DBG - June 29 - Psalms 69-72

This psalm is written by David and given for use in the Temple.  Like Psalm 45, it is to be performed “upon Shoshannim”, meaning “lilies”.  It is quoted from 5x in the New Testament. 

vs. 1-4 – The desperate situation of David.  He is drowning with no hope as God has not moved to his aid. 

vs. 5-7 – David confesses his own sins but prays that the faithful not be harmed by his shortcomings.

vs. 8-12 – David describes his rejection from his family and friends. 

vs. 13-15 – David prays for deliverance from his situation.  There are many callbacks to his words in the first verses of the psalm.

vs. 16-21 – David presses God to hear his pleas for help and to move on his behalf.

vs. 22-28 – David prays an imprecatory prayer against the wicked. 

vs. 29-33 – David offers his praises in return for deliverance.  He notes that these are more desirable to God than sacrifices and that they are a testimony to others of God’s goodness.

vs. 34-36 – A call for all the earth to praise the God that delivers His children.

This psalm is written by David and given for use in the Temple worship.  The purpose of its composition is to be a reminder of God’s deliverance.  It is a slight variation on the final verses of Psalm 40.

vs. 1 – A prayer for God to quickly move and deliver David from his distress.

vs. 2-3 – A prayer that his enemies be defeated and humiliated by God.

vs. 4 – The praise that follows deliverance.

vs. 5 – An echo of the plea for aid from vs. 1. 

This psalm has no title or superscription.  It is prayer for the wicked to be put to shame.

vs. 1-3 – A prayer for God to deliver the righteous and be their refuge.

vs. 4-6 – A testimony of David’s trust in God since his youth.

vs. 7-9 – A call for God not to forsake him in his old age.

vs. 10-11 – The enemy point to David’s state and say that God has abandoned him.

vs. 12-13 – A prayer for the enemy to be treated as David was in the opening verses of this psalm.

vs. 14-16 – The praises that will flow once he is delivered.

vs. 17-18 – A prayer that God does not forsake the one that has been faithful from his youth to old age.

vs. 19-21 – David sees victory even if he dies.  He has the hope of the resurrection.

vs. 22-24 – Praise because the enemy had the tables turned on them, as he prayed for in vs. 12-13.

This psalm is either for or by Solomon.  Those two do not have to mutually exclusive, but the contents seem to indicate it being written by David for his son.    It is a prayer that God bless the new king, but also prophetically points to the Messiah.

vs. 1-4 – David for prays for righteousness and judgment for his son.  These two go together as you cannot have true justice without righteousness.

vs. 5-7 – The scope of these verse looks beyond just Solomon.  It sees the peace and prosperity of Christ’s Millennial Kingdom.

vs. 8-11 – The global scope of the reign of the king.  Solomon may have been famous internationally in his day, but again this looks beyond him to the Messiah.

vs. 12-14 – The execution of righteous judgment in justice. 

vs. 15-17 – We glimpse the eternal reign of Christ and the bounty of His kingdom as David prays that Solomon’s kingdom be blessed.

vs. 18-20 – This psalm is not just a blessing pronounced on Solomon.  David sees beyond him and blesses God.  It is God who truly deserves the glory.  We see in vs. 20 that this is probably the last psalm composed by David.  This psalm closes the second book of psalms.

David’s believed in the promises of the covenant God made with him in II Samuel 7.  He was promised that his son would succeed him on the throne.  He also believed that his family would be the singular dynasty that would reign over Jerusalem forever.  He understood this meant that the promised Messiah would come through his family.  When Christ ministered on earth it was vitally important that He be of the lineage of David, which He was through both Mary (physically) and Joseph (legally).  Though the throne of David is empty today, Christ will reclaim it and establish His kingdom.

Our hymn today is “Jesus Shall Reign Where’er the Sun”, written by Isaac Watts in 1719.  Since we have seen references to Christ’s reign in the Millennial Kingdom, I think this wonderful song is appropriate.

Jesus shall reign where-e'er the Sun
Does his successive Journeys run;
His Kingdom stretch from Shore to Shore,
Till Moons shall wax and wane no more.

Behold the Islands, with their Kings,
And Europe her best Tribute brings;
From North to South the Princes meet,
To pay their Homage at his Feet.

There Persia, glorious to behold,
There India shines in Eastern Gold;
And barb'rous Nations at his Word
Submit, and bow, and own their Lord.

For him shall endless Pray'r be made,
And Praises throng to crown his Head;
His Name like sweet Perfume shall rise
With ev'ry Morning Sacrifice.

People and Realms of ev'ry Tongue
Dwell on his Love with sweetest Song,
And Infant-Voices shall proclaim
Their early Blessings on his Name.

Blessings abound where'er he reigns,
The Pris'ner leaps to loose his Chains;
The Weary find eternal Rest,
And all the Sons of Want are blest.

Where he displays his healing Pow'r,
Death and the Curse are known no more;
In him the Tribes of Adam boast
More Blessings than their Father lost.

Let ev'ry Creature rise and bring
Peculiar Honours to our King:
Angels descend with Songs again,
And Earth repeat the loud Amen.