Intro: As the events of yesterday began to unfold, my emotions ran the gamut, as I’m sure did yours.
Ø Shock
Ø Disbelief
Ø Horror
Ø Anger
Ø Outrage
Then I began to ask a searching question. “Could we begin experiencing the judgement of God on our nation?”
I am NOT saying that that is what this is, but I am saying, we as believers must consider it as a possibility.
We are a proud nation.
The word of God has some insight as to how God deals with prideful nations.
Ø Isaiah 47:1-7
Ø Obadiah 1:2-4
God has one formula for dealing with pride. It is found in 2 Chronicles 7:14:
"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."
My prayer is that God will use this tragedy to bring America to its knees—not in an act of despair, but in a reliance on an Almighty God who is ultimately in control. I shared a couple of weeks ago that if we have a fear of God, then there is no need to have a fear of man.
For those that are taking notes, if I were to give tonight’s message a title, it would be. “God is our Source.”
Psalm 18 holds some important reminders for us.
Reminder #1.
God is the source of our strength – vs. 1
Background: David has just been victorious over the Philistines. You can read the story in 2 Samuel 21. It was in this battle that Goliath’s four sons were defeated. This is simply a recap of 2 Samuel 22 when David writes this song as a result of God’s deliverance.
After the battle is over and David is victorious, I find it interesting that David doesn’t begin gloating at what a mighty man of war he is.
Again, David could have easily began to describe how his cunning and strength had defeated the enemy.
But he didn’t.
David realized that he was not the source of his strength, God was.
Look at verses 29, 32, 34, 38-39
If we are going to defeat our enemies, it will not be because of America’s military might. It will be because of America’s dependence on God Almighty.
Reminder #2.
God is the source of our Stability.
Verse 2 says “The Lord is my Rock.”
A rock provides stability. It’s impossible to fight without sure footing. And there is no stability apart from God. – vs. 31
Reminder #3.
God is the source of our Safety – vs. 2
The events of yesterday have us all wondering, is anyplace safe? David uses three words in verse two that describe God as the source of his Strength.
1. David calls God “his fortress.”
A fortress provides a place of protection. All the strength in the world is useless unless we have the proper protection.
Ask General George Custer. The regiment consisted of approximately 750 officers and enlisted men, and was accompanied by a contingent of about forty Arikara Indian scouts. Also in the column were three companies of infantry and a Gattling gun platoon, all supported by wagons carrying supplies.
· 2000 rounds of ammunition per company.
· Each soldier was armed with the single-shot, .45 caliber rifle with 100 rounds ammunition
· The troopers also carried a .45 caliber, single-action revolver with twenty four rounds of ammunition.
Lots of fire power, Lots of strength, but no fortress to provide protection. And we all know the outcome.
2. David calls God his “buckler.”
This word carries with it the idea of the scaly hide of a crocodile. The thing about the hide of a crocodile is not only is it extremely tough, but it goes where the croc goes. When the crocodile is threatened, he doesn’t have to say, wait a minute while I get my shield up. It’s there all the time.
So God’s protection is there for all those who will trust in him.
3. Also in verse 2 we find David referring to God as his high tower. The high tower would not only provide a place of protection. It provided a place of perspective.
In the Battle of Little Big Horn, there was something that could have changed the course of the battle.
There was a place near the battlefield called Weir point. It was the highest point along the river and would have afforded Custer a unlimited view of the Indian village had he gone there.
For whatever reason, he chose not to go and because of his lack of perspective, he made some fatal choices.
In all likelihood, the coming days will find us at war with the parties responsible for these atrocities.
We must pray that our leaders will have the proper perspective. That proper perspective is only found in the Word of God.
By the way, individuals that are making choices without the perspective provided by God’s Word, are making fatal mistakes as well. They are blindly choosing the path that will lead them to disaster, many having no idea that their choices will lead to their demise.
Reminder #4.
God is the source of our salvation
David calls God his “deliverer” and the “Horn” of his salvation. He talks about that salvation in more detail in verses 16-19.
For the past 50 years, we have lived in virtual peace. We have not known the threat that we now face. We hve been spoiled and lulled into thinking that our power lies in our military strength.
It is only because of the salvation of God that America has not succumbed to the nations around us. As we face this point in our country we must remember that any salvation we experience is from him.
Lamentations 3:21-23
21 This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.
22 It is of the LORD’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.
23 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
David had no problem remembering what he was saved from. – vs. 4-5
1. God had saved him from an untimely death. – vs. 4a, 5b
Look at verse 29a. David knew that there was no physical reason why he wasn’t laying dead on the battlefield.
2. God had spared him from the wrath of the ungodly. – vs. 4b, 43, 48
There are ungodly people laughing at America tonight. If we are to be saved from their wrath, we had better be aware of the source of our salvation.
3. God spared him from an eternity in hell. – vs. 5a
If you and I got what we deserved, we would have woke up in hell this morning. We were saved from that as well.
Conclusion: I don’t know of a better reason to fall on our faces tonight in prayer.
