Heart of a Psalmist - Worshipping Christ Through The Psalms

Saul’s jealousy had caused him to have murderous heart: “’ Then bring him to me in his bed,’ Saul ordered, ‘so I can kill him as he lies there!’” (1 Sam. 19:15) David climbed out a window and escaped that night. In another psalm David longs to fly away as a dove to the wilderness showing us there is a time to stay in difficult situations and trust God and there is a time to ‘fly away.’ “’ Oh, that I had wings lie a dove! For then I would fly away and be at rest. Indeed, I would wander far off, and remain in the wilder- ness. Selah” (Ps. 55:6,7)

“The foundations of law and order have collapsed. What can the righteous do?” (3)

The foundation of a just society is a godly government. This had been removed from David’s life and there was nothing left for him to do but flee. Every worshiper must lay spiritual foundations so they may stand strong during the trials of life. There are essential spiritual foundations on which we are to build our lives: • The Foundation of Jesus Christ- “ For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” (1 Cor. 3:11) • The Foundation of Repentance and Faith- “ …not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,” (Heb.6:1) • The Foundation of the Apostles and Prophets- “ …you are…members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone,…”(Eph. 2:19, 20) • The Foundation of Obedience- “ He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock.”(Luke 6:48) • The Foundation of Love- “ Let them do good, that they may be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.”(1 Tim. 6:19)

A person who builds upon these will always be spiritually stable.

II. THE TEMPLE OF THE LORD - 4,5

“ But the Lord is in His holy temple, the Lord still rules from heaven. He watches everything closely, examining everyone on earth. The Lord examines both the righteous and the wicked.”(4,5)

David reminds himself that there is a heavenly throne above all earthly thrones where the Lord can overturn the plans of evil rulers. Whenever the throne of worship is presented in scripture there are ‘eyes’ associated with it signifying that God is looking deep into our souls and examining our motives as we enter his presence. “ In the center and around the throne, were four living beings each covered with eyes, front and back…Each of these living beings…were covered with eyes inside and out. Day after day and night after night they keep on saying: ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty-the one who always was, and who is still to come.” (Rev. 4:6,8) God examined the hearts and motives of both David and Saul and eventually ruled in favor of David establishing him as King of Israel. “ The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.”(2 Chron.16:9)

III. THE TERROR OF THE LORD - 5,6

“ He hates everyone who loves violence. He rains down blazing coals on the wicked, punishing them with burning sulfur and scorching winds.” (5,6)

There is a direct comparison between this psalm and the story of the judgment of Sodom and Go- morrah. The angels told Lot to: “ Escape to the mountains, or you will die.” (Gen. 19:17) The horrible judg- ment upon the evil people of those cities was like the description in this psalm: “Then the Lord rained down fire and burning sulfur from the heavens on Sodom and Gomorrah.”(Gen. 19:24) Through Christ, God has made a way of escape from his coming judgment upon the evil of this world.

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