A Plea for Preservation

We could also call it a Praise for Preservation; but the verb is an imperative, thus, a plea

Some of our last messages have been somewhat of “downer” Psalms; something bad going on to provoke the thoughts

No real clue of the thoughts underlying this one

Maybe a feeling of uncertainty of future?

May have been some close brush with death—a scare of some kind

We don’t know

This is called a miktam; no surety what it means; elsewhere to stick as a stain

Maybe the thought is that is should become a part of the fabric of your being?

Can’t prove that; but it’s interesting speculation, take it as a challenge to make the Word of God “stick” and add color to you when you read it

We will first dissect the Psalm, breaking into the Plea, the Proof and the Possession

We’ll fill in the blanks on how David acted (leave room in your notes for that)

Then we’ll make it personal—how do we deal with these three issues

The Plea

It could be understood as a very simple prayer...

…with an expectation of a positive response

Preserve me; underlying word is to keep watch over/guard

The NIV uses “keep me safe;” CSB “protect me”

Those parallels may be helpful

The verb form is an imperative…a very intense request

David CAN make this

Because, he recognizes God as his refuge

(KJV, “in Thee do I put my trust”)

There’s a cause/effect relationship there

The imperative is only reasonable because of the trust/refuge

The only plea that is appropriate for a non-believer is a cry of “save me!”

We, once again see the confidence David puts in his God

He goes on from there to qualify this trust

His life—even considering his failures and falls—shows the proof of his faith

His pattern was to trust the Lord, he was noted for it, and spoke of it often

Examples

When Saul was looking for someone to play the lyre and drive away the evil spirits (thoughts) 1 Sam. 16, it was said of him, “The LORD is with him”

We get a good look before he went into battle against Goliath, “who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the Living God?”

The Proof

He speaks directly to God: Yahweh, You are my Master!

We might say this is a statement of his priorities

…and then describes his own weakness without Him

Here is the greatest warrior/king of all time up until—maybe still—his day, laying himself low before the true King--

“I have no good thing apart from you”

Now, he discusses the things he chooses, on account of his relationship with his God

His associations—the saints…they are his delight!

As opposed to those who worship idols—he has no part of their idolatry

He recognizes their ultimate futility of life

He recognizes the bounty of the Lord (remember last week’s message)

Having given him all his needs (cup)

Having directed his circumstance (lot)

Gives him direction—even in the night

God is at his right hand (symbolic of strength), he is unshakable

He has joy—”heart is glad” “whole being rejoices”

His flesh dwells secure…this is where we start to move into some deeper theology!

His flesh is secure since his soul is secure!

Within this topic he shows the importance of worship which much of this Psalm is about

Assigning value to God

Examples

Throughout 2nd Samuel

He makes a point to return the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem, chap. 6

He prayed great prayers of gratitude 2 Sam 7 20-22

2 Samuel 7:20–22 ESV

And what more can David say to you? For you know your servant, O Lord God! Because of your promise, and according to your own heart, you have brought about all this greatness, to make your servant know it. Therefore you are great, O Lord God. For there is none like you, and there is no God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears.

He set up well-structured worship for God’s people within and for the tabernacle, end of chapt. 8

His most intimate friend was Nathan the prophet

Possession

1. He possesses eternal life

2. Soul not abandoned to Sheol—the place of the dead

3. It will not see corruption

Though the body would decay

4. He sees the path of life—eternal life

a. Where there is fullness of joy

b. Where there are pleasures forever

Example

Here we have to do a bit of digging to prove the case

In his sin with Bathsheba, a child was conceived

Despite David’s most fervent prayers, the child dies 2 Sam 12 22-23

2 Samuel 12:22–23 ESV

He said, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept, for I said, ‘Who knows whether the Lord will be gracious to me, that the child may live?’ But now he is dead. Why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.”

David here is not talking about the grave—but beyond the grave

Also a great piece of assurance to families whose children die, in the womb or early in life, before they can understand

We rely on God’s grace and His mercy here

For those who may say “This is OT stuff, it doesn’t apply now…look at Peter’s speech on Pentecost: He quotes vv. 9-10 of this Psalm in Acts 2, vv 25 ff

Making it Personal

Rick’s Question: “If you had only one book from which to preach…?”

Psalms! Why? Because it’s all about God!

David starts his Psalms, ends his Psalms with thoughts God

Whether pain, praise of problem, David went to God

Where are our thoughts…how do we handle our lives?

As in this text, do we make Him our refuge, our place of safety and run to Him in all danger? Or, do we try to fix it ourselves first—not going to Him first…? Guilty

Does our life/lifestyle give proof or our priority?

Look at our intimate friends; not saying we need a personal prophet

We got some guidance on that from Psalm 1, with whom do we walk, stand, sit?

Revisiting that, who are those who influence your life?

Do we recognize the futility of their lives—all their gain is temporal

“Only one life, ‘twill soon be past

Only what’s done for Christ will last.”

What are our attitudes toward worship?

Do we recognize the necessity of gathering together with the saints? Is it our priority?

Average attendance 100 years ago was 2-3 times/week; now maybe twice/month

Don’t give me the “but…but…but: where’s the priority

On-line works—not ideal, but better than nothing

Other service/gathering opportunities

We’ve even discussed, if the need arises, a worship service on a different day/evening

How are you getting God’s counsel? Are you in His Word, being taught?

Some of that is being where you can be taught—much of it is within your personal disciplines

Do we have that eternal security, the perseverance of the saints as Calvinism calls it?

We have the “Good Shepherd” passage, chapt. 10 of John’s Gospel

John 10:27–29 ESV

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.

This security only comes to those who trust Christ, His finished work on the cross

His shed blood, His broken body, His death paid the price of our redemption

We come now to commemorate the events of the evening before He died

If you are a believer, you are welcome to partake

If you are not, do not take it

…but you can fix that right here and now....