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Study No.25 : Psa 142 : Desperate Aloneness

A. Find Out:

1. What was David doing? v.1,2

2. What does the Lord know when David feels weak? v.3

3. What does he feel? v.4

4. How does he view the Lord? v.5

5. What does he ask the Lord, and why? v.6

6. What further does he ask with what consequence? v.7

 

B. Think:

1. What is happening to David at this time?

2. What has it left him feeling?

3. What, therefore, does he ask of the Lord?

C. Comment:

The title at the top speaks of David ‘in the cave'. Twice in his experiences he is reported to have been in caves, which may have been one and the same cave. First when he uses the Cave of Adullam as a refuge when men start coming to him (1 Sam 22:1) and then when he's on the run from Saul and hides in a cave with his men (1 Sam 24:3). Whichever situation it is he feels hunted (v.3c), pursued (v.6b) and in a prison (literally or figuratively v.7a) because of the circumstances, from which there appears no escape.

It was a desperate time of his life and he feels very weak (v.3a), he feels no one else cares or understands (v.4a) and he has nowhere to go (v.4b). It is in this frame that he cries out to the Lord for mercy (v.1), and pours out his situation before the Lord (v.2). He sees that the Lord alone is his refuge (v.5) and asks that the Lord will rescue him from his pursuers (v.6b). Lord, he argues, if you set me free from this situation them I will praise your name (v.7a) and then as righteous men see that you have delivered me, they will come to me (v.7b). I will be a rallying call to the righteous in this largely unrighteous land (implied.) This was a tough time of life for David when he learnt that in impossible situations, it was the Lord alone who could help him and the Lord alone would be a refuge for him – not a cave!

 

D. Application:

1. Have we learned to make the Lord our refuge?

2. Do we rely on our own efforts, or on Him?

   

    

Study No.26 : Psa 143 : Desperate Pleas

A. Find Out:

1. What three things does David ask? v.1,2

2. What is happening to him with what result? v.3,4

3. What does he remember and so do? v.5,6

4. What four things does he next ask? v.7,8

5. What two things does he next ask? v.9,10

6. What two pairs of things does he finally ask for? v.11,12

 

B. Think:

1. List the fifteen requests in this psalm.

2. Identify the things that say things about his state at the present.

3. List the things about God that David relies upon in asking.

C. Comment:

Almost every line of this psalm bears meditating upon, so all we can do here is set up the main points for further consideration. Consider first DAVID'S STATE. He is being pursed by an enemy (v.3,9a,12a) and he feels crushed (v.3a), in the darkness of despair (v.3), feeling like giving up (v.4,7a), in fact on the edge of death (v.7b).

Consider next DAVID'S SECURITY. David looks back and remembers the Lord's activities of old (v.5). He knows the Lord's unfailing love (v.8a,12a), he knows the Lord acts righteously (v.1b,11b) and that He is faithful (v.1b). He also knows that the Lord is always concerned for His own name (v.11a), that it is never misrepresented. It is these things that give David the courage to cry out to the Lord for help (v.1b) and for the Lord to show mercy to him (v.1a).

Consider next DAVID'S REQUESTS. His first request involves a recognition that no one is righteous before God and all need His mercy, it's the request not to be judged (v.2). It's a request to be heard (v.1a), to be listened to (v.1b), to be saved (v.1c) and that quickly (v.7a), not to appear to hide from him (v.7b), but to come and speak words of assurance quickly (v.8a), to show how him how to proceed (v.8c), rescuing him from his enemy (v.9a), teaching him His will (v.10a), so he can walk securely (v.10b), his life preserved (v.11a), brought out of trouble (v.11b), with his enemies silenced (v.12a) and even destroyed (v.12b). A lot of requests!

 

D. Application:

Ponder each of these things before the Lord.

   

      

Study No.27 : Psa 144 : Delivered & Blessed

A. Find Out:

1. List the ways David first describes the Lord. v.1,2

2. What does he wonder about man? v.3,4

3. What does he ask the Lord to do? v.5-8,11

4. What does he say he will do? v.9,10

5. What does he see as the outcome? v.12-14

6. How does he summarise such a people? v.15

 

B. Think:

1. How would you summarise David's knowledge of the Lord here?

2. Summarise his request of the Lord.

3. Summarise the outcome.

C. Comment:

The opening language speaks of David's security in the Lord – Rock, fortress, stronghold, deliverer, shield and refuge (v.1,2) Yet this isn't escapism for within these descriptions is the acknowledgement that the Lord delivers him by training him for battle (v.1) so that he can subdue peoples beneath him (v.2). This is also the language of triumph.

He wonders, along the way, why the Lord should bother with men, as frail and transient as they are (v.3,4) – yet He does! So he calls to the Lord to come down (v.5), send a storm to scatter his enemies (v.6), to deliver him from his enemies (v.7) who are a bunch of liars (v.8). Instantly he has a sense that the Lord will do this and, being the musician that he is, he intends to write a song of victory (v.9,10). He reiterates his plea for deliverance (v.11), not taking it for granted even though he is sure the Lord will bring it. So sure is he that the Lord will do it that he starts envisaging the outcome – the next generation will be blessed (v.12), prosperity and affluence will come (v.13,14a), because the enemy will not be able to get in (v.14b). No, they will be a blessed people (v.15).

This is a psalm of need (v.7,11), of assurance (v.1,2), of request (v.5-8), and of hope and anticipation (v.9,10,12-15) and all this comes out of his knowledge of the Lord.

 

D. Application:

1. Do we have an assurance that when we ask, the Lord responds?

2. Do we have the same sense of security that David had?

   

   

Study No.28 : Psa 145 : Praise God for all He does

A. Find Out:

1. What is the purpose of this psalm? v.1-3

2. What aspect of the Lord will they ponder? v.4-6

3. List the Lord's characteristics given here. v.7-9,13b,17

4. What else will they remember? v.11-13a

5. List the things the Lord does for us. v.14-20

 

B. Think:

1. Note again the characteristics of the Lord revealed here.

2. Note again the things the Lord does.

C. Comment:

All the remaining psalms are exhortations to praise the Lord. Praise is exalting the Lord, extolling His name (v.1,2). The primary cause given for praise is the Lord's greatness (v.3). Now we may consider that greatness in terms of His characteristics and His acts.

Let's consider first the CHARACTERISTICS of the Lord. He is good (v.7a,9a), righteous (v.7b,17a), compassionate (v.8a,9b), slow to anger (v.8b) and rich in love (v.8b,13d,17b). He is also faithful (13c). We need to think through each one of those.

Next, let's consider the ACTS of the Lord. They are acts from Israel 's history or of creation (implied v.4-6), they are expressions of His rule or kingdom (v.11-13). These seem to have a sense of great acts, but there are also the acts of the Lord that are personal. He picks us up when we fall or are bowed down (v.14) and He provides all we need (v.15,16). He is there for us when we call on Him (v.18) and meets all our desires (v.19), He watches over all of us who are His and who love Him (v.20a) and He judges and destroys those who are evil (v.20b). For all these reasons He is worthy of our praise (v.21).

We should note in passing that the acts of the Lord flow out of the characteristics of the Lord – He does what He does because of who He is. The opposite side of that coin is that when we look at His acts they reveal His nature. Never attribute something to the Lord that does not reveal these characteristics.

 

D. Application:

1. Do we know and experience the characteristics listed here?

2. Do we discern the Lord's acts in our lives and praise Him for them?

    

Study No.29 : Psa 146 : Praise God, not men

A. Find Out:    

1. What is the psalmist's intention? v.1,2

2. Who does he say not to trust and why? v.3,4

3. Who are we to trust? v.5,6

4. List the things the Lord does. v.7-9

5. Why is He able to do all this? v.10

 

B. Think:

1. Why is man not to be the foundation for our trust?

2. Why is God to be so?

3. Summarise the things God is shown to do here?

C. Comment:

The intention of the psalm is to praise the Lord (v.1). Indeed so sure is the psalmist of this that he declares he will do it all his life (v.2). He has learnt some fundamental things about life. The first is that you don't put your trust in human leaders (v.3a) because they can't save you (v.3b) and they are going to die just the same as you (v.4) and then all their plans come to nothing. No, the key to life is to trust in the Lord (v.5) because He is our Creator (v.6a) and He remains faithful (v.6b).

Then follows a list of things that the Lord does, which again are fuel for praise. He is on the side of those who are oppressed by others (v.7a) and He provides food for the hungry (v.7b) and He sets prisoners free (v.7c). Now each of these may have both a physical and spiritual meaning, so think further on these things. He gives sight to the blind (v.8a), He lifts up those bowed down (v.8b) and He loves and is there for the righteous (v.8c). He is there for the foreigner (v.9a) and looks after orphans and widows (v.9b) and works against the wicked (v.9c). Now we need to say again that there is so much in each of these descriptions that each one needs meditating upon.

The Lord does these things because He is a ruler and His reign goes on for ever (v.10) in the midst of His people, seeking to bless, and bring order and justice. For all this He is worthy of praise. When you praise Him use these things as fuel for your prayers and songs.

 

D. Application:

1. Do you praise and worship the Lord as Creator and Sustainer?

2. Have you experienced Him as the ways in this psalm?

   

     

Study No.30 : Psa 147 : God of Provision

A. Find Out:    

1. What does the psalmist say about praising the Lord? v.1,7

2. What has the Lord done for Israel ? v.2,3

3. What does the psalmist know about the Lord? v.4,5

4. Who does he care for? v.6

5. What does the Lord do? v.8,9,15-18

6. In what does He delight? v.10,11

7. What has He also done for Israel ? v.12-14, 19,20

 

B. Think:

1. What does the Lord generally provide for the earth?

2. What has the Lord specifically provided for Israel ?

C. Comment:

Again we have a further psalm calling for praise (v.1) and thanksgiving (v.7) for the Lord. Two specific aspects are shown that require praise and thanksgiving. The first is the Lord's GENERAL PROVISION. This is His provision of rain to make grass grow (v.8) to provide food for the animals and birds (v.9). He speaks His word (v.15) and snow and hail come (v.16,17), He speaks again and it goes (v.18).

The second aspect is His SPECIFIC PROVISION FOR ISRAEL. Now behind this provision is his awareness of the Lord's all seeing eye – He sees the all the stars (v.4) and knows everything (v.5) and He even sees the humble (v.6a) who others might miss (implied?) and provides for them while dealing with the wicked as well (v.6b). It's not in horses (v.10a) that he takes pleasure, but in man (v.10b), in those who are rightly related to Him (v.11). It is because of His awareness of man and His concern for His people that He has blessed Jerusalem with security (v.12-14), in terms of sure borders and ample provision. But more than that, it was to Jacob and the people of Israel that He has spoken through the years (v.19) so that there is no other nation in the world who has this knowledge (v.20). He has uniquely provided for Jerusalem and for Israel for they are His people who He sees and knows and loves. He deserves their praise and thanksgiving!

 

D. Application:

1. Are we aware of the Lord's provision for us?

2. Are we aware of the security we have in Him?

  

  

Study No.31 : Psa 148 : God of Creation

A. Find Out:    

1. From where is praise first to come? v.1,2

2. Where next? v.3,4

3. Why? v.5,6

4. Where next? v.7-10

5. Where next? v.11,12

6. Why is He worthy of praise? v.13

7. And what has He done? v.14

 

B. Think:

1. What are covered in verses 1 to 6?

2. What are covered in verses 7 to 12?

3. What two aspects are covered in the final call to praise?

C. Comment:

This psalm calls upon all Creation to praise the Lord. It is a call to the heavens (v.1) and to the earth (v.7).

In the call to the heavens it is first a call to literal heaven to all the angelic beings to praise God (v.2), but then it is a call to the sun, moon and stars (v.3), to outer space (v.4a highest heavens) and then near space that contains the clouds (v.4b). The call is for all of this to praise God because He created them (v.5) and established them for ever (v.6). Acknowledge your Creator is the basic call.

In the call to the earth it is first a call to the sea and then everything in it (v.7), then to all weather conditions (v.8), then to the earth itself and all that grows on it (v.9), then to all living creatures on it (v.10), and finally to mankind (v.11,12). In this way the psalmist covers all that he knows of creation, not in detail but in large sweeps.

He calls all these aspects of Creation to praise God because the Lord alone is above all of them and glorious in splendour (v.13). But He's not only the Lord who has created all these general aspects of Creation, He has also created the nation of Israel and made them His own people and given them a king of His choosing (v.14). For all these reasons the Lord is worthy of our praise.

 

D. Application:

1. Do you praise the Lord for the wonder of His Creation?

2. Do you praise Him for who He has made us to be?

  

   

Study No.32 : Psa 149 : Praise & Punishment

A. Find Out:    

1. What is to be sung? v.1

2. What are Israel and Jerusalem to do and how? v.2,3,5

3. Why? v.4

4. What two things are they to have? v.6

5. To achieve what? v.7-9?

 

B. Think:

1. Why are Israel to praise the Lord?

2. How are they to use praise?

C. Comment:

The sentiment of this psalm is somewhat unusual. Yes, it is a call to praise and yes, reasons are again given to praise the Lord, but in this case praise is linked with the Lord's judgement of the world!

The call is to praise God with a new song (v.1), one that is up to date with our fresh understanding of the will and works of God. Israel are to praise God as Creator (v.2a) for that He is, the One who has made all things and who is their provider. But they are also to praise Him as their king (v.2b), the One who has formed them into a nation and who now rules over them. Let the praise be whole hearted (v.3). Why? Because the Lord delights in His people (v.4) and their relationship is to be one of joy (v.5). That is the fairly traditional side of the psalm – recognising the Lord as provider and ruler in a joyful relationship.

But then the psalm turns to more serious things. It recognises the warlike history and experience of Israel , a people that have so often come under attack from the enemies of God. Now comes a call to battle, a call to arm with praise and with weaponry (v.6) to go out to triumph over those who have sought to bring them down, bringing vengeance and punishment (v.7), the judgement of God through them, bringing rulers into submission to God (v.8), to bring the decree of heaven into being on earth (v.9); this is their glorious task. For us today we are also called to bring people into submission using the sword of the Spirit, the word of God (Eph 6:17 )

 

D. Application:

1. Salvation is first of all about submission to God.

2. Salvation is then about a joyful relationship with the Lord.

  

        

Study No.33 : Psa 150 : Whole-hearted Praise

A. Find Out:    

1. What is the call to do what and where? v.1

2. What two things are we to praise Him for? v.2

3. What instruments are we to praise Him with? v.3-5

4. Who are to praise Him? v.6

 

B. Think:

1. What are the implications of WHERE God is to be praised?

2. What are the implications of WHY He is to be praised?

3. What are the implications of HOW He is to be praised?

C. Comment:

The three questions above, point to the threefold content of this short, concluding psalm. Observe first WHERE God is to be praised. First He is to be praised in His sanctuary (v.1b), which for the Jews at that time meant the Temple , the meeting place of God and man where He revealed Himself. i.e. acknowledge Him with praise at His point of contact with us. But next He is to be praised in the heavens (v.1c). As He Himself said, He is too big to be contained in a single building; He inhabits all of Creation.

Next we come to WHY He is to be praised. He is first to be praised for all His acts of power (v.2a), not defined in this short psalm but which would include His acts of Creation of the world and His acts of bringing Israel into being. These acts are clearly visible; we see the outworking of them. But we are also to praise Him as we realise His incredible greatness (v.2b) that surpasses anyone or anything else. There is no other like Him. It is also a greatness that expresses itself for our benefit. His love and goodness are expressed on our behalf.

Finally we come to HOW to praise Him. There are eight instruments listed here which suggests an all-out, utterly whole hearted, planned and organised expression of unrestrained praise. He is worthy of nothing less than this. How can we call so much of our restrained and polite singing, praise? It doesn't come from the heart. So often it is what we do by habit! It's a call for every single person to praise Him (v.6)

 

D. Application:

1. Do we constructively go about praising God?

2. Do we think how to and then praise Him unrestrainedly?

  

  

RECAP No.5  Psalms 142-150

SUMMARY :

In this third group of 9 studies we have seen :

	Psa	Content
25	142	Desperate aloneness
26	143	Desperate Pleas
27	144	Delivered & Blessed
28	145	Praise God for all He does
29	146	Praise God, not men
30	147	God of Provision
31	148	God of Creation
32	149	Praise & Punishment
33	150	Whole-Hearted Praise

COMMENT :

These are first psalms of David that reflect the trials and oppositions he had to cope with. Thus they speak much of the Lord being his rescuer. They conclude with five psalms of strong praise giving us much to think about in using as fuel to praise the Lord.

 

LESSONS?

	Psa	Subject
25	142	Have we learned to make the Lord our refuge?
26	143	We need to Ponder our security
27	144	Am I assured that when we ask, the Lord responds?
28	145	Do I discern the Lord's acts in my life and praise Him?
29	146	Do I praise and worship the Lord as Creator and Sustainer?
30	147	Am I aware of the Lord's provision for me?
31	148	Do I praise the Lord for the wonder of His Creation?
32	149	Salvation is first of all about submission to God.
33	150	Do we constructively go about praising God?

 

PRAY :

Thank you, Lord, that you are my security, and that you are there for me. Thank you that when I cry out to you, you answer. Thank you that there is no other like you. You are my all-powerful protector and my provider, and you are always there. Hallelujah!

 

SUMMARY

Reminder-Summary of the Theme of the Psalms

       

	Psa	Content
1	120	A cry for peace
2	121	The Lord, my Guard
3	122D	Peace for Jerusalem
4	123	Submission to the Lord
5	124D	Escape by God's help
6	125	Trust & Righteousness
7	126	Returning Testimony
8	127S	Wellbeing through trusting in the Lord
		Recap 1
9	128	Blessings through the fear of the Lord
10	129	A testimony through overcoming
11	130	Waiting on God
12	131D	Maintaining a right perspective
13	132	David & Jerusalem
14	133D	The Blessing of Unity
15	134	Instructing the Temple servants
		Recap 2
16	135:1-12	The Lord's Greatness
17	135:13-21	God versus Idols
18	136	God of gods
19	137	The Anguish of Captivity
20	138D	Confidence in God
21	139:1-12D	Total Security
22	139:13-24	Known from Conception
23	140D	Please protect me
24	141D	Praying against evil deeds
		Recap 3
25	142D	Desperate aloneness
26	143D	Desperate Pleas
27	144D	Delivered & Blessed
28	145D	Praise God for all He does
29	146	Praise God, not men
30	147	God of Provision
31	148	God of Creation
32	149	Praise & Punishment
33	150	Whole-Hearted Praise

    

CONCLUSION

Psalms of David

  

Twelve of these psalms are attributed to David. Four of them are part of the psalms of ascent – one of those was in praise of Jerusalem , one remembering the Lord on their side, one about humility and about trusting the Lord, and the fourth one about family unity. As such they are good general songs to be sung while ascending to the Temple .

Of the remaining eight, one is about the Lord's preserving power, one about the Lord who knows him through and through, five are about deliverance from enemies, and the last one an exultation of the Lord.

 

Songs of Ascent

Fifteen of these psalms are the ‘song of ascent' psalms used, it is believed, when they processed up to the Temple . These are about salvation, help from the Lord, praying for the peace of Jerusalem, calling for mercy, remembering the Lord's help, trusting in the Lord, return from exile, how it's important for the Lord to be their builder, fearing the Lord, suffering for His name's sake, waiting for salvation, humility before God, Jerusalem the chosen city, family unity and a call to the temple servants to praise the Lord, i.e. different expressions of the life of Israel with the Lord.

 

Songs of Praise

The last seven of the psalms are specifically songs about praise. Indeed three of the earlier ones are as well. We may take them for granted but they actually provide fuel for us in prayer to praise the Lord. They each give specific reasons for praising Him – and He IS worthy of our praise!

 

And So…

Yes, there are other psalms here not covered by these groupings and so we find within the psalms a tremendous variety and yet there are common characteristics that keep on coming up. They are essentially all about relationship with the Lord. They are all about the human condition. They are all, as the title we've given them indicates, ‘songs of the heart', heart expressions of the experience of the individual psalmists. If it was David, it was so often about the struggles of life. Others also wrote similarly, but there is always much to learn about the Lord in them and much fuel for our own prayers. Use them so.