Day 24-25, PART B

Would you mind if we took the psalms a bit out of the number order?  We’ve just read in Part A about the Ark of the Covenant finally being brought into Jerusalem to musical instruments, songs, and celebration. Psalms 24, 47, and 68 seem to be songs about that glorious event.

And even before that, Psalm 2, seems to be a song sung at David’s coronation, although it is prophetic of the time when KING JESUS will reign on Zion. 

We’ll begin with Psalm 1 which introduces the theme of the whole book of Psalms, then go on to Psalm 2 in honor of David’s coronation and the King of Kings. 

Psalm 1.

(This Psalm is very familiar, showing us the difference between the wise, RIGHTEOUS person, and the foolish, WICKED person – their MO and their end.

• The righteous man is BLESSED.  He does not WALK in the counsel of the wicked, STAND in the way of sinners, or SIT in the seat of scoffers. (Notice the progression.)
• No, his DELIGHT is in the Law of the Lord (the Bible). He meditates on it day and night.
• And so, he is like a well-watered fruit tree, with lovely green leaves and luscious fruit in season. 
• In comparison, the wicked man is like chaff (that useless thin outer shell on grain) that the wind blows away.
• The wicked will not stand or sit in the congregation with the Righteous but will perish.

Psalm 2.

Written at the coronation of David but prophetic in nature, mirroring the reign of the Messiah-King, Jesus.

• The LORD says, “I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill.
• The LORD said to me, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you, Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth for your possession.
• Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth. 
• Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.
• Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

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Psalm 24.

(The first part of this psalm almost duplicates Psalm 15. We’ll read it later.)

Read Verses 7-10, and picture in your mind the glorious celebration of the Ark of the Covenant FINALLY being brought to its home.

• Lift up your heads, O gates! And be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of Glory may come in.
• Who is this King of Glory?  The LORD, strong and mighty, the LORD, mighty in battle!
• Lift up your heads, O gates! And lift them up, O ancient doors, that the King of Glory may come in.
• Who is this King of Glory?  The LORD of hosts; HE is the King of Glory!

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Psalm 47.

(Hear the joy and celebration in Jerusalem in these verses from 47!)

• Clap your hands, all peoples!  Shout to God with loud songs of joy!
• For the LORD, the Most High, is to be feared, a great king over all the earth!
• God has gone up with a shout, the LORD with the sound of a trumpet.
• Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises!
• For God is the King of all the earth; sing praises with a psalm!
• God reigns over the nations; God sits on His Holy Throne
• The princes of the peoples gather as the people of the God of Abraham. 
• For the shields of the earth belong to God: He is highly exalted

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Psalm 68.

(More singing and celebration, but this psalm lists Israel’s history as well.  I’ll write much of the praise and song here but do read it ALL It tells how God acted gloriously in Israel’s history. )

• Vs 4. Sing to God, sing praises to His name; lift up a song to Him who rides through the deserts; His name is the LORD; exalt before him!
• Vs 19. Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears us up; God is our salvation.
• Vs 24-26. Your procession is seen, O God, the procession of my God, my King, into the sanctuary, the singers in front, the musicians last, between them the virgins playing tambourines; Bless God in the great congregation, the LORD, O You who are of Israel’s fountain!
• Vs 32-33. O kingdoms of the earth, sing to God; sing praises to the Lord, to Him who rides in the heavens, the ancient heavens: behold He sends out His voice his mighty voice.
• Vs 34-35. Ascribe power to God, whose majesty is over Israel, and whose power is in the skies. Awesome is God from His sanctuary, the God of Israel; He is the One who gives power and strength to His people. BLESSED BE GOD! 

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Psalm 15.

This psalm seems to be David talking stock now that the celebration is over. He realizes the awesomeness and seriousness of having the Presence of the LORD of Glory in his city.  It humbles him.  It almost seems like a prayer that he, David, might be that worthy man.

• O LORD, who shall sojourn in your tent? Who shall dwell on Your holy hill?
• He who walks blamelessly and does what is right and speaks truth in his heart;
• Who does not slander with his tongue and does no evil to his neighbor, nor takes up a reproach against his friend;
• In whose eyes a vile person is despised, but who honors those who fear the LORD; who swears to his own hurt and does not change;
• who does not put out his money at interest and does not take a bribe against the innocent.  
• He who does these things shall never be moved.

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Psalm 22.

This psalm is prophetic of our Lord Jesus. It is a story of first being “God-forsaken” and then being “God-found.”   It applies to David at some time in his life, perhaps when he is running from his son Absalom, and it also applies ultimately to Jesus, the Greater Son of David, who spoke the first line of this psalm from the cross.

• My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?  Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning?
• All who see me mock me; they make mouths at me (sneer); they wag their heads; “He trusts in the LORD, let Him deliver him; let Him rescue him, for He delights in him!”
• I  am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax; it is melted within my breast
• My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to my jaws
• Dogs encompass me; a company of evildoers encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet
• I can count all my bones; they stare and gloat over me; they divide my garments among them, and cast lots.

David writing so vividly of a way future time, and the present he also was experiencing.

Then, at verse 22, the psalm turns, David being “rescued from his enemies.” And his strong praise to the LORD.

• I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will praise you;
• You who fear the LORD, praise him! All you offspring of Jacob, glorify Him and stand in awe of Him all you offspring of Israel!

And then the psalm again seems to speak of a future as well as David’s present when HE, the Greater Son of David shall rule the nations.

• All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations shall worship before you. For kingship belongs to the LORD, and He rules over the nations. 
• It shall be told of the LORD to the coming generation; they shall come and proclaim His righteousness to a people yet unborn, that HE HAS DONE IT.

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Then lastly, the so well-known psalm, that I bet you could recite it now.

Psalm 23.

David, the sweet psalmist of Israel, sings of God’s care for him while recalling those green pastures and the flocks of his father’s sheep.   

Can you picture him, with a small lyre on his lap, his eyes closed….. remembering, and then that turning that into a prayer.

• The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
• HE makes me lie down in green pastures. HE leads me beside still waters.
• HE restores my soul. HE leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.
• Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for YOU are with me; YOUR rod and YOUR staff they comfort me.
• YOU prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; YOU anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
• Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,  and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

Amen.

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