FHBC Sermon Notes

(1 Samuel 25-31; Psalms)

On this Resurrection Day (Easter) morning we are often used to hearing a sermon from the New Testament. Yet the first sermon given by Peter in the book of Acts is in fact a sermon on the Psalms.  For Jesus did on the road to Emmaus, he expounds and explains the gospel from the Old Testament scriptures.  As we read through the bible as a church this year we are in the middle of 1 Samuel and from the pen of David we read a number of songs related to this time period. It is from these passages today that dwell on the resurrection of our Lord Jesus, and how Jesus continually saves his people.

As we look at our passage in 1 Samuel we find David on the run from King Saul.  Hunted, wandering in the wilderness, David uses his gift as a musicians to bare his heart and express to God all that troubles his thought. 

>Be gracious to me, O LORD, for I am in distress; my eye is wasted from grief; my soul and my body also.  For my life is spent with sorrow, and my years with sighing; my strength fails because of my iniquity, and my bones waste away.  Because of all my adversaries I have become a reproach, especially to my neighbors, and an object of dread to my acquaintances; those who see me in the street flee from me.  I have been forgotten like one who is dead; I have become like a broken vessel.  For I hear the whispering of many—terror on every side!—as they scheme together against me, as they plot to take my life.  But I trust in you, O LORD;I say, "You are my God." Psalms 31:9-14

We see song after song of all the trouble. Yet we see David continually proclaim his trust in God.  This is what faith is.  It is trusting our Lord God to bless us in all circumstances. 

>The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?  When evildoers assail me to eat up my flesh, my adversaries and foes, it is they who stumble and fall.  Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, yet I will be confident.  One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in his temple.  For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will lift me high upon a rock.  And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me, and I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and make melody to the LORD Psalms 27:1-6

When Israel asked for a king, God had a idea for what the King was to be.  The King was to be that example of the one who fully trusted God.  However, even David, fails in this in the end.  It is in Jesus Christ that this is finally found fulfillment.  For Christ, trusted God, even unto death on a cross.  The perfect Son of God was "despised and rejected by man".  He was in more trouble than any of us.  Yet, in every incident, when the trouble was most intense, he fully trusted God in everything. And as Jesus died on that cross it is from the Psalms that he pulls his final words.

>For you are my rock and my fortress; and for your name's sake you lead me and guide me;  you take me out of the net they have hidden for me, for you are my refuge.  Into your hand I commit my spirit; you have redeemed me, O LORD, faithful God. Psalms 31:3-5

Thanks be to God.  The story does not end there.  God does deliver David from his troubles.  And raising Jesus from the dead, he delivers Jesus from the grave, and in him we also are raised.

Every time David seems to be about to be captured or killed, God sends a Philistine raid, or a deep sleep, or a friend (Jonathan) to save him from the trouble.

>I had said in my alarm," I am cut off from your sight. "But you heard the voice of my pleas for mercy when I cried to you for help.  Love the LORD, all you his saints! The LORD preserves the faithful but abundantly repays the one who acts in pride.  Be strong, and let your heart take courage,all you who wait for the LORD Psa 31:22-24

Others Psalms 18, 56.  Over and over again.  The troubles keep coming, but also the deliverance keeps coming.

This brings forth a new question.  Will there be a day when the trouble does not come back?  Is there a day when some final deliverance comes?

Yet, this has already happened.  What greater trouble is there than death.  Death is the result of sin, and the finished product of all suffering. 

The death of Jesus is the greatest infringement of justice in creation.  For Jesus being sinless did not deserve that punishment.  Therefore, God raised him from the dead, and in that deliverance we also may be raised together with him. 

Understand we all experience trouble, but the good news is that God has delivered us in Christ.  Our deliverance is our eternal victory.  We will share in the rule and reign of the age to come in Christ.  We have but to do one thing:  give our lives to him, trust to him, obey him. Amen.