Introduction: “Our prayer and God’s mercy are like two buckets in a well; while the one ascends, the other descends.” –Ezekiel Hopkins.
1. The Personal Privilege of Prayer – vs.1-2
1Timothy 2:8, “I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.”
Have you ever lifted up your hands to God in private prayer?
2. The Personal Pleas of Prayer – vs.3-5
a. Concern about his ____________________ vs.3
James 3:1-8
b. Concern about his ____________________ vs.4
Jeremiah 17:9-10
Proverbs 4:23c. Appreciation for his ____________________ vs.5a-b
Proverbs 27:5, “Open rebuke is better than secret love.”
Proverbs 9:8, “Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.”
d. Concern for his _______________________ vs.5c-8
3. The Personal Person of Prayer – vs.9a-b
Who does the Psalmist focus on?
4. The Personal Petitions of Prayer – vs.8c-10
a. __________________ vs.8c-9
b. __________________ vs.10
Galatians 6:7-8, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.”
Selected Quotation:
“Whole Psalm. Many commentators are strongly of opinion that this psalm was written as a memorial of that very interesting scene in the life of David recorded in 1Sa 24:1-22, relating to his generous treatment of Saul. Though he had an opportunity of putting his cruel persecutor to death in the cave of Engedi, yet he spared his life, only cutting off his skirt, and not suffering his followers to touch him; and when Saul had gone out of the cave, David, going out after him, remonstrated with him from some distance in the gentlest and most respectful language in regard to the injustice of his conduct towards him. It is thought that the sixth verse contains so express a reference to this very remarkable occurrence in David’s history, as to leave little doubt that it was the occasion on which the psalm was composed. –James Anderson’s Note to Calvin, in loc.” – as quoted by C. H. Spurgeon
