I was looking back over some of my old sermon outlines today. I came across one that just seemed to fit my current state of mind and heart perfectly. Once again I was reminded of some things that I need to never forget. So, I thought it would be a good idea to share that very sermon outline with you for this week's devotional. It won't be the same format as my normal devotionals, but I don't think you'll have any problem following along.
“When Life Seems Broken”
Psalm 3
Introduction
The 3rd Psalm was written by King David at one of the lowest points in his reign- and possibly one of the lowest points in his entire life. It was a time when he was going through something as tough as anything else he had ever faced. It was a time when it seemed like his life was falling piece by piece all around him.
Have you ever been in a place like this- where you feel like your life is breaking up piece by piece and there’s nothing you can do about it? I would dare say that most of us have, and the rest of us will before our lives are through. I myself have experienced a time such as this, and because of it I feel that I have a better understanding than I had before of how David was feeling and what he was thinking when he wrote this psalm.
This psalm does not focus on the situation or how bad David felt. Rather, the focus of this psalm is on how David responded to the situation and what the Lord did for him. It is meant to be a psalm of encouragement, and that is how we will look at it. As I go along, I will share some things that the Lord has done in my own life as well as what He did in David’s life.
I. How David Felt (vs. 1-2)
A. As you read these verses, you get the picture of a man who is experiencing some brokenness. Notice how David described his feelings during that time:
1. He felt like everyone was ganging up on him. He saw his problems as a huge boulder that was about to fall on his head and squash him. [Kind of like Wile E. Coyote in the Road Runner cartoons. He just stands there and stares at the boulder falling on his head.] (vs. 1)
2. In his despair and discouragement, he didn’t see any help on the horizon. He felt hopeless. (vs. 2)
B. What situation caused these feelings? Absalom had overthrown him as king. Now David was running from his own son. (II Samuel 15)
1. David, out of his love for his son, had restored Absalom from banishment for the murder of his brother, Amnon. Instead of being grateful at being treated better than he deserved, Absalom launched a plan to take over the kingdom from his father.(vs. 6)
2. Absalom launches his rebellion against his father. This devastates David to the point that his reaction is to flee. And over 600 people went with him! That’s a lot of support. (vs. 13-18)
3. Verse 30 paints probably the most vivid picture of David’s feelings here. He is walking up Mount Olivet- weeping with every step. No doubt he remembered Absalom as a little boy growing up. It hurts him to know that his own son would do something like this to him.
C. As I said earlier, I have experienced a time such as this. I was hurting, and it was difficult to deal with. And yes, I cried tears over it. I was discouraged. I found myself asking, “Lord, where are you?” I know how David felt here.
II. What David Did (vs. 3-4)
A. These verses signal a shift in the mood of this psalm. No longer discouraged, David is now encouraged. Why? Because he went to the right place for help- the Lord.
B. Go back to II Samuel 15:25-26. Notice what David says here: “…if I shall find favour in the eyes of the LORD, he will bring me again, and shew me both it, and his habitation: But if he thus say, I have no delight in thee; behold, here am I, let him do to me as seemeth good unto him.” When I first read this, I thought that David was saying this to encourage the others and to try to convince himself of its truth. I thought this because it’s something that I’ve done before in times of discouragement. However, upon further review, I think I was mistaken. I think this was the point that he turned it all over to the only One who could handle it.
C. This is a great example to follow. When we have problems, we need to turn to Almighty God. However, many turn to anything and everything but Him. Drugs, the liquor bottle- anything they think will take care of things or at least make them forget about them will be tried. We can’t ignore the simple truth of I Peter 5:7- we are to cast all of our cares on the one who cares for us.
D. Notice in verse 3 David’s change in attitude once he allowed God to take over:
1. He recognizes that the Lord is his shield to protect him from anything that would come his way.
2. He recognizes that any glory he has only comes from the Lord.
3. He recognizes that the Lord has lifted his head up so that he can stand tall in the Lord’s power.
E. Perhaps the most encouraging verse in this chapter is verse 4. David cried out to the Lord- AND THE LORD HEARD HIM!!!! And just as the Lord heard David, so will he hear any of his children who call out to him. (see Jeremiah 33:3)
F. During my time of struggle, I finally reached the point where I cried out to God and turned everything over to him. It was then that He began to work in my life as he did in David’s.
III. How David Was Restored (vs. 5-8)
A. How did the Lord restore David from the pits of discouragement?
1. He gave David peace. David could lay down to sleep at night and wake up refreshed because the Lord sustained him. (vs. 5)
2. He assured David that he didn’t need to be afraid of any or all who would oppose him. David had the Lord on his side, and that was enough.
3. He showed David that He had already fought the battles for him. He had gone ahead of David and defeated the enemies in his path. He had already brought salvation. (vs. 7-8)
B. If you read further in II Samuel (even though we won’t take the time to do so now), you will find that David was, indeed, restored to his throne. God did indeed handle David’s problems when David turned them over to Him.
C. When I turned my problems over to the Lord, he began to work in my life. He began to teach me lessons and to strengthen my faith. I didn’t enjoy going through the struggles, but now I wouldn’t trade them for anything because of how the Lord used them in my life.
Conclusion
David’s life seemed broken when he was fleeing from his son Absalom. He was discouraged and sad, but all of that changed when David called on the Lord. He brought David back to a place of encouragement and strengthened his faith. He did the same things for me in my time of brokenness. And He will do the same for any of His children who cry out to Him. God taught me a valuable lesson that I will remember for the rest of my life, and it’s the one that I will leave you with: When life seems broken, He’s got the pieces in His hand.
Amen, He does. Great words to share Pastor.
I have missed your devotionals Chadley.
Pastor Chad... Our pastor Preached from this same scriptures yesterday during the Morning Worship Services. Yea PQ takes sermon notes... but one thing I distinctly remember my pastor saying several times yesterday was this... David slept because David Left God in Charge and on the job all night long. God is going to be up anyway's so why not do as David did and put God in Controll, and then we all can sleep in peace, knowing that God is taking care of all the troubles we have. When Morning Comes it will all be worked out because God was on the Job all night long, not that it takes GOD all night to work out the problems. But we have to remember that GOD does things on His time not ours.
I just wanted to share this, our pastor spoke this several times during the Sermon yesterday, and I know GOD wanted us all to remember that so PQ did just that and I have this recorded with sermon notes on this scripture.
Bro. Chad, I enjoyed your sermon outline. can I ask you a question? could you use more of your sermon notes on here as devotions. I really enjoyed this and I came back and re-read this one more than once.
thanks for your work
PQ