Psalm 3

Category: Petition
Author: David
Situation: He was fleeing from his own son, Absalom (see 2 Samuel 15-17; Psalm 63)
Theme: Relentless trust in God during an impossible situation.
 

The statement/challenge: "There is no help for him in God."

     - an insult to the anointed king of Israel

     - an insult to God who anointed David king

     - parallel to Jesus -- Matt 27:43ff

You, Yahweh, are to me:

     - my shield/protection

     - my worth/weight/glory/value

     - my Savior

David sleeps through the night, unafraid of terrible odds.

Petition:

    "Rise up!" "Save!"

    Salvation belongs to the LORD

    Blessing on his people

David could have easily found his identity as a father and as the king of Israel very much threatened by this situation in which his own son was leading a rebellion against him and taking his kingdom from him.  Instead, he looked to God and found his identity in Him.  He confesses, "But You, LORD, are a shield around me, my glory, and the One who lifts up my head."  He could sleep in peace unafraid and content knowing that Yahweh was his God and Yahweh was ultimately King of Israel.

I pray that God would be my value today; that nothing would take the position of worth in my life that only belongs to Him.

Psalm 2

Category: Royal

Author: David (according to the early church) Acts 4:25

Purpose: The coronation of Israel's king(King)

1. Starts with the plot against Yahweh and His anointed one (Anointed One) cf. Acts 4:25

     "Let us tear off their chains and free ourselves from their restraints."

2. Yahweh ridicules their ignorance and speaks from His wrath:

     "I have consecrated My k(K)ing on Zion, My holy mountain."

3. David recounts Yahweh's decree:

     "You are my Son; today I have become Your Father..."

     Heb 2:5 - applies this to Jesus, the Son of God

     also 5:5 and Acts 4:25

     

     Yahweh exalts his Anointed One above all kings of the earth.

4. Promise to the Son

5. Admonition to the kings of the earth

     To align themselves under Yahweh's grace instead of His wrath.

Psalm 1

I've recently purposed to study through the Psalms in a rather slow manner--once a week--so that I can more deeply appreciate this rich resource which is the inspired Jewish hymnal.  Also, I have started studying Hebrew in seminary and hope to use what little Hebrew I am learning in my study.


The past week, I have been meditating on Psalm 1.  Here are a few comments:

Category: Wisdom Psalm (sounds much like the Proverbs)
Theme: True happiness
Function: To distinguish between the wise and foolish man; Also functions as the opening psalm.
Author: Anonymous/David assumed

The Psalmist begins by revealing the secret of true happiness: delight in the instruction of Yahweh and mind-renewal through His law.  The man who lives in such a way stands in stark contrast to the man who follows the advice of the wicked, takes the path of sinners, or joins a group of mockers.

John Trapp observes this of the premise of Psalm 1 - "The Psalmist saith more to the point about true happiness in this short Psalm than any one of the philosophers, or all of them put together; they did but beat the bush, God hath here put the bird into our hand."

This contrast between the man who renews his mind and the man who conforms to wickedness is further illustrated by the imagery of a tree that stands by flowing water and chaff that is blown away from the wheat by the hot desert wind.  While the life of the mind-renewed man is characterized by stability and prosperity, the life of the conformed man is marked by instability and ruin.

When one acquaints himself with Yahweh and ponders His Word allowing his mind to be renewed by what he sees, Yahweh acquaints Himself with him (vs. 6).

This is true happiness: Fellowship with the Creator.

Ephesians 4:23; Romans 12:2