Temporary Defeat

BIG IDEA:

GOD SOMETIMES GIVES TEMPORARY DEFEAT TO SET THE STAGE

FOR MAGNIFYING HIS GLORY THRU DELIVERANCE

INTRODUCTION:

Israelite patriot being trampled over and seemingly ignored by God;

Tone: mingling of faith and sorrow

God’s might as shown in deeds both of mercy and justice should be called to mind in troublous times as a stay to our fainting faith

I. (:1-3) ISRAEL’S HISTORY PROVES THAT GOD DOES GIVE VICTORY

A. HISTORY PROVIDES PERSPECTIVE

1. Dangerous to just live in the present

like a horse with blinders on; like tunnel vision;

evidence of a lack of maturity = living like a child; true wisdom views the present in the context of the big picture

2. 1 Peter teaches us to focus on the future = Live for Eternity

3. we need to learn the lessons of history because history provides perspective -- 3 main lessons:

B. HISTORY PROVES THAT THE PROBLEM IS NOT ALWAYS WEAKNESS ON MY PART --

since the victories of God’s people in the past were not achieved by their strength and power

C. HISTORY PROVES THAT THE PROBLEM IS NEVER WEAKNESS ON GOD’S PART--

since God has demonstrated His power in the past and He is the same yesterday, today, and forever

D. HISTORY PROVES THAT THE SECRET TO VICTORY IS GOD’S FAVOR = THE LIGHT OF HIS PRESENCE UPON WHOM HE CHOOSES

II. (:4-8) BECAUSE THE GOD OF ISRAEL IS OUR GOD AND LEADER WE SHOULD BE CONFIDENT EVEN WHILE WE ARE EXPERIENCING TEMPORARY DEFEAT

A. OUR ATTITUDE TOWARDS THE FUTURE IS ONE OF CONFIDENCE (:4-5)

the omnipotent Commander-In-Chief is our King and God and can command victory any time He wants to

B. OUR BASIS FOR CONFIDENCE (:6,8)

1. Not trusting in our own resources

2. But boasting in our God --

commitment to always giving thanks to our God

C. OUR ENCOURAGEMENT FROM HISTORY (:7, 9-16) -- OUR GOD HAS LED US INTO PAINFUL, EMBARRASSING DEFEAT

The Psalmist is not blind to reality. He calls defeat "defeat".

The Psalmist does not deny the sovereignty of God, but

gives testimony to it.

THE CYCLE OF DEFEAT

Rejection by God (executed by our enemies) -- should lead to humbling

Defeat

Retreat

Abuse

plundering of resources

ridicule -- leading to shame and disgrace

Leads to further Rejection by our family, friends, & neighbors

Tone of amazement -- How could God inflict such undeserved suffering on His own

people – allowing the world to mock God as well?

v.12 "Thou dost sell Thy people cheaply,

And hast not profited by their sale."

IV. (:17-22) DEFEAT HAS NOT COME FROM SIN OR LED TO SIN

A. DEFEAT HAS NOT LED TO SIN -- We have patiently endured more than could be expected and yet have remained loyal (:17-18)

B. OUR GOD HAS CHOSEN TO LEAD US INTO A DESPERATE SITUATION (:19)

D. DEFEAT HAS NOT COME FROM SIN -- Since we know God can read our hearts like an open book, we have not been trying to fool God (:20-21).

E. CONCLUSION: THE CAUSE AND RESULT OF OUR DEFEAT MUST BE FOR GOD’S GLORY

"for Thy sake" we are under such intense persecution (:22)

V. (:23-26) PLEA FOR DELIVERANCE SO THAT GOD WILL BE GLORIFIED FOR HIS UNFAILING LOVE (cf. Mark 4:36-41)

A. THE LORD’S DELAY IN DELIVERING US SEVERELY TESTS OUR FAITH

During the prolonged time of pressure, don’t expect to

understand WHY the Lord is delaying His help

B. WE CAN BE CERTAIN THAT THE LORD WILL NOT REJECT US FOREVER

Defeat is only temporary (we may be tempted to doubt even this basic truth)

C. GOD IS OUR ONLY SOURCE OF DELIVERANCE

D. OUR ONLY ARGUMENT IS THE CHARACTER AND PROMISES OF GOD

* * * * * * * * * *

DEVOTIONAL QUESTIONS:

1) You have heard the expression: “It is better to be lucky than good.” The biblical counterpart would be: “It is better to be favored by God than favored by the oddsmakers.” How had Israel learned this lesson throughout her history? (vs. 3)

2) Have we boasted about our God to someone this week? (vs.8) (Cf. how aggressive the world is in boasting about things that are Vanity.)

3) In what ways have you experienced brokenness and humiliation?

4) How strong is our confidence in our own innocence and integrity? Can we testify with the psalmist that we have not “forgotten the name of our God”?

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