DBG - July 13 - Psalms 140-145

This psalm is written by David and was given for use in the Temple.  It is a song of prayer and praise for deliverance.

vs. 1-3 – An opening cry for deliverance from the attacks of the wicked.

vs. 4-5 – A prayer for protection from the wicked and their machinations.

vs. 6-8 – A declaration of faith in God, who is the strength and shield for the righteous, and a prayer for His justice to meted out.

vs. 9-11 – An imprecatory section praying for judgment against the wicked.

vs. 12-13 – Confidence of future praise for God’s deliverance and blessing of the righteous.

This psalm was written by David.  It is a cry of desperation for deliverance.

vs. 1-2 – A call for the desperate prayer to be heard.  In vs. 2 the prayer is compared to the offering of incense with the evening offering in the Tabernacle/Temple.

vs. 3-4 – A prayer that God protect the embattled saint’s tongue, heart, and hands from evil.

vs. 5-6 – A prayer that God chastise David through the hands of the righteous, who will do so with the motivation of helping David instead of destroying him.  We see in vs. 6 the destruction of the false judges as David is delivered.

vs. 7-8 – A prayer for God to protect the saint from deadly threats as their trust is in Him.

vs. 9-10 – A prayer for God to protect from the wicked’s machinations and let them be consumed by their own devices.

This psalm is a Maschil (song of instruction) written by David when hiding in a cave.  Whether this is Adullam (I Samuel 22:1-2) or Engedi (I Samuel 24:1-3) is uncertain, but also immaterial as the situation would be of similar nature.  It is a desperate song of distress to God that ends with confidences in His deliverance.

vs. 1-2 – The prayer of a desperate person.

vs. 3-4 – No earthly hope or help to be found.

vs. 5-7 – A cry for deliverance to the Lord.

This psalm was written by David.  It is call for God to hear and deliver the psalmist from his enemies.

vs. 1-2 – A call for God to hear and respond to David through His grace and not in judgment.

vs. 3-4 – The desperation of David’s case.  The enemy overwhelmed him and he lost hope.

vs. 5-6 – In the desperate hour, David turns his attention to God.  He reaches to God for aid.

vs. 7-8 – A call for God to move on behalf of his troubled servant.

vs. 9 – The prayer for deliverance and refuge.

vs. 10-12 – Trust in God for deliverance.  More than that, it is a statement of consecration of the saint toward his saving Lord.

This psalm was written by David and has considerable parallels to Psalm 18 until the final three verses.  It is a prayer for deliverance and a promise of praise for it.

vs. 1-2 – An outpouring of praise opens this psalm.

vs. 3-4 – The nothingness of man compared to God.

vs. 5-8 – A call for God to powerfully deliver David from his enemies.

vs. 9-11 – A new song of praise is promised to God when David is delivered.

vs. 12-15 – After their deliverance. the blessings of God upon His people are highlighted.

This psalm was written by David and is a song of praise.

vs. 1 – Everlasting praise to God.

vs. 2-3 – The infinite God deserves infinite praise.

vs. 4-7 – Men share the praises of God with one another.

vs. 8-9 – The goodness of God, reusing Exodus 34:6-7.

vs. 10-13 – Men share the praises of God with one another.

vs. 14-20 – The goodness of God is further described.

vs. 21 - Everlasting praise to God.

In 144:9 we saw the words “new song”, which occur 9x in the Scriptures.  Many people look at this and think that for praise to be powerful it must be new.  That misses the point of why these “new songs” were composed.  In most cases, these “new songs” are composed and sung in reaction to the mighty works of God.  We see this in Psalm 40:1-3, 98:1, 144:9; Isaiah 42:10; and Revelation 5:9, 14:3.  Most of these are songs of praise and thanksgiving for God’s deliverance.  When God does something for us, He deserves the praise for it.  That praise should be fresh when it is served.

Our hymn today is “O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing”, written by Charles Wesley in 1739. 

O for a thousand Tongues to sing,
My great Redeemer's Praise;
The Glories of my God and King,
The Triumphs of his Grace!

My gracious Master and my God,
Assist me to proclaim,
To spread thro' all the Earth abroad,
The Honours of thy Name.

Jesus, the Name that charms our Fears,
That bids our Sorrows cease;
'Tis Musick in the Sinner's Ears,
'Tis Life, and Health, and Peace.

He breaks the Power of cancel'd Sin,
He sets the Pris'ners free;
His Blood can make the Foulest clean;
His Blood avail'd for me.

He speaks, and, list'ning to his Voice,
New Life the Dead receive;
The mournful broken Hearts rejoice,
The humble Poor believe.

Hear him, ye Deaf; his Praise ye Dumb,
Your loosen'd Tongues employ;
Ye Blind your Saviour's come,
And leap, ye Lame for Joy.

Look unto Him, ye Nations, own
Your God, ye fallen Race;
Look and be sav'd thro' Faith alone,
Be justified by Grace.