[Faith-talk] pray for my brother and family

[Poppa Bear]

Hello Justin, it is genrally used as a Psalm that helps dispel fear and 
helps us to put our eyes on God and not our circumstances. Below is some 
stuff that gives a more in depth look at this Psalm, Psalm  27. I hope it 
helps some.
Fear is disabled by God's presence  - verses 1-6

God's presence supersedes God's enemies  - verses 1-3

King David, who penned these words in Psalm 27, knew the meaning of the word 
fear better than most. His life consisted of one vicious attack on his life 
after another. For years he was the number one fugitive in Israel, always 
hiding from the wrath of King Saul. Later on, his life was threatened by the 
revolt of his own son Absalom.

  We may not find ourselves as outcasts, pursued by potential murderers, 
with our lives on the line. But our problems still plague us. Our hope 
evaporates as our resources diminish fast. We may feel that to be left at 
the mercy of circumstances, under their tyranny, is to be torn apart and 
left with nothing.

  David begins with a sense of certainty, of calm in the midst of a storm.

  The starting point for David and us are not the circumstances, are not the 
problems, but the God who is in control of all those circumstances. David 
does not deny the situations he faces, but those situations do not define 
for David how he is to respond.

  During World War II, a military governor met with General George Patton in 
Sicily. When he praised Patton for his courage and bravery, the general 
replied, "Sir, I am not a brave man. . . The truth is, I am an utter craven 
coward. I have never been within the sound of gunshot or in sight of battle 
in my whole life that I wasn't so scared that I had sweat in the palms of my 
hands. I learned very early in my life never to take counsel of my fears."

  Our circumstances must never be what defines our life. Rather than taking 
counsel of our fears, we must see our life in a much larger perspective. 
There is nothing so dark and gloomy as fear, nothing so unsettling than 
being afraid. But when we are intimidated by people, or discouraged by 
circumstances, God's presence provides a defense against these frightening 
circumstances.

  It is not said merely that the Lord gives light, but that He "is" light; 
nor that He gives salvation, but that He is salvation. God does not just 
help us discover a refuge, a place where we are safe; it is He who is our 
safety. We do not ask Him to give us these things as though they are 
independent of God, but they describe who our God is.

  God's presence is the light which chases away the shadows of despair. It 
is in the darkness that our fears take on the horrible shapes of monsters. 
That is true whether we are four or forty. We live without all the facts, we 
live in the dark, so our fears become all the more fearsome.

  The answer comes not in our manipulation of our circumstances so that 
peace reigns in our lives. Rather trusting in God's presence, knowing that 
He is sovereign, in control, that it is He who is the light in every dark 
corner of our life - then we can cease being intimidated by the unknown, 
frightened by the terrors of life. The doom of depression must be expelled 
by the light of the Gospel.

  Because God is light, because He has guaranteed salvation, because He is a 
fortress against whatever evil comes our way - its success is never outside 
the providence of our God; it will never succeed. The reason is simple. God's 
control is never undermined. We must know who is all powerful, who is the 
Creator, who is in charge.

  I recall as a Cub Scout going on a trip to the Aberdeen Proving Grounds in 
Maryland to see a demonstration of military power. While the thunderous 
explosions delighted the crowd of eight year old boys, the best part was 
when we got to climb on and in the tanks. But as we raced toward the 
machinery which had beaten back the Nazi onslaught a generation before, 
after seeing the power which fought in Korea and was building up in 
Southeast Asia - it was strange that we were told to be careful as we 
climbed on these steal beasts. We were cautioned not that we could be hurt, 
but that we might hurt the tanks.

  In the same way, we can have confidence that no harm can come. When evil 
comes our way, it is never greater than our God. Verse 2 - they'll stumble 
and fall, they'll trip over the laces of their sandals. Even in the 
anticipation of troubles (verse 3) there can be courage. God's presence 
supersedes God's enemies because.
God's presence is seen in God's place  - verses 4-6

  The reason for David's certainty of God's protection came not on a whim or 
based on a fleeting dream. But it came about because with singleness of 
mind, David's full attention is focused on God's presence which was seen in 
God's dwelling place. David knows that only here can he find the comfort to 
endure troubling times. There is no other answer, no other solution. With 
clarity of purpose - the answer lies in God's house.

  David may be expressing a desire to lay aside the stature of the crown for 
the robes of the tabernacle priests, if that were possible. Or he could be 
expressing a longing to get away from the pressures of the battlefield and 
join the rest of Israel in the worship of God. Whatever was his desire, his 
goal was clear - he knew that it was only by focusing his attention on the 
beauty of the Lord, seeking Him in his temple that he could find the safety 
he needed.

  What does that mean - that we've got to live each day of our life inside 
the church? In terms of safety statistics, that's not a bad idea. 20% of all 
fatal accidents occur in automobiles; 17% of all fatal accidents occur at 
home; 16% of all fatal accidents occur in plains, trains, and boats; but 
only 0.001% of all fatal accidents occur in church, so obviously the safest 
place to be is in church, as much as possible!

  The reason is much more sensible than that. Seeing God in the sunshine of 
worship, you can have confidence in the shadows of life. Fear fades when we 
see a sovereign God who gives us mercy.

  Worship and worry can not live in the same heart; they are mutually 
exclusive. When we fill our minds with who our God is, when we are reminded 
what He has done for His people, worry begins to fade away.

  The focus of the worship in the Old Testament was not the personal needs 
of the congregation, it was not to offer tidbits of self-help, it was not 
witty sayings to make one smile. The focus of the worship was God and His 
work for His people. For that very reason we don't show up here to see and 
be seen, we do not come be entertained and made to feel more secure in our 
sin. Rather the object of our worship is the Triune God.

  The trouble is we are so often busy with so much, that the Sabbath has 
lost its meaning. There are ball games and family gatherings, there is 
shopping and cleaning, there is just a little more sleep. But as we crowd 
out the worship of God from our lives, it is no wonder that fear takes the 
place of worship. They are mutually exclusive.
Fear is dismantled by God's grace   - verses 7-14

God's grace accepts fearful people  - verses 7-10

  Having expressed the certainty that despite the mounting troubles he 
faces, David knows the answer to his fears is found in worship. In verses 
7-14 there is a shift in the Psalm from the positive declaration that the 
evil men will fail to a plaintive cry for help. In the second half of the 
Psalm we hear the content of his worship. But it is not just pollyannaish 
musings. David cries to the Lord. He recognizes that for God to rescue him, 
for God to deal with his fears, is an act of God's grace.

  David doesn't try to argue his case before God that he is worthy of God's 
time. He knows he does not deserve God's grace, but petitions God to listen 
based on God's character.

  Some people say that maturity is demonstrated by faith that never 
struggles, by rising above the tide of this grimy world and living in some 
kind of exalted plane where you are never uncertain, never afraid, never 
assailed. But David's struggle is refreshingly real. Knowing that God is 
sovereign, that He will never leave us or forsake us is foundational to our 
Christian life, but that never means we won't wonder "why?"

  David approaches God because of God's grace which allows him to come.

  It would be not only presumptuous to barge into the Oval Office, it would 
be downright deadly. The Secret Service is well armed and only a deranged 
man would dare to be so bold. How much more dangerous to go before God? But 
David knows he can pray, he can worship because he comes with an invitation 
in hand. God accepts fearful people like David, like me.

  To seek the face of a king meant to seek his favor and forgiveness and 
mercy. This doesn't mean: seek what God can do for you, but rather, to seek 
Him. Come to Him not only to receive gifts or relief from your troubles or 
answers to your prayers, but to know Him.

  In verse 9 David is distressed; it seems that he is uncertain as to what 
God will do.
  He does not want God to conceal His face. He does not want to lose the 
intimacy, the personal communication he has with God at this point. David 
doesn't want God to shoo him away in disgust, ignore him and forget him. But 
then at the end there is a confession, an acknowledgment that God will not 
do this: "you have been my helper."

  In the past God has been there. So, since God does not change, he has 
nothing to worry about. God will not leave him. As unlikely as it is for 
parents to abandon their children, yet it happens - God would never do that. 
As unthinkable as it is for a mother to forget she has kids, God even more 
so will never forget you belong to Him.
God's grace teaches fearful people 11-14

  David is not asking for an easy way out. He is asking God to instruct him 
so he will know what to do. Not "God, fix this so my life will be simple." 
But "God, help me to endure this situation without harming your name."

  This is a dangerous prayer to make, but one which is very necessary. David 
prays to know God's way through the difficult situation. He wants the 
straight path because of the oppressors. The level place, the straight path, 
is the word which means "uprightness." He asks God to show him how to live 
righteously, correctly, in the face of those that are lying about him.

  In verse 12 the form of attack seems not so much battle, but vicious 
speech. In battle you die but once, but with a false witness you die a 
thousand deaths. If he responds in fear, he could lash out at his enemies, 
but God's way may be different. It is very tempting to return insult for 
insult, false information for their lies. But David knows, having seen God's 
character as he worshipped, that David could not speak that which is not 
true.

  David then believed that he would still enjoy the goodness of God in this 
world; although he was now deprived of all experience of His favor, and 
could see no spark of light, he is certain of one truth: God's goodness will 
be evident even in this life. Sometimes the Lord calms the storm. Sometimes 
he lets the storm rage and calms His child.

  David concludes with the simple, but profound advice: wait

  That is a word we never like to hear. Little children whine when told to 
wait, and the complaining does not diminish with age. But contained within 
the word "wait" we have a clue as to what waiting does. The origin of the 
word is to twist, stretch. The tension which occurs during the time of 
waiting is what produces the strength which is the benefit of waiting.

  A rope is made strong by the twisting of the fibers together so that it 
can take the tension when the time of testing comes. You and I likewise are 
made strong by God's grace when He puts us under pressure.

  The admonition to be strong and take heart is the same form found in 
Joshua 1:9 where Joshua is told not to be discouraged, not to fear. What 
then is the man or woman to do in the face of adverse circumstances? He or 
she is to wait..but that implies hope, a confidence in God that He will 
answer the prayer and vindicate the oppressed.
Our world is impatient. We want everything right now. We've got instant tea 
and instant coffee, instant computers and instant banking, instant cameras 
and instant re-dial on our phones. There's a sign in a shop in Pennsylvania 
that reads, "Antiques Made While You Wait." That's almost as stupid as the 
one that said, "Ears Pierced While You Wait." (You don't leave them there 
and pick them up later!) Some things that are worthwhile don't come 
instantly. Maturity, character, wisdom, perceptiveness, and holiness do not 
come quickly. All through the Scriptures, God tells us, be patient for the 
coming of the Lord; wait on the Lord; they that wait on the Lord shall renew 
their strength; don't grow weary in doing good, for in due season you will 
reap a harvest if you don't give up. Yet we are an impatient lot.

  When our family is in a turmoil, we become fearful. When our finances are 
a shambles, we fret over the checkbook. We want answers immediately. But God 
commands us to be patient, to wait. He's won the victory. Sometimes we can 
do little except to wait and believe. A Jewish refugee wrote an inscription 
on a wall outside Cologne, Germany, during World War II: "I believe in the 
sun, even when it's not shining. I believe in love even when I'm alone. And 
I believe in God even when He's silent."

  But God has spoken. God has an answer for you and me. On what basis can we 
be certain that our fears will not come true, that God will leave us to be 
destroyed by whatever monsters plague us by day and night? This may have 
been David's story, but I'm not David. How can we claim this fearlessness in 
the face of frightening circumstances? How can we know the presence of God's 
grace? While this Psalm was written by David about some unknown 
circumstances in his life, there was another one who knew even greater 
danger, more fearsome situations and who found His refuge in the Lord.

  We can have confidence that God is our light, our salvation and our 
refuge, for it was His own Son who, while evil men came to take Him to be 
falsely tried and murdered, spoke and they fell to the ground. It was Jesus 
who knew far better than any of us the horrors of abandonment as He hung on 
the Cross, as He cried out to His Father, "My God, My God why have you 
forsaken me?" But He was not completely rejected - for the Father received 
Him, as we know, on the third day when He rose from the dead. It was then 
that He could see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.

  His success is now ours - not just by example, but by imputation. Jesus 
Christ is the light of the world; with Him we will never walk in darkness. 
Christ will keep us safe; He is the rock on which we are set secure.
July 11, 1999
Corner stone Church notes on Psalm 27 ----- Original Message ----- 
From: "justin williams" <justin.williams2 at gmail.com>
To: "'Faith-talk,for the discussion of faith and religion'" 
<faith-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, September 04, 2013 5:44 PM
Subject: Re: [Faith-talk] pray for my brother and family


> What is that psalm used for? It seems like one of protection against
> enemies?  Do you have a psalm book which tells which psalm is suppose to 
> be
> prayed for different situations? I would find that very useful.
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Faith-talk [mailto:faith-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Poppa
> Bear
> Sent: Wednesday, September 04, 2013 2:35 PM
> To: Faith-talk, for the discussion of faith and religion
> Subject: Re: [Faith-talk] pray for my brother and family
>
> Hello Andrew, I hope you can find some relefe and peace of mind in your
> situation, I pasted a Psalm of David below, perhaps you can read it and 
> even
> offer it to God as a prayer. I find that praying the psalms can help me 
> when
> I just don't have the words to pray.
> Psalm 27
> Of David.
> 1 The LORD is my light and my salvation- whom shall I fear?
> The LORD is the stronghold of my life-
> of whom shall I be afraid?
> 2 When evil men advance against me
> to devour my flesh, [
> 1]
> when my enemies and my foes attack me,
> they will stumble and fall.
> 3 Though an army besiege me,
> my heart will not fear;
> though war break out against me,
> even then will I be confident.
> 4 One thing I ask of the LORD ,
> this is what I seek:
> that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze
> upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple.
> 5 For in the day of trouble
> he will keep me safe in his dwelling;
> he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a
> rock.
> 6 Then my head will be exalted
> above the enemies who surround me;
> at his tabernacle will I sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and 
> make
> music to the LORD .
> 7 Hear my voice when I call, O LORD ;
> be merciful to me and answer me.
> 8 My heart says of you, "Seek his [
> 2]
> face!"
> Your face, LORD , I will seek.
> 9 Do not hide your face from me,
> do not turn your servant away in anger;
> you have been my helper.
> Do not reject me or forsake me,
> O God my Savior.
> 10 Though my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will receive me.
> 11 Teach me your way, O LORD ;
> lead me in a straight path
> because of my oppressors.
> 12 Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes, for false witnesses rise 
> up
> against me, breathing out violence.
> 13 I am still confident of this:
> I will see the goodness of the LORD
> in the land of the living.
> 14 Wait for the LORD ;
> be strong and take heart
> and wait for the LORD .
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Andrew" <andrewjedg at gmail.com>
> To: "Faith-talk" <Faith-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, September 04, 2013 10:12 AM
> Subject: [Faith-talk] pray for my brother and family
>
>
>> Hi  group
>>
>> I need some prayer for my brother still he is very sick and he  still
>> has this limes disease.  sometimes he refuses the treatments and it is
>> very hard on my family me included.
>>
>> I am just not taking things very well myself.  I  feel like my brother
>> is trying to take control of things in the house when I do guitar or
>> do this or do that and I don't take being controlled vey well but my
>> family had a cafuffal yesterday and  I never ate  anything  like I
>> still drink water but  I only ate a peace of cheese.  and after that I
>> never had a real good mean since sunday.  and did not want lunch.  I
>> just feel very iceolated in a rural area and my dad refuses to see
>> truly how I feeling living at at the farm.  but oh well I have not
>> eaten any food or  anything just drank water but things are just very
>> hard on me and family because of my brother and I not sure if I can
>> take anymore when it comes to my brother his he feels he has to be
>> sencitive to everything.  but anyway I not sure if I can take it any
>> longer. just pray is all you can do.
>>
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