The Assurance of God's Watchful Care
David Wilkerson emphasizes the assurance of God's watchful care and preservation over His people through biblical examples and teachings.
David Wilkerson emphasizes the assurance of God's watchful care, illustrating how God preserves the righteous through His protective presence. He highlights David's prayer for preservation, which signifies a divine hedge of protection around us, ensuring that God is always attentive to our needs and movements. Wilkerson draws parallels with Job's acknowledgment of God as a preserver, reinforcing the idea that God is deeply invested in our well-being. He also references Moses, who explains that God's commandments are meant to preserve us for our good and to fulfill His divine plan for our lives. Ultimately, the sermon reassures believers of God's unwavering commitment to guard and sustain them.
Text
David prayed, "Preserve me, O God, for in You I put my trust" (Psalm 16:1). The Hebrew word that David uses for "preserve" in this verse is packed with meaning. It says, in essence, "Put a hedge around me, a wall of protective thorns. Guard me and keep me. Observe my every move, all my comings and goings."
David fully believed that God preserves the righteous. This blessed man declared, "He who keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade at your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul" (Psalm 121:4-7). The same Hebrew words used in Psalm 16:1 appears in this passage. Once again, David is speaking of God's divine hedge, the supernatural wall of protection. He is assuring us, "God keeps his eye on you everywhere you go."
If you have trouble accepting God's desire to preserve you, read where David said, "The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord ... The Lord upholds him with His hand" (Psalm 37:23-24).
Even Job in his agony testified of God's preserving power. This man lost his family, his possessions, his health, his good name, yet he addressed God as "a watcher [preserver] of men" (Job 7:20).
Time after time, our God has proved himself as a preserver to his people. Why is the Lord so intent on preserving us? We find a clue in Moses' words: "The Lord commanded us to observe all these statutes, to fear the Lord our God, for our good always, that He might preserve us alive, as it is this day" (Deuteronomy 6:24). Moses says God gave them the commandments to preserve and keep them for the same reason God wants to save and protect us: that his plan for our lives will be fulfilled!
Sermon Outline
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I
- Introduction to God's preservation
- David's prayer for protection
- Understanding the Hebrew meaning of 'preserve'
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II
- God's watchful care over His people
- Scriptural references to God's keeping power
- The significance of divine protection
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III
- Examples of God's preservation in the Bible
- David's assurance of God's protection
- Job's testimony of God's watchfulness
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IV
- The purpose of God's preservation
- Moses' teaching on God's commandments
- God's plan for our lives
Key Quotes
“Preserve me, O God, for in You I put my trust.” — David Wilkerson
“The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade at your right hand.” — David Wilkerson
“The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord.” — David Wilkerson
Application Points
- Trust in God's protective presence in your daily life.
- Reflect on the biblical promises of God's preservation during challenging times.
- Commit to following God's commandments as a means of experiencing His care.