February 2012 – Page 2 – Old Testament Survey

Psalm 18

This Psalm is ascribed to 2 Samuel 22.1-51. Although it is presented at this point in 2 Samuel, it is ascribed to God delivering David from his enemies including Saul. Since Saul dies in 1 Samuel 31, historically it would fit here in our chronological study of the Old Testament.

Psalm 18

“Hosanna” by Hillsong does a good job presenting the truth of these verses.

This is a Royal Psalm

Verses 1-3-David gives God the praise for deliverance from his enemies. In the superscription, Saul is differentiated from David’s enemies. After all that Saul did to David, David still would not count Saul as one of his enemies. How do we treat those in our sphere of influence? Do we count all who are against us as our enemies, even if they once were friends? Do we give God credit for deliverance from all our enemies? When we stand at the end of the day, do we praise Him for bringing us through that day?

David also uses a strong word for love in these verses. Beyond this chapter, this love is used exclusively for God’s love for man. 2 Samuel 22 does not include this verse because it is more a public matter than the private matter of Psalm 18.

David sates that he will cause God’s glory to shine. This is the essence of “halal” or praise and is the root of hallelujah.

Verses 4-5-This verse reflects Psalm 116, in particular verse three. David expresses how he viewed life and how he perceived the situations in which he found himself. How honest are you before God about your life circumstances?
Verse 6-Again, David cries out to God expecting Him to hear David’s pleas. When we pray, do we think God will answer or even hear us?
Verses 7-15-These verses are reflected throughout the Scripture. Three places in particular are Psalm 29.3-9, Psalm 144.5-6, and Isaiah 30.30. The crux of these verses is that when God comes to the earth, it will be unmistakable that God is here. When we proclaim that we are believers, is it unmistakable for those around us?
Verses 16-19-God does deliver us from the hands of our enemies. Water in the Scripture usually denotes trouble. Do we lean on God or on our own strength to get us through the day? Paul reminds us that each day has enough evil of its own (Ephesians 5.16). In order for us to get through the day, we need to remember to call on the one who can set our feet on solid ground.
Verses 20-24-These verses seem to echo Saul’s words to David in 1 Samuel 24.19 and 1 Samuel 26.23. Could we say the same as David does here? Only in Christ. Romans 3.23-24 and Romans 4.23-24 remind us that only in Christ do we have righteousness.
Verses 25-30-Kevin Prosch put music to Revelation 15.3-4 and wrote “King of Saints.” I have not been able to find a recording of it. If someone has, let me know, it is worth listening to. Is our confidence solely in the hand of God or do we attempt to create our own strength and power? If the latter are true, we will fail.
Verses 31-42-Deuteronomy 32-33 and 1 Samuel 2.2 reflect the words that God is our Rock. Habakkuk 3.19 gives the picture of God placing our feet on firm ground.
Verses 43-45-David recalls what God has done for him and gives God the credit.
Verses 46-48-Once again, David gives God the credit and praises Him for all that He has done.
Verses 49-50-Romans 15 reminds us that we need to praise God wherever we go just as David does here (verse nine quotes this Psalm).

When the day is over, do we remember that it is God who enabled us to make it through the day? If so, have you praised Him for it? More often than not, when we are successful we take the credit (pride) and when we fail we blame God (pride).

Psalm 121

Verses 1-2-This verse has been used in songs to describe God’s help (“I Lift My Eyes Up”). Yet it is describing God’s help as contrary to the help others have received from the mountains (Jeremiah 3, particularly verse 23). Our help does not come from the mountains, as some suppose. The mountains are a source of danger, corruption, and syncretism. Our help comes from the God of Heaven. We look to the Creator for our help and not as the pagans who look to the creation. This is mentioned a few psalms later (Psalm 124.8)

Psalm 121

This is another Psalm of Ascents, or Pilgrim Psalms.

Verses 1-2-This verse has been used in songs to describe God’s help (“I Lift My Eyes Up“). Yet it is describing God’s help as contrary to the help others have received from the mountains (Jeremiah 3, particularly verse 23). Our help does not come from the mountains, as some suppose. The mountains are a source of danger, corruption, and syncretism. Our help comes from the God of Heaven. We look to the Creator for our help and not as the pagans who look to the creation. This is mentioned a few psalms later (Psalm 124.8)

Verses 3-4-The writer proclaims and praises who God is in these two verses.

Verses 5-6-Again, the writer praises God for who He is and for what He does.

Verses 7-8-Again, the writer is praising God.

This psalm is called a pilgrim psalm because it describes what God does for the pilgrim on his way to Jerusalem for the holy days. Reading through the psalm using a traveler as a walking metaphor, we can understand this better.

When we travel, we seek protection from robbers and the elements. Here the traveler seeks God’s protection from the scorching heat and the robbers by night. On the journey, they seek God’s firm foothold where their feet will walk. God provides protection from robbers because He needs no sleep, He provides protection from the elements because He is greater than they are, and He keeps them on the right path because He knows the beginning from the end.

On our journey through life, are we asking God to be our Guide and Protector? This is one of the benefits of having the Holy Spirit indwell us as believers. He is Protector and Guide in our journey through life (John 14.16-31 and 16.5-15). God protects us 24 hours a day. He keeps us all the time. The word “keep” is used six times in this chapter. He indeed cares for us. He keeps us to the very end (Jude 24).

1 Samuel 31

This is a short chapter highlighting the death of Saul and his sons on Mount Gilboa. A parallel passage is 1 Chronicles 10.1-14. A note on why the two books of the Chronicles were written. They parallel, for the most part, 1 and 2 Samuel. However, they are written after the return from the exile in Babylon as a reminder of what is necessary for success in the kingdom.

1 Samuel 31

This is a short chapter highlighting the death of Saul and his sons on Mount Gilboa. A parallel passage is 1 Chronicles 10.1-14 (cf. the study on 1 Chronicles 10). A note on why the two books of the Chronicles were written. They parallel, for the most part, 1 and 2 Samuel. However, they are written after the return from the exile in Babylon as a reminder of what is necessary for success in the kingdom.

This is a gruesome death. Saul was pierced with an arrow. He knew he was to die. He asked his armor-bearer to finish the deed lest he be tortured (Judges 9.54). He said he would not do it because his chief job was to ensure the king remained alive. Saul killed himself. The armor-bearer followed suit. This will play big in 2 Samuel 1. That day Saul’s sons died with him.

The Philistines found their bodies and triumphed throughout the land. They hung the bodies on a wall in Beth-Shan (Judges 1.27). Beth-Shan is about sixteen miles from what is known as the Sea of Galilee today (Sea of Chinnereth). It was later renamed Scythopolis which roughly translates to “city of barbarism” or “sin city.” The men of Israel in Jabesh-Gilead found out, they stole the bodies and buried them.

1 Samuel 30

Good morning! It is almost time to think we can rest; only to find out we have a family that desires our attention, time, love, and, most of all, our vehicles for transporting them.

This was what happened, sort of, to David in 1 Samuel 30.

1 Samuel 30

David returns home, as Achish had suggested. His home was in Ziklag. When he returned, Saul’s sin was there to greet him. He might have thought he was returning home to rest. However, he found the Amalekites. In 1 Samuel 15 we learned that Saul did not utterly destroy the Amalekites. Because of Saul’s inability to completely obey the Lord, David’s army is greeted with a destroyed town, missing families, and potential death.

When we do not rid ourselves of sin or allow something to remain in our lives that God has commanded us to get rid of (sins, which could include people), we and those around us can become ensnared by them once again. What is it that you see you need to get rid of in your life now to be free from its presence, power, and potential harm in the future?

David, before going into battle, does what we should do when we are presented with trouble in our lives, he prayed for God’s direction. David did the same thing in 1 Samuel 23.2-9, it was here that Abiathar joined David’s group. David’s army splits into two groups. Four hundred follow him into battle, while the other remaining two hundred stay at Wadi Besor to rest and prepare themselves for later. The Wadi Besor is a creek bed south of Ziklag. The exhaustion of the two hundred should have been expected. They traveled fifty miles from Aphek, found their town in ruins, then traveled 12-15 miles to Wadi Besor without supplies or rest.
God provides David with an abandoned Egyptian servant of the Amalekites. When he became sickly, the Amalekites deserted him. When David found him, he nursed him to health. It appears as though David has a kind heart. Deuteronomy 23.15-16 gives instruction not to return runaway slaves to their former masters. I wonder how this would have played out in the South during the 1800s.

When David finds the Amalekites, they are celebrating what they had done. David waged an attack on them, and suddenly destroyed all of them (1 Thessalonians 5.3-it applies to the end times but can be applied here and elsewhere when we place our security in the things of this world). All that had been taken from Ziklag and the other places they attacked, was restored (verse 19).

David reinstitutes an old principle, which is to divide the spoils with all those involved not merely those who fought (Numbers 31.26-27). David then sends some of the gain to “his friends” in Judah. The cities listed, particularly Hebron, will play an important role when David returns to Judah as king.

How faithful are we to what God has commanded us? Do we utterly destroy the things He commands us to rid ourselves of or do we hold on to a memory of them? Do we share what God has blessed us with or do we keep it for ourselves? Do we reach out to those who are our friends, even though they may have hurt us in the past?

The crux of this passage can be missed quite easily. Return to verse 6. David was in danger. What did he do? He went to God for strength (Isaiah 40.29-31). When you are tired, weary, burdened, to whom do you turn (Matthew 11.28-30)?

1 Samuel 29

A parallel passage is 1 Chronicles 12 (particularly verses 19-20). I haven’t been referencing the Chronicles to this point. I may return to previous posts and cross-reference them at a later date.

David is now caught in his deception but not revealed. 1 Samuel 28.1 presents David’s promotion to the bodyguard of Achish. Here David is called to war against the Israelites. God gives him an out when the commanders other than Achish doubt David’s loyalty to Achish and against Saul. They remind Achish of who David is in the eyes of the Israelites. This does not cause doubt in Achish but gives him reason to send David back to Ziklag (chapter 30).

Achish praises David for his loyalty to him. David feigns disappointment, makes an attempt to go to battle, but, then, goes home to Ziklag.

When we read this and the previous chapters, we know that David appeared to have lied to Achish and was being duplicitous. David was not attacking Philistine encampments but other enemies of Israel. This is why Achish would call David an honest man. He used terminology that David would know and appreciate when he compared David to “an angel of the Lord” (this phrase is used of David in 2 Samuel 14.17 and 19.27).

The song that turned Saul against David was well known (1 Samuel 18.7 and 21.11).

Aphek is an important location for the Philistines. Eli’s sons died there (1 Samuel 4), Saul and his sons died as-well (1 Samuel 31), and where the Ark was captured (1 Samuel 4).

This is a problem chapter to most people. Because David was not being honest with Achish in telling him that he was destroying Israelite towns instead of the enemies of Israel, many believe that David was behaving like Saul. A question I would ask: Did David lie when he withheld truth? Some would say those who are in the wrong don’t deserve all the truth. Do you agree with this?

1 Samuel 28.3-25

Today we are going to look at an unpopular passage in the Bible. Many people today look at their horoscope, conduct seances (Isaiah 8.19), play with an Ouija board, and things like that thinking it is okay to do. First Samuel 28.3-25 and Deuteronomy 18.9-14 informs us that God looks on such things as from the devil. The judgment for people who practice these things is death (Exodus 22.18 and Leviticus 20.27). Moreover, this also was a cause of Saul’s own death (1 Chronicles 10.13). Sorcery is listed in Galatians 5.20 as a fruit of the flesh, which must be rejected. In the book of Acts, Peter and Paul (Acts 8.9-13 and 13.6-12) reject sorcerers. As mentioned above, even seemingly innocent games that are associated with the occult can open the door to serious problems.

Saul has really gone downhill by now. He is a few chapters away from dying and he is getting desperate for help. Verse three reminds us what had happened in 1 Samuel 25.1, which was Samuel’s death. This incident caused David to flee to the wilderness and left Saul without any counsel. He did well in that he expelled from Israel all the mediums and wizards.

Saul had been pursuing David for so long, it seems as though he forgot the real enemy in the Philistines. When the Philistines encamped against him, Saul had nowhere to turn. Samuel was gone, David was living with the Philistines, and God would not speak to Saul even through the prophets. Since God had left him to his own devices, God did not answer Saul’s prayers (Proverbs 1.20–33). However, one of his servants told him of a medium who did not leave the country and was still living in Endor (think Samaria). Why does he have someone in his house that knows of this medium and who has not informed Saul earlier so he might expel her too? We all have these remnants in our houses. What sin is it that you continue to commit and refuse to expel?

Saul sought her out, deceived her, and sinned. The medium was asked by Saul to conjure Samuel. Something in the text makes us wonder if she was ever really able to contact anyone because of her reaction when Samuel actually appeared. All in attendance were afraid.

Saul is reminded of the consequences of his earlier sin of disobeying God, which is the removal of the kingly line from his house to David’s house and Saul’s death. It becomes a reality in this chapter when Samuel tells Saul that Saul with die before the next day is over. We need to understand that we will face the consequences of our sins even as Christians. We will not face the ultimate consequence of eternal damnation but will face the immediate consequences. Saul’s kingdom was removed. What area of your life has been affected because of your sin? Has an area where you once dominated left? Could it be from sin? Saul lived in fear. What area of your life are you fearful? Could it be from sin? God no longer spoke to Saul. When we sin, God will not be in fellowship with us. Do you need to repent of sin to restore your fellowship with God?

Saul’s health fell into question in this chapter too. He was weak due to the news he received and due to his sin. He was also weak due to not eating or sleeping properly. How are you doing with your nutrition and sleep? God created us in such a way that we will make bad decisions if we do not follow His Word and follow the needs He created in us. We are meant to eat and rest to ensure our health. How are you doing?

Psalm 63

Unlike the previous psalms, Psalm 63 presents David in a praising mood. Maybe this is a fulfillment of the promises made in the previous psalms to praise God for who He is. Like the other psalms, Psalm 63 shows David in the wilderness.

Before you read the commentary, listen to these songs “O God, you are my God” by Chris Tomlin and “Be Thou My Vision” by 4Him.

Psalm 63

Verses 1-4-David praises God and informs us of how much he needs God. Water was sparse in the wilderness. Any water would be a blessing. David considers God as greater and more important than life-giving water. He would gladly exchange this life for the life to come. Jesus explains in Matthew 5.6 that those people who have this desire that David has will be satisfied both in this life and in the life to come. Other psalms reflect the desire of David’s heart (Psalm 27.4; 28.2; 42.2, 8; 138.2; and 143.6). Where is the desire of your heart?

Verses 5-8-David again offers his praise to God for what He has done and for who He is. What are your habits in this area? David offers God praise and prayers during the night when he finds it hard to sleep. What are your habits? The picture of God protecting us in the “shadow of His wings” is a commonly used metaphor of David (Psalm 17.8; 36.7; 57.1; 61.4; and 91.4)

Verses 9-11-David understands the fate of those who reject God’s way. He also understands it is his duty to rejoice in God and live a life that will shine light on the sin of those around him.

Psalm 35

This Psalm, as was Psalm 17, is set in a courtroom. Deuteronomy 19.16-17 provides the instruction on how to bring this dispute to court. Job 23.2-7 shows how Job handled a similar situation.

Psalm 35

This Psalm, as was Psalm 17, is set in a courtroom. Deuteronomy 19.16-17 provides the instruction on how to bring this dispute to court. Job 23.2-7 shows how Job handled a similar situation.

This Psalm is also the first of the imprecatory psalms (35; 52; 58; 59; 69; 79; 83; 109; 137; 140). These psalms are cries to God to bring destruction on those who stand against God and God’s people.

Verses 1-3-David once again calls for God to be his vindication, his salvation. He is calling for God to go to war for him on account of those who pursue him. As the psalm is read, it appears as though this prayer is concerning Saul more so than the others who pursued him. He mentions his mourning for their losses in verse 13-14 as if they were close.

Verses 4-6-David’s prayer is for God to drive his enemies away, even to the point of destruction. This is a common theme in Scripture (Job 21.18; Psalm 35.19-21; 40.14-15, 70.2-3; 83.13; 129.5; Isaiah 29.5; and Jeremiah 23.12). God will discipline His children and will judge those who refuse Him. In this case, He could be disciplining David and judging those who have judged David. In all this, God is righteous. He knows the hearts and intentions of those whom He judges. Could verse six be a reference to the pre-incarnate Christ?

Verses 7-8-David is asking God to judge them in the manner they attempted to judge him. They sentenced David to death and laid traps for them. David is asking that God do the same for them (Matthew 7.1-2). There are many prayers and judgments like this throughout the Scripture (Psalm 9.15; 55.23; Isaiah 47.11; and 1 Thessalonians 5.3). Remember that God knows the intentions of the heart and judges righteously.

Verses 4-9 present a sevenfold curse or malediction against those who afflict and oppose David that sounds vengeful. However, is more a cry for God to bring, to judge the evil doers by returning their own evil upon themselves. Since God is the only one who can do this justly, David cries out for God to do so.

Verses 9-10-David proclaims he will do what he should already be doing, he will praise God. Deliverance is reason for praise. As God helps you, do you praise Him? At what point should you praise Him? Should it be after He delivers or in anticipation for the help? Again, this is a common theme in Scripture (Exodus 15.11; Psalm 71.19; 86.8; and Micah 7.18) because God is worthy of praise for He is unlike all others.

Verses 11-14-David is accused of things of which he has no idea. He is speechless because he does not know about what they are accusing him. The principle he presents here is Scriptural (Job 30.25; Psalm 38.20; 109.5; Jeremiah 18.20; John 10.32; and Romans 12.14-21). Is this something we do? When people seek us harm, do we pray for them, help them, mourn with them? Or, do we behave as the world does (Psalm 35.15-16)?

Verses 15-16-The world would rather taunt those who are their enemies than help them. How do you behave when others treat you poorly (Matthew 5.38-48)?

Verses 17-18-David is asking God to do what God is going to do. He is requesting God to do it now. He proclaims that he will praise God for doing this now. Is it wrong to pray this way? Is it wrong to ask God to do something now instead of later? From this Scripture? No. There are other places where biblical writers asked the same thing and based it on Scripture (Psalm 13.1 and Habakkuk 1.13). When we base our prayers and request on Scripture, God answers.

Verses 19-21-Refer to verses 4-6 above for thoughts on these verses. David is describing his persecutors in these verses. They are worthless and wicked (Proverbs 6:12–14 and 10:10). These words are used in Mark 15:29–30 as a derision against Jesus. Are people unjustly accusing you of things you have not done because of the good you stand for or do they justly accuse you?

Verses 22-25-As in the beginning, David is calling God to defend him before his accusers. Whom do you ask to defend you?

Verse 26-David again calls for God to judge those around him with righteous judgment (see verses 17-18 above).

Verses 27-28-David needs someone to mourn with him and to rejoice with him (Romans 12.15). Are you that someone for others? Whatever circumstances you find yourself in, can you proclaim the greatness of God? Do you do this all day?

Psalm 17

Psalm 17 is one of three psalms designated as a prayer (Psalm 86 and 142). That this psalm is a prayer is evidence by the words we use for prayer: hear, incline, give ear, among others. This Psalm is also a psalm of lament in which David proclaims his innocence (Psalm 26; 35; 43; and 69) [see our studies Psalm 26, 35, 43, and 69).

This Psalm begins and ends with the same thoughts. This could be a loose chiastic structure as verse one opens with David’s vindication and closes in verse fifteen with his righteousness. The Psalm also opens with God seeing and closes with David seeing. Many psalms and most of the prophets are written in terms of a courtroom. This Psalm appears to be David pleading his case before God, seeking a verdict of innocence on himself and guilty on those around him.

Although there is no time frame given in the title, most commentators see this as a prayer of deliverance from Saul during the time of 1 Samuel 21-27. Some people look at this psalm and find problems with David’s statements regarding his blamelessness in verses 1-5 and his reference to “mortals” in verses 13-14. Their argument is that these make David seem to be a demigod. However, these statements are found elsewhere, stated by others in Scripture, and are not referring to absolute blamelessness or as to be a little god. These will be covered in the verses.

Verses 1-2-David is calling out to the only one who can help him. This is the cry of many of the psalms that have been covered in these discussions. He states he has not deceived people, in this case Saul, and yet he is being pursued by those who are deceptive (either Saul, the Ziphites, Doeg, and the like). He does not state he is perfect, but he seeks the perfect righteousness of God to be known. When he prays this, he is also stating that God would see where David is right, which implies where David is also wrong.

Verses 3-5-These verses reflect the previous verses. These three verses can be found in the mouth of Job (Job 23.10-11), God (Zechariah 13.9), David and other psalmists (Psalm 39.1; 44.18; 66.10; 119.133), and Peter (1 Peter 1.6-7). Each time the reference for purity is mentioned, it is by the hand of God. David sees the fruit of his life in that he has evidence (or fruit) that he has walked blamelessly in this area and in other areas of life. This is also true for us. We have evidence that we are walking in the power of God’s salvation because of the life we are living and the fruit He is producing in and through us (Galatians 5.22-23). David sees those around him and notices that they have transgressed (13-14), which is also an evidence of fruit but this is the fruit produced by pursuing fleshly desires (Galatians 5.16-21). What fruit is being produced in your life? That fruit will show evidence of whose power you are walking under.

Verses 6-7-David has confidence in God. He knows that God hears our prayers. The term “incline” is found in other Psalms (Psalm 86.7 and 116.2, for example). It suggests that God is bending from the throne desiring to listen to what we have say. Because God leans down from His throne to listen, He is seated on His throne, which means He is victorious and in command. Those who seek His refuge need to come under that command and proclaim Him as their sovereign. In what areas of your life are you holding onto and not letting God command?

Verses 8-12-These verses contain much imagery that will be completed at a later time in these studies. For now, here is a list: “apple of the eye” (Deuteronomy 32:10), “shadow of Your wings,” and “lion lurking in ambush.” The picture being painted is the polar opposite of what we have in God and what those who pursue of desire for us. One is protection (guard me as a man would guard his eye) and loving-kindness and the other is pitiless suffering leading to death. God reminds us that He weighs the heart and knows the desires (1 Samuel 2.3) and that He will judge those who have no pity on those in need (Ezekiel 16.49). Reading that last verse should cause us to ponder what we are doing with our wealth and excess, what forms of service are we involved in, and where are we meeting the needs of those around us?

Verses 13-14-David does not desire to be judged by those around him but by Him who is above him.

Verse 15-David knew that life is greater than today. We are to reflect our relationship with God in this world that they may see His righteousness in us (Psalm 4.6-7 and Matthew 5.16). We are also to look forward to the day that we will be like Him, when our desires will conform to His, when sin will no longer have a stranglehold on us (Psalm 16.11; Isaiah 26.19; and 1 John 3.2). Do people notice the God we serve or do they notice the god we try to be?

1 Samuel 27.1-28.2

Ever get tired of doing what you are doing, thinking that you are wasting your time, always being used and abused, and never finding a moment’s rest? Well, welcome to life, even life for David.

1 Samuel 27.1-28.2 is our study for today and the first verse reminds me of our lives and an episode of Batman. In the cartoon, Batman is slumping over the Bat-Computer, Alfred walks into the Bat-Cave, and Batman turns to him and says, “Alfred, I’m tired.” He wanted to quit. We want to quit. David did quit. He decided to quit being betrayed by people in his tribe, his clan; he quit running from Saul’s treachery. He walked away. When he did this, he sinned. Read 1 Samuel 27 and see the things David did when he again placed himself under the authority of King Achish of Gath. The sin may not be the destruction of the cities because God had already ordered their destruction, which was not obeyed (Exodus 17.14; Joshua 13:13; 1 Samuel 15.2, 3). The sin occurred when David did not believe the God who delivered him from Goliath was unable to deliver him from Saul. David sought the grace of Achish (1 Samuel 27.5), not the grace of God. Do you consider what the Lord has done when contemplating what He will do? David attempted to save his own life instead of trusting God to help him. In doing this, he deceived, killed, and lied. He forgot the truth of Psalm 27, which he penned prior to this event.

David goes to Gath with his soldiers and their families. He takes with him Ahinoam and Abigail, two of his wives. David’s plan to have Saul cease his relentless pursuit worked. David deceives Achish. Achish gives him the area of Ziklag, which originally belonged to David’s tribe (Joshua 15.20-31) and was far enough from Gath (15 miles) for Achish not to check up on him. David allows Achish to believe that David is not for Israel but for the Philistines. He allows Achish to think David is destroying Israelite towns when he is destroying encampments of some enemies of Israel. David’s deception is so good that Achish makes David his body guard for life (1 Samuel 28.2). All this duplicity will place David in a quandary as the story in 1 Samuel unfolds.

What plans are you making that forget who God is and what He has commanded you to do? What sin and what deception do you find yourself in today? Have you considered the consequences of these actions or thoughts? What should you do about them?