This week Pastor Bob DeGray continues his series on the Life of David. This week we’ll begin to look at David’s exile to the wilderness, and see that our distress in the wilderness is the place to meet God. The worship theme is “In the Wilderness” and the visual theme is caves (where David often found refuge in the wilderness).
Here is the link to the YouTube playlist: 220828 Heart Prep
Call to Worship:
Behold Our God
Psalm 63:1–4 A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah. 1O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. 2So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory. 3Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. 4So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands.
Worship Set:
Blessed Be Your Name
Intro: Psalm 142:1–7 A Maskil of David, when he was in the cave. A Prayer. 1With my voice I cry out to the Lord; with my voice I plead for mercy to the Lord. 2I pour out my complaint before him; I tell my trouble before him. 3When my spirit faints within me, you know my way! In the path where I walk they have hidden a trap for me. 4Look to the right and see: there is none who takes notice of me; no refuge remains to me; no one cares for my soul. 5I cry to you, O Lord; I say, “You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.” 6Attend to my cry, for I am brought very low! Deliver me from my persecutors, for they are too strong for me! 7Bring me out of prison, that I may give thanks to your name! The righteous will surround me, for you will deal bountifully with me.
Message: In the Wilderness
Key Sentence: The distress of the wilderness is the place to find God
I. Man on the Run
II. A place for the distressed and discontent (2 Samuel 22:1-2)
III. A place to seek God (1 Samuel 23:1-5)
Outro: Psalm 57:1–11 To the choirmaster: according to Do Not Destroy. A Miktam of David, when he fled from Saul, in the cave. 1Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in you my soul takes refuge; in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge, till the storms of destruction pass by. 2I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills his purpose for me. 3He will send from heaven and save me; he will put to shame him who tramples on me. Selah God will send out his steadfast love and his faithfulness! 4My soul is in the midst of lions; I lie down amid fiery beasts— the children of man, whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords. 5Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let your glory be over all the earth! 6They set a net for my steps; my soul was bowed down. They dug a pit in my way, but they have fallen into it themselves. Selah 7My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast! I will sing and make melody! 8Awake, my glory! Awake, O harp and lyre! I will awake the dawn! 9I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to you among the nations. 10For your steadfast love is great to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds. 11Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let your glory be over all the earth!
Preparation for Prayer:
In the Wilderness – lyric video
Benediction:
Yet not I, but Through Christ in Me