A Reason to Cry and a Redeemer Who Comforts (Pss. 52, 54, 56, 58 & 69)

Savoring the Psalter  •  Sermon  •  Submitted   •  Presented   •  53:42
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We have a reason to lament over the wickedness of the world, but we also having a loving God that provides us great comfort from His Word.

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Introduction:

Such imprecatory prayers in the psalms, passionate appeals to God to clear the land of the wicked, are quite in keeping with the theocratic kingdom. They anticipate prophetically the cleaning up of the world when Christ comes to reign. God is a righteous God. If men will not repent, they will be removed. He does not intend to allow vileness to continue to hold sway forever over His domains. Thus we have David’s further reaction to the treachery of the Ziphites. David turns back to God in prayer, having reviewed carefully the ground upon which he stood. [John Phillips, Exploring Psalms 1–88: An Expository Commentary, vol. 1, The John Phillips Commentary Series (Kregel Publications; WORDsearch Corp., 2009), Ps 54:5.]
Main Thought: While this world, the flesh and the devil give us cause to lament and seek the righteous justice of God, we can rest in the comfort provided in His Word, knowing that whosoever calls on the Lord will experience His deliverance.
Sub-intro:
Some Contextual Observations:
General Themes-
Ps. 52 - God's Judgment on the Wicked & Love for the Faithful.
Ps. 54 - Answered Prayer for Deliverance from Adversaries.
Ps. 56 - Prayer for Deliverance & Confidence in God.
Ps. 58 - Judgment on the Wicked.
Ps. 69 - Plea for Deliverance from Persecution.
Explanation of Sermonic Flow-
Psalm 69 being the longest, it will be used as a template, with the others expounding the various parts of the whole summary.
Specific Exegetical Observations-
Psalm 69 is also the singular Messianic Psalm of the 5 Imprecatory Laments of Book 2 and carries the unique themes of prophecy of Jesus, redemption, repentance, restoration, suffering & God's dwelling with man, among other themes.
All 5 are ascribed as Psalms of David. All 5 bear a superscription.
All 5 are addressed to the Choir Master.
4 of the 5 (excepting Ps. 58) carry a themes of faith & thankfulness.
4 of the 5 (excepting Ps. 52) bear a prayer of petition.
The first (Ps. 52) and the last (Ps. 69) bear the themes of slander as well as of hope.
The Imprecatory Laments begin with patience and prayer (Ps. 52), and end with power (Ps. 69).
2 are more symmetrical in their structure (Ps. 52 & 58); 3 are more synthetically linear in their layout (Ps. 54, 56, & 69).
Ps. 52 & 54 are both Wisdom Psalms that contain Selah.
Ps. 56 & 58 are each a Miktam Prayer Psalm.
When considered together, the final three (Ps. 56, 58, & 69) are written according to "a dove," "destruction," and "lilies" respectively, and perhaps give a hint toward the Baptism (dove), Crucifixion (destruction), and Resurrection (lilies) of Jesus Christ.
Body:

I. Cause for Lament (Ps. 69:1-9; 19-22).

A. External & Overwhelming Enemies (Ps. 69:1-4).

Psalm 69:1–4 KJV 1900
Save me, O God; for the waters are come in unto my soul. I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing: I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me. I am weary of my crying: my throat is dried: Mine eyes fail while I wait for my God. They that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of mine head: They that would destroy me, being mine enemies wrongfully, are mighty: Then I restored that which I took not away.

1. Tongues that Lie (Ps. 52:2-4).

Psalm 52:2–4 KJV 1900
Thy tongue deviseth mischiefs; Like a sharp rasor, working deceitfully. Thou lovest evil more than good; And lying rather than to speak righteousness. Selah. Thou lovest all devouring words, O thou deceitful tongue.

2. Traitors that Betray (Ps. 54:1-3).

Psalm 54:1–3 KJV 1900
Save me, O God, by thy name, And judge me by thy strength. Hear my prayer, O God; Give ear to the words of my mouth. For strangers are risen up against me, And oppressors seek after my soul: They have not set God before them. Selah.

3. Leaders that Fail to Judge Righteously (Ps. 58:1).

Psalm 58:1 KJV 1900
Do ye indeed speak righteousness, O congregation? Do ye judge uprightly, O ye sons of men?

a. The Wicked Contrasted:

i. The Hands of the Wicked (Ps. 58:2).
Psalm 58:2 KJV 1900
Yea, in heart ye work wickedness; Ye weigh the violence of your hands in the earth.
ii. The Feet of the Righteous (Ps. 58:10).
Psalm 58:10 KJV 1900
The righteous shall rejoice when he seeth the vengeance: He shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked.

b. The Wicked Characterized:

i. Snakes (Ps. 58:3-5).
Psalm 58:3–5 KJV 1900
The wicked are estranged from the womb: They go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies. Their poison is like the poison of a serpent: They are like the deaf adder that stoppeth her ear; Which will not hearken to the voice of charmers, Charming never so wisely.
ii. Snails (Ps. 58:7-9).
Psalm 58:7–9 KJV 1900
Let them melt away as waters which run continually: When he bendeth his bow to shoot his arrows, let them be as cut in pieces. As a snail which melteth, let every one of them pass away: Like the untimely birth of a woman, that they may not see the sun. Before your pots can feel the thorns, He shall take them away as with a whirlwind, both living, and in his wrath.

B. Internal Personal Foolishness (Ps. 69:5-9).

Psalm 69:5–9 KJV 1900
O God, thou knowest my foolishness; And my sins are not hid from thee. Let not them that wait on thee, O Lord GOD of hosts, be ashamed for my sake: Let not those that seek thee be confounded for my sake, O God of Israel. Because for thy sake I have borne reproach; Shame hath covered my face. I am become a stranger unto my brethren, And an alien unto my mother’s children. For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; And the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me.

II. Call on the Lord (Ps. 69:10-18; 23-28).

A. Deliverance from Hurtful Words (Ps. 69:10-13).

Psalm 69:10–13 KJV 1900
When I wept, and chastened my soul with fasting, That was to my reproach. I made sackcloth also my garment; And I became a proverb to them. They that sit in the gate speak against me; And I was the song of the drunkards. But as for me, my prayer is unto thee, O LORD, in an acceptable time: O God, in the multitude of thy mercy hear me, in the truth of thy salvation.

B. Deliverance from Hurtful Deeds (Ps. 69:14-18).

Psalm 69:14–18 KJV 1900
Deliver me out of the mire, and let me not sink: Let me be delivered from them that hate me, and out of the deep waters. Let not the waterflood overflow me, Neither let the deep swallow me up, And let not the pit shut her mouth upon me. Hear me, O LORD; for thy lovingkindness is good: Turn unto me according to the multitude of thy tender mercies. And hide not thy face from thy servant; For I am in trouble: hear me speedily. Draw nigh unto my soul, and redeem it: Deliver me because of mine enemies.

C. Deliverance from Harmful People (Ps. 69:23-28).

Psalm 69:23–28 KJV 1900
Let their eyes be darkened, that they see not; And make their loins continually to shake. Pour out thine indignation upon them, And let thy wrathful anger take hold of them. Let their habitation be desolate; And let none dwell in their tents. For they persecute him whom thou hast smitten; And they talk to the grief of those whom thou hast wounded. Add iniquity unto their iniquity: And let them not come into thy righteousness. Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, And not be written with the righteous.
Trust in God Over the Fear of Man (Ps. 56:1-7).
Psalm 56:1–7 KJV 1900
Be merciful unto me, O God: for man would swallow me up; He fighting daily oppresseth me. Mine enemies would daily swallow me up: For they be many that fight against me, O thou most High. What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee. In God I will praise his word, In God I have put my trust; I will not fear What flesh can do unto me. Every day they wrest my words: All their thoughts are against me for evil. They gather themselves together, they hide themselves, They mark my steps, When they wait for my soul. Shall they escape by iniquity? In thine anger cast down the people, O God.

III. Comfort from the Lord (Ps. 69:29-36).

A. Gaining Audience with God Based on Faith in His Word (Ps. 69:29-33).

Psalm 69:29–33 KJV 1900
But I am poor and sorrowful: Let thy salvation, O God, set me up on high. I will praise the name of God with a song, And will magnify him with thanksgiving. This also shall please the LORD better than an ox Or bullock that hath horns and hoofs. The humble shall see this, and be glad: And your heart shall live that seek God. For the LORD heareth the poor, And despiseth not his prisoners.

1. God's Continual Grace to the Humble (Ps. 52:1; 8-9).

Psalm 52:1 KJV 1900
Why boastest thou thyself in mischief, O mighty man? The goodness of God endureth continually.
Psalm 52:8–9 KJV 1900
But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God: I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever. I will praise thee for ever, because thou hast done it: And I will wait on thy name; for it is good before thy saints.

2. God's Compassionate Care for Our Tears (Ps. 56:8-13).

Psalm 56:8–13 KJV 1900
Thou tellest my wanderings: Put thou my tears into thy bottle: Are they not in thy book? When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: This I know; for God is for me. In God will I praise his word: In the LORD will I praise his word. In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid What man can do unto me. Thy vows are upon me, O God: I will render praises unto thee. For thou hast delivered my soul from death: wilt not thou deliver my feet from falling, That I may walk before God in the light of the living?

3. God's Judgment for the Righteous (Ps. 58:11).

Psalm 58:11 KJV 1900
So that a man shall say, Verily there is a reward for the righteous: Verily he is a God that judgeth in the earth.

B. Gaining Action from God (Ps. 69:34-36).

Psalm 69:34–36 KJV 1900
Let the heaven and earth praise him, The seas, and every thing that moveth therein. For God will save Zion, And will build the cities of Judah: That they may dwell there, and have it in possession. The seed also of his servants shall inherit it: And they that love his name shall dwell therein.
God's Everlasting Judgment on the Wicked (Ps. 52:5-7; 58:6).
Psalm 52:5–7 KJV 1900
God shall likewise destroy thee for ever, He shall take thee away, and pluck thee out of thy dwelling place, And root thee out of the land of the living. Selah. The righteous also shall see, and fear, And shall laugh at him: Lo, this is the man that made not God his strength; But trusted in the abundance of his riches, And strengthened himself in his wickedness.
Psalm 58:6 KJV 1900
Break their teeth, O God, in their mouth: Break out the great teeth of the young lions, O LORD.

C. Glory Ascribed to God (Ps. 54:4-7).

Psalm 54:4–7 KJV 1900
Behold, God is mine helper: The Lord is with them that uphold my soul. He shall reward evil unto mine enemies: Cut them off in thy truth. I will freely sacrifice unto thee: I will praise thy name, O LORD; for it is good. For he hath delivered me out of all trouble: And mine eye hath seen his desire upon mine enemies.

Conclusion:

While this world, the flesh and the devil give us cause to lament and seek the righteous justice of God, we can rest in the comfort provided in His Word, knowing that whosoever calls on the Lord will experience His deliverance.
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