Galatians – Old Testament Survey

Psalm 71

Davidson reminds us of the two concepts whose refrain occurs throughout this psalm. David mentions righteousness five times (1, 15, 16, 19, and 24). God is true to Himself and is always working to make right that which is wrong. David then presents the concept of praise or thanks at least six times (6, 8, 14, 22, and 23). This indicates that as we focus on whom God is He produces joy in our lives (Galatians 5.22-23).

Psalm 71

Although this psalm has no superscription, the writing style is that of David. Reflected in this psalm are Psalm 22, 31, 35, 36, and 40. The references are

Verses 1-3 are in Psalm 31.1-3
Verses 5-7 are in Psalm 22.9-10
Verse 12 is in Psalm 22.11, 19
Verse 13 is in Psalm 35.4, 26
Verse 15 is in Psalm 40.5
Verse 19 is in Psalm 36.6

This is an older David looking back on his life and remembering the goodness of God. It is evident that David has Scripture memorized as you read through this psalm. This gives him strength to carry on with his daily grind.

Verses 1-3-The imagery of God stooping down to care for His people is an amazing picture of what God does for us. The New Testament shows He stooped down so far that He stepped down to earth. Our trust is placed in the God whose desire it is to save, protect, and help us. David is merely praying back what he knows God already does. He is asking the God whom he trusts to do what the God whom He trusts already does and is already. What confidence we have in our prayers when we speak with God about what He already is working on in our lives (1 John 5.14-15). Knowing this, we will never be put to shame when we rely on our God. Do not miss verse two. David is asking not only for his protection but also for the glory of God’s character to be greatly shown in the circumstances. Later, David proclaims God’s righteousness (15, 16, 19, and 24).
Verses 4-6-This begins David’s petition for deliverance based on God’s character and his relationship with Him. David has trusted God from his youth, remembers the lions and bears. David will not stop trusting in this trustworthy God.
Verses 7-11-David’s outlook on his circumstances is one of praise. Although many look at him and mock him as an example of God’s discipline, he rejoices that God does discipline him. For discipline by God only comes to His children (Hebrews 12.4-13).
Verses 12-13-David offers his prayers of deliverance for those who oppress him.
Verses 14-15-David realizes that all his praises would never be enough to cover all the graces God has given him. When it is time to praise God, do you run out of things to praise Him for? If so, you need to ask Him to forgive you and to enlighten you to the manifold graces He does give you.
Verses 16-18-As David looks at life from his youth to his old age (17-21), he only can see the faithfulness of God. Although he is old, he sees no reason to stop praising God.
Verses 19-21-Those who have grown old in the Lord know that troubles are tools used by God to produce the character of His Son in us (Romans 5.3-5).
Verses 22-24-David opens and closes this psalm with “shame.” He had it in verse one and now ascribes it to those who caused his shame. All day long David praises God. Do you?

Psalm 38

Have you examined your heart today? Do you suffer? Is it from sin? If not, what is God doing in and through you for His glory?

Psalm 38

Although this psalm has twenty-two verses, it is not an acrostic like Psalm 37 (see our study yet to come). The inscription tells us David wrote this psalm. Many argue with this because the biblical account does not contain a sickness of David like this. This thought implies that everything that happened to David was written in the Bible, which is absurd. The inscription also states that this psalm is for the memorial offering (NRSV), which implies it is used as part of the service. The NASB does not include the word “offering,” which would mean it is used to remember what has happened and to learn from it (Psalm 70 contains the same inscription). It is also the third in the penitential type psalms. These are written for our benefit that we may know how to pray in repentance and in hope due to our sin. This psalm is normally read in higher churches on Ash Wednesday in preparation for the time of Easter. Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent.

This psalm is reminiscent of the book of Job wherein Job suffers, though not due to sin, and is mistreated by his friends, then turns to his only Hope, God. Verses 9, 15, and 21 gives us this hope too. In spite of our sin, we can still pursue God but only in repentance will He be found (see the story of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15.11-31).

Verse 1-David opens in prayer asking God to remove His anger from him.
Verses 2-10-The usage of arrows throughout Scripture is of interest. This metaphor is used to show God’s discipline for His children and judgment on those who are not His children. If a study is desire, please post a request. These verses describe in detail what David was suffering physically. David’s body was filled with disease, there is no soundness in his flesh, his bones ache, his body agonized with a sense of burning, his heart palpitated, his strength and sight were failing.
Verses 11-20-These verses describe in detail what David was suffering mentally due to his sin and by those around him. Instead of doing what God has called them to do, restore one who is repentant (Galatians 6.1), this community was attacking David (16).
Verses 21-22-David ends this psalm with a plea to God not to deliver him from his suffering but to be with him through it all.

Have you examined your heart today? Do you suffer? Is it from sin? If not, what is God doing in and through you for His glory?

Suffering

David sees what is happening to him as judgment from God due to his sins (18). We see this association in Psalm 51 and 32 as-well (see our study of Psalm 51 and Psalm 32). This can be the case (cf. 1 Corinthians 11.30-32 and Hebrews 12.5-11). But it is not always the case as Jesus presents in John 9.3 and 11.4. In both these incidents, the man born blind and the death of Lazarus, Jesus proclaims the sole purpose was to glorify God. This implies that we cannot determine the reason a person is suffering, unless they inform us that they are trapped in sin and are suffering for it. We can only determine why we are suffering. If we are in sin, our suffering may be due to that; if we are not bound by sin, we need to examine our heart to see if that is a truth. Whether it is due to sin or due to other factors, we must always give God glory for it. So that, in all circumstances, He might receive the praise and glory.

If further discussion on the topic of suffering is desired, please post.

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.

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)

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:

a house—a continued posterity of the royal line
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).
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 106

In each case of the remembering, Moses or another leader pleads on behalf of the people for God to forgive them. They stand in the gap for those who have rebelled (Ezekiel 22.30). We are called to do the same thing (Galatians 6.1-3 and Matthew 18.15-17).

Psalm 106

This is considered the first of the Hallelujah Psalms because it begins and ends with hallelujah (הלליה), which is “Praise the Lord.”

The key to this passage and the other historical psalms is to remember. In Psalm 105, remember because of the great things God has done; in Psalm 106, it is remembering that bad things we have done and turn from them. This psalm is a rehearsal of those things Israel did in rebellion to the good things God had done for them. Before we start pointing the finger, we need to remember that we do the same today. Think of God’s grace and forgiveness; then, ponder the things that we have done that abuse that grace and forgiveness. Paul summed it up in Romans 6 with an emphasis on our not sinning because of God’s grace.

Verses 1-3-The psalmist begins with praise and will end with praise as-well. He is calling us to observe what we have done and to pursue justice instead.

Verses 4-5-These verses are likened to Luke 23.42 where the repentant thief asks Jesus to remember him when He enters His kingdom.

Now we arrive at the reason for the repentance and petition.

Remember

Verse 6-He wants us to remember that we are as capable of committing these sins as those who actually committed them.
Verses 7-12-Red Sea Rebellion (Exodus 14)
Verses 13-15-Complaints in the Desert (Numbers 11)-They forgot; they did not remember.
Verses 16-18-Dathan and Abiram, the Rebels (Numbers 16)
Verses 19-23-The Golden Calf (Exodus 32)
Verses 24-27-The Evil Report of the Spies (Numbers 13-14)
Verses 28-31-Sin with People of Moab (Numbers 25)
Verses 32-33-Trouble at Meribah (Numbers 20.1-13)
Verses 34-39-In Canaan—Nothing Ever Changes (see the studies on the book of Joshua)
Verses 40-46-The Times of the Judges (see the studies on the book of Judges)

Verse 47-This is a call to national repentance and a call to give God the glory due His name.

Verse 48-This doxology is what began the psalm. Whatever our lot in life, we need to remember to praise the Lord.

1 Samuel 28.3-25

Today we are going to look at an unpopular passage in the Bible. Many people today look at their horoscope, conduct seances (Isaiah 8.19), play with an Ouija board, and things like that thinking it is okay to do. First Samuel 28.3-25 and Deuteronomy 18.9-14 informs us that God looks on such things as from the devil. The judgment for people who practice these things is death (Exodus 22.18 and Leviticus 20.27). Moreover, this also was a cause of Saul’s own death (1 Chronicles 10.13). Sorcery is listed in Galatians 5.20 as a fruit of the flesh, which must be rejected. In the book of Acts, Peter and Paul (Acts 8.9-13 and 13.6-12) reject sorcerers. As mentioned above, even seemingly innocent games that are associated with the occult can open the door to serious problems.

Saul has really gone downhill by now. He is a few chapters away from dying and he is getting desperate for help. Verse three reminds us what had happened in 1 Samuel 25.1, which was Samuel’s death. This incident caused David to flee to the wilderness and left Saul without any counsel. He did well in that he expelled from Israel all the mediums and wizards.

Saul had been pursuing David for so long, it seems as though he forgot the real enemy in the Philistines. When the Philistines encamped against him, Saul had nowhere to turn. Samuel was gone, David was living with the Philistines, and God would not speak to Saul even through the prophets. Since God had left him to his own devices, God did not answer Saul’s prayers (Proverbs 1.20–33). However, one of his servants told him of a medium who did not leave the country and was still living in Endor (think Samaria). Why does he have someone in his house that knows of this medium and who has not informed Saul earlier so he might expel her too? We all have these remnants in our houses. What sin is it that you continue to commit and refuse to expel?

Saul sought her out, deceived her, and sinned. The medium was asked by Saul to conjure Samuel. Something in the text makes us wonder if she was ever really able to contact anyone because of her reaction when Samuel actually appeared. All in attendance were afraid.

Saul is reminded of the consequences of his earlier sin of disobeying God, which is the removal of the kingly line from his house to David’s house and Saul’s death. It becomes a reality in this chapter when Samuel tells Saul that Saul with die before the next day is over. We need to understand that we will face the consequences of our sins even as Christians. We will not face the ultimate consequence of eternal damnation but will face the immediate consequences. Saul’s kingdom was removed. What area of your life has been affected because of your sin? Has an area where you once dominated left? Could it be from sin? Saul lived in fear. What area of your life are you fearful? Could it be from sin? God no longer spoke to Saul. When we sin, God will not be in fellowship with us. Do you need to repent of sin to restore your fellowship with God?

Saul’s health fell into question in this chapter too. He was weak due to the news he received and due to his sin. He was also weak due to not eating or sleeping properly. How are you doing with your nutrition and sleep? God created us in such a way that we will make bad decisions if we do not follow His Word and follow the needs He created in us. We are meant to eat and rest to ensure our health. How are you doing?

1 Samuel 18-19

A review of the regression of Saul seems appropriate here. He is chosen by God as a result of the disobedience of the people (1 Samuel 10, cf. Jeremiah 2 particularly verse 13 and Isaiah 50).

A review of the regression of Saul seems appropriate here. He is chosen by God as a result of the disobedience of the people (1 Samuel 10, cf. Jeremiah 2 particularly verse 13 and Isaiah 50). He receives the Holy Spirit temporarily. Remember that this is an Old Testament phenomenon. In the New Testament the Holy Spirit permanently indwells believers. After his willful rebellion against God, God replaces him with David (1 Samuel 16.13-14). The Spirit is removed from Saul and placed on David. This sets the stage for all that is to come through the rest of 1 Samuel. Our passage today begins in this milieu. David and Jonathan become great friends. Saul seems pleased with all that is occurring. The three of them battle the Philistines and are victorious. The people proclaim God’s work in and through both Saul and David. Saul becomes enraged, jealous, and seeks to kill David from that moment. He does not see God’s work but his. This returns us to the opening verses of 1 Samuel 17 where Saul is focused on himself, not God. When we focus on what we are doing and not on what God is doing, envy, jealousy, strife, anger, rage, etc. (Galatians 5.16-26) become our “fruit.” This is what happened with Saul.

God gives us over to our desires. Since Saul desired to disobey God and not walk in the Spirit, God gave him a spirit that was likened to his desires–an evil one. It is evidence here that Saul has gone crazy. The rest of his career is characterized by vengeance and violence against one who seeks Saul’s best. The remainder of Saul’s life is in pursuit of killing the one who refuses to kill him. What primary goal do you have in life? Is it pursuing your passions or God’s will? When we pursue our desires apart from God, we live insanely (reread Galatians 5.16ff). When we follow God’s will, we are blessed with the life we desire because we are in alignment with His will for us (Matthew 6.33 and 16.24-26).

We see Saul desiring to be part of David’s life in that he admired David’s accomplishments. But his desire to be number one consumed him and he demoted the one who was able to help him. Even in this demoted state, David grew in popularity, was successful, and even Saul stood in awe of him because David was walking in the power of the Holy Spirit.

This motif continues throughout this chapter and the rest of the book. Saul tries to defeat David with many snares, David is victorious, and Saul gets angrier. At times, although sad, it is comical. Think about someone you know that became angry and then began to act foolishly. This is Saul.

He thinks if he can trick David into wanting to marry any daughter of his that David will die by the hand of the Philistines. His logic, “I don’t want David as a son-in-law, but if I can get him to want to marry my daughter he will have to pay a dowry. He won’t be able to afford it. So, I will make it the death of one-hundred Philistines. He will die in the battle. My daughter won’t have to marry him because he will be dead.” Foolish. If God is for us, who can be against us? No one! His planned failed, of course. David defeated the Philistines, his daughter Michal loved David, David became more famous, and Saul’s anger grew.
To make matters worse, Saul’s son Jonathan became David’s best friend. Jonathan even knew that David would take the throne from him. Jonathan was joyful about his because he knew this was God’s will. He didn’t think that because he was a prince that he had a right to the throne, it was in God’s hand. This is in line with what Christ did for us in Philippians 2.5-11.

In chapter 19 Saul’s family intercedes for David and helps him escape from the evil Saul planned for David. David flees to Ramah (just north of Jerusalem) to spend time with Samuel. This is where David begins his career fleeing for his life from the hand of Saul. The end of chapter 19 is odd and gives evidence of the Spirit coming and going while not permanently indwelling in the Old Testament.

Are we willing to stand for God no matter the cost like David, Jonathan, and Michal? Or, like Saul, do we try to sway the situation in our favor where people will like us and applaud us? What is the measure of your success?