Psalm 61

I’m not very good at breaking down the Psalms and putting myself into the writer’s situation. Commentaries help, but still there’s a depth to the Psalms that I never reach. That is not to say, however, that the Psalms are not helpful to me. We have already seen that many verses in the Psalms have been put to music, some songs of which are very dear to me. But beyond that, some verses just “leap off the page”, whether or not I am catching the psalmist’s original meaning. That happened today.

…You have given me the heritage of those who fear Your name. (v. 5b) David was speaking of his own heritage, presumably his birth into the nation of Israel, but I’m thinking of my own “heritage” – Jesus, His life and His church. How different my life would have been if the Lord had not put His life into mine back in 1975! I can count days, times, events in my life for which I can only give credit to God. For example, all the events that had to take place in my life and hers for me to meet and marry Carol…! My advanced years of education were the direct result of an intervention in my life by a godly man at a time when my life was directionless. And the many events that ultimately brought us to St. Andrew’s, to be with you people – a wonderful turnabout from where we were all headed. Glory! Yes, this is a narrative in which I can intersperse praise into so many life events. You have given me the heritage of those who fear Your name.

Psalm 60

It’s unclear exactly what today’s header is referencing. The most likely connection is with II Samuel 8:13 which has David killing 18,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt. Kings were often given credit for victories when the actual work was done by military leaders, in this case Joab. Even today we see Generals getting credit for military victories (Patton, Montgomery, Schwarzkopf) when lesser officers and enlisted soldiers did the actual fighting. Also in the header, “Aram” is mentioned in II Samuel 8:6.

Beyond that, many of the names listed in the Psalm itself are referenced in II Samuel 8. By way of clarification, (a) Gilead, Manasseh, Ephraim, and Judah (v. 7) refer to the Israelite nation itself; (b) Moab, Edom, and Philistia (v. 8) refer to people groups who are enemies of Israel, all three also mentioned in II Samuel 8:1, 2, 11-14; and (c) Shechem and Succoth (v. 6) refer to geographic regions.

One of my study bibles offered a plausible explanation as to what’s going on in this Psalm. These authors suggested that while Israel was waging war against it’s northern enemies Edom snuck up from the south and won some military victories (vv. 1-3) over some weakened forces. David then sent Joab to do battle with Edom (v. 9) and he won some decisive victories such that Edom then became subject to Israel (II Samuel 8:14).

Psalm 59

Today’s header is related to I Samuel 19:11-17.

I did a word search on “you”, with David speaking directly to God and found 14 occurrences in six verses – 5, 8, 9, 11, 16, 17. In between what we have is narrative, David explaining the situation that brings about his lament and his confidence in his enemies’ defeat and God’s deliverance. The structure of this Psalm is a good application of our “Praise” focus this week in Creative Arts Camp. As I see it, Kelly has helped us focus on two questions – why do we praise and how do we praise? David’s Psalm today shows us both of those. (It’s a good assignment for you to work these out.) But what’s really intriguing to me is how David interweaves his prayer-praise into his narrative. That helps me in my own prayer-praise time. Praise by itself seems awkward to me, but praise in the context of where I am or what I’m doing or where I’m headed – that, I think, will come easier for me.

Psalm 58

One thought for today – Jesus quoting the Psalms. First, He did NOT quote verse 10: The righteous will rejoice when he sees the vengeance; he will bathe his feet in the blood of the wicked. I doubt that Jesus even thought those words! Just the opposite, in fact… From the cross Jesus forgave those who had brought about His crucifixion: Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. (Luke 23:34) Nor would Jesus have invoked the curses that we read in verses 6-9. Revenge was not a part of Jesus’ ministry.

On the other hand, Jesus clearly resonated with today’s first five verses. Read His “Woe to you, Scribes and Pharisees…” criticism in Matthew 23.

Finally, Jesus would certainly agree with today’s final verse: … Surely there is a reward for the righteous; surely there is a God who judges on earth. It was not His place to bring judgment, however, but to bring salvation (John 12:47).

Psalm 57

Another late post – just returned to Kentucky from Maryland earlier this afternoon. Today’s Psalm header has another link to another Old Testament chapter, I Samuel 24. If you have not read it, it’s a very interesting chapter. Although this chapter speaks of a very specific incident with Saul in the cave, it’s also very likely that David spent a good amount of time in the many caves in that region, the wilderness of Engedi in southern Judah, so this Psalm could just as easily reflect David’s own time hiding in caves.

Courtenay already mentioned verse 5 (repeated in verse 11) as a JMT song. Verses 9 and 10 form the heart of the song. Check it out, https://www.shazam.com/track/47141626/be-exalted-o-god.

This song is not one that we sing at St. Andrew’s. However this Psalm does contain a song that we sing, verses 7 and 8. It starts with verse 7, My heart is steadfast, O God… You may more easily connect it with the chorus line that begins, “M-e-e-lody [(echo) Melody], M-e-e-lody, [Melody], Je-e-sus is [Je-e-sus is] my melody…”

So many of the Psalms have become Christian music standards!

Psalm 56

Another header in today’s Psalm that clearly indicates the context of David’s writing – see 1 Samuel 21:10-15. David is continuing to flee from Saul, even so far as to seek safety with one of Saul’s enemies, the Philistines.

This I know, that God is for me… in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me? (vv. 9b, 11) I’ve never been much of a Psalms-reader, but I have never read these verses without affirming my own confidence in serving the Lord. There is no higher calling and no greater reward. Jesus repeats these thoughts in different words from the Sermon on the Mount: Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Instead fear the one who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. (Matthew 10:28) Fortunately, I’ve never been put to the test at the level where past and current martyrs have suffered for their faith. They need our prayer support, more than we can imagine.

Psalm 55:15-23

He redeems my soul in safety from the battle that I wage, for many are arrayed against me. (v. 18) Although I cannot know of the “many” who are arrayed against me, I believe that they are there. Why? We are told to be on the alert: Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. (I Peter 5:8) I have often wondered, upon returning home from a short trip or a long trip, how often I/we might have been delivered from who knows what. Just this morning as Carol and I were driving on the Washington Beltway we saw an accident on the lanes going the opposite direction. Wreckers were on the scene and traffic on that side was backed up three miles already. While we were thankful that we were not in that backup and that our lanes were clear, we are always aware that it could easily have been on our side and that it could easily have been us in that accident. Be watchful; be alert; there are many arrayed against us!

Psalm 55:1-14

Two thoughts came to mind as I read today’s verses. First, the descriptive heading from the NASB: “Prayer for the Destruction of the Treacherous”. The ESV was much nicer: “Cast Your Burden on the Lord”. Much more positive…! But as to that NASB heading – Although I often imagine the same destruction, especially when I think of Putin’s war with Ukraine and the Arab hatred of the West, more often as I’ve matured a bit I find myself praying for those “enemies”, praying for their heart transformation. Yes, I still ask the Lord why He allows horrible activities to continue and pray that He might take intervention against them. But more often I pray for conversion – for Putin, specifically, and for Moslem leaders around the world.

Second, verses 12-14: For it is not an enemy who taunts me – then I could bear it … But it is you, a man, my equal, my companion, my familiar friend. We used to take sweet counsel together; within God’s house we walked in the throng… When a dear friend turns against you, that hurts! Carol and I experienced that a few years back when we had a difference of opinion on a major issue with a married couple with whom we were quite close. We had declined their invitation to their daughter’s wedding to her partner, knowing that we could not be joyful at this union. Rather than being loving and understanding our situation they ended our friendship. They wrote us a very harsh letter announcing that “Some things last for a season; that season is over.” Reading verse 12 brought it all back to mind. Again, David has nailed it in his writing. Sad.

Psalms 53-54

There is no one who does good, not even one. (Psalm 53:3b) This verse is probably familiar to many of you. It is one of the most oft-cited verses used by many preachers when preaching a salvation message – except that they typically cite it as Romans 3:12 instead of Psalm 53:3b. I guess it’s more effective to cite a New Testament verse than the original Old Testament verse.

As with our reading yesterday, the heading for Psalm 54 also has an historical context. See I Samuel 23:19-24a. I love that the Bible often references itself. 

Written from the plane, sent upon landing at Washington Dulles…

Psalm 52

Hello from Athens, Greece! Headed back to the USA (Maryland) tomorrow!

As we begin our third group of Psalms we take a moment to thank John for his leadership in Proverbs – and we look forward to more of the same in July and September! But for now you have me back leading.

So, how much do you know about Doeg the Edomite, the man mentioned in the heading to this Psalm? You may recall some time ago that we read about David and his soldiers eating the sacred bread that only the priests were supposed to eat. (See I Samuel 21:1-6; Matthew 12:3-8.) It turns out that Doeg the Edomite had been nearby and saw that transaction and reported it to Saul as Saul was searching for David (I Samuel 22:9-10). But that one treachery against David was not enough. Later in the chapter we read about Saul’s response to David being given the sacred bread –he sought to have the priests killed. However, none of Saul’s soldiers were willing to kill the priests, so Doeg the Edomite willingly volunteered (I Samuel 22:16-18). A sad man! This is the man David mentions in the heading to this Psalm. So what does David say about Doeg the Edomite in the Psalm, itself? Why do you boast of evil, O mighty man?…You love evil more than good, and lying more than speaking what is right. (vv. 1a, 3) We don’t know anything more about Doeg the Edomite, but David did have this prophecy as to his ending: But God will break you down forever; He will snatch and tear you from your tent; He will uproot you from the land of the living. (v. 5) A word of caution to all of us to seek the Lord as we choose to follow or serve one “leader” over another.