God’s people need to be equipped to handle an ever increasingly secular society. The idea of God is being challenged more with each new day. In this Psalm the writer is actually going to push back against those who would reject the existence of God. It really shouldn’t surprise us that the Word of God gives incredible wisdom for believers to hold onto in times of secular cynicism. It is, indeed, foolish to say that there is no God and the Psalmist (carried along by God) masterfully lays out why.

In this Psalm we see what it looks like to make the most of your suffering. If, in fact, suffering falls under the providence of God then it would seem prudent to draw out all that God intended for us in that particular season. There always seems to be some intentionality in the way that David interacts with the Lord. In relationship with the Lord we are always getting a clearer picture of ourselves as well as a more worship inducing picture of our Heavenly Father.

David’s lament continues to escalate as his circumstances become more dire. Saul’s jealousy compounds as the people’s flattery of David echoes in the streets. But David recognizes the detriment of being the beneficiary of empty praise: not only is it threatening his life, but it is now getting those around him and their families killed. This forces David to press in to the Lord even deeper when it looks like the faithful around him are now gone. Redemptively, his rejection of the people’s empty boasts and his reliance on the pure words of the Lord will be his protection.

What happens when our faith and our expectations don’t match up? In this sermon we take a look at how the Psalmist works through this very common life experience. In the end we find that we need God’s testing and working and conforming far more than God needs our gifting. Through this Psalm we are gifted with a category for waiting…being still.

In this sermon we realize that walking by faith isn’t always slaying giants, but simply believing enough to cry out for help. We see David’s honesty and willingness to speak truth to himself. In the end his heart comes back around to realizing that God is, indeed, near. This sermon ends focusing on three ways God strengthens our hearts that may seem a bit unintuitive.

David’s lament points to firmly rooted faith and not a hopeless heart.

God is gracious, so I don’t have to prove myself. God is great so He doesn’t need me (to secure things for Him), therefore I can lean on Him.

God is good, so I don’t have to look elsewhere for comfort, peace, and fulfillment. God is sovereign, so I don’t have to be in control.

Chris Brister, lead pastor of Union Church in Auburn, AL, a church plant that ARCC is partnering with and supporting, will be preaching on Union with Christ from Ephesians 2.

It is because Satan so ardently believes the truth that he can be so crafty in his schemes. We fall to temptation precisely because we fail to believe the truth.