Preaching Through the Psalms -- Psalm 42 -- Hope for the Downcast Soul

Psalms 42:1-11 KJV  To the chief Musician, Maschil, for the sons of Korah. As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.  [2]  My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?  [3]  My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God?  [4]  When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday.  [5]  Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.  [6]  O my God, my soul is cast down within me: therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan, and of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar.  [7]  Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me.  [8]  Yet the LORD will command his lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life.  [9]  I will say unto God my rock, Why hast thou forgotten me? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?  [10]  As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me; while they say daily unto me, Where is thy God?  [11]  Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.

I.                 INTRODUCTION—THE BLESSING OF THIS BOOK

-There is a great blessing in being able to hold and read the Book that you have in your hand.  I realize that times have changed and that Bibles are now available on all sorts of electronic devices but there is nothing like holding a hardcopy of the Bible.

Preaching Through the Psalms -- Psalm 27 -- The Lord of Light and Salvation

Psalms 27:1-14 KJV  A Psalm of David. The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?  [2]  When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.  [3]  Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.  [4]  One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.  [5]  For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.  [6]  And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD.  [7]  Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me.  [8]  When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek.  [9]  Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.  [10]  When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up.  [11]  Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.  [12]  Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty.  [13]  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.

I.                 INTRODUCTION—PSALM 27

-The psalms are true to life because they are drawn from life, from the stuff that life is made out of.  Things like hope and fear, love and hate, jubilation and frustration, faith and anxiety, joy and despair.  One moment the songs roll from the soul of the worshipper and the next he is trapped in the quicksand of doubt. 

Preaching Through the Psalms -- Psalm 13 -- From Sinking to Swimming

Psalms 13:1-6 KJV  To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me?  [2]  How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? how long shall mine enemy be exalted over me?  [3]  Consider and hear me, O LORD my God: lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death;  [4]  Lest mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him; and those that trouble me rejoice when I am moved.  [5]  But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation.  [6]  I will sing unto the LORD, because he hath dealt bountifully with me.

I.                INTRODUCTION—THE PSALMS OF COMFORT

The fall of 1996 was not a kind time during the life of the Bridge City UPC.  Brother Harrell told me at least ten years after that time that everywhere he looked in that church that people were under some of the greatest strains of life that he had ever seen.  He never has told me that problems that they faced during that time and if the truth be told, I would love to know what the challenges were.  But knowing life as I have come to know it, I have a feeling that whether it was 1996 or 2013 or even the ‘80’s, life sometimes can punch you when you least expect it. 

Brother Harrell told me that beginning on the Sunday nights in October, November, and some of December that he went into that pulpit with one thing on his mind—comfort.  He told me he preached comfort from every single angle he could find in the Bible.  To this there are still some of the saints in Bridge City that can recall how much the Word helped them to keep walking!

Preaching Through the Psalms -- Psalm 4 -- An Evening Prayer of Trust

Psalms 4:1-8 KJV  To the chief Musician on Neginoth, A Psalm of David. Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer.  [2]  O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame? how long will ye love vanity, and seek after leasing? Selah.  [3]  But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the LORD will hear when I call unto him.  [4]  Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.  [5]  Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the LORD.  [6]  There be many that say, Who will shew us any good? LORD, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us.  [7]  Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased.  [8]  I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.

I.                 INTRODUCTION—LOOKING BACK TO WHERE WE HAVE BEEN

-There is a richness in the Word of God that comes to those who desire to know it and understand it.  The Psalms, the prayers of Israel and the praises of Israel, all pour forth from the various writers in this book. 

-There are more than seven men who composed the Psalms.  Some of those men are easily identifiable while others are hidden to us and will only be known to us when we get to heaven. 

·        David—Wrote at least 73 of the Psalms.

·        The sons of Korah—Accounted for ten of them (42; 44-49; 84-85; & 87).

·        Asaph—Wrote 12 of them (50; 73-83).

·        Solomon—Wrote two (72, 127).

·        Moses—Wrote one (90).

·        Heman—Wrote one (88).

·        Ethan—Wrote one (89).

Preaching Through the Psalms -- Psalm 3 -- The Dark Hour of Sunrise

Psalms 3:1-8 KJV  A Psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son. LORD, how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me.  [2]  Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah.  [3]  But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.  [4]  I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah.  [5]  I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me.  [6]  I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about.  [7]  Arise, O LORD; save me, O my God: for thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly.  [8]  Salvation belongeth unto the LORD: thy blessing is upon thy people. Selah.

I.                 INTRODUCTION—THE BACKGROUND OF THE THIRD PSALM

-There are some things that we see in this psalm that have not been present in the previous two.  The real crux of the psalms are about to get started with this third psalm.  What we also begin here is the first of a collection of psalms written by David.  They actually cover Psalms 3-41.   

Preaching Through the Psalms -- Psalm 1 -- The Two Trails of Life

Psalms 1:1-6 KJV  Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.  [2]  But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.  [3]  And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.  [4]  The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.  [5]  Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.  [6]  For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

I.                 INTRODUCTION—THE TRAILS OF LIFE

A.               Kit Carson—Scout

Hampton Sides wrote a book about Kit Carson called Blood and Thunder:  The Epic Story of Kit Carson and the Conquest of the American West.  The truth of the matter is that Kit Carson actually was a man who was fleeing from the East to get away from the cities and the early spread of industrialization.  He was very short in stature, somewhere around 5’4” tall, but he would be pressed into filling the role of a scout for wagon trains and the US Calvary.  To do this effectively, he had to learn the different trails of the West and be able to understand the terrain both its benefits and its dangers.  Because of this, history documents in multiple times where that he was able to save an expedition, a wagon train, and even the US Calvary because of his knowledge of the trails.  Some of the trails were developed and others were not but he had the savvy to know what to do.