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Psalm 40:1-5

[By Ron Halbrook]

1 I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. 2 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. 3 And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD. 4 Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies. 5 Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.

Psalm 40:1-5

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Introduction

1. Ps. 40:1-5 David delivered from his sins & his enemies—origin of danger, suffering

2. Suffer in lifeBecause of our own sinsBecause of sins of other people— this studyResult of man’s free willPs. 59:1-4 God delivers & comforts

1 Deliver me from mine enemies, O my God: defend me from them that rise up against me. 2 Deliver me from the workers of iniquity, and save me from bloody men. 3 For, lo, they lie in wait for my soul: the mighty are gathered against me; not for my transgression, nor for my sin, O LORD. 4 They run and prepare themselves without my fault: awake to help me, and behold.

Psalm 59:1-4

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Introduction

3. See others suffer—we too may suffer4. Suffering reminds us:

We are weakWe need God

5. God sees, hears, cares, delivers, & comforts

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I. The Tears of the Weak & Wounded A. God Sees & Hears

Prov. 15:3 All things

The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.

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I. The Tears of the Weak & Wounded A. God Sees & Hears

Ps. 139:11-12 All places

11 If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. 12 Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.

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I. The Tears of the Weak & Wounded B. Women & Children Often Victims

Mal. 2:13 Women weep in worship

And this have ye done again, covering the altar of the LORD with tears, with weeping, and with crying out, insomuch that he regardeth not the offering any more, or receiveth it with good will at your hand.

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I. The Tears of the Weak & Wounded B. Women & Children Often Victims

Col. 3:19 Wife weeps over bitter husband

Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.

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I. The Tears of the Weak & Wounded B. Women & Children Often Victims

Eph. 6:4; Col. 3:21 Children weep: angry, discouraged

And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.

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I. The Tears of the Weak & Wounded C. Why They Weep

How wounds inflicted:• Verbal, physical, & sexual abuse• Berate, belittle, demean• Scream, anger fits, severe beatings• Manipulate, flatter, betray, false promises

• Fondle, rape• Slam doors til wall shakes, throw chairs, etc.• Menace, threaten— atmosphere of fear• Create tight, closed circle: don’t talk, live in fear

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I. The Tears of the Weak & Wounded C. Why They Weep

Who inflicts wounds:• Mate wounds mate• Father, mother wound child• Child wounds parent• Brother, sister• Other relatives• Brethren, friends• Strangers

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I. The Tears of the Weak & Wounded C. Why They Weep

How wounds torment victim:• Physical, emotional, psychological wounds• Discouraged, depressed• Repressed anger• Self-doubt, self-loathing• Mental anguish• Irrational fear, phobias

• Nightmares• Suicidal thoughts• Try to hide bruises• Did I invite, deserve it?• Hide, crawl, avoid person• Doubt all good, even God• Lifelong struggle

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II. Innocent Suffer at Hands of Wicked A. Sad Reality Provoke by Satan

B. Abel Murdered by Cain Gen. 4:8-10 8 And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him. 9 And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper? 10 And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground.

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II. Innocent Suffer at Hands of Wicked C. Job Deprived of Possessions,

Family, & Friends Job 1:6-22 Satan behind the sceneJob 1:8-9 Innocent Job accused

8 And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? 9 Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?

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II. Innocent Suffer at Hands of Wicked C. Job Deprived of Possessions, Family,

& Friends Job 2:9 Foolish wife

Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die.

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II. Innocent Suffer at Hands of Wicked C. Job Deprived of Possessions, Family,

& Friends Job 4:7-8 Misguided friends

7 Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished, being innocent? or where were the righteous cut off? 8 Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same.

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II. Innocent Suffer at Hands of Wicked D. Lot: Victim of Conniving Daughters

Gen. 19:30-38Gen 19:32 Intoxication, incest

Come, let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father.

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II. Innocent Suffer at Hands of Wicked D. Lot, Victim of Conniving Daughters

Gen. 19:30-382 Pet. 2:7 Vexed by sin

And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked

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II. Innocent Suffer at Hands of Wicked E. Sarah & Isaac, Victims of Pride &

Ridicule by Hagar & Ishmael Gen. 16:4; 21:9

4 And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived: and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes.9 And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born unto Abraham, mocking.

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II. Innocent Suffer at Hands of Wicked F. Joseph, Victim of Father’s Unwitting

Favoritism & Brothers’ Envy Gen. 37Gen. 37:3-4

3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours. 4 And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him.

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II. Innocent Suffer at Hands of Wicked G. Jonathan, Merab, & Michal: Manipulated

by Saul to Destroy David 1 Sam. 18-201 Sam. 19:17; 20:30-33 Saul’s anger

17 And Saul said unto Michal, Why hast thou deceived me so, and sent away mine enemy, that he is escaped? 30 Saul’s anger was kindled against Jonathan…Thou son of the perverse rebellious woman…. 33 And Saul cast a javelin at him

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II. Innocent Suffer at Hands of Wicked H. David: Victim of Saul, His Own

Sons, & Friends 1 Sam. 20:1 David’s distress

And David fled from Naioth in Ramah, and came and said before Jonathan, What have I done? what is mine iniquity? and what is my sin before thy father, that he seeketh my life?

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II. Innocent Suffer at Hands of Wicked

H. David: Victim of Saul, His Own Sons, & Friends

Ps. 55:12-14 David’s distress memorialized: God’s people in every age subject to same trials

12 For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him: 13 But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance. 14 We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company.

Psalm 55:12-14

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II. Innocent Suffer at Hands of Wicked I. Abigal, Victim of Nabal: Her Arrogant,

Unthankful, Stubborn, Selfish, Bickering, Foolish Husband 1 Sam. 25

Vs. 3 “churlish and evil” (surly & mean)Vs. 17 “Belial…a man cannot speak to him”Vs. 19 “she told not her husband”Vs. 21 Nabal returned David “evil for good”Vs. 24 “upon me let this iniquity be”Vs. 37 “his heart died…became as a stone”

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III. Trust God & Seek Help A. The God Who Delivers Ps. 40:1-5

1 I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. 2 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. 3 And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD. 4 Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies. 5 Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.

Psalm 40:1-5

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III. Trust God & Seek Help A. The God Who Delivers Ps. 40:1-5

All the innocent from Abel to Abigal deliveredNot always as they thought or wished—necessary to trust in GodWe serve the same God!!!

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III. Trust God & Seek Help B. In Prayer

Ps. 32:6-7 God near at hand, can be found

6 For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him. 7 Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah.

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III. Trust God & Seek Help B. In Prayer

Ps. 61:1-4 When overwhelmed: pray to God as a rock, a shelter, a tower, a refuge

1 Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer. 2 From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I. 3 For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy. 4 I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings. Selah.

Psalm 61:1-4

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III. Trust God & Seek Help C. In God’s Word

Ps. 119:97-105 , 143, 165 Love, meditate on God’s Word: find strength, guidance, and comfort

97 O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day. 98 Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me. 99 I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation. 100 I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts. 101 I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word. 102 I have not departed from thy judgments: for thou hast taught me.

Psalm 119:97-102

103 How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth! 104 Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way. 105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

Psalm 119:103-105

Psalm 119:143-165 143 Trouble and anguish have taken hold on

me: yet thy commandments are my delights.

165 Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.

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III. Trust God & Seek Help D. In God’s People

Ps. 119:63 Cultivate close friendship with people who serve God

I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts.

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III. Trust God & Seek Help D. In God’s People

Prov. 13:20 The wise man not the fool can help

He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.

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III. Trust God & Seek Help D. In God’s People

Prov. 24:6 Find wise counsel from God’s people

For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety.

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III. Trust God & Seek Help

D. In God’s People Many Christians have helped me find strength & healing thru the years

• My mother• My wife, Donna• Homer Hailey• Leonard & Ruth Tyler• Roy Cogdill• Gilbert Savely

• Mike & Sandie Willis• Raymond & Wanda Maxwell• Andy & Joy Alexander• Steve & Bettie Wolfgang• Harry Osborne• Others

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III. Trust God & Seek Help E. In Qualified People God Makes

Available Prov. 24:6 People with training & experience in counseling

For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety.

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III. Trust God & Seek Help E. In Qualified People God Makes

Available Prov. 24:6 People with training & experience in counselingArt Adams, Bettie WolfgangTeachersDoctorsLegal authorities

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III. Trust God & Seek Help F. Obey the Gospel, Grow as a Christian

God helps us put the past in the pastGod helps us reach higher groundSeek resolution with person who wounded you Matt. 18:15

Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.

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III. Trust God & Seek Help F. Obey the Gospel, Grow as a Christian

God helps us put the past in the pastGod helps us reach higher groundSeek resolution with person you wounded Matt. 5:23-24

23 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; 24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.

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Invitation

1. Ps. 40:1-5 David delivered from his sins & his enemies—origin of danger, suffering

2. Suffer in lifeBecause of our own sinsBecause of sins of other people— this study

1 I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. 2 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. 3 And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD. 4 Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies. 5 Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.

Psalm 40:1-5

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Invitation

1. Ps. 40:1-5 David delivered from his sins & his enemies—origin of danger, suffering

2. Suffer in lifeBecause of our own sinsBecause of sins of other people— this study

3. In Christ: pardon, strength, & comfortGal. 3:26-27

26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

Gal. 3:26-27