Psalm 63

Good morning. Would y'all stand? I want to welcome you to Calvary Chapel this morning. Those of you who are here live and those of you who are watching online with us, welcome. We remember, as Glenn mentioned as we prayed this morning, this Palm Sunday, when you triumphantly came in and at the same time you were received, you were rejected. Lord, we know. You, religious leaders, couldn't take it. And all the rest, except for that remnant that knew who

you were and they were still figuring it out, were hoping you would set up that kingdom right then and there. But that's not what you had in mind, Lord. You came as a suffering Savior the first time to die for the sins, the sins of all these people, all we people who have rejected you. You'll come again, though, as King of glory the second time. We look to you and we trust you. We ask for your blessing. We thank you for

what you've done in our lives. If there happen to be any among us that don't know you, Lord, may they be encouraged by your Holy Spirit to look to you, Lord, in this world of chaos. We thank you. Give you praise, Lord. I think I asked you to stand. You know, those individuals that can encourage us, in the ways of life, whatever we face, whatever is before us, Lord, you are able. Thank you for

that. You're a good, good Father. We can trust you in every area of our life. You're always there. Your mercies are new every morning, Lord. We thank you so much, Lord Jesus. We give you praise, Lord. We know, Lord, that no matter what's going on, the way that you, in the affairs of our life, to bring us to that place you want us, Lord, and are taking us. Because we know, ultimately,

the conclusion is that we go to be with you in glory. We give you praise, and we give you thanks, Lord, this morning, Lord. We come to you just as we are this morning. Sinners, say, by grace, Lord Jesus. This morning, you may be contemplating different things that are going on in your life, but he is the waymaker. He does make a way. And it's not always the thing that we would think it would be, but it is always his way.

Which is best, you see. Always remember that, that he's working in our hearts, and he blesses us. You see, he sees the finished product, you see. Because he knows all things. We feel so unfinished sometimes. And until we go to be with him in glory, the work will continue, you see. Don't forget that. And see, love isn't always that thing which is exactly what we want, because he loves. But it's what's best, you see. That

sacrificial, divine love, Lord, that the Lord has for us. That love, divine, that looks past what we think and feel and see, and sees the finished product. Knowing that he's working in us, both to will and to his complaint. Would you all stand? This will be a nice little stretch for you before you sit. And are weeping and are rejoicing. You're with us, and you're

for us, Lord, and we give you praise. And so, Father, just continue to bless our service now. Be glorified in Jesus' name. Amen. Let's have a time of fellowship, guys.

You see, quick. Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? Good morning, everyone. Welcome to Calvary Chapel on a wonderful Psalm Sunday. We're so glad you're here with us. If you would, grab your bulletins with me and open up to the left side, which will tell you everything that's going on this week, all the different studies and fellowship opportunities for you to join in on. Don't hesitate to get in, get plugged in somewhere. If you have any questions, don't

hesitate to ask anybody in leadership, Alan, myself, Gene, Jared, Ryan, who most of those guys aren't here today. But ask them, and they will help give you as much information as possible. In the middle, to let you know that intercessory prayer is tonight at 6 p.m. If you would like to join us in lifting up our nation and many other things and concerns of our own community here, as well as communities outside of this, and for our world that's in. Come, Jesus, come. April 5th, Wednesday night, worship night, which Ryan's hoping

this place is packed Wednesday night. And we're not going to do communion today. Normally we do communion on the first Sunday, but Ryan's going to hold off. We're going to do communion Wednesday night. So please, please come to join us for a night of worship. There might be just a little sermonette in there, not sure, but there's going to be some worship for sure. So please come and

join us at 7 p.m. on Wednesday. And then this coming week is the Holy Week services. Your little insert will explain who's speaking where, at what time. And if you have the opportunity, please don't hesitate to go there. Not sure if we have the blessed being open today, because all of the youth are in Silver Dollar City. So you might be just drinking black coffee and nothing special. Real quick, Kurt Solomon is in charge of our

mowing ministry. You'd like to say a word or two for you. So here he comes.

Okay. Good morning. How is everybody doing this morning? So again, my name's Kurt Solomon. Pastor Ryan asked me last year to take over the mowing ministry, somebody to make out the schedule for a contact person to hand the key out to the mower if they, whoever signed up for it, wanted to use the mower. So as everybody knows, I think everybody here at one time in their life

has always enjoyed mowing. It was like, what a great reward when you walk out to a yard and you're frustrated looking at it that I got to do this again. But then when you get done mowing, you're like, that's why I do this. So anyway, yeah, you know, yeah. So no worries. If you are on the fence about wanting to start a mower, you can do it. You can do it. You can do it. You can

sign up for the mowing ministry. Please don't hesitate signing up. Uh, if you're worried, like I'll sign up and I won't be able to make it that weekend. We all work together. Whoever signed up as a team, if you can't make it that week, we will work, uh, people ahead of you or behind you. You can contact them and say, Hey, can we switch weekends? So please don't hesitate

thinking because after I sign up, I won't be able to do it. And I'll let the team down. Everybody works together. Um, if you know somebody that wants to get plugged in someplace and they can't think of any place else, like I'm not good at this, or I'm not good at this. And you think they'd be good at mowing, give them a little push to sign up for the team. Uh, I know when I got up here the first time and talked about this, I said, my goal was to have,

uh, what was it? 26 people sign up. Um, that might've been reaching it, but you gotta have a goal to reach for. Uh, we're not quite there yet. So if you know somebody that is interested, that might want to do it, uh, give them a little nudge to mow. Again, like I said, the church does have its own mower that you can use. Um, or a lot of people that sign up for the

team, they have their own mower and their own mowing equipment. They just bring it and they use their own equipment. And if they're, you're just an individual, we'll team you up with somebody. And I think a lot of people have really enjoyed that. So I think I haven't forgot anything on that, but again, give it some thought, pray for the team. And if there's somebody that you

think might be interested, tell them to do it. So thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Solomon. Okay. Last thing, turn your phones off, set them to stun, whatever it is that you need to do so that it doesn't go off during the service. And we will move on into the response of reading. Pastor Allen's going to make his way up. If you guys could all get to Psalm one and in the honor of the reading of God's word, please stand when you're ready.

I'll, I'll read the odd verses and Alan will read the even verses. Will you read along with Alan on those? Psalm one, how blessed is the man who does not walk in the council of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers, but his delight is in the law of the Lord. And in his law, he meditates day and night. He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season

and its leaf does not wither. And in whatever he does, he will be like a tree firmly planted by He prospers. The wicked are not so, but they are like chaff, which the wind drives away. Therefore, the wicked will not stand in judgment nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

Father, thank you so much for the day that you have made this day that you have given us is not anything but a free gift from you, your grace and your mercy. And father, as we come into this, this holy week, Lord, we celebrate this psalm Sunday, as I prayed earlier, father, your triumphal entry into Jerusalem and the throngs of people that were welcoming you were throwing their coats and their song, their palm branches down on the path for you. Not even knowing that a week later, you would be giving up your entire life and existence for them. So father, as we come into this study this morning, help us remind each other ourselves, those around us, the sacrifice that you made.

And father, just the little things in life that we can do for another in the love of Jesus Christ is what we're called to do. So, Lord, I just pray that you use Robbie this morning for your word. Father, your will be done in what is said and may it be a blessing. May it overflow us. May we be new and different as we leave this place for it's in Jesus Christ's name that we pray.

And all of God's people. Amen. Good morning. Would you turn in your Bibles to Psalm 63? Sorry about this.

Psalm 63. Now, I'm going to be in the King James today. So hang in. Sometimes I do the King James. This old Bible has been with me and it's in its 17 companion volumes for about 51 years. And so once in a while, I like to. As I've studied in this. For years, I didn't have anything, but the new King James, anything that doesn't sound. It's it was. It's very good.

Still is. But I do love the new King James, too. And if I had the new American Standard Braille, I'd read it with you. I listen to it. So anyway, but we want to turn to Psalm 63. And again, father, we ask for your blessing on our time in your word. Be glorified, Lord, as we share together. I do lift up those all of those folks down in Branson. Is there? We're going to be finishing up their their weekend down there and coming back home that

you would bring them home to us safely. Lord, go before and prepare the way we ask, Lord. And then now, as we dip into this portion of your word, Lord, I pray that you would speak to us by your Holy Spirit. I just look to you in Jesus name. Amen. Now we're going. So we're going to look at Psalm 63. I'm going to read it first. And then we're going to begin. Psalm 63, a psalm of David when he was in the wilderness of Judah.

Oh, God, thou art my God. Early will I seek thee. My soul thirsteth for thee. My flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land where no water is. To see thy power and thy glory. So as I have seen thee in the sanctuary, because thy loving kindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee. Thus will I bless thee while I live. I will lift up my great.

I will lift up my hands in thy name. My soul shall be satisfied as with moral and fatness and my mouth shall praise thee. With joyful lips when I remember thee upon my bed and meditate on thee in night watches, Lord, because thou has been my help. Therefore, in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice. My soul followeth hard after thee. Thy right hand upholdeth me, but those that seek my soul to destroy it shall go into.

The lower parts of the earth. They shall fall by the sword. They shall be a portion for foxes, but the king shall rejoice in God. Everyone that sweareth by him shall glory, but the mouth of them that speak lies shall be stopped. So it's thought that David probably there. There are two. Two thoughts about when David might have written this psalm. I heard that some of some have said it might have been written when he was running from Saul, you know.

And others when he was running, you know, when Absalom and his son was trying to take over the kingdom, you know, and they wanted to get him away from all that. Either place, either one. Would have. Taken David out of his comfort zone. Amen. We've all experienced that being taken out of our comfort zone, haven't we? I want I want us this this morning to look at the way in which David responded to his situation in which he found himself.

You see. I want you to look at the way he he dealt with this. And and so. And as and as we look at this, I want you to keep in mind. This wasn't his first rodeo, whether this was Absalom situation or saw many times, especially with Saul. He had to he had to run, didn't he? Remember, he had to move out, you know, a particular time. I'm reminded of is, you know, he he was there in the in the palace there with Saul and he would, you know, they would they would all eat together and stuff.

And Saul. Of course, became that person that became very agitated because for one thing, he had he had rebelled. He had not done what he was told to do when Samuel gave him instruction about the Amalekites. And so in this frustration and then, of course, the frustration he began to have with the jealousy he had toward David because he knew deep down in his heart that David was the one God chose that he had been rejected.

And, you know, he loved to have David there to play that. Harp. But man, while he is playing that harp sometime, boom, he had tossed some javelin, you know, and David have ducked and he'd get the wall and that way he had go. You see, David had been through these times. These rough times, you see. And all these times that David went through. And all the times, guys, we go through.

God is using to make us people of him. Amen. You see. And so as we look at this, keep in mind that David had gone through various things through life. And he had had various responses. But in all of his life. With his fall, with with with the times that he had the people numbered when he wasn't supposed to. He loved the Lord. Always did David typically seek the Lord before he made a move.

How important it is before we make a move to speak to the Lord about it. Lord, what would you have in mind?

And so it's interesting because he's he's he's run off in this this this wilderness of Judah, which is a very dry, dry, dry place. And it could be that in this dry place, you see. We have a beautiful word picture of maybe a dry place he was in. You see, we'll have those times, you know, where boom, all of a sudden we've we've found ourself in in a dry place.

We're thirsting for the Lord. We're thirsting to do what that which is right. Something has happened in our life to bring us into a wilderness situation that God is going to work through. You see, to truly to truly know God. He allows. Certain things to go in our life so that we can experientially understand and have knowledge of something. You see, it's one thing as we read the word and as we learn about the things of God.

We can acknowledge we know those. But as we walk this Christian walk and as we're in prayer and we're looking to him, he will allow certain things to go on in our life so that we experientially gain the knowledge. You see, of the things of God and walking with him. And so we really see a beautiful word picture of the physical thirst and the spiritual thirst that can go on and how David responses responds in this situation.

And so whether it's and you can imagine the pain that's in his heart. If it's the time when Absalom was rebelling against him. Absalom was kind of a mess, you know. He began to, you know, bend his ear toward the people. And, you know, they began to he'd stand there. Around the palace there. And when they come in and have a little complaints, he'd kind of listen.

Oh, I understand these. That shouldn't be going on. You know, that's what happens in leadership. Sometime. There'll be those that have other ideas and they'll be instead of going to the person they need to, though, they'll all begin to complain amongst one another. This is what Absalom was doing. You see. And before, you know, we got a rebellion. And, you know, Absalom is seeking and, you know, to take over the throne.

That's what the kings dealt with in those days, wasn't it? But what does David do here in verse one? He seeks the Lord early. And gives an honest condition of his soul. And it's an expression of his heart. Oh, how important it is. As you look at here at Psalm one, because he says, oh, God, he recognizes who he's praying to. He remembers he's my God. Oh, God, thou art my God.

Early will I seek you, seek thee. My soul thirsteth for thee. My flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land where no water is. And so and so notice you can imagine in this dry and really dry wilderness area. They say that that that area of Judah there is very, very dry. And so in his thirstiness. For true water. There could have been thoughts going on in his mind.

Oh, Lord, I thirst for you. I seek you. I want to see thy power and thy glory. So as I have seen thee in the sanctuary, you see. And so you see that Matthew 6, 33 and 34 says this. But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness. And all. All these things shall be added unto you. Take, therefore, no thought for the morrow. For the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

Interesting. Interesting verse there in the Sermon on the Mount. Those those those chapters five, six and seven. He begins five by saying, blessed are the poor. You see, to truly seek the Lord and his kingdom, we have to come to that point of seeing our depravity. As humans. And oh, it's there. If I just stop and think of the thoughts that come across my mind sometime and I think, God, you love me and in spite of me.

You see. And I'm I come to the Lord if I come to the Lord and with that in mind that he loves me. But I am. But dust and a man of sin. But you love me, Lord. Oh, that I would seek you, Lord. Seek first the kingdom of God. See, it's OK to have things. So, you know, and he doesn't mean quit working, but he says, seek first the kingdom of God. And he all these things will be added.

He earlier talks about how that, you know, the sparrow and, you know, it doesn't. It doesn't, you know, so and reap and all that the Lord takes care of the sparrow. Amen. So he takes care of us, you see. And so David in this dry area could be going, whoa, this is this is heavy. Well, you've allowed me in this situation, Lord. Help me seek you early. Help me seek you and looks you early in the morning.

Oh, you compare that physical thirst and that spiritual thirst. He was thirsting for. The quenching of the water of the word. Amen. Yes, there's quenching of the water of the word. And so because as we see in verse two to see thy power and thy glory. So as I have seen thee in the sanctuary and notice how he's reflecting. It's, you know, it's good to look back and remember where we, you know, when the times are rough.

How good. How good he is and how he is. He was he is. He has been with with us in those wonderful times of worship. And he is with us during those times of distress or aloneness as we can worship him, worship him and those things. And now as you look at verse three, because thy loving kindness is better than life. My lips shall praise thee. That loving kindness.

There is. His mercy to us. Thus will I. OK, we'll stop there. I want to turn to Psalm one. OK, I had them read that today for a purpose, because as you I want to refer to someone just a second. One of my favorite Psalms, actually. We're not going to. The only thing I will say here, and I'm not going to read the whole Psalm, but I want you to. Notice the first word in the last word of the Psalm, because he's going to be talking about those who are against the things of God and what's going to happen to them.

Notice the first word of Psalm one is blessed. What's the last word? Perish. And we see we really see a contrast of the of the righteous, those of God who have who given their heart to him and the end of the ungodly. Isn't that sad to think about? Oh, that we would actually think of that in terms of being good witnesses to those around us, because there will be those that will not go to glory with us if they don't come to the Lord.

But let's look at these first. We're just going to look at the first maybe three verses. OK, notice. Now, remember, the condition David's in and his response is based really by this time on a life of serving God. You see how important it is to seek God early in the morning, seek him or whenever you seek him. You may work at night and have to seek him early before you go to work or whatever, you know, in the evening.

But notice what he says here. Blessed is the man. Oh, how happy is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly. See, we see what the what the righteous man is not to do here. Nor stands in the way of sinners. Now, you see the progression here. If you begin to walk in the counsel of the ungodly. Set in the seat of the sinner, then, boy, you're not careful.

You don't want to sit in the seat of the scornful. Do we see that today? Oh, there are. Do you realize there are so many opposed to the things of God? And I want to tell you. There are any time God is left out. Of the equation. You can count on chaos. Because God is a God of order. And I want you to just look at the world right now. You can even kind of glance at our country.

Chaos. Chaos. But oh, here's the blessing. There's always usually something when you have a contract. When you see this conjunction, the word, but. We're usually going to have some. Kind of contrast here. The first part of this song. We see how we're not to do what we're not to do, but. The godly man is what his delight is in the law of the Lord. Oh, he's he's delighting in God's word.

You want to you want to know how to face life. You do know this, but I'm reminding. Well, I had to be reminded. We're just sheep. Bah. Delight yourself in the law of the Lord. Delight yourself in the word. That's what David did. That's why David is able to face what he faced during this 63rd Psalm that he's writing. And he said in his law that he meditate day and night.

He's like the old cow in the grass in the morning. He chews on that dewy, wet grass. And boy, he eats. He eats all he can. And of course, that cow's got all those stomachs, you know. And son of a gun later in the afternoon. She just relaxing in the sun. Do a little belching. Little chewing. She's meditating. You see, meditate on the word. Chew on it. Read it.

Reread it. Talk to the Lord about it. So he meditates day and night. Now, what's the reason? He says, He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water that bringeth forth his fruit in his season. His leaf also shall not wither, and whatever he does shall prosper. And of course, we see the ungodly are not so as you continue through that Psalm. But David, in his situation, while he's there in that wilderness,

he's contemplating on what God had showed him, what he's been through, and how God had taken him through those various things. And you see, even during those times that we have those dry periods, those times when maybe conflict has arisen, if we'll but seek him, love him, all things are working together for the good, for those who love God and are the called, according to his purpose, you see. And it's a beautiful thing. And so, as I said in verse 2, David expresses the desire of his heart from this dry land he is in.

He sees his power and glory, and that's the Lord's, as he has seen it in the sanctuary. I want to bring to mind another scripture, another Psalm, one verse out of Psalm 27. David wrote in Psalm 27, Psalm 27, 4, See, he wanted to be in the Lord's presence all the days of his life and to behold the beauty of the Lord, you see. And so, in that presence of the Lord and that beholding the beauty, that worshiping the Lord, you see.

And see, I see David in this Psalm, in this time, in spite of this, looking to the Lord and remembering the things of the Lord. And he says in the rest of this verse, and to inquire in his temple, you see, he wanted to know God. He wanted to know God. Verse 3, we see the why of verse 2, you see, and the response of praise as we just, we just read that. The response of praise,

for thy loving kindness is better than life. Think about that. Thus will I bless thee, you see. That heart of worship in the struggle, you see. If we're not careful, we want to turn another, we'll start turning in in pity, you see. No, that's what Satan wants you to do. Turn in, you see. Oh, look up, for your redemption draws near. Psalm 36, 7 says this, How excellent is thy loving kindness, O God!

Therefore, the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings. You know, I'm thinking, as I thought about David in this Psalm, and the Psalms in general, the Psalm, the book of Psalms, was the hymn book of Israel. So, can you imagine, as David, this Psalm was written, can you imagine David singing this Psalm? You see, pouring out his heart. And now, we can all do that.

Do you find yourself sometimes when you're alone,

as you're seeking the Lord, sometimes a song comes to your heart, you see. God uses that. This song, this psalm was speaking to David as he's pouring out his heart, you see, before the Lord.

There was an ache inside, whether it was Saul chasing him or having a refuge from his son Absalom and those who had joined in with Absalom to overtake the kingdom. There was an ache inside. There was an unsettled feeling, I'm sure, in his heart. I think we have that today at times, don't we? We see an unsettledness around us, but God is still on the throne.

We can look to Him. We can trust Him. Now, over in Jeremiah 31.3, He says this, and let me tell you, Jeremiah, like David, went through a lot. That poor man, as he spoke the truth, he prophesied the truth, those crazy kings didn't like it. They wanted good reports, you see. So what they wanted him to do, lie? Then he wouldn't be a prophet of God. And he would speak the truth.

And oh my gosh, before the Babylonian, as the Babylonian captivity was going to be taking place, man, he was put down in the dungeon. He was really treated pretty rough. But he trusted the Lord, you see. Jeremiah 31.3 says, The Lord hath appeared of old, unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love. Oh, don't you know it was one of those times

that Jeremiah thought he was standing alone. Amen? And as he's doing that, this is what he wrote. Yea, and this is the Lord speaking to him. Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love. Therefore, with loving kindness, I have drawn thee. Oh, he draws us with loving kindness, doesn't he? Isn't that wonderful? Think about that. And our Lord Jesus on that Palm Sunday,

as they put the palms down, and as they threw all that down, the coats, as he rides through everything according to prophecy, and they're all saying Hosanna, probably more wanting him to overthrow the Roman Empire because they were under such bondage. And then... And then as it looks like, you know, everything is, oh man, look how they're responding to him. And there was those that truly loved him, you see.

And oh, then there was those religious leaders. And you remember, he goes into the temple and kind of cleanses that. Mercy. They didn't like that either because he exposed them, you see. You see, God has a way of exposing things. Amen? And so Jesus was rejected, you see, despised. You see, Jesus knew how Jeremiah felt too. As he was, he spoke the truth and as he gave the gospel

and died on that cross for us. That week before he died, what a week it was, you see. He draws us with his loving kindness. What a beautiful thing. Let's look at verse four here.

Thus will I bless thee, while I live, I will lift up my hands in thy name. Neat thing. So we see the results, you see. The Lord is blessed as he lifts up his hands in praise while he lives. Remember, what's the setting here? David is in the wilderness of Judah in a dry, in thirsty land, where no water is. It looks like things are in the worst case they could be,

whether it be Saul-Aphraim or the Absalom situation. Notice, remember what the setting is, but also notice rather than getting deeper in the pit, what does he do? Rather than getting deeper in the drought, what do we do when we get deep in the drought? We found ourself in a dry place. Maybe we have neglected reading the word as we should and we feel real dry.

Rather than be deeper in the pit of the drought, he seeks the Lord early. Amen? And the important thing in this situation is, is remember, we seek the Lord not based on how, how we feel, but by faith. Oh, I can tell you, sometimes I've gone through that I didn't want to read the word. In fact, I'd get up, so down, I just took the Psalms and I'd read by faith.

And as I read the Psalms, I would just, when it said, blessed is the man who walks not of the counsel of the ungodly, I'd just ask the Lord, Lord, don't let me be in the counsel of the ungodly. I'd just talk to him about it as I read through. And you know, as I kept reading and praying and doing what I knew I should do, he began to lift me out of the pit. And he'll lift you out of the pit if you're at one right now.

If you'll but do what he has asked you to do.

Seek him early while he may be found. Seek first the kingdom of God. And you think of that seeking, that's an action word. So it doesn't just come by osmosis there. Yeah, God, you got to get the word. You got to pray.

And you want to worship. And go places where people are doing that, that are in the word, that are praying, that are seeking God. Let's look at verse 5. Hopefully I won't go too long. My soul shall be satisfied as with morrow and fatness, and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips. Notice what he said. He's reminding himself what he's going to do here,

what he's doing in this dry and wilderness place, you see. It's an important thing. So David is, he's satisfied as he sees himself in the providence of the Lord in spite of his circumstances. He can be content. That's the hard part in it. But we must see ourselves in the Lord. The providence of God. God is working in the affairs of man. And oh, he takes natural,

the natural activities of life and does supernatural things. Amen? Think about that. As you're walking your walk, as you're moving about daily, you won't maybe recognize it all at first. But then as you look back, you'll say, wow, I see how God was working in that situation. I see how God brought me in this place because he was going to do this. And so he uses

natural activities of life to do his supernatural work in each of us. Isn't that a blessing to remember and to think about? You came here today because God directed it. And he wants to work in your heart today. And he wants to love you and he wants you to look to him. He wants you to not do it on your own. It's when we realize our depravity that allows us to see

we can't do anything without him. You see. Let's look at verse 6.

When I remember the upon my bed and meditate on the in the night watches. That's a neat verse right there. That's a neat verse. We see that that as he is in that as he is satisfied he remembers and meditates upon the Lord in the night watches. Oh man. Think about those times at night. Now. I can just tell you. I remember Pastor Chuck saying this and probably I might have been younger

when I heard him say it. I don't know. But he used to talk about how you know they would go to the church camps with the kids and all. He said he said kids if you're up to anything if you're going to try to get do anything you're up to anything once I go to bed I'll be out. You could probably turn the camp upside. You know whatever. But as he got older he said you know

that's not the case now. I end up waking up at night. Sometimes I wake up and can't get back to sleep. What do we do? What do we do with that at night? I can remember in work time so when I wake up think about something in work and get bummed and have to remember I need to I need to I need to look to the Lord. I need to meditate on him. Look at him in the night watches you see.

It's like the words of that song you know Good Good Father you know where he talks about how the Lord tells him in the night how you know that the Lord loves him and he's not afraid you know it's that's why I chose that song. I love those words there and I also think he also I wonder if he if these words came across his mind during this time of course not the song but the words all my life you have been faithful all my life you have been so so good with every breath that I'm able I'll sing of the goodness of God don't you think he's singing that song isn't that wonderful? Do you believe that today? Amen?

Oh Psalm 63 what a beautiful psalm as he is contemplating his situation in the wilderness a dry place he doesn't even ask for physical water he says I'm seeking you Lord you see so even though the enemy could be near he meditates on the Lord Psalm 119 what a wonderful psalm what a focus on the word of God it is Psalm 119 76 and 77 says this let I pray thee thy merciful kindness before my comfort according to thy word unto thy servant Lord let thy tender mercies come unto me and I will be your servant that I may live for thy law is my delight oh that we would delight ourselves in the Lord that's what he said over in Psalm 37 delight yourself in the Lord and he'll give you the desires of your heart I remember Chuck explaining that in the younger years

my younger years when I was out there in California talking about how if you'll delight yourself with the Lord in the Lord he'll give you the desires of your heart your desires will become his desires but you must delight you see you must delight yourself in the Lord look to him and so as David is in this wilderness experience a dry and weary thirsty land where there's no water he is determined matter not his circumstances to seek the Lord early to reflect on the blessing that he has had in the sanctuary to see his loving kindness and as a result of that loving kindness of the Lord he said I'm going to praise thee in fact he's going to lift his hands to the Lord oh amen Colossians 3.16 I love this particular verse when he starts

when he starts to pray when he starts to pray in verse chapter 3 of Colossians he said you know I'd like to blame this on COVID but once in a while that gummit a particular we're supposed to set our minds on things above not on things on the earth you see where Christ is and as you go down through that that particular chapter he talks about putting to death those things of the flesh he talks about putting off the old man you see that picture but put on the new man habitually put on the things of God you see and then he talks about being kind and all those things and then he one of the verses he says he says let the peace of God rule umpire in your hearts how does that how do you do that well you've got to be with the Lord

you've got to let the love of the Lord work in you be obedient to what he calls you to do and where he's leading that's where the peace will come if you go opposite of what the God is telling you to do you will not have that peace you'll have you'll have experienced Jesus Christ as your Savior and you'll have peace with God but that peace of God begins to not feel his presence you see now he's there but as he gets down through this chapter then he comes to verse 6 and I love this verse let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another so that means we need to be together don't we we need that time of of oneness together we need that time together to encourage one another to fellowship

to grow with the grace of God to be in his word amen oh it's good for brethren and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and to dwell together but he says let the word of Christ dwell in you richly let God's word be at home in your heart amen hide it there treasure it in all wisdom and we see the word teaching and admonishing one another in psalms in hymns in spiritual songs and then he uses that word singing with grace your hearts to the lord what a wonderful thing now let's read verse seven here by golly we're going to get finished because thou thou has been my help so as a result of that he says therefore in the shadow of thy wings will i rejoice my soul and we'll continue there in a

second but notice he says david sees god as his help and rejoices in his protection not mentioning of the shadow of of his wings you see that and you you think about the hen you know and how that those wings are out there they they shadow over those little chicks and then just the president of the presence of the lord he knows he knows is there in verse eight my soul followeth hard after thee thy right hand upholdeth me you see that following hard that's that's that's neat we see david's response then to his circumstances the lord is his upholder and he follows hard after the lord are close and you you think about that whole thing following hard you know and and i i you you you

as i think of those times when you know i'm uh dying an hour somewhere and you know it's uh maybe it used to not be this way but nowadays you know when we're at some place walking around she gets too far away i can't see her like i used to quite and we'll do the sighted guide and sometimes we'll get in a place and i'll follow hard after you know close you see what i mean and so he wants us to follow hard after him psalm let's look at psalm 62 verses one and two over here okay and of course this um this is a to the chief musician to juduthan juduthan was one of the musicians you know he they would get these psalms and then put them to music and all a psalm of david and he says in psalm in verse one truly my soul waiteth upon god

oh how how important it is to wait on the lord you see that's hard to do isn't it wait on the lord from him what's the result from him from him comes my salvation you see wait on the lord verse two he only is my rock and my salvation isn't that a wonderful thing he is my defense you're a little fearful you feel like you can't hack it he's your defense he says i shall not be greatly moved oh what a neat promise that is amen yeah we can trust the lord these are two of my favorite verses also out of chapter three of proverbs and and and he's and and he said trust in the lord with all thine heart and lean not into thine own understanding and all thy ways acknowledge him and he shall direct your paths and so as you break that down

he says trust what are you putting your confidence in today now david's confidence could have been a bit could have been a bit distracted i mean after all he's he's he's gotten out of this out of his comfort zone because somebody's after him they would have sent him away so that they could deal with absalom without david being in the line of fire you see and so here he is david's such an interesting fellow oh i won't start there i'm sorry he's just quite a guy so trust confidence what you're putting your confidence in we must put it in the lord and so if we're going to put our confidence in the lord we want to do it with all of our heart which means we don't want to lean on our own understanding

amen we don't want to do that because see we're pretty fickle we can think something's really good at one time and my golly you know that's why that's why there's lots of fads that go on in the world that's why you know i could see hobby lobby being quite a place and uh it's neat it's owned by christians and i like the christian music when you go in there but notice the name and then lobby a lobby for hobbies huh and you could imagine you know and and hobbies are a fun thing to have but a lot of times you know you'll have a good little hobby and you're not satisfied and this is the way it was in the world and i remember this in my in growing up times in my family you know my dad would and he and his buddies would boy they'd get on one little hobby

quick and son of a gun that'd wear out and they'd try another one you know and we're not going to we're all that way. But you see, in our own understanding, we're never totally content. Now, we can have fun, and there's nothing wrong with having fun with hobbies, but it can't be your end all. That's the thing. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not under your own

understanding. And so, how are you going to not lean on your own understanding? You're going to need to trust Him, and you're going to need to acknowledge Him in all your ways we need to acknowledge Him, right? If we'll acknowledge Him, and that's trusting, walking, living out what He, and being obedient, He begins to direct our paths. And oh, He directs us in paths that we don't even

expect sometimes. Let me check the time. Okay, we're all right. I think we're all right. Yeah. Anyway, and so He acknowledges Him. It's so important that we acknowledge Him in all of our ways. And I think of the paths that he's directed me in. Do you know that the Lord wants to get us out of our comfort zones at times? Do you believe that? Is that easy? No.

I remember back in the 70s, a good friend of mine, he was good. He was kind of good at helping get me out of my comfort zone sometime. And, you know, Brad and I, his brother was out in California. And he was encouraging me, let's go out. Let's go out to California. And never been there. He had been. Never been there. We had, you know, heard about Chuck Smith and Calvary Chapel and all that was going on out there.

And I remember we went. And it did. It took me out of my comfort zone. But it taught me things, I believe. Not just necessarily because of Calvary Chapel, although God used it. But the being taken out of my comfort zone put me in a place that I couldn't depend on my family. Couldn't depend on old friends. But I gained new friends. I learned things that I wouldn't have learned had I not gotten out of my comfort zone.

You see? How many of you have been gotten out of your comfort zone and, you know, you end up with a new job? And you go, ooh, what's this going to be like, you know? But God uses that so often. Because when we're in these different zones of activity, we're experiencing a knowledge in Him that we wouldn't gain otherwise. Do you know that God had to use pushing the early church out of their comfort zone?

They were satisfied. They were satisfied with the church being with the Jews there at that time, right? It was a Jewish-believing church to begin with. But what did Jesus say to the boys? You shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem, right where they were. Judea, the province, that'd be like us here in our city. And then Judea, our Kansas, our state. Samaria, on into other areas.

And the outermost parts of the earth. Now, they didn't immediately do that. But that didn't mean God wasn't going to intend it to happen. And so, He allows certain events and certain things to go on that pushes us in places we don't always want to go. And pushes us in ways in which we don't always want to respond. You see, He wants us to get to know Him better.

He wants us to get to know Him better. He wants us to experience things that will build character in our life, that we will draw closer to Him. And we don't always want that, because we're comfortable with the way it is. You see, David was pushed out of that comfort zone. Many times. He was chosen as king. And really, the funny thing about his choosing, that God...

When Samuel, once Saul was rejected. And Samuel went over to David's house there. And it's interesting. His dad brought, you know, Samuel said, How many boys you got? You know? And so, he started putting those older boys before Samuel. And Samuel said, No, no, no. You got any other boys? He said, Yeah, I got a little shepherd. We got a shepherd boy out there taking care of the sheep.

The youngest boy. A ruddy little fellow. Redhead. Well, break him. He said, Samuel said, Yep. And he anointed him. Oh, you see, God used David's shepherd life to prepare him to be king and shepherd of Israel. Amen? Yeah. And so, this boy, now, who was a shepherd. God had encouraged him and given him the strength to take care of the bears, the lions. He had a shepherd's heart.

He had a shepherd's heart to protect those sheep. We're but sheep. So, boy, how did he, how, when that need, how he prepared him to deal with people. And, oh, how wonderful then, as he's chosen then, but God still needs, he's still going to do another kind of work. And he wants to make him a man of God. So, what does he do? Well, you know, it looks like Saul's real happy with old David at first.

And he sees David, you know, boy, old David stands up. He's up to Goliath. But then pretty soon, David, Saul gets jealous, you see. And David has to run for his life. But while he's running and while he's being put in these positions,

some of the other people, the rejects of the land, end up gathering with David, don't they?

What does God do? Well, he teaches them to be a leader of those boys. Those boys that gathered with him, those 600 of their families. It wasn't easy. It wasn't a good time, necessarily, because he was on the run. And David continued to respect the authority of Saul. But in those rough times, as he acknowledged God, as he trusted the Lord, he directed his path and he became king of Israel.

Amen? What a heavy thing to think about. Now, let's close. Verses 9 through 11. Let's just read those and we'll do a little commenting. You're probably thinking, okay, it's about time. Okay. But those that seek my soul to destroy it, he says, shall go into the lower parts of the earth. They shall fall by the sword. They shall be a portion for foxes or jackals.

But the king shall return. They shall rejoice in God. Notice, he's still, as he is reflecting here, he's still rejoicing in God. He knows God ultimately is in control. Rejoice in God. Everyone that sweareth by him shall glory. But the mouth of them that speak lies shall be stopped. And so you see the results. You see, David knew ultimately God was in control.

And David believes that those who are his enemies, God will deal with.

And he is going to rejoice in God. Amen? Let's rejoice in God today, knowing that he is in control. Now, as we close this out and think about applying this to us, there may be things that are going on in your life right now that you feel like is not a comfortable thing to do. It's not a comfortable situation.

What do we do about that? Seek the Lord early. Look to him. Be, realize he is working in your hearts. Daily go before him. Praise him. Love him. Be real before him. If you have, if you have an issue that you see that God is trying to speak to you about or to confess, be real before God. Agree with him because he knows. Look to him, the author and finisher of your faith.

He loves you. Amen? Let's pray. Father, we just thank you for the opportunity to be in your word today. And Father, as we leave here this morning, please be glorified. Encourage us in our walk and witness for you. Strengthen us with your might to live for you and walk this Christian walk. By grace are we saved through faith. Not that of ourselves, it's a gift of God.

Lest anyone should post. Amen? Amen. You may stand, would you, please? Okay. Oh, good idea. Okay.

Okay. God bless you all. God bless you all.

All the time, God is good. Oh, Father, now just bless now. Lord bless you. Have a great week.