FHBC Sermon Notes

Many of the psalms are actually laments. This is one of them. Unlike last week, this trouble is from without rather than from within.

The writer of this psalm feels a disconnect between what is happening and what should happen. I fact in verses 3-5 he calls for judgment on himself if in fact he had done wrong. Something is wrong, and so he appeals to the only place he knows to go - he turns to the Lord God.

The psalmist response to this situation is very interesting. In v. 6-17 he proclaims as his response all the attributes of God. He does accuse God, but instead declares that he will do what is right. These verses become for us a testament of how God's wrath takes place.

Yet, this isn't just a celebration of wrath, but how it is that we can find in fact find hope in the judgment of God.

The central point: God is the righteous judge.

1. The principle of God's judgment.

Because He is a rightous judge He will give out to each what is their due. He is ultimately and completely fair. On this we can rely. The psalmist highlights this in v. 3-5 when in fact he calls the same judgment upon himself and what he expects on his enemy.

2. The execution of God's judgment.

V. 8-11 The psalmist breaks this out in the following verses.

Towards the righteous.

• V. 8 He judges fairly.
• V. 9 He establishes the righteous. He tests their very hearts, not just their deeds.
• V. 10 He saves the righteous.

Towards the wicked.

• V.12 God's sword awaits those who do not repent. His fiery arrows are drawn and ready.
• V. 14 He also looks into the hearts of the evildoer. He sees their motivations. The wicked man conceives evil and is pregnant with mischief.
• V. 15-16 The wicked ones own traps will return on their own head.

3. The remedy for God's judgment.

What must the wicked do to avoid this wrath.

He must repent.

He finsd refuge in the judge himself. There is no other savior than God himself.

 

What does this have to do with us?

Well the psalmist can't always do righteousness. What should happen to him. We are like this psalmist, we know what happens if we do wrong. We must expect judgment.

Yet in his mercy, in his grace, we can receive the fair judgment of our Lord. He has made a way thrgh his son Jesus, who recieved that punishment on our behalf if we will just receive it. Judgment is still coming. God does not cease to judge. He will judge all the earth still, but covered in the blood of the lamb there is a way, there is a way to be saved. This is the christmas story, that outside of Jesus we will be dealt with, we will be judged, but to trust in him, the one who took the sword, and the fiery arrows in his body for our salvation. All to show his great mercy, love, holiness, and judgment all in one.