Matthew – Old Testament Survey

1 Kings 4

Verses 1-6 are a listing of Solomon’s administrators.

A major sin of Solomon is found in verse six. He uses forced labor, not only from conquered countries but from Israel. We will discuss this at length when we cover 1 Kings 5.13-14 (see our study).

The Word in Life Study Bible (1997) created the following chart

Name	Position	Responsibilities
Azariah the son of Zadok	High priest	Oversaw worship and religious rituals, representing the people to God.
Elihoreph and Ahijah, the sons of Shisha	Scribes	Similar to secretaries of state or chancellors (1 Kings 4.22–23; 11.3).
Adoniram the son of Abda	Manager of the labor force	Oversaw Solomon’s numerous construction projects (1 Kings 5.13; 7.1–8; 9.15–19).
Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud	Recorder	Maintained written historical records of the king’s business and decisions.
Benaiah the son of Jehoiada (see 1 Kings 2.29)	Military commander	Oversaw the nation’s defenses, including its storage and chariot cities; led the army in military engagements; handled royal police matters (for example, 1 Kings 2.28–35).
Zadok and Abiathar	Priests	Oversaw religious matters and served as custodians of the Law.
Azariah the son of Nathan	General	Carried out the military orders of Solomon and Benaiah.
Zabud the son of Nathan	Personal confidant	Consulted with the king on personal matters.
Ahishar	Manager of Solomon’s household	Oversaw the palace complex and the needs of Solomon’s extensive court (1 Kings 4.22–23; 11.3).
Adoniram the son of Abda	Manager of the labor force	Oversaw Solomon’s numerous construction projects (1 Kings 5.13; 7.1–8; 9.15–19).

Verses 7-19 are a listing of Solomon’s governors.

In both of these, Solomon realized that he was unable to do all things, so he created a leadership team that would support him. The twelve division of governors are displayed in the map of the growth of Israel under Solomon and his reapportioning of Israel.

Verses 20-21 are added to signify the era of peace and prosperity that God introduced through Solomon. It is also given to provide a word of fulfillment of God’s word to Abraham. That word, from Genesis 22.17, states that the descendants of Abraham would be as numerous as the grains of sand on the shore. The borders stretching to Egypt was also a prophecy and a promise given to Abraham in Genesis 15.18.
Verses 22-28 depict his kingdom, wealth, and military. As for his horsemen, read Deuteronomy 17.16. Verse 24 describes the zenith of Solomon’s reign.
Verses 29-34 display the worldwide fame Solomon and wisdom. He wrote most of the Proverbs. His songs are contained in Psalm 72 andPsalm 127 along with the Song of Solomon. He also wrote the lyrical book of Ecclesiastes. His name became synonymous with wisdom (Matthew 12.42).

The four names that appear here are listed as descendants of Judah in 1 Chronicles 2.6, and two of the men, Ethan and Heman, appear in the superscriptions of Psalm 88 and Psalm 89.

Psalm 94

Reflect on the state of the United States in light of this psalm. What is next? How long? This psalm is a cold, hard reminder to the truth that it does not matter what you believe if you are not willing to defend it, proclaim, and live it. If we are not willing to do these tasks, how can we say we love Him?

Psalm 94 (Cf. Psalm 73)

This psalm is considered to be written by David as an explanation of the theological issues of Psalm 1 (Read the sermon on Psalm 1). Many have difficulty reading this psalm due to the attributes of God it presents. A. W. Pink writes:

It is sad to find so many professing Christians who appear to regard the wrath of God as something for which they need to make an apology, or at least they wish there were no such thing … Others harbor the delusion that God’s wrath is not consistent with His goodness, and so seek to banish it from their thoughts. … But God is not ashamed to make it known that vengeance and fury belong to Him … The wrath of God is as much a Divine perfection as His faithfulness, power or mercy … The very nature of God makes Hell as real a necessity as Heaven is (The Attributes of God, 1975, p 75).

See our discussions on this subject as seen in Psalm 58 and in Psalm 109.

Verses 1-7-David asks the question as to how long God will allow those who practice injustice to continue in their ways. They act as though God does not see what is happening. Worse, they think He does not care about what happens to the widows and the orphans. The answer is in God’s timing. Deuteronomy 32.35 and Romans 12.19 present the case that recompense is God’s prerogative not man’s occupation. With this, God promises to make the wrong right in His timing. An apt description of them is found in Psalm 10. Verse seven presents the unjust rulers as Israelites and not a foreign power. Foreign powers believed their god would be stronger than the God of Israel. The phrase “God of Jacob” would only be found on the lips of the Jewish rulers. This makes the atrocities worse. They knew the right thing to do but refused to do it for sake of gain.
Verses 8-11-David answers those who say God does not know, see, or care. He is omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent, and just. The logic of verse ten is telling the Israelites who are guilty of these transgressions that God does judge and He will judge them. This is the same argument that Paul uses in Romans 2-3. Listen to our sermons on Romans 2-3.
Verses 12-19-David asks, like he asked in 1 Samuel 17, who will arise as the champion to stand in the gap for those oppressed? The world today has need of men like Martin Luther who stated rather somberly: “Here I take my stand; I cannot do otherwise: May God be my help! Amen.” For our society to be restored to any sense of civility, we need people to stand for what they know is true. David shows that our sense of whom God is determines our desire to stand for Him and what He values. Have we lost the sense of the reality of our God? Do we believe as did David, and Paul in 2 Corinthians 12.9-10, that when we are weak He becomes our strength? Or do we attempt to stand for Him in our own might. Paul had something to say on this subject too. Read 1 Corinthians 16.13, Ephesians 6.10-20, Philippians 4.1-9, 1 Thessalonians 3.6-8, 2 Thessalonians 2.13-15, and 1 Peter 5.12. In these passages Paul and Peter command us to stand firm in the Lord, in our faith, in His Word, not in ourselves.

As we grow older, life does not come easier except that our faith in God grows through our Bible studies, our prayers, our memorizing His Word, and our fellowship with Him and others. This is what John was describing throughout the book of 1 John and specifically in 1 John 1.1-4 and 1 John 2.12-14.

These verses show us eight blessings for following God:

God disciplines
God instructs
God develops faith over time
God will never forsake His own
God judges with righteousness
God helps defend His own against evil
God upholds when His own are in danger of falling
God comforts the soul of those who are His

Verses 20-23-God tells us there is no fellowship between light and darkness in 1 Corinthians 6.14-16. Here, David, reminds us of this same truth. God cannot have fellowship with evil. God is the one who will expose the unrighteous deeds of those outside of Him. We are to let our light so shine before men that they have to proclaim the goodness of God, which is what Jesus taught us in Matthew 5.13-16. Look closely at verse 21. Does this sound like the abortion laws coming into full effect? Who will stand up for what is right? Not violently, for vengeance is the Lord’s, but in votes, in teachings, in practice?

I normally do not place large quotes from commentaries in my writings, yet this is the second one in this post. This quote is taken from Word in Life Study Bible (1997):

Have you ever felt frustrated by problems in society that just seem to go on and on? Perhaps you’ve lamented, “Why doesn’t someone do something? Why don’t things ever change?”

The composer of Psalm 94 appears to have felt that way. Looking around at the injustices of society, the writer cried out to God, the righteous Judge, to do something, yet also wondered how long wickedness would continue (Ps. 94:1–3). This psalmist’s frustration compares with an urban pastor who appeared in housing court one day, where many of his poor parishioners were having their cases decided. The minister sat for hours, witnessing one case after another. In every verdict, the judge was siding with the rich and powerful, even when the facts seemed to overwhelmingly favor the poor.

Finally the pastor could take no more of what he saw as blatant injustice. Shaking with outrage, he leaped to his feet and cried, “Your Honor, if it please the court, I have a question.”

The judge stopped his proceedings and acknowledged the pastor. “Yes, Reverend, what is it?”

“Your Honor, I’ve been watching all day long as case after case after case has gone against these poor people. Where is the justice in this court?”

Immediately the judge replied, “Reverend, you don’t understand. This is not a court of justice. This is a court of law. If you want justice, go change the law.”

The judge’s point is well taken. When evil triumphs in society, or when justice is not served, it could be the result of an imperfect system or institution “which devises evil by law” (94:20). In such cases, things will change if the righteous engage in reforming the system, with God’s help.

Sometimes the real question is not Why don’t things change? but Why don’t believers change things?

Psalm 118

As you go through your day, realize that God made this day for you to bring Him glory nothing more, there is nothing more, and nothing less, why settle for less.

Psalm 118

The sixth of the Hallel Psalms

As can be seen in the MacDonald post on Psalm 118, this psalm was recited in a processional as the worshipers were entering the Temple. It is also a Messianic Psalm in that verse twenty-two is used by and of Christ in Matthew 21.42-46, Acts 4.10-12, Ephesians 2.19-20, and 1 Peter 2.7. Verse twenty-six is called out by the crowds regarding Jesus, labeling Him as the Messiah, in Matthew 21.9 and by Jesus in Matthew 23.39. Verse twenty-seven is also used by and of Jesus as well in John 9.5 and 1 Peter 3.18. Verses 19-21 point out the gate of righteousness and Jesus describes Himself as the Gate to salvation, or being made righteous, in John 10.9.

The three groups of worshipers mentioned in verses 2-4 are the three groups of worshipers in the world. Israel, those born Jews, Aaronites, those born as priests in the group of the Jews, and those who fear the Lord, Gentiles–the rest of the world. It would not include those who reject the possibility of God for they are not worshipers.

Because this is the final Hallel Psalm, Jesus would have sung this as He and the disciples left the Upper Room in John 14.31. Do you think you could walk out of a room on your way to your execution singing praises to God?

As you read through this psalm, gather the phrase “in the name of the Lord” and realize that our victory in life is only in the name of the Lord. Our strength, song, and salvation are all in Him and in none other. Where do you place your confidence? How do others know this?

As you go through your day, realize that God made this day for you to bring Him glory nothing more, there is nothing more, and nothing less, why settle for less.

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Psalm 112

We become consumed with raising our families and making ends meet in this life. We become anxious for everything. This psalm states that God will care for the family and provide for those who earnestly seek Him (Matthew 6.25-34). We can remove anxiety by trusting Him to do what He said He would do (Philippians 4.4-9).

Psalm 112
This psalm begins where Psalm 111 ends. It also mimics the acrostic in the same manner (eight verses with two letters and two verses with three letters). It mimics the outline with a change at the ending. The topic of Psalm 111 is God in His holiness and this psalm is the holiness of the man who follows God.
Verse 1-A call to praise God
Verses 2-9-God is worthy of praise based on what He has done. As with Psalm 111, we should praise God because He is upright, righteous, gracious, compassionate, generous, true, steadfast, benevolent. The rewards for those who fear Him are also great. We will prosper, have insight into His Word, find goodness and security, be generous, have no fear, while growing in honor.
Verse 10-The wicked will be destroyed because they do not seek Him, He cannot bless them as He does those who fear Him.

Psalm 127

What we do with our time, finances, and efforts determine the direction of our life and of our family (both present and future). If your time, finances, and effort are based on your desires, your strength, and your understanding, the final outcome may be good but it won’t be great. What are you doing today in light of God’s work and God’s purpose for you?

Psalm 127

This is our first psalm of Solomon or of David for Solomon. He provides wise insight into a home blessed by God. This chapter is also reminiscent of the book of Ecclesiastes.

Verses 1-2-If God is not the foundation of the household it will not become that for which God created the family. If you desire more on the family, please post your request. Workaholics are not meant for God’s work. When we do His work, allow Him to create His family, His life in us, we find that His work is not a burden and His work is productive (Matthew 11.29-30). Verse two provides us insight into the makings of the body. God created the body so that it repairs itself while we sleep. Solomon tells us that God provides for us during our sleep. This can be read as God being at work in our work as we rest and it can also be seen as God working in us to rebuild and strengthen us as we rest. Either picture is wonderful.

These verses should be a warning to those who are in school and cram the night before to complete a project that should have been completed over time. A job done for His glory is done as we are physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually healthy. It does not come in a frenzy.

Zechariah 4.6 directs our attention to this truth. We cannot accomplish greatness apart from Him who is great.

Do your job, your house, your finances take away from the time spent with God, family, and friends? If so, you are building your house on the sand. Jesus reminds us in John 15.5 that we can do nothing apart from Him. What are you trying to do without His strength and understanding?

Verses 3-5-We are called to a great responsibility as parents. God has given us a great and precious gift in our children. If we do not submit our lives to the Lord, and give this example daily to our children, they will not submit to the Lord. Our labor is in vain when we choose our own path. Solomon tells us it leads to destruction.

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Unless the Lord Builds the House by Keith Green

Psalm 143

Have we come before God realizing that without Him we are wicked and that in Him He makes us righteous and worthy? Have we considered how Satan will devour us and then ask God to strengthen us as we seek forgiveness? Why not do it now?

Psalm 143

God is faithful to His promises (Matthew 5.37 and 2 Corinthians 1.20) and to His righteousness, as verse one informs us. Based on this alone, no one should go a moment without prayer (1 Thessalonians 5.17). Based on this alone, no one should think that justice will look over sin as was promised. David knew this, as do we. God will judge sin. On Christ our sin was placed. He became our sin that we might become that which we lacked–His righteousness. This is the great trade given at the cross. This is what David needed as he faced the truth of verse two.

We don’t have physical enemies pursuing us these days, for the most part. However, we do have a spiritual enemy who is seeking to devour us daily. After all, our battle is not with flesh and blood but with powers and principalities (Ephesians 6.12). David saw his deliverance from his enemies deeply connected with forgiveness of sin. We need to see this for our lives too. Satan will devour us when we allow unconfessed sin to continue to fester in our lives. He will destroy because our sin takes us out of fellowship with God. Forgiveness, the cleansing of 1 John 1.9 which is based on God’s faithfulness and righteousness, restores that fellowship.

David cries out for God to hear is prayer (1-6), to answer his prayer (7-9), to teach him (10), and to restore or revive him (11-12).

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I am a Servant by Larry Norman

Psalm 139

Although we are in Christ and have been sealed with the Spirit for eternity, we still need to check our own desires and heart. Do we allow sin to creep into our heart? Take a moment and pray David’s prayer at the end of this psalm: “Search me, O God, and see if there is any wicked way in me.” If so, repent; and walk in His ways.

Psalm 139

God is omniscient, omnipresent, and omnipotent according to this psalm. David paints a memorable picture of God and His relationship with us based on His attributes. This twenty-four-verse psalm divides easily into four stanzas.

Verses 1-6-God’s omniscience is displayed. The writer of Hebrews and Matthew saw this as true (Matthew 9.4 and Hebrews 4.13). God knows everything. He knows what we do and what we think. This should overwhelm us as it did David. God knows all about us and still chooses to love us.
Verses 7-12-God’s omnipresence is displayed. There is no place in this universe we can go that would escape the gaze of God. His eye is not merely that of the Judge and Ruler but of Shepherd and Father.
Verses 13-18-God’s omnipotence is displayed. Genesis one and two tell us that God created life, not from a test tube but from nothing. A baby in the womb is sacred because it is created by God. If you would like more discussion on this topic, leave a post. When we acknowledged God as the omnipotent we would have to state how precious and powerful He is, just as David did in verse seventeen.
Verses 19-24-These three attributes of God are played out now, not to those who acknowledge Him as God and Savior, but to those who want nothing to do with His Son. Because He is omniscient, He knows their evil intentions. Because He is omnipresent, He sees their evil activities. Because He is omnipotent, He can and will judge their wickedness. Because of God’s holiness, He rejects sin. Because those who do not come to Christ for the cleansing of their sins, reject the offer of the cleansing. Because they reject the cleansing, God must reject them.

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Psalm 110

In the end, the question to be considered is this: If Jesus is who He says He is in quoting this psalm, what will you do with Him?

Psalm 110

If Psalm 109 (see our study) is a picture of the events leading to and including the crucifixion of Christ, as some point out, then Psalm 110 is a picture of His resurrection and the events that follow it.

This short psalm is the most quoted and alluded to psalm in the New Testament. Mills presents at least 34 different references to this psalm by all authors of the New Testament except for James and Jude. His list includes: Matthew 22.43-45, 26.64; Mark 12.35-37, 14.62, 16.19; Luke 20.41-44, 22.69; John 14.2; Acts 2.34-35, 5.31, 7.55-56; Romans 8.34; 1 Corinthians 15.24-26; Ephesians 1.20, 22; Colossians 3.1; Hebrews 1.3, 13, 5.6, 10, 6.20, 7.11, 15, 17, 21, 28, 8.1, 10.12, 13, 12:2; 1 Peter 3.22; and Revelation 3.21, 6.15-17, 19.11.

These seven verses will take a lifetime to discuss and, even then, it would not be complete. In order to fully understand the meaning of this psalm, the usage of this psalm by Jesus will be briefly examined.

However, the context of history provides details for us as well. This psalm was used in the coronation services of the kings of Israel. It could have been written when David captured Jebus, which is Jerusalem. This explains the presence of Melchizedek (king of righteousness) who was the king and priest of Salem (Jebus). The two pronouncements given in this psalm call the king to rule as God’s representative and to be a priest to the people. Calling the king to be a priest was not out of order. The text specifically states a priest after the order of Melchizedek not Aaron. Melchizedek will be discussed in another post if requested.

The outline that would best serve this psalm would be seen under the offices of activities of the coming Messiah:

Verses 1-3-The Eternal King

Verses 1-Jesus discusses the usage of “the Lord said to my lord” in order to prove that Messiah must come through humanity and yet be God. That is, if the Messiah is to be the son of David, which would make Him inferior to David, why does David call Him “my lord” in this psalm? Jesus then shows that Messiah must also be greater than David, which would place Him on par with deity (Matthew 22.41-46).
Verses 2-3-His kingdom will cover the earth with willing subjects.

Verses 4-The Eternal Priest. The reference is to Genesis 14 and is discussed at length in Hebrews 7-10. This would make the Messiah’s priesthood greater than the priesthood of Aaron, which is the argument presented in Hebrews.
Verses 5-7-The Victorious Warrior. This activity is not eternal for He is the Prince of Peace and the Warrior will sit on His throne to reign throughout eternity as that Prince. He can also be seen as Judge in these verses. The ultimate fulfillment of these verses is found in Revelation 19.11-20.15 where Jesus is victorious and exalted.

This brief look at a most fascinating psalm seems anemic in light of all that it contains. To grasp the breadth of the fifty-eight Hebrew words, read the New Testament use of them, then stand in wonder at the magnificence of God’s Word.

In the end, the question to be considered is this: If Jesus is who He says He is in quoting this psalm, what will you do with Him?

Psalm 109

If God is for us, then who can be against us (Romans 8.31-34)? The answer: Only Jesus can condemn us but He died for us and intercedes for us. So, the only one worthy stands in our favor!

Psalm 109

This psalm was written by David, so says the inscription and so says Peter as he uses this psalm to describe Judas in Acts 1.16-20. There is no single reference point to place this psalm historically. Some believe it to be against Saul, yet David’s attitude toward God’s anointed would forbid this. Some believe it to be his son, Absalom, but his love for him was overwhelming to the point of sin. Could it be levied against Doeg or Ahithophel?

The word “accuse” provides great insight into this psalm. David stands accused by his adversaries in verses 4, 6, 20, and 29. The Hebrew word for accuse is where we derive Satan. The originally meaning was accuser but became a proper name of our adversary, the devil. David stands accused of crimes that are false. If he is found guilty, he is open for the death penalty.

Verses 1-5-David prays to the God whom he praises. Do you praise the God to whom you pray? David describes what his accusers are saying of him. He describes them as words of lying and hatred. He describes how he treated them. He showed love and kindness, but they repaid with insult and hatred. Jesus said to love those who curse you and to love your enemies (Matthew 5.44). David did this throughout these verses.
Verses 6-20-These words are harsh and seem to violate the principles Jesus displayed in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-8). However, a closer look provides five possible solutions to this dilemma.

When God displays His anger toward sin, it is extreme and to the point. David, here, is displaying a “righteous indignation” toward sin. This prayer is spoken by Jesus Himself when He instructed us to pray: “Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Your Name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6.9-10). Jesus is basically asking us to pray to God the Father to establish His righteousness on earth which would mean the destruction of all that is not righteous (i.e., those who false accuse in this psalm).
David could be praying to God to take the matter into His hands and bring forth His justice, and not David’s idea of justice.
David is speaking prophetically of the coming of Judas and is pronouncing these curses upon him. This is why the plural of verses 1-5 is changed to the singular in 6-20.
David is so inclined to the will of God that God’s enemies are indeed his enemies and he is pronouncing judgement on them as God would.
The most unlikely one, which is translated in the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV), is that David switches speakers in verse six: “They say, ‘Appoint a wicked man against him; let an accuser stand on his right.’”

Verse eight is applied to Judas (Acts 1.20).

Verses 21-29-Verse 25 can be applied to Jesus on the cross (Matthew 27.39). David cries out to God to help him, not for David’s sake, but that God’s name may be magnified. How often do we, in our times of trouble, see His glory?
Verses 30-31-David closes with words that praise God and should be familiar to us. If God is for us, then who can be against us (Romans 8.31-34)? The answer: Only Jesus can condemn us but He died for us and intercedes for us. So, the only one worthy stands in our favor!

Psalm 41

What is it that you believe? Do you live your life as if your beliefs were actually true? What would you change if you truly did believe? As you consider this psalm, look at your own life. What has gone done in and through you? Praise Him for it. What have you done to bless God as you have blessed others? What are people saying about you? Are they godly things? Are they mad due to your stand for God? Whatever the circumstances, look to God for His presence and help.

Psalm 41

This psalm appears to have been a response to those who stood against him in Psalm 38 (see our study).

Verses 1-3-Blessings for those who are blessed by the Lord by doing what He requires by taking care of those who are helpless, who are poor, is the theme of these verses.
Verse 4-A prayer to God in light of David’s sin.
Verses 5-9-Complaint against a close friend who has turned enemy. This refers to the betrayal of Ahithophel in 2 Samuel 17 (see our study). This psalm is a Messianic psalm. Jesus, too, was betrayed by one who ate bread with Him. Jesus quotes this verse and applies it to Judas in John 13.18 (each Gospel refers to Jesus quoting this verse: Matthew 26.23; Mark 14.20; Luke 22.21). Peter seems to refer to this psalm in Acts 1.16. Read the psalm in light of the last few hours of Christ’s life to determine if this psalm is Messianic in nature.
Verses 10-12-Hope based, again, on the character of God. The sense in the Hebrew of “repay them” is “to make good again.” That is David would repay the evil with good. This is the sense of 2 Samuel 19 see our study), which is the context of the psalm. It is also evident in 1 Samuel 24 (see our study) and 1 Samuel 26 (see our study) in David’s dealings with Saul.
Verse 13-Praise God from whom all blessings flow, who is eternal. The double “So be it” (Amen) along with “Praise the Lord” emphatically close each section of the psalter (Psalm 41, Psalm 72, Psalm 89, Psalm 106, and Psalm 150). The doubling of the “Amen” provides a strong affirmation to all that has gone on before. David is stating, “You better believe it, for it is true!”