A Threefold Key to Learning to Trust God

A Threefold Key to Learning to Trust God Reflections on Psalms & Proverbs Series, Part 1 Psalm 9: 1 -20 December 15, 2013 Pastor Paul K. Kim

SOME PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS ON PSALM 9 • It is a part of the OT wisdom literature, which is wise-men’s “reflection” of God—as with prophets’ “revelation” from God and priests’ “response” to God for the people of Israel. • It is a psalm of David—an individual lament psalm to be sung also as a communal lament psalm—which contains his reallife experiences of faith amidst affliction. • It was written intentionally as an acrostic psalm connected with Psalm 10 to teach the people of God. • It shows a pattern of David’s prayer life and spiritual wisdom in learning to trust God.

WHAT WAS DAVID’S THREEFOLD KEY TO LEARNING TO TRUST GOD? 1) A DETERMINATION TO PRAISE God: This leads us to be Godcentered not man/need-centered in our faith and prayer. 1 I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds. 2 I will be glad and exult in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High. . . 11 Sing praises to the Lord, who sits enthroned in Zion! Tell among the peoples his deeds! 12 For he who avenges blood is mindful of them; he does not forget the cry of the afflicted. (vs. 1 -2, 11 -12) Ø This psalm is a lament; nevertheless, David starts with praise. Ø Why? It is his predetermined posture in a God-centered life; moreover, he is determined to praise with his “whole” heart. Ø In learning to trust God, we are also to make praise and thanksgiving to God as our wholehearted way of life.

WHAT WAS DAVID’S THREEFOLD KEY TO LEARNING TO TRUST GOD? 2) A REMEMBRANCE of God’s attributes and deeds: This leads us to focus on trustworthiness of God. 3 When my enemies turn back, they stumble and perish before your presence. 4 For you have maintained my just cause; you have sat on the throne, giving righteous judgment. 5 You have rebuked the nations; you have made the wicked perish; you have blotted out their name forever and ever. 6 The enemy came to an end in everlasting ruins; their cities you rooted out; the very memory of them has perished. (vs. 3 -6)

WHAT WAS DAVID’S THREEFOLD KEY TO LEARNING TO TRUST GOD? 2) A REMEMBRANCE of God’s attributes and deeds: This leads us to focus on trustworthiness of God. 7 But the Lord sits enthroned forever; he has established his throne for justice, 8 and he judges the world with righteousness; he judges the peoples with uprightness. 9 The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. 10 And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you. (vs. 7 -10) Ø Praising and thanksgiving naturally leads us to remember who God is and what God has done for us. Ø In so doing, we become of mindful of trustworthiness of God. Ø In learning to trust God, we must remember and recount God’s works and attributes that we experienced in the past.

WHAT WAS DAVID’S THREEFOLD KEY TO LEARNING TO TRUST GOD? 3) A PLEA for God’s mercy and help: This leads us to put our hope and confidence in God. 13 Be gracious to me, O Lord! See my affliction from those who hate me, O you who lift me up from the gates of death, 14 that I may recount all your praises, that in the gates of the daughter of Zion I may rejoice in your salvation. (vs. 13 -14)

WHAT WAS DAVID’S THREEFOLD KEY TO LEARNING TO TRUST GOD? 3) A PLEA for God’s mercy and help: This leads us to put our hope and confidence in God. 19 Arise, O Lord! Let not man prevail; let the nations be judged before you! 20 Put them in fear, O Lord! Let the nations know that they are but men! Selah. (vs. 19 -20) Ø Praising God and remembering God’s attributes and mighty works lead us to fresh confidence in asking God to act for us. Ø Why? We are reminded that God is trustworthy—both faithful in keeping his promises and mighty in his power! Thus, we must ask by faith and with confidence.

15 The nations have sunk in the pit that they made; in the net that they hid, their own foot has been caught. 16 The Lord has made himself known; he has executed judgment; the wicked are snared in the work of their own hands. Higgaion. Selah 17 The wicked shall return to Sheol, all the nations that forget God. 18 For the needy shall not always be forgotten, and the hope of the poor shall not perish forever. (vs. 15 -18) 14 And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him. 1 John 5: 14 -15

WHAT WAS DAVID’S THREEFOLD KEY TO LEARNING TO TRUST GOD? 3) A PLEA for God’s mercy and help: This leads us to put our hope and confidence in God. 19 Arise, O Lord! Let not man prevail; let the nations be judged before you! 20 Put them in fear, O Lord! Let the nations know that they are but men! Selah. (vs. 19 -20) Ø Praising God and remembering God’s attributes and mighty works lead us to fresh confidence in asking God to act for us. Ø Why? We are reminded that God is trustworthy—both faithful in keeping his promises and mighty in his power! Thus, we must ask by faith and with confidence. Ø In learning to trust God, we are also to ask God with confidence in his character, promise, and sovereignty.

“The Needy Shall Not Always Be Forgotten” If you are really trusting in Jesus, there are brighter days yet in store for you. The King shall yet bring you into his banqueting house, and his banner over you shall be love and you shall see such changes that you shall sing—“My mourning he to dancing turns, for sackcloth joy he gives. A moment, Lord, thine anger burns, but long thy favor lives”. . . “The needy shall not always be forgotten. ” They will be specially remembered when Christ comes, and he says to them, “Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. ” They will be remembered as they enter into the joy of their Lord; and then, throughout the eternal ages, they will never be forgotten of him. They may well bear whatever comes upon them now in the anticipation of the glory that is yet to be revealed. ― Charles H. Spurgeon

THREE PRACTICAL QUESTIONS FOR OUR EVERYDAY LIFE 1. In this season of Advent, how will you begin your day and prayer with a determination to praise God? 2. As you reflect on how God has shown his attributes and deeds for you in 2013, what do you need to remember about God? 3. As you look ahead on the coming year, how will you pray so that you would become increasingly more confident in trusting God?