Psalms 51-55

This post covers Psalms 51-55, all of which were written by David.

Introduction

This post covers Psalms 51-55 from Book II of Psalms. I found myself diving a little deeper into these, so I split the post in half to keep it from getting too long. Looking at the circumstance of the each psalm really gave weight to the messages. Re-reading the passages to gather context was really meaningful, so I definitely suggest that for anyone reading through Psalms.

Psalm Summaries

Psalm 51

To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba

This psalm is one of repentance; written after Nathan the prophet confronts David about his affair with Bathsheba, it follows the events of 2 Samuel 11-12. Here, David confesses that He has sinned, recognizes that he cannot fix the situation, only God can, and begs for forgiveness. This psalm of David is highly relatable, even though most of us have never committed murder or adultery (I hope!). When we fail to resist temptation, no matter what it is, and are reminded by God that we belong to Him, David's word are exactly how we feel.

A few things stood out to me when I read this psalm.

Hyssop

In Psalm 51:7, David says "Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean." If we aren't deep into the Word, it's easy to miss the depth of this statement. The first time hyssop is mentioned in the Bible is in Exodus 12:22 when the Israelites are being instructed to paint the door frame of their homes with the blood of the first passover lambs. Hyssop was what was used to accomplish this. Onward, in Leviticus and Numbers, hyssop is mentioned in conjunction with sacrifices. John 19:29 tells us the vinegar given to Jesus at the cross was given to Him via hyssop. Of the 12 verses in which the word hyssop appears, only 1 is not directly or indirectly related to sacrifice.[4]

As such, David bringing up hyssop in reference to becoming clean is extremely appropriate. From his point of view, hyssop has ties to the sacrifices which were used to wash away the Israelites' sin. Little did he know that today, this would have the same meaning in reference to the Messiah, who not only represents the passover lamb and causes us to be clean, but was fed with hyssop in the last moments of His life.

About the Heart

The biggest gripe God had with the Jews was the issue of legalism. Today, people confuse legalism with keeping the commandments, but the real problem was that the Jews relied on tradition over faith. Not only did the leaders of the Jewish community add laws on top of God's laws to insure the original laws weren't broken, but they were so focused on keeping the law, they forgot about God. Today, the closest analogy I see is the idea of going to church each week being the thing that makes someone a Christian. Without putting in the work to build a relationship with Christ, going to church is no different than going to work—going to church is not going to save you.

The Jews got to the point that they were sacrificing without necessarily repenting. It was something they had likely been taught, just as we are taught to go to church, and they simply did it out of habit. However, David is reminding us that God doesn't really want us to kill the animals. He would rather us surrender our hearts to Him. This statement is basically the opposite of the saying "it's better to ask for forgiveness than permission." I say basically, because God wants us to genuinely repent and ask for forgiveness when we mess up, so asking for forgiveness is not bad. However, we shouldn't be acting with the assumption that we can do whatever and then simply ask for forgiveness (re: offer a sacrifice) to cover it later.

Music

Shane & Shane have a song inspired by Psalm 51, called "Psalm 51 (Wisdom in the Secret Heart)"

Psalm 52

To the chief Musician, Maschil, A Psalm of David, when Doeg the Edomite came and told Saul, and said unto him, David is come to the house of Ahimelech.

Photocredit: Unsplash.com/Rawpixel

Doeg, the Edomite, mentioned in heading of the psalm, is introduced in 1 Samuel 21:7, and further discussed in 1 Samuel 2. At this point in David's life, he had been anointed king, but Saul, the current king, had ordered him killed. So when David wrote this, he was a wanted man (like Jesus, Paul, and most of God's followers). As such you would think Psalm 52 would shed light on what it feels like to be wrongly persecuted. Instead, David gives us a glimpse of why people persecute us and how we should respond.

Watch Your Tongue

Proverbs already warned us to watch our tongue, but David continues to remind us here. What we say has consequences and the power of our words is much greater than we think. As such, we should always use our words for righteousness and shun evil.

Trust in the Lord

Many people trust in Earthly things, things that are tangible and in our control. People store food and money for emergency situations because it makes them feel prepared and in control. David warns us against trusting in money and wealth to get us through any situation, and reminds us that we will only prosper when our faith remains in God. Now, this isn't saying that when the weather channel announces a category 4 hurricane barreling toward your city you should do nothing to prepare. It's reminding us that even if we board up our house, stock up on batteries and non-perishable food, it's only God that can get us through the storm.

David was rightfully king at this point, and he had loyal supporters—even Saul's children were on David's side. However, David knew that God was in control. He trusted that if God had ordained him king, God would place him on the throne in the time and manner God saw fit. So instead of storming Saul's home and assassinating him, David simply stayed out of the way trusting God to fight the battle. In our life, we have to remember to turn our battles over to God!

Psalm 53

To the chief Musician upon Mahalath, Maschil, A Psalm of David.

A reproach for non-believers, much of Psalm 53 is repeated from Psalm 14. You can read my initial thoughts in that post.

Psalm 54

To the chief Musician on Neginoth, Maschil, A Psalm of David, when the Ziphims came and said to Saul, Doth not David hide himself with us?

This psalm discusses deliverance. We give freely to God because He has saved us in our troubles. He protects us from our enemies and uplifts us. The psalm is a powerful one to repeat in our times of trouble. Remember, David wrote this as he was being pursued by Saul, who was seeking to kill him.

Psalm 55

To the chief Musician on Neginoth, Maschil, A Psalm of David.

The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords. Psalms 55:21 KJV

This pslam touches on the depth of betrayal. When we are wronged by strangers, or people we know are against us, it is almost expected and we go on as usual. However, when we are hurt by those we consider friends or family, the sting of the action goes much deeper. The severing of trust and heartbreak of knowing that someone you thought you could count on is not actually in your corner can bring out depression-like feelings within us. David captures this beautifully in the psalm. Ultimately, he reminds us, all battles, even those among our brothers and sisters in Christ, must be given over to God.

Praying 3 Times a Day

This psalm also introduces the idea of praying morning, noon, and night. Growing up, I think I was taught to pray before bed (and of course blessing food before eating). Prayer is our time to talk with God, and communication is important in a relationship. So although it is important to pray, there's no set number of times or specific hours that we are required to pray, unlike in Islam where followers are required to pray 5 times a day.[5] However, I understand why David specifies these specific 3 times a day.

When you're dating someone (or married to them), isn't the first thing you do when you wake up telling them good morning? Everyone loves good morning texts, right? Knowing that you were the first thing on that person's mind when they awoke? Is it not the same at night before you go to bed? And throughout the day, aren't you bursting at the seams wanting to share your day or see how their day went? This is why God constantly compares our relationship with Him to that of a bride and groom. When we truly love God and are pursuing a relationship with Him, we can't wait to talk to Him.

Translation Changes

An interesting fact is that Psalm 55:17 actually reads "evening, morning, and noon" in Hebrew.[6] As given by God in Genesis 1:5, a day starts in darkness and finishes in light. Unlike today where we go from midnight to midnight (which really doesn't make much sense if you think about it), the Israelites' day starts and ends at sunset per God's definition. Thus, the first part of the day to David would be evening, followed by morning, and then by noon.

Messianic Verses

Psalm 55:12-14

In Psalm 55:12-14, David talks about being betrayed by a friend and brother in faith. Many draw parallels from this to the fact that Jesus was betrayed by Judas. I did not read it as a prophecy, but it is listed by some as a prophetic verse.[7]

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. "Bible Search: Hyssop". Bible Gateway; visited November 2018
5. "Five Pillars of Islam". Wikipedia; visited December 2018
6. "Psalm 55:17". Bible Hub; visited December 2018
7. "365 Messianic Prophecies". Bible Probe; visited December 2018

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

Isaiah 12: Praise God With Song

Let us praise God in song at every chance we get! God is our song, strength, and salvation.

Introduction

Isaiah 12 is a very short chapter, having only 6 verses (Psalm 117 is the shortest chapter in the Bible, with only 2 verses). All 6 of these verses discuss praising God through song. I'm not sure why the editors who divided the Bible into chapters and verses chose to separate Isaiah 12 from Isaiah 11, but it's an extension of Isaiah 12. Isaiah 11 ends talking about the remnant that God will save and Isaiah 12 picks up with this remnant singing praises to God.

Parallels with the Exodus

If you remember, Isaiah 11:12 talks about Egypt specifically and then references parting a river, which naturally takes us back to the Exodus when the Israelites escaped Egypt and God parted the Red Sea. Isaiah 12:2 goes on to quote Moses directly (Exodus 15:2) for the song that the remnant should sing. Both Moses and his sister, Miriam, led the people in song to praise God for their deliverance from Egypt.

On this re-read of the Bible I fell in love with the story of the Exodus because I realized it was about so much more than the literal Exodus. The chain of events were a foretelling of Jesus' first and second coming; they also parallel our personal journeys with Christ. During the Exodus, the Israelites were fleeing a corrupt, pagan nation (Egypt) and God delivered them to the promised land. It was difficult for the people, but they rejoiced and sung praises to God for how far He had led them. I imagine there was similar rejoicing as Jews of the southern kingdom returned to the promised land after being set free in Babylon. When the final days come, the remnant of God's people will also be provided for and praise God in song.

The Command to Praise

The whole of Isaiah 12 is telling us that the remnant will praise God. Anyone who's ever been through a trial knows that when you come out unscathed, your instinct is to praise God. This praise includes calling out to God, worshipping Him, and testifying of His great works. This form of praise is mentioned throughout the Bible.

Related Verses

• Psalms 34:3
• Psalms 71:22
• Psalms 105:1
• Psalms 118:14
• Psalms 145:4-6
• Isaiah 41:14-16

Songs

Oh magnify the Lord with me
Let us exalt His name together
For He is good oh taste and see
that His mercy endures forever.
"High Praise" by The Anointed Pace Sisters

There are lots of songs for praising God, but when I read these verses, one song in particular came to mind: "High Praise" by The Anointed Pace Sisters. The song takes it's lyrics from Psalms 34:3, but expresses the concept of praising God through song.

Strength + Song + Salvation

Isaiah 12:2 gives us 3 S's that God is for us: our strength, song, and salvation. Each of these traits represents something much greater if you think about it.

Strength

Strength goes hand in hand with might and power. When I say power, I don't mean worldly power which is usually corrupt and earned by doing the devil's bidding; I'm talking about Godly power. I'm talking about the power that enabled David to kill Goliath, the power that gave Sarah the ability to give birth in her old age, the power that gave Moses the strength to approach Pharaoh and declare God's people let go, the power that gave Joseph the strength to survive slavery and rise to power. We receive this power when we surrender to God and allow Him to be exalted in our lives.

Song

Songs can be used to express a variety of emotions, but in the Bible, song is almost always an expression of joy. We already know that one of the fruits of the Spirit is joy, but in Isaiah 12:2, we learn that God is our song, or our joy. Surrendering all to Him brings us peace and joy, which we express in song. I can testify to this. After I got my first speeding ticket in college, I made a playlist of gospel songs to listen to when I drove home (a 4.5 hour drive). That playlist kept me upbeat and awake, but kept me from rushing. Classical was too slow, it put me to sleep; pop and hip-hop was too hype, it made me speed, but God's music was just right.

Salvation

Salvation is our redemption; we're worthless without it. Because God gives us our salvation, He also gives us our worth and our purpose. I have a pencil that's actually an eraser on both sides, the body of the pencil says "Life with out Jesus is like this pencil, no point!" It's a great depiction of what our life is without salvation. Nothing we do can save us. With God we find purpose and hope for the future.

Interesting thought: Isaiah actually means God is salvation.[1]

Modern Worship

Photocredit: Unsplash.com/Yvette de Wit

If you've spent time in the church, especially if you've attended multiple churches, you know there's controversy over how we praise God. Every church I've ever been to agreed that we should sing God's praises, just as Isaiah 12 instructs, but the genre of said song can often be an issue.

My Experiences

The church I grew up in did not allow contemporary Christian or gospel music to be sung in church. 99% of the songs we sang were from the hymnal and simply accompanied by piano. Since many of us played instruments, they would allow us to play those for special functions like Christmas or Easter plays. Still, there were never any drums and despite having a quite sophisticated keyboard, we were only allowed to use the piano and organ settings.

In college I primarily attended a church that had the worst music I've ever heard. They tried, and I'm sure God appreciated the effort; I can't sing myself so it really wasn't my place to complain, either. This church used a guitar, a keyboard, and drums for accompaniment and usually sang contemporary songs for service. Unfortunately it was often off key or in a genre that didn't sit well with the audience (most of us showed up late specifically to miss the singing). I guess the genre leaned towards Indie Rock, maybe a touch of country and an attempt at R&B, but with a predominately black congregation who grew up in more traditional churches, Indie Rock wasn't cutting it. This was basically my introduction to contemporary Christian music (CCM) and the major thing I learned was that part of the reason churches in the US are still segregated is that music tastes tend to be cultural and unfortunately a lot of people choose their church based on the music sung.

There was a mega church about 45 minutes away from the college I attended that drew a lot of people from my school. My friends and I went once or twice—some still attend that church actually. This church terrified me. Service at this church is like attending a concert for your favorite pop artist. They had strobe lights, surround sound with amps, praise dancers in the aisles, and a playlist that sounded like it was from the Billboard Top 40 list. The service reminded me so much of club life, I couldn't really focus on Godly lyrics in the songs.

The church I attend now is a mix of these things. Sometimes they play CCM but sometimes they sing hymns. I don't like every song they sing, but I enjoy most of them. Thanks to them my gospel collection has grown even larger.

Does the Genre Matter

I've written posts on this topic before, but now that we're at a Bible passage that specifically discusses singing, I want to point out a major observation. God simply says "sing." He doesn't say sing in baroque, or classical, or jazz, or traditional, etc. He doesn't prohibit any genres or reference a difference between secular songs. The difference comes from the lyrics and the spirit of the person creating the song. I've heard CCM songs that move me and I've heard CCM songs that scare me. We have to use discernment to know what is truly of God.

I can, however, agree with traditionalists that due to the focus on the music we can sometimes miss red flags in the lyric when it comes to CCM. I have two great examples:

Last Sabbath my church sang a song in which one of the lyrics was "I am constrained to follow God" (or something close to that). I was caught off guard because constrained isn't a positive word. The connotation of constrained makes it almost synonymous with trapped. Usually, when a person says they are constrained, it is because of something out of their control. I've only heard someone say "I am constrained by..." to mean "I would do that but I can't because..."; that's not how I feel about my relationship with God.

Another example is a song called "Lamb of God" by Nicole C. Mullen. The song is absolutely beautiful; I cried the first time I heard it. After about 100 listens, I realized that in the first verse she talks about a widow holding the baby Jesus. In the second verse it makes it obvious that the window is supposed to be the mother because she says "the lady's little baby." In an otherwise perfect song this lyric bothers me to no end. For one person to confuse virgin with widow is one thing but noone in the production team noticed this gaffe? I looked it up and there aren't even any articles addressing it. It's like I'm the only person who ever noticed! The Bible tells us that Mary and Joseph were newlyweds and Joseph raised Jesus as his son. The implication of Mary being a widow at Jesus' birth is that she wouldn't have been a virgin and either Joseph was her second husband or Joseph was dead... See, it doesn't make sense. Yet, there it is in the song! I'm pretty sure God doesn't want us spreading false information in our songs about Him.

Living Water

Photocredit: Unsplash.com/Qang Jaka

Did you catch that Isaiah 12:3 connects to Jesus offering living waters in the New Testament? God says that the remnant people will draw water from the wells of salvation with joy. In John 4:10-14, Jesus has a conversation with a Samaritan woman at the well. He tells her that if she knew who she was speaking to, she would have asked Him for water because He could give her living waters. Jesus repeats this concept in John 7:37-38. He explains that when we drink regular water we thirst again, but if we drink the water of salvation we will never thirst again. You know that feeling when you're dehydrated and someone gives you cold water (or even lukewarm water). It tastes like the most delicious thing you've ever drank and you can't get enough of it. That's exactly how finding the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ feels.

References

1. Mike Campbell. "Isaiah". Behind the Name; 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.
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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 21-30

Psalms 21-30 contains the famous Psalm 23, often referred to a "The Lord is My Shepherd." However, it also contains Psalm 22, which prophetically outlines the life of Christ. The other psalms include prayers for guidance and forgiveness.

Introduction

This post covers Psalms 21-30. All 10 of these Psalms belong to Book I. This group of psalms includes the most often recited Psalm 23 and the less often recited but prophetic Psalm 22.
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Psalm Summaries

Psalm 21

To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David

There was a time when rulers were said to be divine. The Egyptians surely believed their pharaohs were gods. Though we know men are only men, kings were still supposed to be special people chosen by God. Most countries with heavy influence from one of the 3 Abrahamic religions follow this idea. It makes sense that the leader of the nation must be in a good relationship with God, otherwise the nation is being led away from God.

Psalm 21 reminds us that only when these kings remain true to God can they stay in power. All great nations in history fall, because we are only human. There's always a rebellious son (like David's son Absalom) or a corrupt politician. When these leaders seize power, destruction and sorrow follow. The only kingdom that will stand forever is the eternal kingdom because Jesus will be sitting on the throne.

Psalm 22

To the chief Musician upon Aijeleth Shahar, A Psalm of David

The phrase Alijeleth Shara, which is found in the title of the psalm, means "The Deer of the Dawn." "The Deer of the Dawn" was a song of the time period that this psalm was set to the tune of.^[4] Psalm 22 basically outlines Jesus' life and crucifixion. Many prophecies about Jesus were written while the Israelites were in captivity or faithfulness to God was at a low. However, if we take the title as an indication that David composed the psalm, as most scholars do, this psalm was composed as Israel was on the rise. Whether David understood exactly what would happen or only bits and peices, the concluding lines of the psalm make it quite explicit that David is not referencing himself but the seed (Jesus) that would come. Despite being so abundant with Messianic Prophecy, Psalm 22 isn't quoted the way Psalm 23 is. I talk about the details of these prophecies in the section below.

Psalm 23

A Psalm of David

Psalm 23 is the psalm everyone knows; you can probably recite it from memory. We used to read the psalm in church almost every week and several artists have set the psalm to music. Nothing in the Bible suggests this psalm is more important than the other, but it's pretty much the only psalm we ever read in church. I always wondered why.

Psalm 23 touches on some of the most important subjects and feelings we experience as people; this makes the passage relatable to pretty much everyone. There is powerful language within these verse!^[1][2]

Although many people know the psalm by heart and many of us recite it often, I want to talk about what it actually means. I don't ever remember my church stopping to discuss the meaning of this psalm, which is probably why I couldn't understand why we said it all the time!

Shepherd

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.Psalm 23:1 KJV

Most commonly associated with sheep, shepherds act as the guide and protector for a flock. Without a shepherd, the sheep would wander away and get lost. Predators such as wolves would attack and pillage the flock. The shepherd ensures all the sheep are accounted for. The shepherd leads them to safe places abundant with food. The sheep are so well cared for, there isn't anything more to ask for. God is our shepherd.

Green Pastures and Waters

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.Psalm 23:2 KJV

As I stated earlier, the shepherd's responsibility is to make sure the flock is well fed and hydrated. The second verse of the psalm reminds us that God will provide nourishment for us. Although shepherd are tasked with literally providing food for their flock, the nourishment God provides is both physical and spiritual. Because we aren't sheep, hearing about green pastures and still waters doesn't invoke the image of dinner, it invokes an image of peace. I always imagine the Garden of Eden when I say this verse. God's spiritual nourishment is what brings this peace. If we follow His Way, we will not be overcome with worry or the hustle and bustle of life.

Restoration of the Soul

He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.Psalm 23:3 KJV

Our souls are broken. We are born with a sinful nature and that's something we can't fix on our own. Today's society is proud to be "born this way" and desires to stay true to the nature we are born with. The Bible tells us we have to be reborn to receive salvation. When we ask God, He restores the brokenness inside us. When He restores us, He fixes our bad temper, our unfaithfulness, sexual impurity, greed, jealousy, vanity, etc. We then begin to follow His path, which is the path of righteousness.

Shadow of Death

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.Psalm 23:4 KJV

The valley of the shadow of death sounds like a terrifying place; that's probably why the phrase is followed by the declaration that psalmist will not fear evil. Death is the penalty for all sin—from small sins like eating the forbidden fruit to atrocities like murder. We are all walking in the shadow of death because we've all sinned. As such our deaths (and the deaths of those around us) constantly loom over us. Jesus conquered death, though. Which means we can walk through the valley of death without the fear of being trapped there. We will experience life after death, therefore we don't have to fear. Evil will happen in our world, but as long as we keep our focus on God, we have no reason to fear that evil.

It's important to remember that both the rod and staff of God comfort us. The rod was used for punishment (Proverbs 13:24); God loves us, so He doesn't let us wander astray. Discipline is a good thing, it is part of the shepherding process. The staff is possibly a symbol of authority.^[6] We all recognize a shepherd by his staff, just as we recognize a police officer by a badge, or a serviceman by his uniform. Everything around us testifies to God's role as King. It is comforting when we remember that He is in charge.

Cup Running Over

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.Psalm 23:5 KJV

The fifth verse talks about blessings. When we follow God, He prepares for us. Despite people trying to tear us down or turn us on the path of evil, God will ensure we have what we need, and they will see us fulfilled. My great-grandfather used to say we shouldn't worry when people wrong us, because we will live to see them fall. Verse 5 is telling us that we shouldn't worry about those people because they will live to see us rise. It does no good to watch them fall; why should we be happy to see the downfall of our fellow man? However, when they see the righteous rise, guilt and awe will overcome them. It provides an opportunities for them to commune with God and repent of their ways.

To be anointed is to be consecrated for office.^[3] This means God has placed us in a position of responsibility and power once we choose to follow Him. We choose Him and He chooses us in return!

Kingdom Come

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.Psalm 23:6 KJV

The final verse of Psalm 23 comments on the reward we receive for following God. Our lives will be blessed and full because of God's mercy—note that this doesn't mean nothing bad will ever happen (see Job!). When we are resurrected, we will be in the presence of God forever.

Psalm 24

A Psalm of David

About 6 years ago, someone told me that Jewish people don't believe in an afterlife. Chabad.org suggests this person was incorrect about this assumption^[5] and as I've been rereading the Old Testament, I find so many passages that suggest the early Jews did believe in an after life. In Psalm 24:3, David asks who will ascend to the holy place where God is. While this could be a reference to occurrences like that of Moses, it seems to be in line with the concept of Heaven.

Psalm 24:7-10 concludes the psalm with words that had to be lyrics to a song. When I first read them, I was convinced they were written with a tune in mind and people stood before God to sing them. I often wonder why we wrote new songs for church; why not just set the psalms to music?

Psalm 25

A Psalm of David

Psalm 25 starts with a prayer we should all be praying: for God to show us His way and teach us His path. This is something we have to build a relationship with God to understand. Otherwise, we wander aimlessly following our own way.

Because it's impossible to know this off the bat, and even harder to understand God's path for us when we are just beginning our relationship with Him, we tend to mess up a lot when we're young. That's not to say we don't mess up as we age, but part of growing in Christ is putting sinful behavior behind us. Lucky for us, God forgives us for our passed sins.

If God can redeem an forgive an individual, He can redeem a nation. If He can redeem a nation, He can redeem an individual. The psalm concludes by leaving the focus of individual and praying for the redemption of the nation. I don't know about you, but I don't want to be in Heaven alone and I certainly don't want our nation to crumble because it lost it's way. This is why we pray for those around us and for God to redeem our nation.

Psalm 26

A Psalm of David

In the previous psalm, David was asking for forgiveness and mercy, but here, David is asking for judgement. We already know that the wages of sin are death, so you have to be pretty confident in your behavior to tell God you're ready to be judged. You also have to be in the place where you are ready to be corrected by God. Often our problem is that we don't want to be told we are wrong. This is what pushes us away from God.

David tells us that he hasn't been associating with the wicked. This goes back to the saying "you are who your friends are." I used to hate this phrase as a kid, but the older I've become, the more I understand it. We want to think that our Godliness is just as likely to rub off on people as sinfulness is to rub off on us. However, placing good apples in the bin with a rotten one usually creates more rotten apples... The problem isn't just that their behavior is likely to rub off on you, but that you become tolerant of sin.

Let me elaborate. I have plenty of friends who drink excessively and/or are not waiting until marriage for sex. Their behavior didn't cause me to change mine, but it did mean I co-signed their behavior. You're not going to be friends long if every time these topics come up you're criticizing their behavior, when means you probably don't say anything at all. Meanwhile, everyone (including your friend) assumes that even though you've chosen not to partake in the festivities, you approve of the actions. From the outside looking in, you're just like them. The closer I became to God, the more my close friend circle started homogenize. I feel more comfortable around people who are following God because 1) I can trust their advice and opinions, and 2) I don't have to feel conflicted when I witness behavior that I know displeases God.

In this psalm, David advises us not gather with sinners. Since we're all sinners, I assume David is speaking of people who deliberately sin and are not actively building a relationship with God to improve themselves. It makes sense; who wants to be friends with someone who isn't trying to become a better person?

Psalm 27

A Psalm of David

I remember someone once told me the people closest to you have the hardest time watching you change. Parents know you inside and out, sometimes better than you know yourself. On top of that, who you are is a reflection of who they raised you to be. Some of us have parents that raised us to follow God, but some of us have parents that don't believe in God or cling to false ideals about God. When we veer away from their ideals, it often becomes hard for them to accept. Psalm 27:10 reminds us that even those they may push us away, God is always there for us.

We experience many obstacles in life, but we can rest easy knowing that God stands with us through these obstacles. Much like "Footprints," we are told that when we walk with God, He will not abandon us in our times of trouble.

Psalm 28

A Psalm of David

The worst thing that could ever happen is to be separated from God. Even Jesus became emotional when he took on the sins of the world and was separated from the Father. Psalm 28:1 is a prayer asking for deliverance from separation from God. The pit was where the dead went and there, they could not commune with God. The psalmist wants to be able to communicate with God always. The psalmist's prayer is that God not only hear his cries, but that God will not lump him with the wicked. God is to be our rock and our shield, whom we are to hold on to through every storm.

Psalm 29

A Psalm of David

Photocredit: Unsplash.com/Kristopher Roller

Psalm 29 reminds us of the power that rests in the voice of the Lord. We already know that God's voice is so powerful it created light; Psalm 29 says it can divide the flames of fire! The verses remind us that God is in control and with His voice, He can change everything we thought we knew about our world. Floods, disasters, abundance, new life—you name it, He can create it. Whatever He stirs with His voice, however, we will endure because He gives us strength.

Psalm 30

A Psalm and Song at the dedication of the house of David

...weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.Psalm 30:5 KJV

The title of this psalm indicates it was a song that was sung at the dedication of the house of David. It is possible that David wrote the psalm himself; but it is also possible that someone else wrote the psalm to celebrate David and his family. Once again, we see reference to the afterlife and the resurrection. The psalmist says God brought his soul up from the grave and saved him from the pit (Sheol/Hell)! The psalmist praises God, reminding us that God's anger only lasts momentarily, but when are reconciled with Him is sweet.

It is important that we proclaim the Truth of God now, because once we die, we can no longer praise. Psalm 30:9 is important for several reasons. It could be the psalmist's plea of reason; if God killed us after our first offense, no one would live to praise God. He has to forgive us of our sins so that we can learn, grow, and spread the truth of His Word. Also, it serves as a reminder to ourselves. Many of us are procrastinators. We wait until the last minute for everything. However, if we wait to long to use our voices to proclaim God our King, we will die and be unable to do so.

Messianic Verses

Psalm 22

Although I was able to clearly see that this verse was prophetic upon reading the text, much of my research on the prophecies outline comes from Messiah Revealed. You can see their work on Messianic prophecies in Psalms here. There are probably other prophecies in the chapter that are not beinning discussed right now.

Jesus' Words of Despair

We all know that while suffering, Jesus uttered the words "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?" (Matthew 27:46 and Mark 15:34). These words are Aramaic for "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" This utterance is a direct quote from Psalm 22:1. Psalm 22:1-2 tells us that the individual discussed in the psalm (Jesus) would cry out to God.

Pray Without Ceasing

Psalm 22:2 also tells us that this person will not cease praying; they are not silent, choosing to cry out to God day and pray at night. Just before His crucifixion, Jesus spends the night in Gethsemane praying.

Mocked and Despised

Psalm 22:6 ends the discussion of trust placed in God to tell us that this man is not trusted. Instead, He is despised by the people. We know Jesus was despised; the people could have set Him free, but they chose to have Him crucified. Luke 23:21-23, Matthew 12:14, and John 7:7 are just a few verses that testify to the fact Jesus is/was despised by the people.

The psalm goes on to say that these people will mock Jesus and shake their heads at Him. Shaking our heads has always been a sign of disapproval. In our modern world, people would mock Jesus by saying "smh." The fulfillment of this is shown in Matthew 27:37-43, Luke 23:35-39 and Mark 15:29-32.

Awareness of God/Born with a Purpose

We don't learn much about Jesus prior to His ministry. His childhood is basically a mystery, but we are told that like Isaac, Samuel, and John the Baptist, Jesus was claimed by God while still in the womb. Another of the few glimpses we receive of Jesus before His ministry is when He was just a boy and had disappeared from His parents' side. Mary and Joseph found Him at the Temple going about God's business. We are told of this event to show us that Jesus knew and communed with God even in His youth. Jesus was raised in the presence of God just as it is foretold in Psalm 22:9-10!

Abandoned by the Disciples

Psalm 22:11 pours out a line I can clearly envision Jesus speaking the night before the crucifixion. There He was, with full knowledge that soon He would be tortured and left to die, but the disciples were sleeping soundly. They weren't far from Him, but they weren't helping Him—not that they could change what God ordained, but they could have provided comfort. When the authorities came for Jesus, the disciples fled (Mark 14:50). Peter followed, but from a distance and would eventually deny Christ 3 times. All of this was laid out in Psalm 22:11.

Crucified

Psalm 22:14 goes into the details of the crucifixion. We are told that He will be poured out like water. John 19:34 describes blood and water pouring from Jesus after He is pierced. It says His bones were out of joint; although Jesus' bones were never broken, I can imagine hanging from a cross would cause the to feel out of joint and the weight of the body could dislocate the shoulders.

Jesus' bones were not broken. This meant they were all connected and able to receive communication from the brain. Psalm 22:17 alludes to this by saying Jesus could "tell" or communicate with all His bones. Psalm 22:16 goes on to say that He will be pierced in the hands and feet, just as Jesus was pierced on the cross.

Lots Cast

Psalm 22:18 tells us that people would divide Jesus' clothes and cast lots for them. This is fulfilled in John 19:23-24.

Proclaim His Name

Psalm 22:22 tells us that Jesus will proclaim His name among His brothers, though it doesn't specify if this refers to the Jews or every one, it is clearly fulfilled in John 20:17.

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.^[7]

References

1. Ed Hird. "Psalm 23: Why Is It Still So Popular??". Deep Cove Crier. March 1995
2. Brent A. Strawn. "The Lord is My Shepherd (Ps 23)". Bible Odyssey; visited June 2017
3. "What is the anointing? What does it mean to be anointed?". GotQuestions.org; visited July 2017
4. Holman Bible Publishers. Holman KJV Study Bible, pg. 929. 2014
5. Tzvi Freeman. "Do Jews Believe in an Afterlife?". Chabad.org; visited July 2017
6. Jack Wellman. "What Is The Difference Between The Rod and The Staff? A Bible Study". Patheos. July 24, 2015
7. "What does selah mean in the Bible?". GotQuestions.org; visited June 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.
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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