DBG - June 27 - Psalms 58-64

This psalm is the second Altashith, or “Destroy Not” psalm.  It was written by David as Michtam, or “golden psalm”, and given for use in the Temple.  The theme is judgment against the wicked.

vs. 1-2 – The wicked are numerous and fail to properly dispense justice.

vs. 3 – Man is depraved from birth.  Without divine intervention he is destined to be wicked.

vs. 4-5 – The wicked are dangerous and untamed.  They are compared to a snake that cannot be charmed by movement and sound.  This shows they are unable of being convinced to stop their evil ways.

vs. 6 – I have to admit that of all the imprecatory statements in psalms, breaking the enemy’s teeth is my favorite.  It is a graphic description that calls for God to “de-fang” them and remove their ability to do harm.

vs. 7-9 – The empty destiny of the wicked.

vs. 10-11 – The blessing of the righteous and the destruction of the wicked are two sides of the same coin.  You cannot have one without the other. 

This psalm is another Altashith (“Destroy Not”) and Michtam (“golden”) psalm.  It was written by David when he was hunted by Saul in I Samuel 19:11.  David gave this composition to the chief musician for use in the Temple.  It is David’s prayer for deliverance from his enemies.

vs. 1-5 – David calls for deliverance from the wicked men that wait to ambush him.  He pleads his righteousness and calls on God to intervene in sending judgment against the wicked.

vs. 6-13 – The guilt of the wicked is displayed and God is called in vs. 13 that God reveal Himself to them in judgment.

vs. 14-17 – David contrasts his future blessedness against the future humiliation of his enemies.

This psalm was written by David and presented for use in the Temple as performed “upon Shushaneduth”, which literally means “the lily of testimony”.  Charles Spurgeon notes: “The forty-fifth [psalm] was on the lilies, and represented the kingly warrior in his beauty going forth to war; here we see him dividing the spoil and bearing testimony to the glory of God.”  This psalm was composed during his campaign against Edom in II Samuel 8:13-14 and I Chronicles 18:12-13.  The specific occasion seems to be the six-month occupation by Joab in I Kings 11:15-16. 

vs. 1-5 – A prayer for deliverance from a scattered and disheartened people.

vs. 6-8 – God’s sovereignty over the nations is declared.

vs. 9-12 – A prayer for Divine aid when no earthly aid can be found.

This psalm was written by David and presented for use in the Temple accompanied by stringed instruments.

vs. 1-3 – A very personal cry for aid.  David pictures himself as far removed from God’s presence and desires refuge in it.

vs. 4-5 – David’s hope rests in the God who will deliver him.

vs. 6-8 – The delivered king  dedicates himself to the service and praise of the Lord.

This psalm was written by David and presented to Jeduthun (I Chronicles 9:16) for use in the Temple. 

vs. 1-2 – David’s faith is shown in waiting for God to deliver him.  Often, we rush into situations and try to solve them by our own strength.  God can handle these far better than we can if we would only have the faith and patience to wait on Him to move.

vs. 3-4 – The wicked are like an unstable wall or fence in that they are ready to fall with the slightest of pressure.  To God it is not a hard task to defeat them.  In their arrogance they refuse to confess their weak state and continue to plot against God.

vs. 5-6 – David reminds himself to continue trusting and waiting on God.

vs. 7-8 – A call for others to find the same trust in God as David was modeling.

vs. 9-10 – The vanity of the machinations of the wicked.

vs. 11-12 – Only in God is found true strength and power.  The righteous need not fear it as He is also the one that shows mercy to them.

This psalm was written by David while he was on the run from Saul, maybe around the time of I Samuel 23.  It is a song of deliverance from the wicked.

vs. 1-2 – In all the danger that David was in, his chief desire was to see the glory of God again.  Most of us would place survival above worship, but not David.

vs. 3-5 – God is the one who satisfies and upholds the righteous.  He does not do this through the bare minimum or provisions.  He pours the blessings of His grace out abundantly. 

vs. 6-8 – David remembers the goodness of God, and it gives him courage in the darkest of nights.

vs. 9-11 – The wicked would fall and David would stand blessed among the righteous.

This psalm was written by David and given to the chief musician of the Temple for use in the worship there.  It is a prayer for justice to be done against the wicked.

vs. 1 –  An opening prayer for deliverance from the enemies that threaten.

vs. 2 – A plea for safety and refuge from the machinations of the wicked.

vs. 3 – The wicked attack with their words.  These are often more dangerous than military arms.

vs. 4 – The wicked lay in wait to attack the righteous.

vs. 5 – The wicked gather and work their evil plots.

vs. 6 – The depths of human depravity are described. 

vs. 7 – The wicked may have had words like arrows that sting, but God sends His arrows to destroy them.

vs. 8 – Through judgment the true nature of the wicked is revealed to all.

vs. 9 – As people witness the downfall of the wicked, they are moved to fear God.

vs. 10 – The righteous trust in God and are blessed.  This statement contrasts the fate of the wicked previously described.

I find the Psalms to be extremely practical.  A common theme in many of these psalms we have been looking at is deliverance from the wicked.  Ultimately, Satan is our great enemy.  However, most of troubles come from people who do not know or fear God.  How do we deal with these?  These psalms tell us: take the situation to God and let Him handle it.  He does a far better job at handling these types of things than we ever will.

Our hymn today was written by William Hunter and appears in some hymnals under the simple title of “The Rock”.  It takes up David’s call from Psalm 61:2 and looks for refuge in life and death in “the Rock that is higher than I”.

In seasons of grief, to my God I'll repair,
When my heart is o'erwhelmed in sorrow and care;
From the ends of the earth unto thee will I cry,
Lead me to the Rock that is higher than I.

When Satan, the tempter, comes in like a flood,
To drive my poor soul from the fountain of good,
I'll pray to the Saviour who kindly did die,
Lead me to the Rock that is higher than I.

And when I have ended my pilgrimage here,
Clad in Jesus' pure righteousness let me appear,
In the swellings of Jordan to thee I'll reply,
And look to the Rock that is higher than I.

And when the last trumpet shall sound through the skies,
When the dead from the dust of the earth shall arise,
With bright millions I'll join, far above yonder sky,
To praise the dear Rock that is higher than I.