Good morning, Munster Church. My name is Andy
Schultz, as Pastor Jim said. Greetings from your
brothers and sisters in Christ at Faith Church.
I actually serve on Faith's staff as the executive
administrator, and it's with great privilege
that I get to be here today. to give Pastor Jim
a week away from the pulpit, which is a huge
deal and a huge relief. I know it seems like
he's a machine and he can just do this like automatically
every single week, but it's a lot that goes into
preaching a sermon. So thankful that he gets
a chance this weekend to serve as a father and
a husband and have that rest. And I'm also honored
to be able to declare the very word of God as
we continue in this summer of Psalms today. covering
Psalm 55. And Psalm 55 reads like many other
psalms that we attribute to David, the king of
Israel. David has problems, and he brings them
to the Lord. And we see many of these psalms
that sound like desperate pleas. He's on the
run. You've been studying them. You've been hearing
about them. Like he's in immediate danger of
his life, which, if we're honest, isn't exactly
something that we can always... directly relate
to, at least I hope not. Maybe that is your story.
But Psalm 55 has a very unique twist in it. And
I want you to listen, see if it stands out to
you. It has an angle that makes this psalm kind
of stand out because of the situation that David
describes. Here it is, Psalm 55, and be on the
lookout for that. I'll read the entire psalm.
It says this, Give ear to my prayer, O God, and
hide not yourself. from my plea for mercy. Attend
to me and answer me. I am restless in my complaint
and I moan because of the noise of the enemy,
because of the oppression of the wicked, for
they drop trouble upon me and in anger they bear
a grudge against me. My heart is in anguish within
me. The terrors of death have fallen upon me.
Fear and trembling come upon me and horror overwhelms
me. And I say, Oh, that I had wings like a dove,
I would fly away and be at rest. Yes, I would
wander far away, I would lodge in the wilderness.
I would hurry to find a shelter from the raging
wind and tempest. Destroy, O Lord, divide their
tongues, for I see violence and strife in the
city. Day and night they go around it on its
walls, and iniquity and trouble are within it.
Ruin is in its midst, oppression and fraud. do
not depart from its marketplace. For it is not
an enemy who taunts me, then I could bear it.
It is not an adversary who deals insolently with
me, then I could hide from him. But it is you,
a man, my equal, my companion, my familiar friend.
We used to take sweet counsel together. Within
God's house, we walked in the throng. Let death
steal over them. Let them go down to Sheol alive,
for evil is in their dwelling place and in their
heart. But I call to God, and the Lord will save
me. Evening and morning at noon, I utter my complaint
and moan, and he hears my voice. He redeems my
soul in safety from the battle that I wage, for
many are arrayed against me. God will give ear
and humble them, he who is enthroned from of
old, because they do not change and do not fear
God. My companion stretched out his hand against
his friends. He violated his covenant. His speech
was smooth as butter, yet war was in his heart.
His words were softer than oil, yet they were
drawn swords. Cast your burden on the Lord. and
he will sustain you. He will never permit the
righteous to be moved. But you, O God, will cast
them down into the pit of destruction. Men of
blood and treachery shall not live out half their
days, but I will trust in you. Friends, the grass
withers and the flowers fade, but the word of
our God stands forever. Let's pray together.
Father God, we thank you for this word. We thank
you that David lived his life and experienced
these things and wrote these psalms that we could
compare them to our lives and know, Lord, that
these crazy things that happen to us, they're
not out of the ordinary. This is the life. This
is the life here on earth. We live in sin, and
Jesus, we know that you are redeeming us. God,
you are redeeming us in and through your Son,
Jesus, and for that we are thankful. That we
can endure these trials, endure these horrible
things that we experience. Because we know, Jesus,
you are on the throne. High above. With a name
that is greater than all other names. And so
we thank you that we could come to your table
today, Jesus. That we could be restored by your
blood today, Jesus. That we could confess our
sin to you, Jesus, and be redeemed, Jesus. For
that, we are thankful. And now we are cleansed
and we can hear this word with open eyes and
open ears, open mind and open heart to know what
you have for us as a church today. And so we
thank you, Lord God, for this word. We pray in
the name of Jesus. Amen. Let his spirit be present
with us as we hear today. So did you see the
thing that made the psalm stand out, made it
a little different? It seems that David was...
That he was betrayed by someone he trusted dearly.
And the pain from that is evident. So let me
sum this passage up and what I hope that we can
take away from this. I like to take things and
kind of boil them down to like a little sentence
or two. And this is what I would say. That even
in betrayal, even in betrayal, when it hurts,
you belong to God. Draw near. Even in betrayal,
you belong to God. Draw near to Jesus. So we've
spent this Independence Day weekend celebrating
America's freedom, blowing off our fingers. We
celebrate because we rid ourselves of the rule
of the British monarchy, right? And as we celebrate
that, I'm really interested in the story of a
notorious colonial American figure by the name
of Benedict Arnold. Has anybody heard that name
before? Lots of hands up there, lots of historians.
So infamous is Benedict Arnold that just mentioning
his name, for those that know his story, is to
speak synonymously with the term betrayal. So
for those that aren't aware, Benedict Arnold
was born in colonial Connecticut in the 1740s,
and during the time of the Revolutionary War,
he was an American military leader, American
military leader, and I want to emphasize that.
who was entrusted to command West Point in New
York, which is a very strategic location. There's
a river and all these things. It was a really
important post that he had on behalf of the Americans.
But secretly, he was planning to surrender the
fort to the British. Why? You also have to know
this about Benedict Arnold. He was wounded in
battle earlier in his career. So he was injured.
He was hurting. He felt like a political pawn
as they were making decisions about army promotions.
And he was also married to a woman that was thought
to be a British loyalist. And then he owed a
debt. He actually owed a debt from a previous
accounted for fund in a previous operation. So
he's desperate. He owes money. He's conflicted.
He's likely bitter. And so Benedict Arnold sold
out his side of the battle to the British for
20 ,000 British pounds, which may or may not
seem like a lot until I tell you that translated
to today's money, that's about $3 million. But
his plot was discovered before it actually was
implemented. So instead of facing charges for
treason, which would have been appropriate for
such a move, he escaped. He began advising and
fighting for the other side. The British. So
imagine being General George Washington, and
you have entrusted Benedict Arnold, you have
given him this very important post. With your
troops, you've given him a fort and command over
the strategic location in this river, and then
you find out the whole time that he was actually
working for the enemy. So now rewind about 2
,800 years, and you can kind of get where David
is coming from here. Look at Psalm 55, verse
13. It says, but it is you, a man, my equal,
my companion, my familiar friend. We used to
take sweet counsel together within God's house.
We walked in the throng. There's a relationship
here that did exist until you betrayed me. Have
you ever been there? Have you ever been in a
situation where you have felt betrayed? Perhaps
it's not a betrayal to the level of Benedict
Arnold. I would hope not. I don't think you've
ever been involved in a conflict that would sway
a large -scale war. But let me ask you this.
Have you ever been the one who was betrayed?
Because I bet when you're the one who is betrayed,
others might not think your betrayal is as big
as what Benedict Arnold did, but to you it's
actually just as much. It's just as important.
It has affected you just as much. Have you ever
been betrayed and thought, how? Could you? How
could you? Perhaps you have felt the desperation
of the pain caused by someone close to you turning
their back on you and hurting you. And I've seen
this over and over again recently. It's kind
of been a theme in my life with those that I'm
around. In my family and my friendships and in
pastoral care responsibilities, I have been observing
close people to me enduring the pain of divorce
specifically. Which is incredible betrayal. In
fact, I would say that it seems to be the hardest
of betrayals to endure. When it comes to human
relationships, right? Two people become one and
they share everything. All of their intimate
secrets, all of their insecurities, and all of
their trust. And then for whatever reason, the
one becomes separated into two again. And the
things that you know about the other, all those
intimate details begin to come out. and push
you further apart. And it feels like betrayal.
Nothing feels more like betrayal when an ex -spouse
uses the information that they have about you
to hurt you in divorce negotiations or as co
-parents. And it leaves you saying, how could
you? We had something, but now, why? I remember
the feeling of disgust I felt when former Chicago
Cubs catcher Wilson Contreras signed with the
St. Louis Cardinals. Like, ew. Gross. How could
you? Yes. The divorce didn't really stick with
us, but the Cubs analogy did. We're like, yeah.
How could you? You're the worst. There's 29 other
teams, and that's the one you chose? Come on.
What about when someone leaves your church? Churches
are families, friends. But sometimes we treat
churches like they're independent businesses
that have to impress me as a consumer or I'm
out of here. And then you get the classic betrayal
that occurs in the form of a departure and then
a subsequent scathing Google review. about your
church. Well, the people there at church X, they
are very unfriendly and I wouldn't recommend
it to you. Or pastor so -and -so, he had no time
for me or something like that. It feels like
betrayal, right? Because they were part of your
family and then boom, they're out there and they're
taking what they learned or experienced here
and now they're smearing your great name as a
result. Friends, that is a betrayal. So you want
to know a fun story? I just wanted to see if
that's happened here, so I checked out your church's
Google reviews. May the Lord bless you. Is anybody
nervous right now? All right, I'll read you a
few. They're all good, by the way. I'll just
give the end away. Someone said this. This isn't
just a building. They genuinely care for each
other and they love the Lord. All are welcome.
All are sinners. Awesome. Way to go. You did
it, Munster Church. That's it. Here's another
one. It says, friendly people, good environment,
great sermons. That was written before today,
just so you're aware. Another one, the last one.
Great service, energetic, and moving young pastor.
I would recommend to everyone. Young pastor?
Pastor Jim? You invited me, just for the record.
So despite there not being negative Google reviews,
you passed the test, by the way, just so you're
aware. The clause, right, they come out when
people separate from the church. And I know that
you've experienced this. You're thinking of somebody
right now. I guarantee it. Have you ever had
a pastor leave your church? That feels like betrayal,
doesn't it? It's like, hey, we had a good thing
here. Like, how could you? Even in betrayal,
friends. You belong to God. Because it happens
inside of the church too. So draw near to Jesus.
That's our takeaway. Let's break that sentence
down into three little parts to truly understand
the place of the psalmist. In this case, David.
To truly understand how we can be comforted when
our world is turned upside down by somebody close
to us. So let's start with the first part. Even
in betrayal. You see, David, of course, was betrayed
by someone close. But scholars can't really pinpoint
an exact culprit here. We have a lot of records
of David's life. 2 Samuel, 1 Chronicles. But
from that, we know David experienced betrayal
over and over again by his son Absalom, for example,
his counselor Ahithophel. But the details of
those specific incidents don't necessarily line
up with the wording here in Psalm 55. So it's
really kind of a mystery to know the details
around what happened here, what David is referring
to in Psalm 55. But we do know this. It was really
painful. It was very difficult. David says this
in verse 4. He says, my heart is in anguish within
me. The terrors of death have fallen upon me.
Fear and trembling come upon me. And horror overwhelms
me. And David is likely talking about a physical
present danger to his well -being. Kind of like
Benedict Arnold. We see that in other psalms
as well. Did the person close to him betray him
and then switch sides? Is he an enemy now looking
to take David's life? But if we're honest, when
we're betrayed by another, it feels like this
too, even when our life isn't directly in danger.
And friends, I am here to tell you that it is
okay to be honest with God about how you feel
about something. The dashboard of my car right
in front of me hears a lot of complaining to
God on my drive to and from work. And I work
for a church. God is not offended by me in the
way that I'm hurt. It's not being dramatic to
pray this to God. God, this really stinks and
I'm uncomfortable with it. Why is that okay?
Because David shows you it's okay. But instead,
like a patient father, God hears me. He may even
immediately respond to my prayer or do something
miraculous. Or maybe God won't do the thing that
I want him to do. But he still hears me. Now
David had a specific ask of God regarding this
person or people that betrayed him. He said this
in verse 9. He said, destroy, O Lord. Divide
their tongues. For I see violence and strife
in the city. David is basically saying here,
Lord, I know what you can do. I know you've got
the nuclear option, so do it. divide their tongues,
could even be a reference to judgment placed
upon those constructing what we consider the
Tower of Babel from Genesis chapter 11. If you
know that story, people that speak one language,
they try to build a tower straight up to God,
and so God punishes them by ruining their ability
to communicate to each other by confusing their
language, by confusing their tongues. David could
be drawing upon that imagery, saying, hey, Lord,
yeah, you remember when you do that? Do that
now. Make it so that I can survive here. He thinks
the ability to communicate, being taken away
from the enemy, would give him an advantage.
And in prayer, he just wants God's response.
Because David was fully human. He had limitations,
and he was incapable of saving himself. And betrayal
is not unique to David. Famously, Jesus. On the
night when he was, what? betrayed. We did it
here today. He took bread and he broke it. We
know exactly who it was. It's written in our
scripture. Who betrayed Jesus? It was one of
the 12. From inside the house, inside the group
of friends, Judas Iscariot, he sold Jesus out
to the religious authorities for 30 pieces of
silver. And I don't even know what that translates
to today. But. Is there anybody here that would
look on the events that happened after that betrayal
negatively today? Let me say that another way.
Yeah, Jesus was betrayed and it was really bad.
But what came of it, friends? But what came of
it? And do we look at that? It's a bad thing
as we follow our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
I mean, the arrest of Jesus was unjust. The charges
against him were made up. The beating and the
torture he received were certainly not deserved.
Having his body be destroyed by nails and left
to die, yeah, that was unfair. All from the betrayal.
But without the bloodshed of our Savior. without
the Father's wrath against the sin of mankind
being satisfied by the slaughter of our Lord,
without Jesus becoming a living sacrifice, then
what would we have today to benefit from? And
I'm not saying all betrayal is good. Don't hear
that. But this particular betrayal was certainly
a part of God's plan for Christ. And His plan
for us is to also follow and be like Christ.
The Apostle Peter writes this in 1 Peter chapter
4. Beloved, as he addresses you. Beloved, do
not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes
upon you to test you. As though something strange
were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as
you share Christ's sufferings. That you may also
rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.
He called you beloved. Even though he said, hey,
things are going to go south. You're going to
suffer. But when you suffer, you are beloved.
When you are betrayed, you belong to God. You
are his. When we are in Christ, we are beloved.
Because friends, even in betrayal, you belong
to God. You belong to God. You're his beloved.
You're his created children made in his image.
The Father bestows love upon you even when you're
betrayed. Even when you're on the run. Even when
you're fearful. And even when you're suffering.
Now David was able to rely on the promises of
a covenant that the Lord made with him. And you
can read that in 2 Samuel chapter 7. But essentially,
it tells David, hey. God says, you belong to
me. God promised David that he would receive
rest from his enemies. He promised him that his
name would be great, that his offspring would
establish God's kingdom. And those are promises
that David could take to the bank. David knew
he was a part of a greater story. So what greater
story are we a part of to know that we belong
to God? I need confidence. That I belong to God.
Well, the Apostle Paul writes this in Colossians
chapter 3. He says this, If then you have been
raised with Christ, seek the things that are
above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand
of God. And Paul goes on in this passage and
gives what it looks like to live into a new self.
to look above what's happening in the day -to
-day of my life, to put on these new attributes
like clothing. He says to put on love, to put
on humility, to put these things on as Christ
did. And then Paul continues. He says, set your
minds on things that are above, not on the things
that are on earth, like earthly comfort, safety,
lives that are free from suffering, avoiding
betrayal. Those are the ideals of this earth.
But here, Paul is challenging us to see ourselves
in a different way. And then there's this. Here's
kind of the money verse, verse 3 of that passage.
For you have died, and your life is hidden with
Christ in God. What does that mean? Friends,
you don't have to worry about those that have
betrayed you. It doesn't mean it doesn't hurt.
But in Christ, we die to our old sinful ways
when we submit our lives to Jesus. When we're
drawn to God the Father through Jesus his Son.
Friends, we share in Christ's death. And we share
in his humiliation. And we share in his suffering.
And we share in the agony of betrayal, even when
it's by those closest to us. Even when we say,
how could you? But when we die to our old ways,
when we're covered and we're hidden with Christ
in God, then we get this. Colossians 3 verse
4. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then
you also will appear with him. In glory. Now
that's interesting. When Christ. Who is your
life. Appears. Then you also will appear with
him in glory. Christ doesn't just give you life.
He is your life. When we follow Christ and we
are transformed by him, we put on a new self,
and then it becomes harder to distinguish who
I am and who Jesus is. As he doesn't just become
a part of my life, he becomes my life. He is
your life. And when that's the case, when you
share in his death and suffering and betrayal,
so you also get to rise with him in glory. So
when the trumpet sounds and he returns to judge
the living and the dead, friends, are we not
counted as being with him? What more can I need?
Betrayal is awful. But I can look down the road
and know that in Christ I get to rise with him
in glory. Again, David from our psalm, verse
18, he says, He redeems my soul in safety from
the battle that I wage, for many are arrayed
against me. You belong to God. That's what this
is all about. In the battle for the souls of
man, evil will not and cannot be victorious,
as we also share in the victory of our Lord Jesus
Christ. Hallelujah and amen. What more could
we possibly fear when that is our promise? But
if we're honest, sometimes we just need a little
more. We need support from the Lord. when we
fear the worst. And thankfully, we have a loving
and caring father that listens when we cry out.
Because friends, even in betrayal, you belong
to God. And so there's this, draw near to Jesus.
You can't just take this promise and walk out
on the street and just say, I'm good. But sometimes
we need the day -to -day, the moment -by -moment
with Jesus. So how do I do that? How do I draw
near to him? Well, friends, the beauty of the
Psalms is that they give us language to follow
and prayers to pray to our Lord. The life of
the psalmist is your life as well. The distress,
the trouble, the pain, the fear, it's all a part
of the experience. And David opened it up in
Psalm 55 with a very clear directive. And it
was his right to pray to the one true living
God. He said this, Friends, that is hard language
for us to fathom because it feels rude. But it's
not. God invites us to give him our fears. He
invites us to give him our sin. He invites us
to find joy in this great privilege by offering
us a great high priest, as the author of Hebrews
says. Christ is our advocate. He is for you.
Why? Because we belong to God. And so draw close.
To Christ, verse 22, cast your burden on the
Lord and he will sustain you. He will never permit
the righteous to be moved. The word sustain here
can also be translated as to keep in, to hold.
And that matters because to sustain feels like,
hey, Lord, can you sustain me with enough energy
to run this 5K today? But that's temporary. That
word is good, but I don't know if it tells the
whole story. But when you translate it as to
keep in, to hold, cast your burden on the Lord
and he will hold you. That lands differently
with me. That brings a layer of permanence to
God's promises through his word. Friends, Jesus
was betrayed and he still asked the father to
take away the suffering that he knew was coming.
David knew God had vowed to do great things in
and through him and yet... He was worried about
his future because of a betrayal. And for us,
there will be suffering. We will feel the sting
of betrayal and may even feel isolated or lonely
or ostracized. Sin will betray you by offering
you a lie that seems way too good to be true
and then leaves you in a bad spot. Sin doesn't
care about the damage that it leaves. But you
do, and you'll be betrayed by that. But what
a privilege it is to be counted amongst God's
people. As Peter said, rejoice. Rejoice in that
suffering because to rise in glory with Jesus
is what this is all about. Seeing all of creation
redeemed and restored back to God the Father.
That's the whole point of the story. So my challenge
for you today is to ask the Lord for more than
you are currently asking him. I don't mean ask
him for more money. Obviously don't be asking
him for material goods. Ask him for boldness
and courage. Ask him for protection from evil.
Ask him to use you for his glory. Ask him to
be transformed. That people around you can't
separate who you are and who Jesus is. Because
he has transformed so much of you to be like
him. Cast your burdens upon him and be hidden
with Christ. Be kept in by God and live into
that promise. And I guarantee he will not let
you go. You can take it to the bank. I love the
words of a hymn. Before the throne of God above
is the hymn. And the verse that I love, it says
this. Behold him there, the risen lamb. My perfect,
spotless righteousness, the great unchangeable
I am, it says. The king of glory and of grace.
Does anybody know this, the verse of this psalm
or this hymn? I'll finish it out. It says this,
and I love it. One with himself, meaning me,
I cannot die. My soul is purchased by his blood.
My life is hid. with Christ on high, with Christ
my Savior and my God. It's so beautiful. Let's
pray together.