Sermon Tone Analysis

In the Shadow of Your Wings

Chair Bible pg.

454

Main Idea: The LORD God is the Savior of those who seek refuge in Him

Where do you go in time of need?

Where could I go...oh where could I go...seeking a refuge for my soul, where could I go, oh where could I go but to the Lord.

A Prayer of David.

1st Psalm explicitly called a prayer.

David would not have been a man after God’s own heart, if he had not been a man of prayer.

(Spurgeon, pg.

215)

The contents of the prayer reveal…

David is being wrongly accused and dangerously pursued

As a result he is in anguish

David finds his refuge and joy in the LORD.

David pleads his case before the LORD

Notice the use of argument...language of a courtroom(emphatic language)...not that David is on trial, David is being wrongly accused and abused.

Therefore, he is stating his case before the righteous judge.

The concern for righteousness and justice dominates the Psalm.

1 Hear a just cause, O LORD; attend to my cry!

Give ear to my prayer from lips free of deceit!

Addressing the LORD Note the repetition…”hear” “attend” “give ear” God does not hear...for the simple reason that (we) neglect to plead.

(Spurgeon, pg.

215)

The word “cry” occurs here for the first time in the Psalms...signifies intense language/expression joyful or sad.

“A cry is our earliest utterance, and in many ways the most natural of human sounds; if our prayer should, like the infant’s cry, be more natural than intelligent, and more earnest than elegant, it will be none the less eloquent with God.” (Spurgeon, pg.

215-216)

“Hear a just cause” appeal to righteousness or right “Right shall never be wronged by our righteous Judge.”

(Spurgeon, pg.

215)

Give ear to my prayer from lips free of deceit!

This makes us uncomfortable to read.

Is he saying that he lives in sinless perfection.

NO!

He is saying in this instance he is innocent.

As result, he states v. 2 without with integrity...

2 From your presence let my vindication come!

Let your eyes behold the right!

If David is praying hypocritically, he his asking for vindication on himself.

The end of v. 2 should not be read as though we control what the LORD sees...we ask him to make things clear to us...read

It is true that hypocrites may often appeal to the Searcher of hearts even when they are wrong; but they do it insincerely and profanely.

If they really thought God was about to let men see them as he sees them, they would be filled with dismay.

(Plumer, pg.

230)

It is true that hypocrites may often appeal to the Searcher of hearts even when they are wrong; but they do it insincerely and profanely.

If they really thought God was about to let men see them as he sees them, they would be filled with dismay.

(Plumer, pg.

230)

David is not a hypocrite...he continues...

3 You have tried my heart, you have visited me by night,

you have tested me, and you will find nothing;

I have purposed that my mouth will not transgress.

4 With regard to the works of man, by the word of your lips

I have avoided the ways of the violent.

5 My steps have held fast to your paths;

my feet have not slipped.

He is not claiming sinlessness but steadfastness; he is not boasting of his perfection but arguing for his consistency; he is saying he has been loyal, not impeccable.

(Davis, pg.

71)

How has he kept his way pure?

Answer is in v. 4 “by the word of your lips” v. 5 holding fast to your paths…

Who can say for certain that their feet have not slipped?

Christ died so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness...

David seeks refuge in the LORD

6 I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God;

incline your ear to me; hear my words.

David prays confidently because he knows the the LORD God pays attention, hears and answers...How does he know this...the next request reveals how he knows

7 Wondrously show your steadfast love,

O Savior of those who seek refuge

from their adversaries at your right hand.

David’s prayer is an appeal to the character and nature of God, particularly his “steadfast love” hesed covenant keeping love from the covenant keeping God.

“That marvelous grace which has redeemed us with the precious blood of God’s only begotten, is here invoked to come to the rescue, That grace is sometimes hidden; the text says, “Shew it.”

O Lord, shew thy marvelous lovingkindness: shew it to my intellect, and remove my ignorance; shew it to my heart, and revive my gratitude; shew it to my faith, and renew my confidence; shew it to my experience, and deliver me from all my fears.”

(Spurgeon, pg.

218) Hear the covenant keeping Savior call

Why will he not cast out? hesed…steadfast love

8 Keep me as the apple of your eye; (protecting pupil...shape of eye socket, protect your eye at all cost)

hide me in the shadow of your wings, (image of bird protecting babies under wing in the heat of the day)

9 from the wicked who do me violence,

my deadly enemies who surround me.

“Deadly enemies” literally “my enemies in soul” surrounded and moving in for the kill.

Continues to describe his enemies who have him surrounded...

10 They close their hearts to pity; (no conscience or pity)

with their mouths they speak arrogantly.

11 They have now surrounded our steps; (taunting before destroying)

they set their eyes to cast us to the ground.

12 He is like a lion eager to tear,

as a young lion lurking in ambush.

Transition...David not only seeks protection from those seeking to destroy him, he seeks deliverance...

David seeks deliverance from the LORD

13 Arise, O LORD! Confront him, subdue him!

Deliver my soul from the wicked by your sword,

14 from men by your hand, O Lord,

from men of the world whose portion is in this life.

Rise up O LORD, confront them ... This is the language of a person in battle, appealing to God as the divine warrior to intervene on his behalf and bring them down.

(Lawson, pg.

92)

David is appealing to the LORD to act on his behalf and deliver him.

Truth about those who pursue him and want to destroy him.

from men of the world whose portion is in this life.

You fill their womb with treasure;

they are satisfied with children,

and they leave their abundance to their infants.

What wicked men possess of this world is all that ever they can hope for.

(Spurgeon quoting Ezekiel Hopkins, pg.

229) Common grace is enough for them ignoring the greater need of their very souls.

Further, they pass on the manner of living and focus of life to their children.

15 As for me, I shall behold your face in righteousness;

when I awake, I shall be satisfied with your likeness.