PSALM

OFFER THE SACRIFICES OF RIGHTEOUSNESS–PSALM 3

Art Davison PSALM 0 Comment
OFFER THE SACRIFICES OF RIGHTEOUSNESS
PSALM 3

Introduction:

The third Psalm is known as the “Morning Psalm.” This Psalm can be called the “Evening Psalm,” v. 8, “I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.”

David knew from where he would receive strength to carry on before the Lord. He knew that he had many enemies, but his God was able to supply every need in order to do God’s will.
I. DAVID PLEADS WITH GOD FOR HELP

v. 1, “Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer.”

A. David’s habit of pleading from past mercies for present favors, Psalms 57:1, “Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast.”
1. David knew where his blessings are from, Psalms 24:5, “He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.”
2. David knew that RIGHTEOUSNESS was by faith in the Messiah, 1 Corinthians 1:30, “But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:”
B. David was in the habit of praying daily to the Lord, Psalms 86:3, “Be merciful unto me, O Lord: for I cry unto thee daily.”
1. David knew the Grace of God in his life, Isaiah 45:24, “Surely, shall one say, in the LORD have I righteousness and strength: even to him shall men come; and all that are incensed against him shall be ashamed.”
2. David sought the mercies of God, Psalm 119:75-77, 132, “I know, O LORD, that thy judgments are right , and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me. 76- Let, I pray thee, thy merciful kindness be for my comfort, according to thy word unto thy servant . 77- Let thy tender mercies come unto me, that I may live: for thy law is my delight. 132-Look thou upon me, and be merciful unto me, as thou usest to do unto those that love thy name.”
II. DAVID REASONS WITH HIS ENEMIES FOR THEIR PERSECUTION OF HIM
v. 2, O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame? how long will ye love vanity, and seek after leasing?
A. David in the field of conflict had the undaunted courage of Moses the man of God, Exodus 10:3, “And Moses and Aaron came in unto Pharaoh, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD God of the Hebrews, How long wilt thou refuse to humble thyself before me? let my people go, that they may serve me.”
B. David chides foolish men as though they were children, Proverbs 1:22, “How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?”
1. Man refuses to humble himself before God as they did in Moses day, Exodus 10:3, “And Moses and Aaron came in unto Pharaoh, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD God of the Hebrews, How long wilt thou refuse to humble thyself before me? let my people go, that they may serve me.”
2. Today our young men are void of understanding, Proverbs 7:7, “And beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths , a young man void of understanding,”
a. The Lord invites men to come and learn, Matthew 11:29-30, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls . 30- For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
b. But they will not come to the Lord, Matthew 23:37, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!”
III. HE REMINDS THEM THAT THE LORD HAS SET APART SOME, vv. 3-5
A. David was in the care of the Lord, v. 3.
1. He and the Lord’s people were a separated people, Exodus 33:16, “For wherein shall it be known here that I and thy people have found grace in thy sight ? is it not in that thou goest with us? so shall we be separated, I and thy people, from all the people that are upon the face of the earth.”
2. David knew that God watched over them, Psalm 34:15. “The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.”
B. “Tremble and sin not” was David’s thought here, Proverbs 16:6, “By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.
C. David examined his own heart in the quiet of the evening, 2 Corinthians 13:5, “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
1. David demonstrated that he was in the faith, 1 Corinthians 16:13, “Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.”
2. Like Paul David did not want to shame his Savior, 1 Corinthians 9:27, “But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway”
IV. DAVID DELIGHTFULLY CONTRASTS HIS OWN SATISFACTION AND SAFETY WITH THE RESTLESSNESS OF THE UNGODLY, vv. 6-8
A. The sinner is restless, Psalm 4:6, “There be many that say, Who will shew us any good? LORD, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us.”
B. David was at peace with his Lord, vv. 7-8.
1. David did not set up the night for fear, Psalms 3:5, “I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me.”
2. “Lord, only you make me dwell in peace, Proverbs 3:24, When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.
CONCLUSION
David was a man that knew the Lord and had put his complete trust in the Lord for every protection.

SALVATION BELONGS TO THE LORD–PSALM 3:1-8

Art Davison PSALM 0 Comment
SALVATION BELONGS TO THE LORD
PSALM 3:1-8

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.

THE PERSON GOD BLESSES–PSALM 1:1-3

Art Davison PSALM 0 Comment
THE PERSON GOD BLESSES
PSALM 1:1-3

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.”

THE BLESSEDNESS OF THE GODLY–PSALM 1:1-6

Art Davison PSALM 0 Comment
THE BLESSEDNESS OF THE GODLY
PSALM 1:1-6

Introduction:

The Book of Psalms opens with a benediction, as did the famous Sermon on the Mount that the Lord preached in the Gospels. The Hebrew word is plural so there are MULTIPLE BLESSINGS to be bestowed upon the GODLY.
However, the UNGODLY are not so. They will stand before God in judgment without one word to defend himself for they have utterly disregarded God’s Word. The final words of this psalm are: “the way of the ungodly shall perish.”

I. THE GODLY

A. Blessed in the things they do not do, v. 1;
1. Blessed is he who does not walk in the advise of the wicked, Luke 11:28, “But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.”
2. Blessed is he who does not stand in the way of sinners being converted, Matthew 7:13-14, “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14- Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”
3. Blessed is he, who does not sit in the seat of the mockers, Psalm 26:4-5, “I have not sat with vain persons, neither will I go in with dissemblers. 5- I have hated the congregation of evil doers; and will not sit with the wicked.”
B. Blessed in the things he does, v. 2; Psalms 112:1, “Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments.”
1. He delights in the Word of God, Psalm 119:11, 35, 47-48, 72, 92, “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. 35- Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight. 47- And I will delight myself in thy commandments, which I have loved. 48- My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved; and I will meditate in thy statutes. 72- The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver. 92- Unless thy law had been my delights, I should then have perished in mine affliction.”
2. He meditates in the Word of God 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.”
a. His meditation is pleasant, Psalm 104:34, “My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the LORD.”
b. His meditation in the Word of God has made him wise, Psalm 119:15, 97-99, “I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways. 97- O how love I thy law ! it is my meditation all the day. 98- Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me. 99- I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation.”
1) The Word made him act wiser than his enemies, Proverbs 2:6, “For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.”
2) The Word gave him more understanding than all his teachers, Deuteronomy 4:6-8, “Keep therefore and do them ; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people. 7- For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the LORD our God is in all things that we call upon him for? 8- And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day?”
II. THE UNGODLY
A. The good things said of the righteous are not so of the ungodly, Ephesians 2:12, “That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:”
1. The ungodly are beginners in evil that are compared to chaff to be consumed in the fire, Isaiah 5:24, “Therefore as the fire devoureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth the chaff, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust: because they have cast away the law of the LORD of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.”
2. The wicked will not seek God, Psalm 10:4, “The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.”
B. In Judgment the wicked will not be acquitted, rather they shall be found guilty, Romans 3:19, “Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.”
1. The ungodly shall not stand in the congregation of the righteous, Matthew 25:32, “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 way of the ungodly shall perish, v. 6.
a. The Lord knows His own, John 10:14, 27, “I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep , and am known of mine. 27- My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:”
b. The ungodly shall perish, Proverbs 14:12, “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.”
c. The Lord’s face is against the ungodly, 1 Peter 3:12, “For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.”
CONCLUSION
The Godly have God’s blessing upon them by faith in Jesus Christ. The ungodly, those who have never received Christ as their Savior have only judgment to look forward to in their future. They have no hope without knowing the Lord Jesus as their Savior.