Text: Matthew 5:1-12

The beatitudes as they’re called are a record of where the Lord puts his blessings and where the Lord is at home.  These nine descriptions are the home address of the Spirit of God in this present evil world. It’s one thing to have a physical address, but how do you locate a spirit?  How do you identify the address of a spirit? All of these things describe the spiritual address of the Spirit of God. And the spirit is evident before the physical is manifest.

Some of these things are not fully understood until after the resurrection and I’ll show you why.

Blessed are the poor in spirit… (vs 3)

Isaiah 66:1-2, 5 – The LORD looking for a place of rest in the earth; a place to set his kingdom.  And He’s looking at things He made like the earth, but He’s really asking what is the place you’ve made me?

Isaiah 57:15 For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

Psalm 34:18

Now the kingdom of heaven is the physical coming of heaven to earth.

The Lord Jesus Christ is the only one present representing the kingdom of heaven at this point.

Pray thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

The land occupied by this kingdom is the promised land given to Abraham.

In Matthew 8:11 there will be Gentiles and Gentile nations that will be able to enter the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are they that mourn… (vs 4)

Ezekiel 9:4 someone burdened by sin

Isaiah 61:1-3

Blessed are the meek… (vs 5)

Meek: Mild of temper; soft; gentle; not easily provoked or irritated; yielding; given to forbearance under injuries.

Psalm 37:9-11 is where this quote comes from.

Matthew 11:29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart..

Meekness will make a place for God Almighty and the LORD will in turn give place to the meek.  

Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness… (vs 6)

Appetite for God’s righteousness shall be filled.

Matthew 5:17 coupled with Romans 3:21-26.

Blessed are the merciful… (vs 7)

Psalm 41:1-3

Proverbs 11:17 The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh.

2 Timothy 1:16-18

Blessed are the pure in heart… (vs 8)

* Proverbs 20:9 Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?

* Purity comes from the word of God

* Psalm 24:3-5

* Psalm 19:8 The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.

* 1 Timothy 1:5 Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:

* Purity comes from doing what you know to do

Blessed are the peacemakers… (vs 9)

* Being a child of God is not a post resurrection concept.  It is actually taken from the Old Testament.

* Nicodemus in John 3 Jesus wonders why, even before the resurrection, he doesn’t understand the concept of being born again.

* What does being a child of God have to do with being a peacemaker?

Being a peacemaker FIRST has to do with accepting God the Father’s terms of peace in Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 2:14-18 Paul explains all the elements here.

The gospel that made you a child of God is the gospel of peace according to Romans 10:15, Ephesians 6:15.

Romans 14:19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.

Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake… (vs 10)

Text: Philippians 3:1-3

Your sin nature is defined as your flesh.  God’s condemnation is on the works of the flesh.  The flesh is the old man. Full remission of sins in Jesus Christ is the result of Jesus Christ providing a substitutionary body of flesh and blood that would be acceptable to the Father.  We sing “There is Power in the Blood” and there is. The thing that makes the blood of Jesus Christ powerful is that it is accepted by God the Father.

This next section of Philippians deals with confidence in the spirit of God versus confidence in the flesh.  Verse 3 Paul says we are the circumcision which worship God in the spirit…and have no confidence in the flesh.  Verses 4-8 Paul says if any man were to have confidence in the flesh it would be him. Verses 10-12 Paul says he wants to live this life as though he were already in his new body.  Look at verses 17-21, again dealing with carnal goals while being enemies of the cross. Of course if you’re goals are carnal then the cross is your enemy. Then follows in verse 20 with the location of our conversation and the end of these vile bodies for the saved.

Opportunity to have no confidence in the flesh (vs 1)

Paul keeps repeating himself about rejoicing in the Lord.  He’s already said it seven times in 1:4, 18, 25, 26, 2:2, 17, 28 and now he’s saying it again.  Now sometimes you get frustrated that you have to keep saying something over and over again. Why do I have to keep repeating myself?  Paul says he’s repeating himself and it’s not that he’s frustrated. He says it’s safe.

It’s safe because people have confidence in the flesh until they’re given a reason not to.  Paul is giving the reasons not to over and over and from different angles.

Rejoice in the Lord is what the spirit of God says, while the flesh hears rejoice in the Lord and thinks SNOOZEFEST!  Why are we rejoicing in the Lord?

In light of the theme of having no confidence in the flesh, the truth is the joy of the Lord is your strength…or it should be.

Those that put confidence in the flesh (vs 2)

Dogs

Dogs tear with their mouths and that’s the sense of this warning.

Jeremiah 15:3 And I will appoint over them four kinds, saith the LORD: the sword to slay, and the dogs to tear…

Matthew 7:6 Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.

Galatians 5:15-16

Dogs return to their vomit

2 Peter 2:18-22

* Evil workers

* Concision

Paul addressed this in Galatians.  It was so bad that Peter and Barnabas fell for it.

Galatians 3 he says foolish Christians.  You say that’s not nice. If it’s not true it’s not nice to call names, but Paul is identifying people.

Two extremes with this false doctrine.  

The first is religious.  Someone believe on Christ as their savior then turns to doing good works to maintain that righteous standing before God.

The other extreme is more common.  Someone trusts Christ as their savior, then loses interest in the one who saved them and goes back to living for the flesh.  The Holy Spirit says that is witchcraft.

Look, you were once deceived into thinking that you could get to heaven without Jesus Christ.  Then the Holy Spirit went to work and convicted you and you realized you need Jesus Christ.

Then after you got saved you were deceived into thinking you don’t need Jesus in the meantime.  So the Holy Spirit goes right back to work trying to get you live according to faith in Christ.

Attending church, but not practicing Christianity. I don’t understand someone going to a shooting range and not shooting a gun.  Or going to a golf course and not playing golf. Or going to church and never participating.

Text: Psalm 32

Blessings of forgiveness (vss 1-4)

Blessings (vss 1-2)

David held his guilt inside.  Didn’t want to own up to it. Realized how ignorant it is not to want the blessings of forgiveness.

Method of forgiveness (vs 5)

Forgiveness is not blindly applied everywhere

Confession and repentance are required by God for forgiveness

Does God require something of you before He forgave you?  Or were you automatically forgiven when Jesus died on the cross for you?

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins

Godliness is seeking forgiveness (vss 6-7)

We rarely think of ourselves as the offending party.

When we realize we are it is godly to seek out forgiveness.

Instruction from the forgiver (vss 8-11)

An advocate in verse 8.

Control your own mouth in verse 9.

Mercy is poured out to them that actually trust the LORD.  It isn’t given out willy-nilly.

Let the forgiven say so!

Text: Amos 6

Amos turns his sights on the southern tribes focussing on Jerusalem now.  As they watched the northern tribes get judged, those in Jerusalem and Judah kicked back, continued pursuing the “American Dream” and said that’ll never happen to us.

In chapter 5 the LORD dealt with religious people and religion that he hated among the northern part of Israel.  In chapter 6, the people of Judah living around Jerusalem, “capitol hill”, are not religious, they are secularists or humanists.  They’re goals in life are to lounge around, be entertained, think positive, politick, and get drunk.

Humanism: an outlook or system of thought attaching prime importance to human rather than divine or supernatural matters. Humanist beliefs stress the potential value and goodness of human beings, emphasize common human needs, and seek solely rational ways of solving human problems rather than divine revelation.

Conformity to the god of this world (vss 1-6)

The “good life” without the LORD

At ease in Zion – the “good life” without God

Trust in the mountain of Samaria – national defense is good

False security, trusting in something that won’t help you if God isn’t in it

Named chief of the nations – most powerful in the world

Put far away the evil day – positive thinking

You’ve always been able to overcome obstacles.

We are the greatest nation!  We’re only limited by our belief in ourselves!

Lie upon beds of ivory

Eat lambs out of the flock and calves out of the midst of the stall

Luxurious dining on veal and lamb.  

That chant to the sound of the viol

That drink wine in bowls

That anoint themselves with the chief ointments

God’s nation completely conformed to this world

Goals are the same as the world.

Path to success is the same as the world.

Pleasures are the same as the world.

Relationships are the same as the world.

What I want out of life is the same as the world.

Define success the same way the world defines success.

Chastening hand of the LORD (vss 7-11)

Pleasures of sin end.  Families are broken apart.

God gives them up in verse 8.

Whoever is left dies of disease such that the remains have to be burned in verses 9-10.

They’re not allowed to mention the name of the LORD – the Lord Jesus Christ.  We can talk about God, but we don’t mention his name here.

You can pray, just don’t mention Jesus Christ.

You can talk about how we’re all going the same way to heaven, just don’t say that way is the Lord Jesus Christ.

Complaint the LORD has against His nation (vss 12-14)

No place for the LORD

The Lord asks in verse 12, now, where is the opportunity for my Spirit to work?  Where is ground that the seeds of righteousness can be planted so the fruits of righteousness can grow?

Where’s the parcel of ground you’ve set aside and hedged off so the LORD can do something in your life and with your life?

Or have you found that the enemy has devoured all your time, all your land, all your opportunity.  There is no ground, it’s all been concreted so I can build bigger buildings.

Who needs the LORD?

Where does the fruit of righteousness fit in?

The Holy Spirit says you need righteousness and you look around and ask, “what do I need righteousness for?”

The Holy Spirit says you need wisdom.  And you look at your education and educational goals and none of them includes the wisdom of God, so you ask, “What do I need wisdom for?”

So you say I don’t see the need for those things.  Where would I fit righteousness into my education? Where would I fit holiness into my life?  Where would I fit godliness into my schedule?

Text: Matthew 5-7

Matthew focuses more on the Lord’s teaching than his miracles.  This Sermon on the Mount is three chapters of teaching. This is not multiple lessons pieced together, it is one lesson.

We’re going to overview the entire Sermon on the Mount this morning.  That may sound like a daunting task, but there is really one theme in the sermon though it’s addressed from multiple angles.  The Lord Jesus Christ is contrasting the kingdoms of this world with the coming kingdom of the Lord and of his Christ as it’s described in Revelation 11:15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.

Contrast two kingdoms

Another way of saying this present evil world contrasted with the world to come.

Hebrews 2:5 For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak.

Hebrews 6:4-5 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, 5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come…

Mark 10:29-30 And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s, 30 But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.

Luke 18:29-30 And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God’s sake, 30 Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting.

Rewards are contrasted (vss 1-12)

Blessed people of the coming kingdom based on their spiritual attributes rather than their physical attributes.

5:12 reward in heaven?  Yes, until the Lord returns with the reward.

Revelation 22:12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

The Lord Jesus Christ is speaking about his coming kingdom and the only way you’ll invest in that kingdom is if you actually believe Jesus Christ is a rewarder, Hebrews 11:6.

Matthew 5:26, 6:1,2,4,5,6,16,18 …thy Father… is to the Jew first

Salt and light (vss 13-16) is a description of the Jew first.  No Gentile nations were given revelation from God like the Jews, no other nation has the promises or covenants of God.  It is the Jewish nation that is salt and light.

The Gentiles become salt and light only by coming to a Jewish book, the Jewish savior.   Paul said it in Ephesians 5:3-8. Kingdom of Christ and of God

Excessive righteousness (5:17-6:34)

The Lord Jesus Christ fulfilling the law, 5:17-18

Your righteousness must exceed scribes and Pharisees, 5:20.  It’s not the appearance of righteousness, but the presence of righteousness in the heart.  Notice the contrast in all of these of an appearance of righteousness versus the presence of righteousness in the heart.

Ye have heard it said… kill… (21-26)

Ye have heard it said… adultery… (27-32)

Ye have heard it said… swear… (33-37)

Ye have heard it said… eye for eye… (38-42)

Ye have heard it said… love… (43-48)

When…alms…(6:1-4)

When…pray…(6:5-15)

When…fast…(6:16-18)

Covetousness blinds men from righteousness (6:19-34)

Rule of law

The gold standard when it comes to the law.  The Golden Rule in Matthew 7:12

Judging others 7:1, Profaning what’s holy 7:6, Ask 7:7, now this asking is in context with the “Golden Rule”.

Text: Psalm 31

The theme of this psalm is at the end of it in verse 24.  When David sings of the LORD’S ability to strengthen those that hope in him, he likens the LORD to a rock back in verses 2-3.  So with this great illustration in mind we’ll go through this psalm preaching on the characteristics that make the LORD like a rock.

This is also a psalm, just like most of these psalms, that could be sung by the Lord Jesus Christ.

Strength of the Rock (vss 1-8)

Strength is ability.

Believable (vs 1)

Impenetrable (vs 2)

Highly visible landmark (vs 3)

Unmoveable (vs 4)

Incorruptible (vs 5)

Durable (vss 7-8)

Treasure in the Rock (vss 9-21)

Just like mining rock for valuable treasure, there is valuable treasure in Jesus Christ.

Mercy is in the Rock (vs 9)

Life is in the Rock (vs 15)

Light is in the Rock (vs 16)

Goodness is in the Rock (vs 19)

Kindness is in the Rock (vs 21)

Take hold of the Rock (vss 23-24)

Love the Rock (vs 23)

Trust the Rock (vs 24)

Hope in the Rock (vs 24)

Text: Amos 5:21-27

Maybe you thought you’d never hear a loving God say those two words, I hate.  Maybe you thought God is love and there is no hate in him.  Then it’s important to remind you that you can’t love without hate.  You can’t love your children without hating those things that hurt them.

Now this is the end of one of Amos’ sermons.  The LORD has said through Amos that he despises the people’s religion.  That even their acts of devotion are acts of disobedience; that all their righteousnesses are as filthy rags.  That the weightier matters of judgment and righteousness have dried up by vain tradition and ritual.  People perform their “Sunday” assemblies then go right back into their lying, cursing, gossiping, hating, fearing, unbelieving, and service to their idols.

If there is one thing God hates it is religious hypocrisy.  The word religion shows up 5 times in the Bible and 4 times it’s bad.  Religion gives people a false sense of security. It gives people a false understanding of God.  Let’s begin in verse 21.

Religion God hates (vss 21-23)

Amos is a prophet and he’s rough.  But he speaks for God. These are God’s words.  If in the course of hearing these words you’re put off by them, I want to ask you a serious question.  If you claim to be at peace with God which most folks do; they say, “I’m good.” How is it that you’re at peace with God, but you don’t like what he says?  What kind of peace is that which says I’m good with God so long as I don’t have to listen to him talk? What kind of peace is that which says I love God so long as He shuts up?

Festivals took the place of faith

I hate, I despise your feast days…

You say what’s so wrong with wanting to have a holiday?  The answer is that it’s wrong to create a holiday for the purpose of drawing people AWAY from God.  That’s exactly what’s going on here.

The LORD gave Israel several feast days to observe in order to point to the Lord Jesus Christ.  God’s feast of tabernacles in Leviticus 23:34 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the feast of tabernacles for seven days unto the LORD.

A king named Jeroboam came along and created an imitation feast of tabernacles in order to keep the people from going to Jerusalem and worshipping at their appointed time.  1 Kings 12:32 And Jeroboam ordained a feast in the eighth month, on the fifteenth day of the month, like unto the feast that is in Judah, and he offered upon the altar. So did he in Bethel, sacrificing unto the calves that he had made: and he placed in Bethel the priests of the high places which he had made.

This works because it is more convenient for the people NOT to worship God at the appointed time and place.  It’s easier for them to stay home and convince themselves that they’re still worshipping God. Convenience is the marketing plan.

Convenience replaces truth.  Pleasure turns to tradition. Tradition turns to law and doctrine. The lie is taught as truth passed on generation to generation.

Mark 7:7-8,13 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. 8 For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. … 13 Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition…

When Amos preaches, these festivities have been going on for almost 200 years.  This isn’t just a lie that has to be dismantled, it is an entire culture that believes itself godly while denying the very scriptures they claim make them godly.

* Rituals took the place of righteousness

* …I will not smell in your solemn assemblies…

* These are sacred events.  Are the people sincere? They are sincere enough to kill Amos for preaching against them.

* Offerings took the place of obedience

Text: Matthew 4:23-25

Contrast the kingdoms

* The methods of ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ would serve to set in contrast the present corruptible kingdoms of this world against the coming incorruptible kingdom of heaven.

* Teaching in their synagogues…

* To the Jew first.

* Note the contrast: Matthew 7:29 For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

* preaching the gospel of the kingdom…

* The word gospel means “good tidings”.  You get that from two verses in your Bible.  Isaiah 52:7 and Romans 10:15. This is important to note because the Lord Jesus Christ has not died on the cross and risen from the dead yet, but this is apparently the good news of the kingdom.

* As opposed to imprisoning, attacking, bullying, and destroying.

* 1 Corinthians 1:21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

* 2 Timothy 4:2 – Preach the word

* Titus 1:3 – God manifested his word through preaching

* …healing all manner of disease…

* This is the demonstration of God’s kingdom’s power over the uncleanness associated with the kingdoms of this world.

* Ministry of contrasting power.

* This is not faith healing.

* Jesus healed some people in spite of the lack of faith. How about raising Lazarus from the dead?  How much faith did that take on the part of Lazarus?

* Children were healed b/c of their parents.

* If healing is for the glory of God, what if God knew He would get more glory out of you sick?  Paul’s thorn in the flesh.

* Purpose of the healing ministry

Everyone that was healed eventually died, so what was the point?

To prove the identity of God in the flesh: Psalm 103:1-3, Malachi 4:2, John 3:2 – ministry to Israel to identify Jesus Christ as the Son of God

The Son of God removes the curse.  Notice Matthew 8 begins with leprosy, palsy, fever, then many diseases and devils.

Healing was done on some occasions were it yielded no fruit in the person’s life; Luke 17:17-19 ten lepers

All were healed for the glory of God.

One of the judgments placed on disobedient Israel was the sickness and disease of other nations, Deuteronomy 28:58-61, (28:45-46 calls it signs and wonders)

As a soul that has been purchased by Jesus Christ and made part of his ministry, it is your job to contrast the kingdoms as well.

Romans 13:12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.

2 Corinthians 6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

Ephesians 5:8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:

1 Thessalonians 5:5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.

1 Peter 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

Common appeal

* …his fame went throughout all Syria…

* Gentiles come to Christ

* Romans 10:19, 11:11 talks about God using strangers to provoke Israel to jealousy. Romans 10:19 But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you.

* Matthew has the approach of highlighting Jesus Christ as the King of Jews, but rejected by the Jews and accepted by strangers.

* Matthew 2, the wise men come from the east.

Text: Philippians 2:16-24

The theme of this sermon comes from verses 19 and 20.  When it came to the Philippians Paul wanted to know your state and care for your state.

The illustrations for this sermon come easy in our rural community.  Most of you have or have had small herds and flocks of animals. The point of that flock or herd is that it will have productive value: meat, milk, eggs, wool, genetics, whatever product you’re looking to produce.  If they aren’t productive it’s time to change ownership or butcher them.

When we talk about flocks and herds here, we’re illustrating people in this context.  The Lord told four of the disciples you’ll no longer catch fish but men, meaning you’re being promoted to bigger things, particularly the souls of men.  David was taken from shepherding his dad’s flocks to shepherding the people of Israel. It’s one thing to catch fish, but another to catch men. It’s one thing to herd sheep, but another to herd men.  It’s one thing to encourage production in the flock and another to encourage production in living souls of men.

Productivity (vss 16-18)

Going all the way back to verses 12-13 you see that salvation is not the point of salvation.

John 15:8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit…

…neither laboured in vain… (vs 16)

If Paul were to return to Philippi and find the word of life abandoned, his work would be in vain according to his own estimation and apparently the estimation of the Holy Spirit of God.

Galatians 4:11 I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.

1 Thessalonians 3:5 For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain.

1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.  Other labour is in vain, but your labour for the Lord is not.

Joy of productivity

…offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith…

It’s one thing to be offered on the sacrifice and service of someone’s faith.  It’s one thing to labour when there is productive value to the labour. It’s another thing to be offered on the sin and unproductiveness of professing Christians.  These verses go with the previous verses about laboring in vain.

Pastor (vss 19-24)

Paul’s going to send a pastor to oversee the state of the flock.

Proverbs 27:23 Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds.

Timothy is the pastor Paul will send.

The flock is not going to take care of itself.

Proverbs 28:2 For the transgression of a land many are the princes thereof: but by a man of understanding and knowledge the state thereof shall be prolonged.

This is the pastor’s job, to have oversight of the things that belong to Jesus Christ according to 2:21.  The Lord Jesus Christ looks for men who will look after the things that belong to Him.

Acts 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

1 Peter 5:2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. (Not an EXample, but an ENsample.)

Much more of his pastoral instruction is in 1-2 Timothy, but let’s briefly consider the work of an undershepherd.

Feed the flock in Acts 20:28 and John 21:25.

Control disease in 2 Timothy 2:14-19 and 1 Timothy 4:1-6

Oversee behavior in 1 Timothy 3:14-16

Text: Psalm 30

The subtitle is the dedication of the house of David.

Dedicate:

* Act of consecrating to a divine being

* Act of consecrating to a sacred use

* Act of devoting or giving to

We’ll start at the end of this psalm then come back to the beginning.  Notice the last part of this psalm, verses 10-12 where the dedication takes place.  To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee.

The Lord defeated David’s enemies (vs 1)

The Lord says if I defeat his enemies the Lord will get the glory for that.

God’s enemies were David’s enemies.

Bear and a lion when he was working as a shepherd for his dad.

Some years later he slays Goliath at the ripe old age of 17.  He takes the responsibility of the nation upon his shoulders when no one else would.

He’s hunted by king Saul for 13 years particularly into his late 20’s as he’s defeating Philistine armies and gaining ground for Israel.  But he will not kill Saul.

Saul, Nabal, Ahithophel, Absalom, Amalekites, Philistines, a man named Sheba, even within his own ranks Joab.  God would put these men down without David having to address them personally.

The Lord answered David’s prayer (vs 2)

The Lord says if I answer David’s prayer, he’ll bring me glory out of that.

David’s prayers were in line with the will of God.

The Lord saved David’s life (vs 3)

The Lord’s is holy (vs 4)

His holiness is something to sing about.

His holiness is something to be thankful for.

The Lord’s favour is life (vss 5-7)

Do what makes God happy because His favour is life.

His favour does not eliminate trouble.

The Lord’s absence is trouble.

The Lord is David’s supply (vss 8-9)

Supplication = supply

Limited time to dedicate anything to the Lord

1 Chronicles 17:16 David expresses humility for having been chosen by the Lord.