My life in your hands
Notes
Transcript
A Psalm of David.
1 Hear my prayer, O Lord, Give ear to my supplications: In thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteousness.
2 And enter not into judgment with thy servant: For in thy sight shall no man living be justified.
3 For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; He hath smitten my life down to the ground; He hath made me to dwell in darkness, as those that have been long dead.
4 Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me; My heart within me is desolate.
5 I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy works; I muse on the work of thy hands.
6 I stretch forth my hands unto thee: My soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land. Selah.
7 Hear me speedily, O Lord: my spirit faileth: Hide not thy face from me, Lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit.
8 Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; For in thee do I trust: Cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; For I lift up my soul unto thee.
9 Deliver me, O Lord, from mine enemies: I flee unto thee to hide me.
10 Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: Thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.
11 Quicken me, O Lord, for thy name’s sake: For thy righteousness’ sake bring my soul out of trouble.
12 And of thy mercy cut off mine enemies, And destroy all them that afflict my soul: For I am thy servant.
Sermon__ Psalms 143__ 5/10/25
Psalms 143:1
Hear my prayer, O Lord, Give ear to my supplications:
Phrase Comparisons.
Hear vs. Give Ear
“Hear my prayer”
Hear = imperative,
The same word is used to publish, and understanding…
the idea of saying “God hear and understand the words I’m saying”
It isn’t a passive hear, on the contrary it is an active listening.
“Give ear to my supplication”
Give ear = imperative
To lean in close and perceive with the literal ear.
the idea of saying “listen in close”
to carefully perceive what is being said.
Prayer vs. Supplication
Prayer
Prayer = decision, opinion; something be assessed; presentation of a case.
Practically saying “hear my opinion of whats going on”
Supplication
Supplication = to be shown compassion, pleading, be kind, gracious; merciful
Saying “act upon what you have heard”
In thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteousness.
David requests that God responds in such standards. Based on His Faithfulness and His Righteous
What is the biblical basis for David to confidently make requests like this unto God?
Numbers 23:19
God is not a man, that he should lie;
Neither the son of man, that he should repent:
Hath he said, and shall he not do it?
Or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?
19 God is not a man, that he should lie; Neither the son of man, that he should repent: Hath he said, and shall he not do it? Or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?
Joshua 23:14 (KJV 1900)
14And, behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth: and ye know in all your hearts and in all your souls, that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the Lord your God spake concerning you; all are come to pass unto you, and not one thing hath failed thereof.
14 And, behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth: and ye know in all your hearts and in all your souls, that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the Lord your God spake concerning you; all are come to pass unto you, and not one thing hath failed thereof.
Psalm 37:3–5 (KJV 1900)
3Trust in the Lord, and do good; So shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.
4Delight thyself also in the Lord; And he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
5Commit thy way unto the Lord; Trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.
3 Trust in the Lord, and do good; So shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.
4 Delight thyself also in the Lord; And he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
5 Commit thy way unto the Lord; Trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.
David makes his case unto God and asks Him to listen to his plea That he may respond just as David knows God can and will according to His will.
Psalms 143:2
“your servant”
David recognizes his stance before God. A servant to God that is just as sinful as His enemies that deserve condemnation as well.
If Jesus responded to us based on our righteousness alone we’d be in a sorry state. But praise God He isn’t quick to respond in such a manner.
Psalm 145:8 (KJV 1900)
8The Lord is gracious, and full of compassion; Slow to anger, and of great mercy.
8 The Lord is gracious, and full of compassion; Slow to anger, and of great mercy.
John 8:1-11
Jesus saying you who are without sin cast the first stone.
David humbly recognizes His out state before God before he makes his case and voices his opinion of everything that is happening.
Psalms 143:3
Word Analysis
Persecuted = to pursue
Soul = the life source; neck; life
Life = appetite; hunger; to be alive
“smitten my life down to the ground…”
David has taken such a blow, been treated so poorly, he’s lost the appetite for life. It’s a image of desperation and exasperation.
“as those that have been long dead.”
He is so far gone, it’s not as if there is a body remaining. It’s as if he is nothing but rotten flesh and bones.
David reveals the reason why he is crying out to God… He is in a desperate situation. Because of it, he presents his situation to the one who is faithful to provide in it.
It almost reflects that of Job.
Job 13:14–19 (KJV 1900)
14Wherefore do I take my flesh in my teeth, And put my life in mine hand?
15Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: But I will maintain mine own ways before him.
16He also shall be my salvation: For an hypocrite shall not come before him.
17Hear diligently my speech, And my declaration with your ears.
18Behold now, I have ordered my cause; I know that I shall be justified.
19Who is he that will plead with me? For now, if I hold my tongue, I shall give up the ghost.
14 Wherefore do I take my flesh in my teeth, And put my life in mine hand?
15 Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: But I will maintain mine own ways before him.
16 He also shall be my salvation: For an hypocrite shall not come before him.
17 Hear diligently my speech, And my declaration with your ears.
18 Behold now, I have ordered my cause; I know that I shall be justified.
19 Who is he that will plead with me? For now, if I hold my tongue, I shall give up the ghost.
Psalms 143:4
Definition
Heart = one’s inner self.
As a result of the persecution in his life David is in pure despeation. Overwhelmed, his is desolate inside.
Psalms 143:5
David reflects on God’s work before.
“I meditate on al they works”
Definition
Meditate = to talk; to read in an undertone
David reads himself and reminds himself the of the God he trusts.
“I muse on the work of they hands”
Definition
Muse = to speak enthusiastically; to praise.
remember, reading, turns into praise.
As a result of reflection on God… It turns to a praise session.
Psalms 143:6
“I stretch forth my hands unto thee:”
When we remember the power of God in our past, naturally our response is to reach out to Him.
Unfortunately it requires us to arrive to a point of desperation before we do so.
A similar comparison is seen in the New Testament story of the prodigal son.
Luke 15
David himself had found himself in many similar circumstances.
With Bathsheeba
2 Sam 12.
Psalms 51
When mistakenly fled to the phillistines
1 Sam 27
“My soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land. Selah.”
God is remembered as a necesity.
David being in pure desperation, he desires to see God move just as he has done before. In the previous verse he reflects on God’s work, repeats aloud God’s work, and praises God.
The New Testament speaks on this as well.
8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
Psalms 143:7
“Lest I… go down into the pit”
a repetition of a previous idea.
David is convinced if the hand of God does not move he will lose all life, die, and rot.
“hear me speedily”
David desires a quick response.
Psalms 143:8 - 9
Definition
lovingkindness = faithfulness
It is a direct reflection of Verse 1…“In thy faithfulness answer me”
The words of David directly reflect the words of his son.
5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; And lean not unto thine own understanding.
6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, And he shall direct thy paths.
“I lift up my soul unto thee”
Soul here is the exact same usage in vs. 3
The difference is… instead of worrying about the enemies around him cutting down his soul. David lifts his soul up to God.
7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
Though David desires a response from God. He trusts God. He’s willing to bet everyting on God even his own life.
Even when David was under discipline he trust God. 2 Sam 24:12-14
12 Go and say unto David, Thus saith the Lord, I offer thee three things; choose thee one of them, that I may do it unto thee.
13 So Gad came to David, and told him, and said unto him, Shall seven years of famine come unto thee in thy land? or wilt thou flee three months before thine enemies, while they pursue thee? or that there be three days’ pestilence in thy land? now advise, and see what answer I shall return to him that sent me.
14 And David said unto Gad, I am in a great strait: let us fall now into the hand of the Lord; for his mercies are great: and let me not fall into the hand of man.
Psalms 143:10
A similar idea as in the previous verse (V.8).. However, this is an invitation for God to activley work in his own life.
Psalms 143:11
David desires that he is made alive for God’s namesake, not his own.
How God works in and through our lives can reflect on him if we allow.
