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Psalm 86

When you take time to pray today, to whom do you pray? Is it more of an expression of orry or of trust? Do you believe the God who commands us to pray, hears us pray, and eeks to answers those prayers? This is the God of this psalm and of the Scriptures. Pray ccording to His Word, believe He hears, and expect Him to answer.

Psalm 86

This psalm is worthy of using as a model prayer for the believer. It offers us insight into the prayers of David, the character of David, the nature and character of God, and it makes you think more of God than you have ever thought of Him before.

There are fourteen times in these seventeen verses that David makes a plea to God. He calls God his master (אֲדֹנָי, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 12, 15) and David calls God the covenant God (יְֽהוָה 1, 6, 11, 17). In each case his prayer reflects that relationship with God. He is a humble servant bowing before his awesome Lord and mighty God.

One other note of interest is the preposition “for.” It is used throughout this psalm as an introduction to the topics of prayer (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 10, 13). David needs God’s attention, as do we, because he is poor and needy, he is devoted to God, he is confident in his master who forgives, is great, does wonderful works, and who loves with an everlasting love. David understood this concept of prayer and we need to cling to it too. Why bother praying if the God you serve is not powerful, capable, and willing to answer? The difference between prayer and worry is this: When you worry you talk to yourself, when you pray you talk to Someone who can do something about it.

When you take time to pray today, to whom do you pray? Is it more of an expression of  worry or of trust? Do you believe the God who commands us to pray, hears us pray, and  seeks to answers those prayers? This is the God of this psalm and of the Scriptures. Pray  according to His Word, believe He hears, and expect Him to answer.

Psalm 51

Peter and Judas. David and Saul. Which one of the pairs are you? Judas and Saul were upset and saddened by their sin. Peter and David were repentant and saddened. They knew to whom to turn. They had hope. The former were without hope and God in this world (Ephesians 2.11-13).

Psalm 51 (See our study on Psalm 32 and 2 Samuel 12)

David is living in light of Psalm 32.3-4 when Nathan the prophet walks into the palace. He confronts the man and David is released from the stronghold of sin as he works through the concept of this psalm.

Verses1-4-David doesn’t address God as the covenant God of Israel, Jehovah (יְֽהוָה), in this psalm. He addresses Him as the creator God, Elohim (אֱלֹהִים), or Lord (אֲדֹנָי) because of his unworthiness to regard himself as one of God’s own. David basis his forgiveness solely on whom God is not what David had done. This is the first step. David is contrite, remorseful over his sin. The second step is the confession of sin. It is admitting to God what He already knows and agreeing with Him that you are wrong. The third step is to admit you have nothing in yourself to deal with your sin; you need God.

As David stated, our sin is against God and Him alone. However, the consequences go far beyond and reaches to those we love. It hurts us. As describe in Psalm 32 and in this psalm, sin affects our bodies. David’s eyes, mind, ears, heart, spirit, and mouth were affected in the physical realm. David’s fellowship and joy with the Lord were affected in the spiritual realm. Sin hurts those we are to love. Tragedy strikes families (see 2 Samuel 11 and 2 Samuel 12 for our study on this).

Verses 5-12-David confesses that not only does he have a desire for sin but that he was born that was as is all humanity. Once he acknowledges this, David begins a progression in his prayer. He asks God to purge him, remove his defilement. He asks God to wash him, to cleanse him deeply. He asks God to let the bone He broke through discipline dance again. [I will link my sermon series on Dancing with Broken Bones at a later date.] He asks God to make him experience the joys of answered prayer. He asks God to not treat him according to His sins but to hide His face from them. He asks God to create in him a clean heart. This prayer is ultimately answered in Christ. As Christians, we have been given a new heart in Jesus. He asks God not to cast him away from His presence. He asks God not to take His Holy Spirit from him. This is a cry from the Old Testament as is evidenced with the Spirit of God left Saul that should not be on the lips of the saints in the New Testament. [If you desire more on this topic, let me know.] He asks God to restore to him the joy that can only be found in salvation. And lastly, David asks God to keep him from falling again.

13-17-David declares that he will live a life in which others will see and hear of God. Throughout this psalm David proclaims it is not what we can give but our humility before God. God delights in our coming to the Creator of the universe and learning from Him how to live the life for which we were created.

18-19-Praying for self to praying for the nation. Both are important and necessary for us to live the life God created for us to live.

Peter and Judas. David and Saul. Which one of the pairs are you? Judas and Saul were upset and saddened by their sin. Peter and David were repentant and saddened. They knew to whom to turn. They had hope. The former were without hope and God in this world (Ephesians 2.11-13).

Sin is complicated, but goodness is simple.

As in Psalm 32, there are basically three or four words that comprise the sin committed by David. The three mentioned in this psalm are the first of the four mentioned in Psalm 32. This is why David had to cry out to God for Him to have mercy on him.

Psalm 32

Complete cleansing and forgiveness are found in these verses too. Transgression is removed. Sin is covered, iniquity is not counted against, and deceit is no longer found. In Christ these are ours.

Psalm 32

Tired. Aching. Hurting. Exhausted. Fatigued. Undernourished. Roaring in misery and anguish. Sounds like a third world country. For a Christian it is, it is a place we should not be found. It is in a state of being disciplined by God for sins committed. This is David’s description of himself as he was being disciplined by God for his sin with Bathsheba (see our study of 2 Samuel 11). This psalm was written after Psalm 51 (see our study) more as a reflection of what had happened to him after his sin and before the arrival of Nathan (see our study of 2 Samuel 12). It is a maskil used to relive a teachable moment for many to understand. Amazingly, this private psalm is sung as part of the services of the synagogue during the Day of Atonement services.

Psalm 32 is reflective of what God has done and Psalm 51 appears to be written in the struggle.

Various outlines can be made from this psalm. An example would be to divide it in six equal parts (1-2, 3-4, 5, 6-7, 8-9, and 10-11).

  • Verses 1-2- the forgiven man
  • Verses 3-4-the physical and psychological effects of unconfessed sin
  • Verse 5-confession as the remedy to obtain God’s forgiveness
  • Verses 6-7-forgiveness brings back prayer
  • Verses 8-9-forgiveness bring back biblical insight
  • Verses 10-11-forgiveness provides personal testimony

It could also be divided by the pauses (Selah): 1-4, 5, 6-7, and 8-11.

  • Verses 1-4-Man cannot forgive on his own. Sin is always against God and witnessed by others (Psalm 51). Because our sin is against Him, He is the agent of forgiveness and we are the recipients. He forgives, He covers, He washes clean; we accept, we praise, we stand amazed. When we do not accept His forgiveness, we die a little each day. Our soul becomes like a sponge in the desert that has seen no rain for years.
  • When Paul quotes verses 1-2 in Romans 4.6-8, he reminds us that forgiveness is a free gift of God based on the work of Christ, not an effort of good works on our part.

Selah-Do you believe your sins are forgiven? Why? On what basis are they?

  • Verse 5-Confessed sin restores the soul not because it places us in right relationship with God, Jesus did that. Our soul is refreshed because our fellowship with God is restored (1 John). We can now access the Water of Life, the Bread of Life, Life Himself. This only comes when we confess our sins (1 John 1.9). Confession is to freely admit that our action was what God calls it. There is no excuse for it and no reason that is acceptable. It is a violation of God’s character.

Selah-Ask the Holy Spirit to convict you of your sin and of God’s righteousness (John 16.5-15).

  • Verses 6-7-Once David repented, he realized that it is always to God that we need to go in order to get things right. In order for us to live the life He created for us to live, we need to be in Him. He is our hiding place (see song below).

Selah-When you do wrong, do you run to God or away from Him? He is your only source of hope.

  • Verses 8-11-David reminds us that we are indeed responsible for our actions. He ends this psalm of penance with joy.

[more will be discussed on sin/forgiveness/relationship/fellowship in later posts if requested]

Definitions

David uses four words for sin in the first two verses alone: transgression, sin, iniquity, and deceit. These words provide insight into different shades of rebellion against God.

  • Transgression is a breaking of God’s Law (פֶּשַׁע/ἀνομίαι)
  • Sin is breaking the laws God placed in motion to rule His creation (חֲטָאָֽה/ἁμαρτίαι)
  • Iniquity is the staining of the soul through depraved activities (עָוֹן/ἀδικία)
  • Deceit or guile is misrepresenting the character of God by presenting yourself as something other than you are (רְמִיָּה/δόλος)

Complete cleansing and forgiveness are found in these verses too. Transgression is removed. Sin is covered, iniquity is not counted against, and deceit is no longer found. In Christ these are ours.

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1 Chronicles 20

When this chapter is considered, we need to see that God is still at work in the repentant David. He conquers the foes, slays the giants, and has victory in his life. As we see in the chapters that follow, the consequences of his sin with Bathsheba will haunt him all the days of his life.

1 Chronicles 20 (see our study of 2 Samuel 11 and 2 Samuel 21.15-22 [study to come])

This chapter is found within two chapters in 2 Samuel as is seen above. The purpose of the Chronicles is to present a “cleaner” version of David to promote the kingdom as the exiles return to the land. This is clearly seen in this chapter with the omission of the incident between David and Bathsheba (see our studies of this account in 2 Samuel 11 and 2 Samuel 12).

As we have studied 2 Samuel and 1 Chronicles differences are evident (the number of soldiers, for instance). This chapter presents a difficulty as well as we compare it to the 2 Samuel 21 passage and others. An attempt to harmonize them will be made here.

Potential discrepancies:

  • 2 Samuel has the place of battle as Gob, not Gezer.
  • 2 Samuel names the slain giant’s son as Saph, not Sippai.
  • Goliath’s slain brother, Lahmi, is not given a name in 2 Samuel.
  • Abishai’s slaying of the giant Ishbi-benob is not given in 2 Chronicles.

Possible solutions:

  • Gob was located close to Gezer and may not have existed in the time of Ezra’s writing of the Chronicles.
  • Saph and Sippai are variations of the same root name.
  • The last two discrepancies merely reflect the author’s purpose or focus. The absence or inclusion of a name or place in one does not preclude it from occurring.

When this chapter is considered, we need to see that God is still at work in the repentant David. He conquers the foes, slays the giants, and has victory in his life. As we see in the chapters that follow, the consequences of his sin with Bathsheba will haunt him all the days of his life.

2 Samuel 12

Do you notice that when you become angry at a sin in another, there are times your anger is directed toward you because you know that you are committing the same sin?

2 Samuel 12 (1 Chronicles 20.1-3 see our study of 1 Chronicles 20)

Our studies of Psalm 32 and Psalm 51 will be forthcoming. David spent at least six months in misery due to his sin. Bathsheba gets pregnant in 2 Samuel 11 (see our study), the two discover she is pregnant, David has Uriah murdered, they wait a few months for mourning, they marry, the baby may not have yet been born. Then comes Nathan to confront David for his sin. Whatever the amount of time, Psalm 32 and Psalm 51 describe the anguish David was going through during this period of his life.

After Nathan’s parable, wherein David becomes indignant, God brings the discipline upon His child (Hebrews 12.4-11). The consequences of David’s sins were mentioned briefly in our study of 2 Samuel 11. Here, God lays them out through Nathan to David. They are:

  • 10 Now therefore the sword shall never depart from your house, for you have despised me, and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.
  • 11 Thus says the LORD: I will raise up trouble against you from within your own house; and I will take your wives before your eyes, and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this very sun.
  • 14 Nevertheless, because by this deed you have utterly scorned the LORD, the child that is born to you shall die.

Notice for each consequence there is a reason given. As parents, we need to take this seriously. The consequence matches the discipline given.

If the rest of David’s life was outlined according to his children, four of David’s male children die. This baby (2 Samuel 12), Ammon (2 Samuel 13), Absalom (2 Samuel 18), and Adonijah (1 Kings 2) all die in relation to the consequences of David’s sin. Some have seen this as fulfilling Exodus 22.1 in lieu of the death penalty for David and Bathsheba (Leviticus 20.10).

Do you notice that when you become angry at a sin in another, there are times your anger is directed toward you because you know that you are committing the same sin?

The mourning of David in this chapter (15-23) gives us insight into his belief of the afterlife and of God’s mercy and grace. David mourned by fasting and praying while the child was alive. When he found the child to have died, he finally ate. He knew that the child might be spared by God. After the baby died, he knew God would not raise him from the dead. David knew that he would be with the baby after David dies. This causes us to ponder the eternal state of babies who have died [email me if you desire further study on this topic].

After the child born to David and Bathsheba dies, she has another child (24-25). They called him Solomon. Interestingly, Nathan called him Jedidiah, which means “loved by the Lord.”

The chapter ends where 2 Samuel 11 should have begun, David went to war as the kings are supposed to do. This passage is found in 1 Chronicles 20.1-3.

2 Samuel 11

In your weakness do you seek Him or do you attempt to be strong? You will fall. What will the consequences be?

2 Samuel 11

There is no parallel passage for this chapter and the next found in 1 Chronicles. The writer of the Chronicles was attempting to paint the kingdom, particularly David, in a good light. This chapter is the watershed event in his life. It is the turning point in David’s illustrious career. It also did not change God’s perspective of him (1 Kings 15.5). He sinned, yes; he was forgiven, yes; he repented, yes. God blessed him and disciplined him and allowed him to suffer the consequences of his sin.

When this chapter is evaluated, the conclusion of the matter begins in verse one.

In the spring of the year, the time when kings go out to battle, David sent Joab with his officers and all Israel with him; they ravaged the Ammonites, and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem.

David was neither where he should have been (“when kings go out to battle, . . . But David remained at Jerusalem”) nor was he doing what he should have been doing (“when kings go out to battle, David sent Joab”). David literally and figuratively removed his armor (Ephesians 6.10-12). He was wrong on both counts. Being in the right place and doing the wrong thing can lead to sin. Being in the wrong place doing the right thing can lead to sin. Being in the wrong place doing the wrong things will always lead to sin. This is what James tells us in James 1.14-15.

A quick outline of the chapter present us with the sin of lust growing into adultery (1-5), adultery leading to deception (6-13), fear leading to desperation and murder (14-26a), and the unfaithfulness to God and Uriah leads to David displeasing God (26b). David was middle-aged at this point in his life. He may have thought he didn’t need to care about things about him as carefully as he did when he fought Goliath. Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 10.12-13 of potential outcomes for those who have attitudes like this. Normally we quote verse 13 stating that God will deliver us from or through temptation. What we do not look at is verse 12. When we think we are able to handle life without God (see our study on Psalm 70), we will fall with no guarantee of deliverance. We need to know that when we are weakest we rely on His strength but when we think we are strong we live like we don’t need Him (2 Corinthians 11.30)

The life of David will never be the same. The chapters after this present many problems for David from the death of the son he had by Bathsheba to the revolt of his son Absalom at the end of the book. Each incident comes back to this one incident in David’s life. An example of this is Bathsheba’s family. Uriah’s wife, Bathsheba, was the daughter of Eliam. He was one of David’s closest men (2 Samuel 23.34). He was also the son of Ahithophel. He was a private counselor to David. It was he who aided in Absalom’s rebellion against his father, David (2 Samuel 16.21). His advice was for Absalom to take David’s wives or concubines for his own so that when David dies, Absalom could be king (this plays out to the ultimate end in 1 Kings). Because David messed with Ahithophel’s family, Ahithophel sought revenge. It all comes back to the sin of David and Bathsheba in this chapter.

In your weakness do you seek Him or do you attempt to be strong? You will fall. What will the consequences be?

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.

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.

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  • 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)

Psalm 69

When we bring our concerns to God, He turns our mourning into joy. When times are difficult, do you worry about them or take them to God; do you become bitter by them or allow God to use them to better you?

Psalm 69

See our study of Psalm 45 for insight into the superscription.

This is a messianic psalm along the lines of Psalm 22 (study to come). The sufferings of Christ are clearly seen in the sufferings of David. The following verses give weight to this claim:

  • Verse 4 and John 15.25
  • Verse 8 and John 7.3–5
  • Verse 9 with John 2.17 and Romans 15.3
  • Verse 21 with Matthew 27.34, 48 and John 19.29
  • Verses 22 and 23 with Romans 11.9-10
  • Verse 25 with Acts 1.16-20

To read through this psalm with knowledge of what Christ went through is amazing for it is a color commentary on what He went through. Although this was written by David about one-thousand years before Christ, it is detailed in the account of what Christ went through.

What we also sense in this psalm is a deep sense of urgency. David writes repeated please for God’s presence. He asks God to save him (1), rescue him (14), answer him (16), quickly answer him (17), draw near to him (18), redeem him (18), free him (18), and protect him (29).

Several attempts have been made to outline this psalm. I find a topical outline useful as an aid in understanding the psalm.

  • Verses 1-4, 10-12, 19-21-David’s lament
  • Verses 5-9- David’s protesting his innocence
  • Verses 13–18, 22–29-David’s requests to God
  • Verses 30–36-David’s gratitude

Another view of the same outline:

  • Verses 1-4-David’s lament
    • Verses 5-9- David’s protesting his innocence
  • Verses 10-12-David’s lament
    • Verses 13–18-David’s requests to God
  • Verses 19-21-David’s lament
    • Verses 22–29-David’s requests to God
  • Verses 30–36-David’s gratitude

When we bring our concerns to God, He turns our mourning into joy. When times are difficult, do you worry about them or take them to God; do you become bitter by them or allow God to use them to better you?

Psalm 67

Does your life draw men to God? Read Zechariah 8.20-23. Is this what people do in light of what God is doing through you? If so, praise Him; if not, ask yourself why not (Selah).

Psalm 67

Verse 1-As with Psalm 66 (see our study), this psalm calls all people to see that the Lord is good and that the Lord is God. This psalm is a psalm of God’s blessing. The prayer is much like the priestly blessing of Numbers 6.24-26, wherein God will look graciously upon us and not turn His back to us (a sign of judgement). Each verse expresses the same thought using different terms to help the reader focus on the blessing and the protection. He states that He will bless you, and keep you; that He will make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; and that He will turn his face toward you and give you peace. When God faces us, we receive His greatest blessing which is to see Him (Matthew 5.8). The greatest curse we can receive from God is when He turns His back to us. Think of Jesus on the cross, utter darkness and complete wrath were His lot as God the Father judged our sins upon Him (Matthew 27.45-46).

There is one major difference which we have seen in many of the psalms (see our study of Psalm 53). That difference is in Numbers the word used for God in the Hebrew is the word for the God of Israel which is Jehovah (יְֽהוָה). The word here is Elohim (אֱלֹהִים) which is the God above all other gods, the triune Godhead.

With all this going on, the psalmist calls us to pause and consider these truths for ourselves (Selah).

Is God your blessing because you stand in right relationship with Him as His child or is God your cursing because you stand in wrong relationship with Him as a child of the devil. Sounds harsh, doesn’t it? Read John 8.31-47.

  • Verse 2-The verse expands the blessing that the name Elohim (אֱלֹהִים) suggests in verse one that is for God to be known to all the nations not just Israel.
  • Verses 3-4-The psalmist now presents the case for all the world to be praise God. His desire is for the nations to know the saving grace of God as seen in the acts of righteous judgement that He makes. He again asks us to consider, to pause, to reflect (Selah) on this matter for our lives. Do you live your life in such a way that others are drawn to God and desire to know Him (see our study of Psalm 66).
  • Verses 5-7-The psalmist repeats verse three as a chorus of sorts pleading that the nations might know Him. The nations are to bless God because of His sovereign reign over all the earth.

Does your life draw men to God? Read Zechariah 8.20-23. Is this what people do in light of what God is doing through you? If so, praise Him; if not, ask yourself why not (Selah).

Interesting numbers in this psalm:

  • The phrase “Bless us” is used three times.
  • The phrase “Praise you” is used four times.
  • The word “us” referring to Israel is used six times.
  • The word “nations” is used nine times.
  • A reference to God is made fifteen times with a picture of the trinity involved.

All this in seven verses.

Psalm 66

What is your story?

Psalm 66

This psalm reminds me of Matthew 5.13-16. It is the idea of telling the world about God without using words because of the godly lifestyle we live (1 Peter 3.1-6).

It is inviting us to come and see that the Lord is God. This psalm focuses on whom God is and what He has done for His people. The psalmist invites us, all people of the earth, to worship God with him:

  • Verses 1–4-Come and shout God’s glory. Pause, reflect (Selah), on what and who the Lord is.
  • Verses 5–7-Come and see God’s gracious work. Pause, reflect (Selah), on what the Lord has done. We are to reflect on the past to glorify Him and to grow in faith for what must be done today and in the future.
  • Verses 8–15-Come and be blessed and be a blessing. Pause, reflect (Selah), on what God can do for and through us.
  • Verses 16–20-Come and hear the testimony of God’s work in people’s lives. Has what God has done for you reached the ears of those around you? Is your life a walking testimony of who He is and of what He has done for you and through you? The beginning of this type of life, the life He created for you to live, is to come to Him in repentance, prayer, and study of His Word.

This is the story of the woman at the well when she met Jesus. After speaking with Him, she left to her town and declared “Come and See” (John 4.28-30, 39-42).

What is your story?

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