You are on the second Psalms 120-150 Study Page of  

  ReadBibleAlive.com

Study No.9 : Psa 128 : Blessing from Fear

A. Find Out:    

1. Who is blessed? v.1

2. What will they do and what will be theirs? v.2

3. What will their family be like? v.3

4. What blessing does the psalmist invoke? v.5

5. And what does he desire for us? v.6

 

B. Think:

1. What is the condition for blessing described here?

2. What are the specific blessings that will follow?

C. Comment:

Blessing follows the fear of the Lord, says the psalmist (v.1,4) This ‘fear' is awesome respect. It is acknowledging who the Lord is, and His greatness and it is worshipping Him for that greatness and it is living your life in the light of that. That is how Scripture packages this ‘fear'. Specifically here the person who fears the Lord will be one who walks in the ways of the Lord (v.1b).

When this happens, the psalmist is quite clear of the outcome: the Lord blesses this life. Blessing means decreeing good, and so when there is a right relationship with the Lord, the Lord decrees good for this person. This is a very practical thing with practical outworkings. This person will work and see benefit (v.2a) and indeed they will succeed and prosper (v.2b). That blessing will continue to his household, to his wife who will bear many children (b.3). The picture conveyed of this family is wholeness and completion, yet anticipating further growth and further blessing.

The final two verses invoke a blessing on us, the ‘us' being the Israelite community, the community of the people of God. It is that God will bless them from Zion (v.5), His ‘contact-point' on the earth, so that Jerusalem will prosper and they will share in that and have children and grandchildren (v.6). Again and again the sign of blessing is a large family, a family that grows and produces the next generation, and all this

blessing follows a right relationship with the Lord.   

 

D. Application:

1. Do we expect God to bless our family?

2. Do we maintain a right relationship with the Lord?

 

Study No.10 : Psa 129 : A Testimony through Overcoming

A. Find Out:

1. What has happened in the past? v.1,2a

2. But what? v.2b

3. Who had done what? v.3

4. Yet what has the Lord done? v.4

5. What does he want for their enemies? v.5-7

6. What does he want people to be able to say? v.8

 

B. Think:

1. What does the psalmist acknowledge about their past?

2. What does he want for their enemies?

3. What does he want for the nation?

C. Comment:

This is a psalm of acknowledgement of the past and desires for the present and future. First of all, when he looks back on the past, he acknowledges that Israel was been oppressed from the beginning (v.1,2a), yet the Lord had been there for them because the enemy had not got victory over them (v.2b). It was like the enemy attempted to plough them (v.3), turn them over and destroy their land, but the Lord acted on their behalf and set them free from their oppressors (v.4).

That was the past, and so now he gives a warning to those in the present who still hate Jerusalem (v.5). He likens them to grass that grows on rooftops (v.6) that has no depth and therefore withers. It's not even of any use to the harvesters (v.7) so it is discarded (implied). That's what you'll be like, is what he is saying to Jerusalem 's enemies.

Indeed, in the days to come, he wants all who pass by Jerusalem to come with a blessing (v.8) as they see and recognise that the Lord is there with Jerusalem . Recognise that this is a place blessed by God.

Overall he is saying, look at Israel 's history and see that, yes, enemies did come against this people but the Lord stood up for them. Learn from this and realise that your present-day hostility will only means that you resist the Lord – and you will be the loser!

 

D. Application:

1. God is on the side of His people. Feel secure.

2. When others come against us, they come against God. Foolish!

 

Study No.11 : Psa 130 : Waiting on God

A. Find Out:

1. What does the psalmist start by doing? v.1,2

2. Yet what does he recognise? v.3

3. But what brings a measure of reassurance? v.4

4. What attitude does he take on? v.5,6

5. Why does he say there is hope? v.7

6. What will the Lord do? v.8

 

B. Think:

1. What does the psalmist know about God that helps him?

2. What do you think he was waiting for?

3. What signs of urgency are there in him?

C. Comment:

This is a psalm of hope and expectation. It starts with a heart cry (v.1), a cry for mercy (v.2) for the Lord to come and be with them and act for them (v.8). It is a cry for the Lord to hear and to respond. As he cries out he realises that he comes before a holy God and therefore if the Lord held all his sins against him he could not possibly stand before the Lord (v.3). Yet he knew that the Lord was a forgiving God (v.4a) and so to approach him you must come in repentance and awesome respect for His holiness (v.4b).

His attitude was one of waiting for the Lord (v.5a). He has cried out and now he waits for the Lord's response. He trusts in the word of God (v.5b) and that gives him the hope (firm assurance) that God will come in answer to his pleas. He is more expectant in his watching than the night watchmen who wait for the dawn (v.6). He is as certain of the Lord's coming as they are of dawn coming.

So, he says to his people, hope in God (v.7a) because you can trust His unfailing love (v.7b), and be assured that He WILL redeem us (v.7c). It's all right, he says, He will come and redeem Israel from all their sins (v.8). He is utterly confident in God's love that the Lord will come and deliver this people from their sins and bring them into a good place with the Lord.

 

D. Application:

1. Are we as confident in God's love?

2. Are we confident that His forgiveness follows our repentance?

 

Study No.12 : Psa 131: A Psalm of Perspective

A. Find Out:

1. What did the psalmist say about his heart and his eyes? v.1a

2. What did he not give his time to? v.1b

3. But what had he done? v.2a

4. To whom does he compare himself? v.2b

5. So what does he call Israel to do? v.3

 

B. Think:

1. What does this psalm suggest about the distractions of life?

2. What does the psalmist see as the most important thing in life?

3. What does the illustration he gives convey?

C. Comment:

This very short and simple psalm conveys great truths. It comes first as a prayer as he speaks to the Lord. He denounces pride and has rejected it in his heart and in what he lets his eyes look for (v.1a). He will let neither his heart nor eyes dwell on things above him, things that ambition might make him stretch for, things that perhaps are just speculative, too wonderful to understand in reality (v.1b). Sometimes men reach out for intellectual prowess, to appear great. The psalmist will not let himself do that for he has something else in his heart – a yearning for the Lord. It is not spelled out but it is certainly implied by what then follows.

He observes that he has quietened his inner being (v.2a) for it will be here that he will know the Lord (implied), and then he gives this poignant picture of a mother with a child that has been weaned (v.2b). The fact that is has been weaned suggests it is at least several years old, but still it stays close to its mother. It has a clear identity of its own but it prefers to stay close to its mother, trusting her watchful protection. This is how he feels about the Lord. He has chosen to make the Lord the source of his concern in life and he will stay close to Him.

As a result of this he is able to counsel Israel , hope in God, trust in God (v.3) now and always. He has learned the value of doing this and therefore he wants others to do so as well.

 

D. Application:

1. Do we let the distractions of life draw us away from the Lord?

2. Have we learned that He alone is worthy of our attentions?

 

Study No.13 : Psa 132 : David & Jerusalem

A. Find Out:

1. What is this a psalm about? v.1

2. What had he determined? v.2-5

3. What is being spoken about in v.6-9?

4. What had the Lord promised? v.10-12

5. Where had the Lord chosen? v.13

6. What had He said about it? v.14-18

 

B. Think:

1. How is this psalm all about God?

2. How is it also all about David?

3. How would you summarise the two together? 

C. Comment: 

The psalm starts out with a prayer call to the Lord to remember David (v.1). David had played a crucial part in the life of Israel and of Jerusalem . While the Tabernacle rested many miles away, David swore that he would not rest until the dwelling place on earth of God (the ark) would find a permanent resting place (v.2-5). Whether it was the ark or a call from David to worship the Lord (v.6-9) is unclear, for there is a clear intent there for God to come to a resting place in Israel and the ark likewise, while worship is carried on by the appointed ones. 

The second prayer call is for the Lord to remember what He said about David (v.10 on implied). He had promised that one of David's descendants would always reign (v.11,12) and they look for that ongoing promise to be fulfilled. 

The focus swings to Jerusalem (where they probably are worshipping and using this psalm), which the Lord had chosen (v.13) to be the place where He would always reside (v.14), where He would bless His people (v.15) and cause there to be great joy (v.16). There would be the place where David's descendents would reign (v.17) and from there he would overcome his enemies (v.18a) and cause great glory to his throne (v.18b). David's dynasty plus Jerusalem = glory to God. Jesus was THE descendent to bring glory to God in Jerusalem!

 

D. Application:

1. God dwells with His people to bless them.

2. God reveals Himself to and through His people.

     

 

Study No.14 : Psa 133 : The Blessing of Unity

A. Find Out:

1. What is good and pleasant? v.1

2. What is it like? v.2a

3. What does that do? v.2b

4. What also is it like? v.3a

5. For what does the Lord do? v.3b

6. And what is that? v.3c

 

B. Think:

1. What is this psalm about?

2. What is the first picture that epitomises it?

3. What is the second picture?

C. Comment:

We've said that these psalms would have been possibly sung in celebrations or processions going up to the Temple . This one exalts unity within the family (v.1). Its absence isn't considered, just two positive illustrations to help us think about it.

The first illustration is of Aaron being anointed with oil (v.2). Don't have any picture of just a little oil being poured over him. When God anoints it is without limitation and thus the oil being poured would have been poured liberally, so that it ran over his head, down through his beard and onto the collar of his robes. Everything was covered, the whole of his head, face, and beard were covered; there was a seamless covering. Families are supposed to be united like this so that there are no individual ‘streams'. But the anointing oil created a beautiful fragrance and the unity of the family is to create a similar pleasurable experience. The oil sanctified Aaron and unity sanctifies a family to receive God's blessing. How many families miss this!

The second picture is of the plentiful dew that fell on Mount Hermon that made it so fruitful. Unity will make a family fruitful. It will receive the Lord's blessing (v.3b) for it is what He intends and so He imparts life to such a family so that it flourishes. May our families create a fragrance in the world and be fruitful.

 

D. Application:

1. Is your family united or split? Work for unity.

2. Family unity brings God's blessing. Work for it.

 

Study No.15 : Psa 134 : Instructions fo the Temple Servants

A. Find Out:

1. What does the psalmist instruct? v.1a

2. Who does he instruct? v.1b

3. What does he say to do? v.2

4. How does he consider the Lord? v.3a

5. What does he want the Lord to do? v.3b

 

B. Think:

1. Who is this expressly directed to?

2. What does it exhort them to do?

3. And what does it then desire?

C. Comment:

This is another of those short, simple and very much to the point psalms. Perhaps we might call it a psalm that seeks to overcome familiarity, for if you regularly served in the Temple in Jerusalem it might come ordinary and you might start taking for granted what you do. It is expressly a call to praise the Lord (v.1a) and for all of us, the longer we know the Lord the easier it is to take Him for granted so that we cease to praise Him for the wonder of who He is and what He has done and is doing.

The psalm is a call to those on the ‘night shift' (v.1b) in the Temple . Again, at the end of the day you might be tired and simply performing your ‘duties' and it is very easy to forget in whose presence you serve. So, come on, exert yourselves, lift up your hands to God as a physical expression of your worship (v.2). That's the first part of the psalm – a heavenward-direction activity on earth.

But then comes his desire that God would bless these servants (v.3b) but remember we are talking about the Lord who is the Creator of all things, the all-powerful One (v.3a). When the Lord ‘blesses' someone, it is the same as when He created the earth; He speaks and something happens. So, when He blesses you, He speaks words and good ensues. That's what a blessing is, a decree of goodness from heaven. We may take this for granted but we shouldn't. When God blesses it is a decree for good and good WILL follow.

 

D. Application:

1. Never take the Lord for granted. Praise Him.

2. Never take your service for Him for granted. Worship Him in it.

 

RECAP No.2  Psalms 105 & 106

SUMMARY :

In this second group of 7 studies we have seen :

 

	Psa	Content
9	128	Blessings through the fear of the Lord
10	129	A testimony through overcoming
11	130	Waiting on God
12	131	Maintaining a right perspective
13	132	David & Jerusalem
14	133	The Blessing of Unity
15	134	Instructing the Temple servants

   

COMMENT :

  Fear of the Lord, suffering opposition, waiting on God, maintaining humility, worshipping the Lord, and the goodness of family unity are personal relational issues with the Lord and these are wound up by a final call to the servants of God to praise Him.

   

LESSONS?

 

Study	Psa	Subject
9	128	Walk closely with God and expect blessing
10	129	God is on the side of His people. Feel secure.
11	130	Are we confident in God's love?
12	131	Don't let the distractions of life draw us away from the Lord
13	132	God dwells with His people to bless them.
14	133	Family unity brings God's blessing. Work for it.
15	134	Never take your service for Him for granted.

   

PRAY :

  Lord, I exalt you as my Lord and my God and I bow before you. Uphold me by your mighty right hand when the enemy comes against me. I put my trust and my hope in you alone, guide me in right worship, teach me how to be a blessing to those around me, especially my family and fill my heart with praise.