Sermon Title: OPEN TO BEING HELD
Sermon Text: PSALMS 73:21-28
Sermon Series: OPEN: A PSALMS SERIES ON THE POSTURE OF ENCOUNTER
By: PTR NESTOR SY
Psalm 73:21-28 ESV
When my soul was embittered, when I was pricked in heartI was brutish and ignorant; I was like a beast toward you.Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand.You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory.Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.For behold, those who are far from you shall perish; you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you.But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, that I may tell of all your works.
SERMON NOTES
I. HONEST ABOUT THE UGLY
“embittered” | Heb. chamets (חָמֵץ) “to be leavened, to be sour.”
“brutish” | Heb. baar (בַּעַר) | “senseless, stupid.”
Reflect: Are we still trying to manage our image before God?
True openness is not pretending your heart is better than it is. It is agreeing with God about what is really there.
II. HELD THROUGH THE HURT
“hold” | Heb. achaz (אָחַז) | “to seize, grasp, take hold of.”
Grace is God holding you before you know how to hold him back.
III. SETTLED ON THE ONLY ONE
“portion” | Heb cheleq (חֵלֶק) | “share, part, inheritance, lot”
The heart is finally free when God becomes enough.
Reflect: Have you been envying in someone else’s portion?
The greatest gift is not the portion you envied, but the God who has been holding your right hand.