I feel this morning somewhat like the numerous TV reporters covering events in the Middle East, who have to stay alert to a variety of events beyond their control while trying to focus on the story they are reporting. Off-balance is probably a good description.
Being off-balance also describes us. We don’t have to be standing the desert with missiles dropping around us and scrambling to get chemical protection suits on to feel off-balance. And we feel off-balance not just because of events in the Middle East, but because of employment issues, health issues, family issues, and a host of other issues that have kept us on the move, and sometimes it seems, on the defensive. We have alternated between a quiet hope and a deep uncertainty. But, I also believe that we have had and continue to have moments when the presence and peace of God has been real to each one of us.
My main point this morning is a simple one - God is sovereign! Now what does that mean? For something or someone to be sovereign is to be “supreme in power or authority!” So what I am saying in total this morning is that God is the supreme authority! And we can take comfort and strength in that fact.
But, what do I say this morning? My desire and my intention is to say what God would have me say because I believe that we need to focus on God this morning even though world events and personal issues impinge upon us.
So my sermon this morning are not my words, but those of scripture. They are from the Psalms because I know that the words of the Psalms provide us with comfort and strength during difficult and challenging times. The Psalms also give us words to our emotions that we sometime do not know how to adequately express.
Let us hear the word of God this morning as a reminder of the fact that this is our father’s world! I am going to read the following Psalms: 2, 14, 23, 27, 37, 42, 91, 121, and 150. As you hear them read I challenge you to reflect upon God’s sovereignty that is expressed in them. Following the reading of scripture, we shall spend extended time in personal and corporate prayer this morning. No one will be asked to pray aloud unless you feel led to. And we will be praying for some specific groups of people today that I will name in a few moments. Now, let us hear the word of the Lord.
Psalms 2
Why do the nations rage?
Why do the people waste their time with futile plans?
2 The kings of the earth prepare for battle;
the rulers plot together
against the LORD
and against his anointed one.
3 “Let us break their chains,” they cry,
“and free ourselves from this slavery.”
4 But the one who rules in heaven laughs.
The LORD scoffs at them.
5 Then in anger he rebukes them,
terrifying them with his fierce fury.
6 For the LORD declares, “I have placed my chosen king on the throne
in Jerusalem, my holy city.”
7 The king proclaims the LORD’s decree:
“The LORD said to me, ‘You are my son.
Today I have become your Father.
8 Only ask, and I will give you the nations as your inheritance,
the ends of the earth as your possession.
9 You will break them with an iron rod
and smash them like clay pots.’”
10 Now then, you kings, act wisely!
Be warned, you rulers of the earth!
11 Serve the LORD with reverent fear,
and rejoice with trembling.
12 Submit to God’s royal son, or he will become angry,
and you will be destroyed in the midst of your pursuits—
for his anger can flare up in an instant.
But what joy for all who find protection in him!
Psalms 14
Only fools say in their hearts,
“There is no God.”
They are corrupt, and their actions are evil;
no one does good!
2 The LORD looks down from heaven
on the entire human race;
he looks to see if there is even one with real understanding,
one who seeks for God.
3 But no, all have turned away from God;
all have become corrupt.
No one does good,
not even one!
4 Will those who do evil never learn?
They eat up my people like bread;
they wouldn’t think of praying to the LORD.
5 Terror will grip them,
for God is with those who obey him.
6 The wicked frustrate the plans of the oppressed,
but the LORD will protect his people.
7 Oh, that salvation would come from Mount Zion to rescue Israel!
For when the LORD restores his people,
Jacob will shout with joy, and Israel will rejoice.
Psalms 23
The LORD is my shepherd;
I have everything I need.
2 He lets me rest in green meadows;
he leads me beside peaceful streams.
3 He renews my strength.
He guides me along right paths,
bringing honor to his name.
4 Even when I walk
through the dark valley of death,
I will not be afraid,
for you are close beside me.
Your rod and your staff
protect and comfort me.
5 You prepare a feast for me
in the presence of my enemies.
You welcome me as a guest,
anointing my head with oil.
My cup overflows with blessings.
6 Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me
all the days of my life,
and I will live in the house of the LORD
forever.
Psalms 27
The LORD is my light and my salvation—
so why should I be afraid?
The LORD protects me from danger—
so why should I tremble?
2 When evil people come to destroy me,
when my enemies and foes attack me,
they will stumble and fall.
3 Though a mighty army surrounds me,
my heart will know no fear.
Even if they attack me,
I remain confident.
4 The one thing I ask of the LORD—
the thing I seek most—
is to live in the house of the LORD all the days of my life,
delighting in the LORD’s perfections
and meditating in his Temple.
5 For he will conceal me there when troubles come;
he will hide me in his sanctuary.
He will place me out of reach on a high rock.
6 Then I will hold my head high,
above my enemies who surround me.
At his Tabernacle I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy,
singing and praising the LORD with music.
7 Listen to my pleading, O LORD.
Be merciful and answer me!
8 My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.”
And my heart responds, “LORD, I am coming.”
9 Do not hide yourself from me.
Do not reject your servant in anger.
You have always been my helper.
Don’t leave me now; don’t abandon me,
O God of my salvation!
10 Even if my father and mother abandon me,
the LORD will hold me close.
11 Teach me how to live, O LORD.
Lead me along the path of honesty,
for my enemies are waiting for me to fall.
12 Do not let me fall into their hands.
For they accuse me of things I’ve never done
and breathe out violence against me.
13 Yet I am confident that I will see the LORD’s goodness
while I am here in the land of the living.
14 Wait patiently for the LORD.
Be brave and courageous.
Yes, wait patiently for the LORD.
Psalms 37
Don’t worry about the wicked.
Don’t envy those who do wrong.
2 For like grass, they soon fade away.
Like springtime flowers, they soon wither.
3 Trust in the LORD and do good.
Then you will live safely in the land and prosper.
4 Take delight in the LORD,
and he will give you your heart’s desires.
5 Commit everything you do to the LORD.
Trust him, and he will help you.
6 He will make your innocence as clear as the dawn,
and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun.
7 Be still in the presence of the LORD,
and wait patiently for him to act.
Don’t worry about evil people who prosper
or fret about their wicked schemes.
8 Stop your anger!
Turn from your rage!
Do not envy others—
it only leads to harm.
9 For the wicked will be destroyed,
but those who trust in the LORD will possess the land.
10 In a little while, the wicked will disappear.
Though you look for them, they will be gone.
11 Those who are gentle and lowly will possess the land;
they will live in prosperous security.
12 The wicked plot against the godly;
they snarl at them in defiance.
13 But the Lord just laughs,
for he sees their day of judgment coming.
14 The wicked draw their swords
and string their bows
to kill the poor and the oppressed,
to slaughter those who do right.
15 But they will be stabbed through the heart with their own swords,
and their bows will be broken.
16 It is better to be godly and have little
than to be evil and possess much.
17 For the strength of the wicked will be shattered,
but the LORD takes care of the godly.
18 Day by day the LORD takes care of the innocent,
and they will receive a reward that lasts forever.
19 They will survive through hard times;
even in famine they will have more than enough.
20 But the wicked will perish.
The LORD’s enemies are like flowers in a field—
they will disappear like smoke.
21 The wicked borrow and never repay,
but the godly are generous givers.
22 Those blessed by the LORD will inherit the land,
but those cursed by him will die.
23 The steps of the godly are directed by the LORD.
He delights in every detail of their lives.
24 Though they stumble, they will not fall,
for the LORD holds them by the hand.
25 Once I was young, and now I am old.
Yet I have never seen the godly forsaken,
nor seen their children begging for bread.
26 The godly always give generous loans to others,
and their children are a blessing.
27 Turn from evil and do good,
and you will live in the land forever.
28 For the LORD loves justice,
and he will never abandon the godly.
He will keep them safe forever,
but the children of the wicked will perish.
29 The godly will inherit the land
and will live there forever.
30 The godly offer good counsel;
they know what is right from wrong.
31 They fill their hearts with God’s law,
so they will never slip from his path.
32 Those who are evil spy on the godly,
waiting for an excuse to kill them.
33 But the LORD will not let the wicked succeed
or let the godly be condemned when they are brought before the judge.
34 Don’t be impatient for the LORD to act!
Travel steadily along his path.
He will honor you, giving you the land.
You will see the wicked destroyed.
35 I myself have seen it happen—
proud and evil people thriving like mighty trees.
36 But when I looked again, they were gone!
Though I searched for them, I could not find them!
37 Look at those who are honest and good,
for a wonderful future lies before those who love peace.
38 But the wicked will be destroyed;
they have no future.
39 The LORD saves the godly;
he is their fortress in times of trouble.
40 The LORD helps them,
rescuing them from the wicked.
He saves them,
and they find shelter in him.
Psalms 42
As the deer pants for streams of water,
so I long for you, O God.
2 I thirst for God, the living God.
When can I come and stand before him?
3 Day and night, I have only tears for food,
while my enemies continually taunt me, saying,
“Where is this God of yours?”
4 My heart is breaking
as I remember how it used to be:
I walked among the crowds of worshipers,
leading a great procession to the house of God,
singing for joy and giving thanks—
it was the sound of a great celebration!
5 Why am I discouraged?
Why so sad?
I will put my hope in God!
I will praise him again—
my Savior and 6my God!
Now I am deeply discouraged,
but I will remember your kindness—
from Mount Hermon, the source of the Jordan,
from the land of Mount Mizar.
7 I hear the tumult of the raging seas
as your waves and surging tides sweep over me.
8 Through each day the LORD pours his unfailing love upon me,
and through each night I sing his songs,
praying to God who gives me life.
9 “O God my rock,” I cry,
“Why have you forsaken me?
Why must I wander in darkness,
oppressed by my enemies?”
10 Their taunts pierce me like a fatal wound.
They scoff, “Where is this God of yours?”
11 Why am I discouraged?
Why so sad?
I will put my hope in God!
I will praise him again—
my Savior and my God!
Psalms 91
Those who live in the shelter of the Most High
will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 This I declare of the LORD:
He alone is my refuge, my place of safety;
he is my God, and I am trusting him.
3 For he will rescue you from every trap
and protect you from the fatal plague.
4 He will shield you with his wings.
He will shelter you with his feathers.
His faithful promises are your armor and protection.
5 Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night,
nor fear the dangers of the day,
6 nor dread the plague that stalks in darkness,
nor the disaster that strikes at midday.
7 Though a thousand fall at your side,
though ten thousand are dying around you,
these evils will not touch you.
8 But you will see it with your eyes;
you will see how the wicked are punished.
9 If you make the LORD your refuge,
if you make the Most High your shelter,
10 no evil will conquer you;
no plague will come near your dwelling.
11 For he orders his angels
to protect you wherever you go.
12 They will hold you with their hands
to keep you from striking your foot on a stone.
13 You will trample down lions and poisonous snakes;
you will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet!
14 The LORD says, “I will rescue those who love me.
I will protect those who trust in my name.
15 When they call on me, I will answer;
I will be with them in trouble.
I will rescue them and honor them.
16 I will satisfy them with a long life
and give them my salvation.”
Psalms 121
I look up to the mountains—
does my help come from there?
2 My help comes from the LORD,
who made the heavens and the earth!
3 He will not let you stumble and fall;
the one who watches over you will not sleep.
4 Indeed, he who watches over Israel
never tires and never sleeps.
5 The LORD himself watches over you!
The LORD stands beside you as your protective shade.
6 The sun will not hurt you by day,
nor the moon at night.
7 The LORD keeps you from all evil
and preserves your life.
8 The LORD keeps watch over you as you come and go,
both now and forever.
Psalms 150
Praise the LORD!
Praise God in his heavenly dwelling;
praise him in his mighty heaven!
2 Praise him for his mighty works;
praise his unequaled greatness!
3 Praise him with a blast of the trumpet;
praise him with the lyre and harp!
4 Praise him with the tambourine and dancing;
praise him with stringed instruments and flutes!
5 Praise him with a clash of cymbals;
praise him with loud clanging cymbals.
6 Let everything that lives sing praises to the LORD!
Praise the LORD!
God is sovereign! God is all knowing! God is all-powerful! God sees all.
There is no one on this earth who is like God! There is no earthly leader who has the power and authority that God has! Let us gain hope and gain strength in this reality and truth!
We are going to spend sometime in prayer this morning as a congregation.
We will spend a few moments in silent prayer for each group and then 2 or 3 persons those who feel so led to briefly pray for this particular group can do so.
Let us pray for:
Our nation and our leaders – at all levels
Our men and women in the military
The Iraqi people especially the Christians
Bob and Kris and their families
One another
May Jesus Christ be praised! Amen.
