A SERVANTS SONG
Psalm 123
1. DEPENDENCE - Vs. 1
A. Personal
1. Unto you – Lord -YAHWEH & God - Elohim
B. Powerful
1. Our God is in control
2. Storms and thunder – God is on His throne!
C. Provisional
1. 121:1
2. DUTY - Vs. 2
A. Nearness
1. Can’t see hand unless you are near
B. Awareness
1. When you see his hand signals – do you know?
C. Allegiance
1. Loyalty
D. Readiness
1. first signal moving – no ifs, ands, or buts
3. DESIRE - Vs. 3
A. Action - Mercy
1. bestowing favor on an inferior
2. giving not what deserved or earned – blessing
B. Presence
1. root word means to encamp or surround
2. Desperate cry of needy to provider – be with us
Exodus 33:3
I will not go up in the midst of you; for you are a stiff necked people: lest I consume thee in the way.
Exodus 33:12-17 (KJV)
And Moses said unto the LORD, See, You say unto me, Bring up this people: and You have not let me know whom You will send with me. Yet You have said, I know you by name, and You have also found grace in my sight. 13 Now therefore, I pray you, if I have found grace in thy sight, show me now Your way, that I may know you, that I may find grace in thy sight: and consider that this nation is your people. 14 And he said, My presence shall go with you, and I will give you rest. 15 And he said unto him, If your presence go not with me, carry us not up hence. 16 For wherein shall it be known here that I and your people have found grace in your sight? is it not in that You go with us? so shall we be separated, I and your people, from all the people that are upon the face of the earth. 17 And the LORD said unto Moses, I will do this thing also that You have spoken: for You have found grace in my sight, and I know you by name.
4. DESPERATION - Vs. 4
A. Action of the World
1. Treated with Disrespect
2. Treated with Derision
3. Treated with Disparagement
B. Attitude of the World
1. Those that are at ease
a. haughty – snobs
b. Who needs you and Who needs God!!!!
2. the proud
a. Oppressive
b. Abusive
Psalms 73:1-28 (MSG)
1 An Asaph psalm
No doubt about it! God is good— good to good people, good to the good-hearted. 2 But I nearly missed it, missed seeing his goodness. 3 I was looking the other way, looking up to the people 4 At the top, envying the wicked who have it made, 5 Who have nothing to worry about, not a care in the whole wide world. 6 Pretentious with arrogance, they wear the latest fashions in violence, 7 Pampered and overfed, decked out in silk bows of silliness. 8 They jeer, using words to kill; they bully their way with words. 9 They’re full of hot air, loudmouths disturbing the peace. 10 People actually listen to them—can you believe it? Like thirsty puppies, they lap up their words. 11 What’s going on here? Is God out to lunch? Nobody’s tending the store. 12 The wicked get by with everything; they have it made, piling up riches 13 I’ve been stupid to play by the rules; what has it gotten me? 14 A long run of bad luck, that’s what— a slap in the face every time I walk out the door. 15 If I’d have given in and talked like this, I would have betrayed your dear children. 16 Still, when I tried to figure it out, all I got was a splitting headache... 17 Until I entered the sanctuary of God. Then I saw the whole picture: 18 The slippery road you’ve put them on, with a final crash in a ditch of delusions. 19 In the blink of an eye, disaster! A blind curve in the dark, and—nightmare! 20 We wake up and rub our eyes... . Nothing. There’s nothing to them. And there never was. 21 When I was beleaguered and bitter, totally consumed by envy, 22 I was totally ignorant, a dumb ox in your very presence. 23 I’m still in your presence, but you’ve taken my hand. 24 You wisely and tenderly lead me, and then you bless me. 25 You’re all I want in heaven! You’re all I want on earth! 26 When my skin sags and my bones get brittle, God is rock-firm and faithful. 27 Look! Those who left you are falling apart! Deserters, they’ll never be heard from again. 28 But I’m in the very presence of God— oh, how refreshing it is! I’ve made Lord God my home. God, I’m telling the world what you do!
