Psalms 41-50

This post covers Psalms 41-50. Psalm 42 begins Book II of the Psalms. Many of these Psalms have prophetic messages about Jesus and nuggets of truth foreshadowing the New Testament covenant. There are also psalms for praise and worship, as well. Let's look at them!

Introduction

This post covers Psalms 41-50. Psalm 41 closes Book I of Psalms, with Psalm 42 being the first psalm of Book II.
Top

Psalm Summaries

Psalm 41

To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David

Once again, we are told to help the poor. It's amazing how many times we are commanded to help the poor and yet, evangelical Christians are known to vote against policies meant to help the poor. This is contrary to what God has commanded of us; Jesus also tells us to take care of the poor in the New Testament (Matthew 25:34-40).

Psalm 41 also discusses the betrayal of a friend in comparison to the mistreatment we receive (as expected) from our enemies. This type of betrayal hurts much more than the injustices we suffer from strangers or enemies. I imagine it hurts God more deeply when His people betray Him (by succumbing to the devil) than when nonbelivers continue a sinful path. In this discussion of betrayal we find a Messianic prophecy (discussed below).

Psalm 42

To the chief Musician, Maschil, for the sons of Korah

Photocredit: Unsplash.com/Richard Lee

The theme of the psalm is thirsting for the Lord. The Word of God and life is often tied to water in the Bible (rebirth/baptism, living water, etc.). It is only when we partake of the living water that Jesus gives (salvation) that we can quench our thirst.

Not surprisingly, God constantly tells us His water is a "living water" (i.e., John 4:4, Jeremiah 17:13, etc.). God promises that when we partake in His water we will never thirst! Of course, before we can get to that point, we have to have an original thirst for God's water. In the New Testament, living water is defined as the Holy Spirit.[4][5]

In middle school, my science teacher asked "What is the only reason for life on Earth?" I gave God as the answer, but the answer she was looking for was water. If you follow the logic of science, sure you may need water to keep from being dehydrated, but if you never find God and His living water, you will not make it to life eternal. Although I didn't fully understand either answer at the time, I realize now that God and His living water is the best answer I could have ever given.

When we thirst for God, we seek Him out, which this psalm encourages. We are also to praise Him for His lovingkindness.

Psalm 43

Psalm 43 focuses on delivering God's people from unjust nations. Considering the era in which this was written, those nations were probably Moab, Egypt, Assyria, and Philistine. Of course, this is still relatable to us today. Nations today don't necessary behave uniformly or follow the lead of their leader (e.g., President Trump only has a 22% approval rate).[6] That makes it a little more difficult to envision unjust nations versus just nations. The passage makes much more sense when we think in terms of believers versus non-believers. As we approach the final judgment the world will become increasingly polarized along that line.

Psalm 44

To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, Maschil

Psalm 44 reminds me of Job; the psalmist discusses the feeling of being separated from God, yet he doesn't seem to know why Israel is in that position. The psalmist argues that they have not turned away from God, which confirms a situation very similar to Job's. I'm sure many of us have gone through similar trials where we feel as though God has abandoned us. In response, the psalmist admits that God has been his strength, and asks Him to return to redeem the nation.

Psalm 45

To the chief Musician upon Shoshannim, for the sons of Korah, Maschil, A Song of loves

Psalm 45 is another psalm that contains prophecy (I'll focus on the prophecy aspects below). Most commentaries I've read interpret the psalm to be about a wedding—specifically the wedding of Christ and the church. This explains why people are bringing gifts. The psalm first gives us information on the king, followed by the bride, and closes with a blessing on their union. When we begin to learn about the bride, the command in Psalm 45:10 tells us that she is not from the kingdom she's marrying into. As such, there are also those who speculate that the psalm is about the marriage of an Israelite king (such as Solomon) to a foreign princess. This interpretation is problematic because the king is referred to as God (Psalm 45:6-7) and someone worthy of worship (Psalm 45:11).[6]

Psalm 46

To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, A Song join Alamoth

Psalm 46:1 is likely the inspiration for the song "Made Me Glad." This psalm is a great read when you are going through tough timss as it discusses God as our strength and refuge. No matter what's happening in our lives, we can trust that He will carry us through it. The psalmist uses the extreme of the the Earth being removed, which is also the language of Isaiah 13:13 and 24:20. The worst possible thing we can imagine is judgment day, and the das leading up to those days. I don't know how much the psalmist knew about the end or even the first captivity of Judah, but it something we can take comfort in, knowing that God will always take care of us.

Be still, and know that I am GodPsalm 46:10 KJV

One of my favorite quotes from the Bible is found in Psalm 46:10. Anytime I take a moment to stop, I think on God being God. My mind dwells on this automatically because I've witnessed so much of His awesomeness. I've shared some of my testimonies on the blog, but nature testifies of God all on it's own. Seeing the stars or thinking on how perfectly everything aligns on our planet reminds us of how small we are. We often try to take on our problems when we should give them over to God. God is our refuge.

Psalm 47

To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah

This psalm is one of praise for God as King of Kings. It exalts God as King of Earth and reminds us that as the divine King, God is in charge of the outcome of battles. He will always defeat His enemies, so His people will always be victorious.

"O clap your hands all ye people" from Psalm 47:1 has been made into a song. Many people have sung a song by this title, but it also appears as a single line in many worship songs as well. It is fitting that we have placed this line in so many songs when the psalm actually is a song of praise to exalt God. Another song that epitomizes the words of this psalm is "Every Praise" by Hezekiah Walker.

Psalm 48

A Song and Psalm for the sons of Korah

This psalm focuses on the home of God, though it reiterates the hope we have in God and triumph of God's people over those who do not worship God.

God compares the fear and pain of the kings of kingdoms not under His rule as the pain of labor. This metaphor is also used in Matthew 24 and Isaiah 13 when discussing the end of time. I find this interesting for several reasons: from the the fall, Eve's punishment was pain in bringing forth children; a woman often symbolizes the church; a baby could be called the fruit of the womb; and the Bible constantly talks about the fruit identifying the tree.

Psalm 49

To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah

Photocredit: Unsplash.com/Thought Catalog

The first verse of Psalm 49 makes me feel like I'm in God's kingdom listening to one of the angels begin a royal proclamation straight from God. What's so beautiful about this introduction is that everyone is addressed. Regardless of a person's status in society, the message presented was meant to be heard. One of the reasons the message is for everyone is because in the end, everyone dies. Sure, our eternal fate may be different, but we all have to experience the first death (assuming we aren't part of the 144,000 who witness Jesus' second coming). No matter how rich and powerful you are, when your time is up, your time is up. Immediately after telling us who the message is for, the author prefaces that these are "dark" words (i.e., heavy and possibly uncomfortable to think about) and reveals that he was given these words through a parable—the most popular method of teaching used by Jesus in the New Testament.

An important point made in this passage is the worthlessness of money in comparison to our soul. In society, money is needed for everything, from luxury and extravagance to basic meals. This is why it's easy for people to think money can solve their problems snd make them happy. However, no amount of money can pay for the sins we commit. This is great news for those of us who have no money, but was probably disheartening to the rich and powerful who thought they could get away with anything. The only thing that can ransom us (re: pay for our sins) is Jesus blood.

While the passage is definitely cautious of money, it makes a point not to condemn money. Remember servants of God like Job, David, and Solomon were all wealthy. God blesses us with what He sees fit, so He just might make you wealthy. The important thing is not to get caught up in the riches. We are never to depend on the money to get us out of situations or to let it control your decisions. The passage reminds us that we can't take material wealthy with us when we leave, something my grandmother used to say on the regular. Essentially the passage is telling us to set our minds on Heaven, not on what makes us "successful" in this world.

There's also a popular church phrase that comes from this psalm. Growing up, people often used to say something like "let the words of my mouth and the meditation of the heart be on the Lord." It seemed like something someone came up with that simply caught on as a church saying; little did I know it's from Psalm 49!

Psalm 50

A Psalm of Asaph

A lot of us misunderstand the Old Testament; the laws seem so different from ours today that people often question the character of God because they've missed key points of understanding. I talk about this in general in other posts, but Psalm 50 addresses the topic of animal sacrifice. Animal rights activists would have a conniption if any of the world religions went back to practicing animal sacrifice, and most of us would think that was pretty weird and twisted as well. Yet, it was a major part of the Israelite's daily life.

Interestingly, God despised the sacrifices. He didn't want to see innocent animals constantly killed because we were messing up. From the beginning, God just wanted us to love Him, and as Jesus says in the New Testament, "if [we] love [Him], [we] will keep [His] commandments." One of the biggest problems back then is that the people lost sight of the relationship with God aspect and focused solely on laws and sacrifices. That's like marrying someone and instead of focusing on strengthing your relationship and building a future with that person, your focus is on buying presents and not cheating. If you love the person and build a relationship, you won't have the desire to cheat, and your presence will likely be present enough. However, if there's no relationship, that temptation to cheat will grow and grow, making it more likely that you do cheat.

Another thing I want to point out is that these sacrifices were also tied to eating flesh. All of the meat eaten by Israelites would have come from sacrifices. Thus, while fruits and veggies should be reminders of the Garden of Eden, meat should have be a reminded of sin and it's consequences.

Speaking of sin and it's consequences, the latter half of the psalm is a condemnation of wickedness. It speaks against being an enabler for evildoers. We often see people doing wrong, but we've taught to live and let live so we don't say anything. We allow, and by proxy of not condemning, endorse behavior that God abhors. It even explains that although God may not cut you down immediately for such actions, punnishment is coming for those who do not repent and change their ways.

Now consider this, ye that forget God,
lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver.
Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me:
and to him that ordereth his conversation aright
will I shew the salvation of God.Psalms 50:22-23 KJV

Messianic Verses

Psalm 41:9

Psalm 41:9 references the betrayal committed by Judah that leads to the crucifixion of Christ. In the verse, the person shares his bread (or some type of food) with the betrayer. Breaking bread with someone is a sign of trust and friendship, so that makes the betrayal that much more devastating. Also, this specific reference is likely referring to the las supper in which Jesus informs the disciples that he knows someone is betraying Him. Although the person will betray Him, the rest of the passage goes on to claim victory of the enemies that the betrayer has aligned himself with. Although Jesus was crucified, as His enemies wanted, He rose from the dead victorious.

Psalm 45:6-7

Though the major focus is on Psalm 45:6-7, there are quite a few things that stand out as being prophetic in Psalm 45. Verses 6 and 7 make us aware that the king discussed in the passage isn't an ordinary king; since He is referred to as God, and subsequently declared worthy of worship (Psalm 45:11), this king must be Jesus. The apostles understood the psalm to be in reference to Jesus, as well. Hebrews 1:8-9 quotes these exact verses and attributes them to Christ. The church being the bride of Christ is an image depicted through out the Bible, and the marriage supper is discussed in Revelation 19.

Interestingly, those bearing gifts are all daughters from foreign (and pagan) nations like Tyre. Since women often represent churches in prophecy, I wonder if this is an allusion to the false churches and religions. After being brought low, perhaps they offer gifts to the king and queen hoping for reconciliation and redemption (though I think the wicked would already be cast in the lake of fire by the time of the marriage ceremony for Christ and the Church). Other passages in the Bible tell us that there will still be nations and kingdoms after He sets up His reign, the difference is that they will all be ruled by Him. Perhaps these are the people coming forth to offer the bride gifts.

The Meaning of Selah

Scholars are unsure what selah means; it appears frequently in Psalms and occasionally in Habbakuk, but no where else in the Bible. It is thought that the word was derived from Hebrew words meaning "to praise," "to lift up," and "to pause." Since the psalms are often prayers and songs, it is possible that selah was a musical instruction for performers.[2]

The Meaning of Maschil

The title of some of these psalms contain the hard-to-define word Maschil; it appears in the title of 13 psalms. Scholars aren't sure what the word means but believe it may be derived from a word that means "insight."[1] Many interpret it to mean "with understanding," while others believe it is a musical instrument or instruction.[3]

References

1. Holman Bible Publishers. Holman KJV Study Bible, pg. 938,940. 2014
2. "What does selah mean in the Bible?". GotQuestions.org; visited June 2017
3. "Maschil". Bible Hub; visited July 2017
4. John 7:37–39
5. "What did Jesus mean when He spoke of living water?". GotQuestions.org; visited August 2017
6. Matthew Henry. "Psalms 45 Commentary". Bible Study Tools; visited June 2018

Psalms 31-40

Psalms 31-40, which are all from the Book I section of psalms. Psalm 31 contains a verse that is quoted by Jesus on the cross, while Psalms 34 and 40 contain verses that may be Messianic Prophecies. In this collection, we find a psalm of repentance (Psalm 38), as well as, more psalms of praise.

Introduction

This post covers Psalms 31-40. All 10 of these Psalms belong to Book I. In particular, Psalm 38 is a beautiful read when we thinking about repentance. Psalm 31, Psalm 34, and Psalm 40 have verses that are found in the New Testament either as quotes or fulfillments by Jesus.
Top

Psalm Summaries

Psalm 31

To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David

Psalm 31 is a prayer for God's blessing. The psalmist condemns the wicked, but suffers from grief. While in his state of grief, his enemies and friends criticize him. The psalmist reminds us that God is our fortress; He strengthens those who believe in Him. As such, we don't have to fear when we trust in Him, no matter our grief.

Psalm 32

A Psalm of David, Maschil

The title of this psalm contains the hard-to-define word Maschil; it appears in the title of 13 psalms. Scholars aren't sure what the word means but believe it may be derived from a word that means "insight."^[1] Many interpret it to mean "with understanding," while others believe it is a musical instrument or instruction.^[3]

This psalm talks about the blessing that is forgiveness. When we sin, we should not hide from God, but go humbly before Him in repentance. When we confess our sin, He forgives us. Those who do not confess their sin and trust in God will have sorrow.

Psalm 33

Praise is due to God, whether from our voices or from instruments. This psalm promotes the use of music for the purpose of praising God. In many of the passages in which we are told to praise God, a reason is given for why He is deserving of our praise. Psalm 33 invokes the fact that God created the heavens with just His voice. If that's not a reason to recognize His supreme authority, I don't know what is!

Psalm 33:11 informs us that God's counsel is forever. His counsel is indicative of His heart, and He fashions our hearts to match. Interestingly, the New Testament tells us that the law (God's counsel) has been written in our hearts.

Psalm 34

A Psalm of David when he changed his behavior before Abimelech who drove him away and he departed

The title of the psalm references the events of 1 Samuel 21:10-15. David was hiding from Saul and became entangled with King Achish (Abimelech).^[1] God delivered David from the foreign king's wrath, as well as from the wrath of Saul.

If is fitting, then, that the psalm begins with praise to God. David was well aware that God takes care of His people. We should be in awe of the Lord and keep ourselves from speaking evil. The psalm advices us to "do good, seek peace, and pursue it."

Psalm 35

A Psalm of David

We are supposed to love our enemies, but Psalm 35 proves that we don't have to root for them to win. The psalm appears to be a prayer for the failure of those who come against us without reason.

David describes a situation where he treated people well and with kindness, but they mocked him. The psalm discusses the issue of people repaying good with evil. Often times, people demean, mock, and tear down those who do the right thing, just as these people did David. In his prayer, David asks for blessings for those that support God but curses for those who have mocked the servants of God.

This is a interesting psalm because it seems to conflict with the so often quoted "love your enemies." Proverbs tells us that rebuke and punishment are good things; they train us to follow the right direction. God punishes out of love... The only spanking I ever received from my dad was because I ran toward the highway. When he told me to stop, I didn't. I didn't know what a highway was or the danger that existed if I ran into it. My dad punished me because it scared him to see me so close to danger. He wanted to make sure that in the future, I listened to his instruction to stop because I didn't know enough about the world to make good decisions. God is the same way. He doesn't want us to suffer, but we don't always listen. It's a sign of love when He chastises us to bring us back into the fold. Thus, to ask that our enemies be punished could be a way of loving them. That punishment could be the instrument to lead them back to God. (Or it could make them more bitter, like Pharaoh.)

Psalm 36

To the chief Musician, A Psalm o David the servant of the Lord

Photocredit: Unsplash.com/Alberto Restifo

Lies often sound better than the truth. For that reason, if we are not fully committed to following God, we will trick ourselves into believing those lies. This is exactly what happened to Eve. When we believe these lies, we venture down paths we have no business on, getting ourselves in trouble. Without God, we can never get out of the trouble we get into.

Psalm 37

A Psalm of David

Psalm 37 testifies to the concept of having the law of God in our hearts; this concept is repeated in Hebrews 10:16 and Romans 2:15. David basically tells us not to pay any attention to those living counter to God's way. We are not to envy them or be angry with them. Often the wicked seem to prosper while we struggle. This is a lie the devil wants you to believe; we have no reason to be jealous of them and anger is a waste of our time. God will serve justice in due time. If we stay true to God, He will allow us to survive the horrors of life.

This psalm also reminds us to be mindful of the needy; it is the wicked that shun, mistreat, and ignore the plight of those less fortunate. Those who follow God should, conversely, have a heart for the poor. David reminds us that our steps should be ordered by God. "Order my steps" has always been one of my favorite gospel songs and perhaps Psalm 37 served as it's inspiration.

Psalm 38

A Psalm of David to bring to remembrance

Psalm 38 explores being separated from God by sin. The heaviness of the guilt weighs on the psalmist. The psalm is his repentance and prayer to God for forgiveness.

Psalm 39

To the chief Musician, even to Jeduthun, A Psalm of David

When you're growing up, people tell you if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all. David tells us to watch what we say, which is similar by not exactly the same. The childhood adage basically bars you from saying anything the critical of a person. Telling someone they need to repent is not nice, but it's exactly what some are called to do! I think the psalmist's philosophy would be closer to "is it kind, is it true, is it necessary?" and if a topic meets at least 2 of these criteria, it's probably worthy saying.

Knowing that we never really know how our actions (and words) will turn out, David reminds us to be aware of our own frailty. We should constantly be asking God for the humbling information that we have faults. We should also be seeking His guidance on how to improve and navigate the world.

Psalm 40

To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David

Once again, we see the Old Testament discussing New Testament topics. We are told that God saves us from death (referred to as the pit in the KJV) and wants us to delight in doing His will more than He wants sacrifices. The law is not to be kept like a checklist of things to do, but because we love and respect God. We are to be compelled to live in manner that reflects Him. As such we shouldn't be refraining from ceremonies/behaviors simply because we were told to, but in our hearts desire to carry them out, nor should we be participating in required ceremonies/behaviors unwillingly. David tells us the law should be written in the heart, which is part of the new covenant, as told in Hebrews 10:16.

Messianic Verses

Psalm 31:5

According to Luke 23:46, just before Jesus dies on the cross, He quotes Proverbs 31:5. The only difference (in the KJV, at least) in Jesus' quote and the verse in the psalm is the word commit vs commend. Although commend is generally used to indicate praise, commend can also mean to entrust something to someone.^[4] Commit can also mean to entrust.^[5]

Psalm 34:20

Psalm 34:20 speaks on the bones of the righteous being unbroken. Some suggest this actually a Messianic Prophecy about Jesus, who's bones were not broken on the cross (John 19:32-33).^[6]

Psalm 35:11-12

In these verses, the psalmist laments that his enemies have spread a false narrative about him. This has been damaging to the point of "spoiling [his] soul." When the Pharisees began plotting to have Jesus killed, they knew they needed witnesses to carry out the death penalty. However, all the witnesses were false witnesses—their stories didn't match (see Mark 14:55-65). This occurs just before He is spat upon and brought low before suffering death for our sins.

Psalm 40:7-8

Psalm 40:7-8 mirrors John 5:30. The psalm describes someone who has already been defined in a book, who delights in doing the Will of the Father, and has the law written in their heart. In John 5:30, Jesus reminds us that He can only do what is in God' Will. In John 5:39, Jesus tells us the scriptures testify him.

The Meaning of Selah

Scholars are unsure what selah means; it appears frequently in Psalms and occasionally in Habbakuk, but no where else in the Bible. It is thought that the word was derived from Hebrew words meaning "to praise," "to lift up," and "to pause." Since the psalms are often prayers and songs, it is possible that selah was a musical instruction for performers.^[2]

References

1. Holman Bible Publishers. Holman KJV Study Bible, pg. 938,940. 2014
2. "What does selah mean in the Bible?". GotQuestions.org; visited June 2017
3. "Maschil". Bible Hub; visited July 2017
4. "Commend". Merriam Webster; visited July 2017
5. "Commit". Merriam Webster; visited July 2017
6. "Psalms 27-77". Messiah Revealed; visited July 2017

Psalms 11-20

Psalms 11-20 covers everything from Jesus to caring for the poor! In this post I cover some of the Messianic Prophecies from Psalm 16 and Psalm 18 as well as summarize psalms 11-20 of the book.

Introduction

This post covers Psalms 11-20. All 10 of these Psalms belong to Book I.
Top

Psalm Summaries

Psalm 11

To the Chief Musician, A Psalm of David

The blog title, "In God I Trust," as well as the official motto of the US, "In God We Trust," is roughly found in Psalm 11:1; this concept of placing our trust in God is repeated in some form at least 20 times in the book of Psalms alone. This is possibly the most important and the hardest instruction we are given. Once we trust in the Lord everything else will fall into place. I know from experience, however, that its hard to trust. We struggle trusting those around us, and if we can't easily trust our tangible neighbors, we certainly won't easily trust God. Putting our trust in God requires patience! Each time I become restless waiting on God to answer or provide, I remember that I have to trust God and it helps to calm my nerves.

Another point made in Psalm 11 is that the wicked are always ready to attack us. No one wants to be told or reminded their actions are wrong. An easy example is my disdain for traffic cops. I'm constantly griping about how they never get anyone for running a red light or missing a stop sign, but they're so ready to pull you for going 5 miles over the speed limit when no one else is on the road. It seems silly to me, but that's because I want to speed. I like driving as fast as possible and traffic cops enforce the law that stands in the way of that. When I see people pulled, I almost always sympathize with them (unless I saw them doing something crazy). The same is true for sinful behavior. Subconsciously (and sometimes consciously) We don't want righteous people reminding us that our behavior is sinful. As such, we lash out at those whom we feel threatened by. This means if we behave righteously, we should expect people lashing out at us. Luckily, God is watching out for us from above and He will intervene if needed.

The final point I want to address from Psalm 11 is the fact that God hates those who love violence. This is one those verses that has been weighing on my mind for quite some time. In the New Testament, Paul tells us only to involve ourselves with that which is good (Philippians 4:8). After reading that passage, I was moved to clean up my iTunes playlists and reevaluate the shows I watch on TV. One thing I noticed is that as a society, we're kind of obsessed with violence. We are entertained by violent sports, we watch violent movies, we play violent video games, and we listen to violent music. Is it a wonder there's a mass shooting in the news every other day? We often make the excuse that sports, movies, and games are just for entertainment, but how can something God hates be entertaining? That's like saying it's fine to make racist movies because they're not real—that shouldn't be entertaining to anyone, and it isn't fine. Psalm 11:5 doesn't say that God despises those who partake in violence, it says those who love violence. If we're entertained by violence, we enjoy it, which means we're inching dangerously close to loving it.

Psalm 12

To the Chief Musician upon Sheminith, A Psalm of David

No one likes a suck-up, but a lot of times, we flatter ourselves and those around us without even realizing it. Psalm 12 speaks against vanity, flattering lips, and two-facedness. The New Testament bluntly tells us that we can't serve two masters, whereas Psalm 12 condemns those with a double heart. A double heart is like double speak from 1984, allowing one to say something other than what they feel. Psalm 12:6 reminds us that only God's Words are pure; He is never deceitful and never lies.

Psalm 13

To the Chief Musician, A Psalm of David

Psalm 13 asks the question "how long?", and I'm sure we can all relate. Thought to be penned by David, this Psalm could apply to Job just as easily. We all have moments when we think "how long, Lord?" Joseph probably wondered how long he would be a slave. Abraham wondered how long before Sarah would conceive. Moses' generation of Israelites wondered how long it would take them to get to the Promised Land. David wondered how long Saul would pursue him, and Job wondered how long he would suffer. Psalm 13 beautifully sums up what it feels like when we are waiting on God to deliver us from a situation. This chapter is a plea to God that He might consider the psalmist and save him. Once again, the psalmist shows that the most important part of the process is trusting God. Once the psalmist mentions trust, the psalm ends as though all is resolved. I think this shows that when we trust in God, we don't have to panic about anything.

Psalm 14

To the Chief Musician, A Psalm of David

The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.Psalm 14:1

Psalm 14:1 kicks off this psalm with the blunt truth that only fools deny God's existence. I had completed a whole year of college before I met anyone who suggested there might not be a God, and I was in graduate school before I met an outright atheist. When you look at all the wonder of the world, I find it hard not to see God's hand at work. Every culture in the world seems to be in agreement that there is a higher power and a higher purpose, even if they don't agree on who or what. Among those that I know who don't subscribe to a specific religion, most are still theistic agnostic—they believe there is probably a god, but we can't know for sure. Even Dr. Neil DeGrasse Tyson is hesitant to call himself an atheist (though he clearly isn't convinced God exists).^[8]

Psalm 14 seems to be describing a time when the philosophy of atheists, probably agnostics as well, is running rampant in the world. We are given the vision of God looking down on us only to see that none of us have wisdom or understanding and no one is doing good. Notice that anytime the wicked are mentioned, they are associated with mistreatment of the poor. This is a point I can't make enough; there are too many people in the world who call themselves Christian but are willing to throw the poor under the bus in an instant.

Psalm 14 concludes with hope. We are reminded that salvation will come out of Zion to end captivity. This could be a reference to the Babylonian captivity. I find that an unlikely interpretation, however, due to the fact that salvation came from God stirring the heart of a Persian king. More than likely, this is a reference to Jesus who brings us salvation through His death and resurrection which occurred at Zion.

Psalm 15

A Psalm of David

An important question is answered in Psalm 15—who will be in the kingdom? The psalmist provides us with a list of the qualities found in those who will dwell in God's holy place. These people will walk upright (i.e., honorably), work righteousness (i.e., they will follow God's Word) and speak truth. They will not speak evil against people, unfairly attack the character of people, or look down on people. God is looking for people who fear the Lord, are consistent, and treat the poor with kindness.

Psalm 15 attributes the idea of not being moved to the righteous. If we lend money without inflating the interest and treat people fairly, we will not be moved. We will be blessed our position in the kingdom is solidified. I have noticed that when you do right by people, things do seem to work out in your favor. Although the world appears to be in shambles, there are still people who repay goodness and kindness with the same. There is a video in which a man gives a poor boy soup and medicine for his ailing mom. The man saves the boy from the wrath of another merchant and makes no mention of repayment. 30 years later, the man is still giving food to the poor. We witness him experience a heart attack and bump his head. He is unable to pay to for medical care, but we find that the doctor is the same boy to whom he gave the soup and medicine. Remembering the man's act of kindness, the boy pays the bill in its entirety. Whether the video is based on a true story, or merely an example, it highlights the point made in these psalms. We are not moved by evil when we have been consorting with good. Unfortunately, neither are we moved by good when we have spent too much time consorting with evil.

Psalm 16

Michtam of David

The first thing I'm sure you want to know is what "Michtam" is—at least, that was my first question. The title of this psalm makes reference to Michtam, which is clearly a noun like prayer of psalm. There are exactly 6 psalms that bear this word in their title. Some translate it as "golden psalm." When translated as such, golden is meant to indicate the psalm is precious. Some believe it indicated a specific tune.^[11][13] Merriam Webster say the word refers to atonement.^[12]

Psalm 16 tells us that our sorrows will be multiplied if we chase after false gods. We are to set the Lord before us. Remember, in other passages we are told that God is our rock, when we set Him before us and cling to Him, we cannot be moved! In doing so, we reap the protections and love of God. He will not leave us to suffer death. (Please see the note below about hell.)

If we aren't careful, Psalm 16:10 can be misinterpreted to mean there is a chance to enter Heaven after being sentenced to Hell. However, the word translated to hell is not a reference to a place of eternal fire as most believe. The original Hebrew text reads "Sheol," and Sheol was a place for the dead, whether good or bad. This verse is saying that the good people will not stay in Sheol, which is described as gloomy and drab.

As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.Psalm 17:15 KJV

Psalm 17

A Prayer of David

This psalm is a prayer for favor from David to God. We all want to be favored by God because we desire His protection. As such, David humbles himself first, pleading with God to hear his case.

D avid says that he will behold God's face and be satisfied when he awakes with it's likeness. I don't think David meant this literally. We are called to follow the ways of God. Before the world fell to sin, Adam and Eve were described as being made in the image of God. We aren't described as such after the fall, but we haven't changed in appearance (that we know of). The major change is in our behavior. We no longer conduct ourselves with the righteousness of God. David is declaring that he will make himself in the image of God by following the righteousness of God's commands.

Psalm 18

To the Chief Musician, A Psalm of David, the servant of the Lord, who spake unto the Lord the words of this song in the day that the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul: And he said,

Not only is this one of the lengthier psalms, the title is quite lengthy as well. Like most of the titles, this one credits David as the author and establishes that it was likely written for the chief musician during the reign of David. This psalm, however, also references the deliverance of David. This psalm is clearly about the period after Saul's death when David had finally been delivered to peace. This victory over such a powerful enemy can clearly be seen throughout the psalm. David talks about God as a protector, shares the sorrow he felt while on the run, reminds us that God always delivers His people, and recounts the destruction of his enemies. The final verse reminds us that this psalm is indeed about God's covenant to David and promises that David's line will not fall to the enemies of God.

We are used to God being referred to as many things, a rock, or fortress perhaps, but Psalm 18:2 refers to God a buckler (at least in the KJV). Modern translations use the word shield, which is the definition of buckler.^[10] God is likened to all of these protective tools because He protects His followers. God comes to our aid when we cry out to Him.

In verse 5, the psalmist references the sorrows of hell (see the note below about hell/Sheol). Here we see the desperation and pain that life can bring us; yet God delivers the psalmist from this hurdle.

God is described as speaking through environmental calamities such as hail, fire, earthquakes and thunderings. This reminded me of the descriptions of the end days. All of this is used to show the power of God as He delivers the psalmist from a strong enemy. It seems colossal, but we have to remember that the only true enemy we have is the devil. It is he who stirs up strife and turns the hearts of our fellow men against us.

In the Christian world, there are those who argue saved by grace and those that argue saved by works (to be explored deeper in a separate post). These people often neglect the clear picture the Bible gives regarding the issue. Yes, we are saved by grace, for we could never work our way into God's grace. However, we are rewarded by our works. This concept is seen in Psalm 18:20-29. The psalmist tells us that he is rewarded by his righteousness. During the Exodus, both Moses and Joshua were faithful. The will likely both be in Heaven because they accepted the grace of God. Moses, however, did not listen to God and lost his chance to enter the promised land. Joshua, on the other hand, stood for God and was rewarded with a promotion to leader and the right to enter the promised land. The psalmist is taking a moment to remind us that by following God's Word we reap blessings from God.

Of course, the reason we are to follow God is because His way is perfect. No one can take God's place and we can only find victory in following His instructions.

Psalm 19

To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David

Photocredit: Unsplash.com/Vincent Guth

Have you ever observed the stars on a clear night from the fields of the country? Seen a bird take off for flight? Witnessed the aurora borealis? Does it not take your breath away to look at all that God created? Psalms 19:1 declares that the heavens testify to God's glory and I can't think of a truer statement. The wonder and majesty of God's creations clearly identify Him as King. The wonder of God's handiwork stretches across the universe, we can not escape its testimony.

We are reminded that God's law is perfect. His commands are worth more than gold; yet, we often treat His commands as a nuisance. We are to desire His ways and His statues more than the material wealth of our world. It is easy to say this, but much harder to live this idea when the world operates on materialism. This is why the Bible tells us we are not to be of the world. We must reprogram our minds to see value in righteousness over riches.

Growing up, I remember they used to say something like "let the meditation of the mind be the meditation of the heart." I'm pretty sure it was meant to be a statement of communion for the heart (controlled by God) and mind (controlled by us). This phrase shows Biblical origin in the form of Palm 19:14, where the psalmist asks the words of his mouth and the "meditation of [his] heart" be acceptable to God. We are prone to thoughts of the flesh; as such we must constantly ask God to redirect or heart and mind back to His ways. When we are aligned with Him, our hearts and minds should produce words and feelings that are acceptable in His eyes.

Psalm 20

To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David

Psalm 20 discusses the issue of fighting during a time of trouble. In this psalm, we are reminded that God always comes to the aid of His people. Some men put their faith in things, like guns and bombs, to settle disputes and keep themselves safe. Psalm 20 reminds us that only God can protect us. Man made creations, whether offensive or defensive, will not always be able to protect us. Instead, we must put our faith in God.

Messianic Verses

Psalm 14:7

Psalm 14:7 tells us that salvation will rise out of Zion. The reference to captivity took my first interpretation to the Babylonian captivity. When Israel was released, certainly they rejoiced. However, their salvation didn't really come from Zion; God moved the heart of the king to release them. Next, my mind assumed this was a reference to Jesus' sacrifice. Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection both occurred in Jerusalem (or Zion) and provided salvation to Israel (and the world). Of course, immediately after this, no one rejoiced. Physical Israel was the reason Jesus was crucified in the first place and all who accepted His sacrifice and followed Him were heavily persecuted for centuries. Spiritual Israel—anyone who follows God, regardless of lineage—would not have been happy directly following Jesus' crucifixion, though they probably did rejoice after the resurrection. It seems more likely that this would be the interpretation of the verse.

Psalm 16:10

I talked a little bit about the translation of Sheol to hell both above and below. Knowing what we do about Sheol, Psalm 16:10 basically says God will not leave a man dead, i.e. God has the power to resurrect life. The knowledge of resurrection is paired with the assertion that God's Holy One won't be corrupted. Many theologians see this as a reference to Christ. Obviously, Jesus was resurrected (Matthew 28:7), but He was also never corrupted (1 Peter 2:21-22)

Psalm 16:11

When I first read that there were people who thought Psalm 16:11 was prophetic, I didn't see it. It takes near memorization of the New Testament to see the prophecy. Psalm 16:11 tells us that we will experience joy in the presence of God and learn the the path of life. Acts 2:22-33 uses the exact same phrasing to describe Jesus and proclaims it a prophecy from David!

Psalm 18:49

Psalm 18:49 is also attributed to be a Messianic prophecy by some. This verse declares that praise and thanks are given to God among the heathens. The reason this is seen as a prophecy is the simple fact that at the time of authorship, being among the Gentiles (or heathens) was considered unclean and unlawful. Only after Jesus would an Israelite be justified in praising God among the heathens. Thus it is considered fulfilled in Ephesians 3:4-6.^[4]

Personally, I find the verse intriguing. Surely at the time the verse was written, the Israelites would have seen the Gentiles as heathens, but today, we would say a heathen is someone who does not praise God, regardless of their background. Depending on the original Hebrew word, the verse could be a reference to praising God in the presence of non-believers, suggesting the Israelites would be praising God among foreign people (which they did!), or it could be a reference to partaking in worship with the Gentiles. The original Hebrew word is goy which means nations or people.^[14][15] Modern translations such as the NKJV and NIV use the word Gentile instead of heathen, favoring the latter interpretation.

The Meaning of Selah

Scholars are unsure what selah means; it appears frequently in Psalms and occasionally in Habbakuk, but no where else in the Bible. It is thought that the word was derived from Hebrew words meaning "to praise," "to lift up," and "to pause." Since the psalms are often prayers and songs, it is possible that selah was a musical instruction for performers.^[2]

Sheol vs. Hell

Many people will envision fire and torment at the mention of hell, but we have to remember to keep the text in context. The original Hebrew word translated to hell is Sheol. Sheol was not a place of everlasting torment, but simply a grim abode for all dead people. Sheol is likened to Hades; in fact, the Greek translation reads Hades instead of Sheol.^[9]

References

1. "Psalm 2:7". Bible Hub; visited June 2017
2. "What does selah mean in the Bible?". GotQuestions.org; visited June 2017
3. "What is iniquity according to the Bible?. GotQuestions.org; visited June 2017
4. "Psalms". Messiah Revealed; visited June 2017
5. Emma Innes. "Toddlers DO know best: Children as young as three can tell by a person's face if they're trustworthy". Daily Mail. March 6, 2014
6. "What does it mean that Jesus is the Son of Man?". GotQuestions.org; visited June 2017
7. "Higgaion". Bible Study Tools; visited June 2017
8. Neil DeGrasse Tyson. "Neil deGrasse Tyson: Atheist or Agnostic?". YouTube, via big think. April 25, 2012
9. "Sheol". Bible Hub; visited July 2017
10. "Buckler". Bible Study Tools; visited July 2017
11. "Michtam". Bible Hub; visited July 2017
12. "Mitcham". Merriam Webster; visited July 2017
13. "What is a michtam in the Bible?". GotQuestions.org; visited July 2017
14. "1471. goy". Bible Hub; visited July 2017
15. "Psalm 18:49". Bible Hub; visited July 2017

Psalms 1-10

Psalms 1-10 covers everything from Jesus to caring for the poor! In this post I cover some of the Messianic Prophecies from Psalm 2 and Psalm 8 as well as summarize the first 10 psalms of the book.

Introduction

This post covers the first 10 Psalms of the book of Psalms. All 10 of these Psalms belong to Book I. Below I will summarize the psalms.
Top

Psalm Summaries

Psalm 1

Photocredit: Unsplash.com/Patrick Fore

Psalm 1 compares us to trees; the comparison between man and trees is common in the Bible; it occurs again in Psalm 92 and Jeremiah 17. This comparison is often followed by a statement about the fruit we bear. John 15 is another comparison of men and trees, and John 15:5 tells us that only those who trust in God can bear fruit. a good tree bears good fruit and a bad tree bears bad fruit. Psalm 1 introduces this idea, by informing us that the man who delights in God's law will a prosperous tree. This person will wither, but will remain strong.

I think there are several things to point out from this. First, the psalmist is referencing a man who delights in God's law. Many people feel the law is burdensome or a chore, but when we truly surrender our heart to God, the law become something we want to follow. God doesn't want us begrudgingly keeping His commands.

Another thing to note is the notion of being fruitful even during the winter. I have seen commentaries that suggest this passage is about skipping seasons. In Believers Bible Commentary, William MacDonald suggests people who follow God will be like evergreen trees. While this may be a valid comparison, I want to point out that Psalm 1:3 does say "bringeth forth his fruit in his season." This seems to corroborate Job's situation that we have seasons of blessing from God. We may not lose anything during the "off" season (i.e., never wither), but we may not produce fruit all year, either.

For a Jewish perspective on the Old Testament's comparison of men to trees, see this article from Aish.com.

Psalm 2

Psalm 2 seems to focus on leadership in the world. It starts by asking us the simple question: "Why do the heathen rage?" Anger is not of God, and yet, it permeates through our society. Even I have been known for my short temper, unfortunately. However, the psalm is focused on heathen kings who are coming together against God. Likely, the psalmist was referencing the nations that literally fought against Israel throughout his time. When reading the books of history (Joshua through Nehemiah), it is obvious that many nations not only attacked Israel, but created alliances with other nations in an effort to destroy God's nation.

God laughs at the world's foolish attempt to dethrone Him. He has already set a King on the throne for His nation and only those who serve Him will be prosperous.

Acts 4:25 designates authorship of this psalm (based on the opening line) to David.

Psalm 3

Psalm 3 follows the theme of Psalm 2, in that armies gather against God's people. The psalmist says that he is not afraid of 10,000 men that have placed themselves in opposition to him because he trusts in God. Many times the world feels exactly like this when we follow God's Will; it feels as though every one is against us and we are surrounded by an army. Like the psalmist, we can survive if we trust in the Lord.

Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep. If I should die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take.

Interestingly, Psalm 3:5 may be the origin of the famous prayer we were all taught as children. There are several versions of this prayer (many listed here), but the one shown to the left is the version I learned as a child. A similar phrase is repeated in Psalm 4:8.

Psalm 4

Psalm 4 is a prayer. The question asked in this psalm is "how long will ye turn my glory into shame?" Since we were created in the image of God (or at least we were before sin was introduced into our lives), each time we sin we turn His glory to shame. The psalmist continues this idea by referencing vanity and leasing. The ESV translates the second half of the verse to vanity and lies. The NIV translate these words to delusions and false gods. The NKJV uses worthlessness and falsehoods.

The psalmist concludes that God has put gladness in his heart and that he has found safety in God.

Psalm 5

Psalm 5 talks about iniquity and the flattering tongue. Iniquity is disobedience to God; therefore, iniquity is sin.^[3] Sinfulness often causes us to say things we have no business saying! God hates this behavior. We should follow His word, and in this, we need to watch what we say. We shouldn't speak falsely or angrily.

Psalm 6

Psalm 6 is a plea for deliverance from sin. The psalmist is struggling with something, we aren't told what, and confesses to be weak. He prays that God will have mercy on him to deliver him from this burden.

Psalm 7

Psalm 7 discusses the judgement of God on those who do wickedly. The psalmist notes that if he has done wrong, he expects to be judged by God accordingly. Near the end of the psalm, we are reminded that the wicked dig their own graves. When we turn away from God, we put ourselves in harms way; we need Him to steer us to safety and to protect us from harm.

Psalm 8

God created everything, including the stars, the planets, and the moon. So why are we special? Psalm 8 tells us that we were made just "a little lower than the angels," yet we were still crowned with glory and honor (or are we? See the Messianic Prophecies below). How amazing is it that out of all we see, God regards us as special?

God gave us dominion over the Earth and over all He created on the planet. God has dominion over us just as we have dominion over the Earth; He has delegated this role to us. However, we should remember that just as God is just and merciful, so should we be toward our home. We should not be treating the Earth poorly or abusing the animals God gave us dominion over. I'm not God, so I can't speak for Him, but I'm sure if we aren't willing to take care of this Earth, He won't want us present in His new, perfect Earth...

Psalm 9

Psalm 9 declares that God is a refuge for those who believe in Him; that would make us refugees. I find this language interesting considering the current political climate in which many people want to deny refuge to refugees. Psalm 9 is a declaration that God will provide for the needy and the oppressed; many passages in the Old and New Testaments call us to do the same. So why is there confusion over helping those in need?

There is a pastor, whom I won't put on blast, that often disparages refugees from Syria (and other Middle Eastern countries) because they are Muslim. He believes that they're all agents of ISIS and the devil sent them to further corrupt the Western world and bring about Sharia law. When stacked up against God's Word, however, his logic doesn't hold. God never commands us to prevent the end of the world, in fact, the last words of the Bible are urging Jesus to come back quickly. As believers we should want suffering to end! Further, Jesus commands us to love our neighbors and our enemies. We are told to care for our neighbors, and here we are being told that God acts as a refuge for those in need. What's more, is that we are to spread His Light and His Word to others. It seems to me that it is obvious we should offering safety to those in need. We should be taking the opportunity to show the world God's love and hope that love wins hearts for God.

On a side note, Psalm 9:16 contains the word "Higgaion." Scholars aren't sure what the word means, but the closest they've come up with, given that it's bared with the enigmatic "Selah," is that an instrumental interlude was to be placed there.^[7]

Psalm 10

The first thing I noticed about Psalm 10, was that the saying "I shall not be moved" was attributed to the wicked. "I Shall Not Be Moved" is also a hymn we sung in church when I was young. Immediately, I was confused. If this was a saying of the wicked, why would we sing it? To claim that one will not be moved, is to claim rightness and confidence. I can say that I will not be moved concerning my faith in God, or I could say that I will not be moved from committing sin. Throughout Psalms we see the act of not being moved flip from that of the righteous (who will not be moved from righteousness) to that of the wicked (who will not be moved from sin). The wicked possess the attitude that they will not be moved because they are vain and believe in themselves. The righteous are not moved because they trust in the Lord who steadies them.

Like Psalm 9, Psalm 10 reminds us that God hears the humble and looks out for the oppressed. The wicked are described as being set against the poor and the fatherless. The law commanded the Israelites to look out for the poor and Jesus reiterated these commands for believers today. This is stressed once again in Psalms 10, so it must be important.

Messianic Verses

2 of the 10 psalms in this group have Messianic verse: Psalm 2 and Psalm 8.

Psalm 2:7

I will declare the decree: the Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.Psalm 2:7 KJV

In Psalm 2:7, the psalmist declares that God has a Son who was begotten. Jesus is referred to as God's only begotten son in John 3:16. Also, in Matthew 3:17, after Jesus is baptized, God speaks from Heaven and acknowledges Jesus as His son. Leading in to Psalm 2:7, Psalm 2:6 discusses a king God has set on the throne; this king is obviously His Son, Jesus. Some have suggested these words to be about David, since kings were seen as gods or sons of gods by many cultures. However, scholars overwhelmingly agree that these words seem to more likely to be about Jesus.^[1]

The Psalm ends by instructing us to kiss the Son and promising that those who place their faith in Him (the Son) will be blessed.

Some suggest the entirety of Psalm 2 is prophetic.^[4] The psalm tells us kings gathered against the king, just as people came against Jesus before He was crucified and just as they will again at the battle of Armageddon. A complete comparison of Messianic prophecies in Psalm 2 can be found at Messiah Revealed.

Psalm 8:2

Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.Psalm 8:2 KJV

Upon reading Psalm 8:2, I certainly wouldn't think of this as a Messianic prophecy. However, most study Bibles, commentaries, and websites, list it as a prophecy. Why is this listed? In Matthew 21:16, Jesus quotes this exact verse. Prior to quoting the verse, Jesus heals the blind and the lame, and the children cry out praises for Jesus which upsets the chief priests. When confronted, Jesus quotes Psalm 8:2. Psalm 8:2 tells us that God gave these children strength because of His enemies—these enemies would be the chief priests who were teaching and following man-made laws.

I don't know if this verse is foretelling that Jesus would be praised by the children, or simply establishing the fact that God reveals true praise through children. Whichever the case, it has been proven that children as young as 3 years old can tell if a person is trustworthy or not!^[5]

Psalm 8:6

Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:Psalm 8:6 KJV

Earlier, I pointed out that the idea that God created us a little lower than the angels comes from Psalm 8:5. Just before this verse, in Psalm 8:4, there is reference to the son of man. In the New Testament, Jesus refers to Himself as the Son of Man 88 times!^[6] Is Psalm 8:4 referring to the descendants of men or of Jesus? If we're talking about Jesus, it is Jesus who was created a little lower than the angels. Before we get really confused, this would be in reference to His time as a man, not to His existence in general (obviously Jesus is much higher than the angels!) Following this psalm with "son of man" referencing Jesus, we get to Psalm 8:6. This would then be a statement of Jesus' reign as king over all. Matthew 28:18 and Hebrews 2:6-9 seem to be given to directly confirm this view of the text and show that Jesus fulfilled these prophecies. Hebrews 2 actually quotes Psalms 8.

The Meaning of Selah

Scholars are unsure what selah means; it appears frequently in Psalms and occasionally in Habbakuk, but no where else in the Bible. It is thought that the word was derived from Hebrew words meaning "to praise," "to lift up," and "to pause." Since the psalms are often prayers and songs, it is possible that selah was a musical instruction for performers.^[2]

References

1. "Psalm 2:7". Bible Hub; visited June 2017
2. "What does selah mean in the Bible?". GotQuestions.org; visited June 2017
3. "What is iniquity according to the Bible?. GotQuestions.org; visited June 2017
4. "Psalms". Messiah Revealed; visited June 2017
5. Emma Innes. "Toddlers DO know best: Children as young as three can tell by a person's face if they're trustworthy". Daily Mail. March 6, 2014
6. "What does it mean that Jesus is the Son of Man?". GotQuestions.org; visited June 2017
7. "Higgaion". Bible Study Tools; visited June 2017