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November 25, 2021 7:00 am
Have you ever wanted to run away from your troubles today on the Bible study hour with Dr. James Boyce will study Psalm 55 for David is so anguished over having been betrayed by a close friend that he wishes he could fly away just like a bird. What does David do with these overwhelming feelings. How does he approach God and what can we learn from him to the Bible study our radio and Internet broadcast with Dr. James Boyce preparing you to think and act quickly. David is in trouble again is feeling so distraught that he wants to run away from the pain.
Can you relate to that feeling. If you have your Bible handy turn now to Psalm 55. Notice from your study of the solvents that they don't always have a meaningful relationship with one another, but sometimes they go. That is ensemble follow another for a reason and that's been the case here were some of the songs we've been studying, particularly Psalms 52, 54 and 55.
They all had to do with betrayal in some form so you have a little grouping of songs you say yourself well. Psalm 52, 54 and 55-53 there in the middle answer probably is because in Psalm 54 that follows that it talks about those who have no regard for God.
No fear of God before their eyes. That's the kind of person it's described in Psalm 52, not only as I mentioned in Psalm 54 it's mentioned in Psalm 55 as well, and that's a song we come to tonight.
Now is a development in this matter, betrayal, John 52 David is betrayed by the Edomites title of the song explains that's what it's all about and the Edomites as you and I were not Jews, and therefore this is a foreigner, one who might, under certain circumstances be expected to be an enemy not expect any particular way. Find treatment from an enemy. This is not so surprising. In Psalm 54 there is a progression because there then the trail seems to be by those were David's countrymen.
Title of this Psalms as a betrayal is by this the fights if was an area of southern Palestine south of Bethlehem and Hebron of Lamb is where David came from.
So these are his country people there and they turned their back on cuts deeper now.
In Psalm 55 we find David betrayed by one. It was a very close friend.
He describes it in a very powerful language in verses 12 and following verse 13 says that you a man like myself, my companion, my close friends so you kind of come to a climax always solves a betrayal by the time we got to Psalm 55 now raises the question of course was this close friends betrayed David the very gas is a hit without you know the story of David. You know that the lowest point in his life came when his son Absalom turned against them.
It was to David caught off guard unexpectedness from his own son. Of course I had to flee Jerusalem and he fled with those were loyal to him. One of his best advisors when he trusted the most was a man named Heather Fallon might've expected this man would've come with them but Isabel didn't. He remained in Jerusalem and he became a counselor to Absalom. He actually gave Absalom good counsel, but the young man being proud of his own ability as young men, often ardent, pay attention to the wiser head so hit the ball's counsel was rejected and ends when he understood how things were going. He understood that who would fail and he went home and story tells us you have it there in second Samuel chapters 1517 he went home and hanged himself. Now I said this is the best gap some reason I said it's the best guess is that the circumstances of the story don't actually fit Psalm 55 very well. One thing we find Psalm 55 that David, the author seems to be in Jerusalem settled amateurism is describing evil things are going on in the city. But if you read the story and second Samuel, you'll find that it was on his way out of the city when the already been forced to flee that he first found out about what if the file was doing doesn't quite seem to fit in and there's this problem to develop might've been the counselor he trusted the most.
But it's hard to imagine that he fits the description that you find there in verse 13, my companion, my close friend. One with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship. As we walked with the thought of the house of God may be that it's a heaven file box is at least a question that has caused some commentators to suggest all kinds of alternative interpretations I will describe the Psalm other people on them ascribes it to Jeremiah and some place it does they do many of the other Psalms. Much later in Jewish history later. Of the declining monarchy. Yet the title of the song says it's by David and probably the wisest thing we can do at that point is the site well this is about a betrayal by somebody very close to David, but it's a story that we just don't know anything else about. There's no reason we should not let certainly the account that we have of David's long rain 40 years king is not given in complete form in the historical books of the Old Testament. Many things must've happened there that are recorded and so we begin by saying well probably this is just talking about something like that and an outline for the song. That's the second thing we need to deal with in an introductory way. Many commentators propose a three part outline.
I suppose the majority do.
That's a very useful thing form. I find it in this most intriguing and commends itself best is by Angie Campbell Morgan. He provides it this way. Verses one through eight dear verses nine through 15 fury versus 16 through 23.
Faith, fear, fury and faith. I second that. I wish I could come up with outlines are nice and alliterative like that like to never do it one more modern commentators Marvin Tate finds 10 parts to it now. Sometimes I preach five or six part sermon 10 part sermon that is more than I can handle, so I can pay attention to that the outline that commends itself to me the most is an alternating outline of six or seven, and that's something that we've seen elsewhere in the song. ForexampleinPsalmfivePsalm18Psalms42and43togotogetherlikethatwhatyouhave.Thisstandsthattakesonepointofviewandthenyouhaveanalternatingstanza,andthenthethirdstanzagoesbacktothefirstideaandthenyouhavethesecondideaagainandagaingoesbackandforththatway.WhatusuallyhappensisthatthepartofthePsalmthatdescribespsalmistfeelings,showsprogressasyoumovethroughoutthesong.That'swhatyouhavehere.ImaysuggesthowIseeit,IwouldproposethiskindofanoutlineversesonethrougheightofthefirstdisclosureofthePsalmsanguishversesninethrough11.Otherstanzasit'sdividedinourBiblesdescribethewickednessisthefirstdescriptionofthewickedandthesongverses12through14.Gobacktothepsalmistanguishandyouhavethereforesecondanalysisofwhat'sbotheringhim.Fourthsection,verses15standsallbyitselfisaseconddescriptionofthewicked.Sofarthat'sbeenveryneat.YougotthePsalmispain,thenyougotthewickedthatarecausingthepainandyougotthePsalmispainagainandyougotthewickedagain.ThefifthsectionisaboutthepsalmistbutthistimeSonosistalkingabouthisfaithinGodcanseethere'sbeenprogressversus1619and20and21youhaveathoroughdescriptionofthewicked,andthenfinallyattheveryend22and23youhavethePsalm'sfinalconclusionandadvice.NowIthinkthat'shelpful.Iwanttopursueit.Itakemoretimewiththeearlierstanzasitwastimewiththosebecometowardtheend,IbeginbypointingoutthatthereisasignificantdifferencebetweenthesettingofPsalm52and54thatarealsoaboutbetrayalinthislot.Psalms52and54describeDavidintheperiodinhislifewhenhewasinthewildernessbeforehebecameKingSaulwaspursuinghimwasatough.InhislifeiscallingouttoGod,heisafraidthatSaul'sgoingtocatchhimandtakehislife.He'sgotallofthesemencomethefollowinglaterbecamethecoreofhisarmy.Allthosepeopletotakecareofitandofanyplaceagopeoplewerebetrayinghimoneveryhandbutisinthewilderness.IwasIsaidearlier,whenyoucometothisPsalm,heseemstobewellsettledinJerusalemthat'sthecase,thenthisisreflectingaperiodinhislifeandsolacediedamistakeinthethronewewouldsaytoourselveswithweightwellatlast.It'sworkedoutallright.Theywentthroughbad.Butyouknowlifeislikethat.Godtookcareofthemunprotectedinthemarethereinthewilderness.Hebecametheking,hesettledonthethrone.Certainly,everything'sgoingtobeallrightnow.AndyetwhenwecometothesongwefindDavidwrestlingwithexactlythesamething.Moreover,ifyoulookatitcloselythepainandanguishthathereflectsonthePsalmseemstobeevengreaterwhenhewastalkingaboutinPsalms52and54languagesverystronglooking,saysatthebeginningthatisdistraught.Firsttrueinanguish.Versefourversefoursaystheterrorsofdeathforassailingmefearandtremblingbesendingoverwhelmsinversefiveisalsothisversessixandeightwefindsomethingthatwhathesayshereisthathehasbeenthinkingabouthowwonderfulitwouldbeifhecouldjustrunawayandescapetheseproblemdoesn'tbeautifullypoeticlanguagebeenfearfulbeforehisanguishoverevilbefore,butnowyouseeforthefirsttimehesayswhathereallyliketodoisrunaway.IsaidallthatIhadthewingsofadove.Iwouldflyawayandbeaddressed.Iwouldfleefarawayandstayinthedesert.Ihurrytomyplaceofshelter,farfromtheTempeststormnow.Iaskedatthatpointwhat'shappeninghere.Whydowefindthisnewelementinmyjudgment.Whatwehavehereisanexampleofthewearinessthatcomesstillavaliantworkerwarriorlaterinlifethatisaftertheyouthfulbattlesofthepastareinthepastthemtheenemiesoftheplasticandover,whenweareyoungwedon'texpectlifetobeeasyexpectedtobetalkedmeknowthatwetackleitwithallthekindofyouthfulvigorwehaveandwhereyoungandthatweachievesomevictoriesbythegraceofGod.Butthenwegooninlifeandaswegetolderwegettothepointwherethoseproblemsarestillreallygrindyoudown.Youthoughtyouhavethemlickedatonetimeintheirlivestherestillthereagain.It'satthatpointthatthelawyerwhowassuccessfuloncefindshimselfsayingwhatI'dreallyliketodoisrunawaytofindthetrueallofyouarealyoungyouknowathingaboutthis.Hedoesforgetaboutitforawhile.Speakingtothepeoplethatareolderthanthetrailyou'vebeenworkingforthecompanyandtheproblemsthatyouhadinyourcompanyarestilltherecompaniesandjustasbadasitdidwhenyoustartedoutsomanyyearsago,orevenpayyourtaxesalltheseyearsandyourtaxesarestillhigher.Youreadthenewspapersandthemurderrateisnotgonedownortheproblemsthatyouthoughtyouhadsoughtwithyourchildrenwhentheyareyounger,stillwithyouandthereinmiddleage,yousaytoyourself,well,I'mjustgettingoldandIdon'thavetheenergytocopewiththesethingsanymore.WhatI'dreallyliketodoisrunaway.Manypeopledothatcoursethatis,theyhavethemoneytodoit.That'swhatkeepsthetravelindustrygoingjustflyofftoaniceislandwhereyoudon'thavetoworryaboutthesethingsanymore.WhatIwanttosay,however,isthatitisnotalwayspossibletodoitanditwasnotpossibleforDavid.TheysaidthatIhadthewingsofthedogthatImightviolatebuthedidn'thavethewingsofanomineedidn'tflyawayandtheyhadtostaythere.AndeventhoughthingswerebadandhedescribedsomeofitinthePsalm,itwasunabletodoit.HehadtocarryonandhehadtocarryonuntilGodhimselfretiredinapermanentwaybytakinghometohelpwiththatfirststanza,tellusit'salessoninperseveranceissayingthisissomethingGodvaluesofhischildren.Perseverance,especiallywhenyougettired,especiallyinmiddleorlateageperseveranceisoneofthethingsthatGodlooksforhischildren.Nowhavingunburdenedhimselfalltheseinnerfeelingsandon.ItisDavidnotveryforthrightwaysnotpretendingtobeonethingforthesakeoftheChristianpeoplethataresurroundingthereligiouspeoplebuthiswritingisquitehonesttellingabouthowwefeel.Havingdonethat,henowturnstothewickedorcausinghavocinthecityandhisdescriptionofhisevilinthecity.It'swhatyoufindinthesecondmainstanzaversesninethrough11isreallysomethingthatweliveincitiestodayreadilyunderstandisinversetoDavidtalkabouttheenemy,youmightsaytoyourself,wellitalwaysthekingistalkingabouttheenemylettingmeansservethesenationsthatareroundabouttheretheenemytodefeatthemlikethePhilistineToallowtheirarmiesaboutthemnowbutwhenwegottothestand.WefindthatsomeoneistalkingaboutistalkingabouttheenemywithouttalkingabouttheenemywithinthatgreatlinefromthePogocartoononlylineforPogo.Irememberalotofpeoplerepeatedagoisalittlecartoontherewhereheisfollowingtheenemyonlyseethefootstepsinthewallofwomenprettysoonsomebodyelsejoinsintoenemiesorfollowingtheprimitivefootstepsthereandtheydiscoverthatwhattheybeendoingisgoingaroundinacirclehisownfootstepsofthefollowinginthelinethecomesattheveryendofthecartoonisthis.Wehavemettheenemyandheisus.That'swhatDavidissayinghereisnotouttheretheenemieswithinthislongwithAmerica'scitiesasmuchamatterfactthat'swhat'swrongwithourcountrywasatimeintheColdWarwherewesaidtoourselveswell.TheenemyisRussia.RonaldReagangoingtobegreatevenEmpire.InterestingincidentisprobablymoreofatruespiritualnaturegoingoninRussiatodaythangoingonhere.YouwanttothinkofreligiousfreedomisformalreligiousfreedominRussiatodaywehaveinthiscountrytoday.Theyarelookingfor.Religionteachesknowtheycan'tteachitherenotinthepublicschoolsandpromisingtheenemywithouttheproblemistheenemywiththeendoftheproblemwithAmericatodayisAmericansblaminganybodyelse'sofficeandnevergoingtoseeanyprogresshastobeamoralchangeinAustinarecitizensandthere'sonlyonewaythatcomesaboutinthisbyrediscoveringGodmoreinadvance.Itisevertakenplaceinhistory.Anyway,istakenplacewhenpeoplediscoverGodunderstoodwhathedemandsofthemandhowtheycandothatthroughthepowerofGod.Nowthat'swhatweneedinAmericatoday.Wehavetorediscoveritswhatyoudountilthatcompetencegivesusananswerinversenine.Onethingyoucandobeforerevivalcomesbecauseitmaynotcome.Godmaynotgrantthattous.Onethingyoucandoispray,asDaviddoesinverseninethatGodwillconfoundthewickedandconfusetheirspeechIwasreferringtosomethinginteresting.TherearethosewordsyouknowwhatsortofringabellforanybodythatknowstheOldTestament,youmayfinditringsabellforyoutobackinthe11thchapterofGenesis.YouhavethestoryofthebuildingoftheTowerofBabelandwhatGoddoesiscomedownandconfoundthespeechallthepeoplesotheycanrebelinthiswayagainstitwasagodlesscityandthat'swhat'sreferredtohereDavidissayingwell.ifyou'renotchangingthingsIseeevilallaroundmeandit'saterriblethingpersonifiesandusesviolence,strife,malice,abuse,threatsofliesthreepairstopersonifymesayIseeiteverywhereinthegroundinablockthatoutatleastconfoundthelanguageinthetongueinthethinkingofthepeopleweregoingabouttheevilGoddoesn'tdoesconfoundevilyouknowwestandonthesideofrighteousness.Andwe'regreatlydistressedoftheevilweseeaboutalessonIwouldbefar,farworse,ofthosewhowerepracticingevilcanonlygettheiracttogetherandcooperatewithoneanother,buttheydon't.Youseetheirsinnerslikeeverybodyelsesotheycangetalongeither.OnethingwecanprayiswhatDavidpraysandthatisaGodwillconfoundthemany.6isoneofthegreatblessingsofGoddoesnotalloweviltotriumphisevilobviouslywantstodonowwhenwecometoverses12through14.ItwouldbepossibleIthinktoregardthisasanextensionofthepsalmistdescriptionoftheevilthatheisseeinginJerusalemisdescribedveryvividlyandherehebeginstotalkaboutaparticularaspectofexcesses.Thismanisbetrayedhim.IthinkwhatwereallyhavehereisDavidprobinghisownfeelingsalittlebitdeeperislikeatrainpsychologistorpsychiatristinanalyzingwhat'sgoingoninhisownmindandwhathesayingheresomethinglikethis.HesaysI'mgreatlydistressedaboutthewickednessinthecity,butwhenIgetrightdowntoit,whatisreallybotheringmewhat'sbotheringmethemost.WhyIwassoupsetbythisisthatmyownfriendsturnedagainstmeseemstoknowhimselfashesaysofanenemywereinsultingme.Icouldendureit.Haveherforwardraisinghimselfagainstme.Icanhidefromhim.Andthat'sright,ofcourse,theycouldhavedoneit.Notonlycouldhedoit.Hediditwell.ThatstoryisrecordedwhenhewasfleeingfromJerusalemonthatfirstdesperatedaywhenhewastryingtogetawayandsavehislifewasdemandingshemyBenjamiteandthismanhatedDavidbecauseshehadsupplantedKingSaulwasaBenjamite.ThismanstoodonthekillagainstDavidashewentandhecursedhimhecursedhimwiththesewordsgetoutgetoutyoumanofbloodyouscoundreltheLordisrepaidyouforallthebloodyoushedinthehouseholdofSaulinwhoseplaceyouhaverainbutDaviddidn'trespondbyretaliatingagainstyou,my.EDiSledgerswithhim.Hecould'vesaidgoupandcutthatman'sheadoff,butIwasinhisresponse.WhatDavidsaidinsteadwasthismysonwhoisofmyownfleshistryingtotakemylife.HowmuchmorethanthisBenjamitemaybetheLordwillseemydistressrepaymewithgoodforthecursingthatI'veenduredthisday.Davidwaswellabletohandleabusewhenenemyshouldliftuphishandagainstme.Icoulddonothing.Somebodywasclosetohim.Thisiswhatmadeithurt.ThiswashisfriendwithwhomhehadenjoyedsweetfellowshippersoninwhosepresencehehadworshipedatthehouseofGod.Isupposeit'snogreatrevelationtosaythathispeoplewereclosetous,buthurtusthemost.Spurgeonsetononeoccasion,nonearesuchrealenemiesisfalsefriendsandthenwecometoverse50.That'sthenextsectionextendsallbyitself.It'sthelowpointofthePsalm,anditisthisprayerandwishinwhichDavidcallsforthedestructionofhisfocus.NowthelanguageisimportantherebecausejustasearlierinversenineheuseslanguagelooksbacktoGod'sconfusionoftonguesatthetimeofthebuildingoftheTowerofBabel.FuryrefersbacktosomethingelseoftheOldTestamentdaysofMoseswasarebellionledbyamannamedClorethismanandthosewhowerewithhimwerejudgedbyGod.Inthiswaywereaditforyears.Number16versus31andfollowingthegroundsplitapartunderthem,andtheearthopeneditsmouthandswallowthemwiththeirhouseholds.Allcongressmenandalltheirpossessionstheywentdownaliveintothegravewitheverythingtheyowntheearthclosedoverthem,andtheyperishedandweregonefromthecommunity.Nowthat'swhatDavid'sreferringtoherebecausethat'sthelanguageatthemgodownaliveintothegraveandslinkingbackwhatGoddidnottimeagreatrebellionnowisaskedthequestionwhywhythisvehemenceatthisparticularpointinthesmallwelloneofthecommentators,JJPerraultsaysIthinkisrightatthispointisbecauseofthebetrayalbyhisfriendbringsouttheemotionofDavidandatthispoint,youseeyourbeginningunderstandwhyyouspeakingofsuchstronglanguageatthebeginningbutPerraultsaystohavetrustedthemtofindhistrustbetrayedtoabeenonewithamaninpublicandinprivateboundtothembypersonaltiesbythetiesofreligionandthendefinehonorfaitheffectiveTOthewinds.Thisiswhatseemsoterrible,andthisiswhatcausedthecursetoseesomethinginteresting.IwantyoutonoticethatalthoughDavidtalksabouthisenemiesandthesetermsswimminglytogodownaliveinthegrave.Hedoesn'tspecificallymentionhisformerfriendDavidreallydoessurpriseyouwiththatandwouldevenseemtomethathe'sdistinguishingherebetweenhisenemies.Andmaybethat'stheexternalenemy.CertainlythosewhopracticeevilwementionedexplicitlyinthisverseandtheformerfriendwhohehasintheseparatecategoryoftheversesthatgobeforeIdon'tknowwhetherthat'sreadingtoomuchintoitbutitseemstomethathewasreluctanttopronounceaharshjudgmentonhisfriends.Well,whatismostimportantisthatyoudogetaturningpointinverse16earlierinthePsalm.DavidcalledonGod.That'sthewaythesongbegansayslistentomyprayerGod.Donotignoremypleahearmeanswerme,butIwashonoredoutofhisanguishandpainalmostdesperate.It'salmostlikehedidn'tknowwhetherGodwasgoingtolistenherewhenwecometoverse16wefindsomethingdifferent.It'sadifferenttone.IcalledGod,hesaysoftheLordsavesmeyearsisexpressingwhathisexperiencesbeenandheusesanumberofphrasesherethataresignificant.First16theLordsavesme.Verse17hehearsmyvoice.Verse18.Heransomsmeontheheartishappeningherewhatyouhavethereisfaith.That'swhat'scomethroughinthesongatthispointDavidstillintrouble.Hisenemiesarestillairinthecity.Itisnotenemiesoutsideaswellandhisfriendsbetrayedhim,buthecallsuponGod.AnyreasonfindshimselfthatGodinthepastwhenheiscalledupontosavethemenandhasdeliveredhimandhisransomtofromthoseitwoulddothemharmCwithasubtletrustinGod.Nowhebegins.Thinkonthatandstrengthenhimselfashethinksonthatandactuallytogrowbytheprayerwehaverecordedthesong.Iletslippartofthepointoflegalalternatingstructureistheseexpressivelanguageisreflectedontheproblem'sexpressdesign,whichagainreflectontheproblemagain.Goingalittledeepereachtime.Butnowyousee,havingdoneallthelaughandhavingbroughtallofthistoGod.HefindshisfacegrowingiswhatthepsalmisttryingtoteachusthesamelookyoucancometoGodyoucansaytoyourself,I'moverwhelmedbyanguishterrorisallaboutme.Idon'tknowwheretoturn.AbsolutedesperationanythingbadtobringthattoGodiswhatyou'resupposedtobringittoGod.Butifyoudothatyoubringitbeforeanydelayatallthatyouexplaintheproblemandandandandexplainitagainandexplainagainwhatyoufindishappening.Ifyou'rereallylayingitbeforeGodandareconsciousofGod,youfindyourstrengthgrowingbecauseGodwillbegintoremindyouofwhathe'sdoneforyouinthepastandassureyouthatisgoingtodoitagain.That'sexactlywhatDavidfindsverses20and21wehaveafinalglanceatthewicked,andIthinkevenherethetoteischangedearlier.Davidwasdeeplypainedbythisbetrayal.Idon'tthinkthat'squitethecasehere.Rather,he'ssteppingawayfromhisfeelingsandhe'sreflectingonthewrongdoingitself,andhesayingaboutthisplan.Theproblemisthatheneedsacovenantbreakerthatreallymeansisthathe'sahypocrite.HepretendedonethinganddidanotherspokepeacewillactuallyhisheartwasdevisingwarsayingyousayIthinkthetoneisimportant.Besideunderstandthatright.Iknowwhathewasdoingnow.Ididn'tunderstanditthenithurtmewhenhediditbutIunderstanditshe'srevealedhischaracterisDavidsayingandIdon'twanttobelikethat.Iwanttobeamongtherighteousamongthewicked.Thatbringsus,ofcourse,totheverylastsection,whichIwouldcallhisconclusioninhispracticaladvice.Isitalwaysgoingtobetradersandhypocritesandcovenantbreakersintheworld.It'sasinfulworld.Youcanhopeforrighteousness.Butyouwillalwaysfindsin.Whatyoudoincircumstanceslikethat.It'sarighteouspersonthat'swith.Davidtellsushere,hesays,lookwhatyoutodoisitsverse22.CastyourcaresontheLordandhewillsustainyou.HewillneverlettherighteousfallclassicstatementiswhatPetergotinhisfirstlettertofirstPeterthefifthchapterversesevenyou'llfindthatPeterisquotingthistranslationthatvariesalittlebitcertainlywhatisreferringto.Petersaysinourtranslationcastallyouranxietyonhimbecausehecaresforyou.WhatPeterlearnedtodo.PeterwasananxiouskindofpersonyouknowbeforethecrucifixionwasveryworriedaboutwhatwasgoingtohappentohisLordandarrestedhimandsomethingterriblewouldhappen.Sowehadaswordtodefendhislordofthegood.AndthenwhentheydidarrestJesusthathewasevenmoreworriedabouthimselfisalwaysafraidtostandwithhimandhedeniedhimandyouknowthat'sthat.SetexperienceforPeterwasagreatwarriorbuthelearnedthattheLordhefollowedwastheKingofglory.Theresurrectedall-powerfulLord,andhewasabletobearanyburdenthatPetermighthappilyuponhimself,havinglearnedthathesaystothosewhoarereadingthisletterlookersthewaytolivecastallyourburdensonKimyoudothat,youfindthathecaresforyouandtakecareofyouseminalsayatthatpointisthatthekindofescapism.Nowit'sexactlytheoppositeofescapismistheescapismisearlierinthesong.Ihadthewingsofa.Ididgetawayfromhere.It'snotthatatall.ThisisapersonwhowasstandinginthemidstoftheproblemandwhoputshisburdensontheLord.NotthathemightescaperesponsibilitybutthathemightstandthereandfacetheresponsibilitytriumphantlyforJesusChrist.Whyshouldhedoitwell.Davidspellsitout.HesaysarethreethingsGodwilldofirsttosustainyoudown.It'snaturaltothinkthatwillneverbeabletobearupunderthetroublesthat,wesayhowcanIeverstandupanother'stroubleyoucanbecauseGodwillsustainyouandIwouldsaysinfirstCorinthians1013notemptationhasseizedyouexceptwhatiscommontomanandGodisfaithful.Hewillnotletyoubetemptedabovethatyouareabletobear,andwiththetemptationtoprovideawayofescape,thatyoumaybeabletobear.That'sapromiseofGod.TheywasthatIfoundthattobetrue,andsoallGod'speople.Second,saysDavid.HewillneverlettherighteousfallwasatimeinPeter'slifeandhewasn'tsosurethatwithoutwalkingonthewaterearningstoplookingatJesus.Hebegantosink.Iwasgoingtofallandhesaid,Lordsavemecalledoutloudly,butJesusdidsavethemjustice.GodsavedDavidjustashesavedallcalluponhimthethirdthingDavidsaysisthatGodwillalsodefeatthewickedtobringthemdownstroke.Weseeitagainandagainthathewillmaysucceedforatimebutit'sapromiseaswellasajudgmentofhistory.Letevilcontainswithinitselftheseedsofitsowndestruction.Althoughevilmaysurviveforatime,thewickedmaytriumphovertherighteousfor.EventuallytheydofindthattheycomedownandDavidsaidyoucanbeassuredthatbecauseGodisincontrol.Thebottomline.Ofcourse,iswhatwefindtheveryendofthesongDavidisrecovered.Faithhereishe'sworkedhiswaythroughtheseproblemsandhegetstotheendandhesays,ineffect,asformeI'minakeepondoingexactlywhatGodhasbroughtmeto,asI'velaidtheburdensbeforehim,Iamgoingtocontinuetrustinghim.That'shisfinaltestimonyandneedstobeputintheformofaquestionareyouabletodothat.Willyoudothatyou'refocusingontheevilaroundyouinsteadofthinkingaboutGodandLordJesusChristandthepoweroftheHolySpirit.Youprobablywon'tbeabletosaythat.Asforme,Itrustinyou.Youareinthattumorstageyoudon'tknowwhattodo.Butifyou'llcastyourcaresuponhim,andyou'llfindthattwoshoulderswerebroadenoughtobeartheminhislegsarestrongenoughtocarryanyweight.Youmayimpose,furthermore,isanxioustodoitatWiley'sdoingadealalsosustainandprotectcomfortyouandyou'llbeabletosay,asDaviddoesthisforme.Itrustinyou.YoutrustinGodwillneverbedisappointedasprayerfather,wethankyouagainforthesongisgreatteachingabouthowtolivethewayourrequestbeforeyoueveninthemidstofouranguish,knowingthatyou'retheonetowhomwemustturnandfindaswedothatyouareabletosustainusinthemidstofthetroubleandprotectusandkeepusandgiveusstrengthtocarryon.DowhatyouhavecalledustodotohelpustobelikethatandtolearnthismatteroftheChristianlifeisamatteroflearning,step-by-step,daybyday.Sometimesthismomentbymoment,minutebyminute.WepraythatyouhelpustodothatinorderthatwemightgrowingodlinessandinthatwaythatyouhavesetonforusbyJesusChrist.HisnamethankyouforlisteningtothismessagefromtheBiblestudyourlistenersupportedministryoftheallianceofconfessingEvangelicals.Theallianceisacoalitionofpastors,scholarsandchurchmenwhoholdtothehistoriccreedsandconfessionsofthereformedfaithandwhoproclaimbiblicaldoctrineinordertofosterareformedawakeningintoday'schurch.Tolearnmoreaboutthealliancevisitalliancenet.organdwhileyou'rethere,visitouronlinestorereformedresources.YoucanfindmessagesandbooksfromDr.Boyceandotheroutstandingteachersandtheologians,oraskforafreereformedresourcescatalogbycalling1-800-488-1888.PleasetakethetimetowritetousandsharehowtheBiblestudyhourhasimpactedyou.Welovetohearfromyouandprayforyou.Ouraddressis600EdenRd.,Lancaster,PA17601.PleaseconsidergivingfinanciallytohelpkeeptheBiblestudyourimpactingpeoplefordecadestocome.Youcandosothatourwebsitealliancenet.orgoverthephone1-800-488-1888orsendacheckto600EdenRd.,Lancaster,PA176014Canadiangiftsmailthoseto237RougeHillsDr.,Scarborough,ONM,onescenetwoline.ThanksforyourcontinuedclearanceandforlisteningtoBiblestudy.Ourpreparingyoutothinkandact