Sermons

3G - Living - Goodness, Grace and Gratitude (Psalm 31:1-24)

Gearl Spicer Gearl Spicer, November 28, 2021
Part of the Others series, preached at a Sunday Online service

Psalm 31 (Listen)

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

31:1   In you, O LORD, do I take refuge;
    let me never be put to shame;
    in your righteousness deliver me!
  Incline your ear to me;
    rescue me speedily!
  Be a rock of refuge for me,
    a strong fortress to save me!
  For you are my rock and my fortress;
    and for your name’s sake you lead me and guide me;
  you take me out of the net they have hidden for me,
    for you are my refuge.
  Into your hand I commit my spirit;
    you have redeemed me, O LORD, faithful God.
  I hate those who pay regard to worthless idols,
    but I trust in the LORD.
  I will rejoice and be glad in your steadfast love,
    because you have seen my affliction;
    you have known the distress of my soul,
  and you have not delivered me into the hand of the enemy;
    you have set my feet in a broad place.
  Be gracious to me, O LORD, for I am in distress;
    my eye is wasted from grief;
    my soul and my body also.
10   For my life is spent with sorrow,
    and my years with sighing;
  my strength fails because of my iniquity,
    and my bones waste away.
11   Because of all my adversaries I have become a reproach,
    especially to my neighbors,
  and an object of dread to my acquaintances;
    those who see me in the street flee from me.
12   I have been forgotten like one who is dead;
    I have become like a broken vessel.
13   For I hear the whispering of many—
    terror on every side!—
  as they scheme together against me,
    as they plot to take my life.
14   But I trust in you, O LORD;
    I say, “You are my God.”
15   My times are in your hand;
    rescue me from the hand of my enemies and from my persecutors!
16   Make your face shine on your servant;
    save me in your steadfast love!
17   O LORD, let me not be put to shame,
    for I call upon you;
  let the wicked be put to shame;
    let them go silently to Sheol.
18   Let the lying lips be mute,
    which speak insolently against the righteous
    in pride and contempt.
19   Oh, how abundant is your goodness,
    which you have stored up for those who fear you
  and worked for those who take refuge in you,
    in the sight of the children of mankind!
20   In the cover of your presence you hide them
    from the plots of men;
  you store them in your shelter
    from the strife of tongues.
21   Blessed be the LORD,
    for he has wondrously shown his steadfast love to me
    when I was in a besieged city.
22   I had said in my alarm,
    “I am cut off from your sight.”
  But you heard the voice of my pleas for mercy
    when I cried to you for help.
23   Love the LORD, all you his saints!
    The LORD preserves the faithful
    but abundantly repays the one who acts in pride.
24   Be strong, and let your heart take courage,
    all you who wait for the LORD!

(ESV)

Sermon Notes

3G - Living - Goodness, Grace and Gratitude
Psalm 31
11/28/21

How often do you reflect on His goodness?

"You will pull me out of the net which has secretly been laid for me, for you are my strength." vs.4

"My times are in your hand; deliver me from the hand of my enemies and from those who persecute me." vs. 15

"How great is your goodness, which You have stored up for those who fear You, which You have wrought for those who take refuge in you." vs.19

"Be strong and let your heart take courage, all you who hope in the Lord." vs. 24

Pathway to His goodness:

I. Trust Him beyond all circumstances - vs. 1-8
*He chose to allow God to guide him in the midst of challenges!
A. Net of negativity
B. Idols that steal direction

II. Ask God to meet you in your battles - vs.9-18
*He chose to trust His timing and live the truth!
A. Perspective for pain is key
B. Trust opens us to truth

III. Allow His goodness to fill your life - vs.19-24
*He chose to take refuge in Jesus and abide in the secret place!
A. Refuge is a place of goodness
B. Courage is anchored in hope

Is His grace at work in your heart?
Are you thankful for His goodness?

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