The Goodness Of God

The Goodness of God

Psalms 34

Greeting-

Good morning everyone, Isn’t God good!

I am Happy that you are here with us as we open His Word together on this Memorial Day weekend.

We are blessed people when you think of those that gave the ultimate sacrifice so that you and I might be able to sit freely wherever we are at and hear God’s Word without someone breaking into our home and dragging us off to prison.

Why even those that don’t believe in God have been given the same freedom to not believe because someone has given them that freedom.

In a time of such unrest, I am constantly reminded that there are still a lot of heroes.

I cannot help but think of someone else who paid the ultimate sacrifice that I might have a choice wither I will serve the Lord and accept the sacrifice He made for each of us.

Jesus I thank you for the freedom to worship and the freedom of serving you.

You are a good, good God!

Prayer-

Father, today we take time to say thank you for your goodness to each and everyone of us. We are living in some challenging times but I say thank you for loving us and providing for us and allowing your presence to be our strength and power in a time of unrest and instability. I am glad you are the rock that holds us together and you are our ever present help in times like these. Take time this morning to speak to each of us that know your goodness and offer up to you worship and praise. In Jesus Name Amen.

If you would turn to Psalm 34- we are going to read the broken and sincere words of King David at a dark time in his life.

Anyone been broken by life?

Had things not go according to plan?

Been discouraged, disappointed, betrayed, lonely, shamed or embarrassed?

Psalm 34-

King Abimelech is hot on the trial of King David

The Great King David who killed thousands against King Saul went into hiding.

“After he was recognized by the Philistines, he panicked and pretended to have gone crazy. He pounded his head against the city gates and foamed at the mouth, spit dripping from his beard. The king said Don’t you think I have enough crazy people to put up with as it is without adding another? Get him out of here!”

David was let go and went into the hills to hide.

It was in the hills and the cave that the Lord began to speak to him and minister to him.

It was dark before it got light.

The great man of God in the first 10 verses of this Psalm is writing a hymn unto the Lord and the last 12 verses are a sermon to each of us.

For some of us these last several months have been and are dark times and we feel like the enemy of our soul is right at our heel. Believe me, I know what it feels like to be in the shadow of death and have things coming at you from all sides. When you feel like hiding in a cave and not wanting to deal with all that is going on.

Christian pastor, author and speaker Ravi Zecharias passed away and not much has been said by the national media. A great man of God that literally has shared the gospel with millions of people. He has heard the encouraging words of Jesus “Well done good and faithful servant”

The older I get, the more I see people that have ministered to me are going home.

I watch my loved ones age and struggle in health and with Covid-19.

They now have a diagnosis called Covid-19 PTSD.

When anxiety issues push you past comfortable and take you to dangerous levels- where do you turn? Who or what do you lean on?

Society has a tendency to push us to temporary fixes.

Take a pill for it, drink alcohol to numb it or get rid of it and start new.

I believe in new starts and I believe in a God of second and third chances, but repeated new starts are a red flag.

As a person of faith- who do you turn too? Who are you leaning on?

I think David can help us see some important lessons of our faith.

When you are in a dark place- Get your praise on (Repeat)

Passion Translation

“Lord, I’m bursting with joy over what you’ve done for me! My lips are full of perpetual praise. I’m boasting of you and all your works, so let all who are discouraged take heart. Join me everyone! Let’s praise the Lord together. Let’s make him famous! Let’s make his name glorious to all.”