Heart of a Psalmist - Worshipping Christ Through The Psalms

III INSTRUCTION - 9-12 David Looks to His Students

Now David switches from inspiration to instruction and points out two things in which not to put con- fidence: people and wealth. He then reminds us of two attributes of God that will never betray our con- fidence: his power and love! • People- “From the greatest to the lowliest–all are nothing in his sight. If you weigh them on the scales, they are lighter than a puff of air.” (9) Our confidence in God is destroyed when we allow peo- ple to have excessive influence in our lives. David puts this all in perspective with the picture of a weigh- ing scale: even the most significant person will not cause the scale to tip when God is on the opposite side! • Wealth- “Don’t try to get rich by extortion or robbery. And if your wealth increases, don’t make it the center of your life.” (10) It is so easy to trust in wealth and fall in love with the power it holds. Jesus warns: “Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.” (Lk. 12:21) Now he encourages us to rely on two unchanging attributes of God; • Power- “God has spoken plainly, and I have heard it many times; power, O God, belongs to you;” (11) All of creation speaks of his sustaining power, the kingly crowns of the earth show us his sov- ereign power and Christ displayed the supernatural power of his grace. • Love- “…unfailing love, O Lord, is yours.” (12) The perfect contrast to God’s power is the ten- der love he has displayed to us through his son Jesus. As Boice says: ‘If God had power but lacked mercy, he would be able to save mankind but would have no inclination to do so. If God was merciful but lacked power, he might desire to save us, but he would not be able to do it 1 .’

“Surely you judge all people according to what they have done.” (12)

Because God holds the two attributes of power and love in perfect balance he is able to judge every- one with flawless justice. Those who oppose God will experience his power while those accept him and wait silently for him will experience his love!

1 Boice, page 514

PSALM 63: O GOD, YOU ARE MY GOD Loving Him More Than Life

Never has an expression of love for God excelled this humble psalm written while David fled from his son Absalom in the Judean wilderness. John Chrysostom, the Bishop of Constantinople said of the early church: ‘ …it was decreed and ordained by the primitive Fathers, that no day should pass with out the public singing of this psalm 1 .’ The first half is meant as an early morning hymn while the second half was written for evening meditation. The language exhausts all ability to convey how much love the human heart can have for God. Two distinct time periods and 4 sections divide it.

I EARLY MORNING- 1-5

David’s First Thoughts of the Day David’s Final Thoughts at Night

II EVENING MEDITATION- 6-8

III EVIL MEN- 9,10

David’s Spiritual Fight David’s Faith Rejoices

IV ENDING MUSIC- 11

INTRODUCTION:

“A psalm of David, regarding a time when David was in the wilderness of Judah.”

This introduction coupled with the last verse of the psalm where David refers to himself as the king, places it’s setting during the time of Absalom’s rebellion. It is the last of a trilogy (61, 62, 63) written dur- ing this escape. “There was deep sadness throughout the land as the king and his followers passed by. They crossed the Kidron Valley and then went out toward the wilderness.” (2 Sam. 15:23) David spoke

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