Psalm 90
This psalm begins book four (90-106) in the Psalms. This psalm is
ascribed to Moses the man of God (title). He declares the
eternalness of God 2 and finiteness of man 3-6. We all soon fade
and die, but God is from everlasting to everlasting. Since God is
eternal, HE is not bound by time, so 1,000 years is but a day or a
watch in the night (4 hours) from God's viewpoint. Note: This fact
should cause us to humbly wait upon the Lord who is not on our
hurried schedule. Moses states that God knows our sins which are
the cause of our decline and ultimate death 7-9. Life is short in
light of eternity. Even 80 years, though long, is an average life
span 10. God judges and Moses prays for wisdom to 'number our days'
to gain wisdom 11-12. Note: Do you and I spend the 'time we have'
on things that count for eternity ? Moses desires to be satisfied
with the Lord 13-14, and asks for glad days in light of all the
sufferings that are part of this present age 15. He wants to see
the deeds of the Lord 16 and prays for the work we do to be
established by the Lord 17. Note: This psalm is one we should
ponder and live out, for we are only here on earth for a short
time. Life is but 'a temporary assignment' (Rick Warren).
Psalm 91
The Lord is a refuge and fortress to those who will dwell in His
shelter 1-2. Note: This is a matter of simple faith and trust in
Him. The psalm enumerates how the Lord watches over those who thus
trust in Him 3-8. Verse 9 is a call to faith in the Lord. The
result of such a 'personal relationship' is the Lord's promise of
protection 10-13. God commands even 'His angles' to minister to His
people 11-12. Note: Can the treading and trampling of the cobra,
lion, and serpent all be a 'veiled reference' to the Devil and
Satan (who is called 'the serpent' - Revelation 12:9 and likened to
a 'roaring lion' - 1 Peter 5:9). Note: What encouragement this is
to my heart that God provides to me the ability to overcome the
temptations and threats that come from the 'enemy of my soul'. The
Lord speaks (in the first person) as this psalm concludes with His
declaration that HE will rescue, protect, answer, be with, and
deliver the one who loves Him 14-15. God also will grant the
blessing of a long life and salvation 16. So, not only does God
give physical life, but grants eternal life to all who would
believe in Jesus (John 3:16-17). Note: What a great and mighty God
is the Most High !
Psalm 92
The Lord is to be praised with music and instruments 1-3. The
motivation is God and His great deeds (what HE does) 4-5. Those
senseless do not understand this nor recognize that evildoers will
be destroyed 6-7. The psalmist has seen the Lord act on his behalf
in rescue from adversaries 9-11. Note: How often has the Lord kept
us from those who would do us harm or take advantage of us ?
Maybe we are not even aware of it. The righteous will flourish and
be fruitful even in old age 12-15. Note: The righteous continually
proclaim the uprightness of the Lord. He is their Rock ! Is He the
Rock of your salvation ?
Psalm 93
The Lord is robed in majesty, with glory that is not paralleled on
earth 1. God's throne (rule) is eternal 2. The great force and
power observed in the seas are testimonies to the greatness of God
who established them, along with the world 1b, 3-4. God is more
mighty than the mighty oceans ! This same God is also holy and His
statues stand firm for endless days (forever) 5. Note: If we bow
before Him for what we observe in creation, how much more so should
be bow before Him and for what He communicates concerning Himself
through His Word !
Psalm 94
The Lord is called upon to act as Judge (which in fact He is) 1-2.
The wicked rejoice 3, boast 4, and destroy others for their selfish
gain 5-6. They think God does not take notice 7. The psalmist warns
such persons with the reminder of God who is all knowing 8-11. God,
in His grace, disciplines so that we might follow His ways 12-15.
Deliverance from troubles can only come from the Lord 16-19. Note:
Those act in corrupt ways can not claim to know the Lord or be 'on
His side' 20-21. 'The end never justifies the means' ! God will one
day, repay 23 !
Psalm 95
Here is a call to worship of the Lord, the Rock of our salvation
1-2. God is the made the depths and heights, He is over all 3-5.
God is also our maker 6, and we are His sheep 7. We are called to
hear His voice and not harden our hearts against Him 8-9. The
people of Israel did this when they failed to enter the 'promised
land' that God had given to them (Numbers 13:26-33; 14:1-35). God
was angry with them and sentenced them to forty years of wilderness
wandering 10. The result was that they would not enter into the
rest of God 11. Note: Believers are warned of doing the same thing
in Hebrews 3:7-19; 4:1-10. There is a 'rest of God' that we can
fail to experience as believers because we fail to hear God's
voice, by failing to believe God and His Word ! - The rest being
promised can mean a depth in one's walk with God where there is no
longer a resistance to His will and stated purposes for His people.
Lord give me a listening ear and a yielded heart !
Psalm 96
This psalm parallels 1 Chronicles 16:23-33 which was written by
David (16:5) and entrusted to the sons of Asaph to be used as
a part of the temple worship. God is to be worshiped in song, with
singing 1-2. The glory of Lord is to be declared among the nations
3. Why ? He is great and most worthy of praise 4. All other gods
are but idols (false) 5a. The Lord is creator 5b. This is seen is
His sanctuary 6. All are called upon to give God this glory and
worship 7-9. We are also to proclaim Him among the nations 10.
Creation will celebrate 11-12 for the Lord is coming to judge the
world in righteousness (His standard) and in His truth 13. Note:
The greatness of the Lord and fear of His judgment should move us
to worship Him. He alone is worthy of all our praise !
Psalm 97
This psalm declares the reign of the Lord 1. His presence is
awesome and fearful and is described fire and lightening 3-5. Those
who worship idols are called on to worship the Lord 7, for the Lord
is over all 8-9. Those who love the Lord are to hate evil 10. God
gives to the righteous light and joy 11. The proper response is to
rejoice in Him 12 !
Psalm 98
We are called to sing and shout to the Lord 1,4. He is the One who
provides salvation 2-3. This is a reason to make music to Him 4-6.
Creation is called on to join this the worship of God's people 7-8.
Again, the reason for this celebration is HIS coming to judge the
world 9, (Psalm 96:13). Note: Why will creation celebrate ? Answer,
creation will be set free for the bondage and corruption that sin
has brought upon the world. The curse will be lifted when the Lord
comes to judge this world (see: Romans 8:18-25). Note: Do you long
for the Lord to return and set this world back in order ? This is a
reason to rejoice and celebrate in the Lord even now.
Psalm 99
Because the Lord reigns the nations are to tremble and earth is to
shake 1-2. The Lord is the mighty King being just, right, and holy
3-4. Moses, Aaron, and Samuel spoke to the Lord and He answered
5-7. God is also forgiving, though He does punish misdeeds 8. He is
to be worshiped 9. Note: The Lord is holy 3,4,9. Because He is
holy, He is just, forgiving, and does what is right.
Psalm 100
This psalm is titled 'a Psalm for giving thanks'. All the
earth is called to shout for joy to the Lord 1. The Lord is
worshiped when we are glad in Him and sing (His) joyful songs 2.
Knowing who we are (as created beings) and that we belong to
the Lord (as His sheep) is also a way of worshiping the Lord 3. The
Lord is also to be thanked. HE is the true reason and meaning of
Thanksgiving ! Note: We are to enter His courts with praise. We can
apply this command, directed to the heart of God's people, to
be prepared and ready to worship the Lord with praise as we
gather. Worship requires preparation, not just showing up ! The
Lord is good, His love endures forever and His faithfulness
continues through all generations 5. These reasons are to be the
motivation and that we moves us to worship the Lord.
Psalm 101
This is a psalm of David (title) in which he is making a commitment
to the Lord to live a life of integrity and holiness. David sings
the Lord of His love and justice 1. He will careful to lead a
blameless life 2. When in his home, David would not set any wicked
thing for his eyes 2b-3. Note: And David did not even have a tv,
movies, or the internet and yet he realized the danger of what he
would look at. David also hated the deeds of the wicked 3. He would
not allow those who were perverse to near him 4. He did not
tolerate slanders or those proud 5. Note: Here is an OT example of
a 'separated life' or what God desires of His people whom He calls
to be holy. We are to be 'in the world, but not of it'. What about
your life and mine ? Is it one of holy integrity ? My prayer is
that this psalm will reflect my heart and life. David would,
however, look to the faithful of the land 6. Fellowship with the
faithful will help to build David up in the Lord. Note: We can
encourage one another to love and good deeds as we spend time
together (Hebrews 10:24-25). David would not only avoid those who
practiced deceit 7, but would actively silence can cut off the
wicked from the city of God 8. He would do what he could (as king)
to see the justice of the Lord would be carried out according to
His Laws and holiness.
Psalm 102
This psalm was written by an afflicted man who pours out his lament
(sorrow) before the Lord (title) He begins with a plea for the Lord
to hear his prayer and answer him quickly 1-2. He describes the
affliction of his life as one of 'burning bones' 3 (physical pain),
having a dry heart 4 ( no life, vitality, or strength), no appetite
4b, unhealthy weight loss 5, aloneness 6, insomnia 7, with the
added taunts of his enemies 8. He sees this as the hand of God
against him 10-11. His focus shifts to the Lord who rules and
reigns 12 and calls on the Lord to act on behalf of His people
13-15. He is confident that the Lord will fulfill all His promises
to rebuild and restore His people 16-18. The Lord does hear and
respond to the afflicted who call out to Him 19-20. in the future
the Lord will bring such a turn around to His afflicted people that
others will turn to the Lord in worship 21-22. He then turns back
to his own personal suffering and appeals to the Lord to save him
23-24. The Lord is the One who created the world, sustains it, and
will renew it when needed 25-26, but HE remains the same and years
(time) does not weaken or effect His mighty power and ability to
fulfill His word Verses 25-27 are quoted and applied to the Lord
Jesus in Hebrews 1:10-12 to show His superiority over the angles.
The point of appealing to the Lord's power and faithfulness towards
the nation (in the future) is the same basis on which he appeals to
the Lord to act on his behalf (in the present). He desires
the Lord to do for him what He will do for the nation. Note: The
certainty of God's plan for the future is the basis for hope for in
the present. The Lord is the same Lord over the past, the present,
and the future.