Psalm 13

Psalm 13 – How Long?

It is a difficult psalm for interpretation. The first two verses begin with 4 questions. Or ONE question, repeated four times: HOW LONG? 

How long? Will you forget me forever?

How long will you hide your face? (Numbers 6:24-26)

How long must I take counsel in my soul (being self-taught) and have sorrow in my heart all the day? 

How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?

In a square shaped world (four corners), every corner of psalmist’s life is in distress. He feels that God forgot about him and hides His face. There is no other source of comfort but his own soul, but his heart (decision making organ) is in distress. Then the worst comes: his enemies exalt over him – they feel victorious!

We face these kinds of situations in our lives: when friends fail us, spouses are very sick, or there is a threat of losing a job with nowhere to go… All of these feelings resurface one after another…

But ultimately, this is what Jesus experienced on the Cross – My God, my God, why have You forsaken me? (Matthew 27:46). There is no inner source of comfort – for death is near (cp. v. 3b, sleep of death). And enemies were sure of their glorious victory.  

Reaction to “absence” of God – prayer

David wants to stay “in touch” with God: consider and answer… as a result of this communication – light up my eyes! Make my eyes shine – the second part of the Aaronic blessing (Numbers 6:24-26).

Then come three “lest”

Lest I sleep the sleep of death

Lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed over him,”

Lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken.

The ultimate collapse – death – is a threat to the psalmist. The way it is written tells that it is not the final and peaceful rest (that’s why Christians write Rest in Peace [RiP]). It is an expectation of distress, collapse, and separation from God.

This might look like enemies prevailed… That the psalmist is shaking – unstable… 

But in the midst of his troubles his confession is strong:

I trusted in Your steadfast love.

My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation. God is the One who restores – us on our paths, life to life eternal, even the Son of God was brought back to live, to ascension, to sit at the right hand of the Father. 

I will sing to the LORD – worthy to note that there is a shift from proclaiming in Revelation 4 to singing in Revelation 5, just as the Lamb comes to the Throne of God. 

Because He has dealt bountifully with me – when we talk to other people about God, His love and care for us we share our personal interaction with Him. How blesses us day after day, providing food, roof, clothing etc. And never leaving us, no forsaking – regardless of how we feel…  

PSALM 117

All nations praise the LORD.

Only two lines – but such a deep meaning. Allow me to walk you through.

v. 1a. Praise the LORD, all nations!

We have a glorious beginning – Hallelujah “Living ONE”! God is not called by His status; He is called by His name. Israel God is called by the name, but He is called by the Gentiles.

In the light of current political events, it is an important reminder that at the end ALL nations will recognize Jesus as Lord of the world. It will be done because the disciples will bring the Good News to all the nations – Matthew 28:18-20. Baptizing people and instructing them in faith. St. Paul uses this verse as a “proof-text” for the mission of Christ – Romans 15:11 (Let’s read!)   

v. 1b, Extol Him, all peoples!

Psalmist “doubles down” – he encourages all the peoples to extol Him. Exclaim with the loud voices, keep triumphant praise.

Together the unity of all nations and all peoples means everyone with distinction and without exception. The Book of Revelation puts it in four categories: nations, tribes, peoples, and languages. Together with believers from Israel they will worship the Lamb Who sits on the Throne (Rev. 7:1-10). 

What a glorious picture!!  

It is a long-awaited fulfilment of the prophecies:

2 Samuel 22:50 – glory to His name among Gentiles (a psalm sang by king David by the end of his life).

Isaiah 11:10 – the root of Jessy will give a hope to Gentiles. 

Isaiah 2:2-4 (note nations and peoples in v. 4) – do you know where the statue dedicated to this verse is located?

Also psalm 72:11,17 has the same ideas – kings of their nations fall before Him and serve Him (compare to Psalm 2:1-12). 

 

v. 2a, For great is His steadfast love toward us,

Great here has two meanings: (1) it is great in fullness (extended to all nations, see above); (2) it is great in intensity (covering all sins and faults), it is true on global and personal level: Romans 5:20-21 and 1 Timothy 1:12-14.

 Steadfast love – a word [hesed] which is very difficult for translation. We’ve talked about it last time (Psalm 118:1,29). It also can include mercy, grace etc. Most importantly, we need to pay attention “steadfast” aspect of “love” – along with other aspects of the meaning it should include “faithfulness.” God is faithful to His promises, covenants, and prophecies. We can rely on the fact of our forgiveness through Jesus, guidance by the Holy Spirit, and promise of heavenly haven prepared for us by the Son of God.  

 

v. 2b, And the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever.

Faithfulness is a good translation; we also see it in Lamentations 3:22-23. It is a background for the hymn “great is Thy faithfulness.”

At the same time, we can add something: this word is related to very famous Hebrew word that all of you know – guess which one?

Jesus uses double of the word 25 times in the Gospel of John (for example 3:3; 5:24; 13:20). Using these doubles signifies that the words of Jesus are “really true.”   

Conclusion: Praise the Lord (Alleluia!)

The term denotes being clear (pure) sound and color, therefore “to show off [in a good sense], shine, or boast”

Think of the words of St. Paul in 1 Corinthians 1:30-31 (see the background in Jeremiah 9:23-24).

He is worthy to be praised, to be boasted about! He redeemed us!

Soli Deo Gloria – Glory be to God Alone!

Psalm 36: Steadfast Love of God

Psalm 36: steadfast love of God

a. v. 1-4, Wicked

  b. v. 5-7, Steadfast love and righteousness

    c. v. 8, River (of God)

    c’. v.9, Fountain of life

  b’. v. 10, steadfast love and righteousness

a’. v.11-12, arrogance and evildoers

 

A. Look at a relatively long description of a wicked guy:

v. 1: [wickedness is] deep in his heart – weeds were not pulled at right time

No fear of God before his eyes. Eyes are “dangerous” in the Bible – see Genesis 3:6, everything begins with seeing the fruit. Also, the fear of God is a healthy respect and awe;

v. 2: He flatters himself – as a result he doesn’t even see where he misses;

v. 3: The words of his mouth are trouble and deceit;

No wise actions and no good conduct;

v. 4: He plots trouble – he plans ahead the evil things.    

B. Four elements of God’s involvements (vv. 5- 6): 

Steadfast love – heavens

Faithfulness – clouds

Righteousness – mountains

Judgements – great deep 

vv. 7. All the aspects of different elements of creation – examples of transcendence

At the same time, there are illustrations of His immanence:

Children of mankind – refuge in the shadow of your wings

C. v. 8, abundant feast in His house + river. See Revelation 21 – New Jerusalem as the Temple and the River flows through

C’. v. 9, the fountain of life – the source of light, in a desert environment “a well” which is dug is a source of life in a very literal sense. 

His light provides us with light – Psalm 119:105. So, the psalmist is not only alive but understand the direction of his way by the light of God, the light of Christ (John 8:12).

B’. v. 10-11, a plea that the steadfast love will protect from the temptation. The Temptations are going to come, and we ask that He keep us protected from the impact of the evil one (Matthew 6:13 – leads to Romans 12:21).

A’. v. 12, the ultimate fate of the evildoers is to fall, unable to rise (see Psalms 1:6 and 146:9).