Heart of a Psalmist - Worshipping Christ Through The Psalms

• “Don’t let me share in the delicacies of those who do evil.” (4) ‘Delicacies means ‘to amuse, en- tertain one’s self with a thing’ 5 and represents a leisure lifestyle that negatively affects good judgment. Solomon learned this valuable lesson from his father David and recorded it in the Book of Proverbs: “When dining with a ruler, pay attention to what is put before you. If you are a big eater, put a knife to your throat, and don’t desire all the delicacies–deception may be involved.” (Pro. 23:1-3) The appetites of the soul and body are closely connected and must be under the discipline of the Holy Spirit.

III

LET THE GODLY STRIKE ME - 5

Don’t Let Me Refuse It

“Let the godly strike me! It will be a kindness! If they reprove me, it is soothing medicine. Don’t let me refuse it. But I am in constant prayer against the wicked and their deeds.” (5)

‘Oil breaks no heads, and rebuke does no man any harm; rather, as oil refreshes and perfumes, so does reproof when fitly taken sweeten and renew the heart.’ 6 David was able to take corrective advice from Abigail as he was about to destroy Nabal, her foolish husband and all that he owned: “When the Lord has done all he promised and has made you leader of Israel, don’t let this be a blemish on your record. Then you won’t have to carry on your conscience the staggering burden of needless bloodshed and vengeance.” (1 Sam 25:30, 31) He listened to her ‘reproof’ and later married her when Nabal sud- denly died! “David replied to Abigail, ‘Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, who has sent you to meet me today! Thank God for your good sense! Bless you for keeping me from murdering the man and carry- ing out vengeance with my own hands.” (1 Sam 25:32, 33) Her advice was like refreshing oil upon his head. David is open to reproof yet he is set against those who are wicked and doing evil things. He will not compromise with them for a moment and lives in a continual state of prayer against their dark ac- tions. Prayerlessness will allow the ungodly to flourish and so this little psalm sets in motion a spiritual anti-biotic that attacks the invading evil. “When their leaders are thrown down from a cliff, they will listen to my words and find them pleas- ing. Even as a farmer breaks up the soil and brings up rocks, so the bones of the wicked will be scat- tered without a decent burial.” (6, 7) This is one of the problem passages of scripture that is very difficult to translate. The meaning of these particular Hebrew words have changed drastically from the time this was written making it diffi- cult to understand what was meant. David most likely is referring in this passage to the future when God would establish him as the rightful King of all Israel and Judah. Those who had opposed him would be removed and he would lead by his kind words and wisdom for the nation. Throwing people from a cliff was a form of execution in Old Testament times. When King Amaziah of Judah defeated the treacherous Edomites he treated them in this manner: “They captured another ten thousand and took them to the top of a cliff and threw them off, dashing them to pieces on the rocks below.” (2 Chron. 25:12) Even the citizens of Nazareth, the boyhood home of Jesus, attempted to as- sassinate the Lord in this way: “When they heard this, the people in the synagogue were furious. Jump- ing up, they mobbed him and took him to the edge of the hill on which the city was built. They intended to push him over the cliff, but he slipped away through the crowd and left them.” (Lk. 4:28-30) “I look to you for help, O Sovereign Lord. You are my refuge; don’t let them kill me. Keep me out of the traps they have set for me, out of the snares of those who do evil. Let the wicked fall into their own snares, but let me escape.” (8-10) This description is similar to the times when Saul was hunting David like an animal by setting traps and snares for him: “Saul hurled his spear at David in an attempt to kill him…Then Saul sent troops to watch David’s house. They were told to kill David when he came out the next morning.” (1 Sam. 19:10, 11) David in his deep integrity never mentions the name of his father-in-law who was trying to kill him; he realized that his battle was not against personalities but against evil rulers of wickedness in high IV LEADERS THROWN DOWN - 6, 7 Deeds of the Wicked V LET ME ESCAPE - 8-10 Don’t Let Them Kill Me

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