Psalm 5 A Cry To The King

 

Intro: Have you ever been maligned ? Have you ever had your Character Assassinated? Have you ever been unjustly accused?

A)Have your motives ever been Misjudged ? Have you ever been the victim of Gossip? -  Most of us have in some degree.

 

B) What do you do when those things are going on? How React

1)   One reaction is to: Lash out in the flesh – to Strike back to seek revenge to hurt those who are hurting you

 

Jack's mother ran into the bedroom when she heard him scream and found his two-year-old sister pulling his hair. She gently released the little girl's grip and said comfortingly to Jack, "There, there. She didn't mean it. She doesn't know that hurts." Mom was barely out of the room when the little girl screamed. Rushing back in, she said, "What happened?" "She knows now, little Jack explained.

 

C) That is the nature of revenge – they hurt me I am going to show them how it feels

 

Three burly fellows on huge motorcycles pulled up to a highway cafe where a truck driver, just a little guy, was perched on a stool quietly eating his lunch. ……. they spotted him, grabbed his food away from him and laughed in his face. The truck driver said nothing. He got up, paid for his food, and walked out.

One of the three cyclists, unhappy that they hadn't succeeded in provoking the little man into a fight, commented to the waitress: "Boy, he sure wasn't much of a man, was he?" The waitress replied, "Well, I guess not." Then, looking out the window, she added, "I guess he's not much of a truck driver, either. He just ran over three motorcycles."

 

REVENGE :  Old Chinese proverb If thine enemy wrong thee, buy each of his children a drum.

                                    Not God’s Reaction

 Another reaction is to Run – just bail – I am going to get out of this situation – leave this group / church –friendship etc.

A)Those who respond in that way – end up never trusting again- or they are very slow to get involved in anything /slow to open up / keep to themselves

 

B)When a person responds in that way – Satan’s goal for that person is accomplished – Hibernation – Concerned only about themselves 

1)   Satan’s favorite kind of Christian – No impact on anyone else I will leave them  - alone

 

C) Another Reaction: Bite my tongue / refrain from saying or doing anything that would be – wrong – But grow bitter inside

1)   Bitterness will eat away at your soul & taint everything that you are doing / Your views of others –

 

D) Eventually it will come out – like an explosion – usually over some little thing – Why are they getting so upset about that ?

 

Another reaction is to give it to the Lord !!!

A)To cast your cares upon Him knowing that He cares for you / to fling yourself upon his mercy – his grace / trusting in his care / justice

 

B) That is the route that David chooses – here in Psa. 5/ Scholars differ on the placing of this Psalm:

1)   Some put it later in David’s life when his Son Absalom is trying to steal the kingdom from him

 

C) Others place it –in 1 Sam.18 – after Saul has tried several times to take David’s life

1)    Either way the situations were similar – David’s  was being maligned & attacked – His reputation was being destroyed / life in Jeopardy

 

D) I personally like the placing of Psa 5 in 1 Sam 18

1)   Saul has thrown 2 spears /Set David up to be killed in Battle – front lines/ Daughter Merab / Then Michal for 100 foreskins / Rd Psa 5

As we consider this Psalm tonight – insight into how to respond in those types of situations – break down into 4 parts

A)1st Consider what David says about the Lord / 2nd Consider what David says about those who are after Him /

 

B) 3rd Consider what David says about himself – His actions / 4th What does David say to us

 

1st What David says about the Lord: Knowing Who we are talking to His heart toward us is a key to effective Prayer

A)V.3 He refers to the Lord as His King – When Saul David’s earthly was acting like anything but a King / David turns to the Lord

 

B) It is good for us to remember that no matter where it is that we are serving in ministry, / where we are employed / Housewife

1)   We are servants of the Lord. Not serving a person/ not serving a boss / husband / a wife – I am serving the Lord.

 

C) People will let us Down – But God is our King!!!!

 

We also see in these first 3 verses that David – portrays the Lord as a God who Hears / a God who is approachable / not distant

A)The Hebrew word for Give ear – literally means to broaden the ear w/ the Hand as a man who is hard of hearing does so he can hear better

 

B) David was saying was Lord put your hand behind your ear so you can hear better what I have to say.  Simply Listen up Lord

1)   Consider my Meditation – this word for Meditation is found only here & in Psa 39:3 in the entire Bible.

 

C) It is a word that hints at an unspoken prayer, at the aching & longing of the innermost being

1)   Those times when words just won’t come / those times when we can’t find the words to express the grief / concern / the hurt we feel

 

D) When all that comes out is a Sigh or a groan / or as David says in v.2 a cry – That God hears & understands –

CHS -There are two sorts of prayers—those expressed in words, and the unuttered longings which abide as silent meditations. Words are not the essence but the garments of prayer. Weeping has a voice—a melting, plaintive tone, an ear–piercing shrillness, which reaches the very heart of God: and crying hath a voice—a soul–moving eloquence; coming from our heart it reaches God’s heart, Ah! my brothers and sisters, sometimes we cannot put our prayers into words: they are nothing but a cry: but the Lord can comprehend the meaning, for he hears a voice in our cry.

 

E) Music to a parents ear to have their kids cry out to them – Help

1)   Agony – when you see their in pain – ask what is wrong – Nothing but I need to call my friend.

 

So we learn from this that God is able to hear even the things that we can’t speak – the longings in our hearts that we can’t put into words

A)David would write later – that a Broken & Contrite heart – God would not despise –

 

B)He was writing from experience / He knew what it was like to cry out to God w/ tears & groanings when words wouldn’t come –

1)   And God was there to answer !!!!

 

The Next thing that David says about the Lord v.4  The Lord doesn’t take pleasure in wickedness / in lawlessness nor shall evil dwell w/ you

A)That is a great comfort to the person who is being attacked – Saul was breaking the law of God – by seeking to kill David / lying cheating etc

 

B) And David could take Comfort in the Fact that – while this was going on God was not Pleased. He wasn’t behind it

1)He allowed it, but He was grieved by it He allows it because He gives man a free will – But when men choose to rebel against the Lord – He is grieved

 

C) Received a neat e-mail Sept 11 attack – where was God – God’s response

You say you will never forget where you were when you heard the news on
September 11, 2001. Neither will I.


I was on the 110th floor in a smoke filled room with a man who called his
wife to say "Good-Bye." I held his fingers steady as he dialed. I gave
him the peace to say, "Honey, I am not going to make it, but it is OK...I
am ready to go."


I was with his wife when he called as she fed breakfast to their
children. I held her up as she tried to understand his words and as she
realized he wasn't coming home that night.


I was in the stairwell of the 23rd floor when a woman cried out to Me for
help."I have been knocking on the door of your heart for 50 years!" I said.

"Of course I will show you the way home - only believe on Me now."

I was at the base of the building with the Priest ministering to the
injured and devastated souls. I took him home to tend to his Flock in
Heaven. He heard my voice and answered.


I was on all four of those planes, in every seat, with every prayer. I was with the crew as they were overtaken. I was in the very hearts of the believers there, comforting and assuring them that their faith has saved them.

 
I was in Texas, Kansas, London. I was standing next to you when you heard
the terrible news. Did you sense Me?


I want you to know that I saw every face. I knew every name - though not
all know Me. Some met Me for the first time on the 86th floor. Some
sought Me with their last breath. Some couldn't hear Me calling to them
through the smoke and flames; "Come to Me... this way... take my hand."
Some chose, for the final time, to ignore Me. But, I was there.


I did not place you in the Tower that day. You may not know why, but I do.  However, if you were there in that explosive moment in time, would you have reached for Me? September 11, 2001 was not the end of the journey for you.


But someday your journey will end. And I will be there for you as well.
Seek Me now while I may be found. Then, at any moment, you know you are
"ready to go."  I will be in the stairwell of your final moments. -   God

In V.5 & 6 David moves from Describing God’s heart toward lawlessness in General to those who practice their deeds

A)What is said here is then held in contrast to what He says of those who put their trust in the Lord 

 

B)God resists the Proud – The boastful will not stand in His sight / God hates workers of iniquity

     1) He is against liars - You shall destroy those who speak falsehood;

     The LORD abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.

 

C) So that is God’s reaction toward the wicked – Saul & those who were helping Him.

1)    But then David tells us about God’s heart toward those who are trusting in Him – in v. 11,12

 

D) V.11 – He defends them / v.12 He blesses them / v.12 He surrounds them w/ His Favor as  a Shield ( Grace is undeserved favor)

1)   The word for Shield here is Buckler – Shield that covered from Head to toe  ( Sin abounds grace even more ) His Grace is a Shield !!!!

 

D) God says to those who trust in Him – I have you covered Completely

1)    So I know then that whatever comes into my life / that gets past that shield has been allowed by God my defender –

 

E) So when that happens I am to ask – not why is this happening / but what are you doing / what do you want me to learn.

 

So first of all we see what David says about the Lord – which is the perspective that we need – when these storms come

A)See Him as our King / Know that He hears / understand that the wickedness / the lies / the garbage being thrown our way –

 

B) He takes no pleasure in that – he abhors that – He is against those who are doing it !!!!   Good to recognize because in the mist of the storm our minds can play tricks on us – great to hold onto what we know about God!!

Now lets briefly consider what David says of His enemies

A) He refers to them as being v.4 wicked or lawless / v.5  boastful - workers of iniquity/v.6  liars/ bloodthirsty/ deceitful

 

B) V.9 Unfaithful / their throat is an open tomb – what a description / everything they say – brings death & destruction

1)    Now By centering on Who God was – David was able to discern that everything that these Guys were  / God His king was against

 

C) Suddenly that Changes the perspective / Like Goliath being simply an uncircumcised philistine

 

Now lets consider What David says about Himself – what He is going to do in light of What He Knows about God

A)V.1-3 He cries out to the Lord –

 

B) This is one of the remarkable things about – David – never hear him during this difficult period saying anything bad /nasty about Saul to anyone

1)   This I believe is the reason why – instead of crying out to others David cries out to God

 

C) David says plenty of things here & in other Psalms about Saul & His other enemies that were not Flattering – not nice

1)   But David is pouring out his heart to God in prayer

 

D) That is where those comments need to stay – God is able to handle them I can’t

1)   Someone comes & complains to me about someone else – I hate that because then  I get tainted – it is hard to see them differently –

 

E) But God Knows the real them – Knows what is true / what isn’t – He can handle it

 

 

 

2nd Notice when He cries out to the Lord – v. 3 in the morning

A)CHS An hour in the morning is worth two in the evening.

Moody - We ought to see the face of God every morning before we see the face of man.

 

B) If you have been around here any length of time – You know that I am a fan of Early Morning Devotions –

1)               Because If I don’t get to it in the morning – it usually doesn’t happen

 

C) I need that perspective in the morning – I need to start my day w/ the Lord – before paper / news / chores / work

1)               I have an appointment every morning w/ the Lord

 

D) If I happen to miss – so often I have the wrong attitude the whole day

1)   Morning walk – Amazing Day

 

 

Now David says in the morning I am going to direct my prayers to you

A)The word directly speaks of an ordering of my prayers – word used that speaks of setting in order the pieces of wood on an altar for fire

 

B) Told in Gen 22 – Abe laid the wood on the fire – same word – laid it in order –

1)    Also used of the priest setting the bread on the table in the Tabernacle the table of showbread

 

C) Didn’t just throw it up there – but there was some thought to it !!!

1)   So it speaks of placing our thoughts in order : List are great –

 

D) I like to use a list as a bridge – start w/ the list – gets my mind going in other directions as well.

 

The next thing that David tells us that He is going to do is look up: 2 fold meaning here

A)1st – He is going to take his eyes off of the circumstances & look to God – Put my eyes on the Lord

 

B)2nd It speaks of a heart of Expectancy – could be translated – Look out

1)    God I have laid out my prayer to you – Now I am waiting for a reply / waiting for a response

 

C) I will look out for the answer; after I have prayed, I will expect that the blessing shall come.”

1)    It is a word that is used in another place where we read of those who watched for the morning. So will I watch for your answer, O my Lord!

 

D)I will spread out my prayer like the animal on the altar,& I will look up,& expect to receive the answer by fire from heaven to consume the sacrifice.

Hab 2:1 I will stand my watch

     And set myself on the rampart, ( watch tower on the city wall)

     And watch to see what He will say to me,

     And what I will answer when I am corrected.

 

Again Spurgeon is helpful here :

do we not forget to watch the result of our supplications? We are like the ostrich, which lays her eggs and looks not for her young. We sow the seed, and are too idle to seek a harvest. How can we expect the Lord to open the windows of his grace, and pour us out a blessing, if we will not open the windows of expectation and look up for the promised favour? Let holy preparation link hands with patient expectation, and we shall have far larger answers to our prayers.

 

So David cries out to the Lord – in the Morning – Look up / look out expecting an answer in return

 

Quickly consider few more things about David – v.7

 

Approaches God on the basis of His mercy –

 

Worships w/ Reverence : In fear

 

Desires to be lead in righteousness

 

 

Lastly what does David say to us : V. 11,12 Let all those

A)Rejoice in the Lord / Shout for Joy / be joyful in the Lord

 

B) Because God is our defense –

 

C) With Favour He surround us like a Shield -