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RETURN TO SYLLABUS
PSALMS 25 AND 26
LESSON #19
WHEN SUFFERING THE CONSEQUENCES OF SIN
MEMORY VERSE: PSALMS 26:12
PSALMS 25-39 IS A NEW SECTION IN OUR STUDY OF PSALMS. THESE FIFTEEN PSALMS TELL USPRIMARILY OF DAVIDS PERSONAL EXPERIENCES IN THE MIDST OF VARIOUS KINDS OF PROBLEMS.
PRIMARY INTERPRETATION AND PERSONAL APPLICATION:
PSALM 25 IS AN ACROSTIC PSALM. IT IS WRITTEN AROUND THE HEBREW ALPHABET. WE DO NOTSEE THIS IN ENGLISH BUT EACH VERSE BEGINS WITH A CONSECUTIVE LETTER OF THE HEBREWALPHABET. THERE ARE 22 LETTERS IN THE HEBREW ALPHABET AND 22 VERSES.
FOR EXAMPLE: IF WE WERE TO DO THIS IN ENGLISH WE WOULD BEGIN VERSE 1 WITH A WORD STARTINGWITH THE LETTER “A”. VERSE 2 WOULD BEGIN WITH A WORD STARTING WITH THELETTER “B”. VERSE 3 WOULD USE LETTER “C” AND SO ON. THIS WAS DONE TOMAKE IT EASY TO MEMORIZE.
BECAUSE THIS PSALM IS ABOUT DAVIDS EXPERIENCES, WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE SITUATIONDAVID WAS ENDURING.
READ 2SAM 13:1-5, 11-15, 21-22
IN 2SAM 13 WE SEE KING DAVIDS THREE CHILDREN. ABSALOM AND TAMAR WERE BROTHER ANDSISTER FROM THE SAME MOTHER, MAACAH. AMNON WAS A HALF BROTHER FROM A DIFFERENT MOTHER. FORTWO YEARS ABSALOM HAS NOURISHED HIS HATRED FOR HIS BROTHER BECAUSE OF THE RAPE OF HISSISTER. FINALLY ABSALOM FINDS HIS OPPORTUNITY TO KILL AMNON.
WE HAVE THE SAME KINDS OF MIXED FAMILIES IN ABUNDANCE TODAY. NOW WE HAVE A NEW WORD FORTHEM. THEY ARE CALLED “BLENDED” FAMILIES. THESE FAMILIES HAVE A GREATERDIFFICULTY THAN OTHER FAMILIES, OFTEN NOT TO THIS EXTENT OF HATRED AND MURDER, BUT MOREFREQUENTLY AN ABUNDANCE OF RESENTMENT, HATRED, AND DIFFICULTIES.
IF THIS IS YOUR FAMILY SITUATION, PERHAPS DAVIDS EXPERIENCE IN THIS PSALM WILL HELPYOU.
READ PSA 25:1-7TO BE TEACHABLE IN TIMES OF TROUBLE
“UNTO THEE, O LORD, DO I LIFT UP MY SOUL”.(1)
IN THE MIDST OF TROUBLE, IF YOU CAN LIFT YOUR EYES FROM YOUR PROBLEMS AND FOCUS ON THELORD, YOU WILL GIVE ENCOURAGEMENT TO YOUR SOUL.
“LET ME NOT BE ASHAMED, LET NOT MINE ENEMIES TRIUMPH OVER ME” (2)
YOU CAN IMAGINE DAVIDS EMBARRASSMENT AS A KING, HIS ANGUISH AS A FATHER WHO LOVEDHIS CHILDREN, AND HIS GUILT FOR THE PART HE PLAYED.
THE PART DAVID PLAYED IN THIS TRAGEDY:
1. THIS TRAGEDY WAS ONE OF THE CONSEQUENCES OF DAVIDS SIN WITH BATHSHEBA. (2SAM12:10-11)
AS A PARENT HE WAS THE MODEL FOR HIS CHILDREN REGARDING SEXUAL RELATIONSHIPS.
2. IT WAS DAVID WHO INNOCENTLY TOLD TAMAR TO TAKE CARE OF HER BROTHER AMNON. (2SAM 13:6-7)
3. DAVID DID NOT ADMINISTER JUSTICE TO HIS SON, AMNON, AS HE SHOULD HAVE DONE. THEPUNISHMENT FOR SUCH A CRIME OF RAPE AND INCEST WAS STONING. HE WAS THE KING IN AUTHORITY,BUT BECAUSE THIS WAS HIS SON, HE LET HIS OWN PERSONAL FEELINGS INTERFERE WITH JUSTICE.
HE ALSO DID NOT DEAL JUSTLY WITH ABSALOM FOR HIS CRIME OF MURDER.
WHO IS THE ENEMY IN PSALM 25?
SATAN WHO SEEKS TO DESTROY FAMILIES.
DAVID WAS IN A PLACE WHERE HE FELT AS THOUGH HE WAS A FAILURE AS A PARENT AND AS A KING.THIS WAS A CRUSHING DEFEAT TO HIM PERSONALLY AND TO HIS KINGDOM. IT IS EASIER TO DEAL WITHEXTERNAL ENEMIES THAN WITH ENEMIES WITHIN YOUR OWN HOUSEHOLD.
“SHOW ME THY WAYS, O LORD; TEACH ME THY PATHS. LEAD ME IN THY TRUTH, AND TEACHME;” (4-5)
DAVID REALIZES HE IS NOT PERFECT. HE HAS A LOT TO LEARN. THIS IS AN ATTITUDE OF HUMILITYTHAT WE NEED TO HAVE AS WELL.
GOD CAN TEACH US MANY GOOD LESSONS THROUGH THE PROBLEMS THAT WE ENDURE. HOWEVER, WE HAVETO BE WILLING TO LEARN THESE LESSONS.
NOTICE HOW MANY TIMES DAVID REFERS TO GOD TEACHING HIM IN THIS PSALM: VSS. 4, 5, 8, 9, 12.
“REMEMBER, O LORD, THY TENDER MERCIES AND THY LOVING-KINDNESSES;” (6)
WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GODS “TENDER MERCIES” ANDGODS “LOVING KINDNESS”?
TENDER MERCIES = THIS IS GODS COMPASSIONATE FORGIVENESS WHEN WE DO NOT DO THINGSRIGHT.
GOD FORGIVES US, NOT FOR OUR SAKE, BECAUSE WE DO NOT DESERVE HIS FORGIVENESS. HOWEVER, GODFORGIVES US FOR CHRISTS SAKE (25:11)
GOD PROMISES TO FORGIVE OUR SINS IF WE CONFESS THEM TO HIM AND THROW OURSELVES ONGODS MERCY. (1JOH 1:9) HOWEVER, SOMETIMES WE STILL HAVE TO LIVE WITH THECONSEQUENCES OF THOSE SINS. THIS WAS DAVIDS SITUATION. GOD FORGAVE HIM OF HIS SINWITH BATHSHEBA, (PSA 51) BUT HE STILL LIVED WITH THE CONSEQUENCES OF IT. THAT IS WHERE THE”LOVING KINDNESS” IS RELEVANT.
LOVING KINDNESS = THIS IS GODS UNCONDITIONAL LOVE IN A SITUATION THAT DOES NOTDESERVE ANYTHING FROM GOD. WE NEED GODS LOVING KINDNESS TO DEAL WITH THECONSEQUENTIAL SITUATIONS THAT RESULT FROM OUR SIN.
NOTICE THAT DAVID REFERS TO HIS UNDESERVING CONDITION BECAUSE OF HIS PAST SIN IN PSA 25:7.
REMEMBER PSA 23:6? “SURELY GOODNESS AND MERCY SHALL FOLLOW ME (RUN AFTER ME INPURSUIT) ALL THE DAYS OF MY LIFE.”
READ PSA 25:8-22 TO DO IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME
“GOOD AND UPRIGHT IS THE LORD…THE MEEK WILL HE GUIDE IN JUSTICE” (8-9)
WHILE WE LEARN MANY GOOD LESSONS THROUGH THE TRIALS AND PROBLEMS OF LIFE, WE CAN DECREASETHOSE TRIALS AND PROBLEMS IF WE WOULD JUST DO THINGS GODS WAY IN THE BEGINNING…IFWE WOULD JUST AVOID THE CONSEQUENCES OF SIN!
WHAT IS THE ATTITUDE GOD IS LOOKING FOR THAT WILL HELP YOU AVOID SINFUL CONSEQUENCES?
MEEKNESS
WHAT IS MEEKNESS?
IT IS NOT PASSIVE WEAKNESS. IT MEANS TO BE UNDER DIVINE CONTROL, HUMBLE. IT IS THEOPPOSITE OF PRIDE.
“ALL THE PATHS OF THE LORD ARE MERCY AND TRUTH UNTO SUCH AS KEEP HISCOVENANT…” (10)
WITH AN ATTITUDE OF HUMBLE MEEKNESS, WE WILL CONTINUALLY LEARN GODS WAYS AND LIVE INMERCY AND TRUTH.
WELL, DAVID REALIZED HE HAD FAILED, AS DO WE ALL, SO HE ASKS GODS FORGIVENESS AGAININ VERSE 11.
THE BENEFITS OF DOING IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME: (13-15)
HE WILL LIVE IN PEACE (13)
HIS CHILDREN WILL LIVE IN PEACE IN THE LAND (13)
HE WILL POSSESS THE SECRETS OF GOD. (14)
HE WILL AVOID THE TRAPS (THE NET) OF SATAN. (15)
DAVIDS DETERMINATION TO HAVE THE RIGHT ATTITUDE: (15,21)
HE MAKES A DETERMINATION TO KEEP ALWAYS FOCUSED ON THE LORD.
HE MAKES A DETERMINATION TO WAIT ON THE LORD (21)
THE PROPHETIC INTERPRETATION:
PROPHETICALLY THIS PSALM WILL BE THE CRY OF THE REMNANT OF JEWISH BELIEVERS IN JESUSCHRIST DURING THE TRIBULATION PERIOD.
READ REV 7:2-8.
THEY WILL ENDURE PERSECUTION BY THE ANTI-CHRIST WHO WILL SEEK TO DESTROY THEM AND THEIRFAMILIES.
NOTICE THAT THE LAST VERSE OF THIS PSALM DOES NOT RELATE TO DAVIDS PERSONAL LIFE BUTTO THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL.
AS WE SEE IN REVELATION, GOD WILL PROTECT THEM. IT IS BECAUSE OF THE TENDER MERCIES ANDLOVING KINDNESSES THAT GOD WILL FORGIVE THEIR NATIONAL AND PERSONAL SINS AND GUIDE THEM TOA PLACE IN THE DESERT (POSSIBLY THE CITY OF PETRA IN JORDAN).
PSALM 26 “I SHALL NOT SLIDE”
PRIMARY INTERPRETATION AND PERSONAL APPLICATION:
READ 1 COR 1:30
IT IS BECAUSE OF THE RIGHTEOUSNESS, WISDOM, SANCTIFICATION, AND REDEMPTION OF JESUS CHRISTTHAT ANY PERSON CAN SAY HE IS RIGHTEOUS IN LIVING THE CHRISTIAN LIFE. THIS IS THE BASISFOR OUR FAITH.
THIS IS THE ANCHOR ON WHICH DAVID HOLDS AS HE GOES THROUGH A LIFE OF PROBLEMS. THEREFORE,HE CAN SAY, “I SHALL NOT SLIDE.”
TODAY WE SEE MANY PEOPLE FALL AWAY FROM THE LORD. THEY ARE FAITHFUL FOR AWHILE. IT SEEMSAS THOUGH THEY ARE GROWING IN THE LORD AND GETTING STRONGER. THEN SOME PROBLEM COMES INTOTHEIR LIFE, AND THEY GIVE UP. THEY LET GO OF THE ANCHOR.
HAVE YOU EVER SEEN A SEA MOVIE WHERE THE STORM AT SEA GETS SO BAD THAT THE SAILORS MUSTHOLD ON FOR DEAR LIFE SO THE WIND AND TOSSING OF THE SHIP WILL NOT THROW THEM OVERBOARD?THIS IS THE MENTAL PICTURE THAT THIS PSALM BRINGS TO MIND. I DONT KNOW ABOUT YOU,BUT I DONT WANT TO SLIDE OFF THE DECK OF THE SHIP INTO THE OCEAN DURING A STORM INMY LIFE.
HOW DO WE HOLD ON TO THE ANCHOR?
READ HEB 6:18-20
THIS PASSAGE IN HEBREWS 6 TELLS US THAT JESUS CHRIST IS THAT ANCHOR. HE IS THE BLESSEDHOPE TO WHICH WE LOOK FORWARD. IT IS BY FOCUSING ON CHRIST THAT WE REMAIN STABLE. IF WEPLANT OUR FEET IN HIM, WE WILL NOT SLIDE. HEBREWS 6 TELLS US THAT HE IS OUR HIGH PRIEST.WE CAN ALWAYS GO TO HIM WHATEVER THE STORMS AND PROBLEMS IN LIFE.
READ PSA 26:1-12 “I SHALL NOT SLIDE”
WHAT KEEPS DAVID FROM FALLING AWAY FROM THE LORD?
AS WE HAVE SEEN THROUGH OUR STUDY OF THE PSALMS, DAVIDS LIFE WAS CERTAINLY FILLEDWITH STORMS. ANY ONE OF THEM COULD HAVE CAUSED HIS LIFE TO BE A SHIPWRECK JUST LIKE 2 MEN,HYMENAEUS AND ALEXANDER, IN 1TIM 1:19-20.
WHAT DID DAVID POSSESS THAT HYMENAEUS AND ALEXANDER DID NOT?
HUMILITY AND WISDOM FROM GOD.
THIS PSALM IS VERY MUCH LIKE PSALM 1. HOWEVER, PSALM 1 TELLS US THE NEGATIVE SIDE WHILETHIS PSALM TELLS US THE POSITIVE SIDE.
| PSALM 1 | PSALM 26 |
| THE MAN IS BLESSED WHO DOES NOT WALK ACCORDING TO WORLDLY COUNSEL. (1) | DAVID WALKS IN INTEGRITY AND TRUTH . (1, 3) |
| THE MAN IS BLESSED WHO DOES NOT SIT WITH THOSE WHO SCORN GOD. (1) | DAVID DOES NOT SIT WITH VAIN PERSONS, HYPOCRITES, OR THE WICKED. (4, 5) |
| THE BLESSED MAN DELIGHTS IN THE LAW OF GOD. (2) | DAVID LOVED TO BE IN THE HOUSE OF GOD. (8) |
WHAT DO WE LEARN FROM THIS THAT WILL KEEP US FIRM IN THE FAITH?
DAVIDS WISDOM FROM GOD:
1. DONT FOLLOW WORLDLY ADVICE, BUT SEEK GODLY ADVICE AND FOLLOW IT.
2. DONT SEEK CLOSE FRIENDSHIPS WITH NON-BELIEVERS, BUT SEEK TO BE WITH CHRISTIANS.
3. DONT KEEP YOURSELF AWAY FROM CHURCH OR THE WORD OF GOD, NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS INYOUR LIFE.
4. DONT PURPOSEFULLY PUT YOURSELF IN A POSITION WHERE YOU KNOW THE TEMPTATION TO SINWILL BE TOO GREAT.
IT IS LIKE THE STORY OF THE MOTHER WHO CALLED TO HER LITTLE SON WHEN SHE HEARD A DISTANTNOISE IN THE PANTRY. “ROBERT, WHERE ARE YOU?” “I AM IN THE PANTRY,”ROBERT YELLED. “WHAT ARE YOU DOING THERE?” SHE ASKED.
“IM FIGHTING TEMPTATION, ” ROBERT SAID.
THE PANTRY IS NOT THE PLACE FOR LITTLE ROBERT TO FIGHT TEMPTATION.
DAVID MAKES 6 REQUESTS TO GOD THAT DISPLAY HIS HUMBLE ATTITUDE:
1. “JUDGE ME, O LORD” (1)
2. “EXAMINE ME, O LORD” (2)
3. “PROVE ME” (2)
4. “TEST MY HEART AND MY MIND” (2)
5. “REDEEM ME” (11)
6. “BE MERCIFUL UNTO ME” (11)
SUMMARY:
IT IS BY GODS WISDOM THROUGH HIS WORD THAT WE CAN KEEP OUR FOCUS ON JESUS CHRIST ANDBE GUIDED BY HIM. IT IS BY A HUMBLE ATTITUDE LIKE DAVIDS THAT WE LEARN THROUGH THETRIALS OF LIFE TO BUILD A STRONG CHRISTIAN LIFE.
HOMEWORK
PSALMS 27
THIS IS A SELF-STUDY. PLEASE DO NOT SEND HOMEWORK ANSWERS TO THE TEACHER FORCORRECTION.
APPLICATION OF PSA 25 AND 26
SUFFERING THE CONSEQUENCES OF SIN IS DIFFICULT BUT NOT IMPOSSIBLE TO ENDURE. IT TAKESDETERMINATION NOT TO LET THESE DIFFICULTIES CAUSE YOU TO CURSE GOD AND FALL AWAY.
WHAT CONSEQUENCES OF SIN ARE YOU PRESENTLY DEALING WITH IN YOUR PERSONAL LIFE OR FAMILY?
PRAY AND ASK GOD TO STRENGTHEN YOU.
PRAY AND ASK GOD TO TEACH YOU AS HE TAUGHT DAVID.
DETERMINE TO HAVE AN ATTITUDE OF HUMILITY.
PREPARATION FOR PSA 27
READ PSA 27
WHAT DO YOU LEARN ABOUT FEAR IN THIS PSALM?
WHAT DO YOU LEARN IN THIS PSALM THAT WILL ENABLE YOU TO CONQUER FEAR?
MEMORY VERSE: PSALM 27:1
