Are You Living Like He Has The Whole World In His Hands? (AM Sermon Notes)
GIST: Realizing God’s sovereignty over all circumstances focuses your desires on Him and gives you boldness as you live driven by faithful expectancy.
SCRIPTURE: Psalm 31:14-24
This morning we’re wrapping up Psalm 31. Last week, we saw that this psalm, which was quoted by Jesus on the cross just before He took His final breath, provides hope for us when life isn’t going so well. We were told to remind ourselves of the truth rather than allow circumstances and frustrations to inform our perspectives, and to commit our lives wholeheartedly to the One who gave His life for us.
Today, we’re going to pick up there and focus in on why we can do that and the impact this worldview should have on our lives. Let’s start by reading the verses we closed with last week, 14 and the first part of 15, as these lay the foundation for the whole psalm.
“14 But I trust in you, O LORD; I say, "You are my God." 15a My times are in your hand…”
That truth is so beautiful. So much worry and so much bitterness could be eliminated if we truly embraced it. Yet, like David, who walked very closely with God by the way, we need these reminders. Therefore, here’s our gist: Realizing God’s sovereignty over all circumstances focuses your desires on Him and gives you boldness as you live driven by faithful expectancy. (Oh, and since today we’re celebrating Godly parents, I do have a few connections for us on that front as well! ☺️)
Let’s dive in. First, we need to→
I. Realize God’s Sovereignty
“14 But I trust in you, O LORD; I say, "You are my God." 15a My times are in your hand…” This really is key to understanding the psalm here. David cries out to his God whom he trusts because he knows time is in His hands! We can have this same confidence because this is 100% true in our lives as well. I just want to make two quick points here.
1- God is sovereign over your personal life. There is no burden too small or concern too far from His amazing grace. Nothing in your life catches Him off guard. He knows, and He cares. Rejoice and rest in that wonderful truth!
2- God is sovereign over this whole world. It’s easy to get bogged down and overwhelmed by world events. Dark humor floods social media right now as people try to process what has proven to be a uniquely challenging start to this decade. Nonetheless, please hear me. Neither pandemics nor social injustices are outside of God’s hands. He’s been moving and will continue to do so no matter the circumstances. No matter what is happening, God has a purpose beyond what we see.
We need to realize this and→
II. Focus Our Desires On Him
This next section is the longest in our passage today. It shows us what remembering this truth did to David’s perspective— and what it should do for ours.
First, we see his perspective on persecution (15b-18). “15b....rescue me from the hand of my enemies and from my persecutors! 16 Make your face shine on your servant; save me in your steadfast love! 17 O LORD, let me not be put to shame, for I call upon you; let the wicked be put to shame; let them go silently to Sheol. 18 Let the lying lips be mute, which speak insolently against the righteous in pride and contempt.”
This section is raw, right? We see David’s heart and his concerns. He holds nothing back. He trusts that God is in control, but he’s still in the middle of persecution and knows he desperately needs rescue, so he basically has two requests. 1- Not to be put to shame, and 2- for the wicked to be punished. Neither of these desires is sinful, and they both come back to trusting God’s sovereignty.
First, he wants people to see his hope hasn’t been in vain because it’s been built upon God and not himself. When we have this cry, it’s also evangelistic because by seeing our testimony, they will also see this hope—salvation through Jesus— for themself.
Secondly, he wants those who reject this hope to experience what they’re running toward rather than prosper now so the whole world can see what really matters and what the cost is of missing out on Him.
The passage doesn’t stay locked on this long though. As he continues, we also see his perspective on provision (19-22). “19 Oh, how abundant is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you and worked for those who take refuge in you, in the sight of the children of mankind! 20 In the cover of your presence you hide them from the plots of men; you store them in your shelter from the strife of tongues. 21 Blessed be the LORD, for he has wondrously shown his steadfast love to me when I was in a besieged city. 22 I had said in my alarm, "I am cut off from your sight." But you heard the voice of my pleas for mercy when I cried to you for help.”
Honestly, this is just awesome! Let’s break down each verse a bit here.
“19 Oh, how abundant is your goodness…” Abundant goodness is goodness without limits. His grace won’t ever be exhausted or used up.
“...which you have stored up for those who fear you…” This makes me think of a stockpile or a reserve. Like when Joseph helped the Egyptians put back grains to provide for their people in the time of famine. Even in times of despair He has goodness ready for those who love Him. In fact, look at the next part→
“...and worked for those who take refuge in you…” He is actively working for the good of those who take refuge in Him. Does this mean we’ll always understand His movements? No, but it does mean they’re always there. AND, mostly they aren’t done in secret but→
“...in the sight of the children of mankind!” Which reminds me of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:16) where we’re told to let our light shine before men so they can see our good deeds and praise our Father (the source of all good) who is in Heaven!
The next two verses really hit me, especially in the context of recognizing our godly parents this morning, because this is the heart of every loving parent fulfilled perfectly in our Heavenly Father.
“20 In the cover of your presence you hide them from the plots of men; you store them in your shelter from the strife of tongues.” We’re hidden and protected in the shelter of His presence. Not only is the whole world in His hands. Not only are your circumstances in His hands. You are in His hands! So→
“21 Blessed be the LORD, for he has wondrously shown his steadfast love to me when I was in a besieged city.” His love is constant, even when you’re surrounded by the enemy. Even when the world is turning its face from God. Even when everything is falling apart… His love never fails. But we might feel like that sometimes→
“22 I had said in my alarm, "I am cut off from your sight." But you heard the voice of my pleas for mercy when I cried to you for help.” I thought you were far away… but I was wrong! Haven’t we been there? Doesn’t every little kid have that moment when they feel like mom and dad have forgotten them? And with earthly parents, sometimes that’s true. When I was growing up, my parents left me at church at least once and made it home before realizing I wasn’t with them ☺️. And they’re good parents! No matter how far you feel from God, He’s never abandoned you. He is always with you. He always hears, and He’s always moving...which brings us to our last point here. Since that is true, we should→
III. Be Emboldened Through Faithful Expectancy
These last two verses are like an admonition. “23 Love the LORD, all you his saints! The LORD preserves the faithful but abundantly repays the one who acts in pride. 24 Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the LORD!” Here’s what we’re called to.
Love the LORD. That’s the foundation of our...everything.
Repent. The faithful are preserved, but pride is repaid abundantly, so we should turn from self to Him!
Be Strong & Take Courage. These are awesome encouragements and words that I sing over my kids. ‘Don’t let fear stop you.’ I’ve been there. You’ve probably been there. BUT our source of strength isn’t ourselves. Our bravery isn’t something we have to tap into from within. That won’t work. I’ll never have anything of myself that is a firm enough foundation to justify bravery in this broken world. But I can be brave and I can take courage just like you→
Because You Are Waiting For the Lord! This is the picture of expectancy we see referenced so often in the psalms! I can be strong and courageous because I know God will never cease to be God!
So, is this a “parent’s day” kind of message? I know I’m notoriously terrible about not preaching on passages that more clearly tie into specific holidays, but my heart has always been that clear Biblical truth is something we need for every circumstance. Nonetheless, for me, there is a clear connection here. See, this should be the cry of every Godly parent’s heart for ourselves and our kiddos. “Guys, God might seem far away sometimes, but He’s not. All your days—good or bad—are firmly in His hands, and so are you, so love Him, trust His provision, and be strong and courageous because you know He’s moving!” We should want our kids to see us live this truth, so they can say this with us: “14b I trust in you, O LORD; I say, "You are my God." 15a My times are in your hand…”
Let’s hit some quick→
TAKEAWAYS
- God is sovereign over everything.
- Your perspective should long for Him.
- Your boldness should come from looking forward to His movement!
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