DAVID’S SONG OF DELIVERANCE
Ps. 18:1-46
INTRODUCTION
A. HUMOR
1. A Sam Houston graduate was in College Station and went into a Starbucks. He struck up a conversation with the big cashier, “Hey, have you heard the newest Aggie joke?”
2. The cashier pointed to a big guy at the first table and said, "Do you see that guy, he’s in the Aggie Core.” Then the cashier pointed to a burly policeman near the door and repeated, "He's a real Aggie too!"
3. The cashier finished, "Now think about whether you want to tell that joke, because I'm an Aggie, too."
4. The Bearkat replied, "I guess I won't tell that joke after all. I'd have to explain it three times."
B. TEXT
I love you, Lord, my strength. 2 The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. 3 I called to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, & I have been saved from my enemies. 4 The cords of death entangled me; the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me. 5 The cords of the grave coiled around me; the snares of death confronted me. 6 In my distress I called to the Lord; I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears. 7 The earth trembled and quaked, and the foundations of the mountains shook; they trembled because he was angry. 8 Smoke rose from his nostrils; consuming fire came from his mouth, burning coals blazed out of it. 9 He parted the heavens and came down… 16He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters. 17 He rescued me from my powerful enemy…25 To the faithful you show yourself faithful…31 For who is God besides the Lord? And who is the Rock except our God?...32 It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure. 34 He trains my hands
for battle…40 You made my enemies turn their backs in flight and I destroyed my foes. 46 The Lord lives! Praise be to my Rock! Exalted be God my Savior! Ps. 18:1-46, abbreviated.
C. THESIS
1. This Psalm is the summary of David’s life and experience with God. “David sang to the Lord the words of this song when the Lord delivered him from the hand of ALL his enemies and from the hand of Saul” (2 Sam. 22:1).
2. David was a man after God’s own heart, that God esteemed above all others except His Son. So we can learn much from this song: David’s relationship with God; his faith; God’s faithfulness and how God delivers.
3. The title of this message is “David’s Song of Deliverance.”
I. DAVID EXPERIENCED DARK DAYS
A. RAIN FALLS ON THE JUST & UNJUST
1. Psalm 18 describes with dark colors the dangers and disasters that David faced. This reminds us that even the most favored of God experience difficulties. Yet God heard and helped him.
2. We’re all going to experience difficulties. We need to be the kind of people who help others in need, don’t judge them, and who honor God with our behavior.
3. HUMOR
a. A young woman, Vicky, was out driving in her native Brooklyn when her car died at a red light. Try as she might, she was unable to restart the engine. Soon a long line began to form behind her.
b. A male driver immediately behind her was particularly impatient, honking his horn continuously.
c. Finally Vicky got out, went to the driver behind and said:
d. "I can't seem to get my car started. Would you see if you can get it started for me? Don't worry – I'll stay here and honk the horn for you!"
B. UNRELENTING TROUBLES OF DAVID’S LIFE
1. God anointed David when he was young to be king. He was always fearless. He defeated Goliath. The nation began to sing songs about him.
2. King Saul became jealous and several times tried to kill David with a spear. David fled. Saul pursued David with armies.
3. For many years David was a fugitive, an outcast. Many times David and his men were fleeing around one side of a mountain when Saul & his men were coming around the other side.
4. Several times David almost despaired; but somehow God pulled him through.
5. After becoming king, David fought many battles against the Philistines, being outnumbered and having inferior weapons. Over and over, God saved him.
6. David was betrayed by his son Absalom who attempted to kill him and take the kingdom, but Absalom failed.
7. Then David moved up to great regional battles, fighting massive armies from the Euphrates River (2 Sam. 8-10) and Damascus.
8. Even past his prime David was still fighting and was nearly killed by a Philistine giant named Ishbi-Benob, but was saved by one of his great warriors (2 Samuel 21:15-17).
II. DAVID’S REVELATION OF GOD
In verses 2-3 David used 7 adjectives or descriptive phrases to express qualities about God.
1. The Lord is my “Rock,” my “Cliff” – my Sela – an expression used commonly of Petra, the ancient city carved into cliffs.
2. My “Fortress.” Not only a natural stronghold but one made stronger by additional engineering.
3. And my “Deliverer.” This refers to a Living Protector, not a mere inanimate defense.
4. My God is my…“Refuge.” The word refuge means “safe or sheltered from pursuit, danger, or trouble. Something/one providing shelter.” If anyone could be a refuge, certainly God is.
5. My “Shield.” This is the same word as Gen. 15:1 where God spoke to Abraham and told him that He would be his shield, probably from revenge of the people of the 4 kings (Chap. 14).
6. The Horn of my salvation. The horns are the part that give a defenseless deer the strength & weapons to fight mountain lions.
7. My Stronghold (KJV – “High Tower”). A tower within a stronghold was usually the strongest place and could not be taken (see Judges 9:45-50). God is our high tower!
III. 4 THINGS DAVID DID IN HIS TRIALS
A. DAVID REMEMBERED HIS GOD
1. David begins his prayer, “I love you, Lord, my strength.”(1). Only place this verb is used by human to God.
2. It seems elementary that David should turn to God, but the truth is that many people experiencing trials feel disappointed in God and TURN AWAY from Him. The real answer is to turn TO Him.
3. Not everything that happened (to David or us) is God’s will. “The thief [devil] has come but for to kill, steal and to destroy.” Jesus added, “But I have come that you might have life and life abundantly” John 10:10.
4. David said in Ps. 121:1-2; “I lift up my eyes to the hills— where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.”
5. One time David fled into a physical cave when he was in danger, but he also fled into His God for comfort, for
encouragement, and to bolster faith. We should also automatically turn to God in times of trouble!
B. DAVID REMEMBERED HIS PLACE
1. Vs 2 “My God is my…refuge.”
2. Too many Christians accept negative karma. They get pessimistic. Their sense of expectation is clouded by doubt and despair. Their hope is blinded. Troubles come...We end up living there, Staying there, not growing, not learning... so some even QUIT!
3. THE TRIAL IS NOT YOUR DESTINY... IT’S YOUR UNIVERSITY.
a. It’s where we take Shelter in God.
b. It’s where we learn reliance on God.
c. It’s where the attacks of Satan are stopped and we can experience a time of regrouping.
d. It’s like a spiritual oasis.
4. We can be IN THE TRIAL, BUT BE IN GOD’S WILL! It’s better to be in a trial in the will of God than to be in a palace out of the will of God!
C. DAVID REMEMBERED HIS WEAKNESS
1. DAVID HAD A WEAKNESS FOR THE OPPOSITE SEX. We need to be careful about that.
a. Cajun women are known to be hot-headed. Boudreau was called to his bank to discuss his accounts. "Your finances are in terrible shape," the banker stated. "Your checking account is way overdrawn, your checks are bouncing and your loan's overdue."
b. "Yeh, I know." said Boudreau. "It's my wife, Marie. She's out of control." The banker said, "Well Boudreau, if you’d speak to your wife you wouldn’t have to be down here talking to me!"
c. "Well, to tell de truth, Mr. Banker," replied Boudreau with a deep sigh, "I'd rather argue wid you than wid her!" [Beware lest your weakness be your undoing!]
2. DAVID WAS NO MATCH FOR HIS ENEMIES
a. “Torrents of destruction overwhelmed me. The cords of the grave coiled around me; the snares of death confronted me.”(4-5)
3. BUT DAVID’S ENEMIES WERE NO MATCH FOR HIS GOD!
a. Who do they think they are messing with?
b. 39 You armed me with strength for battle; you humbled my adversaries before me. 40 You made my
enemies turn their backs in flight, 44 foreigners cower before me; as soon as they hear of me, they obey me. 45 They all lose heart; they come trembling from their strongholds.”
4. There’s no contest. Our Enemies will be destroyed in their own treachery! God is strong in our weakness. NO BODY CAN MESS WITH GOD: WHO DARES TO CHALLENGE HIM?
5. “To whom will you compare Me? Or who is My equal?” says the Holy One. Isa. 40:25.
D. DAVID REMEMBERED HIS PRIORITIES
1. “46 The Lord lives! Praise be to my Rock! Exalted be God my Savior!”
2. Praise is vital to EXPERIENCES OF VICTORY. It’s like God told Jehoshaphat, 15B, "The Battle is not yours, but God's….You will not have to fight this battle; Stand firm & see the deliverance the Lord will give you." 2 Chr. 20:15,17.
CONCLUSION
A. ILLUSTRATION: “Praise Him in the Storm”
1. David’s experience of deliverance reminds me of the true experience of the Mummert family, printed in the Dallas Morning News.
2. Funnel clouds had been sited. Suddenly, everything grew strangely calm. Then the wind started to blow fiercely. Trees were bent over and the very walls of the house began to flutter. Windows rattled and hail beat on the car port.
3. "Gene and Gail Mummert got into the hallway, linked arms with their 2 grandchildren, and covered themselves with blankets and pillows. "Nana, I'm scared," cried their five-year-old grandson, William. "Jesus will take care of us. Don't be afraid," Gail told him. Suddenly sirens began to go off all over town.
4. A mighty rushing wind was all around us and sucked us together into a ball. "Pray! Keep praying," Gene said. "God Almighty, help us!" we screamed. Explosion!
5. Windows shattered, glass flew everywhere. Another explosion. The walls caved in. Debris shot everywhere like arrows.
6. "Jesus, help us! You are our Savior! You are our King!" Gail cried. I looked up-the roof was falling on us. A ladder
crashed down on my husband's back."Now start praising Him," Gene shouted through the wind.
7. The next blast was the worst. There was nothing we could do. Only God could save us. Everything was out of control, but we knew the sovereignty of God. We knew we were at the point of death but we shouted, "Thank you, Jesus! Thank you, Lord!"
8. “Suddenly,” Gail said, “peace filled me. A sweet voice filled my heart, ‘I've heard your cry for help. I've bent the heavens for you. No matter what happens around you, I'm here protecting you.’ Tears flooded my face and I knew Jesus was protecting us. It seemed His arms had surrounded us. I knew we would be safe.
9. The tornado was over. The rain beat down on us. "Nana, I see the sky," little William said. "That's because the roof is gone.” No walls either. Jesus had protected them! They were buried under tons of debris but had only
a few minor injuries.
10. The Lord protected the Mummert family. The Dallas Morning News printed Gail’s testimony about how God protected them. [Intercessory Prayer by Dutch Sheets, p.84-86.]
B. THE CALL
1. How many of you feel overwhelmed by your circumstances? How many feel like there’s no way to solve your problems?
2. Then you stand in the same place as David and can see how – as David did – God will work miracles to deliver you.
3. Prayer for impossible needs.
4. How many want to start a new relationship with God in 2016? Prayer.
