March 28, 2017
This psalm of David found its fulfillment in Christ’s suffering on the cross. Reading the four gospels together, it appears that Jesus was offered at least two drinks and perhaps three.
The first drink offered, according to Matthew and Mark, was wine mixed with gall or myrrh. This was offered as He arrived on Golgotha to be crucified. According to tradition, a narcotic drink was offered to those condemned to death in order to decrease their sensitivity to the excruciating pain. Jesus refused this drink, choosing to suffer with complete consciousness.
The second drink was offered by the Roman soldiers in mockery when the crowd thought He was calling for Elijah (Luke 23:36). He did not drink it.
The third drink was requested by Jesus. He said simply, “I thirst” (John 19:28). And the soldiers used a branch of hyssop to lift a sponge full of sour wine or wine vinegar to His lips.
Jesus, Son of David, Son of God, endured the thirst and drank the vinegar of which David prophesied centuries before. Then, He cried out, “It is finished,” and gave up His spirit (John 19:30).
March 20, 2017
David wrote of his strong desire to be “satisfied” and “joyful” in the Lord. He sought to bear the fruit of one who knew the “lovingkindness” (Psa. 63:3) of the Lord. The word “satisfied” speaks of contentment. David lifted his soul up to the Lord, determined to find a deep abiding contentment like one feels
March 5, 2017
Again we return to one of the favorite themes of the Psalmist, namely, the “lovingkindness” of God. This attribute in the Hebrew is called “chesed.” It describes the unconditional and covenantal love of God. The Psalmist wrote that they had “thought on” this Divine attribute in the temple. In other words, they had “meditated on” God’s lovingkindness, literally, “likening or comparing” it to what they knew, in order to understand it and appreciate it better.
Today as believers, we are God’s holy temple. When we gather as the church, we encourage one another to “think on” God’s lovingkindness just as the saints of old, yet with greater illumination and understanding. For we have God’s greatest expression of His “chesed” love, the Lord Jesus Christ. Let us meditate on God’s great love today. As the apostle John wrote, “See what great love the Father has lavished on us!” (1 John 3:1 NIV).
March 4, 2017
Singing praises to God should engage both the heart and the mind. All kinds of singing is encouraged by God’s Word. The apostle Paul wrote, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord” (Col. 3:16). Modern praise songs, with their simple repetitive phrases, help move the heart, but soon feel shallow without the rich theology found in many older hymns. Both are needed. A survey of the 150 Psalms of the Bible, reveals a wealth of songs and hymns that engage both heart and mind. We are to sing songs that stir our emotion, with an exclamation on the end! But we are also to sing songs that deepen our “understanding,” so that the Word “dwells richly” in our minds too.
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?