Hanging On Series

BIG IDEA:

CLINGING TO HOPE IN PROLONGED TIMES OF TROUBLE

Context: Trouble in the form of unwarranted persecution

7 STEPS:

I. (:1-3) TAKE REFUGE IN THE LORD

“In Thee, O Lord, I have taken refuge”

Goal: "Let me never be ashamed"

(chiastic structure)

A. 2 Reasons for Hope

1. The righteousness of God -- deliverance and no shame

“In Thy righteousness deliver me”

2. The name of God -- He will lead and guide

“For Thy name’s sake Thou wilt lead me and guide me”

B. 2 Resources for Hope -- physical images of strength and security

1. “A rock of strength” -- my rock

2. “A stronghold to save me” -- my fortress

Summary: “For Thou art my rock and my fortress”

II. (:4-5) HANG ON TO THE ONE WHO WILL RESCUE YOU

Goal: "pull me out of the net"

(chiastic structure)

A. 2 Expectations of Rescue

1. "thou wilt pull me out of the net" -- set by devious schemers (vs. 4)

2. "thou hast ransomed me" -- saved by the God of truth (vs. 5)

B. 2 Expressions of Security

1. "Thou art my strength" (vs. 4)

2. "Into Thy hand I commit my spirit " (vs. 5)

Messianic quote by Christ on the cross

III. (:6-8) STAND TALL IN THE SPACE GOD HAS CARVED OUT FOR YOU

Goal: "Thou hast set my feet in a large place"

A. Stand Tall by Fixing Your Faith in the Lord

rejecting "vain idols"

B. Stand Tall by Rejoicing in the Lord’s Lovingkindness and Compassion

1. He knows my pain

"my affliction"."the troubles of my soul"

2. He keeps me safe -- He has not "given me over into the hand of the enemy"

IV. (:9-13) DON’T DESPAIR

Goal: "Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am in distress"

Deep Distress -- Yes; Despair -- Never!

A. Emotional Sorrow and Sighing

“My eye is wasted away from grief”

B. Physical Suffering

“My soul and my body also.

For my life is spent with sorrow,

And my years with sighing;

My strength has failed because of my iniquity,

And my body has wasted away.”

C. Relational Reproach and Rejection (vs.11)

“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.”

D. Root Problem: Insignificance (vs.12)

a dead man – “I am forgotten as a dead man, out of mind”

a broken vessel – “I am like a broken vessel”

E. Vicious Attacks (vs. 13)

“For I have heard the slander of many,

Terror is on every side;

While they took counsel together against me,

They schemed to take away my life.”

V. (:14-18) EXPECT DELIVERANCE

Goal: "Thou art my God"

A. Antidote to Despair = Faith

Faith = the Victory that overcomes the world 1 John 5:4

B. God is On My Side and In Control

1. God is on my side -- "Thou art my God"

2. God is in control -- "My times are in Thy hand"

If my time isn’t up then my enemies can’t kill me

C. Prayer for Deliverance and for God’s Favor (vs. 15b-16)

1. For Deliverance (vs. 15b)

my enemies = those who persecute me

2. For God’s Favor (vs. 16).shown to God’s servant

out of God’s lovingkindness

D. Bring Shame Upon the Wicked but Deliver Me (vs. 17-18)

1. The wicked don’t call on the Lord for help

2. The wicked speak with lying lips (Remember: God is a God of truth)

3. The wicked speak arrogantly against the righteous

4. The wicked speak with pride and contempt

(Remember: God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble)

VI. (:19-22) PRAISE GOD

Goal: "Blessed be the Lord"

A. Praise for God’s Goodness – “How great is Thy goodness”

1. For those who fear God – “Which Thou hast stored up

for those who fear Thee”

2. For those who take refuge in God – “Which Thou hast wrought for those who take refuge in Thee”

B. Praise for God’s Protection

1. “In the secret place of God’s Presence

from the conspiracies of men”

2. “In a shelter

from the strife of tongues”

C. Praise for God’s Lovingkindness in a besieged city

“Blessed be the Lord, For He has made marvelous His lovingkindness to me in a besieged city.”

D. Praise for God’s Listening Ear

easy to imagine that we have somehow been separated from the love of God

Remember Rom. 8 -- nothing can separate us from the love of God

no reason to get alarmed and anxious despite our desperate situation

“As for me, I said in my alarm, ‘I am cut off from before Thine eyes’;

Nevertheless Thou didst hear the voice of my supplications When I cried to Thee.”