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Psalms 101-106. While some have seen only history in this cluster of six Psalms, they have a deeper meaning. They form a prophetic series about Jesus Christ the righteous Savior and King in humiliation and glory: The King of Righteousness (101), The suffering Servant’s humiliation in rejection (102), the unmixed praise for all of His benefits (103), His creation and satisfying provision (104), praise for fulfilling His promises to Abraham in delivering Israel from Egypt—symbolic of delivering the Firstfruits from the world (105), and praise for remembering His covenant with His people in the wilderness—symbolic of guidance through this life in Satan’s world (106).

Day 103: Psalm 101

Author: David (superscription).

Time/Occasion: Not known, but fits the situation of David desiring to retrieve the Ark of the Covenant from the theft of the Philistines. It seems to be David’s coronation promise as to how he would rule and may have been used later by other kings in his dynasty.

V. 2. His question “When will you come to me?” is similar to 2 Samuel 6:9. How shall the ark of the Lord come to me? His ardent desire was to have God’s presence in his capitol, “the city of the Lord” (V. 8) as he began his reign in Jerusalem. David failed, however, to attain to this level of perfect rulership, so this is a prophecy for Christ’s righteous rule in the Millennium— similar to Isaiah 11:1-5, but written from the physical king’s perspective, as he strives to emulate Christ.

Main theme: The ideal, perfect Kingship of Jesus Christ.

V. 1-1a. The perfect righteousness, justice and mercy of Christ’s rulership is first praised.

The rest of the psalm gives characteristics of this righteous reign. This pledge of a new king at the beginning of his reign was an allegorical picture of Christ’s own promises to rule righteously.

Hymnal: N/A.

Personal application: Prefect righteous rulership was attempted by David, as we attempt to walk perfectly before God. But being human, David strayed from his purpose, made mistakes, sometimes huge, and sinned as we do. This Psalm does not describe David’s reign because he fell so far short, even though he was counted as righteous in that his sins were covered by the grace of God (Genesis 15:6). As in so many psalms, David is a type of all converted Christians in this age—the Firstfruits.

Psalm 15 describes the character of the citizens of the Kingdom of God in the present age as we prepare for leadership in the Kingdom. Psalm 101 describes the outgrowth of that character in action when the Kingdom is given to the saints (Daniel 7:27). Therefore, this short psalm gives us instruction for preparation for future leadership. We should pray about these aspects of our lives and compare ourselves, not with other people, but with these standards of Jesus Christ. How do we measure up?

Day 104: Psalm 102

Author: Not known or stated. Both personal distress (I, me, my) and national calamity (Zion, her stones, etc.) are part of the historical background. Some suggest a member of the Davidic royal house while in exile; others believe it must have been composed by David himself. The prophetic meaning is of Christ—generally of the Kingdom, but V. 1-11 and 23-24 show it is the prayer of an individual. The superscription is unique, giving only the life situation of the composer without musical notation or author. It’s the prayer of an afflicted man, when he is faint and pours out his heart before the Lord. This gives a major clue. One author put it this way: “And who else is the afflicted One, but Christ in His humiliation?”

Time/Occasion: Hebrews 1:10-12 ties this psalm to Jesus Christ. He, of course, is the author of Hebrews, too, through the Holy Spirit. V. 1-11 and 23-24 prophesy of Jesus’ agony in the Garden of Gethsemane, also recalled for us in Hebrews 5:7: Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared… Then V. 12ff describe His prayer as He turns to the joy that was set before Him (Hebrews 12:2).

Main theme: The composer describes the devastated state of Zion, then prophesies of a future restoration of the nation based on the fact that God is unchangeable in His nature. Therefore, He will ultimately fulfill His promises of blessings for His people, the physical nation and His spiritual family.

Hymnal: #60 He Shall Reign Forevermore.

Personal application: This is a prayer of the Firstfruits exiled and under duress in this world and a prophecy of the Church being vindicated and exalted in glory with Christ in His Kingdom. This “Psalm of Gethsemane,” as some call it, follows Jesus’ prayer on Passover night (John 17), and is followed by Psalm 16, 22, which prophesy His thoughts on the cross.

Because of our human tendency to slack off and avoid the hard things, we are exhorted not to give up, become weary, or faint during our Christian life, which must include trial and adversity to strengthen and purify our character (Hebrews 2:10). We should use this prayer as our own to worship God and to make His thoughts our own, seeking comfort from Him as Jesus did, not seeking escape as the world does.

Day 105: Psalm 103

Author: “Of David” is a unique superscription, which doesn’t require David’s authorship. Thought to be written by David in old his age as a memoire, or possibly merely about him at a later date.

Time/Occasion: Not known. This is one of the best-loved Psalms and one of the most joyful compositions of the whole collection. It could fit in any number of times of rejoicing in Israel’s history or various psalmists’ lives.

Main theme: A call to praise God for all His gracious love and kindnesses, both personal and to all His children, and for His satisfying provision, full redemption, His fatherly care of the whole family, and His established kingdom. Once again, the focus and subject is Christ the King.

V. 1-5 and 10-14 are all notable and famously quoted. Many notable Christian hymns over centuries have been based on Psalm 103.

Hymnal: #61 O My Soul, Bless God the Father/ #62 We Give Thanks to Our Redeemer/ #63 Bless the Lord Eternal, O My Soul; #126 Men and Children Everywhere; #137 Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven; #138 Praise Ye the Lord, the Almighty.

Personal application: This is a prayer of unmixed praise for us to use as a base-line in our relationship with God—a good one to use when you need to “re-set.” Comforting and joyful, this psalm covers the basic character traits of God and the basic aspects of our relationship with Him and should be often-read and very familiar to us.

Day 106-7: Psalm 104

Author: Not Known, but since both 103 and 104 begin and end (are “framed”) with the phrase, Bless the Lord, O my soul, they are commonly believed to be a pair of poems written by the same composer. “If so, they represent two spheres in which God reveals Himself” (Soncino).

Time/Occasion: Not known. It is suitable for the Feast of Tabernacles in particular and related to Psalm 65, as both look forward to the new age of God’s rule.

Main theme: This hymn of praise is a grand overview of God’s glory, goodness, and joy manifest through His physical creation, satisfying provision for all He has created and His detailed care-taking of man and all of His creatures. Christ must have had this in mind when He said, “Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father” (Matthew 10:29).

There are direct references to Creation Week in Genesis: V. 2- Genesis 1:3, the first day; V. 3- Genesis 1:6, the second day; V. 5-8- Genesis 1:9, the third day; V. 19-23- Genesis 1:14, the fourth day (regulation of time on earth— Sabbath, Holy Days). As in so many historical events, teachings, doctrines, etc., the Book of Psalms increases our knowledge base and augments our understanding by giving us further explanations or observations and additional information.

V. 34. Man was at first happy in God’s idyllic creation in the Garden of Eden, but there was a problem…

V. 35. Man sinned and changed it all…

That’s the reason for all the prophetic psalms that look forward to the restitution of all things (Acts 3:19-21).

Here is an impressive list of elements of God’s greatness in this anthem:

God’s greatness enhanced by majestic splendor and honor— a “robe of” light (reference to the pillar of fire); supernatural travel capability (without physical limits); maintains control over the elements; His careful planning and construction of the inner workings of the earth; the flooding and draining of the earth; the hydrological cycle, including clouds, springs, streams, the sea; shelter (habitation) for the animal kingdom; the delicate balance in the eco-system, provision of food for man and beast, wine, oil and bread (above and beyond mere fuel—God created joy even in the foods he created); trees for the use of man; construction of the topography (hills) to provide refuge for different animals; sun and moon to tell the seasons (Holy Days); darkness of night and light of day for different forms of life; abundant provision of earth’s resources; the vast variety of life forms, the sea as a separate environment for other life forms and to serve man in his travels; all life dependent upon God’s ingenious and free provision; God’s renewal of the earth through His Spirit; all this producing devotion to Him and joy in His great creation.

Hymnal: #131 O Worship the King; #135 Great God Who Made the Universe; #136 Let All Things Now Living; #145 I Sing the Mighty Power of God.

Personal application: This psalm is excellent for a quiet meditation as you walk or drive, or sit in the dawn’s light or dusk. It’s very broad in scope and shows that everything you learn of the natural sciences yields a deeper understanding of God’s thinking. When we think about our surroundings—the creation in extreme detail—it should result in greater joy and appreciation of God the Father of all and Jesus the Creator, our Savior and Captain and our personal Friend. Meditation on God’s physical works builds faith and draws us closer to Him.