BIG IDEA:
WE WILL BOAST IN THE NAME OF THE LORD, OUR GOD
I. (:1-5) PRAYER THAT GOD WOULD HELP THE KING IN BATTLE
A. Prayer is the Necessary Preparation for Battle
1. "day of trouble" -- comes to all; the king must be alert and anticipate conflict
2. Need for the King to pray himself
3. Need for others to intercede on behalf of the king
B. God has the Necessary Resources to Give Victory
1. He is a God who Answers Prayer
vs. 1 "May the Lord answer you"
coupled with vs. 9 = bookends of this psalm
vs. 2 "May He send you help"
vs. 2 "May He support you"
vs. 3 "May He remember ..."
vs. 4 "May He grant you ..."
vs. 4 "May He fulfill ..."
vs. 5 "May the Lord fulfill all your petitions" =
Summary of all the above = mid-point of psalm
2. The God of Jacob has demonstrated His gracious character in past
deliverances
look at what God did for Jacob
3. God offers help from a Protected Vantage Point
a. the sanctuary
b. Zion
C. Help is only Available When a Righteous Relationship with God is Maintained
Here: thru the sacrifices offered by the king
meal offerings
burnt offerings
D. Help is Always Consistent with the Heart and Mind of God
1. "grant you your heart’s desire" -- remember: David was a man after God’s
own heart
David a type of Christ in this psalm
2. "fulfill all your counsel" -- remember: we have the mind of Christ
E. God’s People will Rejoice in God’s Victory (:5)
“We will sing for joy over your victory,
And in the name of our God we will set up our banners.
May the Lord fulfill all your petitions.”.
II. (:6-8) CONFIDENCE THAT GOD WILL GIVE VICTORY
A. (:6) God Will Deliver His Anointed Leader
“Now I know that the Lord saves His anointed;
He will answer him from His holy heaven,
With the saving strength of His right hand.”
B. (:7) Our Confidence Rests in God Alone
“Some boast in chariots, and some in horses;
But we will boast in the name of the Lord, our God.”
C. (:8) The Final Outcome is Not in Doubt
1. "they have bowed down and fallen"
2. "But we have risen and stood upright "
III. (:9) CLOSING REFRAIN: CRY FOR HELP
“Save, O Lord;
May the King answer us in the day we call.”
* * * * * * * * * *
DEVOTIONAL QUESTIONS:
1) “Day of trouble” (vs.1) can really be a “day of opportunity” for the Lord’s anointed.
Are we casting our cares on the Lord and expecting Him to give us victory?
2) We don’t have to wonder (vs. 3) about whether God has accepted the sacrifice for our sins. Our Passover Lamb was slain once for all time as the propitiation for our sins. Do we find ourselves trying to earn God’s favor when we should be thanking Him for
His grace?
3) Do we picture our Heavenly Father as desirous of granting our “heart’s desire” (vs. 4) or as some type of miserly, begrudging God?
4) Where is our true confidence in time of testing? “Some boast in chariots and some in horses; But we will boast in the name of the Lord, our God” (vs.7). Preparation for battle is still necessary. But we can never put our trust in Saul’s sword and shield.
Our trust is in the character of God.
Download the entire Psalms commentary in pdf format
(including notes on each psalm from other commentators)
from:
http://www.bibleoutlines.com
