Week Fifteen, Psalms 71-75

Day 71: Psalm 71

Author: Not known.

Time/Occasion: Not known.

Main Theme: An elderly person looking back on a life of trusting in God asks God to not forsake him in old age.

An interesting aspect of this psalm is that the composer was familiar with the Psalter and borrowed liberally from other psalms, drawing upon them to express his own thoughts and feelings.

V. 1-3. Based on 33:1-3.

V. 5-6. Paraphrase of 22:10ff.

V. 9. From 51:13.

V. 19. Compares to 36:5-6 and 57:10;

V. 19. From 35:10. Originally in the Song of the Redeemed, Exodus 15:11.

V. 22. The title, Holy One of Israel, is only used in this and two other psalms: 78:41 and 89:18.

V. 24. From 35:4, 26; 40:14.

Hymnal: # 37: O God, Forsake Me Not

# 38 For Even From My Youth, O God

# 144 All Must Be Well has related content, P. 201.

Personal Application: This poem of hope is personal and applies to all true worshippers in any age or circumstance. Some highlights are:

V. 5, 6, 17. “…from my youth”—a full life of service in God’s work.

V. 9, 18. The weakness of old age creates greater dependence on and closeness to God.

V. 4, 10-13, 24. We still need help fighting enemies (sins, faults, temptations, problems, spiritual enemies) in old age.

V. 14-16, 18, 24. Desire to continue growing in service to God, doing His work until the end of this life.

V. 20-21. Hope in God is ultimately hope in the resurrection.

Psalm 71 is an excellent example of the familiarity that comes with years of reading and studying the Word of God. When we put God’s thoughts into our minds, we begin a process. First the raw knowledge—the words by themselves become familiar. Understanding grows over time, and the precepts and principles of God become more and more a part of our thinking and reasoning process. This person of age/experience has put himself in this process through the years, and it comes through in his prayer: Thy thoughts are my thoughts. The law of cause and effect is in play. Here we have the result of a strong habit of Bible study over a life time. This is one major aspect of our existence that we have control over. The priority we place on studying God’s word (eating spiritual manna) through life is decided by each of us. As with the physical, so the spiritual: More nutrition produces more strength and growth.

Psalm 72 is the final psalm of a set of four (69-72), following three prayers for deliverance (see the introduction to Psalm 69). They match the first four in this section of the Psalter (42-45) and form the conclusion of the 31 psalms of Book 2.

Day 72: Psalm 72

Author: Probably David but possibly Solomon describing an ideal king. The superscription is either “of/about” or “by” Solomon, and the editorial note in V. 20 doesn’t require that David be the author of all in this collection.

Time/Occasion: Most likely a prayer of David for His son Solomon as he made preparation for installing Solomon as king (1 Kings 1:30).

Main Theme: This is a royal psalm (“the Great Kingdom Psalm”) and a prophecy of the glorious Kingdom of God. Solomon serves as a type, but a greater than Solomon is here. The essential attributes of the realm of Christ are declared: righteousness, equity, peace and prosperity for all; all other nations subservient and blessed; enduring forever.

Hymnal: # 92 Christ Shall Have Dominion

Personal Application:

Since this is a prophecy, and David—not Solomon—was a prophet, David seems the most probable author.

This points to the important fact that much knowledge is beyond us until a future time, but all the vital knowledge that we need for salvation is available to us (Cp. Daniel 12:12:8-9; Philippians 3:15).

This prayer of blessing is about the Kingdom of God but is specifically about the perfect King who is the Messiah. From the inception of the nation of Israel, justice was demanded by God of the rulers as the foundation of a nation’s happiness, stability, survival, and ultimate success. Equity and fairness is the spirit underlying the constitution (Exodus 20-23), and the same strong theme runs through the rest of the Law, the Writings and the Prophets. Solomon asked for wisdom to make right judgments (1 Kings 3:9-12) and summarized this great principle in Proverbs 16:12: “…a throne is established by righteousness.” This prayer/prophecy answers to the well-known prophecy in Isaiah 11:1-10 of the righteousness, equity, peace and productivity of the Kingdom under Christ’s rule. That’s where it becomes personal for each of us. We must come to possess these qualities of godly character in order to be a part of the Kingdom. Anytime, but especially when we are in positions of influence or authority over others, we MUST be concerned with equity and impartiality.

Day 73: Psalm 73

Author: Asaph (superscription), David’s chief choir director of the temple. Eleven psalms were contributed by him or a descendant.

Time/Occasion: Not known. This is the first of the 17 psalms of Book 3 (73-89). It serves as an introduction by setting the theme of faith tested and reaffirmed, which follows in this smaller collection. In subject matter it is akin to Ps. 49, 94, and especially 37.

Main Theme: Asaph takes up one of the most upsetting trials in the life of a believer: envy and jealousy. He presents the subject as a word of advice from his own experience. The key to not having your faith overthrown is understanding the end result of the two ways of life—cause and effect (V. 17ff). The ungodly who increase in riches in this world are corrupt and proud and ignore God and, therefore, are foolish (V. 2) because, in the end, they lose. Whereas, in the end, we win!

Hymnal: # 180 God Be With You has related content, P. 201.

Personal Application:

V. 2-3. Envy is spiritually destructive and can overthrow a person’s faith. Getting our minds off of God and on to other people is a faith-destroying activity and an effective tool of the dark spirit world. It drives us toward the conclusion in V. 13: It’s not worth the trouble to serve God. The origin, the mind of the devil, becomes obvious. Allowing these thoughts is such a great danger that it has the potential to cause the loss of salvation—everything! It’s natural to think this way, but absolutely poison. Despite their present wealth, power, status, and ease, a believer with insight into their destination compared with his own destination wouldn’t choose to be in their shoes for love or money. In the end our life is with God, our success and happiness is found in doing His work.

When fighting envy and jealousy (forms of hatred), RUN to the sanctuary (V. 17) and ask God for insight, wisdom, perspective! Get your eyes back on God and His blessings. Verse 28 is a great understatement! It is extremely good to be close to God and involved in His work! It is a great privilege and high calling!

Our success in life and eternal existence lies with our closeness to God.

Day 74: Psalm 74

Author: Asaph (superscription)—or one of his descendants.

Time/Occasion: Not known. It was a time of ransacking and desecration of the temple, which happened more than once. Verse 7 is rendered “burned thy sanctuary to the ground” by several translations.

Main Theme: A traumatized nation’s agony and confusion over the shattering national disaster. Jerusalem is in ruins. Foreign soldiers have desecrated the temple and now it’s on fire. Why has God cast us off? Reminding God that His enemies are our enemies and beseeching God to remember when He redeemed us (Exodus 15) and to intervene now on our behalf.

Hymnal: N/A

Personal Application:

This is a very general end-time prophecy as well as history. The destruction of the physical temple or altar of sacrifice is prophesied by Daniel. Scholars say that this description has never been completely fulfilled, concluding that it finally will be at the end of the age. Verse 2 clearly refers to the Church in type: “thy congregation; thine inheritance, which thou hast redeemed; this Mt. Zion where thou hast dwelt.” This expresses the natural reactions of those under persecution lamenting the losses they have suffered. The lesson is that we should stay close to God at all times so that we avoid many troubles, but when the inevitable fiery trial comes in life, we need to turn to God quickly and wholeheartedly.

Day 75: Psalm 75

Author: Asaph (superscription)—or one of his descendants.

Time/Occasion: Not known. This is similar to Ps. 46-48, and may be from the same time. The mood changes dramatically from the previous psalm to joyous celebration.

Main Theme: A prophetic song of joy as the millennium begins with God near His people and knowing that God has chosen the perfect time to intervene (V. 1).

V. 2. Better translated, “At the time I have planned, I will bring justice to the wicked.”

V. 3. Time setting is the second advent. Paraphrased, “When the earth quakes and the people live in turmoil, I am the One who brings stability.”

V. 4-5. Relates back to Psalm 2.

V. 6-7. Reference to the reward of the Firstfruits.

Hymnal: N/A

Personal Application: This is another prayer of the Firstfruits at the very end of this age—or the very beginning of the new world. It gives hope and faith. V. 6-7 are good advice anytime. We shouldn’t strive to get status and other rewards before God gives them to us. It can only bring trouble and won’t be worth it. God’s way works as we allow it to in our lives.