Message Notes

SSS 4 4 December 2022
Book 2
Psalms 42-72

Text: Psalm 59

To the Chief Musician. Set to “Do Not Destroy.” A Michtam of David when Saul sent men, and they watched the house in order to kill him.
1 Deliver me from my enemies, O my God;
Defend me from those who rise up against me.

2 Deliver me from the workers of iniquity,
And save me from bloodthirsty men.

3 For look, they lie in wait for my life;
The mighty gather against me,
Not for my transgression nor for my sin, O LORD.

4 They run and prepare themselves through no fault of mine.
Awake to help me, and behold!

5 You therefore, O LORD God of hosts, the God of Israel,
Awake to punish all the nations;
Do not be merciful to any wicked transgressors. Selah

6 At evening they return,
They growl like a dog,
And go all around the city.

7 Indeed, they belch with their mouth;
Swords are in their lips;
For they say, “Who hears?”

8 But You, O LORD, shall laugh at them;
You shall have all the nations in derision.

9 I will wait for You, O You his Strength;
For God is my defense.

10 My God of mercy shall come to meet me;
God shall let me see my desire on my enemies.

11 Do not slay them, lest my people forget;
Scatter them by Your power,
And bring them down,
O Lord our shield.
12 For the sin of their mouth and the words of their lips,
Let them even be taken in their pride,
And for the cursing and lying which they speak.

13 Consume them in wrath, consume them,
That they may not be;
And let them know that God rules in Jacob
To the ends of the earth. Selah

14 And at evening they return,
They growl like a dog,
And go all around the city.

15 They wander up and down for food,
And howl if they are not satisfied.

16 But I will sing of Your power;
Yes, I will sing aloud of Your mercy in the morning;
For You have been my defense
And refuge in the day of my trouble.

17 To You, O my Strength, I will sing praises;
For God is my defense,
My God of mercy.

Psalm 59:1-17

A DESCRIPTION OF THE ENEMIES

1. They are described as rebels

Deliver me from my enemies, O my God;
Defend me from those who rise up against me.

Psalm 59:1

2. They are workers of iniquity

Deliver me from the workers of iniquity,

Psalm 59:2a

3. They are bloodthirsty

And save me from bloodthirsty men

Psalm 59:2b

4. They have some might

For look, they lie in wait for my life;
The mighty gather against me

Psalm 59:3

5. They are wicked transgressors

You therefore, O LORD God of hosts, the God of Israel,
Awake to punish all the nations;
Do not be merciful to any wicked transgressors.

Psalm 59:5

6. They are compared to wild dogs

6 At evening they return,
They growl like a dog,
And go all around the city.

7 Indeed, they belch with their mouth;
Swords are in their lips;
For they say, “Who hears?”

Psalm 59:6-7

7. They are full of pride and cursing and lying

For the sin of their mouth and the words of their lips,
Let them even be taken in their pride,
And for the cursing and lying which they speak.

Psalm 59:12

8. Another comparison to wild dogs

14 And at evening they return,
They growl like a dog,
And go all around the city.

15 They wander up and down for food,
And howl if they are not satisfied.

Psalm 59:14-15

APPEALING TO THE LORD

1. Prayer for Deliverance/ Defence

Deliver me from my enemies, O my God;
Defend me from those who rise up against me.

2 Deliver me from the workers of iniquity,
And save me from bloodthirsty men.

Psalm 59:1-2

2. Asking the LORD to behold and to help

4 They run and prepare themselves through no fault of mine.
Awake to help me, and behold!

5 You therefore, O LORD God of hosts, the God of Israel,
Awake to punish all the nations;
Do not be merciful to any wicked transgressors.

Psalm 59:4-5

a) Asking for help

b) Punishment of the nations

c) No mercy to wicked transgressors

TRUSTING IN GOD

1. Trusting in God’s sovereignty over all nations

But You, O LORD, shall laugh at them;
You shall have all the nations in derision.

Psalm 59:8

2. Waiting upon God

9 I will wait for You, O You his Strength;
For God is my defense.

10 My God of mercy shall come to meet me;
God shall let me see my desire on my enemies.

Psalm 59:9-10

a) For strength

b) For protection

c) For mercy

d) For the defeat of enemies

3. Scattering of the enemies

11 Do not slay them, lest my people forget;
Scatter them by Your power,
And bring them down,
O Lord our shield.

12 For the sin of their mouth and the words of their lips,
Let them even be taken in their pride,
And for the cursing and lying which they speak.

Psalm 59:11-12

a) Scattering

b) Defeat of enemies

c) Shielding of God’s people

4. Destruction of enemies

Consume them in wrath, consume them,
That they may not be;
And let them know that God rules in Jacob
To the ends of the earth. Selah

Psalm 59:13

a) If scattering does not work

b) Destruction to follow

5. Personal Response

16 But I will sing of Your power;
Yes, I will sing aloud of Your mercy in the morning;
For You have been my defense
And refuge in the day of my trouble.

17 To You, O my Strength, I will sing praises;
For God is my defense,
My God of mercy.

Psalm 59:16-17

a) Singing of the LORD’s power

b) Singing of His mercy

c) Rejoicing in God’s protection (defense and refuge)

d) Trusting in God as his strength

e) The LORD is indeed his God of mercy