Psalm 86 - Protection From Enemies

Begin today by praying and asking God to teach you how to seek his heart in the most trying of times.  Repeat Psalm 84:11 several times until you can say it from memory.

David, the second king of Israel, is credited with writing the majority of the Psalms.  We can see from the title that this is one of his.  His claim, in verse 1, to be poor and needy, would lead us to believe that this Psalm was written before he was king.  It was during this time that David wrote many of the Psalms attributed to him.  These Psalms often have the request ‘deliver me from my enemies’ as their theme.  Why is this such a recurring theme for David?

Because of King Saul’s (first king of Israel) disobedience to the Lord, God decided to make a change in the family line of the monarchy (I Samuel 15).  He wanted a king who would seek after His own heart and so He had David anointed as next in line to the throne.  God knew David had that kind of a heart.  The Bible tells us that shortly afterwards, King Saul was afflicted by a troubling spirit from the Lord.  David, being a talented musician in his youth, was brought to the palace to play for the king to soothe him and bring relief whenever the evil spirit came upon him (I Samuel 16:14-23).  But David’s popularity in the palace grew, as did his fame from slaying Goliath and from other triumphs in battles (I Samuel 18:5-29) and with time, Saul’s jealousy of David became worse and worse.  Learning that Saul wanted to kill him, David fled the palace and spent years in hiding from Saul and his troops until Saul’s death.  These are the experiences you see reflected in David’s Psalms.

Think about a younger David, before he was king, sitting in a cave hiding from Saul’s troops, as you read verses 1-7.  God has already had him anointed to be the next king of Israel.  How real do you think that feels to him at this point in time?  Yet, we can feel in these verses, as he sings his prayer to God, that he trusts God and His promises.  What can we surmise about David’s faith from this prayer during these bleak times?  How does your faith hold out during the low times in your life?  Ask God to show you how to have your heart linked with His even during your lowest points as you go through this life.

Let’s look closely at verse 8 for a moment.  We know that Israel had a problem with idol worship but that did not seem to be an issue for David.  What statement do you think he is making in this verse?  Now combine this verse with verses 9 and 10.  Here is what I believe to be the point.  Israel has their own God.  No other nation has begun worshipping their God but they have begun worshipping all the gods of the other nations.  This is in spite of the fact that Israel’s God has done great deeds for them (or miracles) while the gods of the other nations have not done great deeds.  Yet someday, all the nations of the world will worship the God of Israel.  There is no other God besides the God of Israel.  Because these are such recurring themes throughout the Bible (Deuteronomy 6:4, Isaiah 45:23, Mark 12:29, I Corinthians 8:4, Philippians 2:9-11, Revelation 15:3-4), Biblical unity is established and the Divine inspiration for this Psalm can be strongly felt.

Verses 11 and 12 show David’s desire for God to receive honor and glory.  Is that the desire of your prayers?  Verses 13 through 16 again address the pending problem of his enemies which stays close on David’s mind throughout his prayer as well as God’s forgiveness.  Finally, David concludes, in verse 17, with an appeal for his enemies to be exposed to God’s goodness and to be changed by it.  We should always desire that our enemies be brought to salvation.  Is that your desire for your enemies?

Responding to God:  Is there an enemy in your life from whom you constantly seek the Lord’s protection?  Do you seek unity with God’s heart even when times have hit rock bottom?  Ask God to help you seek His will for you in those difficult times and to help your enemies see God through you as you deal with those times.  Worship God as the one and only true God of this world and pray that your enemies will recognize Him as the same.  Record in your journal areas that God has impressed upon you where He wants you to trust Him while you wait for His action.

Further Research:  To learn more about the relationship between King Saul and King David, read I Samuel 15-31.

Psalm 85 - Seeking Revival

Begin today by praying and asking God to teach you how to find revival in your life.  Repeat Psalm 84:11 several times until you can say large portions without looking at it.

Exploring the title of this Psalm reveals similar origins to our previous Psalm.  Notice:

1. “To the Chief Musician” (KJV) and “For the Director of Music” (NIV)
2. “A Psalm for the Sons of Korah” (KJV) and “Of the Sons of Korah.  A Psalm.”  (NIV)

Today’s Psalm is also another written with the Hebrew poetic device of rhyming thoughts.  Watch for these rhyming thoughts as we study Psalm 85.  This Psalm reads very much like a song and, as you read, imagine the Israelites singing it in their worship. 

Start reading with verses 1-3.  The Psalmist, in these verses, is praising God for His forgiveness of their idol worship and the restoration of the land back to His people following having been chastened.  We know that the nation of Israel, throughout the Old Testament, had a problem with idol worship and that having invaders in their land was a recurring punishment from God because of it.  Verse 1 is honoring God for His forgiveness to Israel and for restoring the land back to them as a nation.  Compare the language used in verse 1 with the language used in Ezekiel 39:25, a point later in time where God had sent His people into extended exile to address once and for all their problem with idol worship.  Similar terminology is used in Ezekiel in conjunction with forgiving them and returning their land as is used here in verse 1 which helps us to understand that idol worship is the topic at hand. 

We also can see that idol worship is the topic by looking at verse 3.  The Psalmist is referring back to when Moses asked God to set aside His wrath and not destroy the people of Israel (Exodus 32:1-14) and God relented.  Read that story now.  This incident was definitely about idol worship.  So, you can see, these first verses in the Psalm are singing God’s praise that He would forgive a sin as serious as idol worship.  Take a moment now to praise God for the things He has forgiven in your life.  Do you have much to be thankful for in this area of forgiveness?

Verses 4 and 5 are asking God for His forgiveness and restoration.  Verses 6 and 7 follow with requests for revival.  Do you seek revival in your life?  Are you wanting refreshment in your relationship with the Lord?  This is the recipe right here.  It starts first with confessing our sins to Him and seeking His forgiveness and restoration.  The Bible assures us that God will forgive our sins if we ask (I John 1:9).  We need to put our sins behind us and seek to start fresh in an obedient life.  If we are willing to do that, we can ask God for revival and He will give us a freshness in our relationship and a desire to follow Him that is truly joyful.  Take a moment now to speak with Him about this area of your life.  Is your life centered on Him?  Does spending time with Him and serving Him bring you joy?

Look closely at the promise in verse 8.  To whom does God promise to bring peace?  What are the stipulations?  Verses 9 through 13 bring out the idea that righteousness (acts of obedience) lead to blessings from God.  Have you ever thought about the correlation between God’s blessings upon you and your obedience toward Him? Compare the ideas of this Psalm with Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 6:25-34.  Meditate on this for a few moments and record in your journal what meaning it may have for your own life. 

Responding to God:  Think about where you stand today before a Holy God.  Is yours a life of obedience or is it filled with sin?  Ask God to reveal to you areas of sin that you need to make right and seek His forgiveness.  Ask Him for revival and to assist you in living more obediently in the future.  Praise Him for the sins He has forgiven and the ones He will forgive in the future.

Further Research:  To learn more about Israel’s sin of idol worship, read Judges 2 and I Kings 12:25-33.

Psalm 84 - Desiring His Presence

Begin today by praying and asking God to give you wisdom and understanding as you study and to renew in you a desire to spend time in His presence. 

Exploring the title of this Psalm reveals three different items of interest:

1. It is written “To the Chief Musician” (KJV) and “For the Director of Music” (NIV)
2. “upon Gittith” (KJV) and “According to Gittith” (NIV) – Gittith being probably a musical term referring to a type of instrument
3. “A Psalm for the Sons of Korah” (KJV) and “Of the Sons of Korah.  A Psalm.”  (NIV)

Now we can see that the origins of this Psalm are closely tied with the descendants of Korah.  So who are these people?  Read now the story of Korah and his sin against the God of Israel (Numbers 16:1-40).  As you can see in verse one of Korah’s story, he is a descendant of Kohath, a man’s whose descendants were given special responsibility to care for the holy things of God.  The sons of Korah, in this Psalm, refers to the descendants who became temple musicians in the days of the monarchy under Kings David and Solomon.  Many generations have passed between the days of the Israelites wandering in the wilderness and the Israelite kingdom, but the sons of Korah never forgot about their ancestor’s sin.  This Psalm is about their opposite desire to be worshipping in God’s presence.

Read verses 1-4 of this Psalm noting how the Psalmist is expressing his desire to be in God’s dwelling place, or house.  He even expresses a jealousy, of sorts, for the sparrow who has found a nesting place near the altar.  While we can worship God anywhere, do you ever find that you feel closer to God when you are in His house?  Maybe it is easier to concentrate on Him when you are away from distractions.  Are there other places that make you feel close to the Lord?  How long has it been since you have felt the desire to be somewhere you can better sense His presence?

Verses 5-7 talk about the pilgrimage to get to the place of God’s presence.  There is a reference made to passing through the Valley of Baka.  Since there is no literal place by this name, and the word ‘baka’ can mean ‘weeping’, it is possible this may be a reference to going through a dark period in life where, eventually, seeking God leads to being in His presence.  Do you continue seeking God’s presence when facing dark times in your life?  Verses 8 and 9 are an appeal to God for help in getting there.  Do you pray for God’s help when you cannot feel His presence?

Verse 10 is, to me, the most striking verse in the Psalm… a proclamation, if you will.  Whenever we see the name of Korah mentioned in the Bible, it is associated with wickedness.  But here, in a Psalm associated with his descendants is a proclamation of preferring to be in God’s presence rather than in the presence of the wicked.  These are men who do not want to be known by the sin of their ancestor, but by their desire to be in the presence of a Holy God.  The next verse, verse 11, proceeds to declare why that is.  Meditate on verse 11 for just a moment.

Verse 12 concludes the matter by reminding us again that whoever trusts in God will be blessed.  Have you truly felt God’s blessings in times when you have trusted Him?  Do you feel comforted or satisfied after spending time with Him?  Do you miss His presence when you have neglected seeking Him? 

Write Psalm 84:11 in your journal and commit yourself to God to memorizing it this week.

 

Responding to God:  Consider for a moment how much time you spend in the presence of God.  Pray for a greater desire to spend time in His presence and that you would have a greater thirst for His Word.  Praise Him and thank Him that He wants to spend time with you and ask the Holy Spirit for guidance in finding the right balance in your life.  Record in your journal any things He reveals to you as you spend time in His presence.

 

 

Further Research:  If you want to learn more about the Tabernacle duties of the Kohathites during the time that the Israelites wandered in the wilderness and how they cared for the Holy things of God, read Numbers 4:1-20.

Psalm 83 - Honoring His Name

Write Psalm 78:35 in your journal from memory.  Pray and ask God to help you understand Psalm 83 and its context and to help you make application of this study into your life.

Asaph offers us here another Psalm written with the Hebrew poetic device of rhyming thoughts.  If you remember, this is where a thought or idea is stated and then immediately repeated in different words.  This Psalm is believed, by Bible scholars, to have been written shortly before battle when a descendant of Asaph, Jahaziel, prophesied victory against the Moabites and the Ammonites who attacked Judah during the reign of King Jehoshaphat (II Chronicles 20:1-23).  Read this story now.  The Moabites and the Ammonites are descendants of Abraham’s nephew, Lot, and you will see Moab, Ammon, and the descendants of Lot called out by name in this Psalm as well as this pending attack on the Israelites.

Read the Psalm in its entirety seeking to get a feel for its flow, noticing the rhyming thoughts as you read.  Notice, also, the outline of this Psalm.  It begins, in verse 1, in the same manner as Jehoshaphat’s prayer, with a cry out to God for His intervention.  Verses 2-8 follow with an indictment of God’s enemies and their attacks upon God and His people.  Verses 9-17 present the requested action God is to take against His enemies.  Finally, verse 18 gives God credit for the ultimate ability to accomplish all this.  To me, this is a beautiful outline of how we should make our requests to God.  This is an unselfish approach.  The Psalmist has begun by explaining to God why He should honor this request (His name and honor are being defiled), then the request is made known, and then God is given credit and His name is exalted.  So many Christians today are guilty of approaching prayer in a vending machine fashion.  The requests go in and then there is a waiting period until the favors and gifts pop out.  Think about your approach to prayer.  Is it respectful of who and what God is?  How much of your prayer time is worship and thanksgiving?  How many of your requests are unselfish and seek to honor God’s name?  Take a moment now to make right with God any areas He may bring to mind.

As you read through this Psalm, take a moment to reflect on the Psalmist’s requests of God.  What were some of the judgments he was requesting for God’s enemies?  In verse 9, he calls upon God to do to them what was done to Midian (Judges 7) and what was done to Sisera and Jabin (Judges 4).  Verse 11 mentions Oreb and Zeeb, a rhyming thought referring back to the Midianites in Judges 7 as well as Zebah and Zalmunna, also referring back to the Midianites (Judges 8:1-21).  Notice the harshness of the judgments requested by the Psalmist.  Why do you suppose he requests God move in such extreme and harsh ways?  You will find a hint to this in verses 16 and 18.

Responding to God:  Think about times you have made requests to God.  Have they been selfish requests?  How many requests have you made simply because God’s name would be honored if they were answered?  When you pray for your enemies (and I hope you do pray for your enemies as we are instructed in Matthew 5:44), do you pray for an outcome that will honor God and bring others to know Him or simply for vengeance on those who have wronged you?  Take a moment to speak with God about these issues.  Are you certain that you and God share the same enemies?  Ask Him to show you where His name is being dishonored and for the Holy Spirit to lead you in praying correctly for those issues.  Record in your journal any areas He might reveal to you.

 

 Further Research:  If you would like to learn more about Israel's standing with her enemies today, use he internet or newspapers to research the status of her current diplomatic relationships.  With God's help, find specific ways you can pray for God's chosen nation asking particularly for things which will honor God's name before the world.

Psalm 82 - A Fair and Patient Judge

Repeat Psalm 78:35 three times from memory.  Pray and ask God to open your heart to His Word today as we study and to show you others for whom you may need to pray.

We see from the title that Psalm 82 is another Psalm of Asaph.  This Psalm is an example of another device often seen in Hebrew poetry.  Rather than the rhyming thought, it uses the occasional opposite thought introduced occasionally throughout the text.  See if you can spot the occurrences as we study.

The Psalm boldly declares, from the very first verse, that the leaders of any society are subject to God’s judgment.  Closely examine the first part of this verse and see where it says God presides.  I believe this tells us that God judges the judges.  They are accountable to Him for their decisions.  The fairness of a legal system tells us much about the health of a society.  The second part of verse 1 tells us that God also renders judgment among the ‘gods’.  In this Psalm, ‘gods’ is a reference to the leaders of the time.  We can see that from verse 6 but Jesus also confirms that interpretation when He refers back to verse 6 in John 10:34-36.  So we can take from this Psalm that God is judging the leaders of society for how well they rule and lead and judge.  That is why it is so important to pray for our judges and our other leaders to make good and fair and wise decisions.  Of course, we are instructed to do this in God’s Word (I Timothy 2:2).  Think back and try to remember how long it has been since you have prayed for our country’s leadership.  Take a moment to do so now. 

In verse 2, we see Asaph crying out to God for His seeming inaction when it comes to those for whom Asaph believes punishment is overdue.  How many times has it seemed to us that wickedness has gone unpunished?  Have we become impatient with God’s inaction?  And yet, we know that, while God does punish evil, He is patient and slow to wrath, giving sinners the opportunity first to repent of their evil ways.  Read Jeremiah 18:1-10 and then consider verse 2 of our Psalm in respect to what you have read.  We welcome His patience when we are the ones in the wrong.  How often have you taken the time to pray for those with whom God may still be dealing that they might come to repentance rather than be judged by God?  Having been forgiven rather than judged as a result of God’s patience ourselves, we should be more receptive to others receiving that same consideration from the Father.  Think about a situation in your life now in which you might wonder why God has not acted.  Do you think that His preference may be repentance and that He is allowing opportunity for this to occur?  Pray for His leading in this.  Pray that the Holy Spirit might lead the offenders to repentance.

In verses 3 and 4, Asaph calls upon God to bring His judgments where they are deserved.  In verse 5, he claims the ‘gods’ are not up to par.  Asaph claims they are not smart enough to judge so God must do so.  Verses 6 and 7 explain whom Asaph is referring to as the ‘gods’ and verse 8 once again appeals to God to judge the earth.  Pray and ask God to give you understanding as you reread this Psalm in its entirety for continuity.  The theme presented by the Psalmist appears to be that the leaders and judges of this world are not wise enough to judge fairly so the Psalmist is calling out to God to judge the nations and their leaders.   Have you ever wished that God would just remove all unfairness and struggle from the world?  Wondering why God has not yet judged evil has been a recurring question throughout time and throughout the Bible (Psalm 58).  Think about this for a moment.  Does the fact that it is mentioned so many times in our Bible give you any indication that God is aware we struggle with this issue?
 

Responding to God:  Pray and ask God to show you any sins that you commit which are hurting others and thank Him that He has given you time to repent.  Ask Him for the strength to be sensitive to His leading in this area and to help you not to be overly judgmental of others.  Pray that God will give you wisdom in dealing with others whose wickedness He is still addressing and where He is allowing time for repentance.  Ask God to reveal any times that you may have judged others unfairly and ask Him for wisdom to lead and judge fairly in the future.  Record any insights He has revealed to you during this study today in your journal or any changes He may have made to your way of looking at this issue.

Further Research:  Using a concordance or online Bible, search for other instances where the Bible addresses man’s struggle with this topic.

Psalm 81 - A Call to Worship

Repeat Psalm 78:35 three times from memory.  Pray and ask God for understanding of His Word as we study today and a true spirit of worship according to His Word.

We see from the title that Psalm 81 is another Psalm of Asaph.  It was written for the director of Music and is believed to have been intended for use during the Feast of Tabernacles.  You can see this festival on the calendar today as Sukkot and it is celebrated each year at the final harvest.  It is the most joyful of the feasts celebrating gratitude for their prosperity and abundance.  

This Psalm talks of the exodus of the Israelite people from slavery in Egypt and, as is appropriate for the Feast of Tabernacles.  Verses 1-3 begin with singing for joy before God.  Read those verses now.  As they sing this Psalm at their Feast, they are focusing on God.  What do you focus on at your holiday activities?  Is God in your line of sight or are your eyes on secular things?  Verses 3-4 remind us that trumpets or rams’ horns announced every new moon and festival in Israel.  All of God’s people have been called to celebrate.  Joy is in the air.  Verse 5 reminds us that God made the Feasts of Israel mandatory for His people.  There were certain times that they were to come to worship.

In verses 6-7, Israel is reminded that God delivered them from slavery in Egypt when they cried out to Him.  The reference to answering them out of a thundercloud comes from Exodus 19:14-31:18 where Moses proceeds up the mountain to meet God who descends in a thundercloud to give him the Law and the Ten Commandments.  The reference to being tested at Meribah refers to Numbers 20:2-13 where Moses was instructed to speak to the rock and bring forth water for the nation when they had none.  Read this account now.  The people were being tested by not having water and they failed by fighting amongst themselves rather than trusting God.  Despite this failure, He was still faithful to provide for them.  Has this ever happened in your life?  Ask God now to help you to always trust Him in all circumstances. 

In verses 8-9, we see a warning given of the thing that God will require of His people.  What is it?  Throughout the Old Testament, we know that idol worship has been a problem for God’s people.  Why do you think that is (Numbers 33:52-55, Judges 1:21, 27, 29, 30, 31, 33)?  Think now about times you have been disobedient to God and how that has worked out for you.  Pray and ask God to bring those times to mind when you are tempted again to be disobedient.  Ask Him to reveal any idols (things that have been more important than God) in your life.

In verse 10, we have an open invitation to be filled by God.  How can we open ourselves to be filled by Him?  Pray that God will help you to be open to His filling.  He has so much to offer us (e.g. joy, wisdom, etc.).  Verses 11-12 reveal what happens when we continually disobey God.  He gives us over to our own stubborn hearts and allows us to follow our own devices.  How do you think that affects the free gifts He offers His people?

Verses 13-14 tell us that God’s protection is conditional.  On what does it hinge?  Verse 15 tells us what would happen to God’s enemies and what would be done for God’s people if only God’s people were obedient.  Read these verses now and see what He promises.  Pray that God will help you to always be on this right side spiritually.

Responding to God:  Think about your holiday observances.  Are they full of joy and thanksgiving to the Lord?  Do you focus on His good gifts?  Do you look back on the things He has done for you in your life as the Israelites remembered the Exodus?  Do you try to obey God’s commands continually or do you just expect His good gifts and protection with no obligation on your part?  Pray and ask God to help you be His faithful servant each and every day.  In your journal, list the things with which you would like God to fill you and the sins He has revealed to you which are hampering your spiritual walk.

 

Further Research:  To learn more about the Feast of Tabernacles, read Leviticus 23:33-44 and Numbers 29:12-40.

Psalm 80 - A Cry for Revival

Repeat Psalm 78:35 three times from memory.  Pray and ask God for understanding of His Word as we study today.

We see from the title that Psalm 80 is another Psalm of Asaph.  It was written for the director of Music and was apparently sung to a tune that would have been familiar at the time. 

The first two verses are a request to come and save Israel.  Notice how reverently God is addressed.  He is the Shepherd of Israel who sits enthroned between the cherubim.  Comparing Psalm 99:1 with Revelation 1:17-18, 4:1-8, we see that Jesus is the one who sits on the throne between the cherubim in Heaven.  Micah 5:2-5 (quoted in Matthew 2:5-6 as referring to Jesus) tells us that Jesus is the Shepherd of Israel.  Notice also Matthew 25:32, 26:31 and John 10:11.  It is clear from these verses that this Psalm is prophetic of the Lord Jesus Christ.

It is interesting which tribes of Israel are called out here in these first two verses.  We know that Jacob (a.k.a. Israel) had two wives but he loved Rachel and not Leah.  Genesis 29:31-30:24 tells us of their competition to give sons to Israel.  Of the twelve sons of Israel, only two were born of Rachel: Joseph (Gen 30:22-24) and Benjamin (Gen 35:16-18).  Because Jacob loved Rachel only, he favored his son Joseph, making his brothers jealous.  They sold him as a slave to Egypt and made his father think he was dead.  While in Egypt, Joseph fathered two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim (Gen 41:50-52), whose descendants became known as half-tribes in Israel, replacing the tribe of Joseph.  So, while Joseph himself is mentioned in verse one, the tribe of Benjamin and the half-tribes of Manasseh and Ephraim are listed in verse two.  Think for a moment about this.  What might be the significance of specifying only the tribes which descended from Israel’s favorite wife…the one whom Israel loved? 

In verses 2 and 3, an appeal is made to God for restoration.  The nation has fallen due to God’s wrath and judgment, yet we see in these verses a desire to be right with God once again.  Think about those times in your life when your close relationship with God has been severed by sin.  Did you have a desire to be restored to God?  The Psalmist here is crying out for his nation, Israel, to be restored to God.  We should have this same desire for our nation and this should motivate us to pray on behalf of our country that it might be restored.  Pray now for our country to turn back to God.

In verses 4-6, Asaph speaks of God’s discipline against His people.  What complaints does Asaph list?  Have you ever felt like God is against you?  Do you ever attribute those complaints to discipline that you deserve for your sins or do you blame God?  Verses 7 and 19 reflect a desire to be restored or saved.  Before restoration or salvation can occur in any of our lives, there must be an acknowledgement of sin and true repentance.  Do you think this repentance is occurring here?

Symbolically, verses 8-11 talk about how God took His people out of Egypt and brought them into the Promised Land (from the Jordan River to the Sea).  He helped them to drive out the nations there to claim the land as their own.  What do you think is the significance of the plant representation?  Then, in verses 12-16, Asaph laments how God has allowed their enemies to invade the land and bring God’s people down.  Ask God to show you the gifts in your life that have been spoiled due to your own sins.  Commit to God now to repent of these sins.

Who is the ‘man at your right hand’ spoken of in verse 17?  Hebrews 1:3, Hebrews 10:12?  What do you think God is being asked to do in this verse and in the rhyming thought of the following verse?  Write verse 19 in your journal.

 

Responding to God:  In what areas does your life need to be restored?  Ask God for forgiveness and restoration in these areas and for renewed commitment to putting these sins behind you.  Ask the Holy Spirit to work in your life and lead you in the direction you should go.  Record any commitments you have made to God in your journal.

Further Research:  To learn more about Jacob and his wives, Rachel and Leah, read Genesis 28-30.

Psalm 79 - A Lament for Jerusalem

Repeat Psalm 78:35 three times.  Pray and ask God for understanding of His Word as we study today.

This Psalm is written during a time of great disaster in Jerusalem.  It could have been following the attack by Shishak, King of Egypt that we looked at in Psalm 74 (I Kings 14:25-26) or it could be prophetic looking forward to the destruction of Jerusalem by Babylon.  In this Psalm, Asaph is lamenting the destruction in Jerusalem.  In the first four verses of this Psalm, Asaph describes the extent of the destruction.  We know from Exodus 34:9 that the inheritance spoken of in verse 1 is God’s people Israel.  Compare these first four verses with Jeremiah’s lament over Jerusalem when it fell to the Babylonians in Lamentations 4. 

Notice in verse 5 the cry to God which follows the judgment.  Oftentimes, God allows trouble to come into our lives to cause us to turn back to Him when we have forgotten Him.  It is evident from the first four verses that God has allowed great punishment to come on Israel.  The reference in verse 5 to God’s jealousy tells us that idolatry was involved.  Israel had put their faith in false gods and now, following God’s judgment, they remember the Living God.

In verses 6-7, Asaph asks God to punish the nations that have destroyed Israel, reminding God that they are not His people nor do they worship Him.  Sometimes God uses His enemies to bring judgment on His people.  This is a hard reality to endure.  This is what has happened in Jerusalem and now God is being asked to punish those enemies also for not acknowledging God.

Now that Jerusalem has experienced God’s judgment, we see in verse 8 an admission of sin.  This is the first step in being reconciled with God.  The Bible says that everyone has sin (Romans 3:23) and deserves God’s punishment (Romans 6:23).  Have you ever acknowledged your sin before a Holy God?  An awareness of His true Holiness should bring us an awareness of how unworthy and sinful our lives are.

This acknowledgment of sin, in verse 8, leads to repentance in verse 9.  A request goes up to God for forgiveness.  This request is humbly made in the interest of restoring honor to God’s name (verses 9-11).  Read Psalm 42:3.  Our repentance and restoration is never something we can take credit for ourselves.  Only God is able to forgive and restore.  Read Psalm 15:11.  Take a moment now and ask Him to forgive any known sins in your life and to restore you to a life of obedience.  Verses 10-12 contain another appeal for judgment on the nations which have ravaged Jerusalem and restoration for God’s people.  Compare this appeal to Psalm 94:1-3. 

Notice finally, in the last verse, we see the nation’s return to God.  They have acknowledged their sin.  They have repented of their sin.  And now, we see the restored nation praising God and worshiping Him forever (from generation to generation).  Write Proverbs 15:32 in your journal.  Have you praised God and worshipped Him for the forgiveness He has so graciously given to you?  It is forgiveness which we clearly do not deserve.  Thank Him now.  

 

Responding to God:  Ask God to reveal any idols you may have in your life (things which are more important to you than God).  Acknowledge this as sin to God and ask His forgiveness.  Pray that your restoration and forgiveness will bring honor to His Holy name.  Thank Him for His grace. If you have never truly repented of your sins and asked Jesus to be Lord of your life, do so now.  Without this new birth experience, you cannot see the Kingdom of God (John 3:3).

Further Research:  If you would like to learn more about God’s discipline, read Hebrews 12:5-11.

Psalm 78:56-72 - A Shepherd for Israel

Repeat Psalm 78:35 until you can say it without looking.  Thank God for the Scriptures and ask Him to teach you from them today.

We pick up today in verses 56-58 with Asaph’s continuing list of Israel’s sins.  Look through these verses and identify some of the things which angered God.  Compare verse 58 with Leviticus 26:30.  God has made it very clear to Israel how He feels about idol worship.  See also Exodus 20:3-4.

Make a list, from verses 59-64, of God’s actions toward Israel as a result of His anger.  God had turned His back on Israel because of their idol worship.  Compare these verses to the account told in I Samuel 4:1-11.

Now compare verse 65 with Psalm 44:23.  These verses, together, read like an answer to prayer.  God has punished His people and now, once again, has forgiven them and come to their rescue.  Read verse 66 and I Samuel 5:6. 

We can see in verses 67-68 that the Lord has now rejected the son of Joseph (the tribe of Ephraim) in favor of the tribe of Judah.  Remember from verse 10 (2 studies ago) that Ephraim had disobeyed God by allowing some of the Canaanites to live among them in the Promised Land.  These Canaanites taught their idol worship to Israel.  Now, God has moved His favor to the tribe of Judah (the kingly line from which descended King David and our Lord Jesus Christ).  We also see in verse 68 ‘Mount Zion’, a reference both to Jerusalem, where King David lived, and Christ’s Heavenly eternal city.  The Psalm presents a clear parallel between King David and Jesus Christ.

The remaining verses in this Psalm continue the idea of God choosing David to shepherd His people.  We see in Genesis 37:2, Joseph tending his father’s sheep before God takes him to Egypt where he will eventually save His people from death by famine.  Then, in I Samuel 16:1, God instructs Samuel to anoint David as King over His people when David, also, was but a boy watching over his father’s sheep.  This is another representation of Jesus, the Great Shepherd, who watches over His flock (as foretold in Micah 5:2 and fulfilled in John 10:11).  Write John 10:11 in your journal.

Think about how your relationship with God has been recently.  Have you disobeyed His laws?  Are you guilty of being disloyal to God, faithless, and unreliable?  Have you angered Him by making other things more important than He is?

Responding to God:  Confess to God those sins He has revealed to you today and pray for renewed commitment to walk in God’s ways.  Thank Him for sending Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd, to lead and protect us.

Meditate on Micah 5:2-5.  Record in your journal ways that God has spoken to you today.
 

Further Research:  If you would like to know more about King David being anointed King of Israel, read I Samuel 15-16.

Psalm 78:17-55 - The Forgiveness Cycle

Pray and ask God to open your heart to His Word and to reveal His plan of forgiveness.

Yesterday, we learned from the first verses of Psalm 78 that we are to teach our children about the Lord, just as He teaches us.  The Israelites were commanded to do this so they would not make the mistakes of their forefathers who were continually in trouble for not obeying God.  Today, we continue with Asaph’s list of Israel’s sins.

Picking up in verses 17-20, we see that the Israelites continued to sin against God by complaining rather than trusting God to provide food and water.  Read about five different instances in the following references:  Exodus 15:22-25, 27; Exodus 16:1-18; Exodus 17:1-7; Numbers 20:2-11; Numbers 21:4-5.  Each time the people of Israel complained, God met their need.  Yet they complained again the next time.  Verses 21-22 tell us that God was angered by their complaining.  Compare these two verses with Numbers 11:1-3.  It is God’s will that we learn to trust Him daily for our needs…something Jesus also taught us in His Sermon on the Mount.  Read Matthew 6:11, 25-27, 34.

Verses 23-29 tell us that, though God was angry with them, He met their needs by sending manna from Heaven and quail.  Verse 25 tells us this manna was the bread of angels and that God provided all the food they could eat.  Yet, in spite of this wonderful provision, they still continued to complain rather than trust Him.  Verses 30-31 tell us again of God’s anger.  Read His judgment against them in Numbers 21:6-9.  Notice that in both Numbers 11:1-3 and Numbers 21:6-9 God did not provide only judgment.  He also provided forgiveness for those who sought it.  This is another glimpse of the Lord Jesus in this Psalm.

Verses 32-39 tell us that in spite of all this, they still kept sinning in unbelief.  A cycle of sin, judgment, repentance and forgiveness began which continued through the years.  Read verses 36-37 and describe their sinful nature.  Why did God continue to forgive them?  Compare verses 38-39 with Exodus 34:6 and II Peter 3:9.  God understands that we are born in sinful flesh, but it is God’s desire for all to come to repentance.  Write verse 35 in your journal.

We get an idea of the frequency of their sins in verses 40-41.  What effect did this continual sin have on God?  Read verses 42-43 and identify the reason for Israel’s sin.  Asaph again begins a list of God’s displays of power that were forgotten by His people.  Review these works of God in the following references:

            v44 – Exodus 7:20-21

            v45 – Exodus 8:24, 6

            v46 – Exodus 10:13-15

            v47-48 – Exodus 9:23-26

            v49-51 – Exodus 12:29-30

            v52 – Exodus 12:31-36

            v53 – Exodus 13:21-22, 14:21-28

            v54-55  - Joshua 1:1-6

What can be learned from the lessons recounted in Psalm 78 about God’s forgiveness?  We know that as humans, we are caught in a cycle of sin and forgiveness.  God understands this is our nature.  Yet He has provided a way for lasting redemption through His Son Jesus Christ.  God wants to forgive us but we must call on Him and repent. 

Responding to God:  Are you guilty of not remembering God’s power or our redemption?  Stop now and ask God to prevent you falling into this trap.  Repent now, asking forgiveness for any complaining spirit within you and thanking Him for His daily provision.  Commit to memorizing Psalm 78:35 this week.

Record in your journal ways that God has spoken to you today.

Further Research:  If you would like to learn more about the significance of manna, use a concordance or online Bible to find all occurrences of the word manna in the Bible.

Psalm 78:1-16 - A History of Israel

Write Psalm 73:28 in your journal from memory.  Pray and ask God for understanding as we study Psalm 78. 

Asaph offers us here another Psalm written with rhyming thoughts.  It is a beautiful picture of God’s dealing with His people.  They continually broke His laws yet He had a plan for their salvation. 

The purpose of the Psalm is made immediately clear in the first three verses.  It is intended for teaching.  Yet it is also prophetic of our Lord Jesus, as He Himself declares in Matthew 13:34-35.  Why did Jesus teach in parables?  Read His explanation in Matthew 13:10-17. 

Meditate on verses 2-5 for a moment as you think about what types of things Jesus teaches His children and the things the Israelites are told to teach to their children.  Browsing verses 6-8, record in your journal reasons we are to teach our children about the Lord.  Now record what we can learn about teaching the things of God from the following Scripture references:  Deuteronomy 4:9-10, 11:18-21, 32:7, Psalm 22:30-21, Proverbs 1:8-9, 6:20-23, 13:13-14.

In verse 8, we are told that teaching the children about the Lord would keep them from being like their forefathers.  It was important for them not to follow in their footsteps since the nation of Israel had a long history of disobedience to God.  Thus, Asaph begins a list of indictments against them. 

Verses 9 and 10 speak of the men of Ephraim and how they did not trust God on the day of battle.  This was a violation of God’s commandment to them.  Read Deuteronomy 20:17-18 and Joshua 16:10.  What caused them to commit this sin?  Verse 11 tells us it was because they had forgotten the things God had done for Israel.  Asaph takes a step aside for a moment to list some of those works of God forgotten by Ephraim.  Familiarize yourself with these works by browsing the following references:

            v12 – Exodus 7-10

            v13 – Exodus 14

            v14 – Exodus 13:20-22

            v15 – Exodus 17:1-7

            v16 - Numbers 20:1-13

Think about lessons you have learned from your past mistakes or the mistakes of others.  How have you tried to teach them to your children?  Do you think that is important?  God does.

Responding to God:  Look into your heart and ask yourself whether you have been faithful to teach your children and grandchildren as the Lord would require of you.  Ask God to help you be bold in teaching your children and to help you recognize good opportunities to share His good works with them.  Pray now that He will help you to be more trusting of His ways and for wisdom to recognize those who may be bad examples for you in your Christian walk. 

 

 

Further Research:  If you would like to learn more about putting your trust in God, use a concordance or online Bible to locate verses with the word trust.

Psalm 77 - Remembering God's Goodness

Repeat Psalm 73:28 three times from memory.  Pray and ask God for understanding as you study Psalm 77.  This Psalm should encourage you as you read it.

The title of Psalm 77 tells us it is another Psalm of Asaph.  It is for the music director, for Jeduthun.  We see in I Chronicles 16:37-42 that Jeduthun was a contemporary of Asaph.  He was chosen, among others, to give thanks to the Lord.  Along with Heman, he was a musician responsible for sounding the trumpets and cymbals and for playing the other instruments for sacred song.  We also learn, in I Chronicles 25:1-3, that he prophesied accompanied by harps, lyres and cymbals. 

Asaph, Jeduthun and Heman were under the direct supervision of King David with their sons serving directly under them.  They were all present when the ark of God was brought to the Temple (II Chronicles 5:12).  Psalms 39 and 62, written by King David, also were for Jeduthun.  This Psalm uses rhyming text.  See if you can recognize it as you read.

Asaph begins with nine verses describing a sleepless night where he is full of anxiety and despair.  In verse 5, he remembers the years of long ago and then in verse 7, he wonders if the Lord will ever show His favor again (see Psalm 85:102).  Asaph was in a very troubled state yet he offers no reasons for it.  Have you ever felt this way, wondering if God has forgotten you?  Luckily, he cried out to God in his distress.

Verses 10-12 tell us Asaph’s 3-step plan to fight the anxious sleeplessness.  First, he will remember the years of the right hand of the Most High.  Discover some of the things we know about God’s right hand (see Exodus 15:6, 3:20, Psalm 16:8).  Second, he will remember the deeds (NIV) or works (KJV) of the Lord and His wonders (KJV) or miracles (NIV).    Third, he will meditate on those works and consider all the Lord’s deeds.  Write verse 11 in your journal.

These first twelve verses are full of personal pronouns (I, my).  Count them.  This was a very personal experience for Asaph.  Why might he be sharing it with one of his fellow musicians in a song?

The remaining verses are worshipful, recounting God’s works or deeds.  Compare Asaph’s adoration in light of the attributes of God described in Moses’ song in Exodus 15:11.  Stop now and worship God for these character traits.  Praise Him for any of His miracles that He brings to mind as you pray.

Verse 15 tells us that God redeemed His people, the descendants of Jacob and Joseph.  We know that the descendants of Jacob (Joseph was his son) became slaves in Egypt.  God delivered them out of Egypt with Moses as their leader.  Read Exodus 14 to learn about how God defeated the Egyptian army that chased and pursued them.  Compare verses 16-20 to the Song of Moses in Exodus 15:1-18. 

Has God ever miraculously met your needs?  Think about a time when God has been particularly good to you.  You may not have written a song or poem about it, but did you share God’s goodness with someone else as a testimony or encouragement?  Do you look back on this in anxious circumstances? 

Responding to God:  Ask God to bring to mind situations when He has provided for your needs or rescued you in difficult circumstances.  Thank Him for these times and ask Him to forgive times when you forgot to trust Him.  Make a commitment to share God’s goodness to you with someone today.

Reread this Psalm as a tribute to God’s miracles.  Record in your journal ways that God has spoken to you today.

Further Research:  If you want to learn more about how God’s people became slaves in Egypt, read Genesis 37-50.  To learn more about how God delivered His people from Egypt, read Exodus 3-12.

Psalm 76 - God's Sovereign Power

Practice saying Psalm 73:28 until you can say it without looking.  Pray and ask God to help you understand Psalm 76 and to teach you of His sovereign power.

Psalm 76 uses rhyming text, which is a device common to Hebrew poetry.  Thoughts are expressed once then immediately followed by the same thought expressed in different words.  Look for these repeating thoughts as you read this Psalm.

The title of Psalm 76 tells us that it is a Psalm of Asaph and that it was meant to be sung with stringed instruments.  It is believed that this Psalm is about God’s miraculous defeat of Sennacherib’s army which is recorded in 1 Kings 9:1-9, 2 Kings 19:20-37 and Isaiah 37:21-38.  These Biblical accounts of the event contain pre-event prophecies.  Psalm 76 must also be prophetic since Asaph would have died long before the event occurred.  Asaph served under Kings David, Solomon, and Rehoboam.  The defeat of Sennacherib’s army was during the reign of King Hezekiah who was the twelfth king following Rehoboam.  Familiarize yourself with the accounts of this event before continuing in order to better understand this Psalm.

Asaph begins, in verse 1, by declaring the greatness of God’s name both in Judah and Israel.  Notice the rhyming thought.  If you remember from our study of Psalm 74, under King Rehoboam the nation of Israel was split into two kingdoms (I Kings 12).  The tribes of Benjamin and Judah continued to follow Rehoboam, the rightful descendant of King David (who was of the tribe of Judah).  This group is referred to in the Bible as ‘Judah’ or ‘The Southern Kingdom’.  The secession of the other ten tribes to follow Jeroboam was God’s will (I Kings 11:9-13, 31-33).  They are referred to in the Bible as ‘Israel’ or ‘The Northern Kingdom’.  In an attempt to protect his reign and keep the ten tribes from wanting to return to Rehoboam, Jeroboam instituted calf worship in the Northern Kingdom (I Kings 12:26-30).  This kept the people from returning to worship at the Temple in Jerusalem and feeling a renewed loyalty to David’s lineage.  By the time King Hezekiah (southern kingdom) faced invasion by Sennacherib of Assyria, the division of tribes had been firmly established though by this time both kingdoms had been plagued with idol worship.  Yet here in Psalm 76, Asaph declares that God’s name is still great in both kingdoms.

We see another rhyming thought in verse 2 where God’s dwelling place is declared to be Salem and then Zion.  Both are names for Jerusalem, the location of Solomon’s Temple, and the site of Sennacherib’s invasion (II Kings 18:17).  The rhyming thoughts of verse 3 speak of God’s miraculous defeat of Sennacherib’s army which left 185,000 Assyrian soldiers dead in their sleep (II Kings 19:35).  These verses are praising God for His sovereign power.  Then, in verse 4, we see rhyming thoughts praising God for His majesty (see also Psalm 36:9). Write verse 4 in your journal.

Verses 5 and 6 again speak of God’s wonderful victory against Sennacherib’s army.  Notice the similarity of verse 6 to Psalm 50:16, 21 and Exodus 15:1.  The Bible provides many examples of God miraculously defeating enemy armies to save His people.  He is indeed sovereign over the nations.  Verses 7-10 declare that God alone is to be feared.  He judges the nations and saves the afflicted (NIV) or meek (KJV) resulting in men’s thankful praise.  Notice the similarity between verse 7 and Revelation 6:15-17 where we see the kings of the earth hiding from the wrath of the Lamb of God (Jesus Christ).

Read II Chronicles 32:22-23.  We see the Psalmist’s conclusion of the matter in the final two verses.  Rhyming thoughts in verse 11 tell us to make our relationship right with God because, rhyming thoughts in verse 12 tell us that God is sovereign over the kings of the earth.  In light of this conclusion, it is apparent that we need to let God be the one to judge others.  He is all powerful and does not need our help to judge the guilty.  Understanding God’s sovereign judgment we must ask ourselves, are we concerned over correcting our own relationship with God or are we too busy worrying about the sins of others?  Heed the words of Jesus in Luke 6:41-42.

Responding to God:  Praise God for His mighty power and wisdom.  Thank Him that He has shown you mercy.  Ask Him to help you identify sins which are interfering in your relationship with Him and then seek His forgiveness.  Ask Him for wisdom and the ability to mind your own business when you should.

Reread this Psalm as a song celebrating God’s sovereign power.  Record in your journal ways that God had shown you mercy or delivered you from enemies.

Further Research:  If you would like to learn more about times God has miraculously defended His people, read the following examples: 

• Exodus 14 - God defeats the Egyptian Army
• Joshua 6 - God defeats Jericho
• Joshua 10 – God defeats the Amorites
• Judges 7 – God defeats the Midianites

Psalm 75 - God Judges the Nations

Practice saying Psalm 73:28 until you can say it without looking.  Pray and ask God to help you understand the imagery in Psalm 75 and to teach you from His Word.

We know that Psalm 75 is another Psalm of Asaph which, according to the Title, is written for the director of music and sung to the tune of a familiar song of the time.  The Psalm opens with a beautiful verse of worship, thanking and praising God for being near.  Who can claim the promise that God will be near (Psalm 145:18)?  Do you take time each day to thank and praise God and to tell others of His wonderful deeds?  Take a moment now to worship God in this manner.  Write Psalm 75:1 in your journal.

Verses 2-3 tell of God’s judgment on the earth.  Compare these verses with Isaiah 24:19 and Genesis 8:21-22.  We know that His coming judgment is certain but we do not know when.  And who is it that will judge the world?  Compare verse 2 with Acts 17:31.  Asaph is convinced that the Lord will judge at an appointed time.  The word ‘Selah’ is believed to be a musical symbol.

Asaph next addresses the wicked in verses 4 and 5.  Often in the Bible, horns were used as trumpets to sound the battle cry.  Typically this represented strength.  Compare these two verses with Zechariah 1:18-21 and see if you can figure out what the Psalmist is trying to say. 

We are warned in verses 6 and 7 that we cannot exalt our fellow man.  Who is it who decides whom to exalt and whom to bring down (Joshua 4:14, I Samuel 2:7)?  Who is it that we should exalt (Exodus 15:2, Psalm 21:13, Psalm 34:3)?

The Bible offers a very good clue to the meaning of verse 8.  Compare this verse to Isaiah 51:17-20.  What is represented here in verse 8 by the pouring out from the Lord’s cup?

The last two verses end this Psalm with his intention to praise the Lord as Israel witnesses God’s judgments against the wicked nations.  As we think about this point of view, we must ask ourselves where we stand with God.  Have we confessed our wickedness before God and obtained His forgiveness?

 

Responding to God:  Make a point today to tell someone of God’s wonderful deeds.  Give praise to God and thank Him that He judges righteously.  Acknowledge that, apart from Him, you cannot be righteous.  If you have never given your life to Christ, do so now. 

Reread this Psalm as a song and record in your journal how God has spoken to you today through this study of His Word.

 

 

Further Research:  If you would like to learn more about Righteousness, use a concordance or an online Bible to find and read all the verses containing the word ‘righteous’.