The Lord Is My Provision and Strength

Read verse 11 with me. Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous ones, and shout for joy all you who are upright in heart. Father God, I just thank you for your word. God, it is sharp and powerful, Lord. God, and let it do its good work in us. Father God, I just pray that if there is sin in our lives, Lord, I pray that we would confess it to you, Lord.

And be forgiven. Father God, I just pray that as Brother Robbie comes this morning, God, just speak mightily through him, Lord. And do that mighty work in our hearts. We love you and we praise you. In Jesus' name, amen. You guys go ahead and have a seat.

Got it, thank you. Good morning, y'all. Would you turn in your Bibles to Psalm 27 this morning? We're gonna be in the Psalms. In Psalm 32, a neat psalm. Mercy. Psalm 27.

I'm gonna go ahead and read the psalm. I'll give you a few seconds there to get there. Now, I'm certainly, it's not because I wouldn't if I could, but I don't have the NASB. So, hang in there with me. I'm going King Jimmy today, as Josh McDowell used to say.

Let's pray first. Father, we ask for your blessing now as we as we as we as we as we as we look at this portion of your word, Lord. We thank you for your word, Lord, that it's a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path, Lord. I ask, Lord, that you would speak to us by your Holy Spirit. Fill us afresh. Part your spirit of wisdom to us in the revelation of the knowledge of you, Lord.

Enlighten the eyes of our understanding that we may sense and just know the hope of the calling we have in you, Lord. That we would look to you.

Be with my mouth, Lord. In Jesus' name, amen.

The Lord is my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life. Of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked, even my enemies and my foes came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. Though a host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fail. Though I fear, the war should rise against me. In this will I be confident.

One thing have I desired of the Lord. That will I seek after, that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life to behold the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple. For in the time of trouble, he shall hide me in his pavilion. In the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me. He shall set me up upon a rock. And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies

round about me. Therefore, will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy. I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the Lord. Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice. Have mercy also upon me and answer me. When thou saidst, seek ye my face. My heart said unto thee, thy face, Lord, will I seek. Hide not thy face far from me. Put not thy servant away in anger.

Thou hast been my help. Leave me not. Neither forsake me. O God of my salvation, when my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up. Teach me thy way, O Lord, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies. Deliver me, not over unto the will of my enemies. For false witness is a false witness, for false witnesses are risen up against me,

and such as breathe out cruelty. I had fainted unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait on the Lord. Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart. Wait, I say, on the Lord.

Actually, in the book of Psalms, Psalm 118.8 is actually the center verse of the Bible I've been told. And it's kind of interesting because it says, it is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. Amen? Kind of neat that that's kind of in the center there, you know. So we're in the book of Psalms this morning. The hymn book of Israel. And they would sing these Psalms, you see.

Of course, we in our contemporary time have put various parts of the Psalms, sometimes a psalm to music. It is a neat way to learn Scripture, actually. When a psalm or any portion of the words, you know, that gets put to music, there's something about doing that that really helps memorize that psalm. In the book of Psalms, one sees really a wide gamut of emotion.

However, the overriding theme is pointing to Jesus. Each psalm, you see, each psalm writer, whatever the condition of his heart or, you know, or emotions, is having his focus and was having his focus on the fact that the Lord is our sustenance and strength. He is our life, you see. So we want to draw your attention this morning to Psalm 27, as we've just read.

It is a psalm of 14 verses, as we see. And really just a little two-part outline would be in verses 1 through 6, we see the writer of this psalm, David, being encouraged as he recognizes or thinks back, on God's provision for him. And then we see in verse 7 through 14, a prayer for sustenance.

And I heard more in one commentator kind of point that out. First of all, in verse 1, we see that the Lord is my light and my salvation. He's our light and salvation.

1 John 1, verse 5 says this, this then, this then, is the message which we have heard of him and declare unto you. God is light and in him is no darkness at all. And so this is what David immediately says as he starts the psalm, the Lord is my light. You see, I want to give you three characteristics of light that I've gotten. There's studies and that kind of thing.

Number one, light reveals things around us. God reveals himself to us through his word. You see, light reveals things around us. Isn't that the truth? I think maybe the other night in our men's study, we were discussing one of those studies. We were just discussing the experience of some who have gone to the calls back caverns, or I think even up here at Hutchison at the soul mine,

if you get down there real low, and those areas where they turn off the light and it's totally dark, just you see nothing. And I think after a certain period that can kind of almost freak folk out. You know, I didn't share this in the first service, but I remember in my work,

I used to be a rehab teacher for services for the blind and we would work with different clients who, a lot of times it was people who lost their vision later in life. And I remember a particular lady who was at a assisted living place and she wasn't directly my client. She was the other teachers, but she had some residual vision, but there was a point at which she had lost that vision. And of course, you know, there were kind of things she saw as that vision was being lost and all, but it was, there was nothing there.

I had a, I've got a very dear friend that it just the, just this, the picture of what goes on when you, you know, when it's dark, you know, and he was another fellow that was partially sighted and he come to see me at work. And I think he had retired by then and I'll never forget him kind of had brought tears. My eyes cause I knew I knew what he was. I mean, I didn't know directly what he's facing, but I knew it was had to be an adjustment.

And I remember him saying, well, Rob, I've joined the ranks of the blind because he could, you know, he had partial vision. Any kind of vision you've got is better than none at all because you are, you see nothing, you know, and that's what darkness does, but light dispels darkness. Amen. It dispels it. You see, Oh, David in the times he went through, he's remembering the Lord is my light.

The second thing light is, is a measure. We can measure ourselves with God. Remember he's light. God is light. He's sovereign. Absolute. As we're in his word, as we get that time of, of looking to him, reading his word, him enlightening as you see, he's our measure. Where am I standing with what God has called me to do? Where am I standing with what he's laid out for me and the way in which he loves me and leads me and guides me?

You see, he's a light is a measure, isn't it? And depending on how much light is, is, is going on is how much measure that you see of something. Now for me, you know, I didn't, I didn't share this for service. I didn't share it either and I I'll share it. I I'm experiencing a little bit more dimness than I used to. I'm I've not been totally blind, but I'm those those of you who knew me in my younger years,

I I got around a little differently than I do now because there's a little dimmer. There's still light, but you see, there's a measure of that light we can measure the light is not real. Great. A little dimmer. You know, we see through a glass dimly, don't we? As we look through that glass dimly in first Corinthians 13 tells us, but oh, one day we'll see him face to face.

Amen. Amen. Yeah. Light is a measure. We can measure ourselves with God. He is sovereign. What he rules is always right and he's absolute. You see the world in which we live today, they don't like absolute, you know, truth is relative. Do you realize that's their truth? That's a bunk. If you say truth is relative, your truth is the truth is relative, right?

Yeah. I didn't say that for service either. All right, here we go. The third thing light energizes and imparts life. Life needs light. Amen. I was talking about, uh, we've got this, um, peace Lily at home. And so it's got it's a little place over in the corner because every morning, you know, uh, get up and we when sun shining, we open those front curtains boy and that it likes that,

you know, and we turn the light on.

I remember dying. It grown enough that Diane needed to repot thing. And so she reports that she thought, well, I'll just kind of leave it out for a little bit, but it's kind of interesting that dog on plant. Wasn't happy. It needed it. She said, boy, it's just kind of looking different. I said, you know what needs back to be back over there and stand in the corner where it's used,

where it's, where it's adjusted to the light it gets. And you know, it's dead better at sunlight coming in the front door in the front windows in the morning and with the light on. And you know what else happens? Diane and Lily can tell when that thing needs to be done. Yeah. It needs water because it starts drooping and you know, we need the water of the word,

don't we? We kind of droop, don't we? Oh man. John one verse four says this in him was life and the life was the light of men. Yeah. Yes. Psalm 1 19 1 0 5 says this. Thy word is a lamp into my feet and the light into my. Path a lamp and to my feet right there right in front of me, but that it also lights my path. I was telling in first service. I, my dad was a hunter and the,

the, the he got into hunting the raccoon, you know, of course you hunt them at night and I remember how important it was to have a good flashlight and I remember seeing some of them, they would have a flashlight, you know, they'd shine right down and, and all and but they also would have this light on a strap that was around their head and it shot light out in front of them. You know that path that I think that shot out for them to see further out and you know how light is it's up like that. It kind of spreads its light and and so you think of God's word. It's a lamp into my feet right where I am as I'm living this life day to day.

It's directing light. My path, you see, it's directing me right where I am up close, but it's also a light that that that directs my path. His word tells me what I can what what's ahead of us that he's coming again, you see, and those things that he lays out in his word for it's it's a lamp into our feet and a light into our path. The psalm also declares that the David also because that the Lord is, our salvation, you see, and of course, we know John 316.

We've all memorized that probably at some time or other for God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever would believe in him shall not perish but have everlasting life. You see, he, I believe for David probably not only not only would this be speaking of the fact that he is our salvation. He, you know, to look forward to when he takes us to be, with him in heaven, but I think he also is his salvation out of situations that he was in some time right as a warrior and as and how many times as he saved us out of some situations that we had not been for him and his sovereign plan. We might not have made it out and boy, I could tell you some of those things in my life,

but that'll just drag the study on and I went over the first service a little bit. So I won't do that, but I can, oh, I'm sure you can reflect on times where you were in a situation. And you thought, oh boy, this is kind of hairy here, you know, but the Lord saved you through it out of it. You see, but he's but he has saved us when we come to him and we're living out that salvation.

No, there'll be a day. We'll go to be with him in glory. You see, and that's that'll be wonderful. Be a beautiful day. You see, he died on the cross. You see, we have to come to the cross. Billy Graham always stressed the cross when he gave that message. Always remember hearing him discuss a time in which something didn't seem to be flowing as well. And they were talking to you got to preach the cross.

You see, you know, over in Acts chapter 4 verse 12, and of course, the the context is the in chapter 3 the man, the lame man laying at the at the beautiful gate there at the temple. He commonly always always stuck out his palm to ask for an arm. You remember the little song we used to sing right from the scripture. He stuck out his palm on ask for an arm. But this is what Peter did say silver and gold have I none but such as I have give I thee in the name of Jesus Christ rise up and walk.

And so in this had taken place God had to heal this man the Jewish leaders. It kind of stepped on their status quo. You see they were the big cheese. They thought. And so they're they're fussing with their fussing with Peter and John. Always remember Satan typically this is this is general, but I remember Dr. Ironside at first seeing him say this in his commentary on acts.

And then as we were I was beginning to read the commentary on chapter 6 of Acts. You remember and he said typically. Satan attacks. With persecution from without and dissension from within and there's truth to that guys. You want to know I want you want to know why there's dissension from and then Satan is tripping up people. They're talking to one another instead of who they need to talk to.

To about what they're concerned about it and usually it involves being self-centered. So often anyway, Acts chapter 4 verse 12 says this neither is their salvation in any other for there is none other name. Under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved. And so he says the Lord is my light and my salvation. The Lord is the strength of my life of whom shall I be afraid you see.

David points out whom shall I fear and then mentions the Lord being his strength the strength of his life. You see it is his strength. We depend on you know, when you think about fear his perfect love, we know over in first John 418 talks about his perfect love casts out fear you see, which is, why I'm not always there. But oh, if I'm loving the way he loves, you don't have to be fearful.

How often do we fear man over God? Amen. And yet God's who created us. And you take it take us home anytime. Oh wow. But he is our strength. We depend on him second Corinthians 12 9. I think this is a neat verse. Now. Remember the context of this year. Remember? Paul is is talking about how he was buffeted by Satan, you know, and he had this this infirmity,

whatever it was. And he said he prayed three times, you know, the and there are different thoughts about what what it might have been, but it doesn't really tell us. But as he, as he has prayed about that, he says this in chapter second, Chris is 12 verse 9. And he said, you know, he's talking about his his communication with the Lord. And he said unto me, my grace is sufficient for thee.

For my strength is made perfect in weakness. Oh, how true that is. Most gladly. Therefore, will I rather glory in my infirmities that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Amen. Now stop and think about that. You see the typical way we want to react is is take care of ourselves. And we here in America, we're, you know, I think we're still that way. I don't know,

you know, put your, pull your bootstraps up and get after it. And we are supposed to do that in serving the Lord. And as he leads us, but it's in his strength. Amen. We can't do it. And so, David doesn't say I'm my strength. He didn't say I'm my light. I'm my salvation. No, he's talking about the Lord being his light. You see beautiful, beautiful. Now in verse two,

we see David look back at his life. And you think back on David AC and he and and and and in verse two here. And of course he's he says he doesn't say that, but I'm sorry when the when the wicked even mine enemies, you see he reflects on that even my foes, you know, they came upon me to eat up my flesh. He said they stumbled, you know, you think of David's life and is reflecting.

What was the first thing he he really when you think of the first thing he really was and what he did. He was a shepherd, wasn't he? And and the Lord used that life as a shepherd. Because he would he would protect the sheep from the bear the lion. That wasn't a simple task. You know, but the Lord was with him. But you see, as we're as we're going about our lives,

you see, don't be weary. And we're well doing don't be weary and the things that God has you doing what he calls you to do. Be faithful in those things and he he'll he'll typically and trust you with more. You wonder why you had to go through what you went through. In certain situations. God was using that in your life. You know, I think back on going away to school as a as a kid.

And then and and the things that I learned from doing that and the. The fears the insecurities I felt but you know, when I look back on that, this is what God had for my life and many of us. And when I look back on that, I see how God used it to prepare me for other things. I had I had my insecurities. Yes. I can remember those times of being picked on those kind of things,

you know, living in a dorm, but see all those things God uses in our lives. To prepare us for whatever he's calling us to do. So don't don't let the small things or whatever seems big at that time that may look small later. Bring you down. Because as you're as you're walking along with the Lord, there'll be times when you reflect and you'll see. Oh, that's why God allowed that.

God allowed that Shepherd boy. Who had a heart for God who love those sheep? Who had a Shepherd's heart? Aren't we like sheep? And God used that to prepare him to be a leader. This Shepherd. Wow. He prepared him. He prepared him for leadership. And it isn't it interesting before he really became King. And of course. He was he was chosen King and was a while being King.

And went through a lot because Saul got real jealous, didn't he? End up having a band of what 400 600 men. He began to lead them those activities those things. He went through God used to prepare him to be. King of Israel. Amen. Don't be discouraged. And what God's having you do now. Don't pity yourself for what you might have gone through. But ask God. How are you going to use this in my life?

How are you using this in my life? So that I can serve you more. As I'm living now. In verse three, we see that David. That David's confidence. Is in the Lord through it all. You see, he looked to the Lord trusted the Lord. Oh, I love this verse four and verse four. We see David's heart toward God. Don't we? Amen. After God's heart. One thing I have I desired of the Lord that while I seek after that I may dwell.

Behold the beauty of the Lord to inquire in the temple. You see, he desired. The Lord. I'm just going to read that Psalm. So I read it. Don't leave any out because it's such a neat Psalm. One thing have I desired of the Lord that will I seek after? This is something he's desired of the Lord that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life. To behold the beauty of the Lord,

you see. and to inquire in his temple. Kind of interesting, him beholding the beauty of the Lord, inquiring in his temple, you see. Of course, at this time, it was the tabernacle, because the temple hadn't been built yet. That tabernacle, that tent that the Lord gave direction for Moses to build in Exodus, you get a beautiful picture of all that, and how it's really a picture of heaven,

in a sense. And of course, what took place at the tabernacle? You had the holy place and the holy of holies, and that holy of holies, once a year, that priest would go in, you know, and sprinkle that blood on the mercy seat and all, and you know, for the sins of the people, his sins and all, and represent the people to God, and God would represent himself to the priest, to represent the people. And so, David is knowing that, you know, and of course, we just read Psalm 32 as our reading to the psalm, and how he talks about the Lord covering his sin and all, you see. And see,

the Old Testament saint looked to the work of the cross, that covering of the sin. It wasn't the final atonement. Jesus took care of that when he died on the cross for us. The Old Testament saints looked to the work of the cross. We look back to the work of the cross. You remember in Hebrews 11, the holy of holies, the holy of holies, the hall of faith. You know, the world has these hall of fame, you know, fame. Look at them.

Hall of faith is, look at God. Amen? You see, by faith, these different individuals believe God. I remember Dr. McGee talking about how he could just imagine Eve talking to little Abel and probably Cain, because he, you know, he took it differently. Abel, you know, talking to him and reminding him, there'll be a savior, you know, there's going to be a work. We're looking to the work, you see, by faith, believe, you see. Because God, as you're

in Genesis chapter three, by the time after Adam and Eve have fallen to sin, and the deception has taken place, and all of the serpents, and by 315. We get prophetic scripture concerning the Messiah. Amen? Now, in verse five, and not only that, guys, the temple was important to the believer in that day, the saint of the Old Testament, because he would, the temple was a point of reference to them to look to the Lord, you see. In fact, you remember when the temple was actually built,

Solomon, as he's reflecting on that and praying, he says, and oh Lord, when they go into captivity, help them not forget, you know, the temple. And they would, and you remember Daniel in his situation, and they would, when they would pray, they would look toward, wherever they were, they would look toward where the temple was, you see. Oh, but now, guys, through Jesus Christ, we have access. Yeah. We are temples of the Holy Spirit, aren't we? He's living in us. Oh, wow.

Know you not that you bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit? It says over there in Corinthians. Now, in verse five, we see that David wants to enter in to the holy of holies in time of trouble or any time he wants to let the Lord hide him. What a wonderful picture. What a wonderful picture. What a wonderful picture. What a wonderful picture. What a wonderful picture.

thing. Remember in Psalm 32 that we just read, you are my hiding place. Oh, amen. He's our hiding place. Songs of deliverance, you see. Now, we read in Psalm 46, God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble, a very present help in trouble. Let's just let's look at verse 5 just to keep it all. For in the time of trouble, he had trouble, so do we. He shall hide me in his pavilion, you see. In the secret of his tabernacle

shall he hide me. He shall set me up upon a rock. Oh, the rock of our salvation. And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about. Therefore, well, let's stop there. I want to talk about this lifting up of the being up on a rock and lifting up the head. I was listening to Raul Ruiz in this section last night. It's kind of interesting. He discussed that when he first went to Vietnam, you know, and they were out in the

battle area, and he said the new ones would be putting their head down. But those that had been in the battle, they had their head up. They wanted to see. Where the fighting was coming from, you see. On the rock, looking out to the Lord, being his strength in time of trouble, putting him on a rock, having his head up to see those surrounding him, you see. Heavy duty stuff. Therefore, will I offer in his tabernacle, notice, sacrifices of

joy or shouting in some translations. I will sing. I will sing praises unto the Lord. You see the result of the result of realizing and reminding yourself that the Lord is our light and our salvation. Though enemies encompass me, though whatever I've gone through, the Lord is my strength. I, the one thing I desire is to be in the house of the Lord, to behold his beauty, to inquire in his temple. But he, you know, but he

was in those times of trouble at times. The Lord was his rock, his salvation. He put him on a rock, his head above so he could see his enemies around him. And so you see that encouraged. He's encouraged in verse six. He's shouting to the Lord and praise and all. And so now in verse seven, we're going to get to this whole area of this prayer. You see. He begins his prayer. He asked the Lord to hear him and he appeals to his mercy. Oh,

I would rather appeal to the mercy of God. Than any kind of appealing to the mercy of man. Amen. You know, there was a particular time that David appealed to God's mercy. Over there, I believe it was in Numbers. It was in the Pentateuch. And it appeared that David was getting concerned about the number of warriors he had. And so he asked Joab, his general, you know, to count, to number.

The people. And if I remember correctly, Joab had kind of said, you sure you want to do that? God's in control here. You see, well, you know, David wasn't perfect. He's like you and I. And he went ahead. Joab did what he told him to do. He numbered the people, but that wasn't what God wanted him to do. God was his strength. God was his, who would, who would lead him through the,

the battles and all. He didn't have to worry about how many men he had really. And so he was giving, you know, because he, he did that, what she wasn't to do. There were, there were some consequences. He was, had choices to face plague and one thing, you know, these different things. What did David do? He said, I'll tell you what, I'll appeal to the mercy of God on this. And that's the way to go.

Now there were those consequences. You see sin, there are repercussions from sin. We're forgiven, but there, there can be repercussions from those kinds of things that we have to work through. Doesn't mean you're not forgiven, but reaping and sowing has its effects. And oh my, have we ever experienced that? Amen. But he's faithful, isn't he? He's faithful to bring us

through. He's so faithful. Now in verse eight, when the Lord says, seek my face, David said, said he's going to seek the Lord. It's always so wonderful. You see, God draws us because he loves us. And we respond to that love. You see, we came to him because his Holy Spirit drew us. Oh, we were seeking for something to confide in. All right. But always led to emptiness

inside. But oh, when we respond to that love, we respond to that love. And we respond to that love. And we respond to that love. And we respond to that love. And we respond to that love. And we respond to that love. We responded to the call of the Holy Spirit. You remember the word says by faith, but faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word. You see, we heard that message. He drew us with his loving

kindness. We responded because he loved us. We love him because he first loved us, you see.

So let's just read seven, eight, just to keep it in going here. So hear, oh Lord, when I cry, with my voice, have mercy also upon me and answer me. And in verse eight, when thou said, seek ye my face, my heart said unto thee, notice my heart said unto thee. You see, it's a heart matter. Thy face, Lord, will I seek. Wonderful thing. Let's go ahead and read nine and 10,

and then we'll comment some more. Hide not thy face far from me. Put not thy face far from me. Put not thy servant away in anger. Thou has been my help. Leave me not, neither forsake me, oh God of my salvation. When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up. Very neat, very neat. Okay. So as we're looking then in verse nine, you see him appealing to God.

He does not want anything to be in the way of fellowship. And of course, we know sin can put us a wall up to affect our fellowship. And see, David, you see, David experienced that,

that time where the wall was up. You remember what, how he handled that adulterous situation. He tried to cover it, didn't he? And then, of course, he tried to cover it. He tried to cover it. Psalm 32 reveals how, how it was eating him up, you see, to the point that he had had Bathsheba's husband killed, you see. Oh, you see, he was trying to cover it on his own.

Anything we tried to do and cover on our own will always lead to a yuckiness inside, you see. But oh, when he kept trying to take care of it himself, it's like his, his bones were being eaten up. He was drying up like, you know, like you would in that situation. And then the prophet Nathan comes to him. And think about the word picture God used here. David having had been a shepherd. Notice, remember what Nathan, the word picture he uses.

He talks about a ewe lamb, doesn't he? Of course, David was a, he had been a shepherd. And so, Nathan points out, hey, there's this fella, all he has is this one ewe lamb. Oh, he's natured, he loves it and all. Then the other fella comes and he has really all he needs, you know, he's in good shape and all this. But he takes that one ewe lamb from the fella that, who only had the one ewe lamb.

Well, you know, that stirred David up inside. Didn't it? And he was ready to deal with this guy. Nathan said, David, for that man. And notice what David doesn't do. He doesn't play the blame game, does he? He doesn't say, oh, that woman should have been on that roof. That woman should, you know, he doesn't do the blame game. That's, that's what goes on. We see a lot of that in the world today, don't we?

The blame game. No, David said, I've sinned against God. Now, there were those, there were those effects. There were those things that were reaped from it. But, oh, in Psalm 32 and 51, you see how he pours his heart out unto God. And the freedom he felt inside when he confessed. Yes, Lord, I've sinned. You see, that's the thing. We're all going to sin sometime.

We're sinners. We're saved by grace. Hopefully, it's not habitually all the time.

But if we will but admit, you see, it's important to confess or agree with God our sin. And ask for his forgiveness. And the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us. And it's continually cleansing us. That's, that's the kind of tense that is. From all unrighteousness. Amen. Amen. And verse, verse, one of the things Dr. McGee. He had a, he said, one of his translations, rather, it's said in this verse, rather than

my parents leaving me, he said, it would, he thinks it would be better be, had my father and mother forsaken me, that the Lord would take me up, you see. He see, you really. See how David sees his sustenance in the Lord. He is his strength.

Now, I'm going to read 11 through 14, and then we'll comment, okay? 11 through 14. And I, and that's a neat, I love, well, it's all good. But notice this. Teach me thy way, O Lord, and lead me. Notice, he's asking to be taught first. So he knows how the Lord's going to lead him, right? Teach me. Teach me. Teach me. Teach me. Teach me thy way, O Lord. Lead me in a plain path because of mine enemies.

Deliver me, verse 12, not over unto the will of mine enemies. For false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty. I had fainted unless I had believed. For false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty. I had fainted unless I had believed. For false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty.

I had fainted unless I had believed. To see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. And then he closes, wait on the Lord. Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart. Wait, I say, on the Lord. And so as we look at this in verse 11, he asked the Lord, you see, to teach him. He wants a good testimony. Teach him. Teach him. Teach him. Teach him.

Teach him. Teach him. Teach him. Lead, you see. He wants a plain path. Proverbs 3, 5, and 6 is a couple of my favorite verses. There's others. Actually, I guess I can't say favorite, can I? Because there's others that I like, too. But anyway, Proverbs 3, 5, and 6. Trust in the Lord with all thine heart. Lean not unto thine own understanding, but in all thy ways acknowledge him, and he'll direct thy paths.

So first word. Put a trust. Put our confidence in. What's our confidence in today? You see? Trust in the Lord. How? With all thy heart. Not with a divided commitment. I'll trust you in this situation, but I'm going to hang on to this one. You see? Trust in the Lord with all thine heart. And then we have to consider what we're leaning on today. He says, lean not on thine own understanding.

Oh, gosh. We're fickle, aren't we? To lean on our own understanding and our hearts. We can think one thing is a great thing. You know, come up with some exercise program or this beautiful diet. And all of a sudden you go, oh, that's not like I thought it was. Whatever it might be. You can't lean on our own understanding, but acknowledge him. Consider what he has, you see.

Acknowledge him in all our ways. So if we're doing that in all our ways, as we're going about life, Lord, direct me. Lead me. First of all, teach me. Lead me, you see.

And then he'll direct our path. He can direct us. We don't do too well at it. But he's our light, you see. He's our salvation. Now, in verse 12, you see, he doesn't want to be. At the mercy of man. He doesn't want his enemies getting a hold of him, taking a hold of him. And he'd be, you know, he wants to trust the Lord. In verse 13, he was encouraged by the goodness of the Lord.

I talked about this first service. If I remember correctly, you know, the years go by. But, you know, that the saying we all say God is good. All the time, God is good. But I remember. If I remember correctly, Mark had gone on a mission trip thing to Africa there. And he had heard that said there. And when he came back, he shared it with us. And we all began to say that.

And so that's carried on for all this summit. But he is good to us, isn't he? God is good. All the time. God is good. Amen? Yes. And so he was encouraged in that and remembering that. Now, we're going to. Begin to close here. In verse 14, he says, wait on the Lord and you'll be strengthened and encouraged. How do we wait on the Lord? You see. I think we continue, of course, in his word and prayer.

In fellowship with one another and him. There's joy in that. But it doesn't. I don't believe it means when you wait, you don't do anything. Because I think we can always actively do that which we know to do. Right? That which he's shown us to do. But as we do that and as we spend that time quietly waiting. We'll be encouraged. And we're in a position to be directed to do more.

Or to be shown in a way to respond or to react differently than we have been. Based on the situation that's arising that God knows about. We don't. You see. Wait. It's hard to wait. On the Lord. Because there's oftentimes there's things we, you know, we have, we have, you know, we'll have things in mind. We, boy, it just seems like it'd be good if we could do this.

Or God, are you leading in this? And when we don't know, we better wait. Wait. Seek him. While he may be found, you see.

We trust in him. We seek him.

And we walk in his light. You see. For he's our strength. In our life. In our weakness. He's made strong. And we see that worked out that Romans 828 says.

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God. To them who are the called according to his purpose. And you stop and think about that.

Okay. Hey, we're close and pretty good here, guys. But all things are working together for the good. But to those who love him, you see, and are called. When you think about the different things that are working out in our life, sometimes they're not, they're not good at the time. They don't seem like.

When you think about what makes up salt. The end of it. Was it sodium chloride? Something like that. Anyway, I'm not very scientific. I've never has been one that could stand up here and spout off some of the science stuff that people do. You know. But I do know that the elements. That make up salt individually by themselves wouldn't be good. You see, they don't seem good, but when they're put together.

That salt gives us flavor, doesn't it? It. In fact, we are to be the salt of the earth, right? And salt flavors. It has a little zest there. It also stings. When it's on something that's kind of an open spot on skin or something. It stings. It stings there and when the salt of the is coming out when we're being salt, sometimes we sting one another was for sharing what God's shown us.

And we think back. Ooh, that I see that I'm falling into something. I shouldn't be falling into. I always remember when when I first before I got saved. I remember the things that went on that summer when this lady talking about how the Lord loves you and I knew about the Lord and all that. You know. But it was the timing that I heard that and then I just remember.

Setting at the table up at the school there after church and a fellow sitting across from me said, well, I did it. I said, what'd you do? I got saved. Well, that salt got me right in the gut. I said, ooh, I need to do that too. And you know, before it's all said and done. I did. Salt is important. But the elements of salt by themselves might be different. All things are working together for the good.

You see, what would be the light of let your light so shine that we may glorify our father, which is in heaven. We're to reflect the light of the Lord. He is our light and our salvation. You see, and as we draw close to him, we can be a reflection of him to others. Amen. Like the sun and the moon. The moon reflects the sun. The stars do. Heavy duty stuff. And so I want to as we close here, I want to encourage you.

The Lord is our light. And we know what light does. It extinguishes the darkness. You see, now the world doesn't like that. They, you know, you go to bars and places and they're usually kind of dark, aren't they? But boy, and so for those that don't like the light. You don't be discouraged when they reject you. They're rejecting him. It's just like what happened when Saul, you know, when, when, when, not Saul.

When Samuel since rejection, when they started wanting a king. David's and the Lord said, they're not rejecting you, Samuel. They're rejecting me.

Stand for the Lord in spite of it. Because they're rejecting the Lord. When they reject you. Oh, but he loves them. So God is our light. He's our salvation. He's our strength. In our weakness. He's made strong through the battles as he brings us through. It causes us. And as we're in the word, it causes us to want to shout for joy because God is with us. Amen.

He's our hiding place. Wait on the Lord. You know, I'll say one more thing. So that I don't go too much over, but I'm reminded of, of Isaiah. I think it's 4031. They that wait on the Lord. Shall renew their strength. They will mount up on wings as Eagle. They shall run. See, they're not doing nothing while they're waiting that you'll run. And not be weary. They shall walk and not faint.

You see. Teach me Lord to wait. Amen. Would you stand father? We just thank you for this opportunity to be in your word. And again, we ask for your your blessing on each one here today. Lord, if there be any among us that don't know you as Savior Lord, I want to encourage them to take that time to say Lord. I'm a sinner. Forgive me of my sin. Come into my heart.

Make me what you want me to be. And then those of us who are believers strengthen us to walk in your way and we give you all the things in Jesus name. And please bring everybody back safely. Amen. Lord bless you all.

How great.

My savior God. How great.

And for his place. I wonder.

We.

And look down from the lofty mountain grandeur And hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze My soul, my Savior, God to Thee How great Thou art, how great Thou art My soul, my Savior, God to Thee Great Thou art, I think That God, His Son not sparing Sent Him to die I scarce can take it in A crawl, my burden gladly bearing He bled and died to take away my sin My soul, my Savior, God to Thee My soul, how great Thou shalt come With shouts of acclamation And take me home What joy shall fill my heart And I shall bow in hope And there proclaim Father God, how great You are And how awesome You are, Lord God, we just praise You, Lord Father, I just pray that as we leave here today God, that You go with us, Lord

And just strengthen us and encourage us in You, Lord We love You and we praise You in Jesus' name Amen Guys, have a wonderful week Be blessed Amen