Today’s Sermon: Psalms 19-20: “The Works and the Word of God / Prayer for Victory over Enemies” by Pastor Jim Bomkamp

Prev. background for Psalm 18: 2. No other chapter of the Bible contains more interesting and provocative metaphors and themes than this Psalm. 3. According to Spurgeon, King David wrote this Psalm when he was 67 years old. 4. Throughout this Psalm King David noted that it was the Lord who had helped and enabled him to do the things that he did, he took none of the credit.

Background for Psalm King David looks out at the heavens and sees that they are God’s preachers, and that they are continually preaching a message, one of declaring God’s glory. 2. In Romans 1:20, Paul wrote about how the creation declares that there had to be a creator. 3. David will speak of “natural revelation” of the creator God made through that which is created, and then he will go on to “special revelation” made through the Law of Moses, and David will go on and on in voicing his praise of God’s Law. 4. David will ask the Lord to keep him from secret sins, as well as presumptuous sins.

Psalm 19: “1 The heavens are telling of the glory of God; And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands. 2 Day to day pours forth speech, And night to night reveals knowledge. 3 There is no speech, nor are there words; Their voice is not heard. 4 Their line has gone out through all the earth, And their utterances to the end of the world. In them He has placed a tent for the sun, 5 Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber; It rejoices as a strong man to run his course. 6 Its rising is from one end of the heavens, And its circuit to the other end of them; And there is nothing hidden from its heat. 7 The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. 8 The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. 9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the Lord are true; they are righteous altogether. 10 They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb. 11 Moreover, by them Your servant is warned; In keeping them there is great reward. 12 Who can discern his errors? Acquit me of hidden faults. 13 Also keep back Your servant from presumptuous sins; Let them not rule over me; Then I will be blameless, And I shall be acquitted of great transgression. 14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my rock and my Redeemer.”

Background for Psalm 20: 1. This is a short Psalm in which King David asks the Lord corporately for victory over his enemies as they are going out to war. 2. David writes most of this Psalm requesting the Lord to give all of God’s people victory over their enemies. 3. The entire Psalm could also be considered also to be a Messianic Psalm.

Psalm 20 (NASB95) 1 May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble! May the name of the God of Jacob set you securely on high! 2 May He send you help from the sanctuary And support you from Zion! 3 May He remember all your meal offerings And find your burnt offering acceptable!Selah. 4 May He grant you your heart’s desire And fulfill all your counsel! 5 We will sing for joy over your victory, And in the name of our God we will set up our banners. May the Lord fulfill all your petitions. 6 Now I know that the Lord saves His anointed; He will answer him from His holy heaven With the saving strength of His right hand. 7 Some boast in chariots and some in horses, But we will boast in the name of the Lord, our God. 8 They have bowed down and fallen, But we have risen and stood upright. 9 Save, O Lord; May the King answer us in the day we call.

CONCLUSIONS: 1. Lets rejoice in the Lord because creation reveals His glory, and lets rejoice in His word because of all of its perfections and how God uses it in our lives. 2. Lets ask God to protect us from secret and presumptuous sins, and to cleanse us from all sin. 3. Lets ask the Lord that the words of our mouths and the meditation of our hearts be acceptable in His sight.