Heart of a Psalmist - Worshipping Christ Through The Psalms

H EART OF A P SALMIST

W ORSHIPING C HRIST T HROUGH T HE P SALMS

B Y M IKE HERRON

Mike Herron Music

Published By LatterGlory Publishing P.O. Box 1247 Moses Lake, WA 98837 www.LatterGlory.com First Printing...............September 2010 Printed in the United States of America Printed by BT Johnson Publishing, . . 00 , Battle Ground , WA 604 www.BTJohnsonPublishing.com

Scripture references take from The Holy Bible, New Living Transltion, used with permission from Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. Wheaton, Illinois 60189

All Rights Reserved

ISBN 978-0-615-38537-2

Forward

‘Heart of a Psalmist’ , by Dr. Giovanni Traettino

Reflecting on the “divine appointments” that have enriched me and left their mark on my life, I real- ize that my encounter with Mike Herron has been one of the deepest and most important.

It was he who introduced me to the revelation and the experience of a freer and more joyful expression of praise, a deeper and more intimate worship. I shall always be grateful to him for having transmitted to me an experience that has become a vital and irreplaceable part of my life. In Heart of a Psalmist we have the “ripened fruit” of a life of worship. I found myself looking at an inter- pretation of the Psalms which, as well as being deeply in tune with the New Testament and solidly Christ- centered, I discovered was also intensely autobiographical. The book of Psalms, used by Christians down through the centuries in their prayer and worship, has now become his! It has become his special place of identification with Christ. The references to his own life story are unmistakable. I was reminded of Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s Psalms: The Prayer Book of the Bible. In a style that sometimes touches poetic heights, he shares with us the distress of a worship leader ex- iled from the public expression of worship and the struggles of his battle to overcome discouragement; the terror of his descent into the abyss of a sinful heart and the cry of a broken man from the labyrinth of a bewildered and troubled conscience; the struggles of his renewed search for the lost oasis in the desert and his rediscovery of freedom from the torments and pitfalls of life. Everything, without excep- tion – joy and pain, suffering and healing, defeat and triumph, cross and resurrection – is turned into wor- ship! In short, through a narrative rich in color and emotion, he reaffirms his intense passion for worship and his outstanding sensitivity as an interpreter as, Psalm after Psalm, taking us by the hand, he leads us back to the Throne and helps us to rediscover the secret of the Source – in every season of life, and with the heart of a psalmist!

A book to savor in every believer’s daily meditations and a rich source of inspiration for worship lead- ers, Christian workers and pastors.

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Dedication

I would like to dedicate this work to my family:

Brian and Pippa Williams; Madeline, Victoria, Max and Abby Michael and Sonia Herron; Chloe and Mollie Alan and Ruth Villatoro; Grace and Alan

...to my greater family of brothers, sisters, cousins, nephews, nieces

...and to the great-grand-children and generation that will come after. May you worship and serve the Lord Jesus Christ with joy and receive the blessings of God’s favor in all that you do. May this book be an inspiration to your faith and draw you close to the God who loves you.

Thanks,

To my wife, Marsha for all your love, prayers, support and encouragement as well as the time you en- dured my mental absence while I was writing the manuscript:

To my partner, Timothy Johnson and the LatterGlory team, for editing, publishing and believing in the project:

To my Lord Jesus who put the desire in my heart to do this; taught me by His Holy Spirit and sustained me with His strength throughout the long process. To You be all the glory forever.

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ENDORSEMENTS

‘Heart Of A Psalmist’ is an outstanding commentary that provides a rich devotional supplement to The Book Of Psalms. Mike has been able to express a foundational understanding to the heart of worship in and through his writings because he is not only a pastor, a teacher, a worship leader and a musician extraordinaire, he is also an anointed worshiper – our highest privilege!!! Mike provides a depth of in- formation and perspective that enables a reader to easily understand and appreciate the essence of each Psalm. This is an absolute “must-have” on the bookshelves of every pastor, every teacher, every worship leader, every musician…every worshiper!!! Howard Rachinski, President/CEO, Christian Copyright Licensing, Inc., Portland, Oregon

‘Heart of a Psalmist’ is a result of many years of labor, prayer and study by Mike Herron. I have watched Mike diligently seek the Lord in the writing of this book. It is for every believer, and it will encourage you in your walk with Jesus. The Psalms were the hymnal's of the New Testament church, and Mike pro- vides great insight into how the truths apply to us today.

Michael Coleman, President & CEO, Integrity Media, Inc.

“It gives me great pleasure to be able to endorse Mike Herron’s book,”Heart of a Psalmist - Worshiping Christ Through the Psalms.” In the early 1970s, the teaching on “The Tabernacle of David” became popular and I needed ‘a Chenaniah’ - a chief singer and musician who would personify the truths of Da- vidic worship. After a great cleansing of the Lord, where his previous music skills had been literally “washed in the river,” Mike came on staff with me at the well-known church, Bible Temple in Portland, Oregon. Mike took my Psalms Course at Portland Bible College, and out of those years much ministry, music and manuscripts have been brought to birth. “Heart of a Psalmist” is built on sound theology and very Christ-centered. May the Lord bless these texts to the Body of Christ and may there be a greater release of the ‘Spirit of David’ in worship, praise and adoration of our Eternal Godhead - Father,Son and Holy Spirit.

Dr. Kevin J. Conner; Author, Bible Teacher; Melbourne, Australia

"If you love the Word of God, you will love the Psalms- perhaps the most popular and most read of all the books and sections of the Bible. And if you love the Psalms, you will love the anointed insights gath- ered and woven together by Mike Herron into one of the most beautiful new and modern commentaries of our age. Every serious student of the Word will embrace and treasure this work. It will become a high- light in your personal Library. I have known Michael Herron for almost 40 years. A Psalmist in his own right, he has studied the beloved Psalms of David and others and has given us a tool of revelation that will help transform our thinking and our worship. I highly recommend this amazing new text!

Dr. Wendell Smith, The City Church, Bellevue, WA

Like the psalmist of Israel, Mike Herron carries a unique mantle to inspire people to worship. His work on the Psalms is insightful and inspiring with solid biblical research. This is a great work of achievement with my full endorsement for a great leader and a life-long friend. Well done, Mike! Dr. Frank Damazio, Lead Pastor, City Bible Church, Portland, Oregon

Mike Herron doesn't just write about the psalms, he lives them, breathes them and sings them from his heart. I have known Mike for over twenty years and have personally witnessed him living the psalms on a daily basis. If you want a 'virtual, living tour' of the psalms, read ‘Heart of a Psalmist” Peter J. Iliyn, North American Director, Youth With A Mission

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The Bible tells us in John 4:23 that “But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. It goes without saying that Praise and worship is a main theme throughout the entire Bible.This book expands on this truth by exploring the main source for understanding this great subject, which is the Book of Psalms. I know of no one more capable of writing on this subject than Mike Herron. I have had the privilege of working in the gospel with him for four decades. One of the keys to the success and growth of our church was understanding worship as taught in the Bible. Mike served as our Minister of Music and an elder for many years at Bible Temple, now City Bible Church, in Portland, Oregon, and humbly yet mas- terfully led us into worship week after week. I have always considered that the key to building a great church of any size is to make sure the foun- dation is laid through worshiping with understanding. This was the mark of our gathering. The unity of true worship by the congregation brings in the very presence of the Lord over the people, releasing the anointing, which then releases the Word spoken into hearts softened by true worship. You will find truths in every chapter that will release you personally as well as corporately into God’s pres- ence. This book has been a lifetime in the making in the heart of a chosen worshiper, Mike Herron. I know if you give yourself to the teaching herein your life will be changed and your church as well.

K.R. "Dick" Iverson, Founder of Minister's Fellowship International

When I think of Mike Herron I think of worship. I've known Mike since 1978 and I can think of no one who is more qualified to help us understand The Psalms. Whether you are a leader of worship in a church or, like me, always looking for resources to enrich my daily devotions, this book will be a valu- able and much used resource.

Gary Clark, Pastor, Eugene Christian Fellowship, Eugene, Oregon

The new book by Mike Heron 'Heart of a Psalmist’: Worshiping Christ through the Psalms' brings into focus the heart of the worshiper in service in the house of the Lord. The ministry of prophet musician universally awarded to Mike has led many people into the presence of God. I am honored to be one of them.

Matteo Calisi, President of the Catholic Fraternity of Charismatic Covenant Communities and Fellowships, Bari, Italy

Mike, through ‘Heart of a Psalmist’, has brought a depth of understanding into the relationship that David experienced with His God, one that is available to all His children. It beautifully knits both Old Testament experiences and New Testament life to our unchanging God, making the Psalms come alive. The ex- pressions of human experiences, both difficult and joyous ones, woven into the greater picture of God's unchanging character bring insight and understanding for all areas of our lives today. The reader's re- sponse is to delve into worshiping our awesome God along with the writer and to desire more than ever to be a man/woman after God's heart. I highly recommend this book to those who are serious about knowing God. Dr. Ruth Ruibal, Pastor, Author, Missionary and International Speaker, Cali, Columbia Throughout the years, Pastor Mike Herron has visited our church “Faith Tabernacle” in Huehuete- nango, Guatemala. His ministry of God’s Word is full of grace and has brought edification and conso- lation to believers. Without a doubt, I can say that this book is from his heart and will be a significant contribution to edify the church, especially in these difficult times that demand faith, hope and praise to God. Dear reader, enjoy and share this book with your close ones. Pastor Benjamín Villatoro Galindo, "Tabernáculo de la Fe" Huehuetenango, Guatemala

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"As a worshiper/psalmist there is no book in the Bible that I love reading and which I relate to more than the book of Psalms. In this special book ‘Heart of a Psalmist’ Mike Herron makes these wonderful Psalms come to life in a format that's insightful, easy to read and understand. If you desire to know and have a deeper relationship with the "Shepherd" of shepherds then this book will truly be a treasure that will bless your life time and time again. It's a must have!!" Julissa, Integrity Music Latin Artist, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

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Preface

‘HEART OF A PSALMIST’ By Mike Herron

One morning in the spring of 2003 I felt the Holy Spirit encouraging me to write this manuscript com- menting on the grandest Book in the Bible. I had been meaning to do it for a number of years but that morning there was a tremendous sense of urgency so I sat down with my new computer and began to write. Seven years later and endless hours of study, prayer, worship and countless revisions, I present this to you. Through these efforts, I feel that I have grown much closer to God, the characters in the Bible and the great expositor's of the Psalms. Through these songs we are introduced to the language of the human soul that is transparent before a compassionate God. They teach us how to express our deepest feelings, highest joys and darkest thoughts before our creator who welcomes every effort to commune with him. Through the fabric of their poetry we see more clearly the imprint of Jesus Christ who reveals himself to those who endeavor to love and serve him. We are taken on a journey into the depths of King David’s heart as he navigates life under the incom- parable mercy of God. The lyrics of the songs can become the pattern and voice of our own prayers and worship. We encounter spiritual reality in these song-poems: they sing and we can listen and imitate the greatness of the people who prayed and played their way into God’s presence. Centuries later they still invite us to follow, to take up our harps and join in the joyful pursuit of God.

Mike Herron, June 2010

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TITLES TO THE PSALMS

BOOK I- GENESIS- Psalms 1-41

1. BLESSED IS THE MAN- Delighting in the Law of the Lord .........................................................1 2. YOU ARE MY SON- The Messiah, The King, The Son..................................................................3 3. A SHIELD AROUND ME- The Rest of Faith ...................................................................................5 4. I WILL LIE DOWN IN PEACE- The Evening Hymn 2 .....................................................................7 5. LISTEN TO MY VOICE IN THE MORNING- The Morning Prayer ................................................10 6. DO NOT REBUKE ME IN YOUR ANGER- From Weeping to Confidence..................................12 7. PERFECTLY FAIR- A Celebration of God’s Justice ....................................................................14 8. O LORD, OUR LORD- Jesus, Son of Man ...................................................................................17 9. HE WILL JUDGE THE WORLD- Justice As A Foundation of Praise .........................................19 10. WHY DO YOU STAND SO FAR AWAY?- The Mystery of God’s Delay.....................................21 11. THE LORD IS IN HIS HOLY TEMPLE- The Importance of Trusting God .................................23 12. THE LORD’S PROMISES ARE PURE- Trusting in God’s Word ...............................................25 13. HOW LONG LORD?- The Choice to Rejoice .............................................................................27 14. THE FOOL HAS SAID IN HIS HEART- Fallen Humanity and the Messiah ..............................28 15. WHO MAY DWELL ON YOUR HOLY HILL? Qualifications of the Worshiper .........................30 16. YOU WILL NOT LEAVE MY SOUL AMONG THE DEAD- Christ’s Resurrection......................32 17. THE APPLE OF YOUR EYE- The Believer’s Resurrection .......................................................35 18. I WILL PRAISE YOU AMONG THE NATIONS- Making His Victory Known .............................37 19. THE HEAVENS TELL THE GLORY OF GOD- The Gospel of Creation ....................................41 20. SOME TRUST IN CHARIOTS- The Battle Blessing of the High Priest ....................................43 21. THE KING REJOICES IN YOUR STRENGTH- The Coronation of Christ.................................46 22. MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?- The Cross and the Crown ..............................48 23. THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD- Christ The Good Shepherd ...................................................51 24. WHO IS THIS KING OF GLORY?- Christ’s Entrance to Heaven ..............................................54 25. TO YOU, O LORD, DO I LIFT UP MY SOUL- Arising from Defeat ............................................56 26. I LOVE THE HOUSE WHERE YOU LIVE- A Psalm of Innocence .............................................59 27. THE LORD IS MY LIGHT- Hidden in His Sanctuary ..................................................................61 28. FOREVER IN YOUR ARMS- Our Strength in Trying Times......................................................64 29. THE VOICE OF THE LORD- The Thunderstorm of Worship....................................................66 30. FROM MOURNING INTO JOYFUL DANCING- The Dance of Grace ........................................68 31. I ENTRUST MY SPIRIT INTO YOUR HANDS- The Last Words of Christ ................................70 32. TRANSGRESSIONS FORGIVEN- The Joy of Forgiveness ......................................................73 33. SING NEW SONGS OF PRAISE- The Dawn of Musical Worship.............................................75 34. I WILL PRAISE THE LORD AT ALL TIMES- Freedom from Fear..............................................78 35. HATED ME WITHOUT A CAUSE- Enduring Persecution..........................................................81 36. THE FOUNTAIN OF LIFE- Mankind Under Sin, Mankind Under Grace ...................................84 37. DELIGHT YOURSELF IN THE LORD- Developing Your Inner Life ..........................................86 38. I CONFESS MY SINS- The Agony of the Convicted Heart .......................................................90 39. I AM SILENT BEFORE YOU- Refocusing on Eternity...............................................................92 40. YOUR LAW IS WRITTEN ON MY HEART- Lifted From the Pit of Despair...............................95 41. MY BEST FRIEND HAS TURNED AGAINST ME- The Betrayal of Christ ................................98

BOOK II- EXODUS- Psalms 42-72

42. AS THE DEER- Breaking the Cycle of Discouragement ........................................................100 43. SEND OUT YOUR LIGHT AND TRUTH- Finding the Source of Joy ......................................102 44. SLAUGHTERED LIKE SHEEP- Nothing Can Separate Us From Christ’s Love....................104 45. YOUR THRONE, O GOD, ENDURES FOREVER- The Marriage of Christ ............................107 46. GOD IS OUR REFUGE- The Lord is With Us ...........................................................................110 47. CLAP YOUR HANDS FOR JOY- The Ascension of Christ......................................................113

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TITLES TO THE PSALMS

48. GREAT IS THE LORD- The City of The Great King.................................................................115 49. GOD WILL REDEEM MY LIFE- The Foolishness of Trusting in Riches ................................118 50. THE MIGHTY GOD, THE LORD HAS SPOKEN- The True Sacrifice.......................................120 51. CREATE IN ME A CLEAN HEART- Forgiveness and New Birth ............................................124 52. WHY BOAST ABOUT THIS CRIME?- The Wicked Dragged Away.........................................127 53. THERE IS NO GOD- The Folly of Atheism...............................................................................129 54. GOD IS MY HELPER- Betrayed by Family...............................................................................131 55. CAST YOUR BURDEN ON THE LORD- Betrayed by a Friend ...............................................133 56. IF GOD IS FOR US, WHO CAN BE AGAINST US? Trusting When You Are Afraid...............136 57. BE EXALTED, O GOD- Praising God in the Caves of Life .....................................................138 58. BORN SINNERS- Corruption in High Places ..........................................................................141 59. I WILL SING OF YOUR POWER- Surrounded by Vicious Dogs ............................................143 60. WITH GOD’S HELP WE WILL DO MIGHTY THINGS- Raised from Defeat.............................146 61. LEAD ME TO THE ROCK- Living in His Shadow ....................................................................148 62. HE ALONE IS MY ROCK- The Serenity of Silence..................................................................150 63. O GOD, YOU ARE MY GOD- Loving Him More Than Life ......................................................152 64. BITTER WORDS ARE THE ARROWS- The Enemy’s Ambush ...............................................154 65. MIGHTY PRAISE BELONGS TO YOU IN ZION-Harvest Joy...................................................156 66. SHOUT JOYFUL PRAISES TO GOD- The Victorious Shout of Praise ..................................159 67. MAY ALL THE PEOPLE PRAISE YOU- The Salvation of Mankind ........................................162 68. ARISE, O GOD- The Triumphal Procession of Christ.............................................................164 69. THOSE WHO HATE ME WITHOUT CAUSE- The Suffering and the Song.............................167 70. GOD IS GREAT!- A Quick, Repeated Prayer ...........................................................................170 71. O HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL- Finishing Life With Strength and Purpose .................................172 72. LONG LIVE THE KING- The Messiah’s Reign .........................................................................174 73. WHOM HAVE I IN HEAVEN?- Why Do the Wicked Prosper? .................................................177 74. MY KING FROM AGES PAST- The Destruction of the Sanctuary .........................................180 75. HE DECIDES WHO WILL RISE AND FALL- The Promotion of the Godly .............................183 76. IN SALEM IS HIS TABERNACLE- Spiritual Warfare Through Praise ....................................185 77. I REMEMBER YOUR WONDERFUL DEEDS- The Pathway to Strength ................................187 78. LISTEN TO MY TEACHING- Avoiding the Sins of the Past....................................................189 79. THEY HAVE DEVOURED YOUR PEOPLE- God’s Love for His Flock ...................................194 80. TURN US AGAIN TO YOURSELF- Revival of the Nation........................................................196 81. SING PRAISES TO GOD OUR STRENGTH- Christ our Passover .........................................198 82. YOU ARE GODS- The Deity of Christ ......................................................................................200 83. LET US WIPE OUT ISRAEL- A Confederacy of Evil ...............................................................202 84. HOW LOVELY IS YOUR DWELLING PLACE- True Spiritual Happiness ...............................205 85. RIGHTEOUSNESS AND PEACE HAVE KISSED- Restoration and Renewal.........................207 86. ALL THE NATIONS WILL COME- Prayer from a United Heart ...............................................209 87. THIS ONE WAS BORN IN ZION- The City of God ...................................................................212 88. INTO THE DARKEST DEPTHS- The Darkness of Death ........................................................214 89. THE MIGHTIEST KING ON EARTH- God’s Faithful Love .......................................................217 BOOK III- LEVITICUS- Psalms 73-89

BOOK IV- NUMBERS- Psalms 90-106

90. TEACH US TO NUMBER OUR DAYS- Time and Eternity .......................................................221 91. THE SHADOW OF THE ALMIGHTY- The Temptation of Christ..............................................224 92. IT IS A GOOD THING TO GIVE THANKS- The Sabbath of Praise..........................................227

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TITLES TO THE PSALMS

93. MIGHTIER THAN THE RAGING SEAS- The Immovable King ................................................229 94. MY GOD IS A MIGHTY ROCK- The Lord Will Execute Justice ..............................................231 95. COME, LET US SING- Daily Entering His Rest .......................................................................233 96. SING A NEW SONG- Music and World Missions ....................................................................236 97. THE LORD IS KING- The Second Coming of Christ ..............................................................238 98. MAKE A JOYFUL SYMPHONY- The Messiah Has Come........................................................241 99. EXALT THE LORD OUR GOD- Worshiping at the Feet of Jesus...........................................243 100. SHOUT WITH JOY TO THE LORD- The Thanksgiving Psalm..............................................245 101. I WILL LEAD A LIFE OF INTEGRITY- A Life of Determination .............................................247 102. YOU REMAIN FOREVER- The Eternal Son and His Church................................................250 103. PRAISE THE LORD I TELL MYSELF- Song of the Soul .......................................................252 104. IN WISDOM YOU MADE THEM ALL- Song of Creation ........................................................255 105. HIS SACRED PROMISE TO ABRAHAM- Heirs of the Nations .............................................259 106. WE HAVE SINNED- God’s Faithfulness and Israel’s Failure ...............................................262 107. LET THEM PRAISE THE LORD- Journey to the Heavenly City ...........................................266 108. WAKE UP MY SOUL- God’s Medley of Victory .....................................................................269 109. HATRED FOR MY LOVE- The Judas Psalm ..........................................................................272 110. A PRIEST FOREVER- Jesus, the King/Priest ........................................................................275 111. HOW AMAZING- His Life-Giving Presence............................................................................279 112. HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS ENDURES FOREVER- The Generous Person................................282 113. PRAISE THE NAME OF THE LORD- The Updraft of Praise .................................................284 114. WHEN ISRAEL WENT OUT OF EGYPT- Miracles of Water ..................................................286 115. NOT TO US O LORD- Idols of the Heart ................................................................................289 116. I LOVE THE LORD- Life from Death.......................................................................................292 117. ALL YOU NATIONS- The Door for the Gentiles.....................................................................295 118. THE REJECTED STONE- My Strength and Song .................................................................297 119. O HOW I LOVE YOUR LAW- Transformed by His Word and Grace ....................................301 120. I AM FOR PEACE- The Decision to Change..........................................................................328 121. MY HELP COMES FROM THE LORD- The Watcher of My Soul ..........................................330 122. LET US GO INTO THE HOUSE OF THE LORD- The Peace of Jerusalem...........................332 123. I LIFT MY EYES TO YOU- Focused on God’s Throne...........................................................334 124. WE ESCAPED LIKE A BIRD- The Escape to Freedom .........................................................336 125. AS SECURE AS MT. ZION- Living in Security and Peace ....................................................339 126. IT WAS LIKE A DREAM- Sudden and Sustained Deliverance .............................................341 127. UNLESS THE LORD BUILDS A HOUSE- Partners with God................................................343 128. THOSE WHO FEAR THE LORD- The Rewards of Honoring God........................................345 129. MY BACK IS COVERED WITH CUTS- The Scourging of Christ ..........................................347 130. FROM THE DEPTHS OF DESPAIR- The Power of God’s Forgiveness ...............................349 131. MY HEART IS NOT PROUD- The Song of the Quieted Soul ................................................351 132. THIS IS MY HOME FOREVER- The Lord Chooses his Church and King ...........................352 133. LIFE FOREVERMORE- The Blessing of Harmony................................................................356 134. BLESS THE LORD- Worshiping God in the Night Seasons ................................................359 135. CELEBRATE WITH MUSIC- The Greatness of the Lord.......................................................361 136. HIS FAITHFUL LOVE ENDURES FOREVER- God’s Favorite Song .....................................364 137. BESIDE THE RIVERS OF BABYLON- The Song of the Captive Heart ................................367 138. SING YOUR PRAISES BEFORE THE GODS- A Deep Relationship with God ....................371 139. SEARCH ME O GOD- God’s Masterpiece..............................................................................373 BOOK V- DEUTERONOMY- Psalms 107-150 INTRODUCTION: THE SONGS FOR THE ASCENT TO JERUSALEM

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TITLES TO THE PSALMS

140. YOU PROTECTED ME- Overcoming Evil with Good............................................................377 141. MY PRAYER AS INCENSE- Discovering Spiritual Reality....................................................379 142. BRING ME OUT OF PRISON- Jesus is Right Beside Me......................................................382 143. UNFAILING LOVE IN THE MORNING- Comforted by the Holy Spirit ..................................384 144. HE GIVES ME STRENGTH FOR WAR- War and Peace.........................................................387 145. BLESS YOUR NAME FOREVER- Purest Stream of Praise ..................................................390 146. I WILL PRAISE AS LONG AS I LIVE- The Kingdom of God .................................................393 147. THE LORD IS REBUILDING JERUSALEM- Restored to Life ...............................................397 148. LET THEM ALL PRAISE- Praise Song of the Universe ........................................................400 149. PRAISE HIS NAME WITH DANCING- The Song and the Sword ..........................................403 150. LET EVERY LIVING THING SING PRAISES- Grand Finale of Praise ..................................406 About the Author .............................................................................................................................410 Reference List..................................................................................................................................411 Other Products ................................................................................................................................412

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Introduction: Keys To The Psalms

These are some of the keys that have helped me to unlock the riches of the Psalms. They are not pre- sented necessarily in the order of their importance, but each one, like the facet of a diamond, brings il- lumination to the Hebrew Song Book. These keys have built a framework in my thinking that has increased my understanding of this amazing book of the Bible.

The Key of Worship and Prayer “ I will honor you as long as I live, lifting up my hands to you in prayer…I will praise you with songs of joy. ” (Ps. 63:4,5) One of the main purposes of this book is to help bring people closer to God through a deeper under- standing of worship and prayer as taught in the Psalms. Psalms show us that it is all right to be human before God, to pour out our souls in anguish as well as celebration. It also teaches us His language of spiritual conversation; in how to pray and proclaim His Word over our lives. It teaches us the language of worship, thanksgiving, praise and joy. Psalms is both the worship book and the prayer book of the Bible and God meant these two things to be exercised together. Much of this book was written on ‘my knees’ and at the ‘keyboard’ of my piano as well as at ‘my desk’ of study. Jesus: Key to the Scriptures “’ When I was with you before, I told you that everything written about me by Moses and the Prophets and in the Psalms must all come true.’ Then He opened their minds to understand these many Scrip- tures. ” (Luke 24:44,45) The grand subject of the Book of Psalms is Jesus, as it was His Spirit that moved upon the authors and inspired them to write their poetry. This is not literature that is frozen in the timeframe of the ancient He- brew civilization but a living, prophetic document filled with the Presence of the Messiah. Psalms leaves us in no doubt concerning the Deity, Lordship and love of Christ for each of us. Hopefully the reader of this work will be able to say in some small measure along with the disciples on the Emmaus road; “ Did- n’t our hearts feel strangely warm as He talked with us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us? ” (Lk. 24:32)

The ‘Authorship’ Key “For the choir director: A psalm of the descendants of Korah.” (Ps. 44)

Often the authorship will give clues and hints as to the historical setting of the Psalm and enrich our un- derstanding. David authored the majority of the Psalms and set the tone for the whole genre of musical scripture. Many of the anonymous Psalms are attributed to him also. It is believed that major part of Psalms originated in the period 1000 B.C. to 700 B.C., from David to Hezekiah 1 , the rest of which were composed during the time of the captivity in Babylon and the period of Judah’s return to the land of Is- rael. The authors are:

David

73 12 10

Asaph

The Descendants of Korah

Solomon

2 1 1 1

Moses

Heman the Ezrahite Ethan the Ezrahite

Anonymous

50

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Keys To The Psalms

The Key of Music “ Sing your praise to the Lord with the harp, with the harp and melodious song, with trumpets and the sound of the ram’s horn. Make a joyful symphony before the Lord, the King! ” (Ps. 98:5,6) The kingdom under David enjoyed an explosion of music, instruments, singing and composition like none other in history. David himself was an accomplished harpist and composer and separated 288 musician singers to practice, pray, study, arrange and compose music for the service of God. The Psalms were to be understood through the melodies and harmonies of music. “The word psalm (mizmor) means a composition set to music, and, in the first instance, speaks of the music rather than of the psalm. “But for the lyre we might never have had LYRICS–and but for the art of sweeping the strings, which we call Psalmein (psalming) we might never have had in our hands the poetic products which we call Psalmoi (Psalms) “. 2 This quote is saying that a true psalm is first music and then words where as a hymn is when words are composed first and then they are set to music.The music styles of every generation change, but the hymnbook of the Holy Spirit remains a continual example and source of inspiration for the ages. The ‘New Testament’ Key “ Dear brothers, think about this! David wasn’t referring to himself when he spoke these words I have quoted… David was looking into the future and predicting the Messiah’s resurrection…This prophecy was speaking of Jesus, whom God raised from the dead… ” (Acts 2:29-32) Psalms is quoted in the New Testament more frequently than any other book in the Hebrew Scriptures. Every major teaching and event surrounding the Messiah and his church is found in the rich prophetic streams of the Psalms. The writers of the gospels and epistles understood the Psalms in the light of the events unfolding around them as Jesus and His church arrived on the scene of human history. No other book in the Old Testament is as close to the heart of the New Testament as this one. The Key of David’s Life “ David, the son of Jesse, speaks - David, the man to whom God gave such wonderful success, David, the man anointed by the God of Jacob, David, the sweet psalmist of Israel. ” (2 Sam. 23:1) The life of David is essential to grasp the meaning of the Psalms. Many of his compositions parallel the events of his personal history as recorded in the Scriptures. He was prophetic of the coming Messiah and many of his prayers and songs were the very words that Christ would utter in fulfillment a thousand years later. His triumphs, failures, fears and faith come to us in honest and raw form. We see into the depths of his soul as he grows from a shepherd boy who defeats the mighty Philistine giant, his renown as a musical icon in the house of Saul, to the throne of the kingdom and worldwide fame and then his shameful sin with Bathsheba and resulting troubles and eventual restoration. The greatest of Israel’s kings is highly honored as the Scriptures call the Messiah ‘The Son of David.’ The ‘Tent of David’ Key “ David also ordered the Levite leaders to appoint a choir of Levites who were singers and musicians to sing joyful songs to the accompaniment of lyres, harps, and cymbals. ” (1 Chron. 15:1,16) When David became king in Jerusalem he set up 24 groups of 12 musicians who would minister praise, thanksgiving and prophetic music before the presence of God continually at the ‘Tent of David’ on Mount Zion. This foreshadowed the coming age of the church in which we live where we can come boldly be- fore the throne of grace to commune with our God. Many of the Psalms were written and ministered in this holy atmosphere. Asaph and the descendants of Korah were a part of the Levitical musicians who ministered before the Ark of the Covenant. Much of the great worship revolution sweeping the nations of the earth today finds its source in the flowing music of this simple tent in Jerusalem thousands of years ago.

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Keys To The Psalms

The ‘Psalm Titles’ Key “ For the choir director: A psalm of David, regarding the time Doeg the Edomite told Saul that Ahimelech had given refuge to David. ” (Ps. 52) The titles of the psalms offer us historical backgrounds as to the time or occasion of which the psalm was composed as well as the authorship. It also gives us hints as to the musical instructions as well as who was to arrange and when the psalm was to be performed. They also describe the character of the composition hinting at the style of performance. I have offered some suggestions in a few circumstances as to what the title might mean. Many of the words used in these brief preludes are ancient and not trans- latable.

The ‘Five Books of Psalms’ Key “ This ends the prayers of David son of Jesse. ” (Ps. 72:20)

There is a well-established tradition that the psalms were divided into 5 books known as the Pentateuch of Psalms corresponding to the 5 Books of Moses (The Pentateuch.) Each book centers upon a differ- ent name for God and focus of events or place. There is a doxology (or ending praise) as the last verse in each book. Psalm 150 is itself the doxology for the entire book of Psalms.

I Psalms 1-41 II Psalms 42-72 III Psalms 73-89 IV Psalms 90-106 V Psalms 107-150

The Book of Genesis The Book of Exodus

David’s Psalms

Descendants of Korah

The Book of Leviticus Asaph’s Psalms The Book of Numbers Anonymous Psalms

The Book of Deut.

Anonymous Psalms

The Key of Context and Continuity- “ A psalm. A song. For the Sabbath day. It is good to praise the Lord and make music to your name… ” (Ps. 92: Intro and vs. 1) One of the principle foundations of correctly understanding the Bible is the subject of context; ‘what did the scripture mean to the people to whom it was written?’ Continuity is ‘what does this scripture contribute to the subject in the entire Bible?’ In writing on the psalms, I first try to address the ‘context’ and then proceed to the ‘continuity’. To properly understand the ‘context’ of Psalm 92, we must see how the He- brews celebrated their Sabbath centuries ago. To understand this Psalms ‘continuity’ to the whole Bible, we must see how it fits into God’s entire revelation of what the Sabbath truly means for mankind. Psalm 92 teaches us how ‘praising God’ is a way of refreshing ourselves in the spiritual rest Christ has provided for us. We would be lost in the psalms without an understanding of the moral and religious requirements of the law as given to Moses. The law provided the psalmists with a foundation of justice to evaluate both human and national behavior. The righteous will eventually flourish while evil will inevitably fail. The cross of Christ fulfills all the passages of scripture referring to the ceremonial sacrifices and the Festi- vals of Israel while the moral requirements of the Law are met by his sinless and perfect life. David and the additional writers of the psalms followed the schoolmaster of the law as it led them to the grace of Christ. The Key of Israel’s History “ All the events of King David’s reign, from beginning to end, are written in The Record of Samuel the Seer. ’ (2 Chron. 29:29) The ‘Law of Moses’ Key “ The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul. ” (Ps. 19:7)

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Keys To The Psalms

The history of the nation of Israel from the beginning of time unto their return from exile in Babylon is documented in the songs of the psalms. Knowing the time-frame context of when the psalm was com- posed adds to the richness of its meaning. Though the Psalms are focused upon the Jews and their piv- otal role in history, they do invite the nations of the world to trust in God on an equal basis. These ‘Holy Spirit inspired songs’ give birth to the wisdom literature of the Proverbs as well as the age of the Prophets. Psalms becomes the great sea into which the rivers of the Old Testament flow forward and the New Testament Scriptures flow backward into a songbook of worship for all ages. The ‘Names of God’ Key “ The Lord said to my Lord, ‘Sit in honor at my right hand until I humble your enemies, making them a footstool under your feet. ’” (Ps. 110:1) The psalms are resplendent with the various names and titles of God. Although the writers did not have the New Testament revelation of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, they were concealed in the psalms and woven into the language of the poetry. ‘In the Old Testament, they experienced the Trinity as One God; in the New Testament they experienced the One God as Trinity.’ Understanding the names increases the light of our understanding and draws us closer to the incredible God of the psalmists. In the psalm text above, Yahweh “The Lord” is addressing Adonai “My Lord”…God is speaking within himself, the mystery of the Trinity is incubating in the Psalms.

‘Adon and Adonai’– Sovereign Lord El- the strong and mighty one. Elohim- Supreme and adorable God, a plural name for God. Elyon- The Most High God Yahweh, (Jahve,) Jehovah and Jah- He who is,

the Covenant God of Israel Shaddai- Israel’s provider

The Key of Creation “ He owns the depths of the earth, and even the mightiest mountains are his. The sea belongs to him, for he made it. His hands formed the dry land, too. ” (Ps. 95:4,5) Psalms celebrates the creator and his creation. Each of the created things animate and inanimate be- comes a language to explain his redemption and love for us. The mountains display his righteousness, the heavens explain his mercy, the waves of the seas are like the ceaseless praise of the nations, the trees clap their hands, we are likened to the sheep of his pasture, the devil is like a roaring lion, the sun and moon display His faithful covenant of mercy and the rivers of His grace will never run dry. Even the birds of the sky find a place in his temple singing praise to the God of Israel!

The Key of the Jewish People “ Sing praises to God, our strength. Sing to the God of Israel. ” (Ps. 81:1)

Psalms cannot be properly understood apart from the Jews being the chosen race to bring the Messiah and his words to the world. From the deliverance of Israel from Egypt at the Red Sea, the conquering of the Land of Canaan, the establishment of the Kingdom, the exile and return from Babylon, the entire book of Psalms finds its truth and imagery from the heart of Judaism. The customs, laws and culture of the Jews flavor the book and fill it with the richest treasures. The gift of worship and prayer that the Jews have given the world will one day return to the holy city of Jerusalem as they embrace the Mes- siah and sing; ‘ Hosanna to the Son of David. ’ (Mt. 21:9)

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Keys To The Psalms

The Key of Poetry “ As the deer pants for streams of water, so I long for you, O God. ” (Ps. 42:1)

God is a master poet/lyricist/musician as evidenced by the longest book of the Bible. Every technique known to literature is incorporated in this remarkable book. There are the artful acrostic poems where each verse begins with the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet; the repetitive antiphonal songs sung by 2 choirs, the free-form verses, the historical epic, the celebrations of creation, exuberant praise and the resonating sadness of mournful songs. The poets extol virtue, hurl judgment on their enemies and re- joice in the religious festivals. They write from beneath the wings of the cherubim on the Ark of the Covenant and from the lonely deserts of Moab, from the Sabbath celebrations in Jerusalem to the mournful songs of exile in Babylon, from victories over massive armies to laments over their personal sin. It is all here, the human drama is completely documented in every conceivable style. Hebrew po- etry is mainly rhythmic rather than relying upon the rhyming of words. Scroggie masterfully treats this subject in his ‘Introduction to Psalms’ chapter where he points out the Hebrew technique of parallelism; some of the various forms are; ‘Synonymous Parallelism, in which the same thing is repeated in differ- ent words;…

“ The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof ”.

‘ The world and they that dwell therein ’. (Ps. 24:1)

Climacteric parallelism, in which the second line completes the first.

Give unto the Lord, O ye mighty, Give unto the Lord glory and strength. ” (Psalm 29:1)

THE KEY OF FAITH A guiding scripture for this entire work has been 2 Corinthians 4:13; “ But we continue to preach be- cause we have the same kind of faith the psalmist had when he said, ‘I believed in God, and so I speak. ’” The goal of study is to apply the discovered truth into life practice; to pray like the psalmists, to trust like the psalmists, to love God with their same measure of devotion, to forgive like them and to model our worship after the depth of their words and feelings; to speak words of faith like they did even when faced with overwhelmingly negative situations. My life has been slowly transformed as I have meditated, studied, prayed, composed and written on the Psalms. My prayer is that this book will be like a walk down the Emmaus road with Jesus and that your worship of him will become more meaningful.

1 Scroggie, page 16 2 Scroggie, page 10 3 Dr. Ervine, Lectures on the history of the Old Testament; 2003, Oral Roberts University

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PSALM 1: BLESSED IS THE MAN Delighting in the Law of the Lord

This psalm is the prologue to the entire book of psalms and contrasts the way of the righteous with the way of the wicked. We are either blessed or scornful, planted or blown away by the wind, delighting in God’s law or being destroyed by sin as we dynamically move toward the fulfillment of our lives. It was most likely written by Solomon as it contains words that didn’t come into use until his time. This psalm along with 2, 10 and 33 are anonymous and the only ones not written by King David in Book 1 of the Psalter (Psalms 1-41).

It is divided into two contrasting sections:

l. THE WAY OF THE RIGHTEOUS - 1-3 II. THE WAY OF THE WICKED - 4-6

THE WAY OF THE RIGHTEOUS - 1-3

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“ Blessed is the man… ” (1) This is the first of the ‘Blessing Psalms,’ those writings that begin with ‘blessed is the man…’ (Psalms 1, 32, 41, 112, 119) . God desired to bring happiness and fulfillment to mankind from the very beginning of the world. “ So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him male and fe- male he created them. God blessed them…”(Gen. 1:27,28) This is the ‘good news’ of the gospel in cap- sule form. Jesus began his teaching in the Beatitudes with the pronouncement: “ Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs it the kingdom of heaven.”(Mt. 5:3) He was showing us how to recapture the joy of God’s bless- ing that was lost in the fall of Adam and Eve.

The Negative First -

God first points out the wrong path and its downward spiral before pointing out the right way to his blessings. This is done in triple triplets:

“ Blessed is the man who does not… ‘

• WALK in the COUNSEL of the WICKED • or STAND in the WAY of SINNERS • or SIT in the SEAT of MOCKERS . “ (1)

The progressions are meant to be obvious: walking in wrong counsel eventually leads to ‘sitting’ or becoming entrenched in the philosophy of ungodliness. Wrong counsel leads to a lifestyle of sin and finally to an immovable seat of destructive habit. The last word, ‘mockers’ is from Solomon’s writings and is the strongest of all, it is one who openly scorns and blasphemes all that is holy and good. Life is not static, we move in the direction of the ideas we embrace until we arrive at their final destination.

Now the Positive!

“ But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. ” (2) Delight is something that we love above everything else and can’t wait to do! Meditating in the word is spending time with Jesus, listening to him, singing to him, thinking deeply about his promises, his love, his warn- ings and his wisdom. Moses commanded Joshua: “ Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.”(Josh. 1:8)

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The Tree of Life - (3)

Those who meditate upon His word will receive benefits for their lives:

• “ He is like a tree planted… ” The righteous is compared to trees that are strong and flourishing while the wicked are described in opposite terms: “ …autumn trees, without fruit and uprooted-twice dead.”(Jude 12) • “ …by streams of water- “ These streams are the small irrigation ‘runnels’ that run through the or- chards of the middle east and represent the nourishing of the Holy Spirit in the believer’s life: “ Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.’ By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive.”(John 7:38) • “ …which yields its fruit in season…The fruits of the Holy Spirit are perpetual in the life of the be- liever: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentle- ness and self-control’. (Gal. 5:22:23) • “ …whose leaf does not wither… ” God has intended that we flourish in all dimensions of our lives as we are planted in his word and watered by his Spirit. • “ Whatever he does prospers. ” Joseph was a man who remained faithful to God and prospered though the circumstances of his life were extremely difficult: “ the Lord was with Joseph and he pros- pered…When his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord gave him success in every- thing he did, Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant. “ (Gen. 39:2-4) His blessing falls upon us in a ‘fallen world!’

THE WAY OF THE WICKED - 4-6

Psalm 1 introduces the literary technique of ‘comparison’. The wicked are now contrasted with the righteous.

Chaff

“ Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away.”(4) Chaff is the husk of the wheat this is separated from the kernel by throwing it into the wind. It is then gathered together and burned as it has no value to the farmer. Each time it is mentioned in scripture it is in association with wind or fire alluding to the emptiness of a life lived on this earth without God and eternal separation from him. “ His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” (Mt. 3:12)

Judgment

• Eternal judgment- “ Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment…”(5) Right at the be- ginning of the worship book of God a date is set for an appearance in the courtroom of heaven and there will be no acquittal for the crimes of the wicked. The very laws that they have scorned condemn the wicked. “ For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.” (2 Cor. 5:10) • Temporal judgment- “ …nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.”(5)

Sin separates us from everyone and everything that is good; in the end the one who persists in sin is completely alone.

Two Ways - (6)

“ For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish. ”

This psalm presents two road signs at the beginning of life’s journey. One says: “ THE WAY OF THE WICKED- Beware! This path leads to an empty life of meaningless chaff, lost court battles with the laws that they resisted, withered fruit in the seasons of life, expulsion from the congregation of those who love God, and the destruction of everything they have lived for.”

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