Heart of a Psalmist - Worshipping Christ Through The Psalms

“But he rejected Joseph’s descendants; he did not choose the tribe of Ephraim. He chose the tribe of Judah, Mount Zion, which he loved. There he built his towering sanctuary, as solid and enduring as the earth itself. “(67-69) God left the tabernacle of Joseph’s tribe in anger and moved to Zion, a place where he was loved, celebrated and obeyed. The description in these verses must surely be of a spiritual nature because it was neither physically towering or a solid building. It was a tent on a low hill but it’s spiritual impact of grace and mercy towered over the covenant of law and provided the solid foundation for our New Tes- tament faith in Christ. “He chose his servant David, calling him from the sheep pens. He took David from tending the ewes and lambs and made him the shepherd of Jacob’s descendants–God’s own people, Israel. He cared for them with a true heart and led them with skillful hands.” (70-72)

David was the Shepherd-King who became the model leader of all the subsequent kings who reigned in Israel and Judah.

• He was chosen by God; Saul was chosen by the people. • He was called to the task not driven by human ambition. • He was trained and prepared in the sheep pens and pastures of Israel. • He recognized that the people belonged to God, not himself.

• He was motivated by love that sprang from his heart. • He was skillful and wise in applying his leadership.

Christ the son of David, was born in a sheep pen to become “your Shepherd, the Guardian of your souls.” (1 Pet. 2:25) He will lead us to the heavenly city of Zion to live with him forever.

1 Keil & Delitzsch

PSALM 79: THEY HAVE DEVOURED YOUR PEOPLE God’s Love for His Flock

Psalm 74 and 79 are twin psalms dealing with the invasion of Israel and Jerusalem by Nebuchad- nezzar and the Babylonians in 587 B.C. Psalm 74 centers on the destruction of the temple and the city while Psalm 79 focuses mainly upon the suffering and the perishing of the people of God. The parallels are many: • Psalm 74:1- “Why is your anger so intense against the sheep of your own pasture? - Psalm 79:13 “Then we your people, the sheep of your pasture, will thank you forever and ever…” • Psalm 74:10- “How long, O god, will you allow our enemies to mock you?” Psalm 79:5 “O Lord, how long will you be angry with us? Forever?” • Psalm 74:19- “Don’t let these wild beasts destroy your doves.” Ps. 79:2 “The flesh of your godly ones has become food for the wild animals.” In a wider prophetic sense the psalm foretells the persecution of God’s people throughout the cen- turies and underscores God’s faithful love even in the midst of the darkest times. Like the Lord’s prayer in the New Testament (Your name, your kingdom, your will …), the psalm centers upon God using the pronoun ‘Your’; ‘Your land, your special possession, your holy temple…etc ‘ Then like the Lord’s prayer (give us…, forgive us…, lead us…, deliver us…) it follows with personal prayers using the pronouns ‘we, our and us.’ True prayer is concerned first with God’s will then our personal issues. Its three sections are titled:

I YOUR SPECIAL POSSESSION - 1-4 II YOUR NAME - 5-12 III YOUR PEOPLE - 13

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