Gallery – Page 20 – Old Testament Survey

Psalm 129

When God allows us to be plowed by those around us, how do we react? We can react negatively and not see His hand in it and become bitter or angry. We can see His hand at work and still complain with bitterness and whining. We can see His hand at work and seek to understand what the ultimate purpose is and how we might glorify Him in the midst of it all. Which do you choose?

Psalm 129

Another Song of Ascents.

Verses 1-4-The Psalmist is letting us know what the nation has gone through in their existence (since their youth when they were birthed at the exodus). They have been beaten, whipped, broke, and attacked. Yet, in all this, they have not been conquered (2 Corinthians 4.8-9 and Matthew 16.18).

Verses 5-8-These verses represent the malediction on those who decide not to follow God’s ways. Essentially, the curse is on those who are doing the persecuting in verses 1-4.

Psalm 128

Verses 1-2-Moses reminds us of these truths in Deuteronomy 4.40. When we follow God’s Word, He blesses us with His presence.

Psalm 128

Another Song of Ascents.

Verses 1-2-Moses reminds us of these truths in Deuteronomy 4.40. When we follow God’s Word, He blesses us with His presence.

Verses 3-4-The Scriptures present blessings in terms of children due to its agrarian society. The Psalmist promises blessings from God when His Word is kept.

Verses 5-6-In developing this word picture, the Psalmist continues the blessings through the generations. When God’s Word is followed, His blessings follow.

This Psalm basically reminds us that true joy only comes with holiness. How are you doing? What did you do today that showed the people in your sphere of influence that you are set apart (holy) for God’s purpose?

This Psalm also presents the need to plan ahead. We live for the Lord today and plan to live for Him with our great-grandchildren. How wisely are you planning for today and all your tomorrows?

Psalm 125

Verses 1-2-Our lives need to be built on the rock of God (Matthew 7.25).

Psalm 125

Another Song of Ascents.

Verses 1-2-Our lives need to be built on the rock of God (Matthew 7.25).

Verse 3-The psalmist reminds us that the rule of the evil are temporary and asks us to remember the rule of God is eternal.

Verse 5-There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to destruction (Proverbs 14.12). God will lead the crooked on their own crooked path. He gives them the desires of their heart.

When we follow what God has called us to do, He will remove the evil and the evildoers from the land. The question remains: “Why is evil still in the land?” What should believers do? What should you do?

Psalm 124

This psalm is reminiscent of Romans 8.31, if God is for us, then who can stand against us?

Psalm 124

A Song of Ascents

This psalm is reminiscent of Romans 8.31, if God is for us, then who can stand against us?

Verses 1-5-If God is for us, then nothing can stand against us. The “if” of verse one is answered with the “then” of verses 3-5.

Verses 6-7-God protects us.

Verse 8-God, who created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1.1) is the only source of help for us. All other help will pale in comparison.

When God helps us, do we praise Him? When we sense the world devouring us (verses 1-3), the situations we place ourselves drown us (verses 4-5), and Satan deceives us (verses 6-8), where do we look?

Psalm 123

Verses 1-2-Psalm 11.4 reminds us that God sees and trains His eyes on us. It is good, then, for us to train our eyes on Him. This has been illustrated in these studies (for example, Saul and Goliath), when we take our eyes off of God we tend to fail.

Psalm 123

This is another Song of Ascents.

Verses 3-4-The only source of mercy is from God, as we come to His House to worship Him corporately, we need to receive that mercy.

Where do we look for help? Jesus (John 17.1) and Stephen (Acts 7.55) both looked to God above during times of persecution. Where do we look for discipleship? It needs to be from God and the people He places in our lives. Who is in your life guiding you through this world, showing God’s mercy and living His example?

Psalm 18

This Psalm is ascribed to 2 Samuel 22.1-51. Although it is presented at this point in 2 Samuel, it is ascribed to God delivering David from his enemies including Saul. Since Saul dies in 1 Samuel 31, historically it would fit here in our chronological study of the Old Testament.

Psalm 18

“Hosanna” by Hillsong does a good job presenting the truth of these verses.

This is a Royal Psalm

Verses 1-3-David gives God the praise for deliverance from his enemies. In the superscription, Saul is differentiated from David’s enemies. After all that Saul did to David, David still would not count Saul as one of his enemies. How do we treat those in our sphere of influence? Do we count all who are against us as our enemies, even if they once were friends? Do we give God credit for deliverance from all our enemies? When we stand at the end of the day, do we praise Him for bringing us through that day?

David also uses a strong word for love in these verses. Beyond this chapter, this love is used exclusively for God’s love for man. 2 Samuel 22 does not include this verse because it is more a public matter than the private matter of Psalm 18.

David sates that he will cause God’s glory to shine. This is the essence of “halal” or praise and is the root of hallelujah.

Verses 4-5-This verse reflects Psalm 116, in particular verse three. David expresses how he viewed life and how he perceived the situations in which he found himself. How honest are you before God about your life circumstances?
Verse 6-Again, David cries out to God expecting Him to hear David’s pleas. When we pray, do we think God will answer or even hear us?
Verses 7-15-These verses are reflected throughout the Scripture. Three places in particular are Psalm 29.3-9, Psalm 144.5-6, and Isaiah 30.30. The crux of these verses is that when God comes to the earth, it will be unmistakable that God is here. When we proclaim that we are believers, is it unmistakable for those around us?
Verses 16-19-God does deliver us from the hands of our enemies. Water in the Scripture usually denotes trouble. Do we lean on God or on our own strength to get us through the day? Paul reminds us that each day has enough evil of its own (Ephesians 5.16). In order for us to get through the day, we need to remember to call on the one who can set our feet on solid ground.
Verses 20-24-These verses seem to echo Saul’s words to David in 1 Samuel 24.19 and 1 Samuel 26.23. Could we say the same as David does here? Only in Christ. Romans 3.23-24 and Romans 4.23-24 remind us that only in Christ do we have righteousness.
Verses 25-30-Kevin Prosch put music to Revelation 15.3-4 and wrote “King of Saints.” I have not been able to find a recording of it. If someone has, let me know, it is worth listening to. Is our confidence solely in the hand of God or do we attempt to create our own strength and power? If the latter are true, we will fail.
Verses 31-42-Deuteronomy 32-33 and 1 Samuel 2.2 reflect the words that God is our Rock. Habakkuk 3.19 gives the picture of God placing our feet on firm ground.
Verses 43-45-David recalls what God has done for him and gives God the credit.
Verses 46-48-Once again, David gives God the credit and praises Him for all that He has done.
Verses 49-50-Romans 15 reminds us that we need to praise God wherever we go just as David does here (verse nine quotes this Psalm).

When the day is over, do we remember that it is God who enabled us to make it through the day? If so, have you praised Him for it? More often than not, when we are successful we take the credit (pride) and when we fail we blame God (pride).

Psalm 121

Verses 1-2-This verse has been used in songs to describe God’s help (“I Lift My Eyes Up”). Yet it is describing God’s help as contrary to the help others have received from the mountains (Jeremiah 3, particularly verse 23). Our help does not come from the mountains, as some suppose. The mountains are a source of danger, corruption, and syncretism. Our help comes from the God of Heaven. We look to the Creator for our help and not as the pagans who look to the creation. This is mentioned a few psalms later (Psalm 124.8)

Psalm 121

This is another Psalm of Ascents, or Pilgrim Psalms.

Verses 1-2-This verse has been used in songs to describe God’s help (“I Lift My Eyes Up“). Yet it is describing God’s help as contrary to the help others have received from the mountains (Jeremiah 3, particularly verse 23). Our help does not come from the mountains, as some suppose. The mountains are a source of danger, corruption, and syncretism. Our help comes from the God of Heaven. We look to the Creator for our help and not as the pagans who look to the creation. This is mentioned a few psalms later (Psalm 124.8)

Verses 3-4-The writer proclaims and praises who God is in these two verses.

Verses 5-6-Again, the writer praises God for who He is and for what He does.

Verses 7-8-Again, the writer is praising God.

This psalm is called a pilgrim psalm because it describes what God does for the pilgrim on his way to Jerusalem for the holy days. Reading through the psalm using a traveler as a walking metaphor, we can understand this better.

When we travel, we seek protection from robbers and the elements. Here the traveler seeks God’s protection from the scorching heat and the robbers by night. On the journey, they seek God’s firm foothold where their feet will walk. God provides protection from robbers because He needs no sleep, He provides protection from the elements because He is greater than they are, and He keeps them on the right path because He knows the beginning from the end.

On our journey through life, are we asking God to be our Guide and Protector? This is one of the benefits of having the Holy Spirit indwell us as believers. He is Protector and Guide in our journey through life (John 14.16-31 and 16.5-15). God protects us 24 hours a day. He keeps us all the time. The word “keep” is used six times in this chapter. He indeed cares for us. He keeps us to the very end (Jude 24).

1 Samuel 31

This is a short chapter highlighting the death of Saul and his sons on Mount Gilboa. A parallel passage is 1 Chronicles 10.1-14. A note on why the two books of the Chronicles were written. They parallel, for the most part, 1 and 2 Samuel. However, they are written after the return from the exile in Babylon as a reminder of what is necessary for success in the kingdom.

1 Samuel 31

This is a short chapter highlighting the death of Saul and his sons on Mount Gilboa. A parallel passage is 1 Chronicles 10.1-14 (cf. the study on 1 Chronicles 10). A note on why the two books of the Chronicles were written. They parallel, for the most part, 1 and 2 Samuel. However, they are written after the return from the exile in Babylon as a reminder of what is necessary for success in the kingdom.

This is a gruesome death. Saul was pierced with an arrow. He knew he was to die. He asked his armor-bearer to finish the deed lest he be tortured (Judges 9.54). He said he would not do it because his chief job was to ensure the king remained alive. Saul killed himself. The armor-bearer followed suit. This will play big in 2 Samuel 1. That day Saul’s sons died with him.

The Philistines found their bodies and triumphed throughout the land. They hung the bodies on a wall in Beth-Shan (Judges 1.27). Beth-Shan is about sixteen miles from what is known as the Sea of Galilee today (Sea of Chinnereth). It was later renamed Scythopolis which roughly translates to “city of barbarism” or “sin city.” The men of Israel in Jabesh-Gilead found out, they stole the bodies and buried them.

1 Samuel 30

Good morning! It is almost time to think we can rest; only to find out we have a family that desires our attention, time, love, and, most of all, our vehicles for transporting them.

This was what happened, sort of, to David in 1 Samuel 30.

1 Samuel 30

David returns home, as Achish had suggested. His home was in Ziklag. When he returned, Saul’s sin was there to greet him. He might have thought he was returning home to rest. However, he found the Amalekites. In 1 Samuel 15 we learned that Saul did not utterly destroy the Amalekites. Because of Saul’s inability to completely obey the Lord, David’s army is greeted with a destroyed town, missing families, and potential death.

When we do not rid ourselves of sin or allow something to remain in our lives that God has commanded us to get rid of (sins, which could include people), we and those around us can become ensnared by them once again. What is it that you see you need to get rid of in your life now to be free from its presence, power, and potential harm in the future?

David, before going into battle, does what we should do when we are presented with trouble in our lives, he prayed for God’s direction. David did the same thing in 1 Samuel 23.2-9, it was here that Abiathar joined David’s group. David’s army splits into two groups. Four hundred follow him into battle, while the other remaining two hundred stay at Wadi Besor to rest and prepare themselves for later. The Wadi Besor is a creek bed south of Ziklag. The exhaustion of the two hundred should have been expected. They traveled fifty miles from Aphek, found their town in ruins, then traveled 12-15 miles to Wadi Besor without supplies or rest.
God provides David with an abandoned Egyptian servant of the Amalekites. When he became sickly, the Amalekites deserted him. When David found him, he nursed him to health. It appears as though David has a kind heart. Deuteronomy 23.15-16 gives instruction not to return runaway slaves to their former masters. I wonder how this would have played out in the South during the 1800s.

When David finds the Amalekites, they are celebrating what they had done. David waged an attack on them, and suddenly destroyed all of them (1 Thessalonians 5.3-it applies to the end times but can be applied here and elsewhere when we place our security in the things of this world). All that had been taken from Ziklag and the other places they attacked, was restored (verse 19).

David reinstitutes an old principle, which is to divide the spoils with all those involved not merely those who fought (Numbers 31.26-27). David then sends some of the gain to “his friends” in Judah. The cities listed, particularly Hebron, will play an important role when David returns to Judah as king.

How faithful are we to what God has commanded us? Do we utterly destroy the things He commands us to rid ourselves of or do we hold on to a memory of them? Do we share what God has blessed us with or do we keep it for ourselves? Do we reach out to those who are our friends, even though they may have hurt us in the past?

The crux of this passage can be missed quite easily. Return to verse 6. David was in danger. What did he do? He went to God for strength (Isaiah 40.29-31). When you are tired, weary, burdened, to whom do you turn (Matthew 11.28-30)?

1 Samuel 29

A parallel passage is 1 Chronicles 12 (particularly verses 19-20). I haven’t been referencing the Chronicles to this point. I may return to previous posts and cross-reference them at a later date.

David is now caught in his deception but not revealed. 1 Samuel 28.1 presents David’s promotion to the bodyguard of Achish. Here David is called to war against the Israelites. God gives him an out when the commanders other than Achish doubt David’s loyalty to Achish and against Saul. They remind Achish of who David is in the eyes of the Israelites. This does not cause doubt in Achish but gives him reason to send David back to Ziklag (chapter 30).

Achish praises David for his loyalty to him. David feigns disappointment, makes an attempt to go to battle, but, then, goes home to Ziklag.

When we read this and the previous chapters, we know that David appeared to have lied to Achish and was being duplicitous. David was not attacking Philistine encampments but other enemies of Israel. This is why Achish would call David an honest man. He used terminology that David would know and appreciate when he compared David to “an angel of the Lord” (this phrase is used of David in 2 Samuel 14.17 and 19.27).

The song that turned Saul against David was well known (1 Samuel 18.7 and 21.11).

Aphek is an important location for the Philistines. Eli’s sons died there (1 Samuel 4), Saul and his sons died as-well (1 Samuel 31), and where the Ark was captured (1 Samuel 4).

This is a problem chapter to most people. Because David was not being honest with Achish in telling him that he was destroying Israelite towns instead of the enemies of Israel, many believe that David was behaving like Saul. A question I would ask: Did David lie when he withheld truth? Some would say those who are in the wrong don’t deserve all the truth. Do you agree with this?