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:
As the serpent (Satan) approached the woman in the garden, just imagine how differently her plight would have been had she been able to declare the first verse in today’s reading from Psalm 120: “In my distress I cried unto the Lord, and he heard me.” Just imagine what the outcome might have been had the cry of her heart been the cry of the psalmist’s heart in verse 2: “Deliver my soul, O Lord, from lying lips, and from a deceitful tongue.” Sure, it’s a wonderful thing to consider what might have been had the woman applied these verses, but how wonderful would it have been had we, likewise, applied these verses at key times of temptation in our lives! Obviously, we can’t do anything to change the voice we may have heeded in the past but we can certainly do something about the voice we listen to 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 (Deuteronomy 33:2; Judges 5:5; Psalm 68:8)
- Mount Seir (Ezekiel 35:2-3, 7)
- Mount Paran (Deuteronomy 33:2; Habakkuk 3:3)
- Mount of Olives (Zechariah 14:1–6)
Note also in Psalm 121, that during the Tribulation Period, God will establish the nation of Israel (121:3); He will “preserve [them] from evil” (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.
If you’re finding yourself in the midst of a trial that is causing you to feel like your back is against the wall, and you are crying out to God to pour out His mercy upon you, from a devotional or inspirational standpoint, Psalm 123 will bless your heart! To gain the prophetic application, go back and read it again 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 devoured by the enemy. For those who have the time to get into it, some key cross references are Isaiah 6:13; Revelation 6:9–11; Psalm 35:22; 44:22; Revelation 20:4; 12:15; Daniel 9:26; Jeremiah 51:34.
The prophetic context of Psalm 125 is the beginning of the Millennium, as verse 2 clearly identifies through the phrase: “from henceforth even for ever.”
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 also described in Ecclesiastes 11:1–6, and yet, from a devotional/inspirational standpoint, certainly apply to 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! God help us to do so while we still have time! (John 9:4b)
It is vitally important to understand and apply the truth of Psalm 127:1 to our marriage, our family, our church, and our nation: “Except the Lord build the house, they labour 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, also points to the execution of His judgment at His second coming. Prophetically, Psalm 130 is a Messianic Psalm, and yet, from a devotional standpoint has tremendous practical implications. Psalm 131 is predominantly practical, with prophetic (Millennium) overtones in verse 3. Psalm 132 is literally 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, however, don’t miss how very “good” and “pleasant” it is when all of the “brethren” in a local church “dwell together in unity!” (133:1 c.f. 1st Corinthians 1:10) God help us to know that “goodness” and “pleasantness”!
Only Psalm 117 is shorter than Psalm 134. The context of this brief psalm is obviously the Millennium. Recognize that the “house of the Lord” in 134:1, is a literal house that will be built on this earth during the Millennium. (Ezekiel 40–44) Notice also, that the “servants of the Lord” mentioned in this same verse will stand in that house again.
By now, hopefully you are learning how to recognize the prophetic context of the Psalms (identifying the Tribulation, Second Coming, and Millennium references) while still applying these verses to your life devotionally 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 — Psalm 121:8 (John 10:9)
As DAVID’S FRUIT or DESCENDANT who will sit upon David’s throne — Psalm 132:11 (Luke 1:32; Acts 2:29–30)