My Times Are In Your Hands

MY TIMES ARE IN YOUR HANDS

Ps. 31:15

INTRODUCTION

A. HUMOR: YOU KNOW YOU’RE IN TEXAS IN JULY WHEN…

1. The best parking place is determined by shade instead of distance.

2. Hot water now comes out of both taps. You can make sun tea instantly.

3. You learn that a seat belt buckle makes a pretty good branding iron.

4. The temperature drops below 95 and you feel a little chilly.

5. You discover that in July it only takes two fingers to steer your car.

6. You discover that you can get sunburned through your car window.

7. You break into a sweat the instant you step outside at 7:30 AM.

8. You realize that asphalt has a liquid state.

9. The potatoes cook underground. So all you have to do is pull out one and add butter, salt, and pepper.

10. Farmers are feeding their chickens crushed ice to keep them from laying boiled eggs.

B. TEXT Psalm 31:9-15, 21-24 David’s Prayer

9Be merciful to me, O Lord, for I am in distress; my eyes grow weak with sorrow, my soul and my body with grief. 10 My life is consumed by anguish and my years by groaning; my strength fails because of my affliction, and my bones grow weak. 11 Because of all my enemies, I am the utter contempt of my neighbors; I am a dread to my friends—those who see me on the street flee from me. 12 I am forgotten by them as though I were dead; I have become like broken pottery. 13 For I hear the slander of many; there is terror on every side; they conspire against me and plot to take my life. 14 But I trust in you, O Lord; I say, “You are my God.” 15 My times are in your hands; deliver me from my enemies and from those who pursue me. 21Praise be to the Lord, for he showed his wonderful love to me when I was in a besieged city. 22 In my alarm I said, “I am cut off from your sight!” Yet you heard my cry for mercy when I called to you for help. 23 Love the Lord, all his saints! The Lord preserves the faithful, but the proud he pays back in full. 24 Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord.

C. THESIS

1. 2025 has been a rough year. The war in Ukraine has threatened to engulf all of Europe; European countries are gearing up for war.

2. The Palestinian-Israel situation has caused widespread turmoil in many countries and antisemitism is on the rise.

3. Christians in Africa are experiencing persecution and martyrdom in a number of countries. The US watched the shocking on-camera assassination of Charlie Kirk and the political upheaval that followed.

4. If you watch the nonstop news, you might be tempted to despair! But the Psalm 31 has a message of hope for all of us!

5. We’re going to take a look at David’s life when his faith was tested, and see what helped him to win the battle with discouragement.

6. The title of this message is, “My Times Are In Your Hands.”

I. DAVID’S FAITH TESTED

A. DAVID’S METEORIC RISE

1. This Psalm was written at one of the worst times in David's life.

2. David was "the man after God’s own heart," hand-picked by God to be the next King of Israel. The prophet Samuel anointed him as King and the Spirit came on him.

3. Following this, David killed the giant, Goliath, married King Saul's daughter, and became a leader in the military. Everybody sang songs about him!

B. DAVID’S DISAPPOINTMENT

1. Then everything went wrong. King Saul turned against him and pursued him to kill him. David lost all his military status.

2. His wife, the King's daughter, was taken and given as wife to another man. David fled and lived in the deserts, gathering 600 fugitives around him. King Saul brought an Army and almost caught David.

C. THE BETRAYAL OF KEILAH

1. But David suffered an even bigger disappointment. David and his band of 600 men saved the city of Keilah from being crushed and enslaved by the Philistines. David was greatly loved in Keilah. Saul approached the city with an army to capture him.

2. David asked God, “Will the citizens of Keilah surrender me and my men to Saul?” And the Lord said, “They will.” 1 Sam. 23:11-12. No wonder David felt so discouraged; even the people he’d saved would betray him!

3. DISCOURAGEMENT’S A TERRIBLE THING: It...

a. Robs you of faith

b. Beats you down

c. Destroys your effectiveness for God; Makes you give up.

d. Blinds your eyes to the grace of God and perceive only the unfavorable circumstances.