O GOD the Lord, the strength of my salvation, You shield my head in the day of battle. Sermons
I. IT COMES FROM GOD SEEN IN OUR PAST. "Thou hast covered my head in the day of battle." Some one thing was in the psalmist's thought, but it would be sure to lead on a great panorama of Divine defenses and interventions. The one thing was like the first star seen in the evening sky. It is "the glorious token of millions more." God has always been on our side. He is our God. II. IT COMES FROM GOD REALIZED IN PRESENT RELATIONS. We express this when we call him the living God. It should always be clearly seen that "living" involves present activity. Silent and inactive Buddha does not live, does not sustain personal relations, is only an object of contemplation. God lives; is active; is in relations; as these relations are seen to be directly present and personal ones, we call him our God. Our God is here now; he is for us now; he is ours now. III. IT COMES FROM GOD FELT AS THE LOVED AND LOVING ONE. We can appropriate a thing in a cold mood of acquisition. We can only appropriate a person by the act of affection. And herein is a remarkable thing. We cannot appropriate a person unless he is willing to be appropriated. He must love us, or our love to him only keeps us at a distance from each other. We may appropriate God in our love because he appropriates us in his love. - R.T.
I said unto the Lord, Thou art my God. (with vers. 12, 13): — There are five things in my text to which I want especially to draw the attention of any who are in sore trouble, and particularly those who are in trouble from enemies who are seeking to ruin them.I. POSSESSION ASSERTED (ver. 6). 1. What was the possession? The Lord Himself. If God be your God, all things are yours, for all things are in God, and the God who has given Himself to us cannot deny us anything. 2. The claim. He exhibited his title-deeds. 3. Who was the attesting Witness? It is a very easy thing to say to the minister, "The Lord is my God"; but it may not be true. It is a very solemn thing to be able to say to Jehovah, "Thou art my God." True believers have dialogues with their God; they are accustomed to speak with the Most High. "I said unto Jehovah, Thou art my God." 4. The occasion. When he was in trouble. I said unto Jehovah, "Thou art my God." Men said I was a castaway; but I said, "Thou art my God." They said I was without a friend; but I said unto Jehovah, "Thou art my God." II. A PETITION PRESENTED. "Hear the voice of my supplications." 1. His prayers were frequent. When you have double trouble, take care that you have double prayer. 2. His prayers were full of meaning. "Voice." 3. His prayers were meant for God. 4. He could not rest unless he had the Lord's attention. III. PRESERVATION EXPERIENCED (ver. 7). 1. God had been David's Armour-bearer. Has it not been so with us in days past? Have we not had our heads covered when God held His shield above us? Have we not been guarded from all hurt by the providence and by the grace of the Most High? 2. God had guarded His most vital part. 3. God had been the strength of his salvation. IV. PROTECTION EXPECTED (ver. 12). 1. He is the Judge of all the earth, and shall not He do right? 2. Moreover, God is a compassionate Friend; and when He sees any of His dear saints very poor and afflicted, do you not think that, when they cannot take care of themselves, He will take care of them? V. PRAISE PREDICTED (ver. 13). 1. Praise is assured by gratitude. 2. By holy confidence. 3. By abiding in fellowship with Him. ( C. H. Spurgeon.) People David, PsalmistPlaces JerusalemTopics Armour, Battle, Cover, Covered, Deliverer, Fight, Hast, O, Salvation, Screened, Shields, Sovereign, Strength, StrongOutline 1. David prays to be delivered from Saul and Doeg8. He prays against them 12. He comforts himself by confidence in God Dictionary of Bible Themes Psalm 140:7Library Question Lxxxiii of PrayerI. Is Prayer an Act of the Appetitive Powers? Cardinal Cajetan, On Prayer based on Friendship II. Is it Fitting to Pray? Cardinal Cajetan, On Prayer as a True Cause S. Augustine, On the Sermon on the Mount, II. iii. 14 " On the Gift of Perseverance, vii. 15 III. Is Prayer an Act of the Virtue of Religion? Cardinal Cajetan, On the Humility of Prayer S. Augustine, On Psalm cii. 10 " Of the Gift of Perseverance, xvi. 39 IV. Ought We to Pray to God Alone? S. Augustine, Sermon, cxxvii. 2 V. … St. Thomas Aquinas—On Prayer and The Contemplative Life Letter xxvi. (Circa A. D. 1127) to the Same Epistle xviii. To John, Bishop. How the Silent and the Talkative are to be Admonished. A Discourse of Mercifulness Covenanting a Privilege of Believers. Psalms Links Psalm 140:7 NIVPsalm 140:7 NLT Psalm 140:7 ESV Psalm 140:7 NASB Psalm 140:7 KJV Psalm 140:7 Bible Apps Psalm 140:7 Parallel Psalm 140:7 Biblia Paralela Psalm 140:7 Chinese Bible Psalm 140:7 French Bible Psalm 140:7 German Bible Psalm 140:7 Commentaries Bible Hub |