Finding Happiness in Hardships #

Psalm 28:1-9

Introduction

The book of Psalms, is full of melodramatic moods. It is frequent the psalmist goes from discouraged to delighted, from heavy-hearted to light hearted, from frazzled to festive, from sorrowful to satisfied, from gloomy to glad! It is not a new narrative, but it is one we often experience in life. Some valleys are deeper than others, some mountain peaks far more expanse than others, but such is life to go from peak to valley, and valley to peak. That is why we find such comfort in the book of Psalms.

I. The Supplication (1-6) #

A. Commune with me (1) #

1. God is quiet. - sometimes, it seems that the heavens are shut up, and God allows us to go through a wilderness experience! #

Jesus was led into the wilderness
David, while being persecuted, lived in the wilderness! - a dry and barren land

2. The Psalmist has a hunger and thirst for hearing from God! #

You don’t have to convince a thirsty soul to drink water… all you have to do is supply it!
Sometimes, we all need to be prodded to get to church, but if we always have to prod, pry, and drag people to church, something is wrong!
- We ought to have a desire, a thirst, to hear from heaven!
- Your flesh get’s hungry when you do not feed it, your spirit, ought to be begging for more of God!

3. Compared to “the pit” – not hearing from God #

Perhaps a reference to Numbers 16:30 – the strange fire being offered to God

Num. 16:30 But if the LORD make a new thing, and the earth open her mouth, and swallow them up, with all that appertain unto them, and they go down quick into the pit; then ye shall understand that these men have provoked the LORD.

B. Consider my requests (2) #

1. Plural – We often whisper a quick singular prayer… and quit! - It takes more! #

2. Cry – Do we weep? Are we heartbroken? #

3. Lifted hands – Outstretched hands, to receive... #

C. Condemn me not as a wicked (3-4) #

1. Don’t cast me in with them! (3) #

David didn’t want to be counted as one of them!
David was not a perfect man, but he did strive to be upright!

2. Two faced (3b-4) #

Saul stabbed David in the back, Absalom stabbed David in the back
Wickedness is equated with hypocritical, two faced backstabbing kind of action that God hates.

Prov. 6:16 These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: Prov. 6:17 ^1^A proud look, ^2^a lying tongue, and ^3^hands that shed innocent blood, 18 ^4^An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, ^5^feet that be swift in running to mischief, 19 ^6^A false witness that speaketh lies, and ^7^he that soweth discord among brethren.

Probably the greatest sin that exists in the independent baptist movement! - “soweth discord among brethren”
They way to keep from being condemned as one of them, DON’T DO IT! Don’t be a part of it!

3. “Regard not the works of the LORD” (5) #

Those who are planting seeds to divide people, and trying to manipulate situations, are concerned for their OWN agenda, and not the LORD’s.
The chapter changes tones right here at verse 6.
Prayer, will change your perspective, and outlook on life!

II. Statements (6-9) #

It is amazing what praying will do for you!
- Try it!
- If at first you don’t succeed, try, try, and try again!
  - Sometimes like the Psalmist, it feels like the heavens are shut up, and God isn’t listening.

A. Praise (6) #

The LORD truly is a blessing to us! So much so that the Psalmist issues the statement, “Blessed be the LORD”
“he hath heard” At times, when we pray, you just know God heard, there is a peace

Phil. 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Psalm 28

Finding Happiness in Hardships #

I. The Supplication (1-6) #

A. Commune with me (1) #

1. God is quiet. - sometimes, it seems that the heavens are shut up, and God allows us to go through a wilderness experience! #

2. The Psalmist has a hunger and thirst for hearing from God! #

3. Compared to “the pit” – not hearing from God #

B. Consider my requests (2) #

1. Plural – We often whisper a quick singular prayer… and quit! - It takes more! #

2. Cry – Do we weep? Are we heartbroken? #

3. Lifted hands – Outstretched hands, to receive... #

C. Condemn me not as a wicked (3-4) #

1. Don’t cast me in with them! (3) #

2. Two faced (3b-4) #

3. “Regard not the works of the LORD” (5) #

II. Statements (6-9) #

A. Praise (6) #

B. Personal Proclamation (7) #

1. MY strength – God strengthens us #

2. MY shield – God protects us #

3. MY heart trusted – He is trustworthy! #

4. “I am helped” – Do you want to be helped? Some people don’t want help! #

5. THEREFORE! → “my heart greatly rejoiceth” #

6. Your Song should be a song praising HIM! #

C. Public Proclamation (8) #

D. Plea in closing (9) #