Psalms – Page 9 – Old Testament Survey

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).

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).

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.

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.

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).

Psalm 89

Psalm 89 (See Pastor David’s Sermon on Psalm 89.1)

This psalm struggles with the universal problem of God keeping His promises, much like Psalm 73 struggled with the prosperity of the wicked (see our study).

The psalmist, Ethan the Ezrahite, is referring to the Davidic Covenant which we will cover shortly when we cover 2 Samuel 7 (study to come later). He is complaining that God seems to have forgotten (39-47) His promises (1-38). He then prays that God will remember them (48-51) and ends with praise (52).

Even amidst all this doubt, the psalmist is reminded that God is a God who keeps His word (2 Corinthians 1.18–20 and Romans 15.8):

His commitment is incomparable because He is without equal (6)
He is overwhelmingly faithful (8, 24, 33)
The covenant with Him lasts forever (28–29, 36)
His commitment is unbreakable and unalterable (34)

This is how life always played out. We know the promises God has made, we do not see Him keeping them as we presume He should, we shake our fists at Him, then realize that He is God, He is Good, and He will keep His promises as we praise Him. After each section, the psalmist asks us to pause and think through the statements (Selah). When did you last consider the promises of God? If you have doubted whether He keeps them or not, why do you suppose you doubt Him? Have you offered prayers to Him for what He has promised to do, no matter how harsh?

Historical matters

This psalm might have been written when Jehoiachin (comp. verses 38-45 with 2 Chronicles 36.9 and 2 Kings 24.10-16) was king and is the second chapter, so to speak, of Psalm 78 (see our study) where God judged the northern kingdom. Here, it might be an indication of His judgment on the southern kingdom.
Rahab in verse ten does not refer to the ancestor of David but of Egypt (see our study in Psalm 87).

Music

Psalm 68

When looking through this psalm, we need to ask if people see and know who our God is and how great He is.

Psalm 68 (cf. Judges 5–see our study)

This is another psalm written in response to the Ark being moved into Jerusalem (see our study of Psalm 47). Numbers 10.35–36 and 2 Chronicles 6.41–42 (see our study) both describe the words to be said when the Ark is to be moved and laid to rest. It is describing the movement from Obed-edom into Jerusalem with the pomp given it. The psalm calls us to praise the God who cares for the needy with a pause )Selah( for us to ponder whether we do the same.

History unfolds placing the Ark in its proper place with another pause for us to reflect on the God who saves us.

The procession is marked with various peoples participating in the festivities. David then gives two short songs proclaiming God’s deliverance and God’s rule over all the earth.

Paul quotes this verse in Ephesians 4.8.

What is of interest are the varied names God is called in this one psalm. He is called Elohim (1-אֱלֹהִים), Yah (4-יָהּ), Shaddai (14-שַׁדַּי), Yah Elohim (18-יָהּ אֱלֹהִֽים ), Adonai (19-אֲדֹנָי), and Jehovah Adonai (20-יהוִה אֲדֹנָי). El (אֵל) is also found throughout this psalm.

The psalm is neatly outlined this way:

Hymn of praise to God (1–6)
Moving the Ark from Sinai through the wilderness (7-8)
Entrance and conquest of the land of Canaan (9–14)
Capture of Jerusalem by David (15–18)
Praising God for victory over the Jebusites (19–23)
Procession of the ark to the sanctuary in Jerusalem (24–27)
Jubilation in anticipation of the final victory of God (28–35)

When looking through this psalm, we need to ask if people see and know who our God is and how great He is.

Psalm 47

Selah-Pause on these two matters. Is God your victory (1 John 4.4 and 5.4) and is Jesus your King (Philippians 2.9-11)? If so, how do those around you know? Do you clap your hands and sing of who He is?

Psalm 47

This is a Maskil of the Korahites probably sung at the annual New Year celebration or at the festive Feast of Tabernacles.

This psalm has been associated with David’s move of the Ark to Jerusalem in 2 Samuel 6(cf. 1 Chronicles 15). See our study of 2 Samuel.

The psalmist calls us to praise God in verse one, then asks us to pause and consider who this God is in verse four. He then repeats this pattern in verses six and nine. However, he changes from God the Victor to God the Son the King in subject matter. The first is the Father in the past tense and the second is the Son in the prophetic future.

Psalm 24

The question being asked is “Who is the King of Glory?” This is the question all men need to answer. How do you answer it (1 Timothy 6.15 and Philippians 2.9-11)?

Psalm 24 (cf. 1 Corinthians 10.26)

This psalm is reminiscent of Psalm 15 (see our study). It was probably written after 2 Samuel 6 (cf. 1 Chronicles 15) when the Ark of the Covenant was brought into Jerusalem for the first time (see our study).

It can be divided in three parts. The first is a praise for whom God is (1-2, cf. our study on Psalm 19). The second is similar to Psalm 15 which provides the requirements for those who can be in God’s presence (3-6). The third is written as a processional antiphony (7-10), where the leader speaks and the congregation responds. The question being asked is “Who is the King of Glory?” This is the question all men need to answer. How do you answer it (1 Timothy 6.15 and Philippians 2.9-11)?

Take a moment to worship God in the context of music. Verse four of this chapter presents a deep thought. “Give us Clean Hands” is a prayer based on this verse. Give it a listen.

Psalm 23

The key to this psalm is the first verse and is found in the pronoun “my.” If this is not true of you, then this psalm is not a psalm that you can cling to for it is only for those who call to God as Savior, Shepherd.

Psalm 23

For all the beauty and splendor of this psalm, it is a psalm reminding us that God meets our needs (cf. Philippians 4.19 and Psalm 37.25). These would include meeting the needs of our entire being. He meets my safety and physical needs as-well-as my need for belonging, love, and meaning. He guides me (2-3), He protects me (4), He is with me (4), His loving-kindness is known to me (6), and He gives me victory (5) with purpose (6). The one thing that is not given me that I have to choose is to serve others the same way He has served me (Mark 10.43-45).

The question to answer is this: Whom am I shepherding toward Christ today?

Many authors have poured over these verses and waxed eloquently (i.e., Max Lucado Traveling Light or Philip Keller A Shepherds Look at Psalm 23). I refer the reader to books such as these to explore the depths of this chapter.