Epaggelia

This Psalm is what repentance sounds like when it comes out of a sorrowful soul that has just been taught how horribly helpless we are when we intentionally sin. David’s words here are a result of being convicted of sin by the punishing words of the prophet Nathan. The prophet Nathan delivered God’s judgment against David’s rebellious sexual sin with Bathsheba. Which resulted in David’s cry for mercy and admission of his sinfulness, from birth and lapsing into sin as an adult. It is a popular idea that since David said he was born in sin, that the majority of religious people assume that everyone else is born in sin (Psalm 51:5) since Adam’s sin gave the world a death sentence. However, this Psalm was written by David, and he knew two things about himself. Firstly, his heritage, and secondly, what the law said about his ancestry. Deuteronomy 23:2 clearly cuts off an illegitimate person from the religious life of the nation, including all 10 generations of such a person. One such ‘bastard’ was Perez, born out of Judah & Tamar’s illicit relationship, Gen. 38. The 10th generation from Perez was David’s generation, therefore David was truly “born in sin”, and his whole family, along with his brothers knew it. They are as follows: 1st-Perez, 2nd-Hezron, 3rd-Ram, 4th-Amminadab, 5th-Nahshon, 6th-Salmon, 7th-Boaz, 8th-Obed, 9th-Jesse & 10th-David, see Matthew 1:3-6. Please do not conclude that because we might have an illicit background, it would hinder our relationship with God, that is not true. This law concerned only Jews, another law would counter foreigners from having a part in the religious life of Israel, see the rest of Deut. 23. But as for David, he could not consider himself born into a good relationship with God, according to the Law. However, when he grew to be a young man. God chose to change his position and relationship, when God led Samuel to anoint him to be the future King. If anyone can over-ride, or re-interpret the law, it can only be the author of that Law. So then, David became not only a Psalmist, but also a King, purely by the grace of God. Now after he sinned with Bathsheba, he pled for mercy. Don’t let anyone lead you to believe that people are born in sin, and sinful from birth. The Bible actually teaches the opposite, Children are a blessing and gift from the Lord, Psalm 127:3-5 & Mark 9:36-37 & 10:14. Our sin, is our own personal responsibility, not the inherent responsibility of our parents, or Adam, Romans 5:12-19 & Ezekiel 18:20. The only thing that anyone inherited from Adam is death, not sin itself. Even if a child is born from an incestous relationship, the child hasn’t any sin inherent. Indeed the sins of parents can put a child at risk or in a grave physical disadvantage, but a baby’s soul is pure, see James 1:17-18.

Sinfulness can lead us all to crave God’s mercy for a clean new start. We should fully realize the unique beauty of Christ alone, providing a new creation in every Christian. Which is what David cried out for in Psalm 51:10. The apostle Paul declared this fact in 2nd Corinthians 5:17, and explained it well in Ephesians 2:10. There is no sense in simply asking for a “fix” when we need washing, but there is glory in realizing that God’s cleansing of our soul is seen as a totally new heart being adjoined with the Spirit of Christ, see Psalm 51:11.

Bringing Zion itself into good standing, was reliant on the Nation’s King being in good standing with God. Psalm 51:17-19 is a reminder of how important it is to have real godly virtues in our leadership, even today. Do you pray for our Nation’s leaders to understand what real sacrifice is in God’s eyes? Read 1st Timothy 2:1-4.

What good is a fort, if you don’t know where it is? Once you find it, how can it help you, if you don’t know how to get in? If you find it and get access, how can a fort help you if it has weak points? God is a fortress, bigger than any fort so that the world knows where it is, accessible to anyone under attack by the devil & the strongest shelter, having thicker impenetrable walls than any other fort in the universe. The word “strength” implies that God is the source of strength to those who are weak and defenseless; that we may rely on his strength “as if” it were our own; feeling as safe in his strength as though we had that strength ourselves. We may make it the basis of our confidence as though the strength resided in our own arm. Centuries after this Psalm was written & sung, Jesus would come and say “ “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her!  How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings” ~ Matthew 22:37 God’s Fort is Love Himself! Jesus came to prove this.

v1, “A very present help in trouble.” Echoed from Psalm 18:2, He is the Deliverer. God is with us – this is like a chorus throughout the psalm – His company declared in v1, v7 & v11. God is available to us. God is accessible at just the right time when we need Him the most. Factually leading the Hebrew Christian writer to conclude,  “Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” ~ Hebrews 4:16.

v2 “Therefore we will not fear,” Is our persevering confidence in God’s Power? How much of our life is disrupted by fear or anxiety? Satan attacks us with this weapon of fear to paralyze us and keep us from stepping out in faith and aggressively trusting the Lord to accomplish great things for Him. The Lord Jesus constantly addressed this weakness in the hearts of His disciples.  Luke 12:22-34 – “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom.” And as Jesus comforts His disciples in view of His departure: “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me.” John 14:1.

v4-6  The Joy of our Life can be in appreciating the Presence of God, “There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, The holy dwelling places of the Most High. God is in the midst of her”. The symbolism of the river brings the life giving power and presence of God, it reminds us of Rev. 22:1-2  “Then he showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb, in the middle of its street. On either side of the river was the tree of life”. If we want to experience joy in a close relationship with Jesus, never forget his promise fulfilled. “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’  But this He spoke of the Spirit” ~ John 7:38.

v10, “I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” Paul put it best, that we should bow our knees now before it is too late – “at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”  Philippians 2:10-11

What could we accomplish for the Lord if we were freed from struggling with Fear? Fear of failure, Fear of inadequacy, Fear of people’s opinions, even Fear of financial ruin or of the loss of our health. Jehovah is not only a means of escape from pressures and trials.  He is also Lord over them. He is not an escape from history, but the one who is busy working on his purpose throughout history. He is therefore not just a Savior to be trusted, but also a Lord to be acknowledged. So the Psalmist goes on: Stop fighting, and acknowledge that I am God.

v11, The Fortress, This truth conveyed is adapted to the people of God in all lands and at all times, as showing that God has power to defend his people against the most formidable enemies! Read Revelation

v1-8,  Notice the hope & trust expressed in this praise, while contrasted with envy, v1, which progresses to worry, then to fretting and anger, then ending in evil, v8. This Psalm of David is certainly written in his old age, v25, and his wisdom shown in this praise is an example of how to answer the age old question by all of us: why do the wicked experience such pleasurable success while the righteous suffer? Jesus answers us in John 16:33 & 1st Jn. 4:4.

v9-11 are an introduction to v22, 29, 34 which is discussed in the Koran (21:105) where Psalm 37:29 is quoted verbatim. Jesus alluded to v29 from quoting, v9-11, in the sermon on the mount, Matthew 5:5, and it is still a well-known verse in the world. Worldly people largely misunderstand it, but it’s explanation is straightforward. To understand “inherit the earth”, we can look at Abraham’s faith in Jesus, and Paul’s teaching on Abraham, Romans 4:13. Yes Jesus lived out the faith of Abraham perfectly. The lifetime of Abraham’s faith led him to only own one parcel of ground, a burial place for his wife, Sarah. What kind of inheritance is that for the descendant of Abraham which would bless the entire world? Appropriately a different gravesite would figure most prominently in Christianity! The children of Abraham (Isaac & Jacob & Esau) would later bury Abraham himself with his wife Sarah, but of course their ancient gravesite near Hebron today has no significance to Christians now because we believe only the dust of their corpses are there, their real identity is in Heaven. When the inheritance occurs for “the meek” as Jesus describes all the righteous people of God, it is then we will experience the glory of the new heaven and the new earth. But for now, because of what Jesus did at his gravesite, as the descendant of Abraham which blesses the world, we have spiritually attained this inheritance because of our faith in Christ, the seed of Abraham. In one sense faithful Christians already have inherited the earth, as being in Christ and he is now sovereign over it, Matthew 28:18, but not unbelieving worldly people, for now, they are the devil’s, Ephesians 6:12, John 8:44 & 1st Jn. 3:10.

v12-21 , Only the Lord can laugh at the wicked. Whereas we his subjects should empathize, because we once were wicked too. If a Christian can maintain and grow this attitude, we will succeed in evangelism. The crescendo of this Psalm, is v16, worthy of our memory work, and it’s sentiment is echoed in Matthew 6:32-33, Philippians 4:11-13 & 1st Timothy 6:6-8.

v22-34, when or if the Lord is upholding our hand, v24, disaster will never totally defeat us. Paul as a Christian understood this little victory led to a great eternal victory, read 2nd Cor. 4:7-10. Do you ever prayerfully picture the Lord upholding your hand? Could this poetic vision be in Paul’s mind when he wrote, 1st Timothy 2:8. God wants holy/clean hands to hold, James 4:8.

v35-40, The ultimate plight of the wicked is in stark contrast here in v35-36, to the present reality of the wicked from our perspective. If you work in a prison, you are constantly exposed to the injustice of “rehabilitating” the lives of some murderous thieves via a temporary “justice” system, which can be disheartening for the righteous, if we lose sight of the ultimate victory for the righteous. This passage should remind us that the justice of humanity at best, is inconsequential in the long run. We all should be waiting on the justice of the Lord in Jesus Christ. Never forget the eternal gospel picture of His justice, Revelation 19:1-3.

There are at least seven lessons in this Psalm. It is an acrostic (Alphabetic) Psalm where in Hebrew each line begins with the successive Hebrew letter. However, it is irregular. One letter (vau) is missing and another (pe) is repeated. There are only a few Psalms written in this style, many Rabbis say they are primarily used for teaching children, as well as praise. The title says, “A Psalm of David when he pretended madness before Abimelech (King Achish) who drove him away, and he departed.” This refers to the events of 1 Samuel 21:10-15 where David, because he was afraid, acted like he was crazy before Achish, the king of Gath. The Psalm does not indicate any attempt to vindicate David’s action. In fact, in the Psalm, David makes no comment about his conduct. He merely recalls his feelings at the time of his deliverance.

A. The point of the Psalm is to praise Jehovah as our provider, protector, and deliverer. God gives us in this Psalm many good reasons for trusting Him while in trouble, so that we grow courageous for the next trial that comes our way, to see how God helps us.

B.  Fear must be taught (v. 11). If we fear God, we have been taught to fear God. If we want our children to fear God, we must teach them to fear God. When we wonder why some of our children have no use for God or his word, we would do well to consider that maybe we didn’t teach them to fear God.

C. What it means to fear God. The term “fear” is equated with several other expressions. These terms serve as a commentary on what is involved in fearing God, v. 8 describes one who “trusts in him.” v10 says “seek the Lord.”  v15 calls this one “righteous.” v22 says he is a servant.

D. The Lord protects those who fear him (v. 7, 15, 17, 19). The Lord cares about his people. He delivers them from their troubles.

E. The Lord blesses those who fear him (v. 8-10). God gives us all that we need (2 Pet. 1:3). There is no promise that the Lord will give us all we want. He did promise that he would grant all we need. While the young lion may hunger, his people will not lack any good thing (v. 10).

F. Those who fear God are those who really enjoy life (v. 12). Those who seek pleasure from life without the fear of God, have no idea of what lasting joy is.

G. God listens to those who fear him (v. 15-22). What a privilege to have God’s ear tuned to our request! Such an honor is not granted to just anyone. It is an honor bestowed only on those who fear God. (1st Peter 3:12)

John the disciple Jesus loved, was keen to show how truly He was indeed the Lamb of God, fulfilled in David’s messianic prophecy, Psa. 34:20. Moses commanded that when a lamb was sacrificed, (Ex. 12:46) none of the bones should be broken, indeed the care taken in it’s death was shown through the careful guidance God had in giving his Son as The Lamb, ensuring not a bone was broken, John 19:36. How could this be achieved while undergoing all the savage inhumanity inflicted on Jesus’ body? God is in control, and is our Deliverer. The resurrection was in sight all the while, and indeed with perfect timing, a reality.

v1-3, It is possible that this Psalm was written during David’s old age, If David fell sick and thought he may die, then he could be very concerned about what his enemies would do to take advantage of his children’s animosity towards each other. Adonijah & Solomon were in competition for the throne. But someone was praying for David, 1st Kings 1:28-35. Please read James 5:14-15 for faith in the Lord’s ability to heal the sick. There are 3 passages in the Psalms attributed to David, stating he suffered severe sickness which brought him close to death. Psalm 30:2-3, 31:7-10, 32:3-4. But outside of the Psalms we have no specific description of this illness.

v4-5, How beautiful to know that God’s anger lasts only for a moment. God has the power and ability to forget our sins when we meet His conditions for grace in our repentance. God’s anger does not taint the way He deals with us for the rest of our lives. This is a quality that is very difficult for us to attain, but an important characteristic to work on in our lives. We have the tendency to keep our anger burning for months. Sometimes we like to be angry at others and use it as a device to sway above others, manipulating them to do what we want because of our anger or distrust of them. God does not treat us this way and we should not treat others this way, since we ourselves have been forgiven of so much! Ephesians 4:32 & 2nd Corinthians 4:17.

v6-7, The riches of King David, led him to trust in wealth, at one point in his life, it got him into trouble with the Lord. Jesus warns us of this attitude, Luke 12:19. If David fell prey to the false god of money, the Lord had warned him in The Law, of the awful consequences. “… On that day I will become angry with them and forsake them; I will hide My face from them, and they will be destroyed. Many disasters and difficulties will come upon them, and on that day they will ask, ‘Have not these disasters come upon us because our God is not with us?’ And I will certainly hide My face on that day because of all their wickedness in turning to other gods”, Duet. 31:16-18

v8-10, David’s questions show the meaningless waste of his life, if God chooses to let him die before his throne is claimed by one who will build the Temple. The apostle Paul teaches us about the futility of anxiety, encouraging us to pray with gratitude for whatever blessings we know of to date, Philippians 4:6-7. Paul also teaches Christians in Thessalonica, “We…sent Timothy…to establish you and encourage you concerning your faith that no one should be shaken by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we are appointed to this. For, in fact, we told you before when we were with you that we would suffer tribulation, just as it happened, and you know” (1 Thessalonians 3:1-4).

v11, The inevitable joy which David hopes in, and indeed experiences is in this Psalm, as it is in the teachings and life of Jesus. Christ the man of sorrows, rejoiced, Luke 10:21. He taught us that God still rejoices, even if it is in only one wayward foolish child coming back to him, Lk. 15:22.

v12,  The amazing grace & mercy of God, when felt upon the human heart forgiven, evokes eternal gratitude, see Acts 4:20 & Revelation 7:12. Do you know of this experience?

v1, When the Lord is our Light, he casts out fear of Christ’s enemies from our heart, it is our responsibility to ensure our mind is focused on this heart-felt experience and condition, Jesus wants us to experience this same courage, as David did. John 1:4-5, 8:12.

v3, Being courageous in the face of death, has strengthened many Christian martyrs, which is why Paul could write 2nd Corinthians 5:6-8 for us today, making available to us a bravery that will stand against any enemy of Christ.

v4, Faith in God can give us priorities which will not waver throughout the many seasons of our life on earth. Having “one” of the goals in our heart with the Psalmist is to be “in” God’s Temple. For a Christian that is “in” Jesus Christ. See 2nd Corinthians 6:16 & Ephesians 2:21.

v5, The reason God is our salvation and soul’s security is because the ultimate height of the rock Christ is, and upon whom live & work, 1st Peter 2:6-8. He is a rock that will not sink, nor ever move! Upon Him, we have the upper advantage while engaged in any spiritual battle. See Luke 6:46-48.

v6, Joy is an innate part of making sacrifices for David, and moreso for us Christians, because our sacrifices are made holy by the perfect sanctity, purity and power of Christ, and not our own piety. Even during the memorial of communion proclaiming the death of Christ, we can be thankful, and find a sense of joy that can never be stolen from our heart. Luke 19:37 shares with us the reason many people joyously praise God in Christ, and that is his miraculous provision of grace in their own life. Have you seen God’s grace and not felt joy? Acts 11:21-23.

v8, Desiring to see the face of God is real, and should be understood by Christians. It certainly was a reality God had for faithful Jews to hope in, read Hosea 5:15 & Jeremiah 29:12-13. Christ wanted his personal disciples to believe that if they had seen him, they had seen the Father, John 14:9-11 & 20:29. The only disciples that saw the physical manifestation of the Father in Jesus, was Peter, James & John during Christ’s transfiguration. So why might any of us feel cheated or betrayed if we doubt the Father is in Christ, or that Christ’s Spirit in us is God’s Spirit? Romans 8:9. Perhaps because we have not seen a miracle? Shouldn’t our eye-witness of salvation and maturity through conversion and victory over temptation, be enough?

V9-12. Do we pray for the Lord to keep us safe from spiritual enemies? Do we believe we are involved in a spiritual battle? See Ephesians 6:11-12. If not, perhaps this is why you’ve been left feeling no courage for Christ? If we don’t have strength to overcome temptation, maybe it is because we don’t think we are in a spiritual battle to begin with? If true, there would be no sense in asking for strength to fight a battle you didn’t believe you were in.

v13-14, Have you seen the goodness of God here and now in the land of the living, or do you think that is only reserved for the future of eternity? Do you document his goodness? Do you share His goodness that you have seen with other people? This engenders the strength of the Lord. If courage is faltering in your life as a Christian, take faith in this promise, 1st Thes. 3:12-13. This strength grows, see 2nd Corinthians 4:8-16.

David the King, in his maturity, could look back on being a shepherd boy, and call His God, “My Shepherd” This is amazing, because in their culture, a shepherd was one of the lowest positions a person could employ! Yet, Jesus the miracle-working prophet, teacher and savior, who proved to us He is the LORD would call Himself our “good shepherd” (John 10). If a family needed a shepherd, it was always the youngest son, like David, who got this lowly assignment….Jehovah God has chosen to be our shepherd, David says. The great God of the universe has stooped to take just such care of you and me, and he proved he could stoop, and yet be exalted to glory by becoming the Lamb of God on a cross, only to be resurrected! Remember, there are no menial tasks as a Christian, only menial attitudes.

Many shepherds in 1st century Israel actually live with their flock and is everything to it: guide, physician and protector. A leading Guide for providing the best food, Jesus is the bread of life. A great Physician for treating wounds that heal from the inside out. The spiritual healer that Christ is, renews the inner person as our outer person grows older. He is also the Protector of our very life, saving our soul, sanctifying our spirit and promising a resurrected body to each and every Christian, 1st Corinthians 15:42-44.

However, sheep are by nature, wanderers, and although they are born into a flock, they are apt to leave it, being exposed to danger. If a person doesn’t recognize our innate faulty character leaving us open to the consequences of our own sin, then we will never be able to say “the Lord is MY shepherd”, on the contrary, it will always be, “the Lord is the good shepherd”. While being true, it lacks the personal conviction that can save the sheep.

Being a lamb under the care of the “Good Shepherd” means two things, A Decision and A Desire. “I shall not want” means, we believe that “All my needs are supplied by the LORD, my shepherd.” AND “I shall not want” means, “I decide to not desire more than what the LORD, my shepherd gives. Lambs are trusting and not greedy, but goats are. Philip Keller in his book, “A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23” writes that sheep do not lie down easily, unless four conditions are met. Because they are timid they will not lie down if they are afraid. Because they are social animals they will not lie down if there is friction among the sheep. If flies or parasites trouble them they will not lie down. Finally, if sheep are anxious about food or hungry they will not lie down. Rest comes only after the shepherd has dealt with fear, friction, flies, and famine. “He makes me lie down in green pastures”!

“He restores my soul” meaning, the rescue of a lost one. Picture the straying sheep brought back, as in Isaiah 49:5 or Psalm 60:1 & Hebrews 6:3. Repentance is something the Shepherd helps us with in granting or permitting us to change, see Romans 2:4 and 2nd Timothy 2:25. We can not repent all by our self.
“To Dwell in The House of the Lord forever”, is to be a child at home with our God; the whole world can be his house to a Christian; and when we ascend into the heavens we will not change our company, we will only go to dwell in the upper storey of the house of the Lord for ever. Because in a sense we are already in His House, that is, Christ, 1st Timothy 3:15.