Title: When You Hurt
Bible Book: Psalms 5 : 1-12
Author: Franklin L. Kirksey
Subject: Problems; Struggles; Pain; Hardships
Objective:
Introduction
Dr. Joseph Parker (1830-1902) advised young preachers, “Preach to the suffering and you will never lack a congregation. There is a broken heart in every pew.”[1]
Dr. Vance Havner (1901-1986) affirms, “The task of the preacher is ‘to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable.’”[2]
Dr. John Phillips (1927-2010), former assistant director of the Moody Correspondence School as well as director of the Emmaus Correspondence School, explains, “Psalms 3, 4 and 5 stand together in the Hebrew hymnbook and very likely they stand together in the history of David. Psalm 3 is evidently a morning prayer, Psalm 4 an evening prayer, and Psalm 5 another morning prayer. Possibly they were written in that order, one right after the other.”[3] Thus Psalms 3, 4 and 5 form a trilogy.
Dr. J. Vernon McGee (1904-1988) shares, “Arthur Pridham states the tone and general character of this psalm very nicely: ‘It is a prayer of faith, sent up from a heart in which the discernment of God as the shield and rewarder of them that seek Him, is found in union with a very deep sense of the prevailing evil and ungodliness which daily present themselves to the contemplation of the faithful. Vexing of soul because of the abundance of iniquity is thus a leading feature in its general expression.’ Pridham also makes this very interesting statement: ‘Hence patience is wrought in tribulation. Joy abounds in the sure hope of a deliverance, which is deferred only by the councils of unerring love.’''[4]
John Bunyan (1628 – 1688) British Christian writer and preacher, famous for writing The Pilgrim's Progress, explains, “He who runs from God in the morning will scarcely find Him the rest of the day.”
Dr. R. A. Torrey (1856 –1928), evangelist, pastor, educator, and writer, exhorts, "Oh, men and women, pray through; pray through! Do not just begin to pray and pray a little while and throw up your hands and quit; but pray and pray and pray until God bends the heavens and comes down."
From Psalm 5:1-12 we read David’s passionate plea, “Give ear to my words, O Lord, / Consider my meditation. Give heed to the voice of my cry, / My King and my God, / For to You I will pray. My voice You shall hear in the morning, O Lord; / In the morning I will direct it to You, / And I will look up. For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness, / Nor shall evil dwell with You. The boastful shall not stand in Your sight; / You hate all workers of iniquity. You shall destroy those who speak falsehood; / The Lord abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man. But as for me, I will come into Your house in the multitude of Your mercy; / In fear of You I will worship toward Your holy temple. Lead me, O Lord, in Your righteousness because of my enemies; / Make Your way straight before my face. For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; / Their inward part is destruction; / Their throat is an open tomb; / They flatter with their tongue. Pronounce them guilty, O God! Let them fall by their own counsels; / Cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions, / For they have rebelled against You. But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You; / Let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them; / Let those also who love Your name / Be joyful in You. For You, O Lord, will bless the righteous; / With favor You will surround him as with a shield.”
Please note three things about the psalmist from our text.
I. David prayed about a distressing hurt.
From The Bible Knowledge Commentary we read, “This psalm is a prayer of David when he was exposed to danger by unscrupulous enemies.”[5] Some Bible scholars conclude Psalm 5 is a prayer of David related to the persecution born out of Saul’s jealous rage over David’s success as his successor (1 Samuel 18-20).
Dr. Warren W. Wiersbe explains, “David may have written it during the crisis caused by Absalom, but we have no indication that he did. However, the description of David's enemies given in verses 4-6 and 9-10 suggests the period prior to David's flight from Jerusalem.”[6]
In either case, David is deeply hurt. This man after God’s own heart, opens his heart to God as he did at other times. For example, he prayed in Psalm 17:1-3, “Hear a just cause, O Lord, Attend to my cry; Give ear to my prayer which is not from deceitful lips. Let my vindication come from Your presence; Let Your eyes look on the things that are upright. You have tested my heart; You have visited me in the night; You have tried me and have found nothing; I have purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.” On another occasion he prayed, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting” (Psalm 139:23-24).
II. David prayed with a different hope.
From the Holman Bible Dictionary we read the following about hope, “Trustful expectation, particularly with reference to the fulfillment of God’s promises. Biblical hope is the anticipation of a favorable outcome under God’s guidance. More specifically, hope is the confidence that what God has done for us in the past guarantees our participation in what God will do in the future. This contrasts to the world’s definition of hope as ‘a feeling that what is wanted will happen.’ Understood in this way, hope can denote either a baseless optimism or a vague yearning after an unattainable good. If hope is to be genuine hope, however, it must be founded on something (or someone) which affords reasonable grounds for confidence in its fulfillment. The Bible bases its hope in God and His saving acts.”[7]
David prays in Psalm 5:1-6, “Give ear to my words, O Lord, / Consider my meditation. Give heed to the voice of my cry, / My King and my God, / For to You I will pray. My voice You shall hear in the morning, O Lord; / In the morning I will direct it to You, / And I will look up. For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness, / Nor shall evil dwell with You. The boastful shall not stand in Your sight; / You hate all workers of iniquity. You shall destroy those who speak falsehood; / The Lord abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.”
Rev. Matthew Henry (1662-1714) comments, “GOD WILL CERTAINLY HEAR PRAYER: DAVID GIVES TO GOD THE GLORY, AND TAKES TO HIMSELF THE COMFORT. 5:1-6 God is a prayer-hearing God. Such he has always been, and he is still as ready to hear prayer as ever. The most encouraging principle of prayer, and the most powerful plea in prayer, is, to look upon him as our King and our God. David also prays to a sin-hating God. Sin is folly, and sinners are the greatest of all fools; fools of their own making. Wicked people hate God; justly are they hated of him, and this will be their endless misery and ruin. Let us learn the importance of truth and sincerity, in all the affairs of life. Liars and murderers resemble the devil, and are his children, therefore it may well be expected that God should abhor them. These were the characters of David's enemies; and such as these are still the enemies of Christ and his people.”[8]
In a message titled, “Calling Upon God!” Dr. Richard J. Krejcir, with Into Thy Word Ministries, shares the following:
“ · Arrogant [Boastful]. Referring to people who are conceited and elevate themselves over others. God loathes them and those who are pretentious and flamboyant, pretending to be godly. They extend their self-image and self-determination over and against anyone or anything and then carry this further by scheming for another's downfall. Here, in context, it refers to gossip and slander, which involves a bad person trying to look good by saying the good person is bad (Isa 2:17; Ezek. 28:2, 5; Jer. 13:9-10; Hos. 13:6; Psalm 31:23; Rom. 1:30).
· Hate all who do wrong. There is a contrast among those who hate God, those who are godly people, and those who love God yet still have sin. At the same time, God has a perfect standard, so we are called to be responsible and to account for our actions, Yet, He gives us mercy and grace. But beware; He passionately hates sin and loves justice!
· Lies; bloodthirsty. Here, people are twisting and perverting the situation to suit their own agendas, as evil people often do. You do not have to be bloodthirsty to be evil. Manipulating a person or situation in bad character and rotten fruit is evil just the same (Gal. 5:17-21).”[9]
We read in Lamentations 3:22-26, “Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. ‘The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘Therefore I hope in Him!’ The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, To the soul who seeks Him. It is good that one should hope and wait quietly For the salvation of the Lord.”
III. David prayed for a divine help.
From an early age, David knew his help came from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. Jamieson, Fausset and Brown explain, “He prays for divine guidance, on account of his watchful, malignant, and deceitful enemies; and for their destruction as being also God's enemies.”[10]
David concludes his prayer in Psalm 5:7-12, “But as for me, I will come into Your house in the multitude of Your mercy; / In fear of You I will worship toward Your holy temple. Lead me, O Lord, in Your righteousness because of my enemies; / Make Your way straight before my face. For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; / Their inward part is destruction; / Their throat is an open tomb; / They flatter with their tongue. Pronounce them guilty, O God! Let them fall by their own counsels; / Cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions, / For they have rebelled against You. But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You; / Let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them; / Let those also who love Your name / Be joyful in You. For You, O Lord, will bless the righteous; / With favor You will surround him as with a shield.”
Rev. Matthew Henry comments, “HE PRAYED FOR HIMSELF, THAT GOD WOULD GUIDE HIM, AND FOR ALL THE LORD'S PEOPLE, THAT GOD WOULD GIVE THEM JOY, AND KEEP THEM SAFE. 5:7-12
David prayed often alone, yet was very constant in attendance on public worship. The mercy of God should ever be the foundation both of our hope and of our joy, in every thing wherein we have to do with him. Let us learn to pray, not for ourselves only, but for others; grace be with all that love Christ in sincerity. The Divine blessing comes down upon us through Jesus Christ, the righteous or just One, as of old it did upon Israel through David, whom God protected, and placed upon the throne. Thou, O Christ, art the righteous Saviour, thou art the King of Israel, thou art the Fountain of blessing to all believers; thy favour is the defence and protection of thy church.”[11]
Conclusion
Dr. Vance Havner admits, “It is easier to comfort the afflicted than to afflict the comfortable, but there is need for both.”[12] Where do you stand right now? Are you afflicted or are you comfortable?
Remember there’s hope and help when you hurt.
[1]1001 Quotes, Illustrations and Humorous Stories for Preachers, Teachers, and Writers, ed. Edward K. Rowell, Christianity Today Intl., Database © 2008 WORDsearch Corp.
[2]Vance Havner, Jesus Only, (Old Tappan, NJ: Fleming H. Revell Company, 1946), Chapter 11
[3]John Phillips, Exploring Psalms, Volume One: An Expository Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel, 1988, 2002), p. 43, Database © 2009 WORDsearch Corp.
[4]Arthur Pridham, Notes and Reflections on the Psalms, (Bath: Binns and Goodwin, 1852), cited by J. Vernon McGee in Thru the Bible with J. Vernon McGee, Psalm 5, WORDsearch Corp.
[5]The Bible Knowledge Commentary: Old Testament Edition: An Exposition of the Scriptures by Dallas Seminary Faculty, by John F. Walvoord and Roy B. Zuck, (Victor Books, A Division of Scripture Press Publications Inc., USA Canada England, 1985), Database ©2003 WORDsearch Corp.
[6]Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, Old Testament, Wisdom and Poetry, (Colorado Springs, CO: David C. Cook, 2004), p. 95
[7]Holman Bible Dictionary, ed. Trent C. Butler, “Entry for HOPE’”, (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman, 1991), Available from: http://www.studylight.org/dic/hbd/print.cgi?number=T2841
[8]Matthew Henry, Matthew Henry Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible, Psalm 5, (1706), Available from: http://www.studylight.org/com/mhc-con/view.cgi?book=ps&chapter=5 Accessed: 11/30/12
[9]Richard J. Krejcir, “Calling Upon God!”, Sermon Notes, (Psalm 5:1-7)
[10]Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset, and David Brown, Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary, Critical, Experimental, and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments, (Edinburgh: Collins & Company, 1875), Database ©2005 WORDsearch Corp.
[11]Matthew Henry, Matthew Henry Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible, Psalm 5, (1706), Available from: http://www.studylight.org/com/mhc-con/view.cgi?book=ps&chapter=5 Accessed: 11/30/12
[12]Vance Havner, Hearts Afire: Light on Successful Soul Winning, (Westwood, NJ: Fleming H. Revell Company, 1952), 157
By Dr. Franklin L. Kirksey, pastor First Baptist Church of Spanish Fort 30775 Jay Drive Spanish Fort, Alabama 36527
Author of Sound Biblical Preaching: Giving the Bible a Voice Available on Amazon.com and WORDsearchbible.com
http://www.wordsearchbible.com/products/Sound_Biblical_Preaching_1476.html
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