Psalm 17:1-15 (KJV)
1 Hear the right, O LORD, attend unto my cry, give ear unto my prayer, that goeth not out of feigned lips.
2 Let my sentence come forth from thy presence; let thine eyes behold the things that are equal.
3 Thou hast proved mine heart; thou hast visited me in the night; thou hast tried me, and shalt find nothing; I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.
4 Concerning the works of men, by the word of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer.
5 Hold up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not.
6 I have called upon thee, for thou wilt hear me, O God: incline thine ear unto me, and hear my speech.
7 Shew thy marvellous lovingkindness, O thou that savest by thy right hand them which put their trust in thee from those that rise up against them.
8 Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings,
9 From the wicked that oppress me, from my deadly enemies, who compass me about.
10 They are inclosed in their own fat: with their mouth they speak proudly.
11 They have now compassed us in our steps: they have set their eyes bowing down to the earth;
12 Like as a lion that is greedy of his prey, and as it were a young lion lurking in secret places.
13 Arise, O LORD, disappoint him, cast him down: deliver my soul from the wicked, which is thy sword:
14 From men which are thy hand, O LORD, from men of the world, which have their portion in this life, and whose belly thou fillest with thy hid treasure: they are full of children, and leave the rest of their substance to their babes.
15 As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.
1. Life is a precious gift from God.
Psalm 139:13 (KJV)
13 For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb.
Psalm 139:16 (KJV)
16 Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.
2. Life is valuable.
Psalm 8:3-4 (KJV)
3 When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;
4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?
Psalm 139:14 (KJV)
14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.
3. Life is can be hard
Job 5:7 (KJV)
7 Yet man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward.
4. Life is short.
Psalm 39:4 “ LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am.”
5. Life is to be lived wisely.
Psalm 90:12 (KJV)
12 So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.
We know when we read the book of Genesis that God gave man purpose.
We are not here just to die.
We are not here just to have existence.
God has given us purpose.
In Genesis before sin entered into this world we know some things to be true.
A. God wanted to fellowship with man – God walked with man in the cool of day – there was fellowship.
Genesis 3:8 (KJV)
8 And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day:
B. God made man in His image – Man is triune (God is a trinity) – we have a body, we have a spirit and we have a living soul.
Genesis 1:26 (KJV)
26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
I love the story of the boy sitting on his father's lap as they were looking into a mirror. The boy said to his dad, "Dad, who made me?"
He said, "God made you, son."
He said, "Dad, who made you?"
He said, "God made me, son."
He said, "Dad, who made granddad?"
He said, "God made him, son."
He said, "Dad, who made great-granddad?" He said, "God made him, son. Why do you ask?"
The boy took one look back in the mirror and said, "Well, it just seems to me He's been doing a better job in recent years!"
C. God gave man dominion – Man was to have dominion over the fish of the sea, the fowl of the air, over the cattle, over all the earth
D. God made man social – It was not good for man to be alone. God made man to fellowship with other people. God made Adam a help meet.
Genesis 2:18 (KJV)
18 And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.
E. God gave man a task – God told man to look after the garden.
Genesis 2:15 (KJV)
15 And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.
Then sin entered into the picture. Fellowship with Christ was broken. Dominion was lost. They were kicked out of the garden and their task was over.
Sin marred God’s plan.
But sin didn’t catch God by surprise. Genesis 3:15 - He promised the second Adam. His only Son Jesus Christ – to restore that followship and to give man purpose again.
In this text. David is praying to the Lord.
Bible teachers believe this was written when Saul was seeking to take his own life.
David was pouring his heart out to God
David gives us some golden nugget of truths about life. About our purpose as Christians.
As we investigate this truth = let us consider these thoughts:
I. The heart of David
1 Hear the right, O LORD, attend unto my cry, give ear unto my prayer, that goeth not out of feigned lips.
a. He was authentic
:: David said this prayer comes not from “feigned lips”
Feigned means – fake or masked
As we consider this text here is this great truth for us this morning:
David was real.
:: DAVID had a desire to know the Lord
:: David wanted to see God’s hand in his life.
:: In a tough time – in a time of trouble = David said – Lord you know I am real.
Don’t live your life being a fake. Don’t live your life being someone that you are not. Be real.
When you read I John it is about being real. Knowing you’re a Christian. Being authentic!
"Heart is used in Scripture as the most comprehensive term for the authentic person.
It is the part of our being where we desire, deliberate, and decide.
It has been described as the place of conscious and decisive spiritual activity, the comprehensive term for a person as a whole; his feelings, desires, passions, thought, understanding and will, and the center of a person."
1 Timothy 1:5 (KJV)
5 Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:
2 Timothy 1:5 (KJV)
5 When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.
1 Peter 1:22 (KJV)
22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:
:: The Christian life isn’t a costume party
:: The Christian life isn’t about being someone you are not
:: God wants us to be real – God wants us to be right – God wants us to be reaching others in real LOVE!
b. He was assessed by God
2 Let my sentence come forth from thy presence; let thine eyes behold the things that are equal.
David is desiring to be right with God
The sentence – or judgement – of God would come from His presence of God
David wanted to be as humanly possible right with God
3 Thou hast proved mine heart; thou hast visited me in the night; thou hast tried me, and shalt find nothing; I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.
:: David was assessed by God
:: God looked deep in his heart to see his:
a. Motives
b. He searched his mind and attitude
c. He assessed his motivation and integrity
d. God found that he was upright.
Let me tell you something this morning about life. The greatest thing that you can have in this world – is when you lay your head on the pillow at night – to know that you are right with God – to know that you are walking with God. And that God is pleased with your life.
David was this kind of man.
David pleased God with his life. At this point in his life he said – God – you know my heart! You know my will! You know my mind – you know that I love you!
Many believe that this is a Messianic psalm. A picture of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus obeyed His father. Jesus pleased His father.
This is my beloved son – in whom I am well pleased.
I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress. = David said I have purposed that which I say is true. That I am right with God.
God help us this morning to have that purpose
To know that we are walking with God
To know that we are right with God
Nothing between my soul and the Savior,
Naught of this world's delusive dream;
I have renounced all sinful pleasure;
Jesus is mine, there's nothing between.
Nothing between my soul and the Savior,
So that His blessed face may be seen;
Nothing preventing the least of His favor,
Keep the way clear! Let nothing between.
c. He walked according to truth
4 Concerning the works of men, by the word of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer.
:: Some have suggest that the destroyer was the devil
:: Others have suggested the destroyer is sin.
:: Others suggested that it was talking about Saul who sought to kill him!
:: David honoured God with his life and the decisions that he had made.
:: Stay clear of those that dishonour God – that Mock the Bible – and laugh at sin.
Psalm 1:1-6 (KJV)
1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
4 The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.
5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
6 For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.
II. (Heart) The Hunt of David
a. An answered prayer (V6)
6 I have called upon thee, for thou wilt hear me, O God: incline thine ear unto me, and hear my speech.
:: The greatest comfort that we have as Christians this morning
:: Is the truth that God answers our prayer.
:: God hears our prayer.
b. The armour of God
Psalm 17:7-9 (KJV)
7 Shew thy marvellous lovingkindness, O thou that savest by thy right hand them which put their trust in thee from those that rise up against them.
8 Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings,
9 From the wicked that oppress me, from my deadly enemies, who compass me about.
i. Approval of God – apple of God’s eye
:: The apple of his eye – speaks of the favour of God being important to God.
:: God’s purpose for his life.
You are special to God.
Your Life is important to God.
You matter to God.
God loves you.
You are loved by Him.
You are the apple of His eye.
Don’t listen to the lie of the devil – God doesn’t love you; care about you. This is not true.
ii. Assignment under God’s wing
:: The protection to know that we are protected under God’s wings
:: God shelters us; and protects us
:: no matter what we face in this life
:: We are under His wings.
Psalm 91:4 (KJV)
4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
As Christians – we are under his wings
We are protected by God
God is in control of our life.
III. (Heart; hunt) The Happiness of David
a. The anguish of worldly men
Psalm 17:14-15 (KJV)
14 From men which are thy hand, O LORD, from men of the world, which have their portion in this life, and whose belly thou fillest with thy hid treasure: they are full of children, and leave the rest of their substance to their babes.
15 As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.
“men which are thy hand”
A. Sometimes God allows circumstances in our life to build us. “Men which are thy hand”
B. David was being sought by Saul – why? God allowed it to draw David closer to Him.
“Which have their portion in this life”
A. Their whole purpose of life was wrapped up in this world.
B. There portion – their reward is found in this temporal world.
C. They live. They have children. They leave all of their portion to their children.
- They never know real purpose
- They never know real peace
- They never know real contentment in the soul
- They never are ready to die
- They fear death
- They fear life after death
- They are empty and shallow – their portion is in this world.
We will never be happy. We will never be truly satisfied until we return as it was in the garden of Eden spiritually: - as David knew! > looking to a coming messiah – a redeemer that would made him perfect in the sight of God.
A. To have fellowship with God
B. To have a task from God and be working for GOD!
C. We will never have peace in our life.
b. The appetite of David
Psalm 17:15 (KJV)
15 As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.
1 John 3:2 (KJV)
2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
A. He focused on the eternal. He saw the Lord in everything.
:: I will see God.
:: I will understand all of this.
:: I have purpose to keep on going forward
:: David Saul wants to kill you. My God is in control.
B. He satisfied in God. “I shall be satisfied”
Psalm 23:1-3 (KJV)
1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
:: Purpose in life.
:: Not the way that David planned life would be – I will be satisfied.
Hebrews 13:5 (KJV)
5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
:: I am going to be satisfied – I have purpose.
:: I am going to be satisfied – God has a plan for my life.
:: I am here for a reason. I am here for a purpose.
C. He had purpose to keep on moving forward in a troubling world.
2 Corinthians 4:17 (KJV)
17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
It will be worth it all – when we see Jesus.
=I don’t know the battle that you face today.
=I do not know the trial that you are bearing.
=maybe you are confused about life.
=Wondering if God could ever use you.
=Wondering if you got the short end of the stick.
You are wonderfully and fearfully made.
God didn’t make a mistake – He loves you
You have purpose in Christ.
If you do not know the Lord as your Saviour – Jesus wants to save you today.
You will never know about having purpose. Until you trust HIM as your Saviour.
God help us to make right decisions this morning.
