Title: Cast all your Burdens On Him
Theme: The importance of casting our burdens on the Lord not just giving them to Him.
Text: Psalms 55:1 – 23
Note: Some of the notes are from J Sudlows' Awake My Heart Devotonal also from researching on Sermon Central.
Psalms 55:1-7 To the Chief Musician. With stringed instruments. A Contemplation of David. Give ear to my prayer, O God, And do not hide Yourself from my supplication. (2) Attend to me, and hear me; I am restless in my complaint, and moan noisily, (3) Because of the voice of the enemy, Because of the oppression of the wicked; For they bring down trouble upon me, And in wrath they hate me. (4) My heart is severely pained within me, And the terrors of death have fallen upon me. (5) Fearfulness and trembling have come upon me, And horror has overwhelmed me. (6) So I said, "Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest. (7) Indeed, I would wander far off, And remain in the wilderness. Selah
“Cast thy burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain thee.”—Ps. 55: 22.
Wednesday night after church is a missions meeting for Honduras. Also collecting medication.
THAT BURDEN OF YOURS
“Cast thy burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain thee.”—Ps. 55: 22.
Burdens vs. trials
Noun (en noun)
• A heavy load.
• * 1898 , , (Moonfleet) Chapter 4
There were four or five men in the vault already, and I could hear more coming down the passage, and guessed from their heavy footsteps that they were carrying burdens .
• A responsibility, onus.
• A cause of worry; that which is grievous, wearisome, or oppressive.
Tribulation
Noun (en noun)
• Any adversity; a trying period or event.
• * 1535 , , Dialogue of Comfort Against Tribulation , ch. 6:
For the blessed apostle himself in his sore tribulation', praying thrice unto God to take it away from him, was answered again by God (in a manner) that he was but a fool in asking that request, but that the help of God's grace in that '''tribulation''' to strengthen him was far better for him than to take that ' tribulation from him.
THE psalmist, of course, was referring to burdens on the heart, not on the back. He knew that mental burdens are worse than physical, and that there is only one resort where true relief is found. His words open up whole continents of thought, but here we mention just three considerations which are suggested by them.
Burdens are Inescapable
The first fact which we are reminded of is the inescapableness of burdens. This burdened psalmist, remember, was David. His words take on a more vivid color from that circumstance.
David
- He was a king.
- He was wealthy.
- He was also godly.
- And he was now aged.
So, those four particulars remind us that burdens come to high as well as low, to rich as well as poor, to saints as well as sinners, and to old as well as young.
There is always a tendency for us to think that our own burdens are heavier than those of others, or that we should escape if we were in somebody else’s shoes. But we are wrong. Burdens are our common lot in the present scheme of things.
David’s burden was:
- Betrayal:
o by his son, Absolom, 2 Samuel 15 - 18
o by his friend and adviser, Ahithophel (a-hith-o-fel)
Psalms 55:12 For it is not an enemy who reproaches me; Then I could bear it. Nor is it one who hates me who has exalted himself against me; Then I could hide from him.
- Almost lost the kingdom
Our Burdens can be:
- Betrayal
- Lost son or daughter
- Worry
- Anxiety
- Failure
- Burden of societal change
- Sin
- Guilt
- Greed – pursuit of money
"Burdens Can Bring Temptation (David warns us throughout the Psalms that Burdens Can Bring temptations)
The second reminder in David’s words is that burdens bring temptations. Sometimes the strings of temptations which tie up the parcel of trouble are an acuter problem than the load itself. We find some of these temptations exhibited in the psalm.
Temptation – God is Unconcerned
There is the temptation to think that God is unconcerned: see verse 1, “Give ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not Yourself.”
Temptation – Escape Life
There is the temptation to seek escape from life: see verses 6–8, “Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest.”
Temptation to become cynical. That God does not care so what difference does it make.
Temptation to become self-occupied
There is the temptation to become broodily self-occupied: see verses 12, 14, 21, “It was not an enemy that reproached me; then could I have borne it,” etc.
Jesus Warning about Preoccupation
In Luke 21:34, Jesus warned his disciples to beware of the danger of three distracting pitfalls:
1. Over-abundance (surfeiting, over-spending, over-charging, too many
possessions)
2. Over-indulgence (drunkenness, lover of pleasures, over-eating, over-playing)
3. Over-load (cares, burdens, worries, fears of this life)
Temptation to become Bitter
There is the temptation to become bitter toward life and people: see verse 15, “Let death seize upon them, and let them go down quick to hell!” "
Advice from Psalms 55
David’s advice is, “Cast thy burden on the Lord.”
It think there is a vast difference between casting it before the Lore and giving it to God. We often use that phrase, “Just give it to God” I think it is logical but often goes unused.
Jesus said in:
Matthew 11:28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."
The difference is we are not just laying it down we are giving it to someone who can handle and deal with it.
“But someone sighs, “Ah, that is the very thing I long to do, but somehow cannot. If my burden were an outward and physical one, I could do so; but how to roll this inward and mental burden on to the Lord I do not know.”
1 Peter 5:7 (NLT): "Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you."
Peter addresses the early Christians, encouraging them to remain humble and trust in God's care during times of persecution.
The Greek word for "cares" is "merimna", meaning distractions or anxieties. Peter emphasizes that God's concern for us encompasses every detail of our lives.
We are encouraged to transfer our anxieties to God, trusting in His meticulous care for us. This daily practice fosters peace and demonstrates our reliance on His providence.
“Cast your burden on the Lord.”
“The Hebrew word for "burden" is "yehab", which means "that which is given" or "a lot." This encompasses all forms of distress and responsibilities. "Cast" in Hebrew is "shalak", implying a forceful throwing, indicating complete relinquishment of control.”
Step further
Well, the first thing to do is to realize that the words, “Cast your burden on the Lord”, do not stand alone; they are coupled with a promise, namely, “And He shall sustain you”.
Now that promise in the second half of the verse is a key to the meaning of the advice in the first half. The promise says, “He shall sustain thee”—not just the burden without you. You cannot simply detach your burden from yourself, and heave it away, saying, “There!—that’s that done with!” But what you can do is to hand over yourself to God along with your burden, and you will find that He sustains both you and your burden. The burden may still be there, but the weight, the drag, the bitterness, will be gone.
Remember that the words of our text are a Divine promise through a human medium. What a revelation of Divine sympathy the words are! God feels for you as you carry your burden. He desires to carry not only your burden, but you.
Conclusion
What is your special burden? Or are there many, all pressing on you at once? Can you not slip away somewhere to a quiet place, and really, really this time, hand over to Jehovah-Jesus?
We are not designed to carry the extra weight:
Hebrews 12:1 Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every hindrance and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us.
The Footprints Prayer
One night I had a dream…
I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord, and
Across the sky flashed scenes from my life. For each scene I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand; One belonged to me, and the other to the Lord. When the last scene of my life flashed before us, I looked back at the footprints in the sand. I noticed that many times along the path of my life, There was only one set of footprints.
I also noticed that it happened at the very lowest
and saddest times in my life
This really bothered me, and I questioned the Lord about it.
“Lord, you said that once I decided to follow you,
You would walk with me all the way;
But I have noticed that during the
most troublesome times in my life,
There is only one set of footprints.
I don’t understand why in times when I
needed you the most, you should leave me.
The Lord replied, “My precious, precious
child. I love you, and I would never,
never leave you during your times of
trial and suffering.
When you saw only one set of footprints,
It was then that I carried you.
Consider the story of Horatio Spafford, who, after losing his children in a tragic shipwreck, wrote the hymn "It Is Well with My Soul." Despite immense personal loss, Spafford's faith in God's sustaining power remained unshaken, providing a powerful testimony of trust and peace.
The Story Behind It Is Well With My Soul https://www.godtube.com/popular-hymns/it-is-well-with-my-soul/
This incredible story of faith belongs to Horatio Spafford (1828-1888). Much like Job, he placed his trust in God during his life’s prosperity, but also during its calamities. A devout Christian who’d immersed himself in Scripture, many years of his life were joyous. He was a prominent Chicago lawyer, whose business was thriving. He owned several properties throughout the city. He and his beloved wife had four beautiful daughters and one son. Life was more than good — it was blessed.
But faith, no matter how great, does not spare us from adversity.
Just as Horatio hit the pinnacle of his profession and financial success, things began to change. It began with the tragic loss of their son. Not long thereafter, the Great Chicago Fire destroyed nearly every real estate investment Horatio owned.
Just a few years later in 1873, Horatio decided to treat his wife and daughters to a much-needed escape from the turmoil. He sent them on a boat trip to Europe, with plans to join them shortly after wrapping up some business in Chicago. Just a few days later, he received a dreadful telegram from his wife, “Saved alone…” It bore the excruciating news that family’s ship had wrecked and all four of his daughters had perished.
Horatio was on his way to meet his heartbroken wife, passing over the same sea that had just claimed the lives of his remaining children. It was then that he put his pen to paper and the timeless hymn was born, beginning with the words:
It Is Well With My Soul Lyrics
When peace like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll
Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say
It is well, it is well, with my soul
It is well
With my soul
It is well, it is well with my soul
Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul
It is well (it is well)
With my soul (with my soul)
It is well, it is well with my soul
My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, o my soul
It is well (it is well)
With my soul (with my soul)
It is well, it is well with my soul
It is well (it is well)
With my soul (with my soul)
It is well, it is well with my soul
