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Senior Sunday School 4 : Psalms Book 2 : Psalm 55 : 6th November 2022

Text: Psalm 55
6 November 2022

SSS 4 November 2022
Book 2
Psalms 42-72

Text: Psalm 55

To the Chief Musician. With stringed instruments. A Contemplation of David.
1 Give ear to my prayer, O God,
And do not hide Yourself from my supplication.

2 Attend to me, and hear me;
I am restless in my complaint, and moan noisily,

3 Because of the voice of the enemy,
Because of the oppression of the wicked;
For they bring down trouble upon me,
And in wrath they hate me.

4 My heart is severely pained within me,
And the terrors of death have fallen upon me.

5 Fearfulness and trembling have come upon me,
And horror has overwhelmed me.

6 So I said, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove!
I would fly away and be at rest.

7 Indeed, I would wander far off,
And remain in the wilderness. Selah

8 I would hasten my escape
From the windy storm and tempest.”

9 Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues,
For I have seen violence and strife in the city.

10 Day and night they go around it on its walls;
Iniquity and trouble are also in the midst of it.

11 Destruction is in its midst;
Oppression and deceit do not depart from its streets.

12 For it is not an enemy who reproaches me;
Then I could bear it.
Nor is it one who hates me who has exalted himself against me;
Then I could hide from him.

13 But it was you, a man my equal,
My companion and my acquaintance.

14 We took sweet counsel together,
And walked to the house of God in the throng.

15 Let death seize them;
Let them go down alive into hell,
For wickedness is in their dwellings and among them.

16 As for me, I will call upon God,
And the LORD shall save me.

17 Evening and morning and at noon
I will pray, and cry aloud,
And He shall hear my voice.

18 He has redeemed my soul in peace from the battle that was against me,
For there were many against me.

19 God will hear, and afflict them,
Even He who abides from of old. Selah
Because they do not change,
Therefore they do not fear God.

20 He has put forth his hands against those who were at peace with him;
He has broken his covenant.

21 The words of his mouth were smoother than butter,
But war was in his heart;
His words were softer than oil,
Yet they were drawn swords.

22 Cast your burden on the LORD,
And He shall sustain you;
He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.

23 But You, O God, shall bring them down to the pit of destruction;
Bloodthirsty and deceitful men shall not live out half their days;
But I will trust in You.

Psalm 55:1-23

A CONTEMPLATIVE PRAYER

1. A supplication Psalm 55:1

2. A complaint Psalm 55:3

3. Element of imprecation Psalm 55:9, 15

HISTORICAL REFERENCE

1. The rebellion of Absalom 2 Samuel 15-18

2. The counsel of Ahithophel 2 Samuel 16-17

AN EMOTIONAL TURMOIL

3 Because of the voice of the enemy,
Because of the oppression of the wicked;
For they bring down trouble upon me,
And in wrath they hate me.

4 My heart is severely pained within me,
And the terrors of death have fallen upon me.

5 Fearfulness and trembling have come upon me,
And horror has overwhelmed me.

Psalm 55:3-5

1. Heart is severely pained

2. Terrors of death

3. Fearfulness and trembling

4. Horrors overwhelmed

THE CIRCUMSTANCES

3 Because of the voice of the enemy,
Because of the oppression of the wicked;
For they bring down trouble upon me,
And in wrath they hate me

18 He has redeemed my soul in peace from the battle that was against me,
For there were many against me.

19 God will hear, and afflict them,
Even He who abides from of old. Selah
Because they do not change,
Therefore they do not fear God.

Psalm 55:3, 18-19

1. Many enemies

2. Much oppression

TEMPTED TO FLEE

6 So I said, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove!
I would fly away and be at rest.

7 Indeed, I would wander far off,
And remain in the wilderness. Selah

8 I would hasten my escape
From the windy storm and tempest.”

Psalm 55:6-8

1. To escape the enemy

2. To flee to safety

PRAYER MADE TO GOD

1. Pleading with God

1 Give ear to my prayer, O God,
And do not hide Yourself from my supplication.

2 Attend to me, and hear me;
I am restless in my complaint, and moan noisily

Psalm 55:1-2

2. Frequency of prayer

Evening and morning and at noon
I will pray, and cry aloud,
And He shall hear my voice.

Psalm 55: 17

AN IMPRECATORY PRAYER

9 Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues,
For I have seen violence and strife in the city.

10 Day and night they go around it on its walls;
Iniquity and trouble are also in the midst of it.

11 Destruction is in its midst;
Oppression and deceit do not depart from its streets.

15 Let death seize them;
Let them go down alive into hell,
For wickedness is in their dwellings and among them.

Psalm 55:9-11,15

1. Destruction of the enemy

a) Judged by God
b) Condemned by God

2. Devastation caused by the enemy

a) Violence and Strife
b) Iniquity and trouble
c) Oppression and deceit

A MOST PAINFUL BLOW

12 For it is not an enemy who reproaches me;
Then I could bear it.
Nor is it one who hates me who has exalted himself against me;
Then I could hide from him.

13 But it was you, a man my equal,
My companion and my acquaintance.

14 We took sweet counsel together,
And walked to the house of God in the throng.

20 He has put forth his hands against those who were at peace with him;
He has broken his covenant.

21 The words of his mouth were smoother than butter,
But war was in his heart;
His words were softer than oil,
Yet they were drawn swords.

Psalm 55:12-14, 20-21

1. A sense of betrayal from a close companion

2. Years of friendship and fellowship remembered

3. Covenant of friendship broken

4. Deceit and cunning were employed

PERSONAL EXERCISE OF TRUST

22 Cast your burden on the LORD,
And He shall sustain you;
He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.

23 But You, O God, shall bring them down to the pit of destruction;
Bloodthirsty and deceitful men shall not live out half their days;
But I will trust in You.

Psalm 55:22-23

1. Casting of burden on the LORD

2. Confidence that trust in God is not in vain

a) God will sustain the righteous
b) He will not permit them to be moved
c) He will bring down the bloodthirsty and the deceitful
d) They will not have long lives