Life’s Solutions

 Temple Baptist Church - 12-3-2023

Psalm 69:13-36

 

Introduction: 

 

A.  Last week, I divided this Psalm into two parts.  We must remember that this Psalm is both Davidic (David’s cry to God) and Messianic (Our Lord’s cry to the Father).

 

1.  Life’s Sorrows – Verses 1-15  I continue to say that life is hard and when you know that you can make it! 

 

a)  King David, a man after God’s own heart, suffered the ups and downs of life just as we do.

 

b)  Our Lord, the Son of God, suffered throughout His public life from the time of His baptism and identification to the cross upon which He died of the sin of the world.

 

c)  Therefore, if David and our Lord were allowed to suffer, we will not be exempt!

 

1 Peter 1:5-8  Who are kept by the power of God through faith (the substance hoped for, the evidence of things not seen) unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.  (6)  Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:  (7)  That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:  (8)  Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:

 

d)  We often lose sight of the Lord in our dark and seemingly endless times of suffering and turmoil.  Thus, these precious Psalms teach us both how to suffer and live a life of faith at the same time.

 

2.  Life’s Solutions – Verses 16-36.  When our life seems to be out of our control, we must remember that our life is STILL in His control.  Proverbs 3:5-6,  along with Romans 8:28, are verses Scripture that most of us can quote tonight. 

 

Proverbs 3:5-6  Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  (6)  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

 

Romans 8:28  And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

 

a)  These verses are right!  Hard humanly to swallow at times when things go wrong, continue to go wrong, and open end waiting with no relief in sight.

 

b)  As the old preacher said, “Don’t mess with God’s toys.”  I do not say this irreverently, but the secret things belong to God, and we need to allow Him to do a perfect work instead of putting a “band-aid” on the problem. 

 

James 1:2-4  My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;  (3)  Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.  (4)  But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

 

B.  We have seen Life’s Sorrows, and there are many.  Now let us look at our verses and find Life’s Solutions.

 

1.  Verses 13-15.  Learning to Wait in Prayer to God.    “My prayer is unto thee”

 

a.  Verse 13.  David continues to make supplication to God.

 

b.  Verse 14.  David places his trust in God’s timing in answering his prayer.

 

c.  Verse 15.  David pleads for God not to let him sink or be overcome in the process.

 

2.  Verses 16-18.  Leaning on the Compassion of God.  “The multitude of thy tender mercies”

 

a.  Verse 16.  David’s recognition of the goodness of God ALL the time.

 

b.  Verse 17.  David’s recognition of the graciousness of God in our sinful times.

 

c.  Verse 18.  David’s recognition of the grace of God in our bad times.

 

3.  Verses 19-21  In the hands of the Enemies of God.  “Mine adversaries are all before thee”

 

a.  Verse 19.  David’s enemies defined.  Adversaries: foes, adversaries, enemies, antagonists, rivals.

 

b.  Verse 20.  David’s emptiness declared.  Brokenhearted, without comforters.

 

c.  Verse 21.  David’s enduring described.  Gall to eat and vinegar to drink.  Both irritate and make sore, i.e. to burn the stomach.

 

4.  Verses 22-28.  David’s desire concerning His Enemies.  “Let their table become a snare”  Imprecatory Prayers. 

It is both biblical and alright to pray AGAINST all those who refuse to get right with God and stop their ungodly works against the godly. 

 

I fully understand that the bible also tells us to pray for our enemies and do them good, but there are many examples in the Psalms imprecatory praying.  These verses are prophetic of what should be done to such of the enemies of God and His people. 

 

I pray imprecatory prays each do as I ask for justice (not revenge) in wrongs that need to be righted. 

 

I pray imprecatory prayers each day asking God to save Israel’s enemies but, if they do not get save and continue to destroy God’s people, let Israel take them down.

 

a.  Verse 22.  Let their table become a snare.  Their banqueting turned to ruin.

 

b.  Verse 23.  Let their eyes be darkened and lives fearful.  Let them suffer the same fear that they have brought upon others.

 

c.  Verse 24.  Let their way be painful.  Remove the joy of living from their ways.

 

d.  Verses 25-26.  Let their homes be destroyed.  Let them find no place of rest.

 

e.  Verse 27.  Let their iniquity come upon them.  Their sinful choices bring about spiritual consequences.

 

f.  Verse 28.  Let their eternity be damned.  The ultimate anathema. If they will not stop and get right, they have no right to live in God’s heaven.

 

5.  Verses 29-36.  David’s confidence in Jehovah God.

 

a.  Verse 29.  David’s salvation Assured.  As God must allow, God can also remove.

 

b.  Verse 30.  David’s song Returns.  The joy of the Lord is the strength and rejoicing of His children. He giveth songs in the night!

 

c.  Verses 31-33.  David’s sacrifice Offered.  The faithful faithfully return to worship and praise.

 

d.  Verses 34-36.  David’s surety of Life’s Outcome.  One day, all will once again be well and life worth living.