Psalm 9

Preached: 2010 Des Arc First UMC - Nursing Home

SCRIPTURE READINGS Psalm 9: 1 &2, 9, 10 & 11

Sometimes when times get rough, we forget that we are not alone. Sometimes when things are going so wrong in our lives, we forget that they could be worse. Sometimes we wish that we could just quit

  •  Hurting so much

  •  Having bad things happen to us so much

  •  Being so worried about

    •  Money

    •  Health

    •  Life

    •  Justice

Then we here a Psalm like today’s that says “I will thank you, Lord, with all my heart;  I will tell of all the marvelous things you have done.   I will be filled with Joy because of you.  I will sing praises to your name, O Most High.”

And most of us say yeah right—if we can ever get back on our feet again, and things start going right in our lives once again. That’s the rub isn’t it.  We hurt, we need help, we feel that we have been abandoned and there is no place to turn. And we want things made right, right now.

Well there is good news and bad news in this. The Psalmist in today’s Psalm is thanking God for helping him triumph over his foes. And he is letting us know that our God is a God of judgment and fairness who in the end will make all things right again.

That is why I included the reading from vs. 9 & 10 “The Lord is a shelter for the oppressed.”

  • Have you been oppressed in your life?

  • Have you been put down and laughed at?

  • Have you been made fun of?

God will not do these things to you. He will love you just as you are and insure you will receive his Love always. “(The Lord) is a refuge in times of trouble.”

God is there as a place we can seek and receive comfort. A refuge is that place where we go to be safe especially as the storms of Life build upon themselves against us in our lives.

“Those who know your name trust in you, for You, O Lord, have never abandoned anyone who searches for you.”

I am often asked the question “Why has God abandoned us, especially when we need him so much? And Why has God allowed this evil to happen to us when the Evil people of this world seem to prosper?” In answer to both questions—God did not nor will he move away from us. We instead are the ones who move away from Him. We are the ones who stray and loose our way. God is always there and will always be there for us. And the answer to the second questions is God does not cause good or bad things to happen. Life and what we do causes those. If there is an earthquake or a tornado or a big wave washes away people and people die. God did not cause this, we living in the wrong place when things change on this planet or living in places where those things can happen are the reason people die.  When we see entire villages flattened like in Haiti or Turkey this week because of earth quakes it was not God sending down punishment—it was because they built houses the best they could but not earthquake proof. And People will die if they do not take care in this life about how to properly do things in building or rebuilding.

A lot of people have this funny notion that God is a vengeful wrathful being just waiting on his throne to pass judgment on all of humanity and to send the majority of us to Hell because we did or did not do this or that. I am sorry that is not the god I worship.

I like the Psalmist “Sing praises to the Lord who reigns In Heaven and on earth” in His Kingdom.

And I will “tell the world about his unforgettable deeds”

What kind of a god are you worshiping? Who would love us so much to send us His son to die on a cross that we all might be relieved of our sins? My God—Your God is a God of Love and compassion who is never changing, who has loved you since you were born and has watched as you have grown and watched as you have stubbed your toes and has watched as you have blamed Him for all your misfortune, most of which we have brought upon ourselves. Who cares so deeply about each one of us that he knows us each intimately and we know him as he calls each of us by name to come and be with Him forever.

God just asks that you help him and others in this His Kingdom. Get that His Kingdom, not our kingdom. For as you questioned evil does exist here only because we let it and it will triumph over us if we let it. For that evil comes from wanting our own self desires and putting them before God’s desires. Ask God this day to help turn your heart and to help you start living the life he created for you to live. And ask his help and comfort and know He is there feeling your pain, knowing your troubles, and helping you find your way home to Him always.