God’s Cure for Loneliness
Psalm 142
2003047
Topic # 2349
Introduction:
A. 1 Sam. 17:31-50 – David kills Goliath.
1. 17:42-44 – Goliath treats David w/disdain.
2. 17:45-47 – David’s answer. Look at his faith.
3. 17:50 – kills Goliath.
B. 18:5 – David is taken into house of Saul; prospers; set over men of war.
1. 18:6-9 – people had great joy; praise David.
2. 18:9 – jealousy of Saul evident.
3. Beginning in 18:10 – Saul turns against David.
a) Seeks to kill David w/a spear. David escapes twice.
b) 18:14 – God was w/Him.
c) 18:15 – the rift between the two only grows.
d) 18:17 – Saul sends David to front lines hoping he’ll be killed.
e) 18:29 – Saul was David’s enemy continually.
C. 19:1-7 – Jonathan intercedes for David.
1. 19:7 – Saul restores him as before.
2. 19:8 – battle comes again. David goes to fight. Success!
3. Saul now seeks to kill David – forcing him to flee.
D. Throughout 1 Sam. 20-21 – David goes into hiding. He is alone; hungry; and can trust no one. No sanctuary anywhere for him.
1. 22:1 – escapes to the cave at Adullam.
a) Some have said it is from here that David pens Psalm 142.
b) There little doubt that this would be a tremendous low point in the life of David.
2. Psa. 142 is a cry of loneliness from David. He is completely overwhelmed.
3. It = a beautiful presentation of the cycle of discouragement everyone goes through at some point in life.
4. For David, things couldn’t have seemed more anxious; more lonely; or more wearisome.
5. Making it even harder to bear was that David knew he = innocent of doing anything worthy of death.
I. In Psalm 142 David gives a detailed description of his loneliness.
A. 142:3 – David says he is overwhelmed. His spirit is muffled within him.
1. A time when everything seemed to be going wrong for him.
2. Note: there is a great crying aloud for God. 142:1
B. 142:4 – he had been deserted.
C. 142:6-7a – David says his feelings of disorientation & desertion have resulted in depression.
D. 142:6b – David says he is defeated. Is there any hope for the future?
E. Some practical suggestions for overcoming loneliness.
II. 142:1-2 – David teaches us that it is OK to tell God how we feel.
A. Done through prayer. Note – how he verbalizes his emotions:
1. Verbs: cries (142:1); pours out (142:2); declares (142:3).
2. Denotes – deep honesty & intimacy with God.
a) It’s OK to be honest with God – He listens & cares!
B. It is good to verbalize our emotions.
1. Too often we withdraw from interaction w/God.
a) perhaps we do not want to admit vulnerability;
1) Think of a dog when injured that retreats to a corner & licks its own wounds. Instinctive behavior.
2) We must lean against our own instinct to self-protect during overwhelming circumstances & DRAW near to GOD.
2. When we withdraw – we head down a dark road of loneliness & despair.
C. In verbalizing his emotions – David shows his great dependence on God!
1. Prayer is not merely language – it is LIFE for the soul!
2. Js. 4:7-8
3. We must turn our soul over to the Almighty!
a) as the flower to the sun
b) As the river to the sea.
III. 142:3-4 - David visualizes his emotions.
A. David paints a picture of how he feels.
B. This teaches us it is OK to visualize our problem so long as we keep it in perspective.
C. E.G., Num. 13:25-26 – 12 spies report on what they find in Israel.
1. 13:27-29; 31-33 – note the picture they paint.
a) Giants; a land that devours its people.
2. 14:7-10 – Joshua/Caleb’s faithful report.
a) Didn’t they go to same place? Didn’t they see all the problems? Challenges? Certainly!
b) Difference: these men included God!
D. Back to David. Does he include God? 142:5, 7
IV. 142:3-4 – David recognizes God already knows what David is telling Him.
A. He has confidence in the personal insight of God.
1. 142:3 – you knew MY PATH; the way where I walk.
B. We can take comfort in the fact that God is already aware of our problems before we even approach Him & that He understands.
1. Mt. 6:26-30; 34. God is our Father! He will take care of us!
2. The Christian goes to God in confidence – 1 John 5:14-15
V. 142:5, 7 – David realizes God’s provision.
A. When he sees God’s strength – his problem begins to fade away.
B. 142:5 – God was David’s refuge.
1. What a refuge He is! Vaster than the universe!
2. Heb. 13:5-6
C. Someone has said, Friend, there’s no living in the land of the living like living on the living God!
1. Everything w/o Him is nothing!
2. W/o Him; nothing is satisfying; nothing is glorious.
D. 142:7 – David had unbounded trust in God’s goodness.
1. Do we? How deep is our trust in Him?
E. Let us look to God. He WILL sustain us!
Conclusion:
A. Friend, there’s no living in the land of the living like living on the living God!
B. Are you living on God? Are you living the kind of life in which you can have a relationship w/Him?
C. If not, why not?
1. W/o this relationship – you really are alone & w/o hope!
2. That’s no way to live!
D. I N V I T A T I O N
