STUDY OF PSALMS - Chapt. 137-140

PSALM 137 – “Remember Jerusalem”

This is a Community Lament recalling the Babylon captivity. The author is unknown, but this sad song was undoubtedly written as a first-hand account of the exile.

Vs. 1 – The rivers of Babylon (literally interpreted as “place of confusion”) were streams and canals connecting the Euphrates and Tigris Rivers. This is where the exiled community of Israelites would gather together to mourn for Jerusalem (River Chebar - Ezekiel 1:1; River Ulai - Daniel 8:2).

💛NUGGET: Many scholars place the Garden of Eden somewhere between the Euphrates and Tigris Rivers.

Vs. 2 – “We hung our harps on the willows”: I can only imagine the sadness of this scene. Not only had the exiles taken their precious instruments with them into captivity, they refused to play them and hung them in the trees.

Vs. 4 – “How shall we sing the LORD'S song in a foreign land?”: The singers refused to sing because:

• The Babylonians were trying to humiliate the Jews 
• They longed to sing praises in the temple of Zion

Vs. 7 – “Remember, O Lord, against the sons of Edom the day of Jerusalem”: This is referring to the fall of Jerusalem in 586 BC. The two branches of Isaac's family were the Edomites and Israelites. The Edomites were descendants of Esau (Jacob's twin) and were bitter enemies who aligned with Babylon to destroy Jerusalem (Ezekiel 25:12; Obadiah 1:11-14).

Vs. 8 – When the psalmist asks God to destroy Babylon, he is asking for fulfillment of the prophecy of Isaiah (Isaiah 13:19-22). The exiles lived in hopeful expectation that God would vindicate His people and fulfill His plan through the saved remnant.

Vs. 9 – This is a disturbing verse, especially if taken out of context with the previous verses.  The psalmist seems to be celebrating unthinkable judgment against the enemies of Israel. It is important to read verse 9 in the context of verse 8: "O daughter of Babylon, doomed to be destroyed, blessed shall he be who repays you with what you have done to us!" (ESV).  In the context of Biblical history, it invokes the principle of “lex talionis”, or the “eye for an eye” principle established for justice and to discourage others from evil (Deuteronomy 19:20-21). The “lex talionis” was to be administered by an impartial judge and not in the spirit of revenge. Not only is it recorded that innocent babies were actually killed in such a cruel manner (Nahum 3:10), Isaiah prophesied this for Babylon (Isaiah 13:16). Such an imprecation is so far from the word of Christ that it is beyond our imagining, but among the ancient tribes of the Middle East, it was not uncommon to expect retaliation in kind.

“Today the fortresses of ancient Edom are a desolate waste, and the site of ancient Babylon is a ruin. God cannot be mocked.” (Boice)

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PSALM 138 – “A Thankful Heart”

(Thanksgiving Psalm of David)

[Psalms 138-145 are the final collection of psalms attributed to David as author.]

Vs. 1a – “I will praise You with my whole heart”: It takes our whole heart to praise God perfectly.

Vs. 1b – “Before the gods I will sing praises to You”: The translation for “gods' in this verse is “elohiym”, which has a broad meaning. These 'gods' may refer to the angels, since David is praising God in the temple (verse 2), or the kings mentioned in verse 4.

David gives three reasons for his praise:

1. God’s character
2. God’s promises
3. God’s blessing

Vs. 2 – “For You have magnified Your word above all Your name”: This statement leaves no doubt of how highly God regards His own word. It is an innate part of His character, beyond our understanding. God will never break His promises; they are all fulfilled in Jesus Christ:

“For all the promises of God in Him (Jesus) are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.” (2 Corinthians 1:20)

💛NUGGET: Jesus writes the promissory check and God signs it.

Vs. 4b – “When they hear the words of Your mouth”: If all the kings on earth are just waiting to hear God's word so they can worship Him, we need to get crackalacking!

Vs. 8 – “The LORD will perfect (complete) that which concerns me”: God will complete His purpose for our lives.

“Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 1:6)

💛 What is God's purpose for YOU?

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PSALM 139 - “No Escape From God”

(Psalm of David)

[This is a deeply personal poem between David and God.]

VERSES 1-6: God is Omniscient

Vs. 1-4 – “Search... Know... Understand... Observe... Aware”: The Hebrew word for “search” is “chaqar”, which means “to penetrate, to examine intimately.” “Observe” is from the Hebrew root word “zarah” which means “measure”.

💛NUGGET: God knows us better than we know ourselves.

Vs. 5 – “You have encircled me”: Literally, “Back and front you enclosed me”.

VERSES 7-10: God is Omnipresent

Vs. 7 – “Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence?”: The word for presence is “mippaneycha”, meaning “from thy faces (plural)”. Adam Clarke asks: “Why do we meet with this word so frequently in the plural number, when applied to God? And why have we His Spirit, and His appearances or faces, both here? A Trinitarian would at once say, ‘The plurality of persons in the Godhead is intended;’ and who can prove that he is mistaken?”

God is omnipresent... which is a comforting and sometimes awkward thought. When my sons were small, they never wanted to leave my presence... unless they were up to no good!

Vs. 8b – “If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there”: The word used here for hell is “sheol”, not “Gehenna”. Sheol refers to the grave, while Gehenna refers to the eternal lake of fire (Matthew 18:9; Revelation 20:14-15).

Vs. 12 – “Darkness and light are alike to you”: God transcends creation.

Vs. 13 – “You knit me together in my mother's womb”: Before an afghan becomes a warm blanket, it's nothing more than a hopeful ball of yarn. Now, I don't know much about knitting, but I do know that it takes time and concentration and that each item made by the knitter is unique. Some more unique than others. God is a marvelous knitter. He doesn't need a pattern... He doesn't need knitting needles... heck, He doesn't even need yarn. He sees us before He even makes us.  He knows our souls.

Vs. 14 – “I am fearfully and wonderfully made”: The worst best class I ever took was Gross Anatomy during grad school. Having the honor to work with cadavers and actually see the wonders of God's creation in a way that few people do was beyond words. To see the tracts of nerves and the perfect placement of organs and touch the design of muscle fibers... there was no doubt that we are indeed, divinely created. We are so much more than a clump of cells. We are wonderfully made by a knitting God.

💛NUGGET: So, what about birth defects? Remember God's response to Moses when he complained about not being a good enough speaker to lead Israel? God said, “Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes him dumb or deaf, or seeing or blind? Is it not I, the Lord?” (Exodus 4:11). From a human perspective, any reason for birth defects is way above my ability to comprehend. We can suggest causative factors such as environmental or genetic... but ultimately, we are all formed by an Omnipotent God who gives purpose to every single life.

Vs. 15a – “I was made in secret and skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth”. The “lowest parts of the earth” is figurative speech for a protected, concealed or safe place, meaning the womb.

“The Hebrew word translated 'skillfully wrought' literally means 'variegated', like a multicolored piece of cloth. Moses used the same Hebrew term in Exodus when he referred to the making of the curtains in the ancient tabernacle. The idea is similar to an embroidered piece of tapestry or a work of fine needlepoint. The picture must include the concept of our veins and arteries, 'embroidered' like variegated threads within the body. God is that involved in the making of our bodies. He is like a careful, skillful artist who takes great pain with each color and stroke. (Chuck Swindoll)

Vs. 16a – “Your eyes have seen my unformed substance” – According to Stong's Concordance of the Bible, the Hebrew word for “unformed substance” is “golem” (noun), meaning “embryo”. It comes from the root word “galam' (verb) which means to "wrap up or fold together".

💛NUGGET: Even while you were nothing more than a wrapped up embryo, God was watching over you.

Vs. 16 – “In Your book they all were written,the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them.”: Even before David was born, God had already established his days. How's that for sovereignty?

Vs. 19-22 – There is an abrupt change of tone in these verses, as David shifts to a prayer to “slay the wicked” who take God's name in vain and rise up against Him. David counted them as enemies and hated them with a “perfect hatred”.

“If there is such a thing as perfect hatred it would mirror and reflect the righteousness of God. It would be perfect to the extent that it excluded sinful attitudes of malice, envy, bitterness, and other attitudes we normally associate with human hatred. In this sense a perfect hatred could be deemed compatible with a love for one’s enemies. One who hates his enemy with a perfect hatred is still called to act in a loving and righteous manner toward him.” (RC Sproul)

Vs. 23-24 – The psalm ends as it begins, with the psalmist asking God to shine His blinding searchlight of holiness into his heart.

VIDEO:  Michael W. Smith - https://youtu.be/HO1gbe255Oo

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PSALM 140 – “Keep Me Safe from Evil Men”

(Lament Psalm of David)

[Psalm 140 travels up the road of distress down the hill of praise through the mud of  imprecation and over the bridge to confidence.]

Vs. 3 – “They sharpen their tongues like a serpent”: The Bible talks often about the power of the tongue. It is literally one of the most destructive weapons that we use against each other. Words destroy. Paul quoted this verse in Romans 3:13 in describing man’s fallen condition.

Vs. 6 – “You are my God”: This verse is right in the middle of the psalm. What a great place to reaffirm one's dedication to God – smack dab in the midst of suffering. And what an honor to claim God as ours.

Vs. 8-11: Strong words of imprecation against the enemy.

Vs. 13: After the lament and imprecations, the psalm ends in confidence that the upright will dwell with God.

READING FOR TOMORROW:  Chapters 141-144

LINK TO READING PLAN:

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

STUDY OF PSALMS - Chapt. 131-136

[Psalms 131-134 continue with the Psalms of Ascents. These are songs that the people of Israel sang on their pilgrimage to Jerusalem for the annual feasts and festivals days.]

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PSALM 131 - “Humility”

(A Song of Ascents. Of David)

[As an Ascent Psalm, this song was a call for the pilgrims to humble themselves before God.]

“It is one of the shortest Psalms to read, but one of the longest to learn. It speaks of a young child, but it contains the experience of a man in Christ.” (Charles Spurgeon)

Vs. 1 – “Neither do I concern myself with great matters... things too profound”: David denies arrogance and selfish ambition. In Deuteronomy 29:29, Moses taught the Israelites that “The secret things belong to the Lord our God...”. Anyone who demands to be given an understanding of God's mysterious ways is demonstrating a prideful heart. When Job realized this as his sin, he slapped his hand over his mouth and repented “in dust and ashes” (Job 40:1-5; 42:1-6).

Vs. 2 – “Like a weaned child with his mother”: A weaned child is no longer dependent on his mother's body for nourishment and is able to draw near to her out of a desire for intimacy and companionship.

“Weaned from what? Self-sufficiency, self-will, self-seeking. From creatures and the things of the world—not; indeed, as to their use, but as to any dependence upon them for his happiness and portion...” (William Jay)

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PSALM 132 – “Abundantly"

(Song of Ascents)

This is a Royal Psalm and may have been written in celebration of bringing the Ark of the Covenant into Jerusalem (2 Samuel 6:12–19; Psalm 132:6–10)

VERSES 1-10: DAVID'S PROMISE

Vs. 2 – “How he swore to the LORD”: A specific “oath” from David to God to build a temple is not actually recorded in 2 Samuel 7, but the prophet Nathan speaks of it being in David's heart.

Vs. 5 – This verse is referred to by Stephen in Acts 7:46.

“And we find that he would have acted in all things according to his oath and vow, had God permitted him. But even after the Lord told him that Solomon, not he, should build the house he still continued to show his good will by collecting treasure and materials for the building, all the rest of his life.” (Clarke)

Vs. 6-9 –The coming of the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem is referred to in Chronicles 15-16.

Vs. 6 – "Behold we heard of it in Ephrathah; We found it in the fields of Jaar.":  Ephrathah is near Bethlehem (Genesis 35:19; Micah 5:2) and Jaar is believed to be another name for Kirjath-Jaerim. The Ark of the Covenant was taken by the Philistines after defeating the Israelites in battle but was eventually returned to Kirjath-Jaerim, where it stayed for 20 years (1 Samuel 4-7). Apparently, the ark was found by David's people and eventually moved to the tabernacle in Jerusalem.

Vs. 7 – “Let us worship at His footstool”: See 1 Chronicles 28:2.

Vs. 10 – “Do not turn away the face of Your Anointed”: This is ultimately a prayer of blessing on the Anointed Son of David – the Messiah. This passage is alluded to by Peter in Acts 2:30.

VERSES 11-18: GOD'S PROMISE

Vs. 11 – “The LORD has sworn in truth to David”: This is recorded in 2 Samuel 7:5-16. In verse 2, David promised to build a house (temple) for God. Although God politely declined, He promised to build David a house (dynasty), instead.

Vs. 12 – “Forevermore...”: Thank God that His promise was not conditionally based on the righteousness of David's sons because we would never have had Jesus. David's “sons” could and would forfeit their promised blessings and were eventually driven from the throne. But the promise of a Savior was unconditional. Jesus is on the throne.

Vs. 15 – “I will ABUNDANTLY bless...”

“The people had asked God to come to his resting place as the ark was brought to Jerusalem; God says that he will sit enthroned there ‘for ever and ever.’ They asked righteousness for the priests; God promises to clothe the priests with salvation, which is a greater concept. The people asked that the saints might sing for joy; God promises that they will sing for joy forever.” (Boice)

Vs. 16-17a – These verses answer the prayers in verses 9-10. Abundantly.

Vs. 17b – “I will prepare a lamp for My Anointed”: This was part of God's promise, to preserve a dynasty for the sake of David, not based on the morality or character of his descendants. (1 Kings 11:36;15:4).

💛NUGGET: Ultimately, God's “Anointed” was more than a lamp. He was the Light of the world. (John 8:12)

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PSALM 133 – "Unity"

(Song of Ascents. Of David)

This is a Wisdom Psalm that many believe was composed when David was crowned in Hebron, during a time of national unity. (2 Samuel 5:1; 1 Chronicles 12:38-40)

Vs. 1 – “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” This sentiment was especially appropriate for an Ascent Song, as pilgrims from different regions and tribes marched together as one to worship the Lord in Jerusalem.

Vs. 2 – “It is like the precious oil upon the head running down... the beard of Aaron”: Aaron was the first High Priest of Israel, who was anointed with a special holy oil set aside for priestly consecration.

💛NUGGET: “In verse 2 the threefold repetition ‘running down,’ ‘running down,’ and ‘down’ – the Hebrew uses the same verb each time – emphasizes that the blessing of Aaron’s anointing was from above himself, that is, from God.” (Boice)

Vs. 3 – The Lord commanded a blessing of unity... FOREVERMORE.

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PSALM 134 - "Holy Hands"

(Song of Ascents)

This is the last of the Song of Ascents psalms. This group of psalms opened with “I call on the LORD in my distress” (Psalm 120) and ends with “Praise the LORD”.

Vs. 1 – “Who by night stand in the house of the LORD!”: The Levites were assigned special duties at the temple, including night watchmen. (Exodus 27:21; 1 Samuel 3:3; Leviticus 8:35)

Vs. 2 – “Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the Lord”: Or as the Apostle Paul said, “Lift up holy hands in prayer...” (I Timothy 2:8)

💛NUGGET:  Praising is us speaking well of God.  Blessing is God speaking well of us. 

Vs. 3 – “Bless you from Zion!”: After God's people converged in Zion to bless and worship Him, they left carrying His blessing back home with them. What a beautiful way to end the Psalms of Ascents. The blessings flowed uphill and downhill.

💛NUGGET: Our life should be a pilgrimage toward God, blessing Him all the way to heaven.

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PSALM 135 - "Praise"

[This psalm is a collection of quotes and passages from all over the OT: Psalms, Deuteronomy, Jeremiah and Exodus. Though every verse is basically an echo of another, it is a new message of praise.]

Vs. 1 – The psalm begins and ends with "Hallelujah!" (“Praise the Lord”).

Vs. 4 – “His special treasure”: This is in fulfillment of God's declaration in Deuteronomy 7:6.

Vs. 8-12 – The psalmists are mighty proud of their Exodus heritage, would you agree?  Remembering God's supernatural deliverance in the past brought them courage for the present and and hope for the future.

“Egypt was the theatre of the grand contest between the God of Israel and the gods of the heathen.” (Horne)

Vs. 11 – These victories given by God are recorded in Numbers 21:21-33; Deuteronomy 3:11.

Vs. 12 – “And gave their land as a heritage”: God promised the land of Canaan to the Israelites and gave it to them as their heritage... from generation to generation.

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PSALM 136 - "The Great Hallel"

[In Jewish tradition Psalm 135 is called the “Great Hallel” (Great Psalm of Praise) and it was especially sung at the Passover.]

This Thanksgiving Psalm has 26 verses with “His mercy endures forever” repeated after each verse.  It is referred to as an “antiphonal hymn”. Think of it as a responsive singing, with the congregation answering the choirmaster.

“And they sang responsively, praising and giving thanks to the LORD: “For He is good, For His mercy endures forever toward Israel.” (Ezra 3:11)

MERCY is derived from that now familiar Hebrew covenant word, “hesed”, which refers to God's unending grace... His loyal love. This is His unbreakable covenant with His people... His eternal commitment.

VERSES 1-3: GIVE THANKS TO THE LORD

• He is good.
• He is the God of gods. (Elohim)
• He is the Lord of lords. (Adonai)

💛NUGGET: God is the Original Good. All goodness flows from Him.

VERSES 4-25: WHY WE GIVE THANKS TO THE LORD

Vs. 4-9 – Give thanks for God's power in CREATION.

Vs. 10-22 – Give thanks for God’s power in SALVATION.

Vs. 23-25 – Give thanks for God's power in PROVISION.

💛NUGGET: Giving thanks during trials requires submission to God's sovereignty over your life. (Genesis 50:20; Romans 8:28)

VERSE 26: GIVE THANKS TO THE GOD OF HEAVEN

The psalm ends as it begins, with a reminder that everything we receive from God is from His grace.

Charles Spurgeon observed the following lessons we learn from this psalm:

·The past, present, or future will not end His mercy.

·The storms of life will not end His mercy.

·Distance from loved ones will not end His mercy.

·Death itself will not end His mercy.

·God’s never-ending mercy should make us merciful to others.
·God’s never-ending mercy should make us hopeful for others.
·God’s never-ending mercy should make us hopeful for ourselves.

VIDEO:  "Antiphonal Psalm 136" 

https://youtu.be/VK8FBpRC_T8

READING FOR TOMORROW:  Chapters 137-140

LINK TO READING PLAN:

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

STUDY OF PSALMS - Chapt. 126-130

[We continue with the Songs of Ascents (Psalms 120-134). These are songs that the people of Israel sang on their pilgrimage to Jerusalem for the annual feasts and festivals days.]

PSALM 126 – “Return from Exile”

(A Song of Ascents)

This is a Community Lament, likely composed after the Babylonian exile but could also be referring to David's return to Jerusalem (2 Samuel 15-19).

Vs. 1a – “When the LORD brought back the captivity of Zion”: Most scholars associate this with Israel's return from Babylon under Ezra and Nehemiah. A gathering of the exiles.

Vs. 1b – “We were like those who dream”: In the ancient days, “those who dream” referred to prophets who communicated messages between God and His people (Joel 2:28-29). The psalmist could also be describing the ecstatic joy that he speaks about in verse 2.

Vs. 4 – “As the streams in the south”: This would be language familiar to the residents of Israel, describing “flash floods”. The plea was for God to work swiftly and strongly for a flood of continued deliverance of His people. While verses 1-3 spoke of gratitude for God's restoration, this verse is a prayer for more.

Vs. 5-6 – “Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy”: This suggests that over time, God uses our pain and suffering to bring joy. Notice the sorrow isn't kept... it is planted.

“Both the going forth and the coming home are stressed by a doubling of the verb, and might be translated, ‘He that surely goes forth weeping…will surely come home with shouts of joy.’” (Kidner)

VIDEO: Shir Ha Ma'alot - Song of Ascents: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eISRutmI-r0

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PSALM 127 – “It is Vain”

(A Song of Ascents. Of Solomon)

This is a Wisdom Psalm of Solomon with a look toward eternal life through an OT perspective.  To the ancients, eternal blessings were manifested in generations... children and grandchildren were a guarantee of blessing beyond death.

Vs. 1 – “Unless...”: Without God, our plans are futile.

💛NUGGET: In 1736, Edinburgh, Scotland registered their official Coat of Arms. It bears a motto taken from the first words of this psalm: “Nisi Dominus Frusta”, which means, “Without the Lord, All is Vain”.

Vs. 3 – “The Jew would ask, why is the house being built if it is not for the family? And why are the watchmen protecting the city if not for the families that live in it? Then as now, the family was the basic unit and most important element of society.” (Boice)

Vs. 5 – “But shall speak with their enemies in the gate”: The gate of an ancient city was the gathering place to conduct business and often settle disputes. A man surrounded by plenty of sons would feel unafraid to face his enemies in the gate. From another perspective, a man whose children are upright will never bring him shame, but rather strengthen his reputation.

[A bit ironic that this verse was written by Solomon who had 700 wives and 300 concubines and likely conceived more children than anyone on the planet, yet the Bible only mentions one son, Rehoboam, his heir to the throne and a disappointment to God.]

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PSALM 128 – “Fear the Lord”

(A Song of Ascents)

Psalm 128 is a Wisdom Psalm and is considered to be a companion to Psalm 127. Both psalms focus on the family and emphasize the importance of Godliness in the home. The previous psalm ended with the “blessed (happy) man".  This psalm expounds on his blessedness.

Vs. 1 – This blessing is for EVERY ONE who fears the Lord and walks in His ways.

VERSES 2-6: THE BLESSING

Vs. 3 – “Fruitful vine... olive branches”: In the context of ancient Israel, a man's greatest blessings were a productive farm and a "productive" wife who provided him with a passel of children around his bountiful table.

“The interesting thing about these two images, vines and olive plants, is that they are biblical symbols of the abundant life. They are not food staples like wheat or corn. They symbolize rich blessing.” (Boice)

Vs. 4 – “Thus shall the man be blessed who fears the LORD”: Just as in verse 1, the blessing is conditional: it requires honor and respect to God.

Vs. 5b - “The prosperity (or good) of Jerusalem” is the glory of God. A single godly man can widen his sphere of influence so as to affect a nation.

Vs. 6 – “May you see your children’s children”: Grandchildren are nothing but pure blessing from God.

💛NUGGET: If God's blessing is based on the fear of the Lord, then peace at home is based on fear of the Lord. If peace at home is based on the fear of the Lord, then the peace of a nation is based on the fear of the Lord.  (Are you picking up what I'm laying down?)

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PSALM 129 - “They Have not Prevailed”

(A Song of Ascents)

Psalm 129 is a Prayer of Confidence in God’s continued protection. It was a historical reminder and  also a future prophecy of God’s never-ending care.

Vs. 1-3 – The statement of affliction (or persecution) is repeated twice to show emphasis, and it ain't no lie. Just look at some of the people who have tried to obliterate Israel: Egyptians, Canaanites, Philistines, Syrians, Assyrians, Babylonians, Greeks, Romans, Muslims, and Nazis... to name a few. Yet God preserves His people.

“The Jews are the longest-enduring distinct ethnic people on the planet. They have been slandered, hated, persecuted, expelled, pursued, and murdered throughout their long existence, but they have survived intact.” (Boice)

Vs. 5-7 – These verses are filled with imprecations against the enemy. The psalmist doesn't wish them death, just a “withering away”

Vs. 8 – In Ruth 2:4, Boaz came upon the workers reaping wheat in his field and yelled out to them, “The LORD be with you!” to which his workers replied, “The LORD bless you”. No such blessings were to be exchanged with the enemies of Israel.

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PSALM 130 - “Out of the Depths”

(A Song of Ascents)

Psalm 130 is one of the seven Penitential Psalms (6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, 143) and is an individual Lament Psalm. As an Ascent Song, Psalm 130 was sung by the pilgrims to direct their thoughts towards forgiveness and prepare their hearts for worship.

Vs. 1 – “Out of the depths”: “Depths” is taken from the root word for "deep" (Hebrew: “amoq”) which means “to make deep”, as in all the way down to the bottom of one's soul. We note the intensity and intimacy of the psalmist's words as he cries out to God, alternating "LORD" and "Lord" eight times within the eight verses of this song.

LORD: Yahweh (Covenant name of God)

Lord: Adonai (Master / Ruler)

💛NUGGET: While Yahweh is the “name” of God, Adonai is the “title” of God. “Adon” means, “master” or “Lord” and the possessive ending, “ai” means “my”. When we use the name of Adonai, we are acknowledging that God IS our Sovereign Master and we ARE his servants.

Vs. 4a – “BUT there is forgiveness with you”: Where would we be without this “but”?

Vs. 4b – “That You may be feared.”: We love His mercy but fear His justice. And as Adam and Eve proved, we can't have one without the other.

“It was a Welshman in the midst of the wonderful revival of 1905 who rendered verse Psalm 130:4, ‘There is forgiveness with Thee – enough to frighten us!’ which if not accurate translation is fine exposition.” (Morgan)

Vs. 5b – “And in His word I do hope”: His Word is filled with promises.

💛NUGGET: Hope in God and hope in His Word are inseparable.

Vs. 8 – “He shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities”: The psalmist ends with confident trust in the God of redemption... not just for himself, but also for the nation. And because God is God, the psalmist didn't waste his hope on any ol' garden variety redemption.  He hoped for ABUNDANT redemption (verse 7).

This psalm reminds us of God’s promise to Abraham for a LAND, a SEED and a BLESSING.

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READING FOR TOMORROW:  Chapters 131-136

LINK TO READING PLAN:

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

STUDY OF PSALMS - Chapt. 120-125

THE PSALMS OF ASCENTS 

Psalms 120-134 comprise the Songs of Ascents. This is a special songbook made to be sung by the Jews during their pilgrimages to Jerusalem three times a year for the national festivals of Passover, Pentecost and the Day of Atonement.

“Three times a year all your men must appear before the Lord your God at the place he will choose: at the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the Festival of Weeks and the Festival of Tabernacles.” (Deuteronomy 16:16)

The Hebrew word for “ascent” is ma'alah which means "to go up”. The Bible often talks about going “up” to Jerusalem, since it was literally uphill from the surrounding regions. As the pilgrims made their journey, they worshiped God in song all along the way. Joseph and Mary would probably have sung these psalms as they went up to Jerusalem with their son, Jesus. Jesus and His disciples would have sung them as they traveled up from  Galilee for the feasts.

Jewish historians claim these songs were also sung by the priests in the days of Solomon as they ascended the fifteen steps leading to the Temple in Jerusalem.

SIDE NOTE: One of the most significant and meaningful memories from my trip to Israel was visiting the Southern Steps leading to the temple. Our group stood together on the steps and read the Psalms of Ascents. It humbled my soul to think that I might be standing in the very place were Jesus stood while teaching parables. If I closed my eyes I could almost hear the beautiful voices of the ancient worshipers as they joyfully made their ascent up the temple...

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PSALM 120 – "No Peace"

(A Song of Ascents)

This Lament Psalm was written by a homesick Israelite forced to live among warmongers in a strange land (probably in exile).

Vs. 1 – “In my distress I cried to the LORD, and He heard me”: Even through his despair, the focus is on God.

Vs. 2 – The reason for the psalmist's distress turns out to be people with “lying lips” and “deceitful tongues” who have spoken evil against him.

Vs. 5 – “Woe is me, that I dwell in Meshech, that I dwell among the tents of Kedar!”: Meshech and Kedar were enemy tribes of Israel. The psalmist had likely been dispersed to lands far beyond Israel against his will.

💛NUGGET: The people of Meshech were descendants of Japheth, son of Noah (Genesis 10:2) and the people of Kedar originated from Ishmael, son of Abraham (Genesis 25:13). Both were known to be cruel, uncivilized warlike tribes.

Vs. 6 – “My soul has dwelt too long with one who hates peace.” The peaceful palmist complained that he had to live among ungodly people so far away from Israel. He longed for peace (shalom).

💛NUGGET: The name "Jerusalem" in Hebrew means “City of Peace”.

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PSALM 121 – “God is a Keeper”

(A Song of Ascents)

This psalm is actually a blessing for a journey with the emphasis on God “keeping” us in His unending care.

Vs. 1 – “I will lift up my eyes to the hills—from whence comes my help?”: This song begins with a simple question. The “hills” likely refer to Jerusalem, seen in the distance as the psalmist makes his pilgrimage towards the city. Since the people of Israel looked to Zion (Jerusalem) as God's dwelling place, it would be fitting for them to look towards the hills of Jerusalem.

VIDEO:  "Total Praise" - https://youtu.be/KASubuUl7W8

Vs. 2 – “My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.”: He immediately answers his own question with a confession of faith.

[VERSES 3-8 are to be sang or prayed as a blessing. Notice that the psalmist switched from first person (“my” and “I”) to “you” and “your.”

Vs. 4 – “He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.”: The word “keep” (shamar) also means "to preserve" and is used six times in this poem to emphasize the fact that God is watching over Israel. God is a Keeper.

Vs. 5 – “The Lord shall preserve (keep) your going out and your coming in from this time forth, and even forevermore.”: God watches over us continually and eternally.

Vs. 5b - “The Lord is your shade”: “Shade” is from the same Hebrew word as “shadow” which calls to mind Psalm 91:1: “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.”

💛NUGGET: It is a Jewish tradition to place a copy of Psalm 121 in the delivery room and/or baby carriage of a newborn as a blessing of protection from God.

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PSALM 122 – "Let Us Go into to the House of the Lord"

(A Song of Ascents. Of David.)

This psalm is one of four of the Songs of Ascents attributed to David. It is a song about arriving into the city gates of Jerusalem.

Vs. 1 – “Let us go into the house of the LORD”: The temple had not yet been built during the reign of David. At that time, the tabernacle was set up in the City of David and contained the Ark of the Covenant.

Vs. 2 – “Our feet have been standing within your gates, O Jerusalem!”: They've arrived! After a long and dusty journey, the pilgrim's happy feet are now standing in the City of God.  They are home.

Vs. 3-5 – Three descriptions of Jerusalem are given:

1) It is compactly built. In the time of David, Jerusalem was about one-half mile wide. But “compact” in this context actually refers to the closeness of the Israelites in the sense of their unification.

2) It is where the tribes go up. All the males of Israel were commanded to go “up” to Jerusalem 3 times a year for their religious feasts and festivals.

3) It is where the thrones are set for judgment. The throne of David in Jerusalem and his monarchy served as the centralized seat of justice for Israel.

Vs. 4b – “To the Testimony of Israel”: The “testimony” was another name given to the Ark of the Covenant (Exodus 25:22; Exodus 27:21).

“Note that Israel was one people, but yet it was in a sense divided by the mere surface distinction of tribes; and this may be a lesson to us that all Christendom is essentially one, though from various causes we are divided into tribes. Let us as much as possible sink the tribal individuality in the national unity, so that the church may be many waves, but one sea; many branches, but one tree; many members, but one body.” (Spurgeon)

Vs. 6-9 – “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem”: Peace is not a word that comes to mind when we think of Jerusalem. All throughout history, it has been a center of conflict. “Pray for peace” speaks as much to prophecy as to history. The ancient Jews who sang these words wanted peace in Jerusalem because that is where "the house of the LORD our God” dwelled. For them, God's presence was connected to a place. Looking from the other side of the cross, we know that we are never separated from Him (Romans 8:31-39). When we pray for the peace of Jerusalem, we are seeking God’s ultimate fulfillment for His city.

“The goal of the pilgrim is not Jerusalem, as important as that city was, or even the temple in Jerusalem, as important as it was, but God himself, whose true throne is not anywhere on earth but in heaven.” (Boice)

💛NUGGET: The presence of God is what made the tabernacle special. His Spirit does the same within you (Matthew 23:16-22).

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PSALM 123 – "Looking for Mercy"

(A Song of Ascents)

This is a Community Lament for Israel who found themselves in a familiar place of scorn and contempt from those around them. Their response was to look towards God for mercy.

Vs. 2a – “Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their masters, as the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the Lord our God”: The eyes of the psalmist are not on anything but the Lord, not necessarily like a servant waiting for orders... but patiently waiting on His Master for answers.

Vs. 2b - “Until He has mercy on us”: The psalmist is dug in. As long as it takes, he will persevere in looking to the Lord for His mercy. 

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PSALM 124 - “IF...”

(A Song of Ascents. Of David.)

This ascent song is a Community Thanksgiving Psalm in praise for God's rescue from destruction and expressing confidence that He will continue to help His people.

Vs. 1-2 – “If it had not been the LORD who was on our side”: Israel remembers how God saved them from sure death. 

💛NUGGET: God is the Difference between Deliverance and Disaster.

Vs. 3-5 – David described the overwhelming troubles Israel faced as “men rose up against us”.  He leaves no doubt that God, alone, has been their Deliverer.

Vs. 7 – “As a bird from the snare of the fowlers”: Fowlers are people who catch birds by using traps.

“Fowlers have many methods of taking small birds, and Satan has many methods of entrapping souls. Some are decoyed by evil companions, others are enticed by the love of dainties; hunger drives many into the trap, and fright impels numbers to fly into the net.” (Spurgeon)

Vs. 8 – “Our help is in the name of the LORD”: The “name of the LORD” alludes to His presence. This is a humble confession made by Israel. Their help came from the same Source that we are blessed to call upon, today.

“The great lesson of this Psalm, from the beginning to the end…is that for every deliverance, whether of a temporal or spiritual nature, we should, in imitation of the saints above, ascribe ‘Salvation to God and the Lamb.’” (Horne)

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PSALM 125 – “Trust in the Lord”

(A Song of Ascents)

God's followers are immovable.  He has us surrounded.

Vs. 1 – “Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever.” As we have the advantage of looking backwards on the history of Israel, it is clear to see how big a role “trust” played in the security of Jerusalem.

Vs. 2a – “As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds His people”: The city of Jerusalem sits on a hill that is surrounded by a range of taller hills.

Vs. 2b – “From this time forth and forever”: God forms a protective ring around us “forever”.  Satan spoke of this as a "hedge" in Job 1:10.  Nothing can get to us without God's permission. Implicit in this, however, is trusting in the Lord (verse 1).

Vs. 3 – So long as Israel trusted and obeyed the Lord, they were divinely protected from the “scepter of wickedness” (wicked kings).

Vs. 4 – “Do good, O LORD, to those who are good”: This statement again reminds us of the promised “blessings and curses” of the OT covenant in which judgment was based on the obedience and disobedience of the people. Those “upright in their hearts” lived a life of obedience to God.

Vs. 5 – “Peace be upon Israel”: This song ends with a blessing for Israel. The formula for peace was given in verse 1: Trust in the LORD. 

Shalom!

VIDEO:  "Surround Us, Lord"  https://youtu.be/dtyVNbXecnI

READING FOR TOMORROW:  Chapters 126-130

LINK TO READING PLAN:

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

STUDY OF PSALM - Chapter 119

PSALM 119 – THE WORD (From Aleph to Taw)

INTRODUCTION: Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible, consisting of a total of 176 verses. It is written as an acrostic consisting of 22 stanzas, one for each letter of the Hebrew alphabet.

• Each stanza contains 8 verses.
• Each verse begins with the Hebrew letter of the corresponding stanza.
  

When translated into English it is difficult to keep the integrity of the message while maintaining the acrostic pattern, but here is an example of the stylization of this psalm using the first stanza / first letter of the Hebrew alphabet:

Alef
A blessing is on them that are undefiled in the way;
and walk in the law of Jehovah;

A blessing is on them that keep his testimonies,
and seek him with their whole heart;

Also on them that do no wickedness,
but walk in his ways.

A law hast thou given unto us,
that we should diligently keep thy commandments.

Ah, Lord! that my ways were so directed
that I might keep thy statutes!

And then shall I not be confounded,
while I have respect unto all thy commandments.

As for me, I will thank thee with an unfeigned heart,
when I shall have learned thy righteous judgments.

An eye will I have unto thy statutes:
O forsake me not utterly.

This seems like a tedious and limiting way to write a psalm. It is. But it actually serves a purpose. The ancient Israelites used acrostics to not only teach Biblical lessons, but it also served the purpose of teaching the Hebrew alphabet during recitation and writing.

AUTHOR: We are not given the name of the author. David, Ezra, Ezekiel, Esther and Daniel have all been suggested as possible candidates. Most scholars believe that it was written during or after the time of the Babylonian exile. It was likely written over a significant period of time, as there is no definite connection between the stanzas. The writer undoubtedly lived under oppression and not only loved the Word of God, but depended on it deeply.

THEME: Modern readers tend to skim through this psalm and it's legalistic themes of strict adherence to the “law”. But as the original targeted audience, Israelites of old would have poured over every word in their desire to follow God's commandments and to lead a happy life. Even so, Psalm 119 is hardly a collection of hints for happiness. It stands strongly upon God's authority and the all-encompassing sufficiency of His Word.

Psalm 119:66 is recited prior to the blowing of the Shofar in celebration of the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah (along with: 119:108; 119:122; 119:160; 119:162).

💛NUGGET:  There is a tradition in the Eastern Orthodox Church that King David used this psalm to teach his sons (including Solomon) the Hebrew alphabet and the “alphabet of the spiritual life.”

In the NKJV, every verse but four (84, 121, 122, 132) directly references God's Word in some way.  The synonyms used to describe God's Word are:

The 22 stanzas of Psalm 119 are outlined below with corresponding Hebrew letter and subject headings (adapted from the notes of F.W. Grant, Believer's Bible Commentary):

Vs. 1-8: Aleph א – The Blessedness of Obeying the Word
[Begins with a double blessing in vs. 1-2: “Happy are those who...” ]

The psalmist prayed to be totally committed to obedience.

Vs. 9-16: Beth ב – Cleansing by the Word

[The letter “Beth” also means “a house.” Some have suggested that this section tells us how to make our heart a home for the word of God.]

Vs. 17-24: Gimel ג – Discernment by the Word
The psalmist called himself a 'resident alien' on earth, totally dependent upon God.

Vs. 25-32: Daleth ד – Revived through the Word
The psalmist sought clarity from God to understand and apply the Torah to his life.

Vs. 33-40: He ה – Teach Me the Word

[“He” is the fifth letter of the Hebrew alphabet, and it is used at the beginning of verbs to make them causative. The prayers in this section have the meaning, “Cause me to learn,” “Cause me to understand,” “Cause me to walk”...]

Vs. 41-48: Waw ו – Victory through the Word
The psalmist longed for evidence of God's faithful love (hesed).

Vs. 49-56: Zayin ז – Rest and Comfort through the Word
The psalmist is comforted by God's righteous judgments.

Vs. 57-64: Heth ח – Perseverance in the Word

“Blaise Pascal, the brilliant French philosopher and devout Christian... called verse 59 ‘the turning point of man’s character and destiny.’ He meant that it is vital for every person to consider his or her ways, understand that our ways are destructive and will lead us to destruction, and then make an about-face and determine to go in God’s ways instead.” (Boice)

Vs. 65-72: Teth ט – The Benefit of the Word in Times of Affliction
The psalmist learned from his affliction as a result of the Lord's discipline.

Vs. 73-80: Yod י – Insights through the Word
The repetition of the plea, “Let me...”:
Let me be comforted by Your kindness.
Let me live by Your mercies.
Let me be vindicated by God.
Let me be in the presence of those who fear You.
Let my heart be blameless.

💛NUGGET: The “yod” is the small Hebrew letter Jesus referred to as a “jot” in Matthew 5:18: “Till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.”

Vs. 81-88: Kaph כ – Afflicted but Revived by God’s Word
[This seems to be the low point of the psalm. The psalmist is exhausted and weak.]

Vs. 89-96: Lamed ל – Eternity of the Word
The eternal character of God's law is celebrated in this stanza.

Vs. 97-104: Mem מ – Wisdom through the Word

“This is a pure song of praise. It contains no single petition, but is just one glad outpouring of the heart.” (Morgan)

Vs. 105-112: Nun נ – God's Word is a Lamp and a Light

This is the most famous verse of Psalms 119: “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”

Vs. 113-120: Samek ס – The Wicked and the Word
The psalmist looks to God as his shelter and shield in the presence of his enemies.

Vs. 121-128: Ayin ע – Separation and Deliverance through the Word

“The fact that the Bible is not mentioned here, in verse 122, may be an indication of the depth of mental anguish to which the psalmist fell as a result of the oppression he had endured from wicked men. For a moment his eyes seem to be off the Bible and on his fierce oppressors instead.” (Boice)

Vs. 129-136: Pe פ – Joy and Communion through the Word
The psalmist expressed sorrow for those who do not obey God.

Vs. 137-144: Tsadde צ – Everlasting Righteousness of the Word
The psalmist reinforced God's role as Judge.

Vs. 145-152: Qoph ק – Experience through the Word

The psalmist was discouraged by the nearness of his enemies, but put his hope in nearness of God.

Vs. 153-160: Resh ר – Salvation through the Word

In complete dependence, the psalmist prayed that God would give him life as promised through His faithful love (hesed).

Vs. 161-168: Shin ש – Perfect Peace through the Word
The psalmist obeys God in order to enjoy abundant life in Him.

Vs. 169-176: Tau ת – Prayer and Praise through the Word

The psalmist concludes with words of praise to God and prays for God to: “hear me, teach me, help me, save me, seek me.”

💛NUGGET: George Wishart was the Bishop of Edinburgh in the 17^th century. Wishart was condemned to death for his faith. But when he was on the scaffold, he made use of a custom that allowed the condemned person to choose one psalm to be sung, and he chose Psalm 119. Before two-thirds of the psalm had been sung, his pardon arrived and his life was spared.

VIDEO:  Amy Grant:  https://youtu.be/a6LC8cu03Ig

READING FOR TOMORROW:  Chapters 120-125

LINK TO READING PLAN:

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