24.000 --> 00:09:26.000 Now, he's a realist. 00:09:26.000 --> 00:09:31.000 He doesn't deny the hardships that are facing him, but he trusts God to see him through. 00:09:31.000 --> 00:09:37.000 He knows that the answer is not just to bury his head in the sand and pretend like those problems aren't there. 00:09:37.000 --> 00:09:39.000 He's not saying, oh, don't worry. 00:09:39.000 --> 00:09:40.000 Be happy. 00:09:40.000 --> 00:09:41.000 Everything's going to be okay. 00:09:41.000 --> 00:09:43.000 That's not what he's saying. 00:09:43.000 --> 00:09:45.000 He realizes he has enemies. 00:09:45.000 --> 00:09:48.000 There are bad people out there who want to do him harm. 00:09:48.000 --> 00:09:49.000 Verse 3. 00:09:49.000 --> 00:09:55.000 He realizes he may have to go through some battles, but he's confident that the Lord is going to protect him. 00:09:55.000 --> 00:09:58.000 He knows that he can look to God. 00:09:58.000 --> 00:10:02.000 He can bring his petitions to the Lord and that the Lord will always answer him. 00:10:02.000 --> 00:10:04.000 That God is going to spare him. 00:10:04.000 --> 00:10:07.000 That God will make a way where there seems to be no way. 00:10:07.000 --> 00:10:10.000 And so David resolves just to praise God anyway. 00:10:10.000 --> 00:10:12.000 He's going to worship the Lord. 00:10:12.000 --> 00:10:14.000 He's going to trust him no matter what happens. 00:10:14.000 --> 00:10:16.000 Look at the latter half of verse 6. 00:10:16.000 --> 00:10:25.000 You see, David realized that he could put his trust and confidence in God because God is a strong refuge for his people. 00:10:25.000 --> 00:10:31.000 You know, it makes me think of that incident with Joshua and Caleb and the Hebrew spies. 00:10:31.000 --> 00:10:32.000 I know you know the story. 00:10:32.000 --> 00:10:33.000 Numbers 13. 00:10:33.000 --> 00:10:38.000 Moses sent the spies into the land of Canaan in order to do some reconnaissance before the tribes of Israel were to enter. 00:10:38.000 --> 00:10:40.000 And do you remember they came back with their report? 00:10:40.000 --> 00:10:44.000 They came back saying, we can't go and take this land. 00:10:44.000 --> 00:10:47.000 The people there are bigger and stronger than we are. 00:10:47.000 --> 00:10:51.000 These Hittites and Jebusites and Ammonites are too powerful. 00:10:51.000 --> 00:10:53.000 Who do we think we are? 00:10:53.000 --> 00:10:56.000 We're like grasshoppers in their sight. 00:10:56.000 --> 00:11:04.000 But two of the spies dissented from the majority report because they had an unshakable confidence in God. 00:11:04.000 --> 00:11:10.000 Joshua and Caleb understood that God had promised them this land and that God was with them. 00:11:10.000 --> 00:11:13.000 And that if God was with them, then who could stand against them? 00:11:13.000 --> 00:11:18.000 And so Caleb gives his great confession there in Numbers 13 in verse 30. 00:11:18.000 --> 00:11:23.000 Let us go up at once and take possession of the land for we are well able to overcome it. 00:11:23.000 --> 00:11:26.000 Do you remember the response of the people? 00:11:26.000 --> 00:11:27.000 What happened? 00:11:27.000 --> 00:11:31.000 Did they believe their God and decide to stand on his promises? 00:11:31.000 --> 00:11:32.000 No! 00:11:32.000 --> 00:11:38.000 They believed the unfaithful spies and they wanted to elect a new leader who would take them back to Egypt. 00:11:38.000 --> 00:11:44.000 And how did God react to their fear and their doubt and their lack of faith? 00:11:44.000 --> 00:11:47.000 If you know the story, at first he was going to wipe them out. 00:11:47.000 --> 00:11:56.000 But it wasn't until after the intercession of Moses that he decides to let them wander in the wilderness for 40 years and die out so that their children would enter into the land. 00:11:56.000 --> 00:12:01.000 And you know, in a roundabout way, that's how it is with us as well. 00:12:01.000 --> 00:12:08.000 Because, you know, as long as we live in this fallen world, there are going to be troubles and strife that we're going to have to go through. 00:12:08.000 --> 00:12:14.000 Sometimes we are going to be faced with insurmountable obstacles, challenges to our faith. 00:12:14.000 --> 00:12:17.000 And sometimes those challenges may seem overwhelming. 00:12:17.000 --> 00:12:22.000 But my question for you is when that happens, notice I didn't say if that happens. 00:12:22.000 --> 00:12:26.000 I said when that happens, where's your confidence going to be? 00:12:26.000 --> 00:12:30.000 Who are you going to trust in when the times get tough? 00:12:30.000 --> 00:12:38.000 Are you going to be like Joshua and Caleb and have confidence in the Lord to help you see through those obstacles? 00:12:38.000 --> 00:12:46.000 Are you going to be like David here in our text and look to the Lord and trust in him, not only to hear your prayers, but to answer them for the sake of Christ? 00:12:46.000 --> 00:12:52.000 You see, you can trust in God to see you through the difficult times because he is a strong refuge for his people. 00:12:52.000 --> 00:12:54.000 He's your storm shelter, as it were. 00:12:54.000 --> 00:12:55.000 So, that's the question. 00:12:55.000 --> 00:12:59.000 What are you going to do when the next round of the storms of life hit you? 00:12:59.000 --> 00:13:03.000 Some of you may be going through those storms right now and wondering, what should I do? 00:13:03.000 --> 00:13:05.000 How am I going to deal with this? 00:13:05.000 --> 00:13:08.000 Who are you going to turn to in those moments of crisis? 00:13:08.000 --> 00:13:12.000 Who or what are you going to put your confidence in? 00:13:12.000 --> 00:13:19.000 You know, so often in our society we're tempted to put our hope and our trust in other things, aren't we? 00:13:19.000 --> 00:13:20.000 Things besides God. 00:13:20.000 --> 00:13:26.000 Can you think of some of those things that people put their hope and trust and confidence in when things get tough? 00:13:26.000 --> 00:13:31.000 You know, so often we're tempted to put our trust in other people, aren't we? 00:13:31.000 --> 00:13:33.000 Things like our friends or our family or what not. 00:13:33.000 --> 00:13:35.000 You know, they'll help us. 00:13:35.000 --> 00:13:36.000 They'll bail us out. 00:13:36.000 --> 00:13:37.000 And what happens? 00:13:37.000 --> 00:13:42.000 How many of you know that from time to time other people are going to let you down? 00:13:42.000 --> 00:13:45.000 Even your closest friends and your blood relatives. 00:13:45.000 --> 00:13:46.000 No! 00:13:46.000 --> 00:13:48.000 Not my closest friends. 00:13:48.000 --> 00:13:49.000 Not my blood relatives. 00:13:49.000 --> 00:13:51.000 They'll always be there for me. 00:13:51.000 --> 00:13:53.000 Don't be so quick. 00:13:53.000 --> 00:13:54.000 Maybe not. 00:13:54.000 --> 00:13:57.000 You know, sometimes there's nothing that they can do to help. 00:13:57.000 --> 00:14:04.000 Then again, sometimes even if they can help, they won't for one reason or another. 00:14:04.000 --> 00:14:10.000 I think in our society we're often tempted to put our trust and confidence in technology, aren't we? 00:14:10.000 --> 00:14:18.000 Like the latest medical breakthrough is going to be our savior when we're sick in body or some new psychological therapy is going to help us cope when our world falls apart. 00:14:18.000 --> 00:14:21.000 We want to put our trust in technology as if that's our answer. 00:14:21.000 --> 00:14:24.000 That's the savior. 00:14:24.000 --> 00:14:32.000 Then again, I think other times we're tempted to look to money as if that's the answer to all our problems. 00:14:32.000 --> 00:14:35.000 Have any of you ever been tempted to think like that? 00:14:35.000 --> 00:14:36.000 No, nobody here. 00:14:36.000 --> 00:14:38.000 You guys are too spiritual for that. 00:14:38.000 --> 00:14:41.000 Other people, other Christians sometimes think of money, but certainly nobody here. 00:14:41.000 --> 00:14:50.000 But yes, sometimes we're tempted to think, you know, if I only had a bigger income, if I only had a trust fund or something like that, then everything would be alright. 00:14:50.000 --> 00:14:52.000 You know, that's when things would go smoothly. 00:14:52.000 --> 00:14:56.000 If you're like most, you may have thoughts like that from time to time. 00:14:56.000 --> 00:15:03.000 Then again, I think sometimes we're tempted to simply trust in ourselves. 00:15:03.000 --> 00:15:06.000 You know, the old looking out for number one philosophy. 00:15:06.000 --> 00:15:07.000 You know, nobody's going to help me. 00:15:07.000 --> 00:15:09.000 Nobody's going to be there for me. 00:15:09.000 --> 00:15:16.000 And so if I'm going to get through this, it's going to be because I tried harder or applied my own intellect or my own wisdom, my own strength. 00:15:16.000 --> 00:15:17.000 You get the idea. 00:15:17.000 --> 00:15:18.000 What does the scripture say? 00:15:18.000 --> 00:15:29.000 The scripture tells us, I mean, my goodness, if you get anything from Psalm 27, get this, that when the storms of life come your way, you can look heavenward and trust God to see you through. 00:15:29.000 --> 00:15:30.000 To put God first. 00:15:30.000 --> 00:15:34.000 As Jesus says, therefore, I say to you, do not worry about your life. 00:15:34.000 --> 00:15:37.000 Which of you by worrying can add a single moment to his life? 00:15:37.000 --> 00:15:40.000 For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 00:15:40.000 --> 00:15:47.000 But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 00:15:47.000 --> 00:15:49.000 You see, that's what David is doing here in this text. 00:15:49.000 --> 00:15:51.000 I mean, yes, he's putting God first. 00:15:51.000 --> 00:15:53.000 Yes, his life is in turmoil. 00:15:53.000 --> 00:15:56.000 I mean, did I mention things are not going very well for him? 00:15:56.000 --> 00:16:00.000 But he decides to put his trust in God. 00:16:00.000 --> 00:16:04.000 He's going to resolve to trust in him, let God deliver him. 00:16:04.000 --> 00:16:05.000 Verses four and five. 00:16:05.000 --> 00:16:09.000 You see, David understood that God would never abandon him. 00:16:09.000 --> 00:16:15.000 That because of his faith, the Lord would protect him, and that God would provide for him as one of his own. 00:16:15.000 --> 00:16:20.000 I would say that David remembered the scripture in Deuteronomy 4.31, which says, 00:16:20.000 --> 00:16:29.000 The Lord your God is a merciful God, and he will not forsake you or destroy you or forget the covenant which he swore. 00:16:29.000 --> 00:16:31.000 You see, David understood that. 00:16:31.000 --> 00:16:33.000 More importantly, David believed that. 00:16:33.000 --> 00:16:40.000 And that's why he was able to stand rock solid for God even through some of the most difficult crises of his life. 00:16:40.000 --> 00:16:46.000 And that's the same kind of belief and trust that you need to have in the Lord as well. 00:16:46.000 --> 00:16:49.000 The next time this world throws you for a loop. 00:16:49.000 --> 00:16:54.000 You see, you need to have belief and trust in God's word. 00:16:54.000 --> 00:16:58.000 To trust that God is going to keep his promises to you for the sake of Christ. 00:16:58.000 --> 00:17:00.000 Believing deep down in your heart. 00:17:00.000 --> 00:17:04.000 One thing that you know for sure, and that is that God cannot lie no matter what. 00:17:04.000 --> 00:17:06.000 And that he will see you through. 00:17:06.000 --> 00:17:07.000 Point number one. 00:17:07.000 --> 00:17:12.000 Because God is your refuge, put your confidence in him. 00:17:12.000 --> 00:17:15.000 Let's move on, shall we? 00:17:15.000 --> 00:17:24.000 The next thing I want you to take away from this text is how David recognized God as his helper and deliverer in times of need. 00:17:24.000 --> 00:17:27.000 When he recognized that he needed God's help, what does he do? 00:17:27.000 --> 00:17:29.000 He calls out to God. 00:17:29.000 --> 00:17:30.000 He prays. 00:17:30.000 --> 00:17:31.000 Look at verses seven to twelve. 00:17:31.000 --> 00:17:33.000 And here we see David's prayer. 00:17:33.000 --> 00:17:35.000 Picking up in verse seven. 00:17:35.000 --> 00:17:36.000 He says, 00:17:36.000 --> 00:17:39.000 Hear me as I pray, O Lord, be merciful and answer me. 00:17:39.000 --> 00:17:42.000 My heart has heard you say, come and talk with me. 00:17:42.000 --> 00:17:44.000 And my heart responds, Lord, I am coming. 00:17:44.000 --> 00:17:45.000 Do not turn your back on me. 00:17:45.000 --> 00:17:47.000 Do not reject your servant in anger. 00:17:47.000 --> 00:17:49.000 For you have always been my helper. 00:17:49.000 --> 00:17:50.000 Don't leave me now. 00:17:50.000 --> 00:17:52.000 Don't abandon me, O God of my salvation. 00:17:52.000 --> 00:17:56.000 Even if my father and mother abandoned me, the Lord will hold me close. 00:17:56.000 --> 00:17:58.000 Teach me how to live, O Lord. 00:17:58.000 --> 00:18:01.000 Lead me along the right path, for my enemies are waiting for me. 00:18:01.000 --> 00:18:03.000 Do not let me fall into their hands. 00:18:03.000 --> 00:18:05.000 For they accuse me of things I have never done. 00:18:05.000 --> 00:18:09.000 And with every breath they threaten me with violence. 00:18:09.000 --> 00:18:10.000 All right. 00:18:10.000 --> 00:18:11.000 So what's happening here? 00:18:11.000 --> 00:18:18.000 If in the first six verses David is confessing God as his spiritual refuge, in these verses 00:18:18.000 --> 00:18:20.000 he actually makes his petition. 00:18:20.000 --> 00:18:21.000 So here's David's prayer. 00:18:21.000 --> 00:18:24.000 Notice how he begins his request there in verse seven. 00:18:24.000 --> 00:18:28.000 He calls on God to hear him and be gracious to him and answer his plea. 00:18:28.000 --> 00:18:31.000 Excuse me. 00:18:31.000 --> 00:18:38.000 You see, David can humbly call on God like that because he's convinced that God is there. 00:18:38.000 --> 00:18:41.000 Notice how there's no doubt in his prayer. 00:18:41.000 --> 00:18:43.000 He's not praying like, hello? 00:18:43.000 --> 00:18:44.000 God? 00:18:44.000 --> 00:18:45.000 You hear me? 00:18:45.000 --> 00:18:46.000 You really there? 00:18:46.000 --> 00:18:47.000 Remember me? 00:18:47.000 --> 00:18:48.000 No. 00:18:48.000 --> 00:18:49.000 There's no prayer like that. 00:18:49.000 --> 00:18:50.000 Look at verse eight. 00:18:50.000 --> 00:18:52.000 Once again, he stands on God's word. 00:18:52.000 --> 00:18:53.000 He takes it at face value. 00:18:53.000 --> 00:18:57.000 God, you said to seek your face and so here I am doing just that. 00:18:57.000 --> 00:18:59.000 You see, it's not about his emotions. 00:18:59.000 --> 00:19:03.000 If David relied upon his emotions, he would probably sink into a pit of despair because, 00:19:03.000 --> 00:19:07.000 did I mention his life was not going very well for him at this point? 00:19:07.000 --> 00:19:09.000 Like he made a choice. 00:19:09.000 --> 00:19:13.000 He made a decision that he's going to stand on the word of God. 00:19:13.000 --> 00:19:16.000 He's going to praise God with joy in spite of what's going on. 00:19:16.000 --> 00:19:17.000 Verse six. 00:19:17.000 --> 00:19:18.000 He's going to believe God's word. 00:19:18.000 --> 00:19:19.000 He's going to stand on that. 00:19:19.000 --> 00:19:22.000 God, you told me to seek your face and so here I am seeking your face. 00:19:22.000 --> 00:19:29.000 And that seeking your face language is simply another way of saying worship in spirit and in truth. 00:19:29.000 --> 00:19:31.000 Genuine heartfelt worship. 00:19:31.000 --> 00:19:32.000 That's what God was calling him to do. 00:19:32.000 --> 00:19:35.000 And David confesses that he'll do just that. 00:19:35.000 --> 00:19:41.000 And because of that heartfelt obedience, he's convinced that God is pleased to hear his petition. 00:19:41.000 --> 00:19:42.000 Again, look at verse nine. 00:19:42.000 --> 00:19:43.000 Do not turn your back on me. 00:19:43.000 --> 00:19:45.000 Do not reject your servant in anger. 00:19:45.000 --> 00:19:47.000 For you have always been my helper. 00:19:47.000 --> 00:19:48.000 Don't leave me now. 00:19:48.000 --> 00:19:49.000 Don't abandon me. 00:19:49.000 --> 00:19:51.000 Oh God of my salvation. 00:19:51.000 --> 00:20:01.000 You see, here David is crying out that regardless of all the turmoil and drama and strife all around him, the last thing he wants is to be cut off from fellowship with God. 00:20:01.000 --> 00:20:03.000 He wants God to be with him. 00:20:03.000 --> 00:20:08.000 Sort of like his other prayer in Psalm 23 where he's willing to face the valley of the shadow of death. 00:20:08.000 --> 00:20:09.000 Why? 00:20:09.000 --> 00:20:12.000 Because God is with him. 00:20:12.000 --> 00:20:14.000 God's rod and staff comforts him. 00:20:14.000 --> 00:20:17.000 You see, it doesn't matter what this fallen world might throw his way. 00:20:17.000 --> 00:20:27.000 Wars, hardship, bloodshed, turmoil, all these things are manageable as long as God is with him. 00:20:27.000 --> 00:20:32.000 As long as he knows beyond a shadow of a doubt that God is going to be there to guide him. 00:20:32.000 --> 00:20:33.000 Verse 11. 00:20:33.000 --> 00:20:34.000 Teach me how to live, O Lord. 00:20:34.000 --> 00:20:38.000 Lead me along the right path for my enemies are waiting for me. 00:20:38.000 --> 00:20:45.000 See, as long as he has this conviction that God is going to keep him on the straight and narrow, he can face tomorrow. 00:20:45.000 --> 00:20:46.000 And the day after that. 00:20:46.000 --> 00:20:47.000 And the next day after that. 00:20:47.000 --> 00:20:50.000 Because he knows that God is going to protect him. 00:20:50.000 --> 00:20:52.000 Look at verse 10. 00:20:52.000 --> 00:20:55.000 Oh, he has enemies out there, all right. 00:20:55.000 --> 00:20:57.000 And they are plotting against him. 00:20:57.000 --> 00:21:02.000 And they have nothing in their hearts toward him except ill will and malice and hatred. 00:21:02.000 --> 00:21:04.000 And they mean to do him harm. 00:21:04.000 --> 00:21:07.000 I'm talking physically here. 00:21:07.000 --> 00:21:09.000 Verse 12 speaks of violence. 00:21:09.000 --> 00:21:12.000 That's the kind of trouble that David was in. 00:21:12.000 --> 00:21:13.000 But that's okay. 00:21:13.000 --> 00:21:14.000 That's okay too. 00:21:14.000 --> 00:21:15.000 He can face that as well. 00:21:15.000 --> 00:21:18.000 Because he knows that God is going to be there to protect him. 00:21:18.000 --> 00:21:24.000 It's kind of like Christ standing before Pilate when the governor said, 00:21:24.000 --> 00:21:27.000 Don't you know that I have the power to crucify you and the power to release you? 00:21:27.000 --> 00:21:29.000 And how did Christ respond? 00:21:29.000 --> 00:21:34.000 You could have no power at all against me unless it were given to you from above. 00:21:34.000 --> 00:21:36.000 How true it is. 00:21:36.000 --> 00:21:39.000 And that's how David understood his enemies as well. 00:21:39.000 --> 00:21:42.000 They couldn't touch him as long as God was protecting him. 00:21:42.000 --> 00:21:46.000 See, he knew that as long as God was his refuge, he could call on him for help. 00:21:46.000 --> 00:21:53.000 You know, it makes me think of our modern 999 system here in the UK, right? 00:21:53.000 --> 00:21:56.000 In the USA we call it 911, but it's the same thing. 00:21:56.000 --> 00:21:59.000 I mean, what do you do? 00:21:59.000 --> 00:22:02.000 Who do you call when you're faced with some kind of crisis or emergency? 00:22:02.000 --> 00:22:03.000 I need police. 00:22:03.000 --> 00:22:04.000 I need fire. 00:22:04.000 --> 00:22:05.000 I need medical. 00:22:05.000 --> 00:22:06.000 Who do you call for help? 00:22:06.000 --> 00:22:07.000 Well, you call 999, right? 00:22:07.000 --> 00:22:14.000 And you know when you call 999, there's always somebody there who can take your call and send help right away. 00:22:14.000 --> 00:22:18.000 You know when you call that number, you are not going to get the answering machine. 00:22:18.000 --> 00:22:22.000 You're not going to get a receptionist who's going to put you on hold. 00:22:22.000 --> 00:22:29.000 You're going to get through to somebody who not only wants to help you, but someone who has the power to dispatch aid immediately. 00:22:29.000 --> 00:22:32.000 And in a way, that's sort of what we have with God as well. 00:22:32.000 --> 00:22:34.000 We can call on him at any time. 00:22:34.000 --> 00:22:39.000 We know that he has the power to dispatch aid immediately. 00:22:39.000 --> 00:22:44.000 And there's no question that God desires to help his children. 00:22:44.000 --> 00:22:49.000 I mean, as Jesus said, if a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? 00:22:49.000 --> 00:22:51.000 If he asks for a fish, will he give him a snake? 00:22:51.000 --> 00:22:54.000 Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? 00:22:54.000 --> 00:23:01.000 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him? 00:23:01.000 --> 00:23:04.000 You see, God loves to bless his children. 00:23:04.000 --> 00:23:09.000 And that's why we go to him in prayer, taking our troubles and our cares and our concerns to him. 00:23:09.000 --> 00:23:13.000 As Peter said, casting all your cares on him, for he cares for you. 00:23:13.000 --> 00:23:19.000 And we can rest assured that God will answer in the way that's best. 00:23:19.000 --> 00:23:21.000 And we can rest in that. 00:23:21.000 --> 00:23:24.000 You see, that's where David's confidence came from. 00:23:24.000 --> 00:23:28.000 Because he knew that no matter what happened, God was looking out for his best interest. 00:23:28.000 --> 00:23:31.000 Because God really was his great shepherd. 00:23:31.000 --> 00:23:35.000 Now that doesn't mean that God always answers us in the way that we want him to. 00:23:35.000 --> 00:23:40.000 But that doesn't change the fact that the things that God does for us, he does for our good. 00:23:40.000 --> 00:23:45.000 Sort of like the story of the three Hebrews and the fiery furnace and Daniel. 00:23:45.000 --> 00:23:47.000 You all know the story. 00:23:47.000 --> 00:23:54.000 All those who refused to bow down and worship King Nebuchadnezzar's idol were to be cast alive into the fiery furnace. 00:23:54.000 --> 00:23:57.000 And those three young men stood up before the king and they said, 00:23:57.000 --> 00:24:01.000 Our God who we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace. 00:24:01.000 --> 00:24:03.000 And he will deliver us from your hand, O king. 00:24:03.000 --> 00:24:10.000 But even if he doesn't, let it be known that we don't serve your gods nor will we worship the golden image that you've set up. 00:24:10.000 --> 00:24:16.000 You see, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, they were counting on God to answer their prayer. 00:24:16.000 --> 00:24:18.000 To spare them from the fiery furnace. 00:24:18.000 --> 00:24:20.000 But their faith was reflected when they said, 00:24:20.000 --> 00:24:25.000 But even if he doesn't, let it be known that we won't bow. 00:24:25.000 --> 00:24:27.000 You see, they were content to trust God. 00:24:27.000 --> 00:24:30.000 And did God spare them from the burning fiery furnace? 00:24:30.000 --> 00:24:31.000 No. 00:24:31.000 --> 00:24:33.000 They went in. 00:24:33.000 --> 00:24:35.000 But God went in there with them as the fourth man. 00:24:35.000 --> 00:24:36.000 You know the story. 00:24:36.000 --> 00:24:43.000 You see, they were content to trust God even if he didn't answer them the way they wanted him to. 00:24:43.000 --> 00:24:46.000 And that's the way it needs to be with us as well. 00:24:46.000 --> 00:24:54.000 Because when the times get tough, we need to call on God for help and to trust him to answer in the way that he knows his best. 00:24:54.000 --> 00:25:01.000 So that means you need to call on God when you find yourself going through your tough times. 00:25:01.000 --> 00:25:08.000 And you need to believe deep in your heart that he's not only able to help you, but that he's willing to help. 00:25:08.000 --> 00:25:13.000 Because sometimes when you need help, it's easy to find someone who's able to help, but they're not willing. 00:25:13.000 --> 00:25:14.000 Or vice versa. 00:25:14.000 --> 00:25:17.000 Sometimes it's easy to find someone who's willing to help, but they're not able. 00:25:17.000 --> 00:25:24.000 But the good news is that God is both able and willing to bless his children who call on him in times of trouble. 00:25:24.000 --> 00:25:29.000 Now you might say, well that sounds all fine and good, Dr. Carter, but that doesn't match my reality. 00:25:29.000 --> 00:25:34.000 Because I once went through a hard time and I called on God to help and he didn't do anything. 00:25:34.000 --> 00:25:35.000 Well, what about that? 00:25:35.000 --> 00:25:37.000 Well, let's be straight. 00:25:37.000 --> 00:25:39.000 There's no easy answers to that. 00:25:39.000 --> 00:25:44.000 I mean, there can be any number of reasons why God didn't answer your prayer the way you wanted him to. 00:25:44.000 --> 00:25:49.000 First of all, let's admit that he's God and he's under no obligation to any of us. 00:25:49.000 --> 00:25:51.000 None of us can make God our debtor. 00:25:51.000 --> 00:26:01.000 But secondly, we know that even if he didn't answer us the way we wanted him to, we can rest assured that he did hear our prayer of faith if we approached him through the merits of Jesus Christ. 00:26:01.000 --> 00:26:08.000 And thirdly, we can also rest assured that whatever he did or didn't do was in our best interest. 00:26:08.000 --> 00:26:10.000 Now, do you believe that? 00:26:10.000 --> 00:26:17.000 I mean, doesn't the apostle say that all things work together for the good, for those who love God and are called according to his purpose? 00:26:17.000 --> 00:26:19.000 All things? 00:26:19.000 --> 00:26:20.000 Do you believe that? 00:26:20.000 --> 00:26:26.000 Now, it may not have seemed like it to Joseph when he was sitting in prison, falsely accused. 00:26:26.000 --> 00:26:35.000 But when we fast forward to Genesis 50, we see at the end of the story he realizes what others meant for evil toward him, God ultimately meant for the good. 00:26:35.000 --> 00:26:42.000 Then again, doesn't God sometimes permit us to suffer in order to chastise us for our own wrongdoing? 00:26:42.000 --> 00:26:45.000 Indeed, this is what's happening to David right here in our text. 00:26:45.000 --> 00:26:52.000 Isn't that what Hebrews 12 and the whole concept of divine discipline, God's fatherly displeasure, that's what it's all about. 00:26:52.000 --> 00:26:58.000 Even God's children will sometimes have to face the temporal consequences of their sin. 00:26:58.000 --> 00:27:05.000 Then again, sometimes God uses tough times as a means to cultivate godly virtue in his people. 00:27:05.000 --> 00:27:07.000 Now, I know you don't want to hear that. 00:27:07.000 --> 00:27:18.000 But at the same time, that's what the apostle teaches us in Romans chapter 5 and verse 3, when he says he rejoices in his sufferings because he knows that suffering produces perseverance and perseverance produces what? 00:27:18.000 --> 00:27:20.000 Character. Character. 00:27:20.000 --> 00:27:21.000 Character. 00:27:21.000 --> 00:27:22.000 Character. 00:27:22.000 --> 00:27:32.000 Then again, at other times there may seem to be no good reason, no logical reason why bad things are happening to good people. 00:27:32.000 --> 00:27:39.000 But we can rest assured that God is sovereign over those circumstances as well, even though we may not understand them. 00:27:39.000 --> 00:27:42.000 Isn't that what the book of Job is all about? 00:27:42.000 --> 00:27:47.000 Indeed, there was a whole lot more going on in the heavenlies than what Job can perceive. 00:27:47.000 --> 00:27:55.000 And as you fast forward to the end of the story, Job never does find out why he was forced to endure all those trials. 00:27:55.000 --> 00:28:02.000 But in any case, the bottom line is that when trials and tribulations come, God has not left us alone. 00:28:02.000 --> 00:28:10.000 He himself is our refuge and he calls us to prayer that we might trust in him to shepherd our souls. 00:28:10.000 --> 00:28:14.000 So how can we summarize Psalm 27? 00:28:14.000 --> 00:28:15.000 God is our hiding place. 00:28:15.000 --> 00:28:16.000 He's our sanctuary. 00:28:16.000 --> 00:28:18.000 Our storm shelter, as it were. 00:28:18.000 --> 00:28:20.000 A refuge in time of storm. 00:28:20.000 --> 00:28:27.000 And because of that, we can trust in him to take care of us when we feel overwhelmed or anxious or in despair. 00:28:27.000 --> 00:28:33.000 We can have confidence in him that he is there to shepherd our souls through the storms of life. 00:28:33.000 --> 00:28:38.000 And that he's there to hear our prayers and answer them for the sake of Christ. 00:28:38.000 --> 00:28:43.000 So what should our attitude be when those trials and difficulties come? 00:28:43.000 --> 00:28:45.000 Take a look at the last two verses. 00:28:45.000 --> 00:28:47.000 Verses 13 and 14. 00:28:47.000 --> 00:28:53.000 Yet I am confident I will see the Lord's goodness while I am here in the land of the living. 00:28:53.000 --> 00:28:54.000 Wait patiently for the Lord. 00:28:54.000 --> 00:28:55.000 Be brave and courageous. 00:28:55.000 --> 00:28:58.000 Yes, wait patiently for the Lord. 00:28:58.000 --> 00:29:01.000 Now that is confession of hope. 00:29:01.000 --> 00:29:08.000 And that needs to be your confession the next time you feel like you are at the end of the road. 00:29:08.000 --> 00:29:13.000 Because that was the confession of your Savior when he was facing his darkest hour. 00:29:13.000 --> 00:29:18.000 Now pay careful attention here because I want to tie this all together by showing you Christ in the passage. 00:29:18.000 --> 00:29:23.000 Please understand, in this Psalm, David is a type of Christ. 00:29:23.000 --> 00:29:25.000 He is the king of Israel in distress. 00:29:25.000 --> 00:29:27.000 He is about to face his enemies. 00:29:27.000 --> 00:29:30.000 Wicked men are plotting against him and they seek his life. 00:29:30.000 --> 00:29:31.000 Verse 3. 00:29:31.000 --> 00:29:34.000 False witnesses have arisen to condemn him. 00:29:34.000 --> 00:29:35.000 Verse 12. 00:29:35.000 --> 00:29:39.000 Even his closest friends and family have abandoned him. 00:29:39.000 --> 00:29:40.000 Verse 10. 00:29:40.000 --> 00:29:44.000 And yet his hope and trust is in the Lord. 00:29:44.000 --> 00:29:49.000 And even as this Psalm is the prayer of David, the earthly king, in his darkest hour. 00:29:49.000 --> 00:29:55.000 Even as this Psalm is the prayer of Christ, the heavenly king, in his darkest hour. 00:29:55.000 --> 00:29:57.000 May it also be yours. 00:29:57.000 --> 00:30:05.000 That like David, that like Christ, your faith may be tried by fire and found true to the glory of God. 00:30:05.000 --> 00:30:06.000 Amen.