Psalms – Page 13 – Old Testament Survey

Psalm 6

The circumstances for the writing of this psalm are unknown. It appears that David is sick and feels he is about to die. In this state he writes this penitential psalm (Psalms 6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, and 143). When seeking to confess sins, these are great psalms to read as part of confession when asking God to restore our fellowship with Him (1 John 1.9).

Psalm 6

Verses 1-3-David feels as though his bones are melting away within him (Psalm 32) or are broken in pieces (Psalm 51). When we are not feeling well, both physically and spiritually, we feel like this. This call for healing his bones is actually a call for forgiveness. David sounds like he is depressed because of the attacks of his family, friends, and enemies. David is also depressed due to his sin. What does depression do to us?

Verses 4-5-David calls to God to heal him because of the praise that would be given Him and because of His goodness, His loving-kindness (Psalm 88.10-12 and Isaiah 38.18).

Verses 6-7-David weeps over his illness just as Job did (Job 17.7).

Verses 8-10-After the tears come praises.

Think about this Psalm. David is in grief. He presents his petition to God. He then turns to praising God. This is how it should be. Is it how it is with you?

Psalm 130

This Psalm takes us from the depths of our sins to the forgiveness of our sins. The only hope for such forgiveness is looking to the only hope for forgiveness and that is Christ alone. Have you done this?

Psalm 130

Another Song of Ascents.

Verses 1-2-This cry is found in all of us (Lamentations 3.55). We desire God to hear us in our pain. We even expect Him to hear us in our sin and desire Him to deliver us. And, we expect Him to answer.

Verses 3-4-He is asking God to forgive him of his sins (1 Kings 8.39-40; Daniel 9.9; and Jeremiah 33.8-9). We are to proclaim His holiness in our forgiveness.

Verses 5-6-Do you wait on the Lord (Psalm 103)? When we do, we are watchful for what He does. The Psalmist is sitting in the dark awaiting the morning. Sin does that to a person.

Verses 7-8-This is a call for all the nation to come to God in repentance.

Psalm 129

When God allows us to be plowed by those around us, how do we react? We can react negatively and not see His hand in it and become bitter or angry. We can see His hand at work and still complain with bitterness and whining. We can see His hand at work and seek to understand what the ultimate purpose is and how we might glorify Him in the midst of it all. Which do you choose?

Psalm 129

Another Song of Ascents.

Verses 1-4-The Psalmist is letting us know what the nation has gone through in their existence (since their youth when they were birthed at the exodus). They have been beaten, whipped, broke, and attacked. Yet, in all this, they have not been conquered (2 Corinthians 4.8-9 and Matthew 16.18).

Verses 5-8-These verses represent the malediction on those who decide not to follow God’s ways. Essentially, the curse is on those who are doing the persecuting in verses 1-4.

Psalm 128

Verses 1-2-Moses reminds us of these truths in Deuteronomy 4.40. When we follow God’s Word, He blesses us with His presence.

Psalm 128

Another Song of Ascents.

Verses 1-2-Moses reminds us of these truths in Deuteronomy 4.40. When we follow God’s Word, He blesses us with His presence.

Verses 3-4-The Scriptures present blessings in terms of children due to its agrarian society. The Psalmist promises blessings from God when His Word is kept.

Verses 5-6-In developing this word picture, the Psalmist continues the blessings through the generations. When God’s Word is followed, His blessings follow.

This Psalm basically reminds us that true joy only comes with holiness. How are you doing? What did you do today that showed the people in your sphere of influence that you are set apart (holy) for God’s purpose?

This Psalm also presents the need to plan ahead. We live for the Lord today and plan to live for Him with our great-grandchildren. How wisely are you planning for today and all your tomorrows?

Psalm 125

Verses 1-2-Our lives need to be built on the rock of God (Matthew 7.25).

Psalm 125

Another Song of Ascents.

Verses 1-2-Our lives need to be built on the rock of God (Matthew 7.25).

Verse 3-The psalmist reminds us that the rule of the evil are temporary and asks us to remember the rule of God is eternal.

Verse 5-There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to destruction (Proverbs 14.12). God will lead the crooked on their own crooked path. He gives them the desires of their heart.

When we follow what God has called us to do, He will remove the evil and the evildoers from the land. The question remains: “Why is evil still in the land?” What should believers do? What should you do?

Psalm 124

This psalm is reminiscent of Romans 8.31, if God is for us, then who can stand against us?

Psalm 124

A Song of Ascents

This psalm is reminiscent of Romans 8.31, if God is for us, then who can stand against us?

Verses 1-5-If God is for us, then nothing can stand against us. The “if” of verse one is answered with the “then” of verses 3-5.

Verses 6-7-God protects us.

Verse 8-God, who created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1.1) is the only source of help for us. All other help will pale in comparison.

When God helps us, do we praise Him? When we sense the world devouring us (verses 1-3), the situations we place ourselves drown us (verses 4-5), and Satan deceives us (verses 6-8), where do we look?

Psalm 123

Verses 1-2-Psalm 11.4 reminds us that God sees and trains His eyes on us. It is good, then, for us to train our eyes on Him. This has been illustrated in these studies (for example, Saul and Goliath), when we take our eyes off of God we tend to fail.

Psalm 123

This is another Song of Ascents.

Verses 3-4-The only source of mercy is from God, as we come to His House to worship Him corporately, we need to receive that mercy.

Where do we look for help? Jesus (John 17.1) and Stephen (Acts 7.55) both looked to God above during times of persecution. Where do we look for discipleship? It needs to be from God and the people He places in our lives. Who is in your life guiding you through this world, showing God’s mercy and living His example?

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).

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.