Month: April 2012

Psalm 70

How desperate are you for God’s help? Really? Ponder that question. How much do you really think you need Him through the course of the day? Can you get up without Him? Can you deal with the people in your life without Him? Can you handle the stress of the day without Him? The answer to these and other questions like them, is “yes.” Can you do it well and according to His will without Him? The answer to that question is “no.” Live life like it depended on your fellowship with God because it does.

Psalm 70 (cf. Psalm 40.13-17)

Psalm 70 and Psalm 40.13–17 are basically the same. There are slight variations. This has happened with Psalm 53 and Psalm 14.The superscription is the first to stand out. Psalm 70 adds the words “for the memorial offering,” which occurs elsewhere only in the superscription for Psalm 38 (see our study). This psalm is also like Psalm 9 in that the psalm that follows has no heading, which lead some to believe that, like Psalm 9 and Psalm 10, Psalm 70 and Psalm 71 belong together (see our study on Psalm 9 and Psalm 10). The other main difference, like Psalm 53 and Psalm 14, is that of changing the name for the covenant God of Israel (Jehovah [יְֽהוָה]) in the first and last verse to the universal God of creation (Elohim [אֱלֹהִים])David’s call in this psalm can be outlined as follows:

  • Verse 1-Help me
  • Verses 2-3-Punish them
  • Verse 4-Praise Him
  • Verse 5-Help me

This psalm of five verses contains many requests by David to God.

  • Verse 1-Deliver me and help me
  • Verse 2-put to shame and confusion those who seek my life and turn back and dishonor those who desire to hurt me
  • Verse 3-turn back because of their shame
  • Verse 4-let all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you and let those who love your salvation say evermore, “God is great!”
  • Verse 5-hasten to me and do not delay (can you sense the desperation on David’s part?)

God answers prayers according to His timetable.  Hebrews 4.16 reminds us that God gives us grace, His help, in His time. The greatest examples of this principle that I can think are found in John 11.1-46 with the death of Lazarus and Galatians 4.4 with the sending of Jesus to the earth.

How desperate are you for God’s help? Really? Ponder that question. How much do you really think you need Him through the course of the day? Can you get up without Him? Can you deal with the people in your life without Him? Can you handle the stress of the day without Him? The answer to these and other questions like them, is “yes.” Can you do it well and according to His will without Him? The answer to that question is “no.” Live life like it depended on your fellowship with God because it does.

Media

  • Psalm 70 by Solomon’s Porch (Psalm 70 and Psalm 40)
  • Mighty to Save by Hillsong (Psalm 70 and Psalm 40)
  • Safe by Paul Wickham (Psalm 70 and Psalm 40)

Psalm 69

When we bring our concerns to God, He turns our mourning into joy. When times are difficult, do you worry about them or take them to God; do you become bitter by them or allow God to use them to better you?

Psalm 69

See our study of Psalm 45 for insight into the superscription.

This is a messianic psalm along the lines of Psalm 22 (study to come). The sufferings of Christ are clearly seen in the sufferings of David. The following verses give weight to this claim:

  • Verse 4 and John 15.25
  • Verse 8 and John 7.3–5
  • Verse 9 with John 2.17 and Romans 15.3
  • Verse 21 with Matthew 27.34, 48 and John 19.29
  • Verses 22 and 23 with Romans 11.9-10
  • Verse 25 with Acts 1.16-20

To read through this psalm with knowledge of what Christ went through is amazing for it is a color commentary on what He went through. Although this was written by David about one-thousand years before Christ, it is detailed in the account of what Christ went through.

What we also sense in this psalm is a deep sense of urgency. David writes repeated please for God’s presence. He asks God to save him (1), rescue him (14), answer him (16), quickly answer him (17), draw near to him (18), redeem him (18), free him (18), and protect him (29).

Several attempts have been made to outline this psalm. I find a topical outline useful as an aid in understanding the psalm.

  • Verses 1-4, 10-12, 19-21-David’s lament
  • Verses 5-9- David’s protesting his innocence
  • Verses 13–18, 22–29-David’s requests to God
  • Verses 30–36-David’s gratitude

Another view of the same outline:

  • Verses 1-4-David’s lament
    • Verses 5-9- David’s protesting his innocence
  • Verses 10-12-David’s lament
    • Verses 13–18-David’s requests to God
  • Verses 19-21-David’s lament
    • Verses 22–29-David’s requests to God
  • Verses 30–36-David’s gratitude

When we bring our concerns to God, He turns our mourning into joy. When times are difficult, do you worry about them or take them to God; do you become bitter by them or allow God to use them to better you?

Psalm 67

Does your life draw men to God? Read Zechariah 8.20-23. Is this what people do in light of what God is doing through you? If so, praise Him; if not, ask yourself why not (Selah).

Psalm 67

Verse 1-As with Psalm 66 (see our study), this psalm calls all people to see that the Lord is good and that the Lord is God. This psalm is a psalm of God’s blessing. The prayer is much like the priestly blessing of Numbers 6.24-26, wherein God will look graciously upon us and not turn His back to us (a sign of judgement). Each verse expresses the same thought using different terms to help the reader focus on the blessing and the protection. He states that He will bless you, and keep you; that He will make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; and that He will turn his face toward you and give you peace. When God faces us, we receive His greatest blessing which is to see Him (Matthew 5.8). The greatest curse we can receive from God is when He turns His back to us. Think of Jesus on the cross, utter darkness and complete wrath were His lot as God the Father judged our sins upon Him (Matthew 27.45-46).

There is one major difference which we have seen in many of the psalms (see our study of Psalm 53). That difference is in Numbers the word used for God in the Hebrew is the word for the God of Israel which is Jehovah (יְֽהוָה). The word here is Elohim (אֱלֹהִים) which is the God above all other gods, the triune Godhead.

With all this going on, the psalmist calls us to pause and consider these truths for ourselves (Selah).

Is God your blessing because you stand in right relationship with Him as His child or is God your cursing because you stand in wrong relationship with Him as a child of the devil. Sounds harsh, doesn’t it? Read John 8.31-47.

  • Verse 2-The verse expands the blessing that the name Elohim (אֱלֹהִים) suggests in verse one that is for God to be known to all the nations not just Israel.
  • Verses 3-4-The psalmist now presents the case for all the world to be praise God. His desire is for the nations to know the saving grace of God as seen in the acts of righteous judgement that He makes. He again asks us to consider, to pause, to reflect (Selah) on this matter for our lives. Do you live your life in such a way that others are drawn to God and desire to know Him (see our study of Psalm 66).
  • Verses 5-7-The psalmist repeats verse three as a chorus of sorts pleading that the nations might know Him. The nations are to bless God because of His sovereign reign over all the earth.

Does your life draw men to God? Read Zechariah 8.20-23. Is this what people do in light of what God is doing through you? If so, praise Him; if not, ask yourself why not (Selah).

Interesting numbers in this psalm:

  • The phrase “Bless us” is used three times.
  • The phrase “Praise you” is used four times.
  • The word “us” referring to Israel is used six times.
  • The word “nations” is used nine times.
  • A reference to God is made fifteen times with a picture of the trinity involved.

All this in seven verses.

Psalm 66

What is your story?

Psalm 66

This psalm reminds me of Matthew 5.13-16. It is the idea of telling the world about God without using words because of the godly lifestyle we live (1 Peter 3.1-6).

It is inviting us to come and see that the Lord is God. This psalm focuses on whom God is and what He has done for His people. The psalmist invites us, all people of the earth, to worship God with him:

  • Verses 1–4-Come and shout God’s glory. Pause, reflect (Selah), on what and who the Lord is.
  • Verses 5–7-Come and see God’s gracious work. Pause, reflect (Selah), on what the Lord has done. We are to reflect on the past to glorify Him and to grow in faith for what must be done today and in the future.
  • Verses 8–15-Come and be blessed and be a blessing. Pause, reflect (Selah), on what God can do for and through us.
  • Verses 16–20-Come and hear the testimony of God’s work in people’s lives. Has what God has done for you reached the ears of those around you? Is your life a walking testimony of who He is and of what He has done for you and through you? The beginning of this type of life, the life He created for you to live, is to come to Him in repentance, prayer, and study of His Word.

This is the story of the woman at the well when she met Jesus. After speaking with Him, she left to her town and declared “Come and See” (John 4.28-30, 39-42).

What is your story?

Media

Psalm 65

Have you given God the praise and worship due Him today?

Psalm 65

An outline of the psalm

  • Verses 1-4-Worship of God and His goodness (1 Thessalonians 5.18)
  • Verses 5-8-Witness of God to the ends of the earth
  • Verses 9-13-Blessings from God

A summary of the psalm is based on the character of God. It is the reason we pray. He never changes, He knows all things )real and potential(, He is sovereign (all-powerful), among others. It is to Him we pray and because of Him we can pray.

  • Verse 1-David directs us to give to God the glory due to his power, goodness, and grace given to His people.
  • Verse 2-God hears prayer
  • Verse 3-God forgives sin
  • From man’s perspective, there is no hope; from God’s grace hope is based.
  • Verse 4-God satisfies the souls of His people
  • Verse 5-God protects and supports His people

David directs us to give to God the glory due to his power, goodness, and grace given to all people everywhere.

  • Verse 6-God establishes the mountains
  • Verse 7-God controls and calms the sea (chaos).  Waves or seas normally represent evil and chaos (see our study on Psalm 93).  Romans 8.18-25 and the groaning of the earth compared with 9-13 and the singing of everything
  • Verse 8-God preserves the regular cycle of day and night
  • Verses 9-13-God makes the earth fruitful

Have you given God the praise and worship due Him today?

Psalm 20

This is a short psalm that reminds us to pray for those over us. Are you praying for your leaders, whether you like them or not? The psalm also shows us that true worship gets God’s attention.

Psalm 20 (cf. 1 Timothy 2.1-8 and see our study Psalm 21 and our study of 2 Samuel 10 for possible background to this psalm)

Verses 1-3-Trouble is coming in warfare. The priest is offering a sense of peace to David before the battle. Because of David’s faithfulness to God, God will bring him support. Pause (Selah). Are your sacrifices to God the kind that He celebrates and honors? Or, are they merely tokens you throw at Him, hoping to appease Him?  See our study on Psalm 50.

Verses 4-6-Triumph of God’s answers are evident. Notice the change from “your” to “we” to “I.” All are involved.

Verses 7-9-Trust and confidence in the God who gives victories and allows defeats.

Notice the bookend of “Lord answer” in verse one in the day of trouble and in verses nine in the day we call. Notice how the name of God is invoked in each stanza (1, 5, 7). Notice the abundance of desire in the first five verses with each beginning with “may.”

This is a short psalm that reminds us to pray for those over us. Are you praying for your leaders, whether you like them or not? The psalm also shows us that true worship gets God’s attention.

2 Samuel 10

 

2 Samuel 10 (cf. 1 Chronicles 19)

 

Ammon (modern-day Jordan) were populated with the descendants of Lot (Ammonites). Even though they were distant relatives, there was great hatred between the two nations. God will later pronounce a great judgement on this nation (Ezekiel 25.1-7).

 

After the wars in 2 Samuel 8 (see our study), the king of Ammon died. David sent a contingent of men to show respect to his friend, the deceased king. It seems that Nahash (see 1 Chronicles 19.1) showed David kindness when he fled from Saul. This is the same king that Saul defeated but did not destroy as commanded in 1 Samuel 11 (see our study). Nahash’s son, Hanun, doesn’t think David is on a friendly mission due to the influence of his counselors. It could have been a combination of both reconnaissance and condolences. We see in 2 Samuel 11.1 that David’s armies first attacked Rabbah which is a large Ammonite city.

Shaving the beard and cutting the clothing was an insult tantamount to a declaration of war. As soon as the Israelites left, the Ammonites prepared for battle by hiring mercenaries from Syria.  See our study of Psalm 60 for greater detail concerning the number of men used to fight.

For more information on Joab and Abishai, see our study of 1 Samuel 26. To better understand the battles of this day and other chapters in 2 Samuel, see the map below.

Psalm 75

God will bring about His righteous judgement and will call all men to answer for themselves

Psalm 75

The term in the superscription, “Altaschith,” means “Do not destroy.” It occurs in Psalms 57-59 (see our study of Psalm 57, 58, and 59). Although the meaning is not clear, some have conjectured that it was a tune of a popular song.  Isaiah 65.8 seems to reference it.

The structure of the psalm presents different speakers:

  • the people praise God for who He is. what He has done, and for His being with them (1)
  • God announces His sovereign will of judging the earth at the time He gives (2-5). There is a Selah in the center of these verses asking us to pause and consider where we stand in terms of that judgement.
  • the people declare that God is the only and true Judge (6-9)
  • God declares His intention to bring about the final judgment (10)

God will bring about His righteous judgement and will call all men to answer for themselves. This psalm is full of end time terminology which will be discussed in a future post.

Psalm 60

The closing verses, 11-12, show where David sought his ultimate help. He turned to God to save him. The Hebrew word translated “help” is the word for salvation. He recognizes the deliverance only comes from God for man is incapable of saving. Where is your trust placed? Ask that question in terms of finances, family, friends, education, et al.

Psalm 60 (cf. Psalm 108, 2 Samuel 8, and 1 Chronicles 18)

As can be seen in the superscription, this psalm coincides with 2 Samuel 8 and 1 Chronicles 18. This is the second longest superscription in the psalter. Only Psalm 18 is longer. The Lily of the Covenant is also found in Psalm 80. It is a teaching psalm (a mitkam) and David wrote it. The setting is found in a battle and mentions three enemies David faced in the above passages. They were Aram-naharaim (highlands of two rivers or Mesopotamia [land between two rivers]), Aram-zobah (central Syria), and Edom in the Valley of Salt (near the southern portion of the Dead Sea). David was waging war against the Arameans in the north, the Edomites (and Moabites) invaded from the south, forcing David to send Joab to deal with the latter force. This psalm laments the reversal of David’s plans. The outline for the psalm is David’s lament (1–5), a certainty of David being heard (6–8), and a final plea for God to deliver Israel (9–12).

David calls for a pause (Selah) after verse four asking us to contemplate the demise of the army by the hand of God. His only response is to call out to that same God to deliver them and change what has occurred.

The closing verses, 11-12, show where David sought his ultimate help. He turned to God to save him. The Hebrew word translated “help” is the word for salvation. He recognizes the deliverance only comes from God for man is incapable of saving. Where is your trust placed? Ask that question in terms of finances, family, friends, education, et al.

To better understand the places mentioned, look at the map below.