BIG IDEA:
GOD HEARS US AT OUR BREAKING POINT
I. (:1-3) WE STRUGGLE WITH HOW GOD CAN WAIT SO LONG
TO DELIVER US
A. The Nature of the suffering -- Discipline but not Wrath
"O Lord, do not rebuke me in Thine anger,
Nor chasten me in Thy wrath"
B. The Intensity of the suffering -- I can’t take much more
"Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am pining away;
Heal me, O Lord, for my bones are dismayed.
And my soul is greatly dismayed;"
C. The Duration of the suffering -- How Long?
"But Thou, O Lord-how long?"
II. (:4-5) WE PLEAD FOR DELIVERANCE -- CLINGING TO HOPE
TWO REASONS FOR DELIVERANCE
A. The Character of God -- His lovingkindness
"Return, O Lord, rescue my soul;
Save me because of Thy lovingkindness."
B. The Opportunity for Testimony -- Giving Thanks
Close to death
"For there is no mention of Thee in death;
In Sheol who will give Thee thanks?"
III. (:6-7) WE ARE WORN OUT WITH GRIEF -
TIRED TO THE POINT OF GIVING UP
A. The Exhaustion of Grief
"I am weary with my sighing"
"My eye has wasted away with grief"
B. The Tears of Grief
"Every night I make my bed swim,
I dissolve my couch with my tears."
C. The Pressure from Adversaries
"It has become old because of all my adversaries"
IV. (:8-10) WE ARE CONFIDENT THAT THE LORD HEARS AND VINDICATES.
A. The Lord Hears
"For the Lord has heard the voice of my weeping.
The Lord has heard my supplication,
The Lord receives my prayer."
B. My Enemies Give Up in Shame
1. Warning
"Depart from me, all you who do iniquity"
2. Judgment
"All my enemies shall be ashamed and greatly dismayed;
They shall turn back, they shall suddenly be ashamed."
* * * * * * * * * *
DEVOTIONAL QUESTIONS:
1) How effective and consistent are we in discipling our children for their good while
avoiding the temptation to punish them in anger? How can we learn from how our
heavenly Father disciplines us?
2) Have we ever been exhausted with grief? Worn out with crying? How did the Lord
bring us back to a state where we could function once again?
3) Are we taking every opportunity now to give God thanks, recognizing that our time
here on earth is short?
4) Do we have this type of confidence that the Lord hears our prayers? Do we believe
that our enemies will eventually be put to shame?
Download the entire Psalms commentary in pdf format
(including notes on each psalm from other commentators)
from:
http://www.bibleoutlines.com
