Purpose: To extol God as our Rock.
Aim: I want the listener to admire God's power and stability.
INTRODUCTION: Water is a common substance that we give very little though to. Our homes are connected to the city's water supply so any time we need water to drink, or water to wash something, or water for our pets or plants all we have to do is turn a knob and we have all the water we need.
Water becomes much more important, though, when it is hard to get. Without water things get dirty, we get very uncomfortable, and we could even die. In today's text Moses is giving his final instructions to the Jewish nation. He is 120 years old and is about to die. For the last 40 years the Jewish nation has lived in a desert area. Water was always precious. It has always been very important to them.
So, Moses uses the importance of fresh water in a dry land to illustrate the refreshment that he wanted his words to be to the people of Israel.
Every time I prepare a sermon I am hoping that the words that I speak will bring refreshment to those who hear me. I know that this world has nothing that will satisfy the dryness that we feel deep down inside.
Just as we need a constant supply of water to keep us healthy, we also need a constant supply of God's Word to keep us satisfied. I want to bring some satisfying refreshment to our dry and parched souls today, but we all need to learn how we can bring that refreshment to each other. Romans 15:31--32 ...that my service for Jerusalem may prove acceptable to the saints; so that I may come to you in joy by the will of God and find refreshing rest in your company. (NAU)
►Vs.1-2 I. How Can We Be Used to Refresh Others?
Vs.1a A. Ask for God's help "let me speak"
I believe that Moses is asking God, who lives in the heavens, for His help. Psalm 51:15 O Lord, open my lips, That my mouth may declare Your praise. (NAU)
In order to be a blessing to others we need God's help.
► Vs.1b-2 B. Ask God to open hearts "let the earth hear"
When Paul began sharing the Gospel in Ephesus two things needed to happen. Paul needed to share God's Word and God needed to open someone's heart. Acts 16:14 A woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple fabrics, a worshiper of God, was listening; and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul. (NAU)
Lamentations 3:37 Who is there who speaks and it comes to pass, Unless the Lord has commanded it? (NAU)
►Vs.3-4 II. What Brings Refreshment to Others?
► Vs.3 A. Talking about the greatness of God "I proclaim the name of the LORD"
Moses makes it clear that he is proclaiming God's name, in other words, he is teaching them what God is like. Then he instructs us to "ascribe greatness to our God" or to talk about how great God is.
Psalm 22:22 I will tell of Your name to my brethren; In the midst of the assembly I will praise You. (NAU)
Isaiah 12:4 And in that day you will say, "Give thanks to the Lord, call on His name. Make known His deeds among the peoples; Make them remember that His name is exalted." (NAU)
We must resist the temptation to think of God in human terms. God is much greater than us. Psalm 61:1--4 Hear my cry, O God; Give heed to my prayer. From the end of the earth I call to You when my heart is faint; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For You have been a refuge for me, A tower of strength against the enemy. Let me dwell in Your tent forever; Let me take refuge in the shelter of Your wings. Selah. (NAU)
God is not only much greater than we are, He cannot even be compared to us. 1 Samuel 2:2 "There is no one holy like the LORD, Indeed, there is no one besides You, Nor is there any rock like our God. (NAU)
Later in this chapter Moses explains that only THE Rock can consistently do the impossible. Deuteronomy 32:30--31 "How could one chase a thousand, And two put ten thousand to flight, Unless their Rock had sold them, And the LORD had given them up? "Indeed their rock is not like our Rock, Even our enemies themselves judge this. (NAU)
► Vs.4 B. Knowing that God is The Rock "The Rock"
All you have to do is mention the name Prudential and a picture of the rock of Gibraltar comes to mind. Their advertising goal is to get us to believe that their company is as solid, stable and unchangeable as the rock of Gibraltar. Actually that rock accurately illustrates what the Bible word for rock means.
"ROCK tsur ^6697^, 'rock; rocky wall; cliff; rocky hill; mountain; rocky surface; boulder.' Cognates of this word appear in Amorite, Phoenician, Ugaritic, and Aramaic. Other than in names of places and persons, the word appears 70 times in biblical Hebrew and in all periods." [1]
Charles Spurgeon: "'When my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the Rock that is higher than I' Psalm 61:2 A Rock He is since He changes not, and a high Rock, because the tempests which overwhelm us roll far beneath at His feet; He is not disturbed by them, but rules them at His will. If we get under the shelter of this lofty Rock we may defy the hurricane; all is calm under the lee of that towering cliff." [2]
► 1. The Rock makes no mistakes "His work is perfect"
When life makes no sense it's because we are weak and frail, not because God has made a mistake. 2 Samuel 22:30--32,47 "... As for God, His way is blameless; The word of the LORD is tested; He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him. For who is God, besides the LORD? And who is a rock, besides our God? 47 The LORD lives, and blessed be my rock; And exalted be God, the rock of my salvation, (NAU)
God's will is always perfect. Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. (NAU)
►One of our greatest challenges is to trust that God's will is better than our will.
► 2. The Rock is always fair "all His ways are just"
What do we deserve? Sin is our fault, not God's. The question is not, Is it fair that some go to heaven and some go to hell. The real question is, How is it possible that any sinner could ever live with a holy God?
Listen to what God says in Ezekiel 18:25 "Yet you say, 'The way of the Lord is not right.' Hear now, O house of Israel! Is My way not right? Is it not your ways that are not right? (NAU)
Paul explained that God's justice will never be found to be wrong. Romans 3:3--4 What then? If some did not believe, their unbelief will not nullify the faithfulness of God, will it? May it never be! Rather, let God be found true, though every man be found a liar, as it is written, "THAT YOU MAY BE JUSTIFIED IN YOUR WORDS, AND PREVAIL WHEN YOU ARE JUDGED." (NAU)
► 3. The Rock is always reliable "A God of faithfulness"
God always keeps His promises. Even though the Jews often failed to honor God, God still fulfilled His promise to deliver them from slavery: Deuteronomy 7:8--9 but because the LORD loved you and kept the oath which He swore to your forefathers, the LORD brought you out by a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. Know therefore that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful God, who keeps His covenant and His lovingkindness to a thousandth generation with those who love Him and keep His commandments; (NAU)
God is always faithful to protect us. Psalm 62:1--2 My soul waits in silence for God only; From Him is my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation, My stronghold; I shall not be greatly shaken. (NAU)
Psalm 62:8 Trust in Him at all times, O people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Selah. (NAU)
► 4. The Rock is always pure "Righteous and upright"
RIGHTEOUS means that God is innocent, or pure and UPRIGHT carries the idea of being straight, level, or smooth. So God is completely or consistently pure. Habakkuk 1:13 Your eyes are too pure to approve evil, And You can not look on wickedness with favor. ...(NAU)
Psalm 92:15 To declare that the LORD is upright; He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him. (NAU)
► Vs.31 C. Knowing that God is Our Rock "not like our rock"
It is a wonderful thing to know that God is The Rock--it is even greater to know that God is YOUR Rock.
David knew God this way: Psalm 18:2 The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. (NAU)
► Ps 18:46-49 1. Our Rock is greater than our enemies
Psalm 18:46--49 The LORD lives, and blessed be my rock; And exalted be the God of my salvation, The God who executes vengeance for me, And subdues peoples under me. He delivers me from my enemies; Surely You lift me above those who rise up against me; You rescue me from the violent man. Therefore I will give thanks to You among the nations, O LORD, And I will sing praises to Your name. (NAU)
A lot of people ask us who live in the city, "Is it safe where you live?" The answer all depends on how big your God is!
► Ps 40:1-4 2. Our Rock delivers from sin
Psalm 40:1--4 I waited patiently for the LORD; And He inclined to me and heard my cry. [Here we see God's work of salvation] He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay, And He set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God; Many will see and fear And will trust in the LORD. [Here we see our need to put our faith in God] How blessed is the man who has made the LORD his trust, And has not turned to the proud, nor to those who lapse into falsehood. (NAU)
► 1 Cor 10:3-4 3. Our Rock is Jesus
1 Corinthians 10:3--4 and all ate the same spiritual food; and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was Christ. (NAU) The glory of God that led the Jews in the wilderness was none other than Jesus Christ.
Jesus claimed to be THE ROCK in Matthew 16:13--18 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He was asking His disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" And they said, "Some say John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; but still others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets." He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." And Jesus said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. I also say to you that you are Peter [a pebble], and upon this rock [a bolder] I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. (NAU)
Jesus is The Rock. At the end of His Sermon on the Mount Jesus gave us this challenge: Matthew 7:24--27 "Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. "And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. "Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.[little tiny rocks] "The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell--and great was its fall." (NAU)
CONCLUSION: Have you come to Christ as your Rock? 1 Peter 2:3--4 if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord. And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God, (NAU)
Moses prayed that his words would bring refreshment. If you have surrendered your life to Christ then God's Word has brought refreshment to you this morning. Psalm 19:9--11 ... The judgments of the LORD are true; they are righteous altogether. They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them Your servant is warned; In keeping them there is great reward. (NAU)
►If God's Word has brought little or no refreshing to your heart today then maybe there is no spiritual life in you.
Pouring pure water on dirt only makes mud. Pouring pure water, on the other hand, over thirsty plants will bring health and growth.
[1]From Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words)(Copyright (C) 1985, Thomas Nelson Publishers
[2]Charles Spurgeon “Morning and Evening”
