Preaching Through the Psalms -- Psalm 15 -- The Portrait of a True Worshipper

A PORTRAIT OF A TRUE WORSHIPPER

TEXT:  Psalm 15:1-5

Psalms 15:1-5 KJV  A Psalm of David. LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?  [2]  He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.  [3]  He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour.  [4]  In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the LORD. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not.  [5]  He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved.

I.                 INTRODUCTION—TRUE WORSHIP IS CONNECTED WITH HOLINESS

-This Psalm needs to be one of the most regularly visited psalms in our Bibles.  We often look to various psalms to encourage us, ones like Psalm 23, 42, 91, and 119, but Psalm 15 is one that needs to resonate with every child of God. 

-Psalm 14 is about a polluted man, a sinner. . . the fool has said in his heart.  Psalm 15 is about a perfect man, the saved. . . who will abide. . . who will dwell?

Preaching Through the Psalms -- Psalm 14 -- The Folly and Future of a Fool

THE FOLLY AND FUTURE OF A FOOL

TEXT:  Psalm 14:1-7

Psalms 14:1-7 KJV  To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.  [2]  The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God.  [3]  They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.  [4]  Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my people as they eat bread, and call not upon the LORD.  [5]  There were they in great fear: for God is in the generation of the righteous.  [6]  Ye have shamed the counsel of the poor, because the LORD is his refuge.  [7]  Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! when the LORD bringeth back the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.

I.                 INTRODUCTION—PSALM 14

-There are certain patterns in Scripture that it helps to look out for.  When there are words that are repeated, they should get our attention.  There were times when the Lord would say, “Verily, verily” (Truly, truly) and then He would launch into a lesson.  What is notable about the use of that phrase is that it is only used in the Gospel of John.  In fact, it appears twenty-five times.  Some of the most powerful doctrinal issues that are raised in Scripture when the Lord used those words. 

-But it is extremely rare when you find a portion of Scripture that appears three times.  This is one of the passages that is linked to two others.  Psalm 14 is almost identical to Psalm 53 (only verses 5-6 are different) and it is used again in Romans 3:10-12 by Paul.

Preaching Through the Psalms -- Psalm 12 -- When the Faithful Vanish

WHEN THE FAITHFUL VANISH

TEXT:  Psalm 12:1-8

Psalms 12:1-8 KJV  To the chief Musician upon Sheminith, A Psalm of David. Help, LORD; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men.  [2]  They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak.  [3]  The LORD shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things:  [4]  Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own: who is lord over us?  [5]  For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the LORD; I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him.  [6]  The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.  [7]  Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.  [8]  The wicked walk on every side, when the vilest men are exalted.

I.                 INTRODUCTION—ORIGIN OF THIS PSALM

A.               Where The Psalm Came From

-This psalm is another one where there isn’t a clear event in the life of David that is pointed to.  Some scholars seem to think that is it one where he has faced deceit and dishonesty in his court after he was the king.   In fact from historical study, we could derive the fact that he probably had to deal with more deception and dishonesty than we could even imagine. 

-Our world today is filled with liars and false flatterers and there are times that the righteous hardly know who to trust.