HEAR THE VOICE OF MY SUPPLICATIONS
PSALM 28:1-9
PSALM 28:1-9
Introduction:
“The thorn at the breast of the nightingale was said by the old naturalists to make it sing: David’s griefs made him eloquent in holy psalmody. The main pleading of this Psalm is that the suppliant may not be confounded with the workers of iniquity for whom he expresses the utmost abhorrence; it may suit any slandered saint, who being misunderstood by men, and treated by them as an unworthy character, is anxious to stand aright before the bar of God. The Lord Jesus may be seen here pleading as the representative of his people.” —Charles Spurgeon.
I. THE POWER OF GOD TO ANSWER PRAYER
A. WHO beside our God has SUCH POWER, v. 1; Psalms 18:31, “For who is God save the LORD? or who is a rock save our God?”
1. There is NO God LIKE our God, Psalms 86:8, “Among the gods there is none like unto thee, O Lord; neither are there any works like unto thy works.”
2. The is NO OTHER 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.”
B. The IMMUTABLE Jehovah is our ROCK, 2 Samuel 22:2-3, “And he said, The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; 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.”
1. He is the IMMOVEABLE ROCK of all our HOPES and our REFUGE in time of trouble, 2 Timothy 2:19, “Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”
2. We should be determined TO FLEE TO HIM as our STRONGHOLD in every hour of danger, Psalms 143:9, “Deliver me, O LORD, from mine enemies: I flee unto thee to hide me.”
C. David PLEADS to be heard, vv. 2-3; Psalms 35:22-23, “This thou hast seen, O LORD: keep not silence: O Lord, be not far from me. 23- Stir up thyself, and awake to my judgment, even unto my cause, my God and my Lord.”
1. David TURNS in the DIRECTION of HOLY of HOLIES in the Tabernacle when he prays, Psalms 5:7, “But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple.”
2. Solomon prayed to the Lord asking for such a response for those who would turn toward the Temple in prayer, 1 Kings 8:30, “And hearken thou to the supplication of thy servant, and of thy people Israel, when they shall pray toward this place: and hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place: and when thou hearest, forgive.”
D. David prays that the Lord will REWARD EVIL DOERS according to their works, vv.4-5; 2 Timothy 4:14, “Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works:”
1. Because they REGARDED NOT the works of the Lord, v. 5; Isaiah 5:12, “And the harp, and the viol, the tabret, and pipe, and wine, are in their feasts: but they regard not the work of the LORD, neither consider the operation of his hands.”
2. These had NOT LOOKED OR CONSIDERED what the Lord had done, Isaiah 40:26, “Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one faileth.”
II. DAVID EXPRESSES HIS FAITH THAT GOD WOULD ANSWER HIS PRAYERS
A. David gives THANKS to the Lord for ANSWERING his prayers, v. 6; Psalms 31:22, “For I said in my haste, I am cut off from before thine eyes: nevertheless thou heardest the voice of my supplications when I cried unto thee.”
1. God had NOT TURNED AWAY David’s prayer, Psalms 66:19-20, “But verily God hath heard me; he hath attended to the voice of my prayer. 20 Blessed be God, which hath not turned away my prayer, nor his mercy from me.”
2. David expressed HIS LOVE for the Lord because he heard supplications, Psalms 116:1-2, “I love the LORD, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications. 2 Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live.”
B. God is the SAVING STRENGTH of His chosen ones, vv. 7-9; Psalms 20:6, “Now know I that the LORD saveth his anointed; he will hear him from his holy heaven with the saving strength of his right hand.”
1. He is OUR STRENGTH in TIME OF TROUBLE, Psalms 37:39, “But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD: he is their strength in the time of trouble.”
2. God STRENGTHENS WHAT HE HAS DONE IN US when he ANSWERS OUR PRAYERS, Psalms 68:28, “Thy God hath commanded thy strength: strengthen, O God, that which thou hast wrought for us.”
C. David concludes with a short comprehensive prayer for God’s people, v. 9; Psalms 25:22, “Redeem Israel, O God, out of all his troubles.”
1. David prays for a blessing for his people, 1 Kings 8:51, “For they be thy people, and thine inheritance, which thou broughtest forth out of Egypt, from the midst of the furnace of iron:”
2. He prayed that God would feed and lift up the flock of God, Isaiah 40:11, “He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.”
CONCLUSION