Preaching Through the Psalms -- Psalm 11 -- Stay and Fight

STAY AND FIGHT

TEXT:  Psalm 11:1-7

Psalms 11:1-7 KJV  To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. In the LORD put I my trust: how say ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain?  [2]  For, lo, the wicked bend their bow, they make ready their arrow upon the string, that they may privily shoot at the upright in heart.  [3]  If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?  [4]  The LORD is in his holy temple, the LORD'S throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men.  [5]  The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth.  [6]  Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup.  [7]  For the righteous LORD loveth righteousness; his countenance doth behold the upright.

I.                 INTRODUCTION—A MAN WHO WAS DETERMINED TO STAY AND FIGHT

On June 26, 1949 there was a funeral in Tel Aviv, Israel, like none that world had ever seen or known before.  The newspapers reported there were tens of thousands of people present in and around the Great Synagogue on that day.  In the main hall of the synagogue a glass box that was five feet long held thirty porcelain urns.  The newspapers reported that inside of these thirty urns were the ashes of an estimated 200,000 Jews who had been murdered in the Holocaust. 

Preaching Through the Psalms -- Psalm 10 -- A Prayer of Justice for the Wicked

Psalms 10:1-18 KJV  Why standest thou afar off, O LORD? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?  [2]  The wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor: let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined.  [3]  For the wicked boasteth of his heart's desire, and blesseth the covetous, whom the LORD abhorreth.  [4]  The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.  [5]  His ways are always grievous; thy judgments are far above out of his sight: as for all his enemies, he puffeth at them.  [6]  He hath said in his heart, I shall not be moved: for I shall never be in adversity.  [7]  His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: under his tongue is mischief and vanity.  [8]  He sitteth in the lurking places of the villages: in the secret places doth he murder the innocent: his eyes are privily set against the poor.  [9]  He lieth in wait secretly as a lion in his den: he lieth in wait to catch the poor: he doth catch the poor, when he draweth him into his net.  [10]  He croucheth, and humbleth himself, that the poor may fall by his strong ones.  [11]  He hath said in his heart, God hath forgotten: he hideth his face; he will never see it.  [12]  Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up thine hand: forget not the humble.  [13]  Wherefore doth the wicked contemn God? he hath said in his heart, Thou wilt not require it.  [14]  Thou hast seen it; for thou beholdest mischief and spite, to requite it with thy hand: the poor committeth himself unto thee; thou art the helper of the fatherless.  [15]  Break thou the arm of the wicked and the evil man: seek out his wickedness till thou find none.  [16]  The LORD is King for ever and ever: the heathen are perished out of his land.  [17]  LORD, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear:  [18]  To judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that the man of the earth may no more oppress.

I.                 INTRODUCTION—THE MATTER OF INJUSTICE

-When Paul made mention of something that we may have overlooked in our rapid, hurried, and sometimes desperate look at the Scriptures.  But if Paul had the stature of one of the greatest saints and preachers who has ever lived, I think that what he may have spoken should warrant our attention. 

Preaching Through the Psalms -- Psalm 9 -- Praise for the Power of God

Psalms 9:1-20 KJV  To the chief Musician upon Muthlabben, A Psalm of David. I will praise thee, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works.  [2]  I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High.  [3]  When mine enemies are turned back, they shall fall and perish at thy presence.  [4]  For thou hast maintained my right and my cause; thou satest in the throne judging right.  [5]  Thou hast rebuked the heathen, thou hast destroyed the wicked, thou hast put out their name for ever and ever.  [6]  O thou enemy, destructions are come to a perpetual end: and thou hast destroyed cities; their memorial is perished with them. 

Preaching Through the Psalms -- Psalm 8 -- The Glory of the Lord

Psalms 8:1-9 KJV  To the chief Musician upon Gittith, A Psalm of David. O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens.  [2]  Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.  [3]  When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;  [4]  What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?  [5]  For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.  [6]  Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:  [7]  All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field;  [8]  The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.  [9]  O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!

I.                 INTRODUCTION—A “NATURE” PSALM

-This psalm is another that has been written by David.  Just to refresh your memory, from Psalm 3-41, it is noted in the superscription, “A Psalm of David.”  There are only two that do not have this notation with those being Psalm 10 and 33.    

Preaching Through the Psalms -- Psalm 7 -- How to Endure a Grudge

Psalms 7:1-17 KJV  Shiggaion of David, which he sang unto the LORD, concerning the words of Cush the Benjamite. O LORD my God, in thee do I put my trust: save me from all them that persecute me, and deliver me:  [2]  Lest he tear my soul like a lion, rending it in pieces, while there is none to deliver.  [3]  O LORD my God, if I have done this; if there be iniquity in my hands;  [4]  If I have rewarded evil unto him that was at peace with me; (yea, I have delivered him that without cause is mine enemy:)  [5]  Let the enemy persecute my soul, and take it; yea, let him tread down my life upon the earth, and lay mine honour in the dust. Selah.  [6]  Arise, O LORD, in thine anger, lift up thyself because of the rage of mine enemies: and awake for me to the judgment that thou hast commanded.  [7]  So shall the congregation of the people compass thee about: for their sakes therefore return thou on high.  [8]  The LORD shall judge the people: judge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness, and according to mine integrity that is in me.  [9]  Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end; but establish the just: for the righteous God trieth the hearts and reins.  [10]  My defence is of God, which saveth the upright in heart.  [11]  God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day.  [12]  If he turn not, he will whet his sword; he hath bent his bow, and made it ready.  [13]  He hath also prepared for him the instruments of death; he ordaineth his arrows against the persecutors.  [14]  Behold, he travaileth with iniquity, and hath conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood.  [15]  He made a pit, and digged it, and is fallen into the ditch which he made.  [16]  His mischief shall return upon his own head, and his violent dealing shall come down upon his own pate.  [17]  I will praise the LORD according to his righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the LORD most high.

I.                 INTRODUCTION—On Dealing with Grudges         

Jimmy Carter ran for president of the United States against Ronald Reagan in 1980.  According to David Wallis in the New York Times Magazine, prior to a televised debate between the two candidates, columnist George Will came upon Carter’s debate notes and sneaked them to the Reagan camp.  Many pundits felt that Reagan won that debate, and he went on to win the election.  Carter did not forget what George Will had done to him.

Preaching Through the Psalms -- Psalm 6 -- A Sleepless Conscience

A SLEEPLESS CONSCIENCE

TEXT:  Psalm 6:1-10

Psalms 6:1-10 KJV  To the chief Musician on Neginoth upon Sheminith, A Psalm of David. O LORD, rebuke me not in thine anger, neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure.  [2]  Have mercy upon me, O LORD; for I am weak: O LORD, heal me; for my bones are vexed.  [3]  My soul is also sore vexed: but thou, O LORD, how long?  [4]  Return, O LORD, deliver my soul: oh save me for thy mercies' sake.  [5]  For in death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks?  [6]  I am weary with my groaning; all the night make I my bed to swim; I water my couch with my tears.  [7]  Mine eye is consumed because of grief; it waxeth old because of all mine enemies.  [8]  Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity; for the LORD hath heard the voice of my weeping.  [9]  The LORD hath heard my supplication; the LORD will receive my prayer.  [10]  Let all mine enemies be ashamed and sore vexed: let them return and be ashamed suddenly.

I.                 INTRODUCTION—THE SLEEP INDUSTRY

-Time Magazine did an article in January 2013 on the sleep industry.  The article was entitled, “The Sleep Industry:  Why We’re Paying Big Bucks for Something That’s Free.”  Here are some of the snippets of the article: