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Psalms 20 Psalms Old Testament

Trusting in the Wrong Things

Study Overview: Drawing from the historical warnings of Jeremiah and the heart of Psalm 20, this message exposes the fatal error of placing security in human alliances and religious symbols rather than in the living God. The practical lesson calls believers to examine their own hearts for misplaced dependencies, urging them to anchor their ultimate trust exclusively in the name and salvation of the Lord.
Speaker / Author: Rhodes Davis
#Worship & Singing #Faith & Discipleship #Youth & Family #Moral & Ethical Issues #The Nature of God #Holiness & Sin

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[!NOTE] Primary Scripture Reading: Psalm 20

I. Intro

II. Background

A. In the latter part of Judah’s history before captivity, the northern ten tribes had been taken into captivity by the Assyrians.

B. Many prophets warned Israel of God’s punishment and urged them to repent but they did not, and were taken from their land and settled into foreign countries as a defeated people.

C. As Judah remained, God sent prophets to turn Judah back to Him so they would not suffer a similar fate.

D. Jeremiah was one of those prophets whose warning fell on deaf ears because the people trusted in things that could not save.

E. For example, they trusted that if Babylon invaded, they could make an alliance with Egypt to repel the invaders.

  1. Jeremiah 2:4-5; 13-19, 36-37
  2. As these verses show, that trust was misplaced and dangerous

III. Misplaced trust in God’s temple

A. Jeremiah warned the people of the destruction coming upon Jerusalem because of their wicked behavior, idolatry, and neglecting Him and His law

B. The people answered that all would be well because of their misplaced trust

C. Jeremiah 7:1-11

  1. The people trusted that since God’s temple was in Jerusalem, He would never allow the city, and thus the temple, to be destroyed.
    • There appears to have been a mindless response in the triple answer.
    • They were superstitious by trusting in things and ignorant about God’s ways
  2. God told Jeremiah to go to the temple itself and rebuke their sinful ways and false trust
    • Their ways were exceedingly evil and they served idols
    • It appears that they still went through motions of serving God but they certainly didn’t obey the command to have no other gods or make graven images
    • Later, Ezekiel condemned idolatry that took place within secret chambers of the temple even involving the priests and nobles.
  3. Jeremiah called for genuine repentance of their wickedness and idolatry if they wanted to continue to live in the land and avoid the punishment of God (5-7)
  4. Jeremiah then addressed the folly of their trust in the temple with a history lesson

D. Jeremiah 7:11-15

  1. For those who trust in the temple, Jeremiah told them to take a field trip to Shiloh
  2. The significance of Shiloh
    • Before the days of the temple, the place of worship was the tabernacle: the tent that traveled with them in which the ark of the covenant was placed and intercession was made for the people.
    • Joshua 18:1 – Tabernacle set up in Shiloh when the land was conquered
    • 1 Samuel 4:1-11

Israel was battling the Philistines and had suffered a great defeat on the first day of the battle

Israel was often defeated in battle when they were living unrighteous lives or not asking God for assistance

They questioned their loss and came up with a superstitious solution: get the Ark of the Covenant to go before them. “Lucky charm”

Though the Philistines were fearful, they defeated Israel and took the Ark of the Covenant as a war trophy.

Even though the Ark of the Covenant was the place where God’s presence was manifest in Israel and resided in the Holy of Holies, God allowed Israel to be defeated and this treasured item taken by enemies.

E. I think it is easy to see the superstitious trust of Judah in the things of God instead of God Himself: They trusted in the temple of the Lord instead of the Lord of the temple.

F. Before we get too far in our disdain for their ignorance and superstition, let us make sure we are not doing the same thing.

IV. False trust of some Christians

A. Church of Christ

  1. Some people trust that since their membership is in what they consider to be the “right” church then they are going to heaven.
    • As long as they teach baptism for the remission of sins, don’t have instrumental music, don’t send money from the treasury to things that should be supported with individual contributions, and don’t have women leading in the assembly they feel there is nothing to worry about.
    • They may be neglecting commands of God to teach others, worship faithfully, serve God by serving others, exercising self-control, edifying others, etc. but don’t worry about it because they are members of the Church of Christ.
    • They may be involved in sins such as fornication, drunkenness, lying, cheating, oppressing others, and other wickedness but think that because the local Church of Christ considers them a member and they come to services, all will be well in judgment.
  2. This is superstition and a false understanding of God, His will, and His judgments
    • First, we should not use the language of the denominations by saying things like “I’m Church of Christ.” We are not another choice among the denominations, we are simple the church that belongs to Christ and preach a message of unity in a divided religious world to forsake the creeds and doctrines of man and return to the New Testament. I am not “Church of Christ,” I am a Christian.
    • The church of Christ is the body of people who have been taken from the sinful world and made part of God’s kingdom: Acts 2:41, 47; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Colossians 1:13-14
    • We can be taken out of the church if we are unfaithful: John 15:2; Hebrews 10:35-39; 1 Timothy 4:1-2; 2 Timothy 4:3-4
  3. If Jeremiah were speaking in our day, instead of saying “go to Shiloh” he might say “go to Sardis or Laodicea”
    • Revelation 3:1-6 – God viewed them differently than others did.
    • Revelation 3:14-22 – In danger of being rejected by God for being lukewarm
  4. Deception of the false trust
    • You could be considered a member of the church here and as lost as the worse reprobate sinner who never came to God.
    • Coming to worship or being a member of the church is not “home base” from which you are free from danger.
    • Parable of the Tares: Matthew 13:41-43
  5. Your trust should not be in the Church of Christ but in the Christ of the Church

B. I’ve been baptized

  1. Some may trust that way back when they were baptized, maybe by some preacher that is well known among brothers.
  2. Some live a life of neglect in God’s service or just go through the motions but feel comfortable because they were baptized and they go to a Church of Christ
  3. They forget that they were baptized to die to the world and to be raised to a new life
    • Romans 6:1-4 – raised to a new life (12-14: no longer slave to sin)
    • Baptism is not an end goal but is the birth process for a new life that is daily lived to the glory of God.
    • As noted above with Sardis and Laodecia, you can be baptized and lost

C. Don’t put superstitious trust in the church or baptism to make you think you are acceptable with God if your life is not a living sacrifice to Him.

  1. Romans 11:20-22 – God cut off Israel and will cut us off if we are unfaithful
  2. Trust the Christ of the church and the one who commands baptism for salvation
  3. The trust of the child of God, whether Israel of the Old Testament or Christians of the New Testament is dependent on complete dedication and obedience to God with the heart and actions not his associations.
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