Let us continue our study of this sweet Psalm from David.  Remember the reason for this Psalm is David has returned in fear of Doeg the Edomite and King Achish to the cave of Adullam.  There we found in verses 1-10 that he shared with them a song.  Now in verses 11-22 he will share with them a sermon.  You would almost think with a song and a sermon they were having church.

I want to break the sermon up into two parts for our study.  In verses 11-16 I want to look at ‘David’s Sermon And It’s Communication’ and in next weeks verses, 12-22, ‘David’s Sermon And It’s Conclusion’.  This week our text in verses 11-6 says, “Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD. What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good? Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile. Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it. The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry. The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.”

In verse 1 we find ‘An Invitation To Hear The Sermon’.  He invites his men to give him their ear in the word ‘hearken’.  His invitation is “Come, ye children,” This is not an invitation that degrades them, but sees himself as completely responsible for them and they are totally dependent upon him.  Such is the relationship we have with our heavenly teacher the Lord Jesus Christ.  He wants them to come that he might teach them.  I wonder if the reason our attendance has dropped in our churches is because there is no teaching going on.  David had a head full of cares and hands full of business yet he had time to teach.  There will be little teaching if there is not much studying.  Sunday school teach, Pastor, you can not get it together with late Saturday night study only.

I am amazed at what he taught.  He was a famous songwriter, statesman, and soldier.  The lessons were not about harps, swords, spears, bows, and how to handle yourself around dignitaries.  He taught them the ‘fear of the LORD’.  The meaning of this phrase is to stand in reverence, awe, and worship of the Lord.  Why would David teach this subject?  It is the beginning of all knowledge.  There can be not true learning unless it begins and flows out of this subject.  Be careful of education that doesn’t have as its center ‘The Fear Of God’.  It is Godless education and will produce nothing of eternal value in its students. 

In verse 12 we find ‘An Inspiration To Hope In The Sermon’.  He asked his men how many would like to live a long life.  Why would you want a long life if it is not to see good days?  A person would not want eternal life if it is to be spent in hell and not heaven.  Why would we want to spend many days on the earth if it is not going to be to bring Him the most glory and us the most good?  “The benefit of life is not in the length, but in the use of the life.  He sometimes lives the least that lives the longest.” (Seneca)  O what a powerful quote!

In verses 13-16 we find ‘An Instruction To Heed From The Sermon’.  In verse 13 there is ‘Instruction About Our Words’.  There is a warning about a tongue of evil and lips of guile.  O how the mouth is such a wicked place.  Our mouth can do such mighty works of help and such great works of hurt.  The quote, ‘Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me’ is the greatest lie ever told.  No wonder David cried ‘Set a guard over my lips and keep the door of my mouth’.  If there is anything in my Christian life that is a constant source of trouble, it is my mouth.

In verse 14 there is ‘An Instruction About Our Walk’.  David tells his men to ‘depart from evil’. The least areas of temptation flee from it.  He tells them to do ‘good’.  For many today, all their good, is negative good.  They are not drunkards, cursers, or moviegoers. O let us perform some positive good.

In verses 15-16 there is ‘An Instruction About Our Works’.  David mentions the eyes, the ears, and the face of our God.  He is looking at all that we do.  He is listening and drawn to our cries.  His face is against evil and will cut it off.  It reminds me that one day I will stand face to face with Him and give an account of the things done in the flesh.  In our walk David told us to pursue and seek peace.  I feel this pursuit will have great affect on our words and works.  Let us be reminded, ‘There is a place of quiet rest, Where? Near to the heart of God’!  Let this sermon cause us to seek that place!