Selah – Old Testament Survey

Psalm 39

When we are not doing that which God has called us to do, His hand will be upon us. In this short life we have to live, it is best lived under the watchful gaze of God. This is only done when we abide in His Word. What are you doing today that causes God to gaze graciously on you?

Psalm 39

This psalm reveals more of whom David is and of whom we are than many other psalms. He does the very thing he desires not to do. He is determined not to speak, yet does. James informs us why we cannot control the tongue (James 3).

It is his desire not to bring shame to God’s name. So, he comes to God in the quiet of his place and breaks forth in complaints.

The Selahs found in this chapter provide the outline. David proclaims the futility and shortness of life (1-5). He then asks us to pause and consider this for ourselves. God disciplines His children for their sin (6-11). We need to pause and consider what chastisement God is giving us. David then prays for God not to look upon his sin any longer (12-13), which He does not (Psalm 103).

Music

I Put My Hope In You (Psalm 39) by Derek Sandstrom

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 9

Although these two Psalms should be studied together, I have chosen to study them separately. In most ancient manuscripts (Septuagint and Vulgate), these two Psalms form one Psalm.

Psalm 9

Although Psalm 9 and 10 should be studied together, I have chosen to study them separately. In most ancient manuscripts (Septuagint and Vulgate), these two Psalms form one Psalm. There are at least four reasons for pairing them together:

They form a partial acrostic. Psalm 9 contains 11 of the first twelve letters of the twenty-two letter Hebrew alphabet and Psalm 10 contains seven of the final ten letters.
Similarities in words and style
Subject matter. Although Psalm 9 deals with the nations and Psalm 10 deals with Israel, they both speak on judgment.
Of all the Psalms in Book One of the Psalms, Psalm 10 is the only one without a superscription.

With that presented, let us turn our attention to Psalm 9.

Verses 1-2-David begins with words that should always be on our lips: Praise to God (Psalm 146.2) for whom He is and for what He has done (see Psalm 8). Are you praising God with all that He has given you to praise Him? What is it in your life that is not praising Him?

Verses 3-4-David sees that God is actively responding to his prayers and bringing justice upon the earth.

Verses 5-6-The judgment is eternal in nature, even to the point that the memory of them will perish too. Is this established in eternity or does it apply to history?

Verses 7-8-God will judge the world righteously through Jesus Christ (Acts 17.24-31).

Verses 9-10-God does not forsake His people. He protects them. He protects the oppressed as well. How?

Verses 11-12-God is righteous and will not let those who shed blood “get away with murder” (Genesis 9.5 and Nahum 1.2-6).

Verses 13-14-David calls out to God to bless him with God’s grace. He calls on God’s mercy so he may praise God and bring testimony of how good God is to the world.

Verses 15-16-The nations will know there is a God who is mighty in power and righteous in judgment. Exodus 7.5 states this and the ten plagues illustrate this truth.

Both terms, Higgaion and Selah, ask us to ponder the great truths mentioned in the previous section. How righteous is the God you serve?

Verse 17-David expresses the grief that the godless will not see God; their paths lead to destruction.

Verse 18-Does David merely mean the needy and the poor? Or, can he mean all those who see themselves in need of God and poor in spirit (Matthew 5.1-12)?

Verses 19-20-The world seems to have forgotten that we are mere men and God is God.

Selah asks us to ponder the great truths mentioned in the previous section. How righteous is the God you serve? Does He take care of us?

The world will not get it right until they bow in submission to the God of the Universe. Until then, we need to be in prayer for God to intervene and bring justice and righteousness to the front of the line. Are you praying for God to intervene?

Psalm 54

Psalm 54 is related to both 1 Samuel 23 and 1 Samuel 26. The inscription gives us the account of Saul being informed by the Ziphites of David’s whereabouts. The inscription also informs us that it is a Maskil of David, which is a skilled instruction given at an annual celebration.

Psalm 54 is related to both 1 Samuel 23 and 1 Samuel 26. The inscription gives us the account of Saul being informed by the Ziphites of David’s whereabouts. The inscription also informs us that it is a Maskil of David, which is a skilled instruction given at an annual celebration.

Verses 1-3-David pleas to God for protection from Saul and vindication of the actions of the Ziphites. He goes to the only one who can help; he turns to God who hears our prayers. Verse three gives us insight into David, Saul, and the Ziphites. David set his eyes on God, which implies the others were setting their eyes on worldly things. Saul’s focus was an earthly kingdom and power. The Ziphites may have had wealth, protection by Saul, or power as their focus. God wants us to always have Him as our focus. It is His desire to be preeminent in our lives (Colossians 1.18).

Selah. Where is your focus? Is it on what God has required, what you have desired, or what the world decides? The answer to that question can be found in to whom or what you “pray.” Can and do you go to God with the desires of your heart, with the pains that surround you, and with the joys you are given? Or, are you pleased with what you have, complain about your circumstances, and merely enjoy what comes your way? If the latter are true, your focus is on what you have desired or what the word decides. If you cannot go to God for the matters on your heart, it is due to sin. This sin is either that the activity or item in life is sinful or that your heart is placing you above Him.

Verses 4-5-David’s prayers are for his enemies to be destroyed. Read the comments on Psalm 140 for insight into our enemies. We either destroy that which stands against God or are destroyed by them. As an aside, when God changes the hearts of our enemies, He has destroyed them for now they are our friends.

Verses 6-7-Some view this as written after the fact that David received his answer and then offered the freewill offering as a sign of gratitude to God. It can be seen as faith where David knows that God delivers and will do so for him. In this knowledge David offers his sacrifice out of gratitude for whom God is not necessarily for what He has done or will do (Leviticus 22:21–23; 23:38).

Are you in the habit of thanking God for who He is rather than for what He has done or will do? David prayed to God to take control (He is sovereign), to protect (He is omnipotent), and to vindicate (He is Judge) because he knew that God hears our prayers (He is omniscient), God helps us (He is Good), and He can help us (He is sovereign). Our only response to all that He is to us is praise or thanksgiving (1 Thessalonians 5.12-24). As with David, God is our Helper (Hebrews 13.6) and our only response to that is to offer our freewill offering of praise to Him (Hebrews 13.15-16).