Heart of a Psalmist - Worshipping Christ Through The Psalms

God’s examination begins on the inside of us, at the heart and thoughts. This is where right living begins as Jesus taught: “ For from the heart come evil thoughts…” (Mt.15:19) Prayer and worship helps us to focus the heart and mind toward God.

The words of our mouth-

“ …for I am determined not to sin in what I say.” (3)

Life righteousness then moves to our words. We must first win the battle of the heart and mind be- fore winning the battle of our lips. James tells us: “ …those who control their tongues can also control themselves in every other way.”(James 3:2)

The manner of life-

“ I have followed your commands, which have kept me from going along with cruel and evil people. My steps have stayed on your path; I have not wavered from following you.” (4,5)

Life righteousness ends with walking in the right paths of the Lord. We begin by trusting God for our salvation, and then we are given new hearts and the mind of Christ. Our lips come under control of the Holy Spirit and finally we walk in the paths of righteousness.

II SHADOW OF YOUR WINGS - The Prayer of Escape- 6-9

“ I am praying to you because I know you will answer, O God. Bend down and listen as I pray.” (6) What a marvelous assurance to know God is listening and will answer us. This is essential to a life of prayer: “ Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that there is a God and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.”(Heb.11:6)

“ Show me your unfailing love in wonderful ways. You save with your strength those who seek refuge from their enemies.” (7)

The ‘unfailing love’ of God expresses a relationship with him much like the covenant of marriage. While the law brings wrath, the grace of God expresses his love and kindness towards us.

“ Guard me as the apple of your eye. Hide me in the shadow of your wings. Protect me from wicked people who attack me from murderous enemies who surround me.” (8,9)

David is the master poet and here he uniquely describes his relationship with God as Saul closes in on him. The ‘apple of the eye’ refers to the pupil where images are received into the brain as sight. In the middle-eastern languages this is known as ‘the little man of the eye’ 2 because when you look at someone, they appear as a little person in the eye of the beholder. David is saying: ‘keep me as the lit- tle man of your eye’ and deliver me from these murderous enemies. The ‘shadow of your wings’ is a reference to being upon the ‘mercy seat’ of the Ark of the Covenant. The two wings of the cherubim were stretched over the place where God had agreed to show mercy to his people. “ I will meet with you there and talk to you from above the atonement cover between the gold cherubim that hover over the Ark of the Covenant.” (Ex. 25:22) David is describing the closest possible encounter with God.

III WITHOUT PITY - The Prayer Against the Enemy- 10-14

“ They are without pity. Listen to their boasting. They track me down, surround me, and throw me to the ground. They are like hungry lions, eager to tear me apart-like young lions in hiding, waiting for their chance.” (10-12)

The NKJV translates verse 10 as: “ They have closed up their fat hearts… ” which is poetic imagery for ‘being past feeling’. In all of David’s troubles with King Saul he never once mentions him by name in the

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