PSALM 18
Psalms
PSALM CHAPTER 18
MAINTAINING HAPPINESS:
GROWING THROUGH FAITH
HONEST, EFFECTIVE PRAISE OF GOD
1. AN HONEST EXPRESSION OF LOVE. V.1
A. DESCRIBING THE ‘WHO’ OF HIS LOVE. V. 2
—MY ROCK. DEUT. 32:4. THE SOURCE OF THEIR LIFE, DEUT. 32:17.
PLACE OF PROTECTION, EX. 33:22.
PLACE OF SATISFACTION, NUM. 20:8-10.
MAKER OF THE CHURCH, MATT. 16:18.
CAUSE OF STUMBLING TO UNBELIEVERS, ROM. 9:33, I PET. 2:8.
—THE FORTRESS. JER. 16:19, PS. 119:114.
—DELIVERER. ROM. 11:26.
DELIVER FROM WHAT TO WHAT ?
FROM JUDGMENT 2 PET. 2:7,
FROM DESTRUCTION OF TRIALS, 2 TIM. 3:11.
*DELIVERANCE FROM ALL PRESSURES ? DISCOMFORTS ? NO.
—MY GOD. emphasis on “MY.” OTHER PEOPLE’S GOD:
emphasis on “GOD.” HIS LORDSHIP ROLE. PS. 143:10, LUKE 6:46.
PUTTING HIS LEADING BEFORE SELF AND OTHER INFLUENCES. IS. 25:1.
THE SANTA CLAUS GOD. JAMES 1:6-7, I JOHN 5:14-15.
THE PERMISSIVE GOD. I PETER 1:16, EPH. 4:13.
—STRENGTH. HOW FEEBLE IT IS TO DEPEND ON OUR OWN STRENGTH !
2 COR. 12:9, IS. 49:4, PS. 38:10.
—MY TRUST. OUR TRUST SHOULD RESULT IN SOME GOOD ACTIONS.
PS. 73:28.
—BUCKLER. USUALLY A SMALL SHIELD USED ON THE HAND OR ARM WHICH
HELD THE SWORD. 2 SAM. 22:31.
—HORN OF SALVATION. “HORN” IS USED TO DENOTE POWER AND
STRENGTH. I SAM. 2:1. MUST NEVER BE OUR OWN, PS. 75:4-7.
—HIGH TOWER. PS. 144:2, 2 SAM. 22:3.
*(Imagine the value of it when you have your armor on, too !)
VISIBILITY TO SEE WHAT IS REALLY HAPPENING.
AN ADVANTAGE IN SHOOTING AT THE ENEMY.
2. THE INSECURITY ONE HAS WITHOUT GOD. V. 4-6.
**DID DAVID SHOW DETERMINATION NOT TO STAY IN THAT CONDITION ??
A. SORROWS COMPASS HIM.
—OPPRESSING SORROWS (ONES NOT TURNED OVER TO GOD). PS. 116:2-4.
**THE SOLUTION IS CLEAR. IS. 53:4.
B. PEOPLE MADE HIM AFRAID. PROV. 29:25, PROV. 10:21-24, HEB. 13:6.
C. SORROWS OF HELL COMPASSED HIM. V.5
D. THE SNARES OF DEATH PRECEDED HIM.
THROUGH JUDGMENTS FROM GOD. MARK 13:8.
THROUGH LOVE OF MONEY. 2 TIM. 3:16.
THROUGH LOVE OF THIS WORLD. I JOHN 2:15, JAMES 4:4.
3. THE RELIEF FROM TROUBLES ! FAITH IN GOD ! V.7-17.
A. THE POWER OF AN ALMIGHTY GOD. PHIL. 4:13, PS. 91:1,
—TO HEAR EVEN ONE SMALL VOICE IN THE UNIVERSE. HOW ?
JER. 32:27—NOTHING TOO HARD FOR GOD. IS. 59:1.
I TIM. 2:5—REQUIRES A MEDIATOR. JOHN 14:6.
—TO HEAR ONLY CERTAIN PEOPLE. PS. 4:3, PS. 145:19, I PET. 3:12.
B. THE ABILITY OF GOD TO ANSWER OUR NEEDS. PHIL. 4:19.
—EMPHASIS UPON “NEEDS.”
**GOD DOES NOT EXIST FOR OUR PERSONAL DESIRES AND WANTS.
INSTEAD, WE HAVE BEEN MADE FOR HIS PLEASURE. REV. 4:11.
—WHAT IS GOD’S DEFINITION OF NEEDS ? KRI-AH=“NECESSITY FOR LIVING”
I TIM. 6:8. —HAS GOD BLESSED YOU BEYOND YOUR “NEED ?”
C. THE TIMELINESS OF OUR PRAYERS IS IMPORTANT.
—ALWAYS TO PRAY. I THES. 5:17, ACTS 12:5
—TIMES OF DISTRESS FIND SPECIAL CONDITIONS. MATT. 14:30, PS. 118:5.
