Psalm Reading Program

UCG-INSD Churches CMK January 1, 2012

Week Twelve, Psalms 56-60

Psalm 56-57 form a pair similar in structure and theme. Both express solid faith under great threat and stress.

Day 56: Psalm 56

Author: David (superscription).

Time/Occasion: When he had been seized and was held in Gath (1 Samuel 21:1-15. Between enemies in his own country (Saul) and enemies without (Philistines) he had no visible options, yet holds his confidence in God to save him. This is his prayer for deliverance. Psalm 34 is his prayer of thanks for escaping the king of Gath. Ps. 57 is his thanks after he made it to the cave.

Main theme: Knowing the he had many enemies, David affirms his trust: When I am afraid, I will trust in you.

V. 4 and 11. Self-discipline: He will not allow a spirit of fear.

V. 9. One of the great beliefs we MUST have (as in repent and believe).

V. 12-13 is the conclusion. We owe God the service of our lives because He has saved us.

Hymnal: N/A.

Personal application: To believe the gospel includes the conviction that God is for us (V. 9). V. 6 describes enemies lurking or hiding. This is one of many Psalms that describe how wicked spirits work to overthrow our faith. They can't fool us directly so have to use stealth and distraction. Many times the poison or trouble with an evil idea or attitude isn't recognized until it has started to hurt us. We MUST understand that we have persistent enemies to fight (1 Peter 5:8) and always trust God for help. Christ shows this will be such an important factor in our conversion that it is part of counting the cost of even being baptized and starting this life with Christ as our Head (Luke 14:31).

Day 57: Psalm 57

Author: David (superscription).

Time/Occasion: Shortly after Psalm 56 in the cave of Adullum.

Main theme: Compliments the previous Psalm. Even though I'm surrounded by spiritual lions who slander me (V. 4), my heart is steadfast and not destabilized (V. 7).

Hymnal: # 123. Wake, My Heart.

Personal application: These two Psalms give us a key to not being overthrown. David concludes Psalm 56 with our overall purpose for being created: so we can live to learn God's way of living. He concludes Psalm 57 by focusing on God's mercy and truth and exalting Him above all. It's our daily objective with our morning prayers to start the day by getting ourselves in true perspective with God. Then everything else in our lives can fall into its proper place, our hearts can be steadfast, and we can fulfill our purpose.

Day 58: Psalm 58

Author: David (superscription).

Time/Occasion:

Main theme: A condemnation of corrupt rulers, particularly judges, and wide spread corruption.

V. 1. Translated various ways, but the connotation is a demand that judges and other political leaders answer for their evil judgments.

V. 6. Young lions is a term used to describe the young and strong (or beautiful) who are headstrong and have not learned any humility or respect for God.

V. 11. There is a God that judges. Even though it looks pretty grim at times, the righteous are still rewarded in the end.

Hymnal: N/A.

Personal application: One of the greatest trials for those God calls is the apparent success of those who don't care about God, have no concern for truth and fairness, and disregard honesty and integrity yet still appear to prosper. It's vital to be able to see beyond the present and temporal to eternal values and truth. There are times when we need to remind ourselves at God's throne of our commitment to true values. In the end, those who don't put God first and fully embrace His Way will fare no better than a stillborn child (NLT, V. 8).

Day 59: Psalm 59

Author: David (superscription).

Time/Occasion: When King Saul sent agents to watch David's house and kill him (1 Samuel 19:11ff).

Main theme: Deliver me from immediate danger! He was experiencing the hatred of his enemies that all God's people do at times. This psalm continues the general theme of the previous two.

V. 11-15. Imprecations on enemies.

Hymnal: N/A.

Personal application: This and many other psalms can't be fully understood without the prophetic element. V. 5 is a paraphrase of Christ's example of prayer in Matthew 6:10, "Thy Kingdom come." Note additional end time references in V. 8 and 16. David's time of trouble stands for that of all the Firstfruits. Once again physical enemies are described in order to put in view our spiritual enemies who are ever vigilant (V. 3). We should pray for God to actively protect us and fight our real spiritual enemies.

Day 60: Psalm 60

Author: David (superscription). Another Michtam or Golden Psalm, used to teach, as Psalm 16, etc.

Time/Occasion: Not known for sure. It was a time of national humiliation. This was a song that was used to teach - taught possibly at first to the troops. An initial victory by the Edomites apparently caused a panic (V. 1-3). In response Joab was dispatched and turned the tables on them. If this is the correct setting for the psalm, 2 Samuel 8:13 adds some history. The superscription shows they were fighting multiple enemies in this war.

Main theme: Dismay caused by a calamity and the sobered response, which was to remember their weakness without God's help. Success comes from no one but God (V. 11-12).

V. 5-12 are almost identical to Psalm 108:6-13.

V. 8. These perpetual enemies of Israel have attacked and angered the God of Israel bringing punishment on themselves.

Hymnal: N/A.

Personal application: The obvious lesson is that we need to be reminded often that we exist and succeed by God's power, not our own. We can be thankful for our trials and difficulties because they draw us closer to God and make our relationships with Him more strong and robust. Also, the war that is Christian growth is hinted at in V. 9. Who will lead us into the strong city? Our individual strong city is within our own minds (2 Corinthians 10:3-5). Together as an army, the Church invades the domain of Satan with the spreading of the gospel in this world (Matthew 11:12; 16:18). We will be able to successfully prosecute both our personal internal war and the war of invading the gates of hell (spreading the gospel in this world) only by a power far beyond our own - that of our great Captain.

V. 6-12 is considered a prophecy for the end time of a) physical Israel and b) spiritual Israel.

Week Thirteen, Psalms 61-65

Psalms 61 through 64 are a series of four Davidic Psalms from different times linked by the theme of strong reliance on God in a time of great danger.

Day 61: Psalm 61

Author: David (superscription).

Time: Probably the time of Absalom's revolt. This is accepted by most scholars.

Main theme: Prayer of a distraught and overwhelmed leader (king). He desires security and more: to be in God's favor. Commentaries explain that the petition for the king in V. 6-8 goes beyond King David to King-Messiah and show the yearning of the godly in any age for Christ's advent to establish the Kingdom.

Hymnal: # 34. Give Ear Unto My Prayer, O God ; Both # 138. ,Praise Ye the Lord, the Almighty and # 180, God Be with You have related content (P. 201).

Personal application: This psalm is the prayer of the Church in the end time It's also called the prayer of a Philadelphian (Revelation 3:7-13) because of the attitude expressed. David desires security "too high for me," meaning beyond his ability to attain by his own efforts. What is the unattainable rock? The Rock - nothing less than God Himself. David realizes that it is God that has been his shelter and brought him through to this point. Notice the statements that apply to members of God's Church:

V. 1 doesn't require that David be a long distance from home. He was separated from the temple where God dwelt. It doesn't matter what location we worship in (John 4:20-24). What truly matters is maintaining a strong spiritual connection with God.

V. 3. You have personally been my shelter - protected me.

V. 4. I will remain in your Church (tabernacle) forever.

V. 5. My vows - baptism vows, which created our covenant relationship.

V. 5. The "heritage," means being in the Church, a member of God's Family.

V. 6-7. Confidence in God's promise of resurrection to eternal life.

V. 8. God requires works. Those in this covenant desire to serve God and do His work, including our daily spiritual vows (prayer, Bible study, service, etc.

This is a prayer from the heart of a converted person.

Day 62: Psalm 62

Author: David (superscription). Jeduthun was a Levite, a chief singer and instructor. He is mentioned several times in 1 & 2 Chronicles and Nehemiah. Three Psalms cite him in their inscriptions: 39, 62, and 77.

Time: From the Soncino Commentary: There are no specific details in the Psalm which point to a definite period, but the revolt of Absalom makes an appropriate setting.

Main theme: A statement of simple childlike trust (V. 1-2, 5, 8): Turning to God as our only completely safe haven from the raging storm. A direct reflection of the First Commandment.

V. 2 & 5. I will not be shaken (NLT, NIV, etc.) or dislodged.

V. 3. Enemies see David as a rickety fence about to collapse, not realizing that God is upholding him as in a fortress refuge.

V. 4. James uses this thought as an exhortation to ethical conduct in 3:8-12.

V. 11-12. Three things of God's character are affirmed: His power, His unfailing love (NLT), and His sense of fairness and justice. The outcome of life, therefore, in His hands only.

Hymnal: # 35 , God Is My Rock, My Salvation .

Personal application: We should connect this psalm with the First Commandment. Using it in or as our prayer helps us to articulate ardent worship of our only God. Regarding Commandment number one, this IS the spirit of the law!

As mortal men we can be displaced and upset by external circumstances, but we know we cannot be dislodged from the love of the Father or the Son (Romans 8:31-39; 2 Corinthians 4:8-9). The opinions of enemies - either people or spirits - are of no significance when they fail to see God's faithful promised protection that we live under. Our enemies will not understand the spirit of this law because they do not have the spirit to keep it.

V. 8 exhorts us to pour out our hearts in prayer. David's example is for our instruction. Describing our trouble and explaining why we need help and why we are asking God for it is the way to "activate" God's protection in times of special need because He responds to our earnest requests.

Day 63: Psalm 63

Author: David (superscription).

Time: This psalm is linked with the previous two and originated from the same period of crisis - the rebellion of Ahithophel and Absalom that drove him into the wilderness.

Main theme: Longing for the sanctuary by an exile. Reminiscent of Psalm 42.

Hymnal: N/A.

Personal application: This extends the theme of the previous two psalms. Beginning with an affirmation of keeping the first commandment with the enthusiasm of a whole heart, V. 1 references water as a symbol of God's Spirit of life. V. 2 acknowledges: I have "seen" God through His works as Job did (Ch. 42:5) and understands God Himself - His law, motives and Spirit. V. 3 affirms that to be right with God is the one greatest thing in life. Verse 4 prophetically states that we pray in Christ's name. Despite times when our physical needs are not taken care of, V. 5 happily declares that we are spiritually satisfied as if we were eating the finest cuts of meat. This results in 'out-loud' joyful thankfulness (a reference to hymn singing in Church services). The first thing that comes to mind when I wake up in the night is God (V. 6). God has been my help, protecting and providing for me all these years and for that reason, I cling (NASB) to Him and go wherever He goes (V. 7-8 and cp. Revelation 14:4, describing the Firstfruits). The overall summary is that the king (David, as a type of all Firstfruits who shall be kings) will rejoice in this converted life with God.

Day 64: Psalm 64

Author: David (superscription).

Time: Not known. This Psalm fits the last three in theme. Soncino Commentary: The language resembles that of earlier psalms which tell of Saul's persecution.

Main theme: The wicked slanderers and persecutors of the righteous will be punished by God in the end, but the righteous will inherit glory.

V. 7. Reversal of fortune.

V. 9. Mankind in general will learn from these terrible examples of self-destruction.

Hymnal: N/A.

Personal application: We need God's protection from those who would hurt us (especially spiritual enemies working through human dupes). V. 4 shows that these attacks are planned in advance, the attack sudden. As in many psalms, the tongue and bitter words are the main weapons. Slander and accusation (like all sin) come back around to bite the original source. The Bible warns the wicked AND God's people to not get involved with slander and accusation. It is so natural but carries huge negative consequences, not the least of which is that it poisons the mind of the attacker. God considers accusation violence.

V.10 is one of the many verses that tell us: In the end, WE WIN!

Psalms 65-68 are a set of millennial psalms. They contain many references to prophecies of the end times, the second coming, Christ as Savior and King, the Fall Holy Days, the Firstfruits, the OT and NT Churches and their commissions, millennial peace, and other major themes.

Day 65: Psalm 65

Author: David (superscription).

Time: Soncino Commentary: No known period in David's life can be quoted for its background.

Main theme: A harvest Hymn. A song of praise for harvest provides a basis for a joyful anthem to Jesus Christ as our Creator, Savior, Provider and Lord.

V. 2. Time setting is the Millennium.

V. 3. Addressed to Christ. Refers to the fulfillment of Atonement before the millennial rule of Christ begins.

V. 4. The called out ones in the Church, now glorified, part of God's family.

V. 9. The River of God that flows from His throne from the beginning of the Millennium, bringing healing to the whole earth (Ezekiel 47).

V. 11. Feast of Ingathering/Tabernacles theme: The crown is the bountiful harvest of the land, blessed by God.

V. 13. Result: a bountiful world singing for joy. Compare Amos 9:13!

Hymnal: N/A.

Personal application: This is a direct prophecy of the promised rewards given to the Firstfruits of the millennial world's rich blessings. The richness and abundance of the physical blessings are glorious but are nothing compared to the spiritual riches enjoyed by those called out ones in this age beginning with Christ's second coming. This picture of the world at peace beginning to produce goodness in unimaginable ways is one of the descriptions presented of the rewards of the Firstfruits. This is the first step! This and other Psalms like it are excellent for meditation during the Fall Holy Days.

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