Tag Archives: Prayer

Everything that has breath, Praise the Lord!

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Well tonight we wrap up the book of Psalms. It’s been one of the most educational and informative books we’ve studied yet.

In it we…
• Identifying the Psalms various authors and time periods
• Got to know how the greater book of Psalms was compiled from all of the individual psalms
• We came to understand the 5 book divisions
• We learned more about Hebrew poetry

These final 5 chapters are the ending doxology to the entire book of Psalms.

As I said last week these are a type of doxology – a composition praising God. However, strictly speaking ‘Doxologies’ “should be” a composition praising the glory of God specifically.

The word Doxa is the Greek word for “glory” and God’s glory in particular.

Since it is from this Greek word that we get the English word ‘Doxology’, a true doxology would not simply express praise to God in general, but particularly capitalize on His transcendent glory. These last 5 Psalms largely stick to this more precise definition!

The word ‘Glory’ means dignity, honor, majesty, splendor & even wealth. Ultimately these points to one’s character and impressive, sometimes weighty presence.

All that having been said, these Psalms do not require much in the way of explanation or deeper teaching – they are what they are – simple praises to God’s grandeur and glory… so Enjoy!

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Awaken Lovingkindness

Awaken me with word of Your Lovingkindness

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Well tonight is a David night. All five psalms I am intending to cover were composed by him. They are also the last Psalms known to be composed by David in the greater book of Psalms.

Most of these are an appeal to God for deliverance from various enemies during David’s life. most noteably among them is Saul when David hid in the cave in Adullam which means refuge. It was a cogent lesson in that the very place we often run to for refuge, is what places us in mortal danger. It was there that David learned, in new and deeper way to make God alone his refuge.

Though all these psalms are excellent there are two more worthy of special mention.

One is 144 and 145.

144 presents us with what has to be one of the most unique considerations of God’s tenderness in all of scripture. David was once more facing danger on all sides and was crying out to God to “train his hands for war and his fingers for battle”. notihing new here, but what is unique is that David did this with his mind’s eye on the lovingkindess of God. Two subjects which at least on the surface seem distant from each other. Its another beautiful and palepable example of God’s tender involvement in all arenas of our lives and that nothing escapes His attention, mercy or the touch of His hand.

Then in Psalm 145 is the second acrostic poem in the book of Psalms. Unlike Psalm 119 which has each letter of the hebrew alphabet representing in sets of 8 verses from beginning to end, this Psalm commits a single verse to each letter in succession. That is except for the 14th letter of the Hebrew alphabet.

It is suggested by some that this was done to avoid putting a negative note of human failing in the midst of a psalm dedicated to God’s power and glory. So it appears David transposed the 15th letter with the 14th mentioning them both in a single verse. He did this so that the letter NUN could be mentioned as representing human tendancies to fall AFTER preculding that thought with God’s support for His Own in a word which begins with the 15th letter.

In any case, these like all psalms, are ultimately about the greatness of God and His mercy to all and His faithfulness to His Own.

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Psalm 139

A literal & relational exploration of Psalm 139

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This is one Psalm I have been eager to study in preparation to teach, but which somewhat disappointed me once I got into it.

On the surface it appears a very intimate psalm. It opens with words that seem very personal, even warming, but evidently they are words which are used more generically of what God does with every human being.

So while there is a romantic notion of beginning this psalm as if David were making very personal claims of the exchanges he has with God, it is evidently to be taken as generalized statements which he experiences as an individual but which are not unique to him nor are they the result of being in covenant with God. They are truths respecting God’s knowing of His creatures, rather than personal statements of a Father with His son or a God with His beloved servant.

In summary, this Psalm is a poetic way of saying Hebrews 4:12-13 & Matthew 10:29-30.

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Exalt word name

Exalt His name above His word?

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These Psalms include psalms of praise, psalms of thanksgiving for God’s mercy, a lament over captivity in Babylon but ending with faith filled assurance of their deliverance & finally a Psalm from David regarding God’s delieverance.

There are a couple of difficult sections in these psalms and one regards the title for this message.

The phrase “for You have exalted your Word above your Name” appeasr quite differently in various translations and we address that and the reasons why in this segment.

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Psalm Book V Ascents

The Songs of Ascents Pt. 4

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Well tonight we finish up the lat of the Songs of Ascents with chapters 132-134.

These three chapters are exceedingly small, but powerful in their brevity.

Psalm 132 seems to have been written following the Babylonian exile, with the psalmist standing, as it were, in the rubble of the temple destroyed by King Nebuchadnezzar 70 years prior. This psalm is an appeal to God to return the Ark of the Covenant to the temple and sites God’s promise and intervention on behalf of David when he had done the same many years prior.

Psalm 133 is a priestly psalm which makes use of imagery form the anointing of the priests into their office where they stood before God on behalf of Israel and stood before Israel on behalf of God. It ends with a prophetic statement which would be easy to miss. That the blessing God commanded over Zion which has its ultimate fulfillment in the church, is where God has commanded His abundant blessing of eternal life!

Finally in Psalm 134 which had a predictive meaning for Israel at the time, is another priestly psalm making mention of the services performed by the priests in the Tabernacle of Meeting. Ultimately it does this as an elaborated way of expressing the union and intimacy with God we now enjoy as priests unto our God under the New Covenant.

These wrap up the pilgrim songs – those sung by Israel as they ascended the hill leading up to Jerusalem and the temple on their 4 annual and required feasts.

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