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RETURN TO SYLLABUS
PSALMS 5 AND 6
LESSON #4
MERCY IN THE DEPTHS OF DARKNESS
MEMORY VERSE: PSALM 5:12
REMEMBER THAT PSALMS 2 AND PSALMS 8 ARE MESSIANIC PSALMS (THEY ARE ABOUT JESUS CHRIST,THE MESSIAH.) THEY TELL ABOUT HIS FIRST AND HIS SECOND COMING. PSALMS 3-7 PROPHETICALLYTELL US ABOUT THE TIME WHEN JESUS CHRIST IS NOT PHYSICALLY PRESENT ON EARTH. IN FACT, THEYTELL US PROPHETICALLY ABOUT THE JEWS DURING THE GREAT TRIBULATION PERIOD JUST BEFORE THESECOND COMING OF CHRIST.
PSALMS 3-4 FLIGHT IN FEAR AND DISTRESS
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TRIBULATION PERIOD OF 7 YEARS BEFORE THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST, THEANTI-CHRIST WILL TURN AGAINST THE JEWS AND PURSUE THEM. GOD WILL PROVIDE A SAFE PLACE FORTHEM IN THE CITY OF PETRA, JORDAN.
READ PSALMS 5:1-12 CRY OF THE GODLY IN TIMES OF TROUBLE [A PRAYER FOR GUIDANCE IN THEMORNING BY DAVID]
THE PRIMARY INTERPRETATION:
“TO THE CHIEF MUSICIAN UPON NEHILOTH” =
WHAT IS NEHILOTH?
IT IS A MUSICAL INSTRUMENT LIKE A FLUTE.
DAVIDS ACTIONS IN THE MORNING (1-3)
HE MEDITATES ON GODS WORD.
HE PRAYS.
HE LOOKS TO GOD FOR DIRECTION FOR THE REST OF THE DAY.
GODS ATTITUDE TOWARD SIN (4-6)
1. SIN DOES NOT GIVE GOD PLEASURE.
2. THE PRESENCE OF GOD WILL NOT DWELL WHERE EVIL EXISTS.
3. THE FOOLISH PERSON WILL NOT STAND IN GODS SIGHT.
“FOOLISH” = THIS PERSON CLAIMS TO BE AN ATHEIST (SOMEONE WHO BELIEVES THERE ISNO GOD.)
READ PSA 14:1
4. GOD HATES ALL MANNER OF EVIL, AND THOSE WHO PERSIST IN DOING EVIL WILL BE DESTROYED.
SEVEN THINGS THAT MORNING PRAYER CAN HELP YOU AVOID (4-6)
1. MORAL SIN = “PLEASURE IN WICKEDNESS”
2. HABITUAL MORAL SIN = “EVIL DWELL WITH THEE”
3. PRIDEFUL BOASTING = “NOT STAND IN THY SIGHT”
4. IDOLATRY AND FALSE GODS = “WORKERS OF INIQUITY”
5. LYING = “LEASING/ FALSEHOOD”
6. VIOLENCE AND MURDER = “ABHOR THE BLOODY”
7. DECEITFULNESS = “DECEITFUL MAN”
DAVIDS REACTION TO GODS ATTITUDE (7):
1. DAVID MAKES A COMMITMENT THAT HE WILL NOT BE LIKE THE EVIL MEN SEPARATED FROM THE LOVEOF GOD.
2. DAVID MAKES A DETERMINATION TO BE IN CHURCH WITH GODLY PEOPLE WHO SEEK GODSMERCY.
3. DAVID HAS A RESPECTFUL FEAR OF GOD.
4. DAVID MAKES A DETERMINATION TO WORSHIP GOD.
DAVIDS PRAYER FOR GUIDANCE (8):
“LEAD ME, O LORD, IN THY RIGHTEOUSNESS BECAUSE OF MY ENEMIES” (8)
DAVID IS SAYING THAT HIS ENEMIES ARE WATCHING HIM. THEY WILL SEE WHAT GOD DOES FOR HIM.THE WAY THAT GOD LEADS DAVID WILL BE A TESTIMONY TO THE FAITHFULNESS OF GOD. IT MAY EVENWIN HIS ENEMIES TO LOVE GOD.
THIS IS A GOOD WAY TO PRAY. IT HAS GODS INTERESTS AND REPUTATION IN MIND. GODSINTERESTS ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN OUR OWN PERSONAL DESIRES.
IN THIS NEW TESTAMENT AGE, THE HOLY SPIRIT IS OUR GUIDE. IF YOU DO NOT SEEK DIRECTION INYOUR LIFE, YOU ARE BLOWN ABOUT BY EVERY WIND OF DOCTRINE (EPH 4:14). IF YOU DO NOT LISTENTO THE HOLY SPIRIT, YOU MISS GODS DIRECTION.
DAVIDS PRAYER FOR VINDICATION (9-10):
CONDITION OF THE WICKED (9):
PART OF VERSE 9 IS QUOTED IN ROM 3:13 AS A DESCRIPTION OF ALL UNGODLY PEOPLE.
WE WILL SEE A NUMBER OF PSALMS LIKE THIS. TO NEW TESTAMENT BELIEVERS, THESE SEEM UNUSUALLYHARSH AND JUDGMENTAL.
IF WE LOOK AT THESE PSALMS FROM A BROADER PERSPECTIVE THAN DAVIDS PERSONAL LIFE, WEWILL UNDERSTAND THEM BETTER.
THROUGH ALL HUMAN HISTORY ON THIS PLANET, GOD HAS HAD AN ENEMY, SATAN. SATAN SEEKS TODESTROY GOD AND THOSE WHO CHOOSE TO FOLLOW GOD. THEREFORE, AS A BELIEVER, GODS ENEMYIS ALSO MY ENEMY. SATAN SEEKS TO PERSUADE MEN TO FOLLOW HIM. THEREFORE, ALL THOSE WHOFOLLOW SATAN AND DO HIS EVIL WILL, ARE ALSO MY ENEMY IN THE BROAD SCHEME OF THINGS.
GOD IS A GOD OF JUSTICE. WE ESPECIALLY SEE HIS JUSTICE ILLUSTRATED FREQUENTLY IN THE OLDTESTAMENT. BECAUSE OF THAT, IT IS NOT UNUSUAL TO SEE AN OLD TESTAMENT BELIEVER DESIREJUSTICE FOR GOD. A PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION WITH THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD ALSO MEANS APERSONAL IDENTIFICATION WITH THE JUSTICE OF GOD. THAT IS WHY WE SEE A MAN LIKE DAVID CALLFOR JUSTICE, NOT SO MUCH ON A PERSONAL LEVEL BUT ON THE LEVEL OF GOD VS. SATAN.
THIS ASPECT CHANGES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT WITH THE FIRST COMING OF CHRIST.
READ LUK 9:51-56
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TIME OF ELIJAH AND THE TIME OF JAMES AND JOHN?
THE TIME OF ELIJAH WAS A PERIOD OF LAW. THE TIME OF JESUS FIRST COMING IS A PERIODOF GRACE. IT IS BECAUSE OF A CHANGE IN THE DISPENSATIONS OF TIME, THAT JESUS SAID WE ARETO PRAY FOR OUR ENEMIES. READ MAT 5:44 AND
ROM 12:19-20.
IS IT WRONG FOR A NEW TESTAMENT BELIEVER TO PRAY DAVIDS PRAYER OF VINDICATION (PSA5:10) TODAY? YES. IT WOULD BE A SIN TO PRAY THIS WAY AGAINST AN ENEMY.
THE BELIEVERS DELIGHT (11-12):
THERE IS JOY FOR THE BELIEVER NO MATTER WHAT SITUATION HE FACES. WHY? BECAUSE:
1. GOD DEFENDS YOU AGAINST YOUR ENEMIES.
2. GOD WILL GIVE YOU FAVOR EVEN WITH NON-BELIEVERS.
3. GOD WILL BE ALL AROUND YOU LIKE A SHIELD
READ PSA 6:1-10 A PRAYER FOR DELIVERANCE FROM SICKNESS AND EARLY DEATH BY DAVID.
IT IS ADDRESSED TO “THE CHIEF MUSICIAN ON NEGINOTH UPON SHEMINITH”
REMEMBER “NEGINOTH” MEANS = STRINGED INSTRUMENTS
“SHEMINITH” = LITERALLY IT MEANS = UPON THE OCTAVE, BUT IT WAS ALSO A HARP WITH5 STRINGS .
THE PRIMARY INTERPRETATION:
PREVIOUSLY WE HAVE SEEN MORNING AND EVENING PSALMS. THIS PSALM IS A PRAYER IN DEPTHS OFTHE DARKEST NIGHT. IT IS A CRY FOR MERCY.
SIN SOMETIMES CAUSES PHYSICAL ILLNESS. THIS WAS THE CASE WITH DAVID. HE CALLED ON GOD FORPHYSICAL HEALING (2), BUT HE KNEW GOD WAS NOT PLEASED WITH HIM (1). WE ARE NOT TOLD THEEXACT NATURE OF DAVIDS SIN HERE. IT MAY HAVE BEEN THE SIN HE COMMITTED WITHBATHSHEBA. IT MAY HAVE BEEN THE SIN HE COMMITTED WHEN HE CAUSED THE DEATH OFBATHSHEBAS HUSBAND.
THE EXACT SIN IS NOT IMPORTANT. DAVIDS REACTION IS. DAVIDS CONSCIENCE BOTHEREDHIM (3). HE WAS TROUBLED PHYSICALLY, EMOTIONALLY, AND SPIRITUALLY.
NOTICE THAT EVEN THOUGH HE KNOWS GOD IS NOT PLEASED WITH HIM, HE CALLS TO GOD FOR HELP.
THE ILLUSTRATION HERE IS A NAUGHTY CHILD WHO BEGS HIS ANGRY FATHER TO HELP HIM OUT OFTROUBLE.
IN FACT, HE FELT AS THOUGH THE LORD HAD LEFT HIM ALONE (4). HE BEGS THE LORD TO RETURN TO HIM.
“IN DEATH THERE IS NO REMEMBRANCE OF THEE” (5) =
THIS DOES NOT MEAN THAT DAVID DID NOT BELIEVE IN ETERNAL LIFE AFTER DEATH.
THE WORD “REMEMBRANCE” MEANS = MEMORIAL SERVICE.
IN OTHER WORDS, YOU CANNOT SERVE GOD WHEN THE BODY IS IN THE GRAVE.
THE DIVINE ANSWER BY FAITH (8-10):
DAVID KNEW THE LORD HEARD HIS PRAYER (8-9). HOW DID HE KNOW THAT?
USUALLY THERE IS A SENSE OF PEACE THAT COMES OVER YOU.
FINAL JUSTICE FOR HIS ENEMIES WILL COME FROM GOD (10).
THE PROPHETIC INTERPRETATION:
THE SUFFERING SON OF GOD:
LIKE OTHER PSALMS THAT SHOW THE AGONY OF JESUS CHRIST, THIS ONE PROPHETICALLY SHOWS HISAGONY THE NIGHT HE WAS PRAYING ALL NIGHT IN THE GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE BEFORE HE WENT TO THECROSS.
PSA 6:3 IS VERY MUCH LIKE THE STATEMENT JESUS SAID TO HIS DISCIPLES IN THE GARDEN. READMAT 26:36-46
THE CRY OF THE GODLY PEOPLE IN TIMES OF TROUBLE:
THIS PSALM ALSO RELATES PROPHETICALLY TO THE JEWS DURING THE 7 YEARS OF TRIBULATION BEFORETHE SECOND COMING.
THEIR TROUBLE WILL BE SO GREAT THAT IT WILL DRIVE THEM TO THEIR KNEES. THEY WILL CALL UPONGOD TO SAVE THEM. MANY WHO TURN TO GOD WILL BE MARTYRED. THE REMAINDER ASK GOD, “HOWLONG?”
READ REV. 6:9-10
THE PERSONAL INTERPRETATION:
MAKE A LIST OF THE THINGS DAVID WANTS FROM THE LORD:
DAVID WANTS:
GODS MERCY (1-2)
HEALING (3)
EMOTIONAL PEACE (3)
GODS PRESENCE (4)
REST (6)
COMFORT (7)
FREEDOM FROM ENEMIES (8)
FOR ANY BELIEVER WHO FINDS HIMSELF IN THE DEPTHS OF TROUBLE, SIN, PAIN, SICKNESS, OR INNEED OF ANY OF THESE 7 THINGS THAT DAVID DESPERATELY DESIRED FROM THE LORD, THIS IS A VERYRELEVANT PRAYER.
IT IS A PRAYER FROM THE HEART FOR FORGIVENESS, DELIVERANCE, AND HEALING. BY FAITH, THEREIS THE ASSURANCE THAT GOD HEARS THIS PRAYER.
HOMEWORK
PSALMS 7
THIS IS A SELF-STUDY. PLEASE DO NOT SEND HOMEWORK ANSWERS TO THE TEACHER FORCORRECTION.
APPLICATION OF PSA 5 AND 6
WHAT IN PSA 5 OR 6 IS THE MOST RELEVANT TO YOUR PERSONAL LIFE TODAY?
PRAY THE WAY DAVID PRAYED:
….TELL GOD THE PROBLEM….THANK GOD FOR WHO HE IS…EXPRESS SOME ASPECT OF GODSCHARACTER THAT CAN BEST FULFILLS YOUR NEED…THANK GOD FOR THE ANSWER. KEEP PRAYING UNTILPEACE COMES. BY THAT YOU WILL KNOW HE HAS HEARD YOU.
PREPARATION FOR PSA 7
READ PSA 7:1-17 A CRY FOR REVENGE
READ PSA 7:2 AND 1PET 5:8.
THE CRY FOR REVENGE IN THIS PSALM IS A CRY AGAINST WHICH ENEMY?
WHAT CHARACTERISTICS DO YOU SEE ABOUT GOD IN THIS CHAPTER?
MEMORY VERSE: PSALM 7:17
