September 16, 2005

I WILL NEVER BE SHAKEN

Psalm 62

Where do you go when the going gets tough? Where do you turn when life is hard? What do you do when you don’t know what to do?

Today, we are looking at the second of a trio of Psalms, (61, 62, 63), that I am presenting to all of you who are new to Abu Dhabi as a Spiritual Survival Kit for life in Abu Dhabi. What do you need to know to not only survive, but to thrive spiritually here in Abu Dhabi, this strange and sometimes difficult place to which you have come?

Life can be difficult in Abu Dhabi. Adjusting to Abu Dhabi can be difficult as we discussed last week. It can feel as if we have arrived at the end of the earth, very far from all that is safe and familiar and comfortable.

Life can be difficult in Abu Dhabi even after we have made the initial adjustment. Last week after the message, someone came up to me and said, “When does it get easier? I’m still waiting!” Ongoing strains can remain. For example, what happens when you make the adjustment and your spouse doesn’t? Serious strains can occur in the marriage. Or what happens when one or more of your children remain unhappy and discontented or don’t adjust to the school system? Family tensions arise. What about job problems? Sad to say, they come in all shapes and sizes; broken promises, unpaid salaries, conflicts with the boss or with other employees, cultural differences, downturns in business. Rising costs in rent and gas prices can squeeze already tight budgets. Then you add to that the possibility of family needs back home of parents, or older children, or if you’re old, like I am, grandchildren who are growing up fast – and there can be an agonizing sense of being torn in two.

So, have I painted a gloomy enough picture for you? That brings me back to my question: Where do you go when the going gets tough?

Life was difficult for King David, the writer of these 3 psalms. As I mentioned last week, many scholars place these psalms during the time of Absalom’s rebellion, one of the most difficult times in David’s life, when his own son tried to overthrow him and take over the kingdom. Even if we are not so sure of that conclusion, it was a time when life was very difficult for David. Where did he turn and what did he do?

As we look at the first 7 verses of Psalm 62, David does something that is very effective. He constructs what I refer to as a “faith sandwich”. What do I mean by that? Let’s look where he starts.

Read Psalm 62:1-2

finds rest – this word describes a state of still repose or quiet waiting. One thing that difficulties do is stir us up. We can’t rest, can’t concentrate, we want to act, to do something now…even if it’s just to pace the floor. The hardest thing to do when things are uncertain is to wait, and to wait quietly.

in God alone – God himself is the only source of that kind of rest. He goes on in these verse to use word pictures, many of them very similar to the ones we looked at last week in Psalm 61. My rock, my salvation, my fortress. Our safe place, a place where we can rest because we feel secure. With God as his safe place, David asserts confidently, I will never be shaken. No matter happens, my confidence is in God. My faith will stand firm, because it rests in him and in him alone.

I’d like you to think of these 2 verses as the first slice of bread in our “faith sandwich”. It is only after establishing God as his source of confidence and rest that David turns to consider his problems.

Read Psalm 62:3-4.

These verses especially are ones the commentaries refer to in concluding that this psalm was written to express his experience during Absalom’s rebellion, when so many people turned against him and seemed intent on toppling him from his throne. The image of the leaning wall and the tottering fence give a graphic picture of his perilous condition. Not only is the fence leaning and tottering, but people are actually pushing on it to topple it completely. That’s often how it feels when life is tough.

So David started with a nice sold slice of faith in verse 1-2. Then on top of that he lays down his problems, his circumstances and his feelings. But then he does something very important. He lays down on top of that another slice of faith, using almost the same words from verses 1-2.

Read Psalm 62:5-7

Verse 5 is almost identical to verse 1, only he has substituted the word “hope” for “salvation”. One is an accomplished fact. The second is a confidence that something will happen, even thought it is not yet an accomplished reality. Thus the element of hope and faith. My hope comes from him.

Verse 6 again is almost word for word from verse 2. Verse 7 is then added, but it rings with many very similar words and phrases, of God as a place of safety and refuge.

Do you see now, what I mean by a “faith sandwich”? Wrap your problem in faith. Begin with a statement of your confidence in God as your true source of security. Then describe your problem – not only what it is, but how it makes you feel. Then come back to your faith. You can even repeat the same words if you wish. You might even try this. Memorize these verses – or just read them as you pray. Take the first 2 verses. Then substitute your own crisis in place of verse 3-4. Take as long as you need. But then complete your prayer by coming back to quote or recite verse 5-7. It is a great model for intercession that is built on confident, believing faith.

In verse 8, David pauses to turn his own experience into instruction and application. He urges all believers to do just what he has done. It is a truly wonderful verse. If you are intimidated by memorizing longer passages of Scripture, at least memorize this one. It is essential for any spiritual survival kit.

Trust in him at all times, O people: pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge. This verse says it all. This is the only way to get through tough times, whether here in Abu Dhabi, or anywhere else you may be.

Trust in him at all times. In the good times, when everything is going well. In the bad times when everything is going wrong. In success and in failure, put your confidence and trust in him. The writer of Proverbs uses this same word in Proverbs 3:5: Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding.

The next line is the one that really grabbed me, though. Pour out your hearts to him. The force of this really hit me as I was studying this. This is a wonderful invitation. But it is actually more than an invitation. It is an imperative. It is a command. What a wonderful description of prayer this is! “Pour your heart out to God.” It is a very graphic phrase. The word “pour” is commonly used of literal pouring; of water, of pouring wine out in an offering, of blood pouring out in sacrifice. Here it is a very effective picture of what we are to do in prayer. Not just read prayer list, using tidy phrases and correct grammar. Just pour out your heart.

I can think back to the times of crisis in my life. They were times when things seemed very dark, and I had nowhere to turn. Nowhere to turn, that is, but to God. And I did turn to him, and my prayer didn’t feel like prayer. It felt like exactly what this verse describes; pouring my heart out to God. Like I was being turned inside out in God’s presence.

This invitation, this command is addressed to all. “O people…” David says; this is where the answer lies. This is where to turn when the going gets tough and the way is dark. Turn to him, and pour your heart out to him, for God is our refuge.

In the next two verses, I believe what David does is turn to consider some other sources of confidence, some counterfeit strategies for dealing with tough times. He describes the inadequacies of these strategies and warns against them. As we ponder these strategies, it is amazing how relevant they are to the situations of life in Abu Dhabi, and how tempting these false sources of confidence are even today.

The first false hope is people and promises.

When I say that, I am not ruling out an appropriate reaching out to other people for friendship and spiritual support. Rather I am looking at the strategy which is often described as “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.” It is the strategy of seeking solutions to our problems by relying on connections in high places. It is the reliance on what is called, in this part of the world, “wasta”. If you don’t know that that word means, you soon will. Make connections with the right person who can open doors. If you can only get the right business sponsor or the person who has the ear of the people in power. This is how business happens, and promotions are made.

But if that is where our confidence lies, we need to read verse 9: Lowborn men are but a breath, the highborn are but a lie. High born or low born. Ultimately it comes to nothing. Compared to God’s “wasta”, they’ve got nothing.

I am not saying that you shouldn’t do your homework, and make your business contacts, and look for the keys that may open doors for you. But is that where your confidence should ultimately be? Put your confidence in God alone.

The second false hope is compromise and corruption.

I am talking especially to those of you who are in business now. You have heard the phrase: When in Rome, do as the Romans do. As you compete in the marketplace in this part of the world, you will find that there are many ways of looking for that competitive edge. The temptation will be there to cut ethical corners. Sometimes it is not because you want to – but because everyone else is doing it, and you may feel that you have to do the same just to stay even and keep a level playing field. But look at verse 10: Do not trust in extortion or take pride in stolen goods. This is shorthand for all unethical or dishonest ways of getting ahead and prospering. The temptations are many.

The third false hope he mentions is success and security.

What happens when you succeed in life here in Abu Dhabi? Let’s face it. Most people come to Abu Dhabi to get ahead. To prosper. I hope you came here because you were convinced it was God’s will for you to come. But how many of you took a pay cut or demotion to come here? How many of you are here, even though you are making less money than you would make back home? The reality is that the vast majority come here either because the company assigned them here, or it was the next step up the career ladder, or because there as an opportunity to get ahead here.

Don’t get me wrong. I am not saying that is necessarily wrong. But I do have a question for you. What happens when you succeed? What happens when the money does flow in, and you are able to meet your financial goals?  When you are able to send the money home, build that house, buy that piece of land, or build up that retirement fund?

Look at the second half of verse 10: though your riches increase, do not set your heart on them.

Abu Dhabi can be a challenging place to live when things go wrong and jobs go sour and we look at potential financial losses. But I would suggest that it is an even more challenging place to live when things go right and success flows our way, and our riches increase. Then we face a real danger of losing our focus and shifting our basis of confidence.

The writer of Proverbs says it this way in Proverbs 30:8-9; Give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise I may have too much and disown you and say, “Who is the Lord?” Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.

The point the writer of Proverbs makes is that there are spiritual dangers at both ends of the economic spectrum. I would hope that all of you do prosper in Abu Dhabi. But beware of the pitfalls that lie down that path. As Paul says to Timothy in I Timothy 6:17: Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.

So, having warned us about the dangers and inadequacies of false sources of confidence, David directs our thoughts once again to the character of God.

Read Psalm 62:11-12a: One thing God has spoken, two things have I heard: that you, O God, are strong, and that you, O Lord, are loving.

Here David focuses on two attributes of God. The first is his strength. Start here. There is no one in Abu Dhabi who is stronger or more powerful or more influential than God. All power belongs to him. Our God is strong!

But that is not all. If our God were only strong, we might still be afraid to approach him. That’s why David adds: You, O Lord, are loving. This is the strongest of the Old Testament words for God’s love: It is his loyal love. His love, linked with mercy and kindness. In our times of crisis, we need to reflect on these two attributes of God. He is strong, and he is also loving.

There is one final reflection in verse 12: Surely you will reward each person according to what he has done. This verse reflects on God’s justice. God is just. There are two sides to this in our times of crisis. God will reward us for doing what is right. And he is watching. So that should serve to motivate us to keep walking in paths of righteousness. God’s justice applies even in Abu Dhabi. Just because the people back home can’t see and don’t know what you’re doing – remember that God does see and know.

But there is another side to this truth that is immensely reassuring. God is just. He will also act in justice toward those who may do us wrong. Pour your heart out to God – and then leave justice in God’s hands. He will reward each person according to what he has done – even here in Abu Dhabi.

So, when the hard times come, where do you turn?

First of all, build yourself a faith sandwich. “God you are my source of confidence, my security. Here is my problem. God you are my source of confidence and hope.”

Second, beware of placing your confidence in the wrong places or the wrong strategies.

Third, rest in the character of God as strong and loving and just.

By doing so, you will come back to the very crucial heart and center of this Psalm and of any spiritual survival strategy:

Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.