Heart of a Psalmist - Worshipping Christ Through The Psalms

I. MAY HE GRANT YOUR HEARTS DESIRE - The Priestly Blessing- 1-5

Before the Israelites went to battle, the priest of the nation was to speak to the troops and pronounce a blessing to them. “ When you go out to fight your enemies and you face horses and chariots and an army grater than your own, do not be afraid. The Lord your God, who brought you safely out of Egypt, is with you! Before you go into battle, the priest will come forward to speak with the troops. He will say, ‘Listen to me, all you men of Israel! Do not be afraid as you go out to fight today! Do not lose heart or panic. For the Lord your God is going with you! He will fight for you against your enemies, and he will give you victory!’”(Deut. 20:1-4) This psalm is the blessing of our great High Priest Jesus as we face the battles in our lives. “ But Jesus remains a priest forever; his priesthood will never end. Therefore he is able, once and forever, to save everyone who comes to God through him. He lives forever to plead with God on their behalf.” (Heb. 7:24,25) There are seven ‘may the Lord’ prayers offered on our behalf. Imagine 32,000 chariots preparing to thunder down upon the Israelite army. Each chariot has archers who shoot flaming arrows, the sky is about to be filled with the fiery darts of the enemy. Just then, the high priest steps forward and begins to sing… 1. “ In times of trouble, MAY the Lord respond to your cry.” (1) This was a day of trouble similar to Moses and the Israelites at the Red Sea when Pharaoh and his chariots came thundering upon them and the Lord delivered them: “ Their chariot wheels began to come off, making their chariots impossible to drive. ‘Let’s get out of here!’ the Egyptians shouted. ‘The Lord is fighting for Israel against us!’”(Ex.14:25) 2. MAY the God of Israel (Jacob) keep you safe from all harm.” (1) The Israelites had only swords and shields to defend themselves. In the New Testament we are told: “ In every battle you will need faith as your shield to stop the fiery arrows aimed at you by Satan…and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”(Eph. 6:16,17) The verse in this psalm refers to Jacob, a person with whom we can all identify. He stole his brother Esau’s birthright and blessing, deceived both his father and father-in-law until God finally wrestled him into surrender to his will. Here God says that in times of trouble and harm, we can cry out to him though we may be like Jacob. Our past failures in life do not disqualify us for God’s present help! 3. MAY he send you help from his sanctuary and strengthen you from Zion.” (2) Our worship life makes a difference in the rescue process as our help comes from the ‘sanctuary’ and ‘Zion’ the place of worship. Whether it is public gathering, which amplifies the blessing of his presence, or the private sanctuary of our heart, our worship focuses us upon the Lord and positions us to receive his help. 4. MAY he remember all your gifts and look favorably on your burnt offerings. Interlude [Selah] (3) We grow close to the Lord by the sacrifices we make for his kingdom, his purposes and his people. God remembers our dedication as evidenced by the law of offerings in the Old Testament. “ This sacrifice will be very pleasing to the Lord.”(Num. 15:7) The gifts and offerings of the soldier Cornelius might have been a factor in his becoming the first gentile believer in Christ. “ And the angel replied, ‘Your prayers and gifts to the poor have not gone unnoticed by God!’”(Acts 10:4) 5. MAY he grant your heart’s desire and fulfill all your plans.”(4) It is a great act of faith to be mak- ing future plans for our life when we are facing a battle of this magnitude. It is good to remember the long- range plan when the present situation is difficult. God has placed dreams and desires in each of us that cannot be diminished by trials of short duration. “ ’For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord. ‘They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.’”(Jer.29:11) 6. “ MAY we shout for joy when we hear of your victory, flying banners to honor our God.”(5) Israel had tremendous confidence in their king to win the victory. “ So the Lord gave David victory wherever he went.”(1 Chron. 18:6) We have the same confidence in Jesus, the greater ‘Son of David.’ “ But thanks be to God, who made us his captives and leads us along in Christ’s triumphal procession.”(2 Cor. 2:14) Our king is triumphant so our worship is filled with shouts and banners of praise. God knows the power of celebration and while our worship is to have times of solemnity, intimacy and sweetness, we are to know the exhilaration of his victory. When he sees us celebrating he declares: “ O my beloved, you are as…. Majestic as an army with banners.”(Song of Sol. 6:4)

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