Psalm 110

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Who - David speaks to a future king of Israel.  

What - This is a very different psalm.  David is not talking to God nor to the people, though he intended for them to hear it.  He is not talking about himself, which is very unusual.  David is talking to a future King of Israel who will have a rule greater then David’s.  This future King will be both king and priest.  So this psalm becomes a prophetic psalm.  

When - Unstated

Where - Unstated

All We Have in Christ

All We Have In Christ

I recently preached a sermon on “How To Keep Our Joy” at Creekside Community Church.  (You can listen to the sermon here.  The title and preacher name do not match but it is my sermon.)  The source of our joy is all we have in Christ.  (Someone may argue our joy is having Christ, that is true but the joy we have from having Christ is grounded in all we have in Christ, in other words all we receive from being in Christ.)  When we lose our joy we lose sight or get distracted from all we have in Christ.  Below is a list of verses telling us all we have in Christ.  It is a soul exalting and heart thrilling list, one that causes us to praise Christ and our heavenly Father for such lavish giving.  Revel in the glory of what we have in Christ!

For a pdf file of these verses go to http://bit.ly/InChristverses.

How to Think About Predictions of the World Ending?

It is 11:00 am MDT on September 23, 2017 as I write these words.  David Meade used a study of numerical features in the Bible to predict the world ending today. However, he changed his prediction and said the world would not end today, but a series of cataclysmic events will occur over the next few weeks that will end life as we know it. “The world is not ending, but the world as we know it is ending, a major part of the world will not be the same at the beginning of October.” (According to the Washington Post article he was quoted in on Sept 17.)  The life we live can change in an instant and life is never the same again.  Let us be clear, he is still predicting that every single person on this planet is about to go through a cataclysmic upheaval almost as bad as the end of the world.  

These predictions have been happening for a number of years, remember the Mayan Calendar prediction in 2012?   The sad part to me it is professing christians who make these predictions and believe them, even promoting them.  So how should we as bible believing, Christ following eagerly awaiting Christ return, disciples of Jesus think about these predictions when they occur?  

Psalm 60 and 108 published together

You will notice the meditation for Psalm 60 is published somewhat out of order.  I decided to publish Psalms 60 & 108 together because they are based in the same historical events of 2 Samuel 8:3-14 and 10:1-19.  Also these two psalms share much of the same content and themes between them.  It seemed best to me for readers to have the two psalms together for better understanding each and seeing how they relate to each other.

Psalm 60

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Who - David speaking to the LORD, then to the people as a choir song.  

What - This is a national lament.  It is a lament over a national crisis that has come upon Israel by the opposing armies threatening Israel.  It is a cry to the LORD for His help and deliverance.  

When - The title gives the occasion of this psalm when Aram, Syria, Edom and Ammon assembled together to battle David and Israel in 2 Samuel 8:3-14 and 10:1-19.  What we discover in those passages were multiple engagements with a very large fighting force arrayed against Israel.  Not only was David and the army out numbered, but the Syrians had chariots while the Israelites did not.  So it was both a technological and numerical disadvantage for David.  

Where - Where this psalm was written is difficult to determine.  Most likely it was written out in the field where David and his army were encamped in Ammon.  If so, David was in a foreign land, outnumbered and overpowered by his enemies.  

Why - David and the army were in a desperate situation.  They were in a foreign land outnumbered and under-armed.  All the advantages went to David's enemies.  David calls upon the LORD to deliver and save Israel from these threats.  If David and Israel lose this battle, the Davidic Dynasty never happens.  

Psalm 108

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Who - David is speaking to the LORD.

What - David is making a plea to the LORD for help.  He is calling to God for help against Israel's enemies, apparently after defeats by the enemies around Israel in Battle.  

When - Unstated.  However, verses 8-13 are an exact match to Psalm 60:7-12.  So both psalms are probably inspired by the same events in 2 Sam 8 & 10.   

Where - Unknown, possibly in Ammon in the army’s encampment there.

Why - David sees the plight of Israel as desperate.  He believes they are in danger from armies around them.  He also believes that no human agent can save them.  Their only hope is the LORD intervening for them.  

Psalm 107

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Who - An unnamed psalmist writes a Thanksgiving song for gathered worship, speaking to the people.  

What - The primary focus is to call the people to remember the steadfast love of the LORD.  The reasons for calling the people to remember are thanksgiving, encouragement and admonishment.  Those who have experienced the steadfast love of LORD are to give thanks to Lord for what he has done.  Those in similar circumstances to the first group are encouraged to seek the LORD for help.  Why?  Because from His steadfast love He will help them if they are repentant and faithful.  Individuals are admonished not to join the wicked or turn to sinful ways.   The LORD’S steadfast love for His people means the LORD’S judgment for those who oppress others.  

When - Unstated

Where - Unstated

Why - The psalmist is calling the people to give thanks to the LORD for His steadfast love and His deliverance from trouble.  He is calling the redeemed of the LORD to give thanks to Him for redeeming them.  

How - The psalmist calls on the people to praise and give thanks to the LORD for He is good.  His steadfast love endures forever and He redeems His people from trouble.  The psalmist first calls the redeemed to praise and give thanks to the LORD.  He lists four groups the LORD has redeemed:  

1. Wanderers in a wasteland the LORD has led to a city to dwell in.  
2. Those suffering in the shadow of death and in affliction and prison because they rebelled against the LORD.   
3. The foolish who suffered affliction as a result of their foolishness, but were healed when they cried out to the LORD.   
4. Those who went to do business on the sea and the LORD sent a great storm to discipline them.  They were saved when they cried out to the LORD.  Each group is called to give thanks to the LORD for his steadfast love and wondrous works for the children of men.  For He:    1) satisfies the longing soul (vs 9).  2) shatters the doors of bronze and cuts in two the bars of iron (vs 16).  3) delivers from destruction (vs 20).  4) brings them to their desired haven (vs 30).  Each is to testify to the LORD’S wondrous works.  

The last two stanzas are admonishments to avoid wickedness.  The LORD punishes those who do evil while he blesses those who do good.  

So What 

1. Testify to the LORD’S steadfast love in your life by telling what He has done for you.  All of us fit into one or more of the four groups listed by the psalmist.  Testify!
2. When we find ourselves in one of the four situations described by the psalmist, cry out to Jesus.  He will save.  
3. When tempted to do evil or join wicked people, remember the steadfast love of the LORD becomes the steadfast judgment of the LORD for the wicked (vs 33-43).  
4. Give thanks to the LORD for he is good and His steadfast love endures forever!  Let the redeemed of the LORD say so!  

Psalm 104

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Who - An unnamed author gives praise to the LORD.  

What - This psalm tells about two attributes of God.  The first is the Lord as the sustainer and provider for creatures here on earth.  The second is the LORD’S greatness and majesty.  It is a song of deep and joyful praise to the LORD driven by the psalmist’s amazement at the LORD’S majesty, greatness and power.  

When - Unknown

Where - Unknown

Why - The psalmist is praising the LORD and giving Him glory.  He is also calling his hearers to praise the LORD for the same reasons he is praising the LORD.  

Psalm 101

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Who - David writes a song of commitment to the LORD.  

What - David is making a promise to the LORD of how he will live.  It is a promise to live in a covenant with the LORD.  All the promises David makes to the LORD are aspects or components of covenantal living, to call and affirm good that which the LORD has called good and evil what the LORD has called evil.  

This song is also a praise and a request.  David praises the LORD for His steadfast love and justice.  David's only request in this song is for the LORD to come to David.  

While this psalm is a personal pledge to the LORD by David, it is also a psalm that describes the perfect king and the perfect people.  It is describing the perfect Davidic king, the one promised in 2 Samuel chapter 7.  Therefore, it is a psalm that describes the Messiah.  

When - Unstated, but it must be early in David’s life or early in his kingship.  He would not say these things in this way after Bathsheba and Absalom.

Where - Unstated

Psalm 100

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Who - An unnamed psalmist talks to the gathered worshipers.  

What - This is a psalm of thanksgiving according to the title.  The psalmist is calling the gathered worshipers to give thanks to the LORD.  He calls on them to declare the LORD’S steadfast love for them.  

When - Unstated.  Probably at a festal gathering at the temple.  

Where - Unknown, probably Jerusalem.

Why - No particular event is associated with this psalm, so the purpose seems to be for general thanksgiving, probably as part of a festal gathering.  

Psalm 95

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Who - An unnamed psalmist speaks to the people gathered for worship.  

What - A psalm of thanksgiving and a call to obey the LORD.  This psalm is a psalm for corporate worship, though it could be for any size group or even an individual.  

When - Unknown 

Where - Unknown

Why - The psalmist is calling the people to come and worship the LORD, to sing and delight in the LORD because he is a great God and King.  And also because those gathered in worship are His people.  The psalmist warns the people not to be unfaithful like their forefathers at Meribah and Massah, primarily not to go astray in their hearts.  

Psalm 94

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Who - An unnamed psalmist talking to the LORD and then to the people.  

What -This is a psalm of thanksgiving and lament, it is also a wisdom psalm.  The psalmist is saying three things: 

1. The psalmist is thanking the LORD for his deliverance of the psalmist from danger and the wicked person.  
2. The psalmist is lamenting over the actions of the wicked people who oppress and abuse those around the psalmist. 
3. The psalmist is also instructing his hearers about the downfall of the wicked so they will resist the temptation to adopt their ways.  

When - Unknown

Where - Unknown

Why - Either a foreign group or a group of Israelites not living in covenant faithfulness have taken control of the land and are oppressing the people by wicked actions.  The psalmist is talking to the LORD for help and acknowledging the LORD'S previous deliverance.  He is also warning others not to fall for the temptation to adopt the methods and philosophies of the wicked.  Because despite the current prosperity of the wicked, the LORD sees and hears and will bring them to justice.  

Psalm 92

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Who - An unnamed psalmist writes to the LORD.  

What - This is a psalm written for Sabbath worship.  The psalmist is declaring the LORD’S goodness and the joy it brings him to see the works of the LORD’S hands.  He is also expressing his hope in the LORD for deliverance and vindication against his enemies.  As this is a psalm written for Sabbath worship, it is meant for the congregation to sing and embrace as their own prayer to the LORD.  The psalmist does not identify a specific problem, but seems to be focusing on the LORD’S worthiness of praise even though a general threat exists.  

When - unstated

Where - unstated

Why - The psalmist is pointing to all the reasons for praising the LORD and to call his hearers to praise the LORD.  

Psalm 91

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Who - The author is unstated.  He is appealing to the LORD and speaking to his hearers.  

What - This reads like a deliverance psalm, as the author is asking the LORD to deliver him and his hearers from some trouble.  Is this an individual psalm or a corporate psalm?  I cannot tell from the words whether its original inspiration was an individual crisis or a national one.  It reads as if the priest was saying these words over the army as they go out to battle.  Yet it has a very personal “you” and “I” singular message.  Either way it is appropriate to apply in both cases today.  

Satan quotes verses 11 and 12 to Jesus at His temptation on top of the temple.  Which is stunning as verse 13 talks about the Messiah's victory over the lion and serpent!  Jesus’s response about not testing the LORD is a good warning about misuse of a psalm to justify careless and reckless actions.  

When - Unstated

Where - Unstated

Why - The author is facing a crisis in which his physical life is in danger.  He is asking the LORD to deliver him.  

Psalm 86

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Who - David writes a prayer to the LORD.  

What - David is asking the LORD to save him from a group of men pursuing him with the intent to kill David.  David also asks the LORD for more than escape and deliverance.  David asks for the LORD to perform a very public sign so that those pursuing him may “be put to shame.”  David is asking for vindication.  

When - Unstated, but could fit several instances in David’s life.  

Where - Unstated

Why - David is writing a prayer of deliverance because he is being pursued by men who want to take his life.  David believes that unless the LORD intervenes, these men will overtake him.  

Psalm 84

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Who - The sons of Korah to the LORD.

What - A pilgrimage psalm.  The psalmist is writing of the joy to go to Jerusalem and worship at the temple.  

When - Unstated

Where - Unstated

Why - The psalmist is expressing the joy of coming to the temple to worship.  As this is a choir song it is also a song to be sung to help all worshipers find delight and joy in coming to worship the LORD.  It reads as a song to be sung on the way to Jerusalem.  

Psalm 79

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Who - Asaph writes a lament to the LORD.

What - The psalmist is lamenting to the LORD at the destruction of Israel and and the death of many Israelites at the hands of foreign invaders.  

When - The Psalmist does not specifically say when this happened, but the description only fits the Babylonian conquest and exile.  

Where - Unstated, but most likely Jerusalem.  

Why - The psalmist acknowledges the sins of the nation that have caused this destruction and it is the LORD’S anger poured out on them.  The psalmist is asking the LORD to relent and repay the hostile invaders.

Psalm 76

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Who - A song of Asaph written to be a corporate praise song to the LORD.  

What - The Psalmist is acknowledging the LORD’S deliverance and success in battle.  Apparently Israel went out in battle against a powerful foe and the LORD gave them victory.  While the psalmist does not specifically say it, he alludes that the LORD made a miraculous victory for Israel.  Whether by special means, or just giving Israel victory, the Psalmist makes clear the LORD caused the victory.  He also calls the hearers to give praise to the LORD and offer thank offerings for the LORD’S victory.  

When - Unstated

Where - Unstated

Why - The Psalmist wants people to realize this great victory is from the LORD and to give him appropriate honor and praise.  He also wants them to live in covenant faithfulness and he uses this victory to call them to it.  

Psalm 74

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Who - Asaph speaking to the LORD.

What - A lament to the LORD for the great calamity that has happened to Israel.  The temple has been burned and destroyed and people who do not worship the LORD rule the land.  The psalmist pleads with the LORD to come and act for the good of Israel and the LORD’S own name.  

When - No specific time stated, but the Babylonian exile and conquest is the only time that makes sense.  

Where - Unstated, but either Jerusalem our Babylon.  

Why - The Babylonians have overrun Israel, taken away the people and destroyed the Temple.  The psalmist pleads to the LORD for relief and help.  

Psalm 70

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Who - David talking to God and making it a choir song for public worship.  

What - David is in dire straits and needs God to deliver him.  This is a psalm of petition, a strong and desperate plea to God.

When - Unstated

Where - Unstated

Why - David sees his situation as one in which only God can help.  Perhaps he is at his wits end.

Psalm 69

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Who - David is writing his song to the LORD to be sung by the choir.  

What - David is writing a lament to the LORD (this psalm has all seven of Longman's elements for a lament.)  David is asking for the LORD to intervene and take action against David's enemies, who have been very vocal and plotting against him.  David is very strong in his curse against his enemies.  The psalm does not give us any clues as to when or what events David is referring to, however, it must have been significant for David to ask for such a strong curse against his enemies.  

When - Unstated

Where - Unstated

Why - David is in despair and feels the weight of his situation.  He sees his plight as desperate and desperately needs the LORD to intervene.  David is asking the LORD to save him from these enemies as well as restore the joy of life to him.  David asks the LORD to enact severe punishment on his enemies for these attacks against him.  David does more than ask God to act.  He is asking the LORD to make their punishment public.  David is asking for vindication in the court of public opinion.  David's hope in the LORD gives him hope that the LORD will do this.  

Psalm 67

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Who - An unnamed psalmist speaking to the LORD, the people of Israel and the nations.  

What - The Psalmist writes a praise song to be sung by a choir during the temple worship along with instruments.  It is a mixture off praise and Thanksgiving.

When - Unstated

Where - Unstated

Why - To ask the LORD to bless the nation of Israel and the nations through Israel.  He also wants the people to see the gracious goodness of the LORD and praise the LORD for it.

Psalm 65

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Who - David writes a praise song to the LORD.

What - A song of praise to the LORD for His provisions and care for His people.

When - Unstated

Where - Unstated

Why - David seems to write this psalm as a praise song to be sung by Israel.  It appears he wants the people to see how the LORD has provided for them in physical and spiritual ways, then give the LORD praise for these provisions.  

Psalm 61

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Who - David writes a song to the LORD.

What - This song of petition asks for the LORD to lead David to a place of blessing.  David writes a song to be sung in public worship.  

When - Unknown

Where - Unknown

Why - David is requesting the LORD to be a refuge in times of distress.  He also asks God to lead David to the rock of safety and comfort.   David desires to know and experience the LORD’S protection and fellowship.  David is also asking for the LORD’S blessing over his kingship or possibly Solomon’s.