God in Whom I Trust

Larry Siegle
07/14/24 - Sun AM

Link to sermon video: God in Whom I Trust - L Siegle

God in Whom I Trust

(Psalm 56))

Thesis:  What Does it MEAN to TRUST God?

INTRODUCTION

1.    The title of this message is God in Whom I Trust

2.    The English word “trust” is defined as, “assured reliance on the character, ability, strength, or truth related to

        something or someone.”

        a.    Genuine trust is not an arbitrary stance without a foundation.

               1)    Trust is not rooted in some empty feeling or emotion.

               2)    Trust is rooted in factual evidence.

        b.    There are those whose knowledge, experience, and practical education in engineering, design, and construction know “beyond any doubt” what is required to build something.

               1)    Preconstruction, Construction, Postconstruction--three elements.

               2)    From design to budgetary considerations, the process happens over the course of time.

               3)    Everything is done in accordance with knowledge and experience and TRUST in this process is based upon

                       the character and integrity of the companies employed to complete the project.

3.    In terms of relationship with God, there are a host of people today whose concept is that faith involves a “leap in the

        dark”--with no basis in fact or reality--and the advocates of “neo-atheism” are more vocal then ever these days in

        places where “secular humanism” and empty “materialism” reign supreme.

        a.    Even within the “religious” world, YouTube is filled with “testimonies” of former “pastors” “biblical scholars” and

               others who have joined hands in the so-called “deconstruction” of Christianity--where they contend that

               “churches” are nothing more than ‘dens of superstition’ where ‘myths, legends, and fairytales’ are designed to

               keep millions in ignorance.

        b.    The ‘historicity’ of the Bible, of Old Testament Israel, Christ and His apostles, are all under siege, being attacked

               from every side.

               1)    The genuine evidence is ignored, and people are being lead down a pathway of hopelessness, without

                       knowing who they are, where they came from, or where they are going.

               2)    Scientists in recent years have confessed their previous ‘theories’ about the origin of the universe and of

                       ‘intelligent life’ have been lacking in factual evidence.

4.    In relationship to where we find ourselves today, “What does it really mean to trust God, and is there any value for

        such trust to exist?”

DAVID AND HIS TRUST IN GOD

1.    The background of our study of Psalm 56 is the tragic circumstances within the life of David at the time when Saul, the

        King in Israel had been given over to his own sense of ‘jealousy’ and ‘insecurity’ instead of rejoicing in what God had

        done in the defeat of Goliah and the Philistines (I Sam. 18:6-12).

        a.    Saul was determined to “kill” David (I Sam. 19:1).

        b.    David kept winning battles against the Philistines and Saul began to pursue him like the Jason Borne movies, just to end his life (I Sam. 19:8-9).

        c.     It became safer for David to flee into the city of Gath, one of five Philistine cities, and the dwelling place of the

               remaining Anakim (Gen. 6:1-4)--the descendants of what had taken place prior to the flood.

2.    David actually had to “fake insanity” while in Gath so that he was safe from Saul who was trying to kill him (I Sam.

        20:12, 13; 27:1, 7)--He lives in the land of the Philistines a year and four months.

TRUST IN GOD OR THE FEAR OF MAN?

1.    David expresses the depth of the problem (Psa. 56:1, 2).

2.    David expresses him trust in God (vss. 3, 4).

        a.    The PERSON of God--textual variations here “O Most High” (NKJV).

        b.    The WORD of God

        c.     compared with the weakness of physical abuse or even death.

3.    This is repeated in (vss 10, 11)

        a.    What can man do that God is unable to deliver from?

4.    Jesus foretold the time was going to come when His own disciples would face severe, intense suffering and

        persecution:

        a.    Matt. 10:16-23

               1)    Just as had been the case with David being chased and persecuted by Saul, those who became disciples of

                       Christ would face trials and persecution also (Acts 8:1)

               2)    Persecution was to be seen as a “blessing” (Matt. 5:10, 12).

               3)    Persecution was to be “endured” (I Cor. 4:12).

               4)    All who are godly will face opposition and persecution (II Tim. 3:12).

        b.    If God was for David, and for believers who face, trials, suffering, and persecution, why have any sense of fear is

               taking a stand for the truth (Heb. 13:5, 6; Psa. 27:1; 118:6).

GOD’S WORD IS THE SOURCE OF TRUTH

1.    The world lies to us, the media lies to us, people all around us have sown a ‘narrative’ that is rooted in lies, deception,

        and all sorts of falsehood--but God’s word is the verse dependable source of truth (John 8:31, 32; 17:17).

2.    Understood properly, there is nothing in Scripture that is contrary to what is known to be true.

3.    The very “tears” of David in the hour of his suffering were kept by God (Psa. 56:8, 9).

        a.    In whatever areas of struggle, suffering or strife, God is aware of what is in what is in the depths of our hearts and

               how such things have affected our lives (Luke 12:6, 7).

        b.    When we trust in the testimony of what is written, God will use that to bring comfort even in the midst of life’s

               most challenging moments.

4.    The statement of faith from David (Psa. 56:12, 13)

        a.     David wrote this while in the midst of his fleeing from Saul, believing God for “salvation” (deliverance) to come.

        b.    David knew that God would carry him through no matter how dark and how bleak the situation or circumstances.

        c.     The walk of David was meant to be “in the light of life” knowing that God’s is true and He never abandons or

               forsakes His people.

CONCLUSION

1.    We see all sorts of tragic things going on in the world around us, what happened last night in Pennsylvania tells us just

        how dangerous the world around us can be---such as not happened since 1980 with Ronald Reagan.

2.    We must pray for the families of the loved ones who lost their lives last night.

3.    In our own life and circumstances, we must depend upon the truth and reality of God’s Word to lead us and to guide

        us each step of the way.

4.    We may not always see the answers as to what is happening within our own hearts and lives--situations,

        circumstances, financial struggles, health problems, difficult relationships, whatever life throws our direction.

5.    We can know that God loves us, cares for us, and is working in our lives behind the scenes that His purpose might be

        accomplished.