God Will Not Forsake His Children

 Temple Baptist Church - 4-19-2026

Psalm 94

 

Introduction:

A.  Psalm 94 teaches the believer several valuable truths. 

 

1.  In the Book of Psalms, we find exhortation, correction, instruction in righteousness, and a bond with our wonderful, faithful, omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent Lord! 

 

2.  Thus, it is with the hymnal that we use in church.  The songs we sing encourage us to walk through this wicked world, not unscathed, but undaunted, undeterred, and unafraid.

 

B.  We live in a wicked world, and it decays more by the day as it rejects God and God’s Word!  Change and decay in all around I see. 

 

1.  I would never have imagined, years ago, that I would live to see this day in America.  Sodomy (Lot’s Day) has both permeated our land along with acceptance with so many.  They blaspheme God by saying that He is binary so as to justify their wickedness.  They have to deny the very science that they say is right:  there is no such thing as transgender, and God utterly condemns sodomy!

 

2.  Lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God (Noah’s Day), where people are eating, drinking, building, and chasing their dreams instead of seeking God.  God deniers!  Sunday has become just a lazy day off to goof off on.

 

3.  God’s people!  We are in the midst of the “falling away” of 2 Thessalonians chapter two.  Not only doctrinal impurity but also a general forsaking of God’s house and holiness is a thing for an older generation! 

 

a)  Hebrews 10:25 is a command of God, not a choice.  Hebrews 10:25-27  Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.  (26)  For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,  (27)  But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.

 

b)  Be ye holy is a command, not a choice!  1 Peter 1:15-16  But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;  (16)  Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.  (Leviticus 20:7)

 

Hebrews 12:14  Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

 

C.  You may say, “Preacher, you seem angry tonight.”  I read this Psalm and thought, God is righteous and His judgment will be done in righteousness.

 

1.  I am not angry, I am disappointed, though.  I am not discouraged; I am trying to exhort and encourage tonight.  But I cannot exhort without also reproving and rebuking.  I believe that is what the Apostle Paul commanded Timothy to do. 

 

2.  “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.” (2 Timothy 4:2) 

 

3.  Sinful people do not like that kind of preaching anymore and will find a church where their lacks-a-dasical (My invented word) lifestyle is both accepted in the pulpit and the pew.  The time will come and now is when people get offended by straight preaching and heap unto themselves teachers, having itching ears.

 

D.  In Psalm 94, we find the justice of God, the chastening of God’s people, and the Lord’s promise of preservation both temporally and eternally. 

 

E.  Psalm 94 was a psalm written in a time when, seemingly, the enemies of God’s people were “waxing eloquent,” and in total control of the circumstances, while God is seemingly silent. It is at this point that the Psalmist cries out for the LORD God of vengeance to appear and take charge of the situation. 

 

F.  We all have times like these when it seems as if this world is getting the best of us.  Wickedness seemingly is rewarded while righteousness is not.  These times cause disappointment, which turns into discouragement, which turns into distress, which can be an open door to defilement. 

 

G.  A good division of the psalm is:

 

1.  Verses 1-7, The World’s view.  It answers the question, “Does God care?”  I believe that the key verse here is verse 7.  The world does not believe that God sees or, if He does see, He does not care.  My opening observation is that many professing believers have adopted this same worldview. 

 

Psalms 94:7  Yet they say, The LORD shall not see, neither shall the God of Jacob regard it.

 

a.  We see their pride.  The God of “I” or self.  Psalms 94:4  How long shall they utter and speak hard things? and all the workers of iniquity boast themselves?

 

b.  We see their wickedness.    Psalms 94:5-6  They break in pieces thy people, O LORD, and afflict thine heritage.  (6)  They slay the widow and the stranger, and murder the fatherless.

 

c.  We see their ignorance.  God’s children need to understand that God both knows everything that happens and will also bring about judgment and rectification at the right time and place.

 

d.  We see their error.  The wicked know who God is and think that He cannot see or does not care.  Bad mistake.  Psalms 94:7  Yet they say, The LORD shall not see, neither shall the God of Jacob regard it.

 

e.  We see their ultimate end.  Revelation 20:12  And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

 

f.  We see that vengeance is God’s business, not ours.  Vengeance is never an option for the believer.  Vengeance means to get even, instead of to get right.  God knows the hearts of both the saved and the unsaved.  Leave vengeance to the LORD!

 

2.  Verses 8-11, God’s view.  God fully answers the question, “Does God know?”

 

a.  God knows.  Psalms 94:8  Understand, ye brutish among the people: and ye fools, when will ye be wise? 

 

b.  God hears. “He that planted the ear, shall he not hear?”

 

c.  God sees.  “he that formed the eye, shall he not see?”

 

2 Chronicles 16:9  For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him ...

 

Psalms 33:18  Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy;

 

Proverbs 15:3  The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.

 

d.  God understands their thoughts afar off.  “The LORD knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity.”

 

e. Self-deception is the worst deception.  Proverbs 11:21  Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished: but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.

 

3.  Verses 12-18,  we see our view.  It answers the question, “Does God control?”

 

a.  We need to stay clean.  Therefore, focused.  Get our eyes off the world and on our own hearts.  Psalms 94:12  Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O LORD, and teachest him out of thy law;

 

b.  We need to stay comforted.  God has us in His hands.  Psalms 94:13  That thou mayest give him rest from the days of adversity, until the pit be digged for the wicked.

 

c.  We need to stay content.  Psalms 94:14-15  For the LORD will not cast off his people, neither will he forsake his inheritance.  (15)  But judgment shall return unto righteousness: and all the upright in heart shall follow it.

 

d.  We need to stay confident.  Psalms 94:16-18  Who will rise up for me against the evildoers? or who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity?  (17)  Unless the LORD had been my help, my soul had almost dwelt in silence.  (18)  When I said, My foot slippeth; thy mercy, O LORD, held me up.

 

4.  Verses 19-23, God’s safety in Troublesome times. 

 

a.  Delight thyself in the Lord.  “In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul.”

 

b.  Stay close to the Lord.  “But the LORD is my defence; and my God is the rock of my refuge.”

 

When The Enemy Pursues

 Temple Baptist Church - 1-25-2026

Psalm 140

 

A.  The Psalm is Davidic, written by a man after God’s own heart.  The person and prophecy of this Psalm are important to all of us as God’s children. 

 

1.  God did not give us this example written by someone of common cast.  It was written by the greatest king who ever lived, a man whose heart thirsted after God.  A man who established the Throne of David forever, one upon which the “King of kings, and Lord of lords” would one day reign.

 

2.  We who live in these last perilous times are well acquainted with sufferings of every description.  You do not have to go looking for evil.  Evil pursues you!  Troubles will find you, so do not go looking for it.

 

B. My mind immediately went back to the hardships found in the Bible that occurred in the lives of good people.  God-loving people.  Just to name a few:

 

1.  Adam, in the first mention of evil pursuing someone, had no idea that Satan, through the serpent, had set a trap for him. - Genesis 3:17-19  And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;  (18)  Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;  (19)  In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

 

2.  Job, the same as Adam, had no idea of what was to come. - Job 1:14-21  And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them:  (15)  And the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.  (16)  While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.  (17)  While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.  (18)  While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house:  (19)  And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.  (20)  Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped,  (21)  And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.

 

3.  Jacob - Genesis 47:9  And Jacob said unto Pharaoh, The days of the years of my pilgrimage are an hundred and thirty years: few and evil have the days of the years of my life been, and have not attained unto the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their pilgrimage.

 

4.  David - Psalms 34:19  Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.  (Pursued by Saul and Absalom.  The Sword never left David’s house.) 

 

5.  Paul - 2 Corinthians 11:23-27  Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.  (24)  Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.  (25)  Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;  (26)  In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;  (27)  In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.

6.  Peter - John 21:18  Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.

 

7.  John - Revelation 1:9  I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.

 

8.  Martyrs - Hebrews 11:35-37  Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:  (36)  And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:  (37)  They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;

 

9.  The Lord Jesus, the greatest Example of all - Isaiah 53:3-7  He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.  (4)  Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.  (5)  But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.  (6)  All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.  (7)  He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

 

10. Those who would live godly - 1 Peter 1:6-7  Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:  (7)  That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

 

11.  The list could go on: from Adam’s day through the time of the end and the Tribulation Period.  GOD’S PEOPLE HAVE ALWAYS SUFFERED.

 

C.  Psalm 140 is about the pursuit of evil and evil men.  David spent much of his life on the run instead of on the throne.  May God use this Psalm, one of harsh reality, to give us all hope and strengthen our lives as we strive to live for Christ.

 

D.  Life itself is hard, but here, David is being pursued by Saul, whose only desire is to catch and kill him.  Our enemies also have a “person” that directs their pursuit of the righteous, Satan.

 

1 Peter 5:8-9  Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:  (9)  Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

 

E.  David realized that his only hope and help would be from God, not man.  Here is the breakdown of the Psalm.

 

1.  Verses 1-5.  The Enemies of Man.

 

Psalms 140:1-5  To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. Deliver me, O LORD, from the evil man: preserve me from the violent man;  (2)  Which imagine mischiefs in their heart; continually are they gathered together for war.  (3)  They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent; adders' poison is under their lips. Selah.  (4)  Keep me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from the violent man; who have purposed to overthrow my goings.  (5)  The proud have hid a snare for me, and cords; they have spread a net by the wayside; they have set gins for me. Selah.

 

a.  The Enemy of our Fall – Adamic judgment.  Genesis 3:7  And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.

 

1)  Because of Adam's sin, we face natural hardships in this life, such as sickness, disappointments, discouragements, and death.  These are natural, and we will all face the hardships in this world because of the Fall. 

 

2)  Bad things happen to good people!  I have often said, “When you understand that life is hard, you can make it!”

 

b.  The Enemy of our Flesh – Paul spoke of two things in Romans 7:18, his flesh and his will.  “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.”

 

1)  We have a sinful flesh!  Our flesh desires the things of the world and not the things of God.  Paul spoke of bringing his body into subjection by dying to the flesh.

 

2)  We have an Adamic nature.  We call this the old man, as it is still as wicked as it was before we were saved.  We must guard the invisible, our hearts, which are deceitful above all things, and our minds, which are carnal by nature.

 

c.  The Enemy of the Foes – Notice that Foes is plural.

 

1)  Satan is the original God-hater, thus a man-hater.  But we are not ignorant of his devices. 

 

1 Peter 5:8-9  Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:  (9)  Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

 

2)  Satan’s Servants.  The People of the Enemies.  Evil, violent, mischievous, plotting, poisonous.  Their determination and continual plotting with both tongue and deeds. 

 

Luke 22:3  Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve.

 

2.  Verses 6-11.  The Faithfulness of God.  2 Timothy 2:13  If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.

 

Mark 11:22-24  And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.  (23)  For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.  (24)  Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

 

a.  David displayed a Personal Faith.  Verse 6.  “Thou art my God”  David’s faith was in a very personal God.  When you know God, you then get to know God.  We believe that God can do anything, anytime, and anywhere!  He can make a tree talk or a telephone talk.

 

b.  David had a Past Experience.  Verse 7.  “thou hast covered my head in the day of battle”  We have seen the power of God that brings us through the evil times of this life.  Satan hasn’t eaten me yet!

 

c.  David had a Present Request.  Verse 8-11.  “Grant not, O LORD”  We have done it before and we can do it again.

 

3.  Verses 12-13.  A Prayer of Faith.  “I know!”

 

a.  A Retribution Promised.  Verse 12.  “I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and the right of the poor.”  We also know that right will prevail and wickedness will fail.

 

Ecclesiastes 8:11-13  Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.  (12)  Though a sinner do evil an hundred times, and his days be prolonged, yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, which fear before him:  (13)  But it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he prolong his days, which are as a shadow; because he feareth not before God.

 

b.  A Righteous Praise.  Verse 13.  “Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name: the upright shall dwell in thy presence.”  There was a statement that we made during the hard times of Bible College: “Just praise the Lord anyhow!”

 

Conclusion: 

 

1.  Psalm 140 is a teaching Psalm.  It teaches us that when surrounded by evil, the believer’s refuge is prayer, not panic. God hears the cries of His people, frustrates the schemes of the wicked, and preserves the upright in His presence.

 

2.  Let us learn to take every threat, every slander, and every danger to the Lord, trusting Him to be our deliverer, defender, and righteous judge.  “Deliver me, O LORD… preserve me.” And He will.

 

3.  As the Evil Pursues us, Evil Pursues those who pursue us.  Proverbs 13:21  Evil pursueth sinners: but to the righteous good shall be repayed.

 

4.  David had faith that the Lord would ultimately make all things right

God’s Faithfulness in Temptation

 Temple Baptist Church - 1-7-2026

1 Corinthians 10:11-15

 

Introduction: 

 

1.  In verses 1-10, we saw: Great Privilege, Great Failure, and Great Warning.  To whom much is given, much is required.  The admonition to us, upon whom the end of the world has come, is to heed that warning. 

 

2.  We spent a couple of weeks looking at the Lord's chastening.  Tonight, we will look at the potential for failure and God’s protection from failing.

 

A.  Temptation is something that all of us face.  Verse 13 uses the word “common.”  Universal, common placed, familiar, or shared.  We often call these shared places at universities called “Student Centers” or “Commons;” in Basic Training and AIT, Day Rooms; in the military, Service Clubs; in Laurens, the Town Square.  When something unlawful is placed before our eyes, we face a “Common” battle.  James chapter 1 thoroughly explains the where, when, and how of temptation.

 

James 1:12-16  Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.  (13)  Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:  (14)  But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.  (15)  Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.  (16)  Do not err, my beloved brethren.

 

B.  With that said, it is good to know that we are all in good company!  James uses the phrase “But every man.”  There is nothing we are tempted with that others have not faced in the past millennia. 

 

1.  Talking about “good company,” our Lord Jesus Christ was tempted!

 

Matthew 4:1  Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.

 

Hebrews 4:15  For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

 

2.  Interestingly, the Bible says that when we are tempted, there is a blessing (“Blessed is the man”) attached to it for those who do not give in, along with a sure reward, the Crown of Life (one of five crowns to be rewarded at the Judgment Seat of Christ).

 

3.  The Crown of Life is a reward promised by God to faithful believers, especially those who endure trials, suffering, and persecution for Christ.

 

James 1:12-16  Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. 

 

Revelation 2:10  Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

 

C.  Though God has made us a precious promise in verse 13, we still, at times, fail God and give in to the flesh. 

 

1.  At this point, thank God for 1 John 1:9!  There is an old-worldly expression from Hollywood that says, “The Devil made me do it!” Satan cannot make us do anything!

 

2.  When we leave the will of God, we need to recognize that we made a conscious decision to do so, and that there is no one else to blame for the penalty we receive except ourselves. You cannot make me get out of the will of God! 

 

D.  So many Christians are now on the sidelines and out of God’s will while justifying where they are by blaming others and circumstances.  If you fail God, take the blame and confess the sin. We sin because:

 

1.  Because of the wickedness of our flesh - Romans 7:14-25  For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. 15  For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. 16  If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. 17  Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 18  For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,)dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. 19  For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. 20  Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 21  I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. 22  For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: 23  But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 24  O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? 25  I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

 

2.  Because of the weakness of our flesh - Romans 13:14  But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

 

Galatians 5:17  For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

 

3.  The Deceitfulness of our Heart - Jeremiah 17:9  The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

 

E.  God’s Grace is sufficient for us:

 

2 Corinthians 12:9  And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Romans 5:20  Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:

 

1 Peter 4:10  As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

 

F.  If God’s grace is sufficient, abounding, and manifold, then why do Christians fall into sin?

 

SIX REASONS FOUND IN THE CONTEXT TO SHOW WHY WE FALL

 

1.  By Not Hearing God’s Word – Verse 11.  “ensamples”  Patterns, warnings, and object lessons for believers.

 

          a.  Through lack of Bible reading and study.

 

          b.  Through willful absence from church and the pulpit.

 

          c.  Through failing to make personal application of Scripture.

 

2.  By Pride And Self Confidence – Verse 12.  “thinketh he standeth”  Confidence placed in experience, knowledge, position, or past faithfulness can lead to carelessness.  Israel assumed they were secure because of their privileges, yet many fell in the wilderness. The Corinthians assumed liberty meant immunity.

 

          a.  Failing to realize the wickedness and weakness of the flesh.

 

          b.  Failing to realize that you are no better than anyone else and can also fall.

 

          c.  Failing to remove yourself from the presence of temptation to sin.

 

3.  By Giving In To The Lusts Of The Flesh – vs. 13 “God is faithful…will not suffer”  God does not promise a temptation-free life, but He does promise measured trials. He will not allow us to be tempted above our ability to bear it.  The Lord controls the testing of His people.

 

          a.  Realizing that we are nothing and can do nothing without the Lord’s help.

 

          b.  Realizing that we are weak and have besetting sins.

 

          c.  Realizing that we can make no provision for the flesh and stay pure.

 

4.  By Not Taking God’s Way Of Escape – vs. 13  “way to escape…may be able”  This does not mean that God will remove every temptation, but that He will give the strength need to endure it without sin. The escape may be a verse of Scripture remembered, or the closing of a door, a conviction remembered, or the strength given to say no.

 

          a.  God is a faithful Friend.

 

          b.  God knows your needs and weaknesses and provides for them.

 

          c.  God will give you both the grace, direction, and strength you need to escape.

 

5.  By Not Fleeing Idolatry – vs. 14  “flee idolatry”  Paul addresses them as “my dearly beloved,” showing his pastoral care and affection for the Corinthians, along with the command to flee.

 

a.  Idolatry is more than bowing to images or idols. It is allowing anything to take the place of God in the heart—desires, pleasures, ambitions, or liberties.  Idolatry is whatever takes first place in your thinking or life.

 

          b.  Idolatry is a slap in the face to the Lord who owns us and loves us.

 

          c.  Idolatry leads to more idolatry:  sin begets sin.

 

6.  By Not Heeding God’s Warnings – 15  “wise men” vs. “foolish men”  Truth brings responsibility.  Great truth, great responsibility!

 

          a.  He has given us a plain picture of sin and failure.

 

          b.  He has given us a perfect and reliable Scripture.

 

          c.  He has given us a promise of wisdom and understanding.

God’s Faithfulness: A Light in Darkness

 Temple Baptist Church - 1-4-2026

Psalm 89

 

Introduction

A.  Psalm 89 is a psalm written by Ethan the Ezrahite.  He was a musician and a man of wisdom.  Not much is said about his musical talent, as he was more noted for his wisdom.  When speaking of the wisdom of Solomon, he is mentioned as one of the wisest men of the East.

 

1 Kings 4:30-31  And Solomon's wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east country, and all the wisdom of Egypt.  (31)  For he was wiser than all men; than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, and Chalcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol: and his fame was in all nations round about.

 

B.  Psalm 89 stands as a profound theological work, showing how a wise man wrestles reverently with God’s promises while still affirming God’s faithfulness.

 

C.  The time of Psalm 89’s writing could be debated, but the Psalm indicates that it was written after David and Solomon’s reigns.  A time when the Nation of Israel was in severe decline and being attacked from the outside.  It was evidently pre-Babylonish Captivity, but when the nation was ripe for invasion and captivity.

 

D.  I want to break the Psalm, which is a long one, down into its parts to get to the gist of what was disturbing Ethan the Ezrahite.

 

1.  Verses 1-4.  God’s faithfulness to His Covenant. 

 

a.  Verse 1.  God’s mercy and faithfulness.  “I will sing of the mercies of the LORD for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations.”

b.  Verse 2.  God’s Covenant with David.  “Mercy shall be built up for ever: thy faithfulness shalt thou establish in the very heavens.”

 

c.  Verses 3-4.  God’s Promise concerning the Throne.  “Thy seed will I establish for ever, and build up thy throne to all generations. Selah.”

 

2.  Verses 5-18.  God’s Sovereignty and Power.

 

a.  Verses 5-8.  God’s Sovereignty and Power are Incomparable.  “And the heavens shall praise thy wonders, O LORD: thy faithfulness also in the congregation of the saints.” 

 

God controls every dominion.  Philippians 2:10-11  That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;  (11)  And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

 

b.  Verses 8-13.  God’s Sovereignty and Power are Omnipotent.  Psalms 89:9  Thou rulest the raging of the sea: when the waves thereof arise, thou stillest them.

 

c.  Verses 14-18.  God’s Sovereignty and Power are Righteous. “Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of thy countenance. In thy name shall they rejoice all the day: and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted. ”

 

3.  Verses 19-37.  Ethan the Ezrahite Reminds God of the Davidic Covenant.

 

a.  Verses 19-21.  God’s Sovereign Choice.  “I have found David my servant; with my holy oil have I anointed him”

 

b.  Verses 22-25.  God’s Power to Protect.  “The enemy shall not exact upon him; nor the son of wickedness afflict him.”

 

c.  Verses 26-37.  God’s Unbreakable Promise.  “My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips.”

 

4.  Verses 38-51.  “But!”  Here is the message for tonight.  Notice the change with me.  Though God, who can neither lie nor change, made these promises concerning Israel and David’s Throne, the enemies of God had the upper hand.  Israel was doomed to spend 70 years in Babylonian Captivity!

 

a.  In the preceding verses, Ethan the Ezrahite has set forth the Person, Goodness, and Mercy, the unlimited power of Sovereignty, but now shows confusion. 

 

b.  What do we do when God’s Word says and promises, but circumstances seem to differ?

 

1)  Verse 39 – “Thou has cast off”

 

2)  Verse 40 – “Thou hast broken down”

 

3)  Verse 42 – “Thou hast set up … thou has made”

 

4)  Verse 43 – “Thou has turned”

 

5)  Verse 44 - :Thou hast made”

 

6)  Verse 44-45 – “Thou has shortened … thou has covered”

 

7)  Verses 46-48 – “How long, LORD”

 

8)  Verse 49-51 – “LORD, where are thy former lovingkindnesses?”

 

5. Verse 52.  Ethan’s Ultimate Reliance.  Psalms 89:52  Blessed be the LORD for evermore. Amen, and Amen.

 

a.  Ethan is learning a biblical principle that we all have wrestled with or will wrestle with.  There will be times when we have to wait upon the Lord!  Though he proclaims his faith in a God who can do everything, anywhere, at any time, Ethan does not understand why God has not answered his request. 

 

b.  We find this often in the Bible, especially in the Book of Psalms.  How Long? When? Why? Are words that are frequently read there.  I call this “Open-end waiting.”  A waiting that has no time limit.

 

c. Ethan learned to wait upon the Lord.  Ethan now boldly wrestles with the confusion between God’s promises and Israel’s present suffering.  This confusion but ultimate trust makes the psalm one of the most theologically rich covenant psalms in Scripture.

 

d.  Ethan the Ezrahite’s answer probably did not come in his lifetime, but he knew that God would ultimately bring things to the proper conclusion.  He maintained his faith in the Person, Power, and Promises of God. 

 

e.  Let us never give up on God because when we do not understand, it is then that we learn to trust. 

 

Psalms 27:13-14  I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.  (14)  Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.

 

Isaiah 40:28-31  Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.  (29)  He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.  (30)  Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:  (31)  But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.