Prayers of David
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
As we begin this morning, let me ask you a question. Are you tired of all the political adds? Well, you just have to endure today, tomorrow and Tuesday.
But the bigger question is which standard should Christians use when making their choice in the voting booth?
Let me share with you four criteria that we should use when making your political choice.
Which candidate’s platform will support God’s definition of the family.
Which candidate’s platform support life. Both the life of the unborn, and the life in general.
Which candidate’s platform promotes boarder security.
Which candidates platform promotes gender as God created it.
I know that for most of us, ever candidate will have something that doesn’t measure up. There will be some kind of character flaw!
When we come to our passage today, David reminds us what we need to do when the world around us seems to be crashing in on us.
If you have your Bibles, I want to encourage you to turn with me to Psalm 17. David begins this section with a prayer of the righteous.
The Prayer of the Righteous
The Prayer of the Righteous
David’s Prayer
David’s Prayer
Hear me, Lord, my plea is just; listen to my cry. Hear my prayer— it does not rise from deceitful lips.
David pleas for the Lord to hear his just cause (v. 1a).
David pleas for the Lord to listen to his cry (repeated for emphasis) (v. 1b).
David then pleas his innocence--His plea is not deceitful (v. 1c).
Let my vindication come from you; may your eyes see what is right.
His ultimate request is that Yahweh would give him vindication (v. 2a).
David can trust this because he knows the Lord sees what is “right.”
David pleads his innocence
David pleads his innocence
Though you probe my heart, though you examine me at night and test me, you will find that I have planned no evil; my mouth has not transgressed.
David is confident (in this case) in his righteousness. In this case David has not done anything worthy of the antagonism of the opposition. So he asks God to probe his heart, because David knows:
— God can examine him and test him all night long and He will find that David has planned no evil (actions)(v. 3a).
— God will quickly see that David has spoken no evil (words) (v. 3b).
Though people tried to bribe me, I have kept myself from the ways of the violent through what your lips have commanded.
People have tried to bribe David to go against God, but he avoid getting wrapped up in their violence (v. 4a).
David has continued to follow God’s word (v. 4b).
My steps have held to your paths; my feet have not stumbled.
David has continued to follow God (v. 5a).
And he has not stumbled in his obedience (v. 5b).
A Prayer for Protection
A Prayer for Protection
I call on you, my God, for you will answer me; turn your ear to me and hear my prayer.
David approaches God with the confidence that when he calls on God, God will answer him (v. 6a).
David then asks God to listen to him, and to hear his prayer (v. 6b).
Show me the wonders of your great love, you who save by your right hand those who take refuge in you from their foes.
David asks God to show him the great love of God (v. 7a).
— David ascribes glory to God by acknowledging the salvation that comes from God (v. 7b).
— And David gives God glory by acknowledging that God is his refuge (place of protection) from those who hate him (v. 7c).
Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings
David pleas for God to keep him “as the apple of your eye”. David is asking that God not lose sight of him. He doesn’t want God to lose sight of what his enemies are doing to him (v. 8a).
David then asks God to hide him--a plea for God’s protection! (v. 8b) Protection from whom? Look at verse 9.
from the wicked who are out to destroy me, from my mortal enemies who surround me.
Protection from:
— From the wicked (v. 9a).
— From David’s mortal enemies who seem to be to powerful for David to defeat (v. 9b).
David’s description of the enemy
They close up their callous hearts, and their mouths speak with arrogance.
— Their hearts are closed to God (v. 10a).
— In fact their hearts are calloused hearts against God (v. 10b).
David describe his need for protection
They have tracked me down, they now surround me, with eyes alert, to throw me to the ground.
— His enemies have chased him down (v. 11a).
— Now they surround him, and David can see no way out (v. 11b).
— David’s enemies are also watching him. But they are watching to throw him to the ground, that is kill him (v. 11c).
They are like a lion hungry for prey, like a fierce lion crouching in cover.
— In fact they are like a hungry lion looking for prey. In fact, they are crouching under cover to pounce on David at any moment (v. 12).
The Prospect (Belief) in the Glorious Future
The Prospect (Belief) in the Glorious Future
David Acknowledges God’s Salvation
David Acknowledges God’s Salvation
Rise up, Lord, confront them, bring them down; with your sword rescue me from the wicked.
David believes God will rescue him.
— The Lord will rise up (v. 13a).
— The Lord will confront them (v. 13b).
— The Lord will bring them down (v. 13c).
David’s rescue will clearly be by the Lord’s action. It may be by a supernatural army or by a human army, but everyone will know it was the Lord’s sword! (v. 13d).
By your hand save me from such people, Lord, from those of this world whose reward is in this life. May what you have stored up for the wicked fill their bellies; may their children gorge themselves on it, and may there be leftovers for their little ones.
David repeats his belief that the hand of the Lord will rescue him (v. 14a). From those who were just describe, and from those whose reward if found in this life.
The Ungodly Get Their Fill
The Ungodly Get Their Fill
David envisions a time when the wicked will have their fill of God’s vengeance (v. 14b).
— Their bellies will be full of God’s vengeance (v. 14c).
— Their children will be full of God’s vengeance (v. 14d).
— Even their little ones will eat their fill of God’s vengeance (v. 14e).
NOTE: The vengeance that David is talking about may be: Their fill of earthly pleasures that never satisfy.
Or David may be referring to the “wicked” trying to fill the God-sized void in their life with anything and everything except God!
This idea become even clearer when we see David’s response in verse 15.
As for me, I will be vindicated and will see your face; when I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness.
David’s Delight
David’s Delight
David’s delight is in his relationship with Yahweh--see your face (v. 15a).
The phrase, “when I awake. . .” is less a reference to the resurrection and more about David’s day-by-day satisfaction in seeing what Yahweh was doing all around him. The doing idea comes from the phrase “satisfied with seeing your likeness.”
So What?
So What?
One thing we learn from this passage is that God values His people coming to Him and sharing their requests, their needs, their desires.
Throughout God’s Word prayer—that simple act of talking to God—is seen a incredible valuable.
When God talked to Solomon, He told him,
if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
In the letter to the Thessalonians, Paul wrote:
pray continually,
The question for us this morning is what do you and I trust in?
As we approach the upcoming election, each of us must decide what we believe will be the “saving grace” for our nation.
David is the same one that wrote,
Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.
Today we might write it a little different. Thinking about the election we might say, “Some trust in Democrats and others in Republicans, but we will trust in the name of the Lord our God.”
In our passage today, David visualized God doing great things, even though he couldn’t see God at work.
David could visualize God’s salvation coming and rescuing him from those whose reward is only in this life.
Maybe we will say with David,
As for me, I will be vindicated and will see your face; when I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness.
So as we close this service today, I want to invite you to join me in praying for our nation.
Pray for the election this week.
Pray for those in public office:
At the National level (President, Vice President, Senate, and House, Supreme Court Justices).
Pray for those at the state level (Governor, House and Senate, Judges, and all other elected officials).
Pray for those at the local level.
Pray for those who protect us:
Our Military
Our Law Enforcement
Our Firefighters
Our First Responders
Pray for our culture—that we as Christians can make a positive impact on it.
Pray that we might learn to love our neighbors—even when they are unlovable
