Last week it was Joshua learning to trust
- The Hymn "Tis So Sweet To Trust In Jesus"
• By Louisa M. R. Stead.
Learn To Trust
1. Believe
2. Decide
3. Rejoice
4. Depend
- Now you are put to the test
Hymn "God Will Take Care Of You"
- Civilla Martin (1869-1948) wrote this hymn when she herself needed to learn the lesson of resting in God’s care.
- Her husband, Stillman Martin, was a well-known Baptist evangelist.
- One Sunday in 1904, Civilla became ill suddenly and was unable to accompany her husband to his preaching assignment some distance away.
- Pastor considered canceling his trip
- Their young son spoke these profound words
“Daddy, don’t you think that if God wants you to preach today, He will take care of Mommy while you’re away?”
- Returning that evening after seeing several people were saved
- Mr. Martin found his wife greatly improved
- And she was busily writing this these words, "God Will Take Care Of You"
- From the thinking of her son
- That same evening, Stillman Martin composed the music, to this song
Title of These Three Psalms
- Altaschith (al tash•kayth)
- They Introduce Ps 57-59, 75
- "Destroy Not"
- Or Let there be no slaughter
Michtam (Mĭkʹ tăm)
- Introducing Ps 56-60 , 16
- Signifies Most fine gold or a golden ornament
- Using these titles we could say that this title could be "The Most Precious Secret"
David's Dilemma
a) Darkness
- This is not the first time David had to hid
- 1 Sa. 22:1 Cave of Adullam
- 1 Sa 24:1-3 Saul had 3,000 chosen men in the wilderness of Engedi
- David needed a cave to crawl into and hide from this storm of terror
- Feeling depressed & abandon
- The King is after him
b) Distress
- Note how the verses of Ps 57- 59 start
- Stressed Out – 57:1-4, 6; 58:2-4 etc.; 59:1-4 etc.
- David might have felt that God has left him
- Why is this happening
- Remember God has promised David a kingdom
c) Desire
- He cries out to the Lord
- These three Psalms have the Altashheth (Ăl•tăshʹ hĕth) "Destroy Not"
- Michtam (Mĭkʹ tăm) most fine gold or a golden ornament
- They are the beginning title
- These opening verses are not anything of "The Most Precious Secret"
- There is fear & crying out for help
- Anxiety is useless in matters under our own management.
- Anxiety will not furnish the opportunity of earning bread, or arm us with power — but the reverse.
d) Delight
- Each of these Psalms end with a focus & trust
- There is Praise
- Ps 57:7-11, 58:11, 59:16-17
Has A Good Work Begun In Me?
- Philippians 1:6 (AV) — 6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
- What is the evidence that Christ has begun a good work in you?
- What is the evidence that I am in love
Easy:
- I think of that person all the time
- I want to be with that person
- I plan with that person
- I talk about & am with that person
Be Not Dismayed Whate'er Betide God Will Take Care Of You
- It shows how I trust Christ
- Evidence in my obedience to Christ
- It is demonstrated how I act toward others
- Am I vindictive, critical, making excuses, defensive, accusative?
- Am I frustrated with my lot?
- Romans 8:31–32 (AV)
— 31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
- Romans 8:38–39 (AV)
— 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
My Focus
- In times of stress God's glory should be my focus
- Just look around & see his provision & blessing
- Mt. 6:25-33
- What we go through may not seem to make sense
- Even be uncomfortable
- Focus on his word & the promise of his care
Sheep Dipping
Elizabeth Elliot (Gateway to Joy) in an address to the Urbana Missions Conference (December, 1976) she told of being in Wales and watching a shepherd and his dog. The dog would herd the sheep up a ramp and into a tank of antiseptic in which they had to be bathed to protect them from parasites. As soon as they would come up out of the tank, the shepherd would grab the rams by the horns and fling them back into the tank and hold them under the antiseptic for a few more seconds. Mrs. Elliot asked the shepherd’s wife if the sheep understood what was happening. “They haven’t got a clue,” she said.
Mrs. Elliot said, “I’ve had some experiences in my life that have made me feel very sympathetic to those poor rams‑‑I couldn’t figure out any reason for the treatment I was getting from the Shepherd I trusted. And He didn’t give a hint of explanation.”
