Text: Psalm 27:1-6
Introduction: This morning we are continuing our series on Hope. Specifically we will be continuing our portion of the series entitled “A Magnificent Hope in the Midst of Your Trials.” Last Sunday evening we learned that our confidence in the Lord provides hope for our lives. Specifically we learned that God is our light, our salvation, and our strength. Because God is our light, our salvation, and our strength, we can find hope even in the midst of our trials.
I. Our confidence in the performance of the Lord provides a magnificent hope in the midst of our trials.
A. Psalm 27:2, 3 (NASB) 2When evildoers came upon me to devour my flesh, my adversaries and my enemies, they stumbled and fell. 3Though a host encamps against me, my heart will not fear; though war arise against me, in spite of this I shall be confident.
B. David declares that his present hope in the Lord rests upon that which the Lord has done for him in the past.
1. God did not fail David then, and He will not fail His child today.
2. The same confidence that David had in his times of his trials you and I can have in the midst of our trials.
C. The God that we serve is an unchangeable God.
1. Isaiah 54:10 (NASB) 10"For the mountains may be removed and the hills may shake, but My loving-kindness will not be removed from you, and My covenant of peace will not be shaken," says the LORD who has compassion on you.
2. Malachi 3:6 (NASB) 6"For I, the LORD, do not change; therefore you, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed.
3. This only refers to God’s basic character and to keeping covenant, not to acts of judgment or mercy when needed.
4. God has repented or changed His mind when it became necessary because of free moral agents rebelling to the point of judgment, and this was in keeping with His character.
5. He is absolute in holiness and justice, and is morally and divinely obligated for the good of all to judge the few or all, if need be—or to show mercy to everyone should they meet the conditions of mercy.
6. God does not and cannot change His original and eternal plan and purpose, but He can and does change some ways and means of fulfilling the plan.
7. God is the same God with the same power that He has always been.
8. He has never changed, and He will never change.
9. Because He has been faithful in the past, we can count on His being faithful now and in the future.
10. Think of all the things He has done; the victories He has won; the enemies He has vanquished; the mountains He has moved; the victories He has won.
11. Think on these things and remember that the God who performed countless wonders in the past is still that same God today!
12. That should give His people hope!
II. Our commitment to the Lord provides a magnificent hope in the midst of our trials.
A. Psalm 27:4 (NASB) 4One thing I have asked from the LORD, that I shall seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD and to meditate in His temple.
1. Not only does living with our faith give us hope; but also living faithful to the Lord provides a measure of hope that cannot otherwise exist.
2. David mentions three goals in this verse.
3. These three goals all arise from a single commitment to serve the Lord faithfully from a heart of love.
4. Notice how David’s commitment to the Lord manifests itself.
B. David was committed to lingering near the Lord.
1. David desired to spend his entire life in the house of the Lord.
2. He wanted to be in that place where the Lord dwelt and where the Lord’s presence was real.
3. Psalm 84:1-4 (NASB) 1How lovely are Your dwelling places, O LORD of hosts! 2My soul longed and even yearned for the courts of the LORD; My heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God. 3The bird also has found a house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even Your altars, O LORD of hosts, my King and my God. 4How blessed are those who dwell in Your house! They are ever praising You. Selah.
4. In these verses, David envies the little birds that make their nests around the tabernacle.
5. They can be near the house of God all the time, while David cannot.
6. David had a desire to be where God is; to be in that place where God is worshiped and honored.
7. That was his heartbeat.
8. That ought to be our desire as well.
9. We need that same passion to be where the Lord is honored and where He is worshiped.
10. There should be a desire in our lives to find that place of closeness and intimacy with the Lord.
11. We can have that place where we can linger in His presence all the days of our lives.
12. If there is a genuine desire to be near Him, it will manifest itself in clear action.
13. There will be a commitment to prayer and to the study of the Word of God.
14. There will be a commitment to public and private worship.
15. Those who want to linger near the Lord will find a way.
16. In addition, when we make a move toward Him, He will make a move toward us.
17. James 4:8 (NASB) 8Draw near to God and He will draw near to you, cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
18. As we commit ourselves to lingering near the Lord hope will begin to manifest itself in our lives.
C. David is also committed to loving the Lord
1. David wanted to “behold the beauty of the Lord.”
2. That is, he wanted to “seek His face.”
3. You see, not only is David committed to being where the Lord is; but he is also committed to worshiping the Lord.
4. That is a worthy goal for life!
5. This should be the goal of every believer as well.
6. If we are going to worship the Lord, we are going to have to do it His way.
7. Jesus told us how to worship in John 4:24.
8. John 4:24 (NASB) 24"God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."
9. As we yield to the Spirit of God and worship God for Who He is as He is revealed in the Word of God, we will be engaged in the business of loving Him.
10. How long has it been since you just simply loved the Lord?
11. As we commit ourselves to loving the Lord and Worshipping Him hope will begin to rise in our hearts even in the midst of our trials.
D. David was committed to leaning on the Lord.
1. David also expresses his desire to call upon the Lord; to commune with God; and to make requests of God.
2. This is another image of worship.
3. David here declares his utter dependence upon the Lord for the necessities of life.
4. David looks beyond his own abilities and sees the limitless provisions of the Lord.
5. Therefore, he wants nothing more than to be able to call upon the Lord.
6. What a limitless resource we have been given in prayer!
7. We are invited to pray in many passages in the Word of God.
8. Jeremiah 33:3 (NASB) 3’Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’
9. We are promised that God will hear and answer our prayers.
10. Isaiah 65:24 (NASB) 24"It will also come to pass that before they call, I will answer; and while they are still speaking, I will hear.
11. John 14:13, 14 (NASB) 13"Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14"If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.
12. Let us also learn to lean upon Him!
13. Instead of worry and fear, let us learn to turn to the Lord.
14. He will see that our needs are met.
15. He will never fail us nor will He ever turn us away empty-handed.
16. Our commitment to Him provides hope in the day of our battles.
17. As we Linger near Him; Love Him and Lean on Him, we can have the absolute confidence that He will see to our needs and to the things that would cause us to worry.
18. When that happens hope will continue to rise in our lives.
