4 | Psalm 11

Psalm 11 | Fighting Fear with Resolute Righteousness

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Slides:

Psalm 43:5

Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me?

Hope in God; for I shall again praise him

I Samuel 30:6 

And David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because all the people were bitter in soul, each for his sons and daughters. But David strengthened himself in YAHWEH his God.

APPLICATION - Strengthen yourself in Yahweh your God by speaking the truth to your own soul. 

The voice of fear pressures our souls to embrace…

Resignation - There’s no stopping it so I might as well accept it

Helplessness - there’s nothing I can do and no one is coming to save me

Victimhood - the evil done to me determines my identity and my purpose 

APPLICATION

When the facts are laid out before us, and the situation is dire.  When the fearful thing is at hand…Our core temptation is to be OVERLY IMPRESSED by the EVIL around us and UNDERWHELMED with the PROMISES and FAITHFULNESS of the God who is with us. 

APPLICATION

Fight fear by looking up to the Lord

1. YAHWEH tests the children of men.  

2. Among the children of man there are two categories, the righteous and the wicked. 

3. Yahweh tests the wicked based on his hatred of them.  

4. In contrast, we can infer that Yahweh tests the righteous based on his lovingkindness. 

APPLICATION

When the bible says things that are difficult for us to accept, we must humble ourselves under the authority of the Word of God.  We should seek to understand difficult truths.  We must not ignore them or attempt to change them to fit with our preconceptions.

APPLICATION

Is my relationship with God strong enough to keep me resolute in righteousness and doing righteous deeds in times of fearful testing?