Hope In The Midst of Battle
Text: Psalm 27:1-6
Introduction: Are you struggling today? Do you feel your whole life is being wrecked by ongoing spiritual battles? Do you wish Satan would go pick on somebody else for a while? Do you need some inner peace and comfort? Do you wish you could just experience a little peace and hope for a change?
This psalm draws a picture of a raging battle. From David’s own words, we see that he is undergoing a tremendous battle. His life is wreaked with chaos and difficulty. Yet, as we read through it, we begin to see that even in the midst of the raging battles, David continues to find hope and assurance.
Hope is a powerful thing. It has been said, “There is no medicine like hope, no incentive so great, and no tonic so powerful as expectation of something better tomorrow.” Martin Luther said, “Everything that is done in the world is done by hope.”
The dictionary describes hope as “to have a wish to get or do something or for something to happen or be true, especially something that seems possible or likely.” Hope, from the world’s standpoint, is just what that definition describes - a wish or a desire - a longing for something that may or may not take place.
God’s definition for hope is much different than the world’s. While the world sees hope as merely a fond wish or desire, the Bible speaks of hope, for the believer anyway, as a deep settled confidence that God will keep His promises! Jeremiah said it like this: “Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is,” (Je. 17:7).
I know you have battles; but do you have hope? Are you resting in the sure confidence that God will do just as He has promised He would? That is the essence of hope and hope is a possession we all need to possess. I want to look into these verses and talk to you about the hope God gives in the midst of your battles. I want to show you, from the words of David, why you and I have a reason to hope in the Lord. Notice with me where our hope comes from and what hope will accomplish in our lives.
I. Our Confidence in the Lord Provides Hope
- vv. 1-3 - "The LORD is my light and my salvation--whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life--of whom shall I be afraid? When evil men advance against me to devour my flesh, when my enemies and my foes attack me, they will stumble and fall. Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then will I be confident."
- David begins his psalm of hope by declaring his personal faith in the Lord. Notice his use of the word “my” three times in verse 1. David is declaring his personal relationship with God. A personal relationship with God is the basic foundation for hope.
A. David’s Confidence Is In The Person Of The Lord – God is his “light”, his “salvation” and his “strength.” There is a tremendous blessing in these three titles attributed to our God.
1. As Light, God delivers His people from Darkness – “For He has delivered us from the power of darkness and has translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son.” (Co 1:13).
2. As Salvation, God delivers His people from Damnation – “I tell you for certain that everyone who hears my message and has faith in the one who sent me has eternal life and will never be condemned. They have already gone from death to life.” (Jn 5:24).
3. As Strength, God delivers His people from Defeat – “But thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (I Co 15:57).
Application: These three great characteristics of God serve to give us hope even in the midst of battle! Because of Who our God is, we do not need to fear any enemy that should arise against us. Satan himself is no match for our sovereign God!
B. David’s Confidence Is In The Performance Of The Lord – David’s present hope in the Lord rests upon that which the Lord has done for him in the past. God did not fail him then and He will not fail His child now.
- That same confidence is ours today! The God we serve is unchangeable. God proclaimed in Malachi 3:6 says: "I am the LORD All-Powerful, and I never change." He is the same God with the same power as always. He has never and will never change. Because He has been faithful in the past, we can count on His being faithful now.
Application: Consider all the things He has done in your life; the victories He has won; the enemies He has vanquished; the mountains He has moved. Think on these things and remember that the God who performed countless wonders in the past is still that same God today! That should give His people hope!
II. Our Commitment to the Lord Provides Hope
- v. 4 - " One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple."
- Living our lives faithful to the Lord provides a measure of hope that could otherwise never exist. David mentions three goals in this verse. These three goals all arise from a single commitment to serve the Lord faithfully from a heart of love.
A. He Is Committed To Lingering Near The Lord –
1. David wants to spend his entire life in the house of the Lord.
2. He longs to be where the presence of the Lord is.
3. We need that same passion - longing to be where the Lord is.
4. A genuine desire to be near Him will manifest itself in clear action.
a. A commitment to prayer and to the study of the Word of God.
b. A commitment to public and private worship.
5. Those who truly want to linger near the Lord will find a way.
B. He Is Committed To Loving The Lord –
1. David wants to “gaze upon the beauty of the Lord.”
2. He wants to “seek Him.”
3. David wants to not only be where the Lord is but to worship the Lord as well.
C. He Is Committed To Leaning On The Lord –
1. David expresses his desire to call upon the Lord; to commune with God; and to make requests of God.
2. David declares his utter dependence upon the Lord for all things.
Application: Our commitment to God provides hope in the day of our battles. As we Linger near Him; Love Him and Lean on Him, we can have the absolute confidence that He will see to our needs and to the things that would otherwise cause us to worry.
III. Our Comfort in the Lord Provides Hope
- vv. 5-6 - "For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock. Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me; at his tabernacle will I sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the LORD."
A. God Has A Sheltered Place For Us –
1. David proclaims that the Lord will keep him safe in His dwelling.
a. The King’s dwelling was erected in the middle of the army’s encampment.
b. It was then surrounded by an army of brave soldiers.
c. This was the safest place on the battlefield.
2. As the battles of life rage about us, we are safely tucked away in our King’s dwelling place.
3. Those who have entered His dwelling are protected by Him and, even while the battles rage around them, they are entertained with the peace and joy of the King Himself. No enemy can penetrate the defenses and enter this private place. It is protected from the enemy!
B. God Has A Secret Place For Us –
1. The word “tabernacle” brings to mind the place of worship.
2. The “secret” place refers to the “holy of holies” - a place of special protection.
3. It was in this place that David could find himself shut up with God and shut out from the problems of the world around him.
4. As life’s battles rage around us, it is good to know we have a sevret place to go and hide and to be alone with Almighty God.
C. God Has A Secure Place For Us –
1. When life threatens to overflow, the Lord will set him on a rock, a place of security, a place that is unchangeable, powerful and immovable.
2. This rock allows those who ride its heights to rise far above the troubles raging below!
D. God Has A Special Place For Us –
1. David says that he will worship the Lord; he will praise the Lord; because of the things the Lord has done for him.
2. Because the Lord has lifted him above the battles; because the Lord has hidden him away in the secret place; because the Lord sheltered him away from the terrors of the battles; he will praise His name!
3. When hope has turned to reality in our lives; when the Lord has come through for us again and delivered us from the enemy; we should be quick to praise Him and to offer to Him the worship and adoration He deserves. When He brings us through our battles, He will put us in a special place from which we can exalt His lovely Name!
Conclusion: Are you fighting battles today? Are you struggling with things you can’t seem to overcome? Are there strongholds in your life that you can’t seem to bring down? We all struggle. We all have our difficult times and situations. It is wonderful to know that in all of these difficult times we are not alone. As children of the King, we can have hope. Inn the midst of our battles, we can have hope. Deep inside we can have that special assurance that everything is going to be alright.
Maybe you are here right now and you are struggling. Maybe you have some life-controlling problem that just continues to buffet you around. There is hope! Come lest’s pray together. Maybe Satan keeps bringing up your past. You need peace. You need hope. You need to be free from all that baggage. Come, let’s find peace through prayer together.
Disclaimer: Portions of this message or some of the ideas contained here may have been gleaned fro other sources. Please feel free to use this message as the Lord leads for His glory.
