Psalm 13 – Learning Patience

• 1^st – How Long… vs. 1-2
  • 1^st – Introduction… vs. 1
    • To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David!
    • CHIEF Musician – the one who plays [piel] the music – leads the congregation in worship!
    • PSALM of DAVID – a Psalm of LAMENT – turning fear into FAITH!
  • 2^nd – FOUR questions… vs. 1-2
    • How long – O LORD – will You forget me forever!
      • HOW LONG [עַד־אָנָה] – used 4x here – carries the idea of until when…
      • FORGET – David FELT like the LORD was constantly [imperfect] IGNORING him…
      • As if God did not CARE about David – paid no attention to his prayers!
    • How long will You hide Your face from me!
      • HIDE – David FELT like the LORD was constantly [imperfect] AVOIDING him…
      • Not that David had ever literally seen the FACE of the LORD – Exodus 33:20
      • More like God was ASHAMED of David – was embarrassed to be around him!
    • How long shall I take counsel in my soul – having sorrow in my heart daily!
      • COUNSEL [advice] – the result of God IGNORING and AVOIDING…
      • David was left to seek ADVICE from himself – his own IDEAS…
      • Which inevitably resulted in SORROW – daily – because they did NOT work!
    • How long will my enemy be exalted over me!
      • EXALTED – because the IDEAS of David did not work – his ENEMIES were victorious…
      • Which is why he was asking the question – HOW LONG!
      • But it was the WRONG question – he should have been asking WHY!
      • There are going to be days when we do not FEEL the presence of the LORD…
      • When we do not SEE Him working – and the temptation is to fall back to our IDEAS…
      • But if we are TRUSTING in our WISDOM – it will always [daily] end up in FAILURE [sorrow]
      • Instead we should be asking – WHY is the LORD not talking – working!

• 2^nd – Why the troubles… vs. 3-4
  • 1^st – Hear me… vs. 3
    • Consider and hear me – O LORD my God!
    • CONSIDER – meaning to LOOK – David begged [imperative] the Lord to LOOK at him…
    • HEAR – meaning to ANSWER – David begged [imperative] the Lord to RESPOND to him…
    • Because David was in TROUBLE – he was coming desperately to the Lord…
    • Which gives us the answer to WHY – God was trying to get his attention!
    • When everything in life is going well – when there are NO trials…
    • We tend to forget about the LORD – we get busy with things we THINK are important…
    • The RESULT is God allows our lives to FALL apart – to get our attention…
    • Causing us to come to the LORD – pleading with Him to LOOK and LISTEN to us!
  • 2^nd – Enlighten me… vs. 4
    • Enlighten my eyes – lest I sleep the sleep of death!
    • Lest my enemy say – I have prevailed against him!
    • Lest those who trouble me rejoice when I am moved!
    • ENLIGHTEN – to shine the light of day – to ILLUMINATE – expose the TRUTH…
    • David begged [imperative] the LORD to REVEAL to his eyes the TRUTH…
    • So his ENEMIES would not have VICTORY – those who TROUBLE him would not REJOICE!
    • The King of Syria sent a great army to arrest Elisha – his servant saw them and panicked…
    • Then Elisha prayed for the Lord to open they eyes of his servant – II Kings 6:16
    • The servant looked up – and the hillside around Elisha was filled…
    • Horses and chariots of fire – an army of angels surrounding the army of Syria!
    • It is easy in life to forget that what we can SEE – is NOT the whole story…
    • Even when everything seems to be against us – we can think we are lost…
    • But no matter who is against us – if we ask – the LORD will open our eyes to show us VICTORY!

• 3^rd – Results… vs. 5-6
  • 1^st – Trust… vs. 5
    • But I have trusted in Your mercy!
    • TRUSTED – [חָסָה] – protection or hope – is an OT equivalent of FAITH [πίστις]!
    • MERCY [חָנַן] – which is the OT equivalent of GRACE [χάρις]
    • David put [perfect] his FAITH in the GRACE of God!
    • James 1:3 – “Knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience…”
    • KNOW [γινώσκω] – to learn through EXPERIENCE – to TRUST in GRACE!
    • If the Children of Israel had not been caught between Egypt and the Red Sea – Exodus 14:13
    • They never could have seen their God was able to part an ocean!
    • If we always had enough money – we would never see the Lord provide…
    • If we were always healthy – we could never see the Lord miraculously heal…
    • It is through our TRIALS – we LEARN to PATIENTLY wait on the LORD!
  • 2^nd – Rejoice… vs. 5
    • My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation!
    • REJOICE – David always [imperfect] had JOY in his heart because of SALVATION…
    • SALVATION [יְשׁוּעָה] – David was full of JOY because of JESUS!
    • Romans 5:3-4 – “We also GLORY in tribulation knowing that they produce perseverance – and perseverance – character – and character – hope.”
    • In the midst of TRIALS – we are FILLED with JOY…
    • Not PANICKING – because we have LEARNED to put our TRUST in GRACE…
    • Even in the DARKEST hour – we KNOW that Jesus is still with us – Hebrews 13:5
  • 3^rd – Sing… vs. 6
    • I will sing to the LORD – because He has dealt bountifully with me!
    • SING [cohortative] – David would REALLY praise the LORD…
    • Rather than IGNORING him – David realized TRIALS were the LORD working in his life…
    • BOUNTIFULLY – a word that can mean to WEAN!
    • When a baby gets to be old enough – a mom will WEAN the child off of milk…
    • Not because she does not love them – but so they can MATURE!
    • God desires we move on from the MILK – looking only at this life…
    • Instead move onto the MEAT – realize God uses this life to prepare us for eternity…
    • When we SEE that – we no longer are overwhelmed by TRIALS…
    • Instead we REJOICE in them – PRAISING the LORD – for the work He is doing in us!

Psalm 14 – Way of the FOOL

• 1^st – The FOOL… vs. 1
  • 1^st – Introduction…
    • To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David!
    • CHIEF Musician – the one who plays [piel] the music – leads the congregation in worship!
    • PSALM of DAVID – a Psalm of WISDOM – looking at the FOOLISH!
  • 2^nd – The FOOL…
    • The fool has said in his heart – there is no God!
      • FOOL [נָבָל] – is someone who ALWAYS [perfect] says in his HEART…
      • NO God – note the words THERE IS are in italics [not in the Hebrew text]
      • The FOOL says NEVER [אֵין] to a GOD [אֱלֹהִים] he refuses to know Him!
    • Men know God exists – because of their conscience…
      • God has written the knowledge of Himself on our conscience…
      • No one has to tell us lying / murder / stealing is wrong – we just know it!
      • You do not have to tell a child there is a God – they already know…
      • But you do have to send an adult to school for years to convince him there is not!
    • Men know God exists – because of creation…
      • Romans 1:20 – “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen – being understood by the things that are made – even His eternal power and Godhead – so that they are without excuse.”
      • The incredible design of the world around us – required a powerful creator…
      • When we look up at the stars at night – when we see a picturesque sunset…
      • In our heart you know – it is not an accident – there is a God who created this!
      • Bottom line – men know God is there – no one can claim they are ignorant…
      • No one will be able to say they did not KNOW there was a God… 
      • But they can CHOOSE to NOT want to KNOW God!

• 2^nd – The Description… vs. 1-3
  • 1^st – DECAYED… vs. 1
    • They are corrupt – they have done abominable works – there is none who does good!
    • As a RESULT [hiphil] of them NOT wanting to know God – they are ALWAYS [perfect]
    • CORRUPT – to be decayed – spiritually rotten – perverted…
    • ABOMINABLE – they become something disgusting – an abomination…
    • NO GOOD – they NEVER [אֵין] do anything that God considers GOOD [טֽוֹב]
    • If you have ever seen a piece of rotting fruit – covered in filth – smelling terrible…
    • The instant reaction is to avoid it – there is NOTHING good there!
    • Because men are no longer CONNECTED to God – John 15:4
    • The result of REJECTING Him – they become decayed – disgusting…
    • What God created to be GOOD – has rotted spiritually apart from Him!
    • Note – they do not do BAD because they are SINNERS…
    • They CANNOT do GOOD things – because of they are not CONNECTED to the LORD!
    • John 15:5 – “For without Me you can do nothing.”
  • 2^nd– No UNDERSTANDING… vs. 2
    • The LORD looks down from heaven upon the children of men…
    • To see if there are any who understand – who seek God!
    • LOOKS – the EVIL of men caused [hiphil] the LORD to look down on the children of MEN [אָדָם]
    • Was there ANYONE left who UNDERSTOOD – to think about or consider the LORD…
    • Who still SEEK God [אֱלֹהִֽים] – how far gone were the SONS of ADAM!
    • Genesis 6:5 – “The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.”
    • This takes us back to the state of the world in the days before the FLOOD…
    • When EVERY [כָּל] desire in the hearts of men – even before the it was a conscious thought…
    • Were ALWAYS [הַיּֽוֹם] evil – the sad state of men who have completely walked away from God!
    • We might think – well we are better than that today…
    • But people do NOT change – if we made a list of our priorities in life – food – possessions…
    • For most the last thing on the list – if it made it at all – would be God…
    • The reason – we do not UNDERSTAND – life is about knowing the LORD…
    • We focus on everything that is temporary – and miss the one thing that is eternal…
    • The penalty of hell – or the hope of eternity in heaven!
  • 3^rd – No GOOD… vs. 3
    • They have all turned aside – they have together become corrupt…
    • There is none who does good – no – not one!
    • TURN aside – to leave the STRAIGHT path – turn away from the LORD – Matthew 7:13
    • CORRUPT – their choice to reject God has made them [passive] FILTHY…
    • NOT even ONE of them can do [אֵין] GOOD [טֽוֹב]!
    • The KEY question – who TURNS aside – who is CORRUPT…
    • The answer is EVERYONE – there is NONE who are GOOD! 
    • We might argue and think we are GOOD – but what is our DEFINITION…
    • I might be GOOD is compared to a MURDER – but what if I am compared to GOD…
    • His DEFINITION of GOOD is to be like Him – so there is NONE who are GOOD!
    • Matthew 5:48 – “Be perfect – just as your Father in heaven is perfect.”

• 3^rd – The result… vs. 4-7
  • 1^st – CONSUME… vs. 4
    • Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge – who eat up my people as they eat bread…
    • And do not call on the LORD!
    • No KNOWLEDGE [לֹא יָדְעוּ] – to NOT see or comprehend…
    • Those who turn from GOD – are hardened by SIN – do not see their NEED for the LORD…
    • Instead they CONSUME one another – like they are eating bread!
    • CONTRAST – those who know the LORD – are full of LOVE for one another – John 13:35
    • Those who reject the LORD – consume one another!
    • Galatians 5:15 – “Beware lest you be consumed by one another!”
  • 2^nd – FEAR… vs. 5
    • There they are in great fear – for God is with the generation of the righteous!
    • Great FEAR [פָּחֲדוּ פָחַד] – FEAR is repeated TWICE – fearing [verb] they are AFRAID [noun]
    • Because the LORD – DWELLS [generation] with the RIGHTEOUS [צַדִּֽיק]
    • Those who REJECT the LORD – know they are on the WRONG side…
    • So they are always [perfect] AFRAID – knowing their judgement is coming!
  • 3^rd – Shame… vs. 6
    • You shame the counsel of the poor – but the LORD is his refuge!
    • Counsel of the HUMBLE [עָנִי] – those who see their NEED for the LORD…
    • Those who REJECT God – must SHAME [hiphil] those who put their TRUST [refuge] in God!
    • The world REJECTS Jesus – because He convicts the world of sin and righteousness…
    • And because men LOVE sin – they hate the light that reveals their sinfulness – John 3:19-20
    • If we are Jesus FRIEND – because they hate Jesus – they also hate us!
    • John 15:18 – “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world – the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world – but I chose you out of the world – therefore the world hates you.”
  • 4^th – Salvation… vs. 7
    • Oh – that the salvation of Israel would come out of Zion!
    • When the LORD brings back the captivity of His people – let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad!
    • This final RESULT seems to contradict the rest…
    • From CONSUMING – FEAR – and SHAME – we finish with SALVATION…
    • Because the SALVATION [יְשׁוּעַת] of Israel comes out of ZION [Jerusalem]!
    • Paul quotes from this Psalm – telling us that ALL have sinned – Romans 3:10-12
    • But Jesus [יְשׁוּעַת] came so that ANY sinner could be saved by GRACE!
    • Romans 3:23-24 – “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God – being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”
    • Jesus came to bring us BACK from the CAPTIVITY of SIN…
    • To take JACOB [sinner] and make us ISRAEL [governed by God]
    • Therefore we REJOICE – because all though we ALL rejected God – He came to bring us back!

Psalm 15 – Way of the UPRIGHT 

• 1^st – Trust the Lord… vs. 1
  • 1^st – Introduction…
    • A Psalm of David!
    • PSALM of DAVID – a Psalm of WISDOM – the way of the UPRIGHT!
  • 2^nd – The QUESTION…
    • LORD – who may abide in Your tabernacle. Who may dwell in Your holy hill!
    • TABERNACLE – was the place where people come to meet with the LORD…
    • There were THREE sections to the TENT of MEETING – Exodus 39:32
    • The INNER court – where people would come to give their OFFERING to the LORD…
    • The HOLIEST – inside the TENT – where only the PRIESTS were allowed…
    • The HOLY of HOLIES – HIGH priest was the ONLY one allowed in – once a year on [יוֹם כִּפֻּרִ]
    • Meaning NO one could ABIDE in the presence of God!

• 2^nd – The UPRIGHT… vs. 2-5
  • 1^st – In HEART… vs. 2
    • He who walks uprightly – and works righteousness – and speaks the truth in his heart!
    • Walk UPRIGHT [תָּמִים] – to walk PERFECT – not make any mistakes…
    • Work RIGHTEOUSNESS [צֶדֶק] – 113x in OT – to do what is RIGHT…
    • Speaks TRUTH in his HEART – not just external – it is also in about motives!
    • Paul thought he was a UPRIGHT – until he read – you shall not covet – Romans 7:7-11
    • Paul could control what he did – his WALK – but he could NOT control his HEART!
    • I know a lot of people who think they are good because the OUTSIDE…
    • But being UPRIGHT is not just about being PERFECT in our ACTIONS – it is about our MOTIVES!
  • 2^nd – In WORDS… vs. 2
    • He who does not backbite with his tongue…
    • Nor does evil to his neighbor – nor does he take up a reproach against his friend!
    • BACKBITE – to gossip or talk bad [evil] about another [neighbor]
    • James 1:26 – “If anyone… thinks he is [upright] – and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart…”
    • Notice how GOSSIP always seems to be about the BAD things people do…
    • People GOSSIP about others – so they do NOT look so bad…
    • As if somehow – they are more righteous – because at least they are not as BAD…
    • Doing EVIL to their neighbor – reproaching their friend – for their own BENEFIT!
  • 3^rd – In FRIENDSHIP… vs. 3
    • In whose eyes a vile person is despised – but he honors those who fear the LORD…
    • He who swears to his own hurt and does not change!
    • DESPISE the vile – they reject and do not make friends with sinners – James 4:4
    • HONOR those who FEAR the LORD – because they are good examples – I Corinthians 11:1
    • SWEAR to their own harm – meaning they do NOT go back on their promises – Matthew 5:37
    • The EXAMPLE of the people we choose to surround ourselves with influence us…
    • They will by their example either stir us up to HONOR the LORD…
    • Or they will be a distraction – keep us to DESPISE the LORD!
    • I Corinthians 15:33 – “…bad company corrupts good character.”
  • 4^th – In MONEY… vs. 4
    • He who does not put out his money at usury – nor does he take a bribe against the innocent.
    • USURY – to charge interest on a LOAN…
      • Israel could not charge INTEREST on a LOAN – Deuteronomy 23:19
      • Do not use MONEY as a means to make a PROFIT off of others….
      • Lending often does not go well – people are thrilled when they get money…
      • But then avoid the lender like the plague when it comes time to be paid back!
      • Romans 13:8 – “Owe no one anything except to love one another…”
    • BRIBES – against the INNOCENT
      • Do not use MONEY as a tool to get our way…
      • When people do NOT trust the JUDGE – because he is willing to take a GIFT…
      • When rulers are allowed to receive BRIBES – there is NO justice!
      • Proverbs 17:23 – “The WICKED accept secret bribes to pervert justice.”
  • 5^th – Never MOVED… vs. 5
    • He who does these things shall never be moved!
    • These things – to be UPRIGHT in HEART – WORDS – FRIENDSHIPS – and MONEY…
    • They will NOT be moved – they will be able to ABIDE in the presence of the LORD!
    • The problem is NO one can do these things – they are IMPOSSIBLE…
    • No one can ABIDE in the TABERNACLE – the HOLY [קֹדֶשׁ] place of God…
    • Because we are all FOOLS – but Jesus opened up the door into the HOLIEST…
    • He tore open the VEIL – and gives us access to boldly come before the throne of GRACE!
    • Hebrews 4:16 – “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace – that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

Psalm 16 – Victory in Jesus

• 1^st – Trust the LORD… vs. 1-2
  • 1^st – Introduction… vs. 1
    • A Michtam of David!
    • PSALM of DAVID – a Psalm of PROPHECY – concerning the MESSIAH!
    • MICHTAM – 6x in OT – always in the introduction – Psalm 16 and Psalm 56-60
    • Some believe the word means GOLDEN – meaning a VALUABLE Psalm…
    • Others believe the word means CARVED – worth chiseling into stone…
    • Perhaps like an album that has gone GOLD – because it was so popular!
    • But others believe the word is technical – telling HOW the Psalm is to be sung…
    • Bottom line the word is a bit of a MYSTERY – with an UNCERTAIN meaning!
  • 2^nd – Trust in the LORD… vs. 1-2
    • Preserve me – O God – for in You I put my trust!
    • O my soul – you have said to the LORD – You are my Lord…
    • My goodness is nothing apart from You!
    • PRESERVE – to keep safe from the JUDGMENT we deserve…
    • TRUST [חָסָה] – protection or hope – is an OT equivalent of FAITH [πίστις]
    • David put his FAITH in the LORD – which protected him for the JUDGEMENT of the LORD…
    • My Lord [not caps] – David also chose to DAILY submit to the LORD as his MASTER [אֲדֹנָי]
    • Because he knew his GOODNESS – was NOTHING apart from the LORD!
    • We are all FOOLS – we have rejected the LORD – and are not GOOD…
    • But when by FAITH we come to Jesus – He makes UPRIGHT before God…
    • But it is not just about salvation – it is about DAILY coming to Jesus for His GRACE!

• 2^nd – Delight in the LORD… vs. 3-9
  • 1^st – The SAINTS… vs. 3
    • As for the saints who are on the earth – they are the excellent ones – in whom is all my delight!
    • SAINTS [קְדוֹשִׁים] – the HOLY ones – those who are SET apart for God…
    • David put ALL [כָּל] his delight – FRIENDSHIP – in those who lived for the LORD!
  • 2^nd – The WICKED… vs. 4
    • Their sorrows shall be multiplied who hasten after another god…
    • Their drink offerings of blood I will not offer – nor take up their names on my lips!
    • SORROWS – many are the wounds of those who run after another god…
    • Therefore David would NOT follow their example – give offerings to other gods…
    • He would not even mention their NAME [god is in italics]
  • 3^rd – The PORTION… vs. 5-6
    • O LORD – You are the portion of my inheritance and my cup. You maintain my lot.
    • The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places. Yes – I have a good inheritance!
    • The LORD was the ONLY thing [portion] David wanted from life…
    • The LINES – circumstances – the Lord had given him were PLEASANT…
    • Because David knew He had a good INHERITANCE with the LORD!
    • I Peter 1:4 – “An inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away – reserved in heaven for you.”
    • We are heirs to all that God has – joint heirs with Jesus Christ!
    • That means God desires to give us EVERYTHING – His KINGDOM – Luke 12:32
    • To the extent we will even sit on Jesus throne with Him – Revelation 3:21
  • 4^th – The COUNSEL… vs. 7-8
    • I will bless the LORD who has given me counsel – my heart instructs me in the night seasons…
    • I have set the LORD always before me – because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved!
    • COUNSEL – David blessed [piel] the LORD – because He instructed [counsel] him…
    • Even in the DARK times [night seasons] – David always set [piel] the LORD before him…
    • When he trusted in the STRENGTH [right hand] of the LORD – he would NOT be moved!
  • 5^th – The JOY… vs. 9
    • Therefore my heart is glad – and my glory rejoices. My flesh also will rest in hope!
    • Because David put his TRUST in the LORD – daily submitting to his MASTER [אֲדֹנָי]
    • DELIGHTING in the SAINTS – while refusing to FOLLOW the example of the wicked…
    • His INHERITANCE became sure – and he was IMMOVABLE in the COUNSEL of the LORD…
    • Which made his heart GLAD – and allowed him to REST in his HOPE!
    • HOPE in who – HOPE in Jesus – who took a FOOL and made him UPRIGHT!

• 3^rd – The Prophecy… vs. 10-11
  • 1^st – The GRAVE… vs. 10
    • For You will not leave my soul in Sheol – nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption!
      • The idea of the resurrection was a NEW TESTAMENT revelation…
      • Yet here David says you will NOT leave my SOUL in SHEOL [שְׁאוֹל]
      • The LORD would not let His HOLY one [חָסִיד] – the FAITHFUL one – see DEATH!
    • Peter quoted…
      • On the day of PENTECOST – Peter quoted this verse – Acts 2:27
      • He pointed out David wrote the Psalm – but David was dead and buried…
      • The tomb of David was still there in Jerusalem for all to see…
      • The Psalm could NOT be referring to David – he was NOT resurrected…
      • David wrote prophesying about the Messiah…
      • God would not leave the Messiah in hell – or let His body rot in the grave!
      • The resurrection is the MOST IMPORTANT part of the Gospel message…
      • Because if Jesus is NOT risen – then there is NO hope – I Corinthians 15:14
      • If we only have this life to live – then there are NO consequences for our actions…
      • There is NO right – there is NO wrong – there is NO heaven – there is NO hell…
      • We mind as well live it up – and have all the FUN we can…
      • Because when it is over – there is NOTHING – we cease to exist…
      • Much of the world lives by this doctrine – as if there are NO consequences…
      • Unfortunately for them – Jesus is RISEN – therefore death is NOT the end!
  • 2^nd – The VICTORY… vs. 11
    • You will show me the path of life. In Your presence is fullness of joy.
    • At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore!
    • You will CAUSE [hiphil] me to SEE – the PATH [reason] for this life!
    • When we UNDERSTAND that there is a RESURRECTION – that this LIFE is NOT the end…
    • We realize our JOY – does not come from anything here – it is in the PRESENCE of the LORD…
    • And we will live our lives with the focus on ETERNITY…
    • Where we will experience the SWEET fellowship forevermore with our God!