THE LORD IS MY THE LORD IS MY DEFENSEDEFENSE

Psalms 59:1aPsalms 59:1aTo the chief To the chief Musician, Musician, Altaschith, Altaschith, Michtam of David; Michtam of David; when Saul sent, when Saul sent, and they watched and they watched the house to kill the house to kill him.him.

This refers to the events of1 Samuel 19, This refers to the events of1 Samuel 19, when David fled for his life when David fled for his life from his house from Saul.from his house from Saul.

1 Samuel 19:101 Samuel 19:10 And Saul sought to And Saul sought to smite David even to smite David even to the wall with the the wall with the javelin; but he slipped javelin; but he slipped away out of Saul's away out of Saul's presence, and he presence, and he smote the javelin into smote the javelin into the wall: and David the wall: and David fled, and escaped that fled, and escaped that night.night.

1 Samuel 19:111 Samuel 19:11Saul also sent Saul also sent messengers unto messengers unto David's house, to David's house, to watch him, and to watch him, and to slay him in the slay him in the morning: and Michal morning: and Michal David's wife told David's wife told him, saying, If thou him, saying, If thou save not thy life to save not thy life to night, tomorrow thou night, tomorrow thou shalt be slain. shalt be slain.

1 Samuel 19:12-131 Samuel 19:12-13So Michal let David So Michal let David down through a down through a window: and he window: and he went, and fled, and went, and fled, and escaped. escaped. And Michal took an And Michal took an image, and laid it in image, and laid it in the bed, and put a the bed, and put a pillow of goats' hair pillow of goats' hair for his bolster, and for his bolster, and covered it with a covered it with a cloth. cloth.

1 Samuel 19:14-151 Samuel 19:14-15And when Saul sent And when Saul sent messengers to take messengers to take David, she said, He is David, she said, He is sick. And Saul sent sick. And Saul sent the messengers the messengers again to see David, again to see David, saying, Bring him up saying, Bring him up to me in the bed, to me in the bed, that I may slay him. that I may slay him.

1 Samuel 19:161 Samuel 19:16And when the And when the messengers were messengers were come in, behold, come in, behold, there was an image there was an image in the bed, with a in the bed, with a pillow of goats' hair pillow of goats' hair for his bolster.for his bolster.

1 Samuel 19:171 Samuel 19:17And Saul said unto And Saul said unto Michal, Why hast Michal, Why hast thou deceived me so, thou deceived me so, and sent away mine and sent away mine enemy, that he is enemy, that he is escaped? And Michal escaped? And Michal answered Saul, He answered Saul, He said unto me, Let me said unto me, Let me go; why should I kill go; why should I kill thee?thee?

1 Samuel 19:181 Samuel 19:18So David fled, and So David fled, and escaped, and came escaped, and came to Samuel to to Samuel to Ramah, and told Ramah, and told him all that Saul him all that Saul had done to him. had done to him. And he and Samuel And he and Samuel went and dwelt in went and dwelt in Naioth.Naioth.

When Was The Psalm Penned?When Was The Psalm Penned?

•Before David Was Let Down Before David Was Let Down Through The Window?Through The Window?

•Later That Night, After He Was Later That Night, After He Was Out Of Reach Of Saul’s Men?Out Of Reach Of Saul’s Men?

•Days Afterward, As He Looked Days Afterward, As He Looked Back On This Incident?Back On This Incident?

David Is A Blameless Man.David Is A Blameless Man.

•He Has Enemies All He Has Enemies All Around Him.Around Him.

•They Have No Justified They Have No Justified Reason To Attack Him.Reason To Attack Him.

•This Psalm Is His This Psalm Is His Response To Those Who Response To Those Who Seek His Life. Seek His Life.

Psalms 59:1-2Psalms 59:1-2Deliver me from mine Deliver me from mine enemies, O my God: enemies, O my God: defend me from defend me from them that rise up them that rise up against me. Deliver against me. Deliver me from the workers me from the workers of iniquity, and save of iniquity, and save me from bloody men.me from bloody men.

David Had Learned That God David Had Learned That God Is A Very Present Help In Time Of Trouble!Is A Very Present Help In Time Of Trouble!

Psalms 59:3Psalms 59:3For, lo, they lie in For, lo, they lie in wait for my soul: wait for my soul: the mighty are the mighty are gathered against gathered against me; not for my me; not for my transgression, nor transgression, nor for my sin, O Lord.for my sin, O Lord.

This Young Man Is Pouring OutThis Young Man Is Pouring OutHis Fears To The Lord!His Fears To The Lord!

Consider The Jealousy Against David:Consider The Jealousy Against David:

•David Was Good Looking.David Was Good Looking.

•David Was Charismatic.David Was Charismatic.

•David Was Young.David Was Young.

•David Had Been Given A Position Of David Had Been Given A Position Of Great Influence With The King.Great Influence With The King.

•David Had Calmed Saul’s Spirit.David Had Calmed Saul’s Spirit.

•David Was Loved By Saul, At First. David Was Loved By Saul, At First.

David’s Enemies Set Out David’s Enemies Set Out To Poison Saul’s Mind.To Poison Saul’s Mind.

•““David Is a Traitor!”David Is a Traitor!”

•““David Is Plotting To Seize David Is Plotting To Seize The Throne!”The Throne!”

•““David Is Stealing The Hearts David Is Stealing The Hearts Of The People!”Of The People!”

•““David Is Biding His Time, David Is Biding His Time, Until He Can Kill You!” Until He Can Kill You!”

In His Prayer, In His Prayer, David Told The Lord About It! David Told The Lord About It!

•““Not for my transgression, nor Not for my transgression, nor for my sin, O Lord.”for my sin, O Lord.”

•He prayed desperately that He prayed desperately that menacing night!menacing night!

•He was innocent of the things He was innocent of the things Saul was being told.Saul was being told.

•He had not sinned against Saul! He had not sinned against Saul!

Psalms 59:4Psalms 59:4

They run and They run and prepare prepare themselves themselves without my fault: without my fault: awake to help awake to help me, and behold.me, and behold.David boldly asks David boldly asks

the Lord to wake up and help!the Lord to wake up and help!

Psalms 59:5Psalms 59:5Thou therefore, O Thou therefore, O Lord God of hosts, Lord God of hosts, the God of Israel, the God of Israel, awake to visit all the awake to visit all the heathen: be not heathen: be not merciful to any merciful to any wicked wicked transgressors. Selah. transgressors. Selah.

What Consoled David In ThisWhat Consoled David In This

Hour Of Panic Was His Knowledge of God!Hour Of Panic Was His Knowledge of God!

David Knew Who God Is!David Knew Who God Is!

•God is “Yahweh Sabaoth”—God is “Yahweh Sabaoth”—The All-Powerful OneThe All-Powerful One

•God is “Elohim Y’isra’el”—God is “Elohim Y’isra’el”—The God of IsraelThe God of Israel

•God Can And Will Handle God Can And Will Handle Rebellion, Because Of His Rebellion, Because Of His Power And Grace! Power And Grace!

Psalms 59:6-7Psalms 59:6-7They return at evening: They return at evening: they make a noise like they make a noise like a dog, and go round a dog, and go round about the city. Behold, about the city. Behold, they belch out with they belch out with their mouth: swords their mouth: swords are in their lips: for are in their lips: for who, say they, doth who, say they, doth hear?hear?

Just Like A Pack Of Starved Dogs,Just Like A Pack Of Starved Dogs,David’s Foes Were “Barking” All Over Town!David’s Foes Were “Barking” All Over Town!

Psalms 59:8-9Psalms 59:8-9But thou, O Lord, But thou, O Lord, shalt laugh at them; shalt laugh at them; thou shalt have all the thou shalt have all the heathen in derision. heathen in derision. Because of his Because of his strength will I wait strength will I wait upon thee: for God is upon thee: for God is my defense.my defense.

David Puts His Trust In God; David Puts His Trust In God; He Is David’s Tower Of Strength!He Is David’s Tower Of Strength!

It Is Possible That David Wrote It Is Possible That David Wrote The Psalm At Two Separate Times:The Psalm At Two Separate Times:

•Verses 1-9—While David Was Verses 1-9—While David Was In his Own House.In his Own House.

•Verses 10-17—After David Verses 10-17—After David Had Escaped His Foes.Had Escaped His Foes.

•David Could Now Take Time David Could Now Take Time To See Things From God’s To See Things From God’s Perspective! Perspective!

Psalms 59:10Psalms 59:10The God of my The God of my mercy shall prevent mercy shall prevent me: God shall let me: God shall let me see my desire me see my desire upon mine upon mine enemies. enemies.

David’s Confidence Was ThatDavid’s Confidence Was ThatGod Would Show Mercy, While God Would Show Mercy, While His Enemies Showed Hatred! His Enemies Showed Hatred!

Psalms 59:11-12Psalms 59:11-12Slay them not, lest my Slay them not, lest my people forget: scatter people forget: scatter them by thy power; and them by thy power; and bring them down, O Lord bring them down, O Lord our shield. For the sin of our shield. For the sin of their mouth and the their mouth and the words of their lips let words of their lips let them even be taken in them even be taken in their pride: and for their pride: and for cursing and lying which cursing and lying which they speak.they speak.

David Wants Them To Be An Example David Wants Them To Be An Example To Israel, And To Be Held Accountable!To Israel, And To Be Held Accountable!

Years Later, This Would Happen: Years Later, This Would Happen:

•Shimei Cursed David Openly Shimei Cursed David Openly (1 Sam. 16, 19). (1 Sam. 16, 19).

•Later, Shimei Came Crawling Later, Shimei Came Crawling Back, Professing Loyalty.Back, Professing Loyalty.

•Solomon Commanded Shimei Solomon Commanded Shimei To Stay In Jerusalem (1 Kings To Stay In Jerusalem (1 Kings 2). 2).

•When Shimei Broke His Word, When Shimei Broke His Word, Solomon Had Him Executed.Solomon Had Him Executed.

Psalms 59:13Psalms 59:13Consume them in Consume them in wrath, consume wrath, consume them, that they them, that they may not be: and let may not be: and let them know that them know that God ruleth in Jacob God ruleth in Jacob unto the ends of unto the ends of the earth. Selah.the earth. Selah.

Psalms 59:14-15Psalms 59:14-15And at evening let And at evening let them return; and let them return; and let them make a noise them make a noise like a dog, and go like a dog, and go round about the city. round about the city. Let them wander up Let them wander up and down for meat, and down for meat, and grudge if they be and grudge if they be not satisfied.not satisfied.

They Would Learn God’s Wrath:They Would Learn God’s Wrath:

•Their Rebellion Against God Their Rebellion Against God Would Result In Their Would Result In Their Constant Hunger For Food, Constant Hunger For Food, But Never Being Satisfied.But Never Being Satisfied.

•The Time Would Come When The Time Would Come When They Would Whine Like DogsThey Would Whine Like Dogs—Not From Hatred, But From —Not From Hatred, But From Fear!Fear!

Psalms 59:16-17Psalms 59:16-17But I will sing of thy But I will sing of thy power; yea, I will sing power; yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in aloud of thy mercy in the morning: for thou the morning: for thou hast been my defence hast been my defence and refuge in the day and refuge in the day of my trouble. Unto of my trouble. Unto thee, O my strength, thee, O my strength, will I sing: for God is will I sing: for God is my defense, and the my defense, and the God of my mercy.God of my mercy.

The Extreme Danger Of The Extreme Danger Of The Night Before Is Over:The Night Before Is Over:

•Saul’s Executioners Have Saul’s Executioners Have Gone Back To Saul.Gone Back To Saul.

•They Tell Saul That David They Tell Saul That David Escaped.Escaped.

•They Relate The Story Of They Relate The Story Of The Pillow In His Bed And The Pillow In His Bed And Michal’s Claim.Michal’s Claim.

However, David Knows However, David Knows That God Saved Him!That God Saved Him!

•David Rejoices In God’s David Rejoices In God’s Strength Through The Strength Through The Confidence Faith Brings To Confidence Faith Brings To Him.Him.

•David Can Sing Because He David Can Sing Because He Has Seen The Strong Hand Of Has Seen The Strong Hand Of God In His Life! God In His Life!

When You AreWhen You AreFalsely Accused:Falsely Accused:

•Take Inventory Of Your Life.Take Inventory Of Your Life.

•Pray! You Need God To Lead Pray! You Need God To Lead You!You!

•Leave It With God!Leave It With God!

•Trust In God’s Lovingkindness. Trust In God’s Lovingkindness. He Has Never Failed To Come To He Has Never Failed To Come To The Aid Of His Children! The Aid Of His Children!

The Enemies of Christ The Enemies of Christ Will Pursue Us!Will Pursue Us!

•The Radical Left Tries to The Radical Left Tries to “Change” The Church Into Just “Change” The Church Into Just Another Denomination.Another Denomination.

•The Radical Right Says, The Radical Right Says, “Everyone’s Unfaithful, Except “Everyone’s Unfaithful, Except Me And You—And, I’m Not So Me And You—And, I’m Not So Sure About You.” Sure About You.”

The Enemies of Christ The Enemies of Christ Will Pursue Us!Will Pursue Us!

•The World Wants To Destroy The The World Wants To Destroy The Home, And In So Doing, the Home, And In So Doing, the Church!Church!

•The People We Work With, Are In The People We Work With, Are In School With, Try To Influence Us School With, Try To Influence Us To Do Evil. To Do Evil.

•The “Jesus Seminar” Tries To The “Jesus Seminar” Tries To Destroy Confidence In the Bible! Destroy Confidence In the Bible!

Like David,Like David,We Must Stand Firm!We Must Stand Firm!

•We Must Stand Firm For The We Must Stand Firm For The Truth (2 Jn. 9-11).Truth (2 Jn. 9-11).

•We Must Preach The Truth We Must Preach The Truth (2 Tim. 4:1-4). (2 Tim. 4:1-4).

•We Must Live The Truth We Must Live The Truth

(Rom. 12:1-2).(Rom. 12:1-2).

Like David,Like David,We Must Be “Watching” For God:We Must Be “Watching” For God:

•To Keep His Word (James 1:17). To Keep His Word (James 1:17).

•To Fight Our Battles And To Fight Our Battles And Protect Us (1 Jn. 4:4).Protect Us (1 Jn. 4:4).

•To Lead Us In the Right Way To Lead Us In the Right Way (Ps. 73:24). (Ps. 73:24).

•To Save Us (Tit. 3:4). To Save Us (Tit. 3:4).

IS GOD IS GOD YOUR DEFENSE?YOUR DEFENSE?

HAVE YOU OBEYED HAVE YOU OBEYED GOD’S WILL?GOD’S WILL?

IS GOD IS GOD YOUR DEFENSE?YOUR DEFENSE?

Not every one that Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of the kingdom of heaven; but he that heaven; but he that doeth the will of my doeth the will of my Father which is in Father which is in Heaven (Mt. 7:15).Heaven (Mt. 7:15).

WHY NOT COME TO WHY NOT COME TO THE LORD THE LORD TONIGHT,TONIGHT,

AND LET HIM BEAND LET HIM BEYOURYOUR

DEFENSE?DEFENSE?