Sermons by Art Davison

Key verse: v. 8, “Salvation belongeth unto the LORD: thy blessing is upon thy people.”

Introduction:

The occasion of this psalm is found in 2 Samuel 15:1 – 18:33. The occasion is when Absalom won the hearts of the people of Israel in an attempt to usurp the throne of his father, David, King of Israel, 2 Samuel 15:5-6, “And it was so , that when any man came nigh to him to do him obeisance, he put forth his hand, and took him, and kissed him. 6- And on this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgment: so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.”

“The conspiracy was strong; for the people increased continually with Absalom.” (v. 12b). For 4 years Absalom had been weaning the people away from David. Now the time was ripe for revolution.

When Absalom reached Hebron, the very center of the Davidic dynasty, where David had begun his reign (2 Sam. 3:2-3), Absalom announced his usurpation of power, 2 Samuel 15:10, “But Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, As soon as ye hear the sound of the trumpet, then ye shall say, Absalom reigneth in Hebron.”

In spite of innumerable adversaries who were convinced that he had no hope, God’s elect, David, found God’s safety and protection through the night and thereby had confidence in His ultimate deliverance.

I. THE BROKEN HEART OF A FATHER, vv. 1-2

A. It was a strong conspiracy, 2 Samuel 15:12, “And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counsellor, from his city, even from Giloh, while he offered sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong; for the people increased continually with Absalom.”

1. Ahithophel was David’s own counselor, 1 Chronicles 27:33, “And Ahithophel was the king’s counsellor: and Hushai the Archite was the king’s companion:”

2. He had turned against David, 2 Samuel 15:31, “And one told David, saying, Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom. And David said, O LORD, I pray thee, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.”

3. Ahithophel’s counsel was strongly regarded, 2 Samuel 16:23, “And the counsel of Ahithophel, which he counselled in those days, was as if a man had enquired at the oracle of God: so was all the counsel of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom.”

B. “Many are they that rise up against me,” Matthew 10:21, “And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death.”

C. Many say there is no hope in God, v. 2; Matthew 27:42-43, “He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. 43- He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God.”

II. THE SOURCE OF DAVID’S PROTECTION IS THE LORD

A. God was David’s defense, Psalm 7:10, “My defence is of God, which saveth the upright in heart.”

1. David trusted in the Lord, v. 3; Psalm 18:2,30, “The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength , in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. 30- As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried : he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.”

2. The Lord was David’s glory, Isaiah 60:19, “The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the LORD shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory.”

3. God was the “lifter up” of his head, Psalm 27:6, “And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy ; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD.”

B. “I cried unto the Lord,” vv. 4-5; Psalms 50:15, “And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.”

1. Because David trusted God for deliverance, Psalms 22:3, “But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.”

2. David knew that God would answer, Psalms 91:15, “He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.”

C. Then David rested in the Lord, vv. 5-7; Psalms 4:8, “I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.”

1. David buckles on the harness of battle singing, Psalms 27:1, “The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”

2. He knew that his enemies would stumble and fall, Psalms 27:2, “When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.”

3. He was confident in the Lord, Psalms 27:3, “Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.”

D. Salvation belongs to the Lord, Hosea 13:4, “Yet I am the LORD thy God from the land of Egypt, and thou shalt know no god but me: for there is no saviour beside me.”

1. There is no other name under heaven for salvation, Acts 4:12, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.’

2. It is Jesus who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings, Ephesians 1:3, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

3. The Lord gives peace to the soul, Psalms 29:11, “The LORD will give strength unto his people; the LORD will bless his people with peace.”

CONCLUSION

The Lord has declared His salvation for thousands of years. He has done everything to bring man to realize that he is a sinner and that God is his only hope. Yet many continue to reject Him as Savior. Even so, God continues to call men unto Himself for the Lord Jesus Christ is the only Savior, the ONLY GOD.

Introduction:

Since God created this world He has always blessed man, Genesis 1:28a, “And God blessed them…” Only after sin did we find the word “curse” mentioned in the Bible. It is God’s desire that man enjoys His blessings.

As believers we have been blessed “with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:” Ephesians 1:3. But just how blessed are you. Do you have every blessing that God wants to give you?

Here is the formula in this Psalm:

I. SEPARATED FROM THE WORLD, v. 1.

A. The walk of the believer, Ephesians 4:1, 17, “I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, 17-This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,”

1. A step of faith, trusting Jesus Christ as Savior, Acts 16:30-31, “And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? 31-And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.”

2. Progress in your walk.

a. Applying Bible truths to your life.

b. Walking within the will of God, 1 John1:5-7, “This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6-If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 7-But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”

3. Direction in your walk.

a. Toward the things of God, 1 Corinthians 2:10-12, “But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 11-For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. 12-Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.”

b. Away from the things of the world:

1) Do not love it, 1 John 2:15, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”

2) Be careful of it, Ephesians 5:15, “See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise.”

II. SATURATED WITH THE WORD, v. 2.

A. His Delight is…

1. In thy STATUTES, Ps. 119:16, “I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.”

2. In thy TESTIMONIES, Ps. 119:24, “Thy testimonies also are my delight and my counsellors.”

3. In thy COMMANDMENTS, Ps. 119:35, “Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight.”

4. In thy LAW, Ps. 119:70, “Their heart is as fat as grease; but I delight in thy law.”

B. Meditate day and night, Joshua 1:8, “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.”SITUATED BY THE WATER, verse 3.

A. Water is a type of the Holy Spirit, John 7:37-39.

1. Your root system, Jeremiah 17:7-8, “Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. 8-For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.”

a. Planted in the House of God, Psalm 92:13, “Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God.”

b. Without roots there is no fruit, Psalm 92:14, “They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing;”

c. Root system’s most important parts,

1) Prayer, 1 Thessalonians 5:16, “Pray without ceasing.”

2) Meditation, v. 2 (text), “But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.”

2. When Christians cease to bear fruit, there is something wrong with there root system.

a. Dried up, Mark 11:12-13, 20, “And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, he was hungry: 13-And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet. 20-And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots.”

b. Dig about it – fertilize them, Luke 13:6-9, “He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none. 7-Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground? 8-And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it:”

B. Our Perfect Example of a Godly Person, Jesus Christ, John 14:6, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

1. He is the WAY, Acts 4:12, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”

2. He is the TRUTH, John 8:32, “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

a. The Word of God, John 17:17, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”

b. It sets you free, Isaiah 61:1, “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;”

3. He is the LIFE, John 6:51, “I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”

a. The Giver of life, John 20:31, “But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.”

b. The sustainer of life, 1 Peter 1:3-5, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4-To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, 5-Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”

CONCLUSION

The last point is the best conclusion. Jesus is our perfect example. We must pattern our lives after Him in order to reap God’s blessings.

Following these principles we will be fruit baring Christians and a blessing to our church as well as our brethren in the Lord.

God wants to bless His children so let’s put ourselves in a position to receive those blessings. Let’s be like that “tree planted by the rivers of water.”

Introduction: