BIG IDEA:
SECURITY MUST BE FOUND IN GOD ALONE
INTRODUCTION:
Where do people look for security?
I. THESIS STATEMENT / REFRAIN -- TESTIMONY OF A MAN OF FAITH
SECURITY MUST BE FOUND IN GOD ALONE (:1-2)
Heb. word "alone" occurs 6 times at the beginning of verses 1,2,4,5,6,9
A. Single Focus of Security -- Sourced in God Alone
B. 3 Images of Security -- Picturing Rest and Salvation
1 Rock -- Security of Steadfastness, Stability
2 Salvation -- Security of Deliverance
3 Fortress -- Security of Protection
C. Confident Boast of God-sourced Security -- "I will never be shaken"
II. SECURITY TESTED BY UNFAIR, JEALOUS, AND DECEITFUL ATTACKS (:3-4)
A. Unfair Attacks
1 Unfair in terms of excessive length of time -- "How long"
2 Unfair in terms of excessive unbalance in the number and strength of the attacking forces (i.e. unfair sides)
attacking one man who is very vulnerable
B. Jealous Attacks -- confident boast of these envious attackers
"they fully intend to topple him from his lofty place" (NIV)
C. Deceitful Attacks
III. THESIS RESTATEMENT / REFRAIN -- AMPLIFIED AND APPLIED
EXHORTATION TO CONTINUE IN SUCH STRONG FAITH --
SECURITY MUST BE FOUND IN GOD ALONE (:5-8)
A. Restatement / Refrain
emphasis switches from God as security for salvation to God as security for future hope
B. Amplified (:7)
C. Applied to Others (:8)
1. Trust in Him
2. Pour out your heart to Him
IV. SECURITY CANNOT BE FOUND ANYWHERE ELSE (:9-10)
A. Not from Men (or relationships)
1 Lowborn -- men of low degree
2 Highborn -- men of rank.Key: don’t look to others to provide what you should be looking to God for Him to provide
B. Not from Possessions
1 Ill-gotten
extortion
stolen goods
2 Legitimately earned
Key: don’t set your heart on your possessions; don’t look to wealth for security
V. SECURITY CAN ONLY BE FOUND IN GOD BECAUSE OF HIS UNIQUE CHARACTER (:11-12)
there is none other like God
A. We have God’s Own Testimony Confirmed Twice Over By Our Experience
1 His Power -- He alone is able to provide security
2 His Love / His Goodness -- He alone cares about us and wants to provide us with that security
B. We can count on God’s Justice
* * * * * * * * * *
DEVOTIONAL QUESTIONS:
1) Explain different ways that people try to add other forms of security into the picture rather than relying on Christ alone. How are we tempted to rely on wealth rather than on the Lord?
2) What are some of the images of security found in this psalm? Does my attitude throughout the day reflect the security of trusting in God alone as my stronghold or the instability of “a leaning wall” or “a tottering fence”? (vv.2-3)
3) “Why then should I be tense with fear when troubles come?” (LB) What is the most difficult part for me of “waiting in silence for God only”:
- the “waiting” element
- the “in silence” element
- the “for God only” element?
4) What privilege does wealth or power or position gain in the sight of God? How do both men of “low degree” and “men of rank” (vs 9) raise false expectations on the part of the godly?
Download the entire Psalms commentary in pdf format
(including notes on each psalm from other commentators)
from:
http://www.bibleoutlines.com
