Heart of a Psalmist - Worshipping Christ Through The Psalms

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HIS REIGN IS GLORIOUS - vs. 11

There are three essential ingredients that make the reign of Jesus a glorious one:

1. Worship- “All kings will bow before him, and all nations will serve him. (v.11) In Solomon’s day bowing was coerced and forced. During the Messiah’s reign leaders will come willingly to worship and give their lives to the King. 2. Prayer ”May the people always pray for him and bless him all day long. (v. 15) In Solomon’s day the subjects prayed for their king. In Messiah’s reign we pray to king Jesus and he intercedes for us! 3. Praise- ”May all nations be blessed through him and bring him praise.”(v.17) This is a kingdom of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Wherever the Messiah reigns there is refreshing and uplifting!

“Bless the Lord God, the God of Israel, who alone does such wonderful things. Bless his glorious name forever! Let the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen and amen!”(18,19)

This messianic kingdom psalm ends with a call to bless “Yahweh-Elohim”, the Elohim of Israel . This is the benediction and ending to the ‘Second Book of Psalms’ (Psalms 42-72) corresponding to the Book of Exodus. Elohim is the name of the Almighty God of Israel used most predominantly in this Book. Yah- weh is in reference to the deliverer of the nation foreshadowing the coming Messiah. As we bless the name of Jesus we contribute to the whole earth being filled with the glory of ‘Yahweh/Elohim’ . To the ful- fillment of that day we can all say: “Amen and amen.”

PSALM 73: WHOM HAVE I IN HEAVEN? Why Do the Wicked Prosper?

This is the second psalm by Asaph, the principle musician and prophet of David’s Tent of worship on Mount Zion. (See comments on Psalm 50) Psalm 50 and 73-83 make up the total of 12 psalms that he composed. This is the most penetrating scripture in the entire Bible that deals with the subject of why the wicked prosper and the righteous suffers. The answer comes to Asaph as he encounters God in Zion’s sanctuary. The eternal perspective we experience in the presence of Jesus is the only way we can understand life’s perplexing questions. The psalm divides into three main areas:

I DISMAYED BY THE WICKED - 1-12 II DESTINY OF THE WICKED - 13-20 III DESIRE OF THE GODLY - 21-28

INTRODUCTION:

“A Psalm of Asaph.”

This begins a string of 11 psalms written by Asaph, the Levitical singer of David’s tabernacle. Psalms 74, 79 and 83 are thought to have been written by another ‘Asaph’ who might have lived after the Jews returned from the exile in Babylon as the subjects of these psalms fit better into that time period. This is the beginning of the ‘Third Book of Psalms’ (73-89) that corresponds with Leviticus, the third book of Moses.

I DISMAYED BY THE WICKED - 1-12

“Truly God is good to Israel, to those whose hearts are pure. But as for me, I came so close to the cliff! My feet were slipping, and I was almost gone. For I envied the proud when I saw them prosper de- spite their wickedness.” (1-3)

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