Psalm 39
Take heed to your ways.
We need to watch our tongue vs. 1
Without prayer there’s increased pain and sorrow (for yourself and others) vs. 4
Realize how fleeting and fragile life is vs. 5
Realize the vanity and emptiness of this physical world. vs. 6
We need to direct our trust toward God vs. 7-10
Finish strong
Psalm 38
This is a Psalm of memorial for David; a Psalm of repentance.
Why? Because vs. 3-4 David says because of my sin, because of mine iniquities
In this chapter, David is broken because of his sin.
Can God see our brokeness and feelings of repentance and sorrow?
Exodus 3:7 - God saw the affliction of His people and their sorrows.
David realizes and acknowledges God’s anger about his sin and he has no rest vs. 3
Can we have comfort when God chastens us?
1. Revelation 3:19 - Who God loves, He chastens. God chastens because He loves and wants us to repent.
2. Hebrews 12:5 - Despise not God’s chastening. Who God loveth He chasteneth.
3. Job 24: 1-24 - Why are th ewicked not chastened? It will only last a little while before God punishes them.
4. Genesis 4:5 - God is consistent with His punishment.
5. Jeremiah 44:2 - God’s wrath is on those who have sinned against the Lord and feared Him.
6. Acts 5 - Ananias and Sapphira punished by God for their lying. Those around them feared God. We should learn by other people’s chastening.
7. Jeremiah 32:36 - God wants people to fear Him, so that they do not depart from Him
8. Hebrews 12:10-12 - God’s chastening is to purge out those who do not repent and fear the Lord.
Remember: God puts fear in our hearts, for Him, today, so that we make better choices tomorrow.
- God will always forgive us when we repent.
Outline of this chapter, that will continue next week.
vs. 1-10 - David’s plea in his affliction
vs. 11-17 - David is forsaken by those around him
vs. 18-22 - David repents
Psalm 37
Is there hope for preservation? Can God keep us and sustain us?
vs. 18 - the Lord knoweth the upright and their inheritance is forever
vs. 24 - The Lord upholdeth you even if you fail
vs. 27 - Dwell forever more with the Lord
vs. 29 - The Righteous inherit the land and dwell in it forever
vs. 30 - The Law of the Lord is in his heart, he will not slide.
Psalms 84:11 - God is a sun and shield, no good thing will He withold from the righteous
Psalm 37:18 - The Lord knoweth the upright and their inheritance is forever
Psalm 121 - He that keepeth Israel does not sleep. The Lord will preserve you from all evil
Psalms 37
Is There Hope for Peace?
Peace is relational
To have peace we need to know the Prince of Peace
Peace is relative
Peace is relative to our faith in God
Is There Hope for Contentment?
Contentment comes with our relationship with God
Psalms 37
Is there hope for justice? vs. 12-14, 16, 34
Is there hope for provision?
vs. 3 - trust in the Lord
vs. 4 - Are we willing to trust in the Lord?
vs. 19 - They shall be satisfied
vs. 25 - The righteous have not been forsaken
Is there any hope for change?
vs. 4-5 - pampered by God’s provision
Is there hope over my anxiety and worry?
vs. 1
Hebrews 4:1 - Fear of God
Don’t worry about something you don’t have control over.
Psalms 37
Hope = an expectation, a steadfast confidence
Romans 8:24 - We are saved by hope. Hope that is seen is not hope.
The key verse in this chapter - vs. 34. Wait on the Lord, keep His way, He shall exalt thee to inherit the land when the wicked are cut off.
Hebrews 11 is the faith chapter. These dear ones mentioned bore witness of their faith in God. We will be among them and numbered with them one day.
Is There Hope for Justice?
vs 1 - Don’t worry about evil outside of your control.
vs. 2 - Evildoers will be taken care of
vs 8 - Stop being angry
vs. 9 - Evildoers will be taken care of
vs. 10 - The wicked shall not be
vs. 12 - The Wicked plot against the just
vs. 15 - Their sword will enter into their own hearts
vs. 20 - The wicked shall perish
vs. 22 - They will be cut off
vs. 38 - They will be destroyed and cut off
Psalm 36
1 - The Transgression - No fear of God. Man is always trying to justify wrong doing
2. - The wicked flattereth themselves and move away from God
3 - The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceiving
- ongoing deception
the fear of man brings a snare
The fear of God brings blessing
4 - He deviseth mischief upon his bed
5-6 - Attributes of God
Mercy - unmerited favor
Faithfulness
Righteousness
7-10 - God’s blessings on those who receive mercy
Matthew 23:37 Mercy is given to those who know the Lord
Psalm 35
This Psalm can be divided into three groups of verses:
1-10
11-18
19-28
The Psalm consists of David’s complaint, his prayer, and his promise to praise.
David’s Complaint:
David has enemies that are giving him a hard time, and he says he did not do anything to provoke them.
In fact, David says to God that he treated these people like brothers and friends during the hard times in their lives, and when he is going through a hard time, David says these enemies got together to slander and plan things against him.
David’s Prayer:
David asks God to fight for him against these enemies. He asks God how long it will be before God punishes these people.
David’s Promise:
David promises God that he will praise God for taking care of his enemies.
The Application to our Lives:
1. Remember, Proverbs 26:27 - Those that dig a pit, will fall into it.
2. David asks God to vindicate for him, he doesn’t take matters into his own hands.
3. Remember, Provers 24:17-18 - Rejoice not when your enemy falls, If God sees you do this, He could turn around His wrath for the bad people.
4. All unsaved people will face God’s judgment.
5. Remember, Matthew 5:44 - Pray for those that deceitfully use you.
6. Remember, II Thessalonians 1:6 - God is not turning a blind eye to your enemies. He sees them and what they are doing.
God’s Reply: God does not reply back to David in this Psalm. We need to learn to pray our petition and then leave it in the Lord’s hands. We need to appreciate God’s long-suffering (patience) towards the unsaved. He is giving them the opportunity to repent according to His own timetable, not ours.
Psalm 34
Setting - I Samuel 21:10-15
David ran to Philistia, away from King Saul, but he became afraid when the Philistines recognized him. David was afraid they would kill him, because of Goliath. David pretended to be insane so the king would let him leave.
When afraid, these commands are given to us to do.
Magnify the Lord
Exalt His name
Hearken to God
Taste and see that the Lord is good
Keep your tongue from evil
Depart from evil
Do good
Seek and pursue peace
Three options to do when we are afraid.
Look within ourselves and be miserable. See our worthlessness
Look around and be distressed over what you should be doing
Look up to God and be blessed with His understanding
Ten promises from God in this chapter
The Angel of the Lord encompasses round about you and delivers
You will not be in wanting
God will provide for your needs
God hears our cry and He watches over us
God will get rid of the evil people
God delivers you out of all your troubles
God saves and heals a broken heart
God delivers you from your afflictions
God keepeth your bones
God redeems your soul
Conclusion
David sought the Lord and God says come. Fear me and you will not have anything else to fear.
When a Believer conquers their fear they should:
Praise God
Realize that they are not alone
Realize that they are satisfied in God alone
Realize that God cares about them and is involved in their life
Psalm 33
Rejoice in the Lord
Revelation 4 - There will be rejoicing to the Lord in Heaven
Music is part of praise and worship
Make a joyful noise
God’s Word is right and done in truth
God loves righteousness
The Heavens were made by God’s word
Proverbs 8:20 - God gave the water its decree
God controls the seas
The people of the earth should and will stand in awe of Him.
God contains the oceans where they are
Devices = the heathens’ schemes and philosophies
12. God’s people are blessed, whom He hath chosen, Israel
13. God sees from heaven, the hearts of men.
14-15. God considereth their hearts and their works
16. No one can save a king, not even a host of people
17-18. God is the only one that delivers someone, with their strength
God knows me and He intently watches me, sustains, preserves and delivers
19. God provides miraculously for His people
20-22. We should wait, rejoice, trust, and hope in Him. According to that, He will give us mercy.
Sing unto the Lord a song.
Psalms 32
1-2: David says his behavior crossed the line and missed the mark because of his twisted nature.1
Transgression - to step across the line, go out of bounds
Sin - missing the mark, the bulls-eye on God’s holiness
Iniquity - A bent or twisted nature
Guile - deceit, intentional deception
3-4: David says the sin took away his strength and weighed heavily on him
5: Acknowledge- to own up to the sin by saying my or mine
Admit - you admit, but down own what you’ve done wrong
6: There is a limit to God’s long-suffering
7: Shows God’s grace
8: God speaks and assures David that He will guide him with His eye
9: Are you going to run to sin, like a horse runs, or stay in sin, like a mule would be stubborn and stay still? It takes a bit and bridle to control these two animals.
10: There’s joy in the Lord
God forgets iniquities with His forgiveness after our confession Hebrews 10:17
Psalms 31
1-3: From what is the direction of your life when the wicked prevail against you?
4: From what is the direction of your life when the wicked has trapped you?
5-6: From what is the direction of your life when the wicked lie and deceive me and seem to prosper?
7-9: From what is the direction of your life when you are consumed with grief?
10: From what is the direction of your life when you are dealing with the consequences of your sin?
11: From what is the direction of your life when your friends forsake you, fail you, and are embarrassed by you?
12: From what is the direction of your life when it seems you are forgotten and no one cares about you?
13: From what is the direction of your life when others slander you?
14: Can we like David:
vs. 1 - Trust God?
vs. 2 - Pray and seek Him?
vs. 5 - Commit and surrender to God’s working?
vs. 19, 24: Rejoice in the hope, strength, and promises of God?
vs. 23: Love Him?
vs. 20: Seek His presence?
Can we ask ourselves: How good am I at seeking God’s presence in my life?
Psalms 30
vs.1 - David says he is willing to praise the Lord for the victories over his enemies.
vs. 2-4 - David had afflictions in his life, but God helped him through them. God can use afflictions to teach us something.
vs. 5 - God’s anger only lasts for a moment, and it’s for His purpose.
vs. 6-7 - David acknowledges he will not be moved from his place of importance, but he gives God the glory for his placement.
vs. 8-12 - God answers David’s prayers and David acknowledges that.
Psalms 29
The Voice of the Lord as described in Psalm 29 by David.
- on the water, thundering
- powerful, majestic
- it breaketh cedars
- divides flames, fire
- shakes the wilderness, earthquake
- makes the hinds to calve
Notice the instances in this chapter of the word “give”. We need to do this in our worship.
Giving in our worship acknowledges God’s strength and glory. When we do this it elevates God and then we lower ourselves.
The voice of the Lord….. Is it an exception or the norm?
1 Kings 17-19: We look at Elijah when the Word of the Lord “came” to him. We also note that “the Lord passed by”.
- do we miss his voice?
Elijah felt like he was the only prophet left in the world.
The wind came, but God was not in the wind
The earthquake and fire came, but God was not in those either.
He wasn’t in the noticeable things in this instance.
God was in a still, small voice. Elijah had to get out of the storm to hear God speak.
The normal is God speaking to us in a still, small voice. The exception is hearing God in the powerful stuff.
God is speaking, but are you listening?
Psalms 28
1-3: David goes to his Rock in prayer
4-6: Determined fate of the wicked
8-9: Confidence in God
Background study and information: 1 Samuel 23
1 Samuel 22:1-23, Psalms 27:1-14
David seeks assylum for his Father and Mother in Moab because it was the land of his Great Grandmother (Ruth). This is the setting for Psalms 27.
Psalms 27
vs. 1-4: David expresses seeing clearly our ultimate destination
vs. 2: God was acting on David’s behalf.
vs. 3: War will always rise against us.
vs. 4: David is looking to a future destination
- David desired fellowship
-Waiting is trusting
vs. 5-10: Prayerful dependence on God is essential
- 1 Samuel 22: 1,5: David is hiding. The prophet told him not to hide anymore.
vs. 5: God will hide us
vs. 6: God will encourage us
vs. 7: We need to have a desire for the Lord to hear us
- God keeps His word
vs. 8:: We need to keep our eyes on the Lord
vs. 9: We need to desire to be near Him
vs. 10: Waiting is praying
vs. 11-14: We need to want for God to move on our behalf
vs. 11: We need to be teachable, a willingness to learn
- seek my face
- I need Light so we can see clearly what direction to go.
-Waiting is Learning
vs. 12: We need to wait in the midst of our enemies
vs. 13: Faith keeps us from fainting
vs. 14: Wait on the Lord
Jeremiah 17:5-8 Cursed is the man that trusts in men. Blessed is the man that trusts in the Lord.
Psalms 26
David’s Attitude
vs. 7-9 David is thankful, he thanks God for the believers
David’s Behavior
vs. 4-6 David is not part of vain people, hypocrites, or evil people
David’s Character
vs. 1, 2, 11 David is a real person wherever he is. True to himself and others. He stands, and walks with integrity. He is not persuaded by sinful people
David’s Devotion
David never worshiped other gods.
David stands in the congregation of the Lord
Psalms 25
Because we have enemies
Because we sin
Because we battle loneliness
Because we experience a broken heart
Because we don’t let go of guilt from the past
I Thessalonians 4:13-5:11
vs 13 - Paul tells the people in the church at Thessalonica; don’t be ignorant concerning the dead. They did not know what happens to the saved dead people.
vs. 14 - The Comfort of the Redemption
vs. 15 - The Comfort of the Resurrection
vs. 17 - The Comfort of the Raptures
5: 1-11 - The Comfort of the Reunion
Seven Main Points that Favor Premillennialism
Daniel 7
vs 8 - The Kingdom of the Messiah clearly follows the appearance of the Antichrist (Little Horn)
vs 9 - The prophecy requires the visible kingdom of Christ to follow the kingdoms of the Gentiles. It does not run concurrent with them. Christ’s Kingdom is established after the overthrow of all other kingdoms.
vs. 14 - The visible kingdom of Christ succeeds the final form of Gentile dominion ruled by 10 kings and finally by one king who reigns for 3 1/2 years. Neither kingdom has appeared yet.
vs 22 - The visible kingdom of the Messiah takes over the other kingdoms in power and glory.
Daniel 9:25 - The kingdom of the Messiah is a Jew which is not true of any present kingdom of Christ on the earth.
Christ’s kingdom will be similar to the ones that preceded it, that is, visible and earthly.
The Beasts have their dominion taken away but judgement and destruction are delayed for a season and time.
How will Jesus reign?
Ps. 27 - vs. 5 - He will strike through kings. vs 6 - Judge the nations.
Zachariah 14:9 - the Lord WILL be king over all the earth. vs 16 - Those that remain WILL worship the King and keep the Feast of the Tabernacles. vs. 17 - Those that do not obey will have no reign or power given to them. Judgement WILL be given.
Revelation 5:9 - the Saints will be singing a new song. Jesus will be realized as the Savior. vs 10 - We are made kings/priests, we WILL reign on the earth. We WILL have a job to do.