21
Jun '24
Caught Between a Rock and a Hard Place
21
Jun '24
Text: Psalm 40:1-11
“I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord. Blessed is that man that maketh the Lord his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies. Many, O Lord my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered. Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required. Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me, I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart. I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips, O Lord, thou knowest. I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the great congregation. Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O Lord: let thy lovingkindness and thy truth continually preserve me.”
Introduction: Have you ever been caught between a rock and a hard place? What do you do? Where do you go? Where do you turn?
There are (3) steps that are guaranteed to bring relief:
1. You go to the ROCK of our SALVATION (v. 1-2)! – “I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry… and brought me up out… horrible pit…”
- The POWER of PRAYER
- The CURE for CARE
2. You sing the SONG of CELEBRATION (v. 3-5)! – “He… put a New Song in my mouth…”
- The POWER of PRAISE
- PRAISE on the mountain top, or in the valley
3. You go and tell the LORD’S FAITHFULNESS to all GENERATIONS (v. 6-11)! – “I have declared thy FAITHFULNESS…”
- God has been FAITHFUL
- David said, “I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread” (Psalm 37:25).
Conclusion: God has proven Himself to us in the PAST, in the PRESENT, and therefore, we can TRUST HIM in the FUTURE… whatever it holds!
Love y’all,
Pastor Randy Reese