Heart of a Psalmist - Worshipping Christ Through The Psalms

• David wept over the death of his rebellious son Absalom- 2 Sam. 18:33 “ The king was overcome with emotion. He went up to his room over the gateway and burst into tears…O my son Absalom! ” He knew that his personal sin had created the chaotic conditions in his family that led to these moments and yet he found forgiveness and reconciliation with God. Jesus, the son of David, wept at the grave of his friend Lazarus, he wept over the city of Jerusalem as they rejected him and he wept in the garden of Gethsemane prior to his crucifixion. His crying and tears strengthened his resolve to accomplish the will of God. “ While Jesus was here on earth, he offered prayers and pleadings, with a loud cry and tears, to the one who could deliver him out of death.”(Heb. 5:7)

III TURN BACK IN SHAME - Confirming Our Faith - 8-10

After passionate petitions and deep sorrow, David rises up to affirm a new found confidence in his God and King. Faith is expressed by our confession and here David, our great worship-example leads the way by three powerful statements that send his enemies fleeing. “ Go away, all you who do evil …“

1. …for the Lord has heard my crying. (8) 2. The Lord has heard my plea; (9) 3. …the Lord will answer my prayer.” (9)

We must be sure to end our times of sorrow with declarations of faith such as these. I’m sure David would not mind if we quote him word for word. As David is boldly ending his song of prayer with these marvelous words of strength he concludes: “ May all my enemies be disgraced and terrified. May they suddenly turn back in shame.”(10) The use of the word ‘May…’ is a way of praying for the future judgment of their enemy. In the New Covenant we are to pray for God’s blessing upon those who want to destroy us. Even in times of war, we are to avoid personal hatred of those we seek to defeat.

1 Keil & Delitzsch 2 Spurgeon

PSALM 7: PERFECTLY FAIR A Celebration of God’s Justice!

There can be no joy in life without equity and fairness in regards to justice. This psalm finds David before the throne of judgment receiving vindication and innocence from the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Universe. The last verse of this psalm reflects the end of a court case where the defendant is declared ‘innocent’ and there is an outburst of celebration and happiness at the verdict!

COME TO YOU - The Case- 1-5

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II I AM INNOCENT - The Conclusion- 6-11 III IF A PERSON DOES NOT REPENT - The Convicted- 12-16 IV I WILL SING PRAISE - The Celebration- 17

INTRODUCTION:

“ A psalm of David, which he sang to the lord concerning Cush of the tribe of Benjamin. ”

The circumstances surrounding the setting of this psalm are not certain although there are paral- lel situations in David’s life. It seems that ‘Cush, the Benjamite’ was most likely one of the nameless ac- cusers of David who had access to the court of King Saul. He was from the same tribe as Saul and brought charges against David that were worthy of death. 1 Samuel 23-27 is the most likely background for the occasion of this psalm. • Informing Saul that David was in Keilah- “ Saul soon learned that David was at Keilah. ‘Good!’ he exclaimed. ‘ We’ve got him now!’ (1 Sam. 23:7)

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