Carefully Examining the Text

This is a wisdom psalm. It focuses on teaching men more than it does on praising God. It uses the word "proverb" in vs. 4 that is found in the book of Proverbs. It has similarities to the book of Ecclesiastes. Compare Psalm 49:10 to Ecclesiastes 2:12-23 and Psalm 49:12 perishing like the beasts to Ecclesiastes 3:18-21. 49:1-4 A message for all to hear 49:1 This is directed to all and not...

This is sometimes called a Zion psalm. This psalm focuses on the city- 48:1, 2, 8, 8 - Mt. Zion- 48:2, 11 - Zion- 48:12- temple - 48:9. But the ultimate focus of the city is on God- His greatness - 48:1- His protection - 48:3- HIs lovingkindness, righteousness, and justice - 48:9-11- His presence - 48:13-14. The praise of the city is the praise of the God who dwells there. The city of Jerusalem re...

This psalm pictures God as King- 47:2, 6, 7. His dominion is "all the earth"- 47:2, 7; "the nations"- 47:8 . He subdues peoples and nations- 47:3 - and therefore all nations celebrate HIs reign as king- 47:1, 5. The reception given to Him is the reception that kings received when coming to the throne- I Sam. 10:24; II Sam. 15:10; I Kings 1:39; II Kings 9:13; 11:12. In a sense e...

What do we do when all our world is falling apart? Where can we look? To whom can we go for help? Psalm 46 can be divided easily into three parts based on the Selah's at the end of vs. 3, 7, 11. 46:1-3 Describes a natural calamity It does not seem to be a literal description but a statement that even in the worst case scenario that we can trust God. 46:4-7 Describes armies gathering for war o...

This psalm describes a royal wedding.  The king is mentioned in 45:1, 5, 9, 11, 13, 14, 15. 45:1 The writer speaks of his skill and his good theme 45:2-9 Give a description of the queen These verses present an ideal picture of who the king is. The king is the best looking of men- vs. 2;  I Sam. 9:2; 16:12; II Sam. 14:25; I Kings 1:6 The king is the mightiest of warriors- vs. 3-5; I Sam. 8:20 The k...

This is the first of eleven national laments in the book of Psalms. 44:1-8 Israel's Glorious Past The word save is used in vs. 3, 6, 7. They did not win the land of Canaan nor their great victories in the past by their own power but by God's. The phrase "all day long" is going to be used in vs.  8, 15, 22. 44:9-16 Israel's Miserable Present Nothing in vs. 1-8 prepared us f...

Why would we combine these Psalms? 1. The same refrain appears in 42:5, 11; 43:5 2. There are other similar lines- compare 42:9; 43:2 3. There is no heading to Psalm 43 in the Hebrew text These are the first Psalms we have studied ascribed to someone other than David. The "sons of Korah" are mentioned in the heading of Psalms 42, 44-49, 84-85, 87-88. They are apparently descendants of Ko...

The writer may state his conclusion at the beginning of the Psalm- 41:1-3. How blessed is the one who considers the helpless- 41:1 Then the text gives six (6) lines to show how he will be blessed- 41:1b-3. David's speaks- 41:4 His enemies take center stage- 41:5-9. The psalm mentions "enemies" 41:5, "enemy"- 41:11, and those "who hate me" 41:7. The plot and plan...

A Psalm of David 40:1-2 He has waited for the LORD and he has lifted his feet up out of the clay 40:3-5 The LORD put a new song in his mouth 40:6-8 God desires a complete submission to Him and a desire to do His will 40:9-10 He has not been quiet about God's deliverance 40:11-12 He begs God not to withhold compassion from Him 40:13-17 He asks God to hurry to his rescue

Key Themes in Psalm 39 Silence- 39:1-3, 9, 12 Brevity of Life- 39:4-6, 11, 12 Sin and suffering- 39:8-11 Jesus fulfills Psalm 39 This ending is answered in the resurrection of Jesus.  This psalm reveals “the bewilderment about man that was only finally dispelled when the Word became flesh, and when the gospel brought life and immortality to light” Kidner, 156.  39:1-2, 9 Jesus’ silence when on tri...

This Psalm repeatedly references David's sickness- 38:3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 17. He is suffering intensely. He is suffering because of his sin- 38:3, 4, 5, 18. This is not to say all suffering is directly connected to our personal sin. The book of Job shows that is not true. However, we cannot say that there is no connection between personal sin and suffering either. David experiences it right he...

Righteous- vs. 12, 16, 17, 21, 25, 29, 30, 32, 39 Other brief descriptions of the righteous:  11 “humble” same word used in vs. 14 14 “The afflicted and needy,” “who are upright in conduct” 18 “the blameless” 22 “blessed by Him” 37 “the blameless man,” “upright,” and “man of peace”   Characteristics of righteous-  21 “the righteous is gracious and gives”  26 “All day long, he is gracious and lends...

This psalm contrast the character of the wicked- 36:1-4- with the character of God- 36:5-9 36:1 Transgression speaks- These two words are put together this way only here in the Bible. The word "speaks" is often translated "oracle" and refers to an oracle from the LORD. Here it is transgression or rebellion that is giving this oracle.  "There is no fear of God before his ey...

Three main points that we make in this our third podcast on Psalm 35. 1. Jesus experienced the pain and suffering David spoke of on a level deeper than he ever did See vs. 7, 11, 12, 15 especially 2. Jesus did not curse because of this suffering but He called for a blessing instead This is not to criticize imprecatory prayers, but it is to say that is not what Jesus engaged in. Jesus took the curs...

This Psalm calls down curses upon those who have opposed the Psalmist. See verses 1-8, 26. Sometimes we hear that these prayers were acceptable in the Old Testament but they are not acceptable today. In the OT God's people were encouraged to love their enemies- Exodus 23:4-5; Prov. 25:21-22. In the OT God's people were forbidden from taking personal vengeance- Proverbs 20:22; 24:29. In t...

Contend, O LORD, with those who contend with me. Fight against those who fight against me. In this Psalm David describes how he was mistreated, lied about, pursued by wicked people. Frequently through the Psalm David will affirm his innocence- vs. 7, 7, 11, 13-14, He calls on God to rescue him and to judge those who are mistreating him- vs. 3, 4-8, 26 He calls on God to bring the same kind of judg...

This psalm speaks of the fear- vs. 4- troubles- vs. 6, 17- afflictions - vs. 19- of the righteous.  This psalm speaks of the LORD delivering and rescuing His people from afflictions- vs. 4, 6, 17, 19.  Psalm 34 speaks of God protecting HIs people- vs. 7, 9, 10, 15, 20, 22. This psalm speaks of God judging the wicked- vs. 16, 21. Psalm 34:20 is applied to Christ's death on the cross- John 19:3...

This Psalm praises God 33:1-5 Sing to Him a new song and praise Him you who are righteous 33:6-9 The LORD as Creator- Let all stand in awe of Him 33:10-12 The counsel and plans of the nations are thwarted but God's counsel and plans stand 33:13-15 The LORD sees all people and all their works 33:16-17 Victory belongs to the LORD Kings, warriors, and horses cannot bring victory by their own str...

This psalm describes  David's struggle with unconfessed sin and then the joys of forgiveness when he humbled himself before God. 1. The burden of sin - 32:3-5 His bones have wasted away and he is groaning- 32:3 His pain is perpetual- 32:3 "all day long" and 32:4 "Day and night" The hand of the LORD is heavy against him- Ruth 1:13; I Sam. 5:6, 7, 9. The hand of the LORD tha...

The Psalm is quoted by Christ on the cross. Psalm 31:5 is quoted by Jesus in Luke 23:46.  This does not mean that the psalm speaks exclusively of Jesus since 31:10 makes a reference to the writer's "iniquity"- NASB. Some versions have words like "misery" instead of "iniquity." The word "iniquity" is based on the Hebrew text and the word "misery&quo...

This psalm tells us God's anger is for a moment but His favor is for a lifetime- vs. 5. God will turn our mourning into danger and give us garments of joy instead of sackcloth- vs.11 Judgement is not the final word for God's people Exodus 34:6-7; Isaiah 54:7-10 Jesus fulfills the psalm in the greatest sense by HIs resurrection and He turns our grief to joy. 

The Power of God in the thunderstorm The psalm speaks of the LORD 18 times and the "voice of the LORD" 7 times.  The Canaanites believed that Baal controlled the storm and the lightning. But the things that psalms attributes to Baal, the Bible attributes to YHWH.  The showdown between Elijah and the prophets of Baal is about who controls these the storm, the lightning, and the weath.  29...

  This psalm has been described as an individual lament or a psalm of thanksgiving or a royal psalm.     28:1-5 Petition    28:6-9 Praise     Key words: Notice has "hear the voice of my supplication" in vs. 2 is picked up in vs. 6.  The word "hands" is used to refer to David lifting his hands to God in vs. 2, the hands of the wicked in vs. 4, and the work of God's hands in...

The LORD is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? These bold words introduce this psalm.  27:1-6 sound more like a psalm of confidence or praise  27:7-14 sound more like an individual lament as David pours out his problems to God Some have suggested that these were originally two different psalms. However, a common vocabulary ties the portions of this psalm together: "God of my salvat...