Thursday, March 01, 2007
BEWARE OF DOGS
Wednesday Evening, February 28, 2007
Bethel Church of God
Psalms 59
1 To the chief Musician, Al-tas'-chith, Mich'-tam of David; when Saul sent, and they watched the house to kill him.
Deliver me from mine enemies, O my God: defend me from them that rise up against me.
2 Deliver me from the workers of iniquity, and save me from bloody men.
3 For, lo, they lie in wait for my soul: the mighty are gathered against me; not for my transgression, nor for my sin, O LORD.
4 They run and prepare themselves without my fault: awake to help me, and behold.
5 Thou therefore, O LORD God of hosts, the God of Israel, awake to visit all the heathen: be not merciful to any wicked transgressors. Selah.
6 They return at evening: they make a noise like a dog, and go round about the city.
7 Behold, they belch out with their mouth: swords are in their lips: for who, say they, doth hear?
8 But thou, O LORD, shalt laugh at them; thou shalt have all the heathen in derision.
9 Because of his strength will I wait upon thee: for God is my defence.
10 The God of my mercy shall prevent me: God shall let me see my desire upon mine enemies.
11 Slay them not, lest my people forget: scatter them by thy 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 cursing and lying which they speak.
13 Consume them in wrath, consume them, that they may not be: and let them know that God ruleth in Jacob unto the ends of the earth. Selah.
14 And at evening let them return; and let them make a noise like a dog, and go round about the city.
15 Let them wander up and down for meat, and grudge if they be not satisfied.
16 But I will sing of thy power; yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning: for thou hast been my defence and refuge in the day of my trouble.
17 Unto thee, O my strength, will I sing: for God is my defence, and the God of my mercy.
This is a Psalm of David. All the Psalms are powerful. They all “ice the cake” so to speak, adding the feeling to the stories that are found in other spots in the Old Testament. Like many other Psalms, there is a background passage that gives this Psalm its validity…
You’ll find the background 1 Samuel 19, verses 8-17, specifically verse 6, verse 11, and verse 14. These are the key verses.
1 Samuel 19:8-17
8 And there was war again: and David went out, and fought with the Philistines, and slew them with a great slaughter; and they fled from him.
9 And the evil spirit from the LORD was upon Saul, as he sat in his house with his javelin in his hand: and David played with his hand.
10 And Saul sought to smite David even to the wall with the javelin; but he slipped away out of Saul's presence, and he smote the javelin into the wall: and David fled, and escaped that night.
11 Saul also sent messengers unto David's house, to watch him, and to slay him in the morning: and Michal David's wife told him, saying, If thou save not thy life to night, to morrow thou shalt be slain.
12 So Michal let David down through a window: and he went, and fled, and escaped.
13 And Michal took an image, and laid it in the bed, and put a pillow of goats' hair for his bolster, and covered it with a cloth.
14 And when Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, He is sick.
15 And Saul sent the messengers again to see David, saying, Bring him up to me in the bed, that I may slay him.
16 And when the messengers were come in, behold, there was an image in the bed, with a pillow of goats' hair for his bolster.
17 And Saul said unto Michal, Why hast thou deceived me so, and sent away mine enemy, that he is escaped? And Michal answered Saul, He said unto me, Let me go; why should I kill thee?
In this Psalm, David finds himself in a dilemma. Saul has loosed the dogs on him.
The idea of wild dogs; it conjures images of savagery and viciousness. They are ready to eat the flesh of God’s anointed one. You might say, “I think David was overreacting a little bit, maybe.” It’s easy to feel that way, when the dogs aren’t after you. And there are still dogs today.
Paul warned the believers in Acts 20:28-31…
Acts 20:28-31
28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.
31 Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.
He warned them about GRIEVOUS WOLVES. Church people have to watch out for wild dogs themselves. Remember, Jesus had Judas. We face them, too; savage, wild dogs; wolves. I think we can learn from David’s experience on how to handle these situations when they come. Look at this first…
David’s Danger
Psalms 59:1-9
1 To the chief Musician, Al-tas'-chith, Mich'-tam of David; when Saul sent, and they watched the house to kill him.
Deliver me from mine enemies, O my God: defend me from them that rise up against me.
2 Deliver me from the workers of iniquity, and save me from bloody men.
3 For, lo, they lie in wait for my soul: the mighty are gathered against me; not for my transgression, nor for my sin, O LORD.
4 They run and prepare themselves without my fault: awake to help me, and behold.
5 Thou therefore, O LORD God of hosts, the God of Israel, awake to visit all the heathen: be not merciful to any wicked transgressors. Selah.
6 They return at evening: they make a noise like a dog, and go round about the city.
7 Behold, they belch out with their mouth: swords are in their lips: for who, say they, doth hear?
8 But thou, O LORD, shalt laugh at them; thou shalt have all the heathen in derision.
9 Because of his strength will I wait upon thee: for God is my defence.
David wrote this Psalm during a difficult situation. The old king had turned on the new king. The one God rejected, turned on the one God selected. Isn’t that often the way it is? Those under favor from the Lord experience the consternation of those who aren’t. David had faced lions, bears and even a giant. But it was the dirty, nasty dogs that caused him to cry out to God.
His plea was “DELIVER ME…”
Saul was the master behind the dogs. Their attack was his design and request. David reminded Saul of God’s rejection of him. He bothered Saul. His presence was a thorn in Saul’s flesh. So Saul sent forth simple instructions; “Kill David.” But thanks be to God, He is a VERY PRESENT HELP IN TIMES OF TROUBLE.
Another Psalm expresses what David learned in his many experiences:
Ps 118:5-7
5 I called upon the LORD in distress: the LORD answered me, and set me in a large place.
6 The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?
7 The LORD taketh my part with them that help me: therefore shall I see my desire upon them that hate me.
He felt the panic in our passage tonight though.
Psalms 59:3-5
3 For, lo, they lie in wait for my soul: the mighty are gathered against me; not for my transgression, nor for my sin, O LORD.
4 They run and prepare themselves without my fault: awake to help me, and behold.
5 Thou therefore, O LORD God of hosts, the God of Israel, awake to visit all the heathen: be not merciful to any wicked transgressors. Selah.
He said, “They lie wait for my soul…” David is on his knees praying to God. It doesn’t look good. He finds himself in a situation that seems hopeless. Why does God put us in those kinds of situations? So we’ll turn to Him, and realize that His is our only source of help and hope.
David had done nothing wrong at this point. He says it; “not for my transgression, nor for my sin, O Lord.” If you read in other Psalms, David is calling out because he DID sin; like Psalm 51. This wasn’t about his sin. Just because hard times come, it doesn’t mean you’re in sin; it doesn’t mean God doesn’t love you any more.
David says, “Wake up God, and help me!” What a HUMAN thing to say! God isn’t asleep. He’s waiting for us to get on our knees. When the dogs are surrounding us, that’s what’s He’s looking for. We’re human. We have faults. But don’t forget. God is awake. He is not surprised by what’s happening in our lives.
David remembers his knowledge of God. He cries out to Jehovah Sabaoth – that is the Lord of Hosts. That title for the Lord says the He hears the cries of His people when they are afflicted. He spares them from destruction. Romans 9 mentions Jehovah Sabaoth
Romans 9:29
29 And as Esaias said before, Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we had been as Sodoma, and been made like unto Gomorrha.
Jehovah Sabaoth is the LORD WHO HEARS. He is the LORD WHO HEARS US. He is the Lord of Hosts. God is the Commander in Chief. He has all the power. He’s called the God of Israel; that speaks of the COVENANT RELATIONSHIP that David had with the Lord. He had a covenant with God that couldn’t die until it was completed. It was through David’s line that Messiah would be born.
In our times of deepest panic, we need to read and study; and be reminded of who God is. We need to be reminded of His great promises.
David was in peril…
Psalms 59:6-9
6 They return at evening: they make a noise like a dog, and go round about the city.
7 Behold, they belch out with their mouth: swords are in their lips: for who, say they, doth hear?
8 But thou, O LORD, shalt laugh at them; thou shalt have all the heathen in derision.
9 Because of his strength will I wait upon thee: for God is my defence.
They return and make a noise like a dog. They seem to say, “Who’s going to hear it? Who’s going to stop us?” Let me just tell you, friend; when you’re in distress, God hears you. God HEARS. When the dogs come, God HEARS! God will judge. God will right the wrongs. He’ll clean up the discrepancies, and the inequities. God HEARS! And not only that, God’s recording all of it. He’s writing it all down.
Matthew 12:36-37
36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.
God hears us in our peril. God will take care of it. Not me.
Psalms 59:8
8 But thou, O LORD, shalt laugh at them; thou shalt have all the heathen in derision.
God will turn them on themselves. David’s danger was a real danger, but when you look at it through the Lord’s eyes, it was ridiculous. God could laugh at it.
Well, we’ve looked at David’s Danger. Now let’s look at…
David’s Deliverance
Psalms 59:10-17
10 The God of my mercy shall prevent me: God shall let me see my desire upon mine enemies.
11 Slay them not, lest my people forget: scatter them by thy 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 cursing and lying which they speak.
13 Consume them in wrath, consume them, that they may not be: and let them know that God ruleth in Jacob unto the ends of the earth. Selah.
14 And at evening let them return; and let them make a noise like a dog, and go round about the city.
15 Let them wander up and down for meat, and grudge if they be not satisfied.
16 But I will sing of thy power; yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning: for thou hast been my defence and refuge in the day of my trouble.
17 Unto thee, O my strength, will I sing: for God is my defence, and the God of my mercy.
Suddenly after he prays, David knows what to do. He put the pillow in the bed under the covers. He had Michal take a rope and let him down the wall. And after his escape, he’s able to express his zeal for righteousness. He talks about God’s PROTECTION.
Psalms 59:10-15
10 The God of my mercy shall prevent me: God shall let me see my desire upon mine enemies.
11 Slay them not, lest my people forget: scatter them by thy 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 cursing and lying which they speak.
13 Consume them in wrath, consume them, that they may not be: and let them know that God ruleth in Jacob unto the ends of the earth. Selah.
14 And at evening let them return; and let them make a noise like a dog, and go round about the city.
15 Let them wander up and down for meat, and grudge if they be not satisfied.
His confidence was in God going before Him. His conviction was that he wanted his people to be able to recognize God’s judgment. He wanted the persecutors (the dogs) to be able to recognize God’s justice.
When God judges, He wants repentance; and if repentance doesn’t come, then judgment is carried to a further degree. They howled like dogs when they smelled blood; now they whine like dogs, because of their punishment.
And we hear David’s praises…
Psalms 59:16-17
16 But I will sing of thy power; yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning: for thou hast been my defence and refuge in the day of my trouble.
17 Unto thee, O my strength, will I sing: for God is my defence, and the God of my mercy.
“Night is over. Day is at hand. I will praise the Lord.” The dogs go back to their king and whine about David’s escape. Even though David is probably in a cave somewhere, he could say verse 17
Psalms 59:17
17 Unto thee, O my strength, will I sing: for God is my defence, and the God of my mercy.
David was in great danger. His plea… his panic… and his peril put him in a hard position. But David had a Great Deliverer just like we do. God was his protection. And He’s ours. We can praise God just like David did even in our darkest trials
Bethel Church of God
Psalms 59
1 To the chief Musician, Al-tas'-chith, Mich'-tam of David; when Saul sent, and they watched the house to kill him.
Deliver me from mine enemies, O my God: defend me from them that rise up against me.
2 Deliver me from the workers of iniquity, and save me from bloody men.
3 For, lo, they lie in wait for my soul: the mighty are gathered against me; not for my transgression, nor for my sin, O LORD.
4 They run and prepare themselves without my fault: awake to help me, and behold.
5 Thou therefore, O LORD God of hosts, the God of Israel, awake to visit all the heathen: be not merciful to any wicked transgressors. Selah.
6 They return at evening: they make a noise like a dog, and go round about the city.
7 Behold, they belch out with their mouth: swords are in their lips: for who, say they, doth hear?
8 But thou, O LORD, shalt laugh at them; thou shalt have all the heathen in derision.
9 Because of his strength will I wait upon thee: for God is my defence.
10 The God of my mercy shall prevent me: God shall let me see my desire upon mine enemies.
11 Slay them not, lest my people forget: scatter them by thy 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 cursing and lying which they speak.
13 Consume them in wrath, consume them, that they may not be: and let them know that God ruleth in Jacob unto the ends of the earth. Selah.
14 And at evening let them return; and let them make a noise like a dog, and go round about the city.
15 Let them wander up and down for meat, and grudge if they be not satisfied.
16 But I will sing of thy power; yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning: for thou hast been my defence and refuge in the day of my trouble.
17 Unto thee, O my strength, will I sing: for God is my defence, and the God of my mercy.
This is a Psalm of David. All the Psalms are powerful. They all “ice the cake” so to speak, adding the feeling to the stories that are found in other spots in the Old Testament. Like many other Psalms, there is a background passage that gives this Psalm its validity…
You’ll find the background 1 Samuel 19, verses 8-17, specifically verse 6, verse 11, and verse 14. These are the key verses.
1 Samuel 19:8-17
8 And there was war again: and David went out, and fought with the Philistines, and slew them with a great slaughter; and they fled from him.
9 And the evil spirit from the LORD was upon Saul, as he sat in his house with his javelin in his hand: and David played with his hand.
10 And Saul sought to smite David even to the wall with the javelin; but he slipped away out of Saul's presence, and he smote the javelin into the wall: and David fled, and escaped that night.
11 Saul also sent messengers unto David's house, to watch him, and to slay him in the morning: and Michal David's wife told him, saying, If thou save not thy life to night, to morrow thou shalt be slain.
12 So Michal let David down through a window: and he went, and fled, and escaped.
13 And Michal took an image, and laid it in the bed, and put a pillow of goats' hair for his bolster, and covered it with a cloth.
14 And when Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, He is sick.
15 And Saul sent the messengers again to see David, saying, Bring him up to me in the bed, that I may slay him.
16 And when the messengers were come in, behold, there was an image in the bed, with a pillow of goats' hair for his bolster.
17 And Saul said unto Michal, Why hast thou deceived me so, and sent away mine enemy, that he is escaped? And Michal answered Saul, He said unto me, Let me go; why should I kill thee?
In this Psalm, David finds himself in a dilemma. Saul has loosed the dogs on him.
The idea of wild dogs; it conjures images of savagery and viciousness. They are ready to eat the flesh of God’s anointed one. You might say, “I think David was overreacting a little bit, maybe.” It’s easy to feel that way, when the dogs aren’t after you. And there are still dogs today.
Paul warned the believers in Acts 20:28-31…
Acts 20:28-31
28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.
31 Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.
He warned them about GRIEVOUS WOLVES. Church people have to watch out for wild dogs themselves. Remember, Jesus had Judas. We face them, too; savage, wild dogs; wolves. I think we can learn from David’s experience on how to handle these situations when they come. Look at this first…
David’s Danger
Psalms 59:1-9
1 To the chief Musician, Al-tas'-chith, Mich'-tam of David; when Saul sent, and they watched the house to kill him.
Deliver me from mine enemies, O my God: defend me from them that rise up against me.
2 Deliver me from the workers of iniquity, and save me from bloody men.
3 For, lo, they lie in wait for my soul: the mighty are gathered against me; not for my transgression, nor for my sin, O LORD.
4 They run and prepare themselves without my fault: awake to help me, and behold.
5 Thou therefore, O LORD God of hosts, the God of Israel, awake to visit all the heathen: be not merciful to any wicked transgressors. Selah.
6 They return at evening: they make a noise like a dog, and go round about the city.
7 Behold, they belch out with their mouth: swords are in their lips: for who, say they, doth hear?
8 But thou, O LORD, shalt laugh at them; thou shalt have all the heathen in derision.
9 Because of his strength will I wait upon thee: for God is my defence.
David wrote this Psalm during a difficult situation. The old king had turned on the new king. The one God rejected, turned on the one God selected. Isn’t that often the way it is? Those under favor from the Lord experience the consternation of those who aren’t. David had faced lions, bears and even a giant. But it was the dirty, nasty dogs that caused him to cry out to God.
His plea was “DELIVER ME…”
Saul was the master behind the dogs. Their attack was his design and request. David reminded Saul of God’s rejection of him. He bothered Saul. His presence was a thorn in Saul’s flesh. So Saul sent forth simple instructions; “Kill David.” But thanks be to God, He is a VERY PRESENT HELP IN TIMES OF TROUBLE.
Another Psalm expresses what David learned in his many experiences:
Ps 118:5-7
5 I called upon the LORD in distress: the LORD answered me, and set me in a large place.
6 The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?
7 The LORD taketh my part with them that help me: therefore shall I see my desire upon them that hate me.
He felt the panic in our passage tonight though.
Psalms 59:3-5
3 For, lo, they lie in wait for my soul: the mighty are gathered against me; not for my transgression, nor for my sin, O LORD.
4 They run and prepare themselves without my fault: awake to help me, and behold.
5 Thou therefore, O LORD God of hosts, the God of Israel, awake to visit all the heathen: be not merciful to any wicked transgressors. Selah.
He said, “They lie wait for my soul…” David is on his knees praying to God. It doesn’t look good. He finds himself in a situation that seems hopeless. Why does God put us in those kinds of situations? So we’ll turn to Him, and realize that His is our only source of help and hope.
David had done nothing wrong at this point. He says it; “not for my transgression, nor for my sin, O Lord.” If you read in other Psalms, David is calling out because he DID sin; like Psalm 51. This wasn’t about his sin. Just because hard times come, it doesn’t mean you’re in sin; it doesn’t mean God doesn’t love you any more.
David says, “Wake up God, and help me!” What a HUMAN thing to say! God isn’t asleep. He’s waiting for us to get on our knees. When the dogs are surrounding us, that’s what’s He’s looking for. We’re human. We have faults. But don’t forget. God is awake. He is not surprised by what’s happening in our lives.
David remembers his knowledge of God. He cries out to Jehovah Sabaoth – that is the Lord of Hosts. That title for the Lord says the He hears the cries of His people when they are afflicted. He spares them from destruction. Romans 9 mentions Jehovah Sabaoth
Romans 9:29
29 And as Esaias said before, Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we had been as Sodoma, and been made like unto Gomorrha.
Jehovah Sabaoth is the LORD WHO HEARS. He is the LORD WHO HEARS US. He is the Lord of Hosts. God is the Commander in Chief. He has all the power. He’s called the God of Israel; that speaks of the COVENANT RELATIONSHIP that David had with the Lord. He had a covenant with God that couldn’t die until it was completed. It was through David’s line that Messiah would be born.
In our times of deepest panic, we need to read and study; and be reminded of who God is. We need to be reminded of His great promises.
David was in peril…
Psalms 59:6-9
6 They return at evening: they make a noise like a dog, and go round about the city.
7 Behold, they belch out with their mouth: swords are in their lips: for who, say they, doth hear?
8 But thou, O LORD, shalt laugh at them; thou shalt have all the heathen in derision.
9 Because of his strength will I wait upon thee: for God is my defence.
They return and make a noise like a dog. They seem to say, “Who’s going to hear it? Who’s going to stop us?” Let me just tell you, friend; when you’re in distress, God hears you. God HEARS. When the dogs come, God HEARS! God will judge. God will right the wrongs. He’ll clean up the discrepancies, and the inequities. God HEARS! And not only that, God’s recording all of it. He’s writing it all down.
Matthew 12:36-37
36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.
God hears us in our peril. God will take care of it. Not me.
Psalms 59:8
8 But thou, O LORD, shalt laugh at them; thou shalt have all the heathen in derision.
God will turn them on themselves. David’s danger was a real danger, but when you look at it through the Lord’s eyes, it was ridiculous. God could laugh at it.
Well, we’ve looked at David’s Danger. Now let’s look at…
David’s Deliverance
Psalms 59:10-17
10 The God of my mercy shall prevent me: God shall let me see my desire upon mine enemies.
11 Slay them not, lest my people forget: scatter them by thy 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 cursing and lying which they speak.
13 Consume them in wrath, consume them, that they may not be: and let them know that God ruleth in Jacob unto the ends of the earth. Selah.
14 And at evening let them return; and let them make a noise like a dog, and go round about the city.
15 Let them wander up and down for meat, and grudge if they be not satisfied.
16 But I will sing of thy power; yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning: for thou hast been my defence and refuge in the day of my trouble.
17 Unto thee, O my strength, will I sing: for God is my defence, and the God of my mercy.
Suddenly after he prays, David knows what to do. He put the pillow in the bed under the covers. He had Michal take a rope and let him down the wall. And after his escape, he’s able to express his zeal for righteousness. He talks about God’s PROTECTION.
Psalms 59:10-15
10 The God of my mercy shall prevent me: God shall let me see my desire upon mine enemies.
11 Slay them not, lest my people forget: scatter them by thy 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 cursing and lying which they speak.
13 Consume them in wrath, consume them, that they may not be: and let them know that God ruleth in Jacob unto the ends of the earth. Selah.
14 And at evening let them return; and let them make a noise like a dog, and go round about the city.
15 Let them wander up and down for meat, and grudge if they be not satisfied.
His confidence was in God going before Him. His conviction was that he wanted his people to be able to recognize God’s judgment. He wanted the persecutors (the dogs) to be able to recognize God’s justice.
When God judges, He wants repentance; and if repentance doesn’t come, then judgment is carried to a further degree. They howled like dogs when they smelled blood; now they whine like dogs, because of their punishment.
And we hear David’s praises…
Psalms 59:16-17
16 But I will sing of thy power; yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning: for thou hast been my defence and refuge in the day of my trouble.
17 Unto thee, O my strength, will I sing: for God is my defence, and the God of my mercy.
“Night is over. Day is at hand. I will praise the Lord.” The dogs go back to their king and whine about David’s escape. Even though David is probably in a cave somewhere, he could say verse 17
Psalms 59:17
17 Unto thee, O my strength, will I sing: for God is my defence, and the God of my mercy.
David was in great danger. His plea… his panic… and his peril put him in a hard position. But David had a Great Deliverer just like we do. God was his protection. And He’s ours. We can praise God just like David did even in our darkest trials
# posted by PastorChris @ 5:55 AM 
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