Heart of a Psalmist - Worshipping Christ Through The Psalms

INTRODUCTION:

“A Psalm of David”

It is impossible to determine exactly which treacherous event this psalm is recounting and it might do well for the imagination to apply it to all of David’s troubles as we near the end of the Book of Psalms.

I

LISTEN WHEN I CRY - 1, 2

Desperate Prayer

“O Lord, I am calling to you. Please hurry! Listen when I cry to you for help! Accept my prayer as incense offered to you, and my upraised hands as an evening offering.” (1, 2)

Prayer does not have to be refined and presented in a beautiful way for God to understand and re- ceive it. He hears and interprets the hasty cries of our soul as much as the more calculated requests. The Holy Spirit even translates our anguished groans into requests before the throne: “But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.” (Rom. 8:26) ‘The only time that God is represented as being in a hurry is when He goes to meet the returning prodigal’ 3 and here when he responds to prayers that need immediate answers or death will ensue. This is one of the ‘hinge’ songs that open the door to transport us from Old Testament type into the New Testament reality. David in his flight from the enemy does not have time to participate in the ‘burn- ing of incense’ at the sacred altar as required by the law of Moses: “Every morning when Aaron trims the lamps, he must burn fragrant incense on the altar. And each evening when he tends to the lamps, he must again burn incense in the Lord’s presence. This must be done from generation to generation.” (Ex. 39:7, 8) He discovers that the true meaning of incense is our heartfelt prayers of communion. Today our prayers are mingled with the sweet incense of Jesus’ name and offered in times of worship before God: “…the four living beings and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp, and they held gold bowls filled with incense-the prayers of God’s people!” (Rev. 5:8) David also is not able to offer the evening sacrifice as required in the law: “Offer the other lamb in the evening, along with the same offerings of flour and wine as in the morning. It will be a fragrant of- fering to the Lord, an offering made by fire.” (Ex. 29:41) The simple act of lifting his hands in praise and worship to Jesus, the Lamb of God now replaces the offering of the animals in the morning and evening. “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. They were clothed in white and held palm branches in their hands. And the they were shouting with mighty shout, ‘Salvation comes form our God on the throne and from the Lamb!’” (Rev. 7:9, 10) David had previewed the wonderful truths that were later taught to us in the Book of Hebrews; Jesus brought a ‘better reality’ than the Old Testament shadows. Worship from the heart surpasses all sym- bolic acts of adoration: “But our High Priest has been given a ministry that is far superior to the ministry of those who serve under the old laws, for he is the one who guarantees for us a better covenant with God, based on better promises.” (Heb. 8:6)

II

KEEP MY LIPS SEALED - 3, 4

Don’t Let me Share

“Take control of what I say, O Lord, and keep my lips sealed. [Keep watch over the door of my lips]” (3)

‘The watch does not stand with his back to the mouth, to challenge what would go in, but with his face, to challenge what would come out.’ 4 In times of spiritual conflict it is vitally important to not speak foolishly or contradict what the Lord has said. It is essential that our enemies do not have fuel for their cause by our rash or angry words. Silence starves the negative attitudes of the soul and the careless words that cause despair. • “Don’t let me lust for evil things:” (4) David asks that the Holy Spirit control all of his inward de- sires as he waits in silence. • “…don’t let me participate in acts of wickedness.” (4) His quiet resolve and trust in the power of the Spirit set him apart from the wicked acts of his enemies.

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