May 25, 2013

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.
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March 2, 2013

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.


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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:
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.


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February 9, 2013

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.


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Praying Psalm 40


"I Waited"
 
What is the title of Psalm 40? To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

Read Psalm 40:1-5
1 I waited patiently for the YHWH; he inclined to me and heard my cry.
2 He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure.
3 He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the YHWH.
4 Blessed is the man who makes the YHWH his trust, who does not turn to the proud, to those who go astray after a lie!
5 You have multiplied, O YHWH my God, your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us; none can compare with you! I will proclaim and tell of them, yet they are more than can be told.

What happened?
I REALLY waited. You delivered. I will tell of your deeds.

Read Psalm 40:6-8
6 In sacrifice and offering you have not delighted, but you have given me an open ear. Burnt offering and sin offering you have not required.
7 Then I said, “Behold, I have come; in the scroll of the book it is written of me:
8 I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.”

What does his relationship with YHWH?
YHWH requires nothing…
I gladly delight (psalm 1)

Read Psalm 40:9-10
9 I have told the glad news of deliverance in the great congregation; behold, I have not restrained my lips, as you know, O Lord.
10 I have not hidden your deliverance within my heart; I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation; I have not concealed your steadfast love (chesed) and your faithfulness (amad) from the great congregation.

What does the psalmist do in response?
Tell about deliverance – Salvation is steadfast love (chesed) and truth (amad)

Read Psalm 40:11-12
11 As for you, O Lord, you will not restrain your mercy from me; your steadfast love and your faithfulness will ever preserve me!
12 For evils have encompassed me beyond number; my iniquities have overtaken me, and I cannot see; they are more than the hairs of my head; my heart fails me.

What is the problem?
Evils, iniquities, my own heart/body

Read Psalm 40:13-17
13 Be pleased, O YHWH, to deliver me! O YHWH make haste to help me!
14 Let those be put to shame and disappointed altogether who seek to snatch away my life; let those be turned back and brought to dishonor who delight in my hurt!
15 Let those be appalled because of their shame who say to me, “Aha, Aha!”
16 But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who love your salvation say continually, “Great is YHWH!”
17 As for me, I am poor and needy, but the Lord takes thought for me. You are my help and my deliverer; do not delay, O my God!

What is the final prayer?
Help quick,
Judge enemies (v.14) and righteous (v.16)
I am poor, Help quick!
See psalm 70


WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR ME?
What is the purpose of this Psalm/prayer?
Confess God is good! Salvation, Tell all!
Lament Evil is all around
Plead Help quick! Judge!

How does Christ fulfill this psalm?
Christ is the salvation that we trust and tell.
Cross references:
How can we pray this?
Confess God is good! Salvation in Christ. Tell all!
Lament BUT Evil is all around
Plead Help quick! Judge! Return of Christ!

WE PRAY:  
But deliver us from evil.
What does this mean? We pray in this petition, as in a summary, that our Father in heaven would deliver us from all manner of evil, of body and soul, property and honor, and at last, when our last hour shall come, grant us a blessed end, and graciously take us from this vale of tears to Himself into heaven.

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January 19, 2013

Praying Psalm 39

“LOOK AWAY”
 

What is the title of Psalm 39? To the choirmaster: to Jeduthun. A Psalm of David.

Jeduthun was a Levite? (See 1 Chronicles 16:42) This ancient tribe was in charge of the temple and worship; musical accompaniment for sacred songs.

Read Psalm 39:1-3
1 I said, “I will guard my ways, that I may not sin with my tongue; I will guard my mouth with a muzzle, so long as the wicked are in my presence.”
2 I was mute and silent; I held my peace to no avail, and my distress grew worse.
3 My heart became hot within me. As I mused, the fire burned; then I spoke with my tongue:

What is the problem?
Not SIN with tongue: what does this mean? Psalmist was guarding his mouth while the WICKED are around. Something he didn't want the wicked to hear??
Held my peace BUT DISTRESS! Hot, fire….
Had to speak!

 Read Psalm 39:4-6
4 “O Lord, make me know my end and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting I am!
5 Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadths, and my lifetime is as nothing before you. Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath! Selah
6 Surely a man goes about as a shadow! Surely for nothing they are in turmoil; man heaps up wealth and does not know who will gather!

What does he say?
"Let me know my end." But, THIS IS NOT FOR HIM TO KNOW!
"My life is nothingness…" Lament about the meaningless life.
**Why should the wicked not hear this? Maybe it would give them more opportunity to hate God???
 
Read Psalm 39:7-11
7 “And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in you.
8 Deliver me from all my transgressions. Do not make me the scorn of the fool!
9 I am mute; I do not open my mouth, for it is you who have done it.
10 Remove your stroke from me; I am spent by the hostility of your hand.
11 When you discipline a man with rebukes for sin, you consume like a moth what is dear to him;
surely all mankind is a mere breath! Selah

What is the psalmist's struggle?
Trust in the Lord –  I am waiting….
But YOU have done these terrible things, discipline, consuming… To realize the LORD has brought about this suffering, that's a tough one. (See Job)

 Read Psalm 39:12-13
12 “Hear my prayer, O Lord, and give ear to my cry; hold not your peace at my tears! For I am a sojourner with you, a guest, like all my fathers.
13 Look away from me, that I may smile again, before I depart and am no more!”

 What is David’s prayer?
Hear –Act -  I’m temporary.
Look AWAY – Like Job 7:16, 7:19, 7:21 (If this is love, LOVE me LESS!)

 
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR ME?

What is the purpose of this Psalm/prayer?
Lament David's silence about his relationship with God.
Lament God is responsible for his pain.
Plead for God to LOOK AWAY

 How does Christ fulfill this psalm?
All sin & discipline was taken out on Christ.  God was completely just when he killed Christ for sin. BUT AT THE SAME TIME He was completely merciful to us = Christ gave us that blameless life. AND WE DON’T HAVE TO BE SILENT!

 
How can we pray this?

Lament Our silence about our relationship with God. He does things we can't explain
Lament God is responsible for our pain. Sometimes God is actually behind the suffering!
Plead for God to LOOK AWAY - Don't treat me like a sinner. Look away, look to CHRIST.



 

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.

 
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