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GOOD CHEER FOR A TROUBLED HEART PSALM 86. PSALM 86.
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PSALM 86 “Incline Thine ear, O LORD, and answer me; For I am afflicted and needy. Do preserve my soul, for I am a godly man; O Thou my God, save Thy servant who trusts in Thee. Be gracious to me, O Lord, for to Thee I cry all day long. Make glad the soul of Thy servant, for to Thee, O Lord, I lift up my soul. For Thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in kindness to all who call upon Thee.”
“Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer; And give heed to the voice of my requests! In the day of my trouble I shall call upon Thee, For Thou wilt answer me. There is no one like Thee among the gods, O Lord; Nor are there any works like Thine. All nations whom Thou hast made shall come and worship before Thee, O Lord; And they shall glorify Thy name. For Thou art great and you do wondrous deeds; You alone are God.” Psalm 86:1-10
“ A JOYFUL HEART IS GOOD MEDICINE, BUT A BROKEN SPIRIT DRIES UP THE BONES.” PROVERBS 17:22
GOD IS GOOD WHEN WE ARE AFFLICTED! “Incline Thine ear, O Lord, and answer me, for I am afflicted and needy….” Ps. 86:1 “For Thou art good, and ready to forgive and abundant in loving-kindness to all who call upon Thee.” Psalm 86:5
THE PROBLEM: HOW CAN GOD BE GOOD WHEN GOOD PEOPLE ARE AFFLICTED AND NEEDY? THE ANSWER: AFFLICTIONS AND THE NEEDINESS OF OUR WORLD ARE THE RESULT OF A FALLEN WORLD AND IT’S CONSEQUENCES!
LESSONS FROM THE AFFLICTED • THE AFFLICTED MAN REALIZED GOD WAS HIS HOPE AND THE ANSWER TO HIS PROBLEM. “O Lord, Hear me and answer me…”
2. The afflicted man had established a personal relationship with God. “O Thou my God…..” vs. 2
The afflicted man lived with an unwavering faith in God. “I am your servant who trusts in you…” vs. 2
GOD IS GREAT WHEN WE FACE LIFE’S TROUBLES “In the day of my trouble, I shall call upon Thee.” vs. 7 “For Thou art great, and you do wondrous deeds. Thou alone art God.” vs. 10
QUESTION: WHERE DOES TROUBLE COME FROM AND WHY DOES IT COME TO MANKIND? ANSWER: TROUBLE COMES FROM EVERYWHERE, TO EVERYONE, AT ANYTIME! “A man is born for trouble as surely as sparks fly upward.” (Job 5:7)
WHAT ABOUT LIFE’S EVENTS, ACCIDENTS, NATURAL DISASTERS, AND TROUBLE?
“I looked at the world and it didn’t seem to me that it could describe God as a ‘father’. It seems the universe is indifferent to man and opposed to his existence.” Charles Templeton (former CEO of the BBC)
GOD IS GRACIOUS WHEN WE FACE OPPOSITION FROM ONE ANOTHER! “O God, arrogant men have risen up against me.” vs. 14 “But Thou, O Lord, art a God, merciful and gracious…!” Vs. 15
QUESTION: WHY DOESN’T GOD JUST REMOVE ALL TROUBLE FROM US AND MAKE LIFE A LOT EASIER? ANSWER: • TROUBLE IS A RESULT OF MAN’S CHOICE IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN, AND SO WE HAVE TO LIVE WITH IT EVEN TODAY.
GOD CAN MAKE LIFE’S TROUBLES WORK FOR HIS GOOD AND OUR GOOD! “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28
TRUTH TO LIVE BY 1. BECAUSE GOD IS WHO HE IS (GOOD, GREAT, AND GRACIOUS) WE CAN BE OPTIMISTIC IN A WORLD OF PESSIMISM.
TRUTH TO LIVE BY • AS GOD’S PEOPLE, WE CAN BE PEOPLE OF GOOD CHEER BECAUSE GOD IS ON OUR SIDE AND WE ARE ON HIS SIDE. “BE OF GOOD CHEER; I HAVE OVERCOME THE WORLD.” JESUS (JOHN 16:33)
TRUTH TO LIVE BY 3. WHATEVER YOU FACE TODAY, THAT BRINGS TROUBLE TO YOUR LIFE, GOD IS WITH YOU TO SEE YOU THROUGH LIFE’S DIFFICULTIES.