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Presented April 13, 2008

GOD IS…
Psalm 43

Tonight we study another psalm. This particular psalm has not superscription or any details as to its background. It is similar in character to Psalm 42 that we examined last month. In fact, many believe that it is actually a continuation of that psalm with some even saying that they were originally penned as one and later separated. We have no reason to believe this separation was mistakenly done. While it continues the thought of one desiring God this psalm has its own special message – it describes who God is. In the five verses of this psalm we find 5 descriptions of God in our lives. Let us notice these tonight.

I. I. God is my vindicator (1)

a. David calls for God to vindicate him from “an ungodly nation” and to deliver him from “deceitful and unjust men.”

b. Vindicate. In the KJV & ASV it says, “Judge me.” According to the Word Study Dictionary of the O.T. is an inclusive word that covers every aspect of judging and government. BDB says of the word, “to judge, govern, to vindicate, to punish.”
As used in our text, the word obviously has to do with vindication or God standing up on our behalf (and thus declaring us innocent or justified.

c. David in his life faced both ungodly enemies that were deceitful and unjust AND ungodly nations that were set against God and His people.
Is today any different? Do we face ungodly nations? What about our own nation? Can it truly be said that we are a godly nation? How are we now compared to what we were just a hundred years ago? Consider how many in this nation (it seems like the majority) have set their heart and ways against God and those who dare to stand up for what is right. We live in a world filled with ungodliness and immorality. We have to deal with immodesty, fornication and adultery, lewd behavior, the harm of intoxicating substances, pornography and gambling just to name a few (do these sound familiar?). In America homosexuality is being treated as a civil right instead of an immoral behavior, our unborn babies and murdered by the thousands, profanity and lying are treated as common place and even expected and to be justified. It is acceptable to mock the one who dares to stand for godly principles and attach labels to him who dares to challenge immorality.
Proverbs 14:34 says, “Righteousness exalts a nation but sin is a reproach to any people.”
2 Timothy 3:13 warns, “But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.”
Isaiah 5:20 says, “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.”
Truly THIS IS a “crooked and perverse generation” among whom we are to let our lights shine. (Philippians 2:15).

Like David, we too need vindication!

d. How is God my vindicator?

i. Realize that in this life He is still in control.
The world may seem chaotic and it looks like evil is going to prevail (and it will to an extent) but know that GOD IS IN CONTROL. 2 Peter 3:5 says, “for this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old …” Peter’s point is that God is in control!
1 Corinthians 10:26 quotes Psalm 24 saying” for the earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness.”

ii. Realize that He WILL repay the wicked
2 Thess. 1:6 says, “it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you…in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

iii. Romans 12:19 instructs us to let God DO THE AVENGING!

II. II. God is my strength (2)

a. We need the strength of God. In our psalm David goes from declaring God his strength to doubt and mourning (Consistent with the previous psalm).
We all face times where we don’t understand why things are happening. We know God is all powerful and we trust Him. But we don’t know why God is allowing things to happen to us. (Is He?) WE want our answers right now! But our doubts will not affect who God is.

b. How is God our strength?

i. He has given us the tools we need to overcome whatever adversity we face in this life.
2 Corinthians 12:9-10 - Paul desiring to have his thorn removed was told, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”
For example: James 1:2-3

ii. He has made me a promise – Note how the verse says, “God is faithful.” He will not allowing us to be tempted beyond what we are able to bear (1 Cor. 10:13)

iii. He is there and in control.
Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” He gives us the strength to endure.
Colossians 1:11 speaks of us being “strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy.”

iv. In His time He will avenge us though He bears long with us– Luke 18:7

III. III. God is my guide (3)

a. We all need guides in this life from time to time. If you are going somewhere you have not been before, you need a guide (i.e. a map).

b. David, facing difficulties and frustrations knows what he needs – God’s guidance. He needs His light and His truth.

c. Light guides us – the Bible continually contrasts light and darkness. Light is associated with all things good and darkness with things evil.
How does light guide us? Realize that we need light to see. It is more powerful than darkness. You cannot introduce darkness to light, but you can drive darkness away with light. And the more light we have the more clearly we can see.
We have to find light and use it to get us through the darkness. Consider how the lights of a car get us to where we are going at night. We can go miles through the darkness with headlights that only beam a few hundred feet. How? We keep the light in front of us and let it light up a few feet at a time until we reach our destination. David was in a dark place and to get out of it he needed the light of God. WHERE was that light found? In TRUTH! Psalm 119:105 - His word is the lamp to our feet and the light of our path. David needed God’s word to guide him away from the darkness. So do we!

d. How does God guide us?

i. Through light – He sent Jesus to this world for us. Jesus is “the light of the world.” (John 8:12). IF we follow Him, we will not walk in darkness.
John 3:19-21 – earlier, in contrasting light and darkness Jesus noted that some love darkness rather than light.
But we need to come to that light – how? Again, John 3:21 – by loving the TRUTH!

ii. Through Truth. John 17:17 as Jesus prayed He said, “Sanctify them by Your truth, Your word is truth.” That is what we need. If God is to guide us it will be because we seek Him where He may be found – and that is in His word. Isaiah 55:6 says, “Seek the Lord while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near.”

e. One final thought about this verse – God’s light and truth led David to His holy hill and tabernacles – the place where He was to be worshipped.

IV. IV. God is my joy (4)

a. When we allow God to guide us (through His word) it will produce joy in our lives which will result in our worshipping and praising Him.
That is what David wanted. Wherever David was, he recalls the pleasantness of worshipping God and finding joy in Him.

b. We need to rejoice in the Lord
Psalm 68:3 says, “But let the righteous be glad; Let them rejoice before God; Yes, let them rejoice exceedingly.”
Philippians 3:1, “Finally brethren, rejoice in the Lord…”
Romans 5:11, “We rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ…”

c. Continually in scripture we are described as a joyful people.
Galatians 5:22 – it is a fruit of the Spirit.
2 Corinthians 8:2 speaks of the abundance of our joy

d. How do we find Joy in God?

i. Through His word – John 17:13 as Jesus prayed, “But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves…”

ii. By abiding in Him – John 15:10-11 – If we love Him we will keep His commandments and our joy will remain in us and be full.

iii. We praise Him. David was glad to go to the house of the Lord (Psalm 122:1). It was not a drudgery to be endured. It was what he looked forward to. DO WE?
2 Timothy 1:4 – Paul greatly desired to see Timothy, “that I may be filled with joy.” Do we enjoy our brethren?

V. V. God is my hope (5)

a. Hope is why we endure. We know that if we remain faithful something better is coming.

b. David tells himself to not be cast down, instead he was to “Hope in God; For I shall yet praise Him.”

c. We are what we are as Christians because of hope.

i. 1 Peter 1:21, Our faith and hope are in God

ii. Hebrews 6:19 speaks of hope as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast.

iii. 1 Thessalonians 5:8 describes the hope of salvation as a helmet.

iv. Titus 1:2 speaks of our hope of eternal life.

v. Romans 15:4 notes that we find hope through “the patience and comfort of the scriptures.”

And thus we can see God in this psalm. David, even in the difficult and doubtful times kept coming back to God because he knew that He was his only hope to get out of this world alive. What about us? What does God mean to you?