We now look at Psalms written by Asaph, a contemporary of David, in Psalm seventy-three. He confesses his envy of the wicked and arrogant. His criticism of these evil folks is expounded and sounds like he is thinking seriously about rejecting Yahweh for this lifestyle. He admits his frailties and asks forgiveness for them. The Lord stays with him as He does with all of us. God is his refuge. Is He yours?
Crying to God to hear Asaph is how Psalm 77 begins. This Priest is asking for a favor from the Lord as in the past. He remembers the faithfulness of the past. He declares Yahweh’s holiness, greatness, and miracles. His power is proclaimed from the display of thunder and lightning. He is likened to a shepherd.
We have a parable from Asaph in Psalm 78. This is another record of all the glories of Jehovah. His mercies to the Israelites. We are reminded to educate our children as Deuteronomy instructed the Israelites. The Psalmist encourages them to not reject Him as their ancestors did. All the history is repeated from the exodus from Egypt to the wandering in the wilderness, and the entry into Canaan. The sins of their fathers are recounted. The discipline of losing battles is remembered. The coronation of David is praised.
Chapter three of 1 Chronicles gives us the descendants of David. We have already seen that Solomon takes the throne before his father’s death. Forty years as King for David leads to the long list of his successors.
We will read in first and second Kings all the kings of Judah and Israel. Other stories in the first and second Chronicles give additional stories of these leaders of the two countries. Let’s look at the balance of the genealogies in the first Chronicles before pursuing Solomon and his family.
As we proceed with the lineage of Judah in 1st Chronicles chapter four, we see one that stands out. Jabez gives a prayer that has had wide recognition a few years ago. While this was touted as a great prayer, let’s look at what it really is. He asked Jehovah for three things. Bless me, enlarge my territory, let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm. It sounds a little selfish. Can we ask for these things free of selfish motives? We should at least try.
The descendants of Simeone are not as numerous as some of the others. They are one of the smaller tribes and had less property given to them at the distribution of the land. Those who come from this line are as important as Judah which produced many kings. The past does not determine who we are. The future is the key.
The offspring of Reuben, Gad, and Joseph’s son Manasseh is discussed in 1 Chronicles chapter five. An interesting note is the exclusion of Reuben, the oldest son, from his birthright due to sexual sin. The privileges of the oldest are given to Joseph, a younger brother. We often see the will of Jehovah violating man-made laws.
These two- and one-half tribes also conquered some of the neighbors that Yahweh wanted to be driven from the land. They waged war against the Hagrites, Jetur, Naphish, and Nodab. The loot gathered from these battles was substantial.
These three families were part of Israel that was taken captive by Assyria. This punishment for following other gods was what the Lord said he would do to them.
The Psalmist in chapter forty-three pleads for vindication and calls God his stronghold. Verse two includes the phrase “Why have you rejected me?” Again, we assume David is the writer because of the thoughts and emotions that are expressed. The promise to praise Him with the lyre seems to indicate the shepherd King. He talks to himself encouraging a continuation to hope in the Lord.
The Sons of Korah refer to a clan that leads worship in the Tent of meeting. This group was assigned these duties by David. They have attributed authorship of many Psalms including number 44. They give credit to Jehovah for bringing the Israelites to the Promised Land. He is also called King.
They continue with a discussion of being rejected and scattered, This seems more appropriate for the captivity period. The disgrace of this period could be what is referred to in this passage. The claim is that He has not yet been rejected. That may be why this Psalm is considered in David’s time when the King was rejected. His unfailing love will lift them again.
A noble theme and a skillful writer give us Psalm 45. The language seems to indicate that David is the subject of this song. The Sons of Korah recognize that Yahweh is eternal. He causes truth, humility, and justice. King David is His chosen instrument to bless the entire world.
Wisdom and understanding are sung of in Psalm 49. We have nothing to fear because Our God is all powerful and will never dessert us. We all begin and end the same. We can believe that our own power is all we need. The wise person knows that money and power will not keep them from perishing. The Lord Jesus is the only one that can and will rescue us from the grave.
Do you ever find being in the home of a close friend something that you desire? In Psalm 84 we are shown that Jehovah should be our closest friend. Our praise of Him will never end. Do you truly join this Psalmist in this opinion? Is our trust in Him really what is described here? If not, why not.
The forgiveness of God is told of in Psalm 85. Time after time, He has given another chance for the Israelites to return to their land. Our salvation is also secure despite our habit of disobedience. He is both love and faithfulness. Jesus tells us in the New Testament that even an earthly Father treats his children lovingly. How much more will our Heavenly Father?
Bragging about being chosen by Jehovah begins Psalm 87. Jerusalem or Zion represents the entire Jewish nation. Being born in this Holy City is like Jesus statement that we must be born of water and spirit. Our spiritual rebirth is necessary.
We as parents know that we should never discipline our children when we are angry. David asks Jehovah not to do this to him in Psalm 6. He asks for salvation. He, like us, has reached a point of burn out. He is depressed and weeps on his bed. He knows that Yahweh will deliver him.
The songs or psalms were written by David tell the story of his faith throughout his early life as well as after he is anointed as King by Samuel. We continue with the eighth Psalm. In my Old Testament class in college, we had to choose a chapter to memorize and this is the one I chose.
David describes Jehovah’s name as excellent. He questions why Yahweh would even think of mankind because of how high He is as the creator of the universe. We are lower than the messengers of God but above everything on the earth. Some people consider man as lower than other creations. David did not.
David takes refuge in Jehovah. He asks Him to discipline him if he fails to be the man Yahweh wants. He asks God to vindicate him and to defeat his enemies. He calls Him his shield and righteous judge. David also points out how evil people work can cause trouble for themselves. He ends, as usual, with praise again for God.
Thanksgiving is the theme of Psalm 9. Rejoicing and praising His name are two of the methods David uses. Utter destruction is the lot for those who oppose Israel and are therefore fighting against Jehovah.
When the King reminds us, that Yahweh judges all people equally, we often do not like this. Sometimes Christians think that God is always on their side. Just as He allowed David to suffer because of sin, He will do the same to us. Even a repentant attitude is not enough to stop the results of our sins. We are forgiven, but it would be better not to fall into the trap of temptation.
Have you felt like the Psalmist in chapter 10 and thought that God was far away? We all have those thoughts. We even believe that wicked people never pay for their disobedience. Evil appears to triumph and prosper while honest folks continue to have hard times. There are times when we see others act wild animals. They trap and kill those who should be protected. They act as if there is no God.
Jehovah does see wicked and their abuse of privilege. There will literally be Hell to pay. Jesus has paid to redeem them, but when they refuse to accept it, they lose Heaven and spend eternity without the Creator.
Psalm 14 states, “The fool says in his heart there is no God.” That is the reason some call the first of April National atheist’s day. It is not a recognized national holiday.
David repeats much of the description he gave in the 64th Psalm yesterday. We like the shepherd King look at our world and wonder if there are any who seek God. They never call on Him and we consider ourselves outnumbered. Salvation has come out of Israel in the form of Jesus, a Jew.
In Psalm 16 David asks Jehovah to keep him safe. He acknowledges that he is nothing without Him. As usual, he compares those that follow the Lord with the ones who do not. Where are your lines drawn? Who is your inheritance? Is He on your right hand? Follow David’s advice, if you want to enjoy the blessings of the Lord.
Once again in Psalm 19, David praises Jehovah as the creator. He does not hesitate for a moment to state that He is responsible for the entire universe. The language describing the sun is beautiful.
The King also sings of the law of Yahweh. He describes it as precious, sweet, trustworthy, perfect, and right among other words. “Who can discern their own errors?” That is why we need the statutes from God to show our sins.
This psalm ends with a verse we memorized in Bible School. “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock, and my Redeemer.”
The victories of the Israelites were many during the reign of David. In Psalm 21 the King rejoices in these. The reason why is because of his faith in Jehovah. The shepherd asked to be successful and it was granted to him. Why was that?
Yahweh’s enemies were David’s enemies. His friends were God’s friends. He was as close to the heart of God as anyone. He attempted to think like God while remaining humble. When he sinned, he immediately repented. If he had problems, they were not blamed on someone else. He accepted the responsibilities he had been given.
David returns to Ziklag and a young Amalekite tells him about the death of Jonathan and Saul in 2 Samuel 1. When he claims to have been the one that caused the death of the King, it isn’t one of the smartest things that he did. David has him killed. It seems to be the murder of someone who was not guilty of the crime. That is why we have so many safeguards against this kind of atrocity.
The poet from Bethlehem composes a song for Saul and Jonathan. His admiration is declared. He speaks of his love and respect for the Prince. Mourning is declared despite the many events where David was treated as an enemy, not the dedicated servant that he was.
God sends David to Hebron in Judah and the story is told in Second Samuel chapter two. He stays there for seven years and rules the tribe of Judah. Ish-Bosheth, one of Saul’s sons is appointed as king over Israel. As always happens, this causes a war between David’s men and Abner, who had led the army for Saul. This provides a very interesting story that will have implications later in our reading.
Joab and Abner decide to start by having twelve men from each side fight one on one. David’s men defeated Ish-Bosheth’s and gave chase. Joab’s younger brother pursues Abner and when he couldn’t outrun him, he stabbed him with his spear. This ended the battle. Joab and David’s men return to Hebron.
David’s strength continued to grow as the two factions fought. We are told of this in 2 Samuel 3. One of the ways that the kingdom of Israel under Ish-Bosheth loses strength is by losing Abner to the Judean king and being murdered by Joab as an act of revenge against the man who killed his brother in combat.
Both men were friends of the new King. Abner had watched this youth grow into a strong man. Joab had been one of David’s closest companions during the years that Saul pursued the young monarch and his small army. Note the actions of the ruler of Judah in response to this crime.
The death and stupidity continue in 2 Samuel chapter 4. Two gentiles who lived in the land of Benjamin go into the home of the Israelite King and murder him. The ignorance of these men is mentioned by David as he talks to them when they bring the head of the son of the former king to him.
They believe that Saul and his entire family were David’s enemies and he would be pleased with their deaths. The King of Judah respected the first king of Israel and loved his children. This is not the first or the last time he will take revenge on those who murder innocent people.
Have you looked at a mountain or tall hill and wondered how high God is to reside in Heaven? He is beyond anything we can see with our physical eyes. Psalm 121 tells us that He is the maker of the Heavens and the Earth and that He is our source of help. The Lord watches over us and is our shade. Consider what this means. Our comfort and safety are in Him. Have you ever wondered if you were coming or going? When you don’t know what you are doing, He does.
We have another short song in the 123rd Psalm. Eyes are the focus here. Yes, I know that is a bad pun. Our eyes are to wait on the lord as a servant waits on his master or mistress. How can your eyes serve Him? By not viewing things that Jehovah tells us to avoid. Go back to the first five books to see what His instructions are for your eyes and other parts of our bodies. Even if we use our bodies as He asks, we still need God’s mercy.
Where would you be today if God were not on your side? David tells us in Psalm 124 that Israel would have been swallowed by their enemies if Jehovah had not fought for them. He praises Yahweh that He saved them. It is not something they did on their own. When did this happen? Every time they were attacked. Who gets the credit for their success? The Maker of Heaven and earth.
A mountain that cannot be moved is the analogy with faith in Yahweh as depicted in Chapter 125. The wicked will fall to keep righteous from falling into sin. The Psalmist ends by blessing Israel.
Does for respect for the Lord give you blessings as it did the writer in Psalm 128? Is your wife a vine that produces a lot of fruit? Do your children shoot up around your table? Teenage boys grow as they empty the dinner table. Part of this blessing is to see grandchildren. I have seen twelve so far. I am especially blessed.
Again, we believe Psalm 129 was written by King David because he talks of being oppressed as a youth. Those who hate the Jews and their homeland are described as grass on the roof. They will not grow strong or last long.
Psalm 130 is another of despair. We all cry out for others to listen to us. Only God can forgive. We must wait for Him in everything that we do. Redemption and love are from Him as well.
The Philistines gather to attack the Israelites, again, in I Samuel 28. Hearing this, King Saul needs advice about what to do. He goes to see a fortune teller. Even though he himself has been eliminating all sorcerers and witches, he finds someone who is still practicing, even if she keeps it as quiet as possible. What he asks for is to talk to the deceased Samuel.
When he appears, it says that he comes up from the earth. Is this a comment on where this man of God went when he died or was its recognition that his body had been laid in the earth? The dead prophet warns the king that he and all of Israel will be defeated. The kingdom of Israel has been given to David. Saul is so devastated by this news be refuses to eat. They finally convince him that he must eat.
When the other Philistines saw David’s men in the ranks in I Samuel 29, they did not like it. Their enemy who had recently wiped out whole villages were not wanted. They were sent back home to their city. David will hear the news of the death of Jonathan and Saul while at their home in Philistia. The new king of Israel will move from there to Judea.
David and his men arrive back in Ziklag in 1 Samuel 30 to discover the city looted and all the women and children are gone. The Amalekites have attacked while they were gone with the other Philistines. Did they know these were Israelites and not Philistines? Probably that is why they came.
They followed and are delayed by having to leave some of their men that are worn out. The others proceed and defeat the troops that took their families. In addition, they also take all the property of the Amalekites. This is divided among all the men, not just the ones that went on the raid. Some also were sent to the people in Judah who had helped David and his army.
While David is dealing with all of this in I Samuel 31, the Philistines attack Israel. What Samuel’s spirit had told Saul came true. Jonathan and two of his other sons are killed. Saul is about to be overrun by the enemy. He asks his armorbearer to kill him to prevent abuse by the others. He refuses and the King takes his own life.
The Israelites are scattered. Saul’s people retrieved the King’s and the Princes’ remains. Tomorrow we begin on 2 Samuel. It is the story of David’s reign. Why do we have two books named for Samuel, the last judge, and none for David the most famous King of the Jews before Jesus? The prophet anointed Saul and David. They were the first two kings. The two books of the Kings are about the succeeding kings of Israel.
David takes refuge in Jehovah. In Psalms 18 he asks Him to discipline him if he fails to be the man Yahweh wants. He asks God to vindicate him and to defeat his enemies. He calls Him his shield and righteous judge. David also points out how evil people work can cause trouble for themselves. He ends, as usual, with praise again for God.
Many of the psalms are prayers and Psalm 17 is one of these. He expresses his virtue before seeking the petition that he has. How could King David claim to not have been violent? Note the phrase “through what your lips have commanded.” When Jehovah directed him to kill Goliath or another enemy, he did what he was told to do. When Saul was within striking distance, he did not.
He acknowledges the love and answered prayers of the past and continues to request the best from Yahweh. He contrasts himself with those that oppose God and includes himself as one of His followers. He asks to be saved from those whose reward is in this life. Christians are often criticized for being too heavenly minded to be of any earthly good. David was looking forward to a world better than this one because of his behavior toward Jehovah.
The Psalmist, David, knows who to ask to defend him in Psalm 35. He declares that no one is like Jehovah. God has the best in mind for everyone including the poor and weak. Are you like the King, praying for those that oppose you? Do you fight a spiritual battle with those that fight you physically and mentally?
This sounds like an outrageous idea for Yahweh to expect us to treat our assailants as we would our friends. This loving treatment is exactly what the Pharisees saw as unwelcome in Jesus’ teaching. They believed that sinners were evil and should be treated in a like manner. David was ahead of his time and this is one of the reasons he was considered a man after God’s own heart. He was selected to be the ancestor of the Christ who taught these unusual practices.
Most of David’s songs are for stringed instruments as is Psalm 54. Those he thought would protect him have betrayed him and his men. Yahweh is his help. These people are his foes. This prayer is for the Lord to take vengeance. David knows the importance of worship through sacrifices.
David declares that he thirsts for his God in Psalm 63. He describes where he lives as a land that has no water in relation to Jehovah being what will quench his thirst. His love is better than life means that it would be better to be loved by God than to live a long prosperous life. David had both.
We Baptists seem to have an aversion to lifting our hands in worship compared to those in other denominations. In verse four the Psalmist says he will praise Yahweh by lifting his hands. What is the significance of the lifted hands? I view myself as a small child, lifting my arms to my parents because I want to be held and shown love by Him.
David’s bed can be a place of worship. He also announces here again, that His God will deliver him from the wicked and all liars will be silenced. I think we all have prayed for that at some time.
In I Samuel 25 the death of Samuel seems to be a side note. What is most important appears to be a man named Nabal who is shearer sheep near where David and his men are camped. Representatives of the second king visit him and request a share of their food. The reason they ask is that these soldiers served as security for Nabal’s shepherds.
The shepherd’s boss not only refuses the request but is very rude to David’s representatives. When he hears this the former shepherd decides to exact revenge for the slight by not only killing Nabal, as well as everyone in his family.
Fortunately, Abigail, Nabal’s wife, hears of the encounter and jumps into action. She prepares provisions for the soldiers and sets out to intercept them. Due to her intervention, the crisis is averted, and David is impressed.
Returning to her husband, Abigail tells about the raiding party that she was able to avert. The realization of his imminent death causes a seizure that ultimately takes his life. Becoming a widow allows David to take Abigail as his wife after an acceptable period.
Some people help David and others turn against him and support King Saul. In I Samuel 26 the Ziphites go to the king and tell them where his enemy is hiding. The Israelite soldiers make camp as close to the rebels as they can. This works well for the former shepherd. He sneaks into the camp and takes a water pitcher and spear that are next to Saul’s head.
The following morning the young man asks the older man to look for these two items. They cannot be found. They are returned to the King and once again he makes it sound like he has had a change of heart. The two go their separate ways. David does not return home like Saul. He stays in hiding.
David and his six hundred men and their families decide to leave the land of Israel in I Samuel 27. The idea of their being accepted by any of the Philistines does not seem very intelligent on the part of their former enemies.
Ziklag is the city that is given for them to occupy. The thing that they must do is keep their activities secret. When they leave the city of Ziklag they go to other Philistines communities and destroy them. No one is left alive. All the plunder is taken. They are asked where the loot came from and they specify towns in Israel. The surprising thing is that they believe David and do not check out the areas specified.
Again, in Psalm 56 we look at a song that was written after David was seized by the Philistines at Gath. He continually writes of the pursuit and attack by enemies in these psalms. His fear is assuaged when he places his trust in Jehovah.
As usual, we can relate to the King’s experiences. Others try to trap him and make him do as they please. The devil does that to us. They want to kill him and stop his kingdom. Satan wants to destroy our witness and prevent us from growing Jesus’ kingdom here on earth. Let us walk with God in the light of life.
David’s belief that he will be saved by the Lord is continued in Psalm 120. He believes these evil men, including King Saul, will pay for their sin. Our former Shepherd would like to return to that peaceful life. His whole world is now fighting and war.
We may think that the Psalms are positive. Psalm 140 is one of those that has a negative voice. David focuses on those who do evil in the first two stanzas. They are standing in the way of the king.
Stanza three is his cry to Jehovah for mercy, deliverance, and protection. In the next stanza, we return to those who oppose Yahweh’s chosen leader. He condemns them for this. His words are severe but honest. Do we trust God enough to follow his example?
Prayer was important to the Israelites. Psalm 141 is King David’s acknowledgment of how important it is to him. Communication with Yahweh is as important to him as a sacrifice and other forms of worship.
Most of us need to reiterate what the King said about setting a guard over our mouths. Do we ask God to protect our hearts from evil and separate us from evil actions? Do we accept the criticism of those that follow Jehovah? David calls it kindness and likens it to the oil that is used in anointing those consecrated to Jehovah’s service. When a faithful brother or sister corrects you, accept it as the blessing of God that He means it to be.
How can mere human beings do this? We must keep our lives tuned to what needs to be done for the kingdom. David depends on his Lord’s protection and vengeance. We should follow his example.
David hid in a cave in Psalm 142 and cries out to Jehovah for mercy. Would a true man of faith continue to sing songs asking for mercy? He would, and we should. Jesus told us to pray without ceasing. These psalms are examples of this. The Lord is his only refuge. Do we praise God for delivering us before we are saved from our troubles? We should.
We now look at Psalms written by Asaph, a contemporary of David, in Psalm seventy-three. He confesses his envy of the wicked and arrogant. His criticism of these evil folks is expounded and sounds like he is thinking seriously about rejecting Yahweh for this lifestyle. He admits his frailties and asks forgiveness for them. The Lord stays with him as He does with all of us. God is his refuge. Is He yours?
Chapter three of 1 Chronicles gives us the descendants of David. We have already seen that Solomon takes the throne before his father’s death. Forty years as King for David leads to the long list of his successors.
Charles (Chuck) Kensinger 