This
is the Bible's song book. David wrote nearly half of the Psalms. While there are
other authors (Moses, Asaph, etc.), a number of Psalms do not have an author
specifically stated.
Psalm 1 –
Paths. There are just
two paths in life. •Path of good: it involves separation from
evil, the Scriptures in the heart, and success on the journey.
•Path of guile: its value is chaff; its verdict is
condemnation.
Psalm 2 –
Prince. A Psalm about
Christ. •Enmity: against Christ, the Prince, its rage and
retribution is reported here. •Enthronement: in spite of
enmity. •Exaltation: by God. •Exhortation: serve, fear and
adore the Prince.
Psalm 3 –
Protection.
•Situation needing protection: many were troubling the Psalmist.
•Shield for protection: God. •Supplication for protection:
earnest cry. •Serenity because of protection: the Psalmist slept.
Psalm 4 –
Perspective.
•Enlargement: troubles are blessings in disguise.
•Exhortation: for warning and for worship. •Enmity: from
unbelief. •Enjoyment: in the Lord.
Psalm 5 –
Prayer.
•Consideration: a plea for God to hear his prayer.
•Commitment: he would pray every morning. •Confidence: of
God's holiness. •Consecration: he will worship. •Condemnation:
of the wicked. •Cheer: joy for the godly.
Psalm 6 –
Pity. The Psalmist
prays for mercy. •Plea: is very earnest. •Peril: he needs
mercy because he is in great peril. •Provision: God heard and provided
mercy.
Psalm 7 –
Persecution.
•Plea: for help. •Peril: danger for the persecuted.
•Probing: examination of the persecuted. •Punishment: for the
persecutors. •Performance: the conduct of the persecutors.
•Plight: the plight or end of the persecutors is death.
•Praise: to God Who delivers from persecutors.
Psalm 8 –
Power.
•Display: power seen in creation. •Demotion: God's power makes
man seem so small. •Delegating: man given dominion in the earth.
•Distinctiveness: the excellence of the name of the powerful God.
Psalm 9 –
Praise. The Psalmist
gives praise to God for victory over the enemy. •Dedication: praise
with whole heart. •Defeat: the Lord defeats the wicked.
•Dominion: the Lord will rule the world. •Defilement: the
nations have sunk into a pit of filth. •Damnation: the Lord will punish
the wicked.
Much
of today's reading is about the curse of sinful behavior.
Psalm 10 –
Conduct of the Wicked.
•Perplexity: God is far off when wicked oppress. •Particulars:
the wicked's countenance (pride); contemplation (no thoughts
of God); covetousness (they bless the covetous); cruelty (to
the poor); craftiness (deceit, fraud, lies); confidence (that
God does not see and will not judge). •Prayer: for judgment upon the
wicked.
Psalm 11 –
Condemnation of the
Wicked. An appendage to the previous Psalm. •Confidence for
judgment: trust. •Conduct for judgment: evil deeds listed.
•Cognizance for judgment: God sees all, good and bad. •Character of
the judgment: fiery (snares, fire, brimstone).
Psalm 12 –
Comparison of Words.
•Words of guile: vain, flatter, proud, defiant, harmful, exalt evil (v. 8). •Words
of God: pure, precious, protective (preserve God's people [v. 7]).
Psalm 13 –
Complaint about Delay.
•Time of delay: "Forever?" •Test in delay: "How long" four
times. •Trouble from delay: enemy rejoices. •Trust in spite of
delay: that God will in mercy bring salvation.
Psalm 14 –
Character of the
Atheist. •Details of their character: fools, filthy,
fearful. •Doom of their character: when Israel is restored, atheism
will have met its Waterloo.
Psalm 15 –
Conditions for Heavenly
Abode. •Question: "Who shall abide . . . ?" the most
important question of all. •Answer: the upright (only Christ can make
upright).
Psalm 16 –
Consecration to the
Lord. •Confession of consecration: "I . . . trust in thee."
•Curse for lacking consecration: sorrows are multiplied.
•Compensation for consecration: goodly heritage. •Commitment to
consecration: "always" (v. 8).
•Confidence of the consecrated: they will not see corruption (prophecy
about Christ, see Acts 13:35).
Psalm 17 –
Crying to the Lord.
This Psalm is another prayer for help. •Integrity of the cry: "not out
of feigned lips." •Intensity of the cry: "cry." •Intent of the
cryer: "I purpose that my mouth shall not transgress." •Ingredients of
the cry: "Hold up my goings" (v. 5), "Keep
me" (v. 8).
•Inspiration for the cry: "the wicked . . . oppress me" (v. 9).
•Indictment in the cry: evil deeds of the wicked are detailed.
•Interest of the cryer: to "awake in thy likeness" (v. 15).
All
five Psalms in today's reading have David's name in the inscription as the
author.
Psalm 18 –
Deliverance. A lenghty
Psalm whose theme is deliverance from the enemy. •Praise for
deliverance (vv. 1-3):
strength, shield, and salvation all describe the Deliverer. •Peril
necessitating deliverance (4, 5): death.
•Power in deliverance (vv. 6-19): the
earth shook and the hills were moved. •Persons for deliverance (vv. 20-28):
righteous persons. •Performance of the one delivered (vv. 29-45):
power to overtake the enemy. •Praise for deliverance (vv. 46-50):
this Psalm begins and ends with praise.
Psalm 19 –
Declarations.
•Declaration of God's work: it declares God's glory; this declaration
is continuous (day and night); and consummate (all languages,
all lands). •Declaration about God's Word: it is
perfect (absolute); pure (holy); permanent (endure
forever); precious (better than gold); protective (warned);
and purifying (keeps from sin).
Psalm 20 –
Defending. •Need of
defending: trouble. •Name in defending: three times the defending
is associated with "the name" Jehovah (vv. 1, 5, 7). •Nobility
of the defending: it came from the sanctuary–hence, spiritual defending,
the best defending of all. •News of the defending: enemy fallen, "we
are risen, and stand upright" (v. 8).
Psalm 21 –
Delight. •Cause of
delight: especially a lovely diadem (crown of gold–represents
salvation) and also length of days (forever–result of salvation).
•Confidence of the delight: trust in God to bring delivereance from
enemies.
Psalm 22 –
Deserted. The
crucifixion of Christ is portrayed plainly in this Psalm. Three of the most
notable references to this Psalm at the cross of Christ are "My God, my God why
hast thou forsaken me" (v. 1). "He
trusted on the Lord that he would deliver him; let him deliver him" (v. 8). "They
parted my garments amont them, and cast lots upon my vesture" (v. 18).
•Complaint of desertion: "Why?" was he deserted, "Why?" is his prayer
not answered, "Why?" were the fathers (patriarchs) not deserted but he is.
•Conditions of desertion: despised, mocked, weak, wounded, stripped (of
garments). •Ceasing of desertion: the chapter ends in praise in
anticipation of help from God.
All
five Psalms in today's reading have David's name in the inscription as the
author.
Psalm 18 –
Deliverance. A lenghty
Psalm whose theme is deliverance from the enemy. •Praise for
deliverance (vv. 1-3):
strength, shield, and salvation all describe the Deliverer. •Peril
necessitating deliverance (4, 5): death.
•Power in deliverance (vv. 6-19): the
earth shook and the hills were moved. •Persons for deliverance (vv. 20-28):
righteous persons. •Performance of the one delivered (vv. 29-45):
power to overtake the enemy. •Praise for deliverance (vv. 46-50):
this Psalm begins and ends with praise.
Psalm 19 –
Declarations.
•Declaration of God's work: it declares God's glory; this declaration
is continuous (day and night); and consummate (all languages,
all lands). •Declaration about God's Word: it is
perfect (absolute); pure (holy); permanent (endure
forever); precious (better than gold); protective (warned);
and purifying (keeps from sin).
Psalm 20 –
Defending. •Need of
defending: trouble. •Name in defending: three times the defending
is associated with "the name" Jehovah (vv. 1, 5, 7). •Nobility
of the defending: it came from the sanctuary–hence, spiritual defending,
the best defending of all. •News of the defending: enemy fallen, "we
are risen, and stand upright" (v. 8).
Psalm 21 –
Delight. •Cause of
delight: especially a lovely diadem (crown of gold–represents
salvation) and also length of days (forever–result of salvation).
•Confidence of the delight: trust in God to bring delivereance from
enemies.
Psalm 22 –
Deserted. The
crucifixion of Christ is portrayed plainly in this Psalm. Three of the most
notable references to this Psalm at the cross of Christ are "My God, my God why
hast thou forsaken me" (v. 1). "He
trusted on the Lord that he would deliver him; let him deliver him" (v. 8). "They
parted my garments amont them, and cast lots upon my vesture" (v. 18).
•Complaint of desertion: "Why?" was he deserted, "Why?" is his prayer
not answered, "Why?" were the fathers (patriarchs) not deserted but he is.
•Conditions of desertion: despised, mocked, weak, wounded, stripped (of
garments). •Ceasing of desertion: the chapter ends in praise in
anticipation of help from God.
Two
ingredients one finds in most Psalms is prayer and praise. Also the Psalms are
full of heart—nothing is casual.
Psalm 32 –
Pardon for Sin.
•Delight from pardon: "Blessed," no greater blessing. •Delay to
pardon: silence to confess hard on sinner—God's hand heavy on him •Duty
for pardon: confess if you want pardon. •Defiance to pardon: some
are like dumb animals and do not seek pardon.
Psalm 33 –
Praise to God.
•Praise with delight: "Rejoice" •Praise for dynamic: His power
was so great in creation that "He spoke, and it was done." •Praise for
defeat of evil: "He maketh the devices of the people to no effect."
Praise for deliverance: especially for delivering the "soul" (v. 19).
Psalm 34 –
Protected From Evil.
•Praise for protection: the Psalmist bids others to praise with him.
•Prayer for protection: it was "heard" and it was earnest "cried."
•Purity needed for protection: "Depart from evil." •Pity for
protection: The Lord is "near" the broken hearted.
Psalm 35 –
Pleading for Help.
•Person for help: the Lord is sought for help. •Punishment in
help: punish the wicked. •Peril necessitating help: much of the
Psalm cites the many evil doings of the enemy. •Patience for help: "how
long?" the Psalmist has waited a long time for help. •Praise for
helping: "give thee thanks . . . praise thee" (v. 18); praise in
faith.
Psalm 36 –
Portraits of Contrast.
•Character of guile: he is fearless of God, flatters
self, false tongue, favors evil, fosters pride.
•Character of God: merciful, faithful, righteous, kind, satisfying,
life giving. Great indeed is the contrast.
Psalm 37 –
Perspective of Conduct.
Divine perspective of the results of good and evil is needed to keep one from
being shortsighted about the prosperity of evil. •Duty for perspective
(vv.
1-11): fret not about evil's success but delight in the Lord. •Doom in
perspective (vv. 12-20):
"The Lord shall laugh at him [prosperous wicked] for he seeth that his day is
coming . . . the arms of the wicked shall be broken"; this puts good perspective
on their prosperity. •Dividends in perspective
(vv. 21-31): for the righteous person there is an inheritance, guidance,
deliverance, not begging bread. •Destinies in perspective (vv. 32-40):
the end of the righteous is "peace" (v. 37); the end
of the wicked is to be "cut off" (v. 38).
Two
ingredients one finds in most Psalms is prayer and praise. Also the Psalms are
full of heart—nothing is casual.
Psalm 32 –
Pardon for Sin.
•Delight from pardon: "Blessed," no greater blessing. •Delay to
pardon: silence to confess hard on sinner—God's hand heavy on him •Duty
for pardon: confess if you want pardon. •Defiance to pardon: some
are like dumb animals and do not seek pardon.
Psalm 33 –
Praise to God.
•Praise with delight: "Rejoice" •Praise for dynamic: His power
was so great in creation that "He spoke, and it was done." •Praise for
defeat of evil: "He maketh the devices of the people to no effect."
Praise for deliverance: especially for delivering the "soul" (v. 19).
Psalm 34 –
Protected From Evil.
•Praise for protection: the Psalmist bids others to praise with him.
•Prayer for protection: it was "heard" and it was earnest "cried."
•Purity needed for protection: "Depart from evil." •Pity for
protection: The Lord is "near" the broken hearted.
Psalm 35 –
Pleading for Help.
•Person for help: the Lord is sought for help. •Punishment in
help: punish the wicked. •Peril necessitating help: much of the
Psalm cites the many evil doings of the enemy. •Patience for help: "how
long?" the Psalmist has waited a long time for help. •Praise for
helping: "give thee thanks . . . praise thee" (v. 18); praise in
faith.
Psalm 36 –
Portraits of Contrast.
•Character of guile: he is fearless of God, flatters
self, false tongue, favors evil, fosters pride.
•Character of God: merciful, faithful, righteous, kind, satisfying,
life giving. Great indeed is the contrast.
Psalm 37 –
Perspective of Conduct.
Divine perspective of the results of good and evil is needed to keep one from
being shortsighted about the prosperity of evil. •Duty for perspective
(vv.
1-11): fret not about evil's success but delight in the Lord. •Doom in
perspective (vv. 12-20):
"The Lord shall laugh at him [prosperous wicked] for he seeth that his day is
coming . . . the arms of the wicked shall be broken"; this puts good perspective
on their prosperity. •Dividends in perspective
(vv. 21-31): for the righteous person there is an inheritance, guidance,
deliverance, not begging bread. •Destinies in perspective (vv. 32-40):
the end of the righteous is "peace" (v. 37); the end
of the wicked is to be "cut off" (v. 38).
These
seven Psalms, like the others, can truly enrich the soul.
Psalm 45 –
Romance. The king and
his bride. •King: his countenance (fairer than all);
conversation (words of grace); character (righteous);
conquering (people fall); crown (forever); clothes
(garments); and castle (ivory palaces). •Bride: her
devotion (forget thine house); desire (her beauty desired by
king), deference (he is thy Lord), dazzling (all glorious),
joy (rejoicing), descendents (thy children . . . princes).
Psalm 46 –
Refuge. A refuge in
time of trouble. •Place of refuge: God. •Peace from the
refuge: takes away fear, makes wars to cease. •Power of the
refuge: much of the Psalm describes His great power over the enemy.
Psalm 47 –
Ruler. •Crown: God is
the Great Ruler, the "great King" (v. 2).
•Conquering: "subdue the peoples." •Choosing: our inheritance;
His will has priority. •Character: holiness. •Commendation:
sing praises (said 3 times). •Control: rules over all the earth.
Psalm 48 –
Residence. A Psalm on
Jerusalem (Zion). •Habitation: city of our God. •Location:
beautiful for situation. •Preservation: from enemy who assembled to
attack. •Meditation: in its Temple of God's loving-kindness.
•Observation: of the towers and bulwarks and palaces.
Psalm 49 –
Riches. •Discussion
of wealth: a universal application to all. •Disability of wealth:
cannot redeem. •Departure of wealth: cannot take it with you when you
die. •Destiny of the wealthy: unsaved wealthy shall never see light, a
contrast to the righteous poor.
Psalm 50 –
Retribution.
•Introduction: the Judge (God), His character (perfection), His
judgment (righteousness). •Indictments: against
worshipers (whose worship was only outward and not inward); against
wicked (who were haters of the Word, thieves, adulterers, liars, and
those who thought delay in judgment meant no judgment).
Psalm 51 –
Repentance. David's
great prayer of repentance: •Declaration: acknowledgement of sin, no
cover-up, it was against God. •Exculpation: seeks pardon by God's mercy
and cleansing. •Restoration: of joy of salvation, position of service
(teach, praise). •Supplication: prays for the good of Zion (Jerusalem)
which was hurt by his sin.
All
the Psalms in today's reading were written by David, and most were written when
David was fleeing from Saul.
Psalm 52 –
Doeg. •Tongue of
Doeg: it was proud ("boasted"); perverted ("deceitful");
painful ("like a sharp razor"). •Termination of Doeg: it was
swift ("pluck"); shameful ("laugh at him"); severe
("destroy . . . forever").
Psalm 53 –
Defilement. •Cause
of defilement: rejected God. •Character of defilement: "filthy."
•Curse of defilement: great fear, bones scattered, rejected by God.
•Consolation about defilement: Israel restored when defiled are
judged.
Psalm 54 –
Deliverance.
•Supplication for deliverance: prays to God for help. •Situation
for deliverance: oppressors. •Source of deliverance: God is my
helper. •Sacrifice in deliverance: he worships in spite of troubles.
•Success of deliverance: speaks of it before it happens which shows
faith in God.
Psalm 55 –
Defection.
•Cry: prayer to God for help. •Conditions: cruelty especially
from a defector (betraying friend). •Craving: wishes he could take
wings and fly away from his troubles. •Condemnation: call for judgment
upon the enemies. •Confidence: that God will deliver from evil.
Psalm 56 –
Difficulties. David
speaks of his difficulties in Philistia. •They were daily: he was
oppressed daily (v.
1). •They were dangerous: his enemies would "swallow me up" (v. 2). •They
were distressful: they made David "afraid" (v. 3). •They
were defeated: God delivered him (v. 13).
Psalm 57 –
Danger. •Plea about
his danger: he pleaded for mercy, in faith, and to God. •Particulars of
the danger: reproach, like being among lions, a net (trap) for feet, enemy
digged a pit (booby trap) for him. •Praise amidst his dangers: last
three verses especially emphasize praise.
Psalm 58 –
Defiance.
•Character of the defiant: soon to do evil, stubborn regarding rebuke.
•Condemnation of the defiant: it will be severe and swift.
•Consolation about the defiant: their judgment encourages the
righteous.
Psalm 59 –
Defending. •Prayer
for defending: "O my God; defend me from those . . . against me."
•Problems for defending: continuous cruelty. •Power for
defending: "power" (v. 11).
•Punishment in defending: "consume them" (v. 13).
•Praise for defending: "I will sing of thy power" (v. 16).
These
eight Psalms focus on the help which God gives to the afflicted, and they exhort
praise to God for His great works.
Psalm 60 –
Conquering by God. This
is a Psalm involving David's military battles. •Displeasure of God:
defeat had shown God's displeasure with Israel. •Dynamic of God: His
greatness is reviewed. •Deliverance by God: prayer to God to come and
help David's army defeat their enemies.
Psalm 61 –
Covering from God.
•Plea for a shelter: "lead me to the rock." •Protection in the
shelter: it is a "strong tower." •Praise for the shelter: "sing
praise."
Psalm 62 –
Confidence in God. The
Psalmist trusts God. •Cause for confidence: he waits (trusts) because
of salvation. •Commands for confidence: he exhorts others to trust God.
•Counsel about confidence: do not put your confidence in other things,
for they fail.
Psalm 63 –
Craving for God.
•Circumstances in craving: away from sanctuary. •Commendation in
craving: God's loving-kindness better than life. •Contemplations in
craving: remembers God in night watches. •Consecration in craving:
follows God closely. •Condemnation in craving: for the enemies of those
who crave God.
Psalm 64 –
Care by God.
•Problem for care: evil tongues have attacked the Psalmist
secretly, seriously, suddenly, and searchingly.
•Punishment in care: the punishment upon evil-tongued people was
sudden, shameful, scaring, and satisfying ("righteous shall be
glad").
Psalm 65 –
Creator in God.
•Grace of the Creator (vv. 1-4):
iniquities are purged away so one can dwell in His courts. •Greatness of the
Creator: His strength put the mountains in their place •Goodness of the
Creator (vv. 9-13): He
brings rain to give harvest.
Psalm 66 –
Celebrating About God.
•Rejoicing in God: making joyful noise, singing praise. •Reviewing
about God: the difficulties faced, the deliverances
forthcoming. •Resolve for God: to worship God and to
witness for God.
Psalm 67 –
Communicating About
God. Three helps to telling others about God. •Preservation
(salvation): have to be saved before you can witness. •Praise: a true
witness honors God. •Productivity: blessings witness for God.
Like
many of the Psalms, the four Psalms in today's reading all begin in the first
verse with the mention of God. These are not the prayers of the ungodly.
Psalm 68 –
Invincible. The
invincible power of God is emphasized in this Psalm. The themes noted here are
interwoven throughout the Psalms. •Character of His power: it favors
the righteous but punishes the wicked. •Conquests of His power: they
are many from protecting Israel when they marched through the desert under Moses
to helping Israel as a nation when they were in the land. •Circumference of
His power: it is not only on earth but it encompasses the heavens, too.
•Compensations from His power: He "daily loadeth us with benefits" (v. 19).
Psalm 69 –
Inflicted. The
groanings of one who has had some serious wounds inflicted upon him. Several
verses of this Psalm were either quoted by Christ or fulfilled in Christ.
•Condition of the inflicted. serious, sinks in mire, enemies without
number, rulers (those in the gates) are against him, he is the song of
drunkards. •Consecration of the inflicted: zeal for God's house,
fasting, sackcloth, devotion for God. •Cry of the inflicted: repeated
cries are throughout the Psalm for God to intervene and help. •Curse on the
inflictors: judgment to come upon those who have inflicted him.
•Commendation by the inflicted: much praise for God. •Confidence of
the inflicted: that God will indeed help.
Psalm 70 –
Impatience.
•Declarations of impatience: three times the Psalmist asks God to "make
haste." •Desire of impatience: destruction of his enemies. •Delight
of the impatient: "glad in thee" (v. 4).
Psalm 71 –
Infirm. This is a
senior citizen's prayer. •Commitment of the infirm: he has trusted in
God from his youth. •Cry of the infirm: for God to help in his many
troubles, to not cast him off in his old age. •Confidence of the
infirm: his hope is in God. •Commendation by the infirm: much
praise for God. •Conflicts of the infirm: many are his troubles.
•Conversation of the infirm: "I will make mention of thy
righteousness" (v.
16), "My mouth shall show forth thy righteousness" (v. 15).
•Comfort of the infirm: that God will defeat his enemies.
Today's
reading of six Psalms includes one written by or for King Solomon and five
written by Asaph the choir master.
Psalm 72 –
Proper Government. A
description of how Solomon should reign and of how Christ will reign.
•Purity (vv. 1-4):
righteousness shall prevail, and it will result in peace. •Perpetuity
(vv. 5-7): as
long as the sun and moon endure. •People (vv. 8-11): rule
over all nations. •Pity (vv. 12-14):
the needy shall be helped not oppressed. •Prosperous (vv. 15-17):
prosperous in the field and in rule. •Praise (vv. 18-20):
such a government inspires praise to God.
Psalm 73 –
Prosperity of Evil. The
problem of why the wicked prosper while the righteous suffer is addressed in
this Psalm. •Condition: the wicked is wealthy, healthy, and seems to
have little trouble. •Conduct: their prosperity makes them proud and
cruel. •Concern: the righteous thinks he has lived pure for naught.
•Counsel: in the sanctuary true perspective of the wicked was given by
focusing especially on their end. •Confession: the righteous confesses
his foolish thinking about the prosperous wicked. •Commitment: the
righteous commits himself to God.
Psalm 74 –
Perplexity About
Inaction. •Affliction: the enemies are working havoc.
•Apathy: God does not seem to care, is indifferent, does not help.
•Asking: "how long?" •Attesting: the Psalmist reviews all the
times God has delivered in the past. •Appeal: for help from God.
Psalm 75 –
Promise of Judgment.
•When of judgment: "When I shall receive the congregation" means when
He returns. •Way of judgment: righteous. •Warning of judgment:
for the wicked. •Work of judgment: demoting evil and exalting good.
•Wrath in judgment: upon the wicked.
Psalm 76 –
Power Over Evil.
•Site of the power: it is seen in Israel. •Supremeness of the
power: overwhelms enemy, makes enemy's wrath to praise God.
•Sanctifying from the power: it caused people to fear and honor
God.
Psalm 77 –
Pondering the Past.
•Exigencies for pondering the past: present troubles have discouraged.
•Encouragement from pondering the past: past deliverances encourages
one's faith for future deliverances. •Exaltation from pondering the
past: it honors God to review His past deliverances.
Today's
reading covers four Psalms all of which are attributed to Asaph the choir
master.
Psalm 78 –
History. This is the
second longest Psalm. The longest one is Psalm 119. This is a
historical Psalm. The sections are not in chronological order but need not be to
give the intended lessons. •Introduction (vv. 1-11):
includes the command to review history, the compensation for
reviewing history, and the consequences of not reviewing history.
•History in the wilderness (vv. 9-41):
includes deliverances (Red Sea, pillar of cloud, water from rocks, and
manna); disobedience (Israel sinned in spite of God's care); and
doom (judgment came upon the people). •History in Egypt (vv. 42-53):
the plagues and deliverance from Egypt reviewed. •History in the land
(vv.
54-72): the deliverances (cast out enemy, gave inheritance, gave
peace so they dwelled in tents); the disobedience (Israel turned to
idolatry); the doom (judgment from God); the dynasty (in grace
God brought relief and gave them a king in David).
Psalm 79 –
Havoc. •Problem of
havoc: great carnage in Jerusalem caused by the enemy, not a pretty
picture. •Plea about the havoc: a cry to God for judgment to come upon
the perpetrators of havoc and to have mercy upon His people. •Praise for
ending havoc: a promise to praise God when judgment comes upon those
causing havoc in the land.
Psalm 80 –
Help. •Cry (vv. 1, 2): for
help directed to the Shepherd of Israel. •Chorus (v. 3): the first
of three repeated choruses for help. •Complaint (vv. 4-6): "how
long?" help was not forthcoming which caused tears and reproach for God's
people. •Chorus (v. 7): the second
of the three repeated choruses. •Chastisement (vv. 8-18):
Israel is pictured as a prosperous vine that has nearly perished.
•Chorus (v. 19): third
repeated chorus for help.
Psalm 81 –
Hearken. The theme is
hearkening to (obeying) the Lord. •Feast to hearken: a call to
celebrate a Divine feast. •Fullness for hearkening: open mouth wide (in
hearkening) and God will fill it (with blessing). •Failure to hearken:
the history of Israel. •Forfeiture for not hearkening: loss of many
blessings when you do not hearken to the Lord—"what could have been" is the
lament.
Eight
Psalms comprise today's reading. They cover a variety of subjects but all
emphasize the need of God in our lives.
Psalm 82 –
Courts. A cry for
character in the courtroom. •Supreme judge: God. •Sinful
judges: their delinquency (judge unjustly); their duty
(defend the poor and needy); their destructiveness (destroy foundations
of society); and their doom (death). •Supplication for a
judge: for God to judge.
Psalm 83 –
Conspiracy.
•Counsel of the conspiracy: destroy Israel. •Confederacy of the
conspiracy: nations of the middle east. •Cry against the
conspiracy: to God to bring judgment upon the confederacy.
Psalm 84 –
Church. •Desire for
church: the soul longs to be in church. •Dedication for church: in
spite of trials, he heads for church. •Delight in church: better to be
in church than anywhere else.
Psalm 85 –
Captivity. •Return
experienced: God has brought Israel back to the land. •Revival
needed: the people who have returned to the land need to
return to the Lord. •Righteousness given: God in mercy
cleansed the people.
Psalm 86 –
Confidence. Praying
with support. •Prayer for preservation: for God is good (v. 5). •Prayer
about problems: for God is great. •Prayer of praise: for
God is gracious (v. 13).
•Prayer about the proud: for God is glorious (v. 15).
•Prayer for pity: for God is gratuitous (v. 17).
Psalm 87 –
City. A Psalm about
Jerusalem. •Passion for the city: God loves it. •Praise for the
city: "glorious things are spoken" about it. •Prestige of the
city: to be born there gives more prestige than any other city.
Psalm 88 –
Castaway.
•Particulars: the soul is full of troubles, wrath is heavy.
•Prayer: day and night (v. 1), daily (v. 9), in the
morning (v.
13).•Perplexity: "why castest thou off my soul?" (v. 14).
•Problems: repeating the list of troubles to emphasize the peril of
being a castaway.
Psalm 89 –
Covenant. •Praise
for the covenant (vv. 1-19):
praise given to the author (God) of the covenant. •Person for the
covenant (vv. 20-27):
David is the one for the covenant which, of course, includes Jesus Christ Who is
in the line of David for the throne. •Problems for the covenant (vv. 38-52):
the glory of Israel has ceased.
Of
the seven Psalms in today's reading, only one, Psalm 90 is ascribed
with an author which in this case is Moses.
Psalm 90 –
Prayer.
•Preface: God is eternal but man is mortal. •Problems:
consumed by God's anger for their sin, days are short and sorrowful.
•Petition: seven things are requested from God—teach, return, satisfy,
gladden, manifest, beautify, and establish.
Psalm 91 –
Protection. •Person
doing it: God. •Prerequisite for it: given throughout the Psalm—we
must abide in the Lord. •Passion for it: God loves us (v. 14).
•Promises for it: many promises of protection are given throughout the
Psalm.
Psalm 92 –
Praise. •Moment of
praise: morning and evening. •Means of praise: voice and
instrument. •Motivation for praise: gladness from God. •Message of
praise: God's greatness, judgment, holiness, and satisfaction.
Psalm 93 –
Power. •Crown of
power: God reigneth. •Clothes of power: God is clothed with
strength. •Creation and power: God rules over creation. •Character
of power: "holiness becometh thine house."
Psalm 94 –
Punishment.
•Cry: for God to take vengeance upon evil. •Complaint:
twofold—about lack of punishment of evildoers (how long shall the work
of evil go on), and about the practice of evildoers (their success,
their pride, their persecuting God's people, their oppressing the helpless and
needy, their confidence that God does not know). •Counsel: instruction
for the wicked who think God does not know. •Comforts: from God's
faithfulness and help. •Condemnation: judgment upon the wicked.
Psalm 95 –
Performance.
•Worship (vv. 1-7a):
call to worship (come); how to worship (with singing and with
thanksgiving); why to worship (because God is great). •Warning
(7b-11):
honor the privileges from God or you will lose them.
Psalm 96 –
Proclamation. A
missionary Psalm which calls people to proclaim a message about God to all
nations. There are three parts to the message. •First, wonder of God:
He is greater than all other gods. •Second, worship of God: people must
worship God "in the beauty of holiness." •Third, warning about God: He
will judge the earth with righteousness and truth.
These
Psalms demonstrate the importance of God being prominent in our lives and
society. Life must be God-centered and God-honoring if it is to be blessed of
God.
Psalm 97 –
Gladness in God. Four
times (verses
1, 8
[twice], and 12) reference is
made to gladness ("rejoice," "glad"). •Cause for gladness: the
reigning of God; the retribution by God; and the
righteousness of God. •Consecration from gladness: in
praise for God and in purity of life. •Crowd for
gladness: God's people (Zion), the righteous crowd.
Psalm 98 –
Glory of God.
•Success for His glory: "He hath done marvelous things." •Seeing of
His glory: "shown in the sight of the heathen [nations]." •Singing of
His glory: enthusiastic singing, musical instruments. •Supporting His
glory: creation. •Sanctity of His glory: righteous judgment.
Psalm 99 –
Greatness of God.
•Proclamation of greatness: "The Lord is great." •Perspective of
greatness: so great people should tremble, the earth be moved.
•Position of greatness: "reigneth . . . high above all the people."
•Purity of greatness: "he is holy." •Praise for greatness:
"Exalt" God.
Psalm 100 –
Goodness of God.
•Praise for His goodness: in song (v. 1); in
service (v. 2); in the
sanctuary (v. 4).
•Particulars of His goodness: we are formed by God (creation);
in the family of God ("his people"); and favored by God
(mercy.).
Psalm 101 –
Governor for God. David
the king vows to have a holy character and crown. •Holy in private
life (vv.
1-4): fidelity in conduct; friends of character. •Holy
in public life (vv. 5-8):
equity (eyes on the faithful); employment (no evil people in
his government); execution (destroy the wicked).
Psalm 102 –
Groaning Before God.
•Help sought in the groaning: earnest prayer to God for help. •Hurt
causing the groaning: it was sickness (bones burn and cleave to
skin); social (reproached by enemies); spiritual (recognized
it as chastisement from God). •Hope in the groaning: from the
eternality of God and from the compassion of God.
Psalm 103 –
Grace of God.
•Products of His grace: forgiveness, healing, satisfaction, revelation.
•Portrait of His grace: slow to anger, plenteous, not always chide,
great, compassionate, and eternal. •Praise for His grace: beginning and
ending of this Psalm emphasize praise ("Bless" six times).
Today's
reading is of three of the longer Psalms. God's creation and God's people are
emphasized.
Psalm 104 –
Creating by God. The
creation Psalm. It is like early chapters of the book of Genesis. •Power for
creating (vv. 1-5): "laid
the foundations of the earth." •Partitioning in creating (vv. 6-9):
dividing the land from the water. •Provisions in creation (vv. 10-18):
providing of water, vegetation, and food for animals and man. •Periods in
creating (vv. 19-23):
sun and moon for day and night periods. •Ponds of creation (vv. 24-26):
the seas and its traffic and inhabitants. •Philanthropy of creation (vv. 27-30):
creation is dependent upon the Creator for sustaining of life. •Praise for
the Creator (vv. 31-35):
praise for God's perpetuity (He is eternal); power (He looks
and the earth trembles, He touches and the earth smokes); preciousness
(meditating on Him is sweet); and purity (He consumes the wicked).
Psalm 105 –
Congregation of God. A
Psalm on the history of the Israelites. •Praise (vv. 1-6): for
God for His dealings with Israel introduces this Psalm. •Promise (vv. 7-11): the
covenant God gave Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. •Protection (vv. 12-15):
of the patriarchs, the fathers of the nations. •Providence (vv. 16-22):
sending Joseph to Egypt and his experiences. •Persecution (vv. 23-25):
of the Israelites when they were living in the land of Egypt—they moved there
during Joseph's time. •Plagues (vv. 26-38):
upon Egypt for their persecuting Israel. •Providing (vv. 39-41):
for Israel in the wilderness. •Place (vv. 42-45):
home in Canaan.
Psalm 106 –
Chastening by God. Some
Israelite failures and resulting chastening from God. •Introduction (vv. 1-5):
praise and petition. •Crossing the Red Sea (vv. 6-23):
they quickly forgot this great miracle. •Complaining at Kadesh-barnea
(vv.
24-27): it resulted in the wilderness wanderings. •Corrupted by
Moabites (vv. 28-31):
idolatry and plague stopped by Phinehas. •Criticizing of Moses (vv. 32, 33):
provoked him to striking the rock instead of speaking to it.
•Compromise in Canaan (vv. 34-42):
did not drive out the inhabitants. •Continuous practice (vv. 43-46): a
summary of Israel's evil and the judgment of the captivity as a result.
•Conclusion (vv. 47, 48):
petition and praise.
These
four Psalms start book five in the Psalms, the last major division of the
Psalms.
Psalm 107 –
Salvation. •Praise
for salvation (vv. 1-3): the
precept for praise (duty of redeemed); the purpose of praise
(for others to know about salvation). •Portraits of salvation (vv. 4-32): the
salvation of sojourners (vv. 4-9); the
salvation of slaves who are captives (vv. 10-16);
the salvation of the sick (vv. 17-22);
the salvation of the sailors on storm tossed seas (vv. 23-32).
•Principles of salvation (vv. 33-42):
salvation does not negate the principles of blessing for the righteous and
judgment for wickedness. •Pondering of salvation (v. 43): helps
one to better understand grace.
Psalm 108 –
Song. •Singing
about the mercy of God (vv. 1-4): "thy
mercy is great." •Singing about the majesty of God (v. 5): "Be thou
exalted, O God . . . thy glory above all the earth." •Singing about the
might of God (vv. 6-13): His
enduring power over the nations; His endowing of power for His
own ("through God we shall do valiantly").
Psalm 109 –
Sinners. A Psalm
calling for judgment upon the wicked. •Conversation of the wicked:
their words were deceitful and dishonest and
destructive for the Psalmist. •Curse on the wicked: some 25 or
more curses are called down on the wicked ("Let" introduces each curse in the
KJV); one curse ("let another take his office") was quoted by Peter about Judas
Iscariot—see Acts
1:20. •Consequence of the wicked: the wicked have made folk poor,
needy, troubled and weak. •Cry about the wicked: the Psalmist crys to
God for deliverance from the wicked. •Confidence for help against the
wicked: praise is given to God before the deliverance occurs.
Psalm 110 –
Sovereign. No Psalm is
quoted more often in the New Testament than this one. •Person of the
Sovereign: David is writing about Christ—that the Psalm is about Jesus
Christ is confirmed by Christ Himself in all three Synoptic Gospels (see Matt. 22:43,
44; Mark
12:35, 36; Luke 20:40-43).
•Place of the Sovereign: Zion/Jerusalem. •People of the
Sovereign: they are willing, and ready. •Priesthood of the
Sovereign: it is like the priesthood of Melchizedek (cp. Hebrews 5:6, 10; 6:20; 7:11, 15, 17, 21). •Power of
the Sovereign: "strike through the kings . . . judge among the
heathen."
Today's
reading takes in eight Psalms. They show that the best blessings come from God
Who is worthy to be praised.
Psalm 111 –
Works of God. In five (
verses 2, 3,
4, 6, 7) is a
direct reference to God's works. •His works are gladsome: (pleasure [v. 2]). •His
works are glorious: (v. 3). •His works
are gracious: (v. 4). •His works
are great: (power [v. 6]). •His
works are genuine: (stand fast forever and ever [v. 8]). •His works
are gallant: (done in truth and uprightness [v. 8]).
Psalm 112 –
Ways of God. This Psalm
is about the man who walks in the ways of God. •Fear: the fear of God
is in his heart. •Faith: he trusts God. •Favor: he is
charitable to men, especially the needy. •Fixed: his heart is steadfast
towards God. •Frustration: he foils the wicked's desires.
Psalm 113 –
Worship of God.
•Call to worship: given to the servants of the Lord.
•Continuousness of the worship: all day. •Character to
worship: God Who is supreme (above all nations);
sovereign (raises and sets up as He wills); and sympathetic
(gives the barren women children).
Psalm 114 –
Wonders of God. Five
wonders in leading the children of Israel from Egypt to Canaan are mentioned.
•Departure: the exodus. •Dividing: of the Red Sea.
•Display: at the Sinai mountain. •Drinking: water supplied
from rocks. •Driven: the Jordan was driven back for Israel to
cross.
Psalm 115 –
Worth of God. God
compared to idols. •Vanity of idols: created by man, they cannot see,
hear, speak, smell, handle, or walk. •Value of Jehovah-God: He helps,
He protects, He blesses, He made heaven and the earth.
Psalm 116 –
Witness for God.
Speaking for the Lord. •Witness of His care: God delivers. •Witness
in confidence: Belief caused him to speak. •Witness is corrected:
in his haste he called all men liars. •Witness in consecration: he will
pay vows. •Witness at the cemetery: saint's death is precious to God.
•Witness is committed: I am thy servant.
Psalm 117 –
Words for God.
•Multitude for praising: all people. •Message of praise: His
mercy, and word (truth).
Psalm 118 –
Welfare From God.
•Praise for welfare: (vv. 1-4).
Partner for welfare (vv. 5-9): He is
on our side. •Power for welfare (vv. 10-18):
He destroys our enemies. •Place of welfare (vv.
19-29): God's house, day, and sacrifice (Calvary).
Today's
reading is the longest Psalm and the longest chapter in the Bible. Its theme is
the Word of God. There is a
direct reference to God's Word in all but six of the 176 verses ( verses 3, 37, 80, 121, 122, 132). In this
Psalm the Hebrew uses at least nine different synonyms for God's Word (the KJV
uses eight synonyms—word, precepts, testimonies, law, commandments, ordinances,
judgments , and statues). Also a reference to Deity occurs in every verse except
verse
121.
The
Psalm is a masterpiece of literary organization. It is divided into twenty-two
sections, each section corresponding to one letter of the twenty-two-letter
Hebrew alphabet. Each section has exactly eight stanzas—eight is the octave
number in music—so the verse divisions are most appropriate. Also, in the Hebrew
each verse alliterates (a good memory aid) within each section (e.g. in the
first section, each verse begins with the letter aleph). A brief alliterated
synopsis of each section of the Psalm is as follows:
Aleph
(vv. 1-8):
reward in the Word.
Beth
(vv. 9-16):
refined by the Word.
Gimel
(vv.
17-24): revelation from the Word.
Daleth
(vv.
25-32): rejuvenation through the Word.
He
(vv.
33-40): resolve to keep the Word.
Vav
(vv.
41-48): replying to others from the Word.
Zayin
(vv.
49-56): relief through the Word.
Kheth
(vv.
57-64): resorting to the Word.
Teth
(vv.
65-72): reform according to the Word.
Yodh
(vv.
73-80): rejoicing because of the Word.
Kaph
(vv.
81-88): reliance on the Word.
Lamedh
(vv.
89-96): ratification of the Word.
Mem
(vv.
97-104): relevance of the Word.
Nun
(vv.
105-112): radiance from the Word.
Samekh
(vv.
113-120): retribution by the Word.
Ayin
(vv.
121-128): rescue according to the Word.
Pe
(vv.
129-136): receptiveness to the Word.
Tsadhe
(vv.
137-144): righteousness of the Word.
Qoph
(vv.
145-152): requests based on the Word.
Resh
(vv.
153-160): revival through the Word.
Shin
(vv.
161-168): respect for the Word.
Tav
(vv.
169-176): remembering the Word.
These
15 Psalms are all inscribed "Song of Degrees" in their headings. Ten have no
author listed, but five do (four are David's, and one is Solomon's). The numbers
ten and fifteen are significant and have to do with King Hezekiah and his
sickness and recovery (2 Kings 20 and Isaiah 38). The sign
of his recovery was the sun returning ten degrees on the sun dial, and the
number of years God added to him after his sickness was fifteen. The ten Psalms
without an author listed are believed to be Hezekiah's "songs" (Isaiah
38:20).
Psalm 120 –
Prevarication. The
problem of slander by the lying tongue of the enemy is bemoaned by the
Psalmist.
Psalm 121 –
Preservation. Israel
will be preserved by the God Who does not "slumber or sleep."
Psalm 123 –
Prayer. Help is sought
from God in heaven, not from man on earth.
Psalm 124 –
Power. If God's power
had not helped, Israel would have been defeated by the enemy.
Psalm 125 –
Protection. Divine
protection from God for Zion is like the mountains around Jerusalem.
Psalm 126 –
Pleasure. Great was the
delight of those who returned to Jerusalem from captivity.
Psalm 127 –
Prerequisite. Except
God helps, the builder, the watchman, and others only perform in vain.
Psalm 128 –
Prosperity. Blessings
are for those who fear God and who walk in His ways.
Psalm 129 –
Punishment. The wicked
may do their evil deeds, but eventually God will bring judgment upon them.
Psalm 130 –
Patience. Earnest
waiting on the Lord is hard to do, but it is often very necessary.
Psalm 131 –
Peace. Submission to
the will of God brings peace and quietness to the heart and behavior.
Psalm 132 –
Promises. David made
some great promises in showing his devotion to the Lord.
Psalm 133 –
Pleasant. Unity of the
brethren is a very pleasant thing which helps families, society, and
churches.
Psalm 134 –
Praise. The Creator of
heaven and earth is to be praised in the house of the Lord.
These
seven Psalms vary in subject matter but they put everything in proper
relationship to God.
Psalm 135 –
Might of God.
•Introduction (vv. 1-3): call
to praise God. •Choosing Israel (v. 4): a special
treasure. •Creating world (vv. 5-7):
especially shows His might. •Cursing Egypt (vv. 8, 9): His
might in the plagues and death of firstborn. •Conquering Canaan (vv. 10-13):
His might defeats great nations. •Comparison to idols (vv. 14-18):
idols cannot see, hear, speak; have no might. •Benediction: praise for
God.
Psalm 136 –
Mercy of God. Every
verse ends with "his mercy endureth forever." •Introduction (vv. 1-3): a
call to give thanks for His mercy. •Mercy in creation (vv. 4-9): might
was also present in creation, but mercy was very prominent, too. •Mercy for
Israel (vv. 10-24):
from Exodus to Canaan. •Mercy for all (v. 25).
•Benediction (v. 26).
Psalm 137 –
Mourning to God.
Heartache of those in captivity. •Pathos: cannot sing in Babylon.
•Preference: for Jerusalem. •Punishment: for those who
destroyed Jerusalem.
Psalm 138 –
Magnifying of God.
Magnified for three things. •His Word: magnified above His name.
•His warmheartedness: though mighty, He still has compassion for the
lowly. •His work: He delivered the Psalmist from trouble.
Psalm 139 –
Marveling About God.
Many things about God cause marveling. •Omniscience of God (vv. 1-6): He
knows all. •Omnipresence of God (vv. 7-10): He
is everywhere. •Omnipotence of God (vv. 11-16):
His works •Orderliness of God (vv. 17, 18):
sum of His thoughts. •Overcoming by God (vv. 17, 18):
He overcomes opposition. •Obeisance to God (vv. 21-24):
in patronizing and purity.
Psalm 140 –
Magistrate in God. A
plea is made to the Divine judge about the wicked. •Perniciousness of
evil: violence, sharp tongues. •Protection from evil: the Psalmist
beseeches the Divine judge to protect him from evildoers. •Punishment of
evil: the Divine judge is asked to punish evildoers thoroughly according to
their evil.
Psalm 141 –
Manners From God. In
time of trouble, the Psalmist wants to act properly. •Words: a request
to "keep the door of my lips." •Works: a request not to do wicked
works. •Walk: "Keep me from the snares" of evil.
Today's
reading takes in the last seven Psalms. These Psalms speak of petition and
praise. Three are petition, six are praise. Of the six praise Psalms, three of
them emphasize Who is praised and three emphasize Who is praising.
Psalm 142 –
Petition About
Protection. •Lament for protection: "I poured out my
complaint." •Languoring without protection: "my spirit was
overwhelmed." •Lack of protection: "refuge failed me." •Liberated
by protection: take out of "prison." •Lauding in protection:
"praise."
Psalm 143 –
Petition About
Persecution. •Perils: smitten, dwell in darkness.
•Ponderings: remember past days, God's workings. •Patience
(lack of it): "Hear me speedily." •Petitions: for leading
(teach me God's will) and life ("Quicken me"). •Punishment:
for the persecutors.
Psalm 144 –
Petition About
Prosperity. •Source of prosperity: God, not man.
•Stopping of prosperity: "strange children" (vv. 7, 11). Site of
prosperity: family and fields.
Psalm 145 –
Praise for God's
Greatness. •His marvel: His greatness is "unsearchable" (v. 3). •His
majesty: (vv.
5, 13).
•His might: (vv. 6, 14). •His
mercy: (vv.
8, 9, 15-20).
Psalm 146 –
Praise for God's
Goodness. •Chosen people: goodness upon Israel.
•Creation: goodness in creation. •Compassion: goodness for the
needy. •Crown: reign of goodness.
Psalm 147 –
Praise for God's Grace.
All blessings are from the grace of God and our hope is "in his mercy" (v. 11).
•Restoration: grace in restoring the capital (Jerusalem); the
captives (outcasts); and the crying (broken hearted).
•Rain: clouds and rain and their effect is of grace. •Reaping:
grace gives us good crops. •Revelation: grace reveals His Word.
Psalm 148 –
Praise From All. •From
heaven: angels, sun, moon, heavens, all creation. •From earth:
from physical world, beastly world, and human world.
Psalm 149 –
Praise From Saints.
•Identity of the saints: Israel. •Inflicting by the saints:
upon enemies.
Psalm 150 –
Praise From Everything.
•Where: in the sanctuary and heavens: •Why: because of His
mighty acts, and greatness. •What: what to use to praise Him—orchestra
(eight instruments are cited) and dance (nothing here to encourage the immoral
modern dance). •Who: "everything."
—Butler's
Daily Bible Reading Outlines