Heart of a Psalmist - Worshipping Christ Through The Psalms

• “My enemies shout at me, making loud and wicked threats.” (2 Sam. 16:7) (3) Perhaps this refers to Shimei’s cursing of David as he left Jerusalem: “’Get out of here, you murderer, you scoundrel!’ he shouted at David.”(….) • “They bring trouble on me, hunting me down in their anger.”(3) Absalom marshaled the entire Israelite army to attack his father. • “My heart is in anguish.” (4) • “The terror of death overpowers me. (4) • “Fear and trembling overwhelm me.” (5) • “I can’t stop shaking.” (5) These are typical battlefield emotions experienced in the face of death.

The Wings of a Dove- (6,7)

“Oh, how I wish I had wings like a dove; then I would fly away and rest! I would fly far away to the quiet of the wilderness. Interlude” (Selah) (6,7)

Perhaps this was written as David perceived the formation of the rebellion and contemplated the escape he was eventually forced to make. As believers in Christ we are not merely given the ‘wings of the dove’ to fly away and rest but we are given the fullness of God’s heavenly dove, the Holy Spirit to give us internal rest. “Then John said, ‘I saw the Holy Spirit descending like a dove from heaven and rest- ing upon him.”(Jn. 1:32) As we pray under the direction of the Holy Spirit we enter the comfort and rest of faith knowing God is sufficient to meet every situation we face! “I will pray in the Spirit, and I will pray in words I understand. I will sing in the Spirit, and I will sing in words I understand.”(1 Cor. 14:15) “And continue to pray as you are directed by the Holy Spirit.” (Jude 20) Our relationship with the Holy Spirit is our rest and our comfort in times of distress. For four years Absalom built a conspiracy against his father in the capitol city of Jerusalem. “Then Absalom would say, ‘ …It’s too bad the king doesn’t have anyone to hear it. I wish I were the judge. Then people could bring their problems to me, and I would give them justice! …So in this way, Absalom stole the hearts of all the people of Israel. (2 Sam. 15:3, 4, 6) Conditions in the city deteriorated spiritually and socially: • There was hatred- “How quickly I would escape- far away from this wild storm of hatred.” (8) Re- bellion is like a wild storm, destroying everything in its path. • There was violence and strife- “Destroy them, Lord, and confuse their speech, for I see vio- lence and strife in the city.”(9) As David fled Jerusalem he literally prayed this prayer of confusion over his former friend and counselor, Ahithophel. “O Lord, let Ahithophel give Absalom foolish advice!” (2 Sam. 15:31) • There was wickedness, the root of rebellion- “Its walls are patrolled day and night against in- vaders, but the real danger is wickedness within the city.”(10) • There was crime everywhere, the offspring of rebellion- “Murder and robbery are everywhere there; threats and cheating are rampant in the streets. “ (11) II ABSALOM’S REBELLION - 8-11 “It is not an enemy who taunts me-I could bear that. It is not my foes who so arrogantly insult me- I could have hidden from them. Instead, it is you-my equal, my companion and close friend. What good fellowship we enjoyed as we walked together to the house of God.” (12-14) Ahithophel was the most trusted counselor of King David and is most likely the person he was speaking of in these verses. He quickly switched his allegiance to Absalom and abandoned the covenant of friendship he had previously enjoyed with David. David considered him an equal, one who was con- stantly with him and a trusted inner-circle friend as well as a devoted, fellow-worshiper of the Lord. Ahithophel’s betrayal violated every circle of human intimacy. “Absalom followed Ahithophel’s advice, just as David had done. For every word Ahithophel spoke seemed as wise as though it had come directly from the mouth of God.” (2 Sam. 16:23) III AHITHOPHEL’S BETRAYAL - 12-15

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