Psalms in November and December; the way of the righteous and the way of the ungodly.
“For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.”
- Psalm 1:6 (KJV)
“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.”
- Psalm 1 (KJV)
“Blessed is the man.” speaks of the happiness, the blessedness, the contentment in the life of the man or woman who is right or "straight" with God. The righteous man will be a blessed man, a happy man.
"Blessed means supremely happy or fulfilled. In fact, in Hebrew the word is actually a plural, which denotes either a multiplicity or blessings or an intensification of them."
-J. Boice
"It is not 'Blessed is the king, blessed is the scholar, blessed is the rich,' but, 'Blessed is the man.' This blessedness is as attainable by the poor, the forgotten and the obscure, as by those whose names figure in history, and are trumpeted by fame."
-C. S. Spurgeon
“Walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.” The blessed man does not do certain things. There is a way he will not walk, a path he will not stand in, and a seat he will not sit in.
We can say these speak of thinking, behaving, and belonging. The righteous man and the ungodly man are different in how they think, how they behave, and to whom they belong.
Others have also seen in this a progression of sin. "The great lesson to be learned from the whole is, sin is progressive; one evil propensity or act leads to another. He who acts by bad counsel may soon do evil deeds; and he who abandons himself to evil doings may end his life in total apostasy from God."
-A. Clarke
“Walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly.” The ungodly have counsel, and the righteous man will not walk in it. With all the advice that comes to us, from so many different sources, the righteous man knows how to stay away from the “counsel of the ungodly.”
First, it means the righteous man knows how to discern the “counsel of the ungodly.” Many fail at this point. They do not even consider if counsel is godly or ungodly. They hear advice, or theories about their problems, and they find themselves agreeing or disagreeing without considering, "Is this godly or ungodly counsel."
The righteous man is also discerning enough to know the counsel of the ungodly can come from one's own self. Our own conscience, our own mind, our own heart, can give us ungodly counsel.
The righteous man knows where to find completely godly counsel as we see in Psalm 119:
“Thy testimonies also are my delight and my counselors.”
-Psalm 119:24 (KJV)
God's Word is always the best counselor, and godly counselors will always bring the truth of God's Word to help someone who wants counseling.
“Nor standeth in the way of sinners.” Sinners have a path where they stand, and the righteous man knows he does not belong on that path. The righteous man is not traveling in the same direction as sinners.
The righteous man is not afraid to take a less-traveled road, because he knows it leads to blessing, happiness, and eternal life as we see in The Book of Matthew:
“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat.”
-Matthew 7:13 (KJV)
The righteous can also have the confidence we see in Psalm 16:11:
“Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.”
- Psalm 16:11 (KJV)
God has a path, and it is a good road to take.
“Nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.” The scornful love to sit and criticize the people of God and the things of God. The righteous man will not sit in that seat!
When others are putting down Christians, it is easy to sit with them and criticize them. It is easy because there are many things to criticize among Christians. But it is wrong, because we are then sitting “in the seat of the scornful.”
We should be proud to follow Jesus Christ.
"Be out-and-out for him; unfurl your colours, never hide them, but nail them to the mast, and say to all who ridicule the saints, 'If you have any ill words for the followers of Christ, pour them out upon me, but know this, ye shall hear it whether you like it or not, "I love Christ."'"
-C.S. Spurgeon
“But his delight is in the law of the Lord.” Throughout the Psalms, the phrase “law of the Lord” is used to describe God's entire word, not only the "law" portion of the first five books of the Bible. The righteous man is delighted with the word of God!
What makes you happy? What gets you excited? This is a good way to see what is important to you. If personal pleasure is the only thing that makes you happy, then you are a selfish, self-centered person. If being with your family or friends delights you, that can be better, but it still falls short. The righteous man finds “his delight is in the law of the Lord.”
Luther said that he could not live in paradise without the word of God, but he could live well enough in hell with it.
"Man must have some delight, some supreme pleasure. His heart was never meant to be a vacuum. If not filled with the best things, it will be filled with the unworthy and disappointing."
-C.S. Spurgeon
If a person delights in something, you don't have to beg them to do it or to like it. They will do it all by themselves. You can measure your delight for the word of God by how much you hunger for it.
“In his law doth he meditate day and night.” The righteous man ponders the word of God. He does not just hear it and forget it, he thinks about it. Christians should meditate on God's word!
In eastern meditation, the goal is to empty the mind. This is dangerous, because an empty mind may present an open invitation to deception or a demonic spirit. But in Christian meditation, the goal is to fill your mind with the word of God. This can be done by carefully thinking about each word and phrase, and applying it one's self and praying it back to the Lord.
"Meditation chews the cud, and gets the sweetness and nutritive virtue of the Word into the heart and life: this is the way the godly bring forth much fruit."
(Ashwood, cited by Spurgeon)
Many lack because they only read and do not meditate.
"It is not only reading that does us good; but the soul inwardly feeding an it, and digesting it. A preacher once told me that he had read the Bible through twenty times on his knees and had never found the doctrine of election there. Very likely not. It is a most uncomfortable position in which to read. If he had sat in an easy chair he would have been better able to understand it."
-C. S. Spurgeon
The righteous man only has God's word on his mind two times a day: “day and night.” That about covers it all!
“He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water.” A tree by a river has a continual source of water. It will never wither away, because it is always getting what it needs. If we are constantly needy, it may be worth examining if we are “planted by the rivers of water” or not.
This would also be a tree that is strong and stable, sinking down deep roots. The life of the righteous man is marked by strength and stability.
“That bringeth forth his fruit in his season,” as we also see in The Book of Galatians:
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”
- Galatians 5:22-23 (KJV)
The fruit comes naturally from this tree, because it is “planted by the rivers of water.” It is abiding in a life-source, as Jesus spoke of bearing fruit in John 15:5 as we abide in Him. Fruit also has a season. Some get discouraged when they begin to walk as a righteous man, and fruit is not immediately evident. They need to wait until they bring forth fruit in its season.
"There are no barren trees in God's orchard, and yet they may have their fits of barrenness, as an apple tree sometimes hath; but they will reflourish with advantage." -V. Trapp
“His leaf also shall not wither.” Brown, dead, withered leaves are signs of death and dryness. The righteous man does not have these signs of death and dryness; his "leaves" are green and alive.
“And whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.” It isn't that the righteous man has a "Midas Touch," and everything he does makes him rich and comfortable. But in the life of the righteous man, God brings forth something good and wonderful out of everything. Even tough circumstances bring forth something that “shall prosper.”
“The ungodly are not so.” Everything true about the righteous man (stable as a tree, continual life and nourishment, fruitful, alive, and prosperous), is not so regarding the ungodly.
It may often seem like the ungodly have these things, and sometimes it seems they have them more than the righteous. But it is not so! Any of these things are fleeting in the life of the ungodly; it can be said that they don't really have them at all.
“Are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.” Chaff is the light "shell" around a kernel of grain, which must be stripped away before the kernel of grain can be ground into flour. Chaff was light enough that it could be separated from the grain by throwing a scoopful into the wind and letting the wind drive away the chaff. This is how unstable, how lacking in substance, the ungodly are.
“Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment.” Because the ungodly have no "weight," they will be found lacking on the day of judgment. As it was said of King Belshazzar in The Book of Daniel:
“TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting.”
- Daniel 5:27 (KJV)
“Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.” This is true both in the future, because sinners will not share the same glorious future of the righteous. It is also true in the present, because sinners sense they do not belong “in the congregation of the righteous” if they insist on remaining sinners.
“For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous:” The righteous can have peace because a loving God in heaven knows their way, and will protect and preserve them.
"Or, as the Hebrew has it yet more fully, 'The Lord is knowing the way of the righteous.' He is constantly looking on their way, and though it may be often in mist and darkness, yet the Lord knoweth it."
-C.S. Spurgeon
“The way of the ungodly shall perish:” The way of the ungodly leads to destruction. They are on a broad path that may seem comfortable now, and gives them lots of company, but in the end they shall perish.
Christian brothers and sisters, at least four times in the Book of Acts, Christianity is called “the Way.” Certainly, it is the way of the righteous, not the way of the ungodly. Help a lost soul to find the way today!
-God bless!
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The Reign Of The Lord’s Anointed
Like many Psalms, the theme of Psalm 2 is emphasized in the final verse. We can defy God and perish, or surrender to Him and be blessed. The Psalm itself does not identify its author, but we see in The Book of Acts that it is attributed to David.
“Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against His Anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. Then shall He speak unto them in His wrath, and vex them in His sore displeasure. Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. I will declare the decree: the Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. Ask of me, and I shall give Thee the heathen for Thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel. Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.”
- Psalm 2:1-3 (KJV)
“Why do the heathen rage.” The Psalmist seems genuinely mystified. The nations have no reason to rage against God, and they have no benefit in raging against Him. Their opposition against God is nothing but “a vain thing.”
“The rulers take counsel together.” Since the time of Babel, men continue to band themselves together against God. They feel that two or more men united against God have a better chance than one man set against God.
“Against the Lord and against His anointed:” They oppose both the Lord and His anointed. Anointed speaks of the Christ, the Anointed One. Since Jesus is the perfect representation of the Father. If you oppose God the Father, you oppose Jesus. If you oppose Jesus, you oppose God the Father as we see in The Book of John:
“I and my Father are one.”
- John 10:30 (KJV)
“Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father?”
-John 14:9 (KJV)
“Let us break their bands asunder.” Those who oppose the Lord and His Anointed think of God as a bondage-bringer. This attitude is evidence of spiritual insanity because God is a bondage-breaker, not a bondage-bringer.
"To a graceless neck the yoke of Christ is intolerable, but to the saved sinner it is easy and light … We may judge ourselves by this, do we love that yoke, or do we wish to cast it from us?"
-C. S. Spurgeon
“He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh.” God looks at the way man plots against Him and He laughs. God isn't afraid or confused or depressed about the opposition of man. God laughs at it.
God laughs because He “sitteth in the heavens.” He sits as the Great King on a glorious throne. He isn't pacing back and forth in the throne room of heaven, wondering what He should do next. God sits in perfect peace and assurance.
God laughs because He “sitteth in the heavens. “It isn't an earthly throne He occupies; it is the throne of heaven with authority over all creation. What does heaven have to fear from earth?
"God does not tremble. He does not hide behind a vast celestial rampart, counting the enemy and calculating whether or not he has sufficient force to counter this new challenge to his kingdom. He does not even rise from where he is sitting. He simply 'laughs' at these great imbeciles."
-J. C. Boice
"This derisive laughter of God is the comfort of all those who love righteousness. It is the laughter of the might of holiness; it is the laughter of the strength of love. God does not exult over the sufferings of sinning me. He does hold in derision all the proud boastings and violence of such as seek to prevent His accomplishment of His will."
-J.P. Morgan
“The Lord shall have them in derision.” Through the centuries many have opposed God and His Kingdom in Jesus Christ, each one of these opponents shall be frustrated and crushed.
A famous example of an opponent of Christianity was the Roman Emperor Diocletian (245-313 A.D.). He was such a determined enemy of Christians that he persecuted the church mercilessly, and fancied that he had defeated Christianity. He struck a medal with this inscription: "The name of Christianity being extinguished."
Diocletian also set up two monuments on the frontier of his empire with these inscriptions:
Diocletian Jovian Maximian Herculeus Caesares Augusti for having extended the Roman Empire in the east and the west and for having extinguished the name of Christians who brought the Republic to ruin
Diocletian Jovian Maximian Herculeus Caesares Augusti for having everywhere abolished the superstition of Christ for having extended the worship of the gods
Diocletian is dead and gone, a footnote on the pages of history. The fame and glory of Jesus Christ is spread over all the earth. “The Lord shall have them in derision.”
“Then shall He speak unto them in His wrath.” God laughs in heaven, but He doesn't remain inactive. He laughs but He doesn't only laugh. Before He acts against defiant man, He first speaks to them.
This shows the great mercy of God. He has every reason and every right to simply act against defiant man. Love and mercy compel God to speak a word of warning before He acts.
“I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.” God wants defiant man to know that He has established a King. The defiant men closest in view in the Psalm are kings and rulers, and God especially wants them to know there is a King greater than they are. God's King in set and established in Jerusalem (Zion).
“I will declare the decree.” The following passage indicates that this is the Lord's Anointed Himself speaking. He will declare the decree that God the Father spoke to Him.
“Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.” The Lord's Anointed recalls what God the Father spoke to Him, identifying Him as the Son of the Father and emphasizing His standing as begotten of the Father.
“Begotten” is also an important idea, as a contrast to created. Jesus was not created; rather He created everything that was created as we see in The Book of Colossians:
“For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him. And He is before all things, and by Him all things consist.”
- Colossians 1:16-17 (KJV)
“Begotten” describes a relationship between two beings of the same essential nature and being, but we create things of a different essential being and nature than ourselves. A man creates a statue but begets a child.
“I shall give Thee the heathen for Thine inheritance.” The Lord's Anointed holds the nations as His inheritance. He will rule over all nations and all judgment is committed to Him as we see in The Book of John and The Book of Revelations:
“For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son.”
- John 5:22 (KJV)
“And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.”
- Revelation 11:15 (KJV)
“Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron.” The Lord's Anointed has such power over the nations that they are like clay pots that he can shatter with a blow from a rod of iron. This shows why it is so foolish for the nations to defy the LORD and His Anointed. There is no reason and no benefit to their defiant opposition.
“Be wise now therefore, O ye kings.” After the words of warning from the Lord's Anointed, the Psalmist counsels the kings of the earth to give up their foolish defiance of the Lord.
“Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling.” The Psalmist calls the kings of the earth to surrender to God, giving Him proper reverence. In this submitted, surrendered place they can rejoice, yet with appropriate trembling.
“Kiss the Son.” This primarily has in mind the kiss of submission, where a dignitary receives the humble kiss of an inferior. It also hints at the affection God wants in relationship to Him. God wants us to recognize our proper place before Him, but to also rejoice in Him and be affectionate in our relationship.
"Kissing was the token of subjugation and friendship."
-J. C. Clarke
If the kings and judges of the earth are commanded to humble themselves before the LORD's Anointed, recognizing His total superiority, then what of the rest of us? Speaking to the kings and judges therefore includes all of humanity.
“Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.” Those who defy God are broken, but those who depend on Him are blessed.
Christian brothers and sisters, The Psalmist leaves the choice with everyone: Broken or Blessed? Please share how you are blessed with a broken person today!
-God bless!
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Peace In The Midst Of The Storm
This is the first psalm with a title, it is a psalm of David when he fled from Absalom his son. We see King David's trouble and God's help.
“Lord, how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me. Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah. But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head. I cried unto the Lord with my voice, and He heard me out of his holy hill. Selah. I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the Lord sustained me. I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about. Arise, O Lord; save me, O my God: for thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly. Salvation belongeth unto the Lord: Thy blessing is upon Thy people. Selah.”
- Psalm 3 (KJV)
“Lord, how are they increased that trouble me!” At the writing of this Psalm David was in a great deal of trouble. His own son led what seemed to be a successful rebellion against him. Many of his previous friends and associates forsook him and joined the ranks of those who troubled him as we see in The Second Book of Samuel:
“And there came a messenger to David, saying, The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom.”
-2 Samuel 15:13 (KJV)
“There is no help for him in God.” David's situation was so bad that man felt he was beyond God's help. Those who said this probably didn't feel that God was unable to help David; they probably felt that God was unwilling to help him. They looked at David's past sin and figured, "This is all what he deserves from God. There is no help for him in God."
Shimei was an example of someone who said that God was against David and he was just getting what he deserved as we also read in The Second Book of Samuel:
“The Lord hath returned upon thee all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose stead thou hast reigned; and the Lord hath delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom thy son: and, behold, thou art taken in thy mischief, because thou art a bloody man.”
- 2 Samuel 16:8 (KJV)
This thought was most painful of all for David, the thought that God might be against him and that “there is no help for him in God.”
"If all the trials which come from heaven, all the temptations which ascend from hell, and all the crosses which arise from the earth, could be mixed and pressed together, they would not make a trial so terrible as that which is contained in this verse. It is the most bitter of all afflictions to be led to fear that there is no help for us in God."
-C.S. Spurgeon
“But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me.” Though many said there was no help for him in God, David knew that God was his shield. Many others couldn't shake David's confidence in a God of love and help.
Under attack from a cunning and ruthless enemy, David needed a shield. He knew that God was his shield. This wasn't a prayer asking God to fulfill this; this is a strong declaration of fact: “But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me.”
“My glory, and the lifter up of mine head.” God was more than David's protection. He also was the one who put David on higher ground, lifting his head and showing him glory. There was nothing glorious or head-lifting in David's circumstances, but there was in his God.
Men find glory in all sorts of things, fame, power, prestige, or possessions. David found his glory in the Lord. "Oh, my soul, hast thou made God thy glory? Others boast in their wealth, beauty, position, achievements: dost thou find in God what they find in these?"
-J.C. Meyer
‘“I cried unto the Lord with my voice." Surely, silent prayers are heard. Yes, but good men often find that, even in secret, they pray better aloud than they do when they utter no vocal sound."
-C.S. Spurgeon
“He heard me out of his holy hill.” Others said that God wanted nothing to do with David but he could gloriously say, "He heard me." Though Absalom took over Jerusalem and forced David out of the capitol David knew that it wasn't Absalom enthroned on God's holy hill. The Lord Himself still held that ground and would hear and help David from “His holy hill.”
“I laid me down and slept; I awaked.” David used both of these as evidence of God's blessing. Sleep was a blessing, because David was under such intense pressure from the circumstances of Absalom's rebellion that sleep might be impossible, but he slept. Waking was another blessing because many wondered if David would live to see a new day.
God sustains us in our sleep, but we take it for granted. But think of it: you are asleep, unconscious, dead to the world, yet you breathe, your heart pumps, your organs operate. The same God who sustains us in our sleep will sustain us in our difficulties.
“I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people:” With God sustaining him, David could stand against any foe. This further expounds upon this truth in The Book of Romans:
“What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?”
- Romans 8:31 (KJV)
“Arise, O Lord; save me, O my God: for thou hast smitten all mine enemies.” David's mind was both on what he trusted God to do; “save me, O my God,” and on what God had done; “smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly.” Knowing what God had done gives David confidence in what the Lord would do.
“Arise, O Lord:” This recalled the words of The Book of Numbers:
“And it came to pass, when the ark set forward, that Moses said, Rise up, Lord, and let thine enemies be scattered; and let them that hate thee flee before thee.”
- Numbers 10:35 (KJV)
Where Moses used this phrase as the children of Israel broke camp in the wilderness. It was a military phrase, calling on God to go forth to both defend Israel and lead them to victory.
“Broken the teeth of the ungodly.” This vivid metaphor is also used later in The Book of Psalms:
“Break their teeth, O God, in their mouth: break out the great teeth of the young lions, O Lord.”
-Psalm 58:6 (KJV)
It speaks of the total domination and defeat of the enemy. David looked for protection in this Psalm, but more than protection, he looked for victory. It wasn't enough for David to survive the threat to the kingdom. He had to be victorious over the threat, and he would with the blessing of God.
“Salvation belongeth unto the Lord.” David understood that salvation, both in the ultimate and immediate sense, was God's property. It isn't the property of any one nation or sect, but of the Lord God. To be saved, one must deal with the Lord Himself.
“Thy blessing is upon Thy people.” This showed David's heart in a time of personal calamity. He wasn't only concerned for God's hand upon himself, but upon all God's people. He didn't pray for preservation and victory in the trial with Absalom just for his own sake, but because it was best for the nation.
Christian brothers and sisters, when you pray to God for a particular politician or political party, what are you really asking Him to do?
-God bless
Psalm Four
Talking To God And Man
This Psalm is entitled, “To the Chief Musician. With stringed instruments. A Psalm of David.” In it David pours out his complaint against slanderous enemies and finds peace and refuge in God.
“Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer. O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame? how long will ye love vanity, and seek after leasing? Selah. But know that the Lord hath set apart him that is godly for Himself: the Lord will hear when I call unto Him. Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah. Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the Lord. There be many that say, Who will shew us any good? Lord, lift thou up the light of Thy countenance upon us. Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased. I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety.”
- Psalm 4 (KJV)
“Hear me when I call.” There is passion in David's cry. He doesn't want to just cast up words towards heaven. He needs God's attention to his present problem.
Often power in prayer is lacking because there is little passion in prayer. It isn't that we persuade God by emotional displays, but God wants us to care deeply about the things He cares deeply about. The prophet Isaiah spoke with sorrow about the lack of this in Israel:
“And there is none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee: for thou hast hid thy face from us, and hast consumed us, because of our iniquities.”
-Isaiah 64:7 (KJV)
This is a good example of David stirring himself up to take hold of God.
“O God of my righteousness.” David knew that his righteousness came from God, and not from himself. He calls upon the God who makes him righteous.
“Thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me.” In a familiar pattern, David uses past mercy as a ground for future help. "God, I know you haven't blessed me thus far to abandon me, so “have mercy on me."
"This is another instance of David's common habit of pleading past mercies as a ground for present favour."
-C.S. Spurgeon
“How long.” David asks a valid question. Just how long will the ungodly keep to their way? They can't keep to it forever, so they may as well abandon it now and be blessed.
If we find ourselves on a compromising course, it is valid to ask, "How long?” If I extend this course of action out to its logical and inevitable conclusion, where will I be? Knowing this, how long will I play around with this sin?"
“O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame?” Many try to connect Psalm 3 with Psalm 4, thinking that this was also written in connection with Absalom's rebellion. This is probably incorrect because the focus in this psalm isn't David's physical safety or kingdom but his reputation. Wicked men slandered David.
"In this psalm the problem is one of malicious slander and lies. It is the psalmist's reputation rather than his person that is being attacked."
-JC Boice
“Turn my glory into shame.” Jesus experienced what David experienced. Wicked men tried to turn almost every glorious thing in His ministry into shame.
“The Lord hath set apart him that is godly for himself.” David knew that he and other godly people were set apart for God. There are many reasons why we set things apart.
- We set things apart for our own enjoyment
- We set things apart for greater purity
- We set things apart for special service
For all these reasons and more, God sets us apart unto Himself.
“The Lord will hear when I call unto him.” The ungodly have a disaster waiting for them, but the godly have a great reward in the LORD. This is why David knows “the Lord will hear when I call unto him.”
Each Christian should have the same assurance. They should be confident that God will hear their prayers. When prayer seems ineffective it is worth it to take a spiritual inventory to see if there is a reason for unanswered prayer. The Bible tells us there are many reasons why prayer may not be answered.
- Not abiding in Jesus (John 15:7)
- Unbelief (Matthew 17:20-21)
- Failure to Fast (Matthew 17:21)
- A Bad Marriage Relationship (1 Peter 3:7)
- Unconfessed Sin (James 5:16)
- Lying and Deceitfulness (Psalm 17:1)
- Lack of Bible Reading and Bible Teaching (Proverbs 28:9)
- Trusting in the Length or Form of Prayer (Matthew 6:7)
“Stand in awe, and sin not.” With the ungodliness around him, David had reason to be angry but he had no reason to sin. He reminds himself to not sin in his anger, and to find solace in meditation before the Lord.
“Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the Lord.” David knew the value of religious observance; “offer the sacrifices,” yet he also knew that they could not replace “trust in the Lord.” When religious observance is coupled with true trust in God, we draw near to God and experience the benefits of drawing near.
“Who will shew us any good?” The voice of the ungodly cynic echoes in David's ear. After continual disappointment from man, one begins to doubt if God “will shew us any good.”
“Lord, lift thou up the light of Thy countenance upon us.” Despite what the cynics say or think, David trusts that The Lord will show him good as He promised Aaron in His blessing in The Book of Numbers:
“The Lord bless thee, and keep thee: The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.”
- Numbers 6:24-26 (KJV)
“Thou hast put gladness in my heart.” When we know that the face of God shines favorably on us, it puts gladness in the heart. Though David was in distress, vexed by ungodly men all around he could still have gladness in his heart, because the Lord put it there.
“More than in the time that their corn and their wine increased.” The ungodly can be happy when the money is coming in and everything is prosperous. David can be happy even in distressing times because the Lord “put gladness in” his heart.
“I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep.” David can sleep well at night, even in distressing times and surrounded by the ungodly. He sleeps well because his safety is from the Lord, not from circumstances or even feeling.
We can imagine a man lying down to sleep, tormented by all of what his enemies or pretended friends say about him. David could be that man, but he trusts in the Lord. He has a gladness that the world can't take away, even with all their slander and lies.
“For thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety.” The idea here is not that it is the Lord and none other. Instead, the idea is that David finds safety in solitude with God.
"The thought of the word alone is 'in loneliness,' or as Rotherham renders it 'in seclusion'; and the word refers to the one going asleep. This is a glorious conception of sleep. Jehovah gathers the trusting soul into a place of safety by taking it away from all the things which trouble or harass … the tried and tired child of His love is pavilioned in His peace."
-JP. Morgan
Brothers and Sisters, I pray that you find eternal peace in Jesus Christ!
-God bless!
Psalm 5
A Morning Prayer
This Psalm carries the title, “To the Chief Musician. With flutes. A Psalm of David.” It shows David coming to the Lord in the morning and receiving the strength and joy he needs to make it through the day against many adversaries.
“Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my meditation. Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray. My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up. For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee. The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity. Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing: the Lord will abhor the bloody and deceitful man. But as for me, I will come into Thy house in the multitude of Thy mercy: and in Thy fear will I worship toward Thy holy temple. Lead me, O Lord, in Thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make thy way straight before my face. For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is very wickedness; their throat is an open sepulchre; they flatter with their tongue. Destroy thou them, O God; let them fall by their own counsels; cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions; for they have rebelled against thee. But let all those that put their trust in Thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because Thou defendest them: let them also that love Thy name be joyful in thee. For Thou, Lord, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt Thou compass him as with a shield.”
- Psalm 5 (KJV)
“Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my meditation. Hearken unto the voice of my cry.” David longs for an audience with God. Using the Hebrew method of parallelism he repeats the same idea three times: "Lord, please listen to me."
“For unto thee will I pray.” David prayed to God. This may sound elementary, but it is an essential aspect of prayer. Often we come to prayer so full of our request or our feelings that we never consciously focus on God and sense His presence. David was a great man of prayer because His prayer time was focused on God.
"Very much of so-called prayer, both public and private, is not unto God. In order that a prayer should be really unto God, there must be a definite and conscious approach to God when we pray; we must have a definite and vivid realization that God is bending over us and listening as we pray."
-V. Torrey
“My voice shalt thou hear in the morning.” David made it a point to pray in the morning. He did this because he wanted to honor God at the beginning of his day, and set the tone for an entire day dedicated unto God.
Hudson Taylor, the famous missionary to China, had trouble finding time alone with God. He began to wake himself up at 2:00 in the morning and using those quiet hours when everyone else slept to commune with God.
What is a slothful sinner to think of himself, when he reads, concerning the holy name of Jesus, these words in The Book of Mark:
“And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.”
- Mark 1:35 (KJV)
"This is the fittest time for intercourse with God. An hour in the morning is worth two in the evening. While the dew is on the grass, let grace drop upon the soul."
-C.S. Spurgeon
“In the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.” David gives us what to do before and after prayer. Before we pray, we should direct our prayer. After we pray, we look up with expectancy to heaven, really believing that God will answer.
The idea behind direct is not "to aim" but "to order, to arrange."
"It is the word that is used for the laying in order of the wood and pieces of the victim upon the altar, and it is used also for the putting of the shewbread upon the table. It means just this: 'I will arrange my prayer before thee;' I will lay it out upon the altar in the morning, just as the priest lays out the morning sacrifice."
-C.S. Spurgeon
"It is manifestly a mistake to pray at haphazard. There is too much random praying with us all. We do not return again and again to the same petition, pressing it home with all humility and reverence, and arguing the case, as Abraham did his for the cities of the plain."
-J. Meyer
"Do we not miss very much of the sweetness and efficacy of prayer by a want of careful meditation before it, and of hopeful expectation after it? Let holy preparation link hands with patient expectation, and we shall have far larger answers to our prayers."
-C.S. Spurgeon
“Thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness:” David meditates on the righteous character of God. Our actions matter before a God who hates all workers of iniquity.
As David drew closer to God he became more aware of God's holiness and man's sinfulness.
"This is a good way to measure how well you are praying and whether, as you pray, you are drawing close to God or are merely mouthing words. If you are drawing close to God, you will become increasingly sensitive to sin, which is inevitable since the God you are approaching is a holy God."
-JC. Boice
“I will come into Thy house in the multitude of Thy mercy.” This is David's confidence. It isn't that he is righteous and all others are sinners; his ground of confidence is the mercy of God.
“In Thy fear will I worship.” David's worship isn't based on his feelings, but on his reverence for a righteous, merciful God.
“Make thy way straight before my face.” This reflects David's constant reliance on God. He needs God to lead him and to make the way straight. David's contrast between the wicked and the godly is humble, and he knows it is only God's power and work in him that can keep him from the way of the wicked.
“There is no faithfulness in their mouth.” David focuses on what the wicked say as evidence of their wickedness. David knew what Jesus said later in The Book of Matthew:
“O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.”
David felt the sting of wicked words and lies against him. Yet this prayer shows something good brought out of the attacks from the enemy.
"Thus a man's enemies, while they oblige him to pray more fervently, and to watch more narrowly over his conduct, oftentimes become his best friends."
-A. Horne
“They flatter with their tongue.”
"Always beware of people who flatter you, and especially when they tell you that they do not flatter you, and that they know you cannot endure flattery, for you are then being most fulsomely flattered, so be on your guard against the tongue of the flatterer."
-C.S. Spurgeon
“Let them fall by their own counsels.” David prays that the wicked will come to their deserved end. As rebels against God, they deserve the "guilty" sentence.
“Let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice.” The righteous aren't made righteous by their words. The righteousness are those who trust the Lord and love His name. But their righteousness is evident in their words. They rejoice, they shout for joy, and they are joyful in the Lord.
"A touch of enthusiasm would be the salvation of many a man's religion. Some Christians are good enough people: they are like wax candles, but they are not lighted. Oh, for a touch of flame! Then would they scatter light, and thus become of service to their families. 'Let them shout for joy.' Why not? Let not orderly folks object. One said to me the other day, 'When I hear you preach I feel as if I must have a shout!' My friend, shout if you feel forced to do so. (Here a hearer cried, 'Glory!') Our brother cries, 'Glory!' and I say so too. 'Glory!' The shouting need not always be done in a public service, or it might hinder devout hearing; but there are times and places where a glorious outburst of enthusiastic joy would quicken life in all around. The ungodly are not half so restrained in their blasphemy as we are in our praise."
-C.S. Spurgeon
“But let all those that put their trust in Thee rejoice.” This is a permit, a precept, a prayer, and a promise.
"You have here a ticket to the banquets of joy. You may be as happy as ever you like. You have divine permission to shout for joy."
-C.S. Spurgeon
"Come, ye mournful ones, be glad. Ye discontented grumblers, come out of that dog-hole! Enter the palace of the King! Quit your dunghills; ascend your thrones."
-C.S. Spurgeon
You should pray for joy, both in yourself and others, especially servants of the Lord.
"If you lose your joy in your religion, you will be a poor worker: you cannot bear strong testimony, you cannot bear stern trial, you cannot lead a powerful life. In proportion as you maintain your joy, you will be strong in the Lord, and for the Lord."
-C.S. Spurgeon
"God promises joy and gladness to believers. Light is sown for them: the Lord will turn their night into day."
-C.S. Spurgeon
“For Thou, Lord, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt Thou compass him as with a shield.” This is the greatest blessing of all, the favor of God. Knowing that God looks on us with favor and pleasure is the greatest knowledge in the world. This is our standing in grace.
A shield does not protect any one area of the body. It is large and mobile enough to cover any and every area of the body. It is armor over armor. This is how fully the favor of God, our standing in grace, protects us. The shield adds to our protection as we see in The Book of Ephesians:
“Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.”
-Ephesians 6:16 (KJV)
When Martin Luther was on his way to face a Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church to answer for what they said were his heretical teachings, one of the Cardinal's servants taunted him saying, "Where will you find shelter if your patron, the Elector of Saxony, should desert you?" Luther answered, "Under the shelter of heaven."
“Ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.”
-God bless!
Psalm 6, A Confident Answer To An Agonizing Plea
Psalm 6 is known as the first of seven penitential psalms; songs of confession and humility before God. The title of this Psalm is, To the Chief Musician. With stringed instruments. On an eight-stringed harp. A Psalm of David.
“O Lord, rebuke me not in Thine anger, neither chasten me in Thy hot displeasure. Have mercy upon me, O Lord; for I am weak: O Lord, heal me; for my bones are vexed. My soul is also sore vexed: but Thou, O Lord, how long? Return, O Lord, deliver my soul: oh save me for Thy mercies' sake. For in death there is no remembrance of Thee: in the grave who shall give Thee thanks? I am weary with my groaning; all the night make I my bed to swim; I water my couch with my tears. Mine eye is consumed because of grief; it waxeth old because of all mine enemies. Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity; for the Lord hath heard the voice of my weeping. The Lord hath heard my supplication; the Lord will receive my prayer. Let all mine enemies be ashamed and sore vexed: let them return and be ashamed suddenly.”
- Psalm 6 (KJV)
“Rebuke me in Thine anger.” We don't know what the occasion of sin was, but because of his sin David sensed he was under the rebuke of God. Therefore he called out to God to lighten the chastisement.
There may be times when we believe we are chastened by God's hand when really we suffer trouble brought upon ourselves. Nevertheless, there are certainly times when the Lord does chasten His children.
“Neither chasten me in Thy hot displeasure.” We know that God's chastening hand is not primarily a mark of His displeasure, but it is a mark of adoption, as we see in The Book of Hebrews:
“If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?”
-Hebrews 12:7 (KJV)
When God corrects us it doesn't feel pleasant, but it is good and for our good.
“Rebuke me not in Thine anger, neither chasten me in Thy hot displeasure.” Living before the finished work of Jesus, David had less certainty about his standing with God. On this side of the cross we know that all the anger God has towards us was poured out on Jesus at the cross. God chastens the believer out of correcting love and not out of anger.
“I am weak: O Lord, heal me; for my bones are vexed.” David knew the trial of physical weakness and pain. In the midst of this kind of chastisement, he cries out to God for mercy.
"So we may pray that the chastisements of our gracious God, if they may not be entirely removed, may at least be sweetened by the consciousness that they are 'not in anger, but in his dear covenant love.' "
-C.S. Spurgeon
“My soul is also sore vexed.” David knew the trial of spiritual weakness and pain. The difficulty of these trials drove David to seek mercy from God.
These trials of body and soul were amplified by David's sense of God's anger against him. When we are not confident in God's love and assistance even small trials feel unbearable.
“How long?” David sensed he was under the chastisement of God, but he still knew he should ask God to shorten the trial. There is a place for humble resignation to chastisement, but God wants us to yearn for higher ground and to use that yearning as a motivation to seek Him and get things right with the Lord.
David seems to smart under the result of his sin, more than the sin itself. Ideally we are all terribly grieved by sin itself, but there is something to be said for confession and humility for the sake of the result of our sins.
“Return, O Lord, deliver my soul.” In his agony David pleads for deliverance, but on the ground of God's mercy, not his own righteousness. David knew that the Lord's chastisement was righteous, but he also knew that God is rich in mercy.
The plea, "return" also shows that David felt distant from God. This was part of the agony of the trial. When we sense God is near us we feel that we can face anything, but when we sense Him distant from us we are weak before the smallest trial.
“Save me for Thy mercies' sake.” The note of confession of sin is not strong in this Psalm of Penitence, but it is not absent. The fact that David appeals to the mercy of God for deliverance is evidence that he is aware that he doesn't deserve it.
"David's conscience is uneasy, and he must appeal to grace to temper the discipline he deserves."
-J. Kidner
“In death there is no remembrance of Thee.” It would be wrong to take these agonized words of David as evidence that there is no life beyond this life. The Old Testament has a shadowy understanding of the world beyond. Sometimes it shows the uncertainty David shows here, and sometimes it displays a clear confidence, as we read in The Book of Job:
“For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth.”
- Job 19:25 (KJV)
"Churchyards are silent places; the vaults of the sepulcher echo not with songs. Damp earth covers dumb mouths."
-C.S. Spurgeon
“Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.”
- 2 Timothy 2:10 (KJV)
The understanding of the after-life was murky at best in the Old Testament; but Jesus let us know more about heaven and hell than anyone else could. Jesus could do this because He had first-hand knowledge of the world beyond.
David's point isn't to present a comprehensive theology of the world beyond. He is in agony, fearing for his life, and he knows he can remember God and give Him thanks now. He doesn't have the same certainty about the world beyond, so he asks God to act according to his certainty.
“I am weary with my groaning.” God's chastising hand was heavy upon David. His life seemed to be nothing but tears and misery. David's trial has at least three components: He felt God was angry with him, he lacked a sense of God's presence, and he couldn't sleep.
“All night make I my bed swim,” This is a good example of poetic exaggeration. David didn't want us to believe that his bed actually floated on a pool of tears in his room. Because this is poetic literature we understand it according to its literary context. This understands the Bible literally, according to its literary context.
“Mine eye is consumed because of grief; it waxeth old.” David's eyes were red and sore from all the tears and lack of sleep.
"As an old man's eye grows dim with years, so says David, my eye is grown red and feeble through weeping."
-C.S. Spurgeon
“Because of all mine enemies.” David is brought so low that his enemies no longer spur him to seize victory. He seems depressed and discouraged.
“Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.” It may be that the sin that led David into this chastisement was association with the ungodly. Here we see David acting consistently with his change of heart, and telling all ungodly associates to depart.
It is important to separate from ungodly associations. J. Edwin Orr describes some of the work among new converts in Halifax during the Second Great Awakening in Britain: "Among them was a boxer who had just won a money-prize and a belt. A crowd of his erstwhile companions stood outside the hall in order to ridicule him, and they hailed the converted boxer with a shout: 'He's getting' converted! What about that belt? Tha'lt either have to fight for it or give it up!' The boxer retorted: 'I'll both give it up and you up! If you won't go with me to heaven, I won't go with you to hell!' He gave them the belt, but persuaded some of them to accompany him to the services, where another was converted and set busily working."
“The Lord hath heard the voice of my weeping.” David ends the Psalm on a note of confidence. He made his agonized cry to God, and God heard him.
Weeping has a voice before God. It isn't that God is impressed by emotional displays, but a passionate heart impresses Him. David wasn't afraid to cry before the Lord, and God honored the voice of his weeping.
"Is it not sweet to believe that our tears are understood even when words fail! Let us learn to think of tears as liquid prayers."
-C.S. Spurgeon
Once Martin Luther wrestled hard with God in prayer and came jumping out of his prayer closet crying out, "Vicimus, vicimus,” that is, "Victory, victory!" David has the same sense of prevailing with God at the end of this prayer.
“Let all mine enemies be ashamed and sore vexed.” David knows that when God receives his prayer, it will be trouble for his enemy. David now sees that his temporary agony and trouble gives way to a permanent agony and trouble for his enemies.
Christian brothers and sisters. I find it hard to pray for my enemies, but I find the fear of being chastised for judging others far greater!
- God bless!
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Psalm 7, Confidence In God’s Deliverance
This Psalm contains both David's cry of anguish and his confidence in God's deliverance.
“O Lord my God, in Thee do I put my trust: save me from all them that persecute me, and deliver me: Lest he tear my soul like a lion, rending it in pieces, while there is none to deliver. O Lord my God, if I have done this; if there be iniquity in my hands; If I have rewarded evil unto him that was at peace with me; (yea, I have delivered him that without cause is mine enemy:) Let the enemy persecute my soul, and take it; yea, let him tread down my life upon the earth, and lay mine honour in the dust. Selah. Arise, O Lord, in thine anger, lift up thyself because of the rage of mine enemies: and awake for me to the judgment that thou hast commanded. So shall the congregation of the people compass thee about: for their sakes therefore return Thou on high. The Lord shall judge the people: judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness, and according to mine integrity that is in me. Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end; but establish the just: for the righteous God trieth the hearts and reins. My defence is of God, which saveth the upright in heart. God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day. If he turn not, He will whet His sword; He hath bent His bow, and made it ready. He hath also prepared for Him the instruments of death; He ordaineth His arrows against the persecutors. Behold, He travaileth with iniquity, and hath conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood. He made a pit, and digged it, and is fallen into the ditch which he made. His mischief shall return upon his own head, and his violent dealing shall come down upon his own pate. I will praise the Lord according to his righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the Lord most high.
-Psalm 7 (KJV)
“In Thee do I put my trust:” When David was under attack from Cush the Benjamite, all he could trust was God. Every other support was gone, but he needed no other support.
"It is easy to understand how the slander described in the psalm could have emerged from the smoldering hostility of this tribe."
-A. Boice
Some believe that this Cush was really Saul or Shimei.
"Cush has been supposed to be Shimei or Saul himself, and to have been so called because of his swarthy complexion (Cush meaning African) or as a jest, because of his personal beauty."
-J. Maclaren
“And deliver me.” Sometimes God's strength is evident in helping through a trial. Other times it is evident in delivering us from trials. David was persuaded that God wanted to deliver him from this trial.
To be slandered is a severe trial.
"It appears probable that Cush the Benjaminite had accused David to Saul of treasonable conspiracy against his royal authority. This the king would be ready enough to credit, both from his jealousy of David, and from the relation which most probably existed between himself, the son of Kish, and this Cush, or Kish, the Benjaminite. . . . This may be called the SONG OF THE SLANDERED SAINT."
-C.S. Spurgeon
“Lest he tear my soul like a lion.” David believed there would be grave consequences if he were not delivered from these lion-like enemies.
This understanding gave David urgency in prayer. God sometimes allows difficult circumstances so they will awaken this urgency in us.
"It will be well for us here to remember that this is a description of the danger to which the Psalmist was exposed from slanderous tongues. Verily this is not an overdrawn picture, for the wounds of a sword will heal, but the wounds of the tongue cut deeper than the flesh, and are not soon cured."
-C.S. Spurgeon
David also knew what it was like to overcome a lion.
"The metaphor of the lion is common in the psalms attributed to David, and is, at all events, natural in the mouth of a shepherd king, who had taken a lion by the beard."
-E. Maclaren
“If there be iniquity in my hands:” With these words, David did not claim sinless perfection. Instead, he simply rejected the idea of moral equivalence between himself and his enemies.
"Although David expressing himself as perhaps we would not, his words do not mean that he is perfect, only that he is innocent of the crime of which he was charged… The question is not whether David was morally perfect but whether he was innocent of this particular slander."
-IT. Boice
"From the Psalm we learn the nature of the charges, which he made against David. They were: that he had appropriated spoils which rightly belonged to the king; that he had returned evil for good; and that he had taken toll for some generosity."
-J.P. Morgan
“Let the enemy persecute my soul, and take it.” David knew that his enemies were thirsty for his defeat. He was so confident in his righteousness in comparison to his enemies that he was willing to be given over to their desire if they were in the right.
“Arise, O Lord, in thine anger.” David believed that God was a being of human-like passions such as anger. David also believed that the passions of God were on his behalf; he believed God was or would be angry for him instead of against him.
It is a mistake to believe that God is without passions. Because He is God we can say that these passions are not exactly like their human counterparts; yet they are certainly somewhat like them. God is not cold, distant, and dispassionate.
Yet it is also a mistake to assume that the passions of God are always with us or support our opinion. Many dangerous fanatics have been wrongly inspired by the mistaken assurance that God was for them when He was not.
“Lift up thyself because of the rage of mine enemies: and awake for me.” David believed that God was for him and his cause; yet he did not hold this belief passively. He actively prayed for the accomplishing of what he believed God's will to be.
“For their sakes therefore return Thou on high.” David's prayer for protection and vindication was not fundamentally selfish. He knew that his fate was vitally connected to the welfare of God's people. It was in large measure for their sakes, the sake of the congregation.
“The Lord shall judge the people: judge me, O Lord.” This was the attitude that protected David from presumption. He honestly invited God's judgement and correction.
Therefore, David asked for God's blessing according to my righteousness, and according to my integrity within me. In effect he prayed, "Lord, to the extent that I am righteous before You, then bless me and protect me from my enemies."
When David longed for justice, it isn't that He wanted ultimate and perfect judgment before God; he looks for justice on the earthly level, justice between him and his false accuser.
“Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end; but establish the just:” This reveals more of the heart of David's prayer. More than anything he prayed for God to be just. In this sense David did not pray for special favoritism with God; he prayed for God to be just and he searched his own heart to help put him in the right before God.
David seemed to pray here beyond his own personal needs. "There is a great breadth of vision here, revealing a concern for universal justice which was always the motive behind David's personal appeals for vindication."
-I.M. Kidner
“My defense is of God.” David knew he was at a significant disadvantage before his enemies and had to rely on the defense that is of God.
With his trust in God, David did "Throw off slanders, as Paul did the viper; yea, in a holy scorning, it laughs at them."
-V. Trapp
“God judgeth the righteous.” David's prior appeal to God's testing of man, earlier in this Psalm, made him think of the justice of God. He declared this fundamental principle: God is a just judge.
This is a commonly and dangerously rejected truth about God. Many anticipate that they will one day stand before a God of great love, great mercy, great warmth, and great generosity. The never imagine they will stand before a God who is perfectly just and who cannot ignore the crime of sin.
We can say that sin is a crime; that it breaks the good and holy law of God. And while all sins are not equally sinful, there are no small sins against a great God. Some sins though, are worse than others and will receive a greater condemnation, as we read in The Book of Matthew:
“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.”
-Matthew 23:14 (KJV)
The justice of God is easy to understand if we simply compare to what we expect from an earthly judge. We don't think it is right or good if a human judge excuses crime in the name of compassion; we expect judges to be just. Yet many are absolutely confident that God will be an unjust judge on the Day of Judgment. They are so confident of it that they mistakenly rely on this idea for their salvation. David knew the truth: God is a just judge.
“He will whet His sword; He hath bent His bow, and made it ready. David here considered the readiness of God to judge the sinner. David saw the sword sharpened and the bow bent. With God so ready to judge, the sinner should never presume that God will delay His judgment.
This is another fatal error made by many who see God delaying deserved judgment out of mercy and mistake it for the idea that God is not concerned with justice.
Instead, one should ask: Why does God hold back the immediate application of justice? Is it because:
- The sinner is not really guilty?
- The Law is not really clear?
- Mankind in fact deserves such mercy?
- God is not really powerful enough to bring justice?
- God is not really just?
None of these are true. Instead, the sword is sharpened and the bow is bent. The only thing that holds back the immediate judgment of God against the sinner is the undeserved mercy of God, giving the sinner an unknown period of time to repent. Such mercy should never be presumed upon.
"Did I say, he will do it? Nay, he hath already done it; his sword is drawn, his bow is bent, and the arrows are prepared and ready to be shot."
-D Poole
"The wrath of God may be slow, but it is always sure. In thoughtless security man wantons and whiles away the precious hours; he knows not that every transgression sets a fresh edge on the sword, which is thus continually whetting for his destruction."
-J. Horne
“Behold, He travaileth with iniquity.” This seemingly obvious statement is important. It shows that a wicked heart will show itself in wicked deeds. Those wicked deeds may have the cover of respectability but will nonetheless be filled with iniquity (as was the case with the Pharisees of Jesus' day).
“He travaileth with iniquity, and hath conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood.” This shows the source of sin - from within the sinner. The sinner gives birth to sin as a mother gives birth to children - from within.
“Fallen into the ditch which he made.” This shows a common method of God's distribution of justice. He often brings the same calamity on the wicked that they had planned for the righteous.
"God is righteous. The way of the wickedness cannot prosper. It creates its own destruction. The pit digged is the grave of the man who digs it."
-JP Morgan
"This is but the highly metaphorical way of saying that a sinner never does what he means to do, but that at the end of all his plans is disappointment."
-R. Maclaren
“His violent dealing shall come down upon his own pate.” Two examples among many in the Bible are the fate of Haman the enemy of Mordecai and the Jews, and the enemies of Daniel in the lion's den.
"Dives, that wasted so many tuns of wine, cannot now procure water, not a pot of water, not a handful of water, not a drop of water, to cool his tongue… A just recompense! He would not give a crumb; he shall not have a drop."
-CS. Spurgeon
“I will praise the Lord according to His righteousness.” David was wise enough to praise God according to His righteousness and not his own.
Though David appealed to God in this Psalm on the basis of his comparative goodness, this was not a self-righteous prayer. David knew the difference between his relative righteousness and God's praiseworthy perfect righteousness.
“And will sing praise to the name of the Lord most high.” David ended this Psalm, which began in gloom, on a high note of praise. He could praise because he took his cause to God and in faith left it there.
Christan brothers and sisters, we know if we hand our burdens over to The Lord, we can have faith that He will take them away from us!
-God bless!
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Psalm 8, The Glory Of God In Creation
The title of this Psalm reads, “To the Chief Musician. On the instrument of Gath. A Psalm of David.” It indicates the audience of the Psalm, the author of the Psalm, and the sound of the Psalm. In this Psalm David speaks of the glory of God, and how the glory of man and his destiny reflects upon God.
‘O Lord our Lord, how excellent is Thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens. Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger. When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet: All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas. O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!”
- Psalm 8:1 (KJV)
“O Lord, our Lord.” Here David recognized both the covenant name of God (LORD) and the position of Yahweh to His people (Lord). It was a simple, straightforward, and common way of saying that "Our God is our Master."
“How excellent is Thy name in all the earth!” David also recognized that though the LORD was Israel's covenant God, He was also God of more than just Israel. His name is “excellent … in all the earth.”
“Who hast set thy glory above the heavens.” At the same time, the earth was not enough to measure the glory and excellence of God. His glory is “above the heavens.”
“Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength.” In the first verse David considered the greatness of God by His evident power and glory in creation, both across the earth and in the heavens. Now he considers that the power and glory of God can be seen in small children, “babes and sucklings,” as God's strength is evident in them.
David here touched on a familiar theme in the Bible; the idea that God uses otherwise weak things to display His glory and strength as we see in The First Book of Corinthians:
“But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;”
It is hard to think of anything more weak and helpless than a baby; yet the same God who can ordain strength “out of the mouth of babes and sucklings,” can give strength and support to me in the midst of my weakness.
"The Word here rather means a strength, that out of such frail material as children's speech, God builds a tower of strength, which, like some border castle, will bridle and still the restless enemy."
-E. Maclaren
"The praises of the Messiah, celebrated in the church by his children, have in them a strength and power which nothing can withstand; they can abash infidelity, when at its greatest height, and strike hell itself dumb."
-L. Horne
Significantly, Jesus quoted this passage to His indignant accusers in The Book of Matthew:
“And said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?”
-Matthew 21:16 (KJV)
As Jesus did wonderful miracles in the temple area, and as He received the praise of children who cried out :
“And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the son of David; they were sore displeased,”
-Matthew 21:15 (KJV)
“Because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.” The reason why God displays His strength in unlikely vessels is because it works to “still the enemy.” Satan and his fellow adversaries have nothing to say when God works so mightily in an otherwise weak person.
One dramatic example of this is the story of Job. In it, God silenced the accusations of satan against both God and Job, by the way that He sustained Job with His unseen hand in the mist of profound weakness.
In quoting this passage in Matthew 21:15-16, Jesus told His accusers who He was and who they were. Since the “babes and sucklings” praise God in Psalm 8, Jesus identified Himself as God. In this Jesus also identified the indignant scribes and teachers as the “enemy and avenger” described in this Psalm.
"Aha! Aha! O adversary! To be overcome by behemoth or leviathan might make thee angry; but to be smitten out of infants' mouths causes thee to bite the dust in utter dishonor. Thou art sore broken, now that 'out of the mouth of babes and sucklings' thou art put to shame."
-C.S. Spurgeon
“When I consider Thy heavens:” David knew the value of simply considering the glory of God's creation. He knew what it was like to look up into the starry sky and consider what a great God had made this vast, wonderful universe.
With the naked eye, one can see about 5,000 stars. With a four-inch telescope one can see about 2 million stars. With a 200-inch mirror of a great observatory, one can see more than a billion stars. The universe is so big that if one were to travel at the speed of light, it would take 40 billion years. Considering the heavens makes us see the greatness of God.
These great heavenly objects such as “the moon and the stars” are the work of God's fingers.
"Notwithstanding the amazing magnitude of the sun, we have abundant reason to believe that some of the fixed stars are much larger: and yet we are told they are the work of GOD'S FINGERS! What a hand, to move, form, and launch these globes!"
-A.C. Clarke
“What is man, that thou art mindful of him?” Considering the greatness of the heavens also made David consider the relative smallness and insignificance of man. David wondered why just a big, great God would be mindful of such small beings.
"We gave you but a feeble image of our comparative insignificance, when we said that the glories of an extended forest would suffer no more from the fall of a single leaf, than the glories of an extended universe would suffer though the globe we tread upon, and all that it inherits, should dissolve." (Chalmers, cited in Spurgeon)
God is so big that He makes the universe with His fingers; man is so small that he is dwarfed by the universe. Yet David did not doubt that God was mindful of man; he simply said "Thou art mindful of Him" and only wondered why. Before we share David's question, we should first share his assured confidence that God is mindful of us; He thinks of us and considers what we do.
"Sorry, sickly man, a mass of mortalities, a map of miseries, a mixture or compound of dirt and sin … And yet God is mindful of him."
-V. Trapp
“And the son of man, that thou visitest him?” Indeed, using the poetic method of repetition, David repeated the idea in a stronger way. “Son of man” is a title that emphasizes the "humanness" of man, and we might say that “visitest him” is yet stronger than are “mindful of him.”
David was confident that God not only carefully thought about man, but that He had some kind of personal connection and contact with men; “that Thou visit him.” He thinks about us and acts in our life.
"The contrast between the stately splendor of the moon and the stars, and man - Enosh - frail man - and the son of man Ben-Adam - of apparently earthly origin. The contrasts are graphic."
-J.P. Morgan
“For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels.” David saw that God made man “a little lower than the angels,” and this is evident in the way that man is beneath the angels in present glory, power, and nearness to God.
Significantly, David did not say that man was "a little higher than the beasts," though one could say that is true. Theologians since Thomas Aquinas have noted that man is in a middle position between the angels and the animals; lower than the angels yet higher than the animals. Yet David rightly makes up look upward and not downward; though many think of mankind as more animal than angelic, David wrote that “thou hast made him a little lower than the angels.”
"Although made in God's image and ordained to become increasingly like the God to whom they look, men and women have turned their backs on God. And since they will not look upward to God, which is their privilege and duty, they actually look downward to the beasts and so become increasingly like them."
-V. Boice
This very passage is quoted by the author to the Hebrews at Hebrews 2:5-9 to reinforce and build upon this exact point. In it he notes that man's low estate relates only to this world, and not the world to come. More pointedly, the writer to the Hebrews used this passage from Psalm 8 to show that Jesus really did add a genuinely human nature to His divine nature and thus also became “a little lower than the angels.”
“For unto the angels hath He not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak. But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man that thou visitest him? Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; Thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of Thy hands: Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him. But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that He by the grace of God should taste death for every man.”
-Hebrews 2:5-9 (KJV)
You “hast crowned him with glory and honour.” Though for a little while set lower than the angels, man's destiny is one day to be crowned with a “glory and honour” that surpasses even the angels. It is the destiny of redeemed men and women to one day be lifted above the angels as we see in the following scripture:
“Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?”
-1 Corinthians 6:3 (KJV)
“But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.”
-Revelation 20:5 (KJV)
"A little lower in nature, since they are immortal, and but a little, because time is short; and when that is over, saints are no longer lower than the angels."
-C.S. Spurgeon
God's glory is above the heavens; yet He put this same “glory and honour” on man as a crown.
"This is an effective way of identifying man with God and of saying that he has been made in God's image, reflecting God's glory in a way other parts of the creation do not." -J.C. Boice
As the writer to the Hebrews points out, it seems that this divine call and gift given to man of great dominion over the whole earth is tragically unfulfilled; fallen man seems so weak and incapable of dominion over his own thoughts and desires, much less crowned with glory and honor. Look at these words in The Book of Hebrews:
“But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.”
-Hebrews 2:9 (KJV)
"In Him we have had the full revelation of the greatness of man. But we have seen more than that. We have seen Him 'crowned with glory and honour, that by the grace of God He should taste death for every man.' That vision creates our confidence that man will at last realize the Divine purpose."
-J.P. Morgan
"Satan is no doubt filled with scorn of man when he looks at him and measures him with himself. 'Is this the creature that is to be set over all the works of God's hands, made of earth and water, phosphates and metals? I am nobler far than he. Can I not flash like lightning, while he must creep about the world to find himself a grave?'"
-C.S. Spurgeon
“Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands.” David understood the mandate given to Adam and His descendants at creation as we see in the following scripture from The Book of Genesis:
“And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.”
-Genesis 1:26-28 (KJV)
“And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth, and upon every fowl of the air, upon all that moveth upon the earth, and upon all the fishes of the sea; into your hand are they delivered.”
-Genesis 9:2 (KJV)
By both God's decree and through superior ability, man indeed has dominion over the other creatures and resources of the earth.
"In this section of the psalm allusions to the first chapter of Genesis are inescapable, which shows that David was thoroughly acquainted with this book."
-J.C. Boice
Perhaps this knowledge of God's word came from his mother, whom he twice in the Book of Psalms he refers to a maidservant of the Lord:
“O turn unto me, and have mercy upon me; give thy strength unto thy servant, and save the son of thine handmaid.”
-Psalm 86:16 (KJV)
“O Lord, truly I am thy servant; I am thy servant, and the son of thine handmaid: thou hast loosed my bonds.”
-Psalm 116:16 (KJV)
As part of this authority, mankind has the responsibility to wisely manage the creatures and resources of this earth in a way that gives God glory and is good for man. It means that it is wrong to see man as merely part of the ecosystem, thus denying his God ordained dominion. It is also wrong for man to abuse the ecosystem, thus making him a bad manager of that which ultimately belongs to God as we are reminded later in The Book of Psalms:
“The earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.”
- Psalm 24:1 (KJV)
The mandate of dominion asks man to use the creatures and resources of the earth, but to use them wisely and responsibly.
“Thou hast put all things under his feet.” Here David developed the idea introduced in the first line of Psalm 8:6. The dominion of man extends to all things, including “all sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea.”
In light of all this, it is a great tragedy when a man is captured and held in bondage by the things of this world. We were born to have dominion over such material things, instead of being in bondage to them.
“O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!” When David thought about how vast a dominion God had given to man, it made him praise God all over again. That this humble creature, humble in light of the majesty of the universe, humble in light of its present standing under angelic beings, should be given such authority is a demonstration of both the excellence and the goodness of God.
David understood that the position of man in creation says far more about the glory of God than saying anything about the glory of man. Understanding it all should make us praise God, not man.
"For man's dominion over nature, wonderful though it is, takes second place to his calling as servant and worshipper, to whose very children the name of the Lord has been revealed."
-A. Kidner
There are three wonderful and important truths about man found in this Psalm; when these truths are denied or neglected, man never is what God made him to be.
- God made man.
- God made man something glorious.
- God made man for a high and worthy destiny.
All three of these principles are rooted in what God has made man; they do not exist nor are they fulfilled from the plan or work of man. That is why this glorious Psalm about man is even more so a Psalm about God.
"The most striking feature of Psalm 8 … is its description of man and his place in the created order. But the psalm does not begin by talking about man. It begins with a celebration of the surpassing majesty of God."
-J.C. Boice
"He made us to have dominion by the word of creation. He made us kings unto God by his blood. His name shall, therefore, be honoured through all the earth."
-J. Meyer
"Even thou, silly worm, shalt honour him, when it shall appear what God hath done for thee, what lusts he hath mortified, and what graces he hath granted thee."
-C.S. Spurgeon
Christian brothers and sisters, when did you last share with the world what The Lord has done for you?
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
-John 3:16 (KJV)
-God bless!
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Psalm 9, God Remembers Though Man Forgets
The title of this Psalm reads, To the Chief Musician. To the tune of "Death of the Son." A Psalm of David. The title indicates for us that David wrote this Psalm to God Himself. He is generally regarded as the "Chief Musician.” In this Psalm David celebrates the help and goodness of God with a big vision for all nations.
“I will praise thee, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all Thy marvellous works. I will be glad and rejoice in Thee: I will sing praise to Thy name, O thou Most High. When mine enemies are turned back, they shall fall and perish at Thy presence. For Thou hast maintained my right and my cause; Thou satest in the throne judging right. Thou hast rebuked the heathen, Thou hast destroyed the wicked, Thou hast put out their name for ever and ever. O thou enemy, destructions are come to a perpetual end: and thou hast destroyed cities; their memorial is perished with them. But the Lord shall endure for ever: He hath prepared His throne for judgment. And He shall judge the world in righteousness, He shall minister judgment to the people in uprightness. The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. And they that know Thy name will put their trust in Thee: for Thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek thee. Sing praises to the Lord, which dwelleth in Zion: declare among the people His doings. When He maketh inquisition for blood, He remembereth them: He forgetteth not the cry of the humble. Have mercy upon me, O Lord; consider my trouble which I suffer of them that hate me, thou that liftest me up from the gates of death: That I may shew forth all thy praise in the gates of the daughter of Zion: I will rejoice in Thy salvation. The heathen are sunk down in the pit that they made: in the net which they hid is their own foot taken. The Lord is known by the judgment which He executeth: the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. Higgaion. Selah. The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God. For the needy shall not alway be forgotten: the expectation of the poor shall not perish for ever. Arise, O Lord; let not man prevail: let the heathen be judged in Thy sight. Put them in fear, O Lord: that the nations may know themselves to be but men. Selah.”
-Psalm 9 (KJV)
“I will praise thee, O Lord, with my whole heart.” David recognized that God was worthy of praise with the whole heart. His entire being should be directed in affection towards God.
"Half heart is no heart."
-C.S. Spurgeon
"We do not praise God with our lips very much, if at all. And when we do, if we do, we praise him halfheartedly. It is more often true that Christians complain of how God has been treating them, carry on excessively about their personal needs or desires, or gossip."
-J.C. Boice
“I will shew forth all Thy marvellous works.” Here David described an important and often neglected way to praise God, to “shew forth all Thy marvellous works.” Simply remembering and telling the great things God has done is wonderful way to praise Him.
"Christians, so called, when they meet, seldom speak about God! Why is this? Because they have nothing to say."
-A.C. Clarke
David could see that "Today is as full of God to this man as the sacred yesterdays of national history, and his deliverances as wonderful as those of old."
-B.E. Maclaren
“I will be glad and rejoice in Thee.” David here described a second way to praise God, by simply finding and expressing gladness and joy in God. This is a simply choosing to rest in and celebrate the goodness, greatness, and kindness of God.
“I will sing praise to Thy name, O Thou Most High:” Here David listed a third way to praise God with the whole heart; by singing praise to the name of God. The idea is to honor and celebrate the character and nature of God, recognizing Him as the ‘Most High.’
“O Thou Most High.” God was so first called by Melchizedek, upon a like occasion as here by David, as we see in The Book of Genesis:
“ And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.”
- Genesis 14:19-20 (KJV)
“When mine enemies are turned back, they shall fall and perish at Thy presence.” In the first two verses of this Psalm David described general reasons for praising God, reasons that are always valid. Now he recounted a reason more specific to his present circumstances; he praised God for the way that the Most High defeated his enemies.
“Thou hast maintained my right and my cause.” David saw God move against his enemies by defending him on the principle of right and wrong in his conflict.
This shows us that the God of David, that is, the God of the Bible, is not dispassionate regarding right and wrong among men; that He is not always neutral in human conflict. It is entirely true that men may think God is on their side when He is not, and that it may be that God is against both parties in a dispute. Nevertheless, under inspiration of the Holy Spirit, David could say "Thou hast maintained my right and my cause."
Understanding this should not make us automatically claim that God is on our side in our battles or disputes; it should rather make us endeavor to be on God's side, by rigorously conforming ourselves to His word.
“Thou satest in the throne judging right. Thou hast rebuked the heathen, Thou hast destroyed the wicked, Thou hast put out their name for ever and ever.” David saw God in action among the nations, and righteously judging the wicked.
By implication, we see that David also justified and defended the righteous, that is, himself in the present situation.
“O thou enemy, destructions are come to a perpetual end.” Here David shifted his focus from speaking directly to the Lord to now addressing the enemies whom the Lord had defeated. David assured them that their evil work of destruction would end in futility.
"The metaphor of a judgment-seat is exchanged for a triumphant description of the destructions fallen on the land of the enemy, in all which God alone is recognised as the actor."
-E. Maclaren
“But the Lord shall endure for ever:” We might have expected David to set himself in contrast to the wicked; yet he was wise and humble enough to know that God would judge the wicked more for being His own enemies instead of David's.
“He shall minister judgment to the people in uprightness.” David looked forward to the eventual and ultimate rule of God over all nations. This would be the perfect expression of God's righteous judgment.
"The psalm is a great pattern of praise on a far too much neglected level in our day. We praise God much for His mercy. That is right, but it is a good thing to recognize His righteous rule, and to praise Him for that."
-J.P. Morgan
One thousand years after David's time, the Apostle Paul quoted this line on Mars Hill in The Book of Acts:
“Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.”
- Acts 17:31 (KJV)
“The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed.” Here David was grateful that God did more than judge the wicked; He also was a refuge and support for those oppressed by the wicked.
“They that know Thy name will put their trust in Thee.” David understood that the help of God wasn't given just because God favored some and opposed others. It was because His people have relationship with Him, “know Thy name,” they have faith in Him, “put their trust in Thee,” and they seek Him “that seek Thee.”
It is a serious trial to the child of God to feel forsaken by God. There are particular times when we are likely to feel that the Lord has forsaken us.
- When we have sinned
- When we face great trouble
- When we have some great job to do
- When we feel our prayers are unanswered
Yet we can find refuge in seeking God, in knowing His name.
"To 'know Thy name' is here equivalent to learning God's character as made known by His acts."
-E. Maclaren
"We never trust a man till we know him, and bad men are better known than trusted. Not so the Lord, for where his name is poured out as an ointment, there the virgins love him, fear him, rejoice in him, repose upon him."
-V. Trapp
"Men complain of their little faith: the remedy is in their own hands; let them set themselves to know God. But for all this, you must make time. You cannot know a friend from hurried interviews, much less God. So you must steep yourself in deep, long thoughts of his nearness and his love."
-J. Meyer
“Sing praises to the Lord.” David exhorted others to do what he had already done in this Psalm, to praise the Lord, and to “declare among the people His doings.”
"Singing and preaching, as means of glorifying God, are here joined together, and it is remarkable that, connected with all revivals of gospel ministry, there has been a sudden outburst of the spirit of song. Luther's Psalms and Hymns were in all men's mouths, and in the modern revival under Wesley and Whitfield, the strains of Charles Wesley, Cennick, Berridge, Toplady, Hart, Newton, and many others, were the outgrowth of restored piety."
-C.S. Spurgeon
David here communicated something known among those who praise God. When they praise God, it is natural for them to draw others into similar praise.
“When He maketh inquisition for blood, He remembereth them: He forgetteth not the cry of the humble.” David called others to praise God for the same reasons David had praised Him earlier; notably, because God is a partisan on behalf of the oppressed and the humble. God even “maketh inquisition for blood.”
God has promised to avenge blood and remember the murdered.
"The designation of God as 'making inquisition for blood' thinks of Him as the Avenger. To seek here means to demand back. To demand compensation or satisfaction, and this finally comes to mean to avenge or punish."
-E. Maclaren
Consider the following scriptural references to blood:
“So ye shall not pollute the land wherein ye are: for blood it defileth the land: and the land cannot be cleansed of the blood that is shed therein, but by the blood of him that shed it. Defile not therefore the land which ye shall inhabit, wherein I dwell: for I the Lord dwell among the children of Israel.”
- Numbers 35:33-34 (KJV)
“And He said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground.”
-Genesis 4:10 (KJV)
“Surely I have seen yesterday the blood of Naboth, and the blood of his sons, saith the Lord; and I will requite thee in this plat, saith the Lord. Now therefore take and cast him into the plat of ground, according to the word of the Lord.”
It reminds us that God will remember and avenge the blood of His persecuted people.
"O persecutors, there is a time a-coming, when God will make a strict enquiry after the blood of Hooper, Bradford, Latimer, Taylor, Ridley, etc. There is a time a-coming, wherein God will enquire who silenced and suspended such-and-such ministers, and who stopped the mouths of such-and-such, and who imprisoned, confined, and banished such-and-such, who were once burning and shining lights, and who were willing to spend and be spent that sinners might be saved, and that Christ might be glorified." -C.S. Spurgeon
“Have mercy upon me, O Lord.” David had just considered that God remembered the cry of the humble. Now David wanted God to remember him in his season of trouble. “Consider my trouble which I suffer of them that hate me.”
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