Psalms 51 pt IV

- we're studying Psalm 51
- remember we've said that this Psalm has three natural
divisions:
- verse 1-6 - David's repentance -the admission of his
sin.
- verses 7-12 - David's prayer requests - we'll talk more
about that this morning.
- verses 13-19 - David's "resolutions" - Lord willing,
we'll study them next week.

- we've studied:
- the background of this Psalm
- verse 1-6
- we've been working on his prayer requests
- our goal today is to finish the prayer requests and be
ready for the resolutions next week.

- (quickly run through the transparency)

- we're starting today under Roman II, Letter B
- read 51:7-12

B. I ask for your forgiveness

- v. 9, 11

- INPUT - what phrases from these verses speak about
forgiveness?

- another passage you could add to this is:
- Psalm 103:12 - "As far as the east is from the
west, so far hath he removed our transgressions
from us."

- we're saying that another key answer to the question - What
should I do when I've blown it? - is to clearly and
definitely ask God's forgiveness.

- these verses show that David highly valued fellowship
with God
- this is evidence of the fact that he was serious about
"letter A"
- none of this - "I'll make it right--but now I
don't want any part of you" (have your kids ever
pulled that one?)

- David valued fellowship with God and part of his
repenting process was to very clearly request that
his sin be forgiven.

C. I ask for restored joy in you

- v. 8, v. 12

- INPUT - what phrases from these verses speak about
David's anticipated joy?

- that’s what's wrong with the "current events"
stories we mentioned last week.
- because our world doesn't deal with the state
of guilt -- people are headed for depression
and despair
- the great thing about the method we're
advocating today is--it brings lasting joy
because the sin is dealt with and handled.

- so the overall points we've made from Psalm 51
- after you've sinned...
- don't blame it on someone else, don't run, don't hide

- instead - look to our Lord - call out to him for mercy
- recognize and clearly admit your sin
- ask him for cleansing, forgiveness, and restored joy

- before we move away from that, we need to ask...
- Is that the way you tend to handle it when you've blown
it? Would those around you agree with your answer?

- now, there's one last division of this Psalm that is very
important.

- David uses this occasion to make some resolutions//promises
to the Lord.
- we're going to take the rest of our time talking
about David's resolutions.

- let's just take a minute and talk about this matter of
resolutions:
- INPUT - what are some occasions at which a person might
make resolutions//promises?

- we don't typically think of the time of
confession//asking forgiveness as being a "normal
time" to make resolutions--but it really is.
- We're going to see from these verses that David
used the occasion of his being forgiven by God as an
opportunity to make four spiritual promises.

- there's a very important point to be made here about the
whole forgiveness/restoration process
- that is that the process is not an end in itself.

- instead, the Lord wishes to restore us to a position of
usefulness.

- God has definite purposes He wants us to accomplish
with the life He's given, and He doesn't want sin to
undermine those purposes.
- now, sometimes sin can stop a person from ministering
in a certain office because they no longer meet the
biblical qualifications ....but even in that situation
the Lord still wants that person restored to some
position of service and ministry

- point is - after the confession//cleansing//forgiveness
process is taken care of--the next issue on the agenda is
how the person is going to be busy serving the Lord.

- read 51:13-19

III. A Prayer of Resolutions

- the first resolution David makes is in verse 13

A. Resolution #1 - concerning evangelism

- David says, "then will I teach transgressors thy
ways."
- in other words, David couldn't keep silent about
the forgiveness God has granted to him, and he was
anxious about sharing the joy of a merciful,
loving, forgiving God with those the Lord had
placed around him.
- he just couldn't keep silent

- READ Psalm 32

- this Psalm illustrates the kind of teaching David was
talking about.

- I think we need to ask - do you find yourself engaged in
the same kind of activity because of all the ways God has
forgiven you?
- another way of asking that question--what "transgressors
are you teaching concerning the forgiving ways of God?"

- INPUT - what are some ways you can teach this in our
society today?

- (BY BEING FORGIVING YOURSELF WHEN SOMEONE SINS
AGAINST YOU)

- in other words - you can "teach transgressors
God's ways" by example. (cf. Eph. 4:32)

- this should lead to all of us asking some important
questions -- are you a merciful person when someone else
makes a mistake//or when someone else sins against you.
- does you response indicate--"you sinned--and I never do"
or "you sinned but I sinned to"

- responding right in these sorts of situations can turn into
some wonderful witnessing opportunities.

- cf. - hypothetically - you take your car in and the guy
says it will be ready by 3:00--it turns out that
it's not ready by 6:00
- you're patient with him and he thanks you for
your patience
- great opportunity to say something like,
"I've set some deadlines that I wasn't quite
able to meet and the Lord was surely patient
with me-the least I can do is be patient
with you."

- that’s not pious or "preachy," but it is an opportunity to
"teach transgressors their ways."

- the important point we need to leave this section of Psalms
51 with is - there is a relationship between forgiveness
and evangelism.

- let's take a minute and bat that around - how would you
respond to the question - what is the relationship
between being forgiven and being evangelistic. (the
person who really appreciates the forgiveness of God
will want to share it with others)

- you see that pattern in the Scripture

- Andrew - John 1:35-42 (Develop)

- so we're saying that a person who genuinely understands and
appreciates how God has forgiven him/her is going to
naturally be interested in sharing it with others

- we could also turn that around and say that a person
who has no interest in "verse 13 kind of activity" may
have never experienced "verse 12 kind of activity"!

- one other thing we need to say about this verse is--we're
talking about a resolution//a promise.
- David was promising the Lord that he would aggressively
and creatively share the good news of our forgiving
God with the people the Lord placed around him.
- have you made a similar promise?
- as you experience God's forgiveness from sins now,
do you use that time as an opportunity to
redouble your efforts in evangelism?

- David's second resolution is found in verse 14.
- READ

B. Resolution #2 - Concerning the presentation of
righteousness

- "my tongue shall sing of thy righteousness."

- INPUT - how does David address the Lord in this verse?
(the God of His salvation)
- it should encourage us that if we come to the Lord
in the proper way (like these verses indicate), we
needn't address Him as the judge - we can address
Him as the God of our salvation.

- David is saying to His God - I promise to joyfully sing of
thy righteousness.

- when David speaks of righteousness, he is speaking about
God's perfect righteousness, and the standards of
righteousness God has given for us in His Word.
- David knew he violated God's standards of righteousness

- between the time he sinned and the time he made it
right, he was in no position to tell others about the
righteousness of God.
- INPUT - why is that true?

- cf. John White - "Christians often become soft in
their presentation of sin when they are living in
sin themselves. On the other hand, some Christians
involved in sin become extremely self-righteous and
judgmental of others to distract people (and
themselves) from their own sin.

- but once David took the proper steps we've been studying--
he's now in a position to "joyfully sing of God's
righteousness."

- INPUT - what are some ways a believer can do this today?

1) by seeking to live in a righteous fashion (and
rejoice in doing so, not considering the commandments
of God burdensome, but instead the "perfect law of
liberty."

2) by refusing to laugh at or get caught up in amusements
or pleasures that are unrighteous.
- cf. the big night-time TV wars going on - a lot of
hype and a lot of money at stake
- there's not a lot of "declaring
righteousness" going on.
- there's very little on TV that's going to
leave you more in love with God and others.

3) by looking for opportunities to stand for
righteousness - we're not talking about "cleaning up
the world" by imposing our standards on unbelievers
- but folks around you ought to know where you
stand on issues like:
- the sanctity of marriage
- the importance of treating others with
love and respect.
- the sanctity of life
- the authority of the Bible

- point is - David's response to God's forgiveness was to
promise to joyfully tell others about God's
righteousness.

- another "angle" on this subject is the importance of
clearly communicating how that righteousness is achieved.
- you've heard us say many times that as a church, we've
determined that we are going to do more than just pray
for revival

- we're going to seek to help other pastors and
churches who desire to have a ministry which gives
Bible answers to the problems folks face.
- instead of turning to psychology or some mystical "zap" as
the means to righteousness
- we want to teach what the Bible says about growth

- cf. the illustration of "zap" theology in the
homosexual article in the "Family Times."

- you might wonder - why is this such an important issue
around here?
- answer is - we're folks who realize how much God has
forgiven us - and how fortunate we are that God has
given us His sufficient Word to help us change and
grow
- and I lot of folks around here have said to the
Lord - I want to joyfully speak of your
righteousness-and how a believer can be
practically growing in that righteousness

- and if that involves housing a missionary during
the missionary conference--so be it.
- if that involves our pastors traveling from time
to time--so be it.

(mention some of the opportunities this fall)

C. Resolution #3 - Concerning praise

- verse 15 - "open my lips, that my mouth may declare thy
praise."

cf. Psalm 150:6

- people who appreciate how much God has forgiven them
will naturally want to praise him with their lips.

- INPUT- ways this can be done?

(emphasize the issue of corporate praise - Heb.
10:25 -- persons who seemingly have a small amount
of interest in corporate praise have a
correspondingly small amount of appreciation for
God's forgiveness."

(if time - address the issue of praise in your family-
-how often do you praise God as a family - is
that a natural part of your family life?

D. Resolution #4 - Concerning sacrifice in Jerusalem

- some folks say that this Psalm really ended at verse 17
- but that misses a very important point

- David rightly turns to Jerusalem, because he realizes
that his sin has not just affected him, but all those
who are under his rule.