STUDY OF PSALMS - Chapters 83-87

PSALM 83 - “Israel's Lament”
(Lament of Asaph)

[This is the final psalm attributed to Asaph.]

Psalm 83 is a community lament... a petition to God to upset the plans of Israel's enemies in such a way that they might look upon their shame and turn to God.

Vs. 1 – At a time of national crisis, Israel makes three urgent requests to God:

• Don't Keep Silent
• Don't Hold Your Peace
• Don't Be Still

Have you ever prayed during a crisis and were disappointed when God didn't immediately respond? From our earthly perspective, we want answers in real time --- preferably within 10 minutes of asking,  Central Standard Time.  We operate from the perspective of our finite human life spans, rather than eternity.

Vs. 2-3 – The enemies of Israel were enemies of God. Those who hate God's "sheltered ones” must hate Him, also.

Vs. 5-8 – Ten nations are listed as an alliance against Israel (and thus against Yahweh, the God of Israel). Most of the opponents listed happen to be relatives of the Israelites:

• Edomites: descendants of Jacob's brother Esau
• Ishmaelites: descendants of Abraham's first son Ishmael
• Moab / Ammon: descendants from Lot (and his incestuous daughters)
• Hagrites: descendants of Ishmael's mother Hagar

If you know anything about the conception and history of these nations, you know there was plenty of sinning going on. It's not surprising that satan found a fertile ground among those nations and used them in battle against God.  Satan's goal has always been to defeat God through the extermination of His people.

Some scholars regard this collection of 10 enemies as a general reference to the constant threat of annihilation that Israel endured in their ancient days. The same threat endures today. In modern times, the various Middle Eastern peoples listed above have fiercely opposed the people of Israel (including the modern Israeli state) and continue to conspire against them, either through war or terrorism. The nation of Israel continues to fight for survival against overwhelming odds.

Vs. 9-12 – Historical examples of two major victories are recalled. Midian is the story of Gideon in Judges 7:1-8:28, while Sisera and Jabin come from the story of Deborah and Barak (Judges 4; 5:24-27). Both are examples of God's divine intervention to defeat the mightier enemies of Israel. God uses the weak to bring glory to His strength and power.

Vs. 13-18 – These verses contain a colorful mix of both imprecation and intercession. The psalmist prays that God will defeat / consume / terrify his enemies forever... so that they might come to know God as Lord Most High. This is a prayer for Israel that remains pertinent even today.

“In all the annals of recorded history there has never been a people so encircled by foes or as persecuted as the Jews have been. Yet surprisingly, the Jews have prospered. In 1836 a world census indicated that there were then three million Jews living in many countries. A century later, in 1936, in spite of severe persecutions in which many Jews were killed, particularly in Russia, a second census indicated that the Jewish world population had risen to sixteen million, an increase of thirteen million in a century. The Nazis killed more than six million Jews, but today there are more Jews in the world than before the Nazi era. The only explanation for this growth is that the hand of God has been on this people and that he has blessed them.” (Boice)

💛 💛 💛 💛 💛 💛 💛 

PSALM 84 - “How Blessed!”

(Psalm of Sons of Korah)

[REFRESHER: The Sons Korah were Levites from the family of Kohath. Levi was the third son of Jacob. Kohath was the son of Levi and the grandfather of Korah, which would make Korah a first cousin to Moses and Aaron. If you haven't read Korah's story – it's an eye-opener into the vengeance of God (Numbers 16). David appointed these descendants of Levi as gatekeepers to the temple (1 Chronicles 9:17:24). They have also made important contributions to the psalms.]

This is a psalm of pilgrimage in celebration of traveling to the temple in Jerusalem for a holiday or festivals. It focuses on the delight of God's people as they go to worship Him. It is similar in tone and perspective to Psalm 42, also attributed to the Sons of Korah.

VERSES 1-4: BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO DWELL IN THE TEMPLE

Vs. 3 – The psalmist wants us to know that peace is found at the altar of God. He is even jealous of the little birds who have unlimited access to the temple and the altar.

“My King and my God”: Charles Spurgeon notes: “The double ‘my’ is very precious; he lays hold upon his God with both his hands, as one resolved not to let him go till the favour requested be at length accorded.”

VERSES 5-9: BLESSED ARE THOSE WHOSE STRENGTH IS IN THE LORD

The pilgrims sing about making their way towards the temple with such desire that the rough desert paths become highways and the Valley of Tears (Baca) becomes a place filled with spring water as God blesses them with rain in the desert. They go from strength to strength... growing stronger as they reach their destination and appear before God in Zion.

💛NUGGET: Until we stop trying to worship God on our own terms and through our own strength, we will never experience the fullness of His strength within us.

VERSES 10-12: BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO TRUST IN THE LORD
Vs. 10a – “Better is one day in your courts than a thousand anywhere else.”

VIDEO:  https://youtu.be/ZDzTh4Lv1AM

Vs. 10b – “I would rather be a doorkeeper...” This sentiment has added meaning, knowing that the Korahites (son of Korah) functioned as doorkeepers in the temple. Do you get the feeling that these folks just loved being around God??

Vs. 11a – God's abundant goodness:

The Lord is a SUN to us (sustainer of life and light!)

The Lord is a SHIELD to us (our Protector!)

The Lord gives GRACE to us (future tense – more grace to give!)

The Lord gives GLORY to us (the hope of coming glory!)

Vs. 11b – “No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly.” This is a promise under God's Old Covenant of blessings and curses. Under the New Covenant of Jesus, all “good things” come to us through the goodness of Christ.

💛 💛 💛 💛 💛 💛 💛 

PSALM 85 – “My Soul Faints For You”

(Psalm of the Sons of Korah)

This is a community lament in which the people of Israel seek forgiveness for their unfaithfulness and petition God for national restoration.

VERSES 1-3: PAST MERCIES

(The psalmist begins by reflecting on God’s love and generosity in the past; all verbs are past tense – looking back)

•GOD WAS GOOD TO HIS LAND. God's land is Israel. He provided abundant crops.

•GOD RESTORED JACOB FROM CAPTIVITY. This phrase leads many scholars to believe this psalm was written after the Babylonian captivity. Others have in view the Exodus and still others, the period of Philistine domination in the later years of Saul’s reign (1 Samuel 28-31).

•GOD FORGAVE THEIR GUILT AND COVERED ALL THEIR SIN. Before sins could be forgiven, they had to be covered. The Hebrew word used for “cover” is kacah which means “to fill up hollows”. In the OT, sins are covered. In the NT, our sins are washed away by the Blood of the Lamb.

•GOD TOOK AWAY HIS WRATH AND TURNED FROM HIS ANGER. As long as there is wickedness and evil, God’s wrath and anger will be revealed. The Apostle Paul wrote, “The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness.” The Greek grammar conveys the idea of continuously being revealed.

“Israel is not pining for past glories, which are often an optical illusion…but remembering past mercies. This is realistic; it is also stimulating: it leads to prayers rather than dreams.” (Kidner)

VERSES 4-5: PRESENT ANGER

Vs. 5 – “Will You be angry with us forever?” In verse 3, the psalmist remember when God's anger was turned away from them. Here he was saying, “Forgive us, again.”

VERSES 6-7: PRAYER FOR REVIVAL

The psalmist prayed for revival and for God's faithful love (covenant love; hesed/chesed).

💛NUGGET: Revival can only come through God's mercy and salvation.

VERSES 8-13: FUTURE SALVATION

Here, the song shifts to first person. The people of Israel wait for God to speak.

Vs. 8 – “For He will speak peace...”

“He that will not hear the gospel of peace, shall never know the peace of the gospel. If you will not hear the Holy Spirit when he warns you of your sin, neither shall you hear him revealing peace through pardon.” (Spurgeon)

Vs. 9 – The “glory” of God's presence is His “Shekinah” (dwelling) glory, taken from the Hebrew word “to dwell”.

Vs. 10 – Four divine attributes:

• Mercy
• Truth
• Righteousness
• Peace

Where else do we find these wonderful traits? They are found in perfect harmony in Jesus Christ.

Vs. 13 – “Righteousness will go before Him and shall make His footsteps our pathway.”

“For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for you 

leaving you an example, that you should follow His steps.”

(1 Peter 2:21)

💛 💛 💛 💛 💛 💛 💛 

PSALM 86 – “Teach Me Your Ways”
(A Prayer of David)

[This is the only psalm of David in Book III. It is one of five psalms labeled “Prayer” or “Tephillah”.]

Psalm 86 is not an entirely original psalm.  It consists of quotations and phrases from other psalms and books (Exodus, Deuteronomy, Isaiah and Jeremiah). Stitched together, it becomes a heartfelt prayer of a desperate man who trusts in a God he has come to know very well.

VERSES 1-7: CALL FOR HELP

Vs. 2 – Since he is God’s servant, David rationalizes that God should protect him so that he can continue to serve. He affirms his trust in God.

Vs. 3a – “O Lord”: This is the first of seven times David refers to the Lord as “Adonai” (Master). His uses of this name, which indicates absolute Lordship, indicates David's complete submission and loyalty. 

Vs. 3b  – “For I cry to You all day long.” Here's a lesson for us about praying... even David had to keep coming back! (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

Vs. 5 – I pray we all give this beautiful verse the weight it deserves. GOD IS READY TO FORGIVE. NOW. He is ready to forgive because He is abounding in faithful, merciful love to ALL who call on Him.

“We are blinded by sin, and cannot believe that God is ready to forgive. We think that we must induce Him to forgive, by tears, promises of amendment, religious observances…. Oh, clasp this word to your heart! Say it over and over again – ‘Ready to forgive, ready to forgive!’” (Meyer)

VERSES 8-13: PRAISES TO GOD

In a time that was filled with worthless gods, David knew that HIS God was real. Adonai alone is God.

Vs. 9 – The words of this verse are incorporated into a song in Revelation 15:4.

Vs. 11 – “Teach me Your WAY, Adonai”; “I will live by Your TRUTH”; “Unite my heart to fear Your NAME”.

💛NUGGET: GOD is our WAY, our TRUTH, and our LIFE. (John 14:6)

VERSES 14-17 – SAVE ME FROM MY ENEMIES

David names the source of his trouble: arrogant and violent men.

Vs. 15 – Compare these words to those of Moses in his encounter with God in Exodus 34:6-7 . This is one of the most frequently quoted texts of the OT and is referred to throughout the Bible.

Vs. 16 - “Turn to me, and have mercy on me”: David did not pray to God with a heart of pride. He knew he was undeserving and in need of God's mercy. And aren't we all thankful that God (in His mercy) doesn't give us what we really deserve?!

Vs. 17 – “Show me a sign”: David's request for a sign from God didn't come from a place of doubt, but rather as a request for encouragement.

💛NUGGET: My husband was only 10 years old when his Dad died. Heartbroken and confused, he went to bed one night and prayed as only an innocent child can pray: “God, I need to know where my Dad is. If he's with You, please give me a sign.” He opened his eyes just in time to see the bedside lamp flicker off and on. Coincidence? Not to a young boy who needed comfort and encouragement.

💛 💛 💛 💛 💛 💛 💛 

PSALM 87 - “Born in Zion”

(Psalm of The Sons of Korah)

This is a psalm celebrating Zion as the chosen city of God. It was obviously written before the destruction of Jerusalem, during a time when God's sanctuary was perfectly intact.

Before we step into the scriptures, let's pause for a little geography lesson about the Holy Mountains of Zion. The city of Jerusalem is surrounded by mountains, two of which hold a significant place in Biblical history: Mt. Moriah and Mt. Zion (separated by the Tyropoen Valley). Mt. Zion was captured by King David and became his royal residence. When the Ark of the Covenant was transferred to the tabernacle, Mt. Zion became a holy place to God and Israel. Less than half a mile away, Solomon built his temple on Mt. Moriah (the Temple Mount). At that time, Mt. Zion and Mt. Moriah became interchangeable and the combined area (including Jerusalem) was referred to as “The Holy Mountain(s)” and “Zion”. Throughout the Bible, “Zion” is used to refer to the City of David, the City of Jerusalem, the land of Judah and the nation of Israel. About 2000 years ago, after the Roman destruction of Jerusalem, the Temple Mount was exclusively referred to as Mt. Moriah and “Zion” only to the mountain.

Vs. 1 – God is the founder and foundation of Zion. He made the mountains holy by choosing Zion for his dwelling place. But God chose more than a place... He chose a people to reveal His presence in this world.

Vs. 3 – “Glorious things” are said about the City of God because of all the significant events that happened on the Holy Mountains:

•Melchezidek, king of Salem (Jerusalem) and priest of God Most High, came from Mount Zion to bless Abraham (Genesis 14:18).

•Abraham led his son Isaac up to Mt. Moriah to be sacrificed. (Genesis 22:1-24).

•Jacob's dream of the stairway to heaven happened on Mt. Moriah (Genesis 28:10-18).

•David captured Mt. Zion and established his throne as the City of David (2 Samuel 5:6-9).

•The Ark of the Covenant was transferred to the Tabernacle on Mt. Zion (2 Samuel 6:17).

•Solomon's temple was built on Mt. Moriah (2 Chronicles 3:1).

•Solomon brought the Ark up to Mt. Moriah (1Kings 8:1).

VIDEO:  https://youtu.be/LQJUrK5vh4g

Vs. 4 – God makes a record of “those who know Me”, meaning those who are in fellowship with Him. Surprisingly, those named were enemies of Israel: Rahab (Egypt), Babylon, Philistia, Tyre and Cush. He promises these Gentile rivals that they will be regarded as “one who was born” in Zion and He will register them among God' people.

READING FOR TOMORROW:  Chapters 88-92

LINK TO READING PLAN:

 https://bibleplan.org/plans/psalms-in-a-month/