Psalm 55 | Summer of Psalms

Good morning, Munster Church. My name is Andy

Schultz, as Pastor Jim said. Greetings from your

brothers and sisters in Christ at Faith Church.

I actually serve on Faith's staff as the executive

administrator, and it's with great privilege

that I get to be here today. to give Pastor Jim

a week away from the pulpit, which is a huge

deal and a huge relief. I know it seems like

he's a machine and he can just do this like automatically

every single week, but it's a lot that goes into

preaching a sermon. So thankful that he gets

a chance this weekend to serve as a father and

a husband and have that rest. And I'm also honored

to be able to declare the very word of God as

we continue in this summer of Psalms today. covering

Psalm 55. And Psalm 55 reads like many other

psalms that we attribute to David, the king of

Israel. David has problems, and he brings them

to the Lord. And we see many of these psalms

that sound like desperate pleas. He's on the

run. You've been studying them. You've been hearing

about them. Like he's in immediate danger of

his life, which, if we're honest, isn't exactly

something that we can always... directly relate

to, at least I hope not. Maybe that is your story.

But Psalm 55 has a very unique twist in it. And

I want you to listen, see if it stands out to

you. It has an angle that makes this psalm kind

of stand out because of the situation that David

describes. Here it is, Psalm 55, and be on the

lookout for that. I'll read the entire psalm.

It says this, Give ear to my prayer, O God, and

hide not yourself. from my plea for mercy. Attend

to me and answer me. I am restless in my complaint

and I moan because of the noise of the enemy,

because of the oppression of the wicked, for

they drop trouble upon me and in anger they bear

a grudge against me. My heart is in anguish within

me. The terrors of death have fallen upon me.

Fear and trembling come upon me and horror overwhelms

me. And I say, Oh, that I had wings like a dove,

I would fly away and be at rest. Yes, I would

wander far away, I would lodge in the wilderness.

I would hurry to find a shelter from the raging

wind and tempest. Destroy, O Lord, divide their

tongues, for I see violence and strife in the

city. Day and night they go around it on its

walls, and iniquity and trouble are within it.

Ruin is in its midst, oppression and fraud. do

not depart from its marketplace. For it is not

an enemy who taunts me, then I could bear it.

It is not an adversary who deals insolently with

me, then I could hide from him. But it is you,

a man, my equal, my companion, my familiar friend.

We used to take sweet counsel together. Within

God's house, we walked in the throng. Let death

steal over them. Let them go down to Sheol alive,

for evil is in their dwelling place and in their

heart. But I call to God, and the Lord will save

me. Evening and morning at noon, I utter my complaint

and moan, and he hears my voice. He redeems my

soul in safety from the battle that I wage, for

many are arrayed against me. God will give ear

and humble them, he who is enthroned from of

old, because they do not change and do not fear

God. My companion stretched out his hand against

his friends. He violated his covenant. His speech

was smooth as butter, yet war was in his heart.

His words were softer than oil, yet they were

drawn swords. Cast your burden on the Lord. and

he will sustain you. He will never permit the

righteous to be moved. But you, O God, will cast

them down into the pit of destruction. Men of

blood and treachery shall not live out half their

days, but I will trust in you. Friends, the grass

withers and the flowers fade, but the word of

our God stands forever. Let's pray together.

Father God, we thank you for this word. We thank

you that David lived his life and experienced

these things and wrote these psalms that we could

compare them to our lives and know, Lord, that

these crazy things that happen to us, they're

not out of the ordinary. This is the life. This

is the life here on earth. We live in sin, and

Jesus, we know that you are redeeming us. God,

you are redeeming us in and through your Son,

Jesus, and for that we are thankful. That we

can endure these trials, endure these horrible

things that we experience. Because we know, Jesus,

you are on the throne. High above. With a name

that is greater than all other names. And so

we thank you that we could come to your table

today, Jesus. That we could be restored by your

blood today, Jesus. That we could confess our

sin to you, Jesus, and be redeemed, Jesus. For

that, we are thankful. And now we are cleansed

and we can hear this word with open eyes and

open ears, open mind and open heart to know what

you have for us as a church today. And so we

thank you, Lord God, for this word. We pray in

the name of Jesus. Amen. Let his spirit be present

with us as we hear today. So did you see the

thing that made the psalm stand out, made it

a little different? It seems that David was...

That he was betrayed by someone he trusted dearly.

And the pain from that is evident. So let me

sum this passage up and what I hope that we can

take away from this. I like to take things and

kind of boil them down to like a little sentence

or two. And this is what I would say. That even

in betrayal, even in betrayal, when it hurts,

you belong to God. Draw near. Even in betrayal,

you belong to God. Draw near to Jesus. So we've

spent this Independence Day weekend celebrating

America's freedom, blowing off our fingers. We

celebrate because we rid ourselves of the rule

of the British monarchy, right? And as we celebrate

that, I'm really interested in the story of a

notorious colonial American figure by the name

of Benedict Arnold. Has anybody heard that name

before? Lots of hands up there, lots of historians.

So infamous is Benedict Arnold that just mentioning

his name, for those that know his story, is to

speak synonymously with the term betrayal. So

for those that aren't aware, Benedict Arnold

was born in colonial Connecticut in the 1740s,

and during the time of the Revolutionary War,

he was an American military leader, American

military leader, and I want to emphasize that.

who was entrusted to command West Point in New

York, which is a very strategic location. There's

a river and all these things. It was a really

important post that he had on behalf of the Americans.

But secretly, he was planning to surrender the

fort to the British. Why? You also have to know

this about Benedict Arnold. He was wounded in

battle earlier in his career. So he was injured.

He was hurting. He felt like a political pawn

as they were making decisions about army promotions.

And he was also married to a woman that was thought

to be a British loyalist. And then he owed a

debt. He actually owed a debt from a previous

accounted for fund in a previous operation. So

he's desperate. He owes money. He's conflicted.

He's likely bitter. And so Benedict Arnold sold

out his side of the battle to the British for

20 ,000 British pounds, which may or may not

seem like a lot until I tell you that translated

to today's money, that's about $3 million. But

his plot was discovered before it actually was

implemented. So instead of facing charges for

treason, which would have been appropriate for

such a move, he escaped. He began advising and

fighting for the other side. The British. So

imagine being General George Washington, and

you have entrusted Benedict Arnold, you have

given him this very important post. With your

troops, you've given him a fort and command over

the strategic location in this river, and then

you find out the whole time that he was actually

working for the enemy. So now rewind about 2

,800 years, and you can kind of get where David

is coming from here. Look at Psalm 55, verse

Psalms 55:13

13. It says, but it is you, a man, my equal,

my companion, my familiar friend. We used to

take sweet counsel together within God's house.

We walked in the throng. There's a relationship

here that did exist until you betrayed me. Have

you ever been there? Have you ever been in a

situation where you have felt betrayed? Perhaps

it's not a betrayal to the level of Benedict

Arnold. I would hope not. I don't think you've

ever been involved in a conflict that would sway

a large -scale war. But let me ask you this.

Have you ever been the one who was betrayed?

Because I bet when you're the one who is betrayed,

others might not think your betrayal is as big

as what Benedict Arnold did, but to you it's

actually just as much. It's just as important.

It has affected you just as much. Have you ever

been betrayed and thought, how? Could you? How

could you? Perhaps you have felt the desperation

of the pain caused by someone close to you turning

their back on you and hurting you. And I've seen

this over and over again recently. It's kind

of been a theme in my life with those that I'm

around. In my family and my friendships and in

pastoral care responsibilities, I have been observing

close people to me enduring the pain of divorce

specifically. Which is incredible betrayal. In

fact, I would say that it seems to be the hardest

of betrayals to endure. When it comes to human

relationships, right? Two people become one and

they share everything. All of their intimate

secrets, all of their insecurities, and all of

their trust. And then for whatever reason, the

one becomes separated into two again. And the

things that you know about the other, all those

intimate details begin to come out. and push

you further apart. And it feels like betrayal.

Nothing feels more like betrayal when an ex -spouse

uses the information that they have about you

to hurt you in divorce negotiations or as co

-parents. And it leaves you saying, how could

you? We had something, but now, why? I remember

the feeling of disgust I felt when former Chicago

Cubs catcher Wilson Contreras signed with the

St. Louis Cardinals. Like, ew. Gross. How could

you? Yes. The divorce didn't really stick with

us, but the Cubs analogy did. We're like, yeah.

How could you? You're the worst. There's 29 other

teams, and that's the one you chose? Come on.

What about when someone leaves your church? Churches

are families, friends. But sometimes we treat

churches like they're independent businesses

that have to impress me as a consumer or I'm

out of here. And then you get the classic betrayal

that occurs in the form of a departure and then

a subsequent scathing Google review. about your

church. Well, the people there at church X, they

are very unfriendly and I wouldn't recommend

it to you. Or pastor so -and -so, he had no time

for me or something like that. It feels like

betrayal, right? Because they were part of your

family and then boom, they're out there and they're

taking what they learned or experienced here

and now they're smearing your great name as a

result. Friends, that is a betrayal. So you want

to know a fun story? I just wanted to see if

that's happened here, so I checked out your church's

Google reviews. May the Lord bless you. Is anybody

nervous right now? All right, I'll read you a

few. They're all good, by the way. I'll just

give the end away. Someone said this. This isn't

just a building. They genuinely care for each

other and they love the Lord. All are welcome.

All are sinners. Awesome. Way to go. You did

it, Munster Church. That's it. Here's another

one. It says, friendly people, good environment,

great sermons. That was written before today,

just so you're aware. Another one, the last one.

Great service, energetic, and moving young pastor.

I would recommend to everyone. Young pastor?

Pastor Jim? You invited me, just for the record.

So despite there not being negative Google reviews,

you passed the test, by the way, just so you're

aware. The clause, right, they come out when

people separate from the church. And I know that

you've experienced this. You're thinking of somebody

right now. I guarantee it. Have you ever had

a pastor leave your church? That feels like betrayal,

doesn't it? It's like, hey, we had a good thing

here. Like, how could you? Even in betrayal,

friends. You belong to God. Because it happens

inside of the church too. So draw near to Jesus.

That's our takeaway. Let's break that sentence

down into three little parts to truly understand

the place of the psalmist. In this case, David.

To truly understand how we can be comforted when

our world is turned upside down by somebody close

to us. So let's start with the first part. Even

in betrayal. You see, David, of course, was betrayed

by someone close. But scholars can't really pinpoint

an exact culprit here. We have a lot of records

of David's life. 2 Samuel, 1 Chronicles. But

from that, we know David experienced betrayal

over and over again by his son Absalom, for example,

his counselor Ahithophel. But the details of

those specific incidents don't necessarily line

up with the wording here in Psalm 55. So it's

really kind of a mystery to know the details

around what happened here, what David is referring

to in Psalm 55. But we do know this. It was really

painful. It was very difficult. David says this

in verse 4. He says, my heart is in anguish within

me. The terrors of death have fallen upon me.

Fear and trembling come upon me. And horror overwhelms

me. And David is likely talking about a physical

present danger to his well -being. Kind of like

Benedict Arnold. We see that in other psalms

as well. Did the person close to him betray him

and then switch sides? Is he an enemy now looking

to take David's life? But if we're honest, when

we're betrayed by another, it feels like this

too, even when our life isn't directly in danger.

And friends, I am here to tell you that it is

okay to be honest with God about how you feel

about something. The dashboard of my car right

in front of me hears a lot of complaining to

God on my drive to and from work. And I work

for a church. God is not offended by me in the

way that I'm hurt. It's not being dramatic to

pray this to God. God, this really stinks and

I'm uncomfortable with it. Why is that okay?

Because David shows you it's okay. But instead,

like a patient father, God hears me. He may even

immediately respond to my prayer or do something

miraculous. Or maybe God won't do the thing that

I want him to do. But he still hears me. Now

David had a specific ask of God regarding this

person or people that betrayed him. He said this

in verse 9. He said, destroy, O Lord. Divide

their tongues. For I see violence and strife

in the city. David is basically saying here,

Lord, I know what you can do. I know you've got

the nuclear option, so do it. divide their tongues,

could even be a reference to judgment placed

upon those constructing what we consider the

Tower of Babel from Genesis chapter 11. If you

Genesis 11 · chapter mention

know that story, people that speak one language,

they try to build a tower straight up to God,

and so God punishes them by ruining their ability

to communicate to each other by confusing their

language, by confusing their tongues. David could

be drawing upon that imagery, saying, hey, Lord,

yeah, you remember when you do that? Do that

now. Make it so that I can survive here. He thinks

the ability to communicate, being taken away

from the enemy, would give him an advantage.

And in prayer, he just wants God's response.

Because David was fully human. He had limitations,

and he was incapable of saving himself. And betrayal

is not unique to David. Famously, Jesus. On the

night when he was, what? betrayed. We did it

here today. He took bread and he broke it. We

know exactly who it was. It's written in our

scripture. Who betrayed Jesus? It was one of

the 12. From inside the house, inside the group

of friends, Judas Iscariot, he sold Jesus out

to the religious authorities for 30 pieces of

silver. And I don't even know what that translates

to today. But. Is there anybody here that would

look on the events that happened after that betrayal

negatively today? Let me say that another way.

Yeah, Jesus was betrayed and it was really bad.

But what came of it, friends? But what came of

it? And do we look at that? It's a bad thing

as we follow our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

I mean, the arrest of Jesus was unjust. The charges

against him were made up. The beating and the

torture he received were certainly not deserved.

Having his body be destroyed by nails and left

to die, yeah, that was unfair. All from the betrayal.

But without the bloodshed of our Savior. without

the Father's wrath against the sin of mankind

being satisfied by the slaughter of our Lord,

without Jesus becoming a living sacrifice, then

what would we have today to benefit from? And

I'm not saying all betrayal is good. Don't hear

that. But this particular betrayal was certainly

a part of God's plan for Christ. And His plan

for us is to also follow and be like Christ.

The Apostle Peter writes this in 1 Peter chapter

1 Peter 4 · chapter mention

4. Beloved, as he addresses you. Beloved, do

not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes

upon you to test you. As though something strange

were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as

you share Christ's sufferings. That you may also

rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.

He called you beloved. Even though he said, hey,

things are going to go south. You're going to

suffer. But when you suffer, you are beloved.

When you are betrayed, you belong to God. You

are his. When we are in Christ, we are beloved.

Because friends, even in betrayal, you belong

to God. You belong to God. You're his beloved.

You're his created children made in his image.

The Father bestows love upon you even when you're

betrayed. Even when you're on the run. Even when

you're fearful. And even when you're suffering.

Now David was able to rely on the promises of

a covenant that the Lord made with him. And you

can read that in 2 Samuel chapter 7. But essentially,

2 Samuel 7 · chapter mention

it tells David, hey. God says, you belong to

me. God promised David that he would receive

rest from his enemies. He promised him that his

name would be great, that his offspring would

establish God's kingdom. And those are promises

that David could take to the bank. David knew

he was a part of a greater story. So what greater

story are we a part of to know that we belong

to God? I need confidence. That I belong to God.

Well, the Apostle Paul writes this in Colossians

Colossians 3 · chapter mention

chapter 3. He says this, If then you have been

raised with Christ, seek the things that are

above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand

of God. And Paul goes on in this passage and

gives what it looks like to live into a new self.

to look above what's happening in the day -to

-day of my life, to put on these new attributes

like clothing. He says to put on love, to put

on humility, to put these things on as Christ

did. And then Paul continues. He says, set your

minds on things that are above, not on the things

that are on earth, like earthly comfort, safety,

lives that are free from suffering, avoiding

betrayal. Those are the ideals of this earth.

But here, Paul is challenging us to see ourselves

in a different way. And then there's this. Here's

kind of the money verse, verse 3 of that passage.

For you have died, and your life is hidden with

Christ in God. What does that mean? Friends,

you don't have to worry about those that have

betrayed you. It doesn't mean it doesn't hurt.

But in Christ, we die to our old sinful ways

when we submit our lives to Jesus. When we're

drawn to God the Father through Jesus his Son.

Friends, we share in Christ's death. And we share

in his humiliation. And we share in his suffering.

And we share in the agony of betrayal, even when

it's by those closest to us. Even when we say,

how could you? But when we die to our old ways,

when we're covered and we're hidden with Christ

in God, then we get this. Colossians 3 verse

Colossians 3:4

4. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then

you also will appear with him. In glory. Now

that's interesting. When Christ. Who is your

life. Appears. Then you also will appear with

him in glory. Christ doesn't just give you life.

He is your life. When we follow Christ and we

are transformed by him, we put on a new self,

and then it becomes harder to distinguish who

I am and who Jesus is. As he doesn't just become

a part of my life, he becomes my life. He is

your life. And when that's the case, when you

share in his death and suffering and betrayal,

so you also get to rise with him in glory. So

when the trumpet sounds and he returns to judge

the living and the dead, friends, are we not

counted as being with him? What more can I need?

Betrayal is awful. But I can look down the road

and know that in Christ I get to rise with him

in glory. Again, David from our psalm, verse

18, he says, He redeems my soul in safety from

the battle that I wage, for many are arrayed

against me. You belong to God. That's what this

is all about. In the battle for the souls of

man, evil will not and cannot be victorious,

as we also share in the victory of our Lord Jesus

Christ. Hallelujah and amen. What more could

we possibly fear when that is our promise? But

if we're honest, sometimes we just need a little

more. We need support from the Lord. when we

fear the worst. And thankfully, we have a loving

and caring father that listens when we cry out.

Because friends, even in betrayal, you belong

to God. And so there's this, draw near to Jesus.

You can't just take this promise and walk out

on the street and just say, I'm good. But sometimes

we need the day -to -day, the moment -by -moment

with Jesus. So how do I do that? How do I draw

near to him? Well, friends, the beauty of the

Psalms is that they give us language to follow

and prayers to pray to our Lord. The life of

the psalmist is your life as well. The distress,

the trouble, the pain, the fear, it's all a part

of the experience. And David opened it up in

Psalm 55 with a very clear directive. And it

was his right to pray to the one true living

God. He said this, Friends, that is hard language

for us to fathom because it feels rude. But it's

not. God invites us to give him our fears. He

invites us to give him our sin. He invites us

to find joy in this great privilege by offering

us a great high priest, as the author of Hebrews

says. Christ is our advocate. He is for you.

Why? Because we belong to God. And so draw close.

To Christ, verse 22, cast your burden on the

Lord and he will sustain you. He will never permit

the righteous to be moved. The word sustain here

can also be translated as to keep in, to hold.

And that matters because to sustain feels like,

hey, Lord, can you sustain me with enough energy

to run this 5K today? But that's temporary. That

word is good, but I don't know if it tells the

whole story. But when you translate it as to

keep in, to hold, cast your burden on the Lord

and he will hold you. That lands differently

with me. That brings a layer of permanence to

God's promises through his word. Friends, Jesus

was betrayed and he still asked the father to

take away the suffering that he knew was coming.

David knew God had vowed to do great things in

and through him and yet... He was worried about

his future because of a betrayal. And for us,

there will be suffering. We will feel the sting

of betrayal and may even feel isolated or lonely

or ostracized. Sin will betray you by offering

you a lie that seems way too good to be true

and then leaves you in a bad spot. Sin doesn't

care about the damage that it leaves. But you

do, and you'll be betrayed by that. But what

a privilege it is to be counted amongst God's

people. As Peter said, rejoice. Rejoice in that

suffering because to rise in glory with Jesus

is what this is all about. Seeing all of creation

redeemed and restored back to God the Father.

That's the whole point of the story. So my challenge

for you today is to ask the Lord for more than

you are currently asking him. I don't mean ask

him for more money. Obviously don't be asking

him for material goods. Ask him for boldness

and courage. Ask him for protection from evil.

Ask him to use you for his glory. Ask him to

be transformed. That people around you can't

separate who you are and who Jesus is. Because

he has transformed so much of you to be like

him. Cast your burdens upon him and be hidden

with Christ. Be kept in by God and live into

that promise. And I guarantee he will not let

you go. You can take it to the bank. I love the

words of a hymn. Before the throne of God above

is the hymn. And the verse that I love, it says

this. Behold him there, the risen lamb. My perfect,

spotless righteousness, the great unchangeable

I am, it says. The king of glory and of grace.

Does anybody know this, the verse of this psalm

or this hymn? I'll finish it out. It says this,

and I love it. One with himself, meaning me,

I cannot die. My soul is purchased by his blood.

My life is hid. with Christ on high, with Christ

my Savior and my God. It's so beautiful. Let's

pray together.