If God Is For Us, It Does Not Matter Who Is Against Us Series

IF GOD IS FOR US, IT DOES NOT MATTER WHO IS AGAINST US

PSALM 119:49-56

INTRODUCTION

A. Was David afraid that God had forgotten his word, destroying any hope that David had? In one sense, God does forget some things in that he does not hold them against

us. However, that does not make him a forgetful God but a forgiving God.

B. Paul said, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.” Isolating this passage from the rest of the Scriptures, many conscientious Christians see salvation like a baseball game: Three strikes and you’re out. They worry that when they stand before God on the last day, he will remind them of how many strikeouts they had in the game of life.

C. David’s name is mentioned fifty-four times in the New Testament. Not a single word is said about any sin David committed. David wrote, “Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit” (Psa 32:1-2). Paul quoted the passage in Romans 4:7-8, assuring us that what God did for David, he will do for us—choose to forget our sins.

D. God will forget our sins, but never his promises. David was not expressing doubt but faith when he said, “Remember your word to your servant.”

I. WHEN GOD REMEMBERS, HE ACTS

A. When God remembers, he doesn’t recall something he had forgotten, but he acts upon his word

(Gen 8:1; Ex 2:24; Gen 15:13-14).

B. In a world that seems to have gone mad, some ask, “Where is God?”

1. God has taken notice, and He will act (Rev 18:3-5).

2. We must remember Peter’s reminder (2 Pet 3:7-9).

II. GOD WILL KEEP HIS WORD, AND HIS WORD WILL KEEP US

A. David gives us a four-point outline of the blessings that embracing God’s word offers believers, affirming that if God is for us, it does not matter who is against us.

1. Embracing God’s Word Gives Us Hope (v.49).

a. The believer’s hope is not a hope-so, pie-in-the-sky pipe dream. I sometimes ask Bible classes, “Are you going to heaven?” Often the response is, “I hope so, but I’m not sure I’ve been good enough.”

b. Paul builds the doctrine of justification by faith on the justification of Abraham and the words of David (Rom 4:1-8, Psa 32:1-2).

2. Embracing God’s Word Gives Us Comfort (v.50, 52).

a. The story of the rich man and Lazarus teaches us that we can mourn sin in this life and be comforted in the next, or we can frolic in sin in this life and mourn in the next.

b. We do not have to wait until we get to heaven to enjoy the comfort of God (2 Cor 1:3; 2 Thess 5:16-17).

3. Embracing God’s Word Gives Us Life: “This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life” (v. 50, ESV).

a. David knew that there is a difference between existence and life.

b. Jesus promised an abundant life (John 10:10)

4. Embracing God’s Word Will Not Make the World Love Us (vv. 51-53; Matt 5:11-12; John 3:19-20; John 15:17-19).

III. GOD’S WORD IS THE STORM SHELTER OF LIFE

A. David, like Paul, had fightings without and fears within (2 Cor 7:6)

B. Unlike Paul, David doesn’t seem to have any companions to comfort and lift him up. We can glean three ways to stormproof our lives:

1. Acknowledge that God is our refuge (Psa 142:5-7).

2. When the storm clouds roll, meditate (v. 55).

3. When the storm clouds roll, count our blessings (v.56, ESV)

CONCLUSION

A. Can we say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?” (Heb 13:6).

B. If not, could it be because the word is not written on our hearts? (Heb 8:10)