Psalm 140
aFor the director of music. A psalm of David.
David was Close to His Worship Leader, and often
wrote songs for him.
Who was Asaph, probably
one of the greatest worship leaders who ever lived.
Asaph was one of David's musicians, a Levite, the son of Berechiah. An inspired seer, and a composer of music. ... Asaph founded
a school of Music. A school of Worship
Asaph was a man who faced Disillusionment.
Have you ever been
disillusioned with people? Things rarely go as we expect.
Many times we might
ask why? Why did my loved one get sick?
Why does my relationships seem to fail? Why do those that seem to care less
about the lord many times seem to prosper?
Asaph was acquainted
with all this and more. But still kept a worshipers heart!
Most Christians don’t
even recognize his name. Even those who do, do not seem to recognize his
importance.
They probably just
know he had something to do with the Psalms.
It is recognized that
Asaph was David's music director,
History of a heart of worhip—asaph had a mentor
David moved the
tabernacle outside his window. For the first time ever, the Ark of the covenant was approachable by anyone at anytime. The vehicle david chose was 24 hour worship. A heart of worship found its way into a
kingdom and in David.
Psalm 27:4King James Version (KJV)
4 One thing
have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in
the house of the Lord all
the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple.
Enoch was probably the last one to have this kind of heart,
we know what happened to him.
Who was Asaph?. Asaph was a young priest from the tribe of Levi, when
David brought the Ark of the Covenant up to Jerusalem in about 1000 to 995 BC.
His father, Berekiah was appointed Doorkeeper of the
Ark, and Asaph was so talented that David put him in charge of the music before
the Ark of the Covenant.
Surely David seen
something in Asaph, and probably on many occasions played music with him,
imparting that heart of worship. We
know that Asaph attained that heart for He wrote much of the original music for
David's Psalms. He even wrote twelve Psalms.
He wrote more of the
Bible than Peter, James, Jude, Jonah, Amos, Micah, Joel, Malachi, Zephaniah,
Habakkuk, Nahum, Haggai, or Obadiah.
The Bible tells much
about Asaph's life. We know s Asaph lived in 1020 - 920 BC. And his ministry stretched
through the reign of three kings. David's,Solomon's
and Rehoboam's
He seen greatness and
tragedy. He was part of the great wave of worship in Davids
time as the director of music in the
Tent of Meetings, the tabernacle of David and finally in Solomon's Temple. He
was assisted there by his brother Zechariah. While
most priests
and Levites were serving at Gibeon, Asaph was in charge of the music in
Jerusalem at the Tabernacle of David until the dedication of the Temple. About forty
years.
Imagine those worship services..
He saw the death of David, the accession. He was there when Davids
first born died.
He lead worship on the day that the angel of the Lord
Just about destoyed the city and its people do to Davids disobedience.
He witnessed David’s son Try to hunt down and kill his
dad.
He was there when his beast
friend and mentor died, and as a result the ending of the 24 hour worship and Davids tabernacle.
Asaph observed Solomons ascention, the building of the Temple. He Lead the worhips
at the service Of Solomons great prayer, and wrote
psalms about it.
Verse Concepts
then hear in heaven Your
dwelling place, and forgive and act and render to each according to all his
ways, whose heart You know, for You alone know the hearts of all the sons of
men,
Then stood by while Solomon destroyed a legacy
through a life style of woman worship.
As a result during Solomon's reign, Asaph's brother Zechariah was assassinated in the Temple by
Solomon's agents. Neither Asaph nor Zechariah would keep silent about
Solomon's wickedness. Zechariah paid the ultimate price.
After Solomon's
death, Asaph, witnessed David's kingdom torn in two by God's decree. Asaph's family served in the temple as
either musicians or doorkeepers, many of them perished in the attacks.
In the winter
of his years Asaph surveyed the wreckage of his hopes. The Kingdom destroyed,
the Temple in ruins, his family killed. And the heart of Worship that once
ruled a nation disappear as the worship of false gods and idols took hold,
watching people begin to burn their children alive in worship to a false deity.
Yet, through it all,
Asaph finds God's faithfulness a strong tower of hope. God reveals to Asaph the ultimate truth of what He had promised.
This Psalm forecasts the judgment to come and the manifestation
of God
Divine providence and the internal battle within one's soul are
the two main themes of this psalm
In this Psalm, Asaph questions the fairness of why the wicked
seem to prosper
"Why, God, have you cast us off forever?"[5]
depths of their despair. Amidst the cries of despair a
voice of praise to God also comes through.
This Psalm is labeled as a song or psalm to the leader,[5] interpreted
as the chief musician[7] or
leader of the community.[3]
This psalm focuses on elaborating on the incredible saving power
of God. It calls the people to worship and praise God in thanksgiving for his
saving power
This Psalm is a psalm of lament from a community
Historically themed psalm that is meant to show the people of
the time the pattern of God’s saving mercy
The importance of prayer in the midst of calamities
This psalm is sometimes referred to as a testimony to Asaph It
combines hope with a memory of great sorrow.
This psalm emphasizes praising a God who saves and a national
return to worship
This psalm ends with a prayer for justice.[3]
Psalm 140 (KJV)
140 Deliver me, O Lord, from the evil man: preserve me from the violent man;
(1) Evil man.—The
singular of the object in this verse must not lead us to think the psalm is an
expression of personal feeling against one enemy, for it is immediately changed
to the plural.
Ps 11:55 The Lord trieth the righteous: but the
wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth.
2 Which imagine mischiefs in their heart;
continually are they gathered together for war.
5 Casting down
imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth
itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought
to the obedience of Christ;
3 They have sharpened their tongues like a
serpent; adders' poison is under their lips. Selah.
I personally have been damaged in my life by hearsay, and the
wagging tongue. I know firsthand how Gossip can destroy a reputation.
4 Keep me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from the
violent man; who have purposed to overthrow my goings.
5 The proud have hid a snare for me, and cords;
they have spread a net by the wayside; they have set gins(traps)
for me. Selah.(Think
about it!)
People in my life that I loved have set me up. They tried to take things that are precious
to me, but for the most part they failed.
Some people key your new car, let rats go in your house, spread
all kinds of rumors, while all the while you are trying to help them.
6 I said unto the Lord, Thou art my God: hear the voice of my supplications, O Lord.
7 O God the
Lord, the strength of my salvation, thou
hast covered my head in the day of battle.
Put on the Helmet of Salvation!. Have the
Lord put a heart of flesh in you, a heart of worship, this is the heart that your supposed to guard that life springs forth from.
8
Grant not, O Lord, the desires of the wicked:
further not his wicked device; lest they exalt themselves. Selah.(Think about that!)
David was bold in prayer!!
He p
As for the head of those
that compass me about, let the mischief of their own lips cover them.
10 Let burning coals fall upon them: let them be
cast into the fire; into deep pits, that they rise not
up again.
11 Let not an evil speaker be established in the
earth: evil shall hunt the violent man
to overthrow him.
Lord take the wealth of the wicked and give it to the righteous.
What is wealth?
Money? Talent? Power? Recognition?
NOOO!!
A Lord that cares for the desires of your heart, who forgives you,
heals your hurts, and provides.
Children who look to you unconditionally.
A spouse who loves you!
Testimony of the class kids!!
The Passion Bible.
V12 For I know, Lord, that
you will be the Hero. Of all those They persecute. And you will secure justice
for the poor. Your godly lovers will thank you no matter what happens. For they
choose and cherish your presence above everything else!
12 I know that the Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and the
right of the poor.
The heart of worship has
little to do with money, but is poor, its currency is the Presents of the Lord.
The Lord is a refuge for the
oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.
— Psalm 9:9
But God will never forget the
needy; the hope of the afflicted will never perish.
— Psalm 9: 17-18
"Because the poor are plundered
and the needy groan, I will now arise,” says the Lord. “I will protect them
from those who malign them."
— Psalm 12:5
With my mouth I will greatly extol
the Lord; in the great throng of worshipers I will praise him. For he stands at
the right hand of the needy, to save their lives from those who would condemn them.
— Psalm 109:30-31
3 Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy
name: the upright shall dwell in thy presence.
True wealth
is to dwell in His presence.. this
is was a Heart of worship is all about. David new this. He imparted this to
Asaph. Asaph new this and though he went through a lot David new that Asaph was
upright and would dwell in Gods presence. Asaph says it over and over again in ps 80 3 Turn us again, O God, and cause thy face to shine; and we
shall be saved.