Sermon Bible To the chief Musician, Altaschith, Michtam of David; when Saul sent, and they watched the house to kill him. Deliver me from mine enemies, O my God: defend me from them that rise up against me. Psalm 59:9, Psalm 59:17 These two parallel verses are a kind of refrain coming in at the close of each division of the Psalm. The first stands at the end of a picture of the Psalmist's trouble and danger, and makes the transition to the second part, which is mainly a prayer for deliverance, and finishes with the refrain altered and enlarged. I. Notice, first, the waiting on God. (1) The expression "I will wait" means accurately, "I will watch Thee;" and it is the word that is generally employed, not about our looking up to Him, but about His looking down to us. These two things, vigilance and patience, are the main elements in the scriptural idea of waiting on God. (2) We have here set forth, not only the nature, but also the object, of this waiting. "Upon Thee, O my strength, will I wait, for God is my defence." The name of the Lord is strength; therefore I wait on Him in the confident expectation of receiving His power. The Lord is "my defence;" therefore I wait on Him in the confident expectation of safety. The first name speaks of God dwelling in us, and His strength made perfect in our weakness; the second speaks of our 'dwelling in God, and our defencelessness sheltered in Him. II. Notice, next, the change of waiting into praise. In the second verse we catch waiting expectation and watchfulness in the very act of passing over into possession and praise. As resolve or as prophecy, this verse is equally a witness of the large reward of quiet waiting for the salvation of the Lord. The cry of the suppliant was to God, his strength and defence; the song of the saved is to the God who is also the God of his mercy. The experiences of life have brought out more fully the love and tender pity of God.. When our troubles are past, and their meaning is plainer, we shall be able to look back on them all as the mercies of the God of our mercy. A. Maclaren, Weekday Evening Addresses, p. 112. References: Psalm 59—J. Hammond, Expositor, 1st series, vol. iv., p. 219. Psalm 60:4.—J. P. Chown, Christian World Pulpit, vol. xxv., p. 363, Psalm 60:8.—Spurgeon, Sermons, vol. xvii., No. 983. Psalm 60—A. Maclaren, Life of David, p. 201. Deliver me from the workers of iniquity, and save me from bloody men.
For, lo, they lie in wait for my soul: the mighty are gathered against me; not for my transgression, nor for my sin, O LORD.
They run and prepare themselves without my fault: awake to help me, and behold.
Thou therefore, O LORD God of hosts, the God of Israel, awake to visit all the heathen: be not merciful to any wicked transgressors. Selah.
They return at evening: they make a noise like a dog, and go round about the city.
Behold, they belch out with their mouth: swords are in their lips: for who, say they, doth hear?
But thou, O LORD, shalt laugh at them; thou shalt have all the heathen in derision.
Because of his strength will I wait upon thee: for God is my defence.
The God of my mercy shall prevent me: God shall let me see my desire upon mine enemies.
Slay them not, lest my people forget: scatter them by thy power; and bring them down, O Lord our shield.
For the sin of their mouth and the words of their lips let them even be taken in their pride: and for cursing and lying which they speak.
Consume them in wrath, consume them, that they may not be: and let them know that God ruleth in Jacob unto the ends of the earth. Selah.
And at evening let them return; and let them make a noise like a dog, and go round about the city.
Let them wander up and down for meat, and grudge if they be not satisfied.
But I will sing of thy power; yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning: for thou hast been my defence and refuge in the day of my trouble.
Unto thee, O my strength, will I sing: for God is my defence, and the God of my mercy. William Robertson Nicoll's Sermon Bible Text Courtesy of BibleSupport.com. Used by Permission. Bible Hub |
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