A Study Of The Psalms. David Weaks

Transcription

1 A Study Of The Psalms David Weaks

2 Contents: Lesson 1 Introduction 2 Lesson 2 Great Themes in Psalms (1) 7 Lesson 3 Great Themes in Psalms (2) 11 Lesson 4 Great Themes in Psalms (3) 16 Lesson 5 Psalm 1 20 Lesson 6 Psalm 2 24 Lesson 7 Psalms Lesson 8 Psalm 8 32 Lesson 9 Psalms Lesson 10 Psalm Lesson 11 Psalms Lesson 12 Psalm Lesson 13 Psalm Lesson 14 Psalms Lesson 15 Psalms Lesson 16 Psalms Lesson 17 - Psalms Lesson 18 Psalms Lesson 19 Psalms Lesson 20 Psalms Lesson 21 Psalms Lesson 22 Psalms Lesson 23 Psalms Lesson 24 Psalms Lesson 25 Psalms Lesson 26 Psalms Lesson 27 Psalms Lesson 28 Psalms Lesson 29 Psalms Lesson 30 Psalms Lesson 31 Psalms Lesson 32 Psalms Lesson 33 Psalms Lesson 34 Psalms Lesson 35 Psalms Lesson 36 Psalms Lesson 37 Psalms Lesson 38 Psalm Lesson 39 Psalms Lesson 40 Psalms Lesson 41 Psalms Lesson 42 Psalms Lesson 43 Psalms Lesson 44 Psalms Lesson 45 Psalms

3 A Study of Psalms Lesson 1 Introduction To Psalms The word psalms in Hebrew literally means praises. That is the title of the book as it was known to the Hebrews: "Praises," or "The Book of Praises." In the book of Psalms, the praises which came from the hearts of faithful men were poured out to God. Also included in the one hundred and fifty chapters of Psalms there are prayers, requests, meditations, repentance (Psalm 51), and thanksgivings, all aimed toward God. Authorship: The Book of Psalms had numerous human writers, David being the most prolific of them. A large number of the psalms are known to have been written by David (Some scholars think as many as half of the psalms were written by him. The number attributed to Him varies from sixty-eight, to seventythree, to eighty-eight psalms, depending on who you ask.). It is hard to nail down an exact number that David may have written, because many of the psalms may have been attributed to him rather than having been written by him. Many times, when David is the known author, he stated the occasion or purpose for writing a psalm. Psalm 3:1 - Written when David fled from his son Absalom. Psalm 56:1 - States that David wrote the psalm when the Philistines took him in Gath. Psalm 52:1 - David wrote this psalm on the occasion when Doeg the Edomite exposed David to Saul as hiding in the house of Ahimelech. Psalm 57:1 - David wrote this psalm when he fled from Saul and hid in a cave. Psalm 60:1 - Was written when David fought against Mesopotamia and Syria, and when Joab slew twelve thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt. Other writers of the psalms include someone named Asaph, who wrote twelve psalms (Psalms 50, 73-83). The sons of Korah are attributed with authorship of ten psalms (Psalms 42, 44-49, 84, 85, 87). Two are attributed to Solomon (Psalms 72, 127), one to Ethan the Ezrahite (Psalms 89), one to Heman the Ezrahite (Psalms 88), one to Moses (Psalm 90), and nearly fifty have no known author. Inspiration Of the Psalms: The psalms were written with pen and ink by men, but God is the author of them all. Peter said so: "Men and brethren, this scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke before by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus" (Acts 1:16, citing Psalm 41:9). Jesus, likewise, attributed David's psalms to inspiration: "He said to them, 'How then does David in the Spirit call Him Lord, saying: The Lord said to my Lord, sit at My right hand, Till I make your enemies your footstool'?" (Matthew 22:43-44, citing Psalm 110:1). Even David said that he was inspired of God: "The Spirit of the Lord spoke by me, and His word was on my tongue" (2 Samuel 23:2). 2

4 The age of the book of Psalms: When was the book of Psalms written? A better question would be: When was the book of Psalms compiled? If we take as fact that the author's named in certain psalms really wrote those chapters, then the time of composition for Psalms was very long. Psalm 90 is attributed to Moses, who lived around 1,500 B.C., while David reigned around 1,000 B.C, and Solomon (Psalm 72, 127) around 950 B.C. Other writers lived much later. So, the time it took to compose the Psalms was well over a thousand years, start to finish. No one knows when the Psalms were compiled into one book, but the book as we know it has existed for many centuries. Type of Literature: Psalms is part of a portion of the Bible known as "wisdom literature." The wisdom literature is often highly figurative and poetic. Several books are included in this section: Job An examination of the sufferings of a good man, in which the suffering had no knowable cause or explanation. Psalms The Hebrew song book. The psalms are filled with expressions of the heart of man. In the many psalms, the writers describe joy, fear, faith, needs, and thanksgiving. Proverbs General expressions of truth which set boundaries for godly living. Ecclesiastes A discussion of the whole duty of man to fear God and keep His commandments. Solomon, seemingly an older, wiser man, speaks as if to a son, telling of his fruitless search for fulfillment without God. Song of Solomon An examination of love in Marriage. Some see Song of Solomon as an allegory of the love between God and the Jewish nation. Others believe it is an allegory of the love between Christ and His church. A note on Hebrew poetry. We think of poetry as having the musical qualities of rhyme and meter, but Hebrew poetry has none of these. Rather, it has a rhythm of thought. The writers of Psalms and Proverbs, especially, offer to the reader very important ideas in various combinations of repetition and parallels. Hebrew poetry also used repetitive consonant sounds, and alliteration. Types of Psalms: Synonymous parallels Two lines say the same or nearly the same thing. For example: Psalms 3:1 "Lord, how they have increased who trouble me! Many are they who rise up against me." Psalm 7:16 "His trouble shall return upon his own head, And his violent dealing shall come down on his own crown." Psalm 24:1 "The earth is the Lord's, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell therein." Psalm 24:2 "For He has founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the waters." 3

5 Synthetic parallels The second line or even several succeeding lines state the same idea as the first line, but augments it with more detail: Psalms 95:3 "For the Lord is the great God, And the great King above all gods." o (vs. 4) "In His hand are the deep places of the earth; The heights of the hills are His also." o (vs. 5) "The sea is His, for He made it; And His hands formed the dry land." Psalm 14:1 "The fool has said in his heart, 'There is no God.' They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none who does good." o (vs. 2) There is none who understands or seeks God. o (vs. 3) "They have all turned aside, they have together become corrupt; there is none who does good, no not one." Emblematic parallels A second line of the parallel uses imagery, usually in the form of a metaphor or a simile, to illustrate what the first line states directly: Psalms 23:2 "He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters." Psalm 42:1 "As the deer pants for the water brooks, So pants my soul for You, O God." Psalm 103:13 "As a father pities his children, So the Lord pities those who fear Him." Antithetical parallels The second line of the parallel appears to contradict the first line, but is really a contrast which emphasizes the truth of the first line Psalms 1:6 "For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the ungodly shall perish." (Meaning, he knows the way of the ungodly just as well, and focuses on their evil.) Psalms 57:6 "They have prepared a net for my steps; My soul is bowed down; They have dug a pit before me; Into the midst of it they themselves have fallen. Selah" Psalm 34:10 "The young lions lack and suffer hunger; But those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing." Inverted Parallels States the same idea in two lines, but reverses the order of the words, for the sake of emphasis. Think of each portion of each line having an assigned letter order: a-b (line one); b-a (line two Psalm 91:14 - "(A) Because he has set his love upon Me, (B) therefore I will deliver him; (B) I will set him on high, (A) because he has known My name." Psalm 137:5-6 (ASV) "(A) If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, (B) Let my right hand forget her skill. (B) Let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth, (A) If I remember thee not; If I prefer not Jerusalem Above my chief joy.." Psalms as worship. As mentioned earlier, the Book of Psalms has been called the Hebrew songbook, and for good reason. The Hebrews called Psalms: the Book of Praises. It is clear that the Psalms have long enjoyed a prominent place in worship among God's people. In 1 Corinthians 14:26, Paul said the 4

6 Corinthians came to worship and many "had a psalm." Paul said that Christian worship includes the singing of "psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs" (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16). The psalms had an important place in the worship conducted in the temple in Jerusalem. "A Song of Ascents." There are fifteen psalms which are called "A Song of Ascents" (Psalm ). The KJV calls each of them "A Song of Degrees." The Hebrew word translated ascents or degrees means to ascend upwards. The idea or ascents could mean one of several things. Many believe these were psalms that were sung at the several annual feasts in Jerusalem, i.e. the faithful would ascend to Jerusalem to observe these required holy days (see: Psalm 122:1). Some think that the psalms of ascents were sung in an elevated pitch. Another idea suggests that the priests would ascend fifteen steps into the temple, and at each step they would sing one of these psalms. Still another explanation of ascents is that each of these psalms turns the attention of the singers heavenward, where God resides, as the singers ask for God's favor and give Him praise. "For the Chief Musician" Fifty-five psalms are so titled. These were dedicated to the chief singer, or cantor, of the Temple. In Psalm 39:1 and Psalm 62:1, the chief musician of David was named Jeduthun (see also: 1 Chronicles 16:41 and 25:3). This might mean that the chief musician wrote them or that they were written for his use in worship. "Upon Gittith" - Three of the Psalms (8:1; 81:1; and 84:1) have the phrase: "upon Gittith." The meaning is uncertain, but it is believed that the Gittith was a Philistine musical instrument invented in Gath, possibly like a harp, or that it was a commonly known tune which originated in Gath. "Upon Alamoth" - Psalm 46 is said to be sung "upon Alamoth." Alamoth means maidens in Hebrews, and it is believed that this is a reference to the soprano voice. Hence, psalm 46 was to be sung by women. "Higgayon" This word does not appear as a title, but as a post script in Psalm 9:16 (NKJV "meditation"), and it refers to a solemn kind of song. The word is translated as, "a solemn sound" in Psalm 92:3. It is translated as "meditation" in Psalm 19:14. "Selah" Seventy one Psalms have this word as a postscript. The meaning is unclear, but many believe it is a musical direction for the singers to raise their voices in benediction or simply to sing louder. "Shiggaion"(shigionoth Habakkuk 3:1) A song of a wandering melody (Psalm 7:1). The NKJV uses the word "meditation." 5

7 Questions: 1. What does the word psalms mean? 2. What did the Hebrews call the Book of Psalms? 3. How many psalms were written by David? 4. How many psalms were written by Asaph? 5. How many psalms are attributed to the Sons of Korah? 6. How can we be sure that the Book of Psalms is inspired? 7. How long a time did it take to compose all of the psalms? 8. What kind of Bible literature is psalms? What are some of the other books in this category? 9. How was Hebrew poetry different from modern poetry? 10. Explain what a synonymous parallel is. 11. What was a synthetic parallel? 12. What was an emblematic parallel? 13. What was an antithetical parallel? 14. Explain how inverted parallels worked. 15. How many psalms are called "A Song of Ascents"? How were these psalms used? 16. What does the phrase, "Upon Gittith" in Psalm 8:1 mean? 17. What does "Alamoth" in Psalm 46 refer to? 18. What was a Higgayon (Psalm 9:16)? 19. What does the postscript "Selah" (Psalm 3:2, 4, 8, etc.) mean? 20. What was a Shiggaion (Psalm 7:1)? 6

8 Great Themes In The Psalms (1) The Messiah Lesson 2 One of the most common themes in Psalms is the coming Messiah. The word Messiah means anointed one. Very many details of the life of Jesus and of His reign as king were foretold by the writers of the Psalms. The greater number of Psalmist references to Jesus pertained to the events surrounding His death on the cross of Calvary. Psalms of this kind are basically prophecies. The prophets were God's spokesmen, and they normally preached about events of their day, and so prophecies were often the equal of modern sermons. But, another element of prophetic writing was its foretelling of future events. As you read and study each of the psalms, please read the New Testament citation as well. You will be impressed by the accuracy of the foretelling as revealed by the fulfillment. Prophets were inspired of God, so their words were not ballpark guesses, but were accurate statements of future events, and were accurate in even the most minute details. The Psalms foretold how Jesus would be rejected by the world that He came to save: Psalm 2:1-2 Jesus was rejected by the kings of the earth: "Why do the nations rage, And the people plot a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, And the rulers take counsel together, Against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying," (Acts 4:23-28). When the apostles were arrested, threatened, and commanded not to preach the name of Jesus anymore, they offered a prayer to God in which they cited Psalm 2:1-3 which spoke of the hostility of kings toward the Messiah. They rightly noted that Herod, Pontius Pilate, the Gentiles, and the people of Israel were gathered together against Him (Acts 4:27). Psalm 69:8 Jesus was rejected by His family: "I have become a stranger to my brothers, and an alien to my mother's children." (see: John 1:11; 7:5) Psalm 31:11 Jesus was rejected by men as a whole: "I am a reproach among all my enemies, but especially among my neighbors, and am repulsive to my acquaintances; those who see me outside flee from me." The prophet Isaiah foretold the very same thing when he said that He was "despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him." (Isaiah 53:3-4). Psalm 41:9 Jesus betrayed by one of His closest friends, the apostle Judas: " Even my own familiar friend in whom I trusted, Who ate my bread, Has lifted up his heel against me." (see: Matthew 26:20-25; John 13:18, 21). 7

9 The Psalms provide us with intimate details concerning Jesus' death on the cross: Psalm 22:1 His cries of anguish: "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? Why are You so far from helping Me, And from the words of My groaning?" (see: Matthew 27:46). Psalm 22:6-13, 16 Jesus mocked: "But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised by the people. All those who see me ridicule Me; they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying: He trusted in the Lord, let Him rescue Him; let Him deliver Him, since He delights in Him..." This perfectly aligns with the events in the gospel record, even using the same words that men would speak against the Christ. (see: Matthew 27:39-44; Luke 23:35). Psalm 22:14-15 The Psalmist spoke of the many agonies of the cross: "I am poured out like water, and all My bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax; it has melted within Me. My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue clings to My jaws; You have brought Me to the dust of death..." (see: John 19:28). Psalm 22:16 The Psalmist said that Jesus' killers would pierce his hands and feet: "For dogs have surrounded Me; The congregation of the wicked has enclosed Me. They pierced My hands and My feet;" (see: John 20:25) Psalm 22:17 The people would stand around staring in morbid fascination as the King of kings died: "I can count all My bones. They look and stare at Me." (see: John 19:37). Psalm 22:18 The Psalmist foretold that soldiers would cast lots for his clothes: "They divide My garments among them, and for My clothing they cast lots." It is important to note how specific this and other prophetic psalms are. Centuries before the death of the Lord, this psalm was so specific as to distinguish between the Lord's garments and his one piece tunic which was given to one of the soldiers by lot. (see: Matthew 27:35-36; Luke 23:34; John 19:23-24) Other Psalms told very important details about Jesus and His death. Psalm 69:21 He was given gall to drink, not to take away his thirst. Gall was a very bitter substance, and was used as a drug (see: Matthew 27:34; John 19:28-30). Psalm 34:20 None of Jesus' bones would be broken (see: John 19:31-37). Psalm 109:4 He prayed for his enemies (see: Luke 23:34; John 15:25). Psalm 31:5 His final words: "Into Your hand I commit my spirit; You have redeemed me, O Lord God of truth." (see: Luke 23:46). Psalm 40:6-8 His death was voluntary. (see: Luke 24:44-45; John 4:34). Psalm 16:8-10 Jesus' resurrection from the dead (see: Acts 2:24-31). Psalm 68:18 His ascension (see: Ephesians 4:8-10). 8

10 The Psalms foretold that Jesus would rule as King: Psalm 2:8-9 "Ask of Me, and I will give You The nations for Your inheritance, And the ends of the earth for Your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them to pieces like a potter's vessel." (see: Revelation 2:27; 12:5). Psalm 45:6-7 "Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom. You love righteousness and hate wickedness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of gladness more than Your companions." (see: Hebrews 1:8-9) Psalm 72:8 "He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, And from the River to the ends of the earth." Psalm 93:2 "Your throne is established from of old; You are from everlasting." Psalm 110:1-3 He sits at the right hand of God: "Sit at My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool. The Lord shall send the rod of Your strength out of Zion. Rule in the midst of Your enemies." (see: Acts 2:33). The Psalms tell us that Jesus is our judge: Psalm 11:4-7 He tests the sons of men, heaping coals of fire on the wicked, and beholding the righteous. (see: Acts 17:31; Revelation 1:5; 2:2-28; 19:11-16). Psalm 110:5-6 "The Lord is at Your right hand; He shall execute kings in the day of His wrath. He shall judge among the nations, He shall fill the places with dead bodies, He shall execute the heads of many countries." (2 Corinthians 5:10). The Psalms tell us that Jesus is our high priest. Psalm 110:4 He is the judge of all of mankind: "The Lord has sworn And will not relent, You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek." (see: Hebrews 5:6) Questions: 1. What does the word Messiah mean? 2. Explain what a prophecy was. 3. Which psalm said that the counselors and rulers of the earth opposed the Messiah? 9

11 4. Which psalm foretold that Jesus would be a stranger in his own family? Where is this confirmed in the New Testament? 5. In which text from Isaiah can we read of Jesus being despised and rejected by men? 6. Which psalm foretold that Jesus would be betrayed by a close friend? Who was that friend? 7. Which psalm gives the longest and most detailed description of Jesus' suffering on the cross? Which of the major prophets foretold the same detail of sufferings? (cite the book, chapter, and verses). 8. In which psalm was it foretold that none of Jesus' bones would be broken? 9. Which psalm quoted Jesus' final words on the cross? 10. Which of the Psalms spoke of Jesus' resurrection from the dead? Who quoted this psalm in a sermon? 11. Which psalm says that the Messiah would rule from sea to sea? What else does it foretell about His kingdom? 12. In which psalm is it stated that Jesus would be priest according to the order of Melchizedek? Where in the New Testament can we read about the priesthood of Christ and Melchizedek? 10

12 Lesson 3 Great Themes In The Psalms (2) The Rule Of God And Christ A large number of the psalms speak of the rule and power of God over all of the earth. David was especially aware of who was really king of the universe. He might have been king over Israel, but God was and is ruler over all. In these psalms, the authors acknowledge that there is no king among men that does not kneel before the throne of God. God rules in the affairs of men, and is in complete control over nature. In these psalms there is also occasional references to the coming King of Israel, Jesus Christ. Psalm 45 - "To the Chief Musician. Set to 'The Lilies.' A Contemplation of the sons of Korah. A Song of Love." vs. 1 "My heart is overflowing with a good theme; I recite my composition concerning the King; my tongue is the pen of a ready writer." vs. 3-5 "Gird Your sword upon Your thigh, O Mighty One, With Your glory and Your majesty. And in Your majesty ride prosperously because of truth, humility, and righteousness; And Your right hand shall teach You awesome things. Your arrows are sharp in the heart of the King's enemies; The peoples fall under You." vs. 6-7 "Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom. You love righteousness and hate wickedness; therefore God, Your God, has anointed You with the oil of gladness more than Your companions." Note: Psalm 45 is quoted in Hebrews 1:8-9 in reference to the greatness of Jesus Christ over the angels. Psalm 47 - "To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of the sons of Korah" vs. 1-3 "Oh, clap your hands, all you peoples! Shout to God with the voice of triumph! For the Lord most high is awesome; He is a great King over all the earth. He will subdue peoples under us, and the nations under our feet." vs. 6-7 "God has gone up with a shout, The Lord with the sound of a trumpet. Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises! For God is the King of all the earth; Sing praises with understanding. God reigns over the nations; God sits on His holy throne." Psalm 93 - vs. 1-2 "The Lord reigns, He is clothed with majesty; the Lord is clothed, He has girded Himself with strength. Surely the world is established so that it cannot be moved. Your throne is established from of old; You are from everlasting." 11

13 vs. 4 "The Lord on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, than the mighty waves of the sea." Psalm 96 - vs. 3-4 "Declare His glory among the nations, His wonders among all peoples. For the Lord is great and greatly to be praised; He is to be feared above all gods." vs. 10 "Say among the nations, 'The Lord reigns; the world also is firmly established, it shall not be moved; He shall judge the peoples righteously.'" vs. 13 "...For He is coming, for He is coming to judge the earth. He shall judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with His truth." Psalm 97 - vs. 1 "The Lord reigns; let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of isles be glad!" Psalm 99 - vs. 1-2 "The Lord reigns; let the peoples tremble! He dwells between the cherubim; let the earth be moved! The Lord is great in Zion, and He is high above all the peoples." vs.4 "The King's strength also loves justice; You have established equity; You have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob." God's Creation The book of Psalms contains some of the most beautiful and powerful words which praise God for His creation. Psalm 8 - "To the Chief Musician. On the instrument of Gath. A Psalm of David." vs. 1 "O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is Your name in all the earth, who have set the glory above the heavens." vs. 3 "When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained," Psalm 19 - "To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David." vs. 1 "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork." vs. 2-4 The heavenly bodies are said to have a "voice" which speak in a voice which declares the glory of God's creation. vs. 4b-6 The rising and setting of the sun is described as part of the creation of God. Psalm 11 - vs. 2 "The works of the Lord are great, studied by all who have pleasure in them. His work is honorable and glorious, and His righteousness endures 12

14 forever. He has made his wonderful works to be remembered; the Lord is gracious and full of compassion." Psalm "For the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David" vs. 1-6 David describes the perfect knowledge (omniscience) of the creator. There is nothing that God does not know. vs He then describes Gods omnipresence: "Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; if I make my bed in hell, behold, you are there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there Your hand shall lead me, and Your right hand shall hold me." vs. 14 "I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well." vs. 15 "My frame was not hidden from you, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth." vs. 16 "Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And Your book they all were written, the days fashioned me, when as yet there were none of them." Imprecatory Psalms: Appeals to God for protection and condemnation of enemies. Many of the psalms of David are of this kind. They are called Imprecatory (to curse or revile) Psalms because within each of the psalms David calls upon God to curse and defeat his enemies. David was a man who was beset by many enemies, and his need for God's help was a constant theme in his prayers. Psalm 7 - "A meditation of David, while he sang to the Lord concerning the words of Cush, a Benjamite." vs. 1-2 "O Lord my God, in You I put my trust; save me from all those who persecute me; and deliver me, lest they tear me like a lion, rendering me in pieces, while there is none to deliver." vs. 3-8 David pleads his innocence by calling on God to judge him if he had behaved unrighteously. vs. 9- And then he appeals again to God for help: "Oh, let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end, but establish the just for the righteous God tests the hearts and minds." vs. 11 "God is a just judge, and God is angry with the wicked every day." vs. 12 "If he does not turn back, He will sharpen His sword; He bends His bow and makes it ready." vs. 13 "He also prepares for Himself instruments of death; He makes His arrows into fiery shafts." vs God will see to it that the wicked will fall into and suffer destruction in their own traps. 13

15 Psalm 35 - "A Psalm of David." vs. 1 "Plead my cause, O Lord, with those who strive with me; fight against those who fight against me." vs. 2-3 "Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for my help. Also draw out the spear, and stop those who pursue me. Say to my soul, 'I am your salvation.'" vs. 4-6 David calls on God to defeat all of his enemies who plotted to hurt him. David wished for them to be like chaff in the wind and for their way to be dark and slippery, as an angel of the Lord pursued them. Psalm 55 - "To the Chief Musician. With stringed instruments. A Contemplation of David" vs. 1-3 "Give ear to my prayer, O God, and do not hide Yourself from my supplication. Attend to me, and hear me; I am restless in my complaint, and moan noisily, because of the voice of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked; for they bring down trouble upon me, and in wrath they hate me." vs. 4-5 "My heart is severely pained within me, and the terrors of death have fallen upon me. Fearfulness and trembling have come upon me, and horror has overwhelmed me." vs. 6-7 David dreamed of having wings like a dove so that he could fly away and be at rest. His life was a tempestuous storm from which he longed to escape. vs. 9 "Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues, for I have seen violence and strife in the city..." vs David bemoaned the fact that his enemy was one whom he considered a close friend and brother. vs. 15 "Let death seize them; let them go down alive into hell, for wickedness is in their dwellings and among them." Other imprecatory psalms: Psalm 58, 59, 64, 69, 79, 109, 137, 139, 140 Questions: 1. What is the melody to which Psalm 45 was to be sung? 2. What did the writer mean in Psalm 45:1 when he said: "My tongue is the pen of a ready writer"? 3. Where in the New Testament is Psalm 45 quoted? What point is it that the New Testament writer is making in the citation? 14

16 4. In what ways is God the "great King over all the earth" (Psalm 47:1-3)? 5. Why is it important to remember that God reigns over the nations? (Psalm 47:7). 6. By what standard will God judge the world? (Psalm 96:13). 7. Where does the Lord dwell? (Psalm 99:1-2). What was the significance of this place to the nation of Israel? 8. What declares the glory of God and what shows His handiwork? Explain. (Psalm 19:1). 9. What is the "voice" with which the heavenly bodies speak of God's creation? (Psalm 19:2-4). 10. How does David describe the perfect knowledge of God? (Psalm 139:1-6). 11. What did David mean when he said: "if I make my bed in hell, behold, you are there"? 12. What is an "imprecatory" psalm? 13. In imprecatory psalms, what is it that David asks God to do to his enemies? 15

17 Great Themes In The Psalms (3) Lesson 4 Repentance Repentance is one of the most common themes in David's psalms. He was a man after God's own heart (Acts 13:22), but he was also a man who was capable of terrible sin. However, David truly grieved over his sins. He expressed the depths of his sorrow in the following psalms. Psalm 6 - "To the Chief Musician. With stringed instruments. On an eightstringed harp. A psalm of David." (vs. 1) "O Lord, do not rebuke me in Your anger, nor chasten me in Your hot displeasure." (vs. 2) "Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am weak; O Lord, heal me, for my bones are troubled." (vs. 3) "My soul also is greatly troubled; but You, O Lord. How long?" (vs. 4) "Return, O Lord, deliver me! Oh, save me for Your mercies' sake!" (vs. 6-7) "I am weary with my groaning; All night I make my bed swim; I drench my couch with my tears. My eye wastes away because of grief; It grows old because of all my enemies." Psalm 38 - "A Psalm of David. To bring to remembrance." (vs. 1-3) "O Lord, do not rebuke me in Your wrath, Nor chasten me in Your hot displeasure! For Your arrows pierce me deeply, And Your hand presses me down. There is no soundness in my flesh Because of Your anger, Nor any health in my bones Because of my sin." (vs. 4) "For my iniquities have gone over my head; like a heavy burden they are too heavy for me." (vs. 5) "My wounds are foul and festering because of my foolishness." (vs. 6-8) David describes how he suffered and how deeply he mourned because of his sins. (vs. 9-10) David longs for forgiveness and the restoration of his life before his sins. The light of his eyes had (vs. 12) David's enemies were emboldened against him because of his sins and because he had abandoned God. (vs. 17) "For I am ready to fall, and my sorrow is continually before me. For I will declare my iniquity; I will be in anguish over my sin." (vs ) "Do not forsake me, O Lord; O my God, be not far from me! Make haste to help me, O Lord, my salvation!" Psalm 51 - "To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David when Nathan the prophet went to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba." 16

18 (vs. 1-2) "Have mercy upon me, O God, According to Your loving kindness; According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin." (vs. 3-4) "For I acknowledge my transgressions, And my sin is always before me. Against You, You only, have I sinned, And done this evil in Your sight-that You may be found just when You speak, And blameless when You judge." (vs. 7) "Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow." (vs. 9) "Hide Your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities." (vs. 10) "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me." (vs. 12) "Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me by Your generous Spirit." (vs. 14) "Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, the God of my salvation, and my tongue shall sing aloud of Your righteousness." Worship In the psalms, there are some that are general calls to worship God. Then, as in the next section, there are psalms which specifically call upon men to praise God and give Him thanks. Psalm 95 (vs. 1-2) "O come, let us sing to the Lord! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms." (vs. 3) "For the Lord is the great God, and the great King above all gods." (vs. 4-5) A meditation upon the creative power of God as reason why worship is required. (vs. 6) "Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord our Maker." (vs. 7) "For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand..." Praise and Thanksgiving Psalm "A Psalm of thanksgiving." (vs. 1) "Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands!" (vs. 2) "Serve the Lord with gladness; come before His presence with singing." (vs. 3-4) "Know that the Lord, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Enter into 17

19 His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name." (vs. 5) "For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations." Psalm (vs. 1-2) "Praise the Lord! Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. Who can utter the mighty acts of the Lord? Who can declare all His praise?" (vs. 3-47) A recitation of Israel's history of rebellion in spite of God's constant blessings and care for the nation. (vs. 48) "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting! And let all the people say, 'Amen!' Praise the Lord!" Psalm (vs. 1-6) "Praise the Lord! Praise God in His sanctuary; Praise Him in His mighty firmament! Praise Him for His mighty acts; Praise Him according to His excellent greatness! Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet; Praise Him with the lute and harp! Praise Him with the timbrel and dance; Praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes! Praise Him with loud cymbals; Praise Him with clashing cymbals! Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!" The Law of God I include in this section only one psalm, the 119th. There is no greater discussion in the Bible of the greatness of the Law of God. This psalm is divided by the inspired writer into sections, each headed by a letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Psalm (vs. 1) Aleph. "Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord." (vs. 2) "Blessed are those who seek Him with the whole heart." (vs. 4) "You have commanded us to keep Your precepts diligently." (vs. 5-6) "Oh, that my ways were directed to keep Your statutes. Then I would not be ashamed, when I look into all your commandments." (vs. 9) Beth. "How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word." (vs. 10) "With my whole heart I have sought You; oh, let me not wander from Your commandments." (vs. 11) "Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You! (vs ) "I will meditate on Your precepts, and contemplate Your ways. I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word." 18

20 (vs. 25) Daleth. "My soul clings to the dust; revive me according to Your word." (vs. 27) "Make me understand the way of Your precepts; So shall I meditate on Your wondrous works." (vs. 28) "My soul melts from heaviness; strengthen me according to Your word." Questions: 1. What instrument is cited in the title of Psalm 6? 2. In that psalm, what did David say that troubled him? 3. What did David mean when he said that he made his bed swim all night? 4. In the 38th Psalm, what did David say was his heavy burden which was too heavy for him to bear? 5. What emboldened David's enemies against him? 6. What was the occasion of David writing the 51st Psalm? 7. Explain how thoroughly David expressed his sins. 8. With what did he ask God to purge him? 9. Why did David want God o create in Him a new heart? 10. What was the main reason given in Psalm 95 why God was worthy of man's worship? 11. Which psalm gives a lengthy review of Israel's history? What was the point of the historical review? 12. What musical instruments are mentioned in the 150th Psalm? 13. What impact does Psalm 150 have on music in our worship? Explain. 14. What is the main theme of Psalm 119? 15. What is a unique characteristic of Psalm 119? 19

21 Lesson 5 Blessed Is The Man (Psalm 1:1-6) The first Psalm is a contrast of the righteous man and the ungodly man, and the path that they both choose, based upon the information they seek. One seeks the bad advice of wicked men, and the other seeks the counsel of God. The first half of the psalm describes the righteous man. (vs. 1) In the first verse, David uses three key words to describe where blessings cannot be found. These three words tell us that the blessings of God depend upon where we position ourselves. We have the choice of where we are going to walk, where we will stand, and where we will sit. If we occupy in any way the position of sinful men, we will suffer the consequences. In a very real sense, our salvation is in our own hands, not that we are judges, but because we can chose between one of two paths. God has told us where to go and what to do; it is up to us to follow Him. I am reminded of the children's song which reminds us to "Be careful little feet, where you go!" Each of the words, walk, stand, and sit, indicate that there is a process of increasing acceptance of bad counsel that leads to our destruction: we seek bad advice, we embrace the course of bad counsel, and then we cannot be turned from our destructive path. "Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,..." Everyone wants to be content; that is why we seek counsel, but contentedness cannot be found by following the advice of the ungodly. Ungodly men make utter ruin of their lives, and they are completely unqualified to give any useful advice to others. But, the problem is more than that, the ungodly want other people to suffer misery with them. There is a perverse joy that the wicked find in pointing others to their own destruction. Solomon said that a wise man will not walk in the path of the wicked (Proverbs 4:14). Here the choice is given to all of us which way we will walk. Picture a man seeking counsel, and his adviser pointing him in the direction he should go. The advice seeker turns his face that direction and chooses the path indicated, and forward he walks toward it. Unfortunately, if he has heeded the counsel of the ungodly, his life will end in misery. They only hope you and I have to be blessed is to refuse to even consider the counsel of the ungodly. "Nor stands in the path of sinners,..." The unfortunate victim of the ungodly man's advice, reaches the path and stands there. He has determined the course he will take, and he commits himself to it. He takes his stand on his advised and chosen course. Sadly, it is the path of sinners. There will be no blessings for the man that stands in the path of sinners, for he will suffer the same fate as they (see: Proverbs 1:10-16). 20

22 Those who wish to be blessed by God cannot commit themselves to a course of sin. Instead, we must determine to stand in the path of righteousness, and commit ourselves to it. Job made a covenant with his eyes, not to look upon a young woman (Job 1:1). He knew that to do otherwise would destroy him. Joshua boldly declared where he would take his stand: "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!" (Joshua 24:15). "Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;..." A sitting man is difficult to move. A scornful sitting man is even more obstinate. Even though his chosen path will lead to his eventual destruction, he will refuse to budge like a stubborn mule who sits and cannot be forced to move. The Hebrew writer said that an apostate is this way. He crucifies the Son of God afresh, by his daily rejection of God, and as long as this continues he cannot be renewed (Hebrews 6:4-6). Only the man who is willing and able to admit his fault and change his course from sin to righteousness will be blessed by God. What theme in the Bible is more common than that of repentance? (vs. 2) "But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night." Do you want to avoid falling victim to the counsel of the ungodly? Then, delight yourself in the law of God. Not only that, meditate on it day and night. It seems so sensible! People tend to want to do whatever it is that they think about all of the time. I have never known a fisherman who wouldn't fish every day if he could. He thinks about it all the time, he reads magazines about fishing, and he shops in places that sell fishing tackle. Of course he is going to fish the first chance he has! Doesn't it make sense that you and I will follow a path of righteousness if we fill our minds with the word of God? Doesn't make even more sense that we will walk righteously if we meditate on God's law day and night? David surely thought so, because he asked God to create in Him a new heart (Psalm 51:10), and he said that he hid God's word in his heart that he might not sin against Him (Psalm 119:11). He was confident that he would walk in the path of righteousness, because he delighted in God's law (Psalm 119:35). (vs. 3) "He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper." The imagery of this verse is very plain. Imagine planting a fruit tree in an arid desert. Nothing is going to happen. No fruit will grow on the tree, and it will shrivel and die. On the other hand, a tree planted on the banks of a river will have an abundance of water and sunshine, and it will produce plenty of fruit. The man who delights in the law of the Lord is like such a fruit tree. David says that "whatever he does shall prosper." We are meant to understand that should we reject the law of the Lord for the counsel of sinners, then nothing that we do will prosper. (vs. 4) "The ungodly are not so, but are like the chaff which the wind drives away." If the righteous man, who because of his choice to follow the law of God, is compared to a thriving fruit tree, David's metaphor for the ungodly is perfect. The ungodly, because of their rejection of God's law for the pathway of sin, are like chaff. Chaff is the dry, brittle, and lifeless husks of the wheat plant. After harvest, the kernels of grain are separated from the chaff, and 21

23 the chaff is blown away in the wind. The chaff is worthless even for food for cattle. This is one of the most commonly used figures of speech used to describe the wicked when they reject God. Job said of the wicked: "How often is the lamp of the wicked put out? How often does their destruction come upon them, the sorrows God distributes in His anger? They are like straw before the wind, and like chaff that a storm carries away" (Job 21:17-18). He said that this was the reason why "the counsel of the wicked is far from me" (vs. 16). Hosea described the fate of the nation of Israel as if they were chaff in the wind of God's judgment, because of idolatry: "...they shall be like the morning cloud, and like the early dew that passes away, like chaff blown off from a threshing floor and like smoke from a chimney" (Hosea 13:3). (vs. 5) "Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous." David declares the ultimate fate of the man who follows the counsel of the ungodly. The judgment will come, and he will stand before the judgment seat of God, but he will not stand justified in God's sight. He will fall to condemnation. Understand the irony of this. The wicked gives his counsel to the seeker of instruction, and he points him toward the pathway of sin, promising great blessings. The seeker walks, stands, and sits where the wicked tells him to, and rather than being blessed, he is condemned. You and I need to hear the wisdom of David. There is no blessing to be found separate from the law of the Lord. There is only eternal loss. (vs. 6) "For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish." David's final word in this psalm is an exclamation point at the end of the whole discussion. He reiterates in an eloquent and short statement what he has previously said in five verses. There is only one way that one can walk and be saved by God, it is the way of righteousness as taught in the word of the Lord. Any other path will lead to death. Paul had this to say on the subject: "Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: 'The Lord knows those who are His,' and, 'Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity'." (2 Timothy 2:19). Questions: 1. What are the two men who are contrasted in the first psalm? 2. What does the word "blessed" mean? 3. What three words are key to verse one? 4. What do these three words say suggest about our salvation? 22

24 5. How does each word indicate an increasing commitment to a sinful course? 6. What does the word counsel mean? 7. What makes an ungodly man unqualified to give counsel? 8. What does it mean to sit in the seat of the scornful? 9. What is the pursuit that guarantees that a man will be blessed by the Lord? 10. What metaphors are used to describe the ungodly and the righteous? 23

25 Lesson 6 You Are My Son, Today I Have Begotten You (Psalm 2:1-12) The second Psalm is a Messianic psalm. It is cited more than once in the New Testament in application to Jesus (see: Acts 4:25-26; 13:33; Hebrews 1:5; 5:5). This Psalm describes the rebellion of the nations, leaders of the people, and kings against the Messiah. In spite of their raging, the Messiah will triumph and judge them all. (vs. 1) "Why do the nations rage, and the people plot a vain thing?" While the common people followed the Lord and believed in His power and His preaching, when taken as a whole, the reaction of the world to Jesus was one of raging. The nation of Israel raged against Jesus, because the Jewish leaders raged, and prompted their people to rage. The scribes and Pharisees tried to get the Romans to rage against Jesus, and while they couldn't convince Pilate of His guilt, they succeeded in getting Pilate to condemn Him. Throughout his preaching ministry, the scribes and Pharisees taunted the Lord with questions meant to destroy Him, and they stirred up the people, as much as they could, against Christ. At the end of His life, Jesus was not rescued from crucifixion by a horde of angry supporters, but the people who He came to save cried out for his murder. We should note that the last phrase in verse one is: "the people plot a vain thing." The anger and hatred of those who howled for the Lord's crucifixion was empty and vain. Oh, they got their way, alright, and Jesus was crucified, but their efforts were ultimately pointless. Jesus Christ was raised from the dead. When God raised Jesus from the dead, Jesus ascended into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God (Acts 2:33). The peoples of the world may have rejected Jesus, but He was raised to be King of kings, and Lord of lords (Revelation 17:14; 19:16). The plotting of the Jews and the Romans was vain in another way. These wicked men may have rejected the authority of Christ, but they would be judged by Him, nevertheless (2 Corinthians 5:10; Acts 17:31). (vs. 2-3) "The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against His anointed, saying,..." The opposition of the people against Jesus was stirred up by the Jewish leaders, as well as by the kings and rulers of the earth. The scribes and Pharisees noted, very early in Jesus' ministry, how popular He had become among the people. They wasted no time in trying to interrupt the Lord's appeal among the people. As Jesus traveled back and forth between Galilee and Judea, the Pharisees and teachers of the law came out of every town of Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem 24

26 (Luke 5:17). It wasn't long until these men were sufficiently alarmed that they began to plot Jesus' death. Of course, the Jewish leaders needed the Roman rulers to do their dirty work, and so Pontius Pilate and Herod were brought into the plot. The Jewish leaders, led by Caiaphas, challenged Jesus and tried Him (John 18:1-27). When they realized that they could not prevail, they brought Jesus to the Praetorium to be judged by Pontius Pilate (vs. 29ff). Pilate found no fault in Jesus (vs. 38), and according to custom offered to set Jesus free, but the Jews demanded that Barabbas, a known criminal, be released and Jesus condemned (vs ). It is ironic that the very men, who claimed to love God, would actually be so violently opposed to Him. By opposing the Lord's anointed, Jesus, this is exactly the predicament in which they found themselves. Worse, they were willing to make an unholy alliance with the wicked Romans in order to get what they wanted. While they set themselves before the people as spiritual leaders who pointed the way to God, they were, by their hateful actions, in complete opposition to God! (vs. 3) "let us break their bonds in pieces and cast away their cords from us." The scribes and Pharisees did not submit themselves to the authority of Jesus Christ. They rejected the concept that God had committed to Jesus all authority in heaven and on earth (Matthew 28:18). As far as they were concerned, they were the final authority in all matters pertaining to the law of God. Of course, the Romans did not recognize Jehovah nor serve Him. Pilate did not consider Jesus to be a threat to Rome, and neither did he believe Jesus was His Lord. (vs. 4-5) "He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; the Lord shall hold them in derision..." The Jews might reject the Christ, and reject God in the process, and the Romans can continue in their practice of idolatry, but the One Ruler of heaven and earth still rules upon His throne. While the wicked rulers of men rage like a foaming sea against the Lord Christ, God, who has all power, sits calmly on His throne of judgment, keeping record of the actions of them all. All of those who reject the authority of the Christ will someday stand before Him and give an answer for the things done in the body, whether good or bad (2 Corinthians 5:10). Someday, the words of John will be fulfilled, and all nations will stand before the great white throne of judgment, and their works will be judged against the word of God, and their fate will be decided by Him who stands upon the throne (Revelation 20:11-12). (vs. 6) "Yet I have set My King on My holy hill of Zion." On the day of Pentecost, the law went forth from Jerusalem, which is Mt. Zion. This was a fulfillment of the ancient prophets. Isaiah foretold how that the mountain of the Lord's house would be established on the top of the hills and all nations would flow to it. The law would go forth from Zion, and the Messiah would judge between many nations (Isaiah 2:1-4). The enemies of God and Christ may have raged and fought against Him, but in the end, God's plan prevailed, and He established His Son over His kingdom just like He promised all along. Daniel foretold that the kingdom of Christ would "never be destroyed" and it would "break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever" 25