A Saint’s Prayer

 Temple Baptist Church - 6-18-2023

Psalm 64

Introduction:

 

A.  Verse 1.  In this verse, we find a very important truth.  That prayer is available and avails. 

 

1.  David was a man of Communion.  David was a man after God’s own heart and spend much of his time in communion with Him. 

 

a)  “My Voice” - Here, we find a familiar voice.  One that the Lord was well acquainted with.  Lord, Hear Me.  “Hear my voice, O God, in my prayer.” 

 

b)  “My Prayer” - Here, we find a familiar circumstance.  Lord, Help Me.  “preserve my life from fear”  David did ask God to preserve his life but to preserve his life from fearfulness.

 

c)  “My Life” – Here, we find a man God was familiar with. Lord, Hide Me.  “Hide me from the secret.”  Things that we can see, we can fight, but an unseen enemy is a dangerous one.

 

2.  David was a man of Confidence.  David knew that his God was up to any situation at hand.  As the Lord is with us and for us in the New Testament, the Lord was with and for David in the Old Testament.

 

a)  “Hear” – David’s confidence that God would hear his prayer.

 

b)  “Preserve” – David’s confidence that the Lord would answer his prayer.

 

3.  David was a man of Consistency.  60 times in the Psalms, we find the phrase “Psalm of David”. 

 

a)  Between 73-75, according to who you read after, Psalms are Davidic.

 

b)  Many of these Psalms were prayers of David.

 

Psalms 72:20  The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended.

 

4.  David realized his weakness and continued to ask the Lord for His strength.

 

B.  This Psalm covers some of the unseen devices Satan uses against God’s people.  The word “devices” is found 16 times in the Bible.  I found out long ago that when an enemy is quiet, it does not mean that he has quit.  It means that he is working behind the scenes while we “sleep” in pseudo peace.

 

1.  The First Mention of the word “devices”:  Job 5:10-13  Who giveth rain upon the earth, and sendeth waters upon the fields:  (11)  To set up on high those that be low; that those which mourn may be exalted to safety.  (12)  He disappointeth the devices of the crafty, so that their hands cannot perform their enterprise.  (13)  He taketh the wise in their own craftiness: and the counsel of the froward is carried headlong.

 

2.  The Last Mention of the word “devices”:  2 Corinthians 2:11  Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

 

C.  David was a man  of great power and had many enemies who would not face him openly but devised his downfall in secret.  Here we find such instances in this Psalm as David calls upon the name of the Lord for help.

 

D.  There are times for long prayers but also for short prayers.  In verse 1, we find a short prayer of David with three aspects,

 

E.  Let us take a short look at some of the hidden works of the devil that we need protection from.

 

1.  Verse 2.  Their secret ploy.  Hide me from their planned destruction.  They take secret counsel that we do not know to destroy us.  An ungodly attack by wicked people and a wicked world is too often subtle and effective.  This attack can be either a physical attack or a spiritual one.  David asked the Lord to not let their plans work out.

 

Ephesians 6:12-13  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.  (13)  Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

 

2.  Verse 3-4.  Hide me from wicked tongues.  They “shoot” at the perfect.  Spiritually mature.  They do not worry about the carnal because he is already out of the battle.

 

Job 5:21  Thou shalt be hid from the scourge of the tongue: neither shalt thou be afraid of destruction when it cometh.

 

Proverbs 18:21  Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

 

3.  Verse 6. They love to dig up dirt!  They seek the failures of my past to prevent my future useability and happiness.  Hide me from the pitfalls as they are cunningly devised and implemented. 

 

Psalms 140:4-5  Keep me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from the violent man; who have purposed to overthrow my goings.  (5)  The proud have hid a snare for me, and cords; they have spread a net by the wayside; they have set gins for me. Selah.

 

4.  Verses 7-8.  The Retribution of the Lord in defense of the righteous.  Sometimes, we need to cease in our fear and worries and allow the Lord to take charge and defend us.  “Let go and let God!”

 

5.  Verses 9-10.  The Deliverance and praise of the Lord.  In verse 9, men will fear Him and in verse 10, God’s people will praise Him.