Sermon Central
Psalm 17-20
Psalm 17 1A prayer of David. Hear me, LORD, my plea is just; listen to my cry. Hear my prayer— it does not rise from deceitful lips.
2Let my vindication come from you; may your eyes see what is right.
3Though you probe my heart, though you examine me at night and test me, you will find that I have planned no evil; my mouth has not transgressed.
4Though people tried to bribe me, I have kept myself from the ways of the violent through what your lips have commanded.
5My steps have held to your paths; my feet have not stumbled.
6I call on you, my God, for you will answer me; turn your ear to me and hear my prayer.
7Show me the wonders of your great love, you who save by your right hand those who take refuge in you from their foes.
8Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings
9from the wicked who are out to destroy me, from my mortal enemies who surround me.
10They close up their callous hearts, and their mouths speak with arrogance.
11They have tracked me down, they now surround me, with eyes alert, to throw me to the ground.
12They are like a lion hungry for prey, like a fierce lion crouching in cover.
13Rise up, LORD, confront them, bring them down; with your sword rescue me from the wicked.
14By your hand save me from such people, LORD, from those of this world whose reward is in this life. May what you have stored up for the wicked fill their bellies; may their children gorge themselves on it, and may there be leftovers for their little ones. 15As for me, I will be vindicated and will see your face; when I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness.
Psalm 18
2The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield
3I called to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and I have been saved from my enemies.
4The cords of death entangled me; the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me.
5The cords of the grave coiled around me; the snares of death confronted me.
6In my distress I called to the LORD ; I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears.
7The earth trembled and quaked, and the foundations of the mountains shook; they trembled because he was angry.
8Smoke rose from his nostrils; consuming fire came from his mouth, burning coals blazed out of it.
9He parted the heavens and came down; dark clouds were under his feet.
10He mounted the cherubim and flew; he soared on the wings of the wind.
11He made darkness his covering, his canopy around him— the dark rain clouds of the sky.
12Out of the brightness of his presence clouds advanced, with hailstones and bolts of lightning.
13The LORD thundered from heaven; the voice of the Most High resounded.
14He shot his arrows and scattered the enemy, with great bolts of lightning he routed them.
15The valleys of the sea were exposed and the foundations of the earth laid bare at your rebuke, LORD, at the blast of breath from your nostrils.
16He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters.
17He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me.
18They confronted me in the day of my disaster, but the LORD was my support.
19He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me.
20The LORD has dealt with me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands he has rewarded me.
21For I have kept the ways of the LORD ; I am not guilty of turning from my God.
22All his laws are before me; I have not turned away from his decrees.
23I have been blameless before him and have kept myself from sin.
24The LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his sight.
25To the faithful you show yourself faithful, to the blameless you show yourself blameless,
26to the pure you show yourself pure, but to the devious you show yourself shrewd.
27You save the humble but bring low those whose eyes are haughty.
28You, LORD, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light.
29With your help I can advance against a troop
30As for God, his way is perfect: The LORD ’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him.
31For who is God besides the LORD ? And who is the Rock except our God?
32It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure.
33He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he causes me to stand on the heights.
34He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
35You make your saving help my shield, and your right hand sustains me; your help has made me great.
36You provide a broad path for my feet, so that my ankles do not give way.
37I pursued my enemies and overtook them; I did not turn back till they were destroyed.
38I crushed them so that they could not rise; they fell beneath my feet.
39You armed me with strength for battle; you humbled my adversaries before me.
40You made my enemies turn their backs in flight, and I destroyed my foes.
41They cried for help, but there was no one to save them— to the LORD, but he did not answer.
42I beat them as fine as windblown dust; I trampled them
43You have delivered me from the attacks of the people; you have made me the head of nations. People I did not know now serve me,
44foreigners cower before me; as soon as they hear of me, they obey me.
45They all lose heart; they come trembling from their strongholds.
46The LORD lives! Praise be to my Rock! Exalted be God my Savior!
47He is the God who avenges me, who subdues nations under me,
48who saves me from my enemies. You exalted me above my foes; from a violent man you rescued me.
49Therefore I will praise you, LORD, among the nations; I will sing the praises of your name. 50He gives his king great victories; he shows unfailing love to his anointed, to David and to his descendants forever.
Psalm 19
2Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge.
3They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them.
4Yet their voice
5It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, like a champion rejoicing to run his course.
6It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other; nothing is deprived of its warmth.
7The law of the LORD is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple.
8The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes.
9The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever. The decrees of the LORD are firm, and all of them are righteous.
10They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb.
11By them your servant is warned; in keeping them there is great reward.
12But who can discern their own errors? Forgive my hidden faults.
13Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then I will be blameless, innocent of great transgression. 14May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.
Psalm 20
2May he send you help from the sanctuary and grant you support from Zion.
3May he remember all your sacrifices and accept your burnt offerings.
4May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed.
5May we shout for joy over your victory and lift up our banners in the name of our God. May the LORD grant all your requests.
6Now this I know: The LORD gives victory to his anointed. He answers him from his heavenly sanctuary with the victorious power of his right hand.
7Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.
8They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm. 9LORD, give victory to the king! Answer us when we call!