IT’S A FOREGONE CONCLUSION
As I am writing this message it is already Thursday, and I have been so involved with trying to get an outline together for an outside project, that I have not yet written the Bulletin for this week. This means that those of you who are receiving this by mail are likely reading this after the Sunday message has already been delivered. As I write this, I already have clarity on the content of the message; but time has caught up with me, in terms of the actual writing.
I am intrigued that Cathedral Press chose Psalm 91 as the basis for this week’s cover. I waited so many years to preach “Hiding in the Secret Place,” and then God finally released me to do that, back in October. I almost wanted to go back to it, when I looked at this cover; but God has another message that I believe will be just as much a blessing.
This time I want to take you to Psalm 27. But that will just be our ‘launching pad,’ to an adventure in the Holy Spirit, that will lead us ultimately to what – for us as Saints and Believers – is a FOREGONE CONCLUSION: that in the end WE WIN!
So come along and enjoy what God has in store for us, this day!
“THIS psalm is one of those which have been called “composite” (‘The Psalms,’ by Four Friends, p. 67); and certainly it falls into two parts which offer the strongest possible contrast the one to the other. Part 1. (vers. 1-6) is altogether joyous and jubilant. It records, as has been said, “the triumph of a warrior’s faith.” Part 2. (vers. 7-14) is sad and plaintive. It pleads for mercy and forgiveness (vers. 8-10). It complains of desertion (ver. 10), calumny (ver. 12), and imminent danger (vers. 11, 12), It still, indeed, maintains hope, but the hope has only just been saved from sinking into despair by an effort of faith (ver. 13), and a determination to “wait” and see what the end will be (ver. 14). It is thought to “express the sorrows of a martyr to the religious persecutions at the close of the monarchy” (Four Friends, p. 68). G. Rawlinson, Exposition on Psalm 27, The Pulpit Commentary
THE TRIUMPH OF A WARRIOR’S FAITH
Can I just let the Word of God teach, this week?
‘Cause I don’ want us to make the mistake of thinking this is just some cool song that we sing – although I’d have to say that every version of this song I’ve ever heard was pretty cool. Not just a nice poem, or a bunch of pretty words …
Understand two things as you read this lesson:
#1 is that David is a warrior, and – even though there is no clear agreement about when David wrote this particular Psalm – it is very possible that he wrote it at a time when one of his fierce enemies had him in their scope.
#2 is David makes it pretty clear that he ain’t scared – because at the end of it all he already knows, “It’s a foregone conclusion – somebody’s goin’ down today, and it ain’t gonna be me!”
Now, I mention this because somebody’s reading this and in the back of your mind you’re thinking how the enemy’s been beatin’ the snot out of you – and you need to hear that at the end of it all you are going to come out with your head on straight.
I mention this because last night, somebody who doesn’t have the same spiritual confidence as you went through the same thing that you’ve been going through for a while – and when it was all over they snapped! But puddin’ if you can just hold on to just a little bit of what David had …
I don’ mean to preach right off the bat – I want to save a little something for Church; but I just got excited when I read this news. Did you hear what he said?
The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
David says he has no fear – but he rightfully makes it clear, at the same time that his fearlessness is not because of anything within himself, but instead because of the Lord.
FOUR WORDS
(Cheat Sheet)
Defense
misgab Yahweh The Lord is my defense (Ps. 94:22)
Refuge
oz machaceh Elohim God is our refuge and strength (Ps. 46:1)
Protection (5643 cether – i.e., as in ‘secret’ [place]) De. 32:38; Ps. 91:1; Isa. 28:15, 17
Deu 32:38 Which did eat the fat of their sacrifices, [and] drank the wine of their drink offerings? let them rise up and help you, [and] be your protection.
Ps. 91:1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
Isa. 28:15, 17 Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves … Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place.
Defense (4869 misgab) high fence, tower, Ps. 31:2; 59:9, 16; 62:6; 94:22 (defense) refuge 2 Sa. 22:3; Ps. 9:9; 46:7, 11; 94:22
Ps. 31:2 Bow down thine ear to me; deliver me speedily: be thou my strong rock, for an house of defence to save me.
Ps. 59:9, 16 [Because of] his strength will I wait upon thee: for God [is] my defence … But I will sing of thy power; yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning: for thou hast been my defence and refuge in the day of my trouble.
Ps. 62:6 He only [is] my rock and my salvation: [he is] my defence; I shall not be moved.
Ps. 94:22 But the LORD is my defence; and my God [is] the rock of my refuge.
Refuge (4268 machaceh) Shelter: from rain, danger or falsehood Ps. 46:1; 91:2, 9; 94:22 (refuge); Pr. 14:26; Isa. 4:6 shelter Ps. 61:3
Isa. 28:15, 17 Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves … Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place.
Fortress
2Sa 22:2 And he said, The LORD [is] my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer;
Psa 18:2 The LORD [is] my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, [and] my high tower.
Psa 31:3 For thou [art] my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name’s sake lead me, and guide me.
Psa 71:3 Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort: thou hast given commandment to save me; for thou [art] my rock and my fortress.
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. John 14:27
Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. John 16:23
I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. John 14:18
… and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. Matthew 28:20
CHEAT SHEET (Strong’s Concordance)
LIGHT 216: owr
a light of day
b light of heavenly luminaries – moon, sun, stars
c day-break, dawn, morning light
d daylight
e lightning
f light of lamp
g light of life
h light of prosperity
i light of instruction
j light of face (fig.
k Jehovah as Israel’s light
SALVATION 3467: Yesha
DELIVERANCE,SALVATION, RESCUE, SAFETY, WELFARE
a safety, welfare, prosperity
b salvation
c victory
FEAR 3372: Yare
TO FEAR, REVERE, BE AFRAID
a (Qal)
i)to fear, be afraid
ii)to stand in awe of, be awed
iii)to fear, reverence, honour, respect
[be]Afraid 6342: pachad
TO FEAR, TREMBLE, REVERE, DREAD, BE IN AWE OR DREAD
a (Qal)
i)to be in dread
ii)to be in awe
TYPE OF VERB
8851 Qal
Qal is the most frequently used verb pattern. It expresses the "simple" or "casual" action of the root in the active voice.
Examples:
he sat, he ate, he went, he said, he rose, he bought
This form accounts for 66.7% of the verbs parsed.
MOOD/TENSE
1a) It is used to describe a single (as opposed to a repeated) action in the past; it differs from the perfect in being more vivid and pictorial. The perfect expresses the "fact", the imperfect adds colour and movement by suggesting the "process" preliminary to its completion.
he put forth his hand to the door
it came to a halt
I began to hear
1b) A phrase such as "What seekest thou?", refers not only to the present, but assumes that the search has continued for some time.
Why do you weep?
Why refuse to eat?
Why are you distressed?
These relate not so much as to one occasion, as to a continued condition.
So David:
"I ain’t Scared!"
I don’ want you to get nervous children
But when David wrote this he was under
PRESSURE!
And yet throughout the entire Psalm David reminds us that he is
CONFIDENT
CONFIDENT IN GOD, AND …
Confident in God’s ability to BRING HIM THROUGH
The stuff that shoulda TOOK HIM OUT
I speak this today in order to speak life to you
‘cause some stuff you went through just last week you shoulda
LOST YOUR NOODLE!
But David …
When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.
ENEMIES CAN COME AT YOU A THOUSAND DIFFERENT WAYS …
THEY’LL CHEW YOU UP AND SPIT YOU OUT!
I can usually handle one enemy. And on a good day I might give two or three a beat down, but what do you do with a gang. David’s enemies had sense enough to know the same was true about him.
Watch this …
1 Moreover Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Let me now choose out twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after David this night: 2 And I will come upon him while he is weary and weak handed, and will make him afraid: and all the people that are with him shall flee; and I will smite the king only: 3 And I will bring back all the people unto thee: the man whom thou seekest is as if all returned: so all the people shall be in peace. 2 Samuel 17:1-3
Now I want you to look back …
Think about how many times God has already brought you through some stuff that should have made you lose it. Didn’t God bring you through it?
Oh you may be a little smokey from the fire – and your spiritual house may be little more than simmering embers – but when it was all over didn’t God cool the flames?
C. H. Spurgeon – the late great pastor of London’s Metropolitan Tabernacle give these words of confidence:
"Experience breeds hope and confidence." David was not so courageous a man of himself; but upon experience of God’s former comfort and assistance, his faith brake as fire out of the smoke, or as the sun out of a cloud. Though I was in such and such perplexities, yet for the time to come, I have such confidence and experience of God’s goodness, that I will not fear. He that seeth God by a spirit of faith in his greatness and power, he sees all other things below as nothing. Therefore, he saith here, he cares not for the time to come for any opposition; no, not of an army. "If God be with us, who can be against us?" Ro 8:31. He saw God in his power; and then, looking from God to the creature, alas! who was he?” Treasury of David
JOHN GILL, WHO WAS SPURGEON’S PREDECESSOR
“They are wicked men, men of malignant spirits, and evildoers, who are the enemies and foes of the people of God, and who hate them with an implacable hatred, and do everything they can to distress and afflict them; and such enemies David had, who were many and mighty; and these “came upon” him, or “approached against” him, they drew near to him to make war with him, as the word signifies; they attacked him in an hostile manner; and their view was, as he says,
“to eat up my flesh, as they eat bread, (Psalm 14:4); to devour him at once, to make but one morsel of him, to destroy his life, to strip him of his substance, to take away his wives and children, as the Amalekites at Ziklag, (1 Samuel 30:1-6);
“they stumbled and fell; the Lord put stumbling blocks in their way, and retarded their march, and hindered them from executing their designs; and they fell into the hands of David, and were subdued under him, or fell by death; and these past instances of divine goodness the psalmist calls to mind, to keep up his heart and courage, and animate and strengthen him against the fears of men, of death and hell.” Commentary on Psalm 27
Though an army deploy against me, my heart is not afraid; though war break out against me, still I am confident. (Holman CSB)
CAN I SHOW YOU SOMETHING?
REMEMBER JOSHUA?
13 And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries? 14 And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the LORD am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my lord unto his servant? 15 And the captain of the LORD’S host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so. Joshua 5:13-15
One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.
For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.
“All God’s children desire to dwell in God’s house; where should they dwell else? Not to sojourn there as a wayfaring man, that turns aside to tarry but for a night, nor to dwell there for a time only, as the servant that abides not in the house for ever, but to dwell there all the days of their life; for there the Son abides ever.” Matthew Henry Complete
Psalms 27:5:
Verse 5. He shall hide me in his pavilion] besuccoh, in hi tabernacle. I would make his temple my residence; I would dwell with God, and be in continual safety. Pavilion comes from papilioand ðáðéëéùí, a butterfly. It signifies a tent made of cloth stretched out on poles, which in form resembles in some measure the insect above named.
Strongs: 5520 Cok (Soke) thicket, lair, covert, booth
“In the secret of his tabernacle] Were there no other place, he would put me in the holy of holies, so that an enemy would not dare to approach me.
”He shall set me upon a rock.] He shall so strengthen and establish me, that my enemies shall not be able to prevail against me. He shall hide me where they cannot find me, or put me out of the reach of the fiery darts of the wicked. He who lives nearest to God suffers least from temptation. "Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to thee: resist the devil and he will flee from thee." Adam Clarke
"If God is my salvation, in the time of trouble he shall hide me; he shall set me out of danger and above the fear of it." God will not only find out a shelter for his people in distress (as he did Jer. xxxvi. 26), but he will himself be their hiding-place, Ps. xxxii. 7. His providence will, it may be, keep them safe; at least his grace will make them easy. His name is the strong tower into which by faith they run, Prov. xviii. 10. "He shall hide me, not in the strongholds of En-gedi (1 Sam. xxiii. 29), but in the secret of his tabernacle."
It would be so easy for me to try and close this message; but I’d have to be CRAZY to do it myself. Instead, let me get God to close this from His Word:
And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD
11 "O storm-battered city, troubled and desolate!
I will rebuild you on a foundation of sapphires and make the walls of your houses from precious jewels.
12 I will make your towers of sparkling rubies and your gates and walls of shining gems.
13 I will teach all your citizens, and their prosperity will be great.
14 You will live under a government that is just and fair.
Your enemies will stay far away; you will live in peace. Terror will not come near.
15 If any nation comes to fight you, it will not be because I sent them to punish you.
Your enemies will always be defeated because I am on your side.
16 I have created the blacksmith who fans the coals beneath the forge and makes the weapons of destruction. And I have created the armies that destroy.
17 But in that coming day, no weapon turned against you will succeed. And everyone who tells lies in court will be brought to justice. These benefits are enjoyed by the servants of the LORD; their vindication will come from me. I, the LORD, have spoken! New Living Translation
