Finding Strength in God's Sovereignty and Presence

Summary

In times of crisis and uncertainty, Psalm 11 offers profound wisdom and reassurance. When the foundations of our lives seem to be crumbling, the question arises: "What can the righteous do?" The answer lies in understanding the dual nature of God's presence and sovereignty. David, faced with threats and counsel to flee, chooses to remain steadfast, drawing strength from two key truths: "The Lord is in his holy temple; the Lord is on his heavenly throne."

The first truth addresses the mind. Recognizing that God is on His heavenly throne reminds us that He is in control, even when our world feels chaotic. Like a child with a toy steering wheel, we often believe we are in control, but it is God who truly steers the course of history. This understanding requires humility, acknowledging that God's wisdom and plans are beyond our comprehension. Just as a child cannot grasp the full picture of a parent's decisions, we must trust that God is working for His glory and our good, even when we cannot see it.

The second truth speaks to the heart. The Lord's presence in His holy temple signifies His nearness and accessibility. In the Old Testament, the temple was a place of limited access to God's presence, but through Jesus Christ, the true and final temple, we have direct access to God. Jesus bridges the gap between humanity and divinity, offering us fellowship and the assurance of His love. Through His sacrifice, the veil was torn, granting us the ability to experience God's presence intimately.

These truths equip us to face any challenge. With the assurance of God's sovereignty for our minds and His presence for our hearts, we can stand firm amidst life's storms. In moments of suffering and doubt, we are reminded that God, who is both transcendent and immanent, is with us, guiding us through every trial.

Key Takeaways:

- God's Sovereignty and Our Humility: Understanding that God is on His heavenly throne requires humility. We must accept that His plans are beyond our understanding, much like a child trusting a parent's decisions. This humility allows us to find peace in His control, even when life feels chaotic. [03:10]

- The Nearness of God: The Lord's presence in His holy temple signifies His closeness to us. Through Jesus, the true temple, we have direct access to God, experiencing His love and fellowship. This nearness provides comfort and strength in times of trouble. [05:55]

- Trusting in God's Plan: Like a child with a toy steering wheel, we often believe we are in control. Recognizing God's sovereignty reminds us that He is steering the course of history, and we must trust His plan, even when we cannot see it. [02:00]

- The Role of Suffering: Suffering challenges our understanding of God's control, but it also draws us closer to Him. We may not know the reason for our suffering, but we can be assured that it is not due to a lack of God's love. [10:15]

- The Unique Hope of Christianity: Christianity offers a unique perspective on suffering, with a God who has experienced suffering Himself. This provides a profound assurance that God understands our pain and is with us in our trials. [10:47]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:38] - Introduction to Psalm 11
- [00:55] - David's Crisis and Response
- [01:10] - The Lord's Sovereignty
- [01:27] - Humility and Trust
- [02:13] - God's Control and Our Perspective
- [03:10] - Humility and Consolation
- [03:52] - The Lord's Presence
- [04:32] - Access to God's Presence
- [05:14] - Jesus as the True Temple
- [06:11] - Addressing Doubts and Suffering
- [07:38] - Philosophical and Personal Responses
- [09:49] - The Cross and Suffering
- [10:47] - Unique Hope in Christianity
- [11:24] - Conclusion and Encouragement

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
- Psalm 11:3-4
- John 1:14
- John 2:19-21

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#### Observation Questions

1. What specific threats and advice did David face in Psalm 11, and how did he respond to them? [00:55]

2. According to the sermon, what are the two key truths that David holds onto in Psalm 11:4? [01:10]

3. How does the sermon describe the difference between God's throne and His temple, and what do these represent for the mind and heart? [03:52]

4. What change does the New Testament bring regarding access to God's presence, as explained in the sermon? [05:55]

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#### Interpretation Questions

1. How does the analogy of a child with a toy steering wheel help us understand our perception of control versus God's sovereignty? [02:00]

2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that humility is necessary to find peace in God's sovereignty? [03:37]

3. How does the sermon explain the significance of Jesus being the true and final temple? [05:14]

4. What unique perspective on suffering does Christianity offer, according to the sermon, and how does this relate to God's love? [10:15]

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#### Application Questions

1. Reflect on a time when you felt the foundations of your life were crumbling. How did you respond, and how might the truths from Psalm 11 guide you differently now? [00:55]

2. In what areas of your life do you struggle to relinquish control to God? How can you practice humility to trust in His sovereignty more fully? [03:37]

3. How can you cultivate a deeper awareness of God's presence in your daily life, knowing that Jesus has made direct access possible? [05:55]

4. When facing suffering or doubt, how can you remind yourself of God's nearness and love, as described in the sermon? [10:15]

5. Identify a specific situation where you need to trust in God's plan, even if you cannot see the outcome. What steps can you take to lean into that trust this week? [02:00]

6. How can the understanding that God has experienced suffering Himself change the way you view your own trials? [10:47]

7. Consider someone in your life who is going through a difficult time. How can you share the unique hope of Christianity with them in a way that is compassionate and understanding? [10:47]

Devotional

Day 1: God's Sovereignty Requires Our Humility
In times of crisis, it is easy to feel overwhelmed and out of control. Psalm 11 reminds us that God is on His heavenly throne, sovereign over all creation. This truth calls us to humility, acknowledging that our understanding is limited and that God's wisdom surpasses our own. Like a child trusting a parent's decisions, we are invited to trust in God's plan, even when it is beyond our comprehension. This humility allows us to find peace, knowing that God is steering the course of history for His glory and our good. [03:10]

Isaiah 55:8-9 (ESV): "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you struggle to trust God's plan? How can you practice humility and surrender control to Him today?

Day 2: The Nearness of God Provides Comfort
The presence of God in His holy temple signifies His closeness and accessibility to us. Through Jesus Christ, the true and final temple, we have direct access to God, experiencing His love and fellowship. This nearness offers profound comfort and strength, especially in times of trouble. We are assured that God is not distant but intimately involved in our lives, ready to provide the support and guidance we need. [05:55]

Psalm 34:18 (ESV): "The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit."

Reflection: In what ways have you experienced God's nearness in your life recently? How can you seek His presence more intentionally in your daily routine?

Day 3: Trusting in God's Plan Amidst Chaos
Life often feels chaotic, and we may believe we are in control, like a child with a toy steering wheel. However, recognizing God's sovereignty reminds us that He is the one truly steering the course of history. This understanding calls us to trust in His plan, even when we cannot see the full picture. By surrendering our illusion of control, we can find peace and assurance in God's perfect wisdom and timing. [02:00]

Proverbs 19:21 (ESV): "Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand."

Reflection: What is one specific area where you need to let go of control and trust God's plan? What steps can you take to practice this trust today?

Day 4: Suffering as a Pathway to Closeness with God
Suffering challenges our understanding of God's control, yet it also draws us closer to Him. While we may not know the reason for our suffering, we can be assured that it is not due to a lack of God's love. In our trials, we are invited to lean into God's presence, finding solace in His unwavering love and guidance. This perspective transforms suffering into an opportunity for deeper intimacy with God. [10:15]

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (ESV): "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God."

Reflection: How has suffering in your life drawn you closer to God? How can you use your experiences to offer comfort to others who are struggling?

Day 5: The Unique Hope of Christianity in Suffering
Christianity offers a unique perspective on suffering, with a God who has experienced suffering Himself. This provides profound assurance that God understands our pain and is with us in our trials. Jesus' sacrifice on the cross demonstrates God's deep love and empathy for humanity, offering us hope and strength in the midst of our struggles. This hope is not just theoretical but deeply personal, as we are invited to share in the fellowship of Christ's sufferings. [10:47]

Hebrews 4:15-16 (ESV): "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need."

Reflection: How does knowing that Jesus has experienced suffering change your perspective on your own struggles? How can you draw near to Him for comfort and strength today?

Quotes

"The first three verses in the first three verses counselors have come to David the King and they've said you've gotta flee the foundations are being destroyed there are there are assassins about people have infiltrated the palace there's gonna be a coup and so you just need to get out of town David however knows that as the King the worst thing he can do for his people was to just flee and therefore he refuses to panic and in verse 4 he explains exactly how he is able to avoid panic he says two things he says the Lord is in his holy temple the Lord is on most heavenly throne that's a reason for the mind and a reason for the heart the hold keeps you from panic let's do the reason for the mind first the Lord is on his heavenly throne now God is ruling the world there is a plan that's what Dave is reminding himself of." [00:43:29]

"We are like we modern people especially are like the child in a car who's got a little toy steering wheel that he attaches to the glove compartment he thinks he's steering the car even though the parent of course is actually steering the car steering the car and we are like that especially we modern people because we think that we're in control of the world and therefore if the world gets out of control then the world is out of control if if we can't control it then it's out of control however God is always in control there's always a plan now this is not a comforting idea it's not a comforting idea unless there's a little bit of humility." [01:03:14]

"I remember when we were moving from Philadelphia to New York City many many years ago and our children are very young and I do remember talking to one of the children who was very upset about the fact they were gonna leave their playmates behind and it's very difficult when you're a 40 year old to talk to a five or six or seven year old and explain yeah you won't have your playmate but we're going to a way better place you're gonna have a way better life we're gonna have a terrific stuff that's gonna happen to us but there's almost no way for a 40 year old to say to a little child something that would console him at that time know the difference between God and you and me is infinitely greater than the difference between a 40 year old and a four or five six year old and therefore when God in a sense comes and says there are some things happening right now but I want you to know there is a plan there is some way in which in the long run I am working everything out for my glory and for your good we don't understand it anymore than the little child does but here's the thing you will get no consolation from the idea that God is in control if you don't humble yourself to say I am a child and of course there might be some things that God would know that I wouldn't know and so first of all if you're willing to humble yourself like that then the idea that God is on his heavenly throne that is a that's something for your mind that will calm your mind but then there's also something for your heart the Lord is in his holy temple see the throne of God is infinitely remote he's up there but the temple is here with us and the temple was the way for you to have fellowship with God and even in David's day there was a temple you could go to the temple a psalm 27 David says I go to the temple to see the Lord's beauty but in the Old Testament the reality was if you are a worshipper you never did see the Lord you didn't see his glory you weren't right in his presence because that was behind I was I'm the Vale and that was over the the mercy-seat and the only person who was able to go back into the Holy of Holies was the priest high priest once a year on Yom Kippur taking the blood of the atoning sacrifice and so really you didn't actually have that kind of access you weren't able to really get into his presence you weren't able to really sense his love on your heart but now you suddenly get to the New Testament and something has changed because in the Old Testament Moses said show me your glory and God says I can't it will kill you but in John chapter one it says about Jesus Christ we beheld his glory glory as of the only begotten of the Father full of grace and truth how could that be well the answer is when Jesus cast the money changers out of the temple in John chapter 2 he said tear this temple down and I'll build it back up in three days and he was talking about his body and what does that mean he's what he's saying is I'm the temple on the bridge between deity and humanity I am the great High Priest I am the great sacrifice because of my death on the cross because I paid for your sins the veil in the temple was ripped from top to bottom that's what it the Bible says happened at the moment he died and now you can actually go right in and you can see his face and you could sense his presence through prayer through faith in the gospel to the Word of God and you can actually know his presence because the Lord is in his holy temple and his holy temple is Jesus Christ himself the final temple the true temple if you have that fellowship for your heart if you've got that understanding of God's sovereignty for your head you can face anything." [01:49:40]

"I can understand how some bad things are the result of people sin but when something like this happens well the point of actual fact nothing like this has ever happened but when something of a natural disaster kind of thing happens then how can you say that God's really caused a lot under it got everything out of control I don't understand it I mean this is the question that comes up people say they can't understand how you can say God's in control whenever why if he'd be in control why do you let this stuff happen now the problem is you're channeling a lot of different people yeah obviously I'm the one that answers this is a big secret so now letting it out to the world I'm the one that answers the gospel the correspondents a gospel might calm and so email so you'll love this answer hmm the answer depends it depends on where the person is coming down see there's a more there's a more philosophical way to ask that question there's plenty of people who have a who rightly have a a true intellectual philosophical question about suffering and evil they're saying if you have a good God an all-powerful God how can you how could such a God allow all this and there are very good philosophical answers and I would go there if I didn't feel a person who was asked me that question was actually having a lot of suffering and his or her life at the moment there's a in the last 30 or 40 years the in the in the world of philosophy there has almost been a laying to rest that objection almost I mean that is there's still plenty of people who who emotionally feel like I can't believe in a God who would allow evil and suffering but the philosophical objection has come down to this and that is that if there is a God who is omnipotent and and all good and all-powerful that God might have and probably does have reasons that we can't conceive of a why he hasn't a lot hasn't stopped it yet so here comes the suffering you have the God of the Bible as as eventually going to stop it but he doesn't hasn't done it yet and there's a Alvin Plantinga and a number of other philosophers have done a wonderful job writing very fairly difficult to read books but are very very closely reason that basically say you can't assume that because you can't think of a good reason why God would allow evil and suffering that there can't be a good reason that we just can't perceive and I was trying to get at that way about the child and the father's right plank it was that was basically trying to channel Alvin planting as arguing so philosophically it doesn't mean there can't be a god it can we can struggle just like Jobe did but Jobe struggled with the fact that he was suffering but he never said well there can't be a god on the other hand if the person who was asking me this question is actually suffering quite a bit themselves I wouldn't go there because that's just not what they need I would go to the cross I would say look without showing too much disrespect to all the other world religions we're the only religion that has a God who actually came and involved himself in suffering in order to save us and therefore we don't know what we may not know what the reason for your suffering is but we know what the reason for your suffering isn't it isn't that God doesn't love you didn't john stott have a thing about that i could never believe in a God who didn't suffer and then there's that well there's a poem by yo-yo Edward Shillito I believe can you remember it okay well if you me remember it you're better off than me because I can just remember that it exists I can't but Edward Shillito he said this he said it's a poem and speaking to Jesus he says the other gods were strong but thou wast weak they rode thou didst humble to thy throne to our wounds only God's wounds can speak and no God has wounds but thou alone and that's I think how you talk to a suffering person and say I don't know why God allowed this but I do know it's not that he doesn't love you." [01:59:40]

Chatbot

Transcript

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