Heart of a Psalmist - Worshipping Christ Through The Psalms

The determination of the Son of God to be dedicated to his Father as he began his earthly ministry is foreshadowed in these power filled words. All who aspire to leadership in his kingdom will come under the scrutiny and weight of the thoughts presented here: “It is a true saying that if someone wants to be an elder, he desires and honorable responsibility. For an elder must be a man whose life cannot be spo- ken against.” (1 Tim. 3:1,2) Those who lead Gods people in worship also carry the responsibility to lead a blameless life. It is outlined as:

I LIFE OF INTEGRITY - 1-5 Personal Life a. Resolutions for a godly life- 1,2 b. Rejection of Perversity- 3-5 II LIARS NOT ALLOWED - 6-8 Public Life a. Receiving the godly- 6 b. Rejecting the deceivers- 7,8

INTRODUCTION:

“A Psalm of David”

The language and subject of the psalm seem to indicate this was written early in David’s reign. Delitzsch points out that the phrase in verse 2, ‘when will you come to my aid? (when will you come to me? NIV) corresponds to the time when David desired to bring the Ark back to Jerusalem using similar words: “How can the ark of the Lord ever come to me?” (2 Sam. 6:9 NIV).

I LIFE OF INTEGRITY - 1-5 Resolutions of His Personal Life

• Resolution #1- “I will sing of your love and justice.” (1) It is highly interesting that the first two resolutions of the godly king have to do with singing. The decision to be a wholehearted worshiper gives strength to all the following ones. Boice points out that ‘mercy and justice operate as checks on one an- other. Justice checks love that otherwise might be wrongly indulgent and therefore harmful. Love checks judgment that otherwise might be unduly harsh 1 …’ Jesus held these two qualities in perfect harmony; “God’s unfailing love and faithfulness (truth) came through Jesus Christ.” (Jn. 1:17) • Resolution #2- “I will praise you, Lord, with songs.” (1) A life filled with God is also filled with music that celebrates the king and his love. No matter what comes at the resolute believer it is met with a song of overcoming praise. After Paul and Silas were beaten, put into the inner prison and their feet were clamped in irons, they enacted this resolution and began to praise God: “Around midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God and the other prisoners were listening.” (Acts 16:25) • Resolution #3- “I will be careful to live a blameless life–when will you come to my aid? (…come to me? NIV) (2) The key thought in this resolution is to live carefully and thoughtfully before God and man in order to be an example to others. Peter encouraged the leaders of the church to live an exemplary life: “Don’t lord it over the people assigned to your care, but lead them by your good example.” (1 Pet. 5:3) David’s first attempt to return the Ark to Jerusalem ended with the death of Uzzah, one the Levites who was an attendant of the tabernacle. “But when they arrived at the threshing floor of Nacon, the oxen stumbled, and Uzzah put out his hand to steady the Ark of God. Then the Lord’s anger blazed out against Uzzah for doing this, and God struck him dead beside the Ark of God.” (2 Sam. 6:6, 7) Perhaps this early failure to follow God’s prescribed way to transport the Ark created an attitude of carefulness and resolve in young king David that carried through most of his life. Failure can cause us to seek the Lord more conscientiously and resolutely. • Resolution #4- “I will lead a life of integrity in my own home.” (2) Godliness in a nation begins with godliness in the home. The leaders of the church must exhibit a high quality of domestic life: “He must manage his own family well, with children who respect and obey him. For if a man cannot man- age his own household, how can he take care of God’s church?” (1 Tim. 3:4) • Resolution #5- “I will refuse to look at anything vile and vulgar.” (3) God empowers us when we make a decision to discipline our gaze. Spurgeon notes: ‘what fascinates the eye is very apt to gain ad- mission to the heart.’ The eye is a gate into our soul and it must be constantly focused upon the Lord:

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