Week Sixteen, Psalms 76-80

Day 76: Psalm 76

Author: Asaph (superscription).

Time/Occasion: Not known. A companion and sequel to the previous psalm (Soncino) expressing joyful assurance that God is with us, His people, and has everything under control. In His time all will be resolved.

Main Theme: This is a prophecy of the government of God having been set up at Jerusalem to bring the millennial rule of Christ to the world.

V. 1-3 and 10-12 tell the message of the poem with V. 4-9 expanding the prophecy in V. 3 of the Day of the Lord.

V. 2. Salem, Peace, is Jeru-salem, City of Peace; also, He dwells in the Spirit of peace, which is His purpose and His gift to the world.

V. 4. Mountains are the nations of the world, less than a drop in a bucket to God (Isaiah 40:15). Christ is exalted above all -- everything -- as in Ephesians 1:22-23 and Colossians 1:15-19.

V. 9. Specifically, the Battle of Armageddon. The plan and work of God is concerned with all of mankind.

V. 11-12. Shades of Psalm 2.

Hymnal: 38 : His Name Is Great

Personal Application: Yet another prophecy of the literal Kingdom of God being set up on earth -- Once again the great theme of the Bible is prophesied with specific aspects highlighted. We pray (and sing) for this time. This message is "Thy Kingdom come!" expanded. The Kingdom starts with the Church in this age -- the "Israel of God" (Galatians 6:16), made up of spiritual Jews (Romans 2:29) -- those placed in the royal tribe by adoption as Jesus' brother. This shows how important keeping the basic law, the Ten Commandments (in this case the third), is to our part in building the Kingdom of God. Making God's name great in "Judah" (the Church) is one of the foundational pillars of the Kingdom, and we are called to make this happen in our own lives in preparation for the Kingdom.

V. 4. Our calling is based on keeping this attitude toward Jesus: total respect, love and devotion as our Savior, Friend, Shepherd, and Leader in every respect.

V. 9. God arose to judge the world. Judgment of the enemies of God and vindication of His servants will certainly come, though we must wait for His time (Hebrews 10:37).

V. 11. Our presents or gifts start with our prayers -- joyously accepting Christ's authority in our lives and wholeheartedly worshipping him -- always subjugating our will to His. Always remembering that it's not all about ourselves, but it is always all about God, His plan and His will!

From a sermon I gave in 2005, The Meekest Man [Moses] on the subject of meekness:

There is a prophecy that describes a group of people in the end times -- that will inherit all things because they do not strive for themselves. They desire to do God's plan, at the sacrifice of self.

Psalm 76 is a millennial prophecy about those who are willing to give up everything for the things that are most important. Verse 9: to save all the meek of the earth.

The meek are the Church! And the whole world is saved for their sakes! [Matthew 24:22.]

Meekness is the stuff of which the family of God is made! It is a necessary family trait that must be found in us.

Psalm 77 and 78 are Historical Reviews

Day 77: Psalm 77

Author: Asaph (superscription). Juduthun was the choir director. He is mentioned in 1 & 2 Chronicles and in the three superscriptions of Psalm 39, 62, and here in 77.

Time/Occasion: Not known. Possibly the Babylonian captivity. Resembles Habakkuk's (Ch. 3) prayer.

Main Theme: The prayer of a troubled saint. Has God forgotten? No, He has always been with me/us!

V. 1-9. Expresses anguished bewilderment at God's seeming inattention to repeated prayers.

V. 10-20. Turns to the comfort of all God's previous miracles to bring us to this point.

V. 9. Has God forgotten?

V. 13. Reference to Christ dwelling in the Church (Revelation 1:13).

V. 16-19. A poetic description of God's majesty being shown by taking Israel through the Red Sea, and the hint of a prophecy of the second Exodus (Jeremiah 16:15; Ezekiel 20:34).

Hymnal: N/A

Personal Application: There are times in everyone's life like this. Distress, doubt, so troubled, you can't sleep, etc. Asaph gives us the solution in two steps:

1).. V. 10-12. A decision to recall the many miracles God has done on our behalf, starting with His delivery and calling of Israel, which is a type of our individual and collective calling in the NT Church, and continuing to all of His work through history and in our own lives. We do control by deliberate decision what we think about.

2).. V. 13. God actively administers things in His Church -- in the lives of His people, the saints. Jesus Christ is the active "CEO" of the Church of God. The solution is always going to God, never away from Him.

V. 6. "I thought it through." The implication of this poem is that since God was actively leading us (His Church and Work) in previous times, He still is, so we can have complete trust, even in times when we don't see His guidance clearly and feel abandoned. Feelings are sometimes to be seriously heeded, and at other times, as in this case, feelings are to be overridden by the substance and evidence of faith (Hebrews 11:1).

Days 78 and 79: Psalm 78

Note: Psalm 78 contains 72 verses, so it will cover two days of reading.

Author: Asaph (superscription).

Time/Occasion: Not known, but seems to be after the Northern Kingdom of Israel fell. If so, this appears to be a warning to the Kingdom of Judah not to repeat the sins of Israel.

Main Theme: This is a review of the history of Israel as the rebellious house (family, wife, nation) who would never be faithful for long contrasted with God the ever faithful Husband, Savior, Provider, Guide, and giver of grace. Israel habitually been unfaithful and disobedient. God has always loved and cared for Israel.

V. 1-7. The purpose is to exhort Israel to remember God's covenant and diligently pass it on from generation to generation.

V. 11. Israel forgot.

V. 12ff. God's miraculous saving acts through the Exodus period and in the wilderness.

V. 34-37. Despite repeated temporary pseudo-repentance when they were punished, their hearts were not right.

V. 43-51. The 10 plagues in Egypt are remembered

V. 55 ff. God's displacement of the Canaanites and settling of Israel repaid by idolatry.

V. 60ff. The Ark of the Covenant was allowed to be stolen by the Philistines and further war.

V. 65ff. God still defends, protects, saves His covenant people. The last eight verses are prophetic of the New Covenant and second coming of Christ.

V. 68. He finally chooses the tribe of Judah and its capitol, Jerusalem at the prophesied "place... to put His name there" (Deuteronomy 12:5) and the Davidic dynasty as precursor to the first and second coming of the Messiah and establishment of the Kingdom of God on earth.

V. 71-72. Conclusion: Despite Israel's unfaithfulness, He was faithful in all aspects of the covenant.

Hymnal: # 124 : Our Thanks, O God, for Parents has related content, P. 201. V. 3 is similar to Ps. 44:1, which is the introductory stanza in hymnal song # 26.

Personal Application: Israel's historical allegory stands for the NT Church and the individual member. The spiritual lessons are the same. Where Israel failed, spiritual Israel will/must succeed (Galatians 6:16). We must have a right heart before God and always remember His covenant. All these things -- blessing, correction, provision, guidance, etc., also describe our experience. Despite our sins and shortcomings, He has still chosen us to be in His Kingdom!

Day 80: Psalm 79

Author: Asaph or a descendant (superscription).

Time/Occasion: Not known. A time of national disaster.

Main Theme: A prayer for forgiveness and a request for God's retribution on the enemies of God' people. The national situation types the end-time destruction of Jerusalem. This is a prophecy of repentance of modern Israel turning to God after the punishment of "Jacob's trouble" (Jeremiah 30:7). Linked thematically with Ps. 77, 78, and 80 by the shepherd/sheep metaphor. An appeal to God is an appeal to the Shepherd of Israel.

Hymnal: N/A

Personal Application: This is also the prayer of someone who has suffered great disaster and is still dealing with the effects, still under threat. We have mixed motives in almost everything. There are times when, in order to balance the need for mercy for one's self with the need for justice for evil doers, we remind God of what they have done to His work or His people. Enemies who attack God's Church or individuals in it are attacking the owner of "thy people and sheep of thy pasture" (V. 13). In other words our enemies are God's enemies and should be brought to justice that truth may triumph. We pray for goodness, fairness, and truth, no matter where it falls. "Tough love" sometimes is true love. Truth sometimes demands punishment of our enemies if they are the enemies of God.