Psalm 68:19-35

Dear RTB’ers,

The Ark of the God who brings salvation, deliverance from Israel’s enemies (Psalm 68:19-23) has now arrived in Jerusalem (Psalm 68:24-27). The psalmist (David?) presents a picture of the defeated kings of the earth acknowledging Israel’s God and Jerusalem’s temple: Because of Your temple at Jerusalem kings shall bear gifts to You. Nobles shall come from Egypt; Cush shall hasten to stretch out her hands to God. (v. 29, 31) The Psalm concludes with praise to the God who rules over all. Awesome is God from His sanctuary; the God of Israel—He is the one who gives power and strength to His people. (v. 35a) It’s as true today as it was some 3000 years ago!

Blessings.

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See also: June 18 (2022) / Psalm 68:19-35.

Psalm 68:1-18

Dear RTB’ers,

Today, the first half of Psalm 68. Both STS and my Study Bible suggest that the entire Psalm is written for a procession, most likely the bringing of the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. Like any other procession, this Psalm has a beginning, a middle, and an ending. Its beginning is the Exodus, Mt. Sinai, and the Wilderness (Psalm 68:7-10). Its middle is the conquest of the Promised Land (Psalm 68:12,14), and its (initial) ending is the establishment of Jerusalem (Mt. Zion) as the “chief” of all the mountains (Psalm 68:15-16). This “ending” of the first 18 verses only sets Jerusalem as God’s holy city. We will read tomorrow of the arrival of the Ark, especially Psalm 68:24-27. For the full story of the journey of the Ark to Mt. Zion, see II Samuel 6 as noted in STS.

Planted in the middle of these historical verses we see David praising the Lord – a common thread in all of David’s psalms: Sing to God, sing praises to His name … His name is the LORD; exult before Him! (v. 4) We also need to mention verse 18, quoted (in part) by Paul in Ephesians 4:8. Paul explains his use of this quote in the next two verses: In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that He had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things. (Ephesians 4:9-10) That is, Paul is connecting the journey of the Ark to Jerusalem with Jesus’ death, resurrection and ascension. Those Ephesians verses are more clearly understood when we know the context of those original words in verse 18.

More tomorrow with the rest of this Psalm, with the arrival of the Ark in Jerusalem…

Blessings.

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See also: June 17 (2022) / Psalm 68:1-18.

Psalms 66-67

Dear RTB’ers,

Another two psalms today, both without labels as to who the author might be; the oddity for us is that they are not ascribed to David. Our STS authors and my Study Bible and an external reference all suggest that King Hezekiah might be the author, coming from his victory over the Assyrians. Two of those sources suggest that we read Isaiah 37; the third suggests II Kings 19, a duplicate of Isaiah 37.

I was encouraged by the middle verses of Psalm 66: For You, O God, have tested us; You have tried us as silver is tried. You brought us into the net; You laid a crushing burden on our backs; You let men ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water; yet You have brought us out to a place of abundance. (vv. 66:10-12) The author and his people have gone through testing and come out on the other side. He further acknowledges that he was trusting God through it all. I will perform my vows to You, that which … my mouth promised when I was in trouble. (vv. 66:13b-14) It is often difficult to pray with confidence when we are facing difficulties. We often hear that times of testing are there for our benefit, to “refine” us as does hot fire to precious metals. We are asked to see God at work, even when things are not going our way. We need to believe that and to claim two constant reminders – “God is God and I am not” and “Your will be done.” Hezekiah (like David earlier) sets a good example for us.

Blessings.

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See also:

• June 15 (2022) / Psalm 66
• June 16 (2022) / Psalm 67

Psalms 64-65

Dear RTB’ers,

Two psalms today, both ascribed to David, and totally different in their content. Psalm 64 is all about David’s enemies while Psalm 65 is all about praise. As to David’s enemies… The first eight verses in Psalm 64 mention the enemies; only the last two, speak of God’s deliverance. The enemies are not named, even as to whether they are local or international, so we cannot go to any specific incidents in II Samuel to look for guidance. However, much of the focus is on their tongue, so we can imagine that these enemies are people somewhat close to David: Hide me from the secret plots of the wicked, from the throng of evildoers, who whet their tongues like swords, who aim bitter words like arrows… (vv. 64:2-3) Sadly, these enemies make secret plots, confident that no one can know their goals. However, God knows – and acts: They … talk of laying snares secretly, thinking, “Who can see them?” … But God shoots His arrow at them; they are brought to ruin, with their own tongues turned against them… (vv. 64:5, 7-8a) He wins, they lose!

Then, the dramatic contrast with all the praise and thankfulness in Psalm 65: Blessed is the one You choose and bring near, to dwell in Your courts! (v. 65:4a) In the bulk of the Psalm David uses creation, the climate, the environment to speak of God’s glory. Creation itself praises God: The pastures of the wilderness overflow, the hills gird themselves with joy, the meadows clothe themselves with flocks, the valleys deck themselves with grain, they shout and sing together for joy. (vv. 65:12-13) GLORY!

Blessings.

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See also:

• June 13 (2022) / Psalm 64
• June 14 (2022) / Psalm 65

Psalm 63

Dear RTB’ers,

In spite of being on the run, David is still full of confidence and praise: …for You have been my help, and in the shadow of Your wings I will sing for joy. But those who seek to destroy my life … shall be given over to the power of the sword … But the king shall rejoice in God… (vv. 7, 9-11, edited)

I find that I disagree with the STS opening paragraph introducing this Psalm. The header to the Psalm says that David was in the “wilderness of Judah”, which is the mountainous area south of Jerusalem and west of the Dead Sea. This is the area where David fled when he was on the run from Saul. However, the STS editors suggest that David was on the run from Absalom, but when David fled from Absalom he went east and crossed the Jordan. (Recall the issue of Judah bringing him back over the Jordan, with the other Israeli tribes angry with Judah. See II Samuel 19:11-15, 41-43.) Either way, David is on the run and still oozing with confidence in the Lord’s deliverance.

Blessings.

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See also: June 12 (2022) / Psalm 63.

Psalms 61-62

Dear RTB’ers,

Another two Psalms today, both ascribed to David, but neither pointing to any specific incident in his life – and he had a number of enemies! In both of these Psalms “the king” is specifically mentioned (Prolong the life of the king…, v. 61:6a) or suggested (They only plan to thrust him down from his high position. v. 62:4a). Is David the author, speaking in the third person? Or is there a different author, with the Psalms still ascribed to David? What is confusing to me today was probably straightforward years ago when these Psalms were spoken or sung, over and over, again and again, for thousands of years in temple and synagogue worship. Not an issue for us today…!

A note on Psalm 61:8 took me to an item in my Study Bible that was one of their earlier notes relating to Psalm 7:17, “Prayer springs from need, and praise must follow deliverance.” It struck me how true that is. We constantly pray when we have need(s) and we often give thanks when we see answered prayer, but does our thanks really lead to praise? Do we really honor God for who He is and what He has done for us? I know that I fall short in this realm. Again, I could learn from David.

Today’s verse worth noting: Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. (v. 62:8) Carol and I are dealing with that trust right now as we are waiting for that person or family that will buy our farm. We go back in time and are confident in the Lord moving us in this direction, but waiting and praying for that buyer is difficult. In years past we’ve had difficulties selling properties and that past hangs over us. We do need to Trust in Him at all times… Please pray with us for that level of trust in our current situation.

Blessings.

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See also:

• June 10 (2022) / Psalm 61
• June 11 (2022) / Psalm 62

Psalm 60

Dear RTB’ers,

David makes his plea (Psalm 60:1-5), the Lord answers directly (Psalm 60:6-8), then David continues his plea (Psalm 60:9-11a), and eventually expresses his confidence in the Lord’s deliverance (Psalm 60:11b-12). I can understand David pleading for the Lord’s deliverance, then the Lord’s response, almost like He has already delivered Israel, but then I have confusion as to David’s second set of pleas, words like: Have you not rejected us O God? You do not go forth, O God, with our armies. (v. 10) In the end David’s ultimate confidence in the Lord’s deliverance shows forth in the last verses, plus all the nations mentioned were conquered by David during his reign. So maybe this Psalm was written “after the fact”, with David expressing what he had felt before his victories? Like many psalms for me, this one is confusing.

I need to quote my wife from 2022 when RTB was looking at the Psalms and Wisdom literature:

A moment of levity here… I am amused by the contrasting metaphors used in this psalm. Referring to the Israelite nation: they are God’s property, his helmet, his scepter. The ones for their enemies: God will use Moab as his “washbasin” — likely a vessel for washing dirty, dusty feet. Yuck! He will “toss his sandal” at Edom — the way you shoo away a dog(?) or challenge an enemy(?). My study notes mention taking off your sandal is a sign of claiming land in these cultures. He will “shout in triumph” at Philistia — they have already lost their battle against Israel, they just don’t know it yet!

Her last sentence tells the whole story: “…they have already lost their battle against Israel, they just don’t know it yet!”

Blessings.

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See also: June 9 (2022) / Psalm 60.

Psalms 58-59

Dear RTB’ers,

Two psalms today – unlike yesterday’s two psalms, these two are seemingly unconnected. In Psalm 58 David is attacking unrighteous judges, asking the Lord to restrain them and praying for deliverance for this unjustly tried. Then in Psalm 59 David is again praying for his own protection against his enemies.

David believes that these unrighteous judges are inherently evil – from birth: The wicked are estranged from the womb; they go astray from birth, speaking lies. (v. 58:3) But he also has confidence in God’s deliverance of the righteous from unjust decisions. I especially like verse 11: … surely there is a God Who judges on earth. They’ll get theirs!

Psalm 59 is (again!) a bit confusing. The header has this Psalm as a time “…when Saul sent men to watch his house in order to kill him.” But then the wording of the Psalm seems to speak more of Israel’s enemies, not just one man (Saul) pursuing another (David). The first four verses seem personal enough. But then David seems to get more global: You, LORD God of hosts, are God of Israel. (v. 59:5a) We even have mention of “nations” in verses 5 and 8. He has them prowling around the city (Ps. 59:6b), not just watching “his house”. So there seems to be a major disconnect between the header and the text of the Psalm. But however we read the text, we again see David’s confidence, his expectation of the Lord’s deliverance. Strangely enough, David does not want his enemies killed; he wants his “people” to know that it is God who is his avenger and that his enemies are slowly “consumed” so that even they will know of the God in Heaven: … consume them till they are no more, that they may know that God rules over Jacob to the ends of the earth. (v. 59:13b) I need to learn from David’s example: O my Strength, I will sing praises to You, for You, O God, are my fortress, the God Who shows me steadfast love. (v. 59:17) I think praise is David’s secret weapon!

Blessings.

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See also:

• June 7 (2022) / Psalm 58
• June 8 (2022) / Psalm 59

Psalms 56-57

Dear RTB’ers,

What can man do to me? (vv. 56:4b, 11b) David has the perfect perspective here. For us, on this side of the Cross, it’s an easier perspective because we can think eternally. But David did not have that level of assurance, although he did have events in Israel’s history (e.g., the Exodus) and Samuel’s anointing of him to be king and his own deliverances from Saul that he was able to be confident in God’s deliverance of him from any enemies on Earth. We need those few words to be our confidence: What can man do to me?

It’s hard for me to read the ending of Psalm 57 without singing the words! (That’s the case for many psalms!) Take a minute and listen. The middle verses (Ps. 57:7-8) are also set to music, “My heart is steadfast…make melody.” It’s wonderful to get these music verses in my head first thing in the morning. Try it!! GLORY!!

Blessings!

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See also:

• June 5 (2022) / Psalm 56
• June 6 (2022) / Psalm 57

Psalm 55

Dear RTB’ers,

Not long ago one of you commented to me that s/he was “with me” in not understanding the Psalms. They were referring to my July 27 post wherein I spent more than a few sentences explaining the possible sources of my confusion with the Psalms. Today I am not alone in not fully understanding Psalm 55. We read that one of David’s friends has turned against him – but we do not know the friend’s name: For it is not an enemy who taunts me. … But it is you, a man, my equal, my companion, my familiar friend. (v. 13) Scholars have suggested Absalom, but he is David’s son, not his  equal and not his “friend”. Others have suggested Ahithophel, one of David’s former advisors who then aligned with Absalom against David. (See II Samuel 15:31; 16:15-23; 17:1-23.) Simply, we do not know who this “friend” is.

David does not speak kindly of this friend. Our STS companion book speaks of the personification of their evil as if it were walking the walls and the streets (Ps. 55:9-11). Still, David’s confidence in God does not fail: But I call to God, and the LORD will save me. …He hears my voice. … God will give ear and humble them, … because they do not change and do not fear God. (vv. 16-17, 19) David leaves us with good advice: Cast your burden on the LORD, and He will sustain you; He will never permit the righteous to be moved. (v. 22) The apostle Peter even cited this verse (I Peter 5:7). Maybe we should listen…?

Blessings!

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See also:

• June 3 (2022) / Psalm 55:1-14
• June 4 (2022) / Psalm 55:15-23