TODAY’S READING: PSALM 30-36
OVERVIEW:
David’s adoration of God’s mighty power; David’s trust in God; the blessedness of God’s forgiveness; the Lord hears the righteous; David’s prayer for safety; the contrast of the godly and the wicked.
HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:
The historic context of Psalm 30 is established by the title “A Psalm and Song at the Dedication of the House of David.” The psalm has tremendous prophetic ramifications, however, as it foretells the coming history of Israel – Israel’s horrendous “night of weeping” (30:5a), followed by the “joy that cometh in the morning” (30:5b), when the Day of the Lord arises on this planet at the Second Coming of Christ, as He establishes His millennial kingdom. In a practical way, the psalmist provides an example for us to “extol” the Lord (vs.1); to “sing and give thanks” to Him (vs. 4,12); to “cry” out to Him, making “supplication” to Him (vs. 8).
Psalm 31 is significant for several reasons. First, it leads us to the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, and His very last words before He died, (Father, “into thine hand I commit my spirit” – 31:5 c.f. Luke23:36).
Secondly, it is significant because of the descriptive words and phrases that point to the awesomeness of our God. He is our “Righteousness” (31:1); our “Strong Rock” (31:2); our “House of Defense” (31:2); our “Rock and Fortress” (31:3); our “Guide” (31:3); our “Strength” (31:4); and the “Preserver of the faithful: (31:23). Is there anything you could possible face today that one or more of those characteristics do not address?
Sometimes as you read through the psalms, depending upon what is going on in your life, you can almost feel that you wrote them! A good example of that for many of you may be verses 9-18 of Psalm 31. If you are facing what seems to be an insurmountable foe, try using the words of the psalmist in these verses (9-18), to voice your prayer to the Lord.
Psalm 32 is a psalm of confession. Verses 1-4 show us the result of not “cleansing ourselves of all filthiness of the flesh and spirit” (II Cor. 7:1). Verse 7 reminds us of the place of singing in the midst of spiritual warfare (II Chron. 20:21-23; Col. 3:16; Eph 5:19).
In Psalm 33 the psalmist praises the Lord on an instrument of 10 strings (33:2). You may not be able to play a musical instrument with 10 strings to praise the Lord, but you can BE one! Use your 2 feet to “walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing” (Col. 1:10). Use your 2 hands to hold the powerful sword of God’s Word to carry out the work of the Lord (I Cor.15:58). Use your 2 eyes to see the needs of the people around you that need to be met (I John3:17). Use your 2 ears to hear the Word of the Lord (James1:19; Prov. 2:2). Use your one neck to bow your will in submission to Christ’s Lordship (Ex. 32:9). And, use your one mouth to praise the Lord, to speak the Word of the Lord to the lost, and to speak words of comfort, encouragement, and hope to believers. Be an instrument of 10 strings to praise the Lord today!
The psalmist prayed in Psalm 33:8, “Let all the earth fear the Lord: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.” The prayer will be answered at the Second Coming of Christ when “every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father” (Phil.2:10-11; II Thess. 1:7-10). Psalm 33:12-22 is a great way of saying, “If God be for us, who can be against us (Romans8:31), and if God be against us, it doesn’t matter who is for us!”
Are you living in fear today? Psalm 34:1-4 presents a sevenfold prescription for being “delivered from all your fears” (vs. 4): 1) Bless the Lord at all times (vs. 1a); 2) Allow His praise to continually be in your mouth (vs. 1b); 3) Make your boast in the Lord (vs. 2a); 4) Humble yourself (vs. 2b); 5) Magnify the Lord (vs. 3a); 6) Exalt His name (vs. 3b); 7) Seek the Lord (vs. 4a).
Psalm 35:1-9 is a reminder to us of the lessons we learned about spiritual warfare from II Chronicles 20. The psalmist reiterates the truth that “the battle is not yours, but Gods” (II Chron.20:15); “ye shall not need to fight in this battle” (II Chron. 20:17a); and “set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the Lord” (II Chron. 20:17b). Note in Psalm 35:12, in a “rational” world, no good deed goes unrewarded. In the “real” world, however, no good deed goes unpunished! Sad, but true.
Psalm 36 contrasts the sinful man (36:1-4) with the saved man (36:5-12). As you read these verses, keep in mind that the “old man” (i.e. our “flesh”) is still a part of us; a part of us we have been commanded to “put off”! (Eph 4:22)
CHRIST IS REVEALED:
Through DAVID as he “COMMITS HIS SPIRIT” to the Father – Psalm 31:5 (Luke23:46)
As the “ANGEL OF THE LORD” – Psalm 34:7 (The Angel of the Lord is an Old Testament appearance of the preincarnate Christ.)
As the One in whom NO BONE IS BROKEN – Psalm 34:20 (John19:36).