I. David Had Many Enemies.

A. David was the warrior king who conquered the Canaanites and created a real nation out of Israel. He was always fighting with someone, starting with Goliath and the Philistines, then the Amalekites, then the Jebusites, the Moabites, the King of Zobah at the Euphrates River, the Arameans of Syria, the Edomites and the Ammonites. He conquered by military force everything from Egypt to Babylon, but he was often in danger of losing his life.

B. But half of David's problems were self-inflicted. This Psalm is an example of that. David wrote this Psalm in connection with the time in his life that he had to flee for his life from his own son Absalom (2 Sam 15:10-14).

2 Sam 15:10 Then Absalom sent secret messengers throughout the tribes of Israel to say, "As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpets, then say, 'Absalom is king in Hebron.'" 2 Sam 15:11 Two hundred men from Jerusalem had accompanied Absalom. They had been invited as guests and went quite innocently, knowing nothing about the matter. 2 Sam 15:12 While Absalom was offering sacrifices, he also sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's counselor, to come from Giloh, his hometown. And so the conspiracy gained strength, and Absalom's following kept on increasing. 2 Sam 15:13 A messenger came and told David, "The hearts of the men of Israel are with Absalom." 2 Sam 15:14 Then David said to all his officials who were with him in Jerusalem, "Come! We must flee, or none of us will escape from Absalom. We must leave immediately, or he will move quickly to overtake us and bring ruin upon us and put the city to the sword."

C. The problem with Abaslom had a long previous history of sin in David's life. It began with David taking seven women as wives. Their names were Ahinoham, Abigail, Bathsheba, Maacah, Michal, and two others. He also had a harem of concubines (2 Samuel 5:13).

2 Sam 5:13 After he left Hebron, David took more concubines and wives in Jerusalem, and more sons and daughters were born to him.

D. David's immorality as a man, and as a husband, set a terrible example for his children. David's bad example led directly to incest and murder among his children, and then his conflict with his son Absalom. David's children imitated him in his bad qualities, and not in his good ones, which were many. We need to pray for our children to make good choices.

E. Application: Many of our heartaches, tragedies and problems are un-necessary. We bring grief into our lives by our selfish and foolish sins. Then we wonder why we are so unhappy!

1. We need to repent of what we have already done that is wrong, and that is bring grief into our lives.

To repent means two things: 1) To grieve; and 2) To turn around. Both are essential.

2. We need to become wise, to look ahead, and to avoid falling into sins that will bring havoc to our lives. The Lord's prayer: "Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil." "The wise man looks ahead and forsees the evil..." (Proverbs)

F. Some of our problems come from outside. They are not our fault. Sickness, death, old age, economic problems, getting laid off of a job, accidents, war, etc., etc., these things just happen to us, and we are swept away and may be discouraged.

II. David was optimistic in spite of all his foes and troubles.

A. If David could be optimistic, we certainly can be optimistic! Our problems are less than his.

Why was David so optimistic -- four reasons:

1. He recognized that God was shielding him from much of pain and trouble he might have experienced. "I complained that I had no shoes until I met a man who had no feet." Your life could be much worse! Be thankful that is is not!

2. He recognized that God had given him many blessings. When trouble comes, the Devil loves to put blinders on us. We see only the trouble, and forget to see all the blessings, which are many. Take off those blinders!

3. He believed that God heard and answered his prayers. God has answered hundreds of my prayers. Hasn't He done the same for you? Trust Him, and keep on praying!

4. He believed that God would sustain him, and see him through. David had HOPE, and FAITH. In other words, "this too shall pass."

Conclusion: Our problems are probably less intense than David's problems. We must learn to deal with our problems as David did. Don't be discouraged. As long as we love God, and seek His forgiveness and His help, we will be OK. Amen.