“God’s Love for His Sheep” – Psalm 35:19-28
Message: “God’s Love for His Sheep”Text: Psalm 35:19-28 Main thoughts: David now concludes his song by reflecting on God’s love for him. (19) Prayer for victoryDavid cries out to God for victory. His enemies are conspiring against him. They do not have a valid reason for hating him, but they continue their deceptive ways against him. (20-21) The enemies’ accusationsDavid just wants to live a life of peace and quiet. However, his enemies will not allow it. They will continually attack him. Saul…
“What Love for Enemies Looks Like” – Psalm 35:11-18
Main thoughts: As David continues his psalm, he now contrasts how he has treated his enemies with the way they have treated him. (11-12) The enemies’ attackDavid expresses his ignorance of what was happening. He has no idea why they are attacking him. They are lying about him, and he does not even know where the lies are coming from. Even though he has shown them good, they repay him with evil. (13-14) David’s loveDavid shows his love for his enemies in…
“A Cry for Justice” – Psalm 35:1-10
Main thoughts:The text does not give us any direct clues as to what is going on at the time this psalm is written. All we know for certain is that it is written by David at a time when he is being attacked and slandered. Most commentators place this psalm during the time when Saul turned the army against David and sought to kill him. If you have ever felt betrayed, unfairly treated, or unjustly attacked this psalm offers tremendous…
“God Protects His Own” – Psalm 34:15-22
Main thoughts:David concludes his song by telling how God protects His own. Divine protection for those who fear God (15-17)God is watching over His children and listening to their every prayer. In the same way, God is watching those who do evil and will judge them. God listens to the prayers of His people and delivers them out of their troubles. True righteousness defined (18)In all of this discussion about fearing God and righteousness, we can begin to believe that the strongest…
“How to Fear God” – Psalm 34:11-14
Main thoughts:After telling how blessed it is to fear God, David now tells us how to fear God. Discipleship’s Goal (11)David now invites the men who have joined him in the cave of Adullum, and everyone for that matter, to follow him in order to learn the fear of God. Discipleship is seen not in the sitting in a classroom but in the learning through following a life lived. The word order in the Hebrew indicates that the emphasis is…
“The Care of God for His People” – Psalm 33:12-22
Main thoughts:The psalmist has already told us how to praise God. He has already given us two reasons to praise God, and he concludes the psalm by giving us two more reasons to praise God.God’s love for the righteous 12-19Blessed happiness (12) – This is a verse that we are all familiar with, yet we are familiar with it out of its context. This verse is not speaking of countries or governments that acknowledge God in their founding documents, on their…
“The Power of God on Display” – Psalm 33:6-11
Main thoughts:As we continue looking at Psalm 33 we now see the power of God on display in creation and in human history. The psalm employs Hebrew parallelisms which are found in much of Hebrew poetry. The same idea is presented in two different ways. This helps us to get a well-formed understanding of the author’s mind and intent. We see God’s power on display: In Creation (6-9)The psalmist gives us four statements of the power of God in creation and…
“How and Why We Worship” – Psalm 33:1-5
Main thoughts:We do not know anything about the background of Psalm 33. It could be written by any one from any place at any time. That is the beauty of this Psalm. It is a Psalm teaching us how and why to praise God and applies to any one in any place at any time. The first phrase connects it back to the last verse of Psalm 32. If forgiven people are to shout for joy, how are we supposed…
“Why Emmanuel?” – Matthew 1:23
Main thoughts:Isaiah tells us that the Messiah will be called Emmanuel or “God with us.” The angel repeats this same name to Joseph. We know that Jesus is God in the flesh. We celebrate His advent or “coming to” this earth. Why? Why did God become a man? Why did He come as a child? To reveal God to usThroughout human history debates have raged as to what God is like. Human beings have created many false gods and many…
“The Forgiven Life” – Psalm 32:6-11
Main thoughts: After teaching us how blessed it is to have our sins forgiven, David now teaches us how we should live in light of this forgiveness. Constant Prayer Because God has forgiven our sins we have access to Him in prayer through Jesus Christ. Forgiven people cry out to God in prayer constantly. We also confess our sins immediately. There will come a time when God closes the door of mercy; however, the forgiven man runs to God so…
“The Blessing of Forgiveness” – Psalm 32:1-5
Main thoughts: Psalm 32 is a teaching psalm that teaches us about the forgiveness of sins. It is written by David and was probably sung at the Day of Atonement. Three words for sin As David tells us how blessed it is to have your sins forgiven, he uses three words for sin: Transgression – a deliberate crossing of the line, rebellion Sin – a missing of the mark, anything short of perfection Iniquity – a straying from the path,…