Sunday, October 25, 2015

Preaching Through the Psalms -- Psalm 17 -- Savior, Savior Hear My Humble Cry

SAVIOR, SAVIOR, HEAR MY HUMBLE CRY
TEXT:  Psalm 17:1-15

Psalms 17:1-15 (KJV)  A Prayer of David. Hear the right, O LORD, attend unto my cry, give ear unto my prayer, that goeth not out of feigned lips.  2  Let my sentence come forth from thy presence; let thine eyes behold the things that are equal.  3  Thou hast proved mine heart; thou hast visited me in the night; thou hast tried me, and shalt find nothing; I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.  4  Concerning the works of men, by the word of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer.  5  Hold up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not.  6  I have called upon thee, for thou wilt hear me, O God: incline thine ear unto me, and hear my speech.  7  Shew thy marvellous lovingkindness, O thou that savest by thy right hand them which put their trust in thee from those that rise up against them.  8  Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings,  9  From the wicked that oppress me, from my deadly enemies, who compass me about.  10  They are inclosed in their own fat: with their mouth they speak proudly.  11  They have now compassed us in our steps: they have set their eyes bowing down to the earth;  12  Like as a lion that is greedy of his prey, and as it were a young lion lurking in secret places.  13  Arise, O LORD, disappoint him, cast him down: deliver my soul from the wicked, which is thy sword:  14  From men which are thy hand, O LORD, from men of the world, which have their portion in this life, and whose belly thou fillest with thy hid treasure: they are full of children, and leave the rest of their substance to their babes.  15  As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.

I.               INTRODUCTION—THE OLD SONG

-I would hope that all of us have at least heard if not sung one of the old classics of bygone years.  It was a song that was frequently sung by those who were under some of the greatest burdens and sorrows of life.  In fact, it was not just a song it was something of an anthem for the weary and pressured.

Pass Me Not O Gentle Savior

Verse 1:  Pass me not, O gentle Savior,
hear my humble cry; while on others thou art calling, do not pass me by.

Verse 2:  Let me at thy throne of mercy find a sweet relief,
kneeling there in deep contrition; help my unbelief.

Verse 3:  Trusting only in thy merit,
would I seek thy face; heal my wounded, broken spirit, save me by thy grace.

Verse 4:  Thou the spring of all my comfort, more than life to me,
Whom have I on earth beside thee?  Whom in heaven but thee?

-This psalm has the same tone of voice that this song has.

Preaching Through the Psalms -- Psalm 16 -- The Preservation of a Godly Man

THE PRESERVATION OF A GODLY MAN
TEXT:  Psalm 16:1-11

Psalms 16:1-11 KJV  Michtam of David. Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust.  [2]  O my soul, thou hast said unto the LORD, Thou art my Lord: my goodness extendeth not to thee;  [3]  But to the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent, in whom is all my delight.  [4]  Their sorrows shall be multiplied that hasten after another god: their drink offerings of blood will I not offer, nor take up their names into my lips.  [5]  The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot.  [6]  The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage.  [7]  I will bless the LORD, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons.  [8]  I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.  [9]  Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.  [10]  For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.  [11]  Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

I.               INTRODUCTION—THE NECESSITY OF PREACHING

-This is a personal confession of sorts in that I know that we have been tracking through the Psalms for several months now.  While I have not preached from the Psalms every time I have preached, I know that I am going against the typical Pentecostal tradition by doing this. 

-Yet, I feel like the Lord has been dealing with me for quite some time now to change the direction of my preaching.  I recently read an analogy that likened expository preaching, which is the method that I have been doing in the Psalms series, the life of David series, the Acts messages, the 1st John series, and the Sermon on the Mount, to reading a book all the way through from start to finish.