Message Notes

INTRODUCTION

1. Sep-Oct Pulpit Series: “The Sanctuary of the Lord”

2. Davidic understanding of the House of the Lord

a. Discovery

b. Development

3. A further aspect of the Sanctuary of the Lord in Psalm 3 – God’s holy hill

THE PLACE OF GOD’S PRESENCE

1. During Moses’ time

a. God revealed His Presence at Mount Sinai / Horeb

i. It was called the “mountain of God”   (Exodus 3:1)

ii. It was where God appeared to Moses and declared the ground holy Exodus 3

iii. It was where God would speak to Moses   (Exodus 24)

b. God would later choose a place to make His name dwell among His people   (Deuteronomy 12)

i. When Israel enters and possesses the Promised Land

ii. “The place which the LORD your God chooses” repeatedly mentioned   (Deuteronomy 12:5, 11, 14, 18, 21, 26)

2. During David’s reign

a. Zion became the City of David   (2 Samuel 5:7-10)

i. David brought the ark of the covenant to Zion   (2 Samuel 6:12)

ii. David desired to build a House for the Lord   (2 Samuel 7)

b. God Himself established Zion as His holy hill

“Yet I have set My King
On My holy hill of Zion.”
Psalm 2:6

c. Zion became associated with the dwelling place of God’s Presence among His people

CRYING OUT TO GOD IN CRISIS

1. The context of Psalm 3

a. “A Psalm of David when he fled from Absalom his son” (superscription)

b. This was a painful crisis for David

i. He faced rebellion from his own son, and betrayal from many

ii. He had been driven from his throne

iii. He had to flee for his life from his own city

2. David crying out to God in prayer

a. Painful circumstances faced

“Lord, how they have increased who trouble me!
Many are they who rise up against me.
Many are they who say of me,
‘There is no help for him in God.’”
Psalm 3:1-2

b. Faith in God exercised

“But You, O Lord, are a shield for me,
My glory and the One who lifts up my head.”
Psalm 3:3

i. As a shield (protection)

ii. As David’s glory (the source of David’s confidence)

iii. As the One who lifts up David’s head (restoration and renewal)

CONFIRMATION OF GOD’S PRESENCE

1. God heard David from His holy hill   (Psalm 3:4)

“I cried to the Lord with my voice, and He heard me from His holy hill.”   Psalm 3:4

a. David was separated from Zion, the place associated with God’s Presence

b. But David experienced the reality that

i. He was not separated from God Himself

ii. God’s Presence was not confined to Zion or limited by David’s circumstances

2. The Presence of God wonderfully experienced

“I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the Lord sustained me.
I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people who have set themselves against me all around.”
Psalm 3:5-6

a. Rest in the midst of crisis

b. Sustained by God in the midst of crisis

c. Fear dispelled in the midst of crisis

CONFIDENCE IN GOD’S SALVATION

“Arise, O Lord;
Save me, O my God!
For You have struck all my enemies on the cheekbone;
You have broken the teeth of the ungodly.
Salvation belongs to the Lord.
Your blessing is upon Your people.”
Psalm 3:7-8

1. Confidence expressed in prayer

a. For God to arise and save him

b. For God to defeat his enemies and the ungodly

2. Confidence in God

a. Salvation belongs to God — not man

b. God’s blessing rests upon His people — not just David

CONCLUSION

1. To cry out to God in the crises of life

2. To experience God’s confirmation of His Presence ¬ — that He is not confined to a place or limited by our circumstances

3. To be confident in God’s salvation and blessing

4. To cultivate a deeper understanding and love for the Sanctuary of the Lord