Text: Psalm 64:1-10

Introduction:

Scholars tend to agree that the context of this psalm is either when David was betrayed by Doeg (1 Samuel 21) or when Ahithophel joined Absalom’s rebellion against David (2 Samuel 15-17).  Either way, David is overwhelmed with the spirit of fear and seeks God for victory over this dreadful emotion.

1. The Petition for His Fears (v1)

A. A Request to Hear (v1a)

• “Hear my voice, O God, in my prayer”
• The word “hear” means to incline toward someone with intellectual understanding.
• David wanted the Lord to understand and relate to his circumstance.
• “Voice”

In 1876, an internal memo from the Western Union read, “This ‘telephone’ has too many shortcomings to be seriously considered as a means of communication. The device is inherently of no value to us.” Western Union, nor the world at large, could have ever imagined the revolutionary power they held in their hands.  Like a small acorn that turned into a forest of oaks, that “worthless” device would become one of the biggest phenomenons of the next two centuries.

Life has been radically changed by the cell phone.  It is no longer just a device used for communication; it is …

“We don’t need more methods on file,” said Vance Havner, “we need more men on fire!” It’s true, the modern church has learned how to create a pretty effective religious experience; lights, visuals, sound, slides, screens, smoke, stage, mood, and atmosphere all play into the state-of-the-art modern worship service.  The problem, however, is that in spite of all the wonderful, sensational, and extraordinary experiences we have, very seldom does the church have actual encounters with God.

Nothing, absolutely nothing, can duplicate, replicate, or authenticate the presence of God except for the presence of God.  There are no substitutes.  But substitutes …

Isn’t it ironic that with all of our time-saving devices we are still in a hurry?  Don’t get me wrong, I like our microwave, electronic-banking, do-everything-on-the-cell-phone, pay-at-the-pump society. I appreciate convenience for convenience’s sake, but I wonder what we lose in the process of so much progress?  We certainly are not gaining any extra time. Everyone I know seems to be in a rush in spite of using modern, time-saving devices.  We go from one stop to the next without blinking an eye. We hurriedly check items off the proverbial list just so we can get to the next thing.  …

Why did the monkey fall out of the tree?  Because it was dead.

I will confess: it is stupid, and doesn’t make much sense, but whenever I hear that old joke, it makes me laugh; sometimes really hard.  And laughter these days is a valued commodity.

I certainly agree that we have much to be concerned over during these turbulent, wavering times; but in spite of all the heralded doom and gloom, the church needs to reclaim its joy.  Sometimes I wonder if people resist salvation simply because of their fear of becoming like the calloused and miserable Christians they …