Psalm 70 is a prayer for the Lord to make haste in delivering us from our enemies and to stop our enemies from laughing at us. You know, the ones who snicker at you because you keep the commandments of God.
Psalm 71
1In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion. Here we are with the trusting in God; the main theme in the Psalms. 22I will also praise thee with the psaltery, even thy truth, O my God: unto thee will I sing with the harp, O thou Holy One of Israel. Who was the Holy One of Israel? There was only one man who was actually Holy in Israel, and that was Jesus. But Jesus was not here yet in Psalm 71; that how important the Old Testament is because of all the detailed accounts we get on Jesus.
Psalm 71 is certainly a psalm you can read as a prayer, it is a wonderful prayer unto the Lord.
Psalm 72
David is asking for wisdom here to judge God's people righteously, and he even asked for his son to do so; and during David's kingdom and Solomon's they did. However, every generation after them did not do so; and with us our generation after us may not; but if we put the foundation in when they are young, they will come back to it.
7In his days shall the righteous flourish; and abundance of peace so long as the moon endureth.
8He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth.
When we keep reading further down in this chapter we clearly see that David is not referring to his son Solomon, but rather is speaking on Jesus. If you are a descendant of Jacob, you are Jacob's son no matter how many generations down. And Jesus came from the loins of David, Jacob, Abraham, and Adam (son of Man He use to call Himself), so He was David's son according to the flesh.
We can see in verse 8 that this David's son will have dominion from sea to sea and all the ends of the earth. This is speaking on Jesus during the thousand years of peace He will bring to the earth shortly. We are sure it is Jesus because verse 7 says in His days an abundance of peace as long as the moon endures.
11Yea, all kings shall fall down before him: all nations shall serve him. Not all nations served David and Solomon; they had respect for them but they did not serve them. 17His name shall endure for ever: his name shall be continued as long as the sun: and men shall be blessed in him: all nations shall call him blessed.
Again Solomon's name has endured as a great man in Israel; but not as a deity to be praised, and all nations are not calling Solomon blessed today. When Jesus returns and sets up His kingdom, all nations will come up and call Him blessed.
In Psalm chapter 73 David considers that God is truly good to Israel; but David got caught up in wondering why the wicked succeeded in life. It's like they have no troubles at all. 3For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
5They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men.
They do a lot of things and prosper in it; they give no consideration to the Most High for giving them their wealth and power, and they do evil continually. 11And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High?
12Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches. They become rich and do as they please.
13Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency.
14For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.
David, like many of us, saw this and you probably thought as I did that I am serving God in vain because you cleaned up your mind by keeping God's laws and His ways, yet all day long you are plagued and struggling every day. It can make you give up and go out and enjoy life.
A sister asked me once why do bad people have it so good? And she was ready to go bad and start sleeping around etc. Then I read these verses to her; I'm not sure if it stopped her; but I know she settled down that moment. 16When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me; When David thought about how he and his people served the Lord and struggled; and how other nations may not even know the Lord; he thought it to be too painful to deal with.
And when something is painful to you mentally or you don't understand something spiritually, you should simply go and pray to God for clarity on the situation so you do not do anything foolish that you will regret.
17Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end. This is what David did and he got his answer from God; that evil people are in slippery places so that they can fall into destruction in a single moment they will be covered with terrors. If you are a wealthy person who does it in mischievous and evil ways and you're reading this; it is a good time to clean up your act with God.
18Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction.
19How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.
David was upset that he had desired the ways of the wicked; but because of the last verse David was never moved to do evil. 28But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.
As long as you keep your faith and trust in the Lord God; you should not have any problems.
Psalm 74, we see that David is writing about the captivity of Israel, asking the Lord how long they will be in captivity. Israel does not have any signs, no prophets, because they were all taken out of there by Titus the Roman general who sacked Jerusalem in 70 AD (although this was written years before it).
So he ask the Lord to remember the cruelty of Israel's captors.
In Psalm 75, a prayerful and thanksgiving psalm, we are reminded that the Lord is in total control of everything. 7But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.
He takes down Saddam Hussein, and He sets up Barak Obama.
Psalm 76
God's name is known in Israel, and in Judah His name is great. Zion, we know is Jerusalem, is where His tabernacle will be and where He will dwell. God does not want to be in heaven, which there is much confusion over.12He shall cut off the spirit of princes: he is terrible to the kings of the earth. This is a powerful God we are serving to dealing with.
Psalm 77
This psalm is something that the author asks the Lord is He upset with Israel and the world because of the harsh treatment Israel has and how terrible the world is with wars and violence everywhere.
20Thou leddest thy people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron. This reminds us that God worked through Moses and Aaron when He brought the people of Israel out of Egypt.
Psalm 78
1Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth.David had no laws of his own for the people to give ear towards; so this person is God, even Jesus, and He is telling us to listen to Him and His Laws and the words of His mouth.
7That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments: Israel was suppose to teach the commandments to their children so that they keep the laws and commandments; as we are suppose to do today. We are suppose to teach our children so they also keep God's laws and commandments.
10They kept not the covenant of God, and refused to walk in his law; And we read through the kings and chronicles how wicked kings came in and corrupted the people so bad that God had to take them out of the land and scatter them as it was written in Deuteronomy 28.
This chapter goes on to tell the story of how Israel came out of Egypt and into the wilderness; becoming a stubborn, stiff neck, rebellious people all because they did not believe in God and His salvation. This chapter really shows you how bad Israel was.
67Moreover he refused the tabernacle of Joseph, and chose not the tribe of Ephraim:
68But chose the tribe of Judah, the mount Zion which he loved.
If you remember back in Genesis, Jacob had four wives, all because he was tricked and duped into marrying the older sister of the woman he wanted, Rachel. When he finally had kids by his actual wife he desired, the child was Joseph.
Naturally, the birthright blessing goes to the first born, which was Reuben; but because he defiled his dad's bed, it was taken from him and given to the first born of his second & desired wife, Rachel, and that was Joseph.
Moving on, when Jacob came to bless Joseph at his death, he took Joseph's sons as his own and blessed Ephraim with the birthright. But in verses 67-68, we see God changed this up and gave it to Judah (next in line of Leah's children). God is not playing favorites, but rather He is keeping order in how He does things and how things are to be done.
Psalm 79
The author writes, "O god, the heathen are come into thine inheritance; thy holy temple have they defiled; they have laid Jerusalem on heaps." This is speaking of Assyria, Babylon, and even Rome.2The dead bodies of thy servants have they given to be meat unto the fowls of the heaven, the flesh of thy saints unto the beasts of the earth. Look at the amount of killing that was done to the children of Israel. 3Their blood have they shed like water round about Jerusalem; and there was none to bury them. Blood on the ground like a body of water.
Psalm 80
1Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, thou that leadest Joseph like a flock; thou that dwellest between the cherubims, shine forth. This is important for understanding. If you remember in Genesis chapter 3 when God sent the man and the woman out of the garden, He also place around the tree of life cherubims with swords flaming that go in all directions to keep the way of the tree of life.So in verse one here, the Shepherd of Israel that leads them dwells between the cherubims. Who is the Shepherd of Israel? Jesus. That means Jesus is also the Tree of Life. This also means that Jesus was in the garden of Eden. Do you see how clear that is and how great the understanding of it feels?
Here are some other verses I want you to pay close attention towards and remember:
7Turn us again, O God of hosts, and cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved.
8Thou hast brought a vine out of Egypt: thou hast cast out the heathen, and planted it.
David wants God to help Israel then he lays some history on the table. God brought a vine out of Egypt and through out the nations and planted this vine where the nations were that he displaced.
The vine is Israel, the nations were the Canaanites and their people. God took care of this vine, giving Israel the best laws, statues, ordinances, and power over other nations. However, because they sinned against the Lord He had to remove His hedges or protection from them and from there every nation that wanted to trample through this vine could.
This vine or vineyard became desolate and destroyed. This is speaking of the house of Israel. We will read in the book of Isaiah to confirm this later on.
Psalm 81
10I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.
11But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me.
12So I gave them up unto their own hearts' lust: and they walked in their own counsels.
13Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways!
14I should soon have subdued their enemies, and turned my hand against their adversaries.
15The haters of the LORD should have submitted themselves unto him: but their time should have endured for ever.
If Israel would have listened to the Lord their enemies would have been subdued and Israel would have prospered greatly; but as we know, they did not.
Psalm 82
1God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods. This is a very important chapter in the bible, God stands in the arena of the mighty and judges the gods. Who are these gods?6I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.
7But ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes.
8Arise, O God, judge the earth: for thou shalt inherit all nations.
God said they are gods and all are children of the Most High, but for sinning against Him in the garden, they will die like men, and fall like one of the princes. And Jesus is the one who will inherit all nations and judge the earth.
So let's get some understanding in this: Who are dying every day? Men. So God originally called men gods because that is what we were to become. And the prince that fell is Satan and we will confirm this later readings.
Psalm 83
2For, lo, thine enemies make a tumult: and they that hate thee have lifted up the head.
3They have taken crafty counsel against thy people, and consulted against thy hidden ones.
Yes, people and nations have taken crafty counsel against God's people and even against HIS hidden ones. Who are His Hidden ones? The 10 tribes, even Judah because they are all hidden in different countries today.
They have said, "Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance." These nations don't want anyone to remember Israel as a nation, that's why you currently hear nothing but the "Jewish State" Israeli, Jews, Jewish, but seldom do you hear Israel or Israelite.
The reason is because "they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against" Israel. Let's get some names of countries that are in on this cover up that last even into today.
6The tabernacles of Edom, and the Ishmaelites; of Moab, and the Hagarenes;
7Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; the Philistines with the inhabitants of Tyre;
8Assur also is joined with them: they have holpen the children of Lot. Selah.
Edom, that was Jacob's own brother, so the Israelites twin brother's nation has plotted to have them removed. Wow!
Also the Ishmaelites of Moab (Lot's son, today a division of Arabs), Hagarenes (Arab's from Abraham and Hagar who produced Ishmael but called themselves after their mother Hagar), Ammon (Lot's other son from his own daughter), Amalek (a division of Edom), Philistines (Ham), Tyre, Assur (also of Ham) as they have helped the children of Lot.
Philistines and Tyre and Assur as Africans today who support heavily the Arab nations. All of these people have craftily consulted to have the Israelites removed out of their land and have taken possession the house of God for themselves.
18That men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the most high over all the earth. The prayer is to let them be ashamed of what they've done and are currently doing, so they seek the Lord and know that it is He whose name is Jehovah, is the God over all the earth.
Psalm 84
10For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.
A day with the Lord is better than a thousand in the earth. We also learn that a day with the Lord is like a thousand years here on earth. It moves fast!
Psalm 85
It sounds familiar because the captivity is bad and harsh that it must be asked daily; 5Wilt thou be angry with us for ever? wilt thou draw out thine anger to all generations?
How long will the Lord be angry with His people Israel? He will eventually revive them and bring them back to Himself, better than they were in the beginning.
In Psalm 86 it is a simple delightful prayer for help from God.
1Bow down thine ear, O LORD, hear me: for I am poor and needy.
2Preserve my soul; for I am holy: O thou my God, save thy servant that trusteth in thee.
Psalm 87
1His foundation is in the holy mountains. I'm attempting to understand here what it means when it says "this man was born there." We know the foundation of God's practices were in the holy mountains one of which He gave the children of Israel His laws.
Psalm 88 1O lord God of my salvation, I have cried day and night before thee:
2Let my prayer come before thee: incline thine ear unto my cry;3For my soul is full of troubles: and my life draweth nigh unto the grave.
You can see this is a prayer for strength and care. Sometimes we feel like we are going to die; but at that moment we have to reach out to our God and pray for strength.
Psalm 89
3I have made a covenant with my chosen, I have sworn unto David my servant,
We like to establish who is talking because it makes the sentence and the context of what is said to be easier to understand. We know this is the Lord speaking because He says He made a covenant with His chosen (Israel) and sworn to David.
11The heavens are thine, the earth also is thine: as for the world and the fulness thereof, thou hast founded them. The heaven and earth is the Lord, and as far as the world, He found them too. The world, He founded "them." The Lord has plenty of worlds out here perhaps. Star trek and Star Wars may be on to something.
18For the LORD is our defence; and the Holy One of Israel is our king. The Holy One of Israel is Jesus, and Jesus is King over Israel (or will be at His return).
27Also I will make him my firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth. From verse 20 on down it appears that we were reading about David, then it switched gears on us and if were just reading the bible, we would have missed it; but since we are reading with understanding we caught it.
David was the youngest of all his brothers, so how can God make him His firstborn? Also David was a high ranking king; but we don't have much to show He was higher than other kings.
Jesus however was firstborn in the flesh, and also, firstborn in the spirit. He was the firstborn to raise from the dead, and be born into the family of God. So it switched gears in speaking of David into speaking of Jesus.
David received a promise his seed will be taken cared of; but since they sinned; they have to suffer a while; and suffer they are.
This concludes our reading for today. We will reconvene tomorrow. Thank you and God bless you with understanding in Jesus name. Amen.
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Peace & Grace
