1 Praise ye the Lord. Praise, O ye servants of the Lord, praise the name of the Lord.
2 Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth and for evermore.
3 From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the Lord’s name is to be praised.
4 The Lord is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens.
5 Who is like unto the Lord our God, who dwelleth on high,
6 Who humbles himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth!
7 He raises up the poor out of the dust and lifts the needy out of the dunghill.
8 That he may set him with princes, even with the princes of his people.
9 He maketh the barren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful mother of children. Praise ye the Lord. (KJV)
One of the simple truths that we sometimes overlook in reading the psalms is the truth it reveals about the relationship between God and man. Verse one starts out with the phase “Praise Yahweh”. The phrase “Praise the Lord” comes from the Hebrew word Hallelu Yah and is used twenty-four times in the Hebrew Bible and four times in the Greek form in the book of Revelations. The word Hallelujah (Alleluia) that we use in Christian’s songs today literally means Praise the Lord. This psalm puts in place the reasons that we should praise the Lord, now and forever, and from the raising of the sun to the setting of the sun. In other words, everything we do should reflect our praising of the Lord.
In good times and bad times, we should always praise the Lord. Yes, even in the bad times as we learn from Job. In Job, 1:21 after Job lost all his earthly goods as well as his children he fell to the ground in worship and said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb and naked I shall return.” The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord”. In other words, no matter what is happening in your life today your life should always reflect the phrase “Praise the Lord”. This is truly the relationship that man was created to have with God.
1 Praise ye the Lord. Blessed is the man that fears the Lord, that delights greatly in his commandments.
2 His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed.
3 Wealth and riches shall be in his house: and his righteousness endures forever.
4 Unto the upright there arises light in the darkness: he is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous.
5 A good man sheweth favor and lends: he will guide his affairs with discretion.
6 Surely he shall not be moved forever: the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance.
7 He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord.
8 His heart is established, he shall not be afraid, until he see his desire upon his enemies.
9 He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever; his horn shall be exalted with honor.
10 The wicked shall see it and be grieved; he shall gnash with his teeth and melt away: the desire of the wicked shall perish. (KJV)
When considering the phrase “blessed is the one who fears the Lord” one must reflect on the importance of Psalm one. The key in understanding this phrase is found in the word blessed. In Psalm 1, we are told, “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law, he meditates day and night.” The fear of the Lord is an understanding of God and his way. To grasp an understanding of this verse we must understand the definition of fear. Fear can be defined as a feeling of anxiety (restlessness caused by uncertainties) that marks a state of guard apprehension and uneasiness that forces one to make decisions. This blessing comes from a trust and obeys relationship with the Lord.
Studying this Psalm, one cannot help to be drawn back to the teaching of Psalm one. God has given us the way to walk in; however, humankind seems to want more. The truth of this Psalm is we are to trust and obey the God.
The difference in the life of the man who fears the LORD and the life of the man who does not is the caretaker. As I work in my backyard or on my land, I realize how much the design reflects the desire and purpose of me the caretaker. The same is with the one that looks to the Lord as the one that directs his life. This is the type of relationship that Christ spoke of in John chapter fifteen:
1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
2 Every branch in me that bears not fruit, he takes it away: and every branch that bears fruit, he cleanses it, that it may bear more fruit.
3 Already ye are clean because of the word, which I have spoken unto you.
4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; so, neither can ye, except ye abide in me.
5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abides in me, and I in him, the same bears much fruit: for apart from me ye can do nothing.
6 If a man abides not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
The wicked, the one that does not have the fear of God in their life does not have the Lord as the caretaker in their life. May my life (the work of God’s hand in the life of an old saint) reflect the same joy in God that I have when I set in the designer’s chair, look out, and delight in the beauty that my secret garden gives me?
1 Praise ye the Lord. I will praise the Lord with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, and in the congregation.
2 The works of the Lord are great, sought out of all of them that have pleasure therein.
3 His work is honorable and glorious: and his righteousness endures forever.
4 He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered: the Lord is gracious and full of compassion.
5 He hath given meat unto them that fear him: he will ever be mindful of his covenant.
6 He hath shewed his people the power of his works, that he may give them the heritage of the heathen.
7 The works of his hands are verity and judgment; all his commandments are sure.
8 They stand fast for ever and ever and are done in truth and uprightness.
9 He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant forever: holy and reverend is his name.
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endures forever. (KJV)
Last night during the silent of my time in prayer, I realized how important the very first verse of the Bible is to humanity “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth”. God is responsible for our very being however, we become so wrapped up in our affairs and the social environment in which we live in that we forget that God even exist. The world around us has taken God out of the picture. God is either too big to care about the events of our individual lives, or he really does not exist. This psalm helps bring us back to the simple relationship we need to have with God. God is our creator, and we are his creation. Reading Proverbs twenty-two, one will realize that “Rich and poor have this in common: The LORD is the Maker of them all”. All men must call him creator.
First, we must praise and extol the One who made our being possible. Do this with your entire heart. The path of knowledge starts with this simple understanding of “in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth”. If you do not have this as the foundation and starting point to ponder everything you see, hear, taste, and touch then your thoughts will lead to the wrong conclusions. The reading of the psalms today focuses on the phrase “the fear of the Lord”. This fear is the starting point in understanding the world around you.
Reading the second part of verse ten “all who follow his precepts have good understanding”, one cannot help but place an emphasis of the importance of starting the day out with the Word. The world in which we abide within today is ready to let us know of all the problems that exist today. In Genesis, three Adam and Eve hide from God because they were afraid and naked. Studying the account of the fall in Genesis chapter three, one will realize that God did not asked Adam why he was afraid; but instead ask him “who told you that you were naked?” However, before Adam could reply to God’s answer God ask Adam another question “have you eaten from the tree?” Adam’s reply it was the woman who you gave me that gave me the fruit. So, in fact, Adam blames God instead of taking the blame himself. In I Timothy 2 :14 we realize that Adam was not deceived or beguiled, but freely chose to take the fruit. Whom do we listen to every day? The world around us, or God? The chose is ours: do we follow God’s precepts, or do we listen to the world?
1 The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.
2 The Lord shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies.
3 Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth.
4 The Lord hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.
5 The Lord at thy right hand shall strike through kings in the day of his wrath.
6 He shall judge among the heathen; he shall fill the places with the dead bodies; he shall wound the heads over many countries.
7 He shall drink of the brook in the way: therefore, shall he lift up the head. (KJV)
The writer of Hebrews refers to this psalm in Hebrews chapters six and seven. The Lord referred to this verse three times in the gospels (Matthew 22:44, Mark 12:36, Luke 20:42). He also warned the Jews that in the future you will see the Son of Man sitting on the right hand of God and coming on the clouds of heaven (Matthew 26:64 and Mark 14:62). Peter in Act chapter two and the author of Hebrews in chapter one refers to this psalm when addressing the work of Christ. The Lord used this psalm to redirect the Pharisees answer to his question “What do you think of Christ? Whose son, is he?” When they answered, “the son of David”, he referred them to this psalm, which he accredited to David. His question was “How is it then that David speaking by the Spirit calls him Lord? If then David called him ‘Lord’ how could he be his son?” To this, they could not answer him a word, nor did they ask him any more questions. Christ reference to this psalm was during his last week on this earth right before his death when his authority was questioned. In Matthew 26:24 Christ states, “The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him” and in Act chapter two Peter preaches that Christ is the one written about in this psalm.
Two facts to remember about this psalm: The Lord will judge the nations; however, He also has the role of priest after the order of Melchizedek. In I John 2:2 John writes of his actions in this position as being the propitiation for the sins of the whole world. So read this psalm in relationship to Psalm two and “kiss the Son, lest he becomes angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath may kindle in a moment. Blessed are all who take refuge in Him.”
2 For the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of the deceitful are opened against me: they have spoken against me with a lying tongue.
3 They compassed me about also with words of hatred; and fought against me without a cause.
4 For my love they are my adversaries: but I give myself unto prayer.
5 And they have rewarded me evil for good, and hatred for my love.
6 Set thou a wicked man over him: and let Satan stand at his right hand.
7 When he shall be judged, let him be condemned: and let his prayer become sin.
8 Let his days be few; and let another take his office.
9 Let his children be fatherless, and his wife a widow.
10 Let his children be continually vagabonds and beg: let them seek their bread also out of their desolate places.
11 Let the extortioner catch all that he hath; and let the strangers spoil his labor.
12 Let there be none to extend mercy unto him: neither let there be any to favor his fatherless children.
13 Let his posterity be cut off; and in the generation following let their name be blotted out.
14 Let the iniquity of his fathers be remembered with the Lord; and let not the sin of his mother be blotted out.
15 Let them be before the Lord continually, that he may cut off the memory of them from the earth.
16 Because that he remembered not to shew mercy, but persecuted the poor and needy man, that he might even slay the broken in heart.
17 As he loved cursing, so let it come unto him: as he delighted not in blessing, so let it be far from him.
18 As he clothed himself with cursing like as with his garment, so let it come into his bowels like water, and like oil into his bones.
19 Let it be unto him as the garment which covers him, and for a girdle wherewith he is girded continually.
20 Let this be the reward of mine adversaries from the Lord, and of them that speak evil against my soul.
21 But do thou for me, O God the Lord, for thy name’s sake: because thy mercy is good, deliver thou me.
22 For I am poor and needy, and my heart is wounded within me.
23 I am gone like the shadow when it declines: I am tossed up and down as the locust.
24 My knees are weak through fasting; and my flesh faileth of fatness.
25 I became also a reproach unto them: when they looked upon me they shake their heads.
26 Help me, O Lord my God: O save me according to thy mercy:
27 That they may know that this is thy hand; that thou, Lord, hast done it.
28 Let them curse, but bless thou: when they arise, let them be ashamed; but let thy servant rejoice.
29 Let mine adversaries be clothed with shame, and let them cover themselves with their own confusion, as with a mantle.
30 I will greatly praise the Lord with my mouth; yea, I will praise him among the multitude.
31 For he shall stand at the right hand of the poor, to save him from those that condemn his soul. (KJV)
Reading this psalm of David, one can look back to the time that he was running from Saul. At this time in his life, he was in running from the law of the land and being hunted down as a criminal. During this time of running from Saul his name and reputation was being destroyed by Saul. The times of I Samuel seventeen and eighteen when David was the hero, the one who slew Goliath, the captain of a thousand men, the one that slew ten thousand were now history. It was not because of something evil that David had done, but the envy that Saul had of David. Just like Cain who slew Abel because Abel’s sacrifice was accepted by God and Cain’s was not, Saul desired to slay David because God’s favor was on David and not Saul.
The same can be said of Christ as he walked on this earth two thousand years ago. Reading the verses above a person can see a picture of Christ as he was accused by the religious leaders of wrongs he never did. The accusers in this verse have the same nature of Satan (who is the Great Accuser) in them.
As I was reading today (February 22, 2008) in My Utmost for His Highest) Oswald Chambers writes “Our greatest fear is not that we will be damned, but that somehow Jesus Christ will be defeated. Also, our fear is that the very things our Lord stood for— love, justice, forgiveness, and kindness among men— will not win out in the end and will represent an unattainable goal for us.”
Verse 21 is a verse that will conquer this fear for the believer, and it is this truth: “It is out of his goodness that we are delivered and not our righteousness; to him belongs the praise and glory for this great salvation.” So how must we approach those closest to us when like David they accuse us falsely and attach us. David gives the answer on how to approach these times in verse 4 “but I am a man of prayer”. Believe me it is hard when someone very close to you turns on you and seeks to destroys you and your reputation. At first you want to fight back and take the matters into our hands. However, if your desire is to be Christ-like then you soon discover and realized that this is an issue that only God can handle so you turn to him in prayer and remember what that we are to be Christ-like in everything we do. The very things our Lord stood for— love, justice, forgiveness, and kindness among men will someday be in place and we who follow him will reign with him, so wait on his return both in prayer and staying in his word.
Reading this psalm of David, I can picture the inward hurt that must have been in his heart. The cry for justice is alive in this psalm, however there is also a cry to God from David to deliver him from those that are attaching him. We as believers also face the same issues and struggles that David faced as we go about our daily routines. We see God’s loving kindness, his goodness, his mercies, and his forgiveness is always there for us as well as others to enjoy; however, it does come with a price. That price is the realization that our way is wrong, and we need to repent and turn from our evil way to God’s way. This is a price that many do not want to pay. Vengeance (the repayment of evil to those that did evil to us) is something that we must leave in God’s hand. The desires that David outlines in this chapter:
appoint an evil man to oppose him
let an accuser stand at his right hand when he is tried, let him be found guilty
may his prayers condemn him. may his days be few
may another take his place of leadership. may his children be fatherless
may his wife a widow. may his children be wandering beggars
may they be driven from their ruined homes. may a creditor seize all he has
may strangers plunder the fruits of his labor. may no one extend kindness to him
may no one take pity on his fatherless children. may his descendants be cut off
may their names have blotted out from the next generation. may the iniquity of his fathers be remembered before the LORD
may the sin of his mother never be blotted out. may their sins always remain before the LORD
may the memory of them be cut off from the earth. may the curse he pronounce be upon him
may this curse be like a cloak wrapped about him
may it be like a belt tied forever around him. may this be the Lord’s payment to my accusers, to those who speak evil of me.
David believed these judgments were justified; however they are for God to execute and not us. This is an important truth that we must apply to our life also.
1 O God, my heart is fixed; I will sing and give praise, even with my glory.
2 Awake, psaltery and harp: I myself will awake early.
3 I will praise thee, O Lord, among the people: and I will sing praises unto thee among the nations.
4 For thy mercy is great above the heavens: and thy truth reaches unto the clouds.
5 Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens: and thy glory above all the earth.
6 That thy beloved may be delivered: save with thy right hand and answer me.
7 God hath spoken in his holiness; I will rejoice, I will divide Shechem, and mete out the valley of Succoth.
8 Gilead is mine; Manasseh is mine; Ephraim also is the strength of my head; Judah is my lawgiver.
9 Moab is my washpot; over Edom will I cast out my shoe; over Philistia will I triumph.
10 Who will bring me into the strong city? who will lead me into Edom?
11 Wilt not thou, O God, who hast cast us off? and wilt not thou, O God, go forth with our hosts?
12 Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man.
13 Through God we shall do valiantly: for he it is that shall tread down our enemies. (KJV)
Verse one is a phase that I could applied as the theme of my life: “O God, my heart is fixed; I will sing and give praise, even with my glory.” Psalm 19:7a “The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul”. The law of the Lord is the nail that will fix my heart on the things of the Lord. Christ gives us the same advice in Matthew 7:24,25 “Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise, which built his house upon a rock: and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.” Having a knowledge of God’s law and a daily study of God’s law will keep us from falling to the desires of the flesh and living a life that will cause us to sing unto the Lord, and praising God.
Matthew 5:1 – 7:29 is referred to as the Sermon on the Mount. In these chapters Christ taught those that were following him the principles of his kingdom. A careful study of these chapters will help fix your heart to the things of God. One of the titles that David had was he was a man after God’s own heart. One of the keys in understanding God’s heart is by understanding Matthew 6:44. In this verse we are told to love our enemies and bless the ones that curse us. Do good to those that hate you and pray for them that despitefully use you and persecute you. A careful study of the psalm written while he was running and hiding from Saul reveals how he reserves the judgment of the wick to God. By having this view of our enemies, we will be on the path of living a perfect (blameless) life.
1 O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endures forever.
2 Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy.
3 And gathered them out of the lands, from the east, and from the west, from the north, and from the south.
4 They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way; they found no city to dwell in.
5 Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them.
6 Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses.
7 And he led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation.
8 Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
9 For he satisfies the longing soul and fills the hungry soul with goodness.
10 Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron.
11 Because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned the counsel of the most High:
12 Therefore he brought down their heart with labor; they fell down, and there was none to help.
13 Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses
14 He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death and brake their bands in sunder.
15 Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
16 For he hath broken the gates of brass and cut the bars of iron in sunder.
17 Fools because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted.
18 Their soul abhors all manner of meat; and they draw near unto the gates of death.
19 Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he saves them out of their distresses.
20 He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destruction.
21 Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
22 And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving and declare his works with rejoicing.
23 They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters.
24 These see the works of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep.
25 For he commands, and raises the stormy wind, which lifts up the waves thereof.
26 They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble.
27 They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wit’s end.
28 Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he brings them out of their distresses.
29 He makes the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.
30 Then are they glad because they be quiet; so, he bringeth them unto their desired haven.
31 Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
32 Let them exalt him also in the congregation of the people and praise him in the assembly of the elders.
33 He turns rivers into a wilderness, and the water springs into dry ground.
34 A fruitful land into barrenness, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein.
35 He turns the wilderness into a standing water, and dry ground into water springs.
36 And there he makes the hungry to dwell, that they may prepare a city for habitation.
37 And sow the fields, and plant vineyards, which may yield fruits of increase.
38 He blesses them also, so that they are multiplied greatly; and suffers not their cattle to decrease.
39 Again, they are diminished and brought low through oppression, affliction, and sorrow.
40 He pours contempt upon princes, and causes them to wander in the wilderness, where there is no way.
41 Yet sets he the poor on high from affliction and makes him families like a flock.
42 The righteous shall see it and rejoice: and all iniquity shall stop her mouth.
43 Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the loving kindness of the Lord. (KJV)
This Psalm reminds me of what Mart De Hann wrote in his book Been Thinking About “The Scriptures offer no hope to those who refuse to believe Christ suffered for them. The Bible offers a whole new life, however to those who believe that Christ lived and died as their substitute.” However, as I consider the words that he wrote I realized that his entire statement is based upon his belief that the Scriptures are the foundation of his philosophy system. This Psalm reflect the simple theme of man’s helplessness outside of God’s intervention. Life is good because of God’s unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men. However, just as the statement that Mart De Hann made was based upon the belief that the Scriptures are the foundation of his philosophy system so must we base the truth of this Psalm upon this same foundation. Are the scriptures the foundation of your philosophy system?
As one who has spent over fifty years studying the Bible I can see why this Book has survived the countless attempts to deny it as the Word of God. The more I study and let the Holy Spirit reveals its truths the more I want to give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men. The message of the world with it focus on the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life is all around us twenty-four hours a day seven days a week. The best way to combat the desires of our sinful nature to stay in the Word. As Psalm one states the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish. So let us daily give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men.
Verses eight, fifteen, twenty-one, and thirty-one repeat the same message: “Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!” This verse gets us the reason for praising God. The godly (those who believe in God) realized that he is our creator and has made this world a wonderful place for man to enjoy. However, the ungodly (those who reject God and therefore live without a godly purpose) must create their own belief system of how this world came into existence. To the ungodly our faith in God is foolishness; however, to the godly the belief system of the ungodly is a way to glorify the wisdom of man. Paul’s answer to this argument is addressed in I Corinthians 1:18-31, which is the preaching of the cross. Those who are saved by the preaching of the cross can sing this verse. “Oh, that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!”
1 Praise ye the Lord. O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endures forever.
2 Who can utter the mighty acts of the Lord? who can shew forth all his praise?
3 Blessed are they that keep judgment, and he that doeth righteousness at all times.
4 Remember me, O Lord, with the favor that thou bears unto thy people: O visit me with thy salvation.
5 That I may see the good of thy chosen, that I may rejoice in the gladness of thy nation, that I may glory with thine inheritance.
6 We have sinned with our fathers, we have committed iniquity, we have done wickedly.
7 Our fathers understood not thy wonders in Egypt; they remembered not the multitude of thy mercies; but provoked him at the sea, even at the Red sea.
8 Nevertheless he saved them for his name’s sake, that he might make his mighty power to be known.
9 He rebuked the Red sea also, and it was dried up: so, he led them through the depths, as through the wilderness.
10 And he saved them from the hand of him that hated them and redeemed them from the hand of the enemy.
11 And the waters covered their enemies: there was not one of them left.
12 Then believed they his words; they sang his praise.
13 They soon forget his works; they waited not for his counsel:
14 But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert.
15 And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul.
16 They envied Moses also in the camp, and Aaron the saint of the Lord.
17 The earth opened and swallowed up Dathan and covered the company of Abiram.
18 And a fire was kindled in their company; the flame burned up the wicked.
19 They made a calf in Horeb and worshipped the molten image.
20 Thus they changed their glory into the similitude of an ox that eats grass.
21 They forgot God their savior, which had done great things in Egypt.
22 Wondrous works in the land of Ham, and terrible things by the Red sea.
23 Therefore he said that he would destroy them, had not Moses his chosen stood before him in the breach, to turn away his wrath, lest he should destroy them.
24 Yea, they despised the pleasant land, they believed not his word:
25 But murmured in their tents and hearkened not unto the voice of the Lord.
26 Therefore he lifted up his hand against them, to overthrow them in the wilderness:
27 To overthrow their seed also among the nations, and to scatter them in the lands.
28 They joined themselves also unto Baalpeor and ate the sacrifices of the dead.
29 Thus they provoked him to anger with their inventions: and the plague brake in upon them.
30 Then stood up Phinehas, and executed judgment: and so the plague was stayed.
31 And that was counted unto him for righteousness unto all generations for evermore.
32 They angered him also at the waters of strife, so that it went ill with Moses for their sakes:
33 Because they provoked his spirit, so that he spake unadvisedly with his lips.
34 They did not destroy the nations, concerning whom the Lord commanded them:
35 But were mingled among the heathen and learned their works.
36 And they served their idols: which were a snare unto them.
37 Yea, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto devils,
38 And shed innocent blood, even the blood of their sons and of their daughters, whom they sacrificed unto the idols of Canaan: and the land was polluted with blood.
39 Thus were they defiled with their own works and went a whoring with their own inventions.
40 Therefore was the wrath of the Lord kindled against his people, insomuch that he abhorred his own inheritance.
41 And he gave them into the hand of the heathen; and they that hated them ruled over them.
42 Their enemies also oppressed them, and they were brought into subjection under their hand.
43 Many times did he deliver them; but they provoked him with their counsel and were brought low for their iniquity.
44 Nevertheless he regarded their affliction, when he heard their cry:
45 And he remembered for them his covenant and repented according to the multitude of his mercies.
46 He made them also to be pitied of all those that carried them captives.
47 Save us, O Lord our God, and gather us from among the heathen, to give thanks unto thy holy name, and to triumph in thy praise.
48 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting: and let all the people say, Amen. Praise ye the Lord. (KJV)
After reading this psalm of how God dealt with Israel in the past and his future dealings with Israel the reader should realize that God is a merciful God, a God that is always willing to forgive. However, we as a nation should also take heed of our relationship with God today. I am afraid that we as a nation today represents Israel at the time of Elijah and that the true worshipers are a part of the seven thousand that have not bowed their knees to Baal. These are individuals that walk daily in God’s way and are not a part of a movement. Movements are man’s way of making things happen, however the more I study God’s Word and watch events happening in the world around me, it seems that God uses individuals moved by His Spirit to make things happen both on a local scale as well as on a global scale. These individuals have the characteristics that are found in verse three, they maintain justice and constantly do what is right. They strive at living a blameless life.
Paul used the example of this psalm in his warning to the Corinthians in I Corinthians chapter ten. In verses 5-11 he writes “Howbeit with most of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, the people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. Neither let us make trial of the Lord, as some of them made trial, and perished by the serpents. Neither murmur ye, as some of them murmured, and perished by the destroyer. Now these things happened unto them by way of example; and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages are come.”. Yes, God is a merciful God, but if we are bent on rebellion when as verse forty-three states we will waste away in our sins. Chose then the correct way to conduct your daily walk.
It is amazing how God has embedded simple truths in his Word. As I study this psalm the words of verses nineteen through twenty-three speaks of our society today.
19At Horeb they made a calf and worshiped an idol cast from metal. 20 They exchanged their Glory for an image of a bull, which eats grass. 21 They forgot the God who saved them, who had done great things in Egypt, 22 miracles in the land of Ham and awesome deeds by the Red Sea. 23 So he said he would destroy them had not Moses, his chosen one, stood in the breach before him to keep his wrath from destroying them.
The event that took placed at Horeb has been taking place in the course of history since the fall of man. Even in the very strong holds of religion itself we see God being exchanged for other gods. When you read Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” you must realize that this is the first of the simple truths that God reveals to men from the scriptures. This truth is that God started the process of the heavens and the earth by creating something out of nothing. This truth that God is a creator should shape and mold your understanding of everything that surrounds you. For without God nothing would or could exist. Therefore, to gain an understand of the world in which we live we must recognize God as creator. That is not the case with society today. In an article from the Houston Chronicle (6/21/2009) Opportunities to Fellowship With Other Humanists in Houston the author Hux (Brian Surratt) stated “The HOH seems to be getting stronger. I hope the options for humanists continue to grow overtime to include, say, more activities for families who desire to raise ethical children in a naturalistic tradition”.
What is a humanist? Just go to their website for the answer. In the Humanist Manifesto III, the American Humanist Association outlined the following basic principles of Humanism:
• Knowledge of the world is derived by observation, experimentation, and rational analysis. • Humans are an integral part of nature, the result of unguided evolutionary change. • Ethical values are derived from human need and interest as tested by experience. • Life’s fulfillment emerges from individual participation in the service of humane ideals. • Humans are social by nature and find meaning in relationships. • Working to benefit society maximizes individual happiness.
At first glance these principles might sound great. However, a farther look at the Humanism definition of Humanism itself states “Humanism is a worldview which says that reason and science are the best ways to understand the world around us, and that dignity and compassion should be the basis for how you act toward someone else. Humanism is non-theistic. By this, we don’t mean to say that there is no God. Instead, we say that there is no proof for the existence of God, any gods, the supernatural or an afterlife. Therefore, we take very seriously the idea that “No deity will save us; we must save ourselves.” We are living the only life we’ll have; in the only world we know about. The responsibility for the choices we make are ours and ours alone.” This statement reflects exactly what the Israelites did here at Horeb, and what Paul describes in Romans chapter one as the condition that mankind now suffers. Then we look at the last two verses of this Psalm we see the psalmist requests to God: save us and gather us from the nations. If one of the fundamental beliefs of Humanism is that God does not save us, only we can; then I cannot abide in their company. However, like Moses may I stand in the breach between God and the Humanist and pray that they may see the light offered to them through Christ.
1 O give thanks unto the Lord; call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people.
2 Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him: talk ye of all his wondrous works.
3 Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the Lord.
4 Seek the Lord, and his strength: seek his face evermore.
5 Remember his marvelous works that he hath done, his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth.
6 O ye seed of Abraham his servant, ye children of Jacob his chosen.
7 He is the Lord our God: his judgments are in all the earth.
8 He hath remembered his covenant forever, the word which he commanded to a thousand generations.
9 Which covenant he made with Abraham, and his oath unto Isaac.
10 And confirmed the same unto Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant:
11 Saying, Unto thee will I give the land of Canaan, the lot of your inheritance:
12 When they were but a few men in number; yea, very few, and strangers in it.
13 When they went from one nation to another, from one kingdom to another people.
14 He suffered no man to do them wrong: yea, he reproved kings for their sake.
15 Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.
16 Moreover he called for a famine upon the land: he brake the whole staff of bread.
17 He sent a man before them, even Joseph, who was sold for a servant:
18 Whose feet they hurt with fetters: he was laid in iron:
19 Until the time that his word came: the word of the Lord tried him.
20 The king sent and loosed him; even the ruler of the people and let him go free.
21 He made him lord of his house, and ruler of all his substance:
22 To bind his princes at his pleasure; and teach his senators wisdom.
23 Israel also came into Egypt; and Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham.
24 And he increased his people greatly; and made them stronger than their enemies.
25 He turned their heart to hate his people, to deal subtly with his servants.
26 He sent Moses his servant; and Aaron whom he had chosen.
27 They shewed his signs among them, and wonders in the land of Ham.
28 He sent darkness and made it dark; and they rebelled not against his word.
29 He turned their waters into blood and slew their fish.
30 Their land brought forth frogs in abundance, in the chambers of their kings.
31 He spake, and there came divers sorts of flies, and lice in all their coasts.
32 He gave them hail for rain and flaming fire in their land.
33 He smote their vines also and their fig trees; and brake the trees of their coasts.
34 He spake, and the locusts came, and caterpillars, and that without number,
35 And did eat up all the herbs in their land and devoured the fruit of their ground.
36 He smote also all the firstborn in their land, the chief of all their strength.
37 He brought them forth also with silver and gold: and there was not one feeble person among their tribes.
38 Egypt was glad when they departed: for the fear of them fell upon them.
39 He spread a cloud for a covering; and fire to give light in the night.
40 The people asked, and he brought quails, and satisfied them with the bread of heaven.
41 He opened the rock, and the waters gushed out; they ran in the dry places like a river.
42 For he remembered his holy promise, and Abraham his servant.
43 And he brought forth his people with joy, and his chosen with gladness:
44 And gave them the lands of the heathen: and they inherited the labor of the people.
45 That they might observe his statutes and keep his laws. Praise ye the Lord. (KJV)
This is an historical psalm that was written by David for the purpose of bring the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem from the House of Obededom. To get a full understanding of this psalm read I Chronicles 16.
As we looked at Psalm 104 yesterday we realized that God’s hand is visible in every aspect of His creation. When we study nature we are amazed at the details that we find in everything on this earth. In this psalm we see God’s hand in history. David starts this psalm out by giving thanks to God and to the covenant God made to Abraham. As David writes this psalm he looks back to the covenant God made to Abraham as a covenant to the nation of Israel. As God was creating a nation that would observe his statues and keep his laws.
As believers we can also see God’s hand in history. As we study the scriptures we see glimpses of the ministry of Christ as well as the message of the salvation of the cross. We also see God’s hand in the history as nations rise and fall. As believers we must look to the future when there will be a new heaven and new earth. For us we look and see that God’s promise to Eve that her seed shall bruise the head of the serpent, and to the promise made to David concerning Christ in II Samuel 7:12-16. Just as Simeon in Luke chapter two looked to the promise of Lord’s Christ first coming; so, shall we be looking for the second coming of Christ.
1 Bless the Lord, O my soul. O Lord my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honor and majesty.
2 Who covers thyself with light as with a garment: who stretches out the heavens like a curtain:
3 Who lays the beams of his chambers in the waters: who makes the clouds his chariot: who walks upon the wings of the wind:
4 Who makes his angels spirits, his ministers a flaming fire:
5 Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed forever.
6 Thou covers it with the deep as with a garment: the waters stood above the mountains.
7 At thy rebuke they fled; at the voice of thy thunder, they hasted away.
8 They go up by the mountains; they go down by the valleys unto the place which thou hast founded for them.
9 Thou hast set a bound that they may not pass over; that they turn not again to cover the earth.
10 He sends the springs into the valleys, which run among the hills.
11 They give drink to every beast of the field: the wild asses quench their thirst.
12 By them shall the fowls of the heaven have their habitation, which sing among the branches.
13 He waters the hills from his chambers: the earth is satisfied with the fruit of thy works.
14 He causes the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth.
15 And wine that makes glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengthen man’s heart.
16 The trees of the Lord are full of sap; the cedars of Lebanon, which he hath planted.
17 Where the birds make their nests: as for the stork, the fir trees are her house.
18 The high hills are a refuge for the wild goats, and the rocks for the conies.
19 He appointed the moon for seasons: the sun knows his going down.
20 Thou makes darkness, and it is night: wherein all the beasts of the forest do creep forth.
21 The young lions roar after their prey and seek their meat from God.
22 The sun arises, they gather themselves together, and lay them down in their dens.
23 Man goes forth unto his work and to his labor until the evening.
24 O Lord, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches.
25 So is this great and wide sea, wherein are things creeping innumerable, both small and great beasts.
26 There go the ships: there is that leviathan, whom thou hast made to play therein.
27 These wait all upon thee; that thou may give them their meat in due season.
28 That thou gives them they gather: thou opens thine hand, they are filled with good.
29 Thou hides thy face, they are troubled: thou takes away their breath, they die, and return to their dust.
30 Thou sends forth thy spirit, they are created: and thou renews the face of the earth.
31 The glory of the Lord shall endure forever: the Lord shall rejoice in his works.
32 He looks on the earth, and it trembles: he touches the hills, and they smoke.
33 I will sing unto the Lord as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.
34 My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the Lord.
35 Let the sinners be consumed out of the earth and let the wicked be no more. Bless thou the Lord, O my soul. Praise ye the Lord. (KJV)
The theme of this Psalm is stated in verse one, Praise the Lord. The psalmist praises the Lord as the creator and the one who is fully controlling every aspect in his universe. Hebrews 11:3 illustrates how important our belief in God as the creator reflects how much we need to be thankful for the everyday events that that makes earth a wonderful creation. In our daily walk we wanted our daily meditations to be pleasing to God. So, as you read this Psalm, reflect upon these simple words of praise and remember that God is the creator and controller of this Universe.
This psalm covers the important framework of how the earth and everything on it exist. In verse five we read that God created the foundations of the earth that it should not be removed forever. When we study the relationship of the sun and the moon to the earth we see how perfect this relationship is to provide the prefect environment for life. Just a study of the water cycle shows the complexity this one system has on our planet. This psalm reflects the words of Psalms 19:1 “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament sheweth his handiwork”. How can man deny God’s existence? As believers we see God’s hand in everything around us; however, we also see those around us deny God and his role creation of the earth. To them we are a product of evolution.
However, in Romans 1:21-24 we see that man just like Satan can’t deny God. They see His glory but refuses to recognize God. And instead become vain and change the glory of God into an image made to the likeness of corruptible man. They changed the truth of God into a lie and worship and serve them self (the creation of God) more than God. Then this happens wickedness grows and evil takes over the society in which we reside within. But a wise soul might ask, “If God is in control then why does evil happen?” This question is not simple to answer; and even harder to understand. A reading of Genesis chapter three and an understanding of how sin entered the human race can start the explanation how the sinful nature of begin in the human race and why evil exist in our world today. To understand why God has let man become like God and control the world around him is a question that I could make as a focus on during my daily meditations. However, last verses of this psalm points to the true focus of our meditations: “I will sing unto the Lord as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being. My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the Lord.” This psalm ends with this prayer “Let the sinners be consumed and let the wicked be no more.”
My 5 Daily Psalms 