Paul – Old Testament Survey

Psalm 13

He is still hurting and it appears that his enemies have the upper hand. What has changed in all this is David’s view of God. Who is it that you serve?

Psalm 13

As with all laments/complaints we have, this psalm is an exemplar of how we should handle our situation. In this psalm David brings his complaint to God (1-2) not to those around him. He then asks of God to help him through this time (3-4), he does not ask for others to help him through by any means at all. He finalizes the prayer with praise (5-6). When we take our complaints to people who cannot do anything about it or who will handle it without godliness, we end up bitter and unfulfilled. When we take our complaints to the One who can do something about it and He will do it thoroughly and with justice, we will be praising not complaining. The next time you have an injustice in your life, take it to the Lord in prayer. By the way, David’s complaint was that either Saul or Absalom was attempting to kill him, what is your complaint?

David shows real pain in the first two verses. He states that he is hurting, it seems as if God has forgotten him, and his enemies are victorious. Whether these are accurate statements is not the point, the point is that David feels isolated. He is hurting, he thinks God isn’t there because he thinks the ones who hate him are victorious. The only one that is accurate is that David is hurting. He presumes the other two. His prayer in verse three is for God to give him insight into the truth (read Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 1). When this is done, praise happens. He is still hurting and it appears that his enemies (2) have the upper hand. What has changed in all this is David’s view of God. Who is it that you serve?

Psalm 49

When the harp is laid down, we must ask ourselves the question that the psalmist and countless others have: Do we desire riches more than God? Do we desire luxury and ease more than character? If we do, we are headed for the grave and hell. If we do not, we will find God.

Psalm 49

The origins of this psalm are unknown. What is know is that it was written more as a sermon than a praise or a prayer. This psalm deals with the seeming inequities in the world in terms of monies and is similar yet more thorough than Psalm 37 and Psalm 73. Again it is written by a Korahite (as mentioned in Psalm 44). According to the inscription, it was to be sung. This should remind us that we are to sing psalms, hymns, and teach one another with melodies (Colossians 3.15-17). This psalm is also quite similar to the book of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes in form.

This sermon can be divided into an introduction (1-4), three main points (5-9, 10-12, and 13-15), and a conclusion (16-20).

Verses 1-4-The writer calls for all people to listen to his words. He allows us to see that he has pondered his words and meditated on them a great deal. He has done so enough that he has been able to set them to music. He has been able to provide a solution to an enigma that has plagued the godly for generations. He is going to shed light on the darkness of the understanding of God’s people. He begins his sermon with a pluck of the harp.

Verses 5-9-The writer tells us that wealth cannot save. This is the point of the message. It is also a matter of concern for Jesus. In Mark 10.23-24 and Matthew 16.24-27, He presents this truth to a perplexed group of disciples. We all will die, the rich and the poor, no one will live beyond the time given them by God.

Verses 10-12-These verses are reminiscent of Ecclesiastes as Solomon provides insight into death. All people will die. The fool and the wise, all men are mortal and all will perish like the animals. When we die, we will not be able to cling to our wealth. The grave becomes our home.

Verses 13-15-Jesus points the truth of verse 13 to his disciples as He taught them in Luke 12.20.

Selah -The writer wants us to pause and consider the truth of this and the previous verses. If we all perish, the rich and the poor, what good does it to envy the rich outside of temporary ease and luxury in this life?

The writer continues to describe what will happen to those who trust in wealth and those who trust in God (Matthew 6.24-34). He points out that death will consume those who trust in their riches and that God will ransom or resurrect those who trust in Him.

Selah -The writer wants us to pause and consider the truth of these two verses. It is here the doctrine of the resurrection is presented. It is not a well-known doctrine in the Old Testament. The Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection because it was not developed enough in the Torah for them to accept it. It is not full developed until Jesus is resurrected and Paul teaches it in 1 Corinthians 15. Depending on how you looked at the first pause above, this should be an eye-opener. The life we live on this earth is short and incomparable to the life we will live throughout eternity. If the momentary pleasures of this world are what you are seeking, you might just miss out on the eternal pleasures of the next world in God’s presence. If you seek God’s presence today, He may bless you with riches or not (see Matthew 6 above). But, He will bless you with eternity with Him. Then, these light and momentary afflictions we experience will seem trivial in light of what He has prepared for us (2 Corinthians 4.16-18).

Verses 16-20-The writer concludes his sermon with a reminder of all that was said. He wants us to ponder: Does it really matter if others become wealthy? When all has been said and done, will it matter that they had wealth for a moment in time? These verses should remind you of the passage from Luke (see above) and Ecclesiastes 3.19.

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?