Good morning. Let's first turn to 1 Samuel chapter 24. And as you'll notice from the very detailed outline I've provided for you, Don't turn onto the back page, brothers. We're going to be focusing on Psalm 57, verse two, something of a background of what we have in that psalm, I believe comes from 1 Samuel, chapter 24. I'm just gonna look at the first eight verses, and then we'll go to prayer. First Samuel chapter 24, this is God's word. When Saul returned from following the Philistines, he was told, behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi. And then Saul took 3,000 chosen men out of all Israel and went to seek David and his men in front of the wild goats' rocks. And he came to the sheepfolds, by the way, where there was a cave, and Saul went in to relieve himself. Now David and his men were sitting in the innermost parts of the cave, and the men of David said, here is the day of which the Lord has said to you, behold, I will give your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as shall seem good to you. Then David arose and stealthily cut off a corner of Saul's robe. And afterward, David's heart struck him because he had cut off a corner of Saul's robe. He said to his men, the Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my Lord, the Lord's anointed, to put out my hand against him, seeing he is the Lord's anointed. So David persuaded his men with his words and did not permit them to attack Saul. And Saul rose up and left the cave and went his way. Let's turn now to Psalm 57. Psalm 57. And as you can see from the title of the psalm, we can see this was when David fled from Saul in the cave. Verse one, be merciful to me, oh God, be merciful to me, for in you my soul takes refuge. In the shadow of your wings I will take refuge till the storms of destruction pass by. I cry out to God most high, to God who fulfills his purpose for me. He will send from heaven and save me. He will put to shame him who tramples on me, Selah. God will send out his steadfast love and his faithfulness. My soul is in the midst of lions. I lie down amid fiery beasts, the children of man, whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens. Let your glory be over all the earth. They set a net for my steps. My soul is bowed down. They dug a pit in my way, just as we read from Psalm 8. Sorry, Psalm 7. My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast. I will sing and make melody. Awake, my glory, awake, O harp and lyre. I will awake the dawn. I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples. I will sing praises to you among the nations. For your steadfast love is great to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens. Let your glory be over all the earth. Well, with that consideration, that brief reading of the word of God, let's go to him once more in prayer, shall we? Our God in heaven, we're glad to be together. We're glad to be under the sound of your word. And Lord, as we know, there are many distractions that would break into our minds and keep us from profiting from your truth. We pray that you would strengthen our resolve, strengthen our minds, that as we consider your truth together, that you would administer grace to our hearts, dear Lord. We confess, though, I may do my best up here to open the truth of the word of God, Lord Jesus. You must come by your spirit. You are the one who illumines your word, who causes it to be cherished in each of our hearts. You are the one who causes us to run out to you in love and to be determined all the more to get you glory and a life of obedience and holiness as we've just briefly considered. Help us, we pray, In Jesus' name, amen. Psalm 57. This psalm, if you would turn back, for example, to 52 and 53, this psalm belongs to a group of psalms that are really connected, actually even to Psalm 7 here, to that early desperate period of David's life when he was forced to abandon the comforts of home and society and their retreat to the wilderness in En Gedi from King Saul who wanted him dead. Saul perceived David to be a threat, not only to his throne, but to his dynasty as well. And so if we were to turn back and flip through Psalm 52, 54, and 56, each of these illustrate David's betrayals. that he experienced. Psalm 52 recounts Doeg, the Edomite's betrayal, leading to the death of Himalek, that priest, and 84 priestly families. Psalm 54 details the Zephites' betrayal, his own clansmen from the tribe of Judah. to King Saul. And then finally, Psalm 56 describes desperate fear there in the Philistine garrison. Gath, the garrison in Gath. And so the psalm before us is marked really by a distinct change in David's outlook, particularly those last few verses that you can see where he's drawn out to God in love and praise. The previous psalms reveal a degree of uncertainty and fear, even desperation at times. He'd been hiding from his enemies there in Gath or in the wilderness, but here, as James Boyce observes, David is hiding in God, as we have just sung, hiding in thee. And so the cave becomes something of a symbol of that reality. Let's look to verse two of Psalm 57 now. And I'm reading from the New King James, which I think captures his cry. I will cry out to God most high, to God who performs all things for me. And so this verse reveals a God who is both supremely powerful and deeply invested in our lives, offering hope when things feel really out of control. And so we explore David's story through these three lenses on your handout. His crisis, David's cry, and his trust in a sovereign God, while connecting these truths to some practical applications in our lives as well. So look with me at Roman numeral one on your handout, David's crisis. And as you can see from what I've read, David was in a tight spot when he wrote Psalm 57. Hiding in a cave in the wilderness of En Gedi, he was on the run from King Saul, who was hell-bent on killing him. And returning to our text in Psalm 57 here, note the tune to which these words are assigned. And as you can see at the top of the psalm, do not destroy. And so from the narrative Samuel provides, this could refer to David's determination not to kill Saul, or equally that God would permit Saul not to destroy him. So picture it. There, David is trapped. this rocky hideout with Saul's soldiers, some 3,000 specially chosen warriors to come after Saul. And now his entrance is blocked because the army is just outside there. King David describes his situation as being among lions, if you look at verse 4, surrounded by danger. and no clear way of escape. It's the kind of moment where fear can easily take over, isn't it? And hope feels such a distant memory. And so the cave itself seemed as a refuge, and now it is in prison, David. And much like that when Daniel was in the den with the lions. This wasn't just a bad day. We've all had them. This is a life or death crisis. David had been hunted like an animal, forced to live in the wilderness, far from safety and comfort. And yet, in this desperate situation, he didn't give in to despair. His story shows us that even in our darkest moments, God is yet at work. And so what can we learn from the situation that we find David here in his crisis? First, face your fears with faith. Face your fears with faith. Like David, we all face moments that feel overwhelming. It could be a health scare, a financial crisis, or even a broken relationship. John Calvin observes, there are seasons when we are privileged to enjoy the calm sunshine of prosperity, but there is not a day in our lives which we may not be suddenly overtaken by storms of affliction. And it is necessary that we should be persuaded that God will cover us with his wings. so these crises can feel like being trapped in a cave as David was. Trust that God sees you in your struggle and is working even though you can't see the way out. My mind goes to Psalm 139 where David writes, if I say surely the darkness shall cover me the light about me be night and He goes on, even the darkness is not dark to you. The night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light to you. And so we need to face these crises with faith. Secondly, remember that you're not alone. David is clearly outnumbered here. He can feel the isolation though he has some of his men with him there. And this mirrors times when we can feel cut off from support as well. Reflect on how God has placed people and at times resources in your life to remind you of his being present, even in tough times. And yet ultimately God himself is present. We all have water pumped into our homes, don't we, with plumbing. And yet there's times when even that may break down and you have to go directly to the source to find water for refreshment. And by this we learn that at times we must not look to the pipes, but to the well of provision, to God himself for our supply. And so remember that God is present. You are not alone. Turn to Him in that time of crisis. Again, Psalm 139, verse 8. If I ascend to heaven, you are there. If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there. If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me and your right hand shall hold me. Are you locked away in some cave of trial or difficulty this morning? Though you may not perceive it, God is there. Turn to him. in that time, you are not alone. Thirdly, see the crisis that you're in as an opportunity. Consider God's purposes for that crisis that he's brought into your life. At the very least, God is humbling you and causing you to reach up to him. and there are hard moments that can deepen our reliance on God. Just as David's crisis led to a powerful psalm that we can benefit from this morning, our struggles can strengthen our faith as well as our testimony. He could have despaired, or worse, he could have taken matters into his own hands by taking the unwise counsel of his companions to avenge himself on King Saul. And yet there was such a grip upon David's conscience that he was restrained from acting out of fear or revenge. He didn't give in to godless rationalization and take matters into his own hands. And yet, how does David respond to this feeling of being trapped in the cave? Let's consider Roman numeral two, David's cry. David's cry in verse two. John Gill makes the observation, his case required a speedy answer and immediate relief, and that he expected only from the mercy and grace of God. And so in the face of danger, David didn't just stay silent, he cried out, be merciful to me, verse one. Oh God, be merciful to me. This wasn't just a polite prayer, was it? It was a raw and urgent plea for God's help. And so the repetition of be merciful here, you can see how desperate he felt at that time, but also how much he believed God could save him. His prayer was passionate, like a child calling out to a parent in a moment of panic. And yet it was grounded in trust, as he sought refuge in the shadow of God's wings, as we see in verse 1. Now, let's focus on that phrase there for a moment, the shadow of your wings. It's a rich image. Now, it can be looked upon in one of two ways. I'll give you both and let you decide. Most frequently, it alludes to the wings of the cherubim which overspread the mercy seat in the most holy place of the tabernacle or the temple. And if this is David's thought, it is as if he is saying that he is secure as if he was within the most holy place himself. In fact, virtually one with God, even in that cave. However, most view these wings as the wings of God himself. Think back with me to Exodus 19, verse four, where God says to Israel, you yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself. Or from Psalm 91, verse four, where David writes, he will cover you with his pinions, those are the flight feathers of a bird. He will cover you with his pinions and under his wings you will find refuge. His faithfulness is a shield and a buckler. Or recall with me those comforting words of Boaz to Ruth, the Moabite widow who had accompanied her mother-in-law, Naomi, back to Bethlehem after she had been widowed. from Ruth chapter two, verse 12. The Lord repay you for what you have done and a full reward be given you by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge. And so we can all picture on our minds how these little peeps can come under the wings, the flight wings of a bird and take refuge there. God surely is a refuge for those who trust in him. And yet David's cry teaches us that prayer doesn't have to be polished. It's being real with God, pouring out our fears, our needs, and trusting him to respond. His example shows that fervent prayer can be a lifeline in the worst of moments. And so what do we learn from David's prayer? First, pray honestly. God knows your situation. Don't hold back in prayer. Whether you're provoked or scared, or confused, God can handle your raw emotions. Bring them to him just as David did. And so pray honestly to God. Secondly, lean, lean on God's protection, lean into him. David's image of hiding under God's wings reminds us that God is a safe place for us. And this was not his first rodeo, as we say. As we look back, the previous Psalms are proof enough. God proved to David that even while he hid in the Philistine garrison in Gath, that God could be counted upon for deliverance. And so when life feels chaotic, pray for his peace to cover you, trusting that he's got you covered in that situation. Lean on God's protection. And then thirdly, make this prayer a habit. Make a habit of prayer. David's cry wasn't a one-off, but it came from a life of being trained to turn to God. Build a habit of prayer now so it's your natural response when a crisis appears. Jeremiah Burroughs advised using periods of comfort and security to prepare for inevitable future trials rather than becoming complacent. Prayer and Bible meditation are primary means of this preparation. And so we don't wait for an ice storm, do we? Or a power outage to run to the store and get the things that we need for the home. And so neither are we to be so naive as to wait for a crisis to fall upon us, that only then do we come to God in prayer. No, make a habit of prayer, that that would be your normal routine before God. And so ultimately when we look at this verse we need to look to David's sovereign God. Roman numeral 3. David's sovereign God. In this verse note how David addresses God in his cry. To God most high. That same title remember was used by Melchizedek when he went to visit Abram from Genesis 14. And Melchizedek blessed him and said, blessed be Abram by God most high, possessor of heaven and earth, and blessed be God most high, who has delivered your enemies into your hand. And Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. And so this title certainly points to the supremacy of God, who is most high, who possesses all that he has made. And so it's plain to see that if God possesses all that he has made, then certainly in this time of need, David will pray, even cry to God, who is most high. Here, David expresses the spirit of adoption as a child of the living God. And so David's hope wasn't based upon his own strength. You can clearly see that from verse two. but on the character and person of God, who is most high. Look at verse two, who accomplishes all things for me. He knew God was about to, he was above every threat, including Saul, and that no one could touch him apart from God's permission, as he prays in Psalm 59, verse nine. You can look at that later. David also drew confidence from God's track record, remembering how God had come through in past struggles. John Flavel makes this observation. He says, this is trust and dependence on God, though it is not an argument in respect to the dignity of the act. In other words, praying to God. Yet it is so in respect to the nature of the object, a compassionate God who will not expose any that take shelter under his wings. Also in respect to the promise by which protection is assured to them that fly to him for sanctuary. And then he quotes Isaiah 26 three, you keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you because he trusts in you. He goes on, Saul is high, but God is most high. And without permission, he is assured that Saul cannot touch him. He had none to help. And if he had, he knew God must first help the helpers, or they cannot help him. He had no means of defense or escape before him, but the Most High God is not limited by means. If you would turn to Psalm 138 for a moment, we'll see a parallel verse in Psalm 138. Look with me at verse eight. And again, David can say, the Lord will fulfill his purpose for me. I was out hiking in a state park down in Maryland yesterday with my son, Dan. And it's very obvious to me the design, the function, the teleology, the purpose that we see throughout all creation. If you were to look at human anatomy, it's very apparent that every member of our bodies has purpose. Is that not also true in God's providence and his care? There is purpose to it. And we can see that reflected in this verse before us in verse eight. The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me. Your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands. And so when we look at this phrase, fulfill his purpose, it's the same in Hebrew that we find in our text back in Psalm 57. The verb meaning to complete, to perfect, to fail, to cease. So the root idea of the word is to bring to an end. And some translators have added a marginal note to clarify the brevity of our texts in Psalm 57. where they write, I will cry unto God most high, unto God who performeth all things which he has promised. Flavel again, payment is the performance of promises. Grace makes the promise and providence is payment. I'll read that again. Payment is the performance of promises. God, excuse me, grace makes the promise and providence the payment. Mercy is sweet in the promise and much more so in the providential performance of it to us. And when you think about David, what promise would be there? It's not stated in our text. but it is grounded on God's covenant love for his people. Look at verse three, his steadfast love, his hesed love. It is covenant love. Recall with me earlier chapters of 1 Samuel. God chose David to be king over Israel and sent the prophet Samuel when David was a young man. to anoint him. Saul had been rejected by the Lord who disobeyed him, fearing the people instead. And even Saul's son, Jonathan, the rightful heir to the throne, knew all these things, but he assured David that he knew one day David would certainly be king. And so we see that David's confidence before God was grounded in what God had previously promised. And now in this crisis, David's heart and faith are enlarged toward God, who performs all things for him. How different is David's spirit from Jacob? If you remember back at that time when Jacob is informed that Simeon is now being held in Egypt until Benjamin would come. And he just kind of complains to his son, all these things have come against me. And like Jacob, we can fail to perceive God's end, his purpose, in his kind providence in our trials. I quote from John Flavel again. Indeed, providence neither does nor can do anything that is really against the true interest and good of the saints. Do you get that? Providence can never do anything that is really against the true interest and good of the saints. For what are the works of providence but the execution of God's decree and the fulfilling of his word? And there can be no more in providence than is in them. And so now there is nothing but good to the saints in God's purposes and promises. And therefore, whatever providence does concerning them, it must be, as the text speaks, the performance of all things for them. And if so, how cheering, he goes on, how cheering, supporting, and encouraging must be the consideration of these things in a day of distress and trouble. What a life and hope it will inspire our hearts and prayers with when great pressures lie upon us. It had such a cheering influence upon the psalmist at this time, when the state of his affairs was, to the eye of sense and reason, forlorn and desperate. There was now but a hair's breadth, as we say, between him and ruin. And so we can readily borrow Paul's interpretation, remember, of Romans 4, of Abraham's faith, when God commanded him to give up Isaac, to offer him up, the son of promise, as a sacrifice. from Romans 4.20 and 21. No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God. Verse 21, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. And so God's decree is going to go ahead and set bounds to what God will perform in his kind providence toward us. And so we can see that faith in God's sovereignty, even into the details of our lives, that he's in control, that he works everything for his good purposes. This gave David courage to face what was going on in the cave. God's providence means that he's not just watching from afar, but he's actively weaving every detail into our lives, into his good purposes. Even when things look hopeless, as they did for David in the cave, God is working to bring about his purposes. Well, what do we learn from the sovereignty of God in this? First, trust God's control. Trust God's control. When life feels like you're out of control, remind yourself of the sovereignty of a good God. No situation is too big for him to handle. And he's working even in the midst of your hot mess. So trust God's control. Secondly, reflect upon God's faithfulness. Like David, think back on times when God has come through for you, as Aniel reminded us last week. Big or small, journaling these moments can strengthen your faith for current challenges. So reflect upon God's faithfulness to you. Third, rest in God's good plan. If you would turn with me to Romans chapter eight, I bet you anticipated I would be here this morning. Romans chapter eight. We want to perceive first God's purpose, his intention, and his decrees. And we can see that hinted at here. Romans chapter 8. We can also see the outworking of those decrees in his providence. Verse 28, and we know that for those who love God, all things work together, all things work together for good for those who are called according to his purpose. So we can see God's intention, his decrees are there. For those whom he foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his son in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. and now the outworking of that in time. For those whom he predestined, he also called in time. Those whom he called, he also justified in time in God's providence. And those whom he justified, he also glorified. The purpose is accomplished. Look down to verse 32 with me to remind you of this. He who did not spare his own son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things by his providence? Do you see that? And so even when you can't see it, trust in God's purpose, trust in God's plan and the outworking of that plan. by His good and kind providence. So the term divine providence, this is a history lesson here. Do you know that this appears in the final paragraph of our Declaration of Independence? I quote from that, and for the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor. And so this phrase expresses the signers belief that their cause was supported by God's providence, by his guidance and protection. And as you know, in the due course of time, their faith in divine providence was realized and rewarded, and a new nation was born and did not soon miscarry. Another example, the Protestants besieged in Béziers, which is a town in southern France during the Protestant Reformation. They're delivered by a drunken drummer who, going to his quarters at midnight, rang the alarm bell of the town, not knowing what he did. And just then, their enemies were making their assault on the Reformers. And as weak and improbable means had been blessed with success to the church in general, so too the providence of its particular members as well. Flavor recalls what took place on St. Bartholomew's Day, that massacre that took place on August 23rd and 24th in Paris of 1572. during the French wars of religion and targeted French Protestants. And there he records the story of a spider by weaving her web over the mouth of an oven, hid a servant of Christ, Dumoulin, from his enemies who had taken refuge there in that bloody Parisian massacre. He also records that a hen sustained another many days at the same time by giving an egg every day in the place where he hid himself from the cutthroats. And you can see, and we could multiply stories of God's amazing providences of how he had preserved his people in very tight situations. Would you turn to Psalm 55? Just turn back two Psalms with me. Looking at this this morning while I was reading in the Psalms, a wonderful promise that's related to our theme here. Verse 22 of Psalm 55, cast your burden on the Lord. Isn't that what David did? Cast your burden on the Lord and he will sustain you. He will never permit the righteous to be moved. And so how does that matter to us today in our day? David's prayer and praise in Psalm 57 isn't just ancient history, is it? It's a roadmap for navigating our own crises. His crisis shows us that tough times don't have the final word. His cry reminds us that God welcomes our honest prayers. and his trust in a sovereign God assures us that nothing is outside of God's control. And so by reflecting upon God's past faithfulness, we can face today's challenges with hope, knowing that he's working all these things for our good. Now there may be some objections that are circling around the room about now. You may be thinking, well, yes, I believe this is so. But I've been under this trial for such a long time. Why has God delayed in hearing my cry and responding? Well, I understand what you're saying. If you had turned to Psalm 69 verse three, you sound like David did on another occasion here from Psalm 69 verse three, where David cries, I am weary with my crying out, my throat is parched, my eyes grow dim with waiting for my God. And like him, we think prayers are somehow misplaced by God. Do you ever send an email out and it never arrives? or may not arrive till weeks later. It's a little embarrassing for the sender, isn't it? But that does happen from time to time. We think that like those emails that our prayers somehow get misplaced up there in the ether and our hopes are perished. Well, I don't like delays either. Trust me, I can assure you. And yet, I want you to consider another perspective on this with me. How many times has God waited for you in order to complete that obedience that he's been directing you to? And so, will you not now wait for God to bless and answer you as well? Flaval makes the observation. The delay in receiving God's mercies is actually for our benefit. If you would turn to Isaiah 30 for a moment. Isaiah 30 verse 18. Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you. And therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all those who wait for him. God is waiting for us as well as we wait upon him. And this waiting period is God's way of preparing his mercies for you and your heart to receive them. so that you experience the greatest possible comfort. Just as a foolish child might pick an apple before it's ripe, it is far more pleasant and wholesome when it ripens naturally and falls of its own. And so it's a far greater blessing to have a heart ready to give everything to God and follow his will than to immediately get the answer that we desperately want. And so when you get the mercy, God gives you what you want. But when you surrender your heart, you are causing God to rejoice. And so getting a mercy might be just an ordinary good fortune, you might assign that to good luck or something, but a humble heart is truly a gift from God. A humble heart is superior to fulfilling our desires, just as giving glory to God surpasses our own happiness and satisfaction. But another question I want you to think about, could the delay In receiving blessings that you've asked for, be due to your own fitness in receiving them. We ourselves slow the arrival of these mercies, and then we complain of their slow pace. Think with me on Psalm 59, verses one and two. Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save. or his ear dull that it cannot hear, but your iniquities have been a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear. And so the prophet points to a serious concern, sins unconfessed to God. Pastor Mitch pointed us to some reflection for this evening. Unconfessed to God, unrepented of, are the cause of a delay. And you desire this trial of yours to be quickly over. God understands, surely. And yet this could be the very means that he's brought this trial upon you, that you would take stock of your heart and your life. Perhaps you've never really given yourself to Christ by faith in the first place. And these sins of yours may be forgiven, that you would come to him, that they would be forgiven, and that you would submit yourself fully to him as your master. Again, my words go back, my thoughts go back to Acts chapter 3, where Peter preached, repent therefore and turn back. that your sins may be blotted out, the times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, whom heaven must receive until the time of restoring of all things. about which God has spoken by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago. He goes on, Moses said, the Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your brothers. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you. And it shall be that every soul that does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people. And so I must plainly warn you in closing as Peter did, that if you are not joined to Jesus Christ by faith today, you are already under this sentence of death. So turn now, that's easy, right? Turn, turn now back to God, to Christ, in his atoning work on the cross, to pay the penalty of your crimes, to commit your way to him in humble submission. Only then, only then will you have the comfort that we see that David has in Psalm 57. Only then will that comfort belong to you. Amen. Well, let's go to him now in prayer, shall we? Lord, we can see the change that took place in David's heart as you brought him to this realization there in the cave. We thank you and we worship you that you are God most high and that there is no one above you. And David's reply is that your name would be exalted above the heavens, above everything that you created. because of your great power of your supremacy over all your creation. But not only that, for your chesed love, for the promises that you have made and the reality that you have a track record of keeping your promises and that we can look back even in our lives and look back and see how you have been faithful to us time and again. Lord, encourage our hearts, especially those that are experiencing trials today, that you would draw near to them, that you would cause them to cry out to you, that they would be, that they would trust in you and that they would glory in your kind providence in their lives. Help us, each one of us, we pray, to give you glory. We ask this in our Savior's matchless name.