Praying Psalm 48

Psalm 48: “Praise Zion”

 

What is the title of Psalm 48? A Song. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah.

Read Psalm 48:1-3

Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised in the city of our God!
His holy mountain, ² beautiful in elevation, is the joy of all the earth, Mount Zion, in the far north, the city of the great King.
³ Within her citadels God has made himself known as a fortress.

What is the object of praise?

Mt Zion – City of God

Isaiah 2:2-4

Jeremiah 3:13-15

Joel 3:16, 21

Zechariah 8:1-8

Quotes from OT in Romans 9:33, 11:26

Revelation 14:1

Read Psalm 48:4-8

⁴ For behold, the kings assembled; they came on together.
⁵ As soon as they saw it, they were astounded; they were in panic; they took to flight.
⁶ Trembling took hold of them there, anguish as of a woman in labor.
⁷ By the east wind you shattered the ships of Tarshish.
⁸ As we have heard, so have we seen in the city of the Lord of hosts, in the city of our God, which God will establish forever. Selah

What does Mt. Zion look like?

Scary, panic, shattering… GOD COMING DOWN

Exodus 19:7-20 – giving of the 10 commandments - 20:18-21

Read Psalm 48:9-11

⁹ We have thought on your steadfast love, O God, in the midst of your temple.
¹⁰ As your name, O God, so your praise reaches to the ends of the earth. Your right hand is filled with righteousness.
¹¹ Let Mount Zion be glad! Let the daughters of Judah rejoice because of your judgments!

What do God’s people focus on?

CHESED (steadfast love) NAME (history!) RIGHTEOUSNESS (justice, love this judgement)

BE Glad!

Read Psalm 48:12-14

¹² Walk about Zion, go around her, number her towers,
¹³ consider well her ramparts, go through her citadels, that you may tell the next generation
¹⁴ that this is God, our God forever and ever. He will guide us forever.

What should God’s people DO?

Know Zion – know every bit of the city = for the next generation.

Know this is God!

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR ME?

What is the purpose of Psalm 48?

Praise God for Mt. Zion

Describe Mt. Zion – what happened here

Reflect  on chesed and your history

Exhort to KNOW Zion, protection & city, to KNOW God.

 How does Christ fulfill this psalm?

Mark 13

Romans 9:30-10:4 STONE set in ZION (this is Christ)

How can we pray this?

Praise God for Mt. Zion – god’s city

Describe Mt. Zion – terrible day of the Lord, when he comes with power

Reflect  on chesed and your history

Exhort to KNOW Zion, protection & city, to KNOW God HOPE for restored Zion to come.

WE PRAY:  

Hallowed be Thy name.

What does this mean? God's name is indeed holy in itself; but we pray in this petition that it may become holy among us also.

How is this done? When the Word of God is taught in its truth and purity, and we as the children of God also lead holy lives in accordance with it. To this end help us, dear Father in heaven. But he that teaches and lives otherwise than God's Word teaches profanes the name of God among us. From this preserve us, Heavenly Father.

Praying Psalm 47

Psalm 47: “KING!”

 

What is the title of Psalm 47? To the choirmaster. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah.

Read Psalm 47:1-4

Clap your hands, all peoples! Shout to God with loud songs of joy!
² For the Lord, the Most High, is to be feared, a great king over all the earth.
³ He subdued peoples under us, and nations under our feet.
⁴ He chose our heritage for us, the pride of Jacob whom he loves. Selah

Why do the people praise God?

FEARed

Subdue the people – to us!

CHOSE us

Read Psalm 47:5-7

⁵ God has gone up with a shout, the Lord with the sound of a trumpet.
⁶ Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises!
⁷ For God is the King of all the earth; sing praises with a psalm!

How do the people praise?

Trumpets, Singing

He is King!

Read Psalm 47:8-9

⁸ God reigns over the nations; God sits on his holy throne.
⁹ The princes of the peoples gather with the people of the God of Abraham. For the shields of the earth belong to God; he is highly exalted!

Who is God in this picture?

God is king over ALL, even princes and shields.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR ME?

What is the purpose of Psalm 47?

Praise God

Describe God for his acts – subdue, choosing

Proclaim God is in charge of everything – princes & shields

How does Christ pray this psalm?

Luke 4:36, Luke 6:19, Luke 9:1, Luke 10:19,

Luke 10:21:

²¹ In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.^{[b] 22} All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”

²³ Then turning to the disciples he said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see! ²⁴ For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.”

Revelation 4 – Elders declare power

How can we pray this?

Praise God

Describe God for his acts – subdue, choosing us in our baptism

Proclaim God is in charge of everything – princes & shields  (THIS has been revealed – to the children)

WE PRAY:  

Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

What does this mean? The good and gracious will of God is done indeed without our prayer; but we pray in this petition that it may be done among us also.

How is this done? When God breaks and hinders every evil counsel and will which would not let us hallow the name of God nor let His kingdom come, such as the will of the devil, the world, and our flesh; but strengthens and keeps us steadfast in His Word and in faith unto our end. This is His gracious and good will.

Praying Psalm 46

"We will not Fear!"

What is the title of Psalm 46? To the choirmaster. Of the Sons of Korah. According to Alamoth. A Song.

Read Psalm 46:1-3

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
² Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
³ though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah

Who is God? How does the psalmist respond?

He is our Refuge.

THEREFORE we will not fear

EVENTHOUGH – mountains moved, waters roar, tremble: These things will happen!

Read Psalm 46:4-7

⁴ There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High.
⁵ God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns.
⁶ The nations rage, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts.
⁷ The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

Who is this city?

Jerusalem?

See Revelation 21 – Holy city coming down from heaven, God is in the middle – THESE ARE GOD'S PEOPLE.

Read Psalm 46:8-9

⁸ Come, behold the works of the Lord, how he has brought desolations on the earth.
⁹ He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the chariots with fire..

What are the works of YHWH, here?

Desolation, wars stop, shatters spear, burns chariots – God is victorious over all.

Read Psalm 46:10-11

¹⁰ “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”
¹¹ The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

How does the psalm end?

Be still, calm – this is God, with us.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR ME?

What is the purpose of Psalm 46?

Description  of earth, holy city, God

Contrast nations and holy city

Confess trust & victory in God 

How does Christ pray this psalm?

All power has been given to Christ. He has power over creation and enemies, etc.

When Christ returns, he will be victorious over earth, enemies.

Confess trust in the work of Christ & hope for his return.

How can we pray this?

We see earth, holy city, God

Contrast nations and holy city

Confess trust & victory in God through Christ= Comfort for us to go on!

WE PRAY:  

Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

What does this mean? The good and gracious will of God is done indeed without our prayer; but we pray in this petition that it may be done among us also.

How is this done? When God breaks and hinders every evil counsel and will which would not let us hallow the name of God nor let His kingdom come, such as the will of the devil, the world, and our flesh; but strengthens and keeps us steadfast in His Word and in faith unto our end. This is His gracious and good will.

Praying Psalm 45

  “Praise the King!”

 

What is the title of Psalm 45? To the choirmaster: according to Lilies. A Maskil of the Sons of Korah; a love song.

Read Psalm 45:1

My heart overflows with a pleasing theme; I address my verses to the king; my tongue is like the pen of a ready scribe.

For whom is this psalm sung?

King – happy psalm!

Read Psalm 45:2-9

² You are the most handsome of the sons of men; grace is poured upon your lips; therefore God has blessed you forever.
³ Gird your sword on your thigh, O mighty one, in your splendor and majesty!

⁴ In your majesty ride out victoriously for the cause of truth and meekness and righteousness; let your right hand teach you awesome deeds!
⁵ Your arrows are sharp in the heart of the king's enemies; the peoples fall under you.

⁶ Your throne, O God, is forever and ever. The scepter of your kingdom is a scepter of uprightness;
⁷ you have loved righteousness and hated wickedness. Therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions;
⁸ your robes are all fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia. From ivory palaces stringed instruments make you glad;
⁹ daughters of kings are among your ladies of honor; at your right hand stands the queen in gold of Ophir .Selah

How does the psalmist praise?

Handsome, strong, victorious, throne forever, righteous God?

 "Ophir" – high quality gold.

Read Psalm 45:10-12

¹⁰ Hear, O daughter, and consider, and incline your ear: forget your people and your father's house,
¹¹ and the king will desire your beauty. Since he is your lord, bow to him.
¹² The people^] of Tyre will seek your favor with gifts, the richest of the people.

To whom is this advice written?

Daughter – wife – queen – BOW TO HIM

Read Psalm 45:13-15

¹³ All glorious is the princess in her chamber, with robes interwoven with gold.
¹⁴ In many-colored robes she is led to the king, with her virgin companions following behind her.
¹⁵ With joy and gladness they are led along as they enter the palace of the king.

What is happening?

Marriage, enter the palace of the king – exciting!

Read Psalm 45:16-17

¹⁶ In place of your fathers shall be your sons; you will make them princes in all the earth.
¹⁷ I will cause your name to be remembered in all generations; therefore nations will praise you forever and ever.

What is the promise?

Life – sons, heritage to live on.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR ME?

What is the purpose of Psalm 45?

Praise king & uprighteousness

Advice to daughter – soon to be queen SUBMIT

Description of coming to king

Promise of sons and remembrance

How can we pray this?

Praise OUR king for uprighteousness

Take Advice to daughter – soon to be queen SUBMIT

See “bride” coming to king

Believe the Promise of sons and remembrance

How does Christ fulfill this psalm?

Matthew 25 (10 virgins): this is the kingdom of heaven.

Revelation 21 (new Jerusalem): our hope is WE (church) are the bride.

HE is the king, WE are his Bride!

WE PRAY:  
Thy kingdom come.
What does this mean? The kingdom of God comes indeed without our prayer, of itself; but we pray in this petition that it may come unto us also.

How is this done?When our heavenly Father gives us His Holy Spirit, so that by His grace we believe His holy Word and lead a godly life (SUBMIT) here in time and yonder in eternity.

Praying Psalm 43 & 44

 “Hope”

 

What is the title of Psalm 43? None. This is the SAME refrain as psalm 42.

Read Psalm 43:1-5

1 Vindicate me, O God, and defend my cause against an ungodly people, from the deceitful and unjust man deliver me!
² For you are the God in whom I take refuge; why have you rejected me? Why do I go about mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?

³ Send out your light and your truth; let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling!
⁴ Then I will go to the altar of God, to God my exceeding joy, and I will praise you with the lyre, O God, my God.

⁵ Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.

What are we reminded in this Psalm?

Rejection by GOD – evil people, mourning, cast down

LET light & Truth LEAD ME, back to Holy Hill, your presence HOPE

Read Psalm 44:1-3

1 O God, we have heard with our ears, our fathers have told us, what deeds you performed in their days,
in the days of old:
² you with your own hand drove out the nations, but them you planted; you afflicted the peoples,
but them you set free;
³ for not by their own sword did they win the land, nor did their own arm save them, but your right hand and your arm, and the light of your face, for you delighted in them.

In whom did “our fathers” TRUST? Why?

God, he delivered them.

Read Psalm 44:4-8

⁴ You are my King, O God; ordain salvation for Jacob!
⁵ Through you we push down our foes; through your name we tread down those who rise up against us.
⁶ For not in my bow do I trust, nor can my sword save me.
⁷ But you have saved us from our foes and have put to shame those who hate us.
⁸ In God we have boasted continually, and we will give thanks to your name forever. Selah

Who do “I” TRUST? Why?

God. You saved us.

Read Psalm 44:9-16

⁹ But you have rejected us and disgraced us and have not gone out with our armies.
¹⁰ You have made us turn back from the foe, and those who hate us have gotten spoil.
¹¹ You have made us like sheep for slaughter and have scattered us among the nations.
¹² You have sold your people for a trifle, demanding no high price for them.
¹³ You have made us the taunt of our neighbors, the derision and scorn of those around us.
¹⁴ You have made us a byword among the nations, a laughingstock^[b] among the peoples.
¹⁵ All day long my disgrace is before me, and shame has covered my face
¹⁶ at the sound of the taunter and reviler, at the sight of the enemy and the avenger.

What is the problem?

BUT: God has rejected “us”. We are disgraced.

Read Psalm 44:17-22

¹⁷ All this has come upon us, though we have not forgotten you, and we have not been false to your covenant.
¹⁸ Our heart has not turned back, nor have our steps departed from your way;
¹⁹ yet you have broken us in the place of jackals and covered us with the shadow of death.
²⁰ If we had forgotten the name of our God or spread out our hands to a foreign god,
²¹ would not God discover this? For he knows the secrets of the heart.
²² Yet for your sake we are killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.

What is the bigger problem?

God has rejected “us”. EVENTHOUGH we have not forgotten you.

We did everything "right" but you were not with us.

Read Psalm 44:17-22

²³ Awake! Why are you sleeping, O Lord? Rouse yourself! Do not reject us forever!
²⁴ Why do you hide your face? Why do you forget our affliction and oppression?
²⁵ For our soul is bowed down to the dust; our belly clings to the ground.
²⁶ Rise up; come to our help! Redeem us for the sake of your steadfast love!

What does the psalmist pray?

ACT for us. HELP us. REDEEM us, CHESED (mercy) us.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR ME?

What is the purpose of Psalm 44?

Describe history of people & personal trust in God

Lament GOD is not acting now

Plead  AWAKE – act - help 

What is the purpose of Psalm 43?

Lament cast down soul - sad

Remember  trust/salvation in past, hope for future.

How does Christ fulfill these psalms?

God was separate from him. Jesus could pray these very words – BUT HE continued to TRUST.

Suffering brings about joy for Jesus (resurrection). Our suffering will end with joy, as well.

How can we pray Psalm 44?

Describe history of God's people is OUR history too & personal trust in God

Lament GOD is not acting for US now

Plead  AWAKE – act – help

How can we pray Psalm 43?

Lament GOD is not acting for US now and we are SAD about it.

Remeber  God did act for His people, He will act for us too.

WE PRAY:  

Thy kingdom come.

What does this mean? The kingdom of God comes indeed without our prayer, of itself; but we pray in this petition that it may come unto us also.

How is this done? When our heavenly Father gives us His Holy Spirit, so that by His grace we believe His holy Word and lead a godly life here in time and yonder in eternity.

Praying Psalm 42

“Hope”

 

What is the title of Psalm 42? To the choirmaster. A Maskil of the Sons of Korah.

Read Psalm 42:1-4

1 As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul/body for you, O God.
² My soul/body thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?
³ My tears have been my bread day and night, while they say to me all the day long, “Where is your God?”

⁴ These things I remember, as I pour out my soul: how I would go with the throng and lead them in procession to the house of God with glad shouts and songs of praise, a multitude keeping festival.

What is wrong?

Panting, thirsting – LOOKING FOR WATER = looking for God

Tears are water – sustained by sorrow.

Separate from God – “they” even say (mock) you are separate!

Remember – a leader in the house of God!!

Read Psalm 42:5

⁵ Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.

What does the psalmist struggle with here?

WHY is Soul sad/ turmoil?   BUT I know to hope.

Read Psalm 42:6-10

⁶ My soul is cast down within me; therefore I remember you from the land of Jordan and of Hermon, from Mount Mizar.
⁷ Deep calls to deep at the roar of your waterfalls; all your breakers and your waves have gone over me.
⁸ By day the Lord commands his steadfast love, and at night his song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life.
⁹ I say to God, my rock: “Why have you forgotten me? Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?”
¹⁰ As with a deadly wound in my bones, my adversaries taunt me, while they say to me all the day long, “Where is your God?”

What is the tension that the psalmist continues to struggle with?

Remember – cast down

WATER – overwhelming = death

God has forgotten me – adversaries mock me.

Read Psalm 42:11

¹¹ Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.

How does the psalmist end?

refrain (v.5)

  

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR ME?

What is the purpose of this Psalm/prayer?

Lament cast down soul - sad

Remember  trust/salvation in past

Cross references:

1. 1 Corinthians 1:22 : See Matt. 12:38
2. 1 Corinthians 1:23 : Gal. 5:11; See 1 Pet. 2:8
3. 1 Corinthians 1:24 : [1Cor 1:18]
4. 1 Corinthians 1:24 : 1Cor 1:30; Col. 2:3; [Luke 11:49]

How can we pray this?

Lament cast down soul – sad. Pain is real. Especially for God’s people. Especially for me.

Remember  trust/salvation in past – this is our hope. OUTSIDE of our own sad heart.

How does Christ fulfill this psalm?

He knew ultimate pain/separation. He perfectly hoped in God – to death. We fail, but Christ did not. Now, we can remember and trust in God’s salvation and HOPE for our future. Christ is our OUTSIDE Hope we completely depend on; especially when our inner soul is "cast down".

WE PRAY:  

Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

What does this mean? The good and gracious will of God is done indeed without our prayer; but we pray in this petition that it may be done among us also.

How is this done? When God breaks and hinders every evil counsel and will which would not let us hallow the name of God nor let His kingdom come, such as the will of the devil, the world, and our flesh; but strengthens and keeps us steadfast in His (outside) Word and in faith unto our end. This is His gracious and good will.

Praying Psalm 41

 “Be gracious to me!”

 

What is the title of Psalm 41? To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

Read Psalm 41:1-3

1 Blessed is the one who considers the poor! In the day of trouble the Lord delivers him;
² the Lord protects him and keeps him alive; he is called blessed in the land; you do not give him up to the will of his enemies.
³ The Lord sustains him on his sickbed; in his illness you restore him to full health.

Who is the “poor”?

Delivered, Protected, alive, blessed, sustained, full health

Who is “happy” or "blessed"?

The one who THINKS on this

Read Psalm 41:4

⁴ As for me, I said, “O Lord, be gracious to me; heal me, for I have sinned against you!”

What does the psalmist say to YHWH?

I AM POOR. I have sinned against you.

Read Psalm 41:5-7

⁵ My enemies say of me in malice, “When will he die, and his name perish?”
⁶ And when one comes to see me, he utters empty words, while his heart gathers iniquity; when he goes out, he tells it abroad.
⁷ All who hate me whisper together about me; they imagine the worst for me.

What do his enemies do?

Empty words. Whisper about me. Imagine the worst. They are no help, they don't understand.

Read Psalm 40:8-9

⁸ They say, “A deadly thing is poured out on him; he will not rise again from where he lies.”
⁹ Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me.

What do his friends do?

Against me, My close Friend!! lift a heel =  disrespected NO HELP even here.

Read Psalm 41:10-12

¹⁰ But you, O Lord, be gracious to me, and raise me up, that I may repay them!

¹¹ By this I know that you delight in me: my enemy will not shout in triumph over me.
¹² But you have upheld me because of my integrity, and set me in your presence forever.

What does the psalmist demand from YHWH?

Mercy to ME– Vengence of God to THEM ("by this" = proof in v.11)

CONFIDENCE  – delight, integrity (tamim – blamelessness) Stand before you.

Read Psalm 41:13

¹³ Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting! Amen and Amen.

How does this end?

The end of BOOK 1 in Psalms. We will see more doxologies ending the other 4 books, too. Confidence & Praise!

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR ME?

What is the purpose of this Psalm/prayer?

Describe Poor – blessed, delivered

Identify with Poor – I am a sinner, save ME

Lament Enemies & friends against him.

Demand Justice = he has confidence it WILL happen 

How does Christ fulfill this psalm?

He prayed this fully. He had FULL assurance that God would judge & he would stand. (Victory over death) We can say these same things & expect to stand!

 How can we pray this?

Describe Poor – blessed, delivered

Identify with Poor – I am a sinner, save ME

Lament Enemies & friends against us

Demand Justice = confidence God's justice will happen

WE PRAY:  

And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.

What does this mean? We pray in this petition that our Father in heaven would not look upon our sins, nor deny such petitions on account of them; for we are worthy of none of the things for which we pray, neither have we deserved them; but that He would grant them all to us by grace; for we daily sin much, and indeed deserve nothing but punishment. So will we verily, on our part, also heartily forgive and also readily do good to those who sin against us.

Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

What does this mean? The good and gracious will of God is done indeed without our prayer; but we pray in this petition that it may be done among us also.

How is this done? When God breaks and hinders every evil counsel and will which would not let us hallow the name of God nor let His kingdom come, such as the will of the devil, the world, and our flesh; but strengthens and keeps us steadfast in His Word and in faith unto our end. This is His gracious and good will.