PSALMS
1:1-6 - As well as
journeying through the Old and New Testaments, we will read a Psalm at
fairly regular intervals. The first Psalm contrasts two ways - the way
of the Word and the way of the world, the way of blessing and the way of
judgment. Encouraging us to build upon the solid foundation of God’s
Word, the opening Psalm sets the tone for what is to follow. To whet
your appetite for the Psalms, here are some early lessons: stability in
the Lord (1:1-2); service for the Lord (2:11); salvation of the Lord
(3:8); sanctification from the Lord (4:4-5); singing to the Lord
(8:4); strength in the Lord (9:9). These are some of the blessings
promised to those who ‘delight in the law of the Lord’ (1-2). With a God
like this - full of so much blessing for us - what else can we do but
rejoice in Him?
2:1-12 - In this Psalm, we read of a
conflict. On the one side, there is ‘the Lord and His Anointed’ (2). On
the other there are those who ‘conspire and ...plot’ (1). The
conspiracies and plots of men will come to nothing. The saving purpose
of God will be fulfilled. This purpose will be accomplished in Christ,
the One to whom God says, ‘You are My Son’ (7), the One to whom God
says, ‘I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth
your possession’ (8). God calls us to worship Christ - ‘Kiss the Son’
(12). This call to worship Christ is accompanied by a warning against
judgment and a promise of salvation. As sinners, we are under God’s
judgment. Trusting in Christ, we are saved (12; John 3:36). We are to
take delight in Christ. This is the thought conveyed by the phrase,
‘Kiss the Son’. We delight in God’s Son, and we delight in God’s Word
which leads us to Him.
3:1-6 - This Psalm begins with the
human situation - ‘O Lord, how many are my foes! How many rise up
against me! Many are saying of me, “God will not deliver him”’' (1-2).
It ends with the divine provision - ‘From the Lord comes deliverance’
(8). How does the Psalmist rise above his deeply distressing
circumstances? He takes his problem to the Lord. The Psalm’s opening
words, ‘O Lord’, indicate the way toward its triumphant conclusion. Why
is the Psalmist not overwhelmed by depression? - He is looking to the
Lord. This is not a case of ‘positive thinking’ on the part of David.
This is deliverance from the Lord. There is no simple ‘psychological’
explanation for David’s change of mood. He is delivered by the Lord. He
is raised from his depressive mood by the Lord, ‘my Glorious One, who
lifts up my head’ ( 3). What He’s done for others, He can do for you!
4:1-8
- There is a great message of the Gospel here. By ourselves, we are
sinners, turning God’s glory to shame, loving delusions and seeking
false gods (2). By grace, God has done something about this - ‘the Lord
has set apart the godly for Himself’ (3). When we pray, ‘Answer me’ (1),
we have this confidence: ‘the Lord will hear when I call to Him’ (3).
The Lord hears the sinner’s prayer, ‘Give me relief from my distress;
be merciful to me and hear my prayer’ (1). Jesus Christ is God’s Answer
to this prayer. Christ brings relief (salvation). This salvation arises
from the mercy of God. In Christ, we have a ‘joy’ and ‘peace’ which the
world can neither give nor take away (7-8). When the seeking sinner
comes with question, ‘Who can show us any good?’ (6), the Gospel Answer
is always the same - Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
5:1-12-
This is a morning prayer: ‘morning by morning’, we are to come before
the Lord ‘in expectation’ of His blessing (3). The Psalmist prays with
great earnestness. His prayer is a ‘sighing’ before God, a ‘cry for
help’(1-2). He acknowledges the holiness of God: ‘You are not a God who
takes pleasure in evil, with you the wicked cannot dwell’(4). The words
of verse 9 apply to every one of us. Paul quotes this verse in support
of the conclusion that ‘all have sinned and fall short of the
glory of God’(Romans 3:13, 23). There is, however, a way of coming to
God. It is ‘by His mercy’(7). Each of us has been declared guilty by God
(10; Romans 3:19-20). For the fallen, God has provided a way of
forgiveness. For the guilty, He has provided a way to gladness (11; Luke
2:10-11). ‘Hallelujah! What a Saviour!’(Church Hymnary, 380).
6:1-10-
What a pitiful picture: 'languishing ...troubled ...sorely troubled
...moaning ...tears ...weeping ...grief ...weak' (1-7). Transformation -
Overwhelmed by evil becomes overcoming evil. ‘O Lord - how
long?’becomes ‘The Lord has heard the sound of my weeping. The Lord has
heard my supplication' (3, 8-9). We look at our circumstances. We ask,
‘How long must this continue?’. We look at Christ’s Cross. We say, ‘He has
won the victory’. His victory becomes ours, as we say, in faith, ‘the
Lord accepts my prayer’(9). We look beyond our present circumstances to
Christ’s Second Coming. When He returns, the tables will be turned. In a
moment, there will be complete shame for His enemies (10; 1 Corinthians
15:25) and complete salvation for ‘those who are eagerly waiting for
Him’(1 Corinthians 15:51-52; Hebrews 9:28).
7:1-17-
Scripture speaks to us of both judgment and salvation (6,10; Hebrews
9:27-28). The Gospel brings salvation, - ‘God sent the Son... that the
world might be saved...’. There is also a warning - ‘he who does not
believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the Name of
the only Son of God’(John 3:17-18). The Lord does not wish ‘that any
should perish, but that all should reach repentance’. Nevertheless,
there will be ‘the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men’(2
Peter 3:9,7). What is happening here on earth? - ‘the wicked man...makes
a pit...and falls into the hole which he has made’(14-15). What does
God say about this? - ‘If a man does not repent, God will whet his
sword...’(12), ‘God... commands all men everywhere to repent’(Acts
17:30). God calls for ‘repentance’ and ‘faith in our Lord Jesus Christ’-
‘Repent and believe the Gospel’(Acts 20:21; Mark 1:15).
8:1-9-
The Lord is ‘majestic’(1,9). He does not remain remote. He does not
keep His distance. He show us His greatness, the greatness of His love.
We feel forgotten. He remembers us. We feel unloved. He cares for us
(4). We are tempted. He will ‘still the enemy’(2). We look beyond our
creation (5-8) to our salvation - ‘we see Jesus, who for a little while
was made lower than the angels, crowned with glory and honour because of
the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God He might taste
death for everyone...that through death He might destroy him who has the
power of death, that is, the devil’(Hebrews 2:8-9,14). This is
‘Majesty’- ‘Jesus, who died, now glorified, King of all kings’. The Name
of the Lord is majestic ‘in all the earth’(1, 9). To God - Father, Son
and Holy Spirit - we pray, ‘Glorify Your Name in all the earth’(Mission Praise. 454,142).
9:1-20-
‘I will give thanks to the Lord...’(1-2). The enemy is defeated (3-6).
‘The Lord sits enthroned for ever’(7). ‘The Lord is a stronghold for the
oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble’(9). What an encouraging
Psalm this is: We have the victory in Christ. Nevertheless, it is not
easy when we face determined opposition from the enemies of Christ and
His Gospel: ‘Behold what I suffer from those that hate me’(13). In this
situation, we must call upon the Lord: ‘Arise, O Lord! Let not man
prevail’(19). Though the conflict is raging all around, we must - taking
our stand in Christ - declare God’s praises and rejoice in His
salvation (14). ‘The Lord dwells in Zion’(11): ‘Blest inhabitants of
Zion, Washed in the Redeemer’s blood’, may we always say, ‘Let the world
deride or pity, I will glory in Thy Name’(Church Hymnary,421).
