December 7, 2022 #A Prayer to Heed
Psalm 17:1-3
Introduction
This is a Psalm of prayer. Four other Psalms also identified as a Psalm of prayer are: Psalm 86, 90, 102, and 142.
Many Psalms are prayerful in content, This is a good Psalm in which we can use as a pattern, and example of prayer in our life. There are 4 easy things to spot in this Psalm.
I. Hear me (1-5) #
A. Sincere (1)“unfeigned lips” #
i.Feign – not real or genuine, insincere. #
- Why would some pray without sincerity?
- Some pray to be seen of men, some pray to be heard of men, however, we must pray to communicate with God. Parable Luke 18:9-14
ii.David comes to God in humility and sincerity. #
B. Searching (proving) (3-4)[ “HEAR the right” #
i.Responsibility (3-4) #
God knew that David’s prayer was sincere and that his life, though not sinless, was blameless. – Warren Wiersbe
ii.Justified - @ Salvation, sins are forgiven, [Secure]{.underline}! #
iii.Relationship #
“Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.” (1 Peter 3:7)
“If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:” (Psalm 66:18)
II. Hold me (5) (6-12) #
A. Slippery #
B. God’s Strength to keep you right! (5) #
i.We want to stay right #
ii. God’s strength is given through the Spirit of God #
“This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.” (Galatians 5:16)
iii.“Grieve not the Holy Spirit…” Eph 4:30 #
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." (Psalm 119:105)
III. Hide me (8) #
A. Surrounding danger (9)[“who compass me about”] #
i.As a christian, you are pursued by danger! #
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:” (1 Peter 5:8)
B. Sweetness to God [“apple of the eye” – Deut 32:10] #
“He found him in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness; he led him about, he instructed him, he kept him as the apple of his eye.” (Deuteronomy 32:10)
C. Shadow (8)[ “under the shadow of thy wings”] #
“As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings:” (Deuteronomy 32:11)
IV. Help me (13-15) #
A. Salvation (13) #
B. Satisfied (15) #
I. Hear me (Are we right?) II. Hold me (Keep me right) III. Hide me (Keep me safe) IV. Help me (Fight for me)