He Delights in Me

03/11/2019 16:01

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Date: 31 October, 2019
Text: 2 Samuel 22:20-25
Title: He Delighted In Me
Theme:
Proposition: Live so that God delights in you.
 
 
Introduction:
ill. New book came out this week, authored by the Queen's Dress Maker, Angela Kelly.
"The Other Side of the Coin: The Qeen, the Dresser and the Wardrobe."
- We've often wondered if it was true that the queen had people wear her shoes to break them in. 
- We may wonder if the queen enjoys a good joke. In the book her dress maker reveals that she once played an April Fool's joke on the Monarch when they were in Australia - toy "kookaburra" bird.
 
It seems obvious from the articles about this book, that the queen has a special delight in her dress maker even having her publish this book with her blessing.
 
exp. Our text this morning is about a an earthly monarch, King David, and his special relationship with the Heavenly monarch. In this book, written with the blessing and enablements of God Himself, David reveals THAT GOD HAD A SPECIAL DELIGHT IN DAVID.
 
text: 2 Samuel 22:20-25
20  He brought me forth also into a large place: he delivered me, because he delighted in me.
21  The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness: according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.
exp. Our text is in the middle of a song written by King David
2Sa 22:1  And David spake unto the LORD the words of this song in the day that the LORD had delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul:
 
NOTE: Like the monarch and her dress maker, David knew he was nothing in comparison to God.
Psa 34:6  This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.
Psa 8:4  What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?
Psa 144:3  LORD, what is man, that thou takest knowledge of him! or the son of man, that thou makest account of him! 
 exp. And yet, David could say, "HE DELIGHTED IN ME."
1.) AND Because God delighted in David he delivered him.
20  He brought me forth also into a large place: he delivered me, because he delighted in me.
2.) AND Because God delighted in David, he rewarded him.
21  The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness: according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.
 
note: There is a wonderful confidence in David's Song which is written at the height of His experience of the mercy of God, protecting him and delivering him. HE KNEW THAT GOD DELIGHTED IN HIM BECAUSE HE WAS LIVING IN A WAY THAT DELIGHTED GOD.
 
 
Live so that God delights in you. Does God delight in you today? Does your heart have confidence in your relationship with God? Are you right in His sight this morning?
 
I. Live so that God delights in you. - Get on God's road.
22  For I have kept the ways of the LORD, 
exp. David's way was God's way. He kept himself on God's road.
ill. Jonadab's children - were taught their father's way - no wine, no fields and vineyards, he taught them to live a nomadic life. They refused to depart from that way.
 exp. God used Jonadab as a an example of a man who taught his son to walk in his way and who succeeded. Jeremiah 35
12  Then came the word of the LORD unto Jeremiah, saying,
13  Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Go and tell the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, Will ye not receive instruction to hearken to my words? saith the LORD.
14  The words of Jonadab the son of Rechab, that he commanded his sons not to drink wine, are performed; for unto this day they drink none, but obey their father's commandment: notwithstanding I have spoken unto you, rising early and speaking; but ye hearkened not unto me.
15  I have sent also unto you all my servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them, saying, Return ye now every man from his evil way, and amend your doings, and go not after other gods to serve them, and ye shall dwell in the land which I have given to you and to your fathers: but ye have not inclined your ear, nor hearkened unto me.
question: Have you listened to preachers and teachers who have instructed you about God's way? God wants man to return out of the evil way, amend their doings and go after Him.
A. God's road is the way of righteousness.
Pro 8:20  I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment:
Pro 12:28  In the way of righteousness is life; and in the pathway thereof there is no death.
 exp. God's righteous way is the way of life and safety.
ill. Have you seen that CA is having horrible fires again? I watched a video of motorists trapped on the motorway with fire coming. They were excaping by driving accross the verge through a whole in the fence and getting on another pathway.
exp. Men are not on the path of righteousness when they are born. They are on the path of death and destruction. THEY DON'T BELIEVE THAT.
Ill. 3 witnessing opportunities Monday.
1.) Theology student who said she did not believe in God.
2.) Evolutionary scientist
3.) Artificial Intelligence Student
exp. All of them are sincere in their unbelief as to the dangers of the path they are on.
Pro 14:12  There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
 app. If you have not dealt with your sin and exited the motorway of unrighteousness, you will someday face the fire of God's wrath.
B. God's road is the way of truth.
 exp. David was on the way of truth.
Psa 119:30  I have chosen the way of truth: thy judgments have I laid before me.
note: The way of truth is the way of Jesus and the Cross of Calvary.
Joh 14:6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
 exp. If I could just summarize some truth today about Jesus - The truth is....
1. Jesus created all things in 6 days. 
Col 1:16  For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
2. Jesus is God. 
exp. He's creator, judge, forgiver of men's sins, worshipped, 
3. Jesus died as a sinless sacrifice for your sin.
Luk 23:33  And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.
4. Jesus rose again from the dead.
Acts 2:32  This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.
note: There are many today who want to stop you from going down God's road of truth.
2 Peter 2:1  But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
2  And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.
app. If you speak evil of the way of truth - you aren't on it. You are in danger.
C. God's road is the way of peace.
ill. John the Baptist as a preacher would lead people into the way of peace.
Luk 1:79  To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.
exp. Do you have peace this morning? Can you rest your head on your pillow knowing of a certainty that heaven is your home and that you have been forgiven by God?
ill. Most people in our day do not know what it means to be in God's way of peace.  
Romans 3:12  They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
13  Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:
14  Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:
15  Their feet are swift to shed blood:
16  Destruction and misery are in their ways:
17  And the way of peace have they not known:
18  There is no fear of God before their eyes.
app. Is your way God's way? If not, Live so God delights in you - get in God's Way.
 
II. Live so that God delights in you. - Stick close to God.
...and have not wickedly departed from my God.
 exp. David got on God's way and stayed WITH GOD on His way.
A. Stick close to God - Be a faithful companion.
ill. First Dog - Katie told me when we got married that if someone gave me a dog, I could keep it. We had been married about 6 months when we went to ASDA and they was a family giving away puppies. I got my dog, Annie.
 exp. Annie's besetting sin was departing from her master. She would look at me, look the other way.... run as fast as she could. As her master, I can tell you, I would have delighted in her more if she wasn't prone to departing from me. (I can give Duchess more liberty because generally speaking she will stay with me. She's a more faithful companion.)
question: How careful are you not to depart from God? Are you His faithful companion?
1 Corinthians 4:2  Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.
B. Stick close to God - Be careful not to get off of the path (because God is on the path).
exp: Any departure from God is a "wicked" departure? "and have not wickedly departed from my God."
ill. I would imagine with my dog, Annie, that some scent would catch her nose and she just couldn't control her desire to go after that smell. With her it seemed (as with many dogs), the worse the smell the more she was attracted.
exp. Satan is good at alluring men through their own perverse desire (lusts) to get off of the path and to stop walking with God. He has some smells that are repulsive to Almighty God but are perversely attractive to the fallen heart of mankind.
Jas 1:14  But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 15  Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
16  Do not err, my beloved brethren.
exp. If you are going to walk with God, you have to guard yourself from wickedly departing from God's path.
Proverbs 4:
25  Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.
26  Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.
27  Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.
app.
 transition: Live so that God delights in you. - 
Get on God's Road - Stick close to God. 
(Be His faithful companion and be careful not to get off of the path which He is on.)  
 
III. Live so that God delights in you. - Set His Word before you.
23  For all his judgments were before me: 
exp. David was well versed in God's law - so much so under the inpiration of God's Spirit he penned -  Psalm 119 - 176 verses, each one having at least one reference to God's Word.
Psa 119:11  Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
Psa 119:30  I have chosen the way of truth: thy judgments have I laid before me.
Psa 119:105  NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
exp. David was safe on God's path because he knew God's law.
ill. Teaching Kay Lee to drive - reminded me of when we first arrived and had to take the test ourselves. We didn't begin to study the book until after having been here several months. Once I had the law book in front of me, I found the signs along the path speaking to me warning me of danger - keeping me safe on the road.
exp. David had God's sign posts in front of Him keeping him safely in the way. 
app. We need to set God's Word before us to keep us safely in the way.
A. Set His Word before you by daily meditation.
 exp. You need to daily spend time in God's Word.
note: The first song David wrote was about spending time daily in God's Word.
1  Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
2  But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
3  And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
4  The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.
5  Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
6  For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.
exp. God's way, the way of the righteous, is one of daily meditation in God's Word.
ill. When God commissioned Joshua - he commanded him to daily meditation in His Word.
Jos 1:8  This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
app. You won't stay in God's way long at all if you aren't spending time daily meditating upon God's Word. Plan a time to read God's Word and don't let a day go that you don't spend time in God's Word.
B. Set His Word before your family by instruction. 
ill. Family Altar - a daily family devotion time. I remember doing nightly devotions with Grandma and Grandpa Shore when we stayed with them. 
exp. If this is an unfamiliar idea to you, it used to be understood that Christian families would do this.
 ill. I'm reading Dr. Chalmers memoirs - he would hold family devotions at the houses he visited.
exp. It is not unusual because it is exactly what God commanded His people to do.
Deuteronomy 6:6  And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:
7  And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
8  And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.
9  And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.
now - In our family - we have family altar from 7:30-7:45 each weekday. We have an evening family devotion time each night we don't have church.
app. God would delight in your decision and faithfulness to keep His Word before you. (Devotions, family altar)
transition: Live so that God delights in you. - 
Get on God's Road - Stick close to God - Set His Word Before you.
 
IV. Live so that God delights in you. - Submit to His law.
...and as for his statutes, I did not depart from them.
 exp. David didn't just know God's law in his head. David submitted to God's law in his life.
ill. I've mentioned already that we are teaching Kay Lee to drive. The test here is very difficult. Thankfully, Katie and I were both able to pass the test and get our driver's license. But, just passing the test didn't make me a good driver. 
exp. There is a difference between knowing the law and submitting to it.
 ill. Joshua's commissioning - 
Jos 1:8  This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
exp. He was not to JUST know God's Word. He was to SUBMIT to God's Word and do it.
 question: Are you in full submission to God's Word?
ill. Hymns of submission to God are often sung at an invitation time. 
- I Surrender All.
- Have Thine Own Way Lord.
- Is Your All on the Altar?
 exp. Why do we sing them - because God's Word has just been preached and our congregation is faced with a choice. Will I submit to God's law or not? Salvation, baptistm, church membership, etc.
 app. Have you departed from God's law or have you submitted? God is delighted in those who are submitted.
transition: Live so that God delights in you. - 
Get on God's Road - Stick close to God - Set His Word Before you - submit to His law.
 
V. Live so that God delights in you. - Stand up to God's examination.
24  I was also upright before him,
exp. David wasn't afraid of God's all seeing eyes. He knew His heart was right with God and welcomed God's inspection. 
 ill. David's prayer - Psalm 139:23  Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: 24  And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
 ill. In University - once a semester we had white glove inspection. I didn't mind and rather looked forward to having a clean room and passing inspection. We had a list of what was expected and just had to be ready with each box ticked to pass inpsection.
exp. I like to imagine that the inspector of our room took delight in the cleanliness of what he found there. Other students were a bit more anxious when their rooms were being examined.
 ill. We know today God's expectations for the righteous living of his Sons. And we know that God takes delight in His servants who pass His scrutiny.
Job 1:8  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?
app. Does God rejoice today in His examination of you? If God delights in you, then your life should pass his scrutiny with His approval. You should be able to stand up to God's examination. 
 
VI. Live so that God delights in you. - Stay away from sin.
...and have kept myself from mine iniquity.
def. iniquity - evil perversity, mishief. 
 exp. David used a possessive pronoun "mine iniquity. He owned his sin. He didn't make excuse for it. As he does in Psalm 51.
Psa 51:2  Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
exp. Notice the same possessive pronouns - mine iniquity - my sin.
question: Have you ever broken God's law? 
Heb 12:1  Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
1 Co 10:13  There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
 question: How careful are you to keep yourself from your iniquity?
"Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us."
"Who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."
exp. You can be living in victory over sin today if you wanted to live in victory over sin.
ill. Some of you may know that Katie asked me out on our first date. She needed just a friend and my sister asked me if I wouldn't mind being that friend. I wanted to get caught and I did.
exp. I hesitate to use a positive illustration for a negative truth.
app. Some people are "caught in sin today" because they want to get caught. They don't delight the heart of God because they do not KEEP THEMSELVES FROM THEIR INIQUITY. David did.
 
 
Conclusion: And So David said....
25  Therefore the LORD hath recompensed me according to my righteousness; according to my cleanness in his eye sight.
exp. David credited the blessing of Deliverance and Reward to God's delight in Him.
20  He brought me forth also into a large place: he delivered me, because he delighted in me.
 
You ought to live in such a way that God delights in you. Are you doing so?
 
1) Have you gotten on God's road? The way of righteousness, truth and peace?
2.) Are you sticking close to God? A faithful companion. Careful to stay by Him.
3.) Have you set His Word before you? Personal and family devotions.
4.) Are you submitted to His law? It's not enough to know it - you must keep it.
5.) Does your life stand up to God's examination? It can, if you just follow his list and clean accordingly.
6.) Are you keeping yourself from your iniquity? 
 
 ill. Sadly - David would taste at the end of his life some rewards for his disobedience when he would anger God by His sin.
- Committing adultery with Bathsheba
- Murdering Uriah the Hittite
- Numbering the Children of Israel.
 
ill. Another song of David - Psalm 51 - A song of repentence and remorse.
7  Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8  Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
9  Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.
10  Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
11  Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
12  Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
 
 question: Do you need to get back to a life that delights the Lord?
 

Date: 31 October, 2019

Text: 2 Samuel 22:20-25

Title: He Delighted In Me

Theme:

Proposition: Live so that God delights in you.

 

 

Introduction:

ill. New book came out this week, authored by the Queen's Dress Maker, Angela Kelly.

"The Other Side of the Coin: The Qeen, the Dresser and the Wardrobe."

- We've often wondered if it was true that the queen had people wear her shoes to break them in. 

- We may wonder if the queen enjoys a good joke. In the book her dress maker reveals that she once played an April Fool's joke on the Monarch when they were in Australia - toy "kookaburra" bird.

 

It seems obvious from the articles about this book, that the queen has a special delight in her dress maker even having her publish this book with her blessing.

 

exp. Our text this morning is about a an earthly monarch, King David, and his special relationship with the Heavenly monarch. In this book, written with the blessing and enablements of God Himself, David reveals THAT GOD HAD A SPECIAL DELIGHT IN DAVID.

 

text: 2 Samuel 22:20-25

20  He brought me forth also into a large place: he delivered me, because he delighted in me.

21  The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness: according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.

exp. Our text is in the middle of a song written by King David

2Sa 22:1  And David spake unto the LORD the words of this song in the day that the LORD had delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul:

 

NOTE: Like the monarch and her dress maker, David knew he was nothing in comparison to God.

Psa 34:6  This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.

Psa 8:4  What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?

Psa 144:3  LORD, what is man, that thou takest knowledge of him! or the son of man, that thou makest account of him! 

 exp. And yet, David could say, "HE DELIGHTED IN ME."

1.) AND Because God delighted in David he delivered him.

20  He brought me forth also into a large place: he delivered me, because he delighted in me.

2.) AND Because God delighted in David, he rewarded him.

21  The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness: according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.

 

note: There is a wonderful confidence in David's Song which is written at the height of His experience of the mercy of God, protecting him and delivering him. HE KNEW THAT GOD DELIGHTED IN HIM BECAUSE HE WAS LIVING IN A WAY THAT DELIGHTED GOD.

 

 

Live so that God delights in you. Does God delight in you today? Does your heart have confidence in your relationship with God? Are you right in His sight this morning?

 

I. Live so that God delights in you. - Get on God's road.

22  For I have kept the ways of the LORD, 

exp. David's way was God's way. He kept himself on God's road.

ill. Jonadab's children - were taught their father's way - no wine, no fields and vineyards, he taught them to live a nomadic life. They refused to depart from that way.

 exp. God used Jonadab as a an example of a man who taught his son to walk in his way and who succeeded. Jeremiah 35

12  Then came the word of the LORD unto Jeremiah, saying,

13  Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Go and tell the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, Will ye not receive instruction to hearken to my words? saith the LORD.

14  The words of Jonadab the son of Rechab, that he commanded his sons not to drink wine, are performed; for unto this day they drink none, but obey their father's commandment: notwithstanding I have spoken unto you, rising early and speaking; but ye hearkened not unto me.

15  I have sent also unto you all my servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them, saying, Return ye now every man from his evil way, and amend your doings, and go not after other gods to serve them, and ye shall dwell in the land which I have given to you and to your fathers: but ye have not inclined your ear, nor hearkened unto me.

question: Have you listened to preachers and teachers who have instructed you about God's way? God wants man to return out of the evil way, amend their doings and go after Him.

A. God's road is the way of righteousness.

Pro 8:20  I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment:

Pro 12:28  In the way of righteousness is life; and in the pathway thereof there is no death.

 exp. God's righteous way is the way of life and safety.

ill. Have you seen that CA is having horrible fires again? I watched a video of motorists trapped on the motorway with fire coming. They were excaping by driving accross the verge through a whole in the fence and getting on another pathway.

exp. Men are not on the path of righteousness when they are born. They are on the path of death and destruction. THEY DON'T BELIEVE THAT.

Ill. 3 witnessing opportunities Monday.

1.) Theology student who said she did not believe in God.

2.) Evolutionary scientist

3.) Artificial Intelligence Student

exp. All of them are sincere in their unbelief as to the dangers of the path they are on.

Pro 14:12  There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

 app. If you have not dealt with your sin and exited the motorway of unrighteousness, you will someday face the fire of God's wrath.

B. God's road is the way of truth.

 exp. David was on the way of truth.

Psa 119:30  I have chosen the way of truth: thy judgments have I laid before me.

note: The way of truth is the way of Jesus and the Cross of Calvary.

Joh 14:6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

 exp. If I could just summarize some truth today about Jesus - The truth is....

1. Jesus created all things in 6 days. 

Col 1:16  For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

2. Jesus is God. 

exp. He's creator, judge, forgiver of men's sins, worshipped, 

3. Jesus died as a sinless sacrifice for your sin.

Luk 23:33  And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.

4. Jesus rose again from the dead.

Acts 2:32  This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.

note: There are many today who want to stop you from going down God's road of truth.

2 Peter 2:1  But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

2  And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.

app. If you speak evil of the way of truth - you aren't on it. You are in danger.

C. God's road is the way of peace.

ill. John the Baptist as a preacher would lead people into the way of peace.

Luk 1:79  To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

exp. Do you have peace this morning? Can you rest your head on your pillow knowing of a certainty that heaven is your home and that you have been forgiven by God?

ill. Most people in our day do not know what it means to be in God's way of peace.  

Romans 3:12  They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

13  Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:

14  Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:

15  Their feet are swift to shed blood:

16  Destruction and misery are in their ways:

17  And the way of peace have they not known:

18  There is no fear of God before their eyes.

app. Is your way God's way? If not, Live so God delights in you - get in God's Way.

 

II. Live so that God delights in you. - Stick close to God.

...and have not wickedly departed from my God.

 exp. David got on God's way and stayed WITH GOD on His way.

A. Stick close to God - Be a faithful companion.

ill. First Dog - Katie told me when we got married that if someone gave me a dog, I could keep it. We had been married about 6 months when we went to ASDA and they was a family giving away puppies. I got my dog, Annie.

 exp. Annie's besetting sin was departing from her master. She would look at me, look the other way.... run as fast as she could. As her master, I can tell you, I would have delighted in her more if she wasn't prone to departing from me. (I can give Duchess more liberty because generally speaking she will stay with me. She's a more faithful companion.)

question: How careful are you not to depart from God? Are you His faithful companion?

1 Corinthians 4:2  Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.

B. Stick close to God - Be careful not to get off of the path (because God is on the path).

exp: Any departure from God is a "wicked" departure? "and have not wickedly departed from my God."

ill. I would imagine with my dog, Annie, that some scent would catch her nose and she just couldn't control her desire to go after that smell. With her it seemed (as with many dogs), the worse the smell the more she was attracted.

exp. Satan is good at alluring men through their own perverse desire (lusts) to get off of the path and to stop walking with God. He has some smells that are repulsive to Almighty God but are perversely attractive to the fallen heart of mankind.

Jas 1:14  But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 15  Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

16  Do not err, my beloved brethren.

exp. If you are going to walk with God, you have to guard yourself from wickedly departing from God's path.

Proverbs 4:

25  Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.

26  Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.

27  Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.

app.

 transition: Live so that God delights in you. - 

Get on God's Road - Stick close to God. 

(Be His faithful companion and be careful not to get off of the path which He is on.)  

 

III. Live so that God delights in you. - Set His Word before you.

23  For all his judgments were before me: 

exp. David was well versed in God's law - so much so under the inpiration of God's Spirit he penned -  Psalm 119 - 176 verses, each one having at least one reference to God's Word.

Psa 119:11  Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

Psa 119:30  I have chosen the way of truth: thy judgments have I laid before me.

Psa 119:105  NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

exp. David was safe on God's path because he knew God's law.

ill. Teaching Kay Lee to drive - reminded me of when we first arrived and had to take the test ourselves. We didn't begin to study the book until after having been here several months. Once I had the law book in front of me, I found the signs along the path speaking to me warning me of danger - keeping me safe on the road.

exp. David had God's sign posts in front of Him keeping him safely in the way. 

app. We need to set God's Word before us to keep us safely in the way.

A. Set His Word before you by daily meditation.

 exp. You need to daily spend time in God's Word.

note: The first song David wrote was about spending time daily in God's Word.

1  Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

2  But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

3  And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

4  The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.

5  Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.

6  For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

exp. God's way, the way of the righteous, is one of daily meditation in God's Word.

ill. When God commissioned Joshua - he commanded him to daily meditation in His Word.

Jos 1:8  This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

app. You won't stay in God's way long at all if you aren't spending time daily meditating upon God's Word. Plan a time to read God's Word and don't let a day go that you don't spend time in God's Word.

B. Set His Word before your family by instruction. 

ill. Family Altar - a daily family devotion time. I remember doing nightly devotions with Grandma and Grandpa Shore when we stayed with them. 

exp. If this is an unfamiliar idea to you, it used to be understood that Christian families would do this.

 ill. I'm reading Dr. Chalmers memoirs - he would hold family devotions at the houses he visited.

exp. It is not unusual because it is exactly what God commanded His people to do.

Deuteronomy 6:6  And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:

7  And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.

8  And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.

9  And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.

now - In our family - we have family altar from 7:30-7:45 each weekday. We have an evening family devotion time each night we don't have church.

app. God would delight in your decision and faithfulness to keep His Word before you. (Devotions, family altar)

transition: Live so that God delights in you. - 

Get on God's Road - Stick close to God - Set His Word Before you.

 

IV. Live so that God delights in you. - Submit to His law.

...and as for his statutes, I did not depart from them.

 exp. David didn't just know God's law in his head. David submitted to God's law in his life.

ill. I've mentioned already that we are teaching Kay Lee to drive. The test here is very difficult. Thankfully, Katie and I were both able to pass the test and get our driver's license. But, just passing the test didn't make me a good driver. 

exp. There is a difference between knowing the law and submitting to it.

 ill. Joshua's commissioning - 

Jos 1:8  This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

exp. He was not to JUST know God's Word. He was to SUBMIT to God's Word and do it.

 question: Are you in full submission to God's Word?

ill. Hymns of submission to God are often sung at an invitation time. 

- I Surrender All.

- Have Thine Own Way Lord.

- Is Your All on the Altar?

 exp. Why do we sing them - because God's Word has just been preached and our congregation is faced with a choice. Will I submit to God's law or not? Salvation, baptistm, church membership, etc.

 app. Have you departed from God's law or have you submitted? God is delighted in those who are submitted.

transition: Live so that God delights in you. - 

Get on God's Road - Stick close to God - Set His Word Before you - submit to His law.

 

V. Live so that God delights in you. - Stand up to God's examination.

24  I was also upright before him,

exp. David wasn't afraid of God's all seeing eyes. He knew His heart was right with God and welcomed God's inspection. 

 ill. David's prayer - Psalm 139:23  Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: 24  And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

 ill. In University - once a semester we had white glove inspection. I didn't mind and rather looked forward to having a clean room and passing inspection. We had a list of what was expected and just had to be ready with each box ticked to pass inpsection.

exp. I like to imagine that the inspector of our room took delight in the cleanliness of what he found there. Other students were a bit more anxious when their rooms were being examined.

 ill. We know today God's expectations for the righteous living of his Sons. And we know that God takes delight in His servants who pass His scrutiny.

Job 1:8  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?

app. Does God rejoice today in His examination of you? If God delights in you, then your life should pass his scrutiny with His approval. You should be able to stand up to God's examination. 

 

VI. Live so that God delights in you. - Stay away from sin.

...and have kept myself from mine iniquity.

def. iniquity - evil perversity, mishief. 

 exp. David used a possessive pronoun "mine iniquity. He owned his sin. He didn't make excuse for it. As he does in Psalm 51.

Psa 51:2  Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

exp. Notice the same possessive pronouns - mine iniquity - my sin.

question: Have you ever broken God's law? 

Heb 12:1  Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

1 Co 10:13  There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

 question: How careful are you to keep yourself from your iniquity?

"Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us."

"Who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."

exp. You can be living in victory over sin today if you wanted to live in victory over sin.

ill. Some of you may know that Katie asked me out on our first date. She needed just a friend and my sister asked me if I wouldn't mind being that friend. I wanted to get caught and I did.

exp. I hesitate to use a positive illustration for a negative truth.

app. Some people are "caught in sin today" because they want to get caught. They don't delight the heart of God because they do not KEEP THEMSELVES FROM THEIR INIQUITY. David did.

 

 

Conclusion: And So David said....

25  Therefore the LORD hath recompensed me according to my righteousness; according to my cleanness in his eye sight.

exp. David credited the blessing of Deliverance and Reward to God's delight in Him.

20  He brought me forth also into a large place: he delivered me, because he delighted in me.

 

You ought to live in such a way that God delights in you. Are you doing so?

 

1) Have you gotten on God's road? The way of righteousness, truth and peace?

2.) Are you sticking close to God? A faithful companion. Careful to stay by Him.

3.) Have you set His Word before you? Personal and family devotions.

4.) Are you submitted to His law? It's not enough to know it - you must keep it.

5.) Does your life stand up to God's examination? It can, if you just follow his list and clean accordingly.

6.) Are you keeping yourself from your iniquity? 

 

 ill. Sadly - David would taste at the end of his life some rewards for his disobedience when he would anger God by His sin.

- Committing adultery with Bathsheba

- Murdering Uriah the Hittite

- Numbering the Children of Israel.

 

ill. Another song of David - Psalm 51 - A song of repentence and remorse.

7  Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

8  Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.

9  Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.

10  Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

11  Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.

12  Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

 

 question: Do you need to get back to a life that delights the Lord?

 

 

 

 
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