Day 190– FRIDAY, JULY 6, 2012
TODAY’S READING: PSALM 120-135
OVERVIEW:
Prayer for deliverance from lying lips; the Lord as the Keeper of Israel; prayer for the peace of Jerusalem; prayer for the Lord’s help; praise for the Lord’s deliverance of Israel; the blessing of trusting God, thanksgiving for the return from captivity; prosperity comes from the Lord; the blessedness of the fear of the Lord; prayer for the overthrow of Zion’s enemies; hope in the Lord’s forgiveness; childlike trust in the Lord; prayer for the Lord’s blessing upon the sanctuary; the blessedness of unity; the blessing of the night watchers; praise for the Lord’s works, and the vanity of idols and idol worship.
HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:
What if Eve would have been able to write verse one of Psalm 120 – “In my distress I cried unto the Lord, and he heard me”? What if the cry of her heart would have been the cry of the psalmist’s heart in verse 2, “Deliver my soul, O LORD, form lying lips, and from a deceitful tongue”? It’s wonderful to dream about what might have been if Eve had applied these verses, but how wonderful would it have been had we applied them at key times in our lives, and how wonderful will it be if we can apply them today, and the remainder of our days?!
Do note that verses 2-7 of Psalm 120 are all pointing to the Antichrist during the Tribulation Period in the prophetic application of these verses.
Psalm 121 also has incredible prophetic implications and applications for Israel. When her “help” comes, it will come from “the hills” (121:1). God is careful to name these “hills” in His Word:
- Mount Sinai (Deut. 33:2; Jud. 5:5; Ps. 68:8)
- Mount Seir (Ezek. 35:2, 3, 7)
- Mount Paran (Deut. 33:2; Hab. 3:3)
- Mount of Olives (Zech. 14:1-6)
During the Tribulation Period, God will establish Israel (121:3), He will “preserve” them (121:7) and from “this time forth” (i.e. from the time of the Second Coming and throughout the Millennium) they will come in and go out of Jerusalem (121:8).
Psalm 122 is descriptive of what will take place in the Millennium.
As you read Psalm 123, read it from the perspective of a Jew in the Tribulation Period awaiting the arrival of the Messiah.
Psalm 124 describes Israel’s literal deliverance from a literal flood and from literally being eaten and swallowed. For those who have the time to get into it, some key cross references are Isa. 6:13; Rev. 6:9-11; Ps. 35:22; 44:22; Rev. 20:4; 12:15; Dan. 9:26; Jer. 51:34.
The prophetic context of Psalm 125 is the beginning of the Millennium (note “from henceforth even forever” in verse 2).
Psalm 126 refers to the Second Coming of Christ when He “turns the captivity of Zion” and establishes His Kingdom on the earth. The “soul-winners” in verses 5 and 6 are those described in Ecc. 11:1-7, and yet from a devotional/inspirational standpoint it is true for us. When we travail in prayer for the lost, watering the seed of God’s Word (Luke 8:11) that we have sown in the soil of men’s hearts with our tears, we will reach people with the gospel!
It is vitally important to understand and apply the truth of Psalm 127:1 to our individual lives, our marriage, our family, our church, and our nation: “Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it.” Psalm 128 is another vital and practical Psalm in relation to our marriages and families.
Psalm 129 describes the scourging endured by our Lord Jesus Christ in His first coming, and yet points to the execution of His judgment at His second coming. Psalm 130 is also a Messianic Psalm with tremendous practical implications. Psalm 131 is predominantly practical, with prophetic (Millennium) overtones in verse 3. Psalm 132 is filled with Millennium references. (See verses 11 and 13-18).
The “brethren” of Psalm 133:1 are the brethren of Matthew 25:34-42 and Matthew 28:10. Devotionally, it is, however, very wonderful and “pleasant” when all of God’s children in His church “dwell together in unity” (133:1 c.f. I Cor. 1:10).
Only Psalm 117 is shorter than Psalm 134, and its context is obviously the Millennium. (The “house of the Lord” – 134:1, is a literal house to be built on this earth – Ezek. 40-44, and the “servants of the LORD” – 134:1, will stand in that house again.)
By now, hopefully you can identify the prophetic context of the Psalms, identifying the Tribulation,
Second Coming and Millennium references, while still applying these verses to your life inspirationally in a practical sense. Try your hand at it in Psalm 135.
CHRIST IS REVEALED:
As our PROTECTOR – the ONE WHO PRESERVES OUR GOING OUT AND COMING IN – Ps. 121:8 (John 10:9)
As DAVID’S FRUIT or DESCENDANT who will sit upon David’s throne – Ps. 132:11 (Luke 1:32; Acts 2:29-30)