Thoughts on the Old Testament
Verses 1-2-We made it! There is joy, laughter, delight found in these verses.
Verses 3-5-Jerusalem is wonderful because God dwelt there
Verses 6-9-Jerusalem needs our prayers
Is this how we are on Sunday? I want to go to church. It is a great place to be because God is present. Let us continue to pray that God will actively be at work here.
Is it also a command we take literally, to pray that God’s peace will abide in Jerusalem? Where do you stand on this matter?
When you take time to pray today, to whom do you pray? Is it more of an expression of orry or of trust? Do you believe the God who commands us to pray, hears us pray, and eeks to answers those prayers? This is the God of this psalm and of the Scriptures. Pray ccording to His Word, believe He hears, and expect Him to answer.
This psalm is worthy of using as a model prayer for the believer. It offers us insight into the prayers of David, the character of David, the nature and character of God, and it makes you think more of God than you have ever thought of Him before.
There are fourteen times in these seventeen verses that David makes a plea to God. He calls God his master (אֲדֹנָי, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 12, 15) and David calls God the covenant God (יְֽהוָה 1, 6, 11, 17). In each case his prayer reflects that relationship with God. He is a humble servant bowing before his awesome Lord and mighty God.
One other note of interest is the preposition “for.” It is used throughout this psalm as an introduction to the topics of prayer (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 10, 13). David needs God’s attention, as do we, because he is poor and needy, he is devoted to God, he is confident in his master who forgives, is great, does wonderful works, and who loves with an everlasting love. David understood this concept of prayer and we need to cling to it too. Why bother praying if the God you serve is not powerful, capable, and willing to answer? The difference between prayer and worry is this: When you worry you talk to yourself, when you pray you talk to Someone who can do something about it.
When you take time to pray today, to whom do you pray? Is it more of an expression of worry or of trust? Do you believe the God who commands us to pray, hears us pray, and seeks to answers those prayers? This is the God of this psalm and of the Scriptures. Pray according to His Word, believe He hears, and expect Him to answer.
Peter and Judas. David and Saul. Which one of the pairs are you? Judas and Saul were upset and saddened by their sin. Peter and David were repentant and saddened. They knew to whom to turn. They had hope. The former were without hope and God in this world (Ephesians 2.11-13).
Psalm 51 (See our study on Psalm 32 and 2 Samuel 12)
David is living in light of Psalm 32.3-4 when Nathan the prophet walks into the palace. He confronts the man and David is released from the stronghold of sin as he works through the concept of this psalm.
Verses1-4-David doesn’t address God as the covenant God of Israel, Jehovah (יְֽהוָה), in this psalm. He addresses Him as the creator God, Elohim (אֱלֹהִים), or Lord (אֲדֹנָי) because of his unworthiness to regard himself as one of God’s own. David basis his forgiveness solely on whom God is not what David had done. This is the first step. David is contrite, remorseful over his sin. The second step is the confession of sin. It is admitting to God what He already knows and agreeing with Him that you are wrong. The third step is to admit you have nothing in yourself to deal with your sin; you need God.
As David stated, our sin is against God and Him alone. However, the consequences go far beyond and reaches to those we love. It hurts us. As describe in Psalm 32 and in this psalm, sin affects our bodies. David’s eyes, mind, ears, heart, spirit, and mouth were affected in the physical realm. David’s fellowship and joy with the Lord were affected in the spiritual realm. Sin hurts those we are to love. Tragedy strikes families (see 2 Samuel 11 and 2 Samuel 12 for our study on this).
Verses 5-12-David confesses that not only does he have a desire for sin but that he was born that was as is all humanity. Once he acknowledges this, David begins a progression in his prayer. He asks God to purge him, remove his defilement. He asks God to wash him, to cleanse him deeply. He asks God to let the bone He broke through discipline dance again. [I will link my sermon series on Dancing with Broken Bones at a later date.] He asks God to make him experience the joys of answered prayer. He asks God to not treat him according to His sins but to hide His face from them. He asks God to create in him a clean heart. This prayer is ultimately answered in Christ. As Christians, we have been given a new heart in Jesus. He asks God not to cast him away from His presence. He asks God not to take His Holy Spirit from him. This is a cry from the Old Testament as is evidenced with the Spirit of God left Saul that should not be on the lips of the saints in the New Testament. [If you desire more on this topic, let me know.] He asks God to restore to him the joy that can only be found in salvation. And lastly, David asks God to keep him from falling again.
13-17-David declares that he will live a life in which others will see and hear of God. Throughout this psalm David proclaims it is not what we can give but our humility before God. God delights in our coming to the Creator of the universe and learning from Him how to live the life for which we were created.
18-19-Praying for self to praying for the nation. Both are important and necessary for us to live the life God created for us to live.
Peter and Judas. David and Saul. Which one of the pairs are you? Judas and Saul were upset and saddened by their sin. Peter and David were repentant and saddened. They knew to whom to turn. They had hope. The former were without hope and God in this world (Ephesians 2.11-13).
Sin is complicated, but goodness is simple.
As in Psalm 32, there are basically three or four words that comprise the sin committed by David. The three mentioned in this psalm are the first of the four mentioned in Psalm 32. This is why David had to cry out to God for Him to have mercy on him.
Complete cleansing and forgiveness are found in these verses too. Transgression is removed. Sin is covered, iniquity is not counted against, and deceit is no longer found. In Christ these are ours.
Tired. Aching. Hurting. Exhausted. Fatigued. Undernourished. Roaring in misery and anguish. Sounds like a third world country. For a Christian it is, it is a place we should not be found. It is in a state of being disciplined by God for sins committed. This is David’s description of himself as he was being disciplined by God for his sin with Bathsheba (see our study of 2 Samuel 11). This psalm was written after Psalm 51 (see our study) more as a reflection of what had happened to him after his sin and before the arrival of Nathan (see our study of 2 Samuel 12). It is a maskil used to relive a teachable moment for many to understand. Amazingly, this private psalm is sung as part of the services of the synagogue during the Day of Atonement services.
Psalm 32 is reflective of what God has done and Psalm 51 appears to be written in the struggle.
Various outlines can be made from this psalm. An example would be to divide it in six equal parts (1-2, 3-4, 5, 6-7, 8-9, and 10-11).
It could also be divided by the pauses (Selah): 1-4, 5, 6-7, and 8-11.
Selah-Do you believe your sins are forgiven? Why? On what basis are they?
Selah-Ask the Holy Spirit to convict you of your sin and of God’s righteousness (John 16.5-15).
Selah-When you do wrong, do you run to God or away from Him? He is your only source of hope.
[more will be discussed on sin/forgiveness/relationship/fellowship in later posts if requested]
Definitions
David uses four words for sin in the first two verses alone: transgression, sin, iniquity, and deceit. These words provide insight into different shades of rebellion against God.
Complete cleansing and forgiveness are found in these verses too. Transgression is removed. Sin is covered, iniquity is not counted against, and deceit is no longer found. In Christ these are ours.
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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:
This psalm of five verses contains many requests by David to God.
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.
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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?
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:
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.
Another view of the same outline:
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?
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).
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.
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:
All this in seven verses.
What is your story?
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:
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?
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Have you given God the praise and worship due Him today?
An outline of the psalm
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.
David directs us to give to God the glory due to his power, goodness, and grace given to all people everywhere.
Have you given God the praise and worship due Him today?
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.
