Sermon

Holding a Matter Before the Lord

Michael Beck

When David faced trouble and his spirit was overwhelmed he found refuge in God alone and involved Him in his predicament.

<<Maschil of David; 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. I poured out my complaint before him; I shewed before him my trouble. When 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. I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul. I cried unto thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living. (Psalm 142:1-5)

When King Hezekiah was under intense pressure he “spread” his trouble before the Lord.

And Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers, and read it: and Hezekiah went up unto the house of the LORD, and spread it before the LORD. And Hezekiah prayed unto the LORD, saying, O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, that dwellest between the cherubims, thou art the God, even thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth: thou hast made heaven and earth. Incline thine ear, O LORD, and hear; open thine eyes, O LORD, and see: and hear all the words of Sennacherib, which hath sent to reproach the living God. (Isaiah 37:14-20)

If we don’t cast all our cares upon the Lord and wait for Him to bring His solutions and resolutions to our dilemmas and predicaments, we develop an unsound mind and become vulnerable to the enemy and his solutions.

Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:6-8)

God calls us to be led of His Spirit, not driven by our emotion. Anger and fear have the potential to get us out ahead of God.

The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression. (Proverbs 19:11)

deferreth > Hebrew verb – arak > prolong 18, long 5, lengthen 3, draw out 3, defer 2, tarried 1

What does it mean to “defer” our anger?

It means we don’t make a hasty decision born out of our anger. It happens when we hold a matter long enough before the Lord that we give Him the opportunity to work inside and outside of us. When we act quickly in the passion of our emotions, not giving God the opportunity to arise and work, we do foolish things which we only end up regretting.

He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly. (Proverbs 14:29)

To see God’s deliverance we must wait patiently for Him and not turn aside to the “remedies” of those who lift themselves up.

I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD. Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies. (Psalm 40:1-4)

There is a time when we must be willing to remain in “darkness,” seeing no solution or resolution (i.e. “light) in our situation. We refuse to walk in our own “light.” We trust and lean upon God while fearing Him and obeying His voice.

Who is among you that feareth the LORD, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the LORD, and stay upon his God. Behold, all ye that kindle a fire, that compass yourselves about with sparks: walk in the light of your fire, and in the sparks that ye have kindled. This shall ye have of mine hand; ye shall lie down in sorrow. (Isaiah 50:10,11)


Michael Beck is a pastor in the Dallas, TX area and the main author on Signpost. Receive a daily devotional he publishes every morning via email.