Psalm 139 Sermon
God's knowledge, presence and power are always intimately acquainted with the sufferings of His people.
Adoniram Judson, the renowned missionary to Burma, endured untold hardships trying to reach the lost for Christ. For 7 heartbreaking years he suffered hunger and privation. During this time he was thrown into Ava Prison, and for 17 months was subjected to almost incredible mistreatment. As a result, for the rest of his life he carried the ugly marks made by the chains and iron shackles which had cruelly bound him.
Undaunted, upon his release he asked for permission to enter another province where he might resume preaching the Gospel. The godless ruler indignantly denied his request, saying, “My people are not fools enough to listen to anything a missionary might SAY, but I fear they might be impressed by your SCARS and turn to your religion!”
Dr. Charles Weigle composed the favorite “No One Ever Cared for Me Like Jesus.” One day he visited Pasadena, California. Early that morning he had an opportunity to walk through some of the famous rose gardens when the full fragrance of the flowers filled the air.
Later in the day he arrived at the hotel where a Bible conference was being held. As he took his seat, a man turned to him and said, “Dr. Weigle, I know where you’ve been. You toured one of our lovely gardens, for I can smell the pleasing aroma on your clothing.” “My prayer is that I may walk so closely with the Lord that the fragrance of His grace will pervade my being. I want them to know by my words, actions, and songs that I have been with Jesus.”
Introduction
During my ministry in Saint Louis, a devastating storm struck the southwest side of the city. Listening to the radio, a very polite, calm announcer suggested that prayer might be a good indulgence. Later, when the threat of a tornado had passed, from the same station came a solicitous beer commercial.
This is the paradox of peace and power. When surrounded by danger, we conform. When the danger passes, we revert to normalcy (Read John 14:27).
Outline for
David's plea to the Lord about his enemies (19-22)
a. In verse 19, we see David’s plea to slay the wicked.
a. In verse 19, we see David’s plea to slay the wicked.
b. Verse 20, gives us the reason for David’s request.
c. David is loathing over his enemies.
In declaring his hatred of those who despised God, he virtually asserts thereby his own integrity, not as being free from all sin, but as being devoted to godliness, so that he detested in his heart everything which was contrary to it. Our attachment to godliness must be inwardly defective, if it do not generate an abhorrence of sin, such as David here speaks of. If that zeal for the house of the Lord, which he mentions elsewhere, (Ps. 69:9,) burn in our hearts, it would be an unpardonable indifference silently to look on when his righteous law was violated, nay, when his holy name was trampled upon by the wicked.