Carefully Examining the Text

This psalm gives far reaching promises to which few passages of the Bible compare. While people will fall dead all around the righteous, it will not happen to God's people (vs. 7). "No evil will befall you, nor will any plague come near you (vs. 10) . God's angel will not even let us strick our foot against a stone (vs. 12). Do these words mean that someone who suffers any of the di...

The heading speaks of this as the prayer of Moses.  Moses is mentioned 8 times in the Psalms and 7 of those 8 are in Psalms 90-106.  Psalm 90 stresses  The Eternity of God- 90:1-2, 4 The Sovereignty of God- 90:3, 5 God holds man's life in His hand The Wrath of God against sin- 90:7, 9, 11. God is also a God of lovingkindness- 90:14 This Psalm stresses the brevity of man's life- 90:3, 5-6...

Verses 1-18 praised God and glorified HIm, especially for HIs lovingkindness and faithfulness V erses 19-37 celebrated God's lovingkindness and faithfulness in the promises to David Verses 38-51 But not introduces this section where it does not seem the promises of God have been fulfilled It seems like what was promised the kings from the line of David has not been fulfilled. 89:42 is a good...

This psalm is a poetic version of the account in II Sam. 7 89:1-18 Praised God as incomparable and full of lovingkindness and faithfulness 89:19-37 God's promises to David stress His lovingkindness and faithfulness Many of the things said of the David/ His offspring are things similar to what was said in other royal psalms.  89:23 He will crush His foes militarily- Ps. 2:8-9; 110:1-3 89:25 I...

This Psalm ends Book 3 of the Psalms- Psalms 73-89 It is unique in that it moves from praise in vs. 1-18 to lament in vs. 38-52. Most psalms of lament move in the opposite direction- Pss. 13, 22, 31, 69 are examples.  Lovingkindness- NASB or steadfast love- ESV is a key word in the Psalm appearing in vs. 1, 2, 14, 24, 28, 33, 49. Faithfulness is also found 7 times in the Psalm- vs. 1, 2, 5, 8, 24,...

There is not sadder psalm that Psalm 88 it gives an extensive vocabulary of death Sheol- 88:3 ; Pit- 88:4, 6; Dead/ death - 88:5, 10, 15;  Grave - 88:5, 11; Dark/ darkness- 88:6, 12, 18; shades - 88:10; Abaddon- 88:11; land of forgetfulness - 88:12 He describes God as being behind his problems- 88;6, 7, 8, 14, 15, 16, 18 Lessons from Psalm 88 1. Some suffering in this life may never end 2. He does...

It is a psalm of the sons of Korah 87:3 T he psalm emphasizes the city of God as does Psalm 46:4 and 48:1, 2, 8, 8. N otice the emphasis on those who were born in the city in 87:4, 5, 6. This city also clearly refers to a people who know God - 87:4 87:4 Rahab in this verse is tied to Egypt and proof of that word used is found in Isaiah 27:1; 51:9-11. God's people will include people from far...

This psalm focuses on God The name Adonai is used and translated Lord in 86:3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 12, 15. The name Yahweh is used and translated LORD in 86:1, 6, 11, 17. The word Elohim is used and translated God in 86:2, 10, 12, 14 and gods in 86:8. The word El is used and translated God in 86:15. The personal pronoun You is used of God in 86:2, 5, 10, 10, 15, 17. Whatever else Psalm 86 is about, it is...

Notice what the Psalm says about the nature of God- 85:3-5 speaks of God's fury, burning anger, indignation, angry, anger 85:7, 10 God's lovingkindness 85:10, 11 God's truth or faithfulness 85:10, 11, 13 God's righteousness 85:8, 10 speaks of God's peace The word   שוב in Hebrew used twice in vs. 1 and translated in the NASB "restore of captivty." It is used in v...

What does the Psalm say about God? LORD of hosts- 84:1, 3, 8, 12 the living God- 84:2 my King and my God- 84:3 O God of Jacob- 84:8 LORD is a sun and shield- 84:11 How does the Psalm describe the temple? 84:1 Your dwelling place 84:2 the courts of the LORD; 84:10 Your courts 84:4, 10 the house of the LORD  84:3 Your altars What are the motivations and results of public worship? 1. It is an express...

Name is a key idea in the Psalm appearing in vs. 4, 16, 18. vs. 1-5 Petition to God in the midst of crisis The enemies are God's enemies in vs. 2, 5 They are enemies of Israel in vs. 3-4 vs. 6-8 A roll call of the enemies These 10 groups seem to represent Israel's enemies past and present vs. 9-12 Deal with them as You dealt with the enemies of Your people in the days of the judges Jabin...

The first podcast on Psalm 82 dealt with the question of who are the "gods" or "judges" of vs. 1 in whose midst God rules. 82:2-4 How long will you continue to judge unjustly? vs. 3-4 use four imperatives to describe what the judges should have done. vs. 3-4 some six terms are used to describe those who should have been the objects of the judges' mercy. 82:6 I said "...

This brief psalm has engendered must discussion and debate. Therefore, we seek to cover it in two podcast. This is part 1.  82:1 God stands in the congregation of God and He judges in the midst of the gods. The Hebrew term Elohim is the first word and the next to last word in the verse. Much of the debate centers are who are intended by this second use of Elohim. We mention three possibilities as...

In the podcast I mistakenly say that the New Moon was a weekly feast.  That is incorrect. The New Moon was a monthly feast- Numbers 28:11-15. It is alluded to in the OT in several places like I Sam. 20:5, 18, 24, 27; II Kings 4:23; Isaiah 1:13-14; Amos 8:5. What does Psalm 81 teach us about God? 1. God is worthy of praise - 81:1-3 2. God rescued Israel out of Egypt- 81:6-7, 10 3. God asks that His...

This Psalm pictures God as a Shepherd (80:1) , as a Warrior (80:4, 7, 14, 19), and God as a Gardener (80;8...). 80:1 God dwells above the cherubim - I Sam. 4:4; II Sam. 6:2; Ps. 99:1 80:3, 7, 19 Cause Your Face to shine - Num. 6:24-26; Ps. 67:1

This psalm contains lamentation (79:1-5), imprecation (or curses) (79:6-7, 10b, 12), pleas for mercy (79:8-10a, 11), and thanksgiving and praise (79:13). The events of 587 BC were devastating to Jerusalem. Abraham was promised the land of Canaan and they were ripped off of it and taken into captivity. David was promised a king from his line to sit upon his throne and this king was removed. Solomon...

This beautiful poetic psalm, Psalm 78, continues. It continues to tell the glory of God and sinfulness of His people, Israel. God in His mercy rescues them while the people forget Him time and time again. If this has a happy ending, it will be because of God's persistence. 

Psalm 78 is a historical psalm. It is similar to Psalms 105-106, It tells the story of Israel's history much like Nehemiah 9; Ezekiel 16, 20, 23 ; and Acts 7. It stresses the goodness of God to His people and His people's stubborn rebellion to Him. It emphasizes both God's love and God's holiness and wrath and these attributes are seen against the picture of Israel's sin a...

This psalm moves from lament to praise. There are no mentions of enemies in Psalm 77 and only a brief mention of troubles in vs. 2 . However, his trials must have been intense for they lead him to question if God is who He revealed Himself to be. In vs. 7-9 what has happened to God's lovingkindness,  grace, and compassion. These are terms by which God reveals HImself in Exodus 34:6-7 . The wo...

Who can stand before God in His anger? This is a question asked repeatedly in Scripture- Ezra 9:15; Psalm 130:3-4; Nahum 1:6; Malachi 3:2; Rev. 6:16-17.  The Scriptures give us an answer- Rev. 7:13-14 76:10 The wrath of man praises God.  How? Acts 2:23; 3:18; 4:27-28

Key words in the Psalm The wicked- 75:4, 8, 10 Lifted up, on high, exaltation, exalts- 75:4, 5, 5, 6, 7, 10. These are from the same Hebrew word Horn, horns- 75:4, 5, 10, 10 75:8 the cup is an image of judgment. Isaiah 51:17-23; Jer. 25:15-28; 49:12; 51:7; Ezek. 23:32-34; Hab. 2:15-16; Zech. 12:2; Rev. 14:10; 16:19; 18:5-6 Jesus fulfills this Psalm. I am sorry for any background knowledge. 

Have you ever asked why or how long? Writers in the Bible did as well. In this podcast we say a few more words of explanation on 74:12-17. We make some vocabulary connections between Psalm 73 and Psalm 74 "sanctuary" in 73:17; 74:3, 7 "violence" in 73:6; 74:20 "right hand" in 73:23; 74:11 "ruins" in 73:18; 74:3 How does Jesus answer Psalm 73 and Psalm 74? 74...

Why? How long? These questions did not begin to be asked but they have been asked continually throughout history. These question are asked even in God's book.   Psalm 74 is one example of this. Psalm 74 is a national lament. Psalms 44, 79, 89, 137 show great similarities. The book of Lamentations contains many such laments. It is hard for us to imagine the grief of the people when the Babylon...

This opens book 3 of the Psalms. The writer acknowledges that he almost lost his faith at the prosperity of the wicked. 73:1-14 The writer struggles to believe that God is good 73:2 But as for me- This phrase is actually a word in Hebrew that begins vs. 2, 22, 23, 28. 73:3 The Bible warns against being envious of the wicked- Ps. 37:1-2; Prov. 23:19 73:4-5 Their life seems care free and trouble fre...

This psalm speaks of an ideal king 72:1-4, 12-14 The king does justice and righteousness. He cares for the weakest and most defenseless. 72:8-11 His reign is universal 72:5-7, 15-17 Prosperity and blessing will be in his time and the people bless him that his reign will be forever 72:18=20. A doxology closes this second book of the Psalms. Book 1- Psalms 1-41 Book 2- Psalms 42-72 Book 3- Psalms 73...