BIG IDEA:
THE LORD’S LOVINGKINDNESS WILL PROTECT US AGAINST THE SCHEMES OF THE WICKED
I. (:1-4) EVIL SCHEMES FILL THE HEARTS OF THOSE WHO HAVE FORSAKEN THE FEAR OF THE LORD
A. The Root Problem = No Fear of God
1. “There is no fear of God before his eyes” (:1)
2. “He does not despise evil” (:4)
B. The Development of Evil Schemes — Where do they come from and Why?
1. The Pleasure of Evil (:1-2)
a) Attractive
b) Deceitful
2. The Practice of Evil (:3)
a) In Word
“wickedness”
“deceit “
b) In Deed
“ceased to be wise and to do good”
3. The Pursuit of Evil (:4)
“He plans wickedness upon his bed”
“He sets himself on a path that is not good”
II. (:5-9) THE LORD’S LOVINGKINDNESS FILLS THE HEARTS OF THOSE WHO SEEK HIS PROTECTION
A. Extent of the Lord’s Lovingkindness (coupled with Faithfulness) and Righteousness (coupled with Judgments) (:5-6)
How far does it extend?
1. As High as you can imagine = the sky is the limit!
“to the heavens”
“to the skies”
“like the mountains of God”
2. As Deep as the deepest seas — “Thy judgments are like a great deep.”
B. Value of the Lord’s Lovingkindness (:7)
How valuable is it?
1. Precious — “How precious is Thy lovingkindness”
2. Protective — “the children of men take refuge …”
C. Satisfying Nature of the Lord’s Lovingkindness (:8-9)
1. Abundant — all you could ever want
2. Satisfies the appetite
3. Unlimited blessings
4. Life-giving and sustaining = “the fountain of life”
5. Light of Wisdom and Holiness
III. (:10-12) THE WICKED WILL BE DEFEATED IN THEIR EVIL SCHEMES
A. The Perseverance of God’s Lovingkindness (:10)
B. The Frustration of the Evil Schemes of the Wicked (:11)
C. The Utter Defeat of the Wicked (:12)