BIG IDEA: THE CAPTAIN OF OUR SALVATION FIGHTS THE
BATTLES THAT SECURE OUR DELIVERANCE AND PROSPERITY
(:1A) INTRODUCTION:
“Blessed be the Lord, my rock”
I. (:1B-4) THE CAPTAIN OF OUR SALVATION TAKES A PERSONAL INTEREST IN SECURING VICTORY FOR US
A. Equips Me to Fight
“Who trains my hands for war, And my fingers for battle”
B. Protects and Delivers Me
“My lovingkindness and my fortress, My stronghold and my deliverer;
My shield and He in whom I take refuge;
Who subdues my people under me”
C. Takes a Personal Interest in Me (Surprising given who He is vs. who man is)
“O Lord, what is man, that Thou does take knowledge of him?
Or the son of man, that Thou dost think of him?
Man is like a mere breath; His days are like a passing shadow.”
II. (:5-11) THE CAPTAIN OF OUR SALVATION FIGHTS ON OUR BEHALF TO SECURE OUR DELIVERANCE
A. (:5-6) Unleashes His Majestic Power Against Our Enemies
“Bow Thy heavens, O Lord, and come down;
Touch the moutains, that they may smoke.
Flash forth lightning and scatter them;
Send out Thine arrows and confuse them.”
B. (:7-8, 11) Delivers Us From Deceitful Enemies
“Stretch forth Thy hand from on high;
Rescue me and deliver me out of great waters, Out of the hand of aliens Whose mouths speak deceit, And whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood.”
“Rescue me, and deliver me out of the hand of aliens,
Whose mouth speaks deceit, And whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood.”
C. (:9-10) Puts a New Song in Our Mouth
1. A Song of Praise
“I will sing a new song to Thee, O God;
Upon a harp of ten strings I will sing praises to Thee”
2. A Song of Salvation
“Who dost give salvation to kings;
Who dost rescue David His servant from the evil sword.”
III. (:12-14) THE CAPTAIN OF OUR SALVATION BLESSES US WITH ABUNDANT PROSPERITY
A. The Blessing of Successful Offspring
“Let our sons in their youth be as grown-up plants,
And our daughters as corner pillars fashioned as for a palace”
B. The Blessing of Abundant Wealth
“Let our garners be full, furnishing every kind of produce, And our flocks bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our fields;
Let our cattle bear, Without mishap and without loss,
Let there be no outcry in our streets!”
(:15) BENEDICTION:
“How blessed are the people who are so situated;
How blessed are the people whose God is the Lord!
* * * * * * * * * *
DEVOTIONAL QUESTIONS:
1) How have we allowed the Lord to equip us for the battles we fight? Have we taken advantage of the opportunities the Lord has provided? Where do we need to sharpen our skills?
2) Reflect on how far above man God is and yet how He personally loves and cares for us. Reflect on how brief our stay on this earth is and yet what a tremendous opportunity it affords to walk in faith.
3) Do we picture the powerful forces of nature (of Thunder and Lightning) as unleashed by God on our behalf to defeat our enemies? How can we question whether God’s arm is too short to deliver us?
4) What type of material prosperity do we enjoy? Do we acknowledge this as a blessing from God? Do we place our hope in the spiritual blessings that cannot be affected by our physical circumstances?
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(including notes on each psalm from other commentators)
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