No Man Cared For My Soul:

The All Alone WoundPsalm 142:4

BOM VIISaturday, 1-26-2013

Psalm 142:4 (KJV)I looked on my right hand,and beheld, but there was noman that would know me:refuge failed me;no man cared for my soul.

The Six Saddest Words In The Bible

PSALM 142:1 A maskil of David. When he was in the cave. A prayer.

MaschilMas-keel’

instructiveto be prudent, wise, to give insight and instruction; a didactic psalm

Most likely the Cave of Adullam

When he was in the cave.

1 Samuel 22:1-2 (NIV) 1David left Gath and escaped to the cave of Adullam. When his brothers and his father's household heard about it, they went down to him there. 2All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around him, and he became their leader. About four hundred men were with him.

A prayer.

“Caves make good closets for prayer.”Charles Spurgeon

How To Help A Caveman – 1 Kings 19

A prayer.An Expressionof Trouble

An Entreatyfor Relief

An Expectationof Deliverance

The All Alone Wound DefinedA social, emotional and spiritual loss caused by the lack of healthy male comradeship that results in . . .

Dr. Robert LewisMen’s Fraternity

loneliness and discouragementThe mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation.” Thoreau

foolish behaviors and blind spots short-sighted masculinity

Dr. Robert LewisMen’s Fraternity

“Most men live in rock-ribbed, self-sufficient isolation.”-Stu WeberThe Four Pillars of a Man’s Heart

Genesis 2:18 NIVThe Lord God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him."

to connect

What’s the point?

Every ManBenefits FromThe CompanyOf Other Men!

The Friendless American Male

The Significant DownsideTo Isolationa warped perspective on lifeProverbs 14:12 NIVThere is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.

The Significant DownsideTo Isolationloose livingProverbs 18:1 (NKJV) A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire; He rages against all wise judgment.

The Significant DownsideTo Isolation

Loss of motivation for the noble things of life

The Significant DownsideTo Isolation

Loss of opportunities for much need transparency

What The Scripture Has

To Say

Proverbs 27:17 NIV As iron sharpens iron,

so one man sharpens another.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 (NIV)9Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: 10If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!

Proverbs 17:17 NIV A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

Proverbs 18:24b NKJVThere is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Hebrews 10:24 (NLT)Think of ways to encourage one another …

Encouragement is not just a cheesy Christian call to be nice to one another. Instead, it’s a charge tobreathe courageinto the livesof others.

John 15:13 NIV Greater love has no onethan this, that he lay downhis life for his friends.

Mark 12:31 NIVLove your neighbor as yourself.

1 Samuel 20:17 (NLT)

Jonathan loved David as much as he loved himself.

Jonathanand David

Four Mileposts of Male Friendships

1. Acceptance2. Affirmation3. Accountability4. Authority to connect

What Can You Do?

The three keys to friendship loyalty faithfulness encouragement

Reachout to othermen

Challenge men you like to meet regularly with you to “get better”Proverbs 13:20 (MSG) Become wise by walking with the wise; hang out with fools and watch your life fall to pieces.

1 Samuel 22:1-2 (NIV) 1David left Gath and escaped to the cave of Adullam. When his brothers and his father's household heard about it, they went down to him there. 2All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around him, and he became their leader. About four hundred men were with him.

One rule and only one!

No self-pity. No blaming: your wife your colleagues your parents your childhood your inner tendencies

I alone am left.

Get real andshare your heart

“Once we open our world to another

man, we learn that we are not alone in our fears, insecurities, uncertainties, and desires…Through

friendship with another man, we

affirm much of what is good and strong in

us as men.”

Enjoy life together.

Three Significant Relationships

That Bless And Energize A Man’s Life

1. The Admiring Mentor (Paul)

2. The Side-by-Side Friend (Barnabas)

3. The Needy Protégé (Timothy)

protégé (French) “to protect”

Psalm 142:6 (MSG) Oh listen, please listen; I've never been this low. Rescue me from those who are hunting me down; I'm no match for them.

Deut. 32:30 “One chase a thousand, and two put …

Psalm 142:7 (MSG) Get me out of this dungeon so I can thank you in public. Your people will form a circle around me and you'll bring me showers of blessing!

We few, we happy few, we band of brothers.Shakespeare