365 Days of Pursuit.org

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:

1. Mount Sinai (Deuteronomy 33:2; Judges 5:5; Psalm 68:8)
2. Mount Seir (Ezekiel 35:2-3, 7)
3. Mount Paran (Deuteronomy 33:2; Habakkuk 3:3)
4. 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. 1^st 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)

OVERVIEW:

The greatness, power, and perfection of God’s holy word.

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

Psalm 119 is nothing short of a masterpiece. It is an “alphabet Psalm”, meaning that in that each of the 22 stanzas that are each comprised of 8 verses, each stanza begins with the 22 consecutive letters of the Hebrew alphabet (i.e. Alpha, Beth, Gimel, etc.) There is no greater treatise concerning the word of God in the entire Bible, or in all of existence for that matter, than this Psalm. Note that 173 verses, out of the 176, specifically refer to the word of God, keeping in mind that there are at least eight different terms used in referring to God’s perfect word:

1. law
2. testimonies
3. way/ways
4. precepts
5. statutes
6. commandments
7. judgments
8. word/words

Notice also that all eight of these terms are found in the first nine verses.

In terms of providing an overview of this incredible psalm, it is difficult to even know where to begin. There are just so many moving parts, and all worthy of discussion, making a simple overview almost seem to diminish the beauty and significance of this incredible work of art. But do know this, any person who is serious about God and His word needs to immerse themselves in this psalm, not only repeatedly, but continuously! This psalm reveals the key to becoming a man or woman of the word because it deals with our heart attitude toward the word of God. It beautifully reveals to us that the real issue concerning God’s word is NOT, first and foremost, our “KNOWLEDGE” of the Bible, but our “LOVE” for the Bible. (John 14:15, 23)

In light of that reality, as we approach this psalm today, perhaps the best question we could ask ourselves is, “Do I genuinely LOVE the word of God?” It is extremely important for us to realize that answering that question isn’t as easy as pointing to the fact that we have been faithful through the 365 Days of Pursuit, having already read through half of the entire Bible. That is certainly commendable, and yet, it isn’t necessarily an indication of our love for the word of God. For example, something as seemingly “spiritual” as reading through the Bible, might actually be something “carnal” because our motivation for doing it is the key! If our motivation for reading through the Bible is so we can “flaunt” that fact to others, or if it is somehow causing us to “feel good about ourselves” as Christians, it might be, that rather than our faithfulness being an indication of our LOVE for GOD and HIS WORD, it might actually be an indication of our LOVE for OURSELVES! (2^nd Timothy 3:1–2) Rather than revealing our PURSUIT of GOD it may reveal that we are PURSUING OURSELVES! Rather than our pursuit being to “KNOW GOD” by pursuing Him through the pages of His word, our real pursuit might be to impress others with our “KNOWLEDGE” of His word! (1^st Corinthians 8:2) Do recognize that many times the “love of self”, that Paul prophesied would be the overarching characteristic of believers in the last days, often comes in a very spiritual-looking package!

So, as we approach Psalm 119 today, would you take the time for some honest introspection to determine whether or not you genuinely “love” the word of God? Perhaps you’re thinking, “Well, if it’s not as easy as pointing to the fact that I faithfully read it and seek to know it, how can I determine whether or not I love it, biblically?” That’s one of the tremendous qualities of this incredible psalm! Because, as God inspired the “man after His own heart” (obviously, a man who loved God passionately!) to pen the psalms he composed, it is interesting that seldom does God choose to record those times when David actually expressed His love for Him! There are only two occasions where he actually does so, and as we read them, though they are certainly beautiful declarations, we’re probably not going to be overwhelmed by what might be considered the “heartfelt passion” of his expression! (See Psalms 18:1 and 116:1) In Psalm 119 alone, however, David passionately expresses his love for the word of God a whopping 11 times! There are certainly many lessons to glean and apply from that observation, but perhaps the most practical and applicable being the simple fact that it is impossible to separate LOVING the GOD of the WORD from LOVING the WORD of GOD!

Another of the beautiful things about David’s expressions of his love for the word of God in Psalm 119, is that each time, God was careful in inspiring him to do so, also included the characteristic his love for the word of God actually produced in his life. What these expressions of David’s love for the word of God then become for us is a way for us to search our own hearts to determine biblically whether or not we love the word of God! We can simply look at what God, through the psalmist, reveals were the practical and observable characteristics loving the word of God produced in his life, and then seek to determine whether or not those characteristics are likewise present and observable in our own lives! What Psalm 119 reveals to us are:

SEVEN WAYS TO KNOW IF YOU LOVE THE WORD OF GOD:

1. You know you LOVE the word of God BY WHAT YOU HATE. (119:127–128)

1. You will HATE every FALSE WAY. (119:127–128)
2. You will HATE LYING. (119:163)
3. You will HATE VAIN THOUGHTS. (119:113)

2. You know you LOVE the word of God BY THE HOLY ATTITUDE WITH WHICH YOU VIEW IT. (119:140, 160, 164, 72, 93, 103, 128, 131, 161)

3. You know you LOVE the word of God BY WHAT CONSUMES YOUR THOUGHTS.  (119:97, 15, 23, 48, 78, 99, 148)

4. You know you LOVE the word of God BY THE JOY YOU RECEIVE FROM GETTING INTO IT AND LIVING IT. (119:47)

5. You know you LOVE the word of God BY YOUR SURRENDER TO IT. (119:48)

6. You know you LOVE the word of God BY YOUR INABILITY TO BE OFFENDED. (119:165)

7. You know you LOVE the word of God BY THE DESIRE IN YOUR INNERMOST BEING TO OBEY IT. (119:116–167)

Based on those seven divinely inspired characteristics, can you honestly say that you love the word of God?

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

By the PSALMIST WHO DELIGHTED IN FULFILLING GOD’S WILL — Psalm 119:47 (John 6:38; 15:10; 4:34)

OVERVIEW:

The Lord gives dominion to the King; the psalmist’s praise for the works of the Lord; the blessed man; the Lord’s exaltation of the humble; God’s deliverance of Israel from Egypt; the heathen idols contrasted with Jehovah; thanksgiving for deliverance from death; a psalm of praise; thanksgiving for the Lord’s saving goodness.

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

Psalm 110 is a very significant (and magnificent!) psalm. It is specifically this psalm that Jesus used to prove His deity when He sought to shut the mouths of the Saducees and Pharisees in Matthew 22. (see Matthew 22:23–35) The passage says, “While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The Son of David. He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool? If David then call him Lord, how is he is his son? And no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions.” (Matthew 22:41–46)

Notice in verse one of Psalm 110, that 1000 years before Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem, David recognized that the Messiah, not only, existed (“The Lord said unto my Lord”), but acknowledged that the Messiah was “his Lord” (“The Lord said unto ‘MY’ Lord”) and understood that the Messiah would one day come in judgment upon His enemies (“Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.”) Psalm 110 is quoted no less than seven times in the New Testament: Hebrews 1:13; 5:6; 7:17; Matthew 22:43–44; Mark 12:36; Acts 2:33–34; Luke 20:42–43.

Psalm 111 is a psalm of praise for the “works of the Lord.” (111:2) God’s “works” in this psalm are mentioned in five different verses and described in nine different ways. Notice, God’s works are:

1. Great. (111:2)
2. To be sought out. (111:2)
3. Honorable. (111:3a)
4. Glorious. (111:3b)
5. Wonderful. (111:4a)
6. To be remembered. (111:4b)
7. Powerful. (111:6)
8. True. (111:7a) 
9. Judgmental. (11:7b)

Verse 10 of Psalm 111 is a great reminder to those of us living in the last days, because we have been brainwashed before coming to Christ, and for most of us, after coming to Christ, not to believe it! It is true as it stands, however, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom!” Notice, not “reverential trust”! Not “holy reverence”! But “FEAR”! All of our lives, Satan has been bent on teaching us to FEAR what God told us NOT TO FEAR (2^nd Kings 17:7, 25) and teaching us NOT TO FEAR what God TOLD US TO FEAR! (Exodus 20:20) It basically comes down to this: we will either fear God or we will fear man. (Proverbs 29:25) Jesus helps us get the issue in perspective in Matthew 10:28: “And fear not them which kill the body (i.e. men), but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him (i.e. God) which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” How’s that for tact and political correctness?

Psalm 112 describes the “blessed man” that we met in Psalm 1.

Psalm 113 describes the millennium.

Psalm 114 is a very brief overview of the events recorded in the books of Exodus and Joshua, and that will be repeated at the Second Coming of Christ.

Psalm 115 admonishes three groups of people to “trust in the Lord” and find Him as their “help” (aggressive action AGAINST the enemy) and their “shield” (protection FROM the enemy). The three groups are “Israel” (verses 9, 12a), the “house of Aaron” (verses 10, 12b), and “ye that fear the Lord” (verses 11, 13). Recognize that in the prophetic application, the reference to “Israel” is specifically the Jews in the Tribulation. The reference to the “house of Aaron” points to the Levitical priests who will be serving in the Millennial temple. The prophetic reference to those who “fear the Lord” is pointing to Gentile converts during the Tribulation. When you factor in the Millennial application of verse 18, it takes on even more beauty and significance: “…we will bless the Lord from this time forth and for evermore. Praise the Lord.” Won’t that be awesome?! Hallelujah!

Psalm 116 is a Messianic Psalm.

Psalm 117 is short and sweet!

Psalm 118 is the middle of the Bible and specifically verse 8: “It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man.” Verses 22 and 23 of Psalm 118 are incredibly significant, and will be quoted at key places in the ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Apostle Peter, and the Apostle Paul. Psalm 118:22–23 says, “The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.” Jesus quoted this verse to the chief priests, scribes, and elders of Israel to show them that they were about to be the ones who fulfilled this prophecy. (Matthew 21:42; Mark 12:35–36: Luke 20:42–43) When Peter preached to the high priest, scribes, rulers, and elders of Israel in Acts 4, he quoted this verse to explain to them that they had actually fulfilled this prophecy. (Acts 4:5–11) When God inspired Paul to write the book of Ephesians to reveal the mystery of the church, the body of Christ, he, too, quoted this verse in Ephesians 2:19–21.

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

As the ONE SEATED AT THE FATHER’S RIGHT HAND — Psalm 110:1 (Ephesians 1:20; Colossians 3:1)

As the STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REFUSED — Psalm 118:22 (Matthew 21:42; Mark 12:35–36; Luke 20:42–43)

OVERVIEW:

A recounting of Israel’s rebellion and the Lord’s faithfulness to deliver them; the deliverance of the Lord in the troubles of life; the psalmist’s praise of the Lord and his cry of supplication for victory; the vengeance of God meted out upon His enemies.

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

As we pick up in Psalm 106 of today’s reading, the psalmist continues his praise and thanks to the Lord as he recounts God’s mercy through Israel’s history. Note that verse 8 identifies God’s ultimate purpose in Israel’s deliverance through the exodus: “Nevertheless he saved them for his name’s sake, that he might make his mighty power to be known.” That is a monumental declaration! To make sure we didn’t miss the point, God repeats that overarching principle in several places in the Old Testament. In Exodus 9:16, again, God was careful to let Israel know that the real issue of their exodus was “that my name may be declared throughout all the earth.” As God told Ezekiel what to say to the elders of Israel, as He recounted WHY He delivered them out of Egypt, again He said in Ezekiel 20:9: “But I wrought for my name’s sake, that it should not be polluted before the heathen, among whom they were, in whose sight I made myself known unto them, in bringing them forth out of the land of Egypt.” So, as you can see, God repeatedly lets Israel know, “I did what I did, and I worked how I worked, not first and foremost for YOU but for ME! It was for MY NAME’S SAKE! It was so My name would no longer be polluted! It was so Who I really am could be known by the whole world! It was so My power could be known!”

The reason these verses are so significant is because they have a very distinct application and a very direct impact on us as in the “Church Age saints”! God tells us something very important in 1^st Corinthians 10:1–6 and 11! He lets us know that Israel’s exodus out of their bondage in Egypt was just a picture of our exodus from our bondage to sin and the world! (2^nd Timothy 2:26; Ephesians 2:2. Note that Egypt is always a picture of sin and/or the world in the Bible!) Oh, sure, everything that happened concerning Israel all happened exactly as it was recorded in the Old Testament! It is historically accurate from beginning to end! But God so orchestrated the recording of it, to make sure that we understood that in the final analysis, contrary to “fundamental, Bible-believing, Laodicean” thought and teaching, God’s motivation behind OUR exodus was the same as it was for ISRAEL’s exodus! It was for HIS GLORY! It was for “HIS NAME’S SAKE”! (Psalm 106:8a; Ezekiel 20:9) He saved us so that His “mighty power could be known”! (Psalm 106:86) He saved us so His name could be “declared throughout all the earth!” (Exodus 9:16) In other words, the purpose God had in saving us, wasn’t first and foremost, for US it was for HIM! It was to display His glory! That’s certainly not to discount or diminish what incredible beneficiaries we are in that display; oh my, it could not be more wonderful and spectacular! But it screams to us that the theme of the Bible, the theme of salvation, and the theme of every dimension of existence is not about US, or for US; it is about our holy, magnificent, omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent GOD!

Be sure that you understand, this is no small thing! This is not just some moot point! Understanding this truth is the difference between a “ME-centered” Christianity and a “CHRIST-centered” Christianity! This simple point concerning God’s real purpose in our salvation smacks totally against everything that even fundamental, Bible-believing Christianity in the Laodicean Age believes and teaches! In effect, the “Christianity” OF OUR DAY:

• Says that Christianity is primarily about God benefiting His creatures. (i.e. God exists for us.)
• Says that the most important thing to God is people.
• Asks, “How should I position my life to gain the most blessing?” (i.e. Seeks God’s hand.)

The “Christianity” OF THE BIBLE:

• Says that Christianity is primarily about God glorifying His Son. (i.e. We exist for God.)
• Says that the most important thing to God is His glory. (i.e. His name.)
• Asks, “How should I position my life to bring God the most glory?” (i.e. Seeks God’s face.)

No wonder Paul said, “In the last days perilous times shall come” (2^nd Timothy 3:1), and that “in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils.” (1^st Timothy 4:1) We must be very careful and discerning!

Based on what 1^st Corinthians 10:6 and 11 teaches us about how God recorded the history of Israel’s exodus so that what happened to them doesn’t happen to us, the things the psalmist lays out about Israel’s history, in Psalm 106, provide limitless application for our lives.

The theme of Psalm 107 is, “Oh that men would praise the Lord of his goodness, and for his wonderful works, to the children of men!” (See verses 8, 15, 21, and 31) All of the verses in-between are designed to help us to do just that!  Again, the application of these verses to our lives is limitless!

In Psalm 108, note that the first five verses are a replica of Psalm 57:7–11 and verses 7–10 are a replica of Psalm 60:6–9.

There is certainly an historical application to David’s life in Psalm 109, but the psalm is not primarily about David’s situation; it’s about the Messiah’s humiliation, His confrontation with Satan, His exaltation over death, and the ultimate vindication of His life as the Father executes His vengeance. Though David composed this psalm under the inspiration of God, of course, the words actually compose the prayer of the Lord Jesus Christ, and every aspect of the prayer will be answered to the letter!

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

As the ONE WHO MAKES THE STORM A CALM — Psalm 107:29 (Matthew 8:27; John 14:27)

OVERVIEW:

Exhortation to praise God; the psalmist’s profession of uprightness; the prayer of an afflicted man for mercy upon himself and Zion; praise for the Lord’s mercies; praise for the Lord’s majesty; the wonderful works of the Lord in behalf of Israel.

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

The first verse in today’s reading is a call to “make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.” (100:1) It is a reminder that God’s passion is, and has always been, the world-wide worship of His Son from every kindred, tongue, people, and nation! We must never lose sight of the scope of our commission! We are to make disciples of all nations, or as verse one says, in “all lands.” In light of God’s passion to reach the whole world, perhaps we would all do well to ask ourselves a few pertinent questions:

• What are the things I am actively seeking to allow the Lord to do through me that would give evidence that I share His passion to see His Son glorified in all lands?
• Am I presently “discipling” someone, or stated differently, am I presently “reproducing a reproducer of reproducers?”
• When was the last time I actually opened my mouth to present the gospel to someone who is lost? 
• Am I participating in any way to financially support the cause of missions in the world through my local church?

Note also in 100:2, we are to carry out our commission with “gladness”, not out of “guilt” or “obligation”.

In a world that absolutely caters to the “lust of the eyes,” Psalm 101:3 is a doozie! The psalmist says, “I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes.” Evidently, some “more mature believers” in the 21^st century must feel that in the name of their “liberty in Christ”, they’ve “graduated” past obeying the extreme measures the psalmist clearly states under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit in this verse! Unbelievably, in many places in the 21^st century, when you suggest that “setting no wicked thing before our eyes” might include many (most?) movies, TV shows, commercials, magazines, advertisements, and websites, there’s a strong chance you’re going to get labeled “legalistic!” Maybe the question we should consider asking is, “What part of ‘NO’ in ‘set NO wicked thing before your eyes’ is even remotely difficult to understand?” We must be very careful, as Peter talked about, that our “liberty” doesn’t become a “cloke of maliciousness” (1^st Peter 2:16); or as Paul said in Galatians 5:13, that we “use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh.” Yes, we are gloriously free in the Lord Jesus Christ, and yet, even in our “liberty” and “freedom”, we have still been commanded to “cleanse ourselves from ALL filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting HOLINESS in the fear of God.” (2^nd Corinthians 7:1) Obviously, then, there are still some things the Spirit of God fully identifies as “filthy” or “wicked” (Psalm 101:3), and from which He fully intends that we will willfully and aggressively separate ourselves!

Whereas verse 3 of Psalm 101 is a warning about HOW we spend our time, verse 4 warns us about with WHOM we spend it! We have been called to reach the lost, but we must recognize the reality of verses like 1^st Corinthians 15:33: “Be not deceived: evil communications (also translated “company”) corrupt good manners (or morals).” Our most intimate associations must be with brothers and sisters in Christ, who have likewise (along with us!) surrendered themselves to Christ’s Lordship. Note the continuation of the thought in 101:7: “He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house: he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight.”

At the times in our lives when we find ourselves “really going through it,” Psalm 102 is a great place to find refuge. Notice the title (listed in most Bibles): “A prayer of the afflicted when he is overwhelmed, and poureth out his complaint before the Lord.” Of course, prophetically, this psalm points, once again, to the nation of Israel at the end of the Great Tribulation when the Lord Jesus Christ will “arise and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favour her, yea, the set time, is come!” (102:13) Note also, the definite Second Coming references in 102:16 and 102:21–22. But devotionally, allow this psalm to minister to you in your affliction today!

Considering the admonition in Psalm 103:1, I know I’ve sought to bless the holy name of the Lord from “my soul”; I’m just not certain I’ve ever actually done it with “all that is within me.” But I’m absolutely certain that’s what the worship of heaven will be (Revelation 4), the difficulty is in bringing the worship of heaven to earth, and to our lives, now!

Note that Psalm 103 begins and ends the same way: “Bless the Lord, O my soul.” This psalm is about God’s MERCY. The nature of mercy (vs. 4), the measure of mercy (vs. 8), the scope of mercy (vs. 11), and the duration of mercy (vs. 17). Perhaps the more we learn about and grow to appreciate the incredible mercy the Lord has extended to us, the more apt we will be to genuinely “bless the Lord” both from our “souls”, and “with all that is within in us”! (103:1)

The first and last verse of Psalm 104, likewise, includes the exhortation to “Bless the Lord, O my soul.”  Whereas Psalm 103 addresses God’s MERCY, Psalm 104 is all about God’s MAJESTY, and focuses on the wonder of creation.

Psalm 105 is the first in a series of five Psalms that feature the phrase, “O give thanks unto the Lord.” (See Psalms 106, 107, 118, and 136) This psalm, along with Psalm 106, highlights Israel’s history much like we observed in Psalm 78. The first five verses contain nine (9 is the number of fruit-bearing in the Bible) exhortations that should be carried out by every child of God in any dispensation:

1. “Give thanks.” (105:1a)
2. “Call upon his name.” (105:1b)
3. “Make known his deeds.” (105:1c)
4. “Sing unto him.” (105:2a)
5. “Talk ye of all his wondrous works.” (105:2b)
6. “Glory ye in his name.” (105:3a)
7. “Rejoice.” (105:3b)
8. “Seek his face.” (105:4)
9. “Remember his marvelous works.” (105:5)

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

As the CREATOR (“It is He that hath made us”) — Psalm 100:3 (John 1:3; Ephesians 3:9; Colossians 1:16; Revelation 4:11)

As the ONE WHO FORGIVES ALL OUR INIQUITIES — Psalm 103:3 (Matthew 9:6)

OVERVIEW:

God’s eternality and man’s transitoriness; the security of the one who trusts in the Lord; praise for God’s goodness; the majesty of the Lord; the vengeance of the Lord; a call to sing, worship, and praise the Lord; the Lord’s power and dominion; praise for the Lord’s righteousness; the exaltation of the Lord as our holy King.

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

Psalm 90 is unique for several reasons: First, it’s unique because it was the first psalm ever written, obviously then, also making it the oldest psalm! Secondly, it’s unique because of its unsuspecting author: it was written by Moses! (Note that the very next psalm, Psalm 91, was also written by Moses.) Be sure to notice the prophetic application of Psalm 90:4: “For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night.” In the Old Testament, there were three watches to a Jewish night. (Judges 7:19) In the New Testament, there are four watches of the night. (Mark 6:48) Note that Christ was born (i.e. His first coming) in the “first watch of the night,” and He will return (i.e. His second coming) in the “fourth watch of the night” (Matthew 14:25) which is the “morning watch” (Mark 13:35), and hence the title, “the Day of the Lord”, when the “SUN (!!!) of Righteousness will arise…” (Malachi 4:1–2)

Note also in Psalm 90:10 that the normal lifespan for a typical man until the Second Coming of Christ is 70 years (i.e. average age at death). The Lord will “take that up a few notches” for those born during the Millennium (Isaiah 65:20), as men will live to be several hundred years of age, just as they did in some Old Testament times. (Genesis 5)

In terms of “numbering our days” (90:12), the point is, “redeem the time” (Colossians 4:5; Ephesians 5:16), or make the absolute most of each day! Consider, if we were to take “numbering our days” literally:

• If you are age 20, you have 18,250 days to live.
• If you are age 25, you have 16,425 days to live.
• If you are age 30, you have 14,600 days to live.
• If you are age 35, you have 12,775 days to live.
• If you are age 40, you have 10,950 days to live.
• If you are age 45, you have 9,125 days to live.
• If you are age 50, you have 7,300 days to live.
• If you are age 55, you have 5,475 days to live.
• If you are age 60, you have 3,650 days to live.
• If you are age 65, you have 1,825 days to live.
• If you are age 70, you are now on “borrowed” time!

But also keep Proverbs 27:1 in mind! “Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.” Remember, none of us are guaranteed 70 years, that’s just the average lifespan! We must approach each day as if it will be our very last. Remember, also, what time it is on God’s clock! We are the generation whose days will, no doubt, be shortened by the rapture, so once again, it just emphasizes the main point of Psalm 90:12: Live each day as if it were your last because it just might be!

Psalm 91 is another favorite however, without understanding the doctrinal/prophetic application of Scripture, you can get more than just a little messed up by claiming promises that are not intended for you, or promises that are not intended for you in THIS life. Though most Bible scholars are unable to identify the prophetic application of this Psalm as it applies to the Lord Jesus Christ Himself; Satan understood it very well! Satan makes this identification in Matthew 4:6 (91:12), and the Holy Spirit records it to reveal (1^st Corinthians 2:10, 13) the real meaning of Psalm 91. (Note also that there is a double prophetic application in Psalm 91 in that the verses also apply to the remnant of Jewish saints in the Great Tribulation. (91:3, 5-6, 10) Any way you slice it, God’s people in the Church Age are not promised protection from “the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.” (91:5–6) There are a minimum of 50 million people in the Church Age who sought with everything within them to “dwell in the secret place of the Most High,” who were shot through with arrows; sewn in the skins of animals and thrown to wild beasts; and placed on the rack to have every joint, every ligament, every tendon, and every muscle totally ripped to shreds! They were burned at the stake; crucified; boiled in oil; or had done to them anything and everything the devil could imagine and could prompt people to mete out on God’s precious saints. That’s not to mention a minimum of another 50 million saints who have been struck down in wars, or by some sickness or disease (pestilence). (91:5–6)

There is, however, an incredible devotional/inspirational application of this Psalm for those of us living in the Church Age:

1. There is a “secret place” (91:1) of intimacy with Christ that we can experience in our relationship with Him that others don’t experience. (Isaiah 57:15; 4:6; 32:2; Song of Solomon 2:3, 6)

• Our eyes will one day “behold and see the reward of the wicked” (91:8), as we (Church Age saints) will be the ones who make up the “armies” that follows the Lord out of heaven at His Second Coming when He returns to the earth to unleash His judgment. (Revelation 19:11–16; Isaiah 63:1–4)

• Once we have been raptured and have entered into our physical “secret place” (91:1; John 14:3), then “no evil shall ever befall [us]” (Psalm 91:10a), “neither shall any plague come nigh [our] dwelling.” (91:10b)

• We will be “delivered” at the rapture, at which time He will “set [us] on high.” (91:14)

• The Lord has not promised us, as Church Age saints, the ABSENCE of trouble in this life, but He has promised His PRESENCE “with us” through it! (91:15; Hebrews 13:5; 2^nd Corinthians 12:9)

• The Lord has and will, both “deliver” and “honor” us. (Psalm 91:15; John 5:44; 12:26)

• We will be “satisfied” with “long life” beyond our wildest dreams! Jesus called it “eternal life” and I think you’d agree, that’s a long, long time!

Many other incredible prophetic and devotional truths unfold in the remainder of the psalms in today’s reading (92– 99) that hopefully, you are now beginning to see how to identify and apply for yourself. Enjoy!

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

As the GOD WHO COVERS WITH HIS FEATHERS — Psalm 91:4 (Matthew 23:37)

As the ROCK OF OUR SALVATION – Psalm 95:1 (1^st Corinthians 10:4)

As the LORD WHO JUDGES THE EARTH IN RIGHTEOUSNESS AND TRUTH — Psalm 96:13 (Revelation 16:5–7)

As the LORD WHO RETURNS IN FLAMING FIRE — Psalm 97:4 (2^nd Thessalonians 1:7–9)

OVERVIEW:

The psalmist’s cry for deliverance for Israel; the blessedness of living in the midst of God’s presence; David’s desire to walk in truth; cry for deliverance from death; praise for God’s covenant and promises.

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

Psalm 83 is another psalm that points us prophetically to the time of the second coming of Christ. Asaph describes this incredible event, as do the other inspired writers of scripture, as a time when all of the nations of the world (83:6–8) will have converged “together with one consent” (83:5a), “confederate against” the nation of Israel (83:5b), to “cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance.” (83:4) As we have seen repeatedly, just at the time when Israel’s back will be against the wall at the end of the Tribulation Period, when, from a human standpoint, she is utterly helpless and hopeless, with nowhere to turn, it is at that very moment our Lord Jesus Christ will step out of heaven and answer their prayers! (83:1) The Apostle John reveals that Christ will return with such fury against Israel’s enemies in that day that their blood will literally rise up to the horse’s bridles in the Valley of Megiddo! (Revelation 14:20) Asaph’s prayer in 83:13–18 will, in fact, be answered! “O my God, make them like a wheel; as the stubble before the wind. As the fire burneth a wood, and as the flame setteth the mountains on fire; So persecute them with thy tempest, and make them afraid with thy storm. Fill their faces with shame; that they may seek thy name, O Lord. Let them be confounded and troubled for ever; yea, let them be put to shame, and perish: That men may know that thou, whose name alone is Jehovah, art the most high over all the earth.” Hallelujah!

May this incredible prayer and prophetic promise serve as a great reminder to us of God’s power and ability, in those times when our backs are against the wall, and from a human standpoint, we find ourselves utterly helpless and hopeless, with nowhere to turn! May this psalm remind us that there is nothing too hard for the Lord! (Jeremiah 32:17) May it remind us that our God hears and answers prayer! (Psalm 65:2) May it flood us with confidence that, in the day of our trouble, He can and will step in to do what could never be done in our own strength or power. (Psalm 86:7) May we also not miss that He has already proven that He can and will answer our prayers in this way, because that is exactly how Ephesians 2:11–17 describes what our Lord did on our behalf when in our lost condition, we cried out to the Lord for our salvation! At that time, not only were our spiritual backs against the wall, but we were totally without help and hope, with nowhere else to turn, and Christ stepped in to do what we could have never done in our own strength or power. Again, hallelujah!

Note that the basis for the psalmist’s requests in the last verse of this Psalm, should be the overarching desire, passion, and prayer of our hearts in and through every aspect and dimension of our entire lives, “That men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH (the “self-existing One”), art the most high over all the earth.” (83:18)

Notice that the context for the outpouring of praise that the psalmist offers to the Lord in Psalm 84 is, once again, rooted in the millennium, or “the day of the Lord.” (84:4, 8 “Selah.”) Notice in 84:1, that during the millennium, our Lord Jesus Christ will once again “tabernacle” among us. (Psalm 84:1; John 1:14 — “dwelt” = “tabernacle”) We would do well to ask ourselves today whether the passion of the psalmist’s heart for God and His glory in verse 2 expresses what is in our hearts today! Can we genuinely and honestly say with the psalmist, “My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the Lord: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God?” (84:2)

The last part of 84:11 is also a great promise and reminder that “the Lord will give grace and glory: NO GOOD THING WILL HE WITHHOLD FROM THEM THAT WALK UPRIGHTLY.” God most certainly “withholds” certain things, but contrary to Satan’s lies (see Genesis 3:5), it is never because He is “withholding” some “GOOD” thing from us. His restrictions are always to keep us from something He knows will be BAD for us, and ultimately, be harmful to us and/ or destroy us. It is sometimes difficult to get our flesh to really believe that, and the “father of lies” is at every turn more than willing to convince us otherwise. (John 8:44) In light of that, the last verse of Psalm 84 is very fitting, “O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.” (84:12)

The millennial context is also seen in Psalm 85. The description of that time is laid out beautifully in verse 10. It will be that time on this planet when “Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.” (85:10) It is also a beautiful thing when the word pictures in this verse are found in the life of a New Testament believer! “Mercy” with no regard for “truth” makes us wishy-washy, spineless, and way too accommodating of unholy doctrine and unholy living in the church of the Lord Jesus Christ. On the other hand, “truth” with no regard for “mercy” makes us harsh, judgmental, and unloving. God’s intention, is that like His Son (John 1:14c), we have a perfect balance of both! (See Ephesians 4:25, then Ephesians 4:15.)

Psalm 86:5 and 15 are a personal favorite. “For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee…thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.” How many times do we need those reminders, especially those of us who are prone toward feeling the need of doing some sort of “penance”, as it were, before we can let go of our spiritual failures and sins? I love the fact that the psalmist reveals to us that before we even come to Him, He is “READY TO FORGIVE”! He made that abundantly clear by the willful offering of His only and beloved Son! (1^st John 4:9)

For those who find themselves in the depths of despair today, find comfort and solace by using the words of the psalmist in Psalm 88 as he lifts his complaint up to the Lord. Then, allow the Lord to bring you up and out of your despair in Psalm 89, as the psalmist expresses his confidence and praise to the Lord!

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

By the SEED OF DAVID — Psalm 89:3–4 (Christ was made of the seed of David according to the flesh – Matthew 1:1; Luke 3:31–32)

OVERVIEW:

The judgment of the Lord against disobedience; Asaph’s prayer against enemies; Asaph’s prayer for mercy and restoration.

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

Psalm 78 is just absolutely an incredible psalm. What it provides is an abbreviated overview of Israel’s history from Exodus 7 to 2^nd Samuel 10.

As we learned in Numbers 14:18 and Exodus 34:6–7, God warns that the iniquities of the fathers are visited all the way down to the third and fourth generations! In other words, the effects of sin are incredibly far reaching! Again, be reminded, the principle concerning the “iniquities of the fathers” is not teaching that JUDGMENT for a father’s iniquities are visited to the third and fourth generation, but that the PROPENSITIES toward those particular iniquities are “visited” that deep into a family line. At any time, however, anyone in a family can choose to trust Christ as their Savior, and thereby, also choose to refuse to provide the “visitor” entrance into their lives, and not only break the generational cycle of sin but by God’s grace, choose to create a cycle of righteousness! That is really what Psalm 78 is all about! It lets us know, that the “righteousnesses of the fathers”, as it were, are likewise “visited” to the third and fourth generation! Notice the four generations in 78:5–6:

• Generation # 1 — “OUR FATHERS…”
• Generation # 2 — “that they should make them known to THEIR CHILDREN,”
• Generation # 3 — “that THE GENERATION TO COME might know them”
• Generation # 4 — “who should arise and declare them to THEIR CHILDREN.”

Notice that the psalmist also provides in this psalm, the four reasons it is so important to pass this kind of righteous heritage to our generational offspring. (78:7–8) Notice that two are positive and two are negative:

• Positive — “That they might set their hope in God…”
• Negative — “And not forget the works of God…”
• Positive — “But keep his commandments…”
• Negative — “And might not be as their fathers.”

Notice in verse 29 of Psalm 78, one of the most horrific things that God could ever do to a person is to give them what they want! (i.e. “He gave them their own desire.”) As this psalm goes on to say, it is a collision course for disaster without exception, because what man naturally “desires” is always completely contrary to what God desires for him! Paul writes to his young son in the faith, Timothy, warning him about four things we “naturally desire” (i.e. “love”):

• “Self” — (2^nd Timothy 3:2)
• “Pleasure” — (2^nd Timothy 3:4)
• “Money” — (1^st Timothy 6:10)
• “This present world” — (2^nd Timothy 4:10)

Psalm 78:29 should cause all of us to pray, “O God, please don’t give me what I want!”

In 78:40–41, notice five things Israel did against God after their deliverance out of Egypt, keeping in mind that 1^st Corinthians 10:6 and 11 specifically warn us to be sure that we don’t allow to happen to us, in our “exodus” (God delivering us from our bondage to sin, Satan and self!), what happened to Israel in their exodus! Notice…

• They “provoked” God – (Psalm 78:40a c.f. 1^st Thessalonians 5:19)
• They “grieved” God — (Psalm 78:40b c.f. Ephesians 4:30)
• They “turned back” from God — (Psalm 78:41a c.f. 2^nd Timothy 4:10)
• They “tempted” God — (Psalm 78:41b c.f. 1^st Corinthians 10:9)
• They “limited” God — (Psalm 78:41c c.f. Hebrews 4:2)

Notice also that these five things were the result of the two root sins listed in verse 42: “They remembered not his hand, nor the day when he delivered them from the enemy.”

Practically speaking, we get ourselves into a whole bunch of sin problems when we forget (“remember not”) the awesome thing God did on our behalf the day He saved us (“delivered us from the enemy”); all of the things God did by “His hand” to bring us to that point (John 6:44); and all of the things He has done by “His hand” since He has delivered us (Revelation 2:4–5; Romans 1:21). Deuteronomy 6:12 says it plainly: “Then beware lest thou forget the Lord, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.” God help us today to “remember”!

Psalm 79 and 80 are simple to understand for anyone who understands that there are three layers of application of Scripture. Both psalms point doctrinally (prophetically) to Israel during the latter part of the Great Tribulation just prior to the Second Coming of Christ. Notice that the “wild beast” in Psalm 80:13 is defined in Hosea 13:8 and is none other than “the Beast” of Revelation 13. He is like a “leopard” (Hosea 13:7), a “bear” and a “lion” (Hosea 13:8), just as in Revelation 13:2 and Daniel 7:3–6. It’s amazing what God will reveal (1^st Corinthians 2:10) when we approach God’s Book the way He told us to approach it! (1^st Corinthians 2:13 — “comparing spiritual things with spiritual” — i.e. comparing Scripture with Scripture!)

In Psalm 81, the “solemn feast day” in verse 3 points to the second coming of Christ, which will line up, just as did the first coming of Christ, with the feast of tabernacles. It’s way too detailed to get into here, but for a little “recreation” and “enjoyment”, check out 2^nd Chronicles 7:9; Nehemiah 8:18; Hosea 9:5; 12:9; Leviticus 23:34; Deuteronomy 16:13; 31:10; 2^nd Chronicles 8:13 and Ezra 3:4.

Be sure to note the context in Psalm 82, as once again, God sets it for us by the insertion of the word “Selah” (82:2) and then nails it for us in the last verse, saying, “Arise, O God, judge the earth: for thou shalt inherit all nations!” What an awesome God and an awesome Book!

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

• As the SHEPHERD — Psalm 80:1 (John 10:11)

• As the ONE WHO WILL ARISE TO DELIVER ISRAEL OUT OF HER TROUBLE — Psalm 80:7, 14, 19; 82:8 (Revelation 16:15–21; 19:19)

OVERVIEW:

David’s prayer of praise and thanksgiving; David’s prayer for Solomon (the “Son of David”); the mystery of the prosperity of the wicked; the rebuke of the wicked and proud; praise for God’s majesty.

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

In Psalm 71, note the eight powerful names by which the psalmist refers to God, and note how personal he has made each one by the insertion of the personal pronoun, “my”:

1. My Strong Habitation. (71:3)
2. My Rock. (71:3)
3. My Fortress. (71:3)
4. My God. (71:4, 22)
5. My Hope. (71:5)
6. My Trust. (71:5)
7. My Strong Refuge. (71:7)
8. My Help. (71:12)

There’s plenty of biblical substance in just those eight names to have your own “personal” worship service! What a God we serve! May our pursuit of the Lord, like the psalmist, cause us to personally know our God by each of these titles!

As we continue our journey through life, we must always keep in mind that the enemy is constantly seeking to shut us down, and shut us up! That is, he wants to take our passion for God out of our souls, and he wants to take our praise for God out of our mouths. Understanding this desire of the enemy prompted the psalmist to say, “But I will hope continually, and yet praise thee more and more.” (71:14) Let’s all make that our resolve today!

Psalm 72 is in my estimation, a “psalm of psalms”. What an absolutely incredible Old Testament declaration of praise for the Lord Jesus Christ at His Second Coming! This psalm lets us know that as the queen of Sheba presents herself before Solomon, Israel’s king, the “Son of David” as he was sitting enthroned in all of his wisdom, splendor, majesty, and glory over the entire world in 1^st King’s 10, that he was really just a picture of the splendor and glory that will be our Lord Jesus Christ’s when He finally takes up His throne in His Millennial kingdom. (72:10) This psalm lets us know that in that day, the Lord Jesus Christ will unleash His power in judgment upon the earth (72:1–6), and will establish His authority and rule over the entire earth. (72:7–9) Read and rejoice! May this reality cause all of us to LOVE His appearing with Paul (2^nd Timothy 4:8), LONG for His appearing with John (1^st John 3:1–3), and PRAY for His appearing, per our Lord’s instruction in Matthew 6:10.

In Psalm 73, Asaph voices what all of us have felt at one time or another: Why does it seem that the wicked prosper, and the righteous get stepped on? (73:11–14) As Asaph said, sometimes it can just about get the best of you (73:2), and make you want to throw in the towel! (73:16) Why does it seem that that’s the way it shakes out in life? Well, for the most part, because that’s the way it is, in THIS life! What we sometimes forget, however, is that “THIS life” is not all there is! Asaph said that he was reminded of that when he went “into the sanctuary of God, and understood their end.” (73:17) May God, likewise, grant us that eternal perspective today! (2^nd Corinthians 4:18)

Psalm 74 is Asaph’s attempt at “praying for the Kingdom to come”, and quite a good one at that! May it, likewise, be the prayer of our hearts!

Psalm 75 deals with Israel and the Second Coming of Christ. Notice in verses 2–6, that the Lord Jesus Christ Himself is speaking in the first person. How awesome is that? I bet you won’t find that written in your Red-Letter Edition of the Bible, but it should be! Notice also in verse 6 where “promotion cometh”. Here’s the clue the psalmist gives us: It’s not from the EAST, nor the WEST, nor from the SOUTH. So, do you have any guesses for the direction from which it will come? That’s right! The NORTH! How did you guess? 😉 Why do you suppose it will come from the NORTH? Check out Psalm 48:2; Hebrews 12:22; Isaiah 14:13; and Ezekiel 1:4. The Bible is indeed an amazing book!

Psalm 76 is another great description of our Lord’s awesomeness as he “arises in judgment” and descends upon this earth at His Second Coming to establish His rule and reign. (76:9) Can you answer the question of 76:7: “Who may stand in thy sight when once thou art angry?” Why don’t we allow the words of the old hymn to answer it for us?  “No, not one! No, not one!”

Psalm 77 is, likewise, a description of the Second Coming and Millennium. Just when the nation of Israel is “in the day of [her] trouble” at Armageddon, when all of the nations of the earth have converged upon Israel and she is crying out, “Will the Lord cast off for ever? and will he be favourable no more? Is his mercy clean gone for ever? Doth his promise fail for evermore? Hath God forgotten to be gracious? Hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies?” (77:7-9) Then notice the very next word: “Selah!” It is just then, when the only direction Israel can possibly even look is up, that the Lord Jesus Christ will step out of heaven riding on a white horse, with the armies of heaven behind Him (Revelation 16:15–21; 19:11–19) and go absolutely ballistic upon all His enemies to establish “peace on earth and good will toward men.” Verses 16–19 of Psalm 77 are a description of the Second Coming of Christ, as our Lord steps out of the third heaven, descends through “the deep” that is above our heads (Genesis 1:6–7; Job 38:30; 41:31–32), and comes thundering into the earth’s atmosphere, all the way down to the Mount of Olives. (Zechariah 14:4) What a day that will be! Let’s pray it’ll be seven years from today! Amen!

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

• As the ROCK — Psalm 71:3 (1^st Corinthians 10:4)

• As the RIGHTEOUS JUDGE — Psalm 72:2, 4 (2^nd Thessalonians 1:5–9)

• As the SPEAKER — Psalm 75:2–6

OVERVIEW:

David’s prayer of deliverance from his enemies; David’s confidence in God’s promises; David’s exhortation to praise God for His goodness; the blessings of God upon His people; God’s judgment upon His enemies; David’s prayer in time of trouble.

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

Have you ever felt like the psalmist did in Psalm 64, like the whole world is against you? Take comfort today in the fact that even the “man after God’s own heart” had many people who continually spoke evil of him! Don’t forget, Jesus said, “Blessed are ye, when (notice, not “IF” but “WHEN”!) men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.” (Matthew 2:11) The reality is, the closer we grow toward Christlikeness, and the more we are used by Him to accomplish His work, the more we can expect evil to be spoken against us! Biblically, that’s just the way it works; it comes with the territory! Jesus went on to say, however, that rather than allowing the persecution to consume us and/or discourage us, we should “Rejoice and be exceeding glad, for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.” (Matthew 5:12) In other words, we should rejoice in the fact that we’ve ascended into the ranks of a whole bunch of godly people that God has been using all through the centuries to bring glory to Him! Again, the reality is, they all experienced the same exact treatment! We will not be the exception to the rule; obviously, even Jesus Himself wasn’t!

The good news is, the psalmist says, in effect, “What goes around, comes around.” His actual wording is perhaps a little more articulate, “So they shall make their own tongue to fall upon themselves.” (Psalm 64:8) Paul’s similar warning was, “But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.” (Galatians 5:15) The principle is, when people use their tongue as a weapon, it will inevitably come back to rip them to shreds!

Don’t you just love how the psalmist addresses God in Psalm 65:2? “O thou that hearest prayer.” If we are ever looking for a ‘reason’ we should pray, how about this one: The God who created the entire universe and is holy beyond our wildest possible imagination and comprehension, said He would listen! Wow! With a reason like, we certainly do not need to look for too many others! You may even want to take a minute right now to humbly tell God, “Thanks for listening!” Notice that the psalmist is back on this same glorious reality of the God of the universe actually “hearing us” in Psalm 66:18–20!

Note that the word “terrible” found in today’s reading in Psalms, verses 65:5; 66:3; and 68:35, is the old English equivalent of the modern-day usage of the word “awesome”.

Note, also, how the psalmist/God sets the context of Psalm 66:4 by his/His usage of the word “Selah” at the end of the verse: “All the earth shall worship thee, and shall sing unto thee; they shall sing to thy name. SELAH!”  The “whole earth” hasn’t worshipped or sung to the Lord since Adam sinned in the garden, and what’s more, it won’t until the Lord Jesus Christ has set in motion “the times of restitution of all things” (Acts 3:21) at the beginning of the Millennium, again, noted by the word at the end of 66:4, “Selah.”

Psalms 66, 67, and 68 provide great insight into just how glorious the second coming of Christ and His millennial reign on the earth will actually be. Don’t miss it in these psalms! It certainly gives a whole new meaning to the “New World Order” to which politicians from every nation are referring in these last days!

The name of God in Psalm 68:4, “JAH”, is short for Jehovah (Yahweh), the “self-existing One”, or the God who is “ever/always in the present”. Psalm 68:18 prophesies the glorious resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Paul explained the meaning of this psalm as a prophecy concerning Christ in Ephesians 4:8. Christ conquered death and Satan, both of which held mankind in captivity until His resurrection. (Hebrews 2:15)

In Psalm 69, David is literally singing “the blues”. He voices what we’ve all felt at certain times of our lives, as his song is being sung out of a “sea of troubles”. (69:1–2) Psalm 69:9 was historically true of David: “For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me.” Yet, prophetically, John lets us know in John 2:17 that it was, likewise, fulfilled in the Lord Jesus Christ. In light of the devotional or inspirational application of scripture, we would do well to ask ourselves whether this verse is, likewise, true of us. Are we so passionately in love with our Savior, and are we so completely zealous for Him to be glorified, that when His name is “reproached” (also translated “defied” and “blasphemed”), that the reproach of it falls upon us the same way it falls upon Him? In other words, when God’s name is blasphemed and defied, do we feel what God feels?

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

• As the One who LED CAPTIVITY CAPTIVE — Psalm 68:18 (Ephesians 4:8)

• As the One who was BROKENHEARTED and FULL OF HEAVINESS — Psalm 69:20 (Matthew 26:37)

• As the One given VINEGAR TO DRINK IN HIS THIRST — Psalm 69:21 (Matthew 27:34; John 19:28–30)