PSALM 69:1-5 "YOU’RE INVITED TO A HANGING"
* We’ve received all sorts of invitations. * Invitations to weddings, receptions, and showers.
* We have been invited to parties, banquets, picnics and barbecues.
* Jesus frequently issued invitations! * Matt.11:28 "Come unto me all ye that labor ....... "
* In Mt.14:28-29 when Jesus walked on the water, Peter said, "If it be thou, bid me come ..."
* And Jesus said, "Come." * In Mk.6:31 Jesus said to His weary disciples;
* "Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while."
* In Jn.21:12 after the resurrection, Jesus prepared fish for the disciples and said, "Come and
dine." * Rev.22:17 "And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth ......."
* But perhaps the greatest invitation of all will be when we hear the King say to those on His
right hand, "Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared ......." Mt.25:34
* Today, I want to tell you, "You’re invited to a hanging!"
(1) COME, HANG YOUR BURDENS ON THE CROSS - V.1-4
* David has expressed the cry of a burdened heart! * Consider his burden:
A) He feels that he is about to be overwhelmed; * He is depressed and weary from his weeping,
* He faces injustice and enemies, who are too many and too powerful for him.
B) Have you ever felt like that? * Have you ever felt like the weight of the whole world rested
on your shoulders? * That the burdens of life would grind you into the dust, mercilessly?
* You might be interested in knowing that this is a Psalm that looked ahead prophetically to the
sufferings, injustices, and sorrows Jesus would experience 1,000 years later!
* Jesus Himself would endure such burdens! * Maybe you labor under the heaviness of:
C) Fear and Anxiety! * The violence of our society, the corruption in our systems,
* failing health, the hype about computer crashes in the year 2000 have you confused.
D) Doubt and Uncertainty! * Does God really love you? * Can He really make a difference
in your life? * Can He accept you as you are and transform you?
E) Pain and Anguish! * It hurts just to roll out of bed! * Each step you take is a marathon,
* Climbing a porch is like climbing Mount Everest!
F) Burdened heart, there is help! * Matt.6: 31-33 "Therefore take no thought, saying ......."
* Matt.11:28 "Come unto me all ye ......." * Jn.14:1 "Let not your heart be ......."
* 1 Pt.5:6-7 "Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may ......."
* Isaac Watts penned these words; let’s sing them together: "At the cross, at the cross,
* Where I first saw the light, And the burden of my heart rolled away. It was there ......."
G) You’re invited to a hanging! * COME! * Hang your burdens on the cross!
* But there may be something else that needs crucifying in your life:
(2) COME, HANG YOUR SHAME ON THE CROSS - V.5
* David knew of his own folly and knew that God was also aware of it!
* He could recall many foolish things he had done of which he was ashamed!
* And he had much of which to be ashamed:
A) As a father, David was no model and turned his own sons away from him through neglect!
* It is possible this Psalm comes from the time of Absalom’s rebellion.
B) As a king he had abused his power and authority for sexual pleasure & to cover up his sin!
* Not only was David burdened with the liability of his sin, but he was ashamed of his senseless
stupidity! * How could he have been such a moron, such an idiot?
C) And, we may well ask, how could we? * HOW COULD WE:
* Have said such harsh and cutting things to and about others?
* Have neglected expressing our love to others while the chance existed, instead of weeping
that it is now too late?
D) Have ruined our reputation and forfeited our integrity for a moment’s pleasure?
* How could we have violated our honor and for years have lived a lie?
E) We may have much of which to be ashamed, but there is hope!
* God will answer the prayer of one who says with David in Psalm 25:20 "O keep my soul,
and deliver me: let me not be ashamed; for I put my trust in thee."
* You’re invited to a hanging! COME! hang your burdens and your shame on the cross!
* But there may be something else that needs to be hung there:
(3) COME, HANG YOUR SIN ON THE CROSS - V.5
* David knew that God not only knew his foolishness, but knew his sin as well!
* His reckless living was not only indiscreet, it was also ungodly!
A) Let’s get honest here! * Let’s call a spade a spade! * I want to remove all harshness from
my voice here. * I have no ax to grind!
B) But imagine going to your doctor who discovers you have a deadly, but curable disease.
* And so, as to not offend or upset you, he tells you that you have eczema and it’ll go away.
* Yes it will, when you die! * Truth spoken in love is crucial!
C) Sin is not an accident or a mistake, it is violation of God’s law!
* An affair is not romance, it is plain adultery! * Sex outside of marriage is fornication!
* Illicit desire for one not your spouse is lust! * Cheating is not cleverness, it is dishonesty
and theft! * Our moral failures are not just human weaknesses, they are missing the mark,
* They are transgressions, they are iniquity, they are sin! * And God will judge sin!
D) But that’s not the end of the story! * David said in Ps.103:10 "He hath not dealt with us
after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities."
* Paul said in 1 Tim.1:15 "This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that ......."
E) And John Peterson wrote these words, (Heaven Came Down And Glory Filled My Soul)
* Born of the Spirit with life from above, into God’s family divine.
* Justified fully through Calvary’s love, O what a standing is mine.
* And the transaction so quickly was made, when as a sinner I came,
* Took of the offer of grace he did proffer, He saved me, O praise His dear name.
* Heaven came down and glory filled my soul. * When at the cross the Savior made me whole.
* My sins were washed away, and my night was turned to day, Heaven came down ......."
CLOSE:
A) You’re invited to a hanging! * Come, hang your burdens, your shame, and your sin on
the cross! * Jesus will meet you there!
B) The cross reaches up to the infinite love of the Heavenly Father; * It reaches down to the
depths of our burdens, shame and sin.
* It reaches out to the widest needs of our lives, and we can come, assured that we will be
welcomed by the One Who was willing to forgive us long ago;
* and has no ill feelings toward us!
C) You’re invited to a hanging! * Come and hang there all that troubles you,
* And keeps you from enjoying the life Jesus came to give!
* You can freely come, because there is room at the cross for you!
