Psalms 3

4 Stages
I.    PROBLEM (1-2)
II. PRESENCE (3-4)    
III.    PEACE    (5-6)
IV.    PUNISHMENT (7)

INTRODUCTION:

1. Do you live with the consequences?

Example
One day, a mother explained to her five-year-old daughter that if she chose to disobey her, she would have to live with the consequences. “Oh, Mommy!” she said with a terrified look on her face. “Please don’t make me live with the Consequences. I want to live here with you!”
Well, we all live with the consequences, don’t we?
We all live with the consequences of the choices we have made.

Example
I am reminded of a pastor who in his first 5 years of the pastorate he hung a sign on his desk that said, “Win the World for Christ!”, Then in the second 5 years of his pastorate he changed the sign to read, “Win one or two to Christ”, but since that time he put up a third sign that said, “Try not to Lose too many!”.

2. David had to live with the consequences of his sin.

Today we are giving study to Psalm 3 that was written by David.
The background of the psalm is the betrayal of his own son, Absalom.

To truly understand the betrayal, though, we have to look further back into David’s life.
David’s problems began when he took to himself the wife of Uriah the Hittite.
This act of adultery led to an even more despicable act on David’s part.
Instead of protecting and looking out for the interests of loyal Uriah, he chose to take Uriah’s life to cover up his own sin.
David’s adultery led to murder.

From this point onward, David had to live with the consequences of his sin.
Many years later, one of David’s sons, Amnon, became a bit too enamored with his half-sister Tamar and raped her.
This enraged Tamar’s full brother, Absalom who sought revenge, and got it, by killing Amnon.
When David learned about Absalom’s crime, instead of dealing with him in a just manner, he simply allowed him to leave Jerusalem.
Why?
Because David had committed the same crime.
He too had committed the crime of murder over a sexual sin.
Thus, as a result, David had lost the moral authority to deal effectively with Absalom.

In time, the undisciplined Absalom, who thought he was morally superior and a worthier leader than his father, mounted a rebellion.
It was a rebellion that caught David by surprise, so much so, the historical text tells us that he fled barefoot and weeping.

Think for a moment of the shame David must have felt being opposed and hunted down by his own son.
But David was reaping the consequences of the bad choices he had made.
So, as a result, this man who was known as “the man after God’s heart” and who had rejoiced in great victories because of God’s intervention, now was characterized by failure, loneliness, disappointment, and agony.

Stage 1: PROBLEM (1-2).
1. There are times when we feel outnumbered.
Both family and friends have turned against him.
2. There are times when we feel like giving up hope.
God was not going to deliver him.
These are words that make a profound emotional impact, don’t you think?Have you ever felt like that?
The situation was hopeless.
You felt hopeless.

Stage 2: PRESENCE (3-4).
1. We must realize that God’s protection is all encompassing.
David refers to God as His shield.
The shield was an instrument of defense, and so, David understood that God was his defense.
David knew this because of God’s very own words to Abraham (Genesis 15:1):
“Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.”

2. When we are passionate for His Presence, we have all that we need.
When we are God-centered, when it is God’s presence that we truly desire, we are in the right place.
It is like what Paul writes to the Corinthians (I Corinthians 1:31):
Therefore, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

3. God gives us an upward outlook when we can’t look up.
David doesn’t have to stare at the ground ruminating on his failure.
He can raise his eyes, because it is as if the Lord puts His hand on David’s chin and lifts his head.
James 4:10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.

Stage 3: PEACE (5-6).
1. God desires us to rest in Him.
2. We need to understand that God sustains us over and over again.

Although encircled, perhaps even by the consequences of our own sin, we can confidently face the worst when we are dependent on God’s Presence.
It is then that we realize that if we were sustained yesterday, and last night, then we will also be sustained again today.
We do not have to be afraid.
We can celebrate God’s goodness and His kindness, even though we do not deserve it.

Stage 4: PUNISHMENT (7).
1. We can tell God how we really feel.
2. We are to desire and seek justice.
Jesus has said (Matthew 11:28-30):

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Example
A Sunday School teacher was sharing this text with her young pupils. “My yoke is easy. Who can tell me what a yoke is?” A boy raised his hand and said, “A yoke is something they put on the necks of animals.” Then the teacher asked, “What is the yoke God puts on us?” A quiet little girl raised her hand, “It is God putting His arms around our necks.”

I think this is exactly how David felt.

Conclusion:

(1)    God cares about you and He is willing and able to help you at all times.
(2) Always turn to the Lord and He will not let you down, but be patient with Him as He works things out on His time schedule and not necessarily according to your time schedule.