Praying Psalm 38

“Help Me”

 

What is the title of Psalm 38? A Psalm of David, for the remembrance (memorial offering?)

(Hebrew = za-kar) means to remember – also in Psalm 70

Maybe a memorial offering?… See Lev.2:2, 24:7

Read Psalm 38:1-2

1 YHWH, rebuke me not in your anger, nor discipline me in your wrath!
² For your arrows have sunk into me, and your hand has come down on me.

 What is the problem?

1. Rebuke, anger, discipline, arrows ?? This is not good.

2. ITS YHWH doing this to me

**Wait a second, God doesn’t give us more then we can handle, right? Actually, NO – sometimes HE GIVES us a lot more. Think Elijah 1 kings 19:1-8, Job, Christ. They all had TOO MUCH, but relied entirely on their God to get them through.

Read Psalm 38:3-10

3 There is no soundness in my flesh because of your indignation; there is no health in my bones because of my sin.
4 For my iniquities have gone over my head; like a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me.

5 My wounds stink and fester because of my foolishness,
6 I am utterly bowed down and prostrate; all the day I go about mourning.
7 For my sides are filled with burning, and there is no soundness in my flesh.
8 I am feeble and crushed I groan because of the tumult of my heart.
⁹ O Lord, all my longing is before you; my sighing is not hidden from you.
¹⁰ My heart throbs; my strength fails me, and the light of my eyes—it also has gone from me.

What is the problem?

1. FLESH is broken: heavy burden, wounds, bowed down, mourning, burning, feeble & crushed, groaning
2. BECAUSE of my sin!! My iniquities, my foolishness, tumult in my heart.

**Notice the connection between “Flesh” & “Spirit”. Hebrews spoke this way. (Like “Nephesh” – means body/spirit/ all  of me, BUT actually not used in this psalm. Here it’s “Ba-sar” which means flesh/skin)

**Think about  this connection between OUR spirits and OUR physical bodies. When we are physically sick, can that keep us from hearing the word or being fed by God's gifts? Yes. Likewise, when we are spiritually/emotionally troubled, can it show in our phisical body (like eating badly or not taking care of ourselves). Yes. These realms are not as separate as we  like to think!

 Read Psalm 38:11-20

11 My friends and companions stand aloof from my plague, and my nearest kin stand far off.
12 Those who seek my life lay their snares; those who seek my hurt speak of ruin and meditate treachery all day long.
13 But I am like a deaf man; I do not hear, like a mute man who does not open his mouth.
14 I have become like a man who does not hear, and in whose mouth are no rebukes.
15 But for you, O Lord, do I wait; it is you, O Lord my God, who will answer.
16 For I said, “Only let them not rejoice over me, who boast against me when my foot slips!”
17 For I am ready to fall, and my pain is ever before me.
18 I confess my iniquity; I am sorry for my sin.
19 But my foes are vigorous, they are mighty, and many are those who hate me wrongfully.
20 Those who render me evil for good accuse me because I follow after good.

What is the problem?

1. Friends AND enemies stand off, seek to hurt me.
2. BECAUSE I wait for you, confess & I am sorry, I follow good

**It’s NOT FAIR! It’s the Christian Life. We live in a sinful broken reality where pain and disappointment are REAL. So we hope for the new (original) reality where there is no sin or brokenness. WE can't fix this.

Read Psalm 38:21-22

²¹ Do not forsake me, YHWH! O my God, be not far from me!
²² Make haste to help me, YHWH, my salvation!

What is David’s prayer?

Don’t leave me – HELP me, save me.
Save from what? This BODY of death, this reality of MY SIN, This reality of UNJUSTICE.

 

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR ME?
What is the purpose of this Psalm/prayer?
Lament (Complaining) about pain & sin & enemies & even friends.
Describe terrible state of sin in our world. (See Job – wow, worst of the worst)
Plead for YHWH’s help (not a 12 step program to fix life)

 How does Christ fulfill this psalm?

Christ was this broken man – He had Pain in body & Sin (Israel’s sin) & hated by whole community. GOD was even behind the breaking of him! It was to fulfill the justice (death for sin) YHWH would not change even for his perfect son. Ultimately, God saved, God raised Christ, God restored creation – “at the right hand of the Father”.

How can we pray this?

Complain with broken David, with broken Christ.
Understand what Sin really is – DEATH, not something we can conquer.
PLEAD for YHWH’s salvation, (not construct our own salvation)

WE PRAY:

But deliver us from evil.

What does this mean? We pray in this petition, as in a summary, that our Father in heaven would deliver us from all manner of evil, of body and soul, property and honor, and at last, when our last hour shall come, grant us a blessed end, and graciously take us from this vale of tears to Himself into heaven.

Cross references:

1. 1 Corinthians 1:22 : See Matt. 12:38
2. 1 Corinthians 1:23 : Gal. 5:11; See 1 Pet. 2:8
3. 1 Corinthians 1:24 : [1Cor 1:18]
4. 1 Corinthians 1:24 : 1Cor 1:30; Col. 2:3; [Luke 11:49]

Praying Psalm 37

“Don’t Worry…”

 

What is the title of Psalm 37? Of David

Read Psalm 37:1-4

1 Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers!
² For they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb.

³ Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.
⁴ Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

 What is the central theme of this psalm?

Don’t fret – because of evil ones.
Trust in YHWH – dwell in land

Read Psalm 37:5-40

WICKED:

Who are they?
12 The wicked plots against the righteous and gnashes his teeth at him,
14 The wicked draw the sword and bend their bows to bring down the poor and needy, to slay those whose way is upright;
21 The wicked borrows but does not pay back
32 The wicked watches for the righteous and seeks to put him to death.
35 I have seen a wicked, ruthless man, spreading himself like a green laurel tree.
36 But he passed away,[e] and behold, he was no more; though I sought him, he could not be found.
38 transgressors
What happens to them?
9 For the evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land.
10 In just a little while, the wicked will be no more; though you look carefully at his place, he will not be there.
13 but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he sees that his day is coming.
15 their sword shall enter their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.
17 For the arms of the wicked shall be broken,
20 But the wicked will perish; the enemies of the Lord are like the glory of the pastures; they vanish—like smoke they vanish away
22 but those cursed by him shall be cut off.
28 but the children of the wicked shall be cut off.
38 But transgressors shall be altogether destroyed; the future of the wicked shall be cut off.

RIGHTEOUS:

Who are they?
11 Meek
21 but the righteous is generous and gives;
23 he delights in his way;
30 The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks justice.
31 The law of his God is in his heart; his steps do not slip.
37 blameless, upright,
What happens to them?
6 He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.
11 But the meek shall inherit the land and delight themselves in abundant peace.
17 but the Lord upholds the righteous.
18 The Lord knows the days of the blameless, and their heritage will remain forever;
19 they are not put to shame in evil times; in the days of famine they have abundance.
22 for those blessed by the Lord shall inherit the land,
23 The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when
24 though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the Lord upholds his hand.
25 I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread.
26 He is ever lending generously, and his children become a blessing.
28 For the Lord loves justice; he will not forsake his saints. They are preserved forever
29 The righteous shall inherit the land and dwell upon it forever.
33 The Lord will not abandon him to his power or let him be condemned when he is brought to trial.
37 Mark the blameless and behold the upright, for there is a future for the man of peace.
39 The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord; he is their stronghold in the time of trouble.
40 The Lord helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in him.

WHAT advice does the psalmist have?

5 Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act.
7 Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices!
8 Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.
16 Better is the little that the righteous has than the abundance of many wicked
27 Turn away from evil and do good; so shall you dwell forever.
34 Wait for the Lord and keep his way and he will exalt you to inherit the land; you will look on when the wicked are cut off.

 WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR ME?

What is the purpose of this Psalm/prayer?

Describe Wicked & Righteous
Lament ITS UNFAIR!!
Comfort BUT Don’t Fret – back to 1-4. – They’ll be gone.

 How does Christ fulfill this psalm?

Promise of the land. Wait for his return – This will happen visibly.

How can we pray this?

See Wicked & Righteous, recognize difference

Lament IT IS UNFAIR!!
Comfort BUT Don’t Fret – keep focused on YHWH

Cross referen

WE PRAY:  

And lead us not into temptation.

What does this mean? God, indeed, tempts no one; but we pray in this petition that God would guard and keep us, so that the devil, the world, and our flesh may not deceive us, nor seduce us into misbelief, despair, and other great shame and vice; and though we be assailed by them, that still we may finally overcome and gain the victory.

 

Praying Psalm 36

 “Chesed”

 

What is the title of Psalm 36? To the choirmaster. Of David, the servant of the Lord.

Read Psalm 36:1-4

1 Transgression speaks to the wicked deep in MY heart; there is no fear of God before HIS eyes.
² For he flatters himself in his own eyes that his iniquity cannot be found out and hated.
³ The words of his mouth are trouble and deceit; he has ceased to act wisely and do good.
⁴ He plots trouble while on his bed; he sets himself in a way that is not good; he does not reject evil.

What is the problem?

Transgression & sin have a hold on me/him. Who are we talking about? David.

 DESCRIBE evil.

Read Psalm 36:5-6

⁵ Your steadfast love (chesed), O YHWH, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds.
⁶ Your righteousness is like the mountains of God; your judgments are like the great deep; man and beast you save, O YHWH.

Who is YHWH?

Chesed (steadfast love), faithfulness (amad = truth), righteousness, judgements = SAVE!

Read 36:7-9

⁷ How precious is your steadfast love (chesed), O God! The sons of man take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
⁸ They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your delights.
⁹ For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light.

What are the benefits for His people?

Precious Chesed (Steadfast Love)

Refuge, Feast & Drink = river of delight

Light = we see light (headlamps)

Read 36:10-12

¹⁰ Oh, continue your steadfast love (chesed) to those who know you, and your righteousness to the upright of heart!
¹¹ Let not the foot of arrogance come upon me, nor the hand of the wicked drive me away.
¹² There the evildoers lie fallen; they are thrust down, unable to rise.

What is David’s Prayer?

Continue Chesed (steadfast love)!
Don’t let body parts – MY body parts? – drive me away.
THIS is the error of evildoers. They are driven away from chesed.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR ME?

What is the purpose of this Psalm/prayer?

Describe Evil in David
Describe God & His steadfast love (chesed)
Plead Make/keep this relationship mine AND protect from arrogance & wickedness.

How can we pray this? Continue chesed = mercy gifts in spite of my sin.
Acknowledge/See  Evil in ME
Acknowledge/See God & His steadfast love (chesed)
Plead Make/keep this relationship mine AND protect ME from arrogance & wickedness.

 How does Christ fulfill this psalm?

We know sinfulness is not just outside – Its INSIDE.
Paul quotes this in Romans 3:18 – universal sinfulness. This awful person is ME!
CHRIST is the chesed (steadfast love) that God shows to us. Debt paid for our sin.
We pray, continue to do that "CHRIST Mercy" to me God. Don’t let me get caught up in my own self.


WE PRAY:  

And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.

What does this mean? We pray in this petition that our Father in heaven would not look upon our sins, nor deny such petitions on account of them; for we are worthy of none of the things for which we pray, neither have we deserved them; but that He would grant them all to us by grace; for we daily sin much, and indeed deserve nothing but punishment. So will we verily, on our part, also heartily forgive and also readily do good to those who sin against us.

And lead us not into temptation.

What does this mean? God, indeed, tempts no one; but we pray in this petition that God would guard and keep us, so that the devil, the world, and our flesh may not deceive us, nor seduce us into misbelief, despair, and other great shame and vice; and though we be assailed by them, that still we may finally overcome and gain the victory.

 

Praying Psalm 35

"They..."

What is the title of Psalm 35? Of David

Read Psalm 35:1-6
1 Contend, YHWH, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me!
² Take hold of shield and buckler and rise for my help!
³ Draw the spear and javelin against my pursuers! Say to my soul (nephesh), “I am your salvation!”
⁴ Let them be put to shame and dishonor who seek after my life (nephesh)! Let them be turned back and disappointed
who devise evil against me!
⁵ Let them be like chaff before the wind, with the angel of the Lord driving them away!
⁶ Let their way be dark and slippery, with the angel of the Lord pursuing them!

What does the Psalmist plead?

Fight for me, LORD against THEM.

 Read Psalm 35:7-10

⁷ For without cause they hid their net for me; without cause they dug a pit for my life.
⁸ Let destruction come upon him when he does not know it! And let the net that he hid ensnare him; let him fall into it—to his destruction!
⁹ Then my soul (nephesh) will rejoice in YHWH, exulting in his salvation.
¹⁰ All my bones shall say, “YHWH, who is like you, delivering the poor from him who is too strong for him, the poor and needy from him who robs him?”

 What will happen if God delivers him?

His Soul/body will rejoice & proclaim salvation.

Read 35:11-16

¹¹ Malicious witnesses rise up; they ask me of things that I do not know.
¹² They repay me evil for good; my soul is bereft.
¹³ But I, when they were sick— I wore sackcloth; I afflicted myself with fasting; I prayed with head bowed  on my chest.
¹⁴ I went about as though I grieved for my friend or my brother; as one who laments his mother, I bowed down in mourning.
¹⁵ But at my stumbling they rejoiced and gathered; they gathered together against me; wretches whom I did not know tore at me without ceasing;
¹⁶ like profane mockers at a feast, they gnash at me with their teeth.

What is the problem?

PEOPLE: Evil for good.
I WAS GOOD to them BUT they were evil to me = UNJUST.

 Read 35:17-18

¹⁷ How long, O Lord, will you look on? Rescue me from their destruction, my precious life from the lions!
¹⁸ I will thank you in the great congregation; in the mighty throng I will praise you.

What is David’s cry?

How long? How can this injustice go on? RESCUE ME!

 Read 35: 19-26

¹⁹ Let not those rejoice over me who are wrongfully my foes, and let not those wink the eye
who hate me without cause.
²⁰ For they do not speak peace, but against those who are quiet in the land they devise words of deceit.
²¹ They open wide their mouths against me; they say, “Aha, Aha! Our eyes have seen it!”

²² You have seen, O Lord; be not silent! O Lord, be not far from me!
²³ Awake and rouse yourself for my vindication, for my cause, my God and my Lord!
²⁴ Vindicate me, O Lord, my God, according to your righteousness, and let them not rejoice over me!
²⁵ Let them not say in their hearts, “Aha, our heart's desire!” Let them not say, “We have swallowed him up.”

²⁶ Let them be put to shame and disappointed altogether who rejoice at my calamity! Let them be clothed with shame and dishonor who magnify themselves against me!

 What does David want YHWH to do?

Speak, act, DO JUSTICE - shame This is God's promised judgement. He will "save" the righteous, but on the other side,  he will destroy the wicked.

Read 35:27-28

²⁷ Let those who delight in my righteousness shout for joy and be glad and say evermore, “Great is YHWH, who delights in the peace of his servant!”
²⁸ Then my tongue shall tell/meditate of your righteousness and of your praise all the day long.

 What is the sharp contrast between “those people” in the last verses?

THOSE who delight in righteousness = THOSE who delight in YHWH.
THIS leads me to praise. Community is very important. we do this together.

 WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR ME?

What is the purpose of this Psalm/prayer?
Lament against PEOPLE
Plead for justice

How can we pray this?
Lament against PEOPLE - evil ones act out against us, against the cause of God
Plead for justice - Return soon! Judge so that sin & injustice will be gone - LOVE the promise of God.

 How does Christ fulfill this psalm?

He lived among a people who hated him… Justice with God = cross.
Christ's followers will live this…Acts 7 (Stephen)
Christ prayed to His Father about this very trial…John 17


WE PRAY:  

Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

What does this mean? The good and gracious will of God is done indeed without our prayer; but we pray in this petition that it may be done among us also.

How is this done? When God breaks and hinders every evil counsel and will which would not let us hallow the name of God nor let His kingdom come, such as the will of the devil, the world, and our flesh; but strengthens and keeps us steadfast in His Word and in faith unto our end. This is His gracious and good will.

 

Praying Psalm 34

"The Lord Delivers"

What is the title of Psalm 34? Of David, when he changed his behavior before Abimelech, so that he drove him out, and he went away.  (1 Samuel 21:13)

Read Psalm 34:1-3

I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
² My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble hear and be glad.
³ Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together!

What does the Psalmist encourage?

Bless, boast, praise, exalt US TOGETHER (v.3)

Read Psalm 34:4-7

⁴ I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.
⁵ Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed.
⁶ This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him and saved him out of all his troubles.
⁷ The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.

Why praise?

(Its Personal) Answered, delivered ME

POOR MAN cried – YHWH heard

David is this poor man.

 Read 34:8-10

⁸ Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!
⁹ Oh, fear the Lord, you his holy ones, for those who fear him have no lack!
¹⁰ The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.

 What good things come from this relationship?

Refuge, no lack, lack no good thing (Sounds like psalm 23!)

Read 34:11-14

¹¹ Come, O children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
¹² What man is there who desires life and loves many days, that he may see good?
¹³ Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit.
¹⁴ Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.

What does David teach?
FEAR: all men desire long life & to do good….
Wisdom – tongue from evil, turn away, seek peace… (Proverbs stuff)

Read 34:15-18

¹⁵ The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry.
¹⁶ The face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth.
¹⁷ When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles.
¹⁸ The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.

 What “side” is the LORD on?

Righteous –Those who CRY, he delivers, broken hearted, crushed

 Read 34:19-22

¹⁹ Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.
²⁰ He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken.
²¹ Affliction will slay the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will be condemned.
²² The Lord redeems the life of his servants; none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.

 What is the reality of “affliction” for the righteous AND the wicked?

It happens to BOTH: the difference is the outcome.
Wicked are crushed
Righteous are delivered

 WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR ME?

What is the purpose of this Psalm/prayer?
Praise
Describe Personal account – trust
Teach fear of the Lord
Describe affliction/deliverance

How can we pray this?

Praise

See/acknowlegde Personal trust in our God - Hope
Learn fear of the Lord - Deliver me!
See/acknowlegde affliction/deliverance in our own lives. - Endure

How does Christ fulfill this psalm?

He is the picture of affliction = we also see salvation from God.
We hope for what Christ has won, eternal life.

WE PRAY:  

Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

What does this mean? The good and gracious will of God is done indeed without our prayer; but we pray in this petition that it may be done among us also.

How is this done? When God breaks and hinders every evil counsel and will which would not let us hallow the name of God nor let His kingdom come, such as the will of the devil, the world, and our flesh; but strengthens and keeps us steadfast in His Word and in faith unto our end. This is His gracious and good will.

 

Praying Psalm 33

Wait for YHWH

What is the title of Psalm 33?  No title

Read Psalm 33:1-3

1 Shout for joy in YHWH, O you righteous! Praise befits the upright.
² Give thanks to YHWH with the lyre; make melody to him with the harp of ten strings!
³ Sing to him a new song; play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts.

What does the Psalmist encourage?

Shout, give thanks, sing, make melody

Read Psalm 33:4-5

⁴ For the word of YHWH is upright, and all his work is done in faithfulness.
⁵ He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the steadfast love of YHWH.

Why praise?

Because – the WORD is upright and true

Chesed (mercy, steadfast love) fills the earth

Read 33:6-9

6 By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and by the breath of his mouth all their host.
7 He gathers the waters of the sea as a heap; he puts the deeps in storehouses.

8 Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him!
9 For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm.

 What did the Word do?

Heavens were made, stored up water = FEAR the Lord - awe
CREATION

Read 33:10-12

¹⁰ YHWH brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; he frustrates the plans of the peoples.
¹¹ The counsel of YHWH  stands forever, the plans of his heart to all generations.
¹² Blessed is the nation whose God is YHWH, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage!

What does YHWH do with the people?

Frustrates The COUNSEL – v. 10 & 11 use same verbs – contrasting different areas of trust!!

Read 33:13-19

¹³ YHWH looks down from heaven; he sees all the children of man;
¹⁴ from where he sits enthroned he looks out on all the inhabitants of the earth,
¹⁵ he who fashions the hearts of them all and observes all their deeds.
¹⁶ The king is not saved by his great army; a warrior is not delivered by his great strength.
¹⁷ The war horse is a false hope for salvation, and by its great might it cannot rescue.

¹⁸ Behold, the eye of YHWH is on those who fear him, on those who hope (wait) in his steadfast love (CHESED),
¹⁹ that he may deliver their soul from death and keep them alive in famine.

What does YHWH see when he looks down?

Kings are not saved by armies, war horses don’t save.

BEHOLD! Pay attention…YHWH sees those who fear him – so HE can deliver them!

 Read 33:20-22

²⁰ Our soul waits for the Lord; he is our help and our shield.
²¹ For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name.
²² Let your steadfast love (CHESED), O Lord, be upon us, even as we hope(wait)  in you.

 What does David encourage US to do?

WAIT, be glad, TRUST in His name (HISTORY!!)

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR ME?

What is the purpose of this Psalm/prayer?
Praise
Describe Word of YHWH
Describe salvation of people (NOT kings & war horse, rather YHWH)
Encourage people to wait/trust.

 

How can we pray this?
Praise
Learn about Word of YHWH
Learn about salvation of people (NOT kings & war horse, rather YHWH)
Encourage us=  TRUST! WAIT!

How does Christ fulfill this psalm?

CHESED shown to the world is salvation because of Christ. Christ tells us to trust in HIM for everything,

John 10:7-15

Matthew 6:19-34

WE PRAY:

Thy kingdom come.

What does this mean? The kingdom of God comes indeed without our prayer, of itself; but we pray in this petition that it may come unto us also.

How is this done? When our heavenly Father gives us His Holy Spirit, so that by His grace we believe His holy Word and lead a godly life here in time and yonder in eternity.

Cross references:

1. 1 Corinthians 1:22 : See Matt. 12:38
2. 1 Corinthians 1:23 : Gal. 5:11; See 1 Pet. 2:8
3. 1 Corinthians 1:24 : [1Cor 1:18]
4. 1 Corinthians 1:24 : 1Cor 1:30; Col. 2:3; [Luke 11:49]

 

 

Praying Psalm 32

Surround me!

What is the title of Psalm 32?  A Maskil of David (A contemplative Psalm )

Read Psalm 32:1-2

1 Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.
² Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.

Who is blessed?

Blessed means happy – A relationship has been given these things:

FORGIVEN, sin covered. The Lord doesn’t hold accountable.

Read Psalm 32:3-4

³ For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.
⁴ For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. Selah

What is the problem?

Silent about sin = I was wasting away – This is body stuff!

SIN is more than doing bad things, It’s confessing what problems this world really has.

GOD was doing this “hand heavy upon me”.

Read 32:5

⁵ I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah

What does a “happy man” do?

Acknowledge sin – say I’m nothing! This world is broken!
Love, forgiveness – want something more.

Read 32:6-7

⁶ Therefore let everyone who is godly offer prayer to you at a time when you may be found; surely in the rush of great waters, they shall not reach him.
⁷ You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with shouts of deliverance. Selah

What does David encourage?

LET the CHESED ones = Pray (Chesed is mercy & grace shown to his people)

Flood = image of terror and death & God’s control – waters will not reach him. (many examples from OT history)

Personal deliverance = hide, preserve, HOW? Shouts of deliverance – God’s WORD shouting his promises in your ear!!! This is what WE do for EACH other.
 

Read 32:8-11

⁸ I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.
⁹ Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding, which must be curbed with bit and bridle, or it will not stay near you.

¹⁰ Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the Lord.
¹¹ Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!

What does David do for his people?

Instructs them – way to trust

NOT like a horse or mule (restrained by force) (LAW)

TRUST = chesed surrounding him (mercy, steadfast love, relationship)

Tell them to rejoice – not because they “feel” happy. Rather they have a God who saves, they ARE blessed.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR ME?

What is the purpose of this Psalm/prayer?

Describing the BLESSED man = one who confesses sin.

Encourage to trust - God will hid and deliver
Teach - trust.

How does Christ fulfill this psalm?

Christ is THE forgiveness in v.5. We can boldly say we’re sinners because we know we don’t personally pay for it Christ DID! 

How can we pray this? TEACH us to trust!!

 

WE PRAY:  

As the head of the family should teach it in a simple way to his household.

Our Father who art in heaven.

What does this mean? God would thereby [with this little introduction] tenderly urge us to believe that He is our true Father, and that we are His true children, so that we may ask Him confidently with all assurance, as dear children ask their dear father.

 

Praying Psalm 31

Into your hands…

What is the title of Psalm 31?  To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

Read Psalm 31:1-8

1 In you, O Lord, do I take refuge; let me never be put to shame; in your righteousness deliver me!
² Incline your ear to me; rescue me speedily! Be a rock of refuge for me, a strong fortress to save me!

³ For you are my rock and my fortress; and for your name's sake you lead me and guide me;
⁴ you take me out of the net they have hidden for me for you are my refuge.
⁵ Into your hand I commit my spirit; you have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God.

⁶ I hate those who pay regard to worthless idols, but I trust in the Lord.
⁷ I will rejoice and be glad in your steadfast love, because you have seen my affliction; you have known the distress of my soul,
⁸ and you have not delivered me into the hand of the enemy; you have set my feet in a broad place.

Who is the Lord for David?

One who answers, rescues, like Psalm 23 – "names sake, lead & guide me".

One who saves me from hidden net (10:9)

Commit Spirit into your hand: Like Christ on the Cross (Luke 23:46)

Read Psalm 31:9-13 

⁹ Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am in distress; my eye is wasted from grief; my soul and my body also.
¹⁰ For my life is spent with sorrow, and my years with sighing; my strength fails because of my iniquity, and my bones waste away.

¹¹ Because of all my adversaries I have become a reproach, especially to my neighbors, and an object of dread to my acquaintances; those who see me in the street flee from me.
¹² I have been forgotten like one who is dead; I have become like a broken vessel.
¹³ For I hear the whispering of many— terror on every side!— as they scheme together against me, as they plot to take my life.

What is the problem?

Eye/body is wasted from grief – SAD

He is a reproach to neighbors - not a favorite.

Whispering, terror, plots to kill…

Read 31:14-18

¹⁴ But I trust in you, O Lord; I say, “You are my God.”
¹⁵ My times are in your hand; rescue me from the hand of my enemies and from my persecutors!
¹⁶ Make your face shine on your servant; save me in your steadfast love(chesed)!
¹⁷ O Lord, let me not be put to shame, for I call upon you; let the wicked be put to shame; let them go silently to Sheol.
¹⁸ Let the lying lips be mute, which speak insolently against the righteous in pride and contempt.

Despite David’s problems, what does he do?

Trust God to affect personally

Pray for frustration of wicked plans.

Read 31:19-22

¹⁹ Oh, how abundant is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you and worked for those who take refuge in you, in the sight of the children of mankind!
²⁰ In the cover of your presence you hide them from the plots of men; you store them in your shelter from the strife of tongues.

²¹ Blessed be the Lord, for he has wondrously shown his steadfast love to me when I was in a besieged city.
²² I had said in my alarm,“I am cut off from your sight.” But you heard the voice of my pleas for mercy when I cried to you for help.

How is God praised?

You are abundantly good! You hide and shelter.

Psalmist had doubts... "BUT" (v.22) you heard.

Read 31:23-24

²³ Love the Lord, all you his saints! The Lord preserves the faithful but abundantly repays the one who acts in pride.
²⁴ Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord!

How does the psalmist end?

LOVE YHWH. Be strong & courageous!

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR ME?

What is the purpose of this Psalm/prayer?

Trust, Lament, encouragement to others

How does Christ fulfill this psalm?

When things looked dead, dim and hopeless, Christ still rose from the dead. Like today – he will return so keep strong! Take courage!

How can we pray this? Keep us faithful – undistracted.

 

WE PRAY:  

Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

What does this mean? The good and gracious will of God is done indeed without our prayer; but we pray in this petition that it may be done among us also.

How is this done? When God breaks and hinders every evil counsel and will which would not let us hallow the name of God nor let His kingdom come, such as the will of the devil, the world, and our flesh; but strengthens and keeps us steadfast in His Word and in faith unto our end. This is His gracious and good will.