Tuesday

Psalm 80 - Praying in a Difficult Time

Asaph wrote this psalm during a period of trouble for Israel. Since the twelve tribes are experiencing the problem, the time of the psalm is probably when the Assyrian empire was threatening the kingdoms of Israel and Judah, with perhaps the northern kingdom having been captured.


Asaph is aware that God is the royal shepherd of Israel reigning over his people from his throne on the ark of the covenant. Such a description usually points to the Lord as merciful since the throne was the mercy seat. The tribes Asaph mentions are those descended from Rachel, perhaps referring to them because the births of Joseph (the father of Ephraim and Manasseh) and Benjamin were the outcome of much prayer, but also a reminder that the divided tribes were really one people. The prayer that Asaph offers is for the Lord to respond according to the Aaronic blessings in Numbers 6:25 (vv. 1-3).


Their prayers for restoration had been made for a while. Yet instead of answering them, the Lord had allowed their troubles to increase. The divine response revealed that he was angry with his people, and his anger was shown in difficult providences that caused great internal distress for his people and disdain from their enemies, which was the case when Assyria attacked the northern kingdom and later the southern kingdom. Still, Asaph knew that the Lord could yet come in blessing (vv. 4-7).


Asaph knew the appropriate arguments to make in prayer. He reminded the Lord of his actions in the past in bringing the Israelites out of Egypt and giving to them the promised land. Because of God’s power, they had been able to conquer the land and extend its territory to the Euphrates. But circumstances were now very different for them. God’s power on their behalf had been withdrawn and they were now defenceless against anyone who attacked them (vv. 8-13), even the powerful boar from Assyria.


So Asaph asked the Lord to observe what the enemies have done with his vine. Their actions deserved a powerful divine rebuke that would reduce their power to zero. His desire was that the Lord would bring about different circumstances, but this would only occur if the Lord lifted his hand of blessing on them again (vv. 14-19) 


There is disagreement as to what Asaph meant by ‘son of man’. Some argue it refers to the king of Judah, others refer it to the nation as a whole, and others say it is a prediction of Jesus. The description ‘son of man’ points to great dignity, and the nation was regarded as God’s son (v. 15). So in the immediate context, it looks as if Asaph is praying for the restoration of the kingdom from its current state of weakness and imminent decline. Should that happen, they would be restored and once again depend on the Lord and worship him.


If the background situation is the attack by the Assyrian empire, then we can see that Asaph’s prayer was partially answered in that while the Lord allowed the northern kingdom to be captured he preserved the southern kingdom for another century. Partial answers to earnest prayer are often the experience of God’s people.


This does not mean that Asaph was wrong in his requests. He prayed according to his circumstances and what he knew of the Lord’s revealed will. But prayer must always be qualified by the recognition that the Lord may say no or that he may not respond in the exact way that we requested.




  


   

           

Monday

Psalm 79 - Living by Faith

Asaph laments the invasion of the promised land by the Babylonians, an invasion that resulted in destruction of Jerusalem and the disappearance of the temple. Those who served God were slain and their bodies left for beasts and birds to devour. The surrounding nations scoffed at the Jews for their faith in God because they imagined he was powerless (vv. 1-4).

Asaph knew that was not true. Moreover he knew that it was God’s power, expressed in his anger, that had brought about the situation. He had punished his people for their sins of idolatry, which had enflamed the Lord’s jealousy for his name. It was not the case that Asaph thought that the Lord should not punish sin. But he wanted the anger expressed against Israel to cease and for the nations to be punished for their cruelty. He wanted mercy for Israel and justice for their oppressors (vv. 5-7).

Therefore he prays for spiritual recovery for Israel. He asked the Lord to show mercy, to bring about restoration quickly. Despite the absence of the demolished temple and its rituals, he knew that God could provide a way of atonement, which suggests that he already regarded the rituals as symbolic of a greater sacrifice. His argument for divine help was the fame of God’s name, his glory, which would be enhanced in the estimation of others when they saw him punish his enemies (vv. 8-10).

Although the state of the people of God was very low, like being in captivity and facing death, Asaph was confident that God would yet recover his cause. Eventually God would come in blessing on his people and in judgement on those who opposed him. This future recovery would not be like previous ones because it would keep on going from generation to generation, even for ever. The place where such thanksgiving occurs is in the next world, the new heavens and new earth, so even in the dark days of the exile Asaph’s faith enabled him to see the eternal blessedness of God’s people (vv. 11-12).

What about us? While our circumstances are not as low as those in the time of Asaph, the question that comes to us is whether our hearts are pained by the decline in God’s cause. Earnest prayer comes from those who feel the distress and who bring their concerns to God in a passionate manner.

Whatever Asaph grasped about the atonement, we know what it is and how it was made when Jesus suffered on the cross. Unlike what happened with the temple in Jerusalem when the rituals disappeared, we know that nothing in life can touch or make void the atonement that the Saviour made. Even in the worst of times, we know that the atonement has been made.

Like Asaph, we can see by faith beyond the current world with its many issues to the future world where believers will be shepherded by Jesus into the provisions found beside the fountains of living water, God himself.

Sunday

Psalm 78 - Value of History

Asaph is reflecting on the importance of the current generation of believers informing their children about the history of God’s kingdom. The previous generation had informed the next of the great things the Lord had done for them. God had commanded his people to engage in this activity so that future generations would hope in him and be encouraged to obey his commandments (vv. 1-7). In this way, they would be kept from becoming a generation marked by stubbornness and rebellion, like a generation of Ephraimites who had refused to engage in defending the Lord’s cause despite being armed for the fight (vv. 8-9).

An obvious divine activity to think about was the Exodus. God had done great things when he delivered his people from Egypt: there were the wonders connected to the plagues, there was the dividing of the Red Sea, there was the guidance given by the pillar of cloud and by the pillar of light, and there was the provision of water. Nevertheless, they rebelled against him by demanding particular food, an attitude that angered the Lord. Yet God continued to meet their needs through the manna and quail. Although some were judged by him for their rebellion, the others still did not trust in him (vv. 10-32).

The history of Israel became a cycle of divine chastisement followed by shallow repentance. They were not sincere in their commitment. Nevertheless, the Lord showed them compassion and did not abandon them. He recognised the fragility and instability of those he had rescued, their inclination to forget what he had done for them at the Exodus, and he determined to take them to his land. In his providence, he enabled them to defeat the tribes living in Canaan (vv. 33-55).

Yet after receiving the land as their inheritance, they repeated the sins of their ancestors and engaged in idolatry at high places, for which they were punished by the Lord and rejected by him. He showed his displeasure by forsaking Shiloh (when the Philistines captured the ark of the covenant), the location where each of the tribes had received their allotted inheritance (Josh. 18:19), and he allowed the symbol of his presence to be taken away. Israel then suffered badly from their foes (vv. 56-64).

This state of affairs lasted until the time came for the Lord to deal with the enemies of Israel. They were defeated, and the Lord established his kingdom. But he did not give the kingship to the most powerful tribe Ephraim, perhaps because of their previous failures. Instead, he chose Judah as the royal tribe and placed his sanctuary there. This process of restoration did not occur under Saul, the first king of Israel, but through David whom God took from shepherding sheep and enabled him to be the wise and righteous shepherd king of his people (vv. 65-72).

From one point of view, Asaph has provided an outline for other Israelites to use as they instruct the next generation about what the Lord did for them in the past, from the Exodus to the enthronement of David. Of course, other notable actions were done by the Lord after David had passed away.

The application for us is obvious, which is that we should know something of the history of the church because it reminds us of great actions of God, times of judgement from God, and periods of restoration by God. When we are in dark spiritual times, we can mention his previous actions on behalf of his people, and ask him to provide such recoveries again so that his name would be praised.

Thursday

Psalm 77 - Longing for God’s power

Asaph is in a state of great distress. He prays earnestly and continually, but finds no relief. Even his thoughts of God trouble him, and instead of strengthening him, he feels weaker. He cannot sleep, and he traces that response to the action of God. There is no one with whom he can share his burden (vv. 1-4).

Verses 5 to 9 describe his burden. He was apprehensive that the Lord had cast off his people. Therefore he searched in his mind the history of God’s dealings with his people. He had lots of questions but he asked them because he knew that the answer would be found there. Did the past contain times when God came to restore his people? If he had, then Asaph could hope that he would did so again.


His mind went to the great event in Israel’s history so far - the Exodus. That deliverance was an amazing display of God’s covenant commitment to his people in which he revealed his holiness. Holiness points to God’s elevation, how he is superior to all else. He displays his abilities in an extraordinary manner, and we can see that was the case when we look at the ten judgements he sent on Egypt and the way he opened the Red Sea for them to escape (vv. 11-19). God provided a great deliverance, says Asaph, and he then guided his people safely through the wilderness to Canaan (v. 20). Yet, in an astonishing way, no one saw him or could point to his footsteps. His involvement in his providences are seen by faith.


The lesson of this psalm is obvious. When current circumstances are dark, we should turn to God in prayer and consider his actions recorded in his Word and also what he has done in church history. It is appropriate to think of the great things he has done. Yet we must know the details in order to know what to expect.


Another lesson is that it is not a sign of unbelief to be in the dark or to be puzzled by the affairs of life. It is important to have concern about the state of God’s cause, but the evidence of our concern is seen in the intensity of our response.


Wednesday

Psalm 76 - God gives victory

Asaph has written a song to praise God for having given victory to his people. It was  wonderful now to have his presence with them, including in the temple in Jerusalem where he revealed his presence in a special way. In order for this to happen, he had given great victories throughout the land against powerful enemies. Maybe Asaph was thinking about what had happened through Joshua or through David (vv. 1-3).

During the campaign to capture the promised land, God had ensured that the enemies of Israel became powerless and weak, even although they would have seemed powerful in a normal war. His rebuke was sufficient to stop them in their tracks (vv. 4-6).

Why did God do this? One reason was that he was angry with the inhabitants of Canaan and a second reason was that he wanted to deliver his people. Centuries before, he had told Abraham that the iniquity of the inhabitants would eventually bring divine judgement on them. He had also promised Abraham that his descendants would inherit the land. Now he had fulfilled both divine announcements. 

Since that had been the case, it meant that the wrath of man against God’s ways is ineffective. Their expressions of wrath were met by divine power and become signs of his strength (worn as trophies on his belt). The appropriate response is to worship him by keeping promises of dedication and offering suitable expressions of adoration and appreciation. After all, he can remove the powerful of the earth in a moment, or if he chooses, take a few centuries to do it.

      

  

Tuesday

Psalm 75 - God in charge

Psalm 75 celebrates the fact that the sovereign God judges the world. Those singing the psalm recognise that amazing fact as they approach him in worship. Saying his name is ‘near’ is the same as acknowledging his presence. Such a location is very suitable for mentioning his amazing actions (v.1). Having said that, we should also realise that in the presence of God we should be careful.

God speaks in response to their worship. Maybe he spoke through a prophet as they worshipped. The Lord reminded them that he has fixed the time for judgement. In order to stress his control of things, he reminds his worshippers that he holds the earth steady. Since that is the case, no one should boast in his presence (vv. 2-5). Times of worship are not the occasion to focus on the achievements of men. 

Asaph then mentions an obvious deduction that comes from recognising the sovereignty of God. Any and all promotions in providence come from the Lord, as do demotions. Often, they are acts of judgement by him, with promotion indicating his approval and demotion his disapproval. When they express his disapproval, they can be accompanied by awesome features (vv. 6-8).

His awareness of this reality leads the psalmist to praise God for his interventions. He also knows that the day is coming when the Lord will promote the righteous and remove the wicked permanently. Indeed, whenever we see promotions and demotions happening, we should recognise that they point ahead to judgement day (vv. 9-10).

Sometime we wonder why wicked people seem to prosper. We forget that God has fixed a day for dealing with them. One such day is the day of judgement at the end of history, but other days of smaller divine interventions happen before that day comes. Similarly, we wonder why the righteous suffer. The answer is that God has fixed the time of their promotion, which will be partial in this life, but full on the great day.


  

       

   

Monday

Psalm 74 - Praying to a silent God

The time described in this psalm is the aftermath of the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple by the Babylonians. We may wonder why it is linked to Asaph who lived in the time of David, a long time before that captivity occurred. The likely answer is that the word Asaph covers his descendants who also served in the temple after he had died. So this psalm was written by one or more of them.


Asaph is puzzled by divine providence in which he sees God not changing the state of defeat and destruction experienced by the people of Israel. God had chosen them for his people, he had redeemed them from slavery, he had placed his abode among them, but now it had all collapsed, and all seemed in ruins. He even suggests in verse 3 that God no longer walks among his people and has allowed a powerful enemy to destroy the sanctuary (vv. 1-3).


In verses 4-8, Asaph describes the destruction that the enemy had brought. They had determined as well to remove all the meeting places throughout the country, a comment that points to the existence of meetings that would develop into synagogues. Clearly, the enemy regarded God as powerless, unable to stop them, and they were sure that they could remove all trace of God from the land.


The situation was made worse for Asaph because there seemed to be no response from God. No signs of his presence were available now that the temple had gone; even the usual response of sending prophets to preach to the people about their sins had not occurred. God, it seemed, had chosen to be silent and inactive regarding the situation (vv. 9-11).


Asaph knew a lot about God’s power. He mentions how he had delivered his people from Egypt (the sea and Leviathan), and how he had controlled the natural creation on specific occasions as well as arranging the regular daily and annual cycles. The issue now was not that God lacked power, but that he had so far not used it to help his people at the present time (vv. 12-17).


Therefore, he intercedes for God’s cause and asks the Lord to come to the aid of his gentle and needy people surviving in the land. They are like doves and like the poor without resources (vv. 18-19). He could do this by regarding the covenant arrangement he had made with Israel, and when he did, he would remove the places of wickedness and liberate his people, and this restoration would result in his people praising him again (vv. 20-21). 


Therefore he implores the Lord to rise, an illustration that indicates he is inactive so far in their predicament. He urges the Lord not to ignore what his opponents are saying and doing as they attempt to remove all pointers to God from the land (vv. 21-23). 


Unlike other psalms, Asaph here does not say if God answered his prayer, but that would not happen immediately because the captivity would last for seventy years. But Asaph still provides us with an example of how to pray in days when God’s power is not evident in the degree of blessing that it used to be. His prayer acknowledges the seriousness of the situation (divine judgement on Israel), the silence of God, and the weakness of his surviving people in the land. We need to do the same about our contemporary situation. Yet we can look back to Asaph’s time and experience and see that God answered such prayers eventually. As Asaph requested, God did remember what was happening.

     

   

   

Saturday

Psalm 73 - Thinking in the sanctuary

The third volume of the Book of Psalms begins with several psalms by Asaph, one of the worship leaders in the praise of God. In Psalm 73, Asaph describes a period when he was having doubts about God’s dealings in providence and how he was delivered from that outlook.

In verse 1, he states a basic biblical truth, which is that God is good to his people, those who have a new heart. Sometimes, however, they can be disturbed by what they see taking place in daily life. Asaph, a man with a pure heart, became envious of the wicked, the arrogant who paid no heed to God’s requirements. His thoughts caused him to become unsteady in a spiritual sense (vv. 1-3).


In verses 4-9, Asaph details the observations that shook his faith. The wicked he had observed had an easy life, they looked well, they didn’t experience trouble, they boasted about their sins, and they defied God with their words. Of course, it is easy to see those who do all this in public.


Their unpunished lifestyle caused some of God’s people to conclude that he did not know what the wicked were doing, because surely he would have punished them if he did (vv. 10-12). Asaph had also decided that it was pointless for him to focus on holy living; yet, even although he was in inner turmoil, he had kept silent about his complaints because he did not want to lead God’s people astray (vv. 13-15).


Thinking about such a conundrum as the prosperity of the wicked in God’s world did not bring any answers until he went to the place of worship, and that was where he found spiritual relief (vv. 16-17). There, perhaps through what he heard from a teacher or from another believer, he realised that the path the wicked were on was actually a rapid road to divine judgement that God had prepared for them. He also realised that his attitude had not been that of someone thinking correctly; indeed, he had been acting like thoughtless animals (vv. 18-22).


In the sanctuary, he realised that God was his companion, faithfully guiding him to glory, and he received the assurance that he would get a personal welcome when he reached his heavenly destination. His experience in the sanctuary led him to realise the reality and the preciousness of the presence of God, that being with the Lord was the greatest blessing he could have. It is the case that even a believer of the stature of Asaph can fail under pressure at times, but that does not mean that God will forsake him. Instead, the Lord will give restoring grace (vv. 23-26).


The reality of life boils down to two certain truths: one is that God is working to deal with those who oppose him and the other is that he protects those who approach him for help. Asaph had found that to be the case and he had discovered that from his own experience he could speak with realism about God’s ways in the world, about his sovereign and wise activities by which he opposes the wicked and defends his people  (vv. 27-29).


The psalm tells us that even wise and godly leaders of God’s people will make errors of judgement if they look in the wrong place for answers about the questions that life throws their way. Merely contrasting the comfort of the wicked with the discomfort of the righteous does not explain why it happens. But taking time to attend the worship of God and to recover awareness of his providential control of life enables such to realise that God is dealing with every situation according to his wisdom and for his glory as well as for spiritual good of his people.


      

Friday

Psalm 72 - The King and his Kingdom

It is not clear who the author of the psalm is. The heading could indicate it was Solomon, but verse 20 may suggest that David was the author. Arguments can be made for either option. In either case, the psalm is a prayer for a king’s reign.


The prayer begins by asking God to enable the king, regarded as God’s son, to rule with righteousness. His priority should be to reign as the Lord would do by caring for his people, called the poor and needy, and by providing them with protection from all who would oppress them (vv. 1-4).


Verses 5-7 describe the kingdom from the point of view of its length. It is going to last as long as the sun and the moon. While it lasts, God’s people will flourish because of the nature of the kingdom. Heavenly refreshment will be supplied constantly and the result will be abundant peace.


In verses 8-11, the psalmist describes the geographical extent of the kingdom. The furthest that the nation of Israel had reached was to the River Euphrates, whereas the kingdom described here grows from the River to cover the whole world. Wherever people are, the kingdom will reach them, whether they are on the seashores, the deserts or in faraway lands. The Ruler of this kingdom will be acknowledged as King by all other kings, no matter how important their kingdoms had seemed, and whether they are pleased with the fact that he has such universal power.


His reign is perceived as very attractive because it is marked by compassion and care. He regards each of his people as precious, and his power provides deliverance for them (vv. 12-14). It is not surprising then that the subjects would pray for the continuance of his kingdom and that they would want to declare him as blessed by God. His kingdom will be marked by ample provision and a numerous populace. Indeed, the whole world will benefit from his reign (vv. 15-17).


So the psalmist blesses the God of Israel. The greatness of the kingdom is evidence of the greatness of God. He is so great that the psalmist expects the whole earth to be filled with the glory of God (vv. 18-19).


It is obvious that this psalm describes a King far greater than the best of Israel’s kings. Neither David or Solomon achieved what is mentioned here. The psalm celebrates the kingdom of the Messiah. After he comes, he will reign over a global kingdom, one that is gracious and which reveals the glory of God in his mercy given to those he delights to reign over and protect. 


The psalm is clearly about Jesus, but since the fulfilment of it is a gradual one we can join with others who pray about it, and ask that the Saviour’s kingdom will continue to grow.


Thursday

Psalm 71 - Growing Old

This psalm is written by an old believer who has been one all his life. In it, he expresses his fears, and perhaps he has found that he now reacts differently from what he would have done when he was younger.

Since the Lord had helped him previously, he deduced that God had given the commandment to save him. Past deliverances encouraged him to pray for and expect current and future help, even from attacks by dangerous people (vv. 1-4). 


In verses 5-8, he reflects on his lifelong relationship to the Lord. His own experience is different from most because he indicates that he was regenerated from the womb. He is aware that others regard him as unique, even special, although some regard him as a threat. Yet he is very thankful for God’s faithful help and praises him on a daily basis for the safety he provides.


Nevertheless, he knows that old age has its problems (vv. 9-13). One of them is that opponents consider him weak and isolated, and that they can move against him, even using religious language to cover their evil intentions. So he brings their threats to the Lord and asks him to deal with those who are threatening him.


Although he is old, he intends to serve God wholeheartedly in the future (vv. 14-18). In addition to his personal expressions of praise, he looks forward to continuing his role as a teacher of God’s people. The focus of his teaching will be to highlight the wonderful things that God has done. He knows that the next generation needs to hear what the Lord did, and that he can show his faithfulness to God by informing them or reminding them of those extraordinary actions. But he needs fresh divine power for him to do so.


Reminding himself of those great divine acts, as well as recalling personal experiences of divine help, made him realise that God could revive him again, even although he was feeling low at that time (vv. 19-21). His God could descend to where he felt he was, even in the depths of the earth. He would be taken from there by the divine hand and not merely to where he had been before. Rather his God could give him more greatness than he previously had had, and more comfort as well.


Therefore, despite his sense of old age, he knew that he could praise and serve God (vv. 22-24). His reference to musical instruments could indicate that he was one of the temple musicians who led the public praise of God there. Not only would he worship by song and instrument, he would also declare loudly and testify to the ongoing divine help that he had received, even about the answered prayer that dealt with recent attacks on him.


Getting older has its challenges. One of them is the sense that one is over the hill or put on the shelf, that the day is over and no role of service is available. The psalmist here deals with his own concerns and circumstances and discovers that God has ways of using him. The importance thing is that he brought the matter to the Lord who then sorted things out. 


Wednesday

Psalm 70 - Prayer for divine help

The words of this short psalm are almost the same as the closing verses of Psalm 40. It is likely that there is a link between them, but there are some small differences, and they must be the reason why both psalms are included in the Psalter.


David, once again, is facing strong opposition and he turns to God in urgent prayer, asking him to come quickly and deliver him, otherwise his opponents may take his life. They do not think much of David and treat him with contempt. The circumstances are such in that the only One who can help David is the Lord. Yet if he should come to David’s aid, it is inevitable that David will be delivered because the Lord cannot be defeated (vv. 1-3).


David is not only concerned about himself. He also considers God’s people, those in Israel who looked to the Lord and sought fellowship with him. David wants them to have spiritual encouragement, to have assurance that the Lord can reveal his power, which is what would happen if he helped David. Such assurance would led to them affirming with joy the greatness of God (v. 4).


In order for that to happen, David cries to God to act. David has no personal resources that he can use. This fact he confesses to God, the One who has helped him in the past. Again, he implores God to come quickly and rescue him (v. 5). 


This psalm reminds us that God sometimes chooses to include similar chapters in his word. Psalm 18 and 2 Samuel 22 are very alike. So are Psalms 14 and 53. The compilers of the psalter would have known that most of Psalm 70 is found in Psalm 40. Maybe the answer is that the verses that make up Psalm 70 were regarded as suitable for use when making the particular offering mentioned in the heading of the psalm. 


Or it could be that sometimes a short prayer, which is what this psalm is, is more suitable for a believer to use than a longer one. In times of trouble, we can mention briefly but urgently to God our own needs, the needs of fellow believers, and the actions and attitudes of opponents, and then wait for God to answer.



Tuesday

Psalm 69 - Prayer for deliverence

David was in a time of great difficulty because of opposition. He likens himself to a man who is about to drown or to a man who is sinking in a bog with no-one around to rescue him. Not even God has come to his rescue even although he has cried persistently with deep sorrow. His opponents are many and mighty, and they attack him with false accusations. Yet he knows that he has not done anything that deserves such hostility, even although he is a sinner in God’s sight. Perhaps God has something against him because of some folly, and that is why his prayers seem not to be heard. But his opponents have no such reason for their response (vv. 1-5).

David reveals his love for God’s people in verse 6. He does not want them to be discouraged by his circumstances or undergo personal disgrace because of what is happening to him. Even his own family have disowned him. Yet all along he has been very devoted to God’s cause. But his expressions of devotion, such as fasting for sin and wearing of sackcloth, have been mocked by many, including those who rule (sitting in the gate) and those who get drunk. Nevertheless, he remains devoted to God and is expecting an answer from him because he knows that his God will be faithful to his own character and yet display his abundant mercy (vv. 6-13).

David repeats his lament in verses 14-21. He longs for deliverance from his circumstances. An answer to his prayer will be an expression of divine grace. He wants the Lord to look on him, perhaps a reference to the Aaronic blessing which requested peace from God. Despite David’s circumstances, he remains God’s servant, but he desperately wants divine action on his behalf. He mentions to God the details that the Lord already knows - his reproach, his dishonour, his isolation, his enemies, his sorrow, the attempts to kill him. Only the Lord has the power to deliver him, to ransom him.

Verses 22-29 is an imprecatory section of his prayer when he asks for divine judgement to be enacted on his opponents. His requests are severe, but that does not make them sinful. In rebelling against him, those opponents were rebelling against God because he had chosen David to be his king. Persistent antagonism against David was evidence that they were opposed strongly to God. David does not want them to live since that is their way of life. In contrast, he asks for divine vindication for himself and his place of honour.

The section beginning at verse 30 indicates that David’s prayer has been answered, so perhaps he added this section once he had been delivered from his predicament. He intended to express his gratitude at the sanctuary, and this response would please the Lord much more than mere conforming to a sacrificial ritual. His expression of gratitude would also encourage the devout in Israel because they would see once again that God answers prayer. Moreover, with David restored to power, the country would make progress that would prepare it well for future generations. Indeed, such had been the nature of his deliverance that David wanted the whole of creation to praise the Lord (vv. 30-36).

This psalm reminds us of the importance of persistent prayer and patience when in difficult circumstances. Such persistent prayer is not merely formal, but energetic. While those praying in such a time will not know how God will answer, they can specify what they want him to do. A powerful argument in such prayer is what a divine answer will mean for the ongoing prosperity of the kingdom of God.

Despite some of the expressions in the psalm, there are parts of it that are applied to Jesus in the New Testament. He would not have made the confession of sin that David made in verse 5, nor is there any sign in the New Testament that someone tried to poison his food, although Matthew mentions that Jesus on the cross was offered gall and vinegar (Matt. 27:34, 48). On the other hand, false accusations were made about him and his devotion to God was despised and misinterpreted by his own brothers. His zeal for the things of God were noticed by his disciples and made them apply verse 9 to him (John 2:17), and Paul too quotes verse 9 (Rom. 15:3) and applies it to Jesus bearing reproach for his devotion. In a far greater manner than was the case with David, the exaltation of Jesus brings about spiritual prosperity for his cause.


Monday

Psalm 68 - Victory

David wrote the psalm to celebrate the arrival of the ark of the covenant in Jerusalem. He calls on God to arise and enter the city he had fought for. David begins with a section summarising what had happened. God’s opponents had been forced to flee, but the righteous greatly rejoiced. In his campaign, God had revealed the compassion he has for the needy, including widows and orphans. He had brought spiritual liberty and treasures to those isolated and imprisoned by sin, but who had followed him into freedom (vv. 1-6).

In the next couple of sections, David reflects on the journey of the children of Israel from Mount Sinai after receiving God’s law. Even the natural order was affected by his presence, with an earthquake and plenty rain. The rain also brought great refreshment for his people in Canaan, the inheritance he had given to them. David also refers to how women celebrated divine victories over powerful kings (vv. 7-14).

In verses 15-18, David depicts the high mountain of Bashan in the north, with its many peaks, looking down with hatred at the small hill of Zion because God had chosen to live there. Zion had now become like Sinai because of the presence of the Lord with his armies. It had been a long campaign, taking centuries to be completed, with many battles and triumphs, but now he had reached his destination.

Verses 19-23 describe the confidence the people had in the God who had delivered them. He had been with them day by day, providing salvation even when it seemed unlikely. It was his actions that had brought great victories for his people as he destroyed their enemies and brought them safely to where they now were.

The procession accompanying the ark is described in verses 24-27. Choirs led it and musicians were at the rear, with women playing tambourines in between them or around them. Leaders from the tribes took their places, with those from the north mentioned as well as those from the two tribes who had provided the monarchy. It was certainly a joyous occasion, a fitting climax to a long campaign.

But the climax was not the closure. In verses 28-31, David looks ahead to times when Gentiles will come to Zion to worship the Lord, including from Egypt where his people had been slaves and from Cush which was far away. They would experience the gracious power of God, although others would be punished for their sins.

The psalmist then calls on the nations to praise the great God who had done so much for Israel (vv. 32-35). He is sovereign over everything (even the skies), and his presence with his people gives them security and reminds them that he will use his great power to give them whatever strength they will need. Who can compare with the faithful, triumphant God of Israel?

How can we understand the psalm? By noting that Paul in Ephesians 4 applies verse 18 to the ascension of Christ: ‘You ascended on high, leading a host of captives in your train and receiving gifts among men, even among the rebellious, that the LORD God may dwell there.’ This means that the arrival of the ark of the covenant in the earthly Zion is a picture of the arrival of Jesus into the heavenly Zion. Before his arrival, he had been in a battle at the cross. After his arrival, he will bring people from the nations to celebrate in Zion, which he does through the gospel.

The psalm also reminds us of the patience of God. It was a long campaign from Sinai to Zion, but it ended eventually in triumph. God knows what he is doing, and he knows the best way to do it. A day with him is like a thousand years and a thousand years like one day. He is patient today as well, but victory is sure.

Moreover, the psalm tells us about the importance of extravagant praise of the great God of salvation. The parade in the psalm entered Zion with great celebration and David noted the details. Of course, that parade is over. But another parade is continuing and in it are those marching to Zion behind their forerunner, Jesus. We don’t see those who have arrived today, and we will not see an arrival until it is our turn. But it is good to be in the parade. And we should celebrate.


Saturday

Psalm 67 - Prayer for worldwide blessing

The psalm begins with a prayer for God to bless Israel by making his face shine on them. Referring to God’s face is another way of depicting his favour as he looks upon them with delight and kindness. The author was aware that Israel did not deserve divine blessing even although they were God’s people. Since the commencement of the relationship between God and Israel, it had always been based on his grace (v. 1).


The prayer is connected to the contents of the Aaronic blessing recorded in Numbers 6:24-26. The outcome of that blessing is the enjoyment of divine peace. Such peace has many aspects, but the desire of the psalmist here is that God would not only bring such peace to Israel, but that he would also bring the nations to experience it.


If God was to show favour to Israel, then other nations would see it and wonder if such blessings could come to them. The author knew that it could happen because such a possibility is found in the promises that God made to Abraham that through his descendants the world would be blest. While the ultimate fulfilment of those promises would occur when the Messiah came, there could be foretastes of it (vv. 2-3).


The psalmist knew that God was able to bring about such a wonderful global experience. After all, he is the sovereign who judges and guides the nations even when they are not receiving his peace. But when they would be given it by him, then they would experience the joy of the Lord in a profuse manner. So the psalmist intercedes with energy for such a wonderful fulfilment to happen soon (vv. 4-5).


Of course, it helps in such praying to have evidence that God cares for the nations and the Psalmist finds it in the harvests that occur regularly throughout the world. Since the earth had once again yielded its fruits because of God’s involvement, it was evidence that spiritual blessing could come as well from him. The author deduces that the recent harvests were a sign that God could bless his people by adding to their number through all the ends of the earth fearing him (vv. 6-7). This was a powerful argument in prayer because both earthly blessing and spiritual blessing require divine power for them to occur. And there are divine promises about both.


It is evident that the answer to this ancient prayer is connected to the spread of the gospel. Since Jesus ascended to heaven, he has been engaged in drawing people from all the nations to fear him, and is doing so today with great success. It is amazing that we are privileged to participate in the advance of his kingdom through our prayers, as well as in other ways.


  

       

Friday

Psalm 66 - The God who Answers Prayer

We are not told who wrote this psalm. In it, the unknown author praises God for his amazing displays of his power, first to the world (vv. 1-4), then to his people (vv. 5-12), and finally to himself (vv. 13-17).

As far as the world is concerned, they should praise God because of the way he defeats his enemies. Maybe the surrounding nations had heard how God prevented enemies from defeating his people; indeed, he had caused those enemies to cringe. Maybe the defeat of those enemies liberated other peoples from their grip and caused them to thank the God of Israel for such liberation. Or perhaps the verbs in this section should be regarded as future, meaning that the author was praying for the days when the Messiah would reign in a global manner.

In verses 5-7, the author celebrates what the Lord had done in the past for his people. He had provided a dry path through the Red Sea when Moses led the people out of Egypt and he enable them to pass across the Jordan when Joshua invaded Canaan and marched towards Jericho. Although it happened long previously to his time, he regarded those victories as belonging to him because he too belonged to the same people of God. Those God-given victories reminded all his rejoicing people that he was in control, keeping an eye on any who would try and oppose his kingdom.

Such triumphs had not been the only experiences that God’s people had known. Verses 8-12 describe occasions when God allowed his people to go through hard and difficult times. Yet even when they occurred, he powerfully kept them and eventually brought them out of such situations into a state of prosperity. The psalmist recognised that such occasions were tests sent by the Lord.

In verses 13-15, the author describes his own experience. He had been in trouble, but he had prayed to God about his circumstances, saying that he would publicly thank the Lord if he delivered him. Since God had delivered him, he intended to go to the sanctuary in Jerusalem and offer several burnt offerings, which certainly would be costly in financial terms. A burnt offering symbolised dedication because all of the offering was consumed on the altar. 

The author issues a kind of invitation to others to come and hear him at the sanctuary when he would describe how the Lord had delivered him. He knew that those who feared God were in need of encouragement. The encouragement would be that God answers prayer, although he did qualify his words by reminding others that allowing sin to flourish in his heart would result in unanswered prayers. When such an attitude is present in a believer’s heart, his prayers go no higher than the sound of his words. But he knew that his prayers had been answered, so he was glad that the answers proved that God still loved him. 

The psalm reminds us of the corporate unity of God’s people. Even as the Exodus and the Entrance into the land belonged to all the generations of Israel, so the triumphs of the church in all centuries belongs to all the church. Those events are not merely their history, but they are also our history.

The psalm also reminds us that periods of testing can come for God’s people. Yet though they are hard, they eventually lead to prosperous times. We are in times of testing today, but the point is where are we going to. We need to remain faithful in such times and leave the route to prosperity with God.

A third lesson from the psalm, and one that is found in other psalms as well, is the importance of public testimony to the fact that the Lord answers prayer. What better encouragement can we give? But in order for that to happen, we must first pray.



   

   

   

    

      

Thursday

Psalm 65 - God is good and kind

In this psalm, David reflects on why God should be worshipped. He thinks about worship features at the sanctuary as well as about the Lord’s works in providence.

At the sanctuary, people could draw near to God personally and communally. Often they came to keep vows that they had made when the Lord had helped them. The vow usually involved offering a sacrifice, a public acknowledgement of the Lord’s goodness shown in a difficult situation. God should be praised because he answers prayer.

Another reason for praising God that was connected to the sanctuary was that it was the location where atonement was made for sin. We can see from the pronouns in verse 3 that while a worshipper had an individual sense of sin he joined with others in experiencing the remedy. His sense of his personal sin was strong, but the remedy provided by God was the same for all who confessed their sins.

A third reason for praising God at the sanctuary was gratitude for the work of those who lived there, the priests and Levites, who took their turns in serving in different roles so that the worship system functioned well in the way that God had set it apart. It was the place where his grace was given and received in a soul-satisfying manner by the worshipper (v. 4).

As we look back at the forms of worship at the tabernacle and temple, we may be tempted to dismiss them because they were inferior to the greater privileges and understanding that we now have. Yet it was a profound experience for believers to go there and worship the holy God.

In verse 5, David turns to think about other examples of God’s work in providence. One obvious example is his displays of power everywhere. When he describes God as the hope of people faraway, I think he means that God’s involvement is so constant in the natural order that people recognise his sovereignty even although they do not sense his mercy. They knew that Someone was keeping the mountains in their places, that Someone was calming the stormy seas, that Someone was even controlling disturbances that arose in different societies, that Someone was in charge of the daily cycles. They felt compelled to worship him, but they did not know he was. But David and his people did (vv. 5-8).

The section beginning at verse 9 could indicate that this psalm is a harvest song. But it could also be a general psalm thanking God for his bountiful provision and noting how he worked in providence to bring it all about by sending rain to produce pastures for animals and grain for humans. 

As with the divine arrangement of day and night in verse 8, the divine arrangement for provisions in verse 13 highlights the joy experienced through common grace. Perhaps there is an echo of what was lost in Eden and an anticipation of what will be seen in the new creation when it comes.

The obvious lesson from the psalm is that Christians should be glad that they know God, that they know that the One who pardons is also the One who provides, that the One who answers prayer is also the One who is active in providence continually, that the One who has arranged for us to worship him is full of grace and kindness.

Wednesday

Psalm 64 - Trust the God who will yet deliver

David brings his opponents’ activities to God. He desires divine protection from their schemes to overthrow him. They are numerically strong (a throng) and determined (they hold fast to their plans). Their method is to entrap the righteous suddenly, and it seems as if the righteous are helpless to do anything about what is happening (vv. 1-6).


While the righteous may be powerless, they know one who is not, and that is the Lord. He also has his weapons that he can use quickly, and he can even use the sudden moves of the enemy to entrap them suddenly. When he moves, the outcome for David’s opponents will be complete ruin, and they will become the objects of ridicule (vv. 7-8).


(It is possible that David has already received deliverance from his complaint, that what he prayed about in verses 1-6 had been dealt with by God in verses 7-8. If that was the case, then David has mentioned in this psalm what he wrote before the answer came and what occurred when the answer came.)


God’s victory will be so complete and obvious that people will be compelled to speak about it and reflect upon his actions. So we have a clue here as to when to know God has answered our prayers for big interventions by him. Divine action will be so striking that it becomes the talk on the street as to how such a dramatic turn of events can occur (v. 9).


Why was David confident that this would happen? He had this certainty because he knew the character of God, he knew the attributes of God and he knew the promises of God. It is through them that we have to judge circumstances and not by the abilities and apparent progress of opponents.


Meanwhile, David states what should be the obvious response of the righteous. Until God acts, they can rejoice in him and go to him for protection. Indeed their rejoicing should be great, and that is before God delivers them (v. 10). So how great will their rejoicing be after he has done so!


Monday

Psalm 63 - Confidence and delight

There were two periods in David’s life when he was forced to live in the desert. One was before he became king when Saul was pursuing him and the other was after he became king when his son Absalom rebelled against him. Since he refers to himself as the king (v. 11), he must have written this psalm during the time his son was challenging him for the throne.

David’s heart was matching his surroundings as he wrote this psalm. He was physically in a wilderness, but he was also longing for God similar to how a creature would long for water in a desert. The experience of God that he was longing for was what was revealed about the Lord in the tabernacle (sanctuary). But the experience  was not confined to there.

What would he have seen at the sanctuary? There, he would see evidences of God’s power and glory revealed in his steadfast love. The tabernacle itself reminded the worshippers of how God had been with their forefathers as they travelled from Egypt to Canaan. It also reminded them of their great privilege in being the only nation on earth among whom God had a special location where his people could draw near to him in public. Further, it was the only place on earth where legitimate sacrifices were offered for sin, reminding them of the amazing fact that their holy God had provided the means of atonement for them (vv. 2-3).

Thinking about God in such ways led David to dedicate himself to the worship of God. His dedication would mark his life, for however long he would live. He understood the bigness of his God, that he is constantly worthy of the most heartfelt worship that his people can give (v. 4).

Such thoughts of God as his helper also brought great satisfaction to David as his spiritual thirst was met. The experience is like a good meal, it is better than sleep, and gives him great joy. It provides him with security (under his wings) and confidence. David pursues after the God who is already holding on to him. (vv. 5-8). His experience is the opposite of what will happen to his opponents. God will use his power to destroy them utterly (vv. 9-10).

The outcome will be that David will rejoice in the Lord, all who are devoted to God will praise him, and the wicked will be compelled to be silent. In other words, God’s kingdom will continue to develop even although the current circumstances linked to the rebellion were personally sad for David. But he knew where to go for help - to his God.

The word translated ‘earnestly’ in verse 1 can also mean ‘early’. Some translations use early and this has led some churches to regard the psalm as a morning psalm. Both ‘earnestly’ and ‘early’ indicate priority and strength of desire in meeting with God. 


Saturday

Psalm 62 - Serene before God

David is under attack from opponents when he writes this psalm. Yet he is not worried about what they are doing because he contrasts them with God. He mentions various divine attributes and actions that give him this assurance (vv. 1-2, 5-6). God alone is his deliverer and his protector, which means that while some noise is made by his opponents, it will not amount to much. 

In contrast to the noise they are making, he can approach God with silence, a way of indicating his confidence and calmness because he knows that the Lord will help him. Yet we know from other psalms that this was not always the response of David when in trouble and difficulty.

He describes his opponents in verses 3 and 4. They imagine that it would be easy to get rid of David because they assume that he is only by himself, with little support. Their conspiracy does not take God and his plan into account. They use deception and lies in their speech, but David knows what is going on in their hearts. 

Therefore David repeats the reasons for his confidence in God in verses 5 and 6 and expands them in verse 7, probably for the benefit of others whom he mentions in verse 8. David knew what God had promised him and he assures his supporters that he is resting in God, who is not only his refuge but theirs as well.

When facing difficulties from humans, whether low or high, it is important to realise what they are - lighter than a breath (v. 9). What power do they have in comparison to God? None. David indicates that his opponents gained their influence by sinful financial means (v. 10). Yet they seem to have power.

In response to those circumstances, David stresses that only God is truly powerful (v. 11). But how will he use his power? As far as his people are concerned (v. 12), divine power will be expressed in covenant faithfulness (as described by David already in the psalm when he says God is a fortress and a refuge). In contrast to their experience, the wicked will discover that God will use his power to bring punishment on them because of their sinful deeds (v. 12).

One of the common responses to difficulties is panic. On this occasion, David did not panic because his faith in God included the assurance that divine power was at work in protecting him from the conspiracy. Therefore, he could assure others that their God would help them too. As he comforted them, he also challenged them to trust fully in the Lord. 

One commentator points out that this psalm teaches that while we have nothing to fear from man we have no reason to hope for anything from man either. That is an important lesson to learn.

Friday

Psalm 61 - Praying for the King

It is not clear when David wrote this psalm. In verse 6, he prays that the king would have long life. While it is possible that he is praying for himself, it is more likely that he is praying for someone else. The options would be his predecessor Saul or his successor Solomon. Given that Saul was a bad king, it probably is not him that is prayed for by David. So Solomon is the best option, which indicates that David wrote the psalm towards the end of his own reign. Maybe this psalm is a prayer of an old man.

In the first four verses, David expresses his confidence in God as the hearer of prayer. No matter where he is or what he feels, David knows that he can speak to God. He uses the pictures of isolation from people and weakness of spirit in verse 2. Yet although he is weak, he knows that God will help him by leading him to a place of security - a high rock where he would be above whatever was threatening him.

David can make this prayer with confidence because of his previous experiences of God’s help. On numerous occasions, God has protected him from opponents (v. 3). He knows that this divine refuge will last into the future (v. 4). His prayer is that he wants to be in the presence of God in the sense that he can worship him in his tent. That is David’s desire, to worship the One who delivered him from his sins. 

The reference to wings of safety could be an illustration taken from the security a mother bird gives her young. But it could also be a reference to the wings of the cherubim above the mercy seat. That location was the real place of security for sinners in Israel who recognised that God is a Saviour.

In verse 5, David continues his references to his worship of God. He was able to make and keep vows because his God was gracious to him, having given to him a wonderful spiritual heritage. The defining evidence of having this heritage is reverence of God, a fear that acknowledges his holiness but which also recognises that he is full of mercy.

Perhaps David had gone to the tabernacle to worship God after discovering that Solomon would be his successor. The prayer in verses 6 and 7 could have been offered then. He prayed that the new king would have a long reign marked by God’s gracious protection. 

Yet we can see from the description that it goes beyond an earthly monarch to someone who would rule for ever in the presence of God and experience divine favour continually. David knew that the Messiah would come from his royal line.

The thought of this reality, whether the experience that Solomon or his greater Descendant would have, caused David to praise God and renew his commitment to him. After all, such a response should mark everyone who gets access to God and receives blessing from him in return (v. 8).

The psalm encourages us to look back and recall God’s favours and to look ahead with faith to the blessings that God will give through the Ruler of his kingdom.

Thursday

Psalm 60 - Prayer after a defeat

David in this psalm initially records how God had prevented his people from defeating their enemies in battle. The outcome was that they faced national disaster as the everyday structures were under threat. David recognised that the reason for the defeat was not the military superiority of the enemy. Instead, it was evidence that God was angry with his people, that instead of knowing his blessing they were experiencing great difficulties (vv. 1-3). 

Moreover, the defeat seemed surprising to the Israelites. It is difficult to identify when this defeat occurred, but scholars suggest it was during the period when David won many victories over surrounding peoples (2 Samuel 8). When he was away elsewhere winning battles, the Edomites took the opportunity to rebel against him. Perhaps David and his advisors had forgotten about this possibility or had become too confident in their arrangements. Whatever the reason, God had allowed it to happen and the Israelites were in a state of shock. 

Nevertheless, David recognised that the Lord’s cause had not been defeated completely. Rather, his banner was still flying and it was possible for those who feared him to go there for safety (v. 4). The imagery of flight in this sense is a good picture of repentance, of returning to God.

Then David and those with him pray to God for deliverance (v. 5). It looks as if verses 6-8 are the Lord’s answer, perhaps conveyed to David by a priest or a prophet, which indicates that the land and the people belong to God and that he will yet triumph over the enemy nations. 

On hearing this promise, David asks the question about who will lead the advance into Edom (v. 9). The title of the psalm indicates that Joab eventually was the one chosen to do so, but it seems that David at the time of writing was praying for guidance about who should do so. 

David continues his prayer for deliverance in verses 10-12. He prays to the God who has arranged for a defeat to be their experience. Yet David had learned the lesson that they needed God’s constant protection. Depending on human help turns out to be a false refuge. But when God is on our side, victory will happen because he will deal with our foes.

A New Testament verse that comes to mind is the warning of Jesus to his disciples when he said, ‘Without me, you can do nothing.’ At the same time, we can think of Paul’s statement, ‘I can do all things through him who gives me strength.’ 

We can also see from this psalm that defeat can occur at the same time as victories are happening. It is the case that we can be making progress in some areas but lose a battle in another area. That loss can be a reminder from God that we are not being careful. But we can also see that his banner is flying, inviting us to go to him.