PSALM

THE PROPERTIES OF GOD’S MERCY
PSALM 33:18-22

Introduction:

The properties or characteristics of God mercy are many. It is a great study that will humble the proud. It will encourage the Believer to continue faithfully for the Lord.

It causes us to see God’s greatness and His great love for man. In it we see just how much it took for the Lord to send His only begotten Son to save us from hell.

The study of His mercy will cause us to be ashamed of our unfaithfulness and wonder why He puts up with our failures. Let’s consider a few of the characteristics.

I. GOD’S MERCY IS FREE

A. God loves us freely, Hosea 14:4, “I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him.”

1. The Lord did not love you because of who you are, Deuteronomy 7:7-8, “The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people: 8- But because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.”

2. He loved us because He is rich in mercy, Ephesians 2:4-5, “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5- Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)”

B. His choosing us is free, Ephesians 1:4, “According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:”

C. Justification is free, Romans 3:24, “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:”

D. Salvation is free, Titus 3:5, “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;”

II. GOD’S MERCY IS OVERFLOWING

A. His mercy is infinite, Psalm 86:5, “For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.”

B. His mercies are a multitude, Psalm 51:1, “Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.”

1. He has morning mercies, Lamentations 3:22-23, “It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. 23- They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.”

2. He has night mercies, Psalm 42:8, “Yet the LORD will command his lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life.”

3. God has mercies under heaven that we taste, Psalm 34:8, “O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.”

4. He has mercies in heaven which we hope for, Romans 8:24-25, “For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? 25- But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.”

III. GOD’S MERCY IS ETERNAL

A. God’s mercy is everlasting, Psalm 103:17, “But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children’s children;”

B. “His mercy endureth for ever,” is repeated 26 times in Psalm 136.

1. We should sing of His mercies, Psalm 89:1, “I will sing of the mercies of the LORD for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations.”

2. We should give thanks for His mercies, Psalm 118:1, “O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: because his mercy endureth for ever.”

a. Because He has called us unto salvation, 2 Timothy 1:9, “Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,”

b. Because He has made known to us the mystery of His will, Ephesians 1:9, “Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:”

CONCLUSION:

Note our text in Psalm 34:22, “Let thy mercy, O LORD, be on us, according as we hope in Thee.”

THE LORD LOOKS FROM HEAVEN
PSALM 33:13-22

Introduction:

Though leagues of distance lie between the finite creature and the infinite Creator, yet there are links uniting both. When you weep a tear, think not that God does not see; for, “Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him.” Psalms 103:13.

I. GOD LOOKS UPON THE SONS OF MEN

A. To see if any man understood, v. 13; Psalms 14:2, “The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God.”

1. God is God close at hand, Jeremiah 23:23, “Am I a God at hand, saith the LORD, and not a God afar off?”

2. His eyes are on the earth to show Himself strong for those who trust Him, 2 Chronicles 16:9, “For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars.”

B. To see if any man sought the Lord, vv.13b-14; Romans 3:11, “There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.”

1. Evil men do not understand nor turn to the Lord, Proverbs 28:5, “Evil men understand not judgment: but they that seek the LORD understand all things.”

2. The danger of God’s judgment, Amos 5:6, “Seek the LORD, and ye shall live; lest he break out like fire in the house of Joseph, and devour it, and there be none to quench it in Bethel.”

II. GOD MADE MEN’S HEARTS ALIKE

A. God is the maker of the rich and the poor, v. 15; Proverbs 22:2, “The rich and poor meet together: the LORD is the maker of them all.”

B. Man was made upright, Ecclesiastes 7:29, “Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.”

1. Man’s universal PERVERSION was man’s doing, not God’s, Jeremiah 17:9, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?”

2. However, God has determined our LIMITS, Acts 17:26, “And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;”

C. God ponders and judges our acts, Psalms 44:21, “Shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart.”

1. He shall bring every work into judgment, Ecclesiastes 12:14, “For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.”

2. God will make manifest the counsels of the hearts, 1 Corinthians 4:5, “Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.”

D. Man CANNOT SAVE HIMSELF in his own strength, vv. 16-17; Psalms 44:3, “For they got not the land in possession by their own sword, neither did their own arm save them: but thy right hand, and thine arm, and the light of thy countenance, because thou hadst a favour unto them.”

1. David said that he did not trust in his sword, Psalms 44:6, “For I will not trust in my bow, neither shall my sword save me. 7 But thou hast saved us from our enemies, and hast put them to shame that hated us.”

2. God said you can’t trust a horse, Psalms 20:7, “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.”

III. BEHOLD THE EYE OF THE LORD

A. His eye is upon the righteous, vv. 18-20; Psalms 34:15, “The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.”

“That eye of peculiar care is their glory and defense. None can take them at unawares, for the celestial watcher foresees the designs of their enemies, and provides against them.” —Charles H. Spurgeon

1. He takes pleasure in those who fear Him, Psalm 147:11, “The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.”

2. He does not take His eyes off of the righteous, Job 36:7, “He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous: but with kings are they on the throne; yea, he doth establish them for ever, and they are exalted.”

3. He is our strong consolation, Hebrews 6:18, “That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:”

B. We, who trust, cannot but be of a GLAD heart, Psalms 13:5, “But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation.”

1. We rejoice because we have trusted Him, Psalm 28:7, “The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.”

2. The Lord has turned our mourning into rejoicing, Psalm 30:10-12, “Hear, O LORD, and have mercy upon me: LORD, be thou my helper. 11- Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness; 12- To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever.”

CONCLUSION

THE WOE OF SIN AND THE PRAISE OF DELIVERANCE
PSALM 31:1-18

Key verse: v.10, “For my life is spent with grief, and my years with sighing: my strength faileth because of mine iniquity, and my bones are consumed.”

Introduction:

“The dedication to the chief musician proves that this song of mingled measures and alternate strains of grief and woe was intended for public singing, and thus a deathblow is given to the notion that nothing but praise should be sung.” —Treasury of David by Charles Spurgeon.

Some folks only want to hear the praise, however, life is full of woe because of our sin. The forgiveness of that sin is the reason for our praise. Consider the Conviction of Sin in this PASSAGE.

I. THE WOE OF SIN

A. The sinner’s “life is spent with grief,” and mourning, v. 10.

1. The loss of loved-ones, Ruth 1:20, “And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me.”

2. Even the Lord is affected by our mourning, John 11:33, “When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled,”

3. Weeping is a big part of our life, Acts 9:39, “Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them.”

B. My strength fails because of my sin, Psalms 38:3, “There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger; neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sin.”

1. Confession is needed, Psalms 51:3, “For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.”

2. Repentance is the next step, Psalms 38:18, “For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin.”

3. Forgiveness comes from the Lord, Psalms 32:5, “I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin.”

C. My body is CONSUMED in BAD health, Psalms 32:4, “For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer.”

1. Our life is SHORTENED by our sin, Psalms 102:3, “For my days are consumed like smoke, and my bones are burned as an hearth.”

2. Our hearts CONDEMN us for our sin, Psalms 102:4, “My heart is smitten, and withered like grass; so that I forget to eat my bread.”

D. Hearing the Gospel has brought REALIZATION of the TRUTH, Isaiah 6:5, “Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.”

1. Sinners will NOT go to heaven, Matthew 25:32, 41, 46, “And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: 41- Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: 46-And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.”

2. The Ungodly will NOT stand in the assembly of the righteous, Psalm 1:4-6, “The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. 5-Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. 6- For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.”

II. THE PRAISE OF DELIVERANCE

A. “I trusted in thee, O Lord,” v. 14; Psalms 16:1, “Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust.”

1. “Thou art my God,” Psalms 31:14, “But I trusted in thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my God.”

2. “Thou hast the words of eternal life,” John 6:68-69, “Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. 69- And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.”

B. “Oh how great is thy goodness,” v. 19; Isaiah 35:10, “And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.”

1. The ransomed of the Lord will be free, John 8:36, “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.”

2. The treasures of God’s mercy are laid up in store for his children, Psalms 16:11, “Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.”

3. God has given His children a new song, a song of praise, Psalms 149:1, “Praise ye the LORD. Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise in the congregation of saints.”

CONCLUSION:

The woe of sin is a terrible thing to experience and there is no lack of trouble in this world. However, the Lord sent His Son, Jesus, to take care of the sin problem. He has paid the price the Lord demanded on Calvary and everyone who trust Him finds salvation and praise for the Savior.

LIVING WORDS FOR DAVID, DYING WORDS FOR JESUS
PSALM 31:1-5

Key verse: v. 5, “Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O LORD God of truth.”

Introduction:

“The psalmist in dire affliction appeals to his God for help with much confidence and holy importunity, and ere long finds his mind so strengthened that he magnifies the Lord for his great goodness.” —Spurgeon.

It is well that there is no settled occasion mentioned, or we might have been so busy in applying it to David’s case as to forget its suitability to our own.

I. DAVID PLEADS FOR HELP

A. In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust, v. 1a; Psalms 22:4, “Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them. 5 They cried unto thee, and were delivered: they trusted in thee, and were not confounded.”

B. Let me never be ashamed, v. 1b.

1. Of the Lord, in whom he trusts, 1 Peter 4:16, “Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.”

2. Nor of His Word, Psalms 119:46, “I will speak of thy testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed.”

3. Nor of his faith, hope, trust, and confidence in them, Psalms 119:116, “Uphold me according unto thy word, that I may live: and let me not be ashamed of my hope.”

C. Deliver me in thy righteousness, v. 1c-4; Psalms 7:8-9, “The LORD shall judge the people: judge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness, and according to mine integrity that is in me. 9- Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end; but establish the just: for the righteous God trieth the hearts and reins.”

1. The Lord has an hourly regard to the weakest moanings of his poorest people, Psalms 86:1, “Bow down thine ear, O LORD, hear me: for I am poor and needy.”

2. He condescends to our low estate and listens to us attentively as one who would hear every word, Psalms 130:2, “Lord, hear my voice: let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications.”

D. Deliver me speedily, vv. 2-3.

1. My strong rock, v. 2; Psalms 62:7, “In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.”

2. My house of defense, Psalms 71:3, “Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort: thou hast given commandment to save me; for thou art my rock and my fortress.”

3. For thy name’s sake lead me, and guide me, v. 3.

a. For the glory of thy name, Psalms 79:9, “Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy name: and deliver us, and purge away our sins, for thy name’s sake.”

b. Send out thy light and thy truth to lead me, Psalms 43:3, “O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles.”

E. You are my strength, v. 4.

1. Many times David saw the Lord pull him “out of the net” that Saul had laid for him, Psalms 57:6, “They have prepared a net for my steps; my soul is bowed down: they have digged a pit before me, into the midst whereof they are fallen themselves.”

2. For Paul as for David, God’s strength was sufficient, 2 Corinthians 12:9, “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

F. Dying words for Jesus, v. 5.

1. Living words for David having total confidence in his Savior, 2 Timothy 1:12, “For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.”

2. They are good, choice, wise, and solemn words spoken by the Savior.

a. Jesus had finished the work God had given Him to do, John 17:4, “I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.”

b. After examining every detail of His work, Jesus said “It is finished,” John 19:30, “When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.”

CONCLUSION

JOY COMETH IN THE MORNING

PSALM 30:1-12

Key verse: v. 5, “For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.”

Introduction:

A song of faith since the house of Jehovah, here intended, David never lived to see. A Psalm of praise, since a sore judgment had been stayed, and a great sin forgiven, 1 Chronicles 21:1-30.

The psalm refers to the temple, for which it was David’s joy to lay by in store, and for the site of which he purchased in his later days the floor of Ornan, the Jebusite, 1 Chronicles 21:23-24, “And Ornan said unto David, Take it to thee, and let my lord the king do that which is good in his eyes: lo, I give thee the oxen also for burnt offerings, and the threshing instruments for wood, and the wheat for the meat offering; I give it all. 24- And king David said to Ornan, Nay; but I will verily buy it for the full price: for I will not take that which is thine for the LORD, nor offer burnt offerings without cost.”

I. GOD’S FORGIVENESS

A. David praises the Lord for His deliverance after the grievous plague, vv. 1-3; 1 Chronicles 21:28, “At that time when David saw that the LORD had answered him in the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite, then he sacrificed there.”

1. God had lifted David up out of his sorrow, v. 1; Psalms 34:4, “I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.”

2. David had cried unto the Lord, v. 2; Psalms 142:1, “I cried unto the LORD with my voice; with my voice unto the LORD did I make my supplication.”

B. Disobedience was turned into joy by God’s mercy, 1 Chronicles 21:13, “And David said unto Gad, I am in a great strait: let me fall now into the hand of the LORD; for very great are his mercies: but let me not fall into the hand of man.”

1. David rejoices over his deliverance from great troubles comparing them to water from which he was drawn, Psalms 18:16, “He sent from above, he took me, he drew me out of many waters.”

2. God had “lifted” him up out of a pit, v. 1b; Psalms 40:2, “He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.”

3. God did not shame him before his enemies, v. 1c; Psalms 25:2, “O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me.”

C. David went to the source of power, vv. 2-3.

1. “Thou hast healed me,” v. 2; Psalms 41:4, “I said, LORD, be merciful unto me: heal my soul; for I have sinned against thee.”

2. God had preserved his life, v. 3; Psalms 56:13, “For thou hast delivered my soul from death: wilt not thou deliver my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living?”

II. DAVID’S GREAT REJOICING

A. David invites the redeemed to join him in song, v. 4; Psalms 32:11, “Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.”

1. Remembering God’s holiness, v. 4b; Exodus 15:11, “Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?”

2. His anger endures only for a moment, v. 5a; Psalms 103:9, “He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever.”

3. “In his favour is life,” v. 5b; Psalms 36:9, “For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.”

4. Joy comes in the morning, v. 5c; Psalms 143:8, “Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.”

B. In the midst of rejoicing is a grave danger, vv. 6-7; Isaiah 56:12, “Come ye, say they, I will fetch wine, and we will fill ourselves with strong drink; and to morrow shall be as this day, and much more abundant.”

1. David grows confident enjoying God’s favor more than the ordinary measure, Job 29:18-20, “Then I said, I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiply my days as the sand. 19- My root was spread out by the waters, and the dew lay all night upon my branch. 20- My glory was fresh in me, and my bow was renewed in my hand.”

2. The result of David’s overconfidence caused God to hide His face from David for a time, v. 7; Psalms 27:9, “Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.”

3. I was troubled and I cried unto the Lord, vv. 7b-8; Psalms 34:6, “This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.”

a. David sought the Lord, Psalms 77:2, “In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord: my sore ran in the night, and ceased not: my soul refused to be comforted.”

b. Through experience David had learned that prayer to God always brought positive results, Philippians 4:6-7, “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7- And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

4. “What profit is there in my blood?” v. 9; Psalms 88:10-12, “Wilt thou shew wonders to the dead? shall the dead arise and praise thee? Selah. 11- Shall thy lovingkindness be declared in the grave? or thy faithfulness in destruction? 12- Shall thy wonders be known in the dark? and thy righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?”

5. Lord, be my helper, vv. 10-12; Psalms 28:7, “The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.”

a. From mourning to laughter, Psalms 126:1-2, “When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream. 2- Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them.”

b. I will give thanks unto my God, Psalms 145:2, “Every day will I bless thee; and I will praise thy name for ever and ever.”

CONCLUSION