Finding Yourself in the Psalms

Psalm 60

A Psalm When God Is Your Only Hope

illus – ants on a golf ball

Pastor Lou in a sand trap- SWING -miss – hundreds of ants killed
SWING – more ants killed – chaos
ONE ANT “Hey everybody, GET ON THE BALL” What? You’ve got to be kidding!”
“UNLESS WE GET ON THE BALL, We’re ALL GONNA DIE!”
Have you ever been in a situation when God was your only hope? I. Up Against a Wall
A. David doing battle in the NORTH
1. Superscription to Psalm 60
2. 1 Chron 18:1-6 (Battle in the NORTH)
3. 1 Chron 18:12 (Edom, in the SOUTH) B. Learn of the CALAMITY only from Psalm 60
1. 60:1. “Rejected”
2. 60:2 “Burst forth upon us”
3. God’s anger
4. “Shaken the land – torn it open”
5. This trial was from God
a. (James 1:2-3, NIV) " Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance."
b. (Hebrews 10:36-39, NIV) "You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. For in just a very little while, “He who is coming will come and
will not delay. But my righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him.” But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved."
c. (2 Peter 1:5-6, NIV) "For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness;"
II. Climb Fast(When you’re up against a wall, climb fast!) 60:4-8
A. Shechen (60:6) located in EPHRAIM. A Picture of STRENGTH.
B. Gilead and Manessah – both sides of the life giving JORDAN RIVER C. Judah – scepter. The powerful one. The MARINES of his day
D. Moab – God’s washpot
E. Edom – Philistia
III. Watch God Deliver. 60:9-12
A. 60:12. With God we will gain the VICTORY.
B. ASA – (2 Chronicles 14:11, NIV) "Then Asa called to the Lord his God and said, “Lord, there is no one like you to help the powerless against the mighty. Help us, O Lord our God, for we rely on you, and in your name we have come against this vast army. O Lord, you are our God; do not let man prevail against you.”"
IV. Up Against a 21st Century Wall
A. Death of a loved one. Job 1:21
B. Illness. Psalm 119:67, 7
C. Opposition . Three Hebrew Children. “But if Not” (Dan 3:18)
D. Finances. Hab 3:17-18
E. National Disaster. Psalm 20:7 “some trust in chariots. . .”
F. Betrayal. G. Testing