Psalms 43
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INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
COURTROOM V.1
COURTROOM V.1
David has some serious issues. An entire nation is against him. Instead of revolting or fighting his own country men, he goes to the courtroom of the universe. Why did he do this?
His Confidence was not in his flesh but God
My flesh and my heart faileth:
But God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.
Thus saith the Lord; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord.
David knew God was the difference maker.
He believed God would hear his case
One reason Job struggled through his valley was he did not believe he could find God.
Oh that I knew where I might find him!
That I might come even to his seat!
I would order my cause before him,
And fill my mouth with arguments.
God never left His throne. He was where He has always been. However, Job lost the way through his grief and pain. He believed the lack of clarity was a result of God moving and forsaking. In all the Bible, God has only completely forsook one person - our Savior, Jesus Christ.
David trusted in God
Thus saith the Lord; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord.
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart;
And lean not unto thine own understanding.
In all thy ways acknowledge him,
And he shall direct thy paths.
For length of days, and long life,
And peace, shall they add to thee.
Let not mercy and truth forsake thee:
Bind them about thy neck;
Write them upon the table of thine heart:
So shalt thou find favour and good understanding
In the sight of God and man.
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart;
And lean not unto thine own understanding.
David trusted God in vindicating him more than he trusted in his own schemes.
There was a reason David did not kill the wicked, ruthless, merciless, and murdering King Saul when he had the opportunity - He trusted in the Lord.
The word “judge” in our text means to vindicate. He went to the courtroom of heaven believing God would vindicate.
He trusted that God would give him a just verdict
Today our trials are corrupted with prejudice, popularity, experiences, rather than the rule of law. God is not concern with experiences or popularity but truth and righteousness.
Trusting God means that we will trust Him in examining us too.
Examine me, O Lord, and prove me;
Try my reins and my heart.
David wanted God to defend his case
The word “plead” means to defend his cause.
What was David’s cause?
Moreover, my father, see, yea, see the skirt of thy robe in my hand: for in that I cut off the skirt of thy robe, and killed thee not, know thou and see that there is neither evil nor transgression in mine hand, and I have not sinned against thee; yet thou huntest my soul to take it.
His cause was to be a faithful servant to a wicked king.
David did not want the chief advocates of his day defending him. Nor did he need a dream team of lawyers to defend him. He wanted God.
The success of our prayer lives hinge upon us believing God is our best advocate:
Not our emotions
Feelings
Will
Philosophy
Friends
Family
My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
He went to the courtroom of Heaven for deliverance
An entire nation was ungodly toward David
David was on the run from King Saul but took the time to rescue a Jewish town called Keilah from the Philistines. His reward was they would turn him over to King Saul for their own protection.
The word “ungodly” means anti-pious. The word “pious” means “exhibiting loyal love to the God of Israel; also associated with kindness.” His people were not loyal to God and did not manifest kindness toward him.
pious adj. — exhibiting loyal love to the God of Israel; also associated with kindness.
David saw his problems and enemies as too big for him, he knew that his only hope was God’s deliverance.
CONFUSION V.2
CONFUSION V.2
Confession - God is his strength - The word “strength” means a “stronghold.”
The name of the Lord is a strong tower:
The righteous runneth into it, and is safe.
A couple fo years ago I was in Hungary. Our last day there, we took some time to tour Budapest. The most amazing site I saw was a citadel on top of Gellert Hill, which was built in the 1850’s by the Austrians as a warning for the Hungarians not to revolt. The Citadel only lasted about 40 years before she lost her purpose. Citadels have come and gone but God, as our Citadel of refuge and strength still stands tall.
David’s argument is: I acknowledge that all my strength and protection comes from You God.
Questions that prompted confusion
Why do you cast me off? The words “cast off” means “reject” or “spurn”
Why I am mourning? He gives the reason why he is mourning - the oppression of his enemies. He does not understand why the oppression of his enemies has caused him to mourn if God is his strong tower.
Things to note in his confusion:
He went to God instead of leaning upon his own understanding.
He was honest with God without disrespecting God.
Even though he was confused, he did not leave God!
CRAVING V.3
CRAVING V.3
David’s desire to be delivered from his enemies was not an end goal but a means to an end. His ultimate craving was to be where God was.
To get to where God was David needed God’s light and truth:
In relationship to the Psalms, truth and light are God’s word
He wanted God’s word but he needed God’s light to reveal His word.
NUN.
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet,
And a light unto my path.
David needed God to reveal his next steps. This speaks of dependency on God”s Spirit in revelation and His word.
Psalms 199”105
David wanted to know how to make God’s words applicable and fit his current situation in life.
David wanted God’s light and truth to lead him.
David did not trust himself and unconditionally surrendered to the Lord. He raised the white flag of surrender.
Shew me thy ways, O Lord; teach me thy paths.
Lead me in thy truth, and teach me:
For thou art the God of my salvation;
On thee do I wait all the day.
He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart;
Who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity,
Nor sworn deceitfully.
He shall receive the blessing from the Lord,
And righteousness from the God of his salvation.
To be where David was we need to have a teachable spirit.
He shall receive the blessing from the Lord,
And righteousness from the God of his salvation.
We live in an age in which people want to calm God’s power and praise His name but they do not want to be taught by him.
Wherefore the Lord said,
Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth,
And with their lips do honour me,
But have removed their heart far from me,
And their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:
Where did David want light and truth to lead him to? God’s presence and people.
COMMITMENT V.4
COMMITMENT V.4
The energy of this prayer and the reason he is so discouraged, confused and depressed is he wants to demonstrate his love and passion for God in corporate worship.
From time to time I will hear people excusing themselves from corporate worship by saying I worshipped God in my home. Even though this practice took place in the NT, the home was not an excuse from corporate worship but was where the local church worshipped God (i.e. Colossians).
David wanted to sacrifice
David wanted to go to the altar - this was a place of sacrifice.
Sacrifice in corporate worship involves:
Time - Takes time to go to the tabernacle
Talents - He wanted to praise God with the harp
Treasure - Going to the alter meant you did not come to God empty handed. You gave Him the best treasure you have.
All three of these apply to this text
All three of these apply to this text
David’s exceeding joy gave him the desire to meet God at the altar.
“Exceeding” - The emotion of great happiness and pleasure.
There are two words for his desire to meet God at the altar; both words means joy but with differing degrees. His point is my joy is God and my greatest joy is God. We might say something like” “I am more than happy.” We are happy but our happiness extends beyond happy. David’s joy was God and his joy for God extended beyond joy.
David wants to praise God
David wanted to praise God with the gifts God had giving him. In other words, for David to praise God was give back to God.
CONCERN V.5
CONCERN V.5
Why are people depressed and discouraged. The answer is not external events or circumstances. The answer is we lose sight of hope in God!
God is the health of my countenance - This speaks of the inner man.
His concern was that his feelings and emotions would cause hope to be lost.
Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me?
Hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him
For the help of his countenance.
Hope in God was so importnat for David
That they might set their hope in God,
And not forget the works of God,
But keep his commandments:
Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.