Latest / Teachings On This Day On FerventWord / On May 01, 2022: Psalm 69 Bring Your Heart To God
Transcript
- Well, as we look at Psalm Chapter 69 this morning, I've titled The Message Bring Your Heart to God, bring your heart to God. Here we see the psalmist is David. It tells us in the introduction to the Psalm, and David is consistently a great example for us of. Whatever we're going through, and whatever we might be facing, the the things that are happening internally for us that that we would be open and genuine and honest with God. God about that internal experience that we are having and that we would bring our hearts to God in a very real way. There are many times where we have kind of by tradition and by you might label it as religion. We've learned some things that are OK and some things that are kind of forbidden. Right and and so knowing what is true, knowing what is right and knowing what is wrong or forbidden a lot of times, what happens in us is a conflict because the things that we're experiencing within. And we feel legitimately we. We genuinely feel them at the same time we know them. To not be true. We know it to be false. We we know what the Bible says. We know what the promises are. We know what the future holds. And yet, at the same time what's happening internally, there's many times a battle with what I know and what I feel. And so here David is experiencing that many times in his life and and as he writes these things down, one of the benefits I see as we work our way through psalms is to learn how to not pretend like we don't have those battles. And because we. No better, right? It's like, well, I know that's not true, so sometimes the way that we try to handle that is by pretending that we aren't experiencing that in turn. And so we try to just like force change the subject and just pretend like that's not really an issue. I don't really, you know, have to deal with that because I know the truth and and I just don't need to really allow those feelings to be acknowledged in my heart or brought before the Lord, but. David, here I think provides us great comfort, encouragement, and help in that he is just genuine with God. And if what he's going through what he is experiencing internally is challenging to our religious minds, that's OK. He just brings it anyways and trust that God can. Handle his floundering, his questions, his mistakes is bad doctrine. Sometimes in his head and his emotional experience that he is having and it's very similar to many of the things that we talked about as we in previous to this, working our way through the Book of Job. Same thing you know job is in a similar situation, just expressing his heart. To God and it was genuine. All of the details were not necessarily precisely accurate in his doctrine, and you know, the way that he was talking about things. But but he was just trying to express what he was experiencing, not necessarily doctrinal truth for all humanity, for all eternity and and similar with David here, that he's seeking to be really a model for us. And I find it interesting here in the Psalms that God captures these. By the spirit. Has them written down and recorded for all history so that we can be encouraged and instructed in these things. This Psalm is quoted in the New Testament many times. In fact, it's second only to Psalm Chapter 22 and the number of quotations in the New Testament, and so it's one not only that God took care to record for us, but also to point us back to many times as the different authors of the New Testament were recording. Their ministries and the things that the Lord had. Put upon their hearts as. Well, and there's a reason why there's so many quotations is that there's a parallel here. There's many messianic references to Jesus in the life of Jesus and here in Psalm chapter 69 we we really get a good preview of a little bit of an insight. Into the things that Jesus felt and experienced in his life. And so as we read through this song, we're reading Davids account and what you know, he's relating as he is going through things. But it's also a foreshadowing of the the things that the Lord would experience, and it helps us to understand a little bit of our savior a little bit better. And and it should help us to then be able. And be free to be real and genuine as we experience similar things and to take those things to the Lord in Hebrews Chapter 4. Here it tells us talking about Jesus as our high priest, that he understands our weaknesses because he faced the same testings that we do. The only difference is that he did not sin. And so the author of Hebrews comes to a conclusion based on that truth. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. Let's come boldly, and I would encourage you this morning to take that to heart to bring your heart to God, to come boldly to God with what you're going through with what you're thinking with the feelings that you're having. Whether or not you know them to be true or false, or you know whether or not you know different promises and different outcomes are. Are given to you, but to bring the reality of who you are and where you're at to God because he experienced those feelings, those internal battles and struggles, those those mental things that that you're facing. He he experienced those things. And so he can sympathize. He understands our weaknesses, and so we can come to him as one who knows who has walked in our shoes, experienced those things, and can handle those challenges and those things that we bring to God and help us to work through them in a way. That grows us that develops us and helps us to become more like him. Well, there's four parts to this message this morning. Four points to consider. Point number one is found in verses one through 6 and that is bring your overwhelmed heart to God. Now this Psalm is a little bit longer than we typically would cover on a Sunday morning, and so I'm going to be moving a little bit fast through the verses. Camping out on some and moving. Through others, and so there's plenty of room for you to take notes of these things and dig in even deeper on your own later on. But first of. All we see the understanding of being overwhelmed from the heart of David. Look again at verse one and two. David says save me, oh God, for the flood waters are up. To my neck. Deeper and deeper, I sink into the mire. I can't find a foothold. I am in deep water. And the floods overwhelm me. The first thing we encounter as we make our way into this song is David's cry. For help save me, oh God, and and he right away goes into an illustration to really capture what he's experiencing. Internally, he relates this to being stuck in floodwaters. The waters are rising and rising and rising, and he says, the floodwaters are up to my neck and and immediately it paints this picture for us. Of having a situation something that's troubling, something that's stressful, something that's difficult and and it doesn't just stay at the same spot, but but the pressures are mounting and the situation is getting worse and and and the further along we go, the more difficult things are becoming. And now the floodwaters. Are all the way up to my neck? And you can kind of picture someone just doing their best to keep their head above water. And I don't know what kind of flood waters you have experienced in your life or if you have a situation right now where you can immediately relate to this. But but I think we all have this understanding of these situations that that build that mount, and and that develop and become more intense over time. And David is in the midst. Of that, he's been experiencing this trial for a while. He's been struggling with this battle for a while and and now it's it's so far along. Well, it really looks like there's there's not going to be any help that things are going to just be completely ended by the end. Of this trial. I don't know if you've ever been fearful of water where you have that experience of. Water up to your neck. Perhaps splashing into your mouth and you're beginning to panic a little bit. I don't have strong memories of being fearful of water. I've always enjoyed that time in the beach and some of the the chaos and the panic of getting knocked over and spun around by waves. Just added to. The excitement of it all, maybe I would have a different experience today. You know, if I was in there but. Uh, when I was younger, I just I I that was a a thrill adrenaline rush but as I was thinking about this I do. One time I was for work in New York and got in a little bit early. The trip really didn't start till the next day. The workplace activities and so kind of had a free evening and so a bunch of the other people from work. They went out to, you know, go do the party day and I wasn't into that so I just thought I'll just go take a walk. I saw you know, nice little kind of courtyard place down the road and so I just set out from my hotel and walked down the street there in New York and just kind of explored the neighborhood. A little bit. But then it started to get dark. And all of a sudden I began to be aware of my lack of direction and ability to navigate very well on my own, and that was before, you know, I would have a smartphone and a map with me all the time. And you know, telling me which way to go every every moment and and so I began to try to make my way back to the hotel and. The the stress level was starting to rise I I really I kind of thought things were familiar but I. Wasn't quite sure. And it was getting darker and darker and. I find myself in this like industrial neighborhood completely. You know, clear that I was totally in the wrong spot and then I see this guy right across the street from me on a bike and he was a scary looking guy. I mean just. Kind of brought a little fear to my. Heart, as I saw him ride by but then. He made a U turn and he just started to slowly ride him behind me as I was. Looking and you could imagine you know the the floodwaters began to rise and I was up to my neck and I was praying, Lord, I've heard those stories about people being alone and fearful and and then the the attackers that would be attackers. You know, saw two angels there. I was like Lord, just do that please I I just I need that kind of delivering save me oh God. The flood waters are up to my neck. And I'm very thankful that God did save me and the guy took off and then I saw the street where I needed to be and I was able to get back to the hotel. But boy, what an opportunity for me to call out to the Lord and to experience that kind of thing and. That's where David's at. He's he's doing the best that he can. He's scrambling but but not making progress notice in verse two, he says deeper and deeper. I sink into the mire. I can't find a foothold. I'm in deep water and the floods overwhelm me. I'm I'm trying, I'm digging, I'm swimming I'm but I can't get a foothold. Every attempt I make too. To get out of this situation. Wines winds up taking me deeper into the water. And I'm overwhelmed. In verse three, he says, I'm exhausted. From crying for help, my throat is parched. My eyes are swollen with weeping. Waiting for my God. To help me. Have you ever been exhausted from crying for help? And we could think of that in the physical sense that there probably for many of you are situations where. Maybe searching for a child or a pet, or you know, trying to overcome a situation that is, you know physical and present and and just. Exhausting as you cry for help and try to handle that situation. But also we know that experience internally where. Our soul just has no strength left. There's no more will there's. There's no more energy or or light within us that we're just. So weary and burdened. From crying for help, it's been a long time in that trial trying to resolve it, but the floodwaters continue to rise. We get a little insight into some of the things that David's experiencing in verse for. Those who hate. Me without cause outnumber the hairs on my head. Many enemies tried to destroy me with lies, demanding that I give back. What I did in steel? David is outnumbered. He's being attacked. There's more enemies than the number of hairs on his head, and for me that's one guy in New York, right? But he's overwhelmed by those coming against him now. This is quoted in John Chapter 15. In in reference to the Lord and those who hated him without any cause, he did not do wrong to anybody. And yet people hated him, and so David is the recipient of hatred from those who did. They didn't have the right to hate day. If they didn't have the right to attack David the way that they did in a similar way, the Lord himself experienced that kind of overwhelming Ness as there were many enemies against the Lord, but for no cause for it no wrong that was done. David goes on in verse 50. God, you know how foolish I am. My sins cannot be hidden from you and so on. The one hand he saying these guys hate me without a cause, but also David recognizing I'm not saying I'm sinless and that there is, you know no cause for any kind of issues in my life. God, you know how foolish. Cheyenne, and even if I wanted to my sins can't be hidden from you. You know where I'm at. You know what I'm going through? You know that I'm not perfect. And yet he's calling out to God. His foolishness not hidden his sins, not hidden. But that doesn't keep them from running to God from calling out. To God for help. Versuchs don't let those who trust in you be ashamed because of me. Well, sovereign Lord of Heavens armies don't let me cause them. To be humiliated. Oh God of Israel. I think verse six is a common prayer for every leader within the body of Christ. Leaders within the home. Recognizing I'm foolish recognizing I'm sinful. Lord, don't let my mistakes. Because for harm or shame. Or anything like that in the lives of. Others around me. What a a terrible experience that is to have that kind of impact in people's lives. And so David here is overwhelmed with a lot of things. There's a lot that you could draw just from these verses. He's overwhelmed emotionally internally with with the weight and the burden. Of of this. Situation that's mounting in building. He's overwhelmed with the the ineffectiveness of the efforts and his attempts to try to resolve this. He's overwhelmed with hopelessness, really with the lack of help that there's nobody around him overwhelmed by people who hate him and are attacking him and want to see him destroyed. Overwhelmed by. The fear of failure and letting others down. The pressure did not disappoint others and to not disappoint the Lord he's just. Feeling the great burden. In this state of being overwhelmed. His heart. Is weighed down, the floodwaters have risen. And he can bring that kind of heart to God. And express all of these things to God and say, God, this is where I'm at. I I feel like it's been a long time. It's been building and I'm about to fail. I'm gonna fail. I don't want to fail and I don't want to be an embarrassment to you or to the people around me. There's there's just so much going on. The picture here of the flood waters rising up also brought to mind the picture of Peter getting out of the boat when Jesus called to him to step out onto the water. And what happened to Peter? Was he walked good for a couple of steps? But notice then he saw the strong wind and the waves. He was terrified and began to sink. Saved me Lord, he shouted. He saw and began to be overwhelmed, the waves, the wind. Really struck his heart and so like David, he says save me Lord and it tells us that the Lord reached out immediately and grabbed him. Encourage him he. Why do you have so little faith? We need to work on that? Peter, let's let's build up your faith so that you're not so easily overwhelmed by the wind and the waves. And that's one of the things that God does, and allowing these kinds of situations in our lives is he's building us up, building our faith so that we call out to him and see his salvation in our lives and learn. Trust him. In the midst of those overwhelming situations, but you need to know that you can bring your overwhelmed heart to God. He's not afraid I put the wrong verse on the screen, didn't I? I apologize, actually, I didn't put that verse in my slides at all. OK, so ignore that no, but Matthew 14, verse 30 and 31 if you want to look that up later and check out Peter's example there. But you can bring your overwhelmed heart to God because. Hebrews chapter 4, now looking at the right verse. This high priest of ours understands our weaknesses. He experienced the same things that David is describing here. Jesus experienced those things he experienced being overwhelmed. He experienced being surrounded by those who hate him, and we'll see that even more as we continue on in the verses. He experienced that these kinds of things where he relied upon. The father, in the same way that you and I rely upon him in the same way that you and I rely upon God. He experienced that internal struggle and those bad. That feeling of being overwhelmed, the feeling of floods rising and try not to panic and seeking to trust God in the midst of it all. And so here we're encouraged to bring our overwhelmed heart to God while moving on to versus 7 through 18. We get point #2 this morning and that is bring your lonely heart. To God. Verse seven and eight says for I endure insults for your sake. Humiliation is written all over my face. Even my own brothers pretend they don't know me. They treat me like. A stranger. Here, as we head into these next verses, of course they're tide to the previous or not, a completely. You know, different idea, different subject. This is part of why he's feeling so overwhelmed, but here he really isolates and identifies a little bit more the the loneliness that he's experiencing from those who are opposed to him. And coming against him. It's really David's devotion to God that has brought on this loneliness, his devotion to God. He'll be explaining here is been producing betrayal. And abandonment and isolation where others around him have stepped back and turned away. Because of his commitment to God and his work, he says I endure insults for your sake. David says I'm so aligned with God. That people are throwing insults at me. They're really throwing insults at God. They're really attacking God, but I'm so aligned with God that that those insults land on me. And I'm the the kind of the the person that they see. They can't really throw those insults at God so easily. He's not as tangible, right? But here I am. I'm a easy target for those who want to attack God, and so these things are unleashed on David. They're they're unleashed on me. David is saying. And so humiliation is written all over my face. I'm being treated poorly. I'm being humiliated. These things are happening to me because. Of my devotion to God. And it's to the extent that even my own brothers pretend they don't know me. Even my own brothers. Separated from me. This is another. Passage where we can see the life of Jesus, the Ministry of Jesus in John Chapter 7. It tells us that Jesus brothers didn't believe in Jesus. During his life in ministry after his resurrection then they came to believe. But during his life in ministry. There was some mockery going on. You can look at John Chapter 7 and you can kind of hear the words of his brothers as they were saying, hey, you know, shouldn't you be heading to the feast in Jerusalem? Because if you can do all these miracles, you should be famous. You should do him in Jerusalem. You should show yourself to the world and and it's. It's a bit of mockery that is happening there by the brothers, and so even the the family members, being antagonistic against David family members being attacked, antagonistic against Jesus. I don't know if you guys have ever experienced family members being antagonistic against you, right, but. But David Carilli to that the Lord could relate to that. And it was because of his devotion to God. Check out verses 9 through 12. He says passion for your house has consumed me. And the insults of those who insult you have fallen on me when I weep. In fast, they scoff at me when I dress in burlap to show sorrow. They make fun of me. I am the favorite topic of town gossip and all the drunks seeing about me. David, here is the talk of the town, but. Not in the way that we would, you know, esteemed to be the talk of the town. He is the mockery of the town, and he attributes it to passion for the House of God. Now we don't have a direct, you know. Here's in second Samuel, the exact situation where David is experiencing what he's describing here in this song. But that's not surprising. There's so much of David's life that is not recorded for us. But but having it be the connection to the Lord's house. Perhaps puts this leader in David's life and remember he wanted to build a house for God and God said no, but your son Solomon will. And so then David went on this like huge effort. He went to battle after battle after battle to gather and amass the materials that were necessary for the temple, so that when. Solomon came on the throne. Everything would be ready for him. He had the plans. He had all the materials and he was able to then get to work right away. And so perhaps during that time David Passion for the House of God in making all of that preparation and involving the nation in battles involving you know their their finances and tying up their treasury. And in this huge investment, and you can read through the account of the the Temple building, and while the the incredible. Assets that were committed to that. It's not hard to imagine a situation where. David's advisers and people in the nation that they were looking at these efforts and thinking this is. This is useless. This is worthless. This is vain. This is dumb. This is a laughing matter, not an admirable. Thing and and that could easily happen, of course, in any nation or situation that has a leader devoted to something. Like that? David says when I weep and fast, they scoff at me. When I mourn over sin, when I mourn over situations, they they just think that's fun. Like why are you so bothered by that's in in the community or in that's in in society, that's just. That's just life. You know, that's the times. Give it the times David. That's just normal. Don't don't be such a prude. When I dress in. Burlap to show sorrow. They make fun of me. When I bow my head to pray for a meal, the whole restaurant you know just cracks up laughing. When I stop and say hey we should pray about this in the workplace. Everybody Snickers a little bit ago. Here goes the preacher again. You know, like this is the idea that David saying here that that I'm seeking to be devoted to God and and it's just made me the mockery of the town. He says I'm the favorite topic of town gossip. Hey, did you hear about David? Yeah, he was out there and. Burlap again so funny that guy he's. The drunk sneaks songs. About me. It's just, you know. You can think about, you know all the if this were to be recorded today. You know what would that look like? All the talk shows that would be laughing and mocking and ridiculing 24 hours a day. The one who is devoted the passion for God and for his house being mocked and ridiculed all day long. And so David here is experiencing that and and. And it's this loneliness that comes from this disconnect from this attack from everyone around him. Pastor Warren Wiersbe says it's not easy to bear reproach. God soldiers are often falsely accused and lied about when this happens to you. Remember that it also happened to David and to Jesus. You are in good company. You're in good company even when you feel alone, you can bring your lonely heart to God. The Lord knows exactly what that's like. In fact, zeal for your house has consumed me right passion for your houses consume me. That verse is directly attributed to Jesus when he's cleansing the temple. And in that situation you can imagine religious leaders and people scoffing and like what is this guy? What is up with this guy? You know, thinking it's such a big deal like we've always sold animals here in the marketplace, so people could sacrifice. We've always always changed money like this. It's a necessary thing. This guy is just, you know, so self righteous and. And you could imagine all of the mockery. And things that would have happened and that the hatred that it would have been demonstrated. From the religious leaders toward Jesus, much like David, experience here and so as David Records these things, you know he's also recording. Things that the Lord himself would have felt an experience in his life and ministry. Moving onto verses 13 through 15, he says. But I keep praying to you. Lord, hoping this time you will show me favor in your unfailing love of God. Answer my prayer with your shore salvation. Rescue me from the mud. Don't let me sink any deeper. Save me from those who hate me and pull me from these deep waters. Don't let the floods overwhelm me or the deep waters swallow me or the pit of death. Devour me. David says I keep praying to you. He didn't start praying when the floodwaters reached his neck. He started praying along time ago. The floodwaters were to his ankle. He says Lord would look there's floodwaters. Hey, there's people. They're not liking what I'm doing here, and they're attacking me and they're against the House of the Lord and what's happening. And then the flood waters rise up to his knee. Lord, what the flood waters over my knee, and I think you're getting worse. And it's harder and more people hate me and more people are coming against me. And what I? I need help. Will you save me and then it gets up to his waist and Lord, you know and that's the. Picture here and. Notice what he says though I keep praying to you now. It's up to mine. Back, but I haven't given up. I'm not going to give up on you. I'm not going to stop calling out to you. God, I'm going to keep praying to you. And I'm hoping this time this is going to be the time that kind of the final straw where you swoop in and rescue me and pull me out of this deep mire. He's demonstrating here that persistence, that perseverance, that we need to have, and it can be very difficult many times. And another contributing factor to the loneliness that we feel that we don't always see the answer to our prayers right away. But he's not giving up. And even though he feels alone and feels even abandoned by the Lord. He says I keep praying to you. He's confident we'll see that as we get to the end of the song, sooner or later, God is going to swoop in. He's opened it sooner rather than later, right? But I keep praying to you. Verse 16 through 18 says answer my prayers. Oh Lord. For your unfailing love is wonderful. Take care of me. For your mercy is so plentiful. Don't hide from your servant. Answer me quickly. For I am in deep trouble come and redeem me free me from my enemies. He continues to call out to God. Continues to invite God to redeem, to save to work. Continues to express the urgency save me quickly. Answer me speedily. I'm in deep trouble, Lord. I really am desperate for your help and for your work. And so in his loneliness. In his feeling of isolation and abandonment, David is running to the Lord repeatedly, continually, and he's taking those things that he's going through and bringing them to God and seeking resolution from God for the things that he faces. This loneliness has developed from these attacks that are against him personally against the uh, it's built up through the embarrassment that he's been experiencing as these mockeries and jokes about him and and, and taunting and teasing have been going on for such a long time, the betrayal of his own family, his own. Brothers stepping away from him and pretending not to know him. Ignoring him, the mockery that's happening, the, the hopelessness and, and the hatred that's being displayed. All of these things have just built this Moat around David so that he feels isolated and alone. But he continues to take that to God to bring his heart to God, such as it is, and the condition that he is and and again he's calling out to. God, because he knows he's not alone. But but it doesn't. Alleviate the fact that he feels so alone, he still feels the intensity of all of these things. Even if he knows that God is going to save him, even if he knows that it's all going to work out for good in the end, right many times as believers, we We have those kind of quick and easy answers and we need to be really careful with that because those quick and easy things that we just quote and just throw out right away. It's like like this, truth resolves the situation well. That is a truth. And yeah, it's meaningful and it's helpful. But but it also doesn't make us not feel the things that we're feeling and and we got to stop trying to use. You know that quick band aid to resolve something that's much deeper and and many times there's so much more that God wants to work in this situation. Yes, truth is involved, but but. Also, there's that time with God, and that repetition of calling out to God and going through the process of these flood waters and processing these feelings and emotions and and working through these things in the presence of the Lord is really the resolution. And so you know. What we want to answer in a five word. You know, reply retort you know. Just trust God, brother, you know God wants to answer with five years of training and building and working through. You know the situation and so we we see that this lonely heart can be brought to God. Now listen, this is good for us we all experienced. We all experienced this kind of isolation in different ways and varying degrees from time to time. But I I would encourage you to also think a little bit beyond what you're you're experiencing yourself, and especially now I I would just notice this headline caught my attention. It was a few days ago, April 25th, the Surgeon General of the United States made the statement, made the declaration. More people are struggling with loneliness than dying. He dies in the United States today and so based on his you know, studies and conclusions and whether or not you think he's you know, whatever you think about him, the the statement itself is interesting that you know there is a a vast experience of loneliness amongst people all around us. And loneliness doesn't have to be. You know, because you're out in the wilderness, 20 miles from the nearest person, right? There's there's just a vast amount. In fact, one of the focuses of the the studies and stuff is actually in New York. You know hugely populated area, and yet there's so many people around and there is so much loneliness that is being experi. Missed by the population, and so it's not only important for us to teach us and to train us to bring our lonely heart to God, but to help us understand that's not just an experience that we alone have. There's many lonely people around you. And they may not know the answer. They may not have the understanding, and perhaps the Lord would use us to help them. And bring their lonely hearts to God, not with a quick resolution. Here's a five word answer that fixes everything right? But here is how to engage in a relationship with God and bring your loneliness in a way that God helps you step by step. Walk through those things that you're experiencing and make it out the other end having become. More like him transformed by his grace and his goodness in our lives, and so we can bring our lonely heart to God. Because Jesus, I mean you look at all these things. I think probably there is nobody ever as lonely as Jesus on this earth that. Misunderstood, you know, completely innocent and yet attacked. To the degree of being put to death for no cause of. His own and. Of course he had his relationship with the father. And he walked. With the father throughout his life, but. The people around his disciples didn't get him. You know they were just completely missing the point so many times it. It's something that Jesus is familiar with. And so you can bring your lonely heart to me. He understands what it's what it's like to be hated, to be misunderstood, to be just completely feeling isolated and alone in the midst of this life. We're moving onto versus 19 through 28. Point #3 this morning bring your broken heart. To God. So when your hearts overwhelmed when your heart's lonely and when your hearts broken, you can bring it to God. Verse 19 and 20 says. You know of my shame, scorn and disgrace. You see all that my enemies are doing there. Insults have broken my heart and I am in despair. If only one person would show me some pity. If only one would turn. And comfort me. David here again, continuing on the state of being overwhelmed leads into. The state of loneliness that he's experiencing leads into the state of brokenness. That he's experiencing. It's all tide together. Expressed in different ways and different aspects of his heart, but. He's calling out to God. He says, God, you know what I'm going through. And God really does know. In those kinds of times in these kinds of situations where where we need to be encouraged to bring our heart to God, that there can be many times in our lives and in our minds this idea that God's distant and unaware and many times in our prayers, we're we're trying to inform God. We're we're pleading because it's like God doesn't. See and God doesn't know. But here David reminds himself and he reminds us, you know of my shame and scorn in disgrace. God, this hasn't escaped. Your attention. You see all that my enemies are doing? You know you see when Jesus wrote to the seven churches in Revelation chapter two and three, one of the things that he wrote to each church was, I know, your works. And for some that was good. I know you've been faithful and you've been walking with me for some that was rebuke. I know your works. And you're pretending. To know me and walk with me, but really you have nothing to. Do with me. There was a church suffering persecution. He says, I know your works, you're suffering. A lot I see it. I know it. God knows and he sees everything that we're going through, not just the things that are happening externally, but he sees the toll that it's taking within as well. David says their insults have broken my heart and I'm in despair. I used to have a strong heart. I used to be encouraged in my heart. I used to have you know, great joy and hope and. I've come to this place of brokenness in my heart, my heart swoon. Did it hurts? And and I'm in despair. The idea here is that it doesn't feel like there's going to be a healing to my heart. I don't feel like it's going to be sewn back together. My heart's broken, and it seems like it's just going to stay that way until I'm gone. It's a despair, desperation, a hopelessness. From being overwhelmed. And lonely to the point of broken heartedness. The pain is made worse. And worse. Now verse 20 for me is such an important reminder for us. Again, we can look at these things for ourselves and understand when we feel this way we can bring that to God, but. But also think the next step. You know there's people around you. Feeling the effects of a broken heart and think about how much of an impact that can be made. By one person doing one act of kindness. He says if only one person would show some pity. If there was this one, it would be such. A relief to my broken heart. If just one person. Would be merciful to me and would care about what I'm going through and and express some interest in who I am and and what was happening in my life. If only one person would turn and comfort me, he's just desperate for anybody. If there was just one, it would be so much relief. Jesus said in Mark Chapter 9, verse 41, if anyone gives you a cup of water because you belong to the Messiah, I tell you the truth. That person will surely be rewarded. Here Jesus expresses a similar sentiment in the name of Christ and for the name of Christ. A simple act, a glass of water. To someone in need for the name of Christ in the. Name of Christ. There's a certain ensure eternal reward for that. It can make such a big difference. Again, it's not just us who experience broken heartedness, but as people around us experience it. Perhaps the Lord would have us to be that one who would show. Pity that one who would bring comfort. The one who would be compassionate to what they're going through. But that's not David's experience. Verse 21, he says, but instead they give me poison for food. They offer me sourwine for my thirst. This might. Stir up a little bit of a memory. Yes, this is quoted in the New Testament in reference to Jesus. When he's on the cross. And he says, I thirst. And they give him that sour wine to drink. Matthew 27. John chapter 19. You can see this verse applied to Jesus there upon the cross. Well, the next few verses versus 22 through 28. Are known as. As kind of a an imprecatory is what it's called Psalm, which basically just means to call down evil or harm upon someone. And there's a few songs that contain this kind of language, causes some people to wrestle and struggle a little bit. Having this kind of message. Or text in the scriptures, but let's read it real quick and then just share a couple of thoughts on it. Verse 22 says. Let the bountiful table set before them become a snare. And their prosperity become a trap. But their eyes go blind so they cannot see. And make their bodies shake continually. Pour out your fury on them, consume them with. Your burning anger. But their homes become desolate and their tents would be deserted. The one you have punished, they add insult to injury. They add to the pain. Of those who have hurt. Pile their sins up high and don't let them go free. Erase their names from the Book of Life. Don't let them be counted among the righteous. These kinds of passages can be challenging, and of course I don't have the time. We're not going to, you know, go exhaustively into this. But part of the challenge is this is clearly in the word of God contained in the word of God, quoted in the New Testament attributing it to God in the Holy Spirit. You can look at acts chapter one, Romans Chapter 11. Specific quotations. From this block of text here. And in that it actually accurately does picture God judgment upon the wicked, but one of the challenges that arises is OK. But does this mean we should pray this way? Like should I take these verses and go OK? Lord, I'm thinking about this guy Bob, and here's what I want to pray for. Bob, I don't know any Bob, so that's why I use that name. So don't try to read into that. But but should we pray this way? Well, this is recorded for us. It is the word of God. It's not necessarily prescriptive as in. Here's what every believer should pray right here. Here's what I would. Suggest it accurately records David David. Honest prayer to God. Again, along with the same thing, he's expressing his heart to God. This is his genuine prayer. This is what? He is asking God. To do. And he can bring that to God. Now there's some things to keep in mind. Where is David at? He's overwhelmed. He's lonely. He's broken hearted. The things that we say. In the midst of pain. Are often not the best things that we say. Would you agree right? When you know when you're a teenager and you scream, I hate you and slam the door like you don't actually mean that. But there's this intensity that you're feeling within, and that's. Your only way of expressing it. The things that we pray out of a broken heart may often not be the best things this very morning. We're getting ready setting up. I see Roman walking across the parking lot. I decided to be a little bit silly. I threw out this silly greeting. And Roman flat out rebuked me in front of his son and said that is foolish and you should never talk like that in front of my son. And he was right. I was just being silly but oh man listen, I'm not even overwhelmed at the moment, right? Like on my good days. A lot of stuff that comes out. Of my mouth isn't. Good things and so in those days of overwhelmed, lonely broken heartedness. I I think it. Should be a great reminder for us to be gracious to broken hearted people. Expressing things that they don't fully mean, but boy they feel intensely. And that's what's being expressed. It was the time a few years back. Where I described my situation. As being in the wilderness. It's about four years. Ago now and it was an extended time where. You know there's always trials and things that we go through in life and in my life that's not. That's not any different. But during this particular season it was emotional battles that I just endured for a long time. And so Kim came up with a term for me. And during that time she called me Dark Jerry. And every once while dark, Jerry would. Come out and she felt like, whoa, I think you deserve it. That was dark. There though, speaking right there like that was. Not the typical type of thing that I'm. Used to you sayin? Sometimes in the midst of that, you know the things. That come out are. We know it's not the truth. We're not trying to preach doctrine, we're trying to express the hurt, the heartache, the difficulty. We often say the most hurtful things when we're hurting. We don't mean them, but but it's born out of the pain that we feel within. And as we look at these words from David, there's there's some truth, and there's some things you could work out, like justice, you know the Justice of God is real, and the wrath of God is real. And and you, you can look at those things and work through those things. And you're welcome to do that. But I look at this and I say. I see David here. He's praying genuinely what he's going through. It's born out of the hurts that he's experiencing. He's not really wanting people to be damned for all of eternity, but that's how it comes out because that's how he's feeling within but. But the comfort to me is that he can bring that to God, and God doesn't strike him down and say how dare you pray that way? Right, he's got to be able to handle that. It's not prescriptive. This is how everybody should pray that it's an accurate record of. This is what happens when someone goes through such heartache. And hardship. Doesn't mean that it's the way that we're to handle all of those situations. In fact, I think if you want that kind of situation then you should look at Jesus now again, all of these things parallel to to the life of Jesus and things. That he experienced. And they're on the cross with all the overwhelming things that he's experiencing. And the loneliness and the heart brokenness that he's experiencing. Against those who are attacking him, Jesus said, father. Forgive them. For they don't know what they're doing. That is the prescriptive model for us. And when we can't pray the prayer of Jesus and we're more in line with the. Prayer of David. It's not that we need to be struck down, it's that we need to recognize we've got a ways to go. And God, I need your help, because I can't pray that prayer that's not genuine. I could. I could say the words, but it's not really what my heart wants. And it's a. Opportunity for us to have an awareness. Of the room for growth. To bring our broken hearts to God, well, finally point #4 will finish up fast. Let God's promises encourage your heart verse. 29 I am suffering and in pain rescue me. Oh God, by your saving power. Then I will praise God's name with singing, and I will honor him with Thanksgiving, for this will please the Lord more. Than sacrificing cattle more than presenting a bull with its horns and hooves. In tremendous suffering, it's hard to see a future. The suffering we're in feels permanent. It feels inescapable, and it feels like the end, David says. I'm suffering. I'm in pain, but I'm looking to the future because I'm calling upon you. And I remember God wants more than just ritual. He's not just looking for sacrifice, is he? He wants fellowship. And I'm going to sing God's name with singing and that honor him with Thanksgiving. And so he's laying hold of the hope and the promises that God has given and and understanding that God is going to work in verse 32. He says the humble will see their God at work and be glad. Let all who seek God's help be encouraged. David says in my life God is going to do something so that all who see that work when for those who seek God, they're going to be encouraged that my life is going to be an encouragement to others. As I press forward and hold onto the things that God has said. Verse 33 for the Lord hears the cries of the needy. He does not despise his imprisoned people. David hears reminding himself. Even in the worst situations in being imprisoned and the needy condition, the Lord hears the cries of his people. He casts his are his eyes on those promises of God, and now he goes on to cast his eyes to the far future verse. 34 praise him, oh heaven and earth, the seas and all that move in them for God will save Jerusalem and rebuild the towns of Judah. His people will live there and settle in their own land. The descendants of those who obey him will inherit. The land and those who love him will live there in safety. And here David could be looking at an immediate thing that he is anticipating. Or he could be even looking forward to the messianic reign, the the millennial reign of Christ in the the distant future. But but he's looking ahead. He's he's. He's believing he's trusting God, not done. He's going to work and and so he's evil in that time to. Be encouraged. As he reminds himself. He's worked through the difficulties of being overwhelmed and lonely and heartbroken and and those things haven't gone away. But having worked through them, he's in a position to remind himself of the promises of God, the future that God has promised. And he's encouraged. He's starting to be built up again, he's. Going to be able to hold on for a little bit longer in the midst of this floodwater, and it hasn't gone away. But he set his eyes on the things that God has declared and the. Things that God will. Do and he's found comfort and encouragement and hope in the midst of it. And so this morning, I pray that you had learned from David's example and bring your heart to God. Whether it be overwhelmed or lonely or broken or some other situation, in scenario you can be real and genuine. Before the Lord, and with whatever you're feeling with whatever you're saying that conversation that's happening in your head. God knows about it anyways, pretending like it's not there doesn't do any good for you. Take that conversation. To God, those words, those struggles, those battles, those debates that rage within take those to God. Ask him to save to restore, to renew, to help. It will help you to see clearly enough. To then have God's promises before you and to be able to grasp hold of them, you have a high priest who understands your weakness, so come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. And you'll receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Lord me, thank you. For your word, we thank you God, for your Grace and mercy, which enables us. To come to you genuinely Lord, with the reality of what's happening within knowing God. You've experienced it also. You can sympathize and you're not looking for an excuse to smack us. You're looking for an opportunity. To embrace us to train us. To build us up. So let as we walk through the difficulties, then the the circumstances that we're in. May we run to you frequently with every internal battle with every internal struggle. May we bring our hearts to you. Or that you might teach us. How to handle that as you would? To become more like you. And Lord, that our lives might be an. Encouragement to all those around us. We pray this in Jesus name.