THE BOOK OF : Wednesday Night Series | Pastor Ely Reynolds | April 29, 2020 PSALM 39 = “______CAN BE GOLDEN” . A Psalm of . We don’t know much about the Psalm, but it was written in a time of ______. . Jeduthun = There were three chief musicians in the sanctuary: Heman, Asaph, and Jeduthun. II Chronicles 5:12, “Also the Levites which were the singers, all of them of Asaph, of Heman, of Jeduthun, with their sons and their brethren, being arrayed in white linen, having cymbols and psalteries and harps, stood at the east end of the altar…”

LESSONS FROM DIFFICULT TIMES 1. ______– During difficult times, silence is golden. (vv. 1-3) a. As we look through the whole Psalm, we see that David was going through some chastening and correcting from God and he did not want to respond wrong. b. V. 1 = Bridle = “______” c. V. 2 = Even from good = Apparently, he was afraid of what would happen if he opened his mouth, so he just kept it closed. = This might be good advice for us to meditate upon. d. James 3:3-8 e. Psalm 141:3, “Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips. f. Please remember this: we may need to be silent around man, but not ______. If Psalms teaches us anything, it is to open up our hearts to God early and often! g. What was Jesus’ response when brought before wicked people? Mark 14:61, “But He held His peace, and answered nothing.” h. V. 3 = Notice the progression = Heart, mind, ______i. Our emotions often get involved before our brain, but we must do much ______before we speak. j. James 1:19, “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.” k. “Wise people are not always silent, but they know when to be.” -- Unknown 2. REFLECTION – During difficult times, try to ______things as God sees them. (vv. 4-6) a. David is faced with some ______facts. b. V. 4 = Measure = “Length of life; size of days” c. V. 4 = Frail = “______; being transient; short period of time” d. V. 5 = Handbreadth = “A span of the hand; a short length of time” e. V. 5 = Vanity = “Meaningless; empty” f. V. 6 = Vain shew = “Phantom; semblance; shadow” = Something that has no real substance but is just a mere form. g. Sometimes when we go through difficulties, we become ______. Despondency is dangerous! h. We must not look at life from a ______viewpoint. i. God doesn’t view your life as pointless. God doesn’t view your life as empty. He gives you purpose and makes your life full! j. Just ask the same man who wrote this Psalm! = :5, “…my cup runneth over.” 3. RELIANCE – During difficult times, remember ______you need to lean on. (vv. 7-9) a. There is no trial where the answer is to go complain to others about it. Your trial will not go away if you murmur to some friends. b. V. 7 = This is the key to this Psalm = Remember where your hope is during difficult times. c. Despondency says there is no hope; ______says, “My hope is in Thee.” d. “There is hope for him whose hope is in God.” -- Scroggie e. When we see how empty the world is, it should drive us right into the arms of God! f. Sometimes the advice we give to others we must also give to ______. 4. REPENTANCE – During a trial, use the opportunity to check your ______. (vv. 10-13) a. David was facing difficult times because of his own sin. Notice some of the words he used! b. V. 10 = Stroke = “Assault; a blow or strike that can cause a wound” c. V. 10 = Blow = “Sharp blow of discipline by the hand” d. There can be two extremes when difficult times arise: you can either think that every difficulty that arises is because of your ______or you can never think that any difficulty in life is because of sin. e. The truth is that difficulties and trials come for many reasons! ______are meant to draw us closer to God. f. Hebrews 12:5-11 = God chastens because He loves. g. Make this your ______every day! h. :23-24, “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

Are you facing difficult times right now? Have you been tempted to complain? Have you lost some hope? Do you need to allow the Holy Spirit to search your heart? Remember that God is your hope!