How long, O Lord, will You look on? Rescue my soul from their ravages, my precious life from these lions. Sermons
I. THE BASENESS OF THE WICKED. Their general characteristics are: 1. They often bring false malicious charges against good men. (Ver. 11.) "They demand satisfaction at my hands for injuries of which I have never even heard." 2. They return evil for good. (Ver. 12.) They had been former friends: this was the sting of their ingratitude and injustice. Former favours sour the minds of the ungrateful, and intensify their hatred. 3. They exult over the calamities of the good, and insult and injure them. (Ver. 15.) "The tender mercies of the wicked are cruel," and cruelty always embrutes the bad mind. 4. They incite the senseless rabble to persecute good men. (Ver. 16.) The multitude ever ready without reason to join in a hue and cry, and, without thinking, are ready to become the instruments of bad men. II. THE NOBILITY OF THE GOOD. 1. Broken friendships fill them with a sense of bereavement. (Ver. 12.) The good hunger for love, as well as give it; and, when denied it, are afflicted with a sense of loneliness. 2. They are deeply sympathetic with the afflictions of others. (Vers. 13, 14.) They fast and pray in token of the sincerity and depth of their sympathy. 3. In the calamities and sorrows of life the good turn to God for help and deliverance. (Ver. 17.) Especially the more they feel deserted by former friends. 4. They are constrained to give thanks to God for his mercies. (Ver. 18.) They are not ungrateful, like the wicked. Gratitude is a joy to the generous and religious mind. - S.
Lord, how long wilt Thou look on? This was David's cry in his distress.I. A TRYING EXPERIENCE. David did not doubt that the Lord saw his trouble. He did not say, "My way is hid from the Lord;" but he felt as if the Lord was only looking on and not delivering him. As a soldier hard pressed by the foe might look for the expected relief; but it did not come, David wanted to hear the shout, "To the rescue," but he could not hear it. And he feels sure that it must be all over with him in a few moments. Now — 1. This is often the experience of the saint in his struggle with sin. 2. In relation to his troubles. 3. To his prayers. How long they seem to be unanswered. 4. It is often the minister's experience. He longs to see conversions, but does not see them. II. THE CRY OF ANGUISH. Now this cry may be right or wrong: it depends on its spirit. It is wrong when it is — 1. Bitter; when the soul has become soured instead of sanctified by affliction. 2. When it is deeply despondent. But it is a right cry when it is — 3. The language of intense desire. Now — III. COMFORTING ANSWERS TO THIS CRY. How long, Lord? He replys — 1. "Long enough to try your faith." He loves to strengthen the faith of His people. Hence He often tries them by delaying the answers to their prayer. 2. "Long enough to teach you your own weakness." 3. To make you value the deliverance. That which is easily obtained is little valued. "Lord, how long wilt Thou look on?" 4. "Until the right moment." Not a moment too soon for His own glory: not a moment too late for your good.Our clock is always too fast; we call upon the Lord and say, "Lord, now is the time, the hour to deliver has struck;" but no answer comes, because He keeps not His time by ours; and His clock still wants some minutes to the hour; but when that has struck, swift as the lightning flash He is at our side. Trust Him, then, believe. Though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come. (A. G. Brown.) People David, PsalmistPlaces JerusalemTopics Behold, Darling, Desolations, Destruction, Destructions, Lions, O, Precious, Ravages, Rescue, Soul, WiltOutline 1. David prays for his own safety, and his enemies' confusion11. He complains of their wrongful dealing 22. Thereby he incites God against them Dictionary of Bible Themes Psalm 35:17 4666 lion Library Specific References to Prophecy in the Gospels20. But, if it does not weary you, let the point out as briefly as possible, specific references to prophecy in the Gospels, that those who are being instructed in the first elements of the faith may have these testimonies written on their hearts, lest any doubt concerning the things which they believe should at any time take them by surprise. We are told in the Gospel that Judas, one of Christ's friends and associates at table, betrayed Him. Let the show you how this is foretold in the Psalms: "He … Various—Life and Works of Rufinus with Jerome's Apology Against Rufinus. Historical Summary and Chronological Tables. The Sixth Commandment The Ninth Commandment Question of the Comparison Between the Active and the Contemplative Life After the Scripture. Opposition to Messiah Unreasonable Notes on the Third Century Concerning Persecution Psalms Links Psalm 35:17 NIVPsalm 35:17 NLT Psalm 35:17 ESV Psalm 35:17 NASB Psalm 35:17 KJV Psalm 35:17 Bible Apps Psalm 35:17 Parallel Psalm 35:17 Biblia Paralela Psalm 35:17 Chinese Bible Psalm 35:17 French Bible Psalm 35:17 German Bible Psalm 35:17 Commentaries Bible Hub |
    |