Victory Despite Oppression!

SERMON OUTLINE:

(1). Confidence (vs 1-3)

(2). Admission (vs 4)

(3). Schemers (vs 5-8)

(4). Betrayal (vs 9)

(5). Requests (vs 10-12)

SERMON BODY:

Ill:

• A little boy was standing at the end of an escalator looking up.

• The shop assistant asked, “Son are you lost?”

• He replied, “No, I’m waiting for my chewing gum to come back.”

• TRANSITION: I would probably be correct in saying.

• That most people do not like waiting.

• Even in our modern age of conveniences, waiting is still a big part of life.

• When we think of waiting, what comes to mind?

• e.g., We wait at least two hours when checking in at an airport terminal,

• e.g., We wait in a doctor’s & dentists waiting room,

• e.g., We wait in line at the supermarket,

• e.g., We wait stuck in rush hour traffic.

• The facts are most of us are waiting for something most of the time:

• And if we are honest, we do not like waiting!

Quote: Louis L'Amour

“Victory is won not in miles but in inches.

Win a little now, hold your ground, and later, win a little more.”

• We may not like waiting!

• But it is a process we often go through before we can know victory!

• And that is the experience of the psalmist who penned this psalm.

Note:

• The brief given me for this passage had an additional statement that read,

• ‘Are we confident in God’s provision for our lives?’

Ill:

• Birthday card I saw.

• It had on the front cover, ‘Darling you are the answer to my prayers!’

• And on the inside, it read,

• ‘You are not exactly what I prayed for, but apparently you are the answer! I

• TRANSITION: Are we confident in God’s provision for our lives?

• Simple answer, Yes!

• But the way God provides may not be the way we want!

BACKGROUND:

• David was the first king in Jerusalem,

• His reign was later looked back on as a golden era.

• He is known both as a great fighter and as the "sweet singer of Israel",

• King David experienced times of popularity,

• But he also tough times,

• Times when some of his close friend’s revolted against him,

• And one time even his own son Absalom rebelled against him.

That is thought to be the background to this Psalm - the rebellion of Absalom:

• Absalom was the third and favourite son of David,

• 2 Samuel chapter 14 verse 25 describes Absalom,

• ‘As the most handsome man in the kingdom’.

• Joke: Now you will have to trust me on this one,

• Buit it is not easy living with good looks and being known for them!

• Only a few of us can handle the pressure!

Now, one day Absalom decided to rebel against his father.

• And he would make a bid for the throne – he wanted to be crowned king.

• He built support for himself among the common people.

• By promising justice for all.

• His plan of betrayal seemed to work well,

• (You can read the sad story of events in 2 Samuel chapters 11-16.)

• We are told, all Israel and Judah flocked to his side,

• And David, with only a handful of allies was forced to flee and hide.

Note:

• Despite the sad and sordid circumstances to the background of this Psalm,

• It starts off positively with a note of praise.

(1). Confidence (vs 1-3)

Blessed is those who have regard for the weak.

the LORD delivers them in times of trouble.

2 The LORD protects and preserves them—

they are counted among the blessed in the land—

he does not give them over to the desire of their foes.

3 The LORD sustains them on their sickbed.

and restores them from their bed of illness.

Ill:

• Native American Indian went into a Bank in Texas.

• He looked at the bank manager and said:

• “Grass all gone, sheep all sick, waterholes all dry!”

• The bank manager took him through to the back of the bank,

• And opened a safety deposit box,

• In that box was gold nuggets that the Native American had mined.

• The Native American then said:

• “Plenty of grass, sheep well, waterhole full”.

• His circumstances were the same,

• But he had resources in abundance to survive those circumstances.

• To modernise the illustration,

• If you have money in the bank, you do not fear when a bill comes in!

• Because you have the financial resources to meet that debt!

• TRANSITION:

• No matter how dark and stormy our situation may be,