old testament Lesson 25 LIBERTY HOME BIBLE INSTITUTE ACCELERATED LEARNING PROGRAM Old Testament Unit 2 studies in the psalms

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1 old testament LIBERTY HOME ACCELERATED LEARNING PROGRAM Unit 2 studies in the psalms Study 2: Various Types of Psalms 273

2 PSALMS B. Imprecatory Psalms 1. The nature of these psalms: To imprecate is to pray against, or to invoke judgment upon someone of something. There are many instances where the psalmist calls down wrath upon his enemies, asking God to: a. Fight against them (35:1) b. Bring them into confusion (35:4) c. Scatter them as chaff (35:5) d. Allow the Lord s angel to chase and persecute them (35:5) e. Cause their way to be dark and slippery (35:6) f. Allow death to seize upon them (55:15) g. Pull them down into hell (55:15) h. Break their teeth (58:8) i. Cut up their defense (58:7) j. Withhold all mercy from them (59:5) k. Consume them in wrath (59:13) l. Set a trap for them (69:22) m. Darken their eyes (69:23) n. Make their loins to shake (69:23) o. Let their habitation be desolate (69:25) p. Blot them out of the book of the living (69:28) q. Make them as the dung of the earth (83:10) r. Persecute them (83:14) s. Give them over to Satan (109:6) t. Let their days be few (109:8) u. Let their children be beggars (109:10) v. Let burning coals fall upon them (140:14) w. Cast them into a deep pit (140:10) 2. The number of these psalms: At least nine can be referred to David. These are: 35, 55, 58, 59, 69, 83,109,137,140 The problem involved in these psalms: How can we reconcile these phrases with the New Testament admonition of Jesus in Matthew 5:44? Jesus said, But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you (Matt. 5:44). The suggested answers for these psalms: (The following material is taken from Dr. Roy L. Aldrich, Notes for Lectures on the Psalms [Dallas Seminary Notes].) n The Psalms are inspired and the Holy Spirit has a right to denounce sin and sinners. n This is in harmony with the law (28:4; Jer. 50:15). n Such judgment against evil and evildoers is in harmony with the teachings of Christ and the epistles (Matt. 18:6; 23:33; 26:24; Gal. 1:8-9; 5:12; James 5:3; Jude 13, 15; 2 Peter 2:12, 22; 2 Thess. 2:10-12; Rev. 14:10-11) n The Scriptures pronounce maledictions against the Israelites also for falling into sin and idolatry (Lev. 26; Deut ; Isa. 5:24, 25; and 28:13). n David in private exercised great forbearance, but in the Psalms he makes God s cause his cause (5:10-11). n The Oriental was accustomed to using stronger language than the Westerner. His denunciations were more exaggerated and his praise more vehement. n Many of the imprecations are uttered out of sympathy for the injured and the oppressed (10:8-10). 274

3 n Some of these psalms are prayers for success on the battlefield (144:5-7). Many of Israel s wars were definitely approved by God. n Some of the petitions have reference to scriptural predictions (137:8-9). The psalmist has before him a direct prophecy where the fall of Babylon is predicted in these same terms (Isa. 13:16; also Jer. 50:15; 51:6, 36). n Some concern Christ and his betrayers (40; 55; 60). Ps. 69:22-25 gives us the punishment meted out to Judas. Psalm 109 has been called the Iscariot Psalm. n The wicked in the Psalms are looked upon as confirmed or apostate wicked. This is in keeping with the sovereignty of God and also with the prophetic character of the Psalms. Many of the Psalms look forward to the final earthly judgments against the wicked. n Grace is manifest in frank and repeated warnings to the wicked. (2:12) n The imperative may be changed to the future without violence to the Hebrew: Instead of, Let them be confounded we have, They shall be confounded. The prayer thus becomes a prophecy (see Ps. 109:8-10). C. Degree or Ascent Psalms 1. How many are there of these Psalms? There are 15 ( ). 2. Who wrote them? A commonly held theory is that they were composed by three men. a. Hezekiah wrote ten of them (120, 121, 123, 125, 126, 128, 129, 130, 132, 134). b. Solomon wrote one of them (127). c. David wrote four of them (122,124,131,133). 3. Why were they written? Many believe it was because of the following: Around 716 B.C., God healed a Judean king named Hezekiah of a fatal illness. Isaiah (chapter 38) recorded the prayer of thanksgiving of the grateful king, composed after his recovery. In verse 20, he exclaimed: The LORD was ready to save me: therefore we will sing my songs to the stringed instruments all the days of our life in the house of the LORD. In fact, God not only healed Hezekiah, but promised him an additional 15 years of life. Some believe this was the reason that there are 15 degree psalms his ten, plus five others which may have been previously written by David and Solomon and now added to the sacred Old Testament canon by Hezekiah. 4. How were they to be sung? Here there are various theories: a. An old Jewish tradition explains that they were sung when the choir ascended the semicircular flight of stairs leading up to the court of men in the temple. b. The ascents may have referred to the stages of pilgrimage to Jerusalem, to be sung along the way by travelers en route to the various annual feast days. c. Ascent means a song in the higher choir, the singers being on the stairs of some high place. d. The reference may be musical, signifying that the notes rose by degrees in succession. Whatever the reason for the titles, there is frequent mention of both Jerusalem and the temple in these degree and ascent psalms (122:1-3, 6; 125:2; 128:5; 132:13; 134:1-3). D. Hallel or Hallelujah Psalms 1. The number involved: there are six of them ( ). 2. The nature involved: These psalms were sung on the night of the Passover. Our Lord and his disciples doubtless sung them during the close of the Passover in the upper room (Matt. 26:30). What must have gone through the Savior s mind on that emotion-filled night as He sang the following (among the many) hallelujah verses, knowing full well of his impending death at Calvary! (115:3; compare with Isa. 53:10) (116:3-4,13; compare with Mark 14:34, 36) (118:22-24). In fact, just a few days before his crucifixion, our Lord quoted these words to the wicked Pharisees: Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes? (Matt. 21:42) These psalms are still recited in Israel 18 times a year at various occasions and 21 times yearly by those Jews outside the Holy Land. E. Historical Psalms 1. The number: There are three psalms with a combined total of 165 verses which aptly summarize God s dealing with Israel in the. These are: 78, 105, and

4 2. The nature: Two key themes are stressed in these psalms, namely, the sins of Israel and the grace of God. a. The sins of Israel (1) They refused to walk in His law (78:10). (2) They forgot his works (78:11, 42; 106:13). (3) They spoke against Him (78:19). (4) They didn t trust His salvation (78:22). (5) They lied to him (78:36). (6) They grieved him (78:40). (7) They limited him (78:41). (8) They worshipped graven images (78:58; 106:19). (9) They envied His leader Moses (106:16). (10) They despised the Promised Land (106:24). (11) They murmured in their tents (106:25). (12) They ate the sacrifices of the dead (106:28). (13) They mingled among the heathen (106:35). (14) They sacrificed their sons and daughters to devils (106:37). (15) They shed innocent blood (106:38). b. The Grace of God (1) He remembered His covenant when they cried unto him (105:8-11). (2) He divided the sea (78:13). (3) He led them with a cloud by day (78:14). (4) He led them with a fire by night (78:14). (5) He provided water for them out of rocks (78:15). (6) He rained down manna for them (78:24). (7) He was full of compassion and forgave their iniquity (78:38). (8) He wrought signs for them in Egypt (78:43; 105:27-36). (9) He brought them to the border of the Promised Land (78:54). (10) He cast out the heathen before them (78:55). (11) He chose David to lead them (78:70-71). (12) He allowed no man to hurt them (105:14). (13) He fed them (78:72). (14) He reproved kings for their sake (105:14). (15) He elevated them through Joseph (105:17). (16) He gave them the riches of Egypt (105:37). (17) He kept them all strong (105:37). (18) He continually forgave them (106:43). (19) He continually heard their cry (106:44). F. Acrostic Psalms 1. The number: There are at least nine. These are: 9, 10, 25, 34, 37, 111, 112, 119, The nature: The acrostic psalms are also known as the alphabetical psalms. This is so because each line of these psalms begins with a successive letter of the 22 letters in the Hebrew alphabet. Psalm 119 is, of course, the most famous of the acrostic psalms. It has 22 stanzas. Each stanza has eight verses, for a total of 176. Each of these stanzas begins with one of the 22 Hebrew letters. Not all of these Psalms are complete in this arrangement. That is, some are missing a letter or more. Thus we find: a. Psalms 9, 10, 25 are missing several letters. b. Psalms 34 and 145 have all but one letter. 276

5 c. Psalms 37,111, 112, and 119 have all the letters: It is reasonable to suppose that the acrostic device was designed to assist the memory. God had previously commanded his people to hide the word in their hearts (Deut. 11:18-19). In fact, David, the author of Psalm 119 gave testimony of his obedience to God s command. He wrote: Thy word have I hidden in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee (119:11). G. Messianic Psalms: Reduced to its purest and most precise form, the Bible is a book about Jesus. He alone is its subject, Savior, and song. The following outline aptly brings this into focus. 1. The gives us the preparation for Jesus. 2. The Gospel accounts give us the manifestation of Jesus. 3. The book of Acts gives us the propagation of Jesus. 4. The Epistles give us the explanation for Jesus. 5. The book of Revelation gives us the coronation of Jesus. 6. The messianic psalms (predictions about Jesus) help us, as few other books in that preparation for the Savior. In fact, no less than 14 aspects involving his earthly ministry and eternal reign are introduced by the Psalms. These are: a. His obedience to the Father b. His zeal for the Father c. His rejection by Israel d. His betrayal by a friend e. His false witnesses f. His prayer for his enemies g. His sufferings and death h. His Resurrection i. His Ascension j. His triumphal entry into the heavenlies k. His high priestly work l. His marriage to the church m. His destruction of the heathen n. His millennial reign 7. Here now is a record of the above 14 as foretold in the Psalms and fulfilled in the New Testament. a. His obedience to the Father (1) Foretelling (40:6-10) Thus, the first recorded words of our Lord regarding His earthly ministry would be these, and not the ones found in Luke 2:49: And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father s business? The statement here in Psalm 40 would probably transpire as Jesus leaped over the ivory palaces of heaven to join himself to the tiny body being prepared by Mary. (2) Fulfilling (Heb. 10:5-7) b. His zeal for the Father (1) Foretelling (69:9) (2) Fulfilling (John 2:17) c. His rejection by Israel (1) Foretelling (118:22) n This Psalm, often used during the Feast of Tabernacles, may have been sung by the Savior en route to Gethsemane. n This Supreme Stone of the Scriptures is referred to in many and New Testament passages. l It is the cornerstone (Matt. 21:42; Eph. 2:20). 277

6 l It is the headstone (Zech. 4:7; Acts 4:11). l It is the smitten stone (1 Cor. 10:4). l It is the stumbling stone (1 Cor. 1:23). l It is the crushing stone (Dan. 2:34). l It is the living, chosen, and precious stone (1 Pet. 2:4-7). (2) Fulfilling (Matt. 21:42; John 19:5-6) d. His betrayal by a friend (1) Foretelling (41:9; 55:12-14) (2) Fulfilling (Matt. 26:14-16) e. His false witnesses (1) Foretelling (109:2-3) (2) Fulfilling (Matt. 26:59-61) f. His prayer for his enemies (1) Foretelling (109:4) (2) Fulfilling (Luke 23:34) Both Stephen and Paul would later follow the Lord s example here by also praying for their enemies in the hour of death. Note: n Stephen: And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep (Acts 7:60). n Paul: At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them (2 Tim. 4:16. NIV). g. His sufferings and death (1) That he would be forsaken by God (a) Foretelling (22:1) (b) Fulfilling (Matt. 27:46) (2) That he would be ridiculed (a) Foretelling (22:6-8) (b) Fulfilling (Matt. 27:39-44) (3) That he would be beaten (a) Foretelling (129:3) (b) Fulfilling (John 19:1) (4) That he would be crucified (a) Foretelling (22:16-17) (b) Fulfilling (Luke 23:33) (5) That he would be given vinegar to drink (a) Foretelling (69:21) (b) Fulfilling (Matt. 27:34) (6) That his garments would be gambled for (a) Foretelling (22:18) (b) Fulfilling (Matt. 27:35) h. His Resurrection (1) Foretelling (16:10) (2) Fulfilling (Matt. 28:1-6) i. His Ascension 278

7 (1) Foretelling (68:18) (2) Fulfilling Luke 24:50-51) j. His triumphal entry into the heavenlies (1) Foretelling (24:7-10) (2) Fulfilling (Rev. 7:9-12) k. His High Priestly work (1) Foretelling (110:1, 4) n Verse 1 is quoted more times in the New Testament than any other single verse. On at least four occasions it is repeated. l In Matthew 22:41-46 (to point out the deity of Christ) l In Acts 2:34-35 (to point out the identity of Christ) l In Hebrews 1:13 (as a question, to point out the superiority of Christ) l In Hebrews 10:12-13 (to point out the finished work of Christ) n Verse 4 is found no less than three times in the New Testament, and all three deal with his high priesthood. l In Hebrews 5:6 (to give the qualifications of this high priesthood after the order of Melchizedek) l In Hebrews 6:20 (to give the immutability of this high priesthood) l In Hebrews 7:21 (to give the necessity for the high priesthood) n Note the fivefold description of Christ in this Psalm. l He is God (v. 1). l He is King (v. 2). l He is a Priest (v. 4). l He is a judge (v. 6). l He is a mighty warrior (v. 6). n Note the twofold description of Christ s people in this Psalm. l They are priests: Thy people shall be willing (literally, They shall offer up freely offerings; v. 3) (Compare with Revelation 1:6.) l They are soldiers: In the day of thy power (literally, Thy army, v. 3). (Compare with Ephesians 6:11.) (2) Fulfilling (Heb. 8:1) l. His marriage to the church (1) Foretelling (45:2, 8) (2) Fulfilling (Rev. 19:7-8) m. His destruction of the heathen (1) Foretelling (2:1-9) This psalm is in four parts: n The rebellion of man (vv. 1-3) n The reaction of God (vv. 4-6) n The rule of the Son (vv. 7-9) n The recommendation of the psalmist (vv ) (2) Fulfilling (Rev. 6:12-17) n. His millennial reign (1) Foretelling (72:17) 279

8 Note but a few of the characteristics of the Lamb s reign according to this Psalm: n The poor will receive righteousness (v.2). n The mountains and hills will flourish (v.3). n All oppressors will be crushed (v.4). n His rule will be as gentle and fruitful as the springtime rains upon the grass (v.6). n All good men will prosper exceedingly (v. 7). n His reign will extend to the ends of the earth (v. 8). n All nations will give him gifts and serve him (vv ). n All peoples will bless and praise him (v. 15). n His name will be honored and will continue forever (v. 17). (2) Fulfilling (Rev. 11:15) 280