Bible Commentary: Psalms 10-59
Posted: Sat Sep 03, 2005 6:01 pm
Bible Commentary for Psalms 10 thru 59
Psalm 10
It appears to the psalmist that Jehovah does not show himself during times when the wicked are ruling over the innocent. They are caught in his schemes and he boasts of the desires of his heart, blesses the greedy and reviles Jehovah. He has too much pride to humble himself before Jehovah; His laws do not fit in with what he wants to do. He believes that he can supply all that he needs to be secure and happy without having to submit to the will of someone else, including God. The means by which he achieves his purposes are by pronouncing curses, lying and threatening as his tongue speaks nothing but evil. He waits in ambush to catch the helpless off guard; then he catches them in his net and crushes them because they are unable to withstand him. Because he succeeds in this, he says to himself that God does not see or care what happens to the innocent and afflicted.
The psalmist then implores God to Arise! and remember the innocent because the wicked have said that he won’t be called to account for the evil he does, thereby reviling God by his words. God does see what is happening and He gives consideration to it as these innocent ones rely on His help. God will break the power of the wicked and call him to account for his hidden deeds. Jehovah is King and all who oppose Him will perish. The psalmist is confident that Jehovah listens to the cry of the afflicted and He encourages and defends them so that all will know that the wicked will not continue their ruthless rule over the people.
Psalms 11 - 14
In Psalm 11, the psalmist avows to those who are encouraging him to flee from the wicked that his refuge is in Jehovah. Many who are discouraged say to him that the righteous are unable to stem the tide of wickedness even the very foundations are threatened. But the psalmist knows that Jehovah is in his holy temple and nothing escapes His notice. He examines all men in the way that a person who purifies gold or silver would test them for purity. He will test his servant but those who love violence He abhors and will bring upon them His fiery judgments. Those who imitate Jehovah who is a lover of righteousness and justice will enjoy a favorable relationship with Him.
Psalm 12 describes a very distressing situation observed by the psalmist. He says that the faithful have completely vanished from among men because everyone lies and speaks deceptive flattery to his neighbor. Those who twist and pervert God’s word should be cut off. Because of this perversion of his word, Jehovah will now arise and protect the needy that are being devastated by the malicious words of the wicked. The psalmist recognized that Jehovah’s word is perfect or flawless with no dross or impurity in it and He will uphold it. The upright can put their complete confidence in God’s words. The wicked exercise authority only because their worthless words are held in honor by the people.
Psalm 13 is a plea by David to Jehovah not to wait too long before rescuing him. He asks the question, ‘how long?’ four times in the first two verses. It appears to him that Jehovah has lost interest in him so that his enemies now have the upper hand over him. He pleads that Jehovah will give consideration to him and show him His favor or he will be overcome and his enemies will think that they have triumphed over him. David is fully confident that his trust in Jehovah will bear fruit, that Jehovah will show him good.
In Psalm 14, David describes a fool as one who denies the existence of a God who will call him to account for his vile deeds. These individuals are corrupt through and through and they appear to be in the majority among worshippers of God. They may not admit it but they know that they do not have the support of God because He only upholds the cause of the righteous. They might even frustrate the counsel of the afflicted but these ones continue to take refuge in Jehovah. David longs for the day when Jehovah will bring salvation to his people by His sending a deliverer out of Zion who will restore or deliver captive Israel. (Isaiah 59:20; Romans 11:26)
Psalms 15 – 17
Psalm 15 describes the conduct of the person who is pleasing to God and who He would invite to worship on His Hill. First, his pattern of conduct in life is one of blamelessness and righteousness. His activities reflect his adherence to God’s righteous standards and he is not an insincere flatterer. Second, he is not given to slander nor does he do any harm to his neighbor. Third, anyone who is adjudged by Jehovah to be vile is despised by him and he honors only those who fear Jehovah. If he agrees to help someone and finds that it would mean a loss of him, he does not go back on his word. Fourth, he does not lend money in order to make money or charge usury nor would he accept a bribe. A person who adheres to all of these things will always be sure of his place before Jehovah.
In Psalm 16, David asks Jehovah to keep him safe because he had taken refuge in him. Jehovah is his God apart from whom there would be nothing good in his life. He also takes delight in godly persons who serve Him. He will have nothing to do with anyone who goes after other gods to serve them. These ones will have nothing but sorrow in their life and he will not render any assistance to them in their false worship.
Jehovah is David’s assigned or allotted portion and He has made him secure in his life’s work. He may have been echoing Jehovah’s words to the priests whom he gave no land inheritance to as he said to them: “You shall have no inheritance in their land nor own any portion among them; I am your portion and your inheritance among the sons of Israel.” (Numbers 18:20) He describes his spiritual heritage as boundary lines falling in pleasant places. (Verse 6) David considers himself to be blessed because Jehovah counsels him and his heart instructs him at night.
Because David had kept Jehovah before him continually, he was confident that Jehovah would not forget him. Even when he went to the grave, he believed that he would be remembered and resurrected back to life. Jehovah would make known to him the path of life and His presence so that David would enjoy the fullness of joy.
David’s words in verses 8-11 have proven to be prophetic and were quoted by Peter at Acts 2:25-28 and applied to Jesus. (Acts 2:29-32)
In Psalm 17, David asks Jehovah to hear his cause as it was a just one and his prayer because it did not originate from deceitful lips. He wanted Jehovah to vindicate him because He judged righteously. Jehovah would in His judgment probe his heart, examine him in the night and refine him and He would find nothing evil in him as he had determined that he would not sin. He had kept his feet on the paths that God decreed, not deviating from it.
He appeal to Jehovah to listen to his urgent petition, to keep him as one who is dear to Him; hide him in the shadow of his wings as a mother bird would do for her young because his enemies have surrounded him. They have spoken of him with indifference and pride and they pursue him as a lion would, eager to tear him apart.
David pleads with Jehovah to arise and confront his enemy and to use his sword to deliver him. The hope of his enemies goes no further than the present life. They enjoy many good things in this life and are able to leave their wealth to their children. But as for David, his satisfaction comes in beholding Jehovah’s likeness and his righteousness.
Psalm 18
David begins this song with praise to Jehovah describing Him as his fortress, his deliverer, his rock, his shield, the horn of his salvation, his refuge and his savior. When David found himself confronted by death, he called to Jehovah and from his temple He heard him. Then Jehovah acted, He parted the heavens and came down with dark clouds under his feet, mounted on the cherubim and soaring on the wings of the wind. He thundered from heaven His voice resounding, He shot arrows and scattered the enemy and with bolts of lightening he routed them. David gives all credit to Jehovah for the victories he won. He gives Jehovah credit for removing him from situations over which he had no control.
David believes that Jehovah helped him because He delighted in him and He dealt with him because of his righteousness; because of the cleanness of his hands. David is not bragging but realizes that Jehovah delights in those who obey Him, who keep his covenant and who refrain from evil by not turning away from Him. To those who are faithful, Jehovah shows himself faithful, but to those who act crookedly, He shows Himself to be shrewd. He exalts the humble but brings down the haughty. Here David refers to Jehovah as his lamp, the One who guides him, and the one who shows him how to accomplish things that may seem impossible to men.
Jehovah’s way is perfect, His word flawless and those who take refuge in him, he will shield. He arms His anointed with strength, gives him the light-footedness of a deer, trains his hands for battle and strengthens his arms. He widens his pathway so that David will not stumble. When he pursues his enemies, he will do a thorough job of defeating them because Jehovah had strengthened him. His enemies may cry out for help but there is no one to save them. They will be as dust on the earth or as mud that people trample in the streets.
David has been delivered from the attacks of his own people and has been made head of nations. People from everywhere become his subjects when they learn what Jehovah has done for him.
Verses 43-45 are partially quoted in Isaiah 55:4, 5 indicating that these verses will have a broader fulfillment than what happened in David’s day. The antitypical fulfillment will occur in our modern times when Jehovah reveals to the world His modern-day David, His anointed one.
David ends his song by offering the highest praise to Jehovah who is exalted; who has put nations under him and freed him from all his enemies. David therefore vows to praise Jehovah among the nations, to sing praises to His great name as He has shown unfailing kindness to His anointed one and to his descendants.
Psalms 19 – 21
Psalm 19 extols the marvelous works of Jehovah and His incomparable word. His creative works though they do not speak words, yet they reveal so much about their creator. The apostle Paul said of those who claim not to know God that “since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so they are without excuse.” (Romans 1:20) He also quoted verse 4 at Romans 10:18 to show that Israel had no excuse for not obeying the good news as it had gone out through the entire earth.
Jehovah’s word is even more beneficial and can cause changes in people if applied in their lives. His Law has restorative qualities that bring healing to a person. The sureness of His statutes can help the experienced one gain wisdom. His precepts can cause the heart to rejoice. The purity of His commandments can guide one’s life such that one can have inner joy. His judgments are righteous and true they do not change with time. They are more desirable than the finest gold and the best of honey right off the honeycomb. They contain warnings as well as holding out a great reward to those who are obedient. Many of our sins may be hidden from us but not from Jehovah, so David prayed that he would be forgiven these sins as well. He also asked that presumptuous sins not be master over him.
Psalm 20 is a prayer to Jehovah by the congregation on behalf of the king that he be victorious over his enemies. The request by the congregation is that Jehovah would grant the king protection and victory, sending him help from the sanctuary; that his sacrifices be acceptable, that his heart’s desire be granted by Jehovah and that He fulfills all of his plans. The people would sing for joy at his victory and would raise their banners in the name of their God, Jehovah.
The psalmist acknowledges that it is Jehovah who saves His anointed when He answers him from heaven. Other nations boast about their chariots and horses, but Israel will boast in the name of Jehovah. Jehovah has saved His people and they stand upright, but the other nations have fallen and been unable to rise.
Psalm 21 reveals that Jehovah has answered the king’s request for victory. The king rejoices in Jehovah’s strength and in the victories He gives. The heart’s desire of the king has been granted as well as the request of his lips. Jehovah has blessed him with good things and has given him a crown of gold, long life, honor and majesty. He is joyful and glad in Jehovah’s presence. Because of his implicit trust in Jehovah, he will continue as unmovable because God will not take away His lovingkindness from him.
Jehovah has strengthened the king’s hand to find all of his enemies, those who hate him, and he will make them like a fiery oven in the time of his appearing. Then Jehovah will swallow them up in His anger sending fire to devour them. The offspring of these enemies will not be allowed to remain on the earth. If their aim is to overthrow the king, they will not succeed. The king will route them because he trusts in Jehovah. The congregation will offer songs of praise to Jehovah exalting Him because of His great power and strength.
Psalm 22
There is anguish in the word of David as he ask God why has he forsaken him and why is He taking so long to deliver him and why does He not hear his groaning. He constantly keeps his request for deliverance before Him. His forefathers put their complete trust in Him and when they cried out to Him, He always delivered them.
He is a man who is despised and reproached by others, he is nothing but a ‘worm.’ He is mocked and insulted by people and they say to him that if he truly trusted in Jehovah, why had God not rescued him, that is, if He took delight in him as was his claim?
From the womb, he has taken delight in God. God is the only one who can help him. He is surrounded by bull-like people and is threatened by people who want to tear him to pieces as a lion would do to his prey. His strength is sapped and his bones are out of joint, he has lost all courage, his strength is gone, his mouth was dry and he was near death.
He compared his enemies to dogs that are scavengers, and like dogs, they had wounded his feet and hands when he tried to ward off their attacks. He was so emaciated the he could count all of his bones. His enemy was so sure that he was dying that they took his garments, cast lots for them and divided them among themselves.
David continues to plead for deliverance from the sword, from the dogs and from the lion’s mouth. After his deliverance, he will proclaim God’s name to his brothers in the midst of the assembly of Israel. (Hebrews 2:12) All Israel, those who fear Him, should offer praise and should glorify Him and stand in awe of Him. He did not despise the trouble that the afflicted suffered and He did not hide his face from them. When they cried to Him, He heard and answered them.
Jehovah is the theme of David’s praise in the congregation and before those who fear Him, he will pay his vows at the temple. He would share his offering with the afflicted who will eat and be satisfied. He encouraged all who were seeking Jehovah not to give up but to continue praising Jehovah.
David looks to the time when all the nations will worship Jehovah because they have accepted Him as their ruler and king. Jehovah’s deliverance of His anointed will be told to the succeeding generations and they will come and worship Him as He is worthy of all praise.
Verses 1, 8, and 18 of this Psalms were applied to Jesus. See Matthew 27:35, 43, 46.
Psalms 23 – 26
Psalm 23 depicts Jehovah as the great shepherd who cares for, provides for and protects His sheep so that they lack for nothing. The imagery is that of a sheep being taken to green pastures where there is a plentiful supply of food and they can lie down and rest. They are led to quiet waters such as wells and springs, as it is known that sheep will not drink running water. By these means, Jehovah provided refreshment for David. As the shepherd makes sure that the sheep stay on the most direct path to arrive safely home, Jehovah guided David in paths of righteousness for the sake of His name. Even though David may find himself in dire straits, he can be sure that no harm will come to him as Jehovah protects him the way that a shepherd would use his rod and staff to protect his flock.
Jehovah provided a table full of all kinds of good things, anointed David’s head with soothing oil as any good host would do, and filled his cup to overflowing. David is confident that Jehovah’s goodness and mercy would be with him all of his life and he would return to the house of Jehovah.
In Psalm 24, Jehovah is honored as the sovereign over everything. The earth belongs to Him and all that live on it. He has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers. David asks who is worthy to enter the presence of this sovereign king? His answer: one who obeys His laws and precepts with the right attitude or heart condition; one who has not worshipped false gods nor sworn to a lie. Those who seek Jehovah would receive blessings and righteousness from Him.
Verses 7-10 pictures a triumphant procession coming into the city of Jerusalem with the priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant to its place in the sanctuary. The people sing this refrain welcoming Jehovah, the king of glory, to the city. (See 1 Kings 8)
In Psalm 25, David expresses his trust and confidence in Jehovah and petitions Him to keep him from being put to be shame before his enemies so that they would exult over him. None who wait on Jehovah will be ashamed but those who are treacherous without cause will be. David wants to know the ways of Jehovah, to be taught His paths and His truth. He asks Jehovah to remember His compassion and lovingkindness that are from everlasting and put the sins that David committed in his youth far behind Him.
Jehovah is good and upright and He instructs sinners and leads the humble in justice and teaches them His way. The man who fears Jehovah is the one who will be instructed by Jehovah and his descendants will inherit the land. He will come to know the secret of Jehovah and He will make him know His covenant. As David kept his eyes on Jehovah, he relied upon Him to disentangle him from his difficulties.
David pleads for Jehovah to give His attention to him and bring him out of his distresses. He wanted his sins to be forgiven and to be delivered from his enemies who have a violent hatred for him. Integrity and uprightness would guard him as he waited on Jehovah. He also asks that Jehovah would redeem Israel from their troubles.
In Psalm 26 David asks that Jehovah vindicate him because he had walked in integrity and had put unwavering trust in Him. Jehovah could examine and test him and know that he had walked in His truth. He did not associate with deceitful men or with hypocrites. He hated the assembly of evildoers and he did not consult with the wicked. He was innocent of all wrongdoing. He preferred to be near Jehovah’s altar so that he could proclaim all of His wonders.
David expressed great love for Jehovah’s house where His glory dwelt. He did not want to be classified with sinners and those who shed blood and were always devising wicked schemes and taking bribes. He continued to walk in his integrity and his foot stood on a level place. So he could bless Jehovah in the congregation of God’s people.
Psalms 27 – 29
Psalm 27 highlights the benefits of reliance on Jehovah. With Jehovah on his side David knew that there was no one to be fearful of or be in dread of. When his enemies sought to slander him, they would not succeed. He would not fear a large encampment nor would he loose his confidence when he was faced with war.
The most important thing for David was that Jehovah would allow him to dwell in His tabernacle all of his life to enjoy His favor and to meditate there. He knew that Jehovah would conceal him in the day of trouble. He would be lifted up on a rock and his head would be lifted above that of his enemies. And he would offer sacrifices with joy and sing praises to Jehovah.
When Jehovah said to David “Seek my face,” he did so. Now he does not want Jehovah to hide His face from him or turn away from him in anger because He has been his help. He does not want Jehovah to abandon him even as his father and mother might. He wants Jehovah to teach him the right way to go because his enemies were lying in wait for him. He asked that his enemies would not be able to carry out their desires as they had already produced false witnesses to testify against him. Had he not believed that he would see Jehovah’s goodness again in the land of the living, he would have despaired. So he gathered up his strength to wait for Jehovah.
In Psalm 28, David prayed that Jehovah would open His ears to his cry because if He remained silent, David might as well be dead. When he supplicated Him, raising his hands toward His holy sanctuary, he asked Jehovah to hear him. He did not want to be taken away with the wicked, but that Jehovah should give them just punishment in harmony with their practices because they do not give consideration to Jehovah’s works nor to His deeds.
Jehovah is to be blessed because He heard His servant’s cry. Jehovah is his strength and shield and his heart exults. Jehovah is the strength for His people and He will save and bless them and be their Shepherd.
In Psalm 29, David uses a storm to describe Jehovah’s mightiness. He has glory and strength; He should be given the glory due to His Name and should be worshipped in accordance with His holiness. The voice of Jehovah is upon the waters, and He thunders. His voice is powerful, it is majestic, and it breaks cedars, the mighty cedars of Lebanon. His voice sends out lightening, it causes the wilderness to whirl, it makes the deer calve prematurely due to fear and strips the leaves from the trees. In His holy temple, all ascribe glory to Him. He sits as King forever and He gives strength to His people.
Psalms 30 and 31
In Psalm 30, David extols Jehovah for delivering him from death. Jehovah has kept David from going to Sheol so that his enemies could not rejoice over him. He heard his cry for help and healed him. He urges all godly ones to sing praises to Jehovah and give thanks to His Holy Name. He may be angry with His servant but it only last for a brief moment but His favor lasts a lifetime. When David was prosperous, he developed pride, he forgot that it was Jehovah who had given him prosperity. Then Jehovah hid His face and David became dismayed. So he called out to Him for mercy because he knew that if he died, he would not be able to praise Jehovah or declare His faithfulness.
David prayed to Jehovah to restore him and Jehovah heard his cry. He turned his mourning into gladness so that he could praise and give thanks to Him and not be silenced by death.
In Psalm 31, David spoke of taking refuge in Jehovah so that he would not be ashamed before his enemies. Jehovah would be a rock and fortress for him and would lead and guide him for the sake of His name. David was concerned for God’s name because he did not want the enemy to have any reason to revile it. A trap had been set for David that he could not free himself from so he committed his spirit into God’s hand. (Luke 23:46) David has a hatred for those that turned to worthless idols and did not trust in Jehovah as he does. He rejoiced in Jehovah who was aware of what David was going through so He had not turned him over to his enemies but had given him freedom of movement.
David describes his distress saying his eye, soul and body were wasting away, his life was used up in sorrow and signing. His strength had failed because of his sin and to his adversaries he was a reproach. Even his friends viewed him as something to dread and they would not face him. He was as a man forgotten; one who is viewed as dead, a broken vessel. His adversaries were plotting to take his life.
Yet David continued to trust in Jehovah to deliver him and to bring shame upon the wicked, silencing them in the grave. Their lips spoke arrogantly against the righteous and did not praise Jehovah. Jehovah’s goodness is stored up for those who fear Him and take refuge in Him and their enemies would be made aware of this when they observed it. These would be protected from the conspiracies and intrigues of their enemies.
David became alarmed when he thought that Jehovah had deserted him but He did hear his supplication. So David encourages all the godly ones to love Jehovah because He keeps His faithful one alive and fully recompenses the proud. Therefore, they were to be strong and courageous in their hearts.
Psalms 32 and 33
Psalm 32 shows the value of confessing our sins and having them forgiven. David said that a person is blessed when his sins are forgiven or covered over, and are not counted against him because he is truly repentant. When David did not confess his sins, he was like a man in a physically weak condition but when he did confess and acknowledge them and stopped trying to cover them over, then Jehovah forgave them. So he recommends to the godly that they pray to Jehovah at a time when He can be found so that they can be protected when they are faced with great adversity.
David now quotes Jehovah’s words to the godly. He is the Instructor and Teacher who will guide them and give them counsel. They are not to be like the stubborn horse or mule that needs a bit and bridle to make him obey. The wicked have many sorrows but Jehovah’s lovingkindness surrounds those who put their trust in Him so they have every reason to rejoice and to shout for joy.
Psalm 33 is a song of praise to Jehovah. It is fitting for the righteous to sing praises to Jehovah with the lyre and with a ten-stringed harp. In the worship service at the temple, the Levites were skilled players on these instruments and they accompanied the singers. Their songs would extol Jehovah for His uprightness, for His word and the faithfulness of His works, as the earth is full of His lovingkindness. By His word all things came into existence. His counsel stands forever. He nullifies the counsel of nations when it is in opposition to His and frustrates the plans of the people who do not listen to Him. The nation of Israel was called blessed because they accepted His counsel and Jehovah was their God.
Jehovah sees everything that human do from His exalted position in heaven. He knows their thoughts and He understands their works. A king relies on his army, a warrier his great strength, even the horse is believed to be able bring victory, but Jehovah knows the vanity of their doing this. He keeps his eyes on those who fear Him and look for His lovingkindness as these are the ones that He will deliver from death. Israel relies on Jehovah for He is their shield and help. They rejoice in Him because they trust in His Holy Name and so their hope is in Him.
Psalm 34
This is a psalm that David wrote when he fled to the Philistine king but had to pretend to be mad because he was recognized by them as the one who was celebrated in song as killing tens of thousands of Philistines. (1 Samuel 21:10-15) David would continually bless Jehovah and praise Him and exalt His name. He looked for Jehovah and He answered him and delivered him. His angels camp around those who fear Jehovah and they are rescued.
David urged the godly ones to taste and see that Jehovah is good. How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him! Those who feared Him did not lack for anything. David, because of his experiences, could teach these ones just what the fear of Jehovah meant. If they desired length of days then they would need to speak truth, leave evil alone and do what was good. They were to seek peace and pursue it.
Jehovah’s eye and ears are open toward the righteous but His face is against the wicked. He hears the cry of the righteous, the brokenhearted and those crushed in sprit and He delivers them from their troubles no matter how many they are. “He keeps his bones, not one of them is broken” (verse 20) refers to the complete protection from cruel oppression. (See The Bible Knowledge Commentary of the Old Testament, page 820.) (John 19:33, 36) The enemy of the righteous will be condemned but those who take refuge in Jehovah will not be condemned.
Psalms 35 and 36
In Psalm 35, David asks Jehovah to take up the weapons of war and fight his battle for him because He is his salvation. Those who seek his life should be shamed and dishonored. They should be like chaff that the wind drives away with Jehovah’s angels doing the driving away. They had no reason to pursue him and try to trap him in secret, so their destruction should come upon them in secret and they should fall into their own trap.
David rejoiced in Jehovah and exulted in His salvation. From his innermost being he would say that there is no one like Jehovah who delivers the afflicted from those who are stronger that they are. They bring false witnesses in to slander him repaying him evil for good. He had not acted that way towards them when they were sick. He had donned sackcloth, fasted and offered prayer in their behalf as he would have done if it had been his own brother. But they rejoiced when he stumbled, even those who did not know him joined in slandering him and gnashing their teeth at him. How long would it be before Jehovah would act in his behalf? He would still give thanks and praise to Jehovah while among His congregation of people.
His enemies spoke vicious words against him; he was hated without cause, so he petitioned Jehovah to not let them rejoice over him. Jehovah had seen what they are doing and He should not keep silent. David wants Him to bestir himself and come to his aid as they wanted to swallow him up. All those who rejoiced at his distress should be shamed and humiliated. Those who favor his vindication should rejoice and say: “May Jehovah be magnified.” He would declare Jehovah’s righteousness and His praise all day long.
In Psalm 36, David says that the greatest transgression of the ungodly is that he does not have any fear of Jehovah. He allows flattery to deceive him such that he does not recognize his sin. He speaks wickedness and deceit because he does not understand how to be wise and how to do good. He commits himself to a sinful course and does not reject wrong.
Jehovah’s attributes of lovingkindness, faithfulness, righteousness and His judgements are an inexhaustible source of help for both men and animals. Jehovah is spoken of as having wings that humans can find refuge in the shadow of and they are able to drink from an abundance of Jehovah’s provisions since He is the source of life and understanding. David prayed that Jehovah will continue to extend His lovingkindness and His righteousness to him and not let him be influenced by pride or by the wicked.
Psalm 37
When evildoers flourish, one should not be unduly upset because the lives of these ones will be short; they will fade like green grass. Trust in Jehovah, cultivate faithfulness, take delight in Him and He will set matters straight. Jehovah will vindicate His righteous servants. They should wait patiently for Jehovah to act in His due time. They should also avoid complaining or getting angry if it seems that nothing is being done as this might cause them to could commit a rash act. Evildoers will be cut off but those who wait for Jehovah will inherit the land.
The wicked spend their time plotting against the righteous but Jehovah laughs at them because He knows the time of their end. They use abusive means to keep the needy and afflicted under their thumbs but Jehovah will break their power. It is better to have little and be righteous than have much and come under Jehovah’s judgment as He sustains the righteous and will reward their efforts. The wicked will be destroyed because they are like grass that withers away. The wicked borrow and do not pay back, but the righteous loves to give.
Jehovah established the ways of a righteous man so even if he stumbles, he will not fall because Jehovah holds him up. In David’s experience, he had never seen a righteous man left in a lurch or having to beg for his food. Instead he is the one lending to others.
Jehovah loves justice so a righteous man will stay away from evil and do good, so that he will be preserved but the wicked will be cut off. The righteous man utters wisdom and speaks justice because God’s law is in his heart and Jehovah will not leave him in the hands of the wicked or allow him to be condemned when he is judged. David urged the righteous to wait on Jehovah and He will exalt them when he cuts the wicked off.
The wicked may prosper like a luxuriant tree but he will not remain for long but there is a future for the blameless and upright man. Their salvation comes from Jehovah and he gives them strength. He delivers them from the wicked because they take refuge in Him.
Psalm 38
David prays that Jehovah will not discipline him when He is angry. Already His arrows had sunk into him and His hand was pressed hard against him. Because of Jehovah's indignation and his own sin, he had lost his health. The heavy burden of his sins was too much for him to carry; they caused him to bend over. He was crushed in body and spirit. Jehovah is aware of what he is feeling even though his friends and relatives avoid him. Those who hate him were seeking to take his life and they were constantly plotting to destroy him.
He made no reply to his enemies but waited on Jehovah to answer him so that they would not magnify themselves at his fall. He would continually confess his sin because it was causing him much anxiety. His enemies were many and very enthusiastic to repay evil for good and their main objection to him was that he followed what was right. So he prayed that Jehovah would not forsake him and He would make haste to help him.
Psalm 39
David resolved not to sin with his mouth in front of his enemies but his silence only aggravated his suffering, so he spoke. He asked Jehovah to help him come to grips with the short life span he had. He knew that the days of a man were as brief as a mere breath. He expends much energy going to and fro accomplishing nothing but vanity and accumulating wealth that he has no idea of what will happen to it after he is gone.
David’s goal in life was tied up in his hope that Jehovah would save him from his sins and keep him from becoming the reproach of the foolish. He has been silent because Jehovah had caused his problem so he asked Him to remove His plague from him. Jehovah disciplines a man for his sins and his wealth is eaten away as though by a moth.
David requests that Jehovah hear his prayer for relief and his cry for help. He felt that Jehovah was treating him as a stranger or alien as his forefathers had been. If Jehovah would turn His gaze away from him, then he could live his few days in rejoicing before he died. (Job 10:20, 21)
Psalm 40
David waited patiently for Jehovah until He heard and answered his plea for help. He saved him from the pit and gave him a firm place to stand and put a new song of praise in his mouth. Because of this, many will now fear Jehovah and put their trust in Him. The person who trusts in Jehovah and has not turned to those who are proud is blessed. If David attempted to enumerate Jehovah’s acts of deliverance, they would be too numerous to mention.
The sacrifices made at the altar, though required, were not what Jehovah desired. He opened (literally, dug or pierced) the ears of His servant to hear His words. His servant then took up those words and proceeded to do Jehovah’s will because he had His Law written in his heart. These verses, verses 6-8, would have application beyond David's time because verse 7 indicates that it been foretold, or written, that there would be one coming who would apply them to himself. The apostle Paul, at Hebrews 10:5-7, applied them to Jesus, but he used the wording from the Greek Septuagint which used the word ‘body’ instead of ‘ears.’
As a result of David ‘hearing’ God’s word with his ears, he now proclaimed the good news of Jehovah’s righteousness to the congregation. He had not kept it hidden but had spoken of His faithfulness, His salvation and His truth to God’s people.
David did not want Jehovah to withhold His compassion from him but would allow His lovingkindness and truth to keep him safe because of the increase of wickedness and because of the number of his sins. So he begged Jehovah to deliver him quickly and let those who were seeking his life be humiliated and put to shame. But all those who are seeking Jehovah and love His salvation say ‘The LORD [Jehovah] be magnified.’ David wanted Jehovah to be continually mindful of his needs and hurry to deliver him.
Psalm 41
David commends the ones who remember the needy and tells them that they are blessed because Jehovah takes note of them. He will deliver them when they are in need. He will protect them, keep them alive, sustain them when they are ill and restore their health.
David asks Jehovah to be gracious to him and heal him because he has sinned against Him. Now his enemies are secretly hoping for his death but they still pretend to be friendly by coming to visit him. Afterwards they slandered him by saying that he had been afflicted with a vile disease and that he would not recover from it. Even his closest friend, one who ate bread with him, had ‘lifted up his heal against him.’ (Verse 9) In David's case, this friend was Ahithophel. Jesus applied these words to Judas as recorded at John 13:18.
David prayed that Jehovah would raise him up so that he could repay his enemies. If Jehovah is pleased with him, then his enemies will not be able to triumph over him. Jehovah will uphold David in his integrity and set him in His presence forever. David ends this psalm with a doxology in which he extols Jehovah as the One to be praised from everlasting to everlasting.
Psalms 42 and 43
In Psalm 42, the psalmist expresses anxiety at being separated from God’s presence. He compares his need to be near God with that of a deer’s need for water. When will he be able to appear before Jehovah so that his thirst for him can be quenched? He constantly faces those who ask him where is his god. He remembers the time when he would lead a procession of people to the house of God singing joyfully. His soul is in despair but he needs to keep his hope before him that he will be able to praise Jehovah again. He reminisces about some of the physical features of the land of Israel that remind him of Jehovah. He is constantly thinking about Jehovah but it appears that Jehovah has forgotten him so he goes around mourning and is oppressed by the enemy. Even his bones suffer as his enemy continues to taunt him saying ‘where is your god?’ Even though he is downcast, he will put his hope in Jehovah that He will restore him so the he can praise him again.
In Psalm 43, the psalmist asks that Jehovah will vindicate him and plead his case against an ungodly nation; rescue him from unjust men because He is his strength. When he asks Jehovah why He has rejected him, he does say whether it is due to anything that he had done. He mourns that he is being oppressed by his enemy and is in need of Jehovah’s light and truth so that he can be restored to Him. He will then be able to offer acceptable praise to Him. So he should not be in despair and be disturbed but should hope in Jehovah that he will praise Him again.
Psalm 44
The psalmist repeats the account of Jehovah bringing his people into the land to possess it. He reminds them that it was Jehovah who had driven the native people out of the land and planted Israel there and caused them to flourish. It was not by their own sword or their own arm that this had been done but it was by Jehovah’s right hand, His arm and His favor towards them that had accomplished this.
The psalmist recognized that Jehovah as their king had decreed victories for Jacob. He is the reason that they would defeat their enemies and trample those who come against them. Israel needed to keep in mind that they would not succeed if they relied on themselves. Since it was Jehovah who saved them then they should boast in Him and give thanks to His name forever.
Jehovah has apparently rejected Israel as He does not fight for them so the enemy routs them and plunders them. They are like sheep that are eaten for food; they have been scattered among the nations; they are a derision to their neighbors who shake their heads at them. They suffer constant humiliation and reproaches from their enemy.
Israel claims that they have done nothing to deserve this kind of treatment. They had not forgotten their God, nor had they dishonored the covenant, they have not turned to other gods nor have they walk in another path. But Jehovah has crushed them in desolated places and the shadow of death hung over their heads.
Certainly Jehovah would know if they had forgotten Him and were following false gods and He would call them to account for this. But this was not the case. So their suffering must be related to the fact that they have walked closely in his way and have kept His commands. If this is true then, they are petitioning Jehovah to give attention to their plight and not hide His face forgetting their affliction and oppression. They are in very low spirits because of their grief and are pleading with Jehovah to come and redeem them from the servitude that He sold them into. Paul applied verse 22 to first century Christains. (Romans 8:36)
Psalm 45
Psalm 45 is a royal psalm and describes a mighty king and his royal wedding. This psalm is to be applied in a prophetic setting rather than a literal one. The psalmist is writing his verse as a tribute to the king and he is very exuberant about the theme of his writings. He described the king as being the most excellent of men who speaks gracious words that are the evidence of his being blessed by Jehovah. He fights a righteous warfare because he rides in the cause of truth, humility and righteousness and his right hand teaches him fearful things. His arrows are sharp and he shoots them into the heart of his enemies
His throne is forever and the scepter of his kingdom is one of uprightness. Because the king loves righteousness and hates wickedness, God has anointed him with joy above that of any other human. His garments are perfumed with fragrant flowers, some of which were used to make the holy anointing oil used on the priests. Daughters of kings are among his noble ladies and the queen wears ornaments made with the gold of Ophir.
The bride of the king is told to forget her people and her father’s house. She obviously is of foreign descent. The king is her lord so she should pay homage to him. Even the most influential people would seek her favor. The king’s daughter is adorned in clothing interwoven with gold and embroidered work. Her virgin companions, who follow her, will be led in with joy and gladness into the king’s palace. Those who had been his forefathers will now become his sons and they will be made princes in all the earth. Jehovah will cause the king’s name to be remembered throughout the generations and the nations will praise him forever.
Psalms 46 – 48
In Psalm 46, Jehovah is extolled as the refuge and strength of His people, whose help can always be relied upon, no matter what the disaster may be. A river flows through the City of God, Jerusalem, although the literal city of Jerusalem did not have a river associated with it. (Ezekiel 47:1-5; Revelation 22:1,2) This river would represent God’s life sustaining truths that His people will drink. God is in the city to protect it so that it will not fall. (Isaiah 33:20) He will help her when dawn rises, which is the time when most nations launch their attack against a city. Nations may be in an uproar and kingdoms may be shaken but when Jehovah speaks they will melt. When Jehovah accomplishes His work, wars will cease because He will break the bow and the spear and will burn the shields with fire. Jehovah admonishes the nations to take the time to hear and come to know that He is God and He will be exalted among all the nations in all the earth. He is with Jacob and is their fortress.
In Psalm 47, all the people are called upon to show their reverence for Jehovah by clapping their hands and making a joyful shout to Him. The Most High over the earth is awesome. He is the Great King over all the earth. He subjected nations and peoples under Israel when He chose their land inheritance. Because of His victories, God has ascended to His heavenly place to sounds of shouting of the people and the sound of trumpets blown by the priests. Praises are to be sung to Jehovah the King of the earth who reigns over the nations as He sits on His holy throne. People of the nations join with Israel in praising Jehovah because He is highly exalted.
In Psalm 48, the beauty of Zion is highlighted. Jehovah is to be praised in Zion, His Holy Mountain. The highly elevated city, located in the north, is the joy of the whole earth. It is the city of the great King and Jehovah is known as its stronghold. When kings gathered against her, they saw Zion and they were amazed. They became terrified; panic seized them and they fled in alarm. Then they were destroyed as when the east wind breaks the ships of Tarshish.
The godly have meditated on His lovingkindness in His temple. Just as Jehovah’s name is known to the ends of the earth, so will His praise be. Mount Zion would be glad and the daughters of Judah rejoice because of Jehovah’s judgment. Israel should take into consideration what Jehovah had done to make the city secure so that they can tell it to other generations. These ones will need to know how Jehovah protects those who obey Him.
Psalm 49
The Psalmist urges all the people, whether low or high, rich or poor, to listen to the wisdom coming from his mouth and the understanding from his heart. He will speak a proverb and expound a riddle. Why should he fear when evil days come, days when he is surrounded by those who trust in their wealth and boast about their riches? They cannot redeem their lives nor give a ransom for the life of another. Money would never be enough to give to God so that He would allow that person to live forever.
Wise men, foolish men and the senseless ones all die and leave their wealth to others. Their burial places will be their homes forever even though they had lands named for themselves in order to perpetuate their memory. In spite of their riches, men, like beasts, perish. This is what those who put their trust in themselves should expect. They are, as a sheep is, destined for the grave and death will be their master. But the upright will be redeemed from the grave and will live in the land. So, the counsel to the upright is do not be jealous when a man grows rich and his material possessions increase. He will not take anything with him to the grave. He may have thought himself blessed because of the praise he received from others but he will be no different than his fathers before him who will never live again. A wealthy man who does not have understanding is no better that a beast.
Psalm 50
Jehovah summons His people to appear before Him. Out of Zion, His holy temple, He shines forth. Fire devours before Him and He is surrounded by a raging tempest that signify that He has come to judge His people. He invites those who have made a ‘covenant by sacrifice’ with Him to gather before Him. He is a righteous judge and He will present His case against His people.
They are urged to hear what He has to say as He will testify against them as their God. He was not reproving them for their sacrifices as they were offering what was prescribed by Him on a daily basis. But if they thought they were giving Him something by making these offerings they were mistaken. He owns all the animals everywhere, so He would not need them to give Him anything. But what he wants from them is a sacrifice of thanksgiving, something that shows their heartfelt gratitude for what He has done for them and to pay their vows to Him. (Deuteronomy 23:21) Their worship had become ritualistic and was not beneficial to them. If they called upon Him when they were in distress and He rescued them, then they would offer praise to him out of heartfelt gratitude.
There were those who were hypocritical in their worship. They pretended to be in harmony with His laws and statutes by reciting them to others, but their actions showed differently. Jehovah said that they hated discipline, they did not obey His words, they would not condemn wrongdoers and they slandered those who were doing right. Because Jehovah did not act against them immediately, they concluded that He was just like they were. But He was going to state His case against them directly to their face. Jehovah urged them to give consideration to His warnings or He would take action against them and there would be no one to deliver them from His hand. They were given the opportunity to set their ways straight, to make changes in their lives and He would then show them His salvation.
***©2005 by YORWW Congregation
Psalm 10
It appears to the psalmist that Jehovah does not show himself during times when the wicked are ruling over the innocent. They are caught in his schemes and he boasts of the desires of his heart, blesses the greedy and reviles Jehovah. He has too much pride to humble himself before Jehovah; His laws do not fit in with what he wants to do. He believes that he can supply all that he needs to be secure and happy without having to submit to the will of someone else, including God. The means by which he achieves his purposes are by pronouncing curses, lying and threatening as his tongue speaks nothing but evil. He waits in ambush to catch the helpless off guard; then he catches them in his net and crushes them because they are unable to withstand him. Because he succeeds in this, he says to himself that God does not see or care what happens to the innocent and afflicted.
The psalmist then implores God to Arise! and remember the innocent because the wicked have said that he won’t be called to account for the evil he does, thereby reviling God by his words. God does see what is happening and He gives consideration to it as these innocent ones rely on His help. God will break the power of the wicked and call him to account for his hidden deeds. Jehovah is King and all who oppose Him will perish. The psalmist is confident that Jehovah listens to the cry of the afflicted and He encourages and defends them so that all will know that the wicked will not continue their ruthless rule over the people.
Psalms 11 - 14
In Psalm 11, the psalmist avows to those who are encouraging him to flee from the wicked that his refuge is in Jehovah. Many who are discouraged say to him that the righteous are unable to stem the tide of wickedness even the very foundations are threatened. But the psalmist knows that Jehovah is in his holy temple and nothing escapes His notice. He examines all men in the way that a person who purifies gold or silver would test them for purity. He will test his servant but those who love violence He abhors and will bring upon them His fiery judgments. Those who imitate Jehovah who is a lover of righteousness and justice will enjoy a favorable relationship with Him.
Psalm 12 describes a very distressing situation observed by the psalmist. He says that the faithful have completely vanished from among men because everyone lies and speaks deceptive flattery to his neighbor. Those who twist and pervert God’s word should be cut off. Because of this perversion of his word, Jehovah will now arise and protect the needy that are being devastated by the malicious words of the wicked. The psalmist recognized that Jehovah’s word is perfect or flawless with no dross or impurity in it and He will uphold it. The upright can put their complete confidence in God’s words. The wicked exercise authority only because their worthless words are held in honor by the people.
Psalm 13 is a plea by David to Jehovah not to wait too long before rescuing him. He asks the question, ‘how long?’ four times in the first two verses. It appears to him that Jehovah has lost interest in him so that his enemies now have the upper hand over him. He pleads that Jehovah will give consideration to him and show him His favor or he will be overcome and his enemies will think that they have triumphed over him. David is fully confident that his trust in Jehovah will bear fruit, that Jehovah will show him good.
In Psalm 14, David describes a fool as one who denies the existence of a God who will call him to account for his vile deeds. These individuals are corrupt through and through and they appear to be in the majority among worshippers of God. They may not admit it but they know that they do not have the support of God because He only upholds the cause of the righteous. They might even frustrate the counsel of the afflicted but these ones continue to take refuge in Jehovah. David longs for the day when Jehovah will bring salvation to his people by His sending a deliverer out of Zion who will restore or deliver captive Israel. (Isaiah 59:20; Romans 11:26)
Psalms 15 – 17
Psalm 15 describes the conduct of the person who is pleasing to God and who He would invite to worship on His Hill. First, his pattern of conduct in life is one of blamelessness and righteousness. His activities reflect his adherence to God’s righteous standards and he is not an insincere flatterer. Second, he is not given to slander nor does he do any harm to his neighbor. Third, anyone who is adjudged by Jehovah to be vile is despised by him and he honors only those who fear Jehovah. If he agrees to help someone and finds that it would mean a loss of him, he does not go back on his word. Fourth, he does not lend money in order to make money or charge usury nor would he accept a bribe. A person who adheres to all of these things will always be sure of his place before Jehovah.
In Psalm 16, David asks Jehovah to keep him safe because he had taken refuge in him. Jehovah is his God apart from whom there would be nothing good in his life. He also takes delight in godly persons who serve Him. He will have nothing to do with anyone who goes after other gods to serve them. These ones will have nothing but sorrow in their life and he will not render any assistance to them in their false worship.
Jehovah is David’s assigned or allotted portion and He has made him secure in his life’s work. He may have been echoing Jehovah’s words to the priests whom he gave no land inheritance to as he said to them: “You shall have no inheritance in their land nor own any portion among them; I am your portion and your inheritance among the sons of Israel.” (Numbers 18:20) He describes his spiritual heritage as boundary lines falling in pleasant places. (Verse 6) David considers himself to be blessed because Jehovah counsels him and his heart instructs him at night.
Because David had kept Jehovah before him continually, he was confident that Jehovah would not forget him. Even when he went to the grave, he believed that he would be remembered and resurrected back to life. Jehovah would make known to him the path of life and His presence so that David would enjoy the fullness of joy.
David’s words in verses 8-11 have proven to be prophetic and were quoted by Peter at Acts 2:25-28 and applied to Jesus. (Acts 2:29-32)
In Psalm 17, David asks Jehovah to hear his cause as it was a just one and his prayer because it did not originate from deceitful lips. He wanted Jehovah to vindicate him because He judged righteously. Jehovah would in His judgment probe his heart, examine him in the night and refine him and He would find nothing evil in him as he had determined that he would not sin. He had kept his feet on the paths that God decreed, not deviating from it.
He appeal to Jehovah to listen to his urgent petition, to keep him as one who is dear to Him; hide him in the shadow of his wings as a mother bird would do for her young because his enemies have surrounded him. They have spoken of him with indifference and pride and they pursue him as a lion would, eager to tear him apart.
David pleads with Jehovah to arise and confront his enemy and to use his sword to deliver him. The hope of his enemies goes no further than the present life. They enjoy many good things in this life and are able to leave their wealth to their children. But as for David, his satisfaction comes in beholding Jehovah’s likeness and his righteousness.
Psalm 18
David begins this song with praise to Jehovah describing Him as his fortress, his deliverer, his rock, his shield, the horn of his salvation, his refuge and his savior. When David found himself confronted by death, he called to Jehovah and from his temple He heard him. Then Jehovah acted, He parted the heavens and came down with dark clouds under his feet, mounted on the cherubim and soaring on the wings of the wind. He thundered from heaven His voice resounding, He shot arrows and scattered the enemy and with bolts of lightening he routed them. David gives all credit to Jehovah for the victories he won. He gives Jehovah credit for removing him from situations over which he had no control.
David believes that Jehovah helped him because He delighted in him and He dealt with him because of his righteousness; because of the cleanness of his hands. David is not bragging but realizes that Jehovah delights in those who obey Him, who keep his covenant and who refrain from evil by not turning away from Him. To those who are faithful, Jehovah shows himself faithful, but to those who act crookedly, He shows Himself to be shrewd. He exalts the humble but brings down the haughty. Here David refers to Jehovah as his lamp, the One who guides him, and the one who shows him how to accomplish things that may seem impossible to men.
Jehovah’s way is perfect, His word flawless and those who take refuge in him, he will shield. He arms His anointed with strength, gives him the light-footedness of a deer, trains his hands for battle and strengthens his arms. He widens his pathway so that David will not stumble. When he pursues his enemies, he will do a thorough job of defeating them because Jehovah had strengthened him. His enemies may cry out for help but there is no one to save them. They will be as dust on the earth or as mud that people trample in the streets.
David has been delivered from the attacks of his own people and has been made head of nations. People from everywhere become his subjects when they learn what Jehovah has done for him.
Verses 43-45 are partially quoted in Isaiah 55:4, 5 indicating that these verses will have a broader fulfillment than what happened in David’s day. The antitypical fulfillment will occur in our modern times when Jehovah reveals to the world His modern-day David, His anointed one.
David ends his song by offering the highest praise to Jehovah who is exalted; who has put nations under him and freed him from all his enemies. David therefore vows to praise Jehovah among the nations, to sing praises to His great name as He has shown unfailing kindness to His anointed one and to his descendants.
Psalms 19 – 21
Psalm 19 extols the marvelous works of Jehovah and His incomparable word. His creative works though they do not speak words, yet they reveal so much about their creator. The apostle Paul said of those who claim not to know God that “since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so they are without excuse.” (Romans 1:20) He also quoted verse 4 at Romans 10:18 to show that Israel had no excuse for not obeying the good news as it had gone out through the entire earth.
Jehovah’s word is even more beneficial and can cause changes in people if applied in their lives. His Law has restorative qualities that bring healing to a person. The sureness of His statutes can help the experienced one gain wisdom. His precepts can cause the heart to rejoice. The purity of His commandments can guide one’s life such that one can have inner joy. His judgments are righteous and true they do not change with time. They are more desirable than the finest gold and the best of honey right off the honeycomb. They contain warnings as well as holding out a great reward to those who are obedient. Many of our sins may be hidden from us but not from Jehovah, so David prayed that he would be forgiven these sins as well. He also asked that presumptuous sins not be master over him.
Psalm 20 is a prayer to Jehovah by the congregation on behalf of the king that he be victorious over his enemies. The request by the congregation is that Jehovah would grant the king protection and victory, sending him help from the sanctuary; that his sacrifices be acceptable, that his heart’s desire be granted by Jehovah and that He fulfills all of his plans. The people would sing for joy at his victory and would raise their banners in the name of their God, Jehovah.
The psalmist acknowledges that it is Jehovah who saves His anointed when He answers him from heaven. Other nations boast about their chariots and horses, but Israel will boast in the name of Jehovah. Jehovah has saved His people and they stand upright, but the other nations have fallen and been unable to rise.
Psalm 21 reveals that Jehovah has answered the king’s request for victory. The king rejoices in Jehovah’s strength and in the victories He gives. The heart’s desire of the king has been granted as well as the request of his lips. Jehovah has blessed him with good things and has given him a crown of gold, long life, honor and majesty. He is joyful and glad in Jehovah’s presence. Because of his implicit trust in Jehovah, he will continue as unmovable because God will not take away His lovingkindness from him.
Jehovah has strengthened the king’s hand to find all of his enemies, those who hate him, and he will make them like a fiery oven in the time of his appearing. Then Jehovah will swallow them up in His anger sending fire to devour them. The offspring of these enemies will not be allowed to remain on the earth. If their aim is to overthrow the king, they will not succeed. The king will route them because he trusts in Jehovah. The congregation will offer songs of praise to Jehovah exalting Him because of His great power and strength.
Psalm 22
There is anguish in the word of David as he ask God why has he forsaken him and why is He taking so long to deliver him and why does He not hear his groaning. He constantly keeps his request for deliverance before Him. His forefathers put their complete trust in Him and when they cried out to Him, He always delivered them.
He is a man who is despised and reproached by others, he is nothing but a ‘worm.’ He is mocked and insulted by people and they say to him that if he truly trusted in Jehovah, why had God not rescued him, that is, if He took delight in him as was his claim?
From the womb, he has taken delight in God. God is the only one who can help him. He is surrounded by bull-like people and is threatened by people who want to tear him to pieces as a lion would do to his prey. His strength is sapped and his bones are out of joint, he has lost all courage, his strength is gone, his mouth was dry and he was near death.
He compared his enemies to dogs that are scavengers, and like dogs, they had wounded his feet and hands when he tried to ward off their attacks. He was so emaciated the he could count all of his bones. His enemy was so sure that he was dying that they took his garments, cast lots for them and divided them among themselves.
David continues to plead for deliverance from the sword, from the dogs and from the lion’s mouth. After his deliverance, he will proclaim God’s name to his brothers in the midst of the assembly of Israel. (Hebrews 2:12) All Israel, those who fear Him, should offer praise and should glorify Him and stand in awe of Him. He did not despise the trouble that the afflicted suffered and He did not hide his face from them. When they cried to Him, He heard and answered them.
Jehovah is the theme of David’s praise in the congregation and before those who fear Him, he will pay his vows at the temple. He would share his offering with the afflicted who will eat and be satisfied. He encouraged all who were seeking Jehovah not to give up but to continue praising Jehovah.
David looks to the time when all the nations will worship Jehovah because they have accepted Him as their ruler and king. Jehovah’s deliverance of His anointed will be told to the succeeding generations and they will come and worship Him as He is worthy of all praise.
Verses 1, 8, and 18 of this Psalms were applied to Jesus. See Matthew 27:35, 43, 46.
Psalms 23 – 26
Psalm 23 depicts Jehovah as the great shepherd who cares for, provides for and protects His sheep so that they lack for nothing. The imagery is that of a sheep being taken to green pastures where there is a plentiful supply of food and they can lie down and rest. They are led to quiet waters such as wells and springs, as it is known that sheep will not drink running water. By these means, Jehovah provided refreshment for David. As the shepherd makes sure that the sheep stay on the most direct path to arrive safely home, Jehovah guided David in paths of righteousness for the sake of His name. Even though David may find himself in dire straits, he can be sure that no harm will come to him as Jehovah protects him the way that a shepherd would use his rod and staff to protect his flock.
Jehovah provided a table full of all kinds of good things, anointed David’s head with soothing oil as any good host would do, and filled his cup to overflowing. David is confident that Jehovah’s goodness and mercy would be with him all of his life and he would return to the house of Jehovah.
In Psalm 24, Jehovah is honored as the sovereign over everything. The earth belongs to Him and all that live on it. He has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers. David asks who is worthy to enter the presence of this sovereign king? His answer: one who obeys His laws and precepts with the right attitude or heart condition; one who has not worshipped false gods nor sworn to a lie. Those who seek Jehovah would receive blessings and righteousness from Him.
Verses 7-10 pictures a triumphant procession coming into the city of Jerusalem with the priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant to its place in the sanctuary. The people sing this refrain welcoming Jehovah, the king of glory, to the city. (See 1 Kings 8)
In Psalm 25, David expresses his trust and confidence in Jehovah and petitions Him to keep him from being put to be shame before his enemies so that they would exult over him. None who wait on Jehovah will be ashamed but those who are treacherous without cause will be. David wants to know the ways of Jehovah, to be taught His paths and His truth. He asks Jehovah to remember His compassion and lovingkindness that are from everlasting and put the sins that David committed in his youth far behind Him.
Jehovah is good and upright and He instructs sinners and leads the humble in justice and teaches them His way. The man who fears Jehovah is the one who will be instructed by Jehovah and his descendants will inherit the land. He will come to know the secret of Jehovah and He will make him know His covenant. As David kept his eyes on Jehovah, he relied upon Him to disentangle him from his difficulties.
David pleads for Jehovah to give His attention to him and bring him out of his distresses. He wanted his sins to be forgiven and to be delivered from his enemies who have a violent hatred for him. Integrity and uprightness would guard him as he waited on Jehovah. He also asks that Jehovah would redeem Israel from their troubles.
In Psalm 26 David asks that Jehovah vindicate him because he had walked in integrity and had put unwavering trust in Him. Jehovah could examine and test him and know that he had walked in His truth. He did not associate with deceitful men or with hypocrites. He hated the assembly of evildoers and he did not consult with the wicked. He was innocent of all wrongdoing. He preferred to be near Jehovah’s altar so that he could proclaim all of His wonders.
David expressed great love for Jehovah’s house where His glory dwelt. He did not want to be classified with sinners and those who shed blood and were always devising wicked schemes and taking bribes. He continued to walk in his integrity and his foot stood on a level place. So he could bless Jehovah in the congregation of God’s people.
Psalms 27 – 29
Psalm 27 highlights the benefits of reliance on Jehovah. With Jehovah on his side David knew that there was no one to be fearful of or be in dread of. When his enemies sought to slander him, they would not succeed. He would not fear a large encampment nor would he loose his confidence when he was faced with war.
The most important thing for David was that Jehovah would allow him to dwell in His tabernacle all of his life to enjoy His favor and to meditate there. He knew that Jehovah would conceal him in the day of trouble. He would be lifted up on a rock and his head would be lifted above that of his enemies. And he would offer sacrifices with joy and sing praises to Jehovah.
When Jehovah said to David “Seek my face,” he did so. Now he does not want Jehovah to hide His face from him or turn away from him in anger because He has been his help. He does not want Jehovah to abandon him even as his father and mother might. He wants Jehovah to teach him the right way to go because his enemies were lying in wait for him. He asked that his enemies would not be able to carry out their desires as they had already produced false witnesses to testify against him. Had he not believed that he would see Jehovah’s goodness again in the land of the living, he would have despaired. So he gathered up his strength to wait for Jehovah.
In Psalm 28, David prayed that Jehovah would open His ears to his cry because if He remained silent, David might as well be dead. When he supplicated Him, raising his hands toward His holy sanctuary, he asked Jehovah to hear him. He did not want to be taken away with the wicked, but that Jehovah should give them just punishment in harmony with their practices because they do not give consideration to Jehovah’s works nor to His deeds.
Jehovah is to be blessed because He heard His servant’s cry. Jehovah is his strength and shield and his heart exults. Jehovah is the strength for His people and He will save and bless them and be their Shepherd.
In Psalm 29, David uses a storm to describe Jehovah’s mightiness. He has glory and strength; He should be given the glory due to His Name and should be worshipped in accordance with His holiness. The voice of Jehovah is upon the waters, and He thunders. His voice is powerful, it is majestic, and it breaks cedars, the mighty cedars of Lebanon. His voice sends out lightening, it causes the wilderness to whirl, it makes the deer calve prematurely due to fear and strips the leaves from the trees. In His holy temple, all ascribe glory to Him. He sits as King forever and He gives strength to His people.
Psalms 30 and 31
In Psalm 30, David extols Jehovah for delivering him from death. Jehovah has kept David from going to Sheol so that his enemies could not rejoice over him. He heard his cry for help and healed him. He urges all godly ones to sing praises to Jehovah and give thanks to His Holy Name. He may be angry with His servant but it only last for a brief moment but His favor lasts a lifetime. When David was prosperous, he developed pride, he forgot that it was Jehovah who had given him prosperity. Then Jehovah hid His face and David became dismayed. So he called out to Him for mercy because he knew that if he died, he would not be able to praise Jehovah or declare His faithfulness.
David prayed to Jehovah to restore him and Jehovah heard his cry. He turned his mourning into gladness so that he could praise and give thanks to Him and not be silenced by death.
In Psalm 31, David spoke of taking refuge in Jehovah so that he would not be ashamed before his enemies. Jehovah would be a rock and fortress for him and would lead and guide him for the sake of His name. David was concerned for God’s name because he did not want the enemy to have any reason to revile it. A trap had been set for David that he could not free himself from so he committed his spirit into God’s hand. (Luke 23:46) David has a hatred for those that turned to worthless idols and did not trust in Jehovah as he does. He rejoiced in Jehovah who was aware of what David was going through so He had not turned him over to his enemies but had given him freedom of movement.
David describes his distress saying his eye, soul and body were wasting away, his life was used up in sorrow and signing. His strength had failed because of his sin and to his adversaries he was a reproach. Even his friends viewed him as something to dread and they would not face him. He was as a man forgotten; one who is viewed as dead, a broken vessel. His adversaries were plotting to take his life.
Yet David continued to trust in Jehovah to deliver him and to bring shame upon the wicked, silencing them in the grave. Their lips spoke arrogantly against the righteous and did not praise Jehovah. Jehovah’s goodness is stored up for those who fear Him and take refuge in Him and their enemies would be made aware of this when they observed it. These would be protected from the conspiracies and intrigues of their enemies.
David became alarmed when he thought that Jehovah had deserted him but He did hear his supplication. So David encourages all the godly ones to love Jehovah because He keeps His faithful one alive and fully recompenses the proud. Therefore, they were to be strong and courageous in their hearts.
Psalms 32 and 33
Psalm 32 shows the value of confessing our sins and having them forgiven. David said that a person is blessed when his sins are forgiven or covered over, and are not counted against him because he is truly repentant. When David did not confess his sins, he was like a man in a physically weak condition but when he did confess and acknowledge them and stopped trying to cover them over, then Jehovah forgave them. So he recommends to the godly that they pray to Jehovah at a time when He can be found so that they can be protected when they are faced with great adversity.
David now quotes Jehovah’s words to the godly. He is the Instructor and Teacher who will guide them and give them counsel. They are not to be like the stubborn horse or mule that needs a bit and bridle to make him obey. The wicked have many sorrows but Jehovah’s lovingkindness surrounds those who put their trust in Him so they have every reason to rejoice and to shout for joy.
Psalm 33 is a song of praise to Jehovah. It is fitting for the righteous to sing praises to Jehovah with the lyre and with a ten-stringed harp. In the worship service at the temple, the Levites were skilled players on these instruments and they accompanied the singers. Their songs would extol Jehovah for His uprightness, for His word and the faithfulness of His works, as the earth is full of His lovingkindness. By His word all things came into existence. His counsel stands forever. He nullifies the counsel of nations when it is in opposition to His and frustrates the plans of the people who do not listen to Him. The nation of Israel was called blessed because they accepted His counsel and Jehovah was their God.
Jehovah sees everything that human do from His exalted position in heaven. He knows their thoughts and He understands their works. A king relies on his army, a warrier his great strength, even the horse is believed to be able bring victory, but Jehovah knows the vanity of their doing this. He keeps his eyes on those who fear Him and look for His lovingkindness as these are the ones that He will deliver from death. Israel relies on Jehovah for He is their shield and help. They rejoice in Him because they trust in His Holy Name and so their hope is in Him.
Psalm 34
This is a psalm that David wrote when he fled to the Philistine king but had to pretend to be mad because he was recognized by them as the one who was celebrated in song as killing tens of thousands of Philistines. (1 Samuel 21:10-15) David would continually bless Jehovah and praise Him and exalt His name. He looked for Jehovah and He answered him and delivered him. His angels camp around those who fear Jehovah and they are rescued.
David urged the godly ones to taste and see that Jehovah is good. How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him! Those who feared Him did not lack for anything. David, because of his experiences, could teach these ones just what the fear of Jehovah meant. If they desired length of days then they would need to speak truth, leave evil alone and do what was good. They were to seek peace and pursue it.
Jehovah’s eye and ears are open toward the righteous but His face is against the wicked. He hears the cry of the righteous, the brokenhearted and those crushed in sprit and He delivers them from their troubles no matter how many they are. “He keeps his bones, not one of them is broken” (verse 20) refers to the complete protection from cruel oppression. (See The Bible Knowledge Commentary of the Old Testament, page 820.) (John 19:33, 36) The enemy of the righteous will be condemned but those who take refuge in Jehovah will not be condemned.
Psalms 35 and 36
In Psalm 35, David asks Jehovah to take up the weapons of war and fight his battle for him because He is his salvation. Those who seek his life should be shamed and dishonored. They should be like chaff that the wind drives away with Jehovah’s angels doing the driving away. They had no reason to pursue him and try to trap him in secret, so their destruction should come upon them in secret and they should fall into their own trap.
David rejoiced in Jehovah and exulted in His salvation. From his innermost being he would say that there is no one like Jehovah who delivers the afflicted from those who are stronger that they are. They bring false witnesses in to slander him repaying him evil for good. He had not acted that way towards them when they were sick. He had donned sackcloth, fasted and offered prayer in their behalf as he would have done if it had been his own brother. But they rejoiced when he stumbled, even those who did not know him joined in slandering him and gnashing their teeth at him. How long would it be before Jehovah would act in his behalf? He would still give thanks and praise to Jehovah while among His congregation of people.
His enemies spoke vicious words against him; he was hated without cause, so he petitioned Jehovah to not let them rejoice over him. Jehovah had seen what they are doing and He should not keep silent. David wants Him to bestir himself and come to his aid as they wanted to swallow him up. All those who rejoiced at his distress should be shamed and humiliated. Those who favor his vindication should rejoice and say: “May Jehovah be magnified.” He would declare Jehovah’s righteousness and His praise all day long.
In Psalm 36, David says that the greatest transgression of the ungodly is that he does not have any fear of Jehovah. He allows flattery to deceive him such that he does not recognize his sin. He speaks wickedness and deceit because he does not understand how to be wise and how to do good. He commits himself to a sinful course and does not reject wrong.
Jehovah’s attributes of lovingkindness, faithfulness, righteousness and His judgements are an inexhaustible source of help for both men and animals. Jehovah is spoken of as having wings that humans can find refuge in the shadow of and they are able to drink from an abundance of Jehovah’s provisions since He is the source of life and understanding. David prayed that Jehovah will continue to extend His lovingkindness and His righteousness to him and not let him be influenced by pride or by the wicked.
Psalm 37
When evildoers flourish, one should not be unduly upset because the lives of these ones will be short; they will fade like green grass. Trust in Jehovah, cultivate faithfulness, take delight in Him and He will set matters straight. Jehovah will vindicate His righteous servants. They should wait patiently for Jehovah to act in His due time. They should also avoid complaining or getting angry if it seems that nothing is being done as this might cause them to could commit a rash act. Evildoers will be cut off but those who wait for Jehovah will inherit the land.
The wicked spend their time plotting against the righteous but Jehovah laughs at them because He knows the time of their end. They use abusive means to keep the needy and afflicted under their thumbs but Jehovah will break their power. It is better to have little and be righteous than have much and come under Jehovah’s judgment as He sustains the righteous and will reward their efforts. The wicked will be destroyed because they are like grass that withers away. The wicked borrow and do not pay back, but the righteous loves to give.
Jehovah established the ways of a righteous man so even if he stumbles, he will not fall because Jehovah holds him up. In David’s experience, he had never seen a righteous man left in a lurch or having to beg for his food. Instead he is the one lending to others.
Jehovah loves justice so a righteous man will stay away from evil and do good, so that he will be preserved but the wicked will be cut off. The righteous man utters wisdom and speaks justice because God’s law is in his heart and Jehovah will not leave him in the hands of the wicked or allow him to be condemned when he is judged. David urged the righteous to wait on Jehovah and He will exalt them when he cuts the wicked off.
The wicked may prosper like a luxuriant tree but he will not remain for long but there is a future for the blameless and upright man. Their salvation comes from Jehovah and he gives them strength. He delivers them from the wicked because they take refuge in Him.
Psalm 38
David prays that Jehovah will not discipline him when He is angry. Already His arrows had sunk into him and His hand was pressed hard against him. Because of Jehovah's indignation and his own sin, he had lost his health. The heavy burden of his sins was too much for him to carry; they caused him to bend over. He was crushed in body and spirit. Jehovah is aware of what he is feeling even though his friends and relatives avoid him. Those who hate him were seeking to take his life and they were constantly plotting to destroy him.
He made no reply to his enemies but waited on Jehovah to answer him so that they would not magnify themselves at his fall. He would continually confess his sin because it was causing him much anxiety. His enemies were many and very enthusiastic to repay evil for good and their main objection to him was that he followed what was right. So he prayed that Jehovah would not forsake him and He would make haste to help him.
Psalm 39
David resolved not to sin with his mouth in front of his enemies but his silence only aggravated his suffering, so he spoke. He asked Jehovah to help him come to grips with the short life span he had. He knew that the days of a man were as brief as a mere breath. He expends much energy going to and fro accomplishing nothing but vanity and accumulating wealth that he has no idea of what will happen to it after he is gone.
David’s goal in life was tied up in his hope that Jehovah would save him from his sins and keep him from becoming the reproach of the foolish. He has been silent because Jehovah had caused his problem so he asked Him to remove His plague from him. Jehovah disciplines a man for his sins and his wealth is eaten away as though by a moth.
David requests that Jehovah hear his prayer for relief and his cry for help. He felt that Jehovah was treating him as a stranger or alien as his forefathers had been. If Jehovah would turn His gaze away from him, then he could live his few days in rejoicing before he died. (Job 10:20, 21)
Psalm 40
David waited patiently for Jehovah until He heard and answered his plea for help. He saved him from the pit and gave him a firm place to stand and put a new song of praise in his mouth. Because of this, many will now fear Jehovah and put their trust in Him. The person who trusts in Jehovah and has not turned to those who are proud is blessed. If David attempted to enumerate Jehovah’s acts of deliverance, they would be too numerous to mention.
The sacrifices made at the altar, though required, were not what Jehovah desired. He opened (literally, dug or pierced) the ears of His servant to hear His words. His servant then took up those words and proceeded to do Jehovah’s will because he had His Law written in his heart. These verses, verses 6-8, would have application beyond David's time because verse 7 indicates that it been foretold, or written, that there would be one coming who would apply them to himself. The apostle Paul, at Hebrews 10:5-7, applied them to Jesus, but he used the wording from the Greek Septuagint which used the word ‘body’ instead of ‘ears.’
As a result of David ‘hearing’ God’s word with his ears, he now proclaimed the good news of Jehovah’s righteousness to the congregation. He had not kept it hidden but had spoken of His faithfulness, His salvation and His truth to God’s people.
David did not want Jehovah to withhold His compassion from him but would allow His lovingkindness and truth to keep him safe because of the increase of wickedness and because of the number of his sins. So he begged Jehovah to deliver him quickly and let those who were seeking his life be humiliated and put to shame. But all those who are seeking Jehovah and love His salvation say ‘The LORD [Jehovah] be magnified.’ David wanted Jehovah to be continually mindful of his needs and hurry to deliver him.
Psalm 41
David commends the ones who remember the needy and tells them that they are blessed because Jehovah takes note of them. He will deliver them when they are in need. He will protect them, keep them alive, sustain them when they are ill and restore their health.
David asks Jehovah to be gracious to him and heal him because he has sinned against Him. Now his enemies are secretly hoping for his death but they still pretend to be friendly by coming to visit him. Afterwards they slandered him by saying that he had been afflicted with a vile disease and that he would not recover from it. Even his closest friend, one who ate bread with him, had ‘lifted up his heal against him.’ (Verse 9) In David's case, this friend was Ahithophel. Jesus applied these words to Judas as recorded at John 13:18.
David prayed that Jehovah would raise him up so that he could repay his enemies. If Jehovah is pleased with him, then his enemies will not be able to triumph over him. Jehovah will uphold David in his integrity and set him in His presence forever. David ends this psalm with a doxology in which he extols Jehovah as the One to be praised from everlasting to everlasting.
Psalms 42 and 43
In Psalm 42, the psalmist expresses anxiety at being separated from God’s presence. He compares his need to be near God with that of a deer’s need for water. When will he be able to appear before Jehovah so that his thirst for him can be quenched? He constantly faces those who ask him where is his god. He remembers the time when he would lead a procession of people to the house of God singing joyfully. His soul is in despair but he needs to keep his hope before him that he will be able to praise Jehovah again. He reminisces about some of the physical features of the land of Israel that remind him of Jehovah. He is constantly thinking about Jehovah but it appears that Jehovah has forgotten him so he goes around mourning and is oppressed by the enemy. Even his bones suffer as his enemy continues to taunt him saying ‘where is your god?’ Even though he is downcast, he will put his hope in Jehovah that He will restore him so the he can praise him again.
In Psalm 43, the psalmist asks that Jehovah will vindicate him and plead his case against an ungodly nation; rescue him from unjust men because He is his strength. When he asks Jehovah why He has rejected him, he does say whether it is due to anything that he had done. He mourns that he is being oppressed by his enemy and is in need of Jehovah’s light and truth so that he can be restored to Him. He will then be able to offer acceptable praise to Him. So he should not be in despair and be disturbed but should hope in Jehovah that he will praise Him again.
Psalm 44
The psalmist repeats the account of Jehovah bringing his people into the land to possess it. He reminds them that it was Jehovah who had driven the native people out of the land and planted Israel there and caused them to flourish. It was not by their own sword or their own arm that this had been done but it was by Jehovah’s right hand, His arm and His favor towards them that had accomplished this.
The psalmist recognized that Jehovah as their king had decreed victories for Jacob. He is the reason that they would defeat their enemies and trample those who come against them. Israel needed to keep in mind that they would not succeed if they relied on themselves. Since it was Jehovah who saved them then they should boast in Him and give thanks to His name forever.
Jehovah has apparently rejected Israel as He does not fight for them so the enemy routs them and plunders them. They are like sheep that are eaten for food; they have been scattered among the nations; they are a derision to their neighbors who shake their heads at them. They suffer constant humiliation and reproaches from their enemy.
Israel claims that they have done nothing to deserve this kind of treatment. They had not forgotten their God, nor had they dishonored the covenant, they have not turned to other gods nor have they walk in another path. But Jehovah has crushed them in desolated places and the shadow of death hung over their heads.
Certainly Jehovah would know if they had forgotten Him and were following false gods and He would call them to account for this. But this was not the case. So their suffering must be related to the fact that they have walked closely in his way and have kept His commands. If this is true then, they are petitioning Jehovah to give attention to their plight and not hide His face forgetting their affliction and oppression. They are in very low spirits because of their grief and are pleading with Jehovah to come and redeem them from the servitude that He sold them into. Paul applied verse 22 to first century Christains. (Romans 8:36)
Psalm 45
Psalm 45 is a royal psalm and describes a mighty king and his royal wedding. This psalm is to be applied in a prophetic setting rather than a literal one. The psalmist is writing his verse as a tribute to the king and he is very exuberant about the theme of his writings. He described the king as being the most excellent of men who speaks gracious words that are the evidence of his being blessed by Jehovah. He fights a righteous warfare because he rides in the cause of truth, humility and righteousness and his right hand teaches him fearful things. His arrows are sharp and he shoots them into the heart of his enemies
His throne is forever and the scepter of his kingdom is one of uprightness. Because the king loves righteousness and hates wickedness, God has anointed him with joy above that of any other human. His garments are perfumed with fragrant flowers, some of which were used to make the holy anointing oil used on the priests. Daughters of kings are among his noble ladies and the queen wears ornaments made with the gold of Ophir.
The bride of the king is told to forget her people and her father’s house. She obviously is of foreign descent. The king is her lord so she should pay homage to him. Even the most influential people would seek her favor. The king’s daughter is adorned in clothing interwoven with gold and embroidered work. Her virgin companions, who follow her, will be led in with joy and gladness into the king’s palace. Those who had been his forefathers will now become his sons and they will be made princes in all the earth. Jehovah will cause the king’s name to be remembered throughout the generations and the nations will praise him forever.
Psalms 46 – 48
In Psalm 46, Jehovah is extolled as the refuge and strength of His people, whose help can always be relied upon, no matter what the disaster may be. A river flows through the City of God, Jerusalem, although the literal city of Jerusalem did not have a river associated with it. (Ezekiel 47:1-5; Revelation 22:1,2) This river would represent God’s life sustaining truths that His people will drink. God is in the city to protect it so that it will not fall. (Isaiah 33:20) He will help her when dawn rises, which is the time when most nations launch their attack against a city. Nations may be in an uproar and kingdoms may be shaken but when Jehovah speaks they will melt. When Jehovah accomplishes His work, wars will cease because He will break the bow and the spear and will burn the shields with fire. Jehovah admonishes the nations to take the time to hear and come to know that He is God and He will be exalted among all the nations in all the earth. He is with Jacob and is their fortress.
In Psalm 47, all the people are called upon to show their reverence for Jehovah by clapping their hands and making a joyful shout to Him. The Most High over the earth is awesome. He is the Great King over all the earth. He subjected nations and peoples under Israel when He chose their land inheritance. Because of His victories, God has ascended to His heavenly place to sounds of shouting of the people and the sound of trumpets blown by the priests. Praises are to be sung to Jehovah the King of the earth who reigns over the nations as He sits on His holy throne. People of the nations join with Israel in praising Jehovah because He is highly exalted.
In Psalm 48, the beauty of Zion is highlighted. Jehovah is to be praised in Zion, His Holy Mountain. The highly elevated city, located in the north, is the joy of the whole earth. It is the city of the great King and Jehovah is known as its stronghold. When kings gathered against her, they saw Zion and they were amazed. They became terrified; panic seized them and they fled in alarm. Then they were destroyed as when the east wind breaks the ships of Tarshish.
The godly have meditated on His lovingkindness in His temple. Just as Jehovah’s name is known to the ends of the earth, so will His praise be. Mount Zion would be glad and the daughters of Judah rejoice because of Jehovah’s judgment. Israel should take into consideration what Jehovah had done to make the city secure so that they can tell it to other generations. These ones will need to know how Jehovah protects those who obey Him.
Psalm 49
The Psalmist urges all the people, whether low or high, rich or poor, to listen to the wisdom coming from his mouth and the understanding from his heart. He will speak a proverb and expound a riddle. Why should he fear when evil days come, days when he is surrounded by those who trust in their wealth and boast about their riches? They cannot redeem their lives nor give a ransom for the life of another. Money would never be enough to give to God so that He would allow that person to live forever.
Wise men, foolish men and the senseless ones all die and leave their wealth to others. Their burial places will be their homes forever even though they had lands named for themselves in order to perpetuate their memory. In spite of their riches, men, like beasts, perish. This is what those who put their trust in themselves should expect. They are, as a sheep is, destined for the grave and death will be their master. But the upright will be redeemed from the grave and will live in the land. So, the counsel to the upright is do not be jealous when a man grows rich and his material possessions increase. He will not take anything with him to the grave. He may have thought himself blessed because of the praise he received from others but he will be no different than his fathers before him who will never live again. A wealthy man who does not have understanding is no better that a beast.
Psalm 50
Jehovah summons His people to appear before Him. Out of Zion, His holy temple, He shines forth. Fire devours before Him and He is surrounded by a raging tempest that signify that He has come to judge His people. He invites those who have made a ‘covenant by sacrifice’ with Him to gather before Him. He is a righteous judge and He will present His case against His people.
They are urged to hear what He has to say as He will testify against them as their God. He was not reproving them for their sacrifices as they were offering what was prescribed by Him on a daily basis. But if they thought they were giving Him something by making these offerings they were mistaken. He owns all the animals everywhere, so He would not need them to give Him anything. But what he wants from them is a sacrifice of thanksgiving, something that shows their heartfelt gratitude for what He has done for them and to pay their vows to Him. (Deuteronomy 23:21) Their worship had become ritualistic and was not beneficial to them. If they called upon Him when they were in distress and He rescued them, then they would offer praise to him out of heartfelt gratitude.
There were those who were hypocritical in their worship. They pretended to be in harmony with His laws and statutes by reciting them to others, but their actions showed differently. Jehovah said that they hated discipline, they did not obey His words, they would not condemn wrongdoers and they slandered those who were doing right. Because Jehovah did not act against them immediately, they concluded that He was just like they were. But He was going to state His case against them directly to their face. Jehovah urged them to give consideration to His warnings or He would take action against them and there would be no one to deliver them from His hand. They were given the opportunity to set their ways straight, to make changes in their lives and He would then show them His salvation.
***©2005 by YORWW Congregation