A Prayer Pattern For Obstacles

Text: Psalm 108, Title: A Prayer Pattern Obstacles, Date/Place: WHBC, 6.10.18, AM

A. Opening illustration: Our Father…softball style.

B. Background to passage: This psalm is a combination of two previous psalms, 57 and 60. Those two psalms were psalms of David, as this one. This demonstrates that David likes choruses, medleys, and new versions of older songs ??. The two previous psalms also had some commonalities that may lend some background information as we are given little in the title. Psalm 60 deals with a time when Edom took advantage of David’s great victories over toward the Euphrates River and made raids on Israel. David sent Joab and killed about 12K, then he came himself on the way back from the east and killed another 18K. Psalm 57 deals with the safety that God had provided David in the cave at Adullum while he was fleeing from Saul. Our psalm is a prayer for help regarding a specific situation, in this case an upcoming battle with Edom. It differs from last week’s psalm in that it is a personal experiential request rather than a broad brush of many situations. So maybe you face an upcoming or possibly a continuing challenge, this is your model prayer. This is how/why we pray scripture; and as Jesus says, we ought to always pray and not lose hear.

C. Main thought: Let’s look at the progression of prayer for a particular need.

A. Opening Declaration (v. 1-4)

1. David remembers the time when God protected in the cave and when God gave victory over the Edomites in the early years of his kingship, and declared how his heart was steadfast in God, which is very similar to Psalm 57 where he is coming out of a very tumultuous time, and not “out of the woods” completely. He rises early, calls on the instruments to help him tell of His hesed among the peoples and nations (Jews and gentiles).

2. Argumentation

3. Illustration: “You’ll regret worrying. You won’t regret putting your trust in the Lord.”

4. We can (1) begin our petitions before the Lord by declaring our trust in his unfailing love and mercy. We can (2) recommit to sharing his inestimable worth with all those around us. This communicates and (3) establishes that come what may, God’s worth, providence, and goodness are not in question in your mind. (4) They are clearly laid down as a foundation for your life and for your prayer. This is the reason that we come to him. This is the reason that we trust. This is the reason that we sing! Therefore, start your prayer with declaration of your trust and commitment in God first!

B. Pleading (v. 5-6)

1. David makes four/two requests, two that related to God and to that relate to himself. First for God, he asks that He be exalted, and his glory be spread all over of earth. Second, he asks that deliverance and salvation be given to David by God’s beloved. He didn’t just ask for salvation to go to himself, but to all of God’s people. Notice that they are linked with the word “that,” which indicates purpose. To the end of the glorification of God, save your people.

2. Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? 2 You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures -James 4:1-3

3. Illustration: Lisa Brown’s tumor prayer was that God would be glorified regardless of outcome.

4. Is His glory truly our concern? The purpose for which you were created should be our first and foremost desire. When you begin to ask for things (which is biblical) ask for the first things first – the glory of God being furthered throughout the earth in every life, thought, action, word, ministry, occupation, education, vacations, celebrations, conversations, and our worship should be the base upon which the statue is made. Make sure that the basis for your prayer is the proliferation of the glory of God. If we are about the business in achieving the purpose for which we were made, God will most magnified. It’s natural for us to ask for deliverance from our problematic situations. By nature, we want to avoid pain, seek happiness. It is OK for us to ask for it. It may be granted. It may not be, but either way, there is nothing intrinsically sinful about asking for things. As with many things in the Christian life, the more important thing about our behavior is our motivation. Why do we ask for them? Make your requests known to him who can answer, from who all things are supplied.