March 2, 2017
Denoted a “maskil” by the Psalmist, this psalm sought to instruct concerning the future glory of the Messiah and His bride. Verse seven is especially instructive of the identity of the Messiah:
1) He will love righteousness
2) He will hate wickedness
3) He is God (See Psa. 45:6 “Your throne, O God”). The Hebrew translated “Therefore God, Your God” might also be translated, “O God, Your God.” This would make it a direct address to the Anointed One as God, yet also reveal that the Lord is His God (See Hebrews 1:8-9).
4) He is the “Messiah” (Literally, “anointed one.” ). In the New Testament, “anointed one” is rendered “Christ.”
5) He is the Groom. The “oil of gladness” points to the joy of the wedding supper celebrating the union of Christ and His Bride, the Church. It was for this “joy” (Heb.12:2) that Christ endured the cross.
6) He is the superior Mediator (See 1 Tim. 2:5, Heb. 9:15). His anointing is “more than” His companions. The high priests that offered mediating sacrifices before His coming were anointed, but their anointing was inferior to His and only a type pointing to fulfillment in Him.
7) He is human. That the former anointed ones were human and considered His “companions,” points to the His humanity.
This psalm was set to the tune of “The Lillies,” according to the Psalmist’s inscription, and sung in Temple worship. Yet, when the Messiah came, they did not recognize Him. But those who have recognized Him, sing of Him still, and will continue to sing of and to Him for ages to come.
March 1, 2017
After offering many reasons why the Lord should help, the Psalmist ultimately based his appeal on the Lord’s own “mercy.” The word in the Hebrew is “chesed,” which may also refer to God’s loving-kindness, his covenantal and unfailing love. In the New Testament this most closely matches the word “agape” love, as found in John 3:16, “For God so loved.” The Psalmist was praying, “Rise up our Help and redeem us according to the quality of Your covenantal love and not according to our own desert.”
February 26, 2017
David had learned to encourage himself in the Lord (1 Sam. 30:6). This psalm illustrates his method. When he felt down or out of sorts, he didn’t just drag on, he stopped and found a quiet place to get alone with God. He addressed his soul, searching inside for the source of his own “disquiet.” Getting in touch with his own feelings and doubts, he carried them to the Lord, confessing his soul’s condition and changing the object of his hope from self to God. He was essentially saying, “Soul, stop hoping in yourself, that’s why you’re feeling so worried. Instead, hope in God!” After a look in the mirror to see the source of his soul’s condition, he looked up to seek the “countenance” of the Lord. Like the countenance of an anxious child that brightens to a smile when seeing the face of his mother, so David sought the help of seeing the Lord’s face.
February 22, 2017
Even though David was king, he saw himself as a stranger and sojourner in this life. His psalm is a meditation on the brevity and vanity of life and the need for God’s help and perspective to make meaning of it all. On top of this, he is aware not only of his own frailty, but of his own sin, and the sense that God is disciplining him for it. He cried out that God would hear him and that he would hear from God.
Life is hard enough without feeling that God is against you. When we feel this way, we can cry out as David did. Pray out your hurts and fears. Be honest. God knows. God hears. God answers.
February 14, 2017
Not everyone will receive a Valentine today. Some have a heart still hurting from a broken relationship. Other hearts have slowly broken from a life time of loneliness. Yet, everyone who comes to the Lord with a “contrite” and humble spirit, admitting their broken hearts, will experience His presence and salvation. Acknowledging brokenness precedes wholeness in the Lord. He is near. Cry out to the Lover of your soul, and feel lonely and unloved no longer.
February 13, 2017
We say, “Bless you!” when someone sneezes, meaning “I wish you good health.” But what does it mean to “bless the Lord?” David answers this question for us, when he further stated, “His praise shall continually be in my mouth.” The word “praise” is a synonym for “bless,” which can also include the meaning, “to worship,” or “to glorify.”
The Jewish prayer before the breaking of bread at mealtime begins with this word, “bless” (“baruch”). However, rather than asking God to bless the food, their prayer blesses the Lord Himself for giving them bread. The prayer in Hebrew is: “Barukh atah Adonai Elohaynu melekh ha-olam ha-motzi lechem min ha-aretz. Amein.” (“Blessed art Thou O Lord, our God, King of the Universe who bringeth forth bread from the earth. Amen”).
In this psalm, David declared his intent not only to “bless” and “praise” the Lord, but to do it “continually” and “at all times.” In other words, he declared his resolve to bless the Lord not only when he had bread to eat, but also when he was hungry and no bread could be found. Or as Job said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD” (Job 1:21).
What kind of day are you having today? Are you blessing the Lord in it regardless?
February 8, 2017
This psalm of David reminds me of what the Eastern churches call the Jesus Prayer: “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.”
It also reminds me of Jesus’ story contrasting the prayers of the Pharisee and the publican. The Pharisee stood praying, “Thank you Lord that I am not like the publican”, whereas the publican prayed in humility, saying “Lord have mercy on me, a sinner” (Luke 18:10-14).
It is when we admit that we are “in trouble,” that the Lord moves to help us. As long as we move in our own strength, laboring in our own wisdom, we struggle alone. But when we admit our need, the Lord answers. As Jesus told his disciples, “Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted” (Luke 10:14).
January 22, 2017
Those who declare God dead are themselves dead in their trespasses and sins. Having denied knowledge of God, they think themselves wise and show themselves fools. For if God were dead, there would be no mind to know it, nor mouth to speak of it. God is not only the Creator of all, He is the Sustainer of all. He is not the absentee clockmaker, winding up the universe and walking away. No. He is the eternally present One, active and always at work in the creation He has made. He still hears when we pray. He still speaks when we listen. He never sleeps, for He has no need of rest. He never leaves nor forsakes us, for He always keeps those He has saved through the blood of His Son. Our Lord lives! Blessed be His Name!
January 18, 2017
David called the Lord his “portion, inheritance and cup.” This seems a clear allusion to the portion appointed to the Levitical priests who served in the Temple. David declared that he was satisfied not with lands, titles, or riches, but in the Lord Himself. The Lord was his delight and joy. The Lord was the source of any goodness and blessing that he had, therefore he would rather have the Lord than any blessing that the Lord bestowed. David sought the Lord’s face rather than His hand. Might we pray today: “Lord, I am Yours and You are mine. You are the One I long for, You are my inheritance and my great reward.”
January 15, 2017
Did God really “forget” David? Was He really hiding his face from him? This was the language of David’s heart. This was how David felt and so he expressed his feelings to God through questions. Psalm 13 is a short prayer. It begins with David’s questions and ends with David’s firm resolve to keep trusting, rejoicing, and singing in and to the Lord. David was going through a season of spiritual dryness. He didn’t sense the Lord’s presence. Yet, he still believed in God’s mercy and salvation, and he knew that God had always “dealt bountifully” with him in the past. David prayed out his doubts by asking questions, but he also prayed out his firm faith. Have you ever gone through a spiritual dry spell? Have you ever prayed like David?