This is the eleventh of twelve Psalms bear the name of Asaph
1 God stands in the congregation of the mighty; he judges among the gods.
2 How long will ye judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked? Selah.
3 Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy.
4 Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked.
5 They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course.
6 I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the Most High.
7 But ye shall die like men and fall like one of the princes.
8 Arise, O God, judge the earth: for thou shalt inherit all nations. (KJV)
This is the psalm that Christ referred to in John 10:34. It was on this discourse that the Jews ask him this question “How long dost thou hold us in suspense? If thou art the Christ, tell us plainly.” Christ answer was simple “I told you and you believed not.” He ended by saying “I and the Father are one.” To this the Jews took up stones to stone him and answer him “we stone you not for your good works, but because thou being a man make thyself God.” Then Jesus referred them to this psalm. The theme of John chapter ten is the good shepherd and his flock. In this discourse Christ pictured himself as the good shepherd who took care of his sheep and did not act as a hireling who did not care for the sheep, but for his own personal needs. The good shepherd cares for the sheep, but the hireling only cares for himself. The rulers of the Jews who were to guide the weak and needy, the fatherless and the poor, forsook their duty and focused on making their lives better at the expense of the ones that were entrusted to protect. As I was studying A.W. Tozer’s book Knowledge Of The Holy this week he point the conclusion of how the religious as well as the political leaders at the time of Christ did not have right view of God. The same can also be said about the religious and political leaders of today. As I study the truths in his book, I realized how much of our daily activities does not include the realization God in our decisions. After studying the chapter on God Incomprehensible, I realized how thankful I am for Christ. By trusting in Christ, I can get a glimpse of God. As John writes in I John 1:3 “that which we have seen and heard declare we unto you also, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and our fellowship is with the Father, and with his son Jesus Christ.” I can now fellowship with my creator.
He also states in chapter 3 verses one and two that we are the sons of God.
So, think about the quote from this psalm “ye are Gods” in relationship to John’s writings in I John chapter three. Christ the son of God came to earth as the son of Man and was manifested to take away sins so that one day we too will be like him. Therefore, everyone that has this hope in Christ purifies himself even as Christ is pure. Ask yourself this question today “where is your hope for eternity found?”. Does your daily activities center around the pursuit of the knowledge of the holy, eternal, and incomprehensible God?
Another approach to understanding this psalm could be how those whom God has appointed to be in positions of power use their power for evil instead of good. In this psalm Asaph writes about those that have the responsibility of watching over and taking care of the ones below them. Their duty was to deliver the poor and the needly and to rid them from the hand of the wicked. However, their desire became self-centered and instead of fulfilling the duties that their position as judges they instead focus their attention to the task of making themselves as God. This is what Satan did as in Isaiah chapter fourteen. His I wills:
I will ascend into heaven.
I will exalt my throne above the stars of God.
I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north.
I will ascend above the heights of the clouds.
I will be like the most High.
Satan’s I will focus on his desires to be like God, instead of being a child of the Most High. Matthew 4:8,9 “Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; and saith unto him, All these things I give thee, if thou will fall down and worship me.” gives us a glimpse of Satan’s true I wills.
In I John 3:1-3 “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God; therefore, the world knows us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now we are the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that when he shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifies himself, even as he is pure.” These that know Christ as their personal Savior are the sons of God and are now a new creation. The old ways of life are passed away and our delight is in the law of the Lord. As the sons of God, we are should not let sin rule our life.
This is the tenth of twelve Psalms bear the name of Asaph
1 Sing aloud unto God our strength: make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob.
2 Take a psalm, and bring hither the timbrel, the pleasant harp with the psaltery.
3 Blow up the trumpet in the new moon, in the time appointed, on our solemn feast day.
4 For this was a statute for Israel, and a law of the God of Jacob.
5 This he ordained in Joseph for a testimony, when he went out through the land of Egypt: where I heard a language that I understood not.
6 I removed his shoulder from the burden: his hands were delivered from the pots.
7 Thou called in trouble, and I delivered thee; I answered thee in the secret place of thunder: I proved thee at the waters of Meribah. Selah.
8 Hear, O my people, and I will testify unto thee: O Israel, if thou wilt hearken unto me.
9 There shall no strange god be in thee; neither shalt thou worship any strange god.
10 I am the Lord thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.
11 But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me.
12 So I gave them up unto their own hearts’ lust: and they walked in their own counsels.
13 Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways!
14 I should soon have subdued their enemies and turned my hand against their adversaries.
15 The haters of the Lord should have submitted themselves unto him: but their time should have endured forever.
16 He should have fed them also with the finest of the wheat: and with honey out of the rock should I have satisfied thee. (KJV)
At the start of my journey of reading five psalms a day the purpose of this journey was to help me improve my prayer life. During this journey I also discovered the writings of Oswald Chambers. In his October 17 devotional The Key of the Greater Work, he makes this statement about prayer “Prayer does not equip us for greater works— prayer is the greater work. Yet we think of prayer as some commonsense exercise of our higher powers that simply prepares us for God’s work”. As I reflect upon this statement I am reminded of the Paul’s references to prayer:
Ephesians 6:18 – Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints
I Thessalonians 5:17 – Pray without ceasing.
Philippians 1:4 – Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy.
It is prayer and worship then that must play an important part in our daily spiritual walk. As I consider the first four verses of this chapter, I see the importance of daily worship. Do I have a song of praise in my daily walk? Do I thank the Lord for my daily needs that have been met? Do I take moments from my daily walk to devote to prayer? Do I consider prayer as asking God for something, or is it a request that we present before God? A great example of prayer from the business world would be that of a budget request. We put together our budget and then submit it to our manager and hope it gets approve. Prayer is the process of submitting our request to God. In verse ten we see God wanting us to open our mouth wide and he will fill it. However, we have not listened to God. Our prayers (budget request) are not in line with what is needed. We ask for things outside the requirements of God’s will. Verse seven gives us an example of what prayer is like “in your distress you called, and I rescued you, I answered you and I tested you”. The two parts of prayer are seen in this verse. I called and God rescued me. I asked and he fulfilled my requested desires.
The second part is the testing God gives to each believer after he has answered their request. This testing by the waters of Meribah comes when God has already answered our prayers; however, we are again in a place that we need God’s help again. In Exodus 17 this place is called both Massah (which means testing) and Meribah (which means quarreling). Question yourself and considered if your request before God is either testing God or quarreling with God? Sometimes during our journey on this earth, we get hungry and thirsty for spiritual things in our life. However, instead of asking God to meet these needs we start to complaint about how God has just deserted us. We let our hearts become stubborn like Israel and stop listening to God and stop following his ways. To succeed in this time of testing we must practice the principle of trust and obey and know that God is God.
Psalm 80 For the director of music. To the tune of “The Lilies of the Covenant.” Of Asaph. This is the ninth of twelve Psalms bear the name of Asaph
1 Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, thou that leads Joseph like a flock; thou that dwells between the cherubims, shine forth.
2 Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh stir up thy strength and come and save us.
3 Turn us again, O God, and cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved.
4 O Lord God of hosts, how long wilt thou be angry against the prayer of thy people?
5 Thou feeds them with the bread of tears; and gives them tears to drink in great measure.
6 Thou makes us a strife unto our neighbors: and our enemies laugh among themselves.
7 Turn us again, O God of hosts, and cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved.
8 Thou hast brought a vine out of Egypt: thou hast cast out the heathen and planted it.
9 Thou prepares room before it, and didst cause it to take deep root, and it filled the land.
10 The hills were covered with the shadow of it, and the boughs thereof were like the goodly cedars.
11 She sent out her boughs unto the sea, and her branches unto the river.
12 Why hast thou then broken down her hedges, so that all they which pass by the way do pluck her?
13 The boar out of the wood doth waste it, and the wild beast of the field doth devour it.
14 Return, we beseech thee, O God of hosts: look down from heaven, and behold, and visit this vine.
15 And the vineyard which thy right hand hath planted, and the branch that thou made strong for thyself.
16 It is burned with fire; it is cut down: they perish at the rebuke of thy countenance.
17 Let thy hand be upon the man of thy right hand, upon the son of man whom thou made strong for thyself.
18 So will not we go back from thee: quicken us, and we will call upon thy name.
19 Turn us again, O Lord God of hosts, cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved. (KJV)
This psalm was ascribed as one of Asaph as a prayer to the Shepherd of Israel. It is a prayer to come and save us. It is also a prayer to restore them so that His former glory is upon them. Yet at this time God is making them struggle in everything that they attempt to pursue. As I read this psalm, I realize a simple truth that we sometimes seem to forget in our pursue of growing closer to God. That truth is our incomplete nature without God, the void that we feel when we are not in God’s presence. In verses four through thirteen the author writes how God anger smolders against them, how God has provided them with things of sorrow, and made them a source of contention to their neighbors. If my friends or even my family turns and treats me like this then I would probably discontinue my relationship and live life without them. However, in my pursuing a relationship with God the truth is that these events should bring me closer to Him. The impulse to pursue God must come from a desire to fulfill that missing relationship I have in my life for God. Therefore, the impulse not to purse God must come from a desire to fulfill this missing relationship with the things of this world.
As I look at verse seventeen, I am reminded that the phase Son of Man was a title that the Lord used refer to himself. This title is used 80 times in the New Testament by the Lord. When we consider the phase “son of man” we must also consider these verses found in Daniel 7:13,14: “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.”. This son of man is also my savior and the savior to all who believe. The riches of our relationship to our savior can never been measured to the fullest upon the day we shall see him face to face.
This is the eighth of twelve Psalms bear the name of Asaph
1 O god, the heathen are come into thine inheritance; thy holy temple have they defiled; they have laid Jerusalem on heaps.
2 The dead bodies of thy servants have they given to be meat unto the fowls of the heaven, the flesh of thy saints unto the beasts of the earth.
3 Their blood have they shed like water round about Jerusalem; and there was none to bury them.
4 We are become a reproach to our neighbors, a scorn and derision to them that are round about us.
5 How long, Lord? wilt thou be angry forever? shall thy jealousy burn like fire?
6 Pour out thy wrath upon the heathen that have not known thee, and upon the kingdoms that have not called upon thy name.
7 For they have devoured Jacob and laid waste his dwelling place.
8 O remember not against us former iniquities: let thy tender mercies speedily prevent us: for we are brought very low.
9 Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy name: and deliver us, and purge away our sins, for thy name’s sake.
10 Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is their God? let him be known among the heathen in our sight by the revenging of the blood of thy servants which is shed.
11 Let the sighing of the prisoner come before thee; according to the greatness of thy power preserve thou those that are appointed to die.
12 And render unto our neighbors seven-fold into their bosom their reproach, wherewith they have reproached thee, O Lord.
13 So we thy people and sheep of thy pasture will give thee thanks for ever: we will shew forth thy praise to all generations. (KJV)
The time that this psalm could have been written could have been around the years of 595 to 586 BC the fall of Jerusalem to the Babylonians. II Chronicles 36:21 gives both the reason and the hope for this event. “To fulfill the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed her sabbaths: for as long as she lay desolate she kept sabbath, to fulfill threescore and ten years.”
Most of the psalms ascribed to Asaph focus on national issues of the nation of Israel. Israel is God’s chosen nation. As the author writes this psalm, he portraits a nation that has been defeated and is controlled by the enemy. He portraits God as being angry against Israel. The prayer in this psalms portrait the same type of prayer that Daniel prayed (Daniel 9:3). The prayer in this psalm is for God to remember not their former iniquities but instead redeem them from their enemies. The author is probably asking God to remember the promises that God made to Abram in Genesis 12:1-3. This was a promise that God made to Abram that pertain to God’s relationship to the nations in the past as well as to the nations today. It is a promise to a nation that supports Israel will be blessed and to a nation that rejects Israel will be cursed. This psalm reflects a time when God was punishing Israel for their sins and unbelief; however, there will be a time when God will restore Israel as His beloved nation. As we approach the last days God will be bringing the nation of Israel back into the picture of his coming.
Reflecting on the words of Christ found from Matthew 24:14 “And this gospel shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations and then shall the end come.” I realize that the gospel is not only a message to individuals but also to the nations. As I read verse six of this psalm “Pour out yourwrath on the nations that do not acknowledge you, on the kingdoms that do not call on your name;” the words of Matthew 24:14 makes me more aware of the importance of the preaching of the gospel in the world today. Matthew 24:14 does not reflect upon the acceptance of the gospel, but the fact that it is preached to all the nations as a witness to the nations. And after this message is preached to all the world then the end will come.
There are many signs that we can point to that we are living in the latter days, however in Matthew 24:14 I realize that the gospel has been preached to all nations. When I was attending college over fifty years ago one of the big focuses of the school was to train students to be missionaries to spread the Word to very nation of the world. This was before the internet and the wireless systems that we have in the world today. With the existing technology today, I believe that this verse is very close to or has already been fulfilled now. With the preaching of the gospel worldwide and seeing how nations are at war against each other the end could be very near. Just as the author of this psalm focuses upon the nation instead of the individuals, so was Christ’s focus was on the nations in Matthew chapter twenty-four. National view reflects the direction of the individuals within the nation. As I witness the way the nations are abandoning the way of the righteous to the way of the ungodly, I realize that the gospel is being rejected by the world.
Reading this psalm, I realize that the preaching of the gospel is not only to the individual, but also to the nations. And this gospel is to be a witness against the nations. I am not sure how God will judge these nations; however, judgment will come. As I study history, I realize how blessed the USA has been blessed in the past. This psalm points to a time when Israel turned from God to follow their own desires and the judgment of God fell upon Israel, This same judgment will happen to us if the nation abandons God and His way and follow after whatsoever their hearts desire.
of Asaph. This is the seventh of twelve Psalms bear the name of Asaph
1 Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth.
2 I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old:
3 Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us.
4 We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the Lord, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done.
5 For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children:
6 That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born, who should arise and declare them to their children:
7 That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments:
8 And might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not steadfast with God.
9 The children of Ephraim, being armed, and carrying bows, turned back in the day of battle.
10 They kept not the covenant of God and refused to walk in his law.
11 And forgot his works, and his wonders that he had shewed them.
12 Marvelous things did he in the sight of their fathers, in the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan.
13 He divided the sea and caused them to pass through; and he made the waters to stand as an heap.
14 In the daytime also he led them with a cloud, and all the night with a light of fire.
15 He clave the rocks in the wilderness and gave them drink as out of the great depths.
16 He brought streams also out of the rock and caused waters to run down like rivers.
17 And they sinned yet more against him by provoking the most High in the wilderness.
18 And they tempted God in their heart by asking meat for their lust.
19 Yea, they spoke against God; they said, Can God furnish a table in the wilderness?
20 Behold, he smote the rock, that the waters gushed out, and the streams overflowed; can he give bread also? can he provide flesh for his people?
21 Therefore the Lord heard this, and was wroth: so, a fire was kindled against Jacob, and anger also came up against Israel.
22 Because they believed not in God, and trusted not in his salvation:
23 Though he had commanded the clouds from above, and opened the doors of heaven,
24 And had rained down manna upon them to eat and had given them of the corn of heaven.
25 Man did eat angels’ food: he sent them meat to the full.
26 He caused an east wind to blow in the heaven: and by his power he brought in the south wind.
27 He rained flesh also upon them as dust, and feathered fowls like as the sand of the sea:
28 And he let it fall in the midst of their camp, round about their habitations.
29 So they did eat and were well filled: for he gave them their own desire.
30 They were not estranged from their lust. But while their meat was yet in their mouths,
31 The wrath of God came upon them, and slew the fattest of them, and smote down the chosen men of Israel.
32 For all this they sinned still and believed not for his wondrous works.
33 Therefore their days did he consume in vanity, and their years in trouble.
34 When he slew them, then they sought him: and they returned and enquired early after God.
35 And they remembered that God was their rock, and the high God their redeemer.
36 Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied unto him with their tongues.
37 For their heart was not right with him, neither were they stedfast in his covenant.
38 But he, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath.
39 For he remembered that they were but flesh; a wind that passes away, and cometh not again.
40 How oft did they provoke him in the wilderness and grieve him in the desert!
41 Yea, they turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel.
42 They remembered not his hand, nor the day when he delivered them from the enemy.
43 How he had wrought his signs in Egypt, and his wonders in the field of Zoan.
44 And had turned their rivers into blood; and their floods, that they could not drink.
45 He sent divers sorts of flies among them, which devoured them; and frogs, which destroyed them.
46 He gave also their increase unto the caterpillar, and their labor unto the locust.
47 He destroyed their vines with hail, and their sycamore trees with frost.
48 He gave up their cattle also to the hail, and their flocks to hot thunderbolts.
49 He cast upon them the fierceness of his anger, wrath, and indignation, and trouble, by sending evil angels among them.
50 He made a way to his anger; he spared not their soul from death but gave their life over to the pestilence.
51 And smote all the firstborn in Egypt, the chief of their strength in the tabernacles of Ham:
52 But made his own people to go forth like sheep and guided them in the wilderness like a flock.
53 And he led them on safely, so that they feared not: but the sea overwhelmed their enemies.
54 And he brought them to the border of his sanctuary, even to this mountain, which his right hand had purchased.
55 He cast out the heathen also before them, and divided them an inheritance by line, and made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tents.
56 Yet they tempted and provoked the most high God, and kept not his testimonies:
57 But turned back and dealt unfaithfully like their fathers: they were turned aside like a deceitful bow.
58 For they provoked him to anger with their high places and moved him to jealousy with their graven images.
59 When God heard this, he was wroth, and greatly abhorred Israel:
60 So that he forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh, the tent which he placed among men.
61 And delivered his strength into captivity, and his glory into the enemy’s hand.
62 He gave his people over also unto the sword; and was wroth with his inheritance.
63 The fire consumed their young men; and their maidens were not given to marriage.
64 Their priests fell by the sword; and their widows made no lamentation.
65 Then the Lord awakes as one out of sleep, and like a mighty man that shouted by reason of wine.
66 And he smote his enemies in the hinder parts: he put them to a perpetual reproach.
67 Moreover he refused the tabernacle of Joseph, and chose not the tribe of Ephraim:
68 But chose the tribe of Judah, the mount Zion which he loved.
69 And he built his sanctuary like high palaces, like the earth which he hath established forever.
70 He chose David also his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds:
71 From following the ewes great with young he brought him to feed Jacob his people, and Israel his inheritance.
72 So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart; and guided them by the skillfulness of his hands. (KJV)
As I read verse seven “Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget his deeds but would keep his commands.” I realize the ultimate goal of being a godly parent. However, as I look at these verses the theme is not being delivered to parents, but to the nation Israel. The first part of this verse “then they would put their trust in God”, can be found on our dollar bill, and should remind us of every time we use a dollar that our trust should be in God. But do we really place our trust in God? I believe most put their trust in the power of the dollar bill than the words “In God we trust” that is written on it.
God’s Word is full of examples to help us along our journey in life. Here Asaph reflects upon the history of God’s dealings with the nation of Israel. We as a nation today must look at this psalm as a history lesson for our country in relationship to our spiritual relationship to God. l am not sure what the future holds for the United States however I do know we must be looking for the second coming of our Lord.
These verses remind me of the wonderful time I enjoyed in the churches of my youth. These small churches of around a few hundred members where the friendly inviting atmosphere made the worship service a special time of fellowship. On Sunday nights during our evening worship service, we would have testimony time. It was during this time people would get up and tell the wonderful blessings or answer to prayer request, or even a request for prayer of a major event that they would be facing in the near future. It was these time of personal testimonies from people to whom I knew and could see the Lord working in their life that made me realize as a young child how wonderful our Lord really is involved in our lives. As I look back on these times, I realize how much of my personal faith in my Lord was developed by the examples of the saints within these churches.
Verse two “I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old.” Was used by Christ in Matthew 13:34,35 “All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables: and without a parable spake he not unto them: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying I will open my mouth in parables: I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.” As I study the parables recorded in Matthew chapter thirteen, I have a note in my Bible next to verse one. Jesus left the house (his people had rejected him) and now he sat by the sea (presenting the kingdom of God to the world). When studying the parables we must realize that they are fulfilling the prophecy of Psalm 78:2 and that these parables reveal things that have been kept secret from the foundation of the earth. These parables: the Sower and the seed, the tares among the wheat, the grain of mustard seed, the leaven of the meal, the hidden treasure, the pearl, and the dragnet, are mysteries that every believer should study.
This Psalm written by Asaph to the nation of Israel recalls the history of God’s dealings with the nation as God brought them out of Egypt into the promise land to the reign of David. It recalls both the failures and victories that the Lord provided to Israel. The more I study the scripture the more the questions that I had in the past are answered by the Holy Spirit. One of the hard questions I had in the past was why did God chose Jacob over Esau? I guess this was difficult for me to understand since I myself have the characteristics of Esau and not Jacob. But the more we study the scriptures the more we realize that none of us have the ability to be a chosen vessel for God’s use. It is only when we present ourselves to God and become conformed to his way that we can become a vessel that he can use. So, as you study this psalm realize that the relationship you have with God depends upon Romans 12:1,2 “I beseech you therefore brethren, by the mercies of God, that present your bodies a living sacrifice holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable, and prefect, will of God.”
This is the sixth of twelve Psalms bear the name of Asaph
1 I cried unto God with my voice, even unto God with my voice; and he gave ear unto me.
2 In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord: my sore ran in the night and ceased not: my soul refused to be comforted.
3 I remembered God, and was troubled: I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah.
4 Thou holds mine eyes waking: I am so troubled that I cannot speak.
5 I have considered the days of old, the years of ancient times.
6 I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune with my own heart: and my spirit made diligent search.
7 Will the Lord cast off forever? and will he be favorable no more?
8 Is his mercy clean gone forever? doth his promise fail for evermore?
9 Hath God forgotten to be gracious? hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies? Selah.
10 And I said, This is my infirmity: but I will remember the years of the right hand of the most High.
11 I will remember the works of the Lord: surely, I will remember thy wonders of old.
12 I will meditate also on all thy work and talk of thy doings.
13 Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary: who is so great a God as our God?
14 Thou art the God that does wonders: thou hast declared thy strength among the people.
15 Thou hast with thine arm redeemed thy people, the sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah.
16 The waters saw thee, O God, the waters saw thee; they were afraid: the depths also were troubled.
17 The clouds poured out water: the skies sent out a sound: thine arrows also went abroad.
18 The voice of thy thunder was in heaven: the lightnings lightened the world: the earth trembled and shook.
19 Thy way is in the sea, and thy path in the great waters, and thy footsteps are not known.
20 Thou lead thy people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.
What actions do you take when everything around you seems to be falling apart? In this psalm Asaph cries out to the Lord. Whatever the situation might have been it seemed to him that the Lord had abandoned him. Look at the questions he states in his prayer:
Will the Lord reject forever?
Will he never show his favor again? Has his unfailing love vanished forever?
Has his promise failed for all time? Has God forgotten to be merciful?
Has he in anger withheld his compassion?
I have also asked these questions before God. One thing I have realized during my seven decades on this earth is that there will be some hard and difficult times in life. Many of us will face issues that many of the Old Testament saints faced in their life. This psalm gives us the answers to these times and to the questions above. The first step is to mediate on the things God has done “Then I thought”. In this mediation we must make our appeals directly to God “To this I will appeal: the years of the right hand of the Most High”. I must remember the deeds of the Lord. I look back and the focus usually starts with how God has been moving in my life.
Studying this psalm, I realized several refers to the time of Israel being in Egypt and the desire to be free. God granted them this freedom when they flee Egypt. The night before their departure God gave them instructions on saving their firstborn. This event became the Passover which is an event that is observed every year in the Jewish community. The Passover is a picture of Christ’s work on the cross as the Passover lamb for the entire world. To the Christian we have our Easter which we observed as our Passover. As I look back over the last seventy years of my life, I am amazed how much God has taken care of me in my needs. One thing I have realized in this time frame is the presence of God in my life. It is this personal relationship that we can have with God that makes Christianity different from all the other religions of the world.
Verse six “I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune with my own heart: and my spirit made diligent search.” reveals the importance of having committed to memory some of the great hymns of faith in a believer’s life. In my library I have several books about the background of the stories that inspired many of the great hymns of faith. When you learn the stories behind songs such as It is Well with My Soul written by Horatio Gates Spafford after losing his three daughters at sea, or No One Ever Cared for me Like Jesus written by Charles F. Weigle after his wife leave him, we can understand how these great men of faith dealt with the tough issues of life. In times of trouble these songs can be a source of strength that a believer can draw upon to help him or her make it through the night. However, I am afraid so many believers have been sidetracked by the cares of this world that many have forgotten the words and the emotions behind these songs in the night. Learn the historical background behind these songs as well as the words themselves, so that in a time when everything seems lost you can find the peace that passes all understanding that comes from singing these songs in the night.
This is the fifth of twelve Psalms bear the name of Asaph
1 In Judah is God known: his name is great in Israel.
2 In Salem also is his tabernacle, and his dwelling place in Zion.
3 There brake he the arrows of the bow, the shield, and the sword, and the battle. Selah.
4 Thou art more glorious and excellent than the mountains of prey.
5 The stouthearted are spoiled, they have slept their sleep: and none of the men of might have found their hands.
6 At thy rebuke, O God of Jacob, both the chariot and horse are cast into a dead sleep.
7 Thou, even thou, art to be feared: and who may stand in thy sight when once thou art angry?
8 Thou didst cause judgment to be heard from heaven; the earth feared, and was still,
9 When God arose to judgment, to save all the meek of the earth. Selah.
10 Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain.
11 Vow and pay unto the Lord your God: let all that be round about him bring presents unto him that ought to be feared.
12 He shall cut off the spirit of princes: he is terrible to the kings of the earth. (KJV)
It is important when studying the Psalms to understand their historical background. As I study this psalm today, I do not only reflect upon 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 seventy years on this earth, I look back at the leaders of the USA during my lifetime.
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 2021-2024
Donald Trump 2025-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 and
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 time frame not a daily time frame. 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 time frame 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. The phase each day has enough trouble of its own.” gives us a guideline on 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.
As I have been on a quest to read through the Bible three times a year I am gaining a new understanding of man’s relationship with God. As I study the time be the flood I realized that God spoke to Adam and Eve, Cain, Enoch and Noah. With Adam and Eve and Cain these where incidents where God spoke and interacted with the individual and God himself. However, in the case with Enoch and Noah God used them as preachers to the world. In Jude 1:14,15 “And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold the Lord cometh with ten thousand of his saints, to execute judgement upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” After Enoch we read about Noah his grandson not only building an ark, to save his family, but he was also a preacher of righteousness. II Peter 2:5 “And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bring in the flood upon the world of the ungodly.” Also, in I Peter3:20 we see the patience “when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah while the ark was being prepared”. The ark was the sign to those of the world before the flood of God’s coming judgement.
Now for the warning to us today. Romans 11:25 “For I would not, brethren that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits: that the blindness in part is happened to Israel until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.” God is in the process of bringing in the last days just as he did in the days of Noah. Keep your eyes on the Middle East and also on the clouds and listen for the sounding of the trump of God.
This is the fourth of twelve Psalms bear the name of Asaph
1 Unto thee, O God, do we give thanks, unto thee do we give thanks: for that thy name is near thy wondrous works declare.
2 When I shall receive the congregation I will judge uprightly.
3 The earth and all the inhabitants thereof are dissolved: I bear up the pillars of it. Selah.
4 I said unto the fools, Deal not foolishly: and to the wicked, Lift not up the horn:
5 Lift not up your horn on high: speak not with a stiff neck.
6 For promotion comes neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south.
7 But God is the judge: he puts down one and sets up another.
8 For in the hand of the Lord there is a cup, and the wine is red; it is full of mixture; and he pours out of the same: but the dregs thereof, all the wicked of the earth shall wring them out and drink them.
9 But I will declare forever; I will sing praises to the God of Jacob.
10 All the horns of the wicked also will I cut off; but the horns of the righteous shall be exalted. (KJV)
Reading the psalms after a while some of the themes are repeated and I wondered what else could I say about this theme. This psalm represents the halfway point of reading one psalm a day and applying the words of this psalm to our daily life. As I reflect on this psalm verse nine gives me a theme to focus on today “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. We are warned not to acts as the fool, the wicked, or the proud (stiffed neck) for God is the judge 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.
This is the third of twelve Psalms bear the name of Asaph
1 O God, why hast thou cast us off forever? why doth thine anger smoke against the sheep of thy pasture?
2 Remember thy congregation, which thou hast purchased of old; the rod of thine inheritance, which thou hast redeemed; this mount Zion, wherein thou hast dwelt.
3 Lift up thy feet unto the perpetual desolation; even all that the enemy hath done wickedly in the sanctuary.
4 Thine enemies roar in the midst of thy congregations; they set up their ensigns for signs.
5 A man was famous according as he had lifted up axes upon the thick trees.
6 But now they break down the carved work thereof at once with axes and hammers.
7 They have cast fire into thy sanctuary, they have defiled by casting down the dwelling place of thy name to the ground.
8 They said in their hearts, Let us destroy them together: they have burned up all the synagogues of God in the land.
9 We see not our signs: there is no more any prophet: neither is there among us any that knows how long.
10 O God, how long shall the adversary reproach? shall the enemy blaspheme thy name forever?
11 Why withdraw thou thy hand, even thy right hand? pluck it out of thy bosom.
12 For God is my King of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth.
13 Thou didst divide the sea by thy strength: thou brakes the heads of the dragons in the waters.
14 Thou brakes the heads of leviathan in pieces and gave him to be meat to the people inhabiting the wilderness.
15 Thou didst cleave the fountain and the flood: thou driedst up mighty rivers.
16 The day is thine; the night also is thine: thou hast prepared the light and the sun.
17 Thou hast set all the borders of the earth: thou hast made summer and winter.
18 Remember this, that the enemy hath reproached, O Lord, and that the foolish people have blasphemed thy name.
19 O deliver not the soul of thy turtledove unto the multitude of the wicked: forget not the congregation of thy poor forever.
20 Have respect unto the covenant: for the dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty.
21 O let not the oppressed return ashamed: let the poor and needy praise thy name.
22 Arise, O God, plead thine own cause: remember how the foolish man reproaches thee daily.
23 Forget not the voice of thine enemies: the tumult of those that rise up against thee increase continually. (KJV)
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 written 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 also tackles this question of why evil exist in the world and why it stands against all that is good. He writes from the experiences he had when he fought in World War I and witness the trench warfare of that 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. This cruelty of the natural of mankind was manifested in the relationship between the brothers of the very first family and has not improved since Cain killed Abel. If fact the further away we remove God from our everyday life the more wickedness grows in our society, And yet man finds ways and uses their imaginations to make the wickedness of their heart to seem justified to the world around them.
However, Asaph ask of the Lord to remember the people you had 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 wickedness. We must not be the light on the hill that is hidden under the basket. We must strive to live a life that reflects Christ in us the hope of Glory. 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.
This is the second of twelve Psalms bear the name of Asaph
1 Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart.
2 But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well-nigh slipped.
3 For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4 For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm.
5 They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men.
6 Therefore pride compasses them about as a chain; violence covers them as a garment.
7 Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish.
8 They are corrupt and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily.
9 They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walks through the earth.
10 Therefore his people return hither: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them.
11 And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High?
12 Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.
13 Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain and washed my hands in innocency.
14 For all the day long have I been plagued and chastened every morning.
15 If I say, I will speak; thus, behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children.
16 When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me.
17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I, their end.
18 Surely, thou didst set them in slippery places: thou casts them down into destruction.
19 How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.
20 As a dream when one awakes; so, O Lord, when thou awakes, thou shalt despise their image.
21 Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins.
22 So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee.
23 Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast held me by my right hand.
24 Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.
26 My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion forever.
27 For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee.
28 But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all thy works. (KJV)
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.
My 5 Daily Psalms 