Posts
An Individual Lament
I. A call for the help of the Divine Warrior. vs. 1–3
A. Turn wicked people over to Yahweh in prayer.
B. First, David asks God to take his enemies to court “contend.”
C. Second, David asks God to go to war against those attacking him.
D. Yahweh has the tools to protect His own people.
E. God, intervene in time and space to deliver me.
II. A prayer for Divine vindication. vs. 4–10
A. David asks God to bring shame on those attacking him without cause.
B. May their plans for my demise fail.
C. Send the Messenger of Yahweh to my defense. Exod 23:20–22
D. Their travels will be dangerous. Prov 4:19
E. These people set traps for the innocent. This is an unprovoked attack.
F. Prayer for God to stop them with justice.
G. Yahweh’s justice causes the righteous to rejoice in His salvation.
H. Imprecatory sections of the Psalms require careful New Covenant application.
Luke 18:7; Rev 6:10; Gen 4:10; Matt 23:35; Heb 12:24
The blood of the innocent cries out to God on its own
Jesus (Luke 23:34) and Stephen (Act 7:60) are also models for us
When God is in a covenant relationship with someone, when you attack them
You are attacking God. This is not a fight you are going to win.
Gen 12:3 “I will bless those who bless you, and curse those who curse you.”
I. God’s deliverance leads the righteous to worship and praise Him.
III. The pain of being attacked by a gang. vs. 11–18
A. False accusations (slander) are an old trick of Accuser of the brethren.
David, Jesus, Stephen
B. The pain of having kindness being returned with evil.
Saul, Absalom, Judas
C. The more a leader invests in someone, the greater the pain when the attack.
Not, you too Brutus?
D. When a leader stumbles, he finds out who his real friends are.
E. False friends will rejoice when you are knocked down.
F. Gangs can do great violence with their words.
David’s flight from Absalom, Jesus, Stephen
G. The godly leader call on God to defend him from these attacks.
H. The Master of the Universe is watching this gang attack His chosen one.
I. The gang has become like wild beasts.
J. David trust God in great faith and his salvation will lead to corporate worship.
IV. A prayer for Divine vindication. vs. 19–25
A. The heartless mob gloats over an injured soldier.
B. They hate without a good reason. Not self defense.
C. He is again betrayed by those who should be his allies.
D. They have gathered so called “facts” as evidence against him.
E. The false witnesses are speaking against him in public.
F. This injustice requires God to step in.
“Like a lamb before his shearers, he opened not his mouth.”
G. Yahweh see the evil done against his anointed servant.
H. God will show his servant to be innocent on His own time.
I. A delay of justice causes the wicked to rejoice too soon.
V. The joy of Divine deliverance. vs. 26–28
A. God alone can bring justice is some situations.
B. We should pray for justice and righteousness to triumph.
C. When justice returns to the earth, God’s people will be filled with joy.
D. God delights in the well-being of His servants.
E. God’s answer to prayers with acts of deliverance allow us to move
from petitions to adoration, praise, and worship.
VI. Applications
A. How do we balance “turning the other cheek” and praying for our enemies while at the
same time longing for God’s justice to prevail on the earth?
B. Gospel pacifism does not allow men to stand by allow women and children to be harmed.
C. How does justice and mercy fit together for a New Covenant believer?
D. “Vengeance is Mine, says the Lord, I will repay.” Leave room for God to work. Overcome
evil with good. “Kill them with kindness.” Rom 12:15–21
E. If God protects His servants, I need to ask, am I His slave? Matt 6:24
F. Can I continue to trust God if he delays in rescuing me? “Not My will, but Thine be
done.”
G. Why does betrayal by a so-called friend hurt so bad? Does Jesus care or know what it is
like? Judas kiss.
