Heart of a Psalmist - Worshipping Christ Through The Psalms

the word of the Lord through Isaiah, who said, ’He took our sicknesses and removed our dis- eases.’”(Mt.8:16,17)

5. “I am sick at heart. How long, O Lord, until you restore me?” (3)

This petition comes in the form of a question, ‘when will you get me out of this situation?’ “…there is an appointed time which God hath reassured for the crosses of all his children, before which time they shall not be delivered, and for which they must patiently attend, not thinking to prescribe time to God for their delivery, or limit the Holy One of Israel 2 .” Though it takes time, God will deliver us at the right mo- ment with the results he has desired.

6. “ Return, O Lord, and rescue me.”

7. “Save me because of your unfailing love.” (4)

The salvation that David desired was not based upon his own merits. He did not ‘deserve it’ by his actions or attitudes but by the unfailing love of God. Whether it’s eternal or temporal salvation we must come before God on the basis of what Jesus has done, not on what we think we deserve. This provides the only sure foundation for our rescue.

“ For in death, who remembers you? Who can praise you from the grave?”(5)

This tells us that David’s situation was lethal, he reminded God that his praise would cease upon his death. In Old Testament times the place of the righteous dead was Sheol ( the grave ). At the ascen- sion of Jesus, he led the captives of Sheol to heaven with him and now those who die as believers are ushered immediately into his presence where there is worship and fullness of joy! “ Yes, we are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord.”(2 Cor. 5:8)

II SOBBING - Crying Before God 6-7

David was the greatest of all Israel’s warrior kings, a man of immense courage and strength and yet he is the foremost ‘weeper’ in scripture.

“ I am worn out from sobbing. Every night tears drench my bed; my pillow is wet from weeping. My vision is blurred by grief; my eyes are worn out because of all my enemies.”(6,7)

We do not know the circumstances that caused this weeping upon his bed but the scriptures do let us know of 7 instances in David’s life that caused his tears of anguish to flow. Each time he wept, it made David stronger in his resolve to serve God and fulfill his destiny. • When David parted from Jonathan- 1 Sam. 20:41 “ Then David bowed to Jonathan with his face to the ground. Both of them were in tears as they embraced each other and said good-bye, especially David. ” • When David learned that the Amalekites had raided Ziklag and taken all the families of himself and his soldiers- 1 Sam. 30:4 “ …they wept until they could weep no more.” He went on to defeat them and recover all that was stolen! • David wept at the death of Jonathan and Saul- 2 Sam. 1:12, 26 “ They mourned and wept and fasted all day for Saul and his son Jonathan, and for the Lord’s army…How I weep for you, my brother Jonathan! ” David went on to be the great king that Jonathan might have become had he lived. • David wept and fasted for his dying infant baby- 2 Sam. 12:22 “ …I fasted and wept while the child was alive… ” David went on with his life even after the death of the baby and fathered Solomon, the beloved of the Lord. • David wept for his murdered son Amnon- 2 Sam. 13:36 “ …the king and his officials wept bitterly with them. ” • David wept as he escaped Jerusalem during his son Absalom’s rebellion- 2 Sam. 15:30 “ David walked up the road that led to the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went. ” Centuries later the Son of David would weep from this same road when Jerusalem rejected him as Messiah.

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