How To Do Right When You’ve Been Done Wrong Series

SERMON OUTLINE:

(1). Be open before the Lord (vs 1-2)

(2). Remember God’s Loving Faithfulness (vs 3)

(3). Refuse to Listen to Ungodly Advice (vs 4-5)

(4). Keep Your Hands Clean and Your Heart Thankful (vs 6-7)

(5). Be faithful in Public worship (vs 8)

(6). Patiently stand and wait for relief (vs 9-12)

SERMON BODY:

Ill:

• I like the story of the pastor who received an anonymous letter;

• When he opened it up it just contained a sheet of white paper;

• And written on it in capital letters was the word "FOOL!"

• The next Sunday service when he got to speak the congregation he said,

• "I've gotten many notes without signatures before;

• But this is the first time I got one where someone forgot to write the note;

• And just signed their name!"

• TRANSITION:

• Whether we are in the public arena or simply private individuals;

• None of us like to be criticised;

• None of us like to be wrongly accused;

• None of us like it when we feel we are getting unfair treatment!

This psalm helps us to do right when we feel we’ve been done wrong!

• Now this psalm goes against the normal human response to mistreatment:

• Our natural reaction to unfair treatment is to defend ourselves.

• Other people might give us the advice, “Don’t get mad, get even!”

• Yet this psalm is in contrast to that way of thinking;

• It tells us there is a better way;

• There is a supernatural alternative to our natural reaction.

• If you are here tonight with some deep wounds;

• If you have had to endure mistreatment;

• Let this psalm act as both a warning and a guide;

• A warning because we can easily become bitter, hostile and unpleasant;

• Long term bitterness affects us more than the one we are angry towards:

• Quote: “Bitterness is like drinking poison and waiting for the other guy to die.”

• Let this psalm act as both a warning and a guide;

• May it keep us from becoming bitter, hurtful and unpleasant;

• And may it guide us, direct us and shape us as we seek to follow its advice.

Note:

• The theme of this psalm (verse 1):

• David begins with a strong emotional plea,

• N.I.V.:

• “Vindicate me, LORD, for I have led a blameless life;

I have trusted in the LORD and have not faltered. “

• G.N.B.:

• “Declare me innocent, O Lord, because I do what is right and trust you completely”.

• David was a godly man, while his enemies were godless;

• They are described in this psalm as deceitful, hypocritical and wicked evildoers,

• These malicious men were publicly slandering David;

• Some commentators suggest this psalm occurred;

• When Absalom was trying to seize the throne by spreading lies about his father.

• (2 Samuel chapter 14-15)

So David starts off this psalm with a strong emotional plea:

• He asks God to ‘vindicate’ him;

• He asks God to give him justice and defend his reputation.

• And despite the daily grind of mistreatment he was experiencing;

• David was determined to keep on trusting his Lord;

• And he would not let others trip him up by their false accusations.

• The word translated in verse 1 as “falter” means; “to slip or slide or totter”.

Ill:

• When someone hurts you, you've been robbed.

• Because that's what the enemy does (John chapter 10 verse 10),

• And that person is acting as an agent of the enemy.

• But if you don't forgive, you will continue to be robbed.

• Picture this: Someone comes and knocks on your door in the middle of the night.

• You're sound asleep so you don't hear it.

• But you have a guest,

• And the guest hears it and comes down the stairs and answer the door.

• The visitor says: "I want to rob your house."

• And your house guest says; "Sure come on in."

• And then the house guest goes back to bed, leaving the thief to help himself!

• In the morning, you wake up & find out that the thief has taken all your electrical goods.

• And worse, you find out that your guest is responsible.

• You would of course be angry!

• You night even kick your guest out and end the friendship.

• Now suppose the next night, you're still so angry that you can't sleep.

• And there is another knock at the door.

• This time you go down stairs and you answer the door.

• It is the same thief who says, "I want to rob your house."