We have here another record in
the checkered life. I think it was Mr. Spurgeon that
referred to David's life as a checkered life. That means it was mixed. He had his joys, his mountaintop
experiences, and he had his valleys of sorrow. The sweet singer of
Israel experienced all these things. In this psalm you have
the cry of a man, Psalm 32, the cry of a man who had been removed
from the outward ordinances of God, from the place of worship.
And perhaps this psalm was penned by David on that occasion when
Absalom, his own son, forced him from the throne, led a rebellion
against him because he himself wanted to be king, and David
for a while is absent from his throne, hiding out from his own
son. Remember when Absalom died, was
killed in battle? Remember David's reaction? Absalom,
Absalom, oh my son Absalom, I wish I had died for thee. While he
in this psalm and many others expresses his sorrow in his heart,
yet he expresses hope in the living God. Yes, he was hurting. Yes, he was abandoned by his
son. Yes, he was chased from the throne. But yet he expresses
hope in his living God. In this psalm, as in many others,
we have the mixture, the combination of doubts and fears, as well
as faith and hope. Can both these things abide in
the same soul? Can the same person experience
both those things at the very same time? Absolutely. You do,
don't you, child of God? Isn't your faith mixed with doubts
and fears as well, even though it's genuine? We all experience
the very thing that David spoke of here. We see this mixture
throughout the Psalms, all the Psalms. And that's why they're
such a great source of comfort to God's people. They read their
own biography here, Lord. They can identify with them.
That's why I think we're constantly drawn to the Psalms. We read
these experiences and we say, huh. That's me. I can identify
with that. I know exactly what he means. I've passed through the very
same thing. We find recorded here the honest
confession, the honest confession of doubts and fears and yet holding
his ground by faith in the living God and his word of promise. For example, when David wrote
these words, My God, Psalm 22, My God, why hast thou forsaken
me? There's no question that he was
speaking prophetically of the Lord Jesus Christ. Our Lord used
those very words when he hung up on the cross, but it's also
true. that David was expressing his
own soul's feeling at the time, feeling forsaken of God. Verse 5 of Psalm 42 and verse
11, either one could be your text because they're almost identical. David asked this question, 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. David seems
to have a talk with himself. Mr. Spurgeon said some of the
best talks a man has is with himself. He asked the question,
why art thou cast down, O my soul? Cast down, but never cast
out. That's the title of my message.
God's people are often cast down. Our Lord promised his disciples,
in the world, not that you might have tribulation, certainly that
you won't be exempt from tribulation. He guaranteed them, in the world
you shall have tribulation. But that's not the end of the
story. And that wasn't the end of his words. He said, but be
of good cheer. I have overcome the world. That's
not all. Yes, cast down, but not forsaken. David says here, why art thou
cast down, O my soul? Hope thou in me. There's the answer, Lord, God. There's always hope in Him. Our
circumstances may change very quickly, but our God is immutable. Our God never changes. Not in
purpose, not in power, not in any attribute. Our God is always
the same. As we read this morning, He's
everlastingly God. Cast down, but never cast out. Turn if you will to Psalm 121.
We'll have another example here in the 121st Psalm. Here's the
remedy for a soul cast down. David says in Psalm 121, I will
lift up mine eyes unto the hills. For whence cometh my help? And
David, what do you see there? On what do you look? Look what
he says in verse two. My help cometh from the Lord,
which made heaven and earth. Oh, that's my source of hope. That's my comfort. My help cometh
from the Lord that made heaven and earth. With my eyes looking
there, David can sing, hope thou in God. Looking back to his God,
he can say, I will yet praise him. I will yet hope in him. Look at verse 3 of Psalm 121.
He will not suffer thy foot to be moved. He that keepeth Israel,
or he that keepeth thee, will not slumber. Behold, he that
keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. Hope thou in God. Remember what David said in Psalm
73, turn back there if you will. He says in verse one of the 73rd
Psalm, truly, truly, surely, verily, truly God is good to
Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart. That's our God. That's our God. But as for me,
as for me, see what I mean about identifying with the Psalms?
There's no question God is always good, always wise, always working
all things together for the good of his people. But as for me,
That's another story. My feet were almost gone. My
steps had well nigh slipped. And David tells us the reason
for that. He was envious at the wicked.
He looked out at the wicked and he said, what good is it for
me to serve God? The wicked don't serve God. God's
not in their thoughts. And everything they touch prospers. He confesses on down in the Psalm,
or rather verse 22 of Psalm 73. So foolish was I and ignorant. I was as a beast before thee. I changed, David said. Not always
the same. Fickle, weak man. Oh, but look
what he says in verse 23. He lifts up his eyes to his God. He hopes in his God. He says
in verse 23, although I was as a beast, unthankful, ungrateful,
nevertheless, I am continually with thee. Nevertheless, God's
not cast me off. Cast down, but never cast out. Nevertheless, I am continually
with thee. When you believe, David, Oh,
when you don't. When you're faithful, when you're
unfaithful. God doesn't change. That's why David says, thou is
holding me by my right hand. It's not my hold on you that
determines my salvation. It's your hold on me. Verse 24,
thou shall guide me with thy counsel. God's not changed His
purpose. Oh, although I was as a beast,
although I temporarily took my eyes off God, although I was
envious at the wicked, like beasts being fed for the slaughter,
why should I envy a lost man? But David confesses that he did,
yet his God was thankful, or rather faithful. Aren't you glad
that's so? Aren't you glad God's not like
us? Oh, yes, I'm so glad that's so. In verse 24, thou shalt guide
me just as you always have. Your purpose toward me hasn't
changed. Thou shalt guide me with thy
counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. Nevertheless, I am continually
with thee, but God. But I shall yid hope in God. Not self, but God. Not the arm
of flesh, but the arm of omnipotence. God. What a sweet word that is. But God. But God, where will
we be if it wasn't but God? Would there be one sinner converted
if it wasn't but God? Would anyone have a hope of glory
if it wasn't but God? God, wise in counsel and plenteous
in mercy. Are you back in Psalm 121? David
goes on to say in this Psalm at verse 4, He said he has lifted
up his eyes, and then in verse 4 he says, Behold, he that keepeth
Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. Our God doesn't. The Lord is thy keeper. The Lord
is thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite thee
by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord shall preserve thee
from all evil. He shall preserve thy soul. The
Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this
time forth even forevermore. He that keepeth Israel shall
neither slumber nor sleep. When I read that this afternoon,
I thought of a time in the life of the disciples. It's recorded
in Matthew chapter 26. I want you to turn there. Matthew
chapter 26. Our Lord has begun to trod the
winepress alone. He takes with him three disciples,
Peter, James, and John. And he says, watch here and pray
that you enter not into temptation. Watch with me. And he goes further. First, the eleven entered the
garden, eight are left, and he takes three, Peter, James, and
John. And they can't go with him all
the way, and he, verse 39 or verse 38, he said to them, my
soul is exceeding sorrowful even unto death, tarry ye here and
watch with me. And he went a little further,
and he fell on his face and prayed, saying, we've never seen our
Master, our Savior, act this way. Not in life. The shadow
of the cross was already eclipsing his holy, pure, sinless soul. Oh, my father, verse 39, if it
be possible, let this cup, let this cup pass from me. Nevertheless,
this cup. This cup of holy wrath. This cup that I must drink. This
cup to satisfy divine justice. This cup of being made sin. Our holy Lord looked into it
and he said, I'm amazed. I'm amazed. Exceeding sorrowful. And yet he says, nevertheless,
not as I will, but as thou wilt. What a Savior. And he cometh
unto the disciples and findeth them asleep. He that keepeth
Israel never slumbers nor sleeps. They couldn't watch with him
one hour. Could you not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray
that ye enter not into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing,
but the flesh is weak. He went away again the second
time and prayed, saying, O my father, if this cup may not pass
away from me except I drink it, thy will be done. And he came
and found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy. And
he left them and went away again and prayed the third time, saying
the same words. Then, for the final time, cometh
he to his disciples and saith unto them. This is the picture.
I want you to see. Sleep on now and take your rest. There's a pause there. You can't
tell it from the verse. And I don't know how long the
pause it was. But do you see this picture?
There's the sleeping disciples and there's the faithful shepherd
of his sheep. He that David said shall never
slumber nor sleep, ever faithful, ever watchful, ever caring. Here you see the great shepherd
of the sheep faithfully sitting, watching over his sleeping disciples. Sleep on now and take your rest. And then after this, he says,
behold, behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed
into the hands of sinners. Arise, and he wakes them. Arise,
let us be going. Behold, he is at hand that doth
betray me. The faithful shepherd will bring
all his chosen to glory. Look at another picture right
after this, when he says, Arise, let us be going. Behold, he is
at hand that doth betray me. Look in John chapter 18. You
have this picture too, where Judas the traitor leads a band
of soldiers, chief priests, Pharisees to that place that He knew our
Lord often resorted to. And our Lord went there that
night, knowing everything that should come upon Him. Look at
verse 4 of John 18, another picture of the great shepherd of the
sheep. And He's the same yesterday and
today and forever. Jesus, therefore, verse 4, knowing
all things that should come upon Him, went forth. Went forth,
leading the way. and said unto this mob, this
bloodthirsty mob, whom seek ye? He knew why they were there.
He knew who they came to seek. They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth.
He asked the question so he could identify himself. Jesus saith
unto them, I am he. And Judas also, which betrayed
him, stood with them. As soon then as he had said unto
them, I am he, they went backward and fell to the ground. Then
asked he them again, whom seek ye? And they said a second time,
Jesus of Nazareth. I told you that I am he. If therefore
you seek me, I like these words, don't you? If therefore you seek
me, let these go their way. I'm the shepherd, the good shepherd,
that lays down his life for the sheep. If you seek me, my sheep
go free. And you see the analogy. He steps
forward and takes that cup that he prayed, Father, if I must
drink it, thy will be done. He takes the cup of God's wrath.
He steps forward to divine justice. And he says, you seek me? Here
I am. Here I am. A Waco sword against
the man who is my fellow, against my anointed, smite the shepherd. If it's me you seek, let these
go their way. All glorious substitute. Faithful
shepherd. Verse nine, that the same might
be fulfilled which he spake. Of them which thou gavest me,
I've lost none. None. No wonder David said, why
are thou cast down? Oh my soul, I will yet praise
god. I shall yet hope in my god. The great shepherd watching over
his sheep. The great shepherd taking the
place of his sheep. In scripture, he said, I'm the
good shepherd. The writer of Hebrew said, he's
the great shepherd of the sheep. And every one of these individually
are a glorious thought. But he's all of those things.
But in addition to that, for the believer, he's my shepherd. Yes, he's the good shepherd.
Yes, he's the chief shepherd. And yes, he's the great shepherd.
But all these together, and he's my shepherd. What a comforting
thought that must have been to young David. When sitting on
a hill overlooking his sheep, the flock of his father, knowing
what was involved, he thought of his God and he wrote, oh,
he's my shepherd. He's my shepherd. He does everything
for me. He keeps me and cares for me
and hold me by His hand. The Lord is my shepherd. One songwriter wrote, I am His
and He is mine forever. Once I'm His, I'm His forever. Isn't that a blessed thought?
Nothing from his love can sever. My sheep are in my hand. No man, no one can pluck them
out. They're mine. The Father gave
them to me. and I took them. They're my bride,
and I'm their bridegroom, and I'll go redeem them. I'll live
for them, and die for them, and arise and intercede for them.
I'll do everything for my bride. His forever. David said, yes. Why are you cast down, O my soul? For I shall yet praise him. That's a good question, isn't
it? Why aren't thou cast down? Well, because of my circumstances,
David would say. Oh, but your God hasn't changed,
David. David could say, my son hates
me, and he's rebelled against me. But then he would say, hope
thou in God, because he's loved me with an everlasting love.
He'll never wrong me. He'll never be unfaithful to
me. He'll never cease to love me with a mighty love. No wonder
the Apostle John, the beloved disciple, that one who leaned
on Jesus' breast at the Last Supper, no wonder he wrote in
his first epistle, Behold. Behold. You want to see a sight? You want to consider something
astounding? something marvelous, something
glorious, behold what manner of love the Father had bestowed
upon us that we should be called, we should be called, what? The
sons of God. I read one commentator who said
when they were making, when the old writers were copying the
scriptures and came to that, they said, that can't be right.
They can't be right. It should say servants of God,
not sons of God. Are you sure that's the correct
translation? And they were assured that it
was. Because they were astounded by that fact. Just as John exhorted,
Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us,
that we should be called, Law Rogers, a son of God. Behold, what kind of love is
this? I think Bobby sang not long ago
about the love of God. Oh, how great, how vast the love
of God. It is so sweet to trust in him,
just to take him at his word. I shall yet praise God, David
said, cast down, cast down temporarily, oh, but never cast out. That
was held me by thy right hand. Trust is sweet, isn't it? to
be able just to repose, to rest, to trust, freedom from doubts
and suspicions and anxiety. That's a sweet frame to be in,
is it not? Hope thou in God, David said. For he hath said, I will never
leave thee, nor forsake thee. It'll never, never happen. Preceding
those words in Hebrews 13, we're told, be content with such things
as ye have. Be content. And the reason he
gives, the only reason he gives is this. For he hath said, our
Lord, I'll never leave thee, I'll never forsake thee. And
the one who made that blessed promise is all. Christ is all,
and we're completing him. What a grounds for contentment. I remember reading, I think in
a sermon by Mr. Spurgeon, about an elderly woman,
a believer. was a widow living alone. She
sat down to what appeared to be just a meager meal, not much
there at all. And she looked at it and said,
oh my, all of this and Christ too. And she was thankful. And she gave thanks. He will
never cast us out, will never leave us nor forsake us. Turn,
if you will, to John chapter 6. John chapter six. I know these are familiar passages
to you. That's alright. It'll do us good
to look at them again to be. I don't think we can hear him
too much. Do you especially when we're prone like David to be
cast down and to doubt these things in John chapter six verse
thirty-seven all that the And him that cometh unto me I
will in no wise, no way, under no circumstance cast out. Never. I'll never cast him out. For I came down from heaven for
this very purpose, for them, for those the Father gave me.
For I came down from heaven not to do my own will, but the will
of him that sent me. And this is the Father's will
which has sent me, that all which he has given me I should lose
nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. I'll never cast out one that
comes to me. You're proof of it, aren't you
believer? You came, you came with doubts
and fears and sin and burdens and he never cast you out, did
he? and he hasn't since. Oh, no. Far from it. Far from it. Instead of casting out this sinner,
there was rejoicing in heaven over one sinner that repented,
one prodigal that came back home to the Father's house. Indeed,
that's amazing. Are you still in John? Look in
chapter 9. The blind man has been healed
by our Lord. He's called before the Sanhedrin
to give an account. Who did this? And he would just
tell them, well, I can tell you this. I once was blind, but now
I see. Look at verse 34. They'd heard
about all of that they wanted to hear. They answered and said
unto him, John 9 and 34, thou wast altogether born in sins,
like they weren't. And does thou teach us? And they
cast him out." Cast him out. Oh, but the great shepherd of
the sheep knew all about it. He had arranged it. They cast
him out so our Lord could gather him in. Verse 35, Jesus heard
that they had cast him out, and when he had found him, he said
unto him, Does thou believe on the Son of God? Remember what
David said, hope thou in God. He answered and said, who is
he, Lord, that I might believe on him? And Jesus said unto him,
thou has both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee.
And he said, Lord, I believe. I believe. What a miracle of
God's grace granted this poor man faith. He believed and he
worshipped him, the great shepherd of the sheep, another trophy
of his matchless grace, another demonstration of his ability
to save to the uttermost all that come unto God by him. Is
that still true? Is that still true? Is he still
able to save unto the uttermost? Absolutely. His precious blood
has lost no power to save. Turn, if you will, to Acts chapter
27. Acts chapter 27. Paul was on his way to Rome.
He's under arrest even now on ship as a prisoner on his way
to Rome. A fierce storm arises. The ship
looks like it's going to sink. And Paul stands in the midst
of these 276 people on board. And he says in verse 20 of Acts
27, and when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared and
no small tempest lay on us, all hope that we should be saved
was then taken away. But after long abstinence, Paul
stood forth in the midst of them and said, sirs, can you see the
apostle? These men are cringing in fear
of death. and listen to what Paul says.
He believed God. Sir, you should have hearkened
unto me and not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this
harm and loss. And now I exhort you to be of
good cheer. Be of good cheer. For there shall
be no loss of any man's life among you but of the ship. For
there stood by me this night the angel of the Lord, whose
I am and whom I serve, saying, Fear not, Paul, thou must be
brought before Caesar. And, lo, God hath given thee
all them that sail with thee. Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer,
for I believe God. Mm. How refreshing. How encouraging. Paul says, I believe God that
it shall be even as it was told me, how be it we must be cast
upon a certain island. And on down in the chapter, he
tells them, take meat and eat. And he eats in front of them.
He says, you don't need to fast any longer. It's going to be
well with us because I believe God. Nothing spiritual about
being gloomy and pessimistic all the time, is there? Having
a down-in-the-mouth attitude all the time. Paul said, be of
good cheer. He was on that ship, but he said,
be of good cheer because I believe God. Like Paul, those who honor
God are those who believe God. And before Him they lived like
it, cheerful, with cheerful hearts and joyous attitude, as though
they really did believe such promises as this. All things
work together for good to them who love God, to them who are
called according to His purpose. Yes, like David, we experience
heartache and grief, but we still have all the reason, as Paul
said, be of good cheer. And as David said, hope in God
and to sing, it is well with my soul. Some professing Christians
seem to act as though serving God was painful. You see them
and it seems like their shoes are too tight or something and
they're in pain. Woe is me! Woe is me! All the time, Paul says, be of
good cheer. It doesn't matter. I hear people
read a lot about the coming election. And folks, to profess to know
God just seems to be in a tizzy. Oh, woe is us. If that man gets
in again, it's all over. Well, wait a minute now, God's
still on the throne, isn't he? whether it's him or somebody
else. An old friend used to tell me, one monkey don't run no show. God's still on the throne. He's
still in control. Be of good cheer. On the sea that night, when the
disciples crossed over to the other side without their Lord,
and that storm arose, they see him walking on the water. And
remember what he said. It is I. It is I. Be not afraid. In every providence that God
sends us, that sends our way, every storm, every trial, every
heartache, may God give us grace to hear the words of our Redeemer.
It is I. This is not an accident. It is
I. I've sent the storm. Be not afraid. In reading the Psalms, you'll
find that when a psalm begins with an expression of sorrow,
it always ends with an expression of joy concerning God's goodness
or God's faithfulness. A psalm may begin with sorrow,
but they always end with joy. As David himself wrote, weeping
may endure through the night, but... but that's not all, is
it? Weeping may endure through the
night, and it will. It will. Many a night, many a
tear, many a wet pillow. And it seems like the daylight
will never come. Weeping may endure through the
night, but, bless God, but, that's not all, but joy cometh in the
morning. Why? Because but God, but grace,
but glory, but salvation, joy cometh in the morning. Nothing
we do in this world honors God more than simply to believe him. As Paul stood on that ship, on
that storm-tossed sea, he said, be of good cheer. I believe God. David said, I shall yet praise
God. Look at Psalm 37. Psalm 37. That's the theme here as well.
Psalm 37, verse 1. Fret not thyself because of evildoers. Neither be thou envious against
the workers of iniquity, for they shall soon be cut down like
the grass and wither as the green herb. Trust in the Lord and do
good, so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt
be fed. Delight thyself also in the Lord, and he shall give
thee the desires of thine heart. Commit, delight, commit thy way
unto the Lord. Trust also in him, and he shall
bring it to pass. And he shall bring forth thy
righteousness as the light and thy judgment as the noonday.
Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for him. fret not thyself because
of him who prospereth in the way, because of the man who bringeth
wicked devices to pass, cease from anger and forsake wrath,
fret not thyself in any wise to do evil. Casting all your
care upon him, we read in Hebrews, for he, or rather Peter, casting
all your care upon him, for he careth for you. When I was a
kid, boy, still at home, with four brothers and four sisters.
The last time we were all together was you know where, up that hollow. My oldest brother, we were living
there when he joined the Navy. And one by one, we drifted away. I remember living up there with
all those brothers and sisters, and my father never did have
a job that paid the whole lot, but I'd never recall one time
laying in bed wearing and fretting, am I going to be fed? Am I going
to be clothed? It never crossed my mind. I was
as carefree as I could be. Why? Because I thought mom and
dad loved me. They'll take care of that. That's
in their hands. Remember what our Master said?
Remember what He said? Don't fret. Don't worry. Don't
be concerned about what you'll eat or what you'll put on. After
all these things that the Gentiles seek, your Heavenly Father knoweth
that you have need of all these things. Don't fret. Turn, if
you will, to Revelation chapter 20 and we'll close this. Revelation
chapter 20. Verse 11, John writes and says,
and I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it from whose
face the earth and the heaven fled away, and there was found
no place for them. And I saw the dead small and
great stand before God, and the books were opened, and another
book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were
judged out of those things which were written in the books according
to their works. And the sea gave up the dead
which were in it, and death and hell delivered up the dead which
were in them. And they were judged every man
according to their works. And death and hell were cast
into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And
whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast
into the lake of fire." Oh, in light of that, how precious are
these words of our lord. Notwithstanding in this, rejoice
not that the spirits are subject unto you, but rather rejoice
because your names are written in heaven, in the lamb's book
of life, and you'll never be cast out. God bless you.