THE SERVANT OF THE LORD–PSALM 18:1-3
Introduction:
In this Psalm David shows that it was more important to him to be the SERVANT of Jehovah than to be the king. David makes no mention of his royalty; hence we gather that he counted it a higher honor to be the Lord’s servant than to be Judah’s king.
Being possessed of poetic genius, he served the Lord by composing this Psalm for the use of the Lord’s house.
I. I WILL LOVE YOU, O LORD
A. With a deep love, 1 John 4:19, “We love him, because he first loved us.”
1. Love of the whole soul, Matthew 22:37, “Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.”
2. An active love, 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5- Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 6- Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 7- Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.”
II. THE LORD IS MY ROCK
A. The symbol of our God, 1 Samuel 2:2, “There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God.”
1. Who is a ROCK save our God? Psalm 18:31, “For who is God save the LORD? or who is a rock save our God?”
2. David refers to the Lord as his ROCK about 20 times in the Psalms, Psalm 18:46, “The LORD liveth; and blessed be my rock; and let the God of my salvation be exalted.”
B. The ROCK upon which the Lord’s Church is built, Matthew 16:18, “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”
1. That ROCK is the Lord Jesus Christ, 1 Corinthians 10:4, “And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.”
2. That ROCK is the firm testimony of the WORD of God, Matthew 24:35, “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.”
C. To some He is a ROCK OF OFFENCE, Romans 9:33, “As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.”
D. To the Believer He is the “ROCK” (mountain) from which the STONE is cut there signifies the divine origin of Christ, Daniel 2:45, “Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure.”
III. THE LORD IS MY CLEFT ROCK AND MY FORTRESS
A. Dwelling among the crags and mountain fastness of Judea David had escaped the malice of Saul, Psalms 91:2, “I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.”
B. Believers are often hidden in their God from the strife of tongues and the fury of the storm of trouble, Psalms 32:7, “Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance.”
1. My Buckler or Shield –We have protection under His wings, Psalms 91:4, “He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.”
2. The Horn of my Salvation –He is the strength of our salvation, 2 Samuel 22:3, “The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence.”
3. My High tower — He is our defense and place of safety in times of trouble, Proverbs 18:10, “The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.”
C. The Believer prays to God in a happy and confident manner, vv. Psalms 5:3, “My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.”
1. David is saved singing, 2 Samuel 22:4, “I will call on the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.”
” No fearing or doubting
With Christ on our side,
We hope to die shouting,
‘The Lord will provide.’”
2. Be careful for nothing was Paul’s counsel, Philippians 4:6, “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.”
CONCLUSION