Psalm 22:7-8

1. Intro.
1. David experienced what Paul had referred to as "cruel mockings"
1. mocking may not cut the flesh, but they do tear the heart
2. mockings may shed no blood, but they cause the mind to bleed internally
3. ridicule is a poison bullet that goes deeper than the flesh, and strikes the heart
4. David knew what it meant to be the victim of scorn
2. reproach is the common heritage of the godly (Jesus)
3. nothing will prevent the seed of the serpent from exhibiting its spite towards the seed of the woman
1. even kinship and brotherhood mean little in this strife (Jacob and Esau)
2. a man’s foes are often those of his own household
3. the evil nature of fallen man is often revealed by its direct and bitter attack of God’s children
2. they are mocked because their trust in God is known [saying, he trusted on the Lord]
1. even the enemies of David admitted that he trusted in the Lord
1. every believer should have an apparent and manifested public trust in God
2. we should not merely trust Him in our heart alone (closet Christian)
3. our trust should be so great that we would not even think of concealing it
2. we show our trust by our calmness
1. Jesus is a perfect example; He was always calm, cool, peaceful, ready and self-composed
1. His enemies were always trying to catch Him
2. He was the master of every situation
3. His whole life was pre-arranged in the most useful and peaceful manner
4. He was ready for every emergency; in fact nothing was an emergency to Him
2. a picture of calmness: Jesus asleep on board a ship in a storm
1. while He was asleep, everyone else was afraid they were going down
2. His sleep ought to have made them feel at ease
3. Jesus calmly and deliberately met each matter as it came
3. we show our trust by a distinct declaration of that trust
1. to trust in a man is a thing to be ashamed of, but blessed are they that trust in the Lord
1. as a tree that is planted by the river of water
2. they shall bring forth fruit in its season
3. their leaf shall not wither
2. we ought never hesitate to speak well of our God
3. a public confession of Christ is a proof of our salvation - Romans 10:9-11
4. we show our trust by our conduct
1. the whole of our life should show that we trust in the Lord
1. trusting the Lord is not a thing for Sundays only
2. we are to trust the Lord about everything
3. if we trust the Lord with our soul, then we must trust Him with our body, wife, children, and job
2. faith is for the closet, the living room, the bank, and the office
3. people should notice our faith as much as they notice our dress
4. wearing a cross should not be the way in which people know that we are Christians
3. the trust of the believer is not understood by the world [He trusted on the Lord that he would deliver him]
1. we live among blind men; let us not be angry because they cannot see
2. our faith is not confined to merely receiving from God
1. if the Lord does not deliver us we will trust Him (Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego)
2. we must not live and wait upon God with a cupboard love (only what you can get out of it)
3. we must speak well of our God even when He allows evil to happen
1. here is were the truth and strength of our faith is revealed
2. Job said, "the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord"
4. if our faith is the work of the Holy Spirit, we will hold on to our trust in God no matter what
3. our faith is not limited by what men call deliverance
1. Jesus trusted in the Father though the cup did not pass from Him
2. Jesus trusted in the Father though no legion of angels were sent to deliver Him
3. Jesus trusted the Father even though the enemy nailed Him to the cross
4. Jesus was not moved from His steadfastness
5. He trusted in God for something higher than deliverance from death
6. Jesus looked beyond the grave and to the "joy that was set before Him"
7. deliverance in this life is not the reason we trust in God
4. our faith is not tied to time
1. they wrongly think that if God does not deliver now, then our faith is folly
2. when we trust God, we do not place demands on God and expect Him to perform
3. when we trust God, we allow God to do as He see fit; trusting that it is for our good and His glory
4. if Jesus had not yielded to death, there could have been no resurrection for Him or us
5. the greatest blessings belong to those who are tried the greatest
5. our faith must not be judged by present circumstances
1. the ungodly think that God has not delivered because we are in trouble with God
2. we cannot measure a man by a little bit of his life
3. the true measure of a man will be discovered in eternity
4. outward circumstances must never be the test of the value of our trust in God
4. true faith will mocked at some time or another
1. it is an honorable thing to be a believer in God, but there are some who think the very opposite
2. some scoff at faith itself
1. they think faith is a folly of a weak mind
2. true faith is sanctified common-sense (He cannot lie, there is nothing that He cannot do)
3. the day will come when all shall know that unbelief is folly, and faith in God is true wisdom
3. some scoff at the idea of divine help
1. they think we are in the last stage of lunacy to expect help from God
2. they do not believe that God fulfills promises, answers prayer, or delivers His people
3. their God is a dead force, without mind and thought, or love and care
4. some scoff at the idea of divine love
5. the time will come when those who trusted in God shall be abundantly justified
1. it is no small thing to have the ungodly testifying that "he trusted in God"
1. hearing what the ungodly say ought to convince us that we are truly a child of God
2. we ought to be thankful for their mockery, rather than being downcast about it
3. the love of God’s children, and the hatred of God’s enemies are two things to be desired
2. in due season God will deliver His people
1. perhaps in this life it may occur, even as the Lord gave to Job twice as much as he had before
2. if not in this life, certainly in the life to come the tables will be turned
1. what will the ungodly say then?
2. as they gnash their teeth and grown, they will say "God has delivered them"
3. they will be compelled to testify that their faith was justified
3. nothing grieves or angers a father more, than when someone injures his children
3. let this be our confidence: in God we trust, that He will deliver us
1. do not let those who mock us fool us out of our hope, or jest us out of our peace
2. we cannot find anyone like our God to trust is, so do not depart from Him in life or death
3. rest in Him, and let come what may; until we see Him face to face