HOW TO PRAISE ON DIFFICULT DAYS
PSALM 27:1-6
On April 21st of 1764 John Wesley wrote in his journal about a visit that he had made. He said (today) I visited one who was ill in bed; and, after having buried seven of her family in six months, had just heard that the eighth, her beloved husband, was cast away at sea. I asked, “Do not you fret at any of those things?” She said, with a lovely smile upon her pale cheek, “O, no! How can I fret at anything which is the will of God? Let Him take all besides: He has given me Himself. I love, I praise Him every moment.”
Only those who have faith in the Lord are able to face the troubles of life with praise in their heart. Psalm 27 shows us that David was one who had great faith in the Lord.
Many of the Psalms have inscriptions that give us some insight to the circumstances surrounding that specific Psalm. For example:
We are told that Psalm 3 is a "Psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son."
Psalm 34 is "A Psalm of David, when he changed his behavior before Abimelech"
Psalm 51 was penned by David after "Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had sinned with Bathsheba."
Psalms 57 is a Psalm of David "when he fled from Saul in the cave."
David faced many battles in his life: He was pursued by the King of Israel, Saul, he fled from his own son Absalom, he endured many battles against the Philistines, and he suffered greatly as a result of his own sin. Psalm 27 is one of those Psalms that is simply titled "A Psalm of David".
We know who wrote it, we know that he was facing some great difficulties at this point in his life, but we are not told the specific circumstances that prompted this prayer. In this Psalm, David refers to the trouble that he was facing because of his enemies. He speaks of false witnesses and those who were "violent men". There is no doubt that David was in the midst of an intense attack, but even with trouble all around him, David had great confidence in the Lord. Not only did he have confidence in the Lord, he was able to praise the Lord even in the midst of such difficulty.
v6 And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD.
David was filled with praise, thanksgiving and adoration for all God had done in his life. I want to look at how David responded to the troubles in his life and consider "How To Have Praise On Difficult Days".
- There are at least 4 things that David teaches us about how to deal with difficult days. We must:
1. COMPREHEND THE PERSONALITY OF GOD
2. SEEK THE PRESENCE OF GOD
3. REST IN THE PROTECTION OF GOD
- Let us begin by examining the fact that we must:
I. COMPREHEND THE PERSONALITY OF GOD
David was a man who walked with the Lord. He is described as "a man after God's own heart". The longer you know someone and the more time you spend with them, the more you will learn about their personality. (sometimes this is a good thing, sometimes... not so much)
However, the longer you walk with the Lord and the more time you spend with Him, the more you will learn about Him. (and this is ALWAYS a good thing!)
When you begin to recognize and understand the many attributes of God's personality you will become more and more confident in His abilities. When you have confidence in the Lord you will be able to trust Him, even in the tough times of life.
- Listen to what David declares about the personality of God in verses 1-3
v1 The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? 2 When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. 3 Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.
He describes the Lord as: "my light", "my salvation" and "the strength of my life". Though trouble surrounded David, he knew that he was not in darkness because the Lord was his light. Though danger was all around him, David knew that the Lord was his "salvation". He trusted that the Lord would deliver him from his enemies. David's confidence came from the fact that the Lord had delivered him in the past. He was confident that God would deliver him from his current situation, and David could trust that the Lord would deliver him in the future.
As God's children we can (and should) have this same kind of confidence in Him. We can look back on the times He has delivered us in the past, we can trust Him to deliver us from our current circumstances, and we can be sure that He will deliver us in the future. We who are saved have already experienced the greatest deliverance of all. Through Jesus, we have been delivered from our sins. And we can have confidence in Him, (even in the midst of troubles) because He is our Light and our Salvation.
- Listen to what John says in his Gospel account:
John 1:4 In (Jesus) was life; and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shineth in darkness;
John 1:9 (Jesus) is the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
Not only is Jesus our light and our salvation, He is "the strength of our life". Think about this for a moment, David was known as being a great warrior. He not only slew that great giant Goliath, but he had many noted victories against the Philistines. Even with his skill and personal abilities, David looked to the Lord as "the strength of his life".
I believe that this was the secret to David's success in battle. Though he was skilled and strong, he trusted in the Lord to secure victory. Listen to what David said to Goliath just before he slew him:
1 Samuel 17:45 Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. 46 This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. 47 And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD'S, and he will give you into our hands.
David faced what most would call unbeatable odds and he was victorious. He was victorious because he trusted in the Lord to provide the victory. We would do well to look to the Lord to secure the victory in the battles that we face. We are tempted to look everywhere else for strength in the battle. We look to earthly resources, we look to our friends, we look to ourselves, we trust in our own strength rather than trusting in the Lord. This is why we are so often defeated.
David knew that God was far stronger than he was. Furthermore, David knew that God was much stronger than his enemies. And the great blessing was that God was on his side.
We can have this same kind of confidence in the Lord. In Ephesians 6:10 Paul said "my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might."
Notice that in verse 1 David says "of whom shall I be afraid?" There was no reason for David to fear his enemies, there was no reason for him to fear his circumstances, there was no reason for him to fear anything because the Lord was on his side. The Lord was his light, his salvation, his shield and his strength! We can trust in Him for these very same reasons! If we can ever grasp these truths, we can confidently face any storm, any valley or any battle that we face in this life.
- How can you offer praise even on difficult days? Start by comprehending the personality of God. Secondly we will see that we must:
II. SEEK THE PRESENCE OF GOD
v4 One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; 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 enquire in his temple.
David did not just live off of past victories. He didn't just spend his time reflecting on what God had done for him. He continued to seek the Lord. He said "I will seek after (the Lord) that I may dwell in His house all the days of my life".
As a result of past experiences, David knew just how sweet it was to fellowship with the Lord. It is a great thing to know that we can run to the Lord in times of trouble. It is comforting to know that we can trust Him to protect us in the midst of the storm. There is great assurance in knowing that He will walk with us through the valleys of life. It is very encouraging to know that we can trust Him to conquer our enemies and secure victory in the battle.
However, we don't have to wait until our world is falling apart to seek the Lord. In fact, we should have the desire to seek Him and to experience His presence all the days of our lives!
In this passage David indicates that he desired to live in the tabernacle itself, so that he could be surrounded by the presence of God daily. He states that his desire was to "behold the beauty of the LORD".
Understand, he was not referring to the glory of the Temple, for it did not yet exist. At this point in time Israel's Temple was the Tabernacle which was little more than a tent. This proves that it was not an earthly structure, nor its contents that David longed for. It was the beauty of the Lord that he was fascinated with.
He longed for the sweetness of the Lord's presence. He wanted more of God. Even though he had a wonderful relationship with Him, he wanted to know more about Him. That is the way it should be for each and everyone of us who belong to Him. David also states that he wanted to "enquire in his temple". He knew that when he was in the presence of the Lord he could make his requests known unto Him.
- And that is exactly what he does in the latter part of this Psalm. Notice:
v7 Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me. 8 When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek. 9 Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation. 10 When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up. 11 Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies. 12 Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty. 13 I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. 14 Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.
- In order to successfully make your requests known unto the Lord, you must seek His presence. When you comprehend the personality of God and seek the presence of God you will then be able to:
III. REST IN THE PROTECTION OF GOD
v5 For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock. 6 And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me.
Here David reveals one of the many blessings of seeking the Lord with all your heart. He confidently states that "in the midst of trouble, God would hide Him in His pavilion". There is no indication anywhere in the Bible that God's children are to be exempt from trouble in this life. But when we walk with the Lord we can trust Him to protect us.
In Him we find comfort and rest even in the worst of times. He is our refuge in times of trouble. David proclaimed this in many of his Psalms:
Psalms 46:11 The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
Psalms 59:16 But I will sing of thy power; yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning: for thou hast been my defense and refuge in the day of my trouble.
Psalms 62:7 In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.
When it is dark... HE IS OUR LIGHT! When we are weak... HE IS OUR STRENGTH! When the fiery darts of the wicked come our way.... HE IS OUR SHIELD! When the enemy pursues us... HE IS OUR REFUGE!!
There is much hope to be found in this Psalm. As Children of God we can claim these promises that David spoke of in these verses. We can say "The LORD is our light and our salvation". We have no need to fear anyone or anything in this life..."The LORD is the strength of our lives". When our enemies come upon us, they will stumble and fall. We have the opportunity to "dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of our lives". We are able to "behold the beauty of the Lord". We are able to "enquire of Him" and make our requests known.
In times of trouble He is our refuge. We can trust Him to hide us and protect us. He will "set our feet upon a rock". And He will "lift up our heads" even on the most difficult of days.
However, in order for us to have this confidence, claim these promises and experience these blessings we must do as David did and "seek the Lord". If we will do this, we will be able to praise even on difficult days.
J.C Pittman pointed out the fact that "A bell buoy rings only during storms. The beating of the waves and wind bring out the music that is within it, so too do trials reveal what is inside a person." (Source: Bible Truths Illustrated, J. C. Ferdinand Pittman)
We can (and should) offer praise to our God, even when we are in the midst of the storms of this life. We can do so if we will Comprehend The Personality Of God, Seek The Presence of God, and Rest In The Protection Of God.
