Categoria: Psalms

 Psalm 101 is David’s ruler’s pledge to live a life pleasing to God both personally and as king. He says: “I will sing of your love and mercy… I will be careful to lead a blameless life… I will set before my eyes no vile thing… men of a perverse heart will be kept far from me… my eyes will be on the faithful in the land… he whose walk is blameless will minister to me… no-one who practices deceit will dwell in my house… I will cut off every evildoer from the city of the Lord!”

This short 5-verse psalm encourages us to shout for joy to the Lord and to serve the Lord with gladness! “We are his people, the sheep of his pasture… enter his gates with thanksgiving… for the Lord is good and his love endures forever!”

Psalm 99 is a royal psalm exalting the Lord who is great in Zion. “The Lord reigns, let the nations tremble… he sits enthroned… let them praise your awesome name… the King is mighty and loves justice… worship at God’s footstool – he is holy… Moses, Aaron and Samuel were among those who called upon God… he spoke to them from the pillar of cloud… O Lord you answered them… exalt the Lord our God!”

 Psalm 98 urges enthusiastic praise of God in a jubilant hymn. It starts: “Sing to the Lord a new song because he has done marvellous things… the Lord has revealed his righteousness to the nations… all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God… shout for joy to the Lord… burst into jubilant song with music, harp and trumpets… let the sea resound and the rivers clap their hands… for God will judge the world in righteousness!” 

Psalm 97 is a beautiful hymn of exaltation of the Lord!  It starts: “The Lord reigns, let the earth be glad… clouds and thick darkness surround him… fire goes before him… lightening lights up the world… the mountains melt like wax before him… you, O Lord are the most high over all the earth… those who love the Lord hate evil… light is shed on the righteous and joy on the upright in heart.”

Psalm 96 is a jubilant poem of joyful praise to God. The exhortation starts: “Sing to the Lord a new song, all the earth, praise his name… declare his glory among the nations… for great is the Lord and he made the heavens… splendour and majesty are before him… ascribe to the Lord glory… worship the Lord in the splendour of his holiness… the Lord reigns… let the heavens rejoice… let the fields be jubilant… all the trees of the forest sing for joy… God will judge the world in righteousness!”

 Psalm 95 is a joyful hymn of exaltation of God which ends with a severe warning against the hardening of hearts in disobedience. The psalm starts: “Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord… extol him with music and song… for the Lord is the great God above all gods… in God’s hand are the depths of the earth and the mountain peaks… come, let us bow down in worship… but make sure you don’t harden your hearts… for 40 years I was angry with that generation and I banned their entrance into the promised land!”

Psalm 94 is a prayer for God’s justice to be put into effect against arrogant corrupt enemies. Evildoers, says the psalmist, crush the people, kill widows, foreigners and orphans, but of course God sees and hears everything. For God will never forsake his people and judgement will be founded upon righteousness. When my foot was slipping your love, O Lord, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul. Corrupt rulers band together against the righteous but the Lord is my rock and fortress. He will repay them for their sins and destroy them for their wickedness.

 Psalm 93 is a psalm of just 5 verses which celebrates God as the sovereign almighty King. “The Lord reigns, he is robed in majesty… you are from all eternity… God is mightier than all the seas can throw against us… and holiness adorns God’s house!”

This psalm is the only one specifically designated for the Sabbath day and is a psalm of gratitude to God celebrating his character. The psalmist praises the Lord… with lyre and harp… I sing for joy at the work of your hands… how profound your thoughts… the wicked will be forever destroyed… but you, O Lord, are exalted forever… you have exalted my horn like that of a wild ox… my ears have heard the rout of my wicked foes… but the righteous will flourish like a palm tree and they will flourish in the courts of our God… they will bear fruit in old age and stay fresh and green… the Lord is upright and is my Rock!

This, and all the psalms from here up to number 100, are attributed to no-one. This psalm is far from being a lament but is a 100% positive expression of total trust in God. The psalmist says that God is his refuge and fortress in whom I trust… under his wings you will find refuge… you will not fear the terror of night… nor the plague that destroys at midday… people may die by the thousand all around you, but it will not affect you… no harm will befall you… his angels will guard you… you will trample the lion and the serpent… he will be satisfied by long life and salvation.

Psalm 90 begins Book 4 of the psalms, which runs until psalm 106, and is the only psalm attributed to Moses. This prayer of Moses focuses on the eternity of God (“from everlasting to everlasting you are God”) which stands in stark contrast to the brevity of man which is 70 years, or 80 if you’re lucky! For God a 1,000 years is like a day whereas man is like grass which sprouts in the morning but withers and dies in the evening. Moses then prays however “teach us to number our days aright that we may gain a heart of wisdom… may the favour of the Lord our God rest upon us”.

This psalm is attributed again to Ethan the Ezrahite, as was the previous psalm, only this time he is in an enormously better mood! This time the psalm is jubilant starting: I will sing of the love of the Lord forever! He then goes on to praise God for his faithfulness, love, righteousness and justice. “Who is like the Lord among the heavenly beings… he is more awesome than all who surround him… you founded the world and all that is in it”. The psalm then goes on to recall and reaffirm the Davidic covenant… “with my sacred oil I have anointed him… my hand will sustain him… the most exalted of the kings of the earth… I will establish his line forever… I will not take my love from him even if his sons betray my faithfulness… I have sworn by my holiness and I will not lie to David.” The psalm then changes tack focusing on some current crisis of Israel linked to which Ethan questions God as having renounced his covenant and made the enemies rejoice. He questions how long this current crisis will go on? Then the psalm ends with a short doxology.

Psalm 88 is another psalm by the Sons of Korah attributed specifically to Heman the Ezrahite. It is probably the most dreary downbeat psalm of all. The writer has one foot in the grave throughout and at no moment in its 18 verses does there even peep through a glimpse of sunshine amidst the dark gloomy clouds of depression, doom and death. It was clearly written by someone with long term suffering who can get no relief. Heman says: “Day and night I cry out… my soul is full of trouble… I’m set apart with the dead… you have put me in the lowest pit… your wrath lies heavily upon me… you have taken me from my closest friends… why Lord do you reject me… from my youth I have been afflicted and close to death… the darkness is my closest friend!”

This short psalm by the sons of Korah exalts Jerusalem as the supreme city of God for the world. Jerusalem, it says, was founded on the holy mountain Zion. God loves its gates! It then goes on to cite various nations and ethnicities which were “born in Zion”! “This one and that one were born in Zion and God will establish her”. The psalm closes with all singing praise to God as all ethnicities recognize their all in God.

Psalm 86 is another psalm of David who begins asking God to answer him because he is poor and needy. He goes on “Guard my life because I am devoted to you… have mercy on me O Lord… you are kind and forgiving… abounding in love… among the gods there is none like you… you are great and do marvellous deeds… teach me your way… you have delivered my soul… the arrogant attack me but you, O Lord, are compassionate and gracious… grant your strength to your servant… for you have helped me and comforted me!”

This psalm is another of the Sons of Korah. It starts recalling God’s favour to Israel in the past, his forgiveness and turning aside from wrath. Then prayer is made for renewed restoration and revival, and for God to reveal his unfailing love. Finally come verses of confident expectation because surely salvation is near to those who fear God. In God “righteousness and peace kiss each other”. “The Lord will indeed give what is good” with a good harvest. 

 Psalm 84 is attributed to the Sons of Korah and is one of the most beautiful hymns of the Bible which expresses a deep yearning for God’s house and for God’s presence. The psalmists say that their heart and flesh cry out for the living God. How lovely is your temple Lord… even sparrow and swallow think so… blessed are those that dwell in your house. The writer goes on saying blessed are those whose strength is in you and have set their heart on pilgrimage… though one goes through dry and harsh valley of Baca God transforms it into a place of springs and autumn rain… better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere… better is it to be the door keeper of the temple than to dwell in the tents of the wicked… for God is sun and shield… blessed is he who trusts in God!

Psalm 83 is a prayer of lament written by Asaph. It calls on God to speak out against his cunning enemies who plot against God’s people. Many nations have formed an alliance against Israel including even Assyria to destroy Israel as a nation! (some things never change!) Asaph prays that God will repeat the same sort of defeats as those inflicted in the past against Midian, Sisera and Jabin. Asaph prays that Israel’s enemies be dealt with like chaff in the wind or fire in a forest. Asaph prays that the enemies be ashamed and dismayed and perish in disgrace and let them know that the Lord alone is the Most High over all the earth!

Psalm 82 was written by Asaph and presents God as the supreme judge who gives judgement among the “gods” (Elohim). God reprimands those in authority who are unjust and show partiality to the wicked. They understand nothing and live in darkness. They are “gods” who will die like mere men. Asaph concludes invoking God to judge the earth because all the nations are his inheritance. 

 Psalm 81 is a celebratory song by Asaph which also calls Israel to repentance. It starts joyfully calling everyone to sing accompanied by tambourines, harp, lyre and ram’s horns (shofar) under a full moon! God then speaks recalling how he had freed Israel from slavery and how he tested them at the waters of Meribah. God calls Israel to listen to him decrying their stubbornness and idolatry because if they would follow God’s ways they would be fed with the finest wheat and with honey from the rock!

This psalm is again written by Asaph and is a poetic lament which uses the vine as a poignant metaphor. Asaph starts asking for the restoration of Israel by its Shepherd. He goes on to question how long God’s anger will smoulder and he then repeats his plea for restoration. Asaph then describes the vine Israel which was planted in Canaan and grew spreading from the Mediterranean Sea to the River Euphrates. He pleads for God to “watch over this vine” because it has been cut down and burned. The end of the psalm is clearly messianic appealing to the man at God’s right hand… the son of man… appealing to God for restoration, salvation and revival!

Psalm 79 is a gut-wrenching lament written by Asaph apparently following the invasion of Jerusalem by the Babylonians and the destruction of the temple. Initially the chaotic scene of destruction is depicted with the temple defiled, the city reduced to rubble, people’s bodies serving as food for vultures with no-one available to bury the dead. How long will this mess last? – the people cry out… may your mercy come quickly to meet us because we are in desperate need… help us, O God our Saviour, for the glory of your name… may you avenge the blood of your servants and stops the nations asking “where is their God”?… hear the groans of the prisoners… pay back our neighbours seven times… and we will praise you forever!

This is another psalm of Asaph which is the second longest, after psalm 119, with 72 verses. This is a teaching psalm passing on to all generations God’s faithful dealings with his people despite Israel’s unfaithfulness. Asaph says initially that parents should teach their children Israel’s history so that the children might trust in God, remember his mighty works and not repeat their past rebellious attitudes. Asaph then goes on to cite Ephraim as a negative example of past unfaithfulness who forgot their covenant with God. Asaph then goes on to recall God’s mighty acts bringing his people out of Egypt, opening the Red Sea, leading them with cloud and fire and giving them water from the rock. However the Israelites soon forgot and doubted, but still God sent them the bread of angels and quails, but whilst it was still in their mouths God’s anger rose against them because of their disbelief. Asaph goes on to remind people of the constant ups and downs of the Israelites between backsliding, punishment, superficial repentance and then slipping back to square one! In all of this topsy turvy process God’s mercy prevailed. Asaph then goes back to Egypt reminding people of the 10 plagues and the subsequent leading into Canaan. Asaph’s teaching goes on to remind about times of past apostacy when they reverted to idolatry and paganism which brought God to abandon the tabernacle at Shiloh. The psalm then closes with hope with the choice of Judah and David. David was the shepherd of Israel who with skill and integrity led the people of God.

This further psalm of Asaph expresses him in a deep period of depression and doubt. He cries to God for help… I was in distress and sought the Lord… my soul refused to be comforted… I was too troubled to speak… then I remembered my songs in the night… will the Lord reject us for ever?… has his unfailing love vanished?… I will remember the deeds of the Lord and his miracles of long ago… what god is so great as our God?… he led his people through the sea and guided them by the hand of Moses and Aaron.

Psalm 76 is another psalm by Asaph. It is a victorious celebration of the majesty and power of God which should be sung accompanied by stringed instruments. God’s name which is great in Israel – he broke flashing arrows and all the weapons of war. God is described as “majestic more that mountains rich with game… and victorious over warriors, horses and chariots… who can stand before God when he is angry?!” “Surely God’s wrath brings him praise… and he is feared by the kings of the earth”!

Psalm 75 is another psalm of Asaph, but this time it is a hymn of thanks to God and a prophetic declaration concerning God’s judgement. Asaph starts thanking God for his wonderful deeds and acknowledging that he judges uprightly and at the appointed time. To the arrogant, Asaph says, boast no more. God, says Asaph, is the supreme judge who brings one down and exalts another. He says that above all else he will sing praise to God forever and the wicked will be defeated whereas the righteous shall be exalted!

Whereas the previous psalm was a personal crisis of faith this psalm is a collective outcrying of desperation by the community faced by a national crisis. It is widely thought that this psalm was written after the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple by the Babylonians in 586 BC. In the first 11 verses Asaph bemoans the catastrophic destruction… “everlasting ruins… smashed all the carved panelling… burned the sanctuary to the ground… no prophets are left… how long will the enemy mock you O God?” Then in verses 12-17 Asaph recalls God’s mighty works of the past breaking the heads of sea monsters, crushing the heads of the Leviathan and controlling day, night, sun and moon. So if God can do all this he can certainly restore Mount Zion! Then in the final verses Asaph cries to God to react and restore city and temple. He says “Rise up, O God! and defend your cause; remember how fools mock you all day long!

Psalm 73 was written by Asaph who clearly struggles to cope with the prosperity of the wicked as opposed to the suffering of the righteous. Asaph confesses that he envied the prosperity of the wicked as they have such an easy life! “Their mouths lay claim to heaven… they are always carefree increasing in wealth… surely in vain have I kept my heart pure… but how suddenly are they destroyed… but you Lord hold me by my right hand… you guide me with your counsel… whom have I in heaven but you?… God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever… you destroy all who are unfaithful to you, but as for me it is good to be near God!  

Psalm 72 was either written by Solomon or for Solomon (probably the latter) and is messianic. It describes an ideal king in his justice, compassion, riches and global rule. “He will judge the people in righteousness… he will bring prosperity to the people… he will defend the afflicted and save the children… he will endure as long as the sun… prosperity will abound till the moon is no more… he will rule from sea to sea… all kings will bow down to him… he will take pity on the weak… Long may he live!… may his name endure forever… all nations will be blessed through him… praise be to his glorious name for ever!”

This psalm brings to an end the second book of psalms.

Psalm 71 is a reflective poem about God’s help and blessing throughout life from birth to old age. The unnamed psalmist asks God to always be his refuge and deliver him from the wicked. He says God was with him at birth and had been his confidence since his youth. So he asks God not to cast him away when he is old. “May those who want to harm me be covered with scorn and disgrace… I will always tell of your righteousness… since my youth I declare God’s mighty deeds… so don’t abandon me when I’m old and grey… your righteousness reached to the skies O God… I will praise you with the harp… my lips will shout for joy!

In this petition psalm by David he cries to God for swift intervention to help him against those who want to kill him. David seeks God’s blessing on those who seek the Lord and prays that God might be his help and deliverer as soon as possible and may all who desire his ruin be disgraced.

Psalm 69 is another Davidic lament crying out to God for help against his enemies and undeserved suffering. “Save me, O God, for the waters are up to my neck”! “I sink in the mud… floods engulf me… I am exhausted calling for help… many enemies seek to destroy me… zeal for your house consumes me… I am the song of the drunkards… answer me O God with your salvation!”  “Do not let the floodwaters engulf me… answer me quickly because I am in trouble… Pour out your wrath on my enemies… May they be blotted out of the book of life… I am in pain and distress; may your salvation, O God, protect me… I will praise God’s name in song… the poor will see and be glad… Let heaven and earth praise God… those who love God’s name will dwell in Zion!”

Last night Pastor Rafael led the main service of the week on Sunday night in Patos and I preached on Psalm15: “Lord, who may dwell in your sanctuary?” It was an excellent service. The praise and worship was beautiful led by Erika, Louisa and Marina backed by Rogerio, Netinho, Ricardinho, Tiago and Davi.

It rained in Patos last night but not at Green Pastures unfortunately.  

Psalm 68 is a triumphant Davidic hymn celebrating God’s victories and goodness to the needy. “May God arise and his enemies be scattered”, David commences. He prays that God’s foes be blown away like smoke in the wind. God is extolled who is a father to the fatherless and a defender of widows. David remembers how God led his people in the wilderness and gave abundant showers. God scattered the kings in the land and left them like fallen snow. David then seems to rejoice in God’s victorious ascent from Sinai to Zion. God is also praised as a burden bearer of his people and says that surely God will crush his enemies. Then David says, “Your procession has come into view, O God” as apparently a festive procession takes place. There are singers, musicians and maidens playing tambourines. David rejoices singing to God as God thunders with a mighty voice. “You are awesome O God in your sanctuary”.

This is a short prayer seeking God’s grace and blessing and asking that God’s ways be made known amongst all the nations. The prayer continues beseeching that all nations praise God and be glad under God’s perfect rule and guidance. Then it says that the harvest will be good, God will bless and be feared unto the ends of the earth. 

This psalm is gloriously jubilant starting with “Shout with joy to God, all the earth… Say to God how awesome are your deeds! So great is your power that your enemies cringe before you… Come and see what God has done!… He turned the sea into dry land… He rules forever by his power… Praise our God, O peoples… he tested us like silver… we went through fire and water but you brought us to a place of abundance… I will sacrifice fat animals to you… let me tell you what he has done for me… God has surely heard my voice in prayer… Praise be to God!”

Psalm 65, again attributed to David, is a jubilant upbeat poem of praise to God. David exclaims that when we were overwhelmed by sins God atoned for our transgressions… God answers us with awesome deeds of righteousness… God formed the mountains by his power and stills the roaring seas… God cares for the land and cares for it providing the people with grains… and blesses the crops with showers… and the carts overflow with abundance… the grasslands overflow and the meadows are filled with flocks… and the valleys shout for joy and sing! 

 This is a prayer by David for protection from his enemies. He says: “Protect my life from the threat of the enemy… hide me from the conspiracy of the wicked who sharpen their tongues like swords and aim their words like arrows… they have evil plans… and plot injustice… but God will shoot them with arrows and bring them to ruin… let the righteous rejoice in the Lord!”

Psalm 63, written in the Judean desert, is a passionate Davidic declaration of faith in God saying “O God, you are my God… my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you… I have beheld your power and glory… your love is better than life… with singing lips my mouth will praise you… I sing in the shadow of your wings… those who seek my life will be destroyed… the king will rejoice in God!”

 David’s psalm to Jeduthun expresses his total trust in God. “My soul finds rest in God alone… I shall never be shaken”. David says he faces men that seek to topple him and who curse him in their hearts. However David finds rest in God, “he is my fortress, I shall not be shaken… God is our refuge”. David goes on to say that lowborn and highborn people are “only a breath”… and that no-one should take pride in stolen goods. Trust in God because he is strong and loving and will reward people according to what they do”.

David here (with stringed instruments) is either in exile (“from the ends of the earth”) or in extreme distress. He says he calls to God for help as his heart grows faint asking to be led to the rock that is higher than I. He says God has been his refuge and that he longs to dwell in God’s tent forever and take refuge in the shelter of his wings. He asks to be enthroned in God’s presence for ever. Then he will sing praise to God’s name. 

This Davidic psalm is a lament when he felt that God had rejected him and his people owing to a battle loss against Edom. David therefore asks for restoration in the face of what he sees as desperate times. He continues saying, “Save us and help us so that those you love can be delivered… give us aid against our enemy… with God we shall gain the victory”!

 David wrote this psalm when Saul had sent men to watch his house in order to kill him. “Deliver me from my enemies, O God”, prayed David, “deliver me from evil doers… these bloodthirsty men lie in wait for me… I have done no wrong but they are ready to attack… O God show no mercy to wicked traitors”! These would-be assassins “snarl like dogs and prowl… spewing swords from their lips… but God laughs at them. You my loving God are my fortress… let these wicked men be caught in their pride… and it will be known that God rules”! “I will sing of your strength in the morning… for you are my fortress and refuge in times of trouble”.

Psalm 58 is an imprecatory prayer which invokes divine judgement on corrupt judges and unjust rulers. David asks: “Do you judge uprightly? No, in your heart you devise injustice… the wicked go astray from birth… their venom is like that of a snake… and it won’t heed the tune of the snake charmer… break their teeth O God!…  Let them vanish like water flowing away down the river… let them be slugs melting away… the righteous will be glad when they bathe their feet in the blood of the wicked… for surely there is a God who judges the earth”! 

 Psalm 57 was written by David when he was hiding in a cave sheltering from Saul and it is a prayer for protection and for God’s help. “O God… I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings… he rebukes them who hotly pursue me… I am in the midst of lions… be exalted O God above the heavens”. “They spread a net for my feet and dug a pit in my path, but they themselves have fallen into it.” “My heart is steadfast, O God… awake my soul and praise God among the nations… for great is your love and glory”! 

This another psalm by David was written when the Philistines had seized Him in Gath. David prays: “Be merciful to me, O God, for men hotly pursue me… many are attacking me… but when I am afraid, I will trust in you”. “All day long they twist my words… plotting to harm me… don’t let them escape O God… record my lament… list my tears… in God I trust. I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? You have delivered my feet from stumbling that I may walk before God in the light of life”!

 Psalm 55 is a Davidic lament saying “hear me and answer me O God… I am distraught… by those who revile me in their anger”. “Fear and trembling have beset me… oh for the wings, for the wings of a dove and I would fly away and be at rest”! “Confuse and confound the wicked O Lord… day and night they prowl after me”. What especially upsets David is that it a close friend and companion (maybe Absalom) who is persecuting and betraying him. “Let death take my enemies… I call on God to save me… he ransoms me unharmed from the battle… my close friend has speech as smooth as butter, yet war is in his heart.” “Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you… but you O God  will bring down the wicked”.

David writes Psalm 54 in the light of his persecution in first Samuel by Saul and the Ziphites. He cries to God, “Save me, O God… vindicate me”! “Hear my prayer, O God”… strangers are attacking me… men without regard for God”. “Surely God is my help… I will praise your name O Lord… he has delivered me from all my troubles and foes”!

Psalm 53 is very similar to Psalm 14 and is a Davidic wisdom psalm. David decries the corruption of atheists and evil doers as no-one amongst them does good. The psalm concludes praying that God might restore the fortunes of his people probably returning them from exile so that Israel might be glad.