Psalm 26 – A Psalm of David.
Introduction: This is a prayer for divine scrutiny and redemption. We are to examine ourselves, focus on the Lord and keep on serving Him.
Proposition: ‘Look at others and be distressed; look at self and be depressed; look at Yeshua (Jesus) and you will be blessed’.
Teaching: 1) An Open Life verses 1 and 2.
Vindicate me O Lord, for I have walked in my integrity. I have also trusted in the Lord; I shall not slip.
Examine me, O Lord; and prove me. Try my mind and my heart.
2) An Obedient Life verse 3.
For Your lovingkindness is before my eyes and I have walked in Your truth.
3) An Overcoming Life verses 4 and 5.
I have not sat with idolatrous mortals, nor will I go in with hypocrites.
I have hated the assembly of evildoers, and will not sit with wicked.
4) An Oath verses 6, 7 and 8.
I will wash my hands in innocence; so, I will go about Your altar. O Lord.
That I may proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all Your wondrous works. Lord, I have loved the habitation of Your house, and the place where Your glory dwells.
5) An Observation verses 9 and 10.
Do not gather my soul with sinners, nor my life with bloodthirsty men.
Whose hands is a sinister scheme and whose right hand is full of brides.
6) An Ordained Life verses 11 and 12.
But as for me, I will walk in my integrity; redeem me and be merciful to me.
My foot stands in an even place; in the congregations I will bless the Lord.
Conclusion: Psalm 26 shows us a description of a life of separation unto God.
David had been accused of befriending and siting with ungodly men and so was being untrue to Yehovah. But he pleads not guilty and states he has not sinned as verses 4 and 5 and 9 and 10 show us.
David gives testimony and affirmation of his life of separation before the lord.
In like manner we do the same but we are not to isolate ourselves from the unsaved, we are to share the Gospel of ‘Good News’ to show there is a better way, truth and life. Our Lord was a friend towards sinners so that they could repent and have eternal life. Amen.
Psalm 51 – A Psalm of David.
Introduction: This is quite simply a prayer of repentance. It is the fourth of the Penitential Psalms and like Psalm 32 it came out of David’s sin with Bathsheba and so Nathan the prophet went to see David. (See 2 Samuel Chapters 11 to 12.)
If any chapter in the Bible reveals the high cost of sinning, it is this one!
Our sins are made up of our iniquities, secret sins, trespasses, besetting sins, and sins of omission and commission.
Proposition: The first 2 verses of Psalm 32 say it all – ‘Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven. Whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity. And in whose spirit, there is no deceit.’
Teaching: 1) The Loss of Purity of Heart verses 1 to 10.
2) The Loss of Divine Fellowship verse 11.
3) The Loss of Joy of Salvation verse 12.
4) The Loss of the Power to Witness verse 13.
5) The Loss of the Desire to Worship verses 14-17.
6) The Loss of interest for God’s Will verses 18-19.
Conclusion: In both Psalm 26 and 51 we have 6 points and the number 6 is the number of man, with the number 666 showing us eternal evil. It is better to walk under the number 777. To be with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit for all eternity.
The number 7 is the number of God and we are to learn His ways and be obedient. All these life stories of men and women mentioned in the Holy Bible teach us the lessons of life so that we don’t make the same mistakes.
Spiritual growth comes with time spent in prayer, reading and learning from the Holy Bible given by a Holy God.
If we fall short, we repent as David did and learn from the lessons of life which are all contained in the Holy Bible, the Book of books.
If we confess our sins He is just and true to forgive us. To err is a trait of mankind. That is why the Son of man and the Son of God came.