What to Do When You’re Stuck in Reverse Reflections on Psalms & Proverbs Series, Part 8 Psalm 55:1-23 February 23, 2014 Pastor Paul K. Kim

SOME PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS ON PSALM 55 It is a psalm of David under heavy burdens. It is a lament about betrayal by a trusted friend. It is a song of heart cry to God. It is a personal prayer that shows wisdom for all who are stuck in reverse.

Fix You by Coldplay (2005) When you try your best, but you don't succeed When you get what you want, but not what you need When you feel so tired, but you can't sleep Stuck in reverse And the tears come streaming down your face When you lose something you can't replace When you love someone, but it goes to waste Could it be worse? Lights will guide you home And ignite your bones And I will try to fix you...

WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU’RE “STUCK” IN REVERSE WITH ANGUISH AND BURDENS 1)When you’re stuck in reverse, tell God all about your troubled heart (vs. 1-8). 1 Give ear to my prayer, O God, and hide not yourself from my plea for mercy! 2 Attend to me, and answer me; I am restless in my complaint and I moan, 3 because of the noise of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked. For they drop trouble upon me, and in anger they bear a grudge against me. 4 My heart is in anguish within me; the terrors of death have fallen upon me. (vs. 1-4)

WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU’RE “STUCK” IN REVERSE WITH ANGUISH AND BURDENS 1)When you’re stuck in reverse, tell God all about your troubled heart (vs. 1-8). 5 Fear and trembling come upon me, and horror overwhelms me. 6 And I say, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest; 7 yes, I would wander far away; I would lodge in the wilderness; Selah 8 I would hurry to find a shelter from the raging wind and tempest.” (vs. 1-8)  Notice what David does first as he gets God’s attention—he tells God how he feels (i.e., “restless, moan, trouble, anguish, terror, fear, trembling, horror, I would fly away...”).  Don’t jump into noble prayer when your heart is troubled— tell God about everything that troubles you transparently.  Why? The LORD is your ABBA [daddy]; he cares for you!

15 “Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you. 16 Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before me.” Isaiah 49:15-16

WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU’RE “STUCK” IN REVERSE WITH ANGUISH AND BURDENS 2)When you’re stuck in reverse, tell God all your complaints about the people who hurt/wrong/irritate you (vs. 9-15, 20-21). 9 Destroy, O Lord, divide their tongues; for I see violence and strife in the city. 10 Day and night they go around it on its walls, and iniquity and trouble are within it; 11 ruin is in its midst; oppression and fraud do not depart from its marketplace. 12 For it is not an enemy who taunts me— then I could bear it; it is not an adversary who deals insolently with me— then I could hide from him. (vs. 9-12)

WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU’RE “STUCK” IN REVERSE WITH ANGUISH AND BURDENS 2)When you’re stuck in reverse, tell God all your complaints about the people who hurt/wrong/irritate you (vs. 9-15, 20-21). 13 But it is you, a man, my equal, my companion, my familiar friend. 14 We used to take sweet counsel together; within God's house we walked in the throng. 15 Let death steal over them; let them go down to Sheol alive; for evil is in their dwelling place and in their heart. (vs. 9-15)

WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU’RE “STUCK” IN REVERSE WITH ANGUISH AND BURDENS 2)When you’re stuck in reverse, tell God all your complaints about the people who hurt/wrong/irritate you (vs. 9-15, 20-21). 20 My companion stretched out his hand against his friends; he violated his covenant. 21 His speech was smooth as butter, yet war was in his heart; his words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords. (vs )  It is not only okay to tell God your complaints about people but it is also good and healthy [= pour out your heart to God]; otherwise, we end up complaining and gossiping to people.  In so doing, don’t jump into noble prayer for yourself as well as for your “enemies.”  These transparent confessions to God about people will lead you to the right place because it invites God to work on you.

WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU’RE “STUCK” IN REVERSE WITH ANGUISH AND BURDENS 3)When you’re stuck in reverse, call to God desperately and persistently for your restoration (vs ). 16 But I call to God, and the Lord will save me. 17 Evening and morning and at noon I utter my complaint and moan, and he hears my voice. (vs )

WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU’RE “STUCK” IN REVERSE WITH ANGUISH AND BURDENS 3)When you’re stuck in reverse, call to God desperately and persistently for your restoration (vs ). 18 He redeems my soul in safety from the battle that I wage, for many are arrayed against me. 19 God will give ear and humble them, he who is enthroned from of old, Selah because they do not change and do not fear God. (vs )  Notice how many times David calls to God throughout the course of day (“evening, morning, at noon).  Why? Calling to God persistently actually shows your trusting heart and God is pleased with your childlike simple trust.  Key to learning to surrender and trust in God is on these repetitions of calling to God over and over in desperation.

A bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice. Isaiah 42:3

WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU’RE “STUCK” IN REVERSE WITH ANGUISH AND BURDENS 4)When you’re stuck in reverse, cast your burdens on the LORD as your way of relentlessly trusting in him (vs ). 22 Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved. 23 But you, O God, will cast them down into the pit of destruction; men of blood and treachery shall not live out half their days. But I will trust in you. (vs )  To “cast” your burden means to “throw” all your troubles on God; “Pile your troubles on God’s shoulders.” [MSG]  Why? God will sustain you, carrying your burdens on his shoulders and freeing you from being “stuck” in reverse.  This is how you can relentlessly/decisively trust in God’s care!

Cast Your Burdens on the LORD Cast your troubles where you have cast your sins; you have cast your sins onto Jesus—cast your troubles there also! As soon as the trouble comes, quick, the first thing, tell it to your Father in heaven! Remember, that the longer you take telling your trouble to God—the more your peace will be impaired. The longer the frost lasts—the more likely the ponds will be frozen. Oh! It is a happy way of smoothing sorrow, when we can cast our burden upon the Lord. Oh, you agitated Christians, do not dishonor your [Lord] by always wearing a ‘frown of concern’. Come, cast your burden upon the Lord. I see you staggering beneath a weight, which He would not feel. What seems to you a crushing burden—would be nothing but a bit of dust to Him. See! The Almighty bends His shoulders, and He says, “Here— put your troubles here!” ― Charles H. Spurgeon

THREE PRACTICAL QUESTIONS FOR OUR EVERYDAY LIFE 1.In what ways are you convinced more to tell God about your heart’s anguish and complaints about people transparently? What will you do? 2.In what ways will you call to God desperately and persistent for your restoration? What’s your first step? 3.What would it look like for you to cast your burdens on the LORD throughout the course of day? What burden do you need to cast on the LORD right now?