Quieting a Noisy Soul!
Psalm 37
Introduction:
Do you find it hard to rest? Are you wound so tight, filled with stress and anxiety… upset, unsettled at what is going on in the world around you… anxious about what is going to happen… noisy soul… just can’t seem to rest, to relax?
Psalm 37 = is for you!
Amazing: health crazed world… watches, apps, sports bracelets… track our sleep… yet we find little rest and relaxation.
Relaxation = not lounging for hours on bed or couch munching on junk food… vegetating our mind by binging on favorite TV show. That is escapism not resting… true rest, true relaxation is not passive but active… releasing the tension and anxiety that dominates our hearts and minds.
Two little words: “Fret not” = 3x’s [vv.1,7,8] – ‘fret’ is an old English word for worry… comes from a word that means to become hot, heated; to fume; to be vexed… get so worked up by what is going on around us on the outside that we become all upset and unsettled inside. Hearts filled turmoil and can’t rest!
Command = divine imperative – same Lord Jesus – Matt. 6:25 – “Take no thought” = don’t be anxious, worrisome, fret not!
Phil. 4:6 – “Be careful for nothing…” = don’t worry about anything… all-inclusive word… fret not!
Psalm 37 = written by David when he was an old man – (v.25)… “I have been young and now am old” = I have lived a while… God has taught me some lessons about life and I want to share them with you!
Psalm 37 = “A Psalm for the Anxious” – a Wisdom Psalm – much like the book of Proverbs… contrasts the way of the godly and the way of the ungodly… akin to Psalm 1.
Psalm 1 = Blessed life - fruitfulness
Psalm 37 = Restful life - peacefulness
4 Key Verbs: action words… not a formula but a pathway to a restful life.
1. Trust God with Your Life!
Look: v.3 – “Trust” = idea of dependence, leaning one’s weight on something or someone – being confident in your God! Living by faith!
Look: vv.1,2 – think unsaved have no problems; live carefree lives – simply not true! Drown their anxieties, fears in sin! Distract them from reality!!
Cf. don’t get so caught up in what is going on around you that you lose sight of the God above you.
No matter what! Our God is greater!!!
God’s people = see God through their problems… have big problems and a little God. Turn that around and see your problems through God and you will have a big God and little problems. All in our perspective!
Quote: “God may allow anxious circumstances into our lives… but He never puts anxious care in our hearts.” – Scott Pauley
We put that in our own heart by listening to others, listening to the devil.
Quote: “Anxious care never has its origins in God.” – Scott Pauley
2Tim. 1:7 – “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”
Quote: “If you think you are losing your mind, I have good news for you; you’re not!”
Moment = quit trusting, that’s the moment you start fretting!
God’s answer to our fears is to trust!!! Faith doesn’t just replace fears; it drives out fear!
1John 4:18 – “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.”
v.1b – “and do” = do right. Do what God says to do!
Trust and obey! Faith always leads to action! When we believe the Lord, we will obey the Lord.
Difference = between giving into our feelings or live by faith!
Fear/ Anxiety = stop you from living.
Quote: “Worry is like rocking in a rocking chair. It will give you something to do but it won’t take you anywhere.”
Listen = can’t always change what is going on around us or is happening to us… but we can change how we respond to it.
Note: Result (v.1c) – full or abundant life. Restful life! Not problem free living but worry free living!
Claim the promise when you apply the principle!
2. Make Yourself Happy in Jesus!
Look: v.4
“Delight” = to be merry. Christian life is to be delightful life!
Nothing robs your joy, takes you from a glad heart to a sad heart quicker than anxious worry!
Ee’ore Christians = oh woe is me!!!
Proverbs 15:13 – “A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.”
Proverbs 15:15 – “All the days of the afflicted are evil: but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast.”
Proverbs 17:22 – “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.”
Merry heart = not silly heart; a joyful heart!
Want a joyful heart??? Then Delight yourself in the Lord!!!
Delight = verb, action word… do something!!
**Determine every day to make your heart happy in Jesus!!!
Source of our joy!
John 15:11 – “These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.”
Hear = I don’t feel like reading my Bible, praying, worshiping, praising.
Listen = that is when you need it the most!
Result = “give thee the desires of thine heart.”
3. Commit Your Way to the Lord!
Look: v.5
“Commit” = to roll away – more than just a prayer… it is a conscious moment by moment giving ourselves over to God.
God = I am yours… take control of my life! You direct my path. You lead and I’ll follow!
Anxious worry = comes from trying to control what is out of our control!
Have control over my spirit, my actions… control what you can control and give the rest (what can’t control the Lord)!
1Peter 5:7 – “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”
Psalm 55:22 – “Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.”
Maybe you are filled with anxious worry… fearful of future… why don’t you recommit yourself to the Lord tonight???
vv.5b-6 – as commit way to the Lord, He will accomplish His purposes in our lives.
Quote: “God is too loving to ever be unkind and too wise to ever make a mistake.”
4. Rest in His Faithfulness!
Look: v.7
“Rest” = to be quiet; to get silent; be still before the Lord… to make quiet.
Psalm 46:10 – “Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.”
It is when we get our eyes on God and His faithfulness that He quiets the noisy soul.
There is a paralysis to fear and anxiety… become afraid… emotions go haywire, agitated… don’t see / think clearly… life gets foggy and can’t see way through… filled with anxiety, fear… need a change of perspective! Get God’s perspective. Heaven’s view is far clearer.
God = you have this! What is bigger than me is not bigger than You!
Give it to God! May have to do that 1,000x’s!!!
v.7b - “wait patiently for Him.” = give God time to work.
In His time God always brings His perfect plan to pass!
Don’t always understand what God is doing in our lives but we can trust Him!
Quote: “When you cannot trace God’s hand; you can trust His heart.” – CH Spurgeon
Conclusion:
1. I care not today what the morrow may bring,
If shadow or sunshine or rain,
The Lord I know ruleth o’er everything,
And all of my worries are vain.
o Refrain:
Living by faith in Jesus above,
Trusting, confiding in His great love;
From all harm safe in His sheltering arm,
I’m living by faith and feel no alarm.
2. Though tempests may blow and the storm clouds arise,
Obscuring the brightness of life,
I’m never alarmed at the overcast skies—
The Master looks on at the strife.
3. I know that He safely will carry me through,
No matter what evils betide;
Why should I then care though the tempest may blow,
If Jesus walks close to my side.
4. Our Lord will return for His loved ones someday,
Our troubles will then all be o’er;
The Master so gently will lead us away,
Beyond that blest heavenly shore.
