Praise Him (Psalms 36-75)

Ps.36

The problem of those who don't despise evil.

36:1,4b "...Transgression speaks to the ungodly within his heart; There is no fear of God before his eyes... He sets himself on a path that is not good; He does not despise evil."

Why should we despise evil?

36:5-9 The contrast with the loving, faithful and righteous God.

36:10-12 What danger lurks that can cause us to listen to the wrong voice? [pride]

Ps.37

A Psalm full of "our part" advice.

37:1 "...Do not fret because of evildoers, Be not envious toward wrongdoers..."

37:3 "...Trust in the Lord and do good; Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness..." Cultivate?

37:4 "...Delight yourself in the Lord; And He will give you the desires of your heart..." Does God give you all the desires of your heart? How are delight and desire connected? When we delight in Him, do our desires line up with His desire for us?

37:5,6 "...Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, and He will do it. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light And your judgment as the noonday..." What do commit and trust lead to? [your righteousness and judgement]

37:7 "...Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who carries out wicked schemes..."

37:8 "...Cease from anger and forsake wrath; Do not fret; it leads only to evildoing..." What happens when we fret?

37:16 "...Better is the little of the righteous Than the abundance of many wicked..." How much is necessary? Preaching abundance rather than obedient discipleship can lead to significant perversion.

Then there is "His part"

37:23 "...The steps of a man are established by the Lord, And He delights in his way..."

37:24 "...When he falls, he will not be hurled headlong, Because the Lord is the One who holds his hand..."

Back to "our part"

37:27 "...Depart from evil and do good, So you will abide forever..."

37:34 "...Wait for the Lord and keep His way, And He will exalt you to inherit the land; When the wicked are cut off, you will see it..."

Why bother with "our part"?

37:37 "...Mark the blameless man, and behold the upright; For the man of peace will have a posterity..."

Ps.38 Sorrow for Sin

38:3 "...There is no soundness in my flesh because of Your indignation; There is no health in my bones because of my sin..."

38:18 "...For I confess my iniquity; I am full of anxiety because of my sin..."

38:21 "...Do not forsake me, O Lord; O my God, do not be far from me!..."

Ps.39

39:7 "...And now, Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in You..."

Ps.40

40:1-3 "...I waited patiently for the Lord; And He inclined to me and heard my cry. He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay, And He set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God; Many will see and fear And will trust in the Lord..." Our part, His part? What song do we sing?

40:8 "...I delight to do Your will, O my God; Your Law is within my heart..." Is it a duty or a delight?

6-8 are Messianic reference to a better sacrifice - quoted in Hebrews 10.

40:12 "...For evils beyond number have surrounded me; My iniquities have overtaken me, so that I am not able to see; They are more numerous than the hairs of my head, And my heart has failed me..." Not feeling so righteous here. Gives sin an identity and intention of it's own.

40:17 "...Since I am afflicted and needy, Let the Lord be mindful of me. You are my help and my deliverer; Do not delay, O my God..." The answer is God.

Starts with 'waiting patiently' (v1) but ends with 'make it snappy please' (v17)

Ps.41

41:1 "...How blessed is he who considers the helpless; The Lord will deliver him in a day of trouble..." Sow and Reap?

41:9 "...Even my close friend in whom I trusted, Who ate my bread, Has lifted up his heel against me..." Messianic - Jesus quoted in John 13:18 regarding Judas.

41:13 "...Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, From everlasting to everlasting. Amen and Amen..."

God considers the helpless. We should consider the helpless.

BOOK DIVISION? Start to get Psalms from sons of Korah.

Ps.42

42::2 "...My soul thirsts for God, for the living God; When shall I come and appear before God?..." Not just a god, but the living GOD!

The answer for despair? 42:5,11 "... Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him For the help of His presence..."

Ps.43

Again, 43:5 "...Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why are you disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God..."

What hope alternatives have been given that leave people in despair? [Self, spouse, job, government, family, etc.]

Ps.44

And now will emphasize the same point.

44:6 "...For I will not trust in my bow, Nor will my sword save me..."

And just in case we're being less than forthright.

44:21 "...Would not God find this out? For He knows the secrets of the heart..."

Can there be a difference between voicing hope and having hope?

Ps.45

45:6,7 "... Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of uprightness is the scepter of Your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of joy above Your fellows..." Messianic, quoted in Hebrews 1:8,9

Ps.46

46:1-2 "...God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change And though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea;..."

Does the earth change? How much can your situation on earth change before you FEAR?

46:10 "...Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth..."

It's easier than we make it.

Ps.47

47:1 "...O clap your hands, all peoples; Shout to God with the voice of joy..."

47:8 "...God reigns over the nations, God sits on His holy throne..."

Do we forget this?

Ps.48

SING 48:1-2 "...Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, In the city of our God, His holy mountain. Beautiful in elevation, the joy of the whole earth, Is Mount Zion in the far north, The city of the great King..."

48:14 "...For such is God, Our God forever and ever; He will guide us until death..."

This goes beyond mere instruction. Our relationship means the Holy Spirit provides guidance into all truth - until death. He's with us THE WHOLE WAY.

Ps.49

49:12 "...But man in his pomp will not endure; He is like the beasts that perish..."

49:15 "...But God will redeem my soul from the power of Sheol, For He will receive me. Selah. ..." Weigh this truth!

49:20 "...Man in his pomp, yet without understanding, Is like the beasts that perish..."

Know the truth, but don't be arrogant!

Ps.50 ASAPH

50:5 "...Gather My godly ones to Me, Those who have made a covenant with Me by sacrifice..." What sacrifice? [God's covenant. God's sacrifice. He has all to offer. What do we have to offer?

50:14,15 "...Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving And pay your vows to the Most High; Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I shall rescue you, and you will honor Me..."

But don't expect v.15 if living v.17

50:16,17 "...But to the wicked God says, "What right have you to tell of My statutes And to take My covenant in your mouth? "For you hate discipline, And you cast My words behind you..." Do we leave God's words behind when we head off into daily life?

50:23 "...He who offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving honors Me; And to him who orders his way aright I shall show the salvation of God..."

More than passively acknowledging God? [includes action].

Ps.51 David after Nathan confronted him

51:3,4 "... For I know my transgressions, And my sin is ever before me. Against You, You only, I have sinned And done what is evil in Your sight, So that You are justified when You speak And blameless when You judge..." Only against God? Why is this a healthy outlook? Why is avoiding what is "evil in Your sight" the best way to evaluate our choices?

51:6,7 "...Behold, You desire truth in the innermost being, And in the hidden part You will make me know wisdom. Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow..." Did God do this?

51:10-12 "...Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation And sustain me with a willing spirit..."

The next verse isn't normally included, but is very important, because it's what God wants to happen.

51:13 "...Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners will be converted to You..."

Repentance leads to something better for all who will participate.

51:17 "...The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise..."

Ps.52

52:3 "...You love evil more than good, Falsehood more than speaking what is right. Selah..." Stop. Think. How do we get enticed into this? Forgiveness easier than obedience?

Ps.53

Practically a word for word repeat of Psalm 14

Ps.54

54:1 "...Save me, O God, by Your name, And vindicate me by Your power..."

Saved by God's name?

Acts 2:21 Peter's Sermon "...And it shall be that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved..."

Acts 4:12 "...And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved..."

Rom.10:13 "...Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved..."

Pretty significant awareness for Old Testament times.

Ps.55

55:2 "...Give heed to me and answer me; I am restless in my complaint and am surely distracted,..."

What distracts?

55:3 "...voice of the enemy ... pressure of the wicked..."

55:5 "...Fear and trembling come upon me, And horror has overwhelmed me..."

What helps?

55:18 "...He will redeem my soul in peace from the battle which is against me, ..."

55:19 "...God will hear and answer them— Even the one who sits enthroned from of old - Selah. With whom there is no change..."

55:22 "...Cast your burden upon the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken..."

Ps.56

56:3,4 "...When I am afraid, I will put my trust in You. In God, whose word I praise, In God I have put my trust; I shall not be afraid. What can mere man do to me?..." When afraid - trust - not afraid!

56:9 "...Then my enemies will turn back in the day when I call; This I know, that God is for me..." Is He?

56:11 "...In God I have put my trust, I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me?..." How did David know how to do this? [He had lots of practice]

Ps.57

57:6 "...They have prepared a net for my steps; My soul is bowed down; They dug a pit before me; They themselves have fallen into the midst of it. Selah..." Who are they? Who opposes your life direction? What are some of the traps and snares in this life?

Ps.58

Complaints of this world's unrighteousness.

Request for God to make things right.

Ps.59

59:1,2 "...Deliver me from my enemies, O my God; Set me securely on high away from those who rise up against me. Deliver me from those who do iniquity And save me from men of bloodshed..." What does David want? [to be set apart] Is this a prayer that God is pleased to answer? Is it consistent with the will of God?

Ps.60

David's request in a time of war.

60:12 "...Through God we shall do valiantly, And it is He who will tread down our adversaries..."

Are we in a time of war? What are our expectations?

Ps.61

61:2 "...From the end of the earth I call to You when my heart is faint; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I..."

Rock? Jesus?

Ps.62

62:1,2 "...My soul waits in silence for God only; From Him is my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation, My stronghold; I shall not be greatly shaken..."

62:4b "...They delight in falsehood; They bless with their mouth, But inwardly they curse. Selah..." This is what we get from man!

62:5 "...My soul, wait in silence for God only, For my hope is from Him..."

62:11,12 "...Once God has spoken; Twice I have heard this: That power belongs to God; And lovingkindness is Yours, O Lord, For You recompense a man according to his work..." SELF IMPROVEMENT or SELF DENIAL? For whom do we work?

Ps.63

SING 63:3-4 "...Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, My lips will praise You. So I will bless You as long as I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name..."

Ps.64

Recognition of conspiracy (plans of man to live in iniquity).

Recognition of place before God

64:10 "...The righteous man will be glad in the Lord and will take refuge in Him; And all the upright in heart will glory..."

Ps.65

65:4 "...How blessed is the one whom You choose and bring near to You To dwell in Your courts. We will be satisfied with the goodness of Your house, Your holy temple..." Did we choose Him or did He choose us?

65:7 "...Who stills the roaring of the seas, The roaring of their waves, And the tumult of the peoples..." Does God interact with both nature and mankind?

Ps.66

Praising God for what He has done.

66:7 "...He rules by His might forever; His eyes keep watch on the nations; Let not the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah..." Think about it!

67:18 "...If I regard wickedness in my heart, The Lord will not hear;..." Prayer must come from a pure heart? Yielded? Humble?

Ps.67

67:1 "...God be gracious to us and bless us, And cause His face to shine upon us—Selah..."

What happens when God's face shines?

67:2 "...That Your way may be known on the earth, Your salvation among all nations..."

Ps.68

SING 68:1 "...Let God arise, let His enemies be scattered, And let those who hate Him flee before Him..."

68:5,6 "...A father of the fatherless and a judge for the widows, Is God in His holy habitation. God makes a home for the lonely; He leads out the prisoners into prosperity, Only the rebellious dwell in a parched land..."

68:18 Messianic - quoted in Ephesians 4:8

68:19,20 "...Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burden, The God who is our salvation. Selah. God is to us a God of deliverances; And to God the Lord belong escapes from death..."

68:34,35 "...Ascribe strength to God; His majesty is over Israel And His strength is in the skies. O God, You are awesome from Your sanctuary. The God of Israel Himself gives strength and power to the people. Blessed be God!..."

Ps.69

David's wrestling with more problems - he's in the thick of life.

69:2 "...I have sunk in deep mire, and there is no foothold; I have come into deep waters, and a flood overflows me..."

69:5,6 "...O God, it is You who knows my folly, And my wrongs are not hidden from You. May those who wait for You not be ashamed through me, O Lord God of hosts; May those who seek You not be dishonored through me, O God of Israel,..." He's looking out for others.

69:9 Messianic "...For zeal for Your house has consumed me, And the reproaches of those who reproach You have fallen on me..." John 2:17 The disciples knew this Psalm, remembering it when Jesus drove the moneychangers out of the temple.

69:13 "...But as for me, my prayer is to You, O Lord, at an acceptable time; O God, in the greatness of Your lovingkindness, Answer me with Your saving truth..." The truth from God is saving truth.

69:16-19 Again, looking for answers from God.

69:21 Messianic "...They also gave me gall for my food And for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink..." Look up John 19:28-30 to find out why Jesus did what He did.

"... After this, Jesus, knowing that all things had already been accomplished, to fulfill the Scripture, said*, "I am thirsty." A jar full of sour wine was standing there; so they put a sponge full of the sour wine upon a branch of hyssop and brought it up to His mouth. Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, "It is finished!" And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit..."

69:33 "...For the Lord hears the needy And does not despise His who are prisoners...." Does God know your situation?

Ps.70

70:5 "...But I am afflicted and needy; Hasten to me, O God! You are my help and my deliverer; O Lord, do not delay..." How does God administer help and deliverance to the afflicted and needy? Government? Christians? Other?

Ps.71

71:1 "...In You, O Lord, I have taken refuge; Let me never be ashamed..."

71:5 "...For You are my hope; O Lord God, You are my confidence from my youth..."

71:6 "...By You I have been sustained from my birth; You are He who took me from my mother's womb; My praise is continually of You..."

71:9 "...Do not cast me off in the time of old age; Do not forsake me when my strength fails..." Is there a risk?

71:12 "...O God, do not be far from me; O my God, hasten to my help!..." What causes distance between God and man?

71:14 "...But as for me, I will hope continually, And will praise You yet more and more..." Choice?

71:19 "...For Your righteousness, O God, reaches to the heavens, You who have done great things; O God, who is like You?.." Anyone comparable?

Ps.72

This is a Psalm of Solomon, and its a bit self-referential.

He's asking God to help him be the one to deliver the needy and the afflicted (Solomon believed in big government).

BOOK DIVISION? Start to get Psalms from Asaph

Ps.73

Problem with wickedness prospering.

73:16 "...When I pondered to understand this, It was troublesome in my sight..."

It was troublesome then. It is troublesome now.

Perspective changes, though, when in God's presence.

73:17 "...Until I came into the sanctuary of God; Then I perceived their end..."

73:24-26 "...With Your counsel You will guide me, And afterward receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but You? And besides You, I desire nothing on earth. My flesh and my heart may fail, But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever..."

Ps.74

74:3,4 "...Turn Your footsteps toward the perpetual ruins; The enemy has damaged everything within the sanctuary. Your adversaries have roared in the midst of Your meeting place; They have set up their own standards for signs..."

Do you think any damage has been done to the sanctuaries we frequent today? Any wrong standards?

Don't be disheartened.

74:12 "...Yet God is my king from of old, Who works deeds of deliverance in the midst of the earth..."

74:22 "...Arise, O God, and plead Your own cause; Remember how the foolish man reproaches You all day long..."

Ps.75

75:1 "...We give thanks to You, O God, we give thanks, For Your name is near; Men declare Your wondrous works..."

75:7 "...But God is the Judge; He puts down one and exalts another..."

Is God near? Is He the Judge? Is He in charge?