Month: April 2012

Psalm 25

How well do you know God?

Psalm 25

This psalm is the second of eight acrostic psalms. It is a psalm of David, who is praying for God to deliver him from his enemies as he also seeks forgiveness for his sins. These themes are interwoven throughout this complex psalm.

  • Verses 1-3, 13-15-David knew where he should place his confidence, his soul, his life. He knew the only place to go was to God.
  • Verses 4-5, 8-9, and 12-Each of these verses contain the desire of David to have God’s teachings in order to have true guidance. He knew to have God’s Word is to have God’s presence.
  • Verses 7, 11, and 18-David seeks God’s forgiveness. There is an undertow here. David knows that God’s presence is only known where forgiveness dwells.
  • Verses 2 and 20-David feared that God would be put to shame if he were put to shame. So, the prayer is not for David to not be “embarrassed” but for David’s life not to put a blemish on the character of God. This is known as the fear of the Lord (12 and 14).
  • Verse 21-David knew that only through God’s character being developed in his character would he be able to live the life that God created for him to live.
  • Verses 16-17-If you notice, David was quite honest with God, who knows all things anyway. He not only confessed sins, see 7, 11, and 18, but confessed the condition of his heart due to the circumstances in which he found himself.
  • Verse 22-The prayer concludes not only for David but also for the nation in which he dwelt, which is Israel.

A key thought in this passage is integrity. In verse 21 David associates integrity as coming only from God to those who wait on Him. Integrity is having one mind, one purpose, one goal; it is not to be divided. It is possessed by an absence of syncretism. It is best illustrated by Jesus in Luke when Luke states Jesus set His face like flint toward Jerusalem (Luke 9.51, cf. Isaiah 50.7). Another writer wrote a comment on this passage, “Jesus Set His Face Like Flint.”

We can be assured of God’s guidance when we seek to glorify Him, wait on Him, ask for His help, confess our sins, and submit to His Word. All this implies what is found most commonly in this chapter. We need to know His Word well. For in knowing His Word, we can know Him. If you notice, David bases his prayers on who God is (2-3, 5, 20-21).

How well do you know God?

Acrostics

The writers of acrostic literature need to place great thought into each verse in order to achieve this genre due to the self-imposed fetter. Try it with English. Write a letter in the comment section of this post using the 26 letters of our alphabet to create a cohesive and interesting unit of literature that makes sense.

Acrostic psalms normally have 22 verses to coincide with the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet. The first type of this is seen in the combining of Psalm 9 and Psalm 10. The next in the psalter is Psalm 25. The next few are Psalm 34, Psalm 37, Psalm 111, Psalm 112, Psalm 119, and Psalm 145. Psalm 119 is a special case in that it is created around eight verses for each letter, which results in 176 verses. As an oddity, there are eight acrostic psalms, 22 letters in the Hebrew alphabet, which, when combined, make 176, which is the number of verses in Psalm 119. The other psalms are created around one verse for each letter, which results in 22 verses. This style of writing is also evident in Proverbs 31.10-31 when the author speaks of the virtuous woman. The book of Lamentations is a series of acrostics. Chapters 1-2 and 4-5 have 22 verses while chapter 3 has 66 verses because it devotes three verses for each letter.

The writers of acrostic literature need to place great thought into each verse in order to achieve this genre due to the self-imposed fetter. Try it with English. Write a letter in the comment section of this post using the 26 letters of our alphabet to create a cohesive and interesting unit of literature that makes sense.

1 Chronicles 17

1 Chronicles 17 (see our study on 2 Samuel 7 for a deeper study of the subject)

One major difference between these two passages is the focus of David’s prayer, which is a result of the purpose of each book. Second Samuel is establishing David as king over all Israel and 1 Chronicles focus is on the religious aspects of David’s life. So, the prayer in 1 Chronicles 17.16-27 focuses on David as the planner of the Temple more so than a military focus. This focus can be seen in Haggai’s focus in Haggai 1 (see PPT analysis of this chapter-more to come if comments are given).

2 Samuel 7

David is amazed at what God has promised, not based on whom David is or what David does, but on whom God is and what God will do. This is the essence of the unconditional New Covenant God makes to us through His Son Jesus. It is and has and will always be about Him, not us.

2 Samuel 7 (cf. 1 Chronicles 17)

God makes a promise to David that is unconditional [listen to this message on Romans 3.1-8 preached at Evangelical Formosan Church of Cerritos on October 17, 2010 by Pastor David]. David responds to God with a prayer of praise. This is how it is. God promises us great things in Christ, and we need to respond with gratitude. How much gratitude have you shown God today?

God gave David peace )rest( from his enemies. The evidence of this is seen in the promises God makes with David in this chapter. Verse two reminds us of Hiram who provided David with the cedars of Lebanon (2 Samuel 5.11). This is the chapter that introduces the prophet Nathan. He plays a key role throughout the rest of the story of David (2 Samuel 12.1, I Kings 1.10, 22, 34, 2 Chronicles 9.29).

This is also the chapter that is central to the doctrine of Christ’s coming (12-13, 21). Christ is the seed that will come from David upon whom God will establish the eternal kingdom. Peter made sure the people of Jerusalem understood this in his first sermon (Acts 2.25-36). Paul mentions this covenant in Romans 1.1-3. Jesus even refers to it in Revelation 22.16. Both passages mention that Jesus is the fulfillment of the covenantal promise. The prophet Jeremiah, as an Old Testament example, awaited the day when the Messiah would come as fulfillment of this covenant (Jeremiah 23.5). Gabriel was sent with the same message in Luke 1.32-33 stating that the One who was to be born of Mary would be the One to sit on the throne of David. It is this covenant that ties the Abrahamic Covenant to the New Covenant made by Jesus (John 13-17).

According to this passage (10-16), the Davidic covenant is:

  1. a house—a continued posterity of the royal line
  2. a kingdom—a realm of political power, a literal earthly kingdom that can be interrupted (Hosea 3.4-5).  Psalm 89 informs us that although individual members of the house of David may fail the conditions of the covenant because of their disobedience, the covenant itself remains unconditional (3-4, 19–24, 27–37; see our study on Psalm 89).
  3. a throne—the rulership of that kingdom centered in David’s posterity, his offspring will have the only right to the throne in Israel

To conclude the matter of the covenant for the moment, ultimately God’s promise to Israel through the Davidic covenant will become evident in the Messiah, who is David’s seed (Jeremiah 33.19-26, Ezekiel 34.22-31, 36.16-38). Each of the covenants presented in Scripture, the Abrahamic, Davidic, and New covenants, will find their fulfillment (Ezekiel 37.21-28) in Christ, through whom the provisions of these three covenants come together (cf. Matthew 26.28-29, 31-33, 54-55, Luke 1.68-78, Acts 2.29-36, 3.25-26, 15.16-17, Galatians 3.13-16, 26-29, Hebrews 9.16-28, and Revelation 11.15).

The final thought in this chapter is David’s response to all this. He is amazed at what Nathan told him. He then enters the tent of worship, where the newly placed Ark is found, and he worships the Lord for a lengthy amount of time (7:18–29). During his prayer, he calls on the “Sovereign Lord” seven times. This title stresses God’s control over the nations and over this unconditional covenant God has made with David and the nation Israel. David is amazed at what God has promised, not based on whom David is or what David does, but on whom God is and what God will do. This is the essence of the unconditional New Covenant God makes to us through His Son Jesus. It is and has and will always be about Him, not us.

Psalm 132

During times of difficulty or praise, we need to record our prayers, desires, thoughts, and life so we might see God at work in our lives. When trials come, and they will, having a recorded testimony of God’s work in your life along with answered prayers will strengthen you and those around you. What is God writing in your life?

Psalm 132

This is another psalm of ascents and is the longest one. The authorship is unknown. It could have been Davidic (but verses 1, and 10-11 belie this) or Solomonic as a dedication of the newly built Temple. Whoever the author, this is a prayer given which asks God to remember His promises and is in connection with the Ark coming to Jerusalem and with the promise of the building of the Temple. This places the topic of the writing in time with our studies in 1 Chronicles and 2 Samuel (2 Samuel 7.8-16 [see study] and 1 Chronicles 17.11-14 [see our study]). Second Samuel is the Davidic Covenant and 1 Chronicles is the oath by God to build the Temple through David’s son, Solomon.

  • Verses 1-5-Remember David’s oath to build the Temple (see our study on 2 Samuel 5)
  • Verses 6-7-Remember David’s bringing the Ark to Jerusalem (see our study on 1 Chronicles 16). The writer recollects that David heard of the Ark in his youth as seen in the reference to Ephrathah, which is another name for David’s hometown of Bethlehem (Micah 5.2 and Genesis 48.7).
  • Verses 8-10-A prayer for God to remember the Ark and the King. The phrase “Your anointed” could refer both to David’s descendants and his ultimate descendant Jesus Christ, the Anointed One (Messiah).
  • Verses 11-18-A restating of the Davidic Covenant (2 Samuel 7.8-16)

The prayers of verses 8-10 are answered in verses 16-18.

  • Arise, O LORD, to Your resting place, You and the ark of Your strength (8).
    • This is My resting place forever; here I will dwell, for I have desired it (14).
  • Let Your priests be clothed with righteousness (9a).
    • Her priests also I will clothe with salvation (16a).
  • And let Your godly ones sing for joy (9b).
    • And her godly ones will sing aloud for joy (16b).
  • For the sake of David Your servant, do not turn away the face of Your anointed (10).
    • There I will cause the horn of David to spring forth; I have prepared a lamp for Mine anointed. . . . But upon himself his crown shall shine (17, 18b).

During times of difficulty or praise, we need to record our prayers, desires, thoughts, and life so we might see God at work in our lives. When trials come, and they will, having a recorded testimony of God’s work in your life along with answered prayers will strengthen you and those around you. What is God writing in your life?

Psalm 105

When you remember what God has done for and through you, do you trust Him with today and tomorrow? If you state He has done nothing, look again. Begin writing down so you may remember more clearly what the Lord has done.

Psalm 105

This and Psalm 78 are historical psalms that trace the history of Israel in order to teach a current generation about God. As you read through this psalm, attempt to find the eleven commands given to God’s people (“give thanks,” etc.). Historic psalms are good for us to read through as we see that God called His people to remember the good He has done. When we do this, we can trust Him to do good for us in the present and future.

  • 1-6-Call to Praise
  • 7-11-Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
  • 12-22-Joseph
  • 23-38-Exodus
  • 39-41-Wilderness
  • 42-45-Summary of all blessings mentioned and a command to praise God

This psalm was written when David brought the Ark into Jerusalem as an offering of praise to God (see our study on 1 Chronicles 16).

Whereas this psalm stands as a testimony of the good God brought to Israel, Psalm 106 presents the case of how God’s people betrayed Him (see our study).

When you remember what God has done for and through you, do you trust Him with today and tomorrow? If you state He has done nothing, look again. Begin writing down so you may remember more clearly what the Lord has done.

Psalm 101

The question then comes for each of us, what do we strive after as children of God? Have we allowed worthless things to deter us from God? Where do you stand?

Psalm 101

This psalm was written by David at the time the Ark was placed in Jerusalem establishing the city as the political and religious capital of Israel (see our study on 1 Chronicles 16).

A possible outline of Psalm 101: The Ideal King is Pure in Life (1-4) and Pure in Justice (5-8). The only true King that reflected this was Jesus Christ. The character expected of a leader by God is presented in this psalm (Word in Life Study Bible, 1997).

  • To govern wisely, without compromising their integrity.
  • To completely disassociate themselves from wicked schemes and those who promote them.
  • To tolerate no slanderous talk and to dismiss subordinates who even appear to be using privileges to unfair advantage.
  • To surround themselves only with people who are faithful to the Lord.
  • To purge their administrations of deceivers and liars.
  • To root out and destroy wicked people from the land.

Loosely stated, he is to avert his ways from syncretism. David goes so far in saying that he will not set any wicked thing before his eyes (3). The word for wicked happens to be belial (בְּלִיָּעַל) wherein we get the term of a god found in Scripture (Deuteronomy 13.13 and 2 Corinthians 6.15). A worthless thing becomes our god, which is syncretism.

The question then comes for each of us, what do we strive after as children of God? Have we allowed worthless things to deter us from God? Where do you stand?

Psalm 100

These commands are given in the context of praising God as we offer our thanks to Him for what He has done for us (the thank-offering–create a study of offerings for later). These are to be offered on a daily basis, not merely when we enter a church building.

Psalm 100

The psalm is quite like Psalm 23 in its pattern (see our study). This psalm, however, is a call for all God’s people to worship Him with a thank offering. The word translated as “praise” or “thanksgiving” in the superscription can be and has been used by Israel as “thank offering” (תֹודָה).

This chapter commands us to praise God. The word “praise” in verse four is different from the word in the superscription. It is תְהִלָּה.  This noun is used as the title for the book of Psalms in Hebrew. The Psalms are called Tehillim or the Book of Praises. It is a worship book.

To outline this psalm, we have two commands. There is a command to serve (1-3) and a command to praise (4-5). God has given us the ability to serve in the areas He has gifted us in (Ephesians 4.1-16). When comparing this concept with modern psychology, a thought passes through my mind, which will be developed later. Maslow’s hierarchy states that self-actualization is the highest we can achieve. The four lower levels lead to this state. I find that the highest level is equal to service (Mark 10.43-45) and is something we must choose to do. The lower levels are provided by God. So, the only way we can live the life He created us to live is by choosing to serve as He did. What are your thoughts on this?

Each section of the psalm (service and praise) is divided into three separate sections giving commands and reasons to obey the commands. There are commands to make a joyful noise (1), serve the Lord (2), and to come before Him (3) in the first section. The reasons the psalmist gives for obeying these commands are that the one who commands is God, He is Creator, and we are His (3).

The next section commands us to enter God’s presence (His gates), be thankful for what He has done, and bless Him (4, cf. Matthew 5.16). The psalmist gives these reasons for obeying the commands: God is good, merciful, and faithful (5(. The phrase “and His truth” is from the Hebrew word where we get the word “amen.” So be it or it is truth, it will occur is what the word “amen” conveys.

These commands are given in the context of praising God as we offer our thanks to Him for what He has done for us (the thank-offering–create a study of offerings for later). These are to be offered on a daily basis, not merely when we enter a church building.

The praise in verses 1-2 is not just standing and singing but standing and shouting so all in the assembly can hear your praises. We worship Him with our mouths but also with our lives in our service to others as we submit to Him (cf. Ephesians 2.8-10; Colossians 3.17, 23–24). How are you doing today?

Psalm 96

How does your life lead to a celebration of life for God? Even in our dark times, our life should celebrate what He does for us. Who has praised God because of what He has done in your life? He is active. What have you shown or told others about Him?

Psalm 96 (1 Chronicles 16.23-33; see our study)

This psalm does not tell us who wrote it but 1 Chronicles 16 informs us it is David. The account for this is the bringing of the Ark to Jerusalem This is called a royal psalm emphasizing God’s judgment. One commentary states there are “At least seventeen different ways of praising the Lord, given in the form of crisp commands, are found in Psalm 96” (Believer’s Bible Commentary, 1997). If you are able to list them, please comment.

Verses 4-6 describes the Lord as full of beauty and splendor. He is Creator and Sustainer. He is unlike the idols (אֱלִילִים), which by definition are “worthless” (the root of the Hebrew word for idol is worthless [אלל]).

David is calling us to sing a new song, to tell of God’s glory to those around us (1-3). David then celebrates who God is and how great is our God (4-6). David then calls us to great and festive worship of God with our whole life (7-9). David then celebrates who God is in that He will judge righteously (10-13). This psalm is like what Paul does in a few of his writings (Ephesians 3 with verses 20-21 for example). He writes of what God has done then goes into a hymnic praise of Him not by Israel alone but by the whole earth. All the peoples will praise Him.

How does your life lead to a celebration of life for God? Even in our dark times, our life should celebrate what He does for us. Who has praised God because of what He has done in your life? He is active. What have you shown or told others about Him?

For those of you who tried, here is another author’s attempt at finding the commands.

Three times in verses 1–2 we hear the summons, “sing to the LORD”; three times in verses 7–8, “ascribe to the LORD.” In each case further injunctions follow: “bless … tell … declare” in verses 2–3; “bring … come … worship … tremble” in verses 8–9 (Davidson, R. 1998).