"David's Great Motivation" Psalm 108

Preach the Word Podcast

Episode 56

Title: David’s Great Motivation

Text: Psalm 108

Theme: How David was able to keep coming back

Interlude:

“Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. It's a very mean and nasty place, and I don't care how tough you are... it will beat you to your knees and keep you there if you let it. You, me or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain't about how hard you hit. It's about how hard you can get hit... and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward.” – Rocky Balboa

Introduction:

• David was an overcomer.
• He overcame many things in his life. A lion, a bear, and a Giant are only the introduction to the things David overcame.
• Rocky Balboa Quote
  • “It aint about how hard you hit, it’s about how hard you can get hit, and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward”
  • It doesn’t matter which Rocky movie is your favorite, I think most people can say if there is one line in entire Rocky saga that sums up Rocky the most, it’s that line from the movie Rocky Balboa.
  • Over and over again, Rocky is the underdog, but he overcomes. He keeps moving forward.

The same thing happens with David…

1. Goliath wanted to Defeat him : this could have broken his Body (1 Samuel 17) Goliath was the champion of the Philistines who defied God and Israel and openly challenged someone. He was almost 10 ft. tall.

1. King Saul wanted to Destroy him: This almost broke his Spirit (1 Sam 19)

David became famous and Saul (the King of Israel) became jealous. So jealous that he tried to kill David. This is probably notably David’s greatest foe. The hope in David, his very spirit, was attacked when Saul sought to kill him. ( Psalm 142 A Prayer when he was in the cave.) I cried unto the LORD with my voice; with my voice unto the LORD did I make my supplication.

2I poured out my complaint before him; I shewed before him my trouble.

3When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then thou knewest my path. In the way wherein I walked have they privily laid a snare for me.)

Yet David clung to His God and sparred Saul’s life (twice)

• The Amalekites Drained him: This almost broke his Mind (1 Sam 30) They invaded Ziklag, burned it with fire, and then took the women and the children. (3 So David and his men came to the city, and, behold, it was burned with fire; and their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, were taken captives.4 Then David and the people that were with him lifted up their voice and wept, until they had no more power to weep…6 And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.) God told him to pursue and he won.

1. Ahithophel Deceived him: This almost broke his Soul (mind emotions and will) (2 Samuel 15:31-37)

A counsellor and friend of David who he trusted. Ahithophel betrayed David and help lead absolom’s rebellion. ( Psalm 41: 9 Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.) Nothing can be more damaging to our soul than the betrayel of a friend. Yet he finishes the psalm with…

11 By this I know that thou favourest me, because mine enemy doth not triumph over me.12 And as for me, thou upholdest me in mine integrity, and settest me before thy face for ever.13 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting, and to everlasting. Amen, and Amen.

1. Absolom Defied him. This broke his Heart (2 Samuel 15-18)

His own son leads a revolt against him. No doubt this break’s David’s heart.

“And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!” – 2 Samuel 18:33

1. Goliath wanted to Defeat him : this could have broken his Body (1 Samuel 17)
2. King Saul wanted to Destroy him: This almost broke his Spirit (1 Sam 19)

• The Amalekites Drained him: This almost broke his Mind (1 Sam 30)

1. Ahithophel Deceived him: This almost broke his Soul (mind emotions and will) (2 Samuel 15:31-37)
2. Absolom Defied him. This broke his Heart (2 Samuel 15-18)

… but he kept coming back! (Psalm 108)

• Overcomer: “An overcomer is a person who overcomes something, or one who succeeds in dealing with or gaining control of some problem or difficulty”
• The key to overcoming obstacles is to have motivation (The Driving force)

What was the driving force behind David being able to overcome so many things?

“The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?” – Psalm 118: 6

“And now, Lord, what wait I for? my hope is in thee.” – Psalm 39:7

David’s driving force, his motivation, was His God. “A man after God’s own heart”

Outline: 3 things in Psalms 108…

1. David’s Praise v. 1-6

108 O God, my heart is fixed; I will sing and give praise, even with my glory.2 Awake, psaltery and harp: I myself will awake early.3 I will praise thee, O Lord, among the people: and I will sing praises unto thee among the nations.4 For thy mercy is great above the heavens: and thy truth reacheth unto the clouds.5 Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens: and thy glory above all the earth;6 That thy beloved may be delivered: save with thy right hand, and answer me.

His Praise was Steadfast

• David’s worship starts out with that he is “fixed” (steadfast)
  • Which literally means he is unwavering. He is firm in his faith to God.
  • “There is unwavering peace today when an uncertain tomorrow is trusted to an unchanging God.” - Ann Voskamp
  • “For I am the Lord, I change not” – Malachi 3:6
  • This is coming from a man who has seen time and time again who God is. He has experienced the Promises of God, Peace (battle, betrayal, etc.) fugitive, countlelss times his hope was almost lost yet God delivered time and time again. Here is a man who failed God multiple times, was a great sinner, but was forgiven and redeemed.
  • To be fixed on something means you are established (many people are established in religion, politics, church, or the idea of Christianity.. but not Christ himself.
  • If we are fixed on God, so is our praise. It’s hard to worship for some people on Sunday because we don’t worship the rest of the week.

His Praise was not Selfish

• “even with my glory” David gave all praise to God.
  • He used his talents (very skilled, used it for God’s glory)
  • He woke up early (how we start our day is a good indiciator of what is important to us)
  • He proclaimed God to everyone ( time is the best truthteller)

1. David’s Proclamation v.7-9

7 God hath spoken in his holiness; I will rejoice, I will divide Shechem, and mete out the valley of Succoth.8 Gilead is mine; Manasseh is mine; Ephraim also is the strength of mine head; Judah is my lawgiver;9 Moab is my washpot; over Edom will I cast out my shoe; over Philistia will I triumph.

• David was a Prophet. In fact, this psalm is a prophecy of how God is going to bring Israel back to the land.
• There is confidence in God that He is going to do exactly what He said he would do
• Now this goes back to the topic. David’s motivation. How he was able to keep coming back. Keep overcoming. He knew His God would do what He said He would.
• He knew God would Redeem, Forgive, shew Mercy, be longsuffering. He knew God was Faithful.
• A verse that gets so many of us in trouble is Proverbs 3:5b “lean not unto thine own understanding”

• David’s Plan v.10-13

10 Who will bring me into the strong city? who will lead me into Edom?11 Wilt not thou, O God, who hast cast us off? and wilt not thou, O God, go forth with our hosts?12 Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man.13 Through God we shall do valiantly: for he it is that shall tread down our enemies.

• David’s had a simple formula here. “Without God, it was impossible.”
• His plan was simple “Trust God, Praise God, Obey God, and press on!

A special thank you to my Pastor, Mike Barnette, for the song “All Things New.” Please support his podcasts by clicking and sharing the links below.

The C.O.D.E. of Man Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/6Oglxqy35Wg4m4YMfU8Q28?si=074063174e334747

The Way of Holiness Podcast

https://open.spotify.com/show/08UgdbUrBDZoWWnfiCYxbO?si=oG-EaQzfQMC5GN-N7NaxvA

Daybreak Devotions Podcast:

https://open.spotify.com/show/2Z25hqT5DNOZcwBLBXc67I?si=1f1c8f24a3e24618

Also, a very special thank you to my dead friend, Dave Compton, for the opening remarks.