PSALM CHAPTER 55

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~~ Concerns Over God Hearing Us ~~

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1. THE QUESTION OF GOD HEARING.   
   A. ASKING HIM TO HEAR.
        —IMPLIES THAT HE HAS TO HEAR ALREADY.
             IS. 65:24, JER. 1:5. BUT, HE WANTS US TO PRAY, ANYWAY.
        —DAVID WANTED GOD TO HEAR A SPECIFIC THING.
             DOES GOD HEAR EVERYTHING WE BRING TO HIM ?
             I SAM. 8:18, JOB 35:13, 2 COR. 12:8 (WERE ALL PAUL’S
                  PRAYERS IGNORED ?).
   B. GETTING OVER THE ILLUSION OF ABANDONMENT.
             HEB. 13:5, ISAIAH 49:7, GENESIS 28:15.

2. DEALING WITH FALSE FEELINGS.   
   A. THE MOURNING. PS. 38:6-8.
   B. THE PHYSICAL CONSEQUENCES OF A LACK OF FAITH.
        JOHN 5:6, MATT. 9:22—IT TOOK A LONG TIME IN COMING.
        (THESE REQUIRE HEALING, JUST AS OTHER PHYSICAL
        PROBLEMS DO).
   C. PARTIAL RESULTS POSSIBLE. MATT. 9:29.

3. THE REASONS FOR DAVID’S CONDITION.   V. 3
   A. THE VOICE OF THE ENEMY.
        — IT RESULTS IN CONFUSION (“AM I REALLY GUILTY ?”)
             PSALM 44:15-16—
   B. OPPRESSION OF THE WICKED. TAKING WHAT IS NOT
        THEIRS TO TAKE. EZEKIEL 22:29.
   C. ACCUSATIONS BY THE ENEMY. THE ONLY WAY TO APPEAR
        JUSTIFIED BEFORE PEOPLE FOR EVIL ACTIONS. JN. 18:29.
   D. THE VEHEMENCE OF THE ENEMY. PS. 124:2-6, ISAIAH 7:4-6.
        — DON’T BE AFRAID OF THEM. MATT. 10:28, REV. 2:10,.
        —GOD IS WITH HIS PEOPLE WHO SERVE HIM. JER. 1:8, 19,
             ISAIAH 41:10-13.

4. DAVID’S HUMAN DESIRES—LIKE OUR OWN.   V.4-8.
   A. TO AVOID THE FEELINGS OF FEARFULNESS. 4-5.
        IS FEAR OF MEN A CONDITION ACCEPTABLE TO GOD ?
        2 TIM. 1:7, HEB. 13:5-6 (LOSE SIGHT OF THE LORD’S
        PRESENCE ?), IF FEAR DISPLACES FAITH, WHAT IS THE
        FEARFUL PERSON’S RELATIONSHIP TO GOD ?
   B. TO RUN AWAY. JONAH—JONAH 1:3,
        JOHN MARK— ACTS 15:38, ELIJAH—1 KINGS 19:1-3.
   C. TO GET OUT OF THE ATTACK QUICKLY. V. 8.
        SOME ATTACKS REQUIRE ENDURANCE. 2 TIM. 4:5
        SOME TROUBLES HELP US STAY CLOSE TO THE LORD.
        2 COR. 12:9.

5. THE DEPTH OF DAVID’S HURT.   
   A. IT CAME FROM A FRIEND. MATT. 26:50 DO THE PEOPLE OF
        GOD HAVE OPPORTUNITY TO UNDERSTAND WHAT GOD
        FEELS ?) 2 TIM. 4:10.
   B. IT WAS UNEXPECTED. PROV. 3:25, ATTACKS OF A
        SPIRITUAL ENEMY ARE OFTEN VERY SUDDEN. LUKE 9:39.

6. THE QUICK RECOGNITION OF AN ENEMY.   
   A. SOMETIMES THEY ARE CONCEALED ENEMIES. JAMES 4:4,
        (NOT COMMITTED) LUKE 11:23, PS. 143:3.
   B. SOMETIMES THEY BECOME ENEMIES AFTER BEING
        FRIENDS. MATTHEW 26:50. ACTS 20:28-31,
        JOB 2:11, 19:19, 42:7.
   C. WE HAVE A STEADFAST FRIEND IN THE LORD. V. 16.
        DANIEL 6:26, HEBREWS 6:19, FOR US—1 COR. 15:58.

7. THE BATTLE IS THE LORD’S.   
   A. THE ULTIMATE DESTINY OF SUCH AN ENEMY. V. 15.
        1 SAMUEL 17:47, 2 CHRON. 20:15.
   B. THE CRY FOR HELP BEGINS THE WAR. V. 16.
        —JUSTIFIABLE CRY. MATT. 15:25, PS. 109:26.
        —NOT JUSTIFIABLE CRY. LUKE 10:40.
        —CONTINUING IN PRAYER KEEPS IT GOING. V.17.
             LUKE 11:5-10, COL. 4:2.
   C. GOD TAKES OVER AND GIVES US PEACE. 2 COR. 1:4.
        WE ARE INVOLVED, BUT NOT CRUCIAL. EXODUS 14:13-14.
   D. WHY THE ENEMY IS CONFIDENT. V. 19.
        NO CHANGES, NO FEAR OF GOD. JESUS’ FEELINGS
        TOWARD THEM. MATT. 11:20, REV. 9:20, 16:9, 16:11.

8 THE OUTCOME SHOULD HAVE BEEN KNOWN ALREADY.   
        PS. 71:24,
   A. THE DEEDS OF THE WICKED. V. 21.
        —WORDS WERE MISLEADING, DECEITFUL.
        —HIS INTENT WAS TO DO HARM. PROV. 2:11-14, PS. 119:95.
             (DO THEY THINK THEY PRAY ?) 1 PET. 3:12
        —HOW IS THE CHRISTIAN PROTECTED ? LUKE 10:19,
             EPH. 6:10 (ALL OF IT !).
        —CAN GOD USE EVIL PEOPLE TO BRING CHASTENING ?
             EZEKIEL 38:6. EX.—USING RUSSIA IN LAST DAYS.
   B. THE FAITH OF THE BELIEVER. V. 22. ACTS 7:10, PS. 34:17.
   C. THE ACTIONS OF GOD. V. 23. PS. 21:7. I SAM. 17:37.