Heart of a Psalmist - Worshipping Christ Through The Psalms

• (19) The problem- “ See how many enemies I have, and how viciously they hate me! The petition- (20) “ Protect me! Rescue my life from them!” • (20) The Petition- “ Do not let me be disgraced…” His Declaration- “ …for I trust in you. ”

Two Final Prayers

“ May integrity and honesty protect me, for I put my hope in you.”(21)

David had deceived King Achish during their entire relationship. On their first meeting he pretended to be insane and when he lived under the protection of Achish he lied to him continually. He would raid Philistine towns and leave no survivors. “’ Where did you make your raid today?’ Achish would ask. And David would reply, ‘Against the south of Judah…’ No one was left alive to come to Gath and tell where he had really been.” (1 Sam. 27:10,11) This psalm is penitential, a point where David turned from de- ceiving others to putting his full trust in God no matter what the consequences. The two qualities of “ in- tegrity and honesty ” are the responses to God’s “ unfailing love and faithfulness.”(10)

“ O God, ransom Israel from all its troubles.” (22)

This is a ‘Messianic Prayer’, a request that the long-awaited Deliverer would come and bring in to effect all the benefits of Yahweh’s salvation. It carries the hope that Messiah would right all wrongs and deliver Israel from all her sins and enemies. It is a powerful petition of completeness. For the Christian it signifies the receiving of the final effects of the ransom Jesus paid at the cross; our resurrection, the end of all sin and the beginning of the eternal reign of Messiah in the new heavens and earth.

PSALM 26: I LOVE THE HOUSE WHERE YOU LIVE A Psalm of Innocence

This is a ‘justice’ psalm that was written on the occasion of a murder of which David has declared his innocence. He calls for God to judge the situation and affirm that he is not guilty of the crime. It might have been written after the death of Abner, Saul’s general who defected to David’s camp and was treach- erously murdered by David’s general, Joab: “ When Abner arrived at Hebron, Joab took him aside at the gateway as if to speak with him privately. But then he drew his dagger and killed Abner in revenge for killing his brother Asahel. When David heard about it, he declared, ’I vow by the Lord that I and my peo- ple are innocent of this crime against Abner. ‘”(2 Sam. 3:27,28) Another possible circumstance was the murder of Ishbosheth by Recab and Baanah. Ishbosheth was Saul’s son who inherited the throne of his father and was fighting against David for the kingdom when he was slain on his bed by these two men. They brought Ishbosheth’s head to David thinking they would be rewarded but were put to death for their crime. “ Now what reward should I give the wicked men who have killed an innocent man in his own house and on his own bed? Should I not also demand your very lives?” (2 Sam. 4:11)

It is outlined in three parts:

I. I HAVE ACTED WITH INTEGRITY - 1-5 II. I LOVE YOUR SANCTUARY, O LORD - 6-8 III. I DO WHAT IS RIGHT - 9-12

INTRODUCTION :

“ A Psalm of David. ”

This simple introduction identifies 17 different psalms of David.

59