When all seems lost

September 1, 2024

Preacher: Adrian Brake

Series: Visiting Preachers

Passage: Psalm 22

Service Type: Sunday Morning

Introduction

Psalm 22
Functions on two levels:
1. A traumatic experience of David
2. It prophesies a more traumatic experience of Jesus at the cross
Looking at it from these two perspectives
- Morning: Psalm 22 – through the eyes of David
- Evening: Psalm 22 – through the eyes of Jesus
David was experiencing a traumatic time
- It seems that David is under attack from an enemy (v12, 16)
  - Perhaps when David was annointed as King but Saul wanted to kill him
  - Perhaps when David was King and under attack from enemies
- It has a devastating effect upon him (v14-15)
  - He cannot go on any longer
  - He is utterly drained and exhausted
  - He is as ‘good as dead’
- Have you ever felt like this?
  - Has this gone on for quite some time?
- As Christians – our troubles do not magically disappear / we do not automatically have an easy life!
  - Suffering is not due to sin – Jesus suffered!
  - Suffering is part and parcel of our Christian experience (until heaven)
How did David respond?

Psalm 22 is ultimately a prayer to God
- David prayed
In times of trouble we need to pray
- Often we look to ourselves
- Often we look to others
- Prayer can be the last resort
- Example of Mary
The first thing we do is pray
- We never go to ourselves or others first
- Example of leader
- James commands us – to pray
Example of Hezekiah
- He does not look to his own resources
- He does not look to allies/others
- He cries out to God

Truthful about his feelings (v14-15)
- Honest with God about his weakness and fear
  - Do not deny your feelings
  - Example of Hannah
- We can pour our heart out before God
  - Prayer is talking to God – whether happy or sad
Truthful about how he thought God was toward him (v1-2)
- David had been regularly praying
  - To him it seemed it had gone nowhere
  - To him it seemed God had turned a deaf ear
  - To him it seemed God had forsaken him
- David thinks that God had caused him great distress and was not helping him
  - This though is repeated in other psalms
  - Acknowledge the truth of your feelings
However, David knows God cares but he cannot see the evidence of it
- There is a difference between accusing God of not caring and not understanding the situation
- We must be spiritually honest

He was mindful of how God had dealt with people in the past (v3-5)
- David is talking to God but reminding himself of God’s track record with His people
- Suffering can make us selfish
- We are not the only ones who suffer
  - David recognised his ancestors suffered (but trusted in God)
  - David recognised that God delivered them
- It is good to share our testimonies to encourage each other
- Look back at Christian biographies to remind us of how God has worked
He was mindful of how God had intervened in his life (v9-10)
- How God had cared and provided for him
- How often we suffer from spiritual amnesia
  - Some people keep a prayer journal
There is a balance in the Psalms – he anchors his feelings in facts
- It gives him renewed strength to keep him going (v11)

The Psalm is in two parts: (v1-21) mournful / v22+ rejoicing
- "You have answered me" – the reason for change
Was the psalm written in two sittings?
- A later time where God poured out His blessing
God was listening (v24)
- Though it did not feel like this to David
  - But there was a change v21/22
- Do we put on a front at church?
  - Be encouraged – there will be a v22 onwards for you
God will deliver you
- We will praise God (v25)
  - Though this may be in heaven – for there may be many trials
- There will be a time of no more suffering, pain and death