CERTAINTIES in UNCERTAIN TIMES – INTRO: A psalm and a story Psalm 34:1 I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. • JOB blessed God when he was wealthy and healthy • JOB blessed God when he was stripped of his possessions, his family and his health – a broken empty vessel but on a firm foundation – the Word of God o Job 1:21 …the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD. Job 2:10 What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? • “’At all times,’ in every situation, under every circumstance, before, in and after trials, in bright days of glee, and dark nights of fear… He who praises God for mercies shall never want a mercy for which to praise. To bless the Lord is never unseasonable. ‘His praise shall continually be in my mouth,’ not in my heart merely, but in my mouth too…Our tongue…ought to reveal the glory of God. What a blessed mouthful is God's praise! …If men's mouths were always thus filled,…the bitterness of daily affliction would be swallowed up in joy. God deserves blessing with the heart, and extolling with the mouth...” ~Treasury of David

Psalm 34:1 A Psalm of David, when he changed his behaviour before ; who drove him away, and he departed. CONTEXT: David is on the run from who is into SPEAR- THROWING. In the beginning of the chapter, he visits the PRIEST at Nob who gives him hallowed bread, and he also asks for a weapon and he is given the sword of Goliath. THEN David flees to . 1 Samuel 21:10-12 And David arose, and fled (to bolt) that day for FEAR of Saul, and went to the king of Gath. (11) And the servants of Achish said unto him, Is not this David the king of the land? did they not sing one to another of him in dances, saying, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands? (12) And David laid up these words in his heart, and was sore AFRAID of Achish the king of Gath. (13) And he changed his behaviour before them, and feigned himself mad in their hands, and scrabbled (scratched) on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle fall down upon his beard. • HOW did David change his behavior? SOLDIER to MAD MAN • WHY did David change his behavior? FEAR [DARTH] • UNCERTAIN TIMES bring FEAR o HEALTH - DISEASE o WEALTH - ECONOMY o FUTURE – JOB, GOVERNMENT o CHURCH – attendance, offerings, rash decisions, division (loss of unity) 1 Samuel 21:14-15 Then said Achish unto his servants, Lo, ye see the man is mad: wherefore then have ye brought him to me? (15) Have I need of mad men, that ye have brought this fellow to play the mad man in my presence? shall this fellow come into my house? David at the Cave of Adullam 1 Samuel 22:1a - David therefore departed thence, and escaped to the cave Adullam: • A Psalm of David, when he changed his behaviour before Abimelech; who drove him away, and he departed. • In the darkness of the cave after musing over the uncertain times o FEAR of SAUL – and how God protected him through Jonathan & the priest at Nob o FEAR of the – God protected him in his mad plan o FEAR of Achish – God protected him in having Achish drive him out and then escaping to the cave o In his HEART, he was THANKFUL Psalm 34:1 - I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth… • “bless” - to kneel; by implication to bless God (as an act of adoration) • Because I’ve been on my knees, what comes out of my mouth is different! o KNEE – MOUTH connection o Praise instead of complaint o SONG instead of DIRGE (Gloom, despair and agony on me…) In times like these you need a Savior In times like these you need an anchor Be very sure, be very sure Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock! CHORUS This Rock is Jesus, Yes He's the One This Rock is Jesus, the only One Be very sure, be very sure Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock! Psalm 34:2 My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. o Our natural inclination is to BOAST of ourselves (DAVID – LION, BEAR, GOLIATH), BUT uncertain times and FEAR can wipe away our self-confidence and cause us to see the TRUTH o Who are the humble? Those who realize their NEED o When we have been HUMBLED by our circumstances, we STOP boasting of OUR ABILITIES and our EARS ARE GLAD to hear about a loving GOD who gives PEACE o KNEE – EAR Connection

1 Samuel 22:1-2 - David therefore departed thence, and escaped to the cave Adullam: and when his brethren and all his father's house heard it, they went down thither to him. (2) And every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him; and he became a captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men. • “in distress” – in a NARROW place; in CONFINEMENT [CHAINS] o DAVID – MAN WITHOUT A COUNTRY! He is in a CAVE hiding from the most powerful man in the nation! o US - QUARANTINED! ALONE! SOLITARY! o STRESS MANAGEMENT (increase of domestic violence) o CAPTAIN: “I will bless the LORD at all times…” • “in debt” - $$$...I owe, I owe, owe…bills, bills, bills… [BILLS] o DAVID - Anointed king, but…; A great soldier, but…; Great poet, but…; Great singer, but… o US - Lost your job; Economic disaster coming… o CAPTAIN: “I will bless the LORD at all times…” • “discontented” – bitter [PILLS] o Same word that is used when Esau finds out that Jacob stole his blessing “[Esau] cried with a great and exceeding bitter cry…’Bless me, even me also, O my father!’” o NOT FAIR; I’ve been wronged o DAVID – has been loyal to his king; yet he has nearly become a wall ornament on two occasions and now he is a hunted animal o US – messed up your plans; wedding, funeral, athletic events, graduation, etc. o CAPTAIN: “I will bless the LORD at all times…”

David was a leader because God had given him a RIGHT SPIRIT on the INSIDE. o You can’t see a RIGHT SPIRIT on the INSIDE, but you can see a RIGHT SPIRIT from what a person does on the OUTSIDE

Psalm 34:3 O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together. o KNEE – EYE Connection (HOW HE SEE THINGS) o MAGNIFY means MAKE LARGER; we can’t make the LORD larger but we can MAGNIFY HIS POWER on the EARTH like a magnifying glass burns a paper when someone uses the POWER of the SUN Psalm 34:4 I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. • DAVID – When he came face-to-face with a LION & BEAR & GOLIATH & SAUL & the PHILISTINES & ACHISH & THE CAVE o 1 Samuel 17:37 - David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the LORD be with thee. • ME - On Feb 19th, 1998, I started truly seeking the LORD; on Feb 21st, 1998, I truly found him. o Some take longer; some take shorter, but he promises: Jeremiah 29:13 - And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. Psalm 34:5 They looked unto him, and were lightened (to sparkle): and their faces were not ashamed. • THINGS are not so DARK and FEARFUL when you LOOK at them from your knees • FEAR THE LORD o Psalm 34:9-11 O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him. (10) The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing. (11) Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD.

IN DISTRESS Psalm 34:6 This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. • “troubles” - tightness Psalm 34:7 The angel of the LORD encampeth (pitches a tent) round about them that fear him, and delivereth them. • The DELIVERANCE from STRESS is not in YOGA or classes on STRESS MANAGEMENT • DELIVERANCE is TRUST IN HIM as we go to HIM in PRAYER • TRUST THE LORD! IN DEBT Psalm 34:22 The LORD redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate. o “redeemeth” is a monetary tool o If He can take care of my spiritual debt, He can take care of my physical debt o HE PAID OUR DEBT

DISCONTENTED Psalm 34:8 O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed (OH HOW HAPPY!) is the man that trusteth in him. • To KNOW that the pineapple is good, you have to take receive it on the inside • In UNCERTAIN TIMES, we have the opportunity: • NOT TO READ ABOUT HIM or STUDY ABOUT HIM • TO EXPERIENCE HIM FOR OURSELVES • GOD IS GOOD/SWEET!

Psalm 34:17-19 The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles. (18) The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. (19) Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth (snatch out) him out of them all. • Corrie Ten Boom losing her family in the Holocaust and walking away praising God • Joni Eareckson Tada becoming a quadriplegic at 17 and praising God for over 50 years • In LIFE & DEATH – Gloria • HE DOESN’T ALWAYS TAKE US OUT OF OUR TROUBLES – HE GIVES US AN ANCHOR IN OUR STRUGGLES – “In times like these…” • STAY ON OUR KNEES & TRUST HIM