The Who is...

Introduction

Good morning. As we have been journeying through the book of Psalms it should be clear to you that this collection is a guide. It is a guide for living a life that is pleasing to God. It is first and foremost a guide to worship. It has been used throughout the generations to establish an order of worship both collectively and privately. It is a collection of songs, poems, and prayers of those who seek God and want to please Him in their lives, it is a a vivid picture also of those who find pleasure in God even when life is not going so well. David is the epitome of this picture. David was not a perfect man and was surrounded by drama and danger yet he found pleasure, solitude, and peace with God. We are told in the scriptures that 1 Sam 13:14 “But now your kingdom shall not continue. The Lord has sought out a man after his own heart, and the Lord has commanded him to be prince over his people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you.”” Acts 13:22 “And when he had removed him, he raised up David to be their king, of whom he testified and said, ‘I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my heart, who will do all my will.’” A man after God’s own heart… David would not have attained that position or description from God if it was not for David’s prayer life. In other words, David would not be a man after God’s own heart if he was not a man of prayer, and obedience.

As we walk through the psalms it is my intention to grow in my own prayer life, and to lead Shiloh into a deeper and richer prayer life. We have a flaw in our nature to run to everything but God, it is only usually after all is lost and everything seems hopeless that we cry out in prayer and say “oh God where were you” and His answer is “I’ve always been here my dear child, where were you?” The thing about men and women of prayer and this is a secret to a rich and vital prayer life so listen up, It is a two way street. We must do the work, put in the time, discipline ourselves, and call upon our creator in faith, the other side of the street lies with God himself. He is willing and offering all spiritual blessings that are to be offered. He loves His children and answers them when they call upon Him.

Today we Look at Psalm 17 a prayer of David, David makes some big claims, He makes some big requests, But he asks a Big God. A God that he has intimate relations with, and that has never let Him down we can gain a lot studying this psalm and if we pay attent this morning, and put into practice what taught here we to can begin having a vital prayer life.

Lets turn to Psalm 17 and begin

Psalm 17 is a prayer of prayers. Written by David who was an expert on the subject, as much as a man can be. His passion and zeal for God was fueled by his intimacy with God. His prayers are so familiar and warm, yet they are so reverent in nature. Davids prayer life is so vibrant because he knows the nature of God. These are not just trite statements, or cute sayings but he really knows God. He knows God is a God who Hears, sees, and visits His own people. David’s prayer reveals a lot about David and the trouble he is going through but it Reveals who God is. This is a key to a vital prayer life, knowing who God is

I. God is a God who Hears - vs 1 David uses some intense words in fact he uses 3 words that to us sound like repetition, however they are not. David appeals to God and His willingness to hear us and our prayers. One thing that God points out through the entirety of the scriptures is that He is the one true God, the god of creation, all other gods are false and fake. That is important for the fact that people throughout history has prayed to false fake deaf and mute gods… things, people, statues are not to be prayed to why? well because its foolishness. David recognizes God and His willingness to listen to His creation, in fact not only does he allow He encourages it and commands it.

Lets take a look at the three words here that David uses...

Hear - God is not a deaf idol, but He is the living God who hears when His children pray to Him. 1 Pet 3:12 “For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.””

Attend - He not only hears but He listens and listens attentively. 1 John 5:14 “And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.” Pro 15:29 “The Lord is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous.” A good corpsman will not only hear the cry of the wounded soldier on the battle field but will attend to His wounds

Give ear - This word emphasizes Gods empathy toward us. Matt 9:36 “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” Lam 3:22-23 “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Isa 30:18 “Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him.”

David’s prayer life is undergirded with the faith that God is a God who hears

Another aspect that David clings to about God is...

II. God is a God who sees - vs2 Not only is Davids faith bolstered by the fact that God hears, but he is also encouraged by the fact that God sees. One of the things that makes our job as parents harder than most is we don’t take our eyes off our children. I know this may seem a bit extreme, i see 6 year old riding their bikes up and down our street and it drives me crazy. When we are out on our lawn our kids don’t leave our sight and they get told if they wonder to far. But we will not allow it, and in this day and age i will not budge on this. we are never out of God’s sight. He watches over us as a father carefully watches over his children. He is a God who sees, now of course He sees all yet this is on an intimate level...

God sees His people - Ps 33:18 “Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love,” 1 Pet 3:12 “For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”” Matt 6:25-26 ““Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?”

God sees The character of the Heart - 1 Sam 16:7 “But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.””

God diligently seeks us - Ps 139 :1-4 “O Lord, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.”

God hears us when we cry out to him (in fact the cry is the first form of communication, the most basic mode of asking for help), He sees He is actively involved in our lives and watches over us, He is in our lives

III. God is A God who visits - vs3-5 God ministers to us in various ways but one ministry that is often overlooked is the ministry of presence. God is there day after day. He is with us in our victories, and our failures, when we rejoice, when we weep. He is ever presence. Again not in some cosmic way like, a force that is always around us, But presence with us with every doubt, fear, tear. He knows our struggles and gives us strength to stand and fight in faith. God visits us for a number of reasons

To test and try us - Ps 26:2 “Prove me, O Lord, and try me; test my heart and my mind.” Heb 11:17-19 “By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, of whom it was said, “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.” James 1:3-4 “for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

To comfort us - 2 Cor 1:3-4 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” Isa 41:10 “fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Ps 23:4 “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”

To guide us - Ps 32:8 “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.” John 16:13 “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.” Isa 58:11 “And the Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.”

Today we really got through the first 6 verses of this beautiful Psalm but the reality is what is underneath your relationship with God. As I was studying this psalm for the message this week I was drawn to verse 7 which I find to be the key verse and the theme of this psalm. Ps 17:7 “Wondrously show your steadfast love, O Savior of those who seek refuge from their adversaries at your right hand.”

If you want a vibrant and growing relationship with God you have to be a man or woman of prayer it is that simple. You have to know who God is… These are not just some generic concepts about God that will make you week more manageable these are life transforming principles. This is not just some religious game we get to play on Sundays. This is for the Christian Life… Of course verse 7 also reveals another truth that God is the God who saves… Are you saved today? are you saved from hell eternal damnation? It is God who rescues Have you called out to Him and cried Lord Jesus save me? For that is the only way. Romans 10:13 “For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.””

Have you responded to God’s Gospel? Today is the day, He is reaching out His hand and is saying “follow me” what will you do?