Psalm 5 A Perspective on Life

Psalm 5

Give ear to my words O Lord, consider my meditation.  

Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my king and my God; for unto thee will I pray.  

My voice shalt thou hear in the morning O Lord, in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee and I will look up.  

For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness; neither shall evil dwell with thee.  

The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity.

Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing, the Lord will abhor the bloody and deceitful man.

But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple.

Lead me O Lord, in thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make thy way straight before my face.

For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is very wickedness; their throat is an open sepulchre; they flatter with their tongue.

Destroy thou them O God let them fall by their own counsels; cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions; for they have rebelled against thee.

But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice; let them ever shout for joy because thou defendest them., let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.

For thou O Lord wilt blessthe righteous with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield.

Psalm 5 A Perspective on Life – Alistair Begg Truth for Life

John Calvin said “I have been accustomed to call this book an anatomy of the soul for there is not an emotion of which anyone can be conscious that is not here represented as in a mirror.”

We have a morning psalm in Psalm 5.  It is rich in instruction and full in application.  We see here the fundamental problem of humankind which God answers. There are 5 sections.

Verses 1 – 3 an example of how to start the day.  Every one of us has a way in which to start the day.  How is it possible to make a good and proper start to the day? David gives very helpful and simple practical instruction in approaching God.  Begins it by taking God’s name first on his lips and approach him in prayer – he does it firstly directly.  “Give ear to my words. O Lord.”  He comes to him with no-one and nothing in between.  This is the privilege granted to us by God.  Paul in 1 Timothy 2 verse 5 says “there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”  Hebrews 4 “Since we have a great high priest .. let us hold firmly to the faith we approach and let us approach with confidence the throne of grace.”  Hebrews 10 verse 19 “let us then since we have confidence approach the throne of grace.”  The religious context in which you have been reared has not encouraged you to approach God directly in such a simple childlike manner, without the help of another to put you in his good graces in the beginning of the day.  We may approach God directly.  Secondly, we should approach God humbly – verse 2 he cries out for help “my king and my God”.  David is himself a king and he now bows before the one who is sovereign over all.  He gets himself in perspective.  One of the things we find difficult to do – to get ourselves in perspective.  Until we do that we will never come before God in humility.  We will always come with a measure of arrogance and find our prayers unheard.  He comes personally – “listen to my cry, you are my king, you are my God.”  What a wonder that God could be referred to in such personal terms.  As children wondering where they are in relation to their human fathers – they realise God has no favourites.  I can say to him “my king and my God” today.  We may say that in Christ.  My longing does not diminish your longing.  I am not a stranger to him, I am not an alien in his country.  This king of all kings delights in such personal attention.  He is prepared to embrace his children in a hug.  He hears the appeal of his own people.  Let us approach God consistently – verse 3 “morning by morning you hear my voice, morning by morning I lay my requests before you.”  Does God as he looks on those who come to him on a regular basis recognise if we miss a morning?  If we do not enter it in our daily calendars then we do not identify with the Psalmist.  We come to him expectantly.  “I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation, you hear my words, consider my sighs.”  These sighs show me that you know me well.  He shows us that he does.  When we cannot give expression to our prayers on some days, we can do little more than sigh.  God considers those sighs and he knows what it means.  Therefore the psalmist has an expectation of a response.  I wait in expectation, I eagerly watch is the word used in the Old Testament.  As the watchman waiting for the rising sun, he does not sleep.  He cries out to all when he sees the sunrise.  Are we sleeping on the watch?  What do we expect God to do when we come before him?  One of the missing links is in our prayer lives – do we come expectantly before God every day?  A lesson on how to begin the day with God – directly, humbly, personally, consistently and expectantly.  Here is a lesson in how to begin the day.

Second section verses 4 – 6 the psalmist declares the distance - between God who is holy and man who is sinful.  First we are told that God takes no pleasure in evil.  The distance lies in these 3 phrases – no pleasure, no place and no permanence.  God and sinners cannot dwell together.  “You are not a God who takes pleasure in evil therefore you cannot dwell with the wicked.”  Humanity comes before God and discovers God takes no pleasure in evil.  God is very different from us.  God unlike us cannot tolerate sin.  The wicked are finding they have no place in his presence.  Verse 5 “the arrogant cannot stand in your presence” – why you hate all who do wrong and you destroy those who delights in evil.  The wicked pray, and offer sacrifices but they are not accepted.  They must therefore look forward to retribution at the hands of a holy God.  It is very difficult to hear this sentiment.  That is different from our modern notions of divinity.  Modern notions say we do not deal with an individual God today. Neither on earth nor in heaven will evil share God’s house.  You cannot go through your life with the Lord in the family room and the devil in your attic.

Verses 7 and 8 the way of access to God and communion with him – 3 brief phrases we understand the opposite – your great mercy verse 7, your righteousness verse 8, your way verse 8.  If things are as we have said how could a mere man approach his temple and offer sacrifices before his throne?  “But I by thy great mercy will come into our house.”  How can anyone approach God? Why should anyone want to approach God?  Because God is merciful, rich in mercy his wrath is cancelled out by his mercy.  Psalm 40 “by your great mercy” – notice who is doing these things I waited patiently for the Lord, he turned to me and heard my cry, he lifted me out of the pit, set me on a rock, he gave me a firm place to stand, he gave me a new song.  Consequently many will see this and fear and put their trust in the Lord.  They will say “Look what happened to David wasn’t he a rascal like us?  How is he in this condition?”  The answer he would give – verse 7 “I by your great mercy can come into your presence on account of the fact that you have turned to me.”  His mercy which makes it possible.  How could Jesus cry out from the cross “My God My God why have you forsaken me?”  The reason he cried in that way is because of verses 4, 5 and 6 - God takes no pleasure in evil.  He abhors wickedness.  Jesus was sinless and became sin for us.  He bore our sin.  He was separated from God the Father because he cannot take any pleasure in evil.  On account of his mercy that he hung there so that men and women can be forgiven.  When God takes over there is in verse 7 a spirit of reverence.  In verse 8 he continues “lead me in your righteousness because my enemies they want to find out he was over and out.”  He longs to walk “in the paths of righteousness for his names sake” Psalm 23.  In righteousness God departs his means for man to stand on a sure foundation.  This is the light that shines on us in this psalm.  Your righteousness, your mercy because I am not worthy.  Man does not believe that by nature.  In Romans 3 Paul says “no-one will be declared righteous through the law because though the law we become conscious of sin. “But now a righteousness from God apart from the law has been made known. “To which the law and the prophets command or testify; this righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.”  We cannot tip the scales but God has tipped them on our behalf in Jesus.  The Psalmist grasped this – “in your mercy and in your righteousness that I may take my stand before the Lord and in your way I want to walk.”  This is the definition of the Christian.  “Make straight your way before me.”  I can go to heaven singing “I did it his way not my way.”

Verses 9 and 10 he returns to the wicked.  Not a pretty picture, not a word from their mouth can be trusted - a sinking hole, decay spews out of the mouths of the unrighteous.  Notice the place of the heart – their heart is full with destruction.  This is not a specific illustration of David’s enemies but the whole human race in the world.  In Inward wickedness is the parent of all visible sin (the heart).  To look at beautiful but God knew what was going on - out of the heart of man comes all that wickedness Jesus says.  The depravity of man is right here revealed – it is in a mouth that cannot be trusted and their heart is full of destruction and their throat is an open grave.  Why would they want a Saviour?  The great deceit.  We need to tell people – not praying for their destruction.  A prophetic element to these words – you keep going like this and you are a dead man.  Not out of a lack of love for people.  It is sin that is against man remember!

Verses 11 and 12 the blessings which attend the righteous. Who are these people?  They are those who take refuge in God, love his name and are righteous.  They take delight in his name. They experience his gladness, protection and blessing.  They have music in their hearts and homes and one day they will have music in heaven.

Psalm 4 Rest in Peace

 

Psalm 4

I am finding that as I study each Psalm some little gem or nugget to take away. In Psalm 4 we see these words in verse 1 "Hear me when I call O God" and again "hear my prayer." David was in deep distress and he begged God to hear him. How often have we not been in that situation? Then in verse 3 we read again "The Lord will hear when I call unto him." What an assurance.

David throughout this psalm is reassuring himself in God. The previous Psalm showed an attack by his son Absalom now this psalm shows that he was under attack mentally and verbally.

In my margin from a previous study on this psalm I have this breakdown.

Verse 1 the blessing of enlargement
Verses 2 and 3 the blessing of encouragement
Verses 4 and 5 the blessing of enablement
Verses 6 to 8 the blessing of enjoyment

This is a psalm to be sung - it was given to the chief musician in the temple.

There is a lovely verse in verse 3 "But know that the Lord hath set him apart him that is godly for himself: the Lord will hear when I call unto him." Is there something you are worrying about today- take it to God in prayer and know that he will hear and answer you.

Reading Psalm 4 and what a promise but the Bible tells us there are several possible reasons why prayer may not be answered.

·Not abiding in Jesus (John 15:7).

·Unbelief (Matthew 17:20-21).

·Failure to fast (Matthew 17:21).

·A bad marriage relationship (1 Peter 3:7).

·Unconfessed sin (James 5:16).

·Lying and deceitfulness (Psalm 17:1).

·Lack of Bible reading and Bible teaching (Proverbs 28:9).

·Trusting in the length or form of prayer (Matthew 6:7).

Throughout the Psalms in the bible we are given titles which explain the situation, the reason why David wrote his psalms. Or there might be instructions on how the psalm is to be handled. Psalm 4 falls into this category. It is inscribed to the Chief Musician as a lot of the psalms are. In the time these psalms were written the temple had special appointed singers like Heman or Asaph in 1 Chronicles chapter 6 and 16. It was their job to put these words to music and here it is for stringed instruments. Sometimes people believe that the Chief Musician is God himself. It is like David is writing this in response to God. He is giving back something of what God has given him. A recognition of what God has done and means in his life at this particular point in time.

It is so important to put scripture in context, to see it as it is. We can read for the sake of reading but when we understand why things were written the way they were it helps in understanding more of the text. Imagine it in the context of our prayers to God as a result of something that has happened in our lives. Sometimes it will be in praise and other times it will in terms of pleading for something. We need to be able to tell God what we are experiencing as he will hear and respond accordingly.

Psalm 4 verse 1 shows David's passion in his prayer. "Hear me when I call O God." Sometimes we pray mechanically. We are urgently seeking God, we like the idea of having power when we pray but if there is no passion how will we see answers to our prayers? Our loud crying does not persuade God because it comes from our emotions. The example is seen in the incident between Elijah and the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel. The prophets screamed and cried out, even cutting themselves but Baal was a non-entity. Elijah on the other hand prayed passionately and sincerely. God wants us to care deeply about the things that concern us. Our prayers must be spirit led. Isaiah 64 verse 7 "And there is none that called upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee; for thou hast hid thy face from us and hast consumed us because of our iniquities." In Psalm 4 David stirred himself to take hold of God. Can we?

In Psalm 4 David reflects on God's past mercies as a grounds for future help - "thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress." What a reminder - when we pray do we thank God for what he has done specifically for us in the past as a way of asking God to "do it again"?

In verse 2 we hear David's cry to those who are against him - "how long" and he asks it twice. He is saying to them - you know you can't keep this up forever. He knows that one of 2 things will happen - they will eventually get to a point where they need to stop themselves or God will stop them. So David says you might as well stop now. How long are you going to play around with this sin? For David much of his problem was slander. People were saying all sorts of things about David and they were on a path that has parallels with Jesus himself. Remember how they said he was a drunkard and that he ate with sinners? They tried everything in Jesus' day to mock him and bring his "glory into shame". You know there is nothing new even today. People will try to bring us down too and not just those who don't believe in Jesus for themselves. Christians will do it and I speak from personal experience. There is hope in these words - God sees and knows about it and he will bring about its end.

There is a glorious promise given to us in verse 3 - we are set apart by God for himself. Why? Because we have trusted in him. Sometimes we set things aside for our own enjoyment or for greater purity. The idea is one of isolation. We are set apart for God's own enjoyment today, for a special service for God alone. How wonderful!

Do you ever talk to yourself? Well in Psalm 4 David shows us how to talk to ourselves and in doing so gain confidence and assurance. He reminds himself that whilst it is good to be angry at what was happening around him he needs to remember not to sin whilst being angry. That is so easy to do isn't it. We say something or do something out of anger and in the midst of it all we are actually sinning. Instead we should find comfort in meditating on God and his word. There is a difference between meditation which seeks to empty ourselves of all that is in us and the meditation David talks about here. We need to think deeply upon God's word again and again. David knows the value of specific religious exercises such as we do today in attending church but these cannot replace trusting in God more deeply. Too many do this today, believing that if they attend church or give to charity or help someone out that this is faith. Faith is trusting that God has done it all in sending his Son to die for our sins on Calvary. We need to draw near to God and he will draw near to us. Challenging!

In Psalm 4 verses 6 to 8 we have the idea of the ungodly cynic whispering in David's ear. But David responds with great confidence. He asks God to shine his face on him! In other words "Lord let me see your smile of approval." We all have known that look of anger and disappointment from individuals - it's hard not to forget it isn't it? Despite what people might say of us, God delights in us. David uses the words of the Aaronic blessing from Numbers 6 in this Psalm as a way of assurance and promise. When we know God's face shines on us we will be glad. David reflects that the gladness he feels is so much better than what people feel when they have brought in the money from corn and wine production. Instead of trying to chase happiness in material things he looked to the Lord. He knew he could lie down in peace and sleep because the Lord kept him in safety. This is safety from people or circumstances.
Remember Peter in Acts when he was put in prison and about to be executed the next day and the angel came to him. How did he find Peter? Sleeping. He trusted the Lord to work things out even though he was under sentence of death.

David knew this same assurance. He found safety in his solitude in God.

Where do we see Jesus in Psalm 4?

Well we see him as the ultimate example of wicked people who tried to turn his glory into shame. Throughout his life the religious leaders tried their utmost to bring him down.

Secondly we can know he will hear us when we call to him.

Jesus was the ultimate example of one who was angry and did not sin. That day in the temple when he turned over the tables of the money changers showed his anger but he did not sin.

Jesus is the expression of the light of God's countenance. How can I know that God looks on me with a pleasant face? Because of what God has done in Jesus. I can stand on his grace if I trust in him, repent of my sins and be made right with God. Then his countenance will shine on me.

What confidence we have because of who Jesus is and what he has done for us.

I found this short summary of Psalm 4 and thought it was so good I had to share it. A title for this psalm could be Rest In Peace. And the question asked is - how?

Verse 1 by asking for help from God
Verses 2 to 5 by reasoning with yourself
Verses 4 and 5 by calling for repentance
Verses 7 and 8 by hoping for God's deliverance

Peace in the Midst of the Storm - Psalm 3

 

 

PSALM 3

A Psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son.

Lord, how are they increased that trouble me! Many are they that rise up against me.  Many there be which say of my soul.  There is no help for him in God.  Selah.  But thou, O Lord art a shield for me, my glory and the lifter up of mine head.  I cried unto the Lord with my voice and he heard me out of his holy hill.  Selah.  I laid me down and slept. I awakened for the Lord sustained me.  I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me around about.  Arise, O Lord, save me, O my God for thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone, thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly.  Salvation belongeth unto the Lord thy blessing is upon thy people.  Sela

Notes from David Guzik’s (Enduring Word Commentary) sermon on the Psalm

This is the first psalm with a title.  Remember those words are not inserted by bible publishers or translators but they go back to the text of the Hebrew Bible, they are just as much a part of the Psalm as the Psalm itself.

 

A Psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son.

We not only see who wrote this Psalm but the occasion upon which David wrote this psalm.  It is 2 Samuel chapters 15 to 18.  David’s son Absalom leads a rebellion against David.  David is universally regarded as the greatest king of Israel yet nevertheless in many ways his reign as king was crisis after crisis.  His own son started a civil war against him and tried to take the throne from him.  The events regarding Absalom’s rebellion are recorded in 2 Samuel 15 but the heard of David during this time is recorded in Psalm 3.

Verses 1 and 2 “Lord, how are they increased that trouble me! Many are they that rise up against me.  Many there be which say of my soul.  There is no help for him in God.  Selah.”

At the time of writing this Psalm David was in a great deal of trouble.  He uses the word “Lord” or Yahweh, the Covenant God, the God who is my Shepherd.  “How they have increased my troubles.”  He is in a lot of trouble right now.  Absalom seems to have led a successful rebellion – 2 Samuel 15 verse 13 “And there came a messenger to David, saying, The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom.”  There is no help for him in God.  So bad a situation that many people thought it was beyond God’s help.  But God was able to help David.  Imagine that accusation going around at the time of the rebellion.  This came after David’s sin with Bathsheba.  He not only took a woman and had sexual relations with her in that he committed adultery but he murdered her husband and then married Bathsheba.  All this took place before this rebellion.  You can see how people would say “there is no help in God, he is getting his just desserts.”  Now if that statement is true the worst thing you could say is “there is no help for him in God.”  Nothing worse to say.  When we have lost God’s help we have lost everything.  This is a terrible thing to come upon David. 

David does not leave it there – see his response in verses 3 and 4 “But thou, O Lord art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.  I cried unto the Lord with my voice and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah.”

“But you O Lord art a shield.”  Even though people said God doesn’t want to help, David instead of talking to them decides to talk to God.  Other people said, many said “there is no help for him in God.”  David knew God was a shield.  Nothing could not shake his confidence in a God of love and comfort.  An unmistakeable confidence in him.  Would you not pray for that today?  Even though people are talking about him David knew he could cry out to God.  God would be his shield.  He was under attack from the ruthless and cunning enemy but he knew God’s protection.  He asked God to be a shield.  “You are my glory and the who lifts up my head.”  God was more than David’s protection.  He put God to a higher honour – his glory.  He was his glory and the one who lifts his head.  Men find glory in all sorts of things – power, fame, prestige, possessions.  David found his glory in the Lord.  We need that today – to find our glory in the Lord.  Other people will boast of wealth, position, success.  Do you find in God what the world finds in those things?  “The glory they take in those things is the glory the people of God take in their God.” F B Meyer.  He said “I cried unto the Lord with my voice.”  Sometimes we cry out to God silently.  Your heart is so overwhelmed with pain and difficulty.  The need of the moment looks like all you can do is groan before God, sob those tears when we cry out to him with our voices.  Sometimes we rely too much on silent prayers.  I am not saying there is no peace from that but I want to pray more with my mind and more with my voice.  “He heard me from his holy hill.”  Other people said God wanted nothing to do with David but David said “he heard me when I prayed.”  He was still in a bad place.  Absalom had kicked him out of the palace and out of Jerusalem.  David knew it was God who still held the throne not Absalom.  He looks back at the holy hill and it looks like Absalom was on the throne but no it was God.

Verses 5 and 6 continue on “I laid me down and slept; I awakened; for the Lord sustained me  I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people that have set themselves against me round about.” – remember the depth of crisis he was in when he said these words.  You might think with all the catastrophic crushing done on David he was unable to get a nights sleep but no.  “I laid down and slept.”  Sleep is the evidence of God’s blessing.  David was under intense pressure but God gave him the gift of peace.  Sometimes we need the restoration God gives to us mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually as we sleep.  There is a second wonderful thing – he slept but he awoke.  Many people wondered if he would live to see another day.  It was entirely possible for David to lay down and sleep and be murdered in his sleep.  He could have been assassinated as he slept.  What a blessing it is to awake every day.  God sustains us in our sleep.  We can be unconscious, dead to the world and not thinking of breathing or the internal working of our beating heart.  The same God who sustains us in our sleep sustains us in our difficulties.  “I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people”.  David could stand against any foe – why – because God sustained him.  It would be hundreds of years before Paul would write in Romans 8 verse 31 “if God is for us who can be against us?”

Verses 7 and 8 – “Arise, O Lord; save me, O my God; for thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly. Salvation belongeth unto the Lord; thy blessing is upon thy people.  Selah.” 

David is not going to bless God free of all sorts of enemies – “for you have struck all my enemies.”  His mind was focused on what he trusted God to do – “save me” and what he had done – “you have smitten all mine enemies”.  Knowing what God had done in the past gave him confidence in what the Lord would do in the present moment.  “I remember the many ways God has come through for me.  Before I remember those times I give him great joy.  I know this will give me confidence in the future.”  As God came through for you again and again in the past will he not come through again now?  He could recount time and again when God had shown himself faithful on his behalf.  He did not give him those so that he would give up on him in the present circumstances.

“Arise O Lord.”  I believe that this is recalling Moses in Numbers 10 verse 35.  Moses used that phrase as the Children of Israel broke their camp in the wilderness.  It is a military phrase, a call on God to lead Israel and defeat their enemies.  He remembered how God had broken the death of the ungodly.  That metaphor is used again in Psalm 58 verse 6.  Total elimination of the enemy, the defeat of the enemy.  He was looking for total protection from God in verse 3 but now looking for victory.  It was not enough to be a shield but had to be victorious.  So often we are in a place in our Christian life where we feel that we want to survive just one more day.  That is something yes but there is something greater – to win a victory, to conquer a land for you.  Bringing him to a frame of mind.  Salvation belongs to the Lord, your blessing is upon your people.”  Salvation in ultimate sense and immediate sense.  He is God's property and he was not about to abandon him.  It is an important way to end this Psalm.  It shows David’s heart in this calamity, that he was concerned for God’s help for himself but also on God’s people.  It is easy to read this Psalm as David crying out to God for help but it does not end with helping David as an individual.  God wants to work in and through you to bring blessing to others.  He did not work for the preservation of himself but also because it was best for the people.

Let’s ask a question – where is Jesus in this Psalm?  First is not Jesus the ultimate one of whom others said “there is no help for him in God”?  See Jesus on the cross.  He is mocked and slandered by the religious leaders.  If God wants to help him let him bring him down from the cross they said.  Jesus wanted to put himself in that position so that he could identify with his people when they were in a similar position.

Secondly – verse 3 God heard him and vindicated him, lifting up his heart. Other people gave up on Jesus but God gloriously vindicated his Son Jesus.  He lifted up his own body rising him from the dead 3 days later.  Yes he was gloriously vindicated.

Thirdly he was the one who ventured forward without fear knowing if God was with him who could be against him.

Fourthly we see Jesus in verse 8 – “salvation belongs to the Lord.”  We are pointing to Jesus.  Jesus or Joshua or Yeshua means the Lord is my salvation.  When you say “Jesus” you are saying “salvation belongs to the Lord.”  That names brings us to salvation in God.  It brings it through what he did on the cross and raising him from the dead. 

Psalm 3 is a very personal experience of David and as I read it I could not help but put myself into David's shoes. I have been thinking about my own situation over the past year and can see God's hand on my life and in my service for him. 

I had been serving God for quite a number of years in my local church through the ministry of piano playing and helping out when needed in Sunday School and Holiday Bible Club.  Last autumn I took on the role of teaching weekly in my Sunday School and started up the women's ministry in the church.  Suddenly in January this year everything was taken from me.  I felt unworthy, hurt and crushed.  Like David in this Psalm I felt that many were against me - more than for me.  I had no choice but to leave all that I was doing for God and step back.  I accepted my fault, sought forgiveness and received it but still it hurt.  As I read this psalm today I could not help but think that God was promising to me that he will deliver me from my present situation and that his blessing will be upon me both now and in the future. Some may see this as wishful thinking but the assurance from God is all I need. At a time I would have believed that many were against me and there was no help from God, that I deserved all that had happened, God became my shield and not only protected but will one day deliver me.  This may not necessarily mean I will be able to serve God in any capacity again within a local church setting but restoration may be more in the mental and emotional areas of my life.

I can look back to God's goodness to me in the months since January and I thank God for keeping me.  He has given me sleep and raised me up each day to serve him in my everyday circumstances. I have known his blessing on my life and will continue to trust in him to see his salvation in the future.  I believe I have learned that God is still on the throne and he will remember his own.

God is still on the throne,

And He will remember His own;

Though trials may press us and burdens distress us,

He never will leave us alone;

God is still on the throne,

He never forsaketh His own;

His promise is true, He will not forget you,

God is still on the throne.

Psalm 2

 

Why do the heathens rage and the people imagine a vain thing?  The kings of the earth set themselves and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against his anointed saying Let us break their bands asunder and cast away their cords from us.  He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh; the Lord shall have them in derision.  Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath and vex them in his sore displeasure. Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.  I will declare the decree: the Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.  Ask of me and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.  Be wise now, therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth.  Serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling.  Kiss the Son, lest he be angry and ye perish from the way when his wrath is kindled but a little.  Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.

When I Bible Journal I like to look for repeated words.  In verse 1 we see the word “heathen” is used and again in verse 8.  Also in verse 2 we see the word “kings” used and then in verse 6 “my king” and again in verse 10 “kings”.

As I read 30 Days of Praying the Psalms by Julie Meyer she pointed out that this Psalm is like a 4 Act drama unfolding:

Act 1 – the nations raging in defiance against God

Act 2 – God’s response to their rage

Act 3 – Jesus steps in and begins to cry aloud the promises His Father gave him

Act 4 – the voice of the Holy Spirit brings a change to kings, judges and all the people of the earth.

Another outline could put it like this

Verses 1 to 3 defiance

Verses 4 – 6 derision

Verses 7 – 9 declaration

Verses 10 – 12 decision

David Guzik of Enduring Word Commentary has a very good sermon recorded on You Tube based on this Psalm titled “When God laughs.”  Here are some notes from this sermon:

King David seems mystified at the idea and asks the question – why do the nations rage?  What reason do they have to rage against God?  There is no reason in it, there is no benefit in it.  We don’t get any benefit from setting ourselves against the Lord. This idea is predominant in western culture – the less of God the better it would be for everyone.  Things are more and more anti-God today.  This is how it seems.  There are many people conspiring together, united together to fight against God.  It is not only against God but his “anointed” ie the Messiah.  They are not only fighting against God but his Son.  “Let us break their bonds” in pieces.  The ones who oppose God think of him as a bondage bringer that takes away their freedom. That is how most of the world thinks of God today.  They believe God is putting his handcuffs on them.  In fact God is a bondage broker not a bondage bringer.  His “yoke is easy and his burden is light.”  The world fights against God.  What is God’s response? 

Verses 4 – 6 He laughs.  He is not afraid or confused or depressed.  It is not a mocking laugh, he is saying in effect “are you really going to oppose me and think you will get away with it?” 

“This derisive laughter of God is the comfort of all those who love righteousness.  It is the laughter of the might of holiness, it is the laughter of the strength of love.  God does not exult over the sufferings of sinning men.  He does not hold in derision all the proud boastings and violence of such as seek to prevent his will for the blessing of humanity through the establishment of righteousness.” G Campbell Morgan

Notice also God’s posture – he “sitteth in the heavens”.  His location is not earthly.  He occupies his throne over heaven and earth.  “The Lord shall have them in derision.”  He does not say “what am I going to do now?”  He doesn’t only laugh but he acts.  He speaks to rebellious humanity.  He sits in perfect peace and assurance “in the heavens”.  Mankind has tried to oppose God down through the years and yet God holds his will and man loses every time. 

Verse 6 “I have set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.”  God has established his kingdom through his Son Jesus.  The defiant men are mostly seen as kings and rulers in this psalm.  God wants them to see there is a king greater than them.  This kingship is a present reality.  It was established (set) in Jerusalem (Zion).  It was ultimately realised when his Son came to earth.

Verse 7 God’s decree to the nations “I will declare the decree Thou art my Son this day have I begotten thee.”  This is Jesus recalling the very word of his Father to himself.  He was identifying his relationship (begotten) with the Father – Hebrews 1 verse 5.

In verse 8 we see that Jesus will one day rule over the nations.  He is the perfect representation of the Father – Revelation 11 verse 15 shows the consummation of this inheritance.  He will rule over the nations and all judgment is committed to him.

The strength of his reign is seen in verse 9 – like “a rod of iron thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.”  The nations are like clay pots that God can shatter with a blow from a rod of iron.

In verse 10 we see how we should react “Be wise now therefore O ye kings be instructed ye judges of the earth.”  First there is a word of counsel to kings and judges of this earth.  There is a word of warning from God – give up this foolish defiance on this earth.  What do you need to do?  Surrender to God.  Give to him the proper reverence he deserves.  When they do give God reverence then they can rejoice but you need to do it “with trembling.”

There is the recognition that God is sitting in heaven and we must honour him – verse 12.  “Kiss the Son lest he be angry and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little.”  This is primarily the kiss of submission where a dignitary receives the humble kiss of an inferior.  He shows reverence.  It hints at the affection God wants.  Be affectionate knowing who God is and how God moves.  Say “I will honour you, I will bow down and kiss your feet and your hand if you were here right now.”  If the judges and kings are commanded to do this so should we also.  We should recognise the total superiority of Jesus as king.  

When the iron bar breaks the pot in pieces – that is when the nations who defy God are broken.  On the other hand there are those who depend on God and as a result are blessed.  That is what God invites us to do – the choice is ours – are we blessed or broken as a result? 

Are you worried, stressed about what is going on around you?  Be actively working for God and stop worrying and fretting.  He who sits in the heavens laughs and we are promised that one day we will be seated with him in the heavenly places. 

Julie Meyer in her book 30 Days of Praying the Psalms by Julie Meyer shows that David not only hears a conversation but is shown the future – he was waiting for the Messiah to come for the first time.  There is the promise of a Saviour and David hears this intimate conversation of God telling Jesus “Just ask me and I will give you the nations.”

If Psalm 2 is calling the leaders of nations, the kings, the judges to walk out in wisdom instruction, humility, servanthood and surrender all while being in complete awe of God then he is also calling us individually to the very same walk.

Francis Chan says of service: “If you show up to serve you will never be disappointed.”  This is serving as Jesus taught throughout the Gospels.  It means to bow down, to be a slave to, embrace humility, be the lowest, be as a waiter doing the menial jobs.  This is how we look and act like Jesus – do the jobs that you don’t need any training to do.  Our place is to completely surrender and allow the Holy Spirit to have his perfect work in our lives.

I found this psalm challenging.  Many today ask the question “why does God not intervene?” when looking at the world around them.  This Psalm shows that nothing goes unnoticed by God.  But God is not worried or anxious.  He actually laughs at how we try our best to exclude God in our lives.  God has already a plan in mind and one day he will reign.  It is amazing to realise that God gave David a glimpse of the future – that his son Jesus would be sent to establish his earthly kingdom through his death on Calvary’s cross.  There is instruction in this psalm – to have wisdom, to take instruction, to surrender and have reverence and honour.  The promise is given at the very end of the psalm but it is our choice – will we put our trust in him today?

Notes from Online Study on Psalm 2 by Courtney Reissig "Teach Me to Feel"

Psalm 2 begins with the nations rebelling against God - note the word "rage".  This pictures strife, people caught up in wars such as we see in our world today.  How do you feel about these wars? How do you feel about the laws that speak of life in the womb and abortion or legal suicide?  Or people persecuted because they are caught with God's word on their phone?  Remember the story in Acts 4 of Peter and John when the spoke God's word and the priests and Sadducees commanded them "not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus".  In response they used this Psalm.  They didn't see it as God's plan spinning out of control but rather God's plan falling into place.  What lesson can we learn from this?  That we need to be fearful? To shrink back in fright? No, we should ask the Holy Spirit to give us boldness.

Psalm 2 is a Psalm of orientation.  Psalms 1 and 2 help us to know the end from the beginning now. They help us to deal with the messy middle of life.

Verses 1 to 3 - a problem is set out.  Back and forth we can see different speakers and responders. In verse 1 the psalmist is asking the questions - there are 4 in total.  Who is the rage against? "Why do the nations plot their hopeless plans?" The question becomes who is it against? It is the Lord and his anointed, not against the king but Yahweh.  He is on his throne.

In verse 3 there is bondage implied. They didn't like the rule of the king and his anointed one.  their rage is against the restraint.  Why does the world not want God?  The world doesn't want God as their king  They are raging against the one true sovereignty of God and the king as he has been set up.  They will stop at nothing to keep God from invading their lives.  If we want to know the end from the beginning the world hates God as king.  The world hates being ruled by God, they always have and always will. If the world hates the king they will also hate the one who follows the king.  Why are people against me? Why does no-one speak to me at work? The key word is found in verses 2 and 3. Unrestrained, fighting against authority. The world doesn't want God as king. In our day people reject Jesus because they don't want him to rule and reign over their lives.

There is not a problem without a solution.  The psalmist tells us what life is supposed to be like - verses 4 to 9 show the solution.  There is a change in who is speaking.  First it was the psalmist asking God what is happening.  Verses 4 to 9 help us see what God sees.  

In verse 4 he has the right perspective. The nations might be plotting against God but their control is all smoke and mirrors.  The king of heaven is enthroned above and what does he do as he watches what is going on?  He laughs.  God holds them in his hand.  They think they can destroy him but he knows their next move.  He is actually mocking them, making fun of them.  They think they can overthrow God but God is in control.  Notice the word "derision".  It means to scoff at and this is what God is doing. He is ridiculing them.  God is laughing but he is also in full control.

There is an important move that happens in this section.  It is not enough to know he controls the nations, we want to know they will not continue to terrorise us.  We want freedom from them. Verse 5.  Up to this point God has been mocking but now the tone shifts.  The one enthroned in heaven laughs at their feeble attempts to overthrow him. Now he speaks to them in his wrath.

Verses 6 to 9 The one spoken of here is not just referring to David but God himself. It was not fulfilled in David.  God told David "I am completely in control, I laugh at the nations but now my wrath is being poured out on them."  David's story ends and every king after him as well.  It was not fulfilled in David's day.  He never completely destroyed his enemies.  It was a mere shadow of what Christ accomplished on the cross and will do one day when he comes again.

There is an ache in Psalm 2 but there is also a promise. We are still waiting for the solution to come, the solution God provides.  We know the end from the beginning.  He prepares us before we get into the rest of the psalms. When we feel the world is hating God we know this is not all there is. He will make everything right eventually. Our natural reaction is to fight back but God does not say his people will dash them to pieces.  His anointed one will do it. God will bring to pass what he says he will do.

There is a call to action in verses 10 to 12. Even though we don't execute judgment on God's part we have an expectation on our lives.  Notice the mention of kings and judges. Psalm 1 showed us 2 ways to live, one the path of righteousness or the other the way of the wicked. Both Psalm 1 and 2 go together.  They talk about what life is supposed to be like, what we can expect.

Psalm 2 is all about the kings and nations refusing the path of God. He establishes who is the anointed one. He comes back to the people who asked in the beginning. He is talking to the kings and nations from verses 1 and 2. He speaks to those raging against God. Your rage will not last. God has told us the end from the beginning. He will bring them to a swift end. Here we see his mercy. It will not last but he tells us how in verse 12 - by paying homage to the Son. Instead of raging against the king remember who is king of all. Bow down to him in worship, submit to the Son, to the Anointed One, to the one you love. If not you will perish. The only way of escaping God's wrath is to cast yourself on God's mercy and kiss the anointed one. The only way to escape is to show respect. He tells them what the end will be like and then gives a way of escape.

The word "blessed" is the same as verse 1 of Psalm 1. Putting both together in the canon of scripture shows us how important they are.  There is so much confusion and loss in the rest of the psalms but in order to make sense you have to know the end from the beginning, how the story ends first before you can make sense of what you are walking through.  You have to know the right path to walk through. The path of the righteous - this is the path that we must take.

The Canaanite Woman

 

MATTHEW 15 VERSES 21 TO 28

Then Jesus went thence and departed in the coasts of Tyre and Sidon.  And behold a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.  But he answered her not a word.  And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.  But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.  Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord help me.  But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children’s bread and to cast it to dogs.  And she said Truth, Lord; yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.  Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman great is thy faith, be it unto thee even as thou wilt.  And her daughter was made whole from that very hour. 

 

MARK 7 VERSES 24 TO 30

 

And from thence he arose and went into the borders of Tyre and Sidon and entered into an house, and would have no man know it, but he could not be hid.  For a certain woman whose young daughter had an unclean spirit, heard of him and came and fell at his feet.  The woman was a Greek, a Syrophenician by nation; and she besought him that he would cast forth the devil out of her daughter.  But Jesus said unto her, Let the children first be filled for it is not meet to take the children’s bread and to cast it unto the dogs.  And she answered and said unto him, Yes, Lord; yet the dogs under the table eat of the children’s crumbs.  And he said unto her, For the saying go thy way; the devil is gone out of thy daughter.  And when she was come to her house, she found the devil gone out and her daughter laid upon the bed.

Matthew 15 verse 21 to 28 The Canaanite Woman

 

Background to the story

Matthew was writing to Jews tracing god’s lineage from Abraham stressing that Jesus was the long awaited Messiah and king of Israel.  Mark was written in Rome and his book focuses on Roman believers particularly Gentiles.

In Matthew 14 John the Baptist had been beheaded, there was clear opposition to Jesus’ ministry.  This was followed by Jesus feeding the 5000, showing he could meet the needs of Israel.  Then Jesus walked on water to his disciples in the boat showing he is Lord of creation.  At the beginning of Matthew chapter 15 Jesus challenged the teachings of the elders.  Following that confrontation Jesus went out of the country to the region of Tyre and Sidon.  It was there he met a Canaanite woman.  Jesus was not simply withdrawing but going to this area to meet this particular woman.  Jesus was trying to convince the people he was the Messiah of Israel and was being challenged to prove it with a sign.  But here in this Gentile territory he met a woman who was convinced of who he was and Jesus couldn’t discourage her efforts.  His attempts to put her off was therefore a test and her faith must have been gratifying to the Saviour.

 

Verse 21 The circumstances

Jesus came into a house and didn’t want anyone to know it.  The woman came because she heard he was there.  She was a Greek, born in Syria Phoenica the northern country ruled by Greeks.  In this area there were mixed nationalities.  Jesus had healed Gentiles before this story but always in Jewish territory.

Tyre and Sidon were 2 main Phoenician cities just north of Mount Carmel on the coast.  In Old Testament times this was all the region of the Phoenicians better known as Canaanite tribes - Matthew 15 verse 22 "a woman of Canaan”. 

The Canaanites were in the land before Abraham and they became the dominant power of third millennium BC.  They provided a formidable military challenge for Joshua and later the Judges but they were corrupt and pagan.  Their presence in the land was a threat to the purity of Israel’s religion and morality.  David and his successors managed to control them.  Solomon did business with them when building the temple.  Over the years the Canaanites were defeated and most fled the land.  They settled in North Africa and met their doom in 146 BC which ended the curse on Canaan and any threat from the Canaanites.  This area was 50 miles north from where Jesus was previously.

There were 2 reasons why Jesus withdraw – he didn’t want to be made king and didn’t want confrontation with his enemies to come to a head too soon.  We find Jesus withdrew quite a lot in the Gospel stories – to let conflict to settle a bit and on this occasion to turn his attention to the Gentiles. 

The timing is significant – the Jewish leaders were rejecting him and this Gentile woman who hardly knew him was seeking mercy.

 

Verses 22 – 28 The conversation

Remember – Jesus often put stumbling blocks in people’s way to see if they had faith to step over them!

Notice how this woman addressed Jesus – “Lord, Son of David have mercy on me. My daughter is suffering terribly from demon possession.”

She is well aware of ancient rivalry between the Jews and the Canaanites.

She believes Jesus is the promised Messiah but if that is true then he is a Jewish King.  As such he is sovereign over her and her land and all she can do is cry for mercy.  Her words open up old wounds.  But she was desperate for her daughter and so would cry out for mercy from visiting this Jewish king.

It is the setting and her words that prompt the disciples and then Jesus to respond the way they do.  At first Jesus was silent – no doubt to see if she would persevere and she did, following him down the street crying out.  The disciples said “send her away”.

Jesus told her “I am only sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”  This was his reason for not healing her – he had come to save the Jews and she was a Gentile.  Jesus was making the point about the priorities he had been given by God.

The woman would not be put off so she fell down before him and begged “Lord help me.”  Jesus was testing her.  She knew the historic distinction between the cursed Canaanites and the blessed Israelites.  The response from Jesus “It is not meet to take the children’s bread and to cast it to dogs.”  The reference to “children” are the Jews and “dogs” are the Gentiles.  This woman put herself in the role of a dog showing she knew Jesus had come to the Jews first.  She may not be able to sit down at the Messiah’s table and eat with the “children” but she should be allowed to pick up some of the crumbs they drop.  She wants some of the uncovenanted mercy of God, his general saving grace to all people.

The reference to “dogs” is to small pets, specifically children’s pet dogs.  They are harmless and helpless.  This woman accepted Israel’s historical privileges over the Gentiles especially the powerful ancient Canaanites but she is no threat to that in her request for grace that is freely given to the Gentiles.  Beside she will take what the Jews do not want. 

The idea behind these words – it is the picture of a father taking food from his children in order to throw it to their pets.  The exact word Jesus used here is the Greek word “kunaron” meaning small dog or pet dog.

This woman’s persistence is similar to the story of the persistent widow in Luke 18.  Her response to Jesus proved that she understood fully what Jesus was saying yet had enough conviction to ask any way.  Jesus acknowledged her faith calling it great.

 

Verse 28 The conclusion

Jesus honours faith that seeks mercy.  She had no resentment, no anger about her situation.  She only knew that Jesus was the Jewish Messiah who came to heal people and for some reason he was in her town.  She sought mercy from him  And this time Jesus responded with emotion – “O woman”.  Her faith was rewarded.  And she became one of the early Gentiles to enter the kingdom.  When she returned home she found her daughter had been delivered from the demon.

 

APPLICATION

Firstly be humble – this woman was rejected but she didn’t become defensive.  She remained respectful even when initially told no.  She recognised who Jesus was.  We need to remain humble when we come to God in prayer.

Secondly be bold in faith – this woman continued to ask for what she needed even after being rejected by Jesus.  She knew she needed help and she knew that Jesus could provide that help so she persisted.  She was desperate so she asked until she received an answer.  We also need to keep asking as long as our motives are pure.

Thirdly don’t judge by exteriors.  Jesus doesn’t judge people by their nationality, race or religious criteria.  At the beginning of his conversation with this woman Jesus was simply sticking to the main purpose for which he came.  He wasn’t judging her for being a Gentile.  We have a natural tendency to judge by exteriors which we need to fight daily.  Man looks at the outward appearance but God looks at the heart.  We should too.

Fourthly faith should be applauded.  When Jesus saw the woman’s great faith he applauded her and granted her request.  We need to have and show faith even when we are far out of our comfort zone.  We should do what’s right even if people give us judgmental and haughty looks.  In this way we are showing God’s opinion is more important than other people’s.

 

Sometimes in the bible, Gentiles showed more faith than the Jews.  This story shows us that God was about to reveal his full plan of bringing both Jews and Gentiles into the sheepfold of his kingdom.  The cross of Christ revealed the mystery that both Gentiles and Jews can become a part of God’s kingdom.  God created one humanity out of 2 groups of people so that anyone that repents can find peace with Christ no mater what nationality they are born into.  We all have the chance to be one of God’s children when we repent.  We are all born sinners – Romans 3 verse 23.  God’s grace came at a very high price.  Hebrews 4 verse 16 says we are to come boldly to the throne of God where we will receive mercy and find grace to help us when we need it met.  We have the ability to draw near to God’s throne as long as we admit we have fallen far from God’s standard.  We all need to be reconciled to God through the atoning blood of Christ.  There is no other way to be saved.