1 Years ago now, when a good mate of Dad s died, the old mans summary was simply He was a bloke to ride the river with. So I looked up that statement, and here s what I pieced together was being said: In the Old West, Lots of terms sprang up that described a man of good character. One of the more meaningful became the phrase he ll do to ride the river with, the highest compliment paid to a cowman. Back in the days of trail drives, cowboys had to swim thousands of heads of cattle across swollen and dangerous rivers. To make it across required riders of exceptional skill, courage, and level-headed thinking. You quickly learned who you could trust to ride those rivers with you. You may have wished for that sort of companion. A good decision maker... One who keeps commitments... A friend who stays cool in a crisis... A partner who helps you cross the stream of trials, the river of troubles... Someone who s a stander, not a runner... A person of faith who seeks God s wisdom. Most people look reliable while there is no river to cross. Many Christians pray for a peace filled trot across flat prairies of life in perfect spring weather. But God does not make Mates to row the river with that way God had chosen and anointed David, shepherd boy, Goliath had been slain, so too had David s 10 s of 1000 s. he was a brilliant military tactician. Married Saul s daughter, his family were living tax free, he was part time palace bard for the Kings mood music. Then the flash of a javelin anger of a madman David, loyal David, running for his life
2 His soul mate Jonathon had told him. And David is on the run This psalm, is from deep within David s heart while he was hiding in the cave of addullum. We picked up the story in our first bible reading David is in the cave, and his family come they know that they will be hunted eliminated as well. And a group of mercenaries look like rabble but among them are 3 of David s finest fighting men In fact while David is feeling pretty low, in the cave, he expresses the wish for his favourite drop. Perriers mineral spring water not ya pump or Mt Franklin or cool ridge. And these 3 went off.. through enemy lines like they were on a SAS assignment got David s desired drop. And bring it to him. He pours the water out saying in effect this could have cost your lives. I am not worthy of such great men to ride the river with. Now deep friendships have a great place in our lives.. I have always read this Psalm asking myself what s going on in David s heart. I want to simply re read it, now that you know the background, and see if you have slot in the hidden pieces.. layers of value that 3 friends to ride the river with have silently added to this Psalm. (Re read the Psalm) 1 Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me, for in you my soul takes refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed. 2 I cry out to God Most High, to God, who fulfills his purpose for me. 3 He sends from heaven and saves me, rebuking those who hotly pursue me; Selah God sends his love and his faithfulness. 4 I am in the midst of lions; I lie among ravenous beasts men whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords. 5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth. 6 They spread a net for my feet I was bowed down in distress. They dug a pit in my path but they have fallen into it themselves. Selah 7 My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and make music. 8 Awake, my soul! Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn.
3 9 I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples. 10 For great is your love, reaching to the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies. 11 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth. I am wondering if there is someone here whom you have found as a loyal friend whose has helped strengthen your relationship with God? David looks to God in a most humble way this is not you have anointed me, so therefore you better look after your own promise God rather its humble dependence a broken and a contrite heart. It s amazing how when God intervenes, he can be doing so using friends v3.. Can you recall a time when you have had God send you a friend? I must confess to the shock of being on the receiving end of thank you letters from people who have said you have helped us ride the river not always been aware I love the fact that David gives the credit to God, not the mighty men That s what builds real ministry. And the Psalm builds as David s focus is the hope that he has because of God s unfailing love. He saw the trouble he was in and he knew God would protect him, and he took steps to be sure he as far away from his enemy as he could be he had been to several other places before his brief stay in the cave. And as you read the surrounding chapters in 1 Samuel you ponder it all and you see the depth of this mans relationship with God promises from God woven into the fabric of self protection. Nothing fatalistic about David s faith. Powerful military genius at work plotting his own survival, and depending upon God beautiful synergy. Now, this Psalm will not impact all people equally. David has an unswerving Hope in God s heart. He also has a deep row the river together understanding of God.. and as you peel the surface off his life he has valuable ride the river friendships in many places Samuel Nathan the prophet, his military advisers, wife Abigail his friend Jonathon, long list. What about the person whose faith buckles. Implodes? Usually you will find isolation is a key factor people can be isolated in a crowd even in a small group
4 I googled what happens when faith dies and I article drew my attention. Man I gotta tell ya there are some heartless and cruel people out there offering free and copious doses of poison as advice. I would venture to suggest to you that in our current day and age, its going to be very very difficult to survive spiritually over the next 30 years in the western church if you are isolated. When Adam was made very good, but he was incomplete needed his echo mate to fill him out, and that need is mutual, not one sided I want to suggest to you this morning that not every valuable friend in your spiritual journey is going to be 1 of the 3 mighty men who did the forerunner to brave heart and lifted the bottled water. but there were 400 others, family, priests, mates. Be sure you are connected. Churches form because of God.. but also because we are not islands never made to be so. The point is there is Spiritual power in a holy community. Called God among us recall saul of tarsus on his high horse going to destroy churches in Damascus what did jesus say to him? Why are you persecuting ME? God is among / with / in his people. Never underestimate the value you are to another believer. And minister to them whenever you can. Your hope in God has an impact on the church family. Now there is a 3 rd group we need to consider. The ones in our community who have no hope. 2 young people in recent weeks in our area have lost hope so badly they could not continue living ended young promising lives because all hope had gone. I feel sure you have struggled a bit this morning with 2 nd point how do I look round the church and help someone else how do I ride the river with them you must get an answer to that by doing it so that you can take this next essential step Will you talk about / share, promote your faith in God in the local community, on line, or at a social get together, not because it s popular, not because it s socially acceptable, or whatever but because they need to hear about the great hope AND a large part of God s rescue package to others is US!!!! Listen to God s word: 1 Corinthians 1:26 2:6 (NIV84) 26 Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things and the things that are not to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him. 30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 31 Therefore, as it is written: Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.
5 2 When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. 2 For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3 I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. 4 My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit s power, 5 so that your faith might not rest on men s wisdom, but on God s power. David did not isolate himself and God used his friends to help sustain a mighty man of faith. God used a broken fearful Paul to build a church from nothing in Corinth and all both men had, was a trust in God that God would not let go of them, and fine friends to help them.. We can all build the kingdom by being a fine friend.