WEBVTT 00:00:00.940 --> 00:00:07.980 So we are in Psalm 7. Let me read that for us. We'll take a look at the passage. 00:00:11.220 --> 00:00:12.140 Psalm 7. 00:00:12.280 --> 00:00:19.039 O Lord my God, in you do I take refuge. Save me from all my pursuers and deliver me. 00:00:19.559 --> 00:00:25.000 Blessed like a lion, they tear my soul apart, rending it in pieces with none to deliver. 00:00:25.000 --> 00:00:38.600 O Lord my God, if I have done this, if there is wrong in my hands, if I have repaid my friend with evil or plundered my enemy without cause, let the enemy pursue my soul and overtake it. 00:00:38.920 --> 00:00:44.420 Let him trample my life to the ground and lay my glory in the dust. Selah. 00:00:45.359 --> 00:00:53.820 Arise, O Lord, in your anger. Lift yourself up against the fury of my enemies. Awake for me, for you have appointed a judgment. 00:00:53.820 --> 00:00:59.980 Let the assembly of people be gathered about you, over it to return on high. 00:01:00.740 --> 00:01:08.099 The Lord judges the people. Judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness and according to the integrity that is in me. 00:01:08.460 --> 00:01:13.379 O let the evil of the wicked come to an end, and may you establish the righteous. 00:01:14.180 --> 00:01:22.340 You who test the minds and hearts. O righteous God, my shield is with God, who saves the upright in heart. 00:01:22.340 --> 00:01:27.280 God is a righteous judge and a God who feels indignation every day. 00:01:27.920 --> 00:01:33.880 If a man does not repent, God will wet his sword. He has bent and readied his bow. 00:01:34.320 --> 00:01:39.580 He has prepared for him deadly weapons, making his arrows fiery shafts. 00:01:40.260 --> 00:01:46.240 Behold, the wicked man conceives evil and is pregnant with mischief and gives birth to lies. 00:01:46.239 --> 00:01:50.640 He makes a pit, digging it out, and falls into a hole that he has made. 00:01:51.079 --> 00:01:56.659 His mischief returns upon his own head, and on his own skull his violence descends. 00:01:57.099 --> 00:02:04.819 I will give to the Lord the thanks to his righteousness, and I will sing praise to the name of the Lord, the Most High. 00:02:04.819 --> 00:02:16.819 As we look at Psalm 7, the first thing to point out to you is that it begins of, in my version, even before verse 1, it begins, 00:02:17.219 --> 00:02:19.099 A Shigion of David. 00:02:19.599 --> 00:02:21.479 So that's actually where the psalm begins. 00:02:21.560 --> 00:02:23.919 So this is a Shigion of David. 00:02:23.979 --> 00:02:27.819 And if you're wondering what a Shigion is, well, that's a good question. 00:02:27.939 --> 00:02:30.819 No one really quite knows exactly what a Shigion is. 00:02:30.819 --> 00:02:40.079 The term is actually only used in this passage of all the Bibles, so it only appears here. 00:02:40.340 --> 00:02:44.620 Although it also appears in a plural form in Habakkuk 3.1. 00:02:45.000 --> 00:02:47.199 And there, once again, it's meaning that it's unclear. 00:02:47.819 --> 00:02:50.919 So a bit of a circular understanding of Shigion. 00:02:51.019 --> 00:02:53.159 A Shigion is what this passage is. 00:02:53.919 --> 00:02:55.439 And what is this passage? 00:02:55.620 --> 00:02:56.299 It's a Shigion. 00:02:56.300 --> 00:03:03.000 But the passage, as we begin to look at it, I wanted to direct you to verse 1. 00:03:03.380 --> 00:03:09.320 And verse 1 is going to set this entire psalm in place for us. 00:03:09.740 --> 00:03:14.520 And what we want to see out of verse 1 is that this is going to be a prayer of deliverance. 00:03:14.920 --> 00:03:20.900 So David is going to be setting the tone here in the first verse with this prayer of deliverance. 00:03:21.080 --> 00:03:22.040 Let me read that for us. 00:03:22.039 --> 00:03:27.159 Oh Lord my God, in you do I take refuge. 00:03:27.679 --> 00:03:31.919 Save me from all my pursuers and deliver me. 00:03:32.799 --> 00:03:40.180 So David begins there in the passage and says that, refers to God as refuge. 00:03:40.340 --> 00:03:41.979 So refuge is a place of shelter. 00:03:42.539 --> 00:03:46.419 So David is looking to God and saying, you're the one who's going to be my shelter in this storm. 00:03:46.739 --> 00:03:49.799 There is a storm that's taking place in David's life. 00:03:49.800 --> 00:03:56.219 And we see that from the setting that's been set there, even before verse 1, where it refers 00:03:56.219 --> 00:04:01.380 to the Shigion of David, which he sang to the Lord concerning the words of Cush of Benjamite. 00:04:01.740 --> 00:04:07.220 So somehow these words of Cush of Benjamite has caused this storm in David's life. 00:04:07.340 --> 00:04:12.340 And David is saying, God, you are going to be my refuge in the midst of this storm. 00:04:12.720 --> 00:04:16.900 And then he makes a couple of pleas to God, a couple of entreaties to God there in verse 1. 00:04:16.899 --> 00:04:18.539 The first is to save me. 00:04:18.839 --> 00:04:20.000 He says, God, you're the one. 00:04:20.239 --> 00:04:21.620 I want you to save me. 00:04:22.019 --> 00:04:24.359 And then he also continues to, deliver me. 00:04:24.859 --> 00:04:30.359 So David comes to God in this storm of his life and saying, God, I need you to save me. 00:04:30.699 --> 00:04:33.079 You are the one, God, to deliver me. 00:04:34.179 --> 00:04:38.779 David goes on to say that without deliverance, we see there in verse 2, if God does not intervene. 00:04:39.299 --> 00:04:40.519 Let me read verse 2 for us. 00:04:40.560 --> 00:04:42.779 This is what's going to happen to David if God does not intervene. 00:04:42.779 --> 00:04:49.299 Less like a lion, they tear my soul apart, rending it in pieces with none to deliver. 00:04:50.219 --> 00:04:51.839 David's like, they're a lion. 00:04:52.099 --> 00:04:52.959 They're coming after me. 00:04:53.059 --> 00:04:54.799 They will be, I will be destroyed. 00:04:55.539 --> 00:04:57.919 God, I need you to deliver me. 00:04:58.439 --> 00:05:04.579 But David comes and as he continues in this plea of deliverance, he actually makes it a conditional deliverance. 00:05:04.639 --> 00:05:06.219 As he comes, he says, God, save me. 00:05:06.519 --> 00:05:08.279 He says, God, save me. 00:05:08.279 --> 00:05:12.179 But if I've done anything wrong, God, hold that against me. 00:05:12.479 --> 00:05:14.199 These people are doing me wrong. 00:05:14.339 --> 00:05:17.819 But if I have done anyone wrong, God, you can hold that against me. 00:05:18.319 --> 00:05:22.079 And so as David come and as he says, God, I want you to save me. 00:05:22.199 --> 00:05:24.559 He hedges his plea of deliverance. 00:05:24.899 --> 00:05:32.959 We see that David's like, if I have done this, if there is wrong in my hands, if I have repaid my friends with evil, 00:05:32.959 --> 00:05:41.079 if I have plundered my enemies without cause, then God, God, may my enemies pursue my soul and overtake it. 00:05:41.599 --> 00:05:43.919 Let them trample my life to the ground. 00:05:44.519 --> 00:05:46.419 Lay my glory at the dust. 00:05:47.379 --> 00:05:51.179 So as David comes, he is asking for God's intervention. 00:05:51.740 --> 00:05:54.060 But he's also doing it in this conditional format. 00:05:54.759 --> 00:05:59.439 He's saying, God, if I've done wrong, if there's wrong within me, you can hold that against me. 00:05:59.439 --> 00:06:08.259 One of the things that I want us to see is that this conditional deliverance that David is putting before God is a necessity on David's part. 00:06:08.800 --> 00:06:11.699 It's a necessity because David is asking for God to intervene. 00:06:12.500 --> 00:06:19.079 And as God comes and intervenes, we find that God's not going to simply be choosing David's side because he prefers David. 00:06:19.579 --> 00:06:21.920 God is going to be choosing the side of the righteous. 00:06:22.720 --> 00:06:25.779 And when David says, God, I want you to intervene in this matter. 00:06:26.259 --> 00:06:29.279 I want you to hold these people accountable for what they're doing. 00:06:30.139 --> 00:06:31.800 God will respond with righteousness. 00:06:32.660 --> 00:06:34.379 And God will favor the righteous. 00:06:35.240 --> 00:06:43.040 And if David is not among the righteous, then God's anger and wrath intended for the enemy of David will be directed toward David himself. 00:06:44.500 --> 00:06:51.839 So as David comes and continues in this passage, he has this petition there we see in verse 6. 00:06:51.839 --> 00:06:54.480 Where he's asking God to bring judgment. 00:06:54.480 --> 00:07:01.960 He says, God, between these two parties, between me and this kush of Benjamin. 00:07:02.460 --> 00:07:04.379 He says, I want you to bring judgment. 00:07:04.560 --> 00:07:06.300 I want you to decide between us. 00:07:07.080 --> 00:07:08.220 Who of us is wrong? 00:07:08.220 --> 00:07:16.220 And the passage there in 6 goes, arise, O Lord, in your anger. 00:07:18.620 --> 00:07:19.480 Lift yourself. 00:07:19.920 --> 00:07:22.120 It says, arise, O sword, in your anger. 00:07:22.520 --> 00:07:25.200 Lift yourself up against the fury of my enemies. 00:07:25.660 --> 00:07:26.500 Awake for me. 00:07:26.860 --> 00:07:29.100 You have appointed a judgment. 00:07:29.100 --> 00:07:33.320 So as David comes and he prays and he asks for deliverance. 00:07:33.640 --> 00:07:36.260 And he says to God, he says, God, save me. 00:07:36.360 --> 00:07:36.860 Deliver me. 00:07:37.260 --> 00:07:38.820 He says, God, I want you to make a judgment. 00:07:39.240 --> 00:07:41.160 I want you to make a judgment in this matter. 00:07:41.160 --> 00:07:45.580 And David comes and he pleads before God, the righteous judge. 00:07:46.640 --> 00:07:50.439 David says, consider my own personal righteousness. 00:07:51.120 --> 00:07:55.580 So that David here, as he pleads to God, he says, judge between my enemies. 00:07:56.260 --> 00:07:57.700 But there he goes in verse 8. 00:07:57.780 --> 00:08:06.520 He says, judge, O Lord, according to my righteousness and according to the integrity that is in me. 00:08:06.519 --> 00:08:13.959 So as David comes and he pleads, he says, God, consider my own personal righteousness in this matter. 00:08:15.479 --> 00:08:17.019 Decide between the two of us. 00:08:17.180 --> 00:08:18.539 But look at who I am. 00:08:18.759 --> 00:08:19.959 Look at my own character. 00:08:21.299 --> 00:08:28.979 And it's perhaps a little off-putting to us to hear David's plea to God based upon his own righteousness. 00:08:29.579 --> 00:08:32.559 That's not often how we think of coming to God. 00:08:32.559 --> 00:08:34.399 God saying, intervene. 00:08:34.980 --> 00:08:36.319 Look at my own righteousness. 00:08:36.960 --> 00:08:44.519 But one of the things that I want us to see in this is that while David does appeal to his own personal righteousness, 00:08:45.019 --> 00:08:47.439 he does not appeal to his self-righteousness. 00:08:48.539 --> 00:08:51.720 And we rightly look down upon self-righteousness. 00:08:51.840 --> 00:08:53.559 We rightly condemn self-righteousness. 00:08:53.960 --> 00:08:59.860 And the problem with self-righteousness is that it compares the goodness of the person to other people. 00:09:00.759 --> 00:09:05.500 Self-righteousness doesn't look to God for a comparison of what is right and what is wrong. 00:09:05.500 --> 00:09:08.620 It looks to the other person and says, I'm better than that person. 00:09:09.759 --> 00:09:13.659 And in this case, David is saying, God, judge between me and this other person. 00:09:13.659 --> 00:09:17.879 But consider my own righteousness that I see to you, God. 00:09:17.879 --> 00:09:22.480 So David comes and says, it's my righteousness based upon my understanding of God. 00:09:22.799 --> 00:09:24.899 That's the righteousness that I want you to see. 00:09:24.899 --> 00:09:30.939 And the psalmist comes and he says to God, I want you to intervene and I want you to take sides. 00:09:31.740 --> 00:09:35.659 David is saying, God, I want you to arbitrate this dispute. 00:09:35.659 --> 00:09:38.939 I want you to make a decision between us. 00:09:40.519 --> 00:09:45.639 One of the things I want us to just pause and consider for a moment is this question. 00:09:46.000 --> 00:09:50.480 How comfortable are we with asking God to choose sides? 00:09:52.039 --> 00:09:56.159 It's not something I often see as people gather and they pray. 00:09:57.480 --> 00:10:00.699 It's specifically, God, I want you to choose sides. 00:10:00.700 --> 00:10:06.100 David clearly here in the psalm is asking God to choose sides. 00:10:07.379 --> 00:10:11.860 And as I continue to delve into this matter, another question for you. 00:10:13.300 --> 00:10:17.300 How comfortable with we are praying against our enemies? 00:10:17.299 --> 00:10:29.000 Yeah, and once again, as I think of my own experience with people and the prayer times together, 00:10:29.419 --> 00:10:33.879 I don't remember many prayers where people praying against their enemies. 00:10:34.919 --> 00:10:37.500 But that is certainly what is taking place in this psalm. 00:10:38.679 --> 00:10:41.939 And as we think not only of this psalm, but in all the psalms, 00:10:41.939 --> 00:10:46.779 there are 77 references to either enemy or enemies. 00:10:47.299 --> 00:10:53.959 So this idea of enemies in the psalms does occur with a measure of regularity. 00:10:55.339 --> 00:10:57.939 And we find here specifically that David is saying, 00:10:58.059 --> 00:11:00.079 God, choose between me and my enemies. 00:11:00.439 --> 00:11:01.719 Find favor with me. 00:11:02.019 --> 00:11:04.259 Find favor with me because of my righteousness. 00:11:06.419 --> 00:11:10.620 Now, as we think of that idea of David petitioning God to take sides 00:11:10.620 --> 00:11:14.299 and petitioning God to judge against his enemies, 00:11:14.299 --> 00:11:17.919 I think we also need to be mindful of Jesus' command. 00:11:18.659 --> 00:11:21.039 Jesus says to love our enemies. 00:11:22.339 --> 00:11:25.459 Let me read a passage from Matthew. 00:11:25.459 --> 00:11:29.620 This will come from Matthew chapter 5, verse 43 through 45. 00:11:29.879 --> 00:11:32.319 And this is Jesus speaking on the Sermon on the Mount. 00:11:33.019 --> 00:11:34.559 Let me read that passage for you. 00:11:34.559 --> 00:11:35.699 And this is Jesus once again. 00:11:35.700 --> 00:11:37.460 You have heard that it was said, 00:11:38.120 --> 00:11:40.660 You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. 00:11:41.320 --> 00:11:46.180 But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 00:11:46.680 --> 00:11:49.759 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. 00:11:49.759 --> 00:11:54.000 For he makes the sun rise on the evil and on the good 00:11:54.000 --> 00:11:58.200 and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 00:11:58.200 --> 00:12:08.340 So how do we navigate our way between these two perhaps seemingly conflicting information? 00:12:09.320 --> 00:12:12.320 Jesus clearly says we are to pray for our enemies. 00:12:12.600 --> 00:12:14.160 He says you are to love your enemies. 00:12:14.600 --> 00:12:16.540 We are to pray for those who persecute us. 00:12:17.360 --> 00:12:19.900 David, on the other hand, is petitioning God to say, 00:12:20.040 --> 00:12:22.280 God, choose between us. 00:12:23.180 --> 00:12:25.580 I want judgment on my enemies. 00:12:25.580 --> 00:12:33.400 So how do we find our way between these two perhaps seemingly conflicting directives 00:12:33.400 --> 00:12:37.780 or suggestions or ways of moving forward? 00:12:38.639 --> 00:12:41.020 Well, I would say, like with most things, 00:12:41.920 --> 00:12:44.879 that balance is always a good option 00:12:44.879 --> 00:12:47.360 and wisdom is always a good option. 00:12:48.060 --> 00:12:52.780 We must find our way between balancing these two different options that are before us 00:12:52.779 --> 00:12:55.839 and wisdom is often what helps us guide through these matters. 00:12:56.579 --> 00:12:59.399 As we think of this idea of praying against our enemies, 00:12:59.659 --> 00:13:01.559 I want you to think of it as a tool. 00:13:02.539 --> 00:13:05.819 It's a tool that can be used and can be helpful. 00:13:06.539 --> 00:13:09.480 But it's not necessarily a tool that has to be used. 00:13:10.939 --> 00:13:14.679 And as we also think of this idea of praying against our enemies 00:13:14.679 --> 00:13:17.399 and think of it like a tool, a tool to be used, 00:13:17.399 --> 00:13:22.759 I think one of the great dangers with any tool is that it can be of great benefit. 00:13:23.600 --> 00:13:25.459 It can also be of great harm. 00:13:26.319 --> 00:13:27.819 Think of using a screwdriver. 00:13:28.579 --> 00:13:31.120 When you need to get that screw out of the wood, 00:13:31.620 --> 00:13:33.939 that screwdriver is a vital tool for doing that. 00:13:34.620 --> 00:13:37.860 But in the same way, that screwdriver with all that pressure 00:13:37.860 --> 00:13:40.779 and all that force upon it can easily slip 00:13:40.779 --> 00:13:43.240 and cut the person's hand who's using it. 00:13:43.240 --> 00:13:47.500 A tool, a tool greatly valuable, can also cause great harm. 00:13:48.259 --> 00:13:51.180 So as we think of this idea of praying against our enemies, 00:13:52.279 --> 00:13:53.500 think of it as a tool. 00:13:54.120 --> 00:13:56.139 It doesn't necessarily need to be used, 00:13:56.659 --> 00:14:00.240 but it is something that is an option and available to us. 00:14:02.000 --> 00:14:03.940 And as we think also of this idea, 00:14:04.799 --> 00:14:07.779 a reminder that David comes and he says, 00:14:08.080 --> 00:14:09.879 God, I want you to judge between us. 00:14:09.879 --> 00:14:13.360 I want you to judge, God, because you are righteous. 00:14:14.200 --> 00:14:15.759 God, look at the situation. 00:14:16.320 --> 00:14:20.159 Look at the harm that's being done to me by the unrighteous. 00:14:22.919 --> 00:14:25.100 As we continue on, I want us to just take a look, 00:14:25.759 --> 00:14:28.480 and I'm going to read a part of this psalm for us. 00:14:28.820 --> 00:14:32.960 Because I want you just to take the imagery that's here 00:14:32.960 --> 00:14:39.220 and just soak it up as we've set the stage thus far of this passage. 00:14:39.759 --> 00:14:41.379 And I'm going to begin in verse 10. 00:14:41.680 --> 00:14:44.340 I'm just going to read a portion of this psalm. 00:14:44.660 --> 00:14:46.400 And really what I want you to see, once again, 00:14:46.440 --> 00:14:49.259 is just the beauty of the words that are written, 00:14:49.560 --> 00:14:50.980 the imagery that's felt there, 00:14:51.259 --> 00:14:53.540 as David comes and pleads before God. 00:14:54.120 --> 00:14:54.980 Beginning in verse 10. 00:14:54.980 --> 00:15:00.480 My shield is with God, who saves the upright in heart. 00:15:01.100 --> 00:15:03.240 God is a righteous judge, 00:15:03.639 --> 00:15:06.340 and a God who feels indignation every day. 00:15:07.340 --> 00:15:11.720 If a man does not repent, God will wet his sword. 00:15:12.460 --> 00:15:15.039 He has bent and readied his bow. 00:15:15.700 --> 00:15:18.879 He has prepared for him his deadly weapons, 00:15:19.340 --> 00:15:21.840 making his arrows fiery shafts. 00:15:22.440 --> 00:15:24.720 Behold, the wicked man conceives evil. 00:15:24.980 --> 00:15:28.320 And is pregnant with mischief and gives birth to lies. 00:15:28.879 --> 00:15:31.220 He makes a pit, digging it out, 00:15:31.539 --> 00:15:34.220 and falls into the hole that he has made. 00:15:34.820 --> 00:15:37.519 His mischief returns upon his own head. 00:15:37.920 --> 00:15:42.300 And on his own skull, his violence descends. 00:15:44.300 --> 00:15:48.060 As we close, I want you to think back where we started. 00:15:49.159 --> 00:15:52.019 Which is, this is a prayer of deliverance. 00:15:52.019 --> 00:15:56.120 David is coming in asking God to intervene. 00:15:58.259 --> 00:16:00.159 Let me read verse 1 for us again. 00:16:00.159 --> 00:16:06.699 Oh Lord, my God, in you do I take refuge. 00:16:07.699 --> 00:16:13.000 Save me from all my pursuers, and deliver me. 00:16:13.000 --> 00:16:18.820 It's a reminder for us that when we pray for God's deliverance, 00:16:19.220 --> 00:16:21.519 when we pray for God's deliverance from other people, 00:16:21.919 --> 00:16:23.919 we invite God's judgment. 00:16:23.919 --> 00:16:27.360 The question that we would have then is, 00:16:27.459 --> 00:16:28.919 are we ready for God's judgment? 00:16:30.159 --> 00:16:34.339 Are we ready for God to come and make a judgment between the two people? 00:16:35.199 --> 00:16:39.939 As we think of prayer points that come from this passage, 00:16:40.779 --> 00:16:42.559 I'd begin, first of all, 00:16:43.199 --> 00:16:46.839 that there must be within us a great desire for righteousness. 00:16:46.840 --> 00:16:52.420 Without righteousness, we don't find ourselves in a place to petition God. 00:16:52.820 --> 00:16:55.519 We don't find ourselves in a place to come before God and say, 00:16:55.600 --> 00:16:56.200 deliver me. 00:16:56.519 --> 00:16:59.000 We don't find ourselves in a place to come before God and say, 00:16:59.200 --> 00:17:01.460 judge between me and this other person. 00:17:02.600 --> 00:17:04.519 So as we think of this, 00:17:04.940 --> 00:17:07.720 I want you to see this desire for righteousness 00:17:07.720 --> 00:17:11.279 should be part of all that we do. 00:17:11.279 --> 00:17:17.500 The second point that I want you to think of as we look at the ideas of prayer 00:17:17.500 --> 00:17:19.420 that drive from this passage 00:17:19.420 --> 00:17:22.039 is the burden of evil around us. 00:17:23.440 --> 00:17:25.500 David sees the evil around him. 00:17:26.680 --> 00:17:29.359 David says, God, I want you to do something about it. 00:17:30.079 --> 00:17:32.839 And I want us to see the evil around us 00:17:32.839 --> 00:17:35.000 and seek God's judgment 00:17:35.000 --> 00:17:39.720 and seek God's action to put an end to the evil that is around us. 00:17:39.720 --> 00:17:42.140 So as we come before God this evening, 00:17:42.579 --> 00:17:44.019 I put those two things before you, 00:17:44.360 --> 00:17:45.980 that desire for personal righteousness, 00:17:46.460 --> 00:17:48.059 the great burden of evil, 00:17:48.640 --> 00:17:51.220 and also just a reminder of the tool that we have, 00:17:51.779 --> 00:17:53.539 the tool where we say to God, 00:17:53.940 --> 00:17:55.680 God, look at our enemies. 00:17:55.980 --> 00:17:58.000 I want you to intervene. 00:17:58.240 --> 00:18:00.940 I want you to arbitrate between me and my enemies 00:18:00.940 --> 00:18:02.579 and make a judgment. 00:18:09.720 --> 00:18:11.240 I want you to prep in the kitchen. 00:18:11.960 --> 00:18:12.160 Okay. 00:18:12.160 --> 00:18:15.940 This is Bad Yaman. 00:18:16.559 --> 00:18:33.160 I want you to 00:18:33.160 --> 00:18:37.319 discuss