Is God’s lovingkindness better to you than life (Psalm 63:3)?

Does being aside God cause you to rejoice (Psalm 63:7)?

When David has opportunity to kill Saul (1 Samuel 24:3-6, 10), he refuses and forbids his men from harming God’s king either. (1 Chronicles 16:22; Psalm 105:15).

Saul asks David’s merciful help to the house of Saul; and David agrees (1 Samuel 24:21-22).

But in 1 Samuel 26:11 we find Saul hunting again for David, and David taking Saul’s spear.
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If it weren’t for David’s many troubles, we would have fewer psalms. If it weren’t for our many troubles, would we pray any less?

David bemoans the fact that someone he knew and loved was prepared to kill him (Psalm 55:12-13). Christ was betrayed by one of His own apostles, too.

Yet David pledges to maintain regular contact with God. Not just once or twice a year, not just once a week, not just once a day. But evening and morning and at noon will he pray (Psalm 55:17).

“Smoother than butter” and “softer than oil” were the words of his enemies (Psalm 55:21); but their hearts were full of hatred for David.

“We shall not be moved” was a battle cry of the American civil rights demonstrators in the 1960’s. The promise, however, is only for the righteous (Psalm 55:22).

In Psalm 67 we learn that not only individuals, but also complete nations should worship God.
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David had gone to Keilah to deliver them from the Philistines. Now he fears, rightly, that the town would rather deliver him into the hands of King Saul rather than risk offending the king. His suspicions are accurate, as the Lord reveals (1 Samuel23:12).

Saul, like the enemy of our souls, was a relentless foe, seeking every day to destroy David (1 Samuel 23:14); but God prevented that from happening.

The men of Ziph offer to betray David into the hands of Saul, and their evil designs are the basis of Psalm 54.

In God’s timing, the Philistines invade Israel again; and Saul must give up his private vendetta for the time and attend to matters of state (1 Samuel 23:28).

Although strangers run to oppress him, David is confident that God is his help (Psalm 54:4); and he recalls that God had already delivered him out of many troubles (Psalm 54:7).
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1 Samuel 23:1-5

• They told David – with knowledge of the need, David now must make a decision
• Keilah – a town of Judah near the border with Philistia
• They rob the threshingfloors – a common tactic of the Philistines was to invade at harvest time and steal the grain, dealing a blow to the Israelite economy
• Threshingfloors were usually outside of the city, in a place open to the wind required for successful threshing
• Shall I go? – life requires many decisions. The believer should question every action: What does my God want me to do?
• David enquired of the Lord – family, friend and military advisors are valuable; but God’s will is the final word
• Go, smite and save – not only does God answer David’s question, God answers with a resounding positive
• We are afraid here in Judah – much farther away from the Philistine border
• David enquired of the Lord yet again – sometimes we pray for the sake of others; sometimes others shake our confidence and that forces us to praying
• Arise, go, I will deliver – God’s will hasn’t changed; do it

Psalm 9

• Don’t look for a nice three-point outline in this psalm. Instead it seems to circle around a central theme: God saves His people.
• Muthlabben – several opinions exist, but the meaning of this word is uncertain
• With my whole heart – Have you ever done anything with 100% devotion?
• The Lord shall endure for ever – eternally God, despite what lies men may tell about Him
• God’s judgment throne – how can anyone suggest that judging is always sinful? Psalm 9:7-8, 16.
• Judge righteous judgment, John 4:24
• Psalm 9:10. How can we believe in someone we do not know? Romans 10:13-15.
• Higgaion (verse 16) – likely a musical instrument (Psalm 92:3).
• Does hell exist? Who goes there? (Psalm 9:17)

Psalm 66

• God is worthy of worship and praise (verses 1-4)
• God has done great things, like opening the Red Sea (5-7)
• God tests and proves us; but he always saves us (8-12)
• God hears my prayers, as long as I don’t try to hide anything from Him (13-20)

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