Day 168: Psalms 66-70

(The previous post covered five psalms that referenced events during David's exile(s).)

Psalm 66

For the Chief Musician. A song, a Psalm.

1 Make a joyful noise unto God, all the earth:
2 Sing forth the glory of his name: Make his praise glorious.
3 Say unto God, How terrible are thy works! Through the greatness of thy power shall thine enemies submit themselves unto thee.

(An exhortation to praise and bless God. The word terrible was translated from the same Hebrew word that meant "fear; reverence." God’s works were worthy of honor and respect.)

4 All the earth shall worship thee, And shall sing unto thee; They shall sing to thy name. Selah

(Selah meant "pause and think about what you just read." The author wanted the reader to pause and become conscious of what was read.)

5 Come, and see the works of God; He is terrible in his doing toward the children of men.

(Again, terrible meant "fear; reverence" which, in this context, meant that God’s actions towards people were worthy of honor and respect.)

6 He turned the sea into dry land; They went through the river on foot: There did we rejoice in him.

(A reference of the passing through the Red Sea. The Psalms from 66 to 81 have repeated references to Israel coming out of the Egyptian captivity.)

7 He ruleth by his might for ever; His eyes observe the nations: Let not the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah
8 Oh bless our God, ye peoples, And make the voice of his praise to be heard;
9 Who holdeth our soul in life, And suffereth not our feet to be moved.
10 For thou, O God, hast proved us: Thou hast tried us, as silver is tried.

(God tried Israel as silver was tried, with fire.)

11 Thou broughtest us into the net; Thou layedst a sore burden upon our loins.
12 Thou didst cause men to ride over our heads; We went through fire and through water; But thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place.

(God brought affliction to His people for their benefit. This would cause the righteous to grow. The word wealthy in verse 12 meant "to be filled or fully saturated.")

13 I will come into thy house with burnt-offerings; I will pay thee my vows,
14 Which my lips uttered, And my mouth spake, when I was in distress.
15 I will offer unto thee burnt-offerings of fatlings, With the incense of rams; I will offer bullocks with goats. Selah

(The psalmist vowed to give offerings to God.)

16 Come, and hear, all ye that fear God, And I will declare what he hath done for my soul.
17 I cried unto him with my mouth, And he was extolled with my tongue.

(God was "extolled" with the psalmist’s tongue. Extolled meant that God was "exalted" by the psalmist’s words.)

18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, The Lord will not hear:
19 But verily God hath heard; He hath attended to the voice of my prayer.

(The word regard in verse 18 meant "to see." If you are aware of sin in your heart and you do nothing about it, will God grant a request of you?)

20 Blessed be God, Who hath not turned away my prayer, Nor his lovingkindness from me.

(This author of this psalm and the next psalm was not known.)




Psalm 67

For the Chief Musician; on stringed instruments. A Psalm, a song.

1 God be merciful unto us, and bless us, And cause his face to shine upon us; Selah
2 That thy way may be known upon earth, Thy salvation among all nations.

(The psalmist requested that God’s Face shine upon them so they would know His Will on earth. The word face was also translated as presence. The psalmist wanted God with them. This verse was referenced by Paul in Rome near the end of the Book of Acts: Acts 28:28.)

3 Let the peoples praise thee, O God; Let all the peoples praise thee.
4 Oh let the nations be glad and sing for joy; For thou wilt judge the peoples with equity, And govern the nations upon earth. Selah

(The psalmist encouraged everyone to be glad and sing for joy because God would judge with Justice.)

5 Let the peoples praise thee, O God; Let all the peoples praise thee.
6 The earth hath yielded its increase: God, even our own God, will bless us.
7 God will bless us; And all the ends of the earth shall fear him.

(This psalm finished with an exhortation to praise God. In 1967, the Six Day War resulted with Jerusalem being reunited under Jewish control for the first time in almost 2,000 years. Jews from all over the world rejoiced. East Jerusalem and the temple site had been cut off from Jewish access with a barbed wire fence.)




Psalm 68

For the Chief Musician; A Psalm of David, a song.

1 Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered; Let them also that hate him flee before him.
2 As smoke is driven away, so drive them away: As wax melteth before the fire, So let the wicked perish at the presence of God.

(Smoke symbolized evil and disconnection. Smoke molecules are roughly the same size and have the same charge. Like charges repel like charges. Every molecule of smoke literally repels every other molecule of smoke, which results in disconnection and unprofitability.)

3 But let the righteous be glad; let them exult before God: Yea, let them rejoice with gladness.

(David wanted God’s enemies to be scattered and driven away and he wanted God’s righteous to rejoice with gladness. The word exult meant "to rejoice.")

4 Sing unto God, sing praises to his name: Cast up a highway for him that rideth through the deserts; His name is Jehovah; and exult ye before him.
5 A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, Is God in his holy habitation.
6 God setteth the solitary in families: He bringeth out the prisoners into prosperity; But the rebellious dwell in a parched land.
7 O God, when thou wentest forth before thy people, When thou didst march through the wilderness; Selah
8 The earth trembled, The heavens also dropped rain at the presence of God: Yon Sinai trembled at the presence of God, the God of Israel.

(God was the God of all people and all the earth. "Yon Sinai" was Mount Sinai, where Moses met God and received the Ten Commandments.)

9 Thou, O God, didst send a plentiful rain, Thou didst confirm thine inheritance, when it was weary.
10 Thy congregation dwelt therein: Thou, O God, didst prepare of thy goodness for the poor.
11 The Lord giveth the word: The women that publish the tidings are a great host.
12 Kings of armies flee, they flee; And she that tarrieth at home divideth the spoil.
13 When ye lie among the sheepfolds, It is as the wings of a dove covered with silver, And her pinions with yellow gold.
14 When the Almighty scattered kings therein, It was as when it snoweth in Zalmon.
15 A mountain of God is the mountain of Bashan; A high mountain is the mountain of Bashan.

(Bashan was a district east of the Jordan known for its fertility. Bashan meant "fruitful." It was given to the half-tribe of Manasseh.)

16 Why look ye askance, ye high mountains, At the mountain which God hath desired for his abode? Yea, Jehovah will dwell in it for ever.
17 The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands upon thousands; The Lord is among them, as in Sinai, in the sanctuary.
18 Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led away captives; Thou hast received gifts among men, Yea, among the rebellious also, that Jehovah God might dwell with them.

(Verse 18 was quoted by Paul in Ephesians 4:8 – "Wherefore he saith, When he ascended on high, he led captivity captive, And gave gifts unto men.")

19 Blessed be the Lord, who daily beareth our burden, Even the God who is our salvation. Selah

(Not only was Jehovah the God of our Salvation, He bore our burdens daily.)

20 God is unto us a God of deliverances; And unto Jehovah the Lord belongeth escape from death.
21 But God will smite through the head of his enemies, The hairy scalp of such a one as goeth on still in his guiltiness.
22 The Lord said, I will bring again from Bashan, I will bring them again from the depths of the sea;
23 That thou mayest crush them, dipping thy foot in blood, That the tongue of thy dogs may have its portion from thine enemies.
24 They have seen thy goings, O God, Even the goings of my God, my King, into the sanctuary.
25 The singers went before, the minstrels followed after, In the midst of the damsels playing with timbrels.
26 Bless ye God in the congregations, Even the Lord, ye that are of the fountain of Israel.

(Those of the "fountain of Israel" were told to bless God. The word fountain also meant "spring; source of life.")

27 There is little Benjamin their ruler, The princes of Judah and their council, The princes of Zebulun, the princes of Naphtali.
28 Thy God hath commanded thy strength: Strengthen, O God, that which thou hast wrought for us.
29 Because of thy temple at Jerusalem Kings shall bring presents unto thee.
30 Rebuke the wild beast of the reeds, The multitude of the bulls, with the calves of the peoples, Trampling under foot the pieces of silver: He hath scattered the peoples that delight in war.
31 Princes shall come out of Egypt; Ethiopia shall haste to stretch out her hands unto God.
32 Sing unto God, ye kingdoms of the earth; Oh sing praises unto the Lord; Selah
33 To him that rideth upon the heaven of heavens, which are of old; Lo, he uttereth his voice, a mighty voice.

(God has a "mighty voice." His Voice was powerful. His Voice created.)

34 Ascribe ye strength unto God: His excellency is over Israel, And his strength is in the skies.
35 O God, thou art terrible out of thy holy places: The God of Israel, he giveth strength and power unto his people. Blessed be God.

(The circumstances in David's life covered by Psalms 68 and 69 were not known. However, after the Six Day War until 1969, terrorist activities claimed almost 2,000 victims. The next psalm has been compared to Jeremiah's pathos...)




Psalm 69

For the Chief Musician; set to Shoshanim. A Psalm of David.

1 Save me, O God; For the waters are come in unto my soul.
2 I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing: I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me.

(David was feeling overwhelmed. Mire was "clay." David felt like he could not move or even stand.)

3 I am weary with my crying; my throat is dried: Mine eyes fail while I wait for my God.

(David was emotionally drained. His throat was dry which would affect his ability to speak words and his eyes were failing which would affect his awareness.)

4 They that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of my head: They that would cut me off, being mine enemies wrongfully, are mighty: That which I took not away I have to restore.

(David’s enemies hated him without a cause, or without a good cause. Who else did this happen to? From John 15:25 – "But this cometh to pass, that the word may be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause.")

5 O God, thou knowest my foolishness; And my sins are not hid from thee.
6 Let not them that wait for thee be put to shame through me, O Lord Jehovah of hosts: Let not those that seek thee be brought to dishonor through me, O God of Israel.

(David did not want to hinder God reaching other people.)

7 Because for thy sake I have borne reproach; Shame hath covered my face.
8 I am become a stranger unto my brethren, And an alien unto my mother's children.
9 For the zeal of thy house hath eaten me up; And the reproaches of them that reproach thee are fallen upon me.

(This verse was quoted in John 2:17 when Jesus drove the money-changers out of the temple at the beginning of His public ministry. Paul referenced this verse in Romans 15:3.)

10 When I wept, and chastened my soul with fasting, That was to my reproach.
11 When I made sackcloth my clothing, I became a byword unto them.
12 They that sit in the gate talk of me; And I am the song of the drunkards.
13 But as for me, my prayer is unto thee, O Jehovah, in an acceptable time: O God, in the abundance of thy lovingkindness, Answer me in the truth of thy salvation.

(David handled the affliction he endured by praying to God.)

14 Deliver me out of the mire, and let me not sink: Let me be delivered from them that hate me, and out of the deep waters.
15 Let not the waterflood overwhelm me, Neither let the deep swallow me up; And let not the pit shut its mouth upon me.

(David asked for God to deliver him out of his troubles.)

16 Answer me, O Jehovah; for thy lovingkindness is good: According to the multitude of thy tender mercies turn thou unto me.
17 And hide not thy face from thy servant; For I am in distress; answer me speedily.

(The Bible used the word distress as most people use the word stress today. David was stressed out and wanted God to answer him quickly.)

18 Draw nigh unto my soul, and redeem it: Ransom me because of mine enemies.
19 Thou knowest my reproach, and my shame, and my dishonor: Mine adversaries are all before thee.
20 Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: And I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; And for comforters, but I found none.

(David found none to have compassion on him.)

21 They gave me also gall for my food; And in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.

(Vinegar to drink: Matthew 27:48 – "And straightway one of them ran, and took a sponge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink." This verse was also referenced in John 19:28.)

22 Let their table before them become a snare; And when they are in peace, let it become a trap.
23 Let their eyes be darkened, so that they cannot see; And make their loins continually to shake.

(David wanted his enemies eyes darkened. This would have caused them to be unaware. David also asked for their loins to shake. The loins represented creating. The word shake meant "to waver." Paul referenced the previous two verses in Romans 11:9-10.)

24 Pour out thine indignation upon them, And let the fierceness of thine anger overtake them.
25 Let their habitation be desolate; Let none dwell in their tents.

(The Disciples quoted this verse in Acts 1:20 when selecting another Disciple to take Judas' office.)

26 For they persecute him whom thou hast smitten; And they tell of the sorrow of those whom thou hast wounded.
27 Add iniquity unto their iniquity; And let them not come into thy righteousness.
28 Let them be blotted out of the book of life, And not be written with the righteous.

(Those who are in the Book of Life (Revelation 20:11-15) are "the righteous." Righteousness is the measure for whether or not you have eternal life.)

29 But I am poor and sorrowful: Let thy salvation, O God, set me up on high.
30 I will praise the name of God with a song, And will magnify him with thanksgiving.

(Even in his distress, David praised God.)

31 And it will please Jehovah better than an ox, Or a bullock that hath horns and hoofs.
32 The meek have seen it, and are glad: Ye that seek after God, let your heart live.
33 For Jehovah heareth the needy, And despiseth not his prisoners.
34 Let heaven and earth praise him, The seas, and everything that moveth therein.
35 For God will save Zion, and build the cities of Judah; And they shall abide there, and have it in possession.
36 The seed also of his servants shall inherit it; And they that love his name shall dwell therein.

(Again, the circumstances in David's life during the next psalm were not known...)




Psalm 70

For the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David; to bring to remembrance.

1 Make haste, O God, to deliver me; Make haste to help me, O Jehovah.

(Once again, David asked for a quick deliverance.)

2 Let them be put to shame and confounded That seek after my soul: Let them be turned backward and brought to dishonor That delight in my hurt.
3 Let them be turned back by reason of their shame That say, Aha, aha.

(These two verses were also used in Psalm 40 -
"14 Let them be put to shame and confounded together That seek after my soul to destroy it: Let them be turned backward and brought to dishonor That delight in my hurt.
15 Let them be desolate by reason of their shame That say unto me, Aha, aha.")

4 Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee; And let such as love thy salvation say continually, Let God be magnified.

(David wanted his enemies turned back and dishonored. He wanted those who sought God to rejoice and be glad.)

5 But I am poor and needy; Make haste unto me, O God: Thou art my help and my deliverer; O Jehovah, make no tarrying.

(We know David was not physically poor and needy. David went to God with the help he needed spiritually.)

(This post covered five psalms that were either of unknown authorship or unknown circumstances in David's life, all of which spoke to being released from captivity.)

Day 169

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