Psalm 63: Devotion and Trust (Faith on Fire)

This psalm is either an individual lament or a song of trust (confidence) or both. David wrote this psalm during a dangerous time in his life, while he was in the Judean wilderness running from Absalom. He is away from Jerusalem, both his throne and the worship center. This song of faith is a window on David’s soul, a man after God’s own heart.

  I. The believer’s desire for God (vs. 1–4)                

     A. David longs for the special presence of God in corporate worship

     B. The God of the Bible is David’s God

     C. The believer earnestly seeks for God based on an established relationship

          1. When the Holy Spirit starts to draw someone to Christ, they become an awakened sinner

          2. God and committed believers are the only “seekers” in the Bible

          3. Those who are entertainment, music, food, or fellowship seekers are idolater’s

          4. The business model has the “seeker” as the “consumer” or “customer” to be pleased

          5. The Bible gives this place to God alone

     D. “Soul” here is a figure of speech, using the part for the whole. David was longing for God

          with body and soul, with his entire personhood and all it aspects: mind, will, emotion

     E. The believer longs for fellowship with the LORD just like a man in the dessert longs for 

          water (simile). This is an all-consuming desire. David is far from the tabernacle in the

           wilderness of Judea. He is away from the worshiping assembly, and it bother him

     F. God’s glory and presence is as necessary to David as water is in intense heat

     G. God’s holiness, glory, and power were revealed to David in the holy place

     H. God’s covenant love (hesed) is better than even being alive

          1. God is faithful to his covenant promises

          2. God promised to preserve David and his dynasty through the coming Messiah

          3. God’s love will sustain the believer who is providentially hinder from worship

     I. David’s devotion to God puts most of us to shame

     J. Body and soul joined together is the time when a whole person can worship God

    K. The Jewish way to hold the hands during prayer

         1. Don’t back read American religious movements into the text

         2. Don’t ignore the major world religions influence on current American practices

    L. David’s lips are full of praise to God, his hands and mind are offering prayers to God

    M. The name of the Lord, Yahweh, is David’s basis for hope and trust in God’s rescue

 

 II. The believer’s delight in God (vs. 5–8)

      A. David praise for God is a response of his faith in God, as well as his devotion and loyalty

      B. Because God is sovereign and involved, David is full of joy and thankfulness as if he was

           being served a wonderful banquet

     C. Prayer that acknowledges God’s faithfulness to His promises will drift into praise for who

          God is, His attributes and wonderful grace to sinners (Confidence and faith)

      D. David longs for the special presence of God

           1. He recalls God’s past interventions in his life

           2. He receives comfort for the present by focusing on God’s past actions

     E. The night had three four hour watches and is a fearful time when you are hunted

     F. God is close to His own children and protects them under His wings

         (metaphor for the close fellowship and protection of God)

         God also expects His children to draw close to Him

   G. The believer holds fast to God, clings, cleaves to Him (Deut 10:20)

   H. God is powerful and deliberate (right hand) and faithfully keeps His promise of protection,

        preservation, and salvation

    I. The ones who have repented of their sins and put their trust in the Messiah are the ones that

       have this intimate relationship with God

 

III. The believer’s defense by God (vs. 9–11)

      A. God will protect His people through the persecution

      B. God will judge those who mistreat His people

      C. The divine Warrior will be victorious over His enemies (Isa 10:3)

           1. It is not wise to attack someone who belongs to God

           2. For God to keep His promises He must punish those who fight against His own

               1 Cor 3:16–17

      D. Three metaphors for total destruction

            1. Going down into the earth (being buried in a mass grave after losing a battle)

            2. Given over to the sword (to die and loose the battle)

            3. Food for jackals (packs of dessert wolves will eat the corpses of the slain soldiers)

            4. These are all curses of the covenant (see Leviticus 26)

    E. The believer will rejoice in God when He judges the wicked

2 Thessalonians 1:4-10 therefore, we ourselves speak proudly of you among the churches of God for your perseverance and faith in the midst of all your persecutions and afflictions which you endure.  ⁵ This is a plain indication of God's righteous judgment so that you will be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which indeed you are suffering.  ⁶ For after all it is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you,  ⁷ and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire,  ⁸ dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.  ⁹ These will pay the penalty of everlasting destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, ¹⁰ when He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed—for our testimony to you was believed.

     F. Divine vengeance and justice will remove all sin from the believers presence

         1. This is reason for great rejoicing

         2. The king has been called by God to serve and obey Him

     G. The loyal subjects of Yahweh only swear by His name (Deut 6:3, 10:20)

     H. God’s justice will silence all slander against His name and His people

 

Lessons to live by:

$          We should desire God like a man at noon in the arid desert heat desires water—with all our heart, strength, mind, body, soul

$          We should love assembling for worship, Bible study, prayer, and edificational fellowship

$          Faith on fire, devotion, loyalty, obedience, and trust will sustain us in difficulties as we pray the promises of God and praise Him for His sovereignty and faithfulness

$          God will protect His own and will punish sin on His timing. We should rejoice in His justice rendered to the enemies of the cross

$          A close relationship with the God of the Bible is very, very important

Psalm 33: A Hymn of Praise for Yahweh, The King of Creation and History

We were made to worship the triune God of the Bible. Life is all about loving and reverencing God (See Eccl 12:1–14). We will remain restless until we find our rest in God. He alone can satisfy the deepest needs of our hearts. If we have a covenant relationship with Him, we can experience great joy even in the midst of trials.

  I. Encouragement to celebrative worship of Yahweh 1–3

      A. Shout, sing for joy, rejoice in Yahweh

      B. Our joy is found in the LORD

      C. The righteous ones are encouraged to praise Yahweh

           “He who has clean hands” Believers have an alien righteousness put on their account

      D. These are His obedient people whose lives conform to His law

      E. Musical instruments had their place in Jewish joyful worship

      F. This call to praise assumes the godly know Yahweh, submit to His Lordship, and trust in  His                  deliverance and ongoing covenant love

      G. New acts of deliverance call for the composing of new songs to praise God for His works

 II. Reasons for worship: The Perfections of Yahweh 4–5

      A. Who the LORD is should drive our worship

      B. God’s word is never empty. When He speaks, things happen. “Let there be light.”

      C. Yahweh is “right,” upright, without deception, full of integrity

      D. Yahweh is “true,” His words are true truth, Yeshua is the truth

      E. Yahweh loves righteousness and justice because that is His nature

           Everything God does is righteous and just, He is the standard

           When someone says, “My God will never punish sin,” they have broken the 2nd 

           commandment against making a false god. This is not the God of the Bible.

      F. The LORD’s covenant faith fullness is seen throughout creation

           His loyalty, consistency, and love can be viewed by those with eyes to see

           He has not destroyed the world again by water as He promised

III. Reasons for awe and adoration: Yahweh is the Creator and Ruler of History 6–11

      A. What the LORD has done should also drive our worship.

      B. Redemptive history is His Story, Yahweh has been keeping His covenant promises

      C. God is the creator and sustainer of the universe

      D. Fearing and revering God is a key theme of this psalm and key for life 

      E. Yahweh is a great and sovereign King, His will happens just as He says it will

      F. Nothing is accidental. God is working His plan even through his enemies

      G. We have every reason not to fear, but to trust in this Great King

 IV. Reasons for gratitude and humility: Yahweh Sovereignly Rules over Mankind 12–17

      A. Blessedness is a state that the obedient people of God are in

           God chose Abraham, redeemed Him, entered into a covenant relationship and then blessed 

           him. Deliverance is God’s immediate actions for His people, blessedness is a state of  

           fruitfulness, growth, expansion, with adequate supplies and provision

      B. The nation Yahweh chose was Israel

      C. He has also chosen the church to be His redemptive channel

      D. God sees all and knows all

      E. Bigger is not always better, God can deliver by a few

      F. If a nation rebels against God’s law, their defenses are futile

      G. Having faith in the military might of a wicked people is foolish

      H. Fearing God and living righteously is the best defense

 

  V. Reasons for great hope, faith and rejoicing: Yahweh Loves His People 18–19

      A. Real safety comes to those who love, fear, and worship Yahweh

      B. Faith in the God of the Bible is vital

      C. God is watching His children and can send deliverance, salvation, at any moment

      D. Believers trust God because of His covenant love (hesed) 

      E. Yahweh can deliver His people from death or any enemy

      F. Don’t worry, reverence the Sovereign God who overcomes the strong

      G. We can depend on and wait on God to do what we cannot do

 VI. Encouragement to trust in, wait for, confidently hope in and rest in Yahweh’s Love  20–22

      A. Regardless of the circumstance, if you belong to Yeshua the Messiah, you are secure.

      B. Yahweh, the Creator-God is our help. (The Holy Spirit is a helping present One)

      C. Yahweh is our defender and promised us protection (Israel and the Church).

      D. Worshipers love God and have great joy in His presence

      E. Trust in the holy name of God, His name is His revealed character  

      F. He redeemed Israel from slavery and entered into a covenant relationship with them

      G. He made promises that He will surely keep

       I. Trust requires submission to Yahweh’s word and will, Let God be God

       J. A request for Yahweh’s covenant love (hesed) to remain on His people

      K. His people are the ones who have hope and trust in Yahweh