Sunday, 13th March 2022
Rev Daniel Xi An Poon
This is a difficult time, with the pandemic, the wars around the world, everyone is affected. We are afraid to go out and meet with people we are even afraid to send our children to school. The world is full of uncertainties, and we don’t know what will happen next. We are worried about our future and the future of our children. These are difficult times that we must survive. God has already shown us the way in the Bible. Psalm 57 was written by King David when he was in the cave, running away from his enemy.
1. To Call Out to the Most High God
Psalm 57:1-3 Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me! For my soul trusts in You; and in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge, until these calamities have passed by. I will cry out to God Most High, to God who performs all things for me. He shall send from heaven and save me; He reproaches the one who would swallow me up. Selah. God shall send forth His mercy and His truth.
In the cave, David figured how to rely on God and he was not afraid in the cave. Not only David believed in his mind, he also took the action to come to God. David knows to call out to the Most High God, the ‘I Am Who I Am’ God. He was not made by anyone, He created the Heaven and Earth, He completed everything for us. He would bless us and protect us. But if we cannot see what David saw, then we will continue to worry, to fear and to be unhappy. We will rely on the masks, the vaccination, the RAT… to give us peace, but we can never receive complete peace if we don’t call out to the Most High God, the One and Only, who can deliver us out of all the troubles!
2. To Look Up to the God in Heaven
Psalm 57:4-6 My soul is among lions; I lie among the sons of men who are set on fire, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let Your glory be above all the earth. They have prepared a net for my steps; my soul is bowed down; they have dug a pit before me; into the midst of it they themselves have fallen. Selah.
God loves us, He created us and allowed us to manage this earth. Every blessing and promise in the Bible are for us to enjoy. In times of trouble, David knew his life belong to God. For other people, they might saw David’s difficulties and troubles, he was hiding from his enemies, and everything seemed to go wrong for him. But for David himself, he saw God’s protection, mercy, and grace. In the dark cave, David was able to see God’s glory above all the earth, he did not see shame!
Do we complain to God about the bad things happening in our lives? About the confirmed COVID-19 cases, the economy, losing jobs, being sick…? David knew God is real, he was complete opened to God, he did not complain, but to believe and look up to God. From Psalm 57, we can see David’s heart, he knew God will avenge for him. Do we also believe God is real? Are our hearts at pace and know God will vindicate for us and save us? God is full of mercy, grace, and truth, He is real, not only in David’s time but also in the times of trouble we are in today! There will always be troubles, so do not let them influence our emotions. There will always be a way out!
3. Have Love and Trust for God
Psalm 57:7-11 My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and give praise. Awake, my glory! Awake, lute and harp! I will awaken the dawn. I will praise You, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing to You among the nations. For Your mercy reaches unto the heavens, and Your truth unto the clouds. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let Your glory be above all the earth.
What is our focus? There are negative voices around us and inside of us every day, but we can decide if we want these voices to influence us, or we can declare the Word of God, be determined to speak the words of praises! Because nothing will change if we keep on complaining and worrying, but if our attitude changed then our faith will grow, and we will live our lives differently. David was declaring for his heart to be steadfast; he was determined to sing praises to God.
God created us and said, ‘it’s good’, He saw us as good, full of glory and beauty. He created us to manage and watch over the earth, not the other way around. We have the authority, and we are able to manage, so do not let this earth manage us and do not let the worldly values put us down. David said to himself ‘to wake up’, because he also had his weakness, but he did not allow the negative emotions and accusations to swallow him; he did not allow his tiredness, worries, fears, and hatred overwhelm him. Do we also tell ourselves to worship God in the times of trouble? It’s just like when Paul and Silas were put in prison, but they sang, and worshipped God, then the gates were opened for them. God wants to know if we really trust Him, if we can still praise Him and worship Him in difficult times, and if we can see His Power and Authority instead of the difficult situations in front of us.
In the cave, where David was hiding, he sang and praised, and he attracted the people to come to him and to experience God together with him. Sometimes we are also like hiding in the cave, we are worried about the health and safety of our families, but do we also think of those who are outside the cave? In the times of trouble, are we willing to share the Good News and let others receive this blessing too? There are so many people, who are lost outside the cave, they don’t know God yet and they are waiting for someone to help them. Are we willing to spread and share the love of God? David was in a time of trouble, but he was still willing to take and lead those who are lacking and troubled.
Today God is calling us to do the same, He does not want us to live in fear, but He will give us joy and peace, which will also influence those around us. He is real and He is right here for us!