Responding to Adversities and Oppositions Psalm 59 Responding to Adversities and Oppositions I present a sermon on Psalm 59; themed “Responding to Adversities and Oppositions”. Philip A. Atitianti June 2, 2019 Scriptures are taken from ESV Bible

The journey of life sometimes presents us with challenging situations The journey of life sometimes presents us with challenging situations; each and everyone of us here will attest to the fact that at a point in time in our lives, we face difficulties. Some difficulties are self-caused; while others are not as a result of our doings. The latter even escalates the struggles. Sometimes what even make matters worse is when deliverance is beyond us; beyond our own reach. Imagine how it would feel when you are in a crisis and can’t deliver yourself. When we find ourselves in adversities, against oppositions and all forms of troubles, how do we respond to them. How do we handle the issues we face.

David & King Saul Psalm 59 David faces death plots from King Saul In Psalm 59, we read of David in such a situation. we see David encounter such a challenging situation where his life is at stake; King Saul sent men to watch his house in order to kill him. The incident behind this Psalm is recorded in 1 Samuel 19:11-17; King Saul had sent messengers to monitor and kill David at his home; however, by the help of Michal, David’s wife, who also happens to be Saul’s Daughter, David flees and is saved from death. 1 Samuel 19:11-17 King Saul had sent messengers to monitor and kill David at his home.

David & King Saul How does David respond to this adversity Our reactions or responses to difficult or challenging situations that we face in life vary; and what we do in our quest for deliverance from challenges is a critical assessment of our beliefs, thoughts and the state of our heart. How does he respond to this adversity and opposition. How does he handle his situation. Let’s see from the scriptures.

Psalm 39:1-5 1 Deliver me from my enemies, O my God; protect me from those who rise up against me; 4 for no fault of mine, they run and make ready. Awake, come to meet me, and see! 5 You, LORD God of hosts, are God of Israel. Rouse yourself to punish all the nations; spare none of those who treacherously plot evil. — Selah 2 deliver me from those who work evil, and save me from bloodthirsty men. 3 For behold, they lie in wait for my life; fierce men stir up strife against me. For no transgression or sin of mine, O LORD, In verses 1-5, David cries out unto the LORD; highlighting his innocence amidst the constant plots of death he faces from his enemies. Their plots against him are not as a result of his wrong doings against them or any evil he hath committed and therefore calls unto the LORD to intervene in his plight. So we observe that David presents his plea before the LORD and declares his innocence. He calls on the LORD to deliver him from his current plight.

David’s Reaction David prays to be delivered from his enemies His troubles are not as a result of his wrongs. David prays to be delivered from his enemies; he acknowledges that he is actually innocent and what is befalling him is not as a result of his wrongs.

Psalm 59:6-10 6 Each evening they come back, howling like dogs and prowling about the city. 8 But you, O LORD, laugh at them; you hold all the nations in derision. 9 O my Strength, I will watch for you, for you, O God, are my fortress. 7 There they are, bellowing with their mouths with swords in their lips— for “Who,” they think, “will hear us?” 10 ​My God in his steadfast love will meet me; God will let me look in triumph on my enemies. In verses 6-10, David recounts how his enemies lie in wait for him, seeking opportunity to do him harm. They see him as helpless and without any one to salvage him. However, David’s prayer portrays his reliance on God as his ultimate fortress and deliverer. Though his enemies think he is helpless, David is confident that the LORD will give him victory over his enemies.

David’s Reaction He tells of how his enemies intend to harm him Yet; he trusts in the delivering power of God David presents his issue before the LORD; communicating his trust in the delivering power of God.

Psalm 59:11-15 11 Kill them not, lest my people forget; make them totter by your power and bring them down, O Lord, our shield! 12 For the sin of their mouths, the words of their lips, let them be trapped in their pride. For the cursing and lies that they utter, 13 ​consume them in wrath; consume them till they are no more, that they may know that God rules over Jacob to the ends of the earth. — Selah In verses 11-15, David prays that God will avenge his enemies; he does not pray for their death (else they be forgotten) neither does he ask God to spare them. He however desires to see God’s utter destruction upon their lives. He prays that God will consume them in His wrath so that all people will attest to God’s authority over the earth.

Psalm 59:11-15 14 Each evening they come back, howling like dogs and prowling about the city. 15 They wander about for food and growl if they do not get their fill. In verses 11-15, David prays that God will avenge his enemies; he does not pray for their death (else they be forgotten) neither does he ask God to spare them. He however desires to see God’s utter destruction upon their lives. He prays that God will consume them in His wrath so that all people will attest to God’s authority over the earth.

David’s Reaction David prays for the destruction of his enemies What do you think about his request? David makes a prayer seeking the destruction of his enemies. He desires to see evil befall them in their ways. What do you think about his prayer unto God and the desire he has for his enemies?

Psalm 59:16-17 16 But I will sing of your strength; I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning. For you have been to me a fortress and a refuge in the day of my distress. 17 O my Strength, I will sing praises to you, for you, O God, are my fortress, the God who shows me steadfast love. David praises the LORD.

David’s Reaction David ends with praise David ends his petition to the LORD with a praise.

Overview Looks to the LORD for deliverance Desires to see destruction upon his enemies We have read the Psalm; what are some of the key things to identify. There are two significant things we can identify in David’s reaction to the adversity he faces. Foremost, we observe that he looks to God as his deliverer; he recognizes he is helpless in his own capacity and seeks deliverance from Him alone. However, the second issue we can identify is David’s desire for his enemies; in verses 11 – 13, David’s prayer shows that he wishes to see destruction upon his enemies. He prays that God will consume them in His wrath. What can we make of David’s reaction during this challenging time of his? Is his reaction a model for us to follow?

Lesson Focus David presents his issue to the LORD A worthy lesson to follow In our of difficulties, who do we look to first for deliverance? This is a lesson we can note from David’s response; he looks to the LORD for deliverance. No matter the kind of difficulty we are facing, God must always be the first and foremost point of reference or call for us. Oftentimes, we fall prey to thoughts that certain issues can be presented to God while there are others we need not even look up to God for his intervention but can handle on our own accord or by looking unto others for help. In times when we think man can help us, we sometimes overlook God and don’t even involve Him in the issue. When we do this, we are indirectly telling God that we value Him only when we need His services; and if this is the case, then He is not God over our lives. He just becomes a source we run to for supply Whatever the issue is, present it to God. Let Him be our foremost point of call in all our dealings. God must always remain the foremost in our lives; in all issues. In our difficulties, who do we look to first for deliverance?

Lesson Focus David desired destruction for his enemies Is this a worthy lesson to follow? How do we treat those who oppose us and want our downfall? Though David looked up to God as his refuge, we realized that he desired evil for his enemies. As humans, it would be normal in the nature of the flesh to have such desires for those who want our downfall; but does the same apply to those who are in Christ and claim to be followers of Him? How do we treat those who oppose us and want our downfall? What do we desire for them? What do we desire for them?

Do our desires for our opposers reflect the teachings and life of Lesson Focus Do our desires for our opposers reflect the teachings and life of Jesus Christ? How do we treat those who oppose us and want our downfall? What do we desire for them? Do our actions and desires for them reflect the teachings and life of Jesus Christ? As Christians, we have Jesus Christ as our ultimate model to follow; He alone remains our standard; He alone and none else. Hence in all our dealings, it will be prudent to ask ourselves, are my actions reflecting the teachings of Jesus Christ? Not only did Jesus Christ teach, He lived out/practiced His teachings too.

Assessment Adversities are like compressional forces that squeeze the contents of our hearts out; the contents of our hearts show up in our responses and actions; our responses and actions help provide a good assessment of how far or close we are to becoming like Jesus Christ. When an orange is squeezed, the orange juice flows out. Adversities, oppositions, troubles etc. are like compressional forces that squeeze content of our heart out; the content of our heart shows up in our responses and actions; our responses and actions helps provide a good assessment of how close we are to becoming like Jesus Christ.