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RETURN TO SYLLABUS
PSALMS 3 AND 4
LESSON #3
SLEEPING AND TRUSTING THROUGH TROUBLE
MEMORY VERSE: PSALMS 4:8
PSALM 2 WAS A MESSIANIC PSALM ABOUT THE REJECTION OF JESUS CHRIST, GODS ANOINTEDSON. PSALM 8 IS ALSO A MESSIANIC PSALM. IT IS ABOUT THE FINAL VICTORY OF JESUS CHRIST.
PSALM 3-7 IS A LINK BETWEEN THESE 2 MESSIANIC PSALMS.
THE TIME PERIOD BETWEEN CHRISTS REJECTION AND HIS FINAL VICTORY IS WHAT WE CALL THECHURCH AGE. IT IS THE TIME IN WHICH WE NOW LIVE. IT IS A PERIOD OF TIME WHEN THE PHYSICALPRESENCE OF CHRIST IS ABSENT FROM THE EARTH.
THESE 5 PSALMS TELL US ABOUT ISRAELS PROBLEMS, SINS, AND TRIALS. HOWEVER, WE WILLALSO SEE THE PROMISES OF GOD FOR DELIVERANCE TO THOSE WHO WILL TRUST IN HIM.
READ PSA 3:1-8 DAVIDS FLIGHT FROM ABSALOM [A MORNING PSALM]
PRIMARY INTERPRETATION:
THE RECORD OF DAVIDS SITUATION IS IN 2SAM 15-18.
READ 2SAM 14:25 2SAM 15:10, 13-16; 2SAM 18:6,9, 14; 2 SAM 19:1
DAVID WAS KING OF ISRAEL. HIS SON, ABSALOM, WANTED TO BE THE KING. HE LED A REBELLIONAGAINST DAVID. DAVID LOVED ABSALOM AND FLED INSTEAD OF CONFRONTING HIM. CIVIL WAR BROKEOUT.
CONTRARY TO DAVIDS ORDER, ABSALOM WAS KILLED.
IN THIS SITUATION, DAVID WAS FEELING:
– FEAR BECAUSE HIS ENEMIES WERE SURROUNDING HIM. – DISAPPOINTMENT BECAUSE A MAJORITY OFTHE
PEOPLE WANTED ABSALOM TO BE KING.
– HELPLESSNESS BECAUSE HE WAS NOT IN CONTROL OF THE SITUATION.
MANY SAID THAT GOD HAD FORSAKEN HIM BECAUSE HE HAD SINNED WITH BATHSHEBA.
– GRIEF WHEN ABSALOM WAS KILLED.
“SELAH“
PERIODICALLY WE WILL FIND THIS WORD IN THE PSALMS. THIS LITTLE WORD IS A MUSICAL”REST”. IT IS WHEN ALL MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS STOP PLAYING AND THERE IS A PAUSE.WHEN IT OCCURS HERE IN THE PSALMS, IT MEANS = STOP AND THINK ABOUT THIS!
AS WE STOP AND THINK ABOUT DAVIDS SITUATION, THERE WAS NO HOPE THAT DAVIDSKINGDOM WOULD SURVIVE.
WHAT WERE UNGODLY MEN TELLING DAVID THAT DAVID KNEW WAS NOT TRUE?
BECAUSE OF FAITH DAVID KNEW THAT GOD HAD NOT FORSAKEN HIM, EVEN THOUGH HE WAS PAYING THECONSEQUENCES OF HIS SIN. HE VOICES HIS FAITH:
“THOU, O LORD, ART A SHIELD” (3)
IF THERE WAS GOING TO BE A BATTLE, DAVID NEEDED A SHIELD OF PROTECTION.
“MY GLORY, AND THE LIFTER UP OF MY HEAD” (3)
DAVID BELIEVED IN THE PERSONAL PRESENCE OF GOD IN HIS LIFE. THE JEWS WERE FAMILIAR WITHTHE GLORY CLOUD THAT RESIDED IN THE HOLY OF HOLIES OF THE TABERNACLE. THAT GLORY CLOUD WASEVIDENCE OF GODS PRESENCE. HOWEVER, DAVID TAKES THIS IDEA FURTHER. GOD NOT ONLYRESIDED IN THE TABERNACLE BUT HIS GLORIOUS PRESENCE WAS WITH INDIVIDUALS.
TODAY, IN THIS NEW TESTAMENT AGE, WE HAVE THE PRESENCE OF GOD INSIDE OF US IF WE HAVERECEIVED JESUS CHRIST INTO OUR HEARTS.
BECAUSE OF GODS PERSONAL PRESENCE, AND HIS PROMISES TO MAKE DAVIDS KINGDOM ANETERNAL ONE, DAVIDS DISCOURAGEMENT WAS LIFTED. HIS DIGNITY AND POSITION WASRESTORED.
HE ACTED ON HIS FAITH. (4)
HE CALLED OUT TO GOD FOR HELP, AND GOD HEARD HIM..”SELAH”–STOP AND THINK ABOUTTHAT!
GOD GAVE DAVID PEACE. WE KNOW THIS BECAUSE DAVID TELLS US THAT HE WAS ABLE TO SLEEP. (5)
THE FACT WAS THAT HE SLEPT IN A CAVE WHERE HE WAS HIDING FROM ABSALOM.
THIS PSALM IS CALLED “A MORNING PSALM” BECAUSE WE SEE DAVID REFRESHED THE NEXTMORNING. HE IS ABLE TO MEET HIS ENEMIES WITH CONFIDENCE.
DAVIDS NEW CONFIDENCE IN VICTORY (6-8):
FAITH HAS CONQUERED HIS FEAR. HE EXPRESSED VICTORY BY FAITH EVEN BEFORE HE ACTUALLY SAWTHE VICTORY.
THE PROPHETIC INTERPRETATION:
BECAUSE DAVID WAS A PREFIGURE OF JESUS CHRIST, THE HOLY SPIRIT USED MANY THINGS THAT DAVIDEXPRESSED IN THE PSALMS AS POINTS OF REFERENCE ABOUT JESUS CHRIST.
WHEN JESUS WAS ARRESTED AND TRIED, WE SEE THAT PSALM 3 EXPRESSES THE SAME SITUATION THATDAVID FACED.
1. “MANY THERE ARE THAT RISE UP AGAINST ME” (1)
MANY PEOPLE WERE AGAINST JESUS AND WANTED TO SEE HIM CRUCIFIED.
2. “THERE IS NO HELP FOR HIM IN GOD” (2)
MANY PEOPLE MOCKED HIM. (MAT 27:42-43)
3. VERSES 7 AND 8 ARE JESUS FINAL TRIUMPH OVER SATAN THAT BRINGS SALVATION TO MAN.
THE PERSONAL APPLICATION:
WHATEVER PROBLEM OCCURS IN YOUR LIFE, IT NEED NOT KEEP YOU AWAKE AT NIGHT ROBBING YOU OFYOUR CONFIDENCE IN JESUS CHRIST. AS WE WILL SEE WITH MOST OF THE PSALMS, THERE IS APATTERN TO FOLLOW:
1.THE PSALMS BEGIN WITH A PROBLEM.
2. THERE IS A TURNING TO GOD IN PRAYER.
3. THERE IS AN ORAL CONFESSION OF FAITH.
DAVID ACTUALLY TALKED TO HIMSELF.
4. THERE IS A FINAL VICTORY CLAIMED BY FAITH.
DAVID FOLLOWED THIS PATTERN AND AWOKE REFRESHED AND CONFIDENT THE NEXT DAY.
DAVID ENCOURAGES ALL BELIEVERS TO TRUST IN THE GOD OF SALVATION JUST AS HE DID. (8)
READ PSA 4:1-8 AN EVENING PSALM BY DAVID
THIS PSALM HAS A MUSICAL TITLE,. “TO THE CHIEF MUSICIAN ON NEGINOTH”.
WHAT IS A NEGINOTH? STRINGED INSTRUMENTS OF SOME TYPE. EVIDENTLY THIS WAS A SONG SUNG TOMUSIC PLAYED ON STRINGED INSTRUMENTS.
PRIMARY INTERPRETATION:
THE CRY (1-3):
DAVID CALLS OUT TO GOD BECAUSE OF DISTRESS:
DISTRESS INDICATES THAT THE PRESSURES OF LIFE HAVE BECOME TOO GREAT FOR HIM TO HANDLE. ASA KING HE HAD A GREAT DEAL OF RESPONSIBILITY FOR DECISIONS THAT AFFECTED THOUSANDS OFLIVES.
GOD HAS “ENLARGED” HIM IN DISTRESS.
IT IS DURING TIMES OF PRESSURE THAT GOD STRETCHES US AND TESTS US. THIS WAS DAVIDSEXPERIENCE.
1.IT IS THROUGH THESE TIMES THAT WE LEARN OF WHAT WE ARE MADE.
2. IT IS THROUGH THESE TIMES THAT WE LEARN THE MOST ABOUT TRUSTING GOD.
3. IT IS THROUGH THESE TIMES THAT WE LEARN THE GREATEST LESSONS IN LIFE ABOUT CHARACTERBUILDING.
WHEN WE COME OUT ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE PROBLEM WE SEE THAT WE HAVE GROWN AND MATUREDTHROUGH IT. THIS IS WHAT DAVID WAS LEARNING.
DAVID WARNS HIS ENEMIES NOT TO SIN AGAINST GOD BY THIS REBELLION AGAINST THEIR KING.
DAVID CALLS THEM, “SONS OF MEN” (2) TO CONTRAST THEM WITH THE ETERNAL GOD.
THESE MEN TELL LIES ABOUT DAVID AND FOLLOW FALSE GODS.
“LEASING” (2) (KING JAMES) = THAT WHICH IS FALSE.
“SELAH” = STOP AND THINK ABOUT THAT!
WHAT DID DAVID SAY ABOUT GOD THAT GAVE HIM ENOUGH PEACE TO BE ABLE TO SLEEP AT NIGHTDESPITE PROBLEMS IN HIS LIFE?
DAVID SAID, “I KNOW” IN VERSE 3. HE DID NOT SAY, “I THINK”, OR”MAYBE ITS TRUE”. THIS PHRASE, “I KNOW” IS AN ABSOLUTE STATEMENTOF FAITH THAT HE SAID OUT LOUD. THIS STATEMENT IS BASED ON A COVENANT RELATIONSHIP WITHGOD. DAVID KNEW GOD HAD PROMISED TO FULFILL HIS COVENANT.
DAVID KNEW THAT THE LORD HAS SEPARATED THE GODLY PERSON FROM THE REST OF HUMANITY FORGODS PURPOSE. THEREFORE, THE LORD WILL HEAR WHEN HE CALLS UPON GOD. WHAT A PEACEFULTHOUGHT.
GOD IS IN CONTROL.
WE ARE NOT ALONE.
THE CORRECTION (4-5):
AFTER THAT WONDERFUL THOUGHT ABOUT HOW GOD TAKES CARE OF A GODLY PERSON, DAVID WANTS TOMAKE SURE HE IS THAT GODLY PERSON.
HE TELLS HIMSELF:
1. TO “STAND IN AWE” = TREMBLE BEFORE GODS POWER. HAVE AN AWESOME RESPECTFOR GOD.
2. TO “SIN NOT”
3. TO “COMMUNE WITH YOUR OWN HEART”
IN OTHER WORDS, TO MEDITATE ON; TO BE OPEN TO EXAMINING YOUR OWN ACTIONS AND ATTITUDES. BEHONEST WITH YOURSELF.
4. TO “BE STILL”
TO LET THE LORD WORK OUT THE SITUATION.
“SELAH” = STOP AND THINK ABOUT THAT!
5. TO “OFFER SACRIFICES OF RIGHTEOUSNESS”
SACRIFICE YOUR WILL AND DESIRES TO DO HIS WILL AND FULFILL HIS DESIRES.
THESE ARE PROPER SACRIFICES OFFERED TO GOD WITH A RIGHT SPIRIT AND MOTIVE.
6. TO “TRUST IN THE LORD”
THE CONFIDENCE (6-8):
WHEN THERE IS NO ONE ELSE WHO WILL TREAT YOU WITH LOVE, LOOK TO THE LORD TO BLESS YOU.
THE RESULTS (7-8):
ABUNDANT JOY.
ABUNDANT PEACE SO AS TO BE ABLE TO SLEEP.
THE PROPHETIC INTERPRETATION:
IN VERSE 2, JESUS ASKED SOMEWHAT THE SAME QUESTION.
READ MAT 17:17.
THE PERSONAL APPLICATION:
THE BIBLE IS FILLED WITH PROMISES TO THOSE WHO CALL UPON GOD IN TROUBLE. HERE ARE JUST AFEW:
PSA 145:18 SAYS THAT GOD IS NEAR THOSE WHO CALL UPON HIM.
PSA 50:15 SAYS TO CALL UPON GOD IN THE DAY OF TROUBLE.
AND GOD WILL DELIVER HIM.
ISA 65:24 SAYS THAT BEFORE WE CALL, GOD WILL ANSWER.
TRUE JOY AND PEACE DO NOT DEPEND ON CIRCUMSTANCES, BUT ON TRUSTING IN THE GOD OF PEACE ANDJOY. BECAUSE HE GIVES US PROTECTION AND PROVISION, WE HAVE SECURITY.
READ ROM 14:17
HOMEWORK
PSALMS 5 AND 6
THIS IS A SELF-STUDY. PLEASE DO NOT SEND HOMEWORK ANSWERS TO THE TEACHER FORCORRECTION.
APPLICATION OF PSA 3 AND 4
HAVE YOU EVER SPENT A SLEEPLESS NIGHT WORRYING ABOUT A PROBLEM?
WRITE YOUR EXPERIENCE HERE.
WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED IN THESE TWO PSALMS THAT YOU DID NOT DO IN THAT SITUATION?
PREPARATION FOR PSA 5 AND 6
READ PSA 5:1-12 THE CRY OF THE GODLY IN TIMES OF TROUBLE
HOW DO YOU THINK THIS PSALM RELATES TO THE JEWS DURING THE 7 YEAR TRIBULATION PERIODBEFORE THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST?
HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN VERSE 10, “DESTROY THEM, O GOD”, IN LIGHT OF MAT 5:44?
READ PSA 6:1-10 A CRY FOR MERCY
MAKE A LIST OF THE THINGS DAVID WANTS FROM THE LORD.
MEMORY VERSE: PSALM 5:12
