Carefully Examining the Text

What does Psalm 25 teach us about God? 1. God is a God of forgiveness 25:6-7, 11, 18 God is a God of mercy- 25:6 Lovingkindness- 25:6, 7, 10 Good- 25:7-8 faithfulness or truth- 25:10 He forgives based on His goodness- 25:7- and His name's sake- 25:11 2. God is a God who teaches, instructs us in the right way 25:4-5, 8-10, 12-14 God instructs sinners in the way- Sin means to miss the mark- Jud...

This psalm could be divided into three distinct parts- vs. 1-2, 3-6, 7-10. 24:1-2 The LORD's dominion over all in heaven, earth, and sea 24:3-6 Who may ascend into God's holy place?  One must have clean hands and a pure heart. He must not lift up his soul to falsehood nor swear deceitfully 24:7-10 Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts What does the Psalm teach us about God? How do...

The LORD is portrayed as the good shepherd in vs. 1-4 and a gracious host in vs. 5-6. Some passages that talk of the work of a shepherd are Genesis 31:39-40 The shepherd worked tirelessly I Samuel 17:34-36 He risked his life Matthew 18:12-14; Luke 15:3-7 He went looking after every lost sheep Isaiah 40:11 He carried the sheep in his bosom  The shepherd protected and provided for his sheep. The LOR...

This psalm is quoted or echoed repeatedly in the New Testament and applied to the suffering of Christ.  There is no clear record of pre-New Testament sources applying this to the sufferings of the Messiah.  Psalm 22:1 is quoted in Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34  Psalm 22:7-8 is alluded to in Matthew 27:39; Mark 15:29; Luke 23:34-35 Psalm 22:18 is quoted and applied to Christ's suffering in John 19...

This psalm is often quoted in the New Testament. In this podcast we are simply seeking to explain it in its OT setting. Lord willing, in the next podcast we will talk about its use in the NT. In this psalm there is a contrast between the "I/me" sections where David explains his crisis and the sections that emphasize "You" as he begs God's help. 22:1-2 Why have You forsaken...

This and the previous psalm  are both usually called "royal psalms." These psalms are linked by the Hebrew word for "salvation" in 20:5, 6, 6, 9; 21:1, 5. The word "king" is used in 20:9; 21:1, 7.  The "right hand" appears in 20:6; 21:8. Psalm 21 begins and ends with a mention of the LORD and His strength 21:1-7 The LORD is source of all the king's bles...

This is called a royal psalm because of the emphasis on the role of the anointed- vs. 6- and the king- vs. 9.  Key words in the Psalm: "answer" in vs. 1, 6, 6, 9 "victories" "saves" "saving" or "save" are all from the same root word in vs. 5, 6, 6, 9 The word "name" is used in 20:1, 5, 7.  The people had great hopes for the king- II Sam....

C. S. Lewis called it the greatest poem in the book of Psalms. 19:1-6 The heavens are declaring the glory of God If creation overwhelms us and leads us to stand in awe, how much more should we stand in awe of the Creator HImself. 19:2-4 They bear constant testimony to who God is. They speak a language with no words but they speak a language that has no limits or boudaries. 19:4-6 The glory is show...

In this royal psalm, David acknowledges that all he is and has is from God.  18:3 He hears David's call and rescues him 18:16 He drew him out of many waters 18:17 He delivered him from the strong enemy 18:18 The LORD is his stay in time of calamity 18:28 The LORD is his lamp 18:29 By God's strength he performs heroic acts 18:30 He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him 18:31 The LOR...

This is viewed as a royal psalm, a psalm about the king. David composed it after deliverance from his foes according to the heading.  Look at how he describes his relationship with God in vs. 1-2. 18:1-3 He loves the LORD 18:4-6 The crisis from which the LORD delivered him 18:7-15 The LORD's dramatic intervention to rescue His servant and judge His foes 18:16-19 The LORD drew David out of the...

Psalm 17 17:1-2  David begs God to hear his prayer 17:3-5  The LORD has examined him and tried him 17:6-8  He begs God to protect and shield him 17:9-12  David describes the wicked and their violence to him 17:13-15.  The LORD is to bring down the wicked and he longs to see their face Connections with Psalm 16 16:1  taking refuge in the LORD. 17:7 16:8 The mention of the LORD's right hand  17...

Psalm 16 Heading: A Mikhtam of David- Psalms 56-60 16:1-4 David trusts in the LORD vs. those around him who trust in other gods 16:5-6 The LORD is his portion, inheritance, cup, lot, and heritage 16:7-11 The LORD is at His right hand and He will not be shaken 16:8-11 is quoted in Acts 2:25-28, 31 by Peter and Acts 13:35-37 by Paul. Both of these speakers emphasize that these words did not have the...

15:1 The Question: O LORD, who may abide in Your tent? Who may dwell on Your holy hill? 15:2-5a The Answer: The character of the one who continues to be in God's presence vs. 2 Three participles describe him positively: He walks with integrity, works righteousness, speaks truth vs. 3 negatively he does not slander with his tongue, do evil to a neighbor, or take up a reproach against a friend...

Psalm 14:1-3 The foolishness of living without God 14:4-6 The LORD is with the righteous 14:7 O that salvation would come out of Zion. The Hebrew word translated "there is no" as in "there is no God" is used 4 times in verses 1-3. The first time man in saying in his heart that there is no God to call him to account. The other 3 times this Hebrew word is used in vs. 1-3 is God&a...

Psalm 13:1-2 How long, O LORD?? This psalm is a classic example of a psalm of lament.  "How long" is asked 4 times with the questions surrounding it intensifying.  13:3-4 Rescue me now 13:5-6 I will praise the LORD The psalms of individual lament usually end in praise and the praise at the end of the psalm answers the plea expressed earlier in the Psalm. 

Psalm 12:1-4 The wicked are consuming the godly 12:1 Help- NASB; Save- ESV 12:2-3 The wicked lips of the evil men 12:5-8  The LORD will preserve the poor and afflicted The LORD arises the save the righteous 12:6 The LORD's words are pure in contrast to the words of the wicked in 12:2-3. 12:7 The LORD will preserve them. 12:8 sons of men- this phrase appears in both vs. 1 and vs. 8. 

Psalm 11 11:1 The security of the Psalmist  11:2-3 The threat of the wicked 11:4 The sovereignty of God 11:5-6 The destiny of the wicked 11:7 The destiny of the righteous What does Psalm 11 say about the LORD? 11:1 He is our refuge 11:4 He is in His holy temple 11:4-5 He tests all men 11:5-6 He will bring judgment upon the wicked 11:7 He will bless the righteous How does Jesus fulfill the picture...

Psalm 10 and Psalm 9 may have originally been one Psalm. Even if that is not the case, there are many connections between the Psalms.  Here are some of them.  10:1- times of trouble- 9:9 10:2 the wicked- 9:5, 16, 17; 10:2, 3, 4, 13, 15 10:4 The Hebrew word for "Seek" in 9:10, 12; 10:4, 13, 15 10:11 The claim that God has forgotten- 9:12, 18 10:12 Arise- 9:19 10:16 The LORD is king- 9:4,...

Psalm 9:1-2 I will give thanks to the LORD 9:3-6 My enemy will stumble and turn back 9:7-10 The LORD has established His throne for judgment 9:11-12 Sing Praises to the LORD 9:13-16 Lift me up from death and let the nations sink down 9:17-18 The wicked nations vs. the afflicted and needy 9:19-20 Do not let man prevail The Psalm emphasizes that the LORD will... bring judgment upon the wicked- 9:3,...

When Apollo 11 went to the moon in 1969 they had a silicon disk in which they left messages from 73 nations and the message from the Vatican was the text of Psalm 8   Psalm 8 begins and ends with praise to God. It is an inclusion beginning and ending with the same words, "LORD, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth" vs. 1, 9.  1. The Psalm speaks of the greatness of God co...

Psalm 7:1-2 The enemy threatens to tear David apart 7:3-5 If he is guilty, may he be judged 7:6-11 He calls on the LORD to arise in judgment 7:12-16 Judgment will fall upon the head of the wicked 7:17 Final praise God as judge from Psalm 7 God is judge of all peoples- 7:7-8 God is a righteous judge- 7:11 God is angry with sin- 7:6, 11 God punishes the wicked- 7:9, 11, 12-16 God vindicates the righ...

The division we made of Psalm 6 is  1. The psalm describe the depth of David's despair- vs. 2-3, 6-7 2. His plea to God for help- vs. 1, 4-5 3. His confidence of victory- vs. 8-10

This psalm alternates between petitions to God (vs. 1-3, 7-8, 11-12) and descriptions of the wicked (vs. 4-6, 9-10). The psalm distinguishes between the righteous and the wicked but it also reminds us that we only enter the LORD's house by the abundance of HIs lovingkindness (vs. 7). 

An evening prayer 

Psalm 3 David flees from Absalom 3:1-2 Many are rising against him 3:3-4 The LORD is his shield 3:5-6 The LORD sustains me 3:7-8 Salvation belongs to the LORD