Day 176: Psalms 107-112

(The previous post covered the completion of the "Numbers" section of the Book of Psalms which encouraged us to praise God during our time of testing.)

(The final section of the Book of Psalms was known as the "Deuteronomy" section and was believed to have been compiled by Ezra. These forty-four psalms declared the glory of God's Kingdom, His Divine government. This post contains the beginning of the "Deuteronomy" section. These six psalms focused on an expression of gratitude by those who endured God's time of testing and were rescued.)

Psalm 107
¹ O give thanks unto Jehovah; For he is good; For his lovingkindness endureth for ever.
² Let the redeemed of Jehovah say so, Whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the adversary,
³ And gathered out of the lands, From the east and from the west, From the north and from the south.

(The "redeemed" of God were gathered from all the lands. The "redeemed" were to give thanks to God because He was Good (Right and Just) and because His lovingkindness/mercy was eternal. The "redeemed" of God were those who God had justified because of their faith, which was counted as Righteousness.)

⁴ They wandered in the wilderness in a desert way; They found no city of habitation.
⁵ Hungry and thirsty, Their soul fainted in them.
⁶ Then they cried unto Jehovah in their trouble, And he delivered them out of their distresses,
⁷ He led them also by a straight way, That they might go to a city of habitation.

(These verses were literally about the Israelites who wandered in the wilderness but also symbolized the spiritual affliction that God’s people endure. The Israelites cried to God in their trouble. Will you?)

⁸ Oh that men would praise Jehovah for his lovingkindness, And for his wonderful works to the children of men!
⁹ For he satisfieth the longing soul, And the hungry soul he filleth with good.

(God satisfied and filled our souls with Good: Right and Just.)

¹⁰ Such as sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, Being bound in affliction and iron,
¹¹ Because they rebelled against the words of God, And contemned the counsel of the Most High:
¹² Therefore he brought down their heart with labor; They fell down, and there was none to help.
¹³ Then they cried unto Jehovah in their trouble, And he saved them out of their distresses.

(Affliction could also come from God, when we rebelled against His Words. These people were humbled by God and then cried to Him. We will all be humbled, it is your choice as to whether you humble yourself or God humbles you.)

¹⁴ He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, And brake their bonds in sunder.
¹⁵ Oh that men would praise Jehovah for his lovingkindness, And for his wonderful works to the children of men!
¹⁶ For he hath broken the gates of brass, And cut the bars of iron in sunder.
¹⁷ Fools because of their transgression, And because of their iniquities, are afflicted.

(We also experienced affliction as a result of our transgression, of our iniquities. When you experienced affliction, did you ask why you were experiencing it? Did you consider it could be in response to your actions?)

¹⁸ Their soul abhorreth all manner of food; And they draw near unto the gates of death.
¹⁹ Then they cry unto Jehovah in their trouble, And he saveth them out of their distresses.
²⁰ He sendeth his word, and healeth them, And delivereth them from their destructions.

(God consistently delivered His people out of their troubles. However, they first had to cry out to God.)

²¹ Oh that men would praise Jehovah for his lovingkindness, And for his wonderful works to the children of men!
²² And let them offer the sacrifices of thanksgiving, And declare his works with singing.
²³ They that go down to the sea in ships, That do business in great waters;
²⁴ These see the works of Jehovah, And his wonders in the deep.
²⁵ For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, Which lifteth up the waves thereof.

(God had control over the winds and the seas.)

²⁶ They mount up to the heavens, they go down again to the depths: Their soul melteth away because of trouble.
²⁷ They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, And are at their wits' end.
²⁸ Then they cry unto Jehovah in their trouble, And he bringeth them out of their distresses.
²⁹ He maketh the storm a calm, So that the waves thereof are still.
³⁰ Then are they glad because they are quiet; So he bringeth them unto their desired haven.

(More examples of God delivering His people when they cried to Him in their times of trouble.)

³¹ Oh that men would praise Jehovah for his lovingkindness, And for his wonderful works to the children of men!
³² Let them exalt him also in the assembly of the people, And praise him in the seat of the elders.
³³ He turneth rivers into a wilderness, And watersprings into a thirsty ground;
³⁴ A fruitful land into a salt desert, For the wickedness of them that dwell therein.
³⁵ He turneth a wilderness into a pool of water, And a dry land into watersprings.
³⁶ And there he maketh the hungry to dwell, That they may prepare a city of habitation,
³⁷ And sow fields, and plant vineyards, And get them fruits of increase.
³⁸ He blesseth them also, so that they are multiplied greatly; And he suffereth not their cattle to decrease.

(God blessed people so that they could be profitable.)

³⁹ Again, they are diminished and bowed down Through oppression, trouble, and sorrow.
⁴⁰ He poureth contempt upon princes, And causeth them to wander in the waste, where there is no way.
⁴¹ Yet setteth he the needy on high from affliction, And maketh him families like a flock.
⁴² The upright shall see it, and be glad; And all iniquity shall stop her mouth.
⁴³ Whoso is wise will give heed to these things; And they will consider the lovingkindnesses of Jehovah.

(The wise considered these things. Whatever situation you are in, are you considering why you are in it?)




Psalm 108
¹ My heart is fixed, O God; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises, even with my glory.
² Awake, psaltery and harp: I myself will awake right early.

(The psalmist was making himself aware. He used music to sing praises and to awaken himself.)

³ I will give thanks unto thee, O Jehovah, among the peoples; And I will sing praises unto thee among the nations.
⁴ For thy lovingkindness is great above the heavens; And thy truth reacheth unto the skies.

(The psalmist gave thanks to God because His mercy was great and His Truth reached the skies.)

⁵ Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens, And thy glory above all the earth.
⁶ That thy beloved may be delivered, Save with thy right hand, and answer us.

(The psalmist wanted God and His Glory to be exalted so that His beloved would be delivered.)

⁷ God hath spoken in his holiness: I will exult; I will divide Shechem, and mete out the valley of Succoth.
⁸ Gilead is mine; Manasseh is mine; Ephraim also is the defence of my head; Judah is my sceptre.
⁹ Moab is my washpot; Upon Edom will I cast my shoe; Over Philistia will I shout.

(Moab was from Lot. Edom was from Esau.)

¹⁰ Who will bring me into the fortified city? Who hath led me unto Edom?
¹¹ Hast not thou cast us off, O God? And thou goest not forth, O God, with our hosts.
¹² Give us help against the adversary; For vain is the help of man.
¹³ Through God we shall do valiantly: For he it is that will tread down our adversaries.

(The psalmist recognized that help from man was vain. He wanted help from God. Notice, the word "help" occurred twice in verse 12, however, in Hebrew it was two different words and was a restatement of Psalm 60:11 -

-The first help was Strong's #5833 ezrah, which was "help from a superior."
-The second help was Strong's #8668 tesuwquh, which was "help from a lower source."

In Genesis 2:18, God provided Eve as a "help meet" for Adam:

-The word meet meant "perfect."
-The word help was Strong's #5828 ezer which was the root of ezrah meaning "help from a superior.")




Psalm 109

For the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

¹ Hold not thy peace, O God of my praise;
² For the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of deceit have they opened against me: They have spoken unto me with a lying tongue.

(David wanted God to put His wrath against David’s enemies who were speaking deceit and lies against him. Deceit was a right what with a wrong/no how/why. Lies were wrong what's.)

³ They have compassed me about also with words of hatred, And fought against me without a cause.

(The destruction David was facing was "without a cause" meaning, without a just cause. This was a reference to Justice. This psalm sounded like a prayer...)

⁴ For my love they are my adversaries: But I give myself unto prayer.
⁵ And they have rewarded me evil for good, And hatred for my love.

(It seemed that the actual cause of David’s enemies' destruction was because of David’s love! This was unjust! All that was needed was a request and this psalm was a prayer...)

⁶ Set thou a wicked man over him; And let an adversary stand at his right hand.
⁷ When he is judged, let him come forth guilty; And let his prayer be turned into sin.
⁸ Let his days be few; And let another take his office.

(The Disciples quoted this verse in Acts 1:16 when they selected a Disciple to take Judas' place.)

⁹ Let his children be fatherless, And his wife a widow.
¹⁰ Let his children be vagabonds, and beg; And let them seek their bread out of their desolate places.

(Request: David wanted his enemies to be judged and asked that God do some specific things within this judgment.)

¹¹ Let the extortioner catch all that he hath; And let strangers make spoil of his labor.

(An extortioner gained at the expense of others. The word catch meant to be "struck, brought down." David asked that the man who gained at the expense of others be brought down by what he had gained. Extortion was only gaining in the short term. If you gained at the expense of another, you would owe that person and it would be equaled out.)

¹² Let there be none to extend kindness unto him; Neither let there be any to have pity on his fatherless children.
¹³ Let his posterity be cut off; In the generation following let their name be blotted out.
¹⁴ Let the iniquity of his fathers be remembered with Jehovah; And let not the sin of his mother be blotted out.
¹⁵ Let them be before Jehovah continually, That he may cut off the memory of them from the earth;

(These were David's requests. However, David still had reasons (Justice) why he had the value for his request...)

¹⁶ Because he remembered not to show kindness, But persecuted the poor and needy man, And the broken in heart, to slay them.
¹⁷ Yea, he loved cursing, and it came unto him; And he delighted not in blessing, and it was far from him.
¹⁸ He clothed himself also with cursing as with his garment, And it came into his inward parts like water, And like oil into his bones.

(David referenced Justice with his reasons. Again, David made more requests...)

¹⁹ Let it be unto him as the raiment wherewith he covereth himself, And for the girdle wherewith he is girded continually.
²⁰ This is the reward of mine adversaries from Jehovah, And of them that speak evil against my soul.

(David asked that his enemies be given what they had given to him and others. This was Just.)

²¹ But deal thou with me, O Jehovah the Lord, for thy name's sake: Because thy lovingkindness is good, deliver thou me;
²² For I am poor and needy, And my heart is wounded within me.

(David was not physically poor and needy. He talked to God about his spiritual, mental, and emotional wounds. David continued his reasons for his personal request for God to deal with him...)

²³ I am gone like the shadow when it declineth: I am tossed up and down as the locust.
²⁴ My knees are weak through fasting; And my flesh faileth of fatness.
²⁵ I am become also a reproach unto them: When they see me, they shake their head.
²⁶ Help me, O Jehovah my God; Oh save me according to thy lovingkindness:
²⁷ That they may know that this is thy hand; That thou, Jehovah, hast done it.

(David wanted to be delivered so that others would see that it was God who delivered him. This was a request, which continued...)

²⁸ Let them curse, but bless thou: When they arise, they shall be put to shame, But thy servant shall rejoice.
²⁹ Let mine adversaries be clothed with dishonor, And let them cover themselves with their own shame as with a robe.

(Again, David was asking God to be Just. To give to his enemies what they had given to others.)

³⁰ I will give great thanks unto Jehovah with my mouth; Yea, I will praise him among the multitude.
³¹ For he will stand at the right hand of the needy, To save him from them that judge his soul.

(David ended by stating what he would do.)




Psalm 110

A Psalm of David.

¹ Jehovah saith unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, Until I make thine enemies thy footstool.

(Hebrews 1:13 referenced this verse. Jesus referenced this passage when He dealt with the Pharisees in Matthew 22:41-46 and Mark 12:36. The entire exchange rested on the definition of the word "Lord." Peter also referenced this passage during his sermon on Pentecost: Acts 2:34-35.)

² Jehovah will send forth the rod of thy strength out of Zion: Rule thou in the midst of thine enemies.
³ Thy people offer themselves willingly In the day of thy power, in holy array: Out of the womb of the morning Thou hast the dew of thy youth.
⁴ Jehovah hath sworn, and will not repent: Thou art a priest for ever After the order of Melchizedek.

(Jesus is a Priest after the order of Melchizedek. See Genesis 14:18-20, Hebrews 5:6-10 and Hebrews 7:17,21. Also, this was one of the scriptures the crowd referenced in John 12:34 in response to Jesus' statement of His death. The crowd thought Jesus was the Messiah and would never die because of this verse and Psalm 89:4.)

⁵ The Lord at thy right hand will strike through kings in the day of his wrath.
⁶ He will judge among the nations, He will fill the places with dead bodies; He will strike through the head in many countries.
⁷ He will drink of the brook in the way: Therefore will he lift up the head.

(This short psalm would have been a powerful teaching to the Pharisees if they had taken the time to understand all of it relative to Jesus: Lord and Priest - two offices the Pharisees needed to respect but did not.)




Psalm 111
¹ Praise ye Jehovah. I will give thanks unto Jehovah with my whole heart, In the council of the upright, and in the congregation.
² The works of Jehovah are great, Sought out of all them that have pleasure therein.

(Those who had pleasure in God and His works would seek Him out.)

³ His work is honor and majesty; And his righteousness endureth for ever.

(God was Right and Just and therefore, His Righteousness was eternal because He was eternal.)

⁴ He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered: Jehovah is gracious and merciful.
⁵ He hath given food unto them that fear him: He will ever be mindful of his covenant.

(God fed those who feared (reverence) Him. God always fulfilled His end of His Covenants. Any time a covenant had been broken, it was not God’s fault.)

⁶ He hath showed his people the power of his works, In giving them the heritage of the nations.
⁷ The works of his hands are truth and justice; All his precepts are sure.

(God’s works were Truth and Just. God was always fair in what He did, how He did it, and why He did it.)

⁸ They are established for ever and ever; They are done in truth and uprightness.
⁹ He hath sent redemption unto his people; He hath commanded his covenant for ever: Holy and reverend is his name.
¹⁰ The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all they that do his commandments: His praise endureth for ever.

(Compare verse 10 with Proverbs 1:7 and Proverbs 9:10. David was Solomon's father.)




Psalm 112
¹ Praise ye Jehovah. Blessed is the man that feareth Jehovah, That delighteth greatly in his commandments.
² His seed shall be mighty upon earth: The generation of the upright shall be blessed.

(Blessed was the person who feared God and delighted in His commandments. The person's children would be blessed because of his actions.)

³ Wealth and riches are in his house; And his righteousness endureth for ever.

(A man who feared God and delighted in His commandments would be righteous, through God, for eternity.)

⁴ Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness: He is gracious, and merciful, and righteous.
⁵ Well is it with the man that dealeth graciously and lendeth; He shall maintain his cause in judgment.

(It was well with the man who gave. God would remember this in His judgment.)

⁶ For he shall never be moved; The righteous shall be had in everlasting remembrance.
⁷ He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: His heart is fixed, trusting in Jehovah.

(Evil things did not scare the righteous because the righteous' heart trusted in God.)

⁸ His heart is established, he shall not be afraid, Until he see his desire upon his adversaries.
⁹ He hath dispersed, he hath given to the needy; His righteousness endureth for ever: His horn shall be exalted with honor.

(Paul referenced this verse in 2 Corinthians 9:9.)

¹⁰ The wicked shall see it, and be grieved; He shall gnash with his teeth, and melt away: The desire of the wicked shall perish.

(The wicked were grieved by the love of the righteous. Those who chose to not love us back at all after we had loved them were choosing to be our enemy.)

(This post covered the first six psalms of the "Deuteronomy" section of the Book of Psalms.)

Day 177