Sermon – “Preserve Me, O God”

16 Preserve[a] me, O God, for in You I put my trust. 2 O my soul, you have said to the Lord, “You are my Lord, My goodness is nothing apart from You.” 3 As for the saints who are on the earth, “They are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight.” 4 Their sorrows shall be multiplied who hasten after another god; Their drink offerings of blood I will not offer, Nor take up their names on my lips. 5 O Lord, You are the portion of my inheritance and my cup; You [b]maintain my lot. 6 The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; Yes, I have a good inheritance. 7 I will bless the Lord who has given me counsel; My [c]heart also instructs me in the night seasons. 8 I have set the Lord always before me; Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved. 9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will [d]rest in hope. 10 For You will not leave my soul in [e]Sheol, Nor will You allow Your Holy One to [f]see corruption. 11 You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

25 For David says concerning Him: ‘I foresaw the Lord always before my face, For He is at my right hand, that I may not be shaken. 26 Therefore my heart rejoiced, and my tongue was glad; Moreover my flesh also will rest in hope. 27 For You will not leave my soul in Hades, Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption. 28 You have made known to me the ways of life; You will make me full of joy in Your presence.’

16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for [c]instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

25 For I know that my Redeemer lives, And He shall stand at last on the earth; 26 And after my skin is [f]destroyed, this I know, That in my flesh I shall see God, 27 Whom I shall see for myself, And my eyes shall behold, and not another. How my [g]heart yearns within me!

2 And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, Some to everlasting life, Some to shame and everlasting [a]contempt.

The message the title would preserve me and actually is just the scripture I’m just using the words that I found in this song you know the Psalms are such a wonderful place to go to find joy to find hope to find peace because there are many that are in hopelessness there are many that are walking around in the world today in our neighborhoods and workplaces they they don’t have hope they don’t have hope because all they know is this life they don’t know that which is to come but when you go to the songs I tell you the Psalms will just lift your spirit to do so much joy and so much hope to be found in the songs going to read from Psalm 16 verses one through 11 and I read that last week to give you a little preview preserve me of God for in you I put my trust that is so vital because it is only in him that we should put our trust we should not put our trust in man I know that you know we all know people that are very trustworthy but sometimes even the most trustworthy person will let you down and there’s only one that I can guarantee you will never let you down and that is Jesus Christ. The Son and the father they will never let you down put your trust in them put your hope in them burst to my soul you have said to the Lord you are my lord my goodness is nothing apart from you as for the Saints who are on the earth there they are the excellent ones in whom is all my delight their sorrow shall be multiplied to hasten after another god their drink offerings of blood I will not offer nor take up their names on my lips oh lord you are the portion of my inheritance and my cup you maintain my lot the lines have fallen to me in pleasant places yes I have a good inheritance I will bless the Lord who has given me counsel my heart also instructs me in the night seasons I have set the Lord always before me because he has that my right hand I shall not be moved therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoices my flesh also will rest in hope my friends let that sink in for a moment my flesh will rest in hope how does our flesh rest in hope what we’re going to get into that small ring for you will not leave my soul in shoal nor will you allow your holy one to see corruption you will show me the path of life in your presence is the fullness of joy at your right hand or pleasures for evermore a man to make God out his blessings to the here and in the reading of His Holy Word let us pray Heavenly Father we do thank you and praise you that when we come to you that we can find peace that we can find hope that we can find joy father that we can find rest for our weary souls but father is smaller than just rest here and now but father that we can find that rest for eternity bugger up. Pray that your name will be lifted high today that you would be exalted by that that you would speak to our hearts the words that we need to hear today and father may we use it for your glory and for your honor in Jesus’ name amen amen in his presence is the fullness of joy and pleasures forevermore this song that I just read to you was has a title above at least in my Bible I’m not sure if every version does it’s given the title a mic Tom of David the title was found in 6 psalms all together counting this one in some translate that word that mic Tom to mean golden or precious the root word meaning to stamp or to engrave on a durable tablet or even a stone to preserve it so what does that mean for us today as we read this that means that this song is as precious as gold it is worthy to be in grave is worthy to breathe preserved for that generation for every generation in between for us and for those to come this is a very precious song now we know for certain that the author of this song is David but there is a little bit of a uncertainty of about whom he is speaking of in this song you know as you read of this says the Lord you are my portion or the portion of my inheritance my flesh will rest is he speaking up in self as I searched out a number of commentaries on this and many out some of them believe that the entire song is referring to Christ Some say though that it is David some say well some of them refer to David and some of them refer to Christ. And you can read at and you may have your own opinion and your opinion may differ from mine but I tend to believe that some of it is referring to David and some of it is indeed referring to Christ verse 10 I believe verse 10 part of it refers to David import of it out I’m sure refers to Christ 1st 10 said for you will not leave my soul in shoals or in Hades nor will you allow your holy one to see corruption not how many here believe that King David is still walking around to serve that he’s been resurrected and he’s that bought of the resurrected right I don’t see I don’t think I’d see him go up we know that King David died he was buried we know that his body saw that corruption that happens to a body that remains in the grave for some time however Christ Jesus’ body did not see corruption. He did not see corruption he did not see that corruption that happens to a body that’s in the grave for a long period of time that’s why he only needed a borrowed tomb because he knew it was only going to be there for a very short time so I truly believe that at least the last part of this verse absolutely applies to Jesus Christ in Acts we will see where the they are speaking of the Psalmist referring to Christ in this passage and Acts 225228 says for David says concerning him meaning Christ. I 1st saw the Lord always before my face for he has that my right hand that I may not be shaken therefore my heart rejoices and my tongue was glad Moreover my flesh also will rest in hope for you will not leave my soul in Hades nor will you allow your holy one to see corruption you have made known to me the ways of life you will make me full in full of joy in your presence you know I know that it is important that we understand whom to whom a verse is speaking of you know we should search it out and try to know that whether or not it is speaking of David or whether in speaking of Christ but I think equally important brothers and sisters is that we know to whom this passage is speaking to not speaking of but speaking to you follow me well and I am absolutely certain that it is speaking to us it is speaking to you and I because this is a golden passage to Scripture we have Julie we can have the joy we can have the hope of resurrection but I know that descriptors giving to us how do I know that because 2nd Timothy 31617 says All Scripture is given by inspiration of God it is profitable for doctrine for reproof for correction for instruction in righteousness that the man of God may be complete thoroughly equipped for every good work so who is some 16 given to all that the man of God the woman of God may be complete equipped for every good work it’s given to instruct every believer to help us understand to understand that we have hope because that’s what this entire passage is about and songs it’s a hope it’s a hope that this is not all there is. There’s a vital key that we need to ask ourselves too though about the Scripture we must ask ourselves do I believe that all of God’s Word is true that’s a serious question do you believe that all of God’s Word is true do I believe that all of God’s Word is true do you believe that it is inspired by the Holy Spirit you don’t have to raise your hand you can just see it in your heart do you believe that is truly inspired by God do you believe in to the point that you can place your entire trust your entire being in the author of it a lot of questions right I believe the soundness of one’s faith rest on whether or not they believe with all of their heart that this scripture is given by inspiration of God And here’s why I say that if someone claims to be a Christian and says Well I don’t believe all the scripture is true then they’re going to question whether is given by the Holy Spirit going to question the virgin birth they’re going to question the resurrection they’re going to question the creation story you think well that’s nuts Well it’s nuts that there are people out there that claim to be a Christian yet say they believe in evolution the 2 do not go together you either believe God or you don’t believe God you believe it’s the inspired word of God or you don’t believe it those that say well maybe it’s not all true those are the ones are going to say well he didn’t really mean to say that that’s not really what God meant yes if His word says it it is true it is faithful there are the ones who say well you know God is love surely God is not going to condemn me for this one little sin no you condemn yourself when you’re not walking in his ways and living in sin practicing sin you condemn yourself they don’t understand fully understand the truth of God the Word of God. I find it quite amazing that here’s David in the songs speaking about something my friends it had never happened before of resurrection lasting for eternity Yes there had been some that were raised from the dead we know that the prophets prayed for various people and they were raised from the dead but none were raised to die no more as you listen yes the prophets prayed over a young child brought him back to life president back to his mother but none were raised to die no more David is speaking of this that’s what he’s speaking of not just raise from the dead to live for awhile longer Lazarus was raised from dead we know Jesus did that but he died he died again David is speaking of a resurrection unto eternity for all eternity he fully trusted God fully he’s not just thinking of crises to think it to be Zone resurrection here he’s speaking of it but David my friend is not the 1st to mention a resurrection into eternal life one of the what’s believed to be one of the oldest books of the Bible mentions the resurrection the Book of Job also the Book of Daniel I want to share couple job 19 verses 25 to 27 Job says for I know that my redeemer lives my friends God is always intended to redeem us and make a way right I know that my redeemer lives and he shall stand at last on the earth the job speaking of Christ coming to her and he says and after my skin is destroyed he’s speaking of after I die this I know that in my flesh tell see God. Whom I shall see for myself and my I shall be home and not another how my heart yearns within me my friends that did not mention the word resurrection but if you don’t understand that his resurrection would be a better read it again because after I die after my skin is destroyed after I pass away I know this job saying I know this in my being I know the Samoa heart that in my flesh I shall see God So what’s that speaking of a bodily resurrection the bones here that they’re going to deteriorate the bones would be there but there is coming today there’s going to be the resurrection of that body and what do we know will be like will be like him because when Christ was raised for the grave he had flash on his bones right because a disciple saw him they recognize him there was able to touch him Thomas put his hands on his side and touch these hands where the nails pierced his hands the we shall be like him there will be a resurrection job knew this job believed it that was his hope in the resurrection Daniel says Chapter 12 verse 2 many of them sleep in the dust of the earth many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth I missed they were the dust of the earth shall awake some to everlasting life and some to shame and everlasting contempt German Dan you are not referring to some vague immortality of the soul taught by a pagan religious but they’re talking about the resurrection of the body made new in the flesh we shall see God help them does that stir you I hope true Better still more of a dozen Some 161 and 2 said preserve me O. God for in you I put my trust Oh my soul you have said to the Lord you are my lord my goodness is nothing apart from you. Hebrew meaning a preserve means to place a hedge about to protect to save David trusted the Lord God with every aspect of his being all that was within him he trusted God He trusted him for the here and now he trusted them for protection in this present situation that he would find himself in but he also trusted him for the future he trusted Him for eternity for eternal salvation preserve me it’s more than just keep me safe while on here on this earth but is preserved me for all eternity do you trust Him for All Eternity do you trust him with your eternal soul your turn will salvation do you trust him that you shall be resurrected and you will see Him with your own eyes that’s where we all need to be where we cry out from our souls Lord you are my lord in my goodness is nothing apart from you there’s another passage says that our righteousness is as filthy rags before him it’s his goodness in us to have hope we must have something to look forward to right now David look forward to that he had hope job looked forward to that he had hope then you spoke of it to look forward to that we have hope my friends there’s a lot of people walking around in hopelessness they need to know about Jesus Christ to have hope in their lives Parade Magazine shared a story about a self-made millionaire named Eugene Lange and he greatly changed the lives of a classroom of 6th graders in East Harlem Lang had been asked to speak to a class of 59 6th graders. What could he possibly say to inspire these students knowing that most of them would probably drop out of school he wondered how he could get these predominantly black and Puerto Rican kids even to look at him let alone listen to him so scrap in these notes he decided to speak to them from his heart and he shared much with them and spoke how important it was that they stay in school when he had Mohnish them I will pay for your college tuition for every one of you if you stay in school at that moment the lives of these students were changed for the 1st time they had hope said one student I had something to look forward to something waiting for me it was a golden feeling nearly 90 percent of that class went on to graduate from high school way different than the odds of most you know many are born into poverty many are born or they have little hope of getting out of that situation this was a golden opportunity for them. To change that to break that cycle to change their lives how did I describe some 16 as precious as gold it is precious as gold if Jess having the hope of going the college could make that much difference in 90 percent of a classroom of 6th graders how much greater hope that we have to share with the world how much greater hope that’s just getting now that getting them kids out of the situation in this world but we have the hope for all eternity that we haven’t the Apostle Paul said in 1st Corinthians 1519 if in this life only we have hoping Christ we are of all most all men the most pitiful Now didn’t that distance lift your spirits here no it didn’t it now because it’s telling us of. If it’s just this life it is a pitiful thing because brothers sisters this life goes by very quickly as we was at the praise and worship service it was like on the screen and some of us dislike the world that the bomb like that’s all past life gives because it would be a pitiful thing if this was all there was so you know how what did Paul Harvey always say and now the rest of the story so I will share a little more perverse Corinthians with you 1st Corinthians 1517 through 23 and if Christ is not risen your faith is futile you are still in your sins then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished if in this life only we have hope in Christ we are of all men the most pitiful but now my friend said 2 wonderful words but now Christ is risen from the dead and has become the 1st fruits of those who have shown sleep for a sense by man came death by man also came the resurrection of the dead for is in Adam all die even so in Christ all shall be made alive but each one in his own order Christ the 1st fruits afterwards those who are Christ at His coming how. How. You know Mr Lang may have paid for the college tuition of all that class that entire class of those who graduated but Jesus Christ paid for our salvation he paid the price that we could have eternal life. I know it’s one of her kids or get out a situation and go to college to be delivered from a hopeless situation but my friends the most important thing is we are delivered from this hopelessness of only this life to all we turn it to be they’ve had the hope of the resurrection. And if a man who had committed adultery a man who had literally committed murder could repent and find hope for eternal life then anyone can it’s for anyone anyone who will believe on Him and anyone who would repent of their sins they can have that hope of eternal life they can have that joy be delivered from hopelessness David said my goodness is nothing apart from you or goodness again is nothing apart from Jesus Christ Christ is our hope and in Him we will find fullness of joy phone us of joy you know 06 graders and many today I’m sure are living in poverty but you know what is a shame that there are so many today living in spiritual poverty there are many wealthy people out there that are living in spiritual poverty they’re walking in hopelessness and do not even know it because they are looking for the pleasures of this world to satisfy but it’s never going to satisfy the only hope we have is in Jesus Christ and nothing else there was a 3rd century man that was in to subpoena in death and he penned these last words to a friend he said it’s a bad world out there an incredibly bad world but obvious covered in the midst of it a quiet and holy people who have learned a great secret they have found a joy which is a 1000 times better than any pleasure arse of our sinful life they are despised and persecuted but they do not care they are masters of their soul they have overcome the world these people are the Christians and I am one of them says I am one of them. You know better is one day in his house than a 1000 elsewhere right is a beautiful song Better is one day in God’s house than a 1000 upon the most pleasurable place upon this earth today but you know what as I’ve read Dad The sad thing is kind of like it’s almost a secret but friends it’s not a secret we’re not supposed to keep it a secret we’re supposed to shout it from the housetops we’re supposed to let supposed to let our light shine let it shine bright because there are many out there that need this hope the hope that we know about the hope that we find in Christ for He is the Way the Truth and the life there is no other way there is no other way but the narrow path which is Jesus Christ there are many want the want to convince you there’s many ways but there is not there’s only one way and that is Jesus you know as a think about our nation and the situation their nation finds itself in today in a Guess I’ll get into put of this place about the wall you know this whole deal about the government shutdown it’s all of central me one thing a wall a wall why do we need a wall you know other same we need a wall to keep the well but here’s the problem because only because of a need is the reason all those drugs and all our stuff come across the border my friends what we need is revival what we need is repentance in this nation this isn’t for of a message but on why you just gave it to me that’s what we need in this nation you cut off the need it won’t come across the border you won’t need no wall it’s a spiritual thing more than a natural thing the only reason they’re coming across here with their drugs in or even the violence because there’s a want for it in this nation. We need the liver from that that’s what we truly need that’s the only thing that’s the hope that we should want and have that we as a nation would turn from the drugs that we would turn from all that evil wicked stuff there’s no need for it they’re not going to bring it across or say there’s no sense going America because we’re going to sell this stuff over there because they don’t want to write a men more and that’s what we need we need repentance and revival more than we need a wall or a wall separates and divide I understand he thinks it’s they think it’s for protection but it’s more a spiritual thing than a natural thing the hearts of the men and women of this nation need to get right with God I don’t think God’s in favor of walls I knows a lot of these old cities in the Bible have walls for protection and so I’m not going or he’s more concerned about Hearts it’s hearts hearts is what he’s concerned about friends and them being right with him in having hope so let that be your prayer that his spirit will work move across this land in a way that we have not experienced it in our lifetime then it will bring men and women young people to their knees and repent and ask God to deliver them from the hopelessness that they find themselves in that’s why many are on these drugs they’re looking for hope we’re looking in the wrong place they need to look to Jesus they give their lives to him in a revival swept across this land I truly don’t think we need that wall because it would dry up the source it would dry up because we would need that one part of my message I just came but that’s what we need we need to let the light shine we need to pray like we’ve never prayed before because we are to desperate situation as a nation. But there we no one here that is desperate enough that we get on our knees and pray or where however you want to pray pray pray that the hope of Jesus Christ will be revealed to many mislay And that’s that’s put in as simple as we can get they need hope and we have it we know what it is let’s don’t keep it a secret Let’s let that light shine let’s reach out let’s pray for let’s be faithful to him.