Psalm 76

A psalm of Asaph

This is the fifth of twelve Psalms bear the name of Asaph

¹ In Judah God is known; his name is great in Israel.
² His tent is in Salem, his dwelling place in Zion.
³ Therehe broke the flashing arrows, the shields and the swords, the weapons of war. Selah
⁴ You are resplendent with light, more majestic than mountains rich with game.
⁵ Valiant men lie plundered, they sleep their last sleep; not one of the warriors can lift his hands.
⁶ At your rebuke, O God of Jacob, both horse and chariot lie still.
⁷ You alone are to be feared. Who can stand before you when you are angry?
⁸ From heaven you pronounced judgment, and the land feared and was quiet
⁹ when you, O God, rose up to judge, to save all the afflicted of the land. Selah
¹⁰ Surely your wrath against men brings you praise, and the survivors of your wrath are restrained.
¹¹ Make vows to the LORD your God and fulfill them; let all the neighboring lands bring gifts to the One to be feared.
¹² He breaks the spirit of rulers; he is feared by the kings of the earth.

It is important when studying the Psalms to understand their historical background. As I study this psalm today, I not only reflected the life span of Asaph but carried it out to my life span as well. During Asaph’s life span he probably witness the reign of the first three Kings of Israel. If he lived eighty years then he could have witness twenty years under Saul, forty years under David and twenty years under Solomon. As I reflect upon my nearly seventy years on this earth, I look back at the leaders of the USA during my life time.

Dwight D. Eisenhower 1953-1961

John F. Kennedy 1961-1963

Lyndon B. Johnson 1963-1969

Richard Nixon 1969-1974

Gerald Ford 1974-1977

Jimmy Carter 1977-1981

Ronald Reagan 1981-1989

George Bush 1989-1993

Bill Clinton 1993-2001

George W. Bush 2001-2009

Barak Obama 2009-2017

Donald Trump 2017-2021

Joe Biden 2021-present

As I reflect on verse one of this psalm in relationship to Asaph life to the history of Israel, I realized that God was known in Israel and that his name was great. This has been the same with the USA in my lifetime. However, as I look back upon the list of the presidents above, I wonder how many of them truly knew God was really in control? So, as you read this psalm look at the role that God plays on this earth:

he broke the flashing arrows, the shields and the swords

the weapons of war

You are resplendent with light

You alone are to be feared.

Who can stand before you when you are angry
From heaven you pronounced judgment.

God, rose up to judge, to save all the afflicted of the land

your wrath against men brings you praise

the survivors of your wrath are restrained.
He breaks the spirit of rulers

he is feared by the kings of the earth.

As I study the psalms it forces me to evaluate the issues of life on an eternal timeframe not a daily timeframe. As I examine the activities of the human race and the goals that people place on the daily activities to reach these goals, I notice how the timeframe centers around today or tomorrow. When studying the Lord’s Sermon on the Mount we find these words in Matthew 6:34 “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” when addressing how we need to approach the daily issues of life. However, the main event I am looking for is the coming of my Lord. His promise return is something that should be the desire of all Christians. Be wise and keep extra oil for your lamp. Be ready for his return.

Psalm 75

A psalm of Asaph.

This is the fourth of twelve Psalms bear the name of Asaph

¹ We give thanks to you, O God, we give thanks, for your name is near; men tell of your wonderful deeds.
² You say, “I choose the appointed time; it is I who judge uprightly.
³ When the earth and all its people quake, it is I who hold its pillars firm. Selah
⁴ To the arrogant I say, ‘Boast no more,’ and to the wicked, ‘Do not lift up your horns.
⁵ Do not lift your horns against heaven; do not speak with outstretched neck.
⁶ No one from the east or the west or from the desert can exalt a man.
⁷ But it is God who judges: He brings one down, he exalts another.
⁸ In the hand of the LORD is a cup full of foaming wine mixed with spices; he pours it out, and all the wicked of the earth drink it down to its very dregs.
⁹ As for me, I will declare this forever; I will sing praise to the God of Jacob.
¹⁰ I will cut off the horns of all the wicked, but the horns of the righteous will be lifted up.

As I read the psalms after a while some of the themes are repeated and I wondered what else could I say about this theme. Then verse nine gives me the answer; “As for me, I will declare this forever; I will sing praise to the God of Jacob”. Forever is a term that we cannot fully comprehend in this life. When we were young, we set goals and some of these goals seem to take forever to achieve. These goals that made forever seems to be a far away when we are young, become reality and we realize that this timeframe we called forever was only a short period of time. There is one goal that will stand the test of forever and that is to be ever praising God. So, as I live my live on this earth, I will praise Him, and when I pass from this life to step into eternity the praising will never cease.

When you have been taken advantage of, been abused, been cheated on, been accused falsely, or attached for standing up for the truth than read this psalm and understand that it is God who chooses the appointed time for his judgment. And yes, there is a time when the righteous will be lifted, and the wicked will be cut off. Remember this it is in God’s hand not ours.

Psalm 74

A maskil of Asaph.

This is the third of twelve Psalms bear the name of Asaph

¹ Why have you rejected us forever, O God? Why does your anger smolder against the sheep of your pasture?
² Remember the people you purchased of old, the tribe of your inheritance, whom you redeemed Mount Zion, where you dwelt.
³ Turn your steps toward these everlasting ruins, all this destruction the enemy has brought on the sanctuary.
⁴ Your foes roared in the place where you met with us; they set up their standards as signs.
⁵ They behaved like men wielding axes to cut through a thicket of trees.
⁶ They smashed all the carved paneling with their axes and hatchets.
⁷ They burned your sanctuary to the ground; they defiled the dwelling place of your Name.
⁸ They said in their hearts, “We will crush them completely!” They burned every place where God was worshiped in the land.
⁹ We are given no miraculous signs; no prophets are left, and none of us knows how long this will be.
¹⁰ How long will the enemy mock you, O God? Will the foe revile your name forever?
¹¹ Why do you hold back your hand, your right hand? Take it from the folds of your garment and destroy them!
¹² But you, O God, are my king from of old; you bring salvation upon the earth.
¹³ It was you who split open the sea by your power; you broke the heads of the monster in the waters.
¹⁴ It was you who crushed the heads of Leviathan and gave him as food to the creatures of the desert.
¹⁵ It was you who opened up springs and streams; you dried up the ever flowing rivers.
¹⁶ The day is yours, and yours also the night; you established the sun and moon.
¹⁷ It was you who set all the boundaries of the earth; you made both summer and winter.
¹⁸ Remember how the enemy has mocked you, O LORD, how foolish people have reviled your name.
¹⁹ Do not hand over the life of your dove to wild beasts; do not forget the lives of your afflicted people forever.
²⁰ Have regard for your covenant, because haunts of violence fill the dark places of the land.
²¹ Do not let the oppressed retreat in disgrace; may the poor and needy praise your name.
²² Rise up, O God, and defend your cause; remember how fools mock you all day long.
²³ Do not ignore the clamor of your adversaries, the uproar of your enemies, which rises continually.

In this psalm Asaph tackles the question of why a sovereign God permits evil and why this evil behavior seems to prosper. This is a struggle that many have try to grasp and have even wrote books about this struggle. One of my favorite books is the Lord of the Rings written by J. R. R. Tolkien. Tolkien books which were published between 1954 and 1955 and reflected the world in which he lived. He had fought in World War I and witness the trench warfare of this war. He also witness the effects that World War II left on this world. These events probably shaped the battle scenes in his books. The battles in his writing seem to reflect the same details as Asaph writes in this psalm. Amazing the natural of mankind has not improved since Cain killed Abel. If fact the further away we remove God away from our everyday life the more wickedness grows in our society, And yet man finds ways and uses their imaginations to made the wickedness of their heart to seem justified to the world around them.

However, Asaph ask of the Lord to remember the people you have purchased and not to handle them over to these wild beasts. Asaph starts this psalm out by asking God why he has rejected them. He ends this psalm with the plea “Rise up, O God, and defend your cause”. As I read this psalm I realize that the battle is not centered around me or anyone else, it is God’s battle. The battle we see in this world today is not only man against man, but man rebelling against God. It is our place in the battle to stand up for God’s way. We are the light that God has placed in this world as a witness against their wackiness. And yet we must be careful ,as his chosen vessels, not to forget the way of God. We must avoid letting sin become our master. This is why we must stay in God’s word. To give us the light to live our daily life.

Psalm 73

This is the second of twelve Psalms bear the name of Asaph

1 Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.
2 But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold.
3 For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4 They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong.
5 They are free from the burdens common to man; they are not plagued by human ills.
6 Therefore pride is their necklace; they clothe themselves with violence.
7 From their callous hearts comes iniquity; the evil conceits of their minds know no limits.
8 They scoff, and speak with malice; in their arrogance they threaten oppression.
9 Their mouths lay claim to heaven, and their tongues take possession of the earth.
10 Therefore their people turn to them and drink up waters in abundance.
11 They say, “How can God know? Does the Most High have knowledge?”
12 This is what the wicked are like always carefree, they increase in wealth.
13 Surely in vain have I kept my heart pure; in vain have I washed my hands in innocence.
14 All day long I have been plagued; I have been punished every morning.
15 If I had said, “I will speak thus,” I would have betrayed your children.
16 When I tried to understand all this, it was oppressive to me
17 till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny.
18 Surely you place them on slippery ground; you cast them down to ruin.
19 How suddenly are they destroyed, completely swept away by terrors!
20 As a dream when one awakes, so when you arise, O Lord, you will despise them as fantasies.
21 When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered,
22 I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you.
23 Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand.
24 You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
27 Those who are far from you will perish; you destroy all who are unfaithful to you.
28 But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds.

My purpose in life is found in verse 28.

This is the second of twelve Psalms that bears the name of Asaph and is probably one of the Psalms that has had the most material written about it.

In this psalm, Asaph tackles several difficult questions that believers will face in life. The first question he addresses is the question is why a sovereign God permits evil and why this evil behavior seems to prosper. Here is so of the reasoning that Asaph gives to address this issue.

Verse 1. Stated as a fact: ^“Surely God is good to Israel, to those whoare pure in heart.”

Psalm 15 gives the characteristics of this type of person:

 walk is blameless

 does what is righteous

 who speaks the truth from his heart

 has no slander on his tongue

 does his neighbor no wrong

 casts no slur on his fellowman

 despises a vile man

 honors those who fear the LORD

 keeps his oath even when it hurts

 lends his money without usury

 does not accept a bribe against the innocent

He who does these things will never be shaken

Verses 2 and 3: The problem is stated as “I almost slipped”.

Why? Because I envied the arrogant. I saw their prosperity and desired it.

Verses 4 thru 12 Characteristics of the Arrogant:

They have no struggles

Their bodies are healthy and strong
They are free from the burdens common to man

They are not plagued by human ills.
They wear pride is their necklace

They clothe themselves with violence.
Their callous hearts are full of iniquity

The evil conceits of their minds know no limits.
They scoff, and speak with malice

In their arrogance, they threaten oppression.
Their mouths lay claim to heaven

Their tongues take possession of the earth.
Therefore, their people turn to them and drink up waters in abundance.
They say, “How can God know?”

They say, “Does the Most High have knowledge?”
This is what the wicked are like always carefree

They increase in wealth.

Verses 13 -16 The reasons I almost slipped (I saw their earthly treasures and desired them):

Surely in vain have I kept my heart pure

In vain have I washed my hands in innocence
All day long I have been plagued

I have been punished every morning.
If I had said, “I will speak thus,” I would have betrayed your children.
When I tried to understand all this, it was oppressive to me

Verses 17 thru 20 The answer to my question:

When I entered the sanctuary of God

I understood their final destiny
Surely, you place them on slippery ground

You cast them down to ruin
How suddenly are they destroyed

They are completely swept away by terrors! As a dream when one awakes, so when you arise, O Lord, you will despise them as fantasies.

Verses 21, 22 How the knowledge of God’s way has an effect me:

When my heart was grieved

My spirit embittered,
I was senseless and ignorant

I was a brute beast before you

Verses 23 thru 28 My relationship with God:

I am always with you

You hold me by my right hand
You guide me with your counsel

Afterward you will take me into glory
Whom have I in heaven but you

And earth has nothing I desire besides you
My flesh and my heart may fail

But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever
It is good to be near God

I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge

I will tell of all your deeds.

Verses 18, 19, 20, 27 The Ungodly relationship with God:

Surely, you place them on slippery ground

You cast them down to ruin.
How suddenly are they destroyed, completely swept away by terrors?

Those who are far from you will perish

You destroy all who are unfaithful to you

You will despise them as fantasies

This sentence from Oswald Chambers’ book My Utmost for His Highest from the reading onMarch 13 “ The consequences and circumstances resulting from our surrender will never even enter our mind, because our life will be totally consumed with Him” This is what I believe the psalmist is trying to portrait in this psalm. There is the way in which we should walk daily. However, we see many that live lifestyles we envy even through their walk is not in truth. We then begin to question our walk with God. The life of surrendering to God is a day by day actively. Some days it seems to be a moment by moment actively where we must constantly go back to him for strength. As I watched the Lord of the Rings, I marveled at the job that J.R. Tolkien did of portraying the Christian’s journey through life through the character of Frodo Baggins. This journey is full of good times, bad times, times of failure, times of success, times of friendship, times of betrayal, but the journey does continue. We can give up or go on. However, if we are totally commented to Christ, as Frodo was to his mission, we would keep moving forward in the task that is ahead of us. Frodo could have just given up, but he did not. The greatest purpose that a believer can have in his or her life is to grow into a closer relationship to God.

Psalm 72

Of Solomon.

¹ Endow the king with your justice, O God, the royal son with your righteousness.
² He will judge your people in righteousness, your afflicted ones with justice.
³ The mountains will bring prosperity to the people, the hills the fruit of righteousness.
⁴ He will defend the afflicted among the people and save the children of the needy; he will crush the oppressor.
⁵ He will endure as long as the sun, as long as the moon, through all generations.
⁶ He will be like rain falling on a mown field, like showers watering the earth.
⁷ In his days the righteous will flourish; prosperity will abound till the moon is no more.
⁸ He will rule from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth.
⁹ The desert tribes will bow before him and his enemies will lick the dust.
¹⁰ The kings of Tarshish and of distant shores will bring tribute to him; the kings of Sheba and Seba will present him gifts.
¹¹ All kings will bow down to him and all nations will serve him.
¹² For he will deliver the needy who cry out, the afflicted who have no one to help.
¹³ He will take pity on the weak and the needy and save the needy from death.
¹⁴ He will rescue them from oppression and violence, for precious is their blood in his sight.
¹⁵ Long may he live! May gold from Sheba be given him. May people ever pray for him and bless him all day long.
¹⁶ Let grain abound throughout the land; on the tops of the hills may it sway. Let its fruit flourish like Lebanon; let it thrive like the grass of the field.
¹⁷ May his name endure forever; may it continue as long as the sun. All nations will be blessed through him, and they will call him blessed.
¹⁸ Praise be to the LORD God, the God of Israel, who alone does marvelous deeds.
¹⁹ Praise be to his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen and Amen.
²⁰ This concludes the prayers of David son of Jesse.

As I read this psalm I see the words of a man who love his son and want the best for him. David had many sons, and like Adam and every generation after him children do not always follow the dreams of their parents. As a parent of seven children and a former middle school teacher I know how at an early age a child’s early focus is on self. This is the nature of mankind. The free will of a child to chose their future path may be influence by others, but the final decision will be theirs. We can was a parent or someone involved in an young person’s live set an example, however as David concludes in this psalm we must include prayer. We must come to the conclusion that is it God who directs path, we are just to set the examples.

Psalm 71

¹ In you, O LORD, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame.
² Rescue me and deliver me in your righteousness; turn your ear to me and save me.
³ Be my rock of refuge, to which I can always go; give the command to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress.
⁴ Deliver me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the grasp of evil and cruel men.
⁵ For you have been my hope, O Sovereign LORD, my confidence since my youth.
⁶ From birth I have relied on you; you brought me forth from my mother’s womb. I will ever praise you.
⁷ I have become like a portent to many, but you are my strong refuge.
⁸ My mouth is filled with your praise, declaring your splendor all day long.
⁹ Do not cast me away when I am old; do not forsake me when my strength is gone.
¹⁰ For my enemies speak against me; those who wait to kill me conspire together.
¹¹ They say, “God has forsaken him; pursue him and seize him, for no one will rescue him.”
¹² Be not far from me, O God; come quickly, O my God, to help me.
¹³ May my accusers perish in shame; may those who want to harm me be covered with scorn and disgrace.
¹⁴ But as for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more.
¹⁵ My mouth will tell of your righteousness, of your salvation all day long, though I know not its measure.
¹⁶ I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, O Sovereign LORD; I will proclaim your righteousness, yours alone.
¹⁷ Since my youth, O God, you have taught me, and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds.
¹⁸ Even when I am old and gray do not forsake me, O God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your might to all who are to come.
¹⁹ Your righteousness reaches to the skies, O God, you who have done great things. Who, O God, is like you?
²⁰ Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again; from the depths of the earth you will again bring me up.
²¹ You will increase my honor and comfort me once again.
²² I will praise you with the harp for your faithfulness, O my God; I will sing praise to you with the lyre, O Holy One of Israel.
²³ My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to you I, whom you have redeemed.
²⁴ My tongue will tell of your righteous acts all day long, for those who wanted to harm me have been put to shame and confusion.

Charles Spurgeon sums up this Psalm by calling it “THE PRAYER OF THE AGED BELIEVER”. He sums up this Psalm asbeing written by one “who, in holy confidence of faith, strengthened by a long and remarkable experience, pleads against his enemies, and asks further blessings for himself. Anticipating a gracious reply, he promises to magnify the Lord exceedingly.” As I read this Psalm, I picture the walk of a righteous person as he makes his journey of life on this earth. Verse one set the stage for having a righteous walk on our journey through life on this earth. We must learn that it is only in God we can find a refuge, a place to retreat in times of trouble.

As I read this Psalm, I realize that one of the main purposes of a believer is to tell of the mighty acts of God in our life and to proclaim his righteousness to others. In this Psalm the Psalmist declares to others God’s splendor all day long as he praises the Lord more and more. He proclaims God’s righteous and his salvation all day long. He daily conversation centers on God’s righteousness both in times of trouble as well as seasons of great abundant of blessings in one’s life. However, the Psalmist recognizes that there are those who want to harm him, who are characterized as wicked, evil and cruel man. In light of this Psalm believers today should put forth the same example in their lives as the Psalmist does in this Psalm. So as you walk daily in this world walk in the same light as the Psalmist did: taking refuge in the Lord, knowing it is He who rescues you from the wicked, praising God all the daily long, knowing that he is the one that has created the splendor that we see daily and finally realizing that it is Him who teaches us to walk in the way.

I have realized that the more I study the Psalms the more my daily conversations centered on how great God’s righteous acts are toward those whom pursue a life pleasing to Him. As having a blessed life of knowing Christ from an early age I reflect on my youth and recall how truly this greatness of His goodness has been in my life. As we age, we begin to realize the true pressures of this life and how we are in a battle against the spiritual wickedness that Paul writes about in Ephesians chapter six. So as we face these battles we must approach it in the same manner as Paul outlines in Philippians chapter three: “Yea verily, and I count all things to be loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but refuse, that I may gain Christ, and be found in him, not having a righteousness of mine own, even that which is of the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith: that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, becoming conformed unto his death; if by any means I may attain unto the resurrection from the dead.” So, as I go about today’s journey may my song be reflective of that great hymn “and the things of earth grow strangely dim in the light of his glory and grace”.

As I read and reflect upon these words of David and study his life, I realize that the path God had for David was not always the path that David had for himself. In Revelation three verses seven and eight John writes “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things said he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that opened, and no man shuts; and shuts, and no man opened; I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.”. As I look at this verse and also study the only other reference to the key of David found in Isaiah 22:22 I noticed three characteristics that the church of Philadelphia had that David also possessed: little strength, kept God’s ways and did not deny God’s name. David’s strength was in his trust of God strength and not the strength that David possessed. David knew that the events and daily happenings in his life was for God’s purpose and not the path that David had planned for that day. Did David realize this from his youth? I believe not, He grew in the grace and the knowledge of the Lord just as we all do. However, this one thing was true in David’s life as they must be in the believer’s life; he did not deny God or God’s way.

Psalm 70

¹ Hasten, O God, to save me; O LORD, come quickly to help me.
² May those who seek my life be put to shame and confusion; may all who desire my ruin be turned back in disgrace.
³ May those who say to me, “Aha! Aha!” turn back because of their shame.
⁴ But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who love your salvation always say, “Let God be exalted!”
⁵ Yet I am poor and needy; come quickly to me, O God. You are my help and my deliverer; O LORD, do not delay.

As I read this psalm, I can picture Christ praying this during his earthly ministry. The message of God’s love and the way of his righteousness was not only rejected but was opposed by the very ones he was sent to share the good news of God’s salvation. As you read this psalm ask yourself this simple which group would I be in: those who desire Christ’s ruin, or those who love your salvation? Those who seek his ruin will be turned back in disgrace, those who love his salvation will praise the Lord.

As I listen to the messages that are in the world around me the message of Christ and the price that was paid with his death on the cross seems to be lost even during the Easter season that we are now approaching. May I be along those who love the salvation that the Lord provdes. The words in verse five “Yet I am poor and needy, come quickly to me” can also be use to describe this generation. These words are like those that John used to describe the condition of the church of Laodicea in the Revelations chapter three. The corruption of mankind in this world can be seen all around us. And yet the focus of the church today making the world around it a better place and in the process forgetting the message of the cross.

We must realize that we are all poor and needy, and no matter how hard we try we can’t change the course of the evil in this world. We are given the instruction on how to try to live peaceable with all man; however, with the ungodly this s almost impossible. We must realize that in our fallen state we can never achieve perfection. Instead, we are to strive to live each day as a living sacrifice holy and acceptable to God. This is only possible if we live in the power of God’s Word. We can try to change the world to be a better place; however, we must realize that we are in a war and that the enemy is continually trying to destroy our works. However, there will come a day that God will judge all men. The only hope for anyone is that they accept the free gift of God for their salvation and that is the Lord Jesus. This is the true message of the gospel.

Psalm 69

¹ Save me, O God, for the waters have come up to my neck.
² I sink in the miry depths, where there is no foothold. I have come into the deep waters; the floods engulf me.
³ I am worn out calling for help; my throat is parched. My eyes fail, looking for my God.
⁴ Those who hate me without reason outnumber the hairs of my head; many are my enemies without cause, those who seek to destroy me. I am forced to restore what I did not steal.
⁵ You know my folly, O God; my guilt is not hidden from you.
⁶ May those who hope in you not be disgraced because of me, O Lord, the LORD Almighty; may those who seek you not be put to shame because of me, O God of Israel.
⁷ For I endure scorn for your sake, and shame covers my face.
⁸ I am a stranger to my brothers, an alien to my own mother’s sons;
⁹ for zeal for your house consumes me, and the insults of those who insult you fall on me.
¹⁰ When I weep and fast, I must endure scorn;
¹¹ when I put on sackcloth, people make sport of me.
¹² Those who sit at the gate mock me, and I am the song of the drunkards.
¹³ But I pray to you, O LORD, in the time of your favor; in your great love, O God, answer me with your sure salvation.
¹⁴ Rescue me from the mire, do not let me sink; deliver me from those who hate me, from the deep waters.
¹⁵ Do not let the floodwaters engulf me or the depths swallow me up or the pit close its mouth over me.
¹⁶ Answer me, O LORD, out of the goodness of your love; in your great mercy turn to me.
¹⁷ Do not hide your face from your servant; answer me quickly, for I am in trouble.
¹⁸ Come near and rescue me; redeem me because of my foes.
¹⁹ You know how I am scorned, disgraced and shamed; all my enemies are before you.
²⁰ Scorn has broken my heart and has left me helpless; I looked for sympathy, but there was none, for comforters, but I found none.
²¹ They put gall in my food and gave me vinegar for my thirst.
²² May the table set before them become a snare; may it become retribution and a trap.
²³ May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see, and their backs be bent forever.
²⁴ Pour out your wrath on them; let your fierce anger overtake them.
²⁵ May their place be deserted; let there be no one to dwell in their tents.
²⁶ For they persecute those you wound and talk about the pain of those you hurt.
²⁷ Charge them with crime upon crime; do not let them share in your salvation.
²⁸ May they be blotted out of the book of life and not be listed with the righteous.
²⁹ I am in pain and distress; may your salvation, O God, protect me.
³⁰ I will praise God’s name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving.
³¹ This will please the LORD more than an ox, more than a bull with its horns and hoofs.
³² The poor will see and be glad you who seek God, may your hearts live!
³³ The LORD hears the needy and does not despise his captive people.
³⁴ Let heaven and earth praise him, the seas and all that move in them,
³⁵ for God will save Zion and rebuild the cities of Judah. Then people will settle there and possess it;
³⁶ the children of his servants will inherit it, and those who love his name will dwell there.

As I read this psalm it points me to the suffering of Christ on the last day of his ministry on this earth. So many of these verses are tied to the New Testament account of this day. My I be like the poor in verse thirty-two and be glad. As Christ stated in Matthew 5:3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” is alluded to here in verse thirty-six “those who love his name will dwell there”. So as you read this psalm reflect back on the cross, and then focus you praise to the one who is now seated on the right hand of God in heaven.

This psalm not only reflects the life of David in hid darkness times, or the final days of Christ; but it also reflects the battles that true Christians face when they stand against the ways of the world. Just as Christ’s final days on this earth lead to the cross instead of a throne, so too will the path of some believer’s lead down a path of uncertainty. In my youth I was blessed to have great hymns to remind me of this walk. One of these songs was “Follow Me” written in 1953 by Ira Stanphill which gave me a great picture of what the Christian’s walk on earth should be like today.

I traveled down a lonely road
And no one seemed to care
The burdens on my weary back
Had bowed me to despair
I oft complained to Jesus
How folks were treating me
And then I heard him say so tenderly

“My feet were also weary upon the Calvary Road
The cross became so heavy I fell beneath the load
Be faithful weary children the morning I can see
Just lift your cross and follow close to Me.’

I work so hard for Jesus, I often boast and say,
I’ve sacrificed a lot of things, to walk the narrow way.
I gave up fame and fortune, I’m worth a lot to Thee
And then I hear Him gently say to me:

“I left the throne of glory and counted it but loss,
My hands were nailed in anger upon the cruel cross.
But now we’ll make the journey with your hand close in mine
So, lift your cross and follow close to Me.”

O Jesus, if I die someday upon a foreign field
T’would be no more than love demands no less could I repay.
No greater love hath mortal man than for a friend to die:
These are the words He gently spoke to me:

“If just a cup of water I place within your hand,
Then just a cup of water is all that I demand.
But if by death to living, they can thy glory see,
I’ll take my cross and follow close to Thee.

Psalm 68

¹ May God arise, may his enemies be scattered; may his foes flee before him.
² As smoke is blown away by the wind, may you blow them away; as wax melts before the fire, may the wicked perish before God.
³ But may the righteous be glad and rejoice before God; may they be happy and joyful.
⁴ Sing to God, sing praise to his name, extol him who rides on the clouds his name is the LORD and rejoice before him.
⁵ A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling.
⁶ God sets the lonely in families, he leads forth the prisoners with singing; but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.
⁷ When you went out before your people, O God, when you marched through the wasteland, Selah
⁸ the earth shook, the heavens poured down rain, before God, the One of Sinai, before God, the God of Israel.
⁹ You gave abundant showers, O God; you refreshed your weary inheritance.
¹⁰ Your people settled in it, and from your bounty, O God, you provided for the poor.
¹¹ The Lord announced the word, and great was the company of those who proclaimed it:
¹² “Kings and armies flee in haste; in the camps men divide the plunder.
¹³ Even while you sleep among the campfires, the wings of my dove are sheathed with silver, its feathers with shining gold.”
¹⁴ When the Almighty scattered the kings in the land, it was like snow fallen on Zalmon.
¹⁵ The mountains of Bashan are majestic mountains; rugged are the mountains of Bashan.
¹⁶ Why gaze in envy, O rugged mountains, at the mountain where God chooses to reign, where the LORD himself will dwell forever?

¹⁷ The chariots of God are tens of thousands and thousands of thousands; the Lord has come from Sinai into his sanctuary.
¹⁸ When you ascended on high, you led captives in your train; you received gifts from men, even from the rebellious that you, O LORD God, might dwell there.
¹⁹ Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens. Selah
²⁰ Our God is a God who saves; from the Sovereign LORD comes escape from death.
²¹ Surely God will crush the heads of his enemies, the hairy crowns of those who go on in their sins.
²² The Lord says, “I will bring them from Bashan; I will bring them from the depths of the sea,
²³ that you may plunge your feet in the blood of your foes, while the tongues of your dogs have their share.”
²⁴ Your procession has come into view, O God, the procession of my God and King into the sanctuary.
²⁵ In front are the singers, after themthe musicians; with them are the maidens playing tambourines.

²⁶ Praise God in the great congregation; praise the LORD in the assembly of Israel.
²⁷ There is the little tribe of Benjamin, leading them, there the great throng of Judah’s princes, and there the princes of Zebulun and of Naphtali.
²⁸ Summon your power, O God; show us your strength, O God, as you have done before.
²⁹ Because of your temple at Jerusalem kings will bring you gifts.
³⁰ Rebuke the beast among the reeds, the herd of bulls among the calves of the nations. Humbled, may it bring bars of silver. Scatter the nations who delight in war.
³¹ Envoys will come from Egypt; Cush will submit herself to God.
³² Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth, sing praise to the Lord, Selah
³³ to him who rides the ancient skies above, who thunders with mighty voice.
³⁴ Proclaim the power of God, whose majesty is over Israel, whose power is in the skies.
³⁵ You are awesome, O God, in your sanctuary; the God of Israel gives power and strength to his people. Praise be to God!

Introduction of Psalm 68 verse 1-3.
May God arise

May his enemies be scattered

May his foes flee before him
May you blow them away as smoke is blown away by the wind

May the wicked perish before God as wax melts before the fire
May the righteous be glad and rejoice before God

May they be happy and joyful

Praises to God 4-6
Sing to God, sing praise to his name, extol him who rides on the clouds his name is the LORD and rejoice before him. A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families, he leads forth the prisoners with singing; but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.

History of God with his people verses 7-15.

When you went out before your people, O God, when you marched through the wasteland, Selah the earth shook, the heavens poured down rain, before God, the One of Sinai, before God, the God of Israel. You gave abundant showers, O God; you refreshed your weary inheritance. Your people settled in it, and from your bounty, O God, you provided for the poor. The Lord announced the word, and great was the company of those who proclaimed it: “Kings and armies flee in haste; in the camps men divide the plunder. Even while you sleep among the campfires, the wings of my dove are sheathed with silver, its feathers with shining gold.”
When the Almighty scattered the kings in the land, it was like snow fallen on Zalmon. The mountains of Bashan are majestic mountains; rugged are the mountains of Bashan.

Future battle of the Lord. 16-33

Why gaze in envy, O rugged mountains, at the mountain where God chooses to reign, where the LORD himself will dwell forever? The chariots of God are tens of thousands and thousands of thousands; the Lord has come from Sinai into his sanctuary. When you ascended on high, you led captives in your train; you received gifts from men, even from the rebellious that you, O LORD God, might dwell there. Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens. Selah Our God is a God who saves; from the Sovereign LORD comes escape from death. Surely God will crush the heads of his enemies, the hairy crowns of those who go on in their sins. The Lord says, “I will bring them from Bashan; I will bring them from the depths of the sea, that you may plunge your feet in the blood of your foes, while the tongues of your dogs have their share.” Your procession has come into view, O God, the procession of my God and King into the sanctuary. In front are the singers, after themthe musicians; with them are the maidens playing tambourines. Praise God in the great congregation; praise the LORD in the assembly of Israel. There is the little tribe of Benjamin, leading them, there the great throng of Judah’s princes, and there the princes of Zebulun and of Naphtali. Summon your power, O God; show us your strength, O God, as you have done before. Because of your temple at Jerusalem kings will bring you gifts. Rebuke the beast among the reeds, the herd of bulls among the calves of the nations. Humbled, may it bring bars of silver. Scatter the nations who delight in war. Envoys will come from Egypt; Cush will submit herself to God. Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth, sing praise to the Lord, Selah to him who rides the ancient skies above, who thunders with mighty voice.

Our message to the world verses 34,35.

Proclaim the power of God, whose majesty is over Israel, whose power is in the skies. You are awesome, O God, in your sanctuary; the God of Israel gives power and strength to his people. Praise be to God!

As you can see, I paraphrased this Psalm to help me get a better grasp of it meaning.

Introduction of Psalm 68 verse 1-3

Praises to God 4-6

History of God with his people verses 7-15

Future battle of the Lord. 16-33

Our message to the world verses 34,35

This psalm reminds me of Paul’s ending message to the Ephesians. In Ephesians 6:10-12 Paul writes “Finally my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” The battle began for mankind in the garden of Eden and is still going on to this day. Yes, Christ has paid the price for our redemption with His death and resurrection; however, we are still on the battlefield until the day of the great white throne judgment. The battle will end when we are within in our new sanctuary the new heaven and the new earth. Just remember that God is always present in the believer’s life even when we can’t feel his present.

Psalm 67

¹ May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine upon us, Selah
² that your ways may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations.
³ May the peoples praise you, O God; may all the peoples praise you.
⁴ May the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you rule the peoples justly and guide the nations of the earth. Selah
⁵ May the peoples praise you, O God; may all the peoples praise you.
⁶ Then the land will yield its harvest, and God, our God, will bless us.
⁷ God will bless us, and all the ends of the earth will fear him.

As I started studying this Psalm I really did not know where to begin. This is a simple Psalm with a simple message “may God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine upon us”. Yet it was this simple prayer that Moses (Numbers 6:22-27) instructed Aaron and his sons to use to bless Israel. This benediction recognizes that God is the source of all good blessings in a person’s life.

Verse two presents two requests of knowledge from the writer of this Psalm to God. First that His ways may be known on the earth. The second was that his salvation might be known among all nations. The interesting issue in this verse is the focus on the whole earth, not just the nation of Israel. We have the tendency just focus on the issues around us, but in this verse the author of this Psalm makes us realized that the knowledge of God and his salvation is for the whole world.

The last two verses are the realization of the results that can come from following God’s ways. The land will yield it harvest, we will be blessed of God, and all the ends of the earth will fear him.

We are living in an age of opportunities that this world has never witness. And yet we also are witnessing the destructive forces of sin that can destroy these opportunities. This psalm includes a very powerful word, and that word is MAY. God has given us the freedom to walk in his way or in the way of Satan, which is way of making self the guiding force in one’s life. Walking God’s way is difficult for man because of our sinful nature. This nature places the focus of our life on self and not God. It becomes a life about ME not Him. This psalm reflects the walk of those who make God’s way their walk. May the opportunities of life be seen as a blessing from God instead of the works of man’s great achievements.