BIG IDEA:
THE MAN OF INTEGRITY CRIES OUT FOR GOD’S JUSTICE AND
PROTECTION WHEN HUNTED BY THE WICKED
I. (:1-2) THE CRY FOR JUSTICE – Why should the Lord give attention?
A. My Cause is a Just Cause
"Hear a just cause, O Lord"
B. My God is Compassionate and Responds to My Cries
"Give heed to my cry"
C. My God Answers the Prayers of His Children
"Give ear to my prayer"
D. My God Will Personally Render Judgment
"Let my judgment come forth from Thy presence"
E. My God Judges Fairly
"Let Thine eyes look with equity"
II. (:3-5) THE MAN OF INTEGRITY – Characterized by:
A. Honesty -- "not speaking from deceitful lips"
B. Proven Character
1. Pure in Heart -- "Thou hast tried my heart"
2. Nothing to Hide -- "Thou hast visited me by night"
3. Blameless -- "Thou hast tested me and dost find nothing"
C. Self-control (especially of the tongue)
"I have purposed that my mouth will not transgress"
D. Steadfastness
Keeping on the straight and narrow; avoiding temptations;
guided by the Word of God
"I have kept from the paths of the violent"
"My steps have held fast to Thy paths"
"My feet have not slipped"
III. (:6-9) THE CRY FOR PROTECTION – Based on the Character of God:
A. The Cry Itself."I have called upon Thee"
"Incline thine ear to me"
"hear my speech"
B. The Expectation of Response -- based on the Character of God
"Thou wilt answer me, O God"
"show Thy lovingkindness"
C. The Protection desired
"O Savior of those who take refuge at Thy right hand"
"Keep me as the apple of the eye"
"Hide me in the shadow of Thy wings"
IV. (:10-12) THE ATTACKING ANIMALS – Described as:
A. Rebels at heart
"those who rise up against them" (:7)
B. Out for their own selfish gain; exploitation
"from the wicked who despoil me"
C. Ganging up unfairly on the righteous
"my deadly enemies who surround me"
"they have now surrounded us in their steps”
D. Heartless; no compassion
"they have closed their unfeeling heart"
E. Arrogant; proud; boastful
"with their mouth they speak proudly"
F. Plotting our destruction
"they set their eyes to cast us down to the ground"
G. Like a lion after its prey
"he is like a lion that is eager to tear"
"and as a young lion, lurking in hiding places"
V. (:13-15) CONCLUSION --
THE TEMPORAL SATISFACTION OF THE WICKED VS.
THE ETERNAL SATISFACTION OF THE RIGHTEOUS
A. Call for the Lord to Judge the Wicked and Deliver the Righteous
1. Judge the Wicked
“Arise, O Lord, confront him, bring him low”
2. Deliver the Righteous
“Deliver my soul from the wicked with Thy sword,.From men with Thy hand, O Lord”
B. The Temporal Satisfaction of the Wicked
“From men of the world, whose portion is in this life;
And whose belly Thou dost fill with Thy treasure;
They are satisfied with children,
And leave their abundance to their babes.”
C. The Eternal Satisfaction of the Righteous
“As for me, I shall behold Thy face in righteousness;
I will be satisfied with Thy likeness when I awake.”
* * * * * * * * * *
DEVOTIONAL QUESTIONS:
1) How has the Lord tested us and what has He found?
2) Meditate on the images used here for God’s protection. What a tremendous refuge we have under the wings of the Almighty!
3) Are we spending our life pursuing the things of this world which are shown here to be only satisfying for the briefest of moments? Do we find our portion in this life or in the Lord and life everlasting?
4) Since we will be conformed to the image of Christ in glory, what will it be like to behold Christ’s face in righteousness and be satisfied with His likeness when we awake?
Download the entire Psalms commentary in pdf format
(including notes on each psalm from other commentators)
from:
http://www.bibleoutlines.com
