Psalm 74

 Psalm 74

It is hard to comprehend the emotional, psychological, and spiritual pain of those faithful Jews who witnessed the destruction of the temple by the Babylonians. The first 10 verses describe the wanton disgrace and degradation of the Temple. And the apparent unconcernedness of God. What is most loved and cherished, the house of God's presence, is ruined and defiled.

But notice in the moment of greatest misery what the psalmist does. He reflects on God's greatness and His history of care for His people. Current misery does not erase or negate God's historic faithfulness. The telling of God's care in the Exodus and His orderly universe is evidence that even in this moment of misery, He can rescue again. The psalmist gives two reasons for God to act. First, in verses 18-21, because of the relationship He has with His helpless people. These are not strangers in need but His “turtledove.” Second, in verses 22-23, His own cause or reputation. God's history of loving kindness and grace is apparently a call for His rescue of His faithful people before the nations.

“Lord, when I face difficult experiences, help me to recall Your greatness and goodness. AMEN.” 

Psalm 73

 Psalm 73

This is one powerful and applicable Psalm. Written during the Babylonian captivity, it is applicable for anyone, at any time, who has been faithful to God and has struggled in life while watching wicked people prosper. We see evil people living a life of ease, comfort, and wealth while the godly barely make it. And it prompts us to question Divine justice. The psalmist asked the kinds of questions we might ask, and in his own thinking considers the answers painful.

But the solution is found in verse 17. This was painful: “...until I went into the sanctuary of God, then I understood their end.” We cannot be at peace in this world until we worship God and, in that relationship, understand both now and eternity. All peoples have found the success of evil people a problem. The ancient Greeks said, “The prosperity of the wicked is a reproach to the gods.”

It is only in the worship and understanding of God that we can make sense of the fact that our lives, as a result of that faithfulness, can at times be difficult.

“Lord, in worshiping You, help me find meaning for both time and eternity. AMEN.”

Psalm 72

 Psalm 72

This Psalm is better understood as a Psalm “for” Solomon rather than “of” Solomon; see verse 20. It may have been the last poem composed by David before his death. Solomon has been made king, and David has given him political instructions. With all lesser matters done, David composes the psalm about good rule and God's blessing. There are some allusions and predictions that can only apply to their distant descendant Jesus.

God establishes governments. What do governments do with that authority? That is their test and opportunity. Two points come to mind. First, a good government can be a reflection of God. The priority of justice, compassion, and care for the life of the oppressed, and especially those who are powerless, like the unborn, can reflect God’s heart and will. Second, there is the beauty of blessing. What do we want for those who come after us? We might be careful to pass on our property, but are we focusing on passing on our spiritual heritage? What David wants for Solomon is for him to honor God and his role and, out of that relationship, to experience the joy of being a well-serving servant.

“Lord, give me spiritual priorities for the next generation. AMEN.”

Psalm 71

 Psalm 71

By the time of Absalom’s rebellion, David was an older man. While a specific timeline isn't given, we can assume that David was in his 50s at the time of this rebellion. The young, great warrior is fading in strength, but during this rebellion David is still vigorous in spirit and love of God. David asks not just for safety or victory but that in his older years he will enjoy God's company (vs. 9 & 18) and that he will be a faithful messenger of God's greatness.

Nothing apart from God's intervention will protect against the physical decline of age. We may, with self-care, slow it but never stop it. But as our bodies decline, we can grow in our spiritual vitality. Verses 22-24 are a beautiful song of praise that David expresses because of his spiritual condition, not his physical strength. Nothing is more pathetic than an older person that vainly tries to hang on to their youth. And nothing is more beautiful than the older person who ages with grace and their relationship with God.

“As I age, Lord, help me to grow in wisdom, grace, and love for You. AMEN.” 

Psalm 70

 Psalm 70

This little song and the last 5 verses of Psalm 40 are virtually identical. Perhaps this emotional expression prompted the rest of the story in Psalm 40. Perhaps the final verses in Psalm 40 were used for a different circumstance and so were written separately here. Whatever the relationship, the emotions are still as powerful.

There comes a point when we realize the only help and hope is God. In verse one we see that time is almost up. God is eternal and not constrained by time, but we live in and with time; deadlines are a part of our everyday lives. God is never late, but he rarely comes early. He is aware of the timelines that we face, and we can be sure that God will not be too late with too little when it comes time for our help.

This does not change the reality that there are terrible people who will, in the meantime, put us through terrible times. The psalmist identifies three behaviors of his wicked opponent. First they want him dead. While most of us will not face this kind of pressure in many places in the world today, this is the daily reality for Christians. Second, the opponent delights in hurting the psalmist. This may include physical harm, but it's by no means limited to that behavior. They may hurt us in jobs, in relationships, in reputation, and in any other form of personal distress. If not sticks and stones and if not a sword, then the opponent is active in insulting. In our culture “Aha” is an interjection of discovery. But in the psalmist's world, this was an expression of contempt at a guttural level. This was a wordless but clearly audible expression of contempt and insult. In every culture we have ways of expressing our feelings of someone's inferiority without words.

The psalmist finds encouragement and praise to God and that he is not the only person who is turning to God. In times of trouble is when we most need to be a part of a community of faith. Suffering is hard; suffering alone is almost impossible. The song ends much as it began, with a plea that God will move quickly. God has never failed one of His own, but at times it feels like if He doesn't hurry, we will be the first. When we feel that it is good to recall, “Thou art my help and my deliverer.”.

“Lord help me to remember that You are my help and my deliverer. AMEN”

Psalm 69

 Psalm 69

We must never discount or forget the two main sources of evil that come into our lives. And in this Psalm we will look at both and consider what will become of each. The first source of evil is the evil people around us, verses 1-4. These people are like a flood sweeping us away; we feel like we are in quicksand and can have no foothold, no way to help ourselves out of the trouble in which we find ourselves. Overwhelmed by evil people, we are dependent upon their mercy, and they have none. The second source of evil in our lives is ourselves, verses 5-12. We suffer because of our own foolish behavior and sin.  Even when we try to live right and to turn things around, our past hangs on us like a monkey bent on our misery. (Note that v. 9 is applied to Jesus. This song is not predictive of Jesus, but portions are applied to him; that difference is important.)

In the misery, the Psalmist pleads for help in verses 13-19. Between evil people and our own self-inflicted evil, the only hope is God's loving-kindness and his tender mercies. We are sometimes reluctant to be honest in our prayers.  We want to sound good and religious and pious.  It is pointless for us to try to pretend. God knows our sins and the affliction our enemies cause. Confession will never surprise God but is the only way we can be honest to and with ourselves.

We see the power of the gospel of Christ when we look at the contrast between verses 22-28 and the prayers of the New Testament. These verses are fully appropriate under the old covenant of the law, but the cross changes how we view our enemies and how we pray for them. “Father forgive them” were among the agonizing words of Jesus as He approached death. Stephen’s last words were, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” What a striking contrast to “May they be blotted out of The Book of Life.” The cross makes the difference.

The song concludes on a hopeful and positive note. Even in the midst of pain there is hope because God sees and notes suffering. So the Psalmist has plans to worship and offers preemptive praise because God will save his people.

“Help me, Lord, to be different because of the cross. AMEN”

Psalm 68

 Psalm 68

Adam Clark, whom I believe to be one of the best scholars on the book of Psalms, says the Psalm 68 is the most difficult of all the Psalms.  It may have been a Psalm built on prior Psalms.  The general theme is of God’s people traveling after God.  We see glimpses of the Exodus, the Ark being moved into Jerusalem, and Israel returning from Babylon.  Travel is always hard, and in the middle of the psalm is a beautiful promise.  In verse 19 we read, “Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burdens, the God who is our salvation.”

Travel in ancient times was one of burdens.  Few owned a beast of burden, and fewer still owned a cart or wagon, and there were certainly none of the vehicles that make travel for us so easy. The rule was if you wanted it, you carried it.  We think of traveling light as 1 or 2 bags we carry or roll a few hundred feet to the car or plane.  They carried their baggage or burdens all the way all the time. This was especially difficult for the solo traveler.  In this complex Psalm we find the simple, hope-filled truth that God daily bears our burdens.  Ours, in many ways, is a different kind of journey; it is nonetheless difficult, but we have the same hope: Daily the Lord bears our burdens.

“Lord, help me to lay my burdens down and trust You as the One who bears my burdens. AMEN.”