Heart of a Psalmist - Worshipping Christ Through The Psalms

Continued Physical Pain- “ I am on the verge of collapse, facing constant pain.”(17) David is spent while his enemies are vigorous. This is the most vulnerable moment for the believer and the times we most need God’s strength. Confession- “ But I confess my sins; I am deeply sorry for what I have done.”(18) This is the event God waits for, the full and open disclosure of our sins. It is the moment of trans- formation from darkness to light, from guilt to freedom. “ People who cover over their sins will not pros- per. But if they confess and forsake them, they will receive mercy.” (Pro. 28:13) Godly sorrow is the ongoing motivation to be clean from our sins and make things correct with God and people we have wronged. “ It was the kind of sorrow God wants his people to have”… God can use sorrow in our lives to help us turn away from sin and seek salvation.” (2 Cor. 7:9, 10) Last Blows from the Enemy- (19-20) • “ My enemies are many; they hate me though I have done nothing against them. They repay me evil for good and oppose me because I stand for the right.” (19, 20) Three-fold Prayer of a Broken Person- (21, 22) 1. “ Do not abandon me, Lord.” (Yahweh) Jesus has promised to be with us even in our failures say- ing: “I will never leave you. I will never forsake you.” (Heb. 13:5) 2. “ Do not stand at a distance, my God.” (Elohim) The father in the story of the prodigal son is a representation of our Father God; he rejoices to see his boy return in repentance and confession: “ …his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.”(Luke 15:20) 3. “ Come quickly to help me, O Lord (Adonai) my savior. ” The Spirit of God has been given to us to help us, to encourage us in the dark moments of our lives. “ But when the Father sends the Counselor (Comforter, Encourager, Advocate)…he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I myself have told you.”(Jn. 14:26) David now stands on the side of ‘rightness’ after his sorrowful confession and cleansing; he is back under the protecting hand of the Lord.

God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit work in us to bring about confession, cleans- ing and spiritual life.

1 Keil & Delitzsch 2 Spurgeon

PSALM 39: I AM SILENT BEFORE YOU Refocusing on Eternity

In this psalm David is experiencing God’s discipline that adjusts his spiritual attitudes. The cir- cumstance causes him to consider the shortness of his earthly life and the importance of hoping only in the Lord. It is divided into three sections by two interludes (selahs):

I. THE BRIEFNESS OF LIFE - 1-5 (Interlude) II. THE BREAKING OF HIS REBELLION - 6-11 (Interlude) III. THE BREAKTHROUGH OF PRAYER -12, 13

There were two major occasions when God punished David for his sins. 1. After he had committed adultery with Bathsheba and murdered her husband Uriah. Nathan gave him this prophecy: “ From this time on, the sword will be a constant threat to your family, because you have despised me by taking Uriah’s wife to be your own.” (2 Sam. 12:10)

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