Psalm 1
Separation
from the World
Divided
into five books. Set to music. 73 by David, one-third anonymous. Hebrew parallelism (antithetical, synonymous,
synthetic). Imprecatory (under the
law). Messianic, alphabetic. Writing covers entire period of OT.
Intro: Separating after a 5-mi. run—take ID
tags. David separated the godly from the
ungodly.
1. The Righteous
- Negatively (v. 1)
Walk not . . .
1000’s of
calls to the Psychic network
Dt. 18
Is 47:13
Counsel:
Instruction, Guidance
2 Cor 10:12
Stand not . . .
Road
less traveled
Jn. 14:6
(exclusivity)
Peer
pressure
Way: Manner
Can’t put a
sick man in the same room as a healthy man and expect good results
Sit not . . .
Seat: Assembly, Dwelling Place
Scorners: Turn aside, Speak obliquely
Jesus ate
with the sinners
Be a
friend...don't be a partner
As Mahatma Gandhi observed, "In
matters of conscience, the law of majority has no place." In other words,
our own standards are the only ones that count.
That's the way the Greek
sculptor Phidias felt when carving the statue of Athena for the Acropolis. He
was busy chiseling the strands of her hair at the back of her head when an
onlooker commented, "That figure is to stand 100 feet high, with its back
to a marble wall. Who will ever know what details you are putting behind
there?"
Phidias replied, "I
will." (Source: Wit and wisdom)
- Positively
Their delight (v. 2):
desire, longing (grows with experience)
Meditates: Soliloquize, Muse
The teenager lost a contact lens
while playing basketball in his driveway. After a fruitless search, he told his
mother the lens was nowhere to be found. Undaunted, she went outside and in a
few minutes returned with the lens in her hand. "I really looked hard for
that, Mom," said the youth. "How'd you manage to find it?"
"We weren't looking for the same thing," she replied. "You were
looking for a small piece of plastic. I was looking for $150."
Something took place in the fall of
1944 that can explain a major reason many children are facing a losing battle
in today's families. It was late October when an officer commanding a platoon
of American soldiers received a call from headquarters. Over the radio, this captain learned his unit
was being ordered to recapture a small French city from the Nazis -- and he
learned something else from headquarters as well. For weeks, French resistance
fighters had risked their lives to gather information about the German
fortifications in that city, and they had smuggled this information out to the
Allies. The French Underground's efforts had provided the Americans with something worth its weight in gold: a
detailed map of the city. It wasn't just a map with the names of major streets and
landmarks; it showed specific details of the enemy's defensive positions.
Indeed, the map even identified shops and buildings where German soldiers
bunked or where a machine-gun nest or a sniper had been stationed. Block by
block, the Frenchmen gave an accounting of the German units and the gun
emplacements they manned. For a captain who was already concerned about
mounting casualty lists, receiving such information was an answer to prayer.
Although the outcome of the war wouldn't depend on this one skirmish, to him it
meant that he wouldn't have to write as many letters to his men's parents or
wives telling them their loved one had been cut down in battle. Before the
soldiers moved out to take their objective, the Captain gave each man a chance
to study the map. And wanting to make sure his men read it carefully, he
hurriedly gave them a test covering the major landmarks and enemy strongholds.
Just before his platoon moved out, the officer graded the test, and with minor
exceptions every man earned a perfect score. As a direct result of having that
map to follow, the men captured the city with little loss of American lives.
Nearly thirty years after this military operation took place, an army
researcher heard the story and decided to base a study on it. The project began
in France, where instead of a platoon of soldiers, he arranged for a group of
American tourists to help him with his research. For several hours, the men and
women were allowed to study the same map the soldiers had, and then they were
given the same test. You can guess the results. Most of the tourists failed
miserably. The reason for the difference between these two groups was obvious
-- motivation. Knowing their lives were on the line, the soldiers were highly
motivated to learn every detail of the map.
For the tourists, being in a research study provided some motivation.
But most of them had nothing to lose but a little pride if they failed the
test.
The Gift
of Honor, Gary
Smalley &
John Trent,
Ph.D. Page 1-2
Their strength (v. 3)
Their standing (v. 6)
Mt. 7:24
Fruit
of Spirit; in His season
Eph 2:8-10;
Col 1:9-10
Wither: Fade, Fall, Come to nothing
Prosper: Advance, Be in good condition
The story is told that Andrew
Jackson's boyhood friends just couldn't understand how he became a famous
general and then the President of the United States. They knew of other men who
had greater talent but who never succeeded. One of Jackson's friends said,
"Why, Jim Brown, who lived right down the pike from Jackson, was not only
smarter but he could throw Andy three times out of four in a wrestling match.
But look where Andy is now." Another friend responded, "How did there
happen to be a fourth time? Didn't they usually say three times and out?"
"Sure, they were supposed to, but not Andy. He would never admit he was
beat -- he would never stay 'throwed.' Jim Brown would get tired, and on the
fourth try Andrew Jackson would throw him and be the winner." Picking up
on that idea, someone has said, "The thing that counts is not how many
times you are 'throwed,' but whether you are willing to stay 'throwed'."
We may face setbacks, but we must take courage and go forward in faith. Then,
through the Holy Spirit's power we can be the eventual victor over sin and the
world. The battle is the Lord's, so there is no excuse for us to stay
"throwed"! Our Daily Bread, December 11
2. The Ungodly
-
Their
weakness (v. 4)
-
Chaff
In a seminary missions class,
Herbert Jackson told how, as a
new
missionary, he was assigned a car that would not start without
a push.
After poundering his problem, he
divised a plan. He went to
the school
near his home, got permission to take some children out
of class,
and had them push his car off. As he made his rounds,
he would
either park on a hill or leave the engine running. He
used this
ingenious procedure for two years. Ill
health forced the Jackson family to leave, and a new missionary came to that
station. When Jackson proudly began to explain his arrangement for getting the
car started, the new man began looking under the hood. Before the explanation
was complete, the new missionary interrupted, "Why, Dr. Jackson, I believe
the only trouble is this loose cable." He gave the cable a twist, stepped
into the car, pushed the switch, and to Jackson's astonishment, the engine roared
to life.
For two years needless trouble had
become routine. The power
was there
all the time. Only a loose connection kept Jackson from
putting
that power to work.
- Their absence (v. 5)
In the judgement
In the congregation of
the righteous
- Their future (v. 6)
"I
think there is a world market for maybe five computers."
Thomas Watson, chairman of IBM, 1943
"I'm
just glad it'll be Clark Gable who's falling on his face and not
Gary Cooper."
Gary Cooper on his decision not to take the leading role in
"Gone With The Wind."
"We
don't like their sound, and guitar music is on the way out."
Decca Recording Co. rejecting the Beatles, 1962.
.
"The
bomb will never go off. I speak as an expert in explosives."
Admiral William Leahy, US Atomic Bomb Project.
.
"Stocks
have reached what looks like a permanently high plateau."
Irving Fisher, Professor of Economics, Yale University, 1929.
"Man
will never reach the moon regardless of all future scientific
advances."
Dr. Lee De Forest, inventor of the vacuum tube and father of
television.
Two people,
two ways, two destinies.
There is a
separation—which way are you going?
Ps 7
Justice is
Coming (or, The Cry of the Oppressed)
Cush, a foe
of David.
Sherry and
I watched a show on a 30-year old murder finally brought to justice.
vv. 1-2,
God is a refuge (Ps 46)
save me (Peter, shortest prayer)
all my pursuers
as a lion (Satan, 1 Pet 5:8)
drag me away
no one to rescue me
vv. 3-5, If
I have sinned (Cush accusing David; Satan=accuser)
let them pursue me
trample my life
1 Cor 11:31
vv. 6-8,
Rise up, God
in Your anger
assemblies gathered around You
judge me, according to my integrity
(not sinless, just innocent of the charges brought against him)
Rom 12:19,
Give place to God's wrath
vv. 9-11,
Let the evil come to an end (Ps 73)
establish the righteous
God tests the minds and hearts (Heb
4:12)
God is righteous (He loves, and He
holy)
vv. 12-16,
Repent
conceive evil
pregnant with mischief
bring forth lies
they fall into their own pit (Esther
7:7-10, Haman)
v. 17, Give
thanks to the Lord; sing praise to His name
Psalm 8 (In
the Name of the Lord)
Introduction: Sherry and I naming Taylor. Article said children live up to their
name. Jesus and David say names are
important.
1. The Glory of God (vv. 1-2)
Name-Exodus 20:7; Acts 4:12; Son of
Man-God-David; Ph'p. 2:10
Above the Heavens-Is. 55:8-9; Ph'p.
4:7
God did not have to
reveal Himself, thus, a good God.
Babes and Sucklings-1 Cor. 1:18 ff;
Mt. 21:15-16
2. The Creation of God (v. 3)
Moon and Stars-Gen. 1:14 ff: Next star is Alpha Centauri, 4.3 light years;
Moon 250,000 mi. (1.3 sec.); Sun 93,000,000 mi. (8.3 min.); millions of stars
in the Milky Way
3. The Image of God (vv. 4-9)
Rom. 1:18 ff.
Gen. 1:26; Dominion; subdue;
rational, unlike animals.
Psalm 15
Who shall
abide in thy Tabernacle?
1. The
Righteous v. 2
2. The
Restrained v. 3
3. The
Respectable v. 4
4. The
Reasonable v. 5_€____z_Psalm 16
The Rock
-We need
something to hold on to
-Something
that stands its ground and does not move
-16th Ps.,
David was reflecting on the goodness of the Lord
-He
described how the Lord maintained him, how things had fallen into place
-He
acknowledged the counsel of the Lord and His instruction
-And he
attributed all this to the fact that he has set the Lord before him
-He could
thus say, "I shall not be moved"
-This
strengthens our convictions, solidifies our determination, and gives us hope
-This is
why David could say, "Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory
rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in
hope."
Psalm 15:2
1. Walk
2. Word
3. Work
Psalm 17:14
They have
their portion
1. Their beginning, Dt. 8:10-20
2. Their end, Ps. 73:17
3. Their reward, Mt. 6:1-6 (2 Cor. 4:17-18)
The
Messianic Psalms
1A Psalm 22 Cross
2A Psalm 23 Crook
(Shepherd's)
3A Psalm 24 Crown
Psalm
36:7&8/Lk. 13:34
Ducks in my
back yard in Alabama had ducklings following.
The Mothers provided for all their needs and protected them from me
chasing them.
Ps 48
(deliverance of Jerus. From Sennacherib-2K 18-19)
Prism in
Chicago
Siege
Warfare
God: A "Havre de Grace"
v. 1, Holy
Mountain
not suitable for a thriving city
Lot didn't want it
Jn 2:15, Satan disguises it
v. 2, Joy
of the Whole Earth
Abram: all nations
will be blessed because of you
When the H.S. is taken (2 Th 2:7)
v. 3, God
is a sure defense/refuge (Nahum 1:7)
vv. 4-6,
They saw it and feared (how do people react when they see YOUR witness?)
"I want what YOU have"
Elisha in Dothan, 2K 6:15-17
vv. 12-13,
Walk around Zion (Job's Hedge)
Tell the next generation (Dt 6:4-9)
Compare to the world (superficial)
v. 14, Even
to death (I am indestructable...)
What is your citizenship? (Phil
3:20)
Ps 72:1-4
Spiritual
Leadership (Solomon; Messianic Reign)
Intro: Commander's Intent
Promotion
System based on Responsibility
1. vv. 1-2, Leader's Responsibility: (Solomon's prayer)
Justice
Righteousness (Jer 9:23)
Required of Stewards (1Cor 4:2)
Faithful in little/much
2. v. 3, Yields Prosperity (Joshua 1:8-9)
Give up stuff--God rewards them (Mt
19:28)
Solomon's Prayer (1K 3:5-13)
3. v. 4, Spiritual Leaders
Defend cause of the poor
The poor you will always
have
15% of wealth controlled
by 85% of population
Gives deliverance to the needy
Crushes the oppressor (Ex 3:9; Lev
25:14; Job 27:13; Is 16:14)
Commander's
Intent.
Ps. 73
“There is
an End”
Intro: Road march, hit by snowplow. The writer of Ps. 73 needed to see the end.
1. The Wicked Prosper
v. 3, the wicked will prosper, and the writer “saw” it (he
envied them) (Prov. 23:17-18) (lust of the eyes; kids want colorful ice cream)
(world: cosmos; Satan: angel of light)
vv. 4-5, their strength is firm, they are not plagued like
other men (Lam. 3:22; Job 21:7-18)
v. 6, therefore, they are surrounded by pride (“How does God
know,” v. 11) (Jer. 12:1-2; Ecc. 8:11)
v. 7, they have more than heart could wish (Dt. 29:29; Is.
55:8-9)
2. The Righteous Suffer. vv. 13-14, I have cleansed my heart in vain,
and I am plagued and chastened (there is no benefit in righteous living, just
look all around me) (Heb. 12:5-9)
3. In the end, God is Just
vv. 16-17, when I thought about it, it was too painful,
until I went into the sanctuary of God, where I understood their end (he
removed himself from the disarray of the world, to the order and harmony of
God’s sanctuary) (1 Cor. 14:40)
v. 18, God set them in slippery places (not a firm foundation: The Word) (they refused to accept the cure
offered them on the cross; their rejection of Him led to His rejection of them)
v. 19, they are consumed in a moment (Rev. 20:11-13)
v. 20, as a dream when one wakes up, it’s all gone
v. 22, I was foolish and ignorant to envy them (Job 42:1-3)
(nuclear plant: controlled explosion) (2
Cor. 4:17-18)
v. 24, God shall guide and receive you
v. 27, Sheep wander away and are attacked
v. 28, “It is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord God” (Ps. 1)
(easy to float downstream: try swimming
against the current)
Prov. 24:19-20
Conclusion: Road march, hit by snow plow. There is an end.
Chapel
Dedication
Psalm 84
As we
dedicate this chapel to the glory of God, let us remember the joy that flooded
the Israelites hearts as they established their temple
Bondage-had
no place of our own
Wilderness-wandered
from place to place
Temple-now
we have a place to call our own
Great day
to be a Regular by God
v. 2-the
Lord sustained him
v.
5-strength not in himself, but the Lord
v. 11-God
acknowledges those who live by Him
Blessed is
the man that trusts in Thee
Ask what
people are thankful for
Thanksgiving
Service-Be thankful unto God-the One Who gives us all these things
Psalm 100
1. Make a joyful noise
Say it
So that others can join in-like I
did
2. Serve with gladness
Not out of fear
But out of love-1 Jn. 4:18-19
3. Acknowledge Him as Creator
He made us-all that we have, we have
only Him to thank (Ja. 1:17)
Sheep of His pasture-He leads,
disciplines, provides, cares, gives rest, gives His life (Ps. 23/Jn. 10:11)
4. Be thankful unto Him
We don't deserve good-Lam 3:22
We should be thankful for everything
5. He is good
He revealed Himself to us
His truth endureth
Ps.
119:9-16
- Hebrew
alphabet and Ps. 119
- Man's
inclination is to usurp God's authority
- Humanist
Manifesto
- Reading
owner's manual
- Read
owner's manual called the Book of Life
- Young men
can cleanse their way through this Word
Ps. 139:3-4
1. Search me
2. Try me
3. Lead me
Dedication
Service
Ps. 139:13
1A Scripture reading
1B
Ps. 139:13&14
2B
2 Sam. 12:22&23
3B
Mk. 10:14-16
2B Everyone say something about the child they
remember.
3B All place hands on child and I pray (thank God for time on earth).