From Disaster to Praise

1. From Disaster to Praise Psalm 57 Dr. Joseph Chang 5/25/2014

2. Psalm 57 • 1For the director of music. To the tune of "Do Not Destroy." Of David. A miktam. When he had fled from Saul into the cave. Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me, for in you my soul takes refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed. 2I cry out to God Most High, to God, who fulfills his purpose for me.

3. Psalm 57 • 3He sends from heaven and saves me, rebuking those who hotly pursue me; (Selah) God sends his love and his faithfulness. 4I am in the midst of lions; I lie among ravenous beasts-- men whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords. 5Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth. 6They spread a net for my feet-- I was bowed down in distress. They dug a pit in my path-- but they have fallen into it themselves. (Selah)

4. Psalm 57 • 7My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and make music. 8Awake, my soul! Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn. 9I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples. 10For great is your love, reaching to the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies. 11Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth. (Ps 57:1-11)

5. I. The Same Challenge in Life, Two Different Responses (v. 1). • The response of Ahaz, king of Judah— • Facing the attack from Aram and Israel • The hearts of Ahaz and his people were shaken, as the trees of theforest are shaken by the wind (Isa 7:1-2). • 10Again the LORD spoke to Ahaz, 11"Ask the LORD your God for a sign, whether in the deepest depths or in the highest heights." 12But Ahaz said, "I will not ask; I will not put the LORD to the test." (Isa 7:10-12).

6. I. The Same Challenge in Life, Two Different Responses (v. 1). • The response of David— • Facing the attack from Saul • 1For the director of music. To the tune of "Do Not Destroy." Of David. A miktam. When he had fled from Saul into the cave. Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me, for in you my soul takes refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed.

7. The same family, under the same God, why totally different response? • 為甚麼同樣的神, 同樣的家庭, 會有全然不同的反應?

8. II. The Possible Causes (v. 2). • 2我要求告至高的　神，就是為我成全諸事的　神。(詩 57:2)2I cry out to God Most High, to God, who fulfills his purpose for me. (Ps 57:2) • That perfometh all things for me (KJV) • David defeated lions, bears (1 Sam 17:34-35). • David defeated Goliath (1 Sam 17:49).

9. Ahaz has the knowledge, David has the knowledge and the experience. • 亞哈斯有對神的知識, 大衛有對神的知識, 以及對神的經歷.

10. III. Different Internal Requirement (vv. 3-6). • A. Love(ds,x,) and Truth (tm,a/) is his trade mark (v.3). • 3He sends from heaven and saves me, rebuking those who hotly pursue me; Selah God sends his love and his faithfulness. (Ps 57:3)

11. 23時候將到，如今就是了，那真正拜父的，要用心靈和誠實拜他，因為父要這樣的人拜他。(約 4:23)23Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. (John 4:23)

12. 慈愛(ds,x,)是要對等回報的. • Love (ds,x,) is required to payback in kind.

13. III. Different Internal Requirement (vv. 3-6). B. Understand Human Nature, and Divine Nature (vv. 4-5). 4I am in the midst of lions; I lie among ravenous beasts-- men whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords. 5Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth. (Ps 57:4-5)

14. 2 Kings 16:10-15 • 10Then King Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria. He saw an altar in Damascus and sent to Uriah the priest a sketch of the altar, with detailed plans for its construction. 11So Uriah the priest built an altar in accordance with all the plans that King Ahaz had sent from Damascus and finished it before King Ahaz returned. 12When the king came back from Damascus and saw the altar, he approached it and presented offerings on it. 13He offered up his burnt offering and grain offering, poured out his drink offering, and sprinkled the blood of his fellowship offerings on the altar.

15. 2 Kings 16:10-15 • 14The bronze altar that stood before the LORD he brought from the front of the temple--from between the new altar and the temple of the LORD--and put it on the north side of the new altar. 15King Ahaz then gave these orders to Uriah the priest: "On the large new altar, offer the morning burnt offering and the evening grain offering, the king's burnt offering and his grain offering, and the burnt offering of all the people of the land, and their grain offering and their drink offering. Sprinkle on the altar all the blood of the burnt offerings and sacrifices. But I will use the bronze altar for seeking guidance." (2King 16:10-15)

16. 大衛: 知道人性的惡, 敬畏神. • David: Knowing Man’s inherent evil, respects God. • 亞哈斯: 天真的相信人, 鄙視神. • Ahaz: Naively believes in man, despises God.

17. III. Different Internal Requirement (vv. 3-6). C. His faith enables him to see the result of trusting in God (v.6). 6They spread a net for my feet-- I was bowed down in distress. They dug a pit in my path-- but they have fallen into it themselves. Selah (Ps 57:6)

18. IV. External Application (vv. 7-11) • 7My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and make music. 8Awake, my soul! Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn. 9I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples. 10For great is your love, reaching to the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies. 11Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth. (Ps 57:7-11)

19. 對內成為讚美的人, 對外成為感恩的宣教士. • Toward self—One that praises the Lord. • Toward others—a missionary that shares the thanksgiving.

20. Conclusion • Knowing God and Experiencing God. • Love and Truth are our trade mark. • Knowing Man’s Nature, Respect God. • Trust in faith that God will keep the righteous, punish the evil. • Then we can become men/women of praise, missionaries of thanksgiving.