Carefully Examining the Text

In this psalm the writer calls out for deliverance from his distress and praises God for deliverance. The petition and complaint section of Psalm 71 are vss. 1-4, 9-13, 18 , and the statements of trust and praise are in vss. 5-8, 14-17, 19, 24. God's righteousness is emphasized in the Psalm- 71:2, 15, 16, 19, 24.  The words "continually" in vs. 3, 6, 14 and "all day long"...

God is begged to help and deliver in vs. 1, 5 The enemies are described in vs. 2-3 The faithful are pictured in vs. 4 Notice some contrasts between the wicked and the righteous vs. 2 The wicked seek his life, while in vs. 4 the righteous seek God vs. 2 The wicked delight in David's hurt, while in vs. 4 the faithful love His salvation vs. 3 The evil men say, "Aha, Aha", while in vs....

A new podcast. The first on Psalm 69 just emphasized the text itself. This podcast focuses on Jesus and the New Testament and what they say about the fulfillment of the Psalm.  Psalm 69 is one of the most frequently quoted Psalms in the NT. 69:4 hated me without a cause- John 15:25 69:9 For zeal for Your house consumed me- John 2:17 69:9 The reproaches of those who reproached You feel on Me- Roman...

This is a psalm of individual lament. 69:1-5 David describes his destress. It is as if he is drowning in deep waters and he cannot find his footing. 69:6-12 His suffering has come upon him specifically because of his love for God and God's house. 69:13-19 He appeals to God to rescue him because of God's lovingkindness, truth or faithfulness, and His compassion. 69:20-21 There is no one t...

This psalm will pick up the discussion of the psalm, Psalm 68, picking up around vs. 21. If you have not listened to Part 1 of the Psalm, let me encourage you to do so. Much of the podcast will focus on how Jesus fulfills the words of Psalm 68. 

Psalm 68 has been described by quite a few writers as the most difficult of the Psalms to interpret. One reason it is so difficult is because around 15 words are used only here in the OT. It is a difficult psalm but when that is the case one thing we can focus on is what the Psalm teaches us about God.  1. This Psalm teaches God as a warrior who conquers HIs foes- 68:1-2, 6, 12, 14, 17-18, 21-23,...

This brief Psalm pictures all nations and peoples praising God. The Psalm is built on the promises of God to Abraham to bless all nations through him and his descendants (Gen. 12:1-3; 22:18) and the blessing the priests pronounced (Numbers 6:24-26). The nations are not viewed as hostile like Psalm 2:1 or asking God to judge them like Psalm 59:5, but instead it pictures the nations praising God bec...

This is the first Psalm in which David has not been mentioned in the heading since Psalm 50. 66:1-12 is a national thanksgiving 66:1-4 All the earth is to praise God 66:5-7 God turned the sea into dry land 66:8-12 God has afflicted HIs people but finally brought them to a place of abundance 66:13-20 is an individual thanksgiving 66:13-15 He pays his vows to God 66:16-20 He gives thanks to God How...

This Psalm is divided into three parts 65:1-4 People come to the temple to praise, pray, and the LORD provides 65:5-8 All the world looks to God 65:9-13 God is blessing the land Jesus fulfills the picture of Psalm 65 65:3 God forgives sin  and Jesus forgives sin - Mark 2:1-12; Luke 7:48-49 65:7 God stills the storm and Jesus does- Mark 4:35-41; Matt. 8:23-27; Lk. 8:22-25 65:8 God does signs that l...

This psalm consists of a prayer for help- 64:1-2 - A description of the enemy- 64:3-6 - and a dramatic intervention by God- 64:7-10. Key words: hide- 64:2, 4 compare vs. 2 with  II Kings 11:2; II Chron. 22:11.  tongue- 64:3, 8 arrow- 64:3, 7 shoot- 64:4, 7 blameless- 64:4, 6 suddenly- 64:4, 7 see- 64:5, 8 fear- 64:4, 9 Also listen for how Jesus fulfills the Psalm. 

Psalm 63   David in the wilderness of Judea discusses his thirst, his longing for God. He praises God- vs. 3, 5- He blesses God- vs. 4- He meditates on Him- vs. 6- sings for joy- vs. 7- clings to Him- vs. 8 Jesus fulfills Psalm 63. Please listen to how.

This psalm uses the Hebrew word translated "only" or "alone" some six times. Four of these times in passages about God Himself-( 62:1, 2, 5, 6) . God alone is our rock and our salvation. What does the Psalm tells us about God? (62:1-2. 5-6, 7, 11-12) Why is man such an empty object of hope and trust? (62:9-10) What does the Psalm tells us about Christ?

What are some key words in the Psalm? The word "hear" in vs, 1, 5 The word "refuge" in vs. 3, 4 The mention of "Your name" in vs. 5, 8 What does He say about God? God leads HIm to the rock- vs. 2 God is His refuge and tower of strength- vs. 3 God is the One he fears- vs. 5 and praises- vs. 8 God supports and strengthens the king - vs. 6-7 God is One he looks to when h...

This Psalm has a lengthy heading which ties in to David and Joab's conflicts with Edom recorded in II Sam. 8:13-14; I Chron. 18:12-13; and I Kings 11:15-16. This most closely fits a national lament mourning a defeat in battle. Verses 5-12 are largely repeated in 108:6-13. 60:1-3 uses several verbs that stress God's hand in this crisis. 60:5 but the people are God's beloved 60:6-8 Go...

This psalm has characteristics of an individual lament- 59:1-4- and a national lament- 59:5, 8, 13. Some key themes in Psalm 59 1. David's description of his enemies- 59:1, 2, 3, 5, 6-7, 14-15 2. His evaluation of himself- He is innocent- 59:3-4; He puts his trust in God- 59:9, 16-17; He sings God's praises- 59:16 3. The urgency of David's requests for help- Four imperatives are use...

This psalm opens by addressing the wicked 58:1-2 An address to the unjust judges 58:3-5 A description of them and the evil they do 58:6-9 A plea to God to judge these wicked people 58:10-11 The rejoicing and celebration at the fall of the wicked The translation of the Psalm is difficult. Compare several translations at vs. 1 and vs. 9 to illustrate some of the difficulties in the psalm. Is it legi...

Possible connections between Psalm 57 and the background of I Samuel 24 1. The word for "wings" in Psalm 57:1 is the same word "edge" for Saul's garment in I Sam. 24:4, 5, 11, 11 2. The "sons of men" use their tongues against David in Ps. 57:4 and David asks Saul why he is listening to man (same word) who tell him David is trying to kill him. 3. They prepare a ne...

Title of the Psalm- Compare different translation here. 56:1-2 David begs for mercy because of wicked foes 56:3-4 David places His trust in God 56:5-6 The viciousness of HIs foes 56:7-9 Prayer for judgment on foes and   God's care for him 56:10-11 David's trust in God 56:12-13 Thanksgiving for God's deliverance Jesus experienced the same mistreatment that David wrote of in this psal...

OT events seemingly alluded to in this psalm. 55:9 seems to allude to the tower of Babel in Genesis 11:1-9. 55:9-11 The picture of the wickedness of the city is quite a contrast with Psalms. 46 and 48. 55:15 "Let them go down alive into Sheol" Numbers 16:30-33 NT and Psalm 55 55:22 Casting our care upon God is encouraged in I Peter 5:7. 55:23 God hurling the wicked to destruction is in R...

This brief psalm calls on the LORD to save David from distress. The historical situation is described in I Samuel 23:19-29; 26:1-25. The men of Ziph are from Judah which is David's own tribe. They twice betray David to Saul. Where else can David look for help except to God? 54:1-2 Pleas for God to save Him from distress 54:3 A description of violent men who seek HIs life 54:4-5 He looks to Go...

This psalm is a twin to Psalm 14 but it is not an identical twin.  The Psalms go separate ways in Psalm 14:5-6 and Psalm 53:5. I will argue that there is a slightly different emphasis in these psalms and that both fit into different contexts.  One example that I do not point out on the podcast is that both Psalms use a Hebrew word that means shame.  The word is used in Psalm 14:6 to describe how t...

This psalm shows a stark contrast between the wicked- 52:1-4 - and the righteous- 52:6-9. In vs. 5 four verbs are used to emphasize that God will bring the wicked down.  The wicked are broken down, snatched up, torn away, and uprooted. 52:1-5 speaks in second person and addresses the ungodly man. 52:6-7 speak in third person describing the ungodly. 52:8-9 David speaks in first person and describes...

51:1-2 Plea for mercy 51:3-6 David confronts how horrible his sins are 51:7-9 He pleas for complete forgiveness 51:10-12 Create in me a clean heart 51:13-17 God wants a whole hearted repentance 51:18-19 He asks God build Zion The things David requests: God's mercy, blotting out of sins, washing, cleansing, created anew all find their greatest fulfillment in Jesus

This is David's great confession after his sin with Bathsheba The historical event is recorded in II Sam. 11-12. We read more of David's grief over his sin in this psalm.  It will take us more than one podcast to cover it. 

This focuses on teaching man about God rather than praising God. Asaph- I Chron. 6:39; 15:17 -19; 16:5; 25:1; II Chron. 29:30 50:1-6 The LORD God summons HIs covenant people to court 50:7-15 What is the true meaning of sacrifice? Sacrifice does not provide God with something that He needs. God owns and possesses all and would not ask our permission if He needed anything. Sacrifice itself is not re...