The Lord My Shield

BIG IDEA:

GOD PROTECTS AND DELIVERS HIS PEOPLE FROM THEIR ENEMIES

("A Psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son.")

I. (:1-2) THE ENEMIES ARE CIRCLING IN FOR THE KILL

A. (:1) The Odds are Getting Worse

"O Lord, how my adversaries have increased!

Many are rising up against me."

Number of enemies increasing

Snowballing effect -- others getting braver to attack God’s Anointed

B. (:2) Situation Looks Hopeless

"Many are saying of my soul, ’There is no deliverance for him in God.’"

II. (:3-6) GOD IS A CIRCLE OF PROTECTION AROUND ME

A. (:3) The Description of this Protection

1. My Shield

2. My Glory

3. The One who lifts up my head

B. (:4) The Desperate Cry for this Protection

"I was crying to the Lord with my voice,

And He answered me from His holy mountain."

in accordance with the holiness and righteousness of God

C. (:5-6) No Fear!

1. Able to Sleep - Inward Peace

"I lay down and slept"

2. Able to Awake - Protection of the Lord

"I awoke, for the Lord sustains me"

3. Mindset of Courage and Confidence in the Lord

"I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people

Who have set themselves against me round about."

III. (:7-8) DELIVERANCE IS GOD’S SPECIALTY

A. (:7A) He responds to the cries of His people

"Arise, O Lord; save me, O my God!".B. (:7B) He hits the enemy where it hurts

1. Wounds Their Pride

"For Thou hast smitten all my enemies on the cheek"

2. Destroys Their Capability for Inflicting Savage Wounds

"Thou hast shattered the teeth of the wicked."

C. (:8) He Specializes in Deliverance and Blessing

"Salvation belongs to the Lord;

Thy blessing be upon Thy people!"

* * * * * * * * * *

DEVOTIONAL QUESTIONS:

1) How powerful are my enemies compared to the desperate situation that faced

David? Think of the agony of being opposed and hunted down by your own son.

Think of the mocking taunts that label you as being beyond God’s help.

2) Are we able to turn our fears over to the Lord and rest in the Peace He can provide

or are paralyzed by anxiety and inner turmoil? How soundly do we sleep at night when

we are facing pressure situations? Are we taking refuge behind the shield of the Lord?

3) How upset and unsettled and distraught is our Lord over the dangers that face us? Is

He alarmed by a force of ten thousand marshalled against us? Why not?

4) Do we think that Deliverance ultimately depends on us or on the Lord? Do we take

too much responsibility on ourselves and neglect the sovereign grace of God? What do

we think the psalmist means by "Salvation belongs to the Lord?"

Download the entire Psalms Commentary in pdf format

(including notes on each psalm from other commentators)

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