The God of Glory - No Threat to His Children — Aeron Morgan

Psalm 57: Refuge Under the Shadow of God’s Wings

Will you turn with me to the psalms, Psalm 57, I'll read the psalm and for the sessions that I have with you this week, I'll be with this psalm, an incredible psalm. Psalm 57, Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me, for my soul trusteth in thee, yea in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpassed.

I will cry unto God most high, unto God that performeth all things for me. He shall send from heaven and save me from the reproach of him that would swallow me up, Selah, think on that. God shall send forth his mercy and his truth.

My soul is among lions, and I lie even among them that are set on fire, even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword. Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavenlies, let thy glory be above all the earth.

They have prepared a net for my steps, my soul is bowed down, they have digged a pit before me into the midst whereof they are fallen themselves, think on that. My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed, I will sing and give praise, awake up my glory, awake, psaltery and harp, I myself will awake early, I will praise thee, O Lord, among the people, I will sing unto thee among the nations, for thy mercy is great unto the heavens, and thy truth unto the clouds.

Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens, let thy glory be above all the earth. Amen. It's a gigantic theme that has been placed upon our brother Philip's heart for this week. We beheld his glory, and already there's been that ministry to us that has set God before us in his majesty, in his transcendence, in his glory.

And I guess that with what, 16 sessions that we have with the various speakers this week, it's inevitable that there will be some repetition of thought. And that's good, that it might be laid into us as God wants us to understand it, to see him for who he is, and that to affect us as has been mentioned already in this conference, the words of Paul in 2 Corinthians 3 .18, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord.

We are changed into that same image from glory to glory, from one degree of holiness to another degree of holiness, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. I want to speak about the God of glory this week.

The God of Glory Is No Threat to His Children

And this morning, the God of glory, no threat to his children. That verse 2 in the psalm, please. I will cry unto God most high, unto God who performs all things for me. This inspiring psalm reveals David, not without his troubles, but manifesting an implicit faith in God in the midst of such great adversity.

His godliness, you will notice, did not exempt him from being assailed by bitter and relentless enemies who were cunningly plotting against him. In verse 4, my soul, says David, is among lions, and I lie even among them that are set on fire, even the sons of men whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword.

Life was pretty tough, and I think that our experiences also, whilst they may differ in kind to that of David's, often their intensity and their irksomeness is just as fierce and troubling. And when we pass through adversities, how often they could so easily plunge us into despair.

It may be that there are those who are here this morning passing through some difficult way, and like David in verse 6, perhaps ready to admit, my soul is bowed down. If you go back a few psalms to Psalm 38 and verse 17, David admits, he says, I am ready to halt.

The word means to fall. I am ready to fall. My sorrow, my anguish, my affliction is continually before me. But you know, David knew what to do in those times of distress. And go down to verses 21 and 22 in Psalm 38, and see him crying, forsake me not, O Lord.

Jehovah, he says, O my Elohim, be not far from me. Make haste to help me, or adonai, my salvation. In just the compass of two verses, there is this incredible revelation of God that comes to us that David had seen in God.

And here in Psalm 57, and the verse we have taken this morning, verse 2, I will cry unto God, Elohim, Most High, El Elyon. Hallelujah. So David is confessing his trust in one whom he knows in his glory, revealed in his names as the just and the holy one, the faithful, covenant-keeping God.

And here, the Most High, El Elyon, the transcendent one, who ultimately and completely controls man's destiny. I'm glad I'm in his hands this morning. More than that, I'm in his heart. Praise the Lord.

And so this psalm, you know, it's a classic for its awesome expressions and its knowledge of the Almighty that becomes the sure ground of hope for divine help in times of trial and trouble. Because here is David's refuge, this God of glory.

David’s Refuge While Fleeing Saul

Now you'll note the title of the psalm says he composed it when he fled from Saul in the cave. Now what cave? We're not sure whether it was the Delim's cave or the one in Ein Gedi or the one in the hill of Hakela.

What is clear is, there is a hate-filled king, Saul, with 3 ,000 of his men who were hunting David in every known crevice. And yet, David, anointed by Samuel to succeed as Israel's king in God's appointed time.

Notice that, in God's appointed time. David wasn't going to bring this on by his own ingenuity. He left it with God as to when he would ascend that throne. And he finds himself imperiled here. If you read those chapters in 1 Samuel that marks the occasions that David had opportunity to remove Saul.

Why? His own band of men, his guerrilla movement even urged him to kill Saul. But he refused to lift a finger against God's anointed. And later, in that eventual meeting with Saul, Saul confessed his sin to David.

And in one sentence, unexpectedly but nevertheless accurately, he declared the whole truth concerning himself when he said, I have played the fool. But in it all, I want you to note, it was God vindicating his trusted servant David, whose desire was to do what was right beforehand.

Praise the Lord. And when you have a vision of God, as we had this morning, of the one high and lifted up and whose judicial robe fills the temple, then friends, we want to do what pleases him. We want to do what is right in his sight.

And I tell you, with this holy word, as our infallible authority, it matters not this morning what our situation before men might be, the troubles and the trials of life that may come, the fears and the forebordings that often do beset us, those deep anxieties that would weigh down our very sensitive souls.

God comes to the aid of those who seek to honor him, who trust him in the face of every cruel element of life. What a God we have. And this psalm, I trust, will help us this week as it gives such glorious testimony to the glory of God's mercy.

David’s Plight and Praise in Psalm 57

You'll notice that the psalm has two parts. In verses 1 to 6, it reveals to us David's poor plight. But from 7 to the end of the chapter, verse 7 to 11, is David's pure praise. He has come out. What great expressions here that honor and praise the Almighty.

And particularly verses 5 and 11, which is the one expression from David that's repeated. Be thou exalted above the heavens. Let thy glory be above all the earth. Hallelujah. And it's this psalm that helps us behold that awesome panorama of the excellencies of Elohim.

Because it's in them that we see all the traumas and the perplexities of David's experience being swept up in his holy presence. The names of the Lord comprehend all the supreme beauty and majesty and glory.

Those moral and natural perfections that are inherent in our God, that are unique to Him. His names that combine His character and His reputation. And it seems as though David understands this. In Psalm 20, in verses 1 and 2, he says, The Lord hear you in the day of trouble.

The name of the God of Jacob defend you. Send you help from the sanctuary. Psalm 54 and verse 1,. Save me, O God, by thy name. Psalm 124 and verse 8, Our help is in the name of the Lord. And you recall in one Samuel 17 and verse 45, When David speaks to Goliath the Philistine, You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a shield.

But I come to you in the name of the Lord, the God of hosts. The Elohim of the armies of Israel whom you have defied. I come panoplied. You've got a shield, you've got armor on, but listen, I don't need that.

I am panoplied with the name of God. Hallelujah. All that God is, is for me. He is with me. So this Psalm 57, it captures the understanding that God gave to David concerning himself. And becomes, of course, the ground of all his hopeful expectations for God's help.

In David's little world of troubles. And his declarations of faith in God's sovereign power to direct and control all universal destinies. Hallelujah. Bear with me for just a few moments. Notice this Psalm.

Four Expressions of David’s Faith

In verse 1, we have David's awaited consolation. What an amazing confession. He says, I trust in you. I hide myself in you. I will be safe until every perverse thing, every potentially destructive storm has been quelled.

I am sure of your mercies. He must have seen God. He must have beheld his glory. And verses 2 and 3, we have David's assured supplication. David knew whom he believed in, whom he prayed to. One who never ceases to act for his saints.

And to achieve what he has planned for them. So whatever the attempts of men or of devils to thwart such holy purposes in this providential God, they cannot succeed. You can depend on that. Praise the Lord.

And in verses 4 to 6, we have David's anticipated salvation. He does not flinch in the face of trouble. Not that he did not feel it. He was well aware of what was taking place. And notice this, he does not deny its existence.

He details every aggravation. And he states his conviction that every evil design upon his life will be reversed upon his enemies. And right in the midst of his plight, there is that incredible verse.

Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens. Let thy glory be above all the earth. As you move into the psalm further, verse 7 to 10, it is David's affirmed intention. So that whatever else might happen, however persistent those calamities in his life, he says, my heart is fixed.

Fixed on doing what? David says, I am going to sing. I am going to shout aloud your praises. The situation, as discomforting as it may be, is not going to rob you of my praise. And it's not going to rob me of my peace.

I will extol, he says, your mercies and your moral integrity. Mercy and truth have met together. Righteousness and peace have kissed each other. Praise the Lord. And that last verse, David's awesome revelation.

And this is where we can use that word awesome correctly. This revelation of God, it was awesome. As in verse 5. He is telling us that God does everything by independent, sovereign authority. He is the Lord of history.

He bows to no one. His throne is established above the heavens. And it's established for eternity. He is God. And He alone. And David says, He is my God. He is my God. Although he knows that God is working for him, nevertheless he prays.

And I say, what's the point of praying when God knows it all? But he comes before God because he himself in his mortality, his humanity, he needs the assurance of God's presence and the liberating power of His truth.

Trusting God’s Self-Revelation

You'll notice that David's first utterance in coming to God with his problem is not a lament. As in verse 4. My soul is among lions. But when he comes to God, he has hope. In verse 1. My soul trusts in you.

And he follows on with that remarkable confession of truth that has been so personally revealed to him of Elohim Elyon. I will cry unto God most high. The transcendent one who will faithfully undertake for me in His mercy.

I tell you Francis, it's only the man, the woman who has such a biblical view of God acts and speaks in this manner. Now one thing is evident. David had the primary desire in his life to exalt God. Never himself.

God. He has learned that if he puts God between him and his troubles, he would get out of such a plight. Is that what maybe some of you want this morning? To discover the secret of how to get out of your troubles.

Well, David shows us the way. And listen, it's grounded in the knowledge that we have of God most high. And practically applied in the situation that we are in. Notice, it's not some profound, clever, complicated formula.

Just listen. My soul trusteth in thee. That is, I cry for mercy with a faith that's anchored in my awareness of who you are. That's why friends, we have to, day by day, get into this book. And because it's God's self-revelation primarily, we pray God, take back the curtain this morning.

Give me a little more glimpse into something of your beauty, of your glory. John Piper says that two references follow from, two inferences follow from any revelation of God. I quote, he says, the first is that the goal of all that God does is to uphold and display his glory.

All God's actions flow from fullness, not from deficiency. And the other inference is that the duty of man is to delight in God's glory. And this proves to be David's, it proves to be true in David's case.

Desirous as he is to see God glorified. Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens. Let thy glory be above all the earth. In other words, whatever you do, O God, let every issue of your actions bring honor to your name.

And so being aware of that fullness in God. The psalmist, he anticipates an overwhelming tide of mercy to sweep in upon him in his plight. To save him from his enemies. And oh, what a disclosure David gives of his knowledge of God.

Such as undergirds his confident prayer. As Dr. Tozer so rightly says, and I quote, the character of God is the Christian's final ground of assurance. And the solution of many, if not most, of his practical religious problems.

Pause there a moment. It's exactly what Pastor Bill shared with us in the early ascension. See, all our problems, everything is theological. Comes back to God. He goes on, this Tozer, God has never at any time, anywhere in the vast universe, acted otherwise than in character with his infinite perfections.

Now notice what he says. This knowledge should be, one, a warning to the enemies of God. And it cannot be but, two, an immense consolation to his friends. Now for a moment, let's just take those two aspects.

God’s Holiness Warns His Enemies

And particularly the first, this warning to the enemies. You know, it was nearly 50 years ago, as a rookie pastor and preacher. I read one of the most challenging books in my entire ministry, I think.

By that Puritan preacher, Joseph Alain. What he died when he was only about 34 years of age. I think it was in 1671. I think it was in 16, or before that, in 1671 when the book was published. An Alarm to the Unconverted.

A book that embodies the substance of his message. Joseph Alain. And in doing so, I think it does provide something of a true model of Puritan evangelism. In fact, Sage Spurgeon, he records how when he was a child, listen to this.

When he was a child, his mother would often read a piece of Alain's Alarm to them as they sat around the fire on a Saturday evening. Now you can only appreciate that if you read the book. And this is what Joseph Alain wrote.

He says,. And so unspeakably dreadful is the case of every unconverted soul. That I have sometimes thought, if I could only convince men they are still unregenerate. The work were more than half done.

He said, it's therefore of high necessity that I not only convince men that they are unconverted. But I also endeavor to bring them to a sense of the fearful misery of their state. He says this, where is the ready writer whose pen can depict their misery who are without God in the world.

This cannot fully be done. Unless we know the infinite ocean of bliss. Which is in perfection in God. And from which a state of sin excludes man. Then he speaks with such tender tones. Though with sobriety as he addresses sinners.

He says, in Christ there is a possibility of mercy for you. Yea, an offer of mercy to you. That you may have God more for you than he is now against you. But if you will not forsake your sins or turn thoroughly and purposefully to God by a sound conversion.

The wrath of God abides on you. And he proclaims himself to be against you as in the prophet. Quotes from Ezekiel 5 and verse 8. Therefore thus saith the Lord God, behold I, even I am against you. Joseph Alain spells out how the infinite God is engaged against the sinner.

And very clearly and faithfully expounds from the word. One on the fact that his face is against you. And then he deals with the fact that God's heart is against you. And then all his attributes are against you.

I tell you it's an outstanding exposition of the gospel. But with Joseph Alain there is this passionate invitation and appeal to sinners to turn to God. Let's thank God friends, this God of infinite perfection.

Who is so infinitely holy. Of such absolute purity. And one who cannot, cannot be tempted to perform anything that's evil. Cannot be corrupted by sin that has invaded this world that he created in his perfection.

God is absolutely holy. And yet friends, there is a way for man to rise to that sublime abode. An offering and a sacrifice. A holy spirit's energy. There's an advocate with God. Praise the Lord. His name is Jesus.

God’s Love Consoles His Friends

Come back to Joseph for a moment. Because that was the one thing that he drew attention to in reflecting on the infinite perfections of God. It's a warning to sinners. God's enemies. But then the immense consolation such truth brings to his friends he says.

And oh I'm glad I'm a friend of God this morning. Not only was Moses God's friend but I'm his friend. I'm his child. I'm in union with God in Christ. I've been reconciled to him by the blood of the cross.

All enmity has been slain. And thank God friends his peace is now within my heart to garrison me in times of trial and need. I'm glad I'm a friend of God. And God is a friend of mine. And that's not trying to make him familiar in the wrong sense.

It's so true you see. The revelation of God holds no threat to his children. But it will ever be a great overwhelming comfort to us. Look at those verses in Psalm 57 here. Verses 2 and 3. Where David is so full of confidence and hope.

Notice his precise words. He says, I will cry. The Hebrew word meaning to call out. And it means to address someone by name. I will cry unto Elohim early on. God most high. But there's nothing vague or vain here.

It's not some uncertain ill-defined expression. Hoping there is someone out there to hear the cry and help him. You know as well as I do friends we are living in a fearful world. And around us this morning is a world of hopeless pessimism and despair.

With poor distressed souls in anguish, in affliction. They are crying. But they are just crying. No with David it's a confident hope. In fact he says in Psalm 37. The righteous cry. But it's another Hebrew word there.

And it shows it to be a veritable shriek. Evidently because of the severity of the trial. But there is no hopelessness. There is no lack of response. The righteous cry. What's it say then? And the Lord cares.

And delivers them out from all their troubles. Oh yes we cry at times. When some unpleasant situation is hard for us to bear. And let's admit it there are times when it seems that God is so far away. Turn over to Psalm 69.

Christ’s Cry in the Midst of Suffering

And verses 20 and 21. Which is prophetic of Christ. In the great trauma of his cross experience. Suffering such dishonor so gallingly painful. As man can never comprehend. Because he is bearing the reproach of all sinners of all ages.

And causes him to cry out in anguish. My God. My God. Seems as though he is very far away. My God why hast thou forsaken me? Let's admit it. You pray like that sometimes. Listen to him in this prophetic Psalm.

Psalm 69. Reproach hath broken my heart. And I am full of heaviness. And I looked for some to take pity. But there was none. And for comforters. But I found none. How is this prophetic of Christ. Because listen to what he goes on to say.

They gave me also gall for my meat. And in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink. That's our Redeemer friends at Calvary. He cried. He cried. Listen. Don't feel condemned this morning if you cry. In the midst of your trial and difficulty.

Don't feel condemned. Jesus cried. In Hebrews 5 and verse 7 it says. He cried with strong crying and tears. But what a consolation for it goes on to say there. He prayed with strong crying and tears. And to him that was able to save him from death.

Not keep him away from dying. No. To save him out from under death. And was heard for his godly fear. It had to do with resurrection. Praise the Lord. And it further states in verses 8 and 9. Though he were a son.

Yet learned he obedience by or from the things which he suffered. And being made perfect. That is complete as a saviour. He became the author of eternal salvation. And to all them that obey him. Yes. David cried out.

But notice he cried unto God most high. So a back of his supplication is a revelation of the one that he is calling upon. The one whom David knew was able to save him from the threat of death. What a difference when believers cry.

Because they are looking to this father of mercies. Who never disappoints us. And so it is proper for us to have a brief look at God most high this morning. Just as David saw him here. To reveal this God of glory.

As no threat to his children. But the knowledge that he is for us. Praise the Lord. Notice first of all. God's personal reality. He says I will cry unto God. David was not speaking into the air like those heathens around him.

God’s Personal Reality

With their pagan gods which are nothings. In fact he says in Psalm 96 in verse 5. All the gods of the nations the peoples are idols. And the Hebrew word means nothings. They are worthless vain objects.

And then make this great contrast. But he says the Lord made the heavens. Paul affirms this in 1 Corinthians 8 in verse 4. He says but we know that an idol is nothing in the world. And that there is none other God but one.

So David knew like Paul and like us. That God is a real person. Eternal in the heavens. One who is exalted above every other created being. He is God most high. Whose greatness is unsearchable. We will never be able to fully comprehend the awesome majesty and grandeur.

And surpassing glory of God. Whom Jesus said was pure spirit. God is spirit. And yet he is personally real. And wise friends like Job says we can never find him out to perfection. We can know him. We can know him.

John 17 in verse 3 in the high priestly prayer of Christ. Jesus says that they might know thee the only true God. And Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent. Because friends that is the very essence of our Christianity.

It's knowing God. How well it has been said that I quote. Because we are finite beings. We tend to perceive the infinite in the light of our limitations. The Bible encourages us to reach beyond our limitations.

And think exalted thoughts about God. Have you heard those people say. Well I think God is like. What do you mean you think God is like? It's impossible for us to know anything about God. Except he reveals himself.

And here it is friends. His self revelation. That's a mystical thing. We can know him. And this is what David expresses here. It gives rise to his expectations of divine help in his troubled life. God's personal reality.

Do you see him this morning? Do you know him in such personal glory? Then you can confidently cry unto him today. Praise the Lord. And secondly. Here with David's revelation of this God of glory. There is God's providential care.

God’s Providential Care

He says God performeth all things for me. Now the words all things are in italics in my Bible. And you may have a Bible that puts. The things that have been inserted by the translators are not in the original text.

Put in to make sense. And this does make sense. But you can read this without those two words. God performs for me. Hallelujah. El Elion. The transcendent one. Who cannot be comprehended in his vastness.

The universe is contained within a vast God. Before there was a universe there was God. And he performs for me. For you. For you. He performs. Probably one of the most glorious truths. As it concerns our destinies.

The providence of God. And David knows that nothing can prevent the purpose of God for him. So whatever happens. Every single thing will promote rather than hinder the outworking of God's will. Praise the Lord.

I think friends this is a marvelous comforting reality. That assists us to cry to God in times of need. That not only do good things work for our good. But God likewise causes even seemingly bad things to work out for our good.

Romans 8 28. I know Paul that all things work together for good. To those who love God. The called according to his purpose. The ultimate good of course is that marvelous conformity to the image of Christ.

The blessed son of God. So in God's working. We behold him sovereignly overruling what is bad. And causing it to work out for our good in the ultimate. It may be suffering. It may be temptations. It may be business losses.

It could be unfaithful friends. Or those overwhelming disappointments that are so painful to endure. I think the classic biblical example is that of Joseph. Starting in Genesis 37 verse 18. Where those brothers conspired against him to slay him.

And you have to pass through 13 chapters. Listen. Some 40 years later. Until you come to the incredible vindication of God. In respect of this enviable character Joseph. In Genesis 15 verse 20. God says listen.

They meant it for evil. But I meant it for good. In marvelous ways friends. He's bringing to pass his purposes in our lives. Praise the Lord. I'm glad I'm his friend this morning. But there's more. Not only a personal reality and his providential care.

God’s Loving Nature

But there's God's loving nature. And to God who performs all things for me. For me. David might be surrounded by enemies who designed his hurt to the very point of death. They were not for him. They were against him.

But his greatest comfort and assurance of life rested in this knowledge. That God was for him. God had planned for him. God had anointed him. Set him apart. God had lovingly worked to bring all things to their divinely destined end.

And so he ventures on this marvelous confession. God does things for me. He must love me. He must love me. What a truth. This personal God looks down and lovingly respects the most insignificant of us.

He loves us. He loves you. He loves you. God is love. Which must be the profoundest of revelations concerning the Most High. A love that is eternal and holy and measureless and impartial. And a love that's directed in its totality towards sinful creatures like you and me.

Hallelujah. You see, God wills the good of all. There's not a scrap of evil in God. He cannot intend any evil. Sometimes in my preaching and especially on those sober aspects of the doctrine of eternal punishment.

Friends, I tell you what. In eternity, those sinners, sadly, who will have been banished to the lake of fire will never charge God with being unjust. They will say he was right. He was right. Interesting, isn't it?

In Luke 16, where that rich man lifts up his eyes in hell. He never pleads with Abraham whom he beholds in Lazarus in Abraham's bosom. Go and tell my brothers that they may not come to this place. Sorry, he doesn't say, listen, get me out of here.

He says, go to my brothers that they may not come to this place. He doesn't say, God, why are you doing this? You're unjust. David knew that God is a God of love. You know, as a child, my lovely daughter, Angela, she causes a few embarrassments in departmental stores, crowded stores.

When suddenly she thought she was lost. We were only just turned our backs and looking in another counter. But to her, she wouldn't look behind, she'd look around. And suddenly there were those screams of a lost child.

Fear had gripped her because of those strangers who were just milling around her. And to her, they were like enemies. But I would swing around and reassure her by putting my arms around her. And in a flash, all her terror abated for the known goodwill of a loving father cast out all fear.

Praise the Lord. Whatever be that situation this morning, and it may seem to be a fearful one, perfect love casts out all fear. That is, love in its perfection that flows from the very heart of God. He loves me.

This is exactly what Paul says in Romans 5. He said, we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Amen. Amen. Then he says, we rejoice in tribulations also. Hey Paul, are you mad? We can understand rejoicing in hope of the glory of God, but rejoicing in tribulations?

He says, yes, because I know something. I know, he says, that tribulations work with patience, patience experience, and experience what? Hope. So that all those tribulations, Paul says, are not militating against my hope, they are promoting the hope.

Because he says, the love of God is shed abroad in my heart by the Holy Ghost whom he has given unto me. I am the object of his love. So whatever it is, whatever be the tribulation, thank God for the hope.

And he can still be found rejoicing. Praise the Lord. Well, David knew something about this. And when he cried, he knew that El Elyon would be lovingly working for him. And he's working for you, friend, this morning.

Because he takes pleasure in you. He joys over us with singing. I can't fathom that one. Zechariah 3, 17. He joys over us with singing. I'd love to hear God sing. If he is perfect in everything, what a voice he must have.

The ecstasy, the delight in those whom he loves. Paul in Romans 8, 31 says, what shall we say pertaining to all of these things, these things? If God be for us, then who can be against us? You say, well, there's plenty.

And Paul knew that. But what he is saying, in effect, is, who can be against us? Effectually, God is for us. He loves us. Quickly, God's sovereign authority is here. Verse 3, he shall send from heaven and save me from the reproach of him that would swallow me up.

God’s Sovereign Authority and Power to Save

Whichever way God would do it, that was not David's concern. His God, the most high, is for him. And so he knew that this one who was the most high, the Lord of hosts, could summon all the powers in his own being as well as those powers that he distributes and sends on missions from time to time to the heirs of salvation.

Help will be summoned from heaven to work deliverance. David knew this. God can dispense his power directly and personally. But there are times, friends, when he might well dispatch angels to perform his works.

God is free to carry out his will at any time. And in every single detail, without any fear of intervention or of prevention. And what persuasion this is on David's part. David's need is desperate, but his God is coming to his aid.

Now prayer does not change God's disposition or his intention, but it is a reaffirmation this morning of faith in his sovereign authority to act for us. We know God is sovereign. He is sovereign. And what peace that brings.

And there is God's just omnipotence. God shall send forth his mercy and his truth. You know, when God acts, he does so always in accordance with his nature of holiness. Mercy and truth. Never one at the expense of the other.

We sometimes want God to act without any regard for righteousness. Simply that he will act for us. Maybe we desire him to exercise justice in terms that we approve of. In ways that we would be glad to see happen.

We would sometimes want him to bring down fire. Don't criticize the disciples. No, friends, you just leave it to God. You leave it to God. And that's why, even though we know he is working, we pray. We pray.

We know that he will send forth mercy and truth. Isn't God good? Isn't he glorious? All-glorious. This God of glory. Is it possible this morning that you or I, in our present circumstances, have allowed our troubles to overwhelm us?