Psalm 35 - An Imprecatory Psalm

Psalm 34:19 Many are the afflictions (bad, evil, displeasing, unhappiness, misery, calamity) of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.

Psalm 119:71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted; (bowed down, humbled, mishandled) that I might learn thy statutes.

Imprecate = to invoke evil or a curse upon someone

Intro.

There are many today who would say that praying imprecatory prayers is not valid for the New Testament believer. They believe that to pray this way places an emphasis on Old Testament law rather than New Testament grace. If this has been your view, then I ask you to consider the following

1. Is grace only a New Testament concept?
2. Is judgment only an Old Testament concept?
3. What Did David mean when he wrote passages like Ps 119:97 O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.
4. Psalm 7:11 God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day.
5. What all is involved in the opening statements of the model prayer of Mat. 6:9 ¶ After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Hint The revelation of the kingdom of Christ gives us insight into a believer's expectations 2 Thes 1

As we have seen many times the last year, God's holiness provides the believer with a biblical balance and right approach to living.

Have confidence in God during the affliction of false accusation.

1. Confidence in God's Ability (vs 1-10)
   A. The Lord's Help (vs 1-8)

          B. The Lord's Healing (vs 9-10)

 

               1. My soul will be joyful (9)

               2. My bones shall say......(10)

                   Ps 22:14,17 – Crucifixion

                   Ps 32:3 – Chastening
                   Ps 52:8 – Cleansing

• the psalmist looked ahead to the time when the LORD delivered him from his affliction as a time of joy.

     II. Confidence in God's Approval (vs 11-17) cf (vs 7)

          A. The behavior of the wicked (vs 11-12, 15-16)

               (vs 11) witnessed falsely against him

               (vs 12) spoiled his soul  -  Spoiling = robbed, bereaved

Pro 17:12 / Jer 18:21

“For the good David did in killing Goliath, and slaying his ten thousands of Philistines, and thereby saving his king and country, Saul and his courtiers envied him, and sought to slay him: so our Lord Jesus Christ, for all the good he did to the Jews, by healing their bodies of diseases, and preaching the gospel to them for the benefit of their souls, was rewarded with reproaches and persecutions, and at last with the shameful death of the cross; and in like manner are his people used, but this is an evil that shall not go unpunished. John Gill.

              (vs 15) rejoiced and gathered against him

              (vs 16) gnashed upon him with teeth in the feasts

          B. The behavior of the righteous (vs 13-14)

          Before there was imprecatory prayer, there was intercessory prayer

               (vs 13) fasting and prayer for them

               (vs 13) prayer was not in vain – here is his confidence
               (vs 14) mourned for them like family

* Notice that Jesus gave a right perspective of personal attitude in Mt 5. - imprecatory prayer must be confined to the desire for God's righteousness to be performed. Not our personal satisfaction. - no lust. - Father forgive them.

3. Confidence in God's Appointing (vs 18-28)

          A. His servant – Darling cf Ps 22:20

          B. His servant's Diligence (vs 18-26)

    1. Demonstrated through praise (vs 18)
    2. Demonstrated through prayer (vs 19) * John 15:25
    3. Demonstrated through patience (vs 20-23) * (Rev 6:8-11)
    4. Demonstrated through purity (vs 24-26)

         C. His servant's Desire (vs 27-28)

    1. The praise of others (vs 27)
    2. The praise of his own tongue (vs 28)

Psalm 34

1. Tasting the LORD's Favor – Experience (vs 1-10)
   A. Result of God's favor (vs 1-3)
   B. Recollection of God's favor (vs 4-7)
   1. Operational Experience (vs 4, 6)
   2. Observational Experience (vs 5, 7)
   C. Recommendation of God's favor (vs 8-10)
   1. Find your own experience with God (vs 8)
   2. Fear the Lord and experience his favor (vs 9)
   3. Final analysis on experiencing God (vs 10)
   
   
2. Teaching the LORD's Fear – Exhortation (vs 11-22)
   A. Desire (11-12) – Things that indicate a teachable spirit.
   1. Come (vs 11) – (Separation) – (James 4:8)
   2. Children (vs 11) – (Son) (James 3:1)
   3. Hearken (vs 11) – (Silence) - (Pro 18:13)
   4. Teach (vs 11) – (Significance) – (Dut 4)
   5. Fear of the LORD – (Seriousness) (Pro 1:7, 29)
   B. Departure (vs 13-14) - (Mt 12:34-37)
   1. Keep thy tongue from evil
   2. Depart from evil – turn aside, avoid Ex 3:3 -
   C. Diligence (vs 14)
   1. Do good – Work, make that which is right and proper and that makes for peace.
   2. Seek Peace – shalom (completeness, soundness, welfare, health, safety, prosperity)
   3. Pursue it – Word of hot pursuit (Ex 14:4-9)
   (Hos 2:9, 6:3)
   D. Deliverance (vs 15, 17-20, 22)
   1. The Lord's perception (vs 15)
   2. The Lord's power (vs 17-19)
   3. The Lord's promise (vs 18)
   4. The Lord's preservation (vs 21)
   F. Desolation (vs 16, 21) cf (Hos 13:16)(Joel 1:18)

(Luke 13:34-35) (Acts 1:20)

Psalm 33

National Confidence in the Lord

 

 

1Peter 2:9 – A holy nation can have confidence in it's holy God.

1. The Call to praise God (vs 1-11)
   A. How the righteous are to praise (vs 1-3)
   1. With singing (vs 2)
   2. With significance (vs 3) – new song (fresh)
   3. With skilled playing (vs 3) (Psalm 34:18) pleased
   B. Why the righteous are to praise (vs 4-11)
   1. The LORD is righteous (vs 4-5)
   a. His word is right (vs 4) same as upright (vs 1)
   b. His works done in truth (vs 4-5) cf (Ps 89:49)
   Ex 17:12 – hands were steady
   cf (Is 33:6) stability
   1Sam 26:23 – faithfulness – many times in Ps
   Ps 37:3 – verily
   Lam 3:23 – great is thy faithfulness
   Hab 2:4 – faith    

2. The LORD is the Creator (vs 6-9)
3. The LORD is the Counselor (vs 10-11)
 
a. The counsel of the heathen (vs 10)
i. counsel = advice
ii. devices = inventions, plans

                              b. The counsel of the lord (vs 11)

                                        Thoughts = same as devices above

2. The Conditions for praise to God (vs 12-22)
   A. The LORD's Deity (vs 12)
   B. The LORD's Discernment (vs 13-15)
   (vs 15) fashion same as Gen 2:7 formed
   (vs 15) considereth = discern, understand, know
   C. The LORD's Deliverance (vs 16-22)

Psalm 32

Maschil of David


Maschil = song or poem of contemplation or meditation

 

I. The Blessedness of forgiveness (vs 1-2) = Happiness / internal peace

     A. Transgression = Ex 34:7 / Lev 16:16 / 1Kngs 12:19 – rebelled  / 2Kings 8:20 – revolted /

                                     Pro 19:10 – sin /Pr 18:19 - offended

     B. Forgiven = lifted, carried/swept away cf Nu 14:18 = clearing

     C. Sin = cf Ex 32:31 idea of great sin – see Gen 20:9

     D. Covered = conceal / hide / Gen 18:17 – hide / Josh 24:7

     E. Iniquity = perversity / depravity cf Gen 19:15 / 1Sam 3:13

     F. Not imputed = Gen 15:6 counted it / Gen 50:20 – thought it


This portion makes the point that God can make the vilest sinner clean. - God forgives wicked, vile, depraved, rebellious, transgressors!

II. The Burden of sin (vs 2-4)
     A. The spirit of a man (vs 2) - God breathed life into man!

          1. Spirit = wind / spirit man

          2. Guile = deceitful / false

     B. The silence of man (vs 3-4)

          1. silence of confession = roaring of the bones (Job 3:24) (Ps 22) (Ps 51)

          2. chastening likened to:

               a. heavy hand = vs (Ps 139:10)

               b. drought of summer. Cf (Ps 1)

III. The Beauty of relationship (vs 5-11)
      A. Confession and cleansing (vs 5-6)  confess – agreement with God 1Jn 1:9

      B. Compassing of the righteous (vs 7-11)

           a. Songs of deliverance (vs 7)

           b. mercy (vs 10)

Psalm 31

                                                             "I said in my haste" (vs 22)

 I. Observations

     A. Christ our example. (Messianic Psalm)
          (vs 5)          – Christ's statement (Luke 23:46) cf (Acts 7:59)
          (vs 13 -14)  – Christ's statement  (vs 13) - cf (Mt 27:1) (vs 14) - cf (Mt 27:46) (Ps 22:1)

     B. The ultimate measure of a man's patience is seen in how he controls his tongue in the time of    pressure.

• Psalm 116 see vs 11 – I said in my haste all men are liars. 
• Beware the Elijah syndrome! – (1Kings 19:18) 
• Christ – (Is 53:7)

     C. Christian trials are the context of Jas 1:19 ¶ Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:

II. Outline 

      A. Terror described of the past (vs 22a, & vs 11)

Here in our text, David admits to making an hasty statement concerning his state before the Lord. "I am cut off from before thine eyes." Here was a misguided determination by David that God did not and was not going to answer his prayer

cut off = destroyed root of this word is found in Gen 1:7 where God divided the waters from the waters

     B. Trusting God in the present (vs 1-21) 

• Evidenced in prayer (vs 1-5)(9-17)
• Evidenced in hate (vs 6)(17-18)
• Evidenced in gladness (vs 7-8)(19-21)

     C. Teaching saints for the future (vs 23-24)

          1. Love the Lord

               a. God preserves the faithful 

               b. God plentifully rewards the proud doer

         2. Be of good courage

              a. The promise of strength

              b. The prerequisite of hope

Psalm 30

Two Types of Prosperity

Ps 119:17; 175

This psalm of dedication is the result of God's chastening in the life of his servant. (Heb 12)

I. A Statement of Purpose (vs 1-3)

               I will exalt you because:

     A. You have lifted me up (vs 1) draw up (cf Pro 20:5)

     B. You have preserved me (vs 1) enemies do not rejoice

     C. You have healed me (vs 2) ap'r' rapha' (Ex 15:26)

     D. You have kept me alive (vs 3)

II. A Song of Praise (vs 4) cf (Psalm 97:12)

     A. Where? – To the Lord

     B. Who? - Ye saints of His

     C. Why? - Thanks at the remembrance of His holiness

         (His person and works separate him from all others)

III. A Seduction of Prosperity (vs 5-7a) cf (Ps 73:3)

     A. The cycle of chastening (vs 5)

• Anger
• Recognition
• Duration
• Reconciliation

     B. The confession of sin (vs 6)

     C. The commitment of trust (vs 7a)

IV. A Savior to Pursue (vs 6-12)

     A. The LORD withdrawn (vs 7b) (Ps 104:19-30)

          1. The face of the Lord speaks of close relationship. (Ps 27:8)(Ps 41:12)

          2. The trouble if the psalmist shows desire. (Ps 13:1)(Ps 27:9)

     B.The LORD petitioned (vs 8-10) cf (Is 38:9-19)

     C.The LORD returned (vs 11)

     D.The LORD extolled (vs 12)

Psalm 29

I. The Vision of the LORD (vs 1-2)

     A. The Act of Giving

     B. The Attributes of Giving

           Glory
  
           Strength

           Worship

II. The Voice of the LORD (vs 3-9)

A list of events to show the power of God in the likeness of a great storm.

     A. Is upon the waters (vs 3)– The thunder is the most loud when man experiences it upon the sea.
 
     B. Breaks the cedars of Lebanon (vs 5) These trees were the strongest and greatest trees known.

     C. Causes the mountains to skip! (vs 6)

     D. Divides the flames (vs 7) – lightening? - Acts 2 ?

     E. Shakes the wilderness (vs 8) shake = twist, whirl, writhe, tremble

     F. Causes the hinds to calve (vs 9) deer give birth

     G. Discovers the forests (vs 9) – discover= strip bare

III. The Victory of the LORD (vs 10-11)

     A. God sitteth upon the flood (vs 10)
     B. God secures his People with strength and peace! (vs 12)

Psalm 28

A Psalm of David

I. His Place of Refuge (vs 1-5)

     A. The Lord is our Rock. (vs 1)  (Ex 33:21-22)(Dut 32:4,15,18,30)

     Notice two rocks of Dut 32:31, 37) cf vs 1!
     The pit awaits those who trust in something other than God,

     B. The Lord is our Reward. (vs 1-5)

      Here we find the ends of two ways.

           1) The way of the righteous who trust in the Lord –
                His expectation is wholly in the Lord! (vs 1-2)

            2) The way of the wicked who trust in their own devices.

                 Down to the pit (vs 1)

                 Drawn away – dragged (vs 2)

                 Destroyed – (vs 5)

II. His Praise in deliverance (vs 6-8)

     A. Blessed be the LORD – Kneel before in adoration (vs 6)

     B. Testimonies of the LORD – I am helped (vs 7)

     C. Praise to the LORD – Declaration of his worth (vs 7-8)

III. His Prayer for Others (vs 9)

     A. Save thy people – liberate, deliver, give victory

          1) Ex 14:30

          2) 2Chor 32:22

          3) Neh 9:27 – x2

          4) Micah 7:7

     B. Bless thine inheritance -

Psalm 33:12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.

Psalm 68:9 Thou, O God, didst send a plentiful rain, whereby thou didst confirm thine inheritance, when it was weary.

Micah 7:18 Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy.

2Ch 15:4 But when they in their trouble did turn unto the LORD God of Israel, and sought him, he was found of them.

2Ch 15:15 And all Judah rejoiced at the oath: for they had sworn with all their heart, and sought him with their whole desire; and he was found of them: and the LORD gave them rest round about.

     C. Feed them – Same word in Psalm 23:1 - shepherd

     D. Lift them up forever – to carry and support

De 33:27 The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them.

Psalm 27

A Warrior's Thoughts Between Battles

Other outlines:
I. A soldier (1-3)
II. A seeker (4-8)
III. A servant (9-10)
IV. A student (11-14)

I. Confidence in God's person (1-3)
II. Confidence in God's protection (1-7)
III. Confidence in God's promise (8)

IV. Confidence in God's presence (8-10)

I.  The Desire of David (vs 1-6)

     A. The Lord's person (vs 1)

1. shining = enlightenment
2. salvation – deliverance
3. strength= place of safety (seen as rock, fortress, hold) 

     B. The Lord's protection (vs 2-5)

          1. Enemies exist but they do not overpower (vs 2-3)

          2. Security is having the right foundation (vs 3-4)

• To desire and seek to dwell in God's house forever. 
• To behold his beauty = God's pleasantness, delightfulness (see 2Sam 1:26)
• To enquire in his temple.

           3. Trust and faith has it's reward. (vs 5)

      C. The Lord's praise (vs 6)

          1. Expectation for deliverance (now)

          2. Purpose in deliverance (I will worship)

II. The Determination of David (vs 7-14)

      A . Seen through prayer (vs 7-12)

          1. Request to be heard (vs 7)
          2. Request to be helped (vs 9-10)  - vs 9 forsake in the covenental sense!(Dut 31:1-23)

     

              a. By God's presence (vs 10)  He will take (gather) (Ruth 2:7) (Ps 26:9) 

              b. By God's path (11) He will teach (cast/shoot before) (1Sam 20:20) (2Chor 6:27) taught

          3. Request not to be handed over (vs 12)

              a. He was not presumptuous

              b. He was not prideful

     B. Seen through pursuit (vs 8)

           1. Sensitive to God's command (vs 8) - (When thou saidst)

           2. Sincere in obedience (vs 8) (my heart said)

III. The Discovery of David (vs 13-14)

     A. Sustained through faith (vs 13)

     B. Strengthened through focus (vs 14) wait =look for

Psalm 26

David's Confident Plea to God for Deliverance.

I. David's request for Examination (vs 1-8)

     A. Four words expressing examination – complete examination

1. Judge me (vs 1) - (Ex 2:14)(Lev 19:15)(Dut 1:16)
   Use your judicial discernment in my life.
   David requested this in (Ps 7:8 ; 35:24 ; 43:1)
2. Examine me (vs 2) scrutinize, (Zech 13:9 – try )
3. Prove me (vs 2) test (Judg 2:22)(1Kings 10:1)(Dan 1:12)
4. Try me (vs 2) refine through the fire (Jer 9:7 - melt)

     B. Eleven statements of confidence.

1. I have walked in mine integrity (vs 1) (completeness)
2. I have trusted in the LORD (vs 1) confident in Him
3. Thy loving kindness is before mine eyes (vs 3) how he dealt with others and saw God in his life
4. I have walked in thy truth (vs 3) (stability, firmness)
5. I have not sat with vain persons (vs 4) (empty, worthless)
6. I will not go with dissemblers (vs 4) (those who are secretive, hiding)
7. I have hated the congregation of evil doers (vs 5)
   (Dut 4:42)
8. I will not sit with the wicked (vs 5) dwell (Gen 4:16)( Mal 3:3- Lord will sit.) (Lot sat at the gate of Sodom(Gen 19:1)
9. I will wash my hands in innocency (vs 6) observance of one who brought sacrifice to God.
10. I will compass thine altar (vs 6-7) The one who brought the sacrifice was actively engaged in the sacrifice, they were with the priest while he performed his duties.
11. I have loved thy house (vs 8) as opposed to sitting with the wicked. - Speaks of regular attendance to worship  

2. David's request for Redemption (vs 9-12)
   A. Gather not my soul (vs 9) Do not put me in the same category
   B. Redeem me (vs 11) deliverance Ex 14:30, Isa 59:15, 20
   C. Be merciful (vs 11) pity me and show favor

Psalm 25

I. Focus on God (1-6)

     A. Lift up your soul to Him (1) soul = very being

     B. Trust in Him (vs 2) ashamed = disappointed

     C. Wait on Him(vs 3) wait = to look for with eagerness

     D. Learn from Him (vs 4-5) do we want to know the ways and paths of the Lord?

II. Forgiveness (6-14)

     A. Requests from God (vs 6-7)

     1. Request for remembrance of his mercies and long suffering. (vs 6)
     2. Request for the forgetting of our sins. (vs 7,11)
     3. Request for the remembrance of his sheep (vs 7)

     B. Recognition of God's person and character (vs 8-10)

1. He is good and upright (vs 8)
• good = pleasant and agreeable
• upright = straight and correct
2. He is a help to the meek (vs 9) meek = humble
3. He is a protection to the obedient (vs 10) keep = guard

      C. Reward for the believer (vs 11-14)

1. Forgiveness of sin (vs 11)
2. Instructed in God's way (vs 12)
3. Ease in God's inheritance (vs 13)
4. Counsel from the Lord (vs 14)
5. Realization of the covenant (vs 14)

III. Faithfulness (14-22) 

1. Mine eyes are ever toward the Lord (vs 15)
2. I wait on thee (vs 21)

Psalm 24

 A Messianic Psalm looking to the Millennium  

 # 3 in the trilogy  (Ps 22 – Good Shepherd / Ps 23 – Great Shepherd / Ps 24 Glorious Shepherd)

Setting – David entering Jerusalem upon conquering it (2Sam 5) ?

I. Jehovah is the Rightful Owner of the earth (vs 1-2)

     A. He owns the whole earth! (vs 1) (Ex 9:29)1Cor 10:23-26)

          1)Satan is the prince and power of the air (Eph 2:2)

          2) Satan is the god of this world (age) (2Cor 4:4)

age = period of time marked by it's spiritual and moral characteristics (1Jn 2:17)

1. It's cares (Mt 13:22)
2. It's sons (Luke 16:8)(20:34)
3. It's fashion (Rom 12:2)
4. It's rulers (1Cor 2:6-8)
5. It's wisdom (1Cor 1:20)(2:6)(3:18)
6. It's character (Gal 1:4)
7. It's god (2Cor 4:4)

          3) Satan is not the owner of the earth! (Rev 20:1-3, 10)

Why is Jesus the rightful owner? (Rev. 5:5) He has prevailed! (5:11-12)

     B. He owns the people of the earth! (vs 1) (Is 45:12)

          1) God has the right to interfere in the affairs of men!

          2) God has the right to inspect the hearts of men!

          3) God has the right to inflict judgment on men!(Is 54:15-17)

     C. He owns because he founded and established it all! (vs 2)

          1) By His spoken Word!

          2) By His sovereign power! (Heb 1:3)

II. Jehovah is the Righteous Sovereign of the earth (vs 3-6)

     A. The required righteousness (vs 4)

     B. The received blessing (vs 5)

     C. The recognized generation (vs 6)

          1) The Righteous

          2) Jacob!

Here we see the impeccability of Christ.(Heb 9:14)(1Pet 2:21-25)

III. Jehovah is the Royal King of the earth. (vs 7-10)

     A. He is the King of Glory

     B. He is the King of Victory (Dan 7:9-14)(Zech. 14:9, 16-21) 

Psalm 23

David who was a shepherd, understood the relationship between a shepherd and his sheep. Here he places himself into a favored position by humbly admitting who he was -  A sheep.

I. A Personal Shepherd (vs 1) "My shepherd"

    cf Heb 2:9-18

II. A Providing Shepherd (vs 1-3) "I shall not want"

     cf Is 40:28-31

III. A Protecting Shepherd (vs 4) "I will fear no evil"

      cf 1Cor 15:52-58

IV. A Present Shepherd (vs 4) "thou art with me"

     cf Heb 13:5

V. A Preparing Shepherd (vs 5) "thou preparest a table before me"

     cf Ps. 78:19 / 

VI. A Permanent Shepherd (vs 6) "I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever"

     cf Heb 13:20-21

Psalm 22

Re 13:8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
Ge 22:8 And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.
Php 3:10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

I. The place of crucifixion (vs 1-10)

     A. His Question (vs 1) Jesus asked for our benefit
     B. His Condition (vs 2, 6-7)
     C. His Recognition (vs 3)
     D. His Consideration (vs 4-5)
     E. His Position (vs 8-10) (Is 46:3) Christ – virgin birth

II. Three requests in the fellowship of suffering. (vs 11-20)

      A. Be not far from me – I need your presence!

11 ¶ Be not far from me;

     1. "for trouble is near;"
     2. "for there is none to help."
     3. Enemies abound – 3 clasifications listed
          a. bulls of Bashan (vs 12) cf Psalm 68:1, 3

Bashan was the finest cattle country beyond Jordan where the largest and fattest cattle in the country were from.

12 Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round.

           b. Roaring lions (vs 13-15) cf (John 8:44) (1Peter 5:5-11)

13 They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion.
               
                i. 14 I am poured out like water,
                ii. and all my bones are out of joint:
                iii. my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels.
                iv. 15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd;
                v. and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and
               * thou hast brought me into the dust of death.

1Pe 4:19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

1Pe 2:23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:

               c. Dogs (vs 16) – nothing left of him!  First reference – Ex 22:31 cf (Mt 7:6) also Jer 15:3
                   Mt 15:21-28 // Phil 3:2 , Rev 22:15

16 For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.17 I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me.18 They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.19 But be not thou far from me, O LORD: O my strength, haste thee to help me.

     B. Deliver my soul – I need your deliverance

20 Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling from the power of the dog.

     Soul - Gen 2:7 – Man became a living soul – the soul is a gift from God
     Gen 9:4 – life thereof – life is same word

Proverbs 6:30 Men do not despise a thief, if he steal to satisfy his soul when he is hungry;

1Pe 2:11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;

darling – Gen 22:2, 12, 16 word only is same word

     Judges 11:34 – Jepththah's daughter was his only
     Psalm 25:16 – desolate
     Psalm 35:17 Lord, how long wilt thou look on? rescue my soul from their destructions, my darling from the lions.
     Psalm 68:6 God setteth the solitary in families: he bringeth out those which are bound with chains: but the rebellious dwell in a dry land.
     Zechariah 12:10 And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.

      C. Save me from the lion's mouth.

21 Save me from the lion's mouth: for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns.

Heb 5:7 Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; cf (Heb 12:9)

1Pe 2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

Jesus is crying out to the very one who he is submitted to.

2Cor 5:21 He hath made him to be sin for us.

"My meet is to do the will of him that sent me and finish his work".

2Co 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns.

     Unicorn = a wild animal of great power
          Job 33:9-10 – Unable to be domesticated
          Numbers 23:22 / 24:8- Strength cf Is 34:7
          Dut 33:17 – Horns cf Ps 92:10
          Psalm 29:6 – Agility in youth

III. The power of His resurrection

     A. Declaration of his name – cf (Heb 2:9-12)

          1. Praise of him –

22 ¶ I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee. 23 Ye that fear the LORD, praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all ye the seed of Israel. 24 For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; neither hath he hid his face from him; but when he cried unto him, he heard. 25 My praise shall be of thee in the great congregation:.....
          2. Paying vows to him (Gen 28:20-22 / Gen 31:13)
            
25.....I will pay my vows before them that fear him.

Often vows and praise are seen together in the psalms! Showing promises connected with worship and sacrifice.
     B. Satisfaction of the Meek

26 The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the LORD that seek him: your heart shall live for ever. (Mt 5:5) Blessed are the meek...

     Meekness is living in humility before God in the sight of man

Ps 69:32 – Humble same as meek
Is 61:1 Ps 25:9 / Ps 37:11 / Ps 76:9 / Ps 147:6

(Numbers 12:3) (Mt 11:29 / Mt 21:5) (2Cor 10:1)
(1Peter 3:4) (Fruit of the spirit – Gal 5:23 cf Gal 6:1)

     C. Salvation of the nations

27 All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee. 28 For the kingdom is the LORD'S: and he is the governor among the nations. 29 All they that be fat upon earth shall eat and worship: all they that go down to the dust shall bow before him: and none can keep alive his own soul. 30 A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation. 31 They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this.

Isa 8:17-18 is also quoted in Heb 2! follow the text to Isaiah 9:6
see Dan 7 and 1Cor 15:12-34

Psalm 21

A three fold application

     1) We see a psalm penned under inspiration concerning the life experiences of King David.

     2) We see the Messianic quality of this Psalm concerning the Lord Jesus Christ.

     3) We see the believer's place by application as the victorious child of God. (1 Peter 2:9) (Rev 1:6)


I. The Faith (vs 1)

     * I shall rejoice  cf (Hab. 3:17-19)

II. The Facts (vs 2-6)

     A. Answered prayer (2)
     B. Abundant honor (3-6)
     C. Abounding joy (6)

III. The Future (vs 7-12)

     A. Trust brings stability (vs 7) cf (Ps 16:8)
     B. Safety is of the Lord (vs 8)
     C. Being in God's will makes your enemies God's enemies (vs 8-9)

         – find out = expose to deal with cf (1Sam 31)

         - Hand of the Lord -

               1. Ex 9:1-6
               2. Josh 4:19-24
               3. Judges 2:11-20
               4. 1Sam 5:6-9
               5. 2Kings 3:15
               6. Psalm 118:1-18
               7. Is 59:1-2

     D. The earth (vs 10) is the Lord's He will have His inheritance.

         (vs 9-12) - (Lev 25:23-28) cf Ruth 4; Jer. 32:7;  Rev 5

IV. The Focus (vs 13)

     A. Desire for God to be glorified
     B. Determine to sing and praise his power.

Psalm 20

A warrior's psalm of premeditated victory

I. The Abilities of the Lord (vs 1-4)

     A. The LORD hears in the day of trouble(vs 1)
          trouble - (Psalm 77:2) 120:1 – distress

     B. The LORD defends (vs 1) – The Lord of Hosts
          defend – set up inaccessibly high see Ps 6 9:29/ 91:14

     C. The LORD sends help out of the sanctuary (vs 2)

     D. The LORD strengthens out of Zion (vs 2)
          Psalm 18:35 – holden me up Is 9:7 establish

     E. The LORD remembers (vs 3) – Acceptable sacrifice
          Kings would sacrifice to God before going to battle

     F. The LORD grants the desire of the righteous (vs 4)
          The importance of our will being God's (1Jn 5:14)
          grant – bestow, permit, entrust, give, dedicate

II. The Acknowledgements of the Believers (vs 5-8)

     A. We will rejoice His salvation (vs 5)

     B. We will set up our banners in His name (vs 5)
          Banners = flags / standards - Identification
          Numbers 2 / SoS 6:4,10 / Sos 2:4
     C. We will realize answered prayer (vs 5)

     D. We will know that God does A-C by his power (vs 6)

     E. We will not be like the world (vs 7-8)
          Ex 14

     F. We will remember His name - LORD our God (vs 7)


III. The Action of the Believers (vs 9) - Prayer

Ps 25:20 O keep my soul, and deliver me: let me not be ashamed; for I put my trust in thee.

2Ti 4:18 And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Keys to answered prayer

1) Faith (Mt 21:18-21)(Mk 11:24)(James 1:5-7)(5:15)

2) Faithfulness (Luke 11:1-8) (John 15:7)

3) Fasting (Mt 17:21)(1Cor 7:5)

4) Forgiveness (Mk 11:25-26)

5) Forsaking Sin (Ps 66:18)(Pro 15:29)(1Jn 3:22)

6) Found in God's will (1Jn 5:14)

Psalm 19

I. The Light of the Creation (1-6)
     A. The Heavens – Idea of loftiness - The visible sky
     B. The Firmament – Idea of expanse
     * The support of the waters / planets – God's vault
         (Gen 1:6-20) (Psalm 150:1) (Ezk 1:22-26/10:1) (Dan 12:3)
     * The greatness of the sun declares the greatness of the firmament. The Firmament is a house for the sun.

II. The Light of the Canon (7-10)
     A. The description of the Scriptures (vs 7-9)
          1. Law – Torah – divine instruction or direction
          2. Testimony – The witness of God's Word concerning God's person and works
          3. Statutes – The formal decree or edict given by God as ruler and lawgiver
          4. Commandment – here the singular (break one, you have broken all! -
               (James 2:10) mitzvah – Jews know it as a good deed in keeping the command of God
          5. Fear – terror, reverence, respect – cf Ex 20:18 / Rev 1:17
               Notice the times in Scripture that a fear of God precedes a positive relationship with God!
          6. Judgments – the decisions of a judge
     B. The desire for the Scriptures (vs 10)

III. The Light of the Conscience
     A. Warning (11)
     B. Understanding (12)
     C. Guarding (13)
     D. Pleasing (14)

Psalm 18

I. GOD is my Strength. (vs 1-17) see vs 1
     A. Strength appreciated! (vs 1) I will love
     B. Strength visualized (vs 2) The Lord is my......
     C. Strength requested (vs 3-6) The sorrows of death / hell
     D. Strength demonstrated (vs 7-17) A storm from God

II.God is my Stay. (vs 18-36) see vs 18
This word is found only in 2Sam 22:19, here in Psalm 17, and in Isaiah 3:1
The context of Isaiah 3:1-10 Illustrates the idea of God being David's stay very well
The stay and staff of Isaiah 3:1 are from the same root.

     A. The staff

As one leans on the staff for support in travel and personal deportment.
David knew what a staff was (Psalm 23:4) thy staff – the tool of the shepherd. He was a shepherd.
But the staff can also have bad implications Ezk 29:6-8

     B. The Stay

But there is a distinction. David did not say staff here but stay. God was not his crutch, a third appendage that he picked up,

NO! God was his full support.

Isaiah 3:1 – the stay of bread and water demonstrates the complete necessity for the survival of man! Without bread and water man will die.

De 33:27 The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them.

David attributes all the good and blessings that he has enjoyed as being the sole response of God to him.!

The idea of stay has the idea of complete trust and only in the object of trust.

Look at the believer's salvation! Trust is reliance on God without a back up plan.

          1. The benefits of God being your stay: (vs 19)
               a. Brought into a large place
               b. Delivered
               c. Delighted in

           2. The Beginnings of God being your stay (vs 21-38)
               a. Keeping God's Word (21-28) 
                   lighten – Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my   path.
               b. Keeping a humble attitude (vs 29-36)
                   look at all the times David gives the honor and glory to  God for what was accomplished.
               c. Keeping a faithful loyalty. (vs 37-39)
                   Who your enemies are says much about you!

III. God is my Salvation. (vs 37 -50) see vs 46

           Great deliverance – vs 50

Ps 74:12 ¶ For God is my King of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth.

Isa 12:2 Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my  strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.

Psalm 17

I. God's Sentence (vs 1-3)

     God's judgment of David was not a scary or terrifying situation to David.
     David was ready for it,  David longed for it.
     He was confident in his righteous behavior.
     He was confident in his just condition.

     David had been proven of the Lord! (vs 3)

II. God's Salvation (vs 4-7)
      A. God's deliverance is in His word (vs 4)
      B. God's deliverance is in his path (vs 5)
      C. God's deliverance is in his response to prayer (vs 6)
      D. God's deliverance is in his power (vs 7)

III. God's Shadow (vs 8-12) 

     A. Keep me as The apple of the eye.

     How God has proven his care of man by placing the eye in such a protected position!
    
     1)The bone structure of the face!
     2)The resilience of the eye itself
     3)The quick response of the eyelid
     4)The filter of the eyelash and eyebrow
     5)The proximity of the hands

Zec 2:8 For thus saith the LORD of hosts; After the glory hath he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye.

     B. Hide me under the shadow of thy wings

Mt 23:37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!

          Beneath her fostering wing the HEN defends
          Her darling offspring, while the snow descends;
          Throughout the winter's day unmoved defies
          The chilling fleeces and inclement skies;
          Till, vanquish'd by the cold and piercing blast,
          True to her charge, she perishes at last!
          O Fame! to hell this fowl's affection bear;
          Tell it to Progne and Medea there:-
          To mothers such as those the tale unfold,
          And let them blush to hear the story told!-T. G.

IV. God's Sword (vs 13-14)

Hab 1:12 Art thou not from everlasting, O LORD my God, mine Holy One? we shall not die. O LORD, thou hast ordained them for judgment; and, O mighty God, thou hast established them for correction.

Isa 10:5 O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, and the staff in their hand is mine indignation.6 I will send him against an hypocritical nation, and against the people of my wrath will I give him a charge, to take the spoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets.

V.God's Satisfaction (vs 15)

Some might argue with me and say that this is David's satisfaction, but I would reply that without God's grace, and God's work in our hearts, we would not seek after God.

We love him because he first loved us! 1Jn 4:19

Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: Phil 1:6

Psalm 16

The Golden Psalm

I. The Preservation of the believer (vs 1-4)

II. The Portion of the believer (vs 5-6)

III. The Praise of the believer (vs 7-9)

IV. The Power of the believer (vs 10)

V. The Path of the believer (vs 11)

VI. The Pleasures of the believer (vs 11)