Heart of a Psalmist - Worshipping Christ Through The Psalms

I BEND DOWN AND HEAR - 1-7 II BOW DOWN BEFORE YOU - 8-10 III LOOK DOWN AND HAVE MERCY - 11-17

INTRODUCTION:

“A prayer of David”

This is one of five psalms entitled with the Hebrew word ‘tephillah’ suggesting a prayer that is sung to God. Spurgeon says: ‘all the more a prayer because veins of praise run throughout 1 .’

I BEND DOWN AND HEAR - 1-7

This impassioned cry begins with 5 petitions that are followed by reasons why God should answer David’s prayers. There is boldness in this dialogue that is fueled by a confidence in God’s love. 1. Prayer for an Audience with the Lord- “Bend down, O Lord, and hear my prayer; answer me, for I need your help.” (1) David recognizes that he is essentially helpless without the Lord’s aid. Prayer is not an exercise in human strength, the weaker we are in our own abilities the stronger he becomes on our behalf as we pray. 2. Prayer for Protection- “Protect me, for I am devoted to you.” (2) Someone who is ‘devoted’ is set apart for a singular purpose. God protects those who are dedicated to him. 3. Prayer for Salvation- “Save me, for I serve and trust you.”(2) A person who serves and trusts God with all their heart will attract his saving mercies. 4. Prayer for mercy- “You are my God. Be merciful, O Lord, for I am calling on you constantly.” (2, 3) We have a continuous need for the mercy of God so our dialogue with him is never ending. 5. Prayer for happiness- “Give me happiness, O Lord, for my life depends on you.” (4) We can be happy in every situation of life if we truly depend on him. We can expect the results of prayer (answer me, protect me, save me, be merciful, give me happiness) when we meet the requirements of prayer: (need, devoted, serve, trust, calling, depend…). “O Lord, you are so good, so ready to forgive, so full of unfailing love for all who ask your aid. Lis- ten closely to my prayer, O Lord; hear my urgent cry. I will call to you whenever trouble strikes, and you will answer me.” (5-7) The phrase ‘ready to forgive’ is used only here in the Bible. It is the most intimate revelation of the willingness of God to quickly remove the effects of sin from the repentant heart and answer prayer. Things happen very quickly in the spiritual realm, when trouble strikes God is instantly on the scene through our prayers. David’s three appeals to God “Listen…hear…I will call” are founded upon his understanding of God’s character. He has experienced the “unfailing love” of God realizing that it is vast, unending and responsive to every human need. He sees God in a non-partisan way; the Lord is willing to answer “all who ask his aid.” In this passage grace is extended beyond the limitations of the Jewish race to every- one. “Nowhere among the pagan gods is there a god like you, O Lord. There are no other miracles like yours. All the nations–and you made each one–will come and bow before you, Lord; they will praise your great and holy name. For you are great and perform great miracles. You alone are God.” (8-10) The pagan gods are vastly inferior and no gods at all when compared with the Lord, (Adonai) as his miracles are real and lasting. The clear, prophetic verse declaring that someday people from every nation will worship and praise the Lord is the most remarkable aspect of this psalm. David sees past his generation to the end of time when the entire earth is worshiping in the manner revealed to him. “And after this I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb.” (Rev. 7:9) II BOW DOWN BEFORE YOU - 8-10

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