Faith and Prayer: David's Response to Adversity

 

Summary

In times of adversity and slander, David's response was to turn to God with unwavering faith and prayer. This Psalm, written during a period when David faced numerous adversaries, serves as a powerful reminder of the strength found in divine reliance. David's enemies sought to destroy him through slander and false accusations, yet he remained steadfast, refusing to retaliate even when given the opportunity. Instead, he chose to draw near to God, finding solace and strength in prayer. David's faith was not a mere hope but a confident assurance that God would maintain the cause of the afflicted and uphold the rights of the poor. This assurance allowed him to declare, "Thou art my God," a profound statement of possession and trust in the Lord.

David's approach to adversity teaches us the importance of prayer and faith. He did not rely on his own strength or seek vengeance but instead placed his trust in God, who had been his protector in past battles. This trust was not passive; it was active and vocal, as David repeatedly asserted his claim to God as his own. His prayers were frequent, meaningful, and directed solely to God, demonstrating a deep reliance on divine intervention. David's experience reminds us that God hears the voice of our supplications, even when words fail us. In times of trouble, we are encouraged to turn to God, trusting that He will preserve and protect us as He has done before.

David's faith also led him to expect God's protection and deliverance. He was confident that God would maintain justice and defend the oppressed. This expectation was not based on wishful thinking but on past experiences of God's faithfulness. David's life serves as a testament to the power of faith and prayer in overcoming adversity. His story encourages us to trust in God's provision and protection, knowing that He is a righteous judge and a compassionate friend.

Key Takeaways:

- Possession Asserted: David's declaration, "Thou art my God," signifies a profound personal relationship with God. This statement of possession is a powerful reminder that God is ours, and we are His, providing a foundation of strength and assurance in times of trouble. [09:27]

- Prayer as a Refuge: In the face of slander and adversity, David turned to prayer, finding solace and strength in his relationship with God. His frequent and meaningful prayers demonstrate the importance of seeking God's presence and guidance in difficult times. [17:03]

- Faith in God's Protection: David's confidence in God's protection was rooted in past experiences of divine deliverance. This faith allowed him to face adversity with courage, knowing that God would continue to guard and preserve him. [22:34]

- Expectation of Justice: David's assurance that God would maintain the cause of the afflicted reflects a deep trust in divine justice. This expectation encourages us to leave our burdens with God, trusting that He will act on our behalf. [25:15]

- Praise Through Trust: David's faith led him to praise God, not only through words but through a calm and trusting demeanor in the face of adversity. This form of praise, rooted in trust and fellowship with God, is a powerful testament to His faithfulness. [29:31]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:12] - Introduction to Psalm 140
- [00:31] - David's Adversaries
- [01:06] - The Power of Slander
- [02:30] - David's Restraint and Mercy
- [03:31] - Surrounded by False Accusations
- [04:03] - Turning to Prayer
- [04:37] - Faith Amidst Tribulation
- [06:35] - Five Key Points of the Psalm
- [07:07] - Possession Asserted
- [08:13] - The Significance of "Thou Art My God"
- [09:27] - Claiming God as Our Own
- [11:19] - The Importance of Speaking Our Faith
- [12:39] - Prayers Directed to God
- [14:34] - Declaring Faith in Times of Trouble
- [16:17] - Petition Presented
- [20:36] - Preservation Experienced
- [25:15] - Protection Expected
- [28:11] - Praise Predicted

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Psalm 140:6-13

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Observation Questions:

1. What specific actions did David take in response to the slander and adversity he faced? How did he express his faith in God during these times? [04:03]

2. In Psalm 140, how does David describe his relationship with God, and what does this reveal about his faith? [04:53]

3. What does David mean when he says, "Thou art my God," and how does this declaration reflect his personal relationship with God? [09:27]

4. How does David's past experience of God's protection influence his expectations for future deliverance? [22:34]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does David's approach to adversity, as described in the sermon, challenge common human reactions to slander and false accusations? [15:58]

2. What does the sermon suggest about the role of prayer in maintaining a strong relationship with God during difficult times? [17:03]

3. How does David's confidence in God's justice and protection serve as a model for believers facing their own trials? [25:15]

4. In what ways does the sermon illustrate the connection between faith and praise, especially in the context of adversity? [29:31]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a time when you faced adversity or slander. How did you respond, and what might you do differently in light of David's example? [04:03]

2. David frequently turned to prayer during his trials. How can you incorporate more meaningful and frequent prayer into your daily routine, especially during challenging times? [17:03]

3. Consider the statement "Thou art my God." How can you deepen your personal relationship with God to confidently make this declaration in your own life? [09:27]

4. David's faith was rooted in past experiences of God's deliverance. What past experiences of God's faithfulness can you recall that might strengthen your trust in Him today? [22:34]

5. How can you actively leave your burdens with God, trusting in His justice and protection, rather than trying to handle them on your own? [25:15]

6. In what ways can you express praise through trust, maintaining a calm and trusting demeanor in the face of adversity? [29:31]

7. Identify a specific area in your life where you need to rely more on God's provision and protection. What steps can you take this week to trust Him more fully in that area? [25:15]

Devotional

Day 1: Personal Relationship with God
In times of adversity, David's declaration, "Thou art my God," signifies a profound personal relationship with God. This statement of possession is a powerful reminder that God is ours, and we are His, providing a foundation of strength and assurance in times of trouble. David's unwavering faith in God, even when surrounded by enemies and false accusations, highlights the importance of claiming God as our own. This personal relationship with God is not just a passive acknowledgment but an active, vocal assertion of trust and reliance on Him. By declaring God as his own, David found the strength to face his adversaries without resorting to retaliation or vengeance. [09:27]

Psalm 16:8-9 (ESV): "I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure."

Reflection: In what ways can you actively assert your personal relationship with God today, especially in the face of challenges or adversity?


Day 2: Prayer as a Refuge
David's response to slander and adversity was to turn to prayer, finding solace and strength in his relationship with God. His frequent and meaningful prayers demonstrate the importance of seeking God's presence and guidance in difficult times. Rather than relying on his own strength or seeking vengeance, David placed his trust in God, who had been his protector in past battles. This trust was not passive; it was active and vocal, as David repeatedly asserted his claim to God as his own. His prayers were directed solely to God, demonstrating a deep reliance on divine intervention. [17:03]

Psalm 62:8 (ESV): "Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us."

Reflection: How can you make prayer a more integral part of your daily routine, especially when facing adversity or slander?


Day 3: Confidence in God's Protection
David's confidence in God's protection was rooted in past experiences of divine deliverance. This faith allowed him to face adversity with courage, knowing that God would continue to guard and preserve him. David's life serves as a testament to the power of faith and prayer in overcoming adversity. His story encourages us to trust in God's provision and protection, knowing that He is a righteous judge and a compassionate friend. This expectation of God's protection was not based on wishful thinking but on past experiences of God's faithfulness. [22:34]

Psalm 34:7 (ESV): "The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them."

Reflection: Reflect on a time when you experienced God's protection. How can this memory strengthen your faith in His protection today?


Day 4: Trust in Divine Justice
David's assurance that God would maintain the cause of the afflicted reflects a deep trust in divine justice. This expectation encourages us to leave our burdens with God, trusting that He will act on our behalf. David's faith led him to expect God's protection and deliverance, confident that God would maintain justice and defend the oppressed. This expectation was not based on wishful thinking but on past experiences of God's faithfulness. David's life serves as a testament to the power of faith and prayer in overcoming adversity. [25:15]

Psalm 9:9-10 (ESV): "The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you."

Reflection: What burdens are you carrying today that you need to entrust to God's justice and care?


Day 5: Praise Through Trust
David's faith led him to praise God, not only through words but through a calm and trusting demeanor in the face of adversity. This form of praise, rooted in trust and fellowship with God, is a powerful testament to His faithfulness. David's experience reminds us that God hears the voice of our supplications, even when words fail us. In times of trouble, we are encouraged to turn to God, trusting that He will preserve and protect us as He has done before. [29:31]

Psalm 28:7 (ESV): "The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him."

Reflection: How can you incorporate praise into your daily life, even when facing challenges or uncertainties?

Quotes

I said unto the Lord Thou Art my God, hear the voice of my supplications oh Lord oh God the Lord the strength of my salvation thou Hast covered my head in the day of battle I know that the Lord will maintain the cause of The Afflicted and the right of the poor surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name the upright shall dwell in thy presence. [00:00:01]

David was exceedingly troubled by all this malice on the part of his enemies, he was a man who would have liked to go through the world at peace with everybody even when Saul tried to hunt him to the death you remember that he would not lift his hand against his adversary even when he might have slain him when at night he stood looking at his sleeping Foe and abishai said to him God hath delivered thine enemy into thine hand this day now therefore let me Smite him I pray thee with the spear even to the Earth at once and I will not smite him the second time. [00:02:47]

He betook himself to his knees he began to pray Deliver Me Oh Lord from the evil man preserve me from the violent man and again in the next Psalm he said Lord I cry unto thee make haste unto me give ear unto my voice when I cry unto thee he found his remedy for all the stings of falsehood in Drawing Near to the Living God he was a wise man thus to bathe his wounds in that bath which which alone could take the venom out of them by a prayerful drawing nigh to the most high and he mingled great faith with his prayer. [00:04:00]

Notice that sixth verse I said unto the Lord Thou Art my God that is a grand way to talk and then further on in the 12th verse I know that the Lord will maintain the cause of the affli Ed he has no question about the matter no hesitation he does not say I hope he will but I know he will I am confident of it and that makes him say in the last verse surely he felt so certain about it that he could say surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name. [00:04:47]

I said unto the Lord Thou Art my God what was The Possession It was the Lord himself I said unto the Lord Thou Art my God the word Lord here means Jehovah you see that it is in capital letters and wherever our translators print the word Lord thus they mean Jehovah I said unto Jehovah the only living and true God Thou Art my God this is a wonderful speech for David to make Thou Art my God in opposition to the gods of the Heathen. [00:08:09]

I said unto Jehovah Thou Art my God I have taken thee unto myself as much as if no other man ever trusted Thee I feel that I could stand alone and acknowledge thee to be the god of the whole earth I said to my my heart all that God is is henceforth mine he has given himself to me in the Covenant wherein he said I will be their God and he is as much mine as if he belonged to nobody else yay as fully as completely and as entirely mine if I am a believer in him as if I were his only child his only chosen his only redeemed one. [00:09:19]

Have you dear friend ever said to the Lord Thou Art my God have you said it well I have hoped it says one oh but I want you to get much beyond that till with with full Assurance helped of the Holy Spirit you can say it is so my faith has grasped my God and I have dared to say it say it at the mercy seat to say it when I stood at the foot of the cross and I expect to say it before long when I stand before Jehovah's throne above Thou Art my God I put in my claim I dare do no otherwise I could not let thee go without claiming thee as my own. [00:11:47]

I said unto Jehovah Thou Art my God men said that I had a devil but I said Thou Art my God they said I was a cast away but I said Thou Art my God they said I was without a friend but I said unto Jehovah Thou Art my God they said of me everything they could think of that was bad and they would have said worse things if they could have thought of them and after they had done their worst and said all they could say I said unto Jehovah Thou Art my God. [00:14:48]

Hear the voice of my supplications oh Lord from which I gather that his prayers were frequent he puts the word in the plural hear the voice of my supplications he did not in those days of trouble pray once and have done with praying but he prayed again and again and again and again and again and again when you have double trouble take care that you have double prayer when men speak worst against you then speak most with your God multiply your supplications as God multiplies your tribulations hear the voice of my supplications oh Lord importunate prayers will prevail. [00:16:24]

Oh God the Lord the strength of my salvation thou Hast covered my head in the day of battle as much as to say thou Hast done this for me before will thou not do the same again as thou Hast begun with me do not leave off with me till thou has taken me to the country where there are no more battles and where my head shall be covered with a crown of glory and need not be covered with a helmet to ward off the enemy's sword. [00:20:48]

I know that the Lord will maintain the cause of The Afflicted and the right of the poor if a man is oppressed if he is slandered if he is evil spoken of let him just say to himself God will see to this he is the judge of all the Earth and shall not he do right do not meddle with the case yourself leave it in the Lord's hands our proverb says if you want a thing done well do it yourself but if it is anything which has to do with your own character let me tell you that this is the worst proverb that ever was invented. [00:25:15]

Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name they are down in the dumps today they are troubled and burdened despised and made to cry but says David surely they shall give thanks unto thy name praise is assured by gratitude there shall come a day when their gratitude shall be so great that they shall be obliged to give thanks unto God on account of all that he has done for them surely they shall God will so Astound them by his delivering Mercy that they shall be compelled to speak up and to speak out and give thanks unto the name of the Lord. [00:28:48]

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Transcript
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