DOCTRINE: True believers may go through seasons of being cast down or depressed, but there are great helps for you to lift you up if you are in Christ.
I. TRUE BELIEVERS MAY GO THROUGH SEASONS OF BEING CAST DOWN (Psalm 42:5a, 11a)
I) True believers find their chief delight in God, yet sometimes they choke on their tears as they feel abandoned by Him.
(I) True believers find their chief delight in God (Psalm 42:1-2). (II) Sometimes true believers choke on their tears, feeling abandoned by God (Psalm 42:3).
QUESTION. How does a downcast soul happen?
ANSWER I. Sometimes through sickness.
ANSWER II. Sometimes through lack of sanctification. If you base your happiness on your current progress in sanctification, rather than the finished nature of your justification in Christ, you will likely be constantly in and out of depressing moods.
ANSWER III. Sometimes through sins committed. (I) Sins of commission which squeeze the conscience. (II) Sins of omission which are like thorns in the bed of the conscience. (III) Sins of idleness, not actively working hard as God has created you to in your education, training, or vocation. (IV) Sins of slothfulness or gluttony, not fueling, exerting, or resting your body in a way that glorifies God. (V) Sins of indulging in worries and anxieties, which drain the soul of comfort and fill it with distrust in God’s goodness. (VI) Sins of neglecting private, family, or public worship of the Lord. A starved soul is a downcast soul. A soul never exhaling God’s praises will become heavy as a millstone and sink down in the sea. A soul infrequently fellowshipping with God’s people, or being distant when they are around other believers, will be a lone island of despair.
ANSWER IV. Sometimes through sins received.
ANSWER V. Sometimes through suffering. Like Job you may be suffering without any fault of your own. The Lord may simply be sanctifying his name in the eyes of others by afflicting you and sustaining you. He may be afflicting you simply because you need to be sanctified and this is the way he has chosen to do it.
ANSWER VI. Sometimes through persecution.
ANSWER VII. Sometimes through not being able to assemble with the Lord’s people to praise his name.
II) True believers, when they are downcast, earnestly desire to worship the Lord in the assembly of the saints, knowing this is a key way God pumps joy into the soul (Psalm 42:4).
II. THERE IS HOPE AND HELP FOR YOU IF YOU ARE CAST DOWN (Psalm 42:5-11)
QUESTION. What do I do when I am downcast?
ANSWER. Here are TEN helps for you if and when your soul is cast down within you.
I) Remember the LORD by fixing the eyes of your heart on who He is and what He has promised (Psalm 42:6b).
II) Remember the LORD is sovereign over all your downcast seasons (Psalm 42:7).
III) Remember God’s lovingkindness to you in Christ (Psalm 42:8a).
Think of the lovingkindness of God toward you, believer: (I) God’s love for you, believer, never began (Jeremiah 31:33; Psalm 103:17). (II) God in his love for you, Christian, gave his only begotten Son so that you would not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16). (III) God’s love for you, saint, led Christ to lay down his life for you (John 15:13). (IV) God’s love for you, believer, will never end (John 13:1). (V) God’s love for you, Christian, can never be severed (Romans 8:35-39).
IV) Remember God’s song (Psalm 42:8b).
V) Remember to pray to the God who gives you both life and eternal life (Psalm 42:8c).
VI) Remember to cry out to God in prayer, and cry out honestly (Psalm 42:9-10).
VII) Remember to preach to yourself, calling your soul to account (Psalm 42:11a).
(I) Examine yourself by seeing if you can discern why you are in this downcast state. (I) Is it because of sickness? (II) Is it because you are navel-gazing, rather than looking at Christ? (III) Has God by his providence handed you into this downcast state because of sin that you need to repent of?
(I.) Sins of commission? (II.) Sins of omission? (III.) Sins of idleness? (IV.) Sins of slothfulness or gluttony? (V.) Sins of indulging in worries and anxieties? (VI.) Sins of neglecting the private, family, or public worship of the Lord?
(IV) Are you in this downcast state because of sins that have been committed against you? (V) Are you downcast because of persecution? (VI) Are you downcast because of not being able to worship the Lord in the assembly of the saints?
(II) Beloved, it may be that you can easily discern by examination why you are in a down cast state. But it may be that you cannot discover the reason. Enlist the help of your husband, wife, friend, or one of your pastors. You must not walk through the valley of the shadow of death alone.
VIII) Remember to tell yourself to fix your hope on God (Psalm 42:11b).
(I) You and I must set our hope fully on the grace that will be brought to us when Christ returns (1 Peter 1:13). (II) Your sufferings and afflictions will result, by God’s grace, in increased hope in Christ (Romans 5:2-4; Job 13:14).
IX) Remember to tell yourself that this darkness will not last—say to yourself, “I shall again praise him!” (Psalm 42:11c).
X) Remember to tell yourself that this darkness will not last—say to yourself, “I will see Christ’s face!” (Psalm 42:11d)
A LIFTING UP FOR THE DOWNCAST or HOPE AND HELP FOR THE DEPRESSED: Psalm 42
Psalm 42
August 7, 2022 • Brett Baggett • Psalm 42
THE HAPPINESS OF SAINTS AND THE MISERY OF SINNERS: Psalm 1
May 30, 2021 • Brett Baggett
OUTLINE I. THE HAPPINESS OF SAINTS (vv. 1-3) I) Would you be happy? Then do not walk in the counsel of the wicked (v. 1a) II) Would you be happy? Then do not stand in the way of sinners (v. 1b) III) Would you be happy? Then do not sit in the seat of scoffers (v. 1c) IV) Would you be happy? Then get a delight in the Scriptures (v. 2a) V) Would you be happy? Then meditate on the Scriptures day and night (v. 2b) VI) What are the happy saints like? (v. 3) II. THE MISERY OF SINNERS (vv. 4-6) I) What are the wicked like? (v. 4) II) Those who stand in the way of sinners will not stand in the judgement (v. 5a) III) Those who walk in the counsel of the wicked will not be in the congregation of the righteous in heaven (v. 5b) IV) The great difference between saints and sinners (v. 6) DISCUSSION QUESTIONS Q1. What does it mean to “walk in the counsel of the wicked”? Can you think of a time in your life when you did this? What was the outcome? What is the opposite of “walking in the counsel of the wicked”? Q2. What does it mean to “stand in the way of sinners”? Can you think of a time in your life when you did this? What was the outcome? What is the opposite of “standing in the way of sinners”? Q3. What does it mean to “sit in the seat of scoffers”? Can you think of a time in your life when you did this? What was the outcome? What is the opposite of “sitting in the seat of scoffers”? Q4. What does the happy man do according to verse 2? How can you apply this to your daily life? What do you need to change so you can both delight in and meditate on God’s word? Q5. What is the happy righteous person like according to verse 3? What does David mean? Q6. What is the miserable wicked person like according to verse 4? What does David mean and how does Matthew 3:12 help? Q7. What is the outcome for the wicked according to verse 5? What does David mean by each phrase? How should this wake you up out of your sins and propel you toward Christ? Q8. How does David finish this Psalm in verse 6?
KISS THE SON: Psalm 2
July 31, 2022 • Brett Baggett • Psalm 2
DOCTRINE: Rebels to the crown will be utterly defeated one way or another by the exalted King, the Lord Jesus Christ. He will defeat them by conversion or condemnation. I. WHAT DO REBELS DO? (Psalm 2:1-2) I) Rebels rage against the LORD (Psalm 2:1a) II) Rebels plot against the LORD (Psalm 2:1b) By the way, the raging and plotting of rebels is vain and pointless—because they will not defeat the King of Heaven (Psalm 2:1c). III) Rebels set themselves against the LORD and against His anointed (Psalm 2:2a) V) Rebels take counsel together against the LORD and against His anointed (Psalm 2:2b) II. WHAT DO REBELS SAY? (Psalm 2:3) I) Rebels lie about the Law of God and say it should be overthrown (Psalm 2:3) People who do not love Jesus also do not love his Law. Sinners who refuse to turn to Christ and be saved will lie to you about God’s Law. But you need to know that the Law of the LORD is perfect and righteous altogether! I) The Law reveals who God is in his holiness. II) The Law also reveals how society should be governed, so that the wicked do not trample of the innocent. III) The Law reveals that we are sinners that need to be saved by Jesus. IV) The Law reveals how we as Christians should live so that we can please and glorify our merciful King. III. WHAT DOES THE LORD SAY IN RESPONSE TO REBELS? (Psalm 2:4-6) I) The LORD laughs and mocks the rage and vain plots of rebels (Psalm 2:4) II) The LORD speaks wrathfully against rebels (Psalm 2:5). III) The LORD mocks and terrifies rebels by pointing to his Anointed King (Psalm 2:6). IV. WHAT DOES THE LORD DO IN RESPONSE TO REBELS? (Psalm 2:7-9) I) The LORD gives solid evidence that his Son is the King (Psalm 2:7). II) The LORD gives the nations to the King as his heritage and the ends of the earth as His possession (Psalm 2:8) III) The LORD promises the King will utterly defeat His enemies (Psalm 2:9) V. WHAT DOES THE LORD DEMAND OF REBELS? (Psalm 2:10-12) I) The LORD demands all to be wise, the highest to the lowest (Psalm 2:10a) II) The LORD demands all to be warned, the highest to the lowest (Psalm 2:10b) III) The LORD demands that all serve him with fear, the highest to the lowest (Psalm 2:11a) IV) The LORD demands that all rejoice in Him with trembling (Psalm 2:11b) V) The LORD demands that all rebels Kiss His Son (Psalm 2:12a) We are to kiss the Son’s feet in repentance, kiss his hand in faith and obedience, and kiss His face in love and affection. VI. WHAT DOES THE LORD PROMISE REBELS? (Psalm 2:12b-d) I) For those who will not kiss the Son, the LORD promises anger (Psalm 2:12b) II) To those who will not kiss the Son, the LORD promises perishing which will come upon them suddenly, without warning (Psalm 2:12c) III) The LORD promises blessing and happiness to all rebels who do lay down their arms and Kiss the Son, taking refuge in him (Psalm 2:12d) I. USE THESE TRUTHS FOR INSTRUCTION I) The Lord Jesus Christ is King, and there is not a thing anyone can do about it—everyone will give an account to him (Ps. 2:6; Heb. 4:13). II) If you turn from your sin and embrace Christ by faith, he will receive you, protect you, and make you happy (Ps. 2:12d). II. USE THESE TRUTHS FOR WARNING I) Christ will have glory from everyone either in salvation or damnation. You will either “perish in the way” with Christ’s rod of iron or you will be “blessed” with Christ’s scepter of mercy by taking “refuge in him.” III. USE THESE TRUTHS FOR TESTING I) Do you happily submit to Christ’s rule or do you treat his commands like they are chains? IV. USE THESE TRUTHS FOR COMFORT I) Look at the raging and vain plots of rebels who hate Christ and hate you for his sake. Now see the LORD laughing at them. In Psalm 110:2, God the Father says to his Son, “Rule in the midst of your enemies!” and because we belong to this King Christ by his grace, we can say with David in Psalm 23, “You prepare a table for me in the presence of my enemies.” We can say with David, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Because Christ is ruling in the midst of his enemies we can feast in the presence of their hatred and scoffing. Because Christ mockingly laughs at his enemies, we who are united to him can joyfully laugh even when they surround us. V. USE THESE TRUTHS FOR EXHORTATION I) Since Christ is King, believers, preach the gospel and tell everyone to repent and believe (Ps. 2:12). Oh that we believers would pity those still in rebellion to God. We were all there, were we not? but God rescued us, not because of our works but because of his mercy. Therefore pray to God for rebels, proclaim the Law and the Gospel to them, plead with them to Kiss the Son, and promise them that if they bend the knee to Christ he will make them happy and holy. Promise them also that if they do not they will perish in the way. II) Since Christ is King, believers, press his crown rights into every square inch of existence (Ps. 2:11). Press Christ’s crown rights into: (i) Yourself. (ii) Your home. (iii) The church. (iv) Your vocation. (v) The public square. (vi) The civil government. (vii) The nations.
I WILL RECOUNT ALL OF YOUR WONDERFUL DEEDS: Psalm 9:1-10
June 19, 2022 • Brett Baggett • Psalm 9:1–10
DOCTRINE: The Lord’s people praise His name by recounting his wonderful deeds of terror to persistent sinners and deeds of protection to His saints. I. THE LORD’S PEOPLE PRAISE HIM BY RECOUNTING HIS WONDERFUL DEEDS (Psalm 9:1-2) The LORD’s people praise Him: I) By giving thanks to Him for His wonderful deeds (Psalm 9:1a). II) In Gladness for His wonderful deeds (Psalm 9:2a). III) Through song for His glory (Psalm 9:2b). II. THE LORD’S PEOPLE PRAISE HIM BY RECOUNTING HIS WONDERFUL TERRORS TO PERSISTENT SINNERS (Psalm 9:3-6) The LORD is a terror to persistent sinners because: I) He is holy and they are not (Psalm 9:3). II) He is a righteous judge and they are guilty (Psalm 9:4). Nahum 1:3 “The Lord is slow to anger and great in power, and the Lord will by no means clear the guilty. His way is in whirlwind and storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.” III) They have tried to steal God’s glory, and He will share it with no one (Psalm 9:5-6). Isaiah 42:8 “I am the Lord; that is my name; my glory I give to no other,” III. THE LORD’S PEOPLE PRAISE HIM BY RECOUNTING HIS WONDERFUL PROTECTION OF HIS SAINTS (Psalm 9:7-10) The LORD protects His saints: I) Because He is our just King (Psalm 9:7-8). II) Like a stronghold for wear Christian soldiers (Psalm 9:9). Proverbs 18:10 “The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe.” 2 Tim 1:12 “I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me.” Psalm 119:114: “You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in your word.” III) Because their faith is in Him (Psalm 9:10). IV) He will never forsake them (Psalm 9:10b). Hebrews 13:5 “He has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’”