Series: Psalms
Title: The Judgment Commanded
Text: Psalm 7: 6-9
Date: October 23, 2011
Place: SGBC, New Jersey
David was being hounded by raging enemies of God—wicked king Saul and all his wicked cronies.
Psalm 7: 6: Arise, O LORD, in thine anger, lift up thyself because of the rage of mine enemies:
The judgment God had commanded was for David to be king over Israel.
Psalm 7: 6:…and awake for me to the judgment that thou hast commanded
When David would take the throne of Israel, King David would put down the reign of wicked Saul and his wicked men. King David would bring the ark of the covenant back to Jerusalem, establishing true worship in Jerusalem for the children of Israel. King David would bring the children into the peace of the righteous and just reign of the true and living God. All of this King David would do for the children of God when he was exalted to the throne.
Psalm 7: 7: So shall the congregation of the people compass thee about: for their sakes therefore return thou on high.
God unrestrained wicked Saul and his men to rage against David to show the faithfulness of David but even more to show his children the faithfulness of Christ Jesus our King. Now let’s consider King Jesus
When Christ walked this earth he was hounded by the wicked prince of this world—Satan—and by wicked self-righteous, religious men who loved a form of religion, but hated God. This was his prayer.
Psalm 7: 6: Arise, O LORD, in thine anger, lift up thyself because of the rage of mine enemies:
The judgment God had commanded was for Christ his Son to rise to the throne of glory, King of kings and Lord of lords.
Psalm 7: 6:…and awake for me to the judgment that thou hast commanded.
When Christ took the throne in heavenly Jerusalem King Jesus put down the reign of wicked Satan and his wicked men. King Jesus brought back the (ark of the covenant—which he is) back into heavenly Jerusalem, establishing true worship for the children of Israel. King Jesus sent forth his ambassadors—pastors after his own heart which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding—and by the power of the Holy Spirit Christ receives the glory for bringing every elect, redeemed child of God into the peace of the righteous and just reign of the true and living God. All of this King Jesus does for the people given him of the Father.
Psalm 6: 7: So shall the congregation of the people compass thee about: for their sakes therefore return thou on high.
I. THE RAGE OF MINE ENEMIES
Psalm 7: 6: Arise, O LORD, in thine anger, lift up thyself because of the rage of mine enemies:
Who raged against Christ while he walked this earth more than any other? Satan—the prince of the power of the air—and vain, proud, self-righteous religious men. What are a few of the ways they raged against Christ?
Psalm 7: 8: The LORD shall judge the people:
Wicked enemies set themselves in the judgment seat of God and judged Christ and his disciples. They attempted to find unrighteousness in Christ and to smear his holy character.
Luke 6: 7: And the scribes and Pharisees watched him, whether he would heal on the sabbath day; that they might find an accusation against him.
Luke 7: 39: Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner.
Luke 15: 2: And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them
Luke 20: 20: And they watched him, and sent forth spies, which should feign themselves just men, that they might take hold of his words, that so they might deliver him unto the power and authority of the governor.
I would not be surprise if men did this in our day: Pay men to disguise themselves as believers in an attempt to find something in our words to accuse us OR use email or record phone conversations to try to find something to use against you
The enemies of Christ labor to make their case against the Lord and his people.
Psalm 7: 14: Behold, he travaileth with iniquity, and hath conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood.
Instead of travailing to hear the good news, instead of laboring till Christ be formed in them—he travaileth with iniquity, to find iniquity in another, to justify himself. Instead of conceiving grace in the heart—he becomes pregnant with mischief—cunning, craftiness—in the heart. Instead of saying “Truth Lord”—instead of restoring brethren—he brings forth falsehood—accusations to make his case.
The enemies of Christ lay traps for men.
Psalm 7: 15: He made a pit, and digged it, and is fallen into the ditch which he made.
He is industrious in laying his trap. But he is fallen into his own trap
But God shall arise in anger against his enemies.
Psalm 7: 16: His mischief shall return upon his own head, and his violent dealing shall come down upon his own pate.
The enemy of Christ gives himself a crown—but all his mischief comes down upon his own head. Note: There was one reason that the enemies of Christ tried to find something with which to charge Christ—to justify themselves before the people for rejecting God, rejecting his Word, and rejecting his people—even as they did David in his day and do today.
II. THE LORD JESUS CHRIST WAS HEARD
Psalm 7: 6: Arise, O LORD, in thine anger, lift up thyself because of the rage of mine enemies: and awake for me to the judgment that thou hast commanded.
The word which God commanded for Christ his Son, was that God would raise Christ to the throne of glory, King of kings and Lord of lords.
Jeremiah 23: 5: Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. 6: In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.
Christ petitions the LORD based on his promise—the judgment thou hast commanded—that Christ be delivered from his enemies and exalted to the throne promised him. Having highly glorified God by satisfying divine justice, having made his people the righteousness of God in him, Christ was heard.
Philippians 2: 9: Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11: And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Christ’s Prayer Was not Only for himself but for his people
Psalm 7: 7: So shall the congregation of the people compass thee about: for their sakes therefore return thou on high.
Who is the congregation of the people? God’s true Israel, the elect of God, chosen unto salvation in Christ Jesus before the world began.
How are they are brought to congregate together with one another? By King Jesus
1 Peter 3:18: For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
John 12: 32: And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.
Ephesians 4: 10: He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) 11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
3. Where do his people congregate?
From the four corners of the earth into the local assemblies our King has assembled the church over which Christ is Head, into heavenly Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem which is above to his throne of grace where he feeds us through his gospel in spirit and in truth.
Jeremiah 17: 12: A glorious high throne from the beginning is the place of our sanctuary.
Who do they worship?
Revelation 5: 9: And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; 10: And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
Revelation 19:16: And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
Isaiah 9: 7: Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
What do we do when the enemy rages? When judgment comes upon the house of the Lord and the enemy rages? We ask God to arise to the judgment he has commanded for me and for his congregation.
1 Peter 4: 19: Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.
Amen!