• Did you know…Thirty-nine percent of American households own at least one dog.
• Did you know…Over $99 billion will be spent on pets this year in the United States alone.
• Did you know…According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, 74 percent of dog owners consider their pet as a child or family member.
• Did you know…God made dogs for us to have as companions and helpers, and for the pleasure and happiness they give us.
• Did you know…Dogs depend on us for everything. They yearn to bring us pleasure and to feel that we love them. Is that not how God wants us to be toward him?
• Did you know…Dogs want to be close to us. They will curl up at our feet even if the bare, hard floor is not as comfortable as their favorite cushion. They jump up when they see us because they want to be as close to our faces as they can get.
• Did you know…Dogs try so hard with head-twisting, ear-twitching effort to understand words we speak to them in a language that is not their own. Their faces are so amusing when they are trying to understand what we are saying.
• Did you know…Our motives and values are beyond a dog’s ability to understand. They are puzzled that we are upset over a chewed shoe or a hole dug in the yard. To a dog, these are good things.
• Did you know…The word dog is God spelled backward.
I have said all these nice things about dogs to prepare you to say bad things about dogs.
But before I say these negative things about dogs, I wanted you to know I LOVE DOGS AND CATS…why shouldn’t I, THEY ARE PART OF GOD’S CREATION, And I believe the closer we get to God our love for His creation grows!
Illus: Every time I see these tv commercial wanting people to send money to help abused animals and I see dogs and cats that have been abused I cannot help but to wonder how any human could be so cruel.
Illus: There are heartless people who will place a dog or a cat that is helpless and dependent on them, put them in their car and drive down some deserted road and drive off leaving them there.
I believe God put these people are in the same category of an individual leaving a helpless baby on someone’s doorstep!
More than once I have picked up abused animals on the roadside and carried them to my home to provide them a home.
HOWEVER, GOD’S WORD AND LIFE ITSELF teaches us some negative things about dogs.
Such as a ….
• Mail man
• Insurance salesman
• Paper boy
• UPS Delivery person
• Milk man
knows when they pull up in front of a house and see a sign on the fence that says, “Beware of the bad dog”, that sign means exactly what it says…“BEWARE OF THE BAD DOG!”
But there are a lot two legged bad dogs we need to beware of also.
We can see that in the life of King David in the Old Testament when KING SAUL out of JEALOSY tried to destroy him.
Look at Psalm 59 is found in that passage of scripture in 1 Samuel 19:8-10 And there was war again: and David went out, and fought with the Philistines, and slew them with a great slaughter; and they fled from him. And the evil spirit from the LORD was upon Saul, as he sat in his house with his javelin in his hand: and David played with his hand. And Saul sought to smite David even to the wall with the javelin; but he slipped away out of Saul's presence, and he smote the javelin into the wall: and David fled and escaped that night.
Jealousy is a horrible thing and have literally destroyed the lives of many.
King Saul was a man that had become full of JEALOUSY!!!
He did everything he knew to do to destroy David because of jealousy.
Illus: There is a fable of an eagle which could out fly another, and the other didn't like it. The latter saw a sportsman one day, and said to him:
• "I wish you would bring down that eagle."
• The sportsman replied that he would if he only had some feathers to put into the arrows.
• So, the eagle pulled one out of his wing. The arrow was shot, but didn't quite reach the eagle; it was flying too high.
• The envious eagle pulled out more feathers, and kept pulling them out until he lost so many that he couldn't fly, and then the sportsman turned around and killed him. (Moody's Anecdotes, pp. 44-45.)
Saul’s jealousy of David was so severe it practically drove him insane!!!
Illus: Preacher, don’t you ever get jealous of someone and wish you were like them.
I sure do, every time I see the INCREDIBLE HULK on television when someone makes him mad, he turns into this large INCREDIBLE HULK, and he solves his problem!!! His enemies do not want to mess with him. Sometimes I wish I was the INCREDIBLE HULK.
Seriously, David had out done Saul by killing the almost ten-foot giant, Goliath, and was getting all the attention, and Saul could not stand it.
Illus: He reminds me of the first grader came home and proudly reported to her dad that she recently joined the girl scout troop, and was now officially a "Brownie."
Not to be outdone, her three-year-old brother, Christopher, rushed up to his dad also, and proudly announced that he was a cupcake! (Kayleen J. Reusser, Bluffton, Indiana. Christian Reader, "Kids of the Kingdom.)
We all like attention and King Saul could not handle the fact that the people admired David more than they admired him.
We all have or have had enemies in our life.
We get them from two places:
1) Many folks have enemies in their life because they have done someone wrong and now that person is their enemy.
2} But sometimes we have enemies not because we have done something to them but because that person is jealous of us.
This is the case in Psalm 59 when Saul became jealous of David.
Saul was waging an all-out effort to make sure that he stayed in the limelight.
Notice, David refers to his enemies as “dogs”.
Now he is not thinking of our pet dogs, he is talking about a vicious greedy dog.
• All of the attention had to be on him and him alone!
• All the conversation had to be about him and him alone!
• All the praise had to be about him and him alone!
• All the accomplishments had to be about him alone!
King Saul did not have to be that way, after all when he was chosen to be king was because he was a TALL HANDSOME MAN!
• The Bible does not tell us the exact height of Saul but based on the description of being “head and shoulders” above others, it can be inferred that he was likely to be 6 to 7 feet tall.
• Historical and theological scholars suggest that David was likely of average height for his time, possibly around 5 feet to 5 feet 6 inches tall, based on archeological findings from the era.
But Saul who was used to getting all the attention until little David who came along after killing an almost ten-foot giant with a sling and took all the attention off of HIM AND HE BECAME INSANELY JEALOUS!!!
Saul was referred to him as a GREEDY DOG.
Illus: You ever see a greedy dog eating WITH OTHER DOGS!!! There is plenty for everyone but the VICIOUS GREEDY DOG GROWLS scaring all the other dogs away!!!
David is not referring to the ungodly men as “pet dogs” we have in verse 6, he is referring to VISCIOUS GREEDY DOGS.
Illus: In Australia, wild dogs are a major problem.
• Every year they slaughter and eat thousands of sheep and young cattle.
• The problem is so bad that in Western Australia the government is considering building a 1500-kilometer fence to keep the dogs at bay.
• In addition to a bounty program (hunters are paid $20 per dog skin).
These kinds of dogs that David are referring to in Psalm 96.
Look at Isaiah 56:11 “Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough...”
This is not the only time David describes his enemies in less than flattering terms.
David had an extraordinary gift for describing his enemies, such as:
• In Psalms 57, David there described his enemies as lions, ravenous beasts who are looking to devour him.
• In Psalms 58 David further pictures his enemies as dangerous cobras, filled with deadly venom, who cannot be charmed no matter how skillful the charmer is.
David was saying that Saul had turned the dogs loose on him.
You will find these bad dogs are everywhere in our schools, work force, neighborhood and etc.
Let us learn how to handle these individuals from David's experience.
Notice:
I. DAVID’S PETITION
Look at verses 1-2, we read, “…O my God: defend me from them that rise up against me. Deliver me from the workers of iniquity and save me from bloody men.”
David had faced a lion, a bear, and even a giant almost ten feet tall, but it was these bad dogs that caused him to cry out to God.
When we face difficulties in this life, we generally have a number of places we can turn to for help.
Sometimes we turn to:
• Loved ones
• Friends
• The courts of the land
• The police
David had turned to everyone he knew that might help him, but he knew that he was up against something that only God Himself could help him with his enemies.
But notice some things as he turned to God.
A. WE SEE HIS ACKNOWLEDGMENT
He said in verse 1, “O MY God…”
The phrase “O My God” is used to emphasize the desperation he found himself.
But David had a God, he cried out too, “O MY GOD!”
Isn’t it good to have God in our life all the time, but especially as we face the difficulties of life when someone is out to hurt us?
The sinner does not have that in their life.
• They cannot turn to our heavenly father for help because he is not their heavenly father.
• They cannot turn to the devil for help because he is the one who is causing their problem.
No wonder they turn to DRUGS AND ALCOHOL in times of trouble.
They are in a mess but we Christians have A GOD WE CAN TURN TO IN TIMES OF TROUBLE.
In Psalm 59:1-2 in these two verses WE SEE HIS ACKNOWLEDGMENT, but also, we see something else.
B. WE SEE HIS AGENDA
David had a very specific list of things he wanted God to do.
Illus: President Ronald Reagan is known as a great president, because as he took control of the White House, he had a few things he wanted to do.
There were a lot of things he would like to have done, but he knew that he had to deal with reality, and so he chose those things he considered to be most important things that dealt with them.
Illus: It is like a housewife moving into a new house. She can see all kinds of things she would like to have in her house, but she does not have room for everything she would like to have. She only has so much space and she have to decide what is IMPORTANT and what is NOT IMPORTANT.
If she is not capable of making those decisions, she will end up with a junking looking house.
President Reagan is considered to be successful as a President, because he had specific things that he wanted to accomplish.
Every Christian should get alone, and jot down on a piece of paper what they consider to be the most important things in their life and specifically pray that God will accomplish those things in their life.
They could jot down a thousand things they would like to see take place in their life, but they need to deal with reality and specifically pray for those things that are within their reach.
We Christians need to learn to pray specific prayers.
Illus: When you walk into an ice cream parlor, you do not walk in and say, “I would like to have some ice cream.” They know that when you walked in the door you did come to get a wheelbarrow.
What they want to know is, WHAT KIND OF ICE CREAM DO YOU WANT?
Some say God knows before we ask, this is true?
Matthew 6:8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.
But if we are not specific, how can you give praise and thanksgiving to God if you are not specific.
Illus: Instead of using general language, like “please bless me” or “help me with my problems,” try to identify and articulate specific needs, desires, or intentions.
For example, if you’re praying for healing, don’t just ask for healing.
Instead, specify what you want to be healed of, whether it’s a:
• Physical ailment,
• Emotional pain,
• Addiction pain,
• A relationship pain.
God knows what your problem is, DO YOU KNOW?
When we’re intentional with our prayers, it means we’re clear and precise about what we’re asking for.
As with anything in our life, we can turn to the Bible for a beautiful example from Jesus, Himself, on how to pray specific, effective prayers.
He tells us what NOT TO DO…
Look Matthew 6:7-8, We read, but when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.
Christ then goes on to teach us how to pray.
He tells us WHAT TO DO…
Look at Matthew 6:9-13 we read, After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
See how specific Jesus is in this passage? Pray like this.
• Give us the food we need today.
• Forgive us of our sins.
• Don’t let us give into temptation.
We also know that when we ask anything in His name, it will be given to us.
We read in 1 John 5:14-15, And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hears us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.
When you’re specific in your prayers also it makes it easier to recognize a specific answer.
If you’re seeking guidance and direction, be specific with your needs
If all you’re asking for is a blessing, I want you to picture Jesus saying, “Well, what needs to be blessed?”
And when we pray, we should be as specific as we can be.
There are some things we do not pray for.
Illus: (Humor) If you are praying for a cat…you do not need to pray any longer. See me after church and I will see to it you will get one.
We need to pray specific prayers, like the sailor on the ship that saw a torpedo headed straight for where he was standing.
He prayed:
“O Lord, stop that torpedo that is headed straight for us, traveling 22 degrees southwest at twenty-knots an hour.”
When we pray, we need to be as specific as we can.
David cried out to his God to do THREE SPECIFIC THINGS.
• Defend me from them that rise up against me
• Deliver me from the workers of iniquity
• And save me from bloody men
We looked at DAVID’S PETITION, now let’s look at-
II. DAVID’S PERCEPTION
It is important that you know two things:
1} Who your friends are,
2} Who your enemies are.
David knew who his friends were, and he also knew who his enemies were.
You might be saying everyone know who their enemies are!!!
No, a lot of folks do not know who their enemies are.
For example…
• Some of you young people might be out socializing with what they think are their friends. And they are trying to get them to smoke weed or drink. THESE ARE NOT YOUR FRIENDS! Friends do not encourage you to do things that will hurt you and might lead to your death.
• You might be out on a date and the young man they are dating is trying to get them to defile their body with sex. HE IS NOT HER FRIEND! And when she ends up pregnant, he is not going to be there for her.
David knew his enemies.
Look at how he describes these enemies. He not only knew them, but he knew how they conducted their evil lives. He referred to them as “dogs” in verse 6!
Sometimes when you think of the ungodly, you have to think of them as wild animals.
For example…
• There are sinful men and women today that remind you of the filthy hog that wallows in the mud. The filthier sin is, the better they like and enjoy it.
• There are sinful men and women today that remind you of a Tom Cat that is on the prowl, going from one cat to the next.
• There are sinful men and women today that remind you of the slimy snake, that is always hiding in the grass until it gets a chance to bite the innocent person who walks by.
He knew a great deal about these enemies of his.
Look at Psalm 59: 3-5, we read, “For, lo, they lie in wait for my soul: the mighty are gathered against me; not for my transgression, nor for my sin, O LORD. They run and prepare themselves without my fault: awake to help me, and behold. Thou therefore, O LORD God of hosts, the God of Israel, awake to visit all the heathen: be not merciful to any wicked transgressors. Selah.”
We looked at…
I.DAVID’S PETITION
II. DAVID’S PERCEPTION
Let us also look at-
III. DAVID’S PERIL
We need to look at two things about his enemies:
A. DAVID’S DESCRIPTION OF THE LOST
Look at Psalm 59: 6-7. We read, “They return at evening: they make a noise like a dog and go round about the city. Behold, they belch out with their mouth: swords are in their lips: for who, say they, doth hear.”
David describes these people as a pack of wild dogs.
In this Psalm 59 that we are studying, David exercised his faith in God by calling out to Him.
Note again v.1-2 wherein he says “Deliver me from my enemies, O God; protect me from those who rise up against me. Deliver me from evildoers and save me from bloodthirsty men.”
After reaching out to God and casting ourselves upon His mercy what ought we to do?
WAIT UPON HIM. “Blessed are all who wait upon Him” Isaiah 30:18.
Illus: Suppose your child come to you for help and you agree to help. But they want their problem to fix in the next few minutes.
You look them in the eyes, and you say, I told you I would help you, but you have to be patient and WAIT for me to help you!!!
When you hear the howl of those who are like snarling dogs, bear in mind, like any bad dog, they will be “put down.”
HERE IS THE PROBLEM WITH MANY CHRISTIANS.
Illus: To many of us want a PUSH BUTTON GOD that every time when we need God’s help, we can push a BUTTON.
It does not work that way; we call upon God for help and if it within His will:
• We call upon God.
• We wait upon God.
It does not work this way some of the time, it works this way all the time.
No matter how big of a hurry you get, you cannot force God to work on your time clock!
Look at verses 14-16 wherein David says “They return at evening snarling like dogs and prowl about the city. They wander about for food and howl if not satisfied. But I will sing of our strength in the morning. I will sing of your love, for you are my fortress, my refuge in time times of trouble.”
Illus: He says they make a noise “Like a dog.” One of the most aggravating things that can happen when you are resting at night, is to have an old howling dog in the neighborhood. All night long these dogs howl, and when you can’t take any more, you raise the window up, and wake the whole neighborhood up when you scream, “Shut up, before I give you something to howl about!”
David said, “…They make a noise like a dog, and go round about the city.”
Saul had deliberately unleashed these hounds, to do as much damage as they could to David.
• When I think of some folks who have lived a dedicated life to the Lord on this earth, I wish I could be in their shoes on the judgment day.
For example, I would love to be in the shoes of Dr. Billy Graham when I stand before the Lord on the Judgment Day.
• When I think of the ungodly that have done so much harm with their wicked lives, I would not want to be in their shoes for all the money on the earth.
I am serious. When God gets through with them for the harm and damage they have done, all the money on earth will not be worth the punishment they are going to receive.
We looked at DAVID’S DESCRIPTION OF THE LOST, but also, we see…
B. DAVID’S DESCRIPTION OF THE LORD
Look at verses 8-9, we read, “But thou, O LORD, shalt laugh at them; thou shalt have all the heathen in derision. Because of his strength will I wait upon thee: for God is my defense.”
David speaks about that coming day when he says, “But thou, O LORD, shalt laugh at them….”
The ungodly will have made such fools of themselves in this life, that in that day, God will laugh at them.
Illus: Suppose you walked by a little ant, and he draws his fist up at you and tells you what he is going to do to you and says that you cannot stop him. We would laugh at this little crazy ant that has lost his mind.
God has a sense of Humor!!!And when little feeble man threatens God, and tells Him what he is going to do, God will one day laugh at him.
This is, GOD’S PLAN, but let us look at-
(2) GOD’S POWER
David knew where he was going to put his trust, and why he was going to do it. Look at verse 9, we read, “Because of his strength will I wait upon thee: for God is my defense.”
We looked at David’s:
I.HIS PETITION,
II.HIS PERCEPTION,
III.HIS PERIL.
Now, let us look at-
IV. DAVID'S PLAN
David told us a great deal about our enemies, but he also wants to tell us some things about this wonderful God we serve.
First, let’s look at-
A. DAVID'S PROTECTION
Look at verses 10-15, we read, “The God of my mercy shall prevent me: God shall let me see my desire upon my enemies. Slay them not, lest my people forget: scatter them by thy power; and bring them down, O Lord our shield. For the sin of their mouth and the words of their lips let them even be taken in their pride: and for cursing and lying which they speak. Consume them in wrath, consume them, that they may not be and let them know that God ruleth in Jacob unto the ends of the earth. Selah. And at evening let them return; and let them make a noise like a dog and go round about the city. Let them wander up and down for meat, and grudge if they be not satisfied.”
Listen, people can do us harm and think they are going to get away with it. But I am here to tell you, God knows what they have done.
Commit them to God, and before your very eyes you will see God taking care of them.
B. DAVID'S PRAISE
When we face severe difficulties in our life, we can sit down and have a “Pity Party”. But we can also sit down and have a “Praise Party”.
This is what David chose to do. Look at verses 16-17, we read, “But I will sing of thy power; yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning: for thou hast been my defence and refuge in the day of my trouble. Unto thee, O my strength, will I sing for God is my defence, and the God of my mercy.”
Even though David is probably in a cave somewhere, He could say, in verse 17, “Unto thee, O my strength, will I sing: for God is my defence, and the God of my mercy.”
Conclusion:
David was in Great Danger, but David (just as we do) had a great deliverer. God was his protection, and therefore we are able, as David, to Praise the Lord even in our darkest trials. GOD IS GOOD - ALL THE TIME!
I. DAVID’S PETITION
II. DAVID’S PERCEPTION
III. DAVID’S PERIL
IV. DAVID’S PLAN
