Psalm 86

 Psalm 86

Why appeal to God for help? There are two reasons an appeal to God is entirely reasonable. First is that God is good. In several places the psalmists expressed confidence in the loving, gracious, and kind nature of God, for example, verses 5 and 13. There's no point in an appeal to someone who is mean, evil, or vindictive. Second, God is able. The psalmist expresses the power of God to act in verses 8 and 10. It is useless to appeal to someone who is powerless to help. Because God is both supremely good and almighty, it is reasonable to appeal to Him; in fact, it is the only logical thing to do.

There is in verse 17 a wonderful picture. The NASB says, ‘...show me a sign for good.” That would better be translated. “fix an honorable mark or token of your name on me”. Suppose an ambassador from a great and mighty king goes to a city where he is personally unknown. He would need a token or mark indicating that he is the king's servant. For us, what is the mark that we as individuals or as a community represent our King? “By this all men will know you are my followers, that you…” 

“Lord, may the love we express be powerful evidence that we are Your people. AMEN”

Psalm 85

 Psalm 85

Some time ago a phrase became popular in the Christian subculture that was used so much that it became a cliché to the point of meaninglessness.  The phrase “It’s a God thing” was meant to express God’s divine care and supervision and was roughly equivalent to Providence, but was much cooler and less theologically precise and stuffy.  It was used for circumstances which resulted in a particularly beneficial event to a ministry.  But as with any overused adage it decayed to banality.  “It’s a God thing” degenerated to the point that finding a parking place near a store entrance was “a God thing”.  It was never applied to the parking place at the outer edge of the parking lot.   But misuse and misunderstanding doesn’t mean it never happens. There are those things that only God can do and that is the time to say, “It’s a God thing!”

This is a Psalm of praise for God’s bringing of the exiles back from captivity.  This moment in God’s salvation history is filled with wonder and marvel, but one specific verse expresses a “God thing” in its purest and richest form, verse 10.  The couplets are not opposite to each other, but can be in conflict.  

In this verse, we see that Mercy and Truth have embraced each other like friends long separated.  It is almost as if they have lost contact and have a happy and unexpected meeting.  But this happy meeting has a conflict.  The truth of the matter is we are guilty; we deserve punishment, wrath, exile and even death.  But while horrifically guilty, Lovingkindness deeply desires that we be exempt from the penalty of our guilt.  Truth is on the other side and requires our punishment. Truth and Lovingkindness are like a prosecutor and a defense attorney who were undergrad fraternity brothers suddenly reunited. They hold the court papers that argue the opposite sides of the case, but they are still old friends hugging and laughing and talking a mile a minute oblivious to the others around them.  

Righteousness and Peace are even closer; they kiss.  Often Righteousness, or shall we say Justice, and Peace do not get along very well.  Justice demands that the wicked man be arrested, placed in handcuffs put in the squad car, and transported to jail.  Anyone who has seen reality TV police shows can testify that ‘Shalom; (tranquility, a sense of well-being, peace or wholeness) rarely accompanies an arrest.  Justice is breathless and sweaty from the chase; his temper while controlled is short.  The batons, taser, pepper spray, and sidearm do not invite tender affection, but demand compliance.  If the wicked man is not restrained and controlled there is no justice for the victim.  Sometimes justice demands more than a Peace Officer; it demands bombers and artillery, invasions and tanks.  Justice for enslaved Europe demanded that Chamberlin’s “peace in our time” give way to the hell of World War Two.  Here again we see a reunion that looks more like a reunion of separated lovers rather than a landing at Normandy.  Peace and Righteousness are kissing; this is no perfunctory greeting but the outward expression of a powerful, deep love.

In some way the return of the exiles from Babylonian captivity saw these two couples in blissful union.  That was a mystery for those who returned.  They would never be able to work out the equation by which God made it all fit together.  The return of the exiles did something more.  It prefigured the day when on the cross God could bring together the apparently conflicting demands of Mercy, Truth, Righteousness and Peace.  Consider the wonder you would feel if you were there in an airport concourse, you wore the handcuffs, you were being extradited for a trial you knew you would lose and you saw the reunion.  The loud, happy foursome in genuine affection touches, holds, and laughs together.  They look at you and you know it will be more than all right; it will be more than you can imagine.  That is the marvel of the cross, which is something only God can do, that is the real “God Thing”.

“Thank You, Lord, that the conflict realities of my situation were resolved in the cross. AMEN”

Psalm 84

 Psalm 84

One of the great beauties of the Old Testament is that it is filled with symbols, types, and tangible prophecies that find their fulfillment in the New Testament. The Tabernacle and the Temple were types of the church. Far too often we associate the church with a building. But the church is the community of people who have God, in the person of the Holy Spirit, dwelling in them. As God dwelt in the temple, He now dwells in Christians.

With that in mind, we see a beautiful portrayal of a people who deeply desire to be together. This Psalm is full of beautiful pictures and illusions that, when studied, enrich our understanding of the church. One in particular comes to us in verse 5. The pilgrimage to Jerusalem could be long, hard, and even dangerous. But for some the road to the temple was always in their heart. Of the mountain folk of Eastern Kentucky it is said, “They are either homesick or going home.” That is the description here. The devout Jew was either homesick or was on his way to Jerusalem. That's how it ought to be for us in our desire to be with the company of worshiping Christians. 

“Lord, help me remain homesick for the family of faith. AMEN.”

Psalm 83

 Psalm 83

When it comes to leaving vengeance to God, it is sometimes uncomfortable.  We may feel that God is not very good at justice, that He is too lenient.  We can even feel that somehow Grace has short-circuited Justice.

However, we may not realize the ultimate purpose of God's divine justice. There is the verse in this Psalm that is a clear and powerful explanation of God's justice. Verses 13-17 are a description of the results of God's intentions for justice. The word picture is not pretty; rather, it is aggressive and violent. This is the sort of thing we like when it comes to Divine justice. But there's a key clause that explains the “why.” Without that key phrase we will miss so much. The second line of verse 16 needs to be the focal point of our view of divine justice: “that they may seek thy name, oh Lord.”

The wrath of God is not just retributive; it is also redemptive. Even in His wrath God is working to bring people to Himself. Men may reject this ‘last-resort’ kind of outreach, but all the same, God is hoping to rescue them. This is why we must leave vengeance in the hands of God.

“Lord, than You that you use every available means to rescue wicked people, like me. AMEN”

Psalm 81

 Psalm 81

The life of following the Lord is a vigorous life and often we are not very interested in the rigors and effort required to be an effective discipleship.  God calls His people to a celebration of His care and deliverance, but he worship of God at the time of the festivals was no casual thing.  Their rescue from Egyptian slavery didn’t result in an instant and magical appearance in the Promised Land.  Israel had to walk out of Egypt, but they also had to get the Egyptian gods out of their hearts, they had to leave the pagan gods.  Sadly that was more than they were willing to do.  

One of the most heart breaking verses in this Psalm, or any book for that matter, is verse 13.  If we read that carefully, slowly and repeatedly with our heart listening carefully we can hear the disappointment in God’s words.  Verses 14-16 describe the great and wonderful blessing God wanted to give Israel but couldn’t because of their sin and rebellion, because they didn’t want to give up their false gods.  Every short term gain of their spiritual laziness was nothing compared to the loss they suffered by missing God’s blessing.  If our spiritual pursuit of God is not passionate we will suffer loss because we chose the easy way.

“Lord, convict me if I am not passionate about Your will.  AMEN”

Psalm 80

 Psalm 80

Have you ever had the occasion when you did something for someone you loved and they responded with a joyful and full-face smile?  Their expression and countenance indicated delight, affection, and approval.  We might say ‘their face glowed’; this is the concept behind the phrase “face to shine.”  This phrase appears three times in Psalm 80 (verses 3, 7, and 19).

Israel, in the midst of their painful Babylonian captivity, is desperate to sense God’s approval again.  The Psalmist describes Israel as a vineyard that was once glorious but is now in ruins.  But even in this deplorable state, there is hope.  That hope is in God’s intervention and mercy.  But this anticipated hope is not in a repeat performance of the Exodus that is described in verses 8-11.  The hope is in the ‘shoot’ and the ‘son’ mentioned in verse 15.  In verse 17 this hopeful one is described as the ‘son of man.’  This is the first time in the Old Testament that this title or description of Jesus is used in reference to Him.  

But we mustn’t miss the point.  In the redemptive work of Jesus, we enjoy the delight of God our Father.  Because of Jesus, God the Father’s “face shines” on us. Because we are in Jesus, God looks on us with delight, affection, and approval.  

“Thank You, God, for the work of Your Son Jesus, the Son of Man, so that You are delighted in me. Amen.” 

Psalm 79

Psalm 79

It is hard for us to imagine the trauma that the Jewish people would have experienced as a result of the Babylonian exile or captivity. Every aspect of life, heart, and soul would have been devastated and ruined. The view would have been horrific: the landscape littered with the rotting bodies of loved ones, buildings in ruins, and survivors in chains for slavery or execution. Plus the realization that this is divine justice—it is fair.

The psalmist, perhaps Jeremiah, appeals to the mercy of God. But why should God have mercy on the wicked guilty people? The appeal for divine mercy is based on the resulting glory of God (v 9) in two ways: first the glory of the name of God and second the glory of His reputation.

God is glorified in His creation and the wonders of the universe. His glory is also shown in His wisdom, law, and justice. But perhaps it shines most brilliantly in His graciousness, when the guilty receive not what they deserve but what they need. There is no cause to abuse grace, but it is cause to marvel at the greatness of God. As the song begins, “When I Survey…’ 

“Lord, help me to always return to the greatness of Your nature displayed in Your grace. AMEN.