January 7, 2008

Text: Psalm 142


TRIALS AND TROUBLES IN LIFE

1. Snares of enemies "They have secretly set a snare for me"    Psalm 142:3d

a) Difficult to detect

b) Difficult to get out of snares

2. Persecutors
"Deliver me from persecutors"    Psalm 142:6

a) Persecutors can be very deadly

b) They can also be very determined

3. A prison
"Bring my soul out of prison"    Psalm 142:7


a) Superscription of this psalm "A prayer when he (David) was in a cave"

b) This may have reference to Saul seeking to kill David;
The latter had to run and hide in caves (prison)

HOW TRIALS CAN HAVE ADVERSE EFFECTS

1. Complaining
"I pour out my complaint before Him"    Psalm 142:2

2. Overwhelmed
"When my spirit was overwhelmed within me"    Psalm 142:3a

TURNING TO GOD IN PRAYER
"I cry out to the LORD with my voice;
With my voice to the LORD I make my supplication.
I pour out my complaint before Him;
I declare before Him my trouble"    Psalm 142:1-2

1. Choosing to pray
"I cry out to the LORD with my voice"    Psalm 142:1a

Always choose to pray, no matter how tough the circumstances of life may be!

2. Learning how to make supplication
"With my voice to the LORD I make my supplication"    Psalm 142:1b

a) What is supplication?

b) How do we learn how to supplicate meaningfully?

3. Pouring out of the heart in prayer
"I pour out my complaint before Him,
I declare before Him my trouble"    Psalm 142:2

a) Reference to prayers being uttered from the depths of the heart

b) Candidness and open honesty

4. Praying even when feeling overwhelmed
"When my spirit was overwhelmed within me
Then You knew my path.
In the way in which I walk they have secretly set a snare for me"    Psalm 142:3

a) Believing that God knows the path that we take

b) Trusting that God would hear prayers amidst trying circumstances

c) Believing in the sovereignty of God above all oppressors and persecutors!