Heart of a Psalmist - Worshipping Christ Through The Psalms

This song was a constant reminder that God had favored them and granted them success in con- quering the land: • “ It was by your mighty power that they succeeded; • It was because you favored them and smiled on them.” (3)

“ You are my King and my God. You command victories for your people. Only by your power can we push back our enemies; only in your name can we trample our foes.” (4,5)

Jesus is the “ King ” and “ God ” of the psalms. He is King because he was born into the kingly line of Judah and yet he was God eternal, existing with the Father before the world began. “ So the Jewish leaders tried all the more to kill him…he had spoken of God as his Father, thereby making himself equal with God.” (Jn. 5:18) The songwriter is resolving to trust in God as his ancestors had done before him. The testimonies found in the Word of God are not meant to limit God to distant history but are meant to inspire us to believe he will work in our lives today. “ I do not trust my bow; I do not count on my sword to save me. It is you who gives us victory over our enemies; it is you who humbles those who hate us. O God, we give glory to you all day long and constantly praise your name.” Interlude (6-8) The psalmist focuses his trust on the Lord by giving him glory and praise throughout the day. He realizes that his bow and sword are not the source of his victory but the Lord alone. This results in ar- rows of praise coming from his lips and the two-edged sword of the word of God coming from the con- fession of his mouth. The psalmist places the responsibility for Israel’s troubles completely upon the Lord. He does not claim that God is unjust in what has happened: • But now you have tossed us aside in dishonor. • You no longer lead our armies to battle. • You make us retreat from our enemies and allow them to plunder our land. • You have treated us like sheep waiting to be slaughtered; • You have scattered us among the nations. • You sold us–your precious people–for a pittance. • You valued us at nothing at all. • You have caused all our neighbors to mock us. We are an object of scorn and derision to the nations around us. • You have made us the butt of their jokes; we are scorned by the whole world.” We can’t escape the constant humiliation; shame is written across our faces. All we hear are the taunts of our mockers. All we see are our vengeful enemies.” (9-16) The nation is going through a ‘collective’ Job experience. They are living nationally what Job en- dured individually. If God is the one who has allowed these troubles, then he is certainly the one who can reverse the misfortune of his people. God is able to engineer a greater and higher good to emerge from a disaster if his people will trust him. After God rebuked Job and his friends for their misunder- standing of his higher ways Job said: “ I had heard about you before, but now I have seen you with my own eyes. I take back everything I said, and I sit in dust and ashes to show my repentance.” (Job 42:5,6) One encounter with Jesus answers all the questions about the righteousness and wisdom of God in al- lowing us to go through suffering because he was the greatest sufferer of injustice in the history of hu- manity. “ Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. Instead, be very glad–because these trials will make you partners with Christ in his suffering and afterward you will have the wonderful joy of sharing his glory when it is displayed to all the world.” (1 Pet. 4:12,13) II PERSECUTION AND SHAME - 9-16

III PIETY AND SUFFERING - 17-22

The psalmist is looking for a reason for the tragedy that has fallen upon the nation. He maintains that the nation has:

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