Heart of a Psalmist - Worshipping Christ Through The Psalms

INTRODUCTION:

“For the choir director: A psalm of the descendants of Korah.” (see Psalm 42)

No direct authorship is claimed and no circumstances indicate exactly when the psalm was writ- ten. One thing is certain, it was written after a time of great national repentance and revival. There are several such events in the history of the nation of Judah: • Hezekiah Celebrates the Passover- “There was great joy in the city, for Jerusalem had not seen a celebration like this since the days of Solomon, King David’s son. Then the Levitical priests stood and blessed the people, and God heard them from his holy dwelling in heaven.”(2 Chron. 30:26,27) • Josiah Turns the Nation to God- “So Josiah removed all detestable idols from the entire land of Israel and required everyone to worship the Lord their God. And throughout the rest of his lifetime, they did not turn away from the Lord, the God of their ancestors.”(2 Chron. 34:33) I RESTORED THE FORTUNES OF ISRAEL - 1,2 The outpouring of the blessing upon the nation and the restoration of their fortunes was the result of the removal of their sins. The loss of God’s blessing and favor can be a great motivation to seek him as evidenced by the often-repeated spiritual formula in the book of Judges: “Once again the Israelites did what was evil in the Lord’s sight, so the Lord gave King Eglon of Moab control over Israel. (Loss of blessing and fortune) But when Israel cried out to the Lord help, the Lord raised up a man to rescue them.”(Jdges. 3:12, 15) God has raised up the ‘man’ Christ Jesus to rescue us from the effects of our sins; the New Testament expands the meaning of these words in this Psalm: • “You have forgiven the guilt of your people” (2)- “Yet now God in his gracious kindness declares us not guilty. He has done this through Christ Jesus, who has freed us by taking away our sins.” (Rm. 3:24) • “You have covered all their sins” (2)- “…he sent his Son as a sacrifice (propitiation) to take away our sins.” (1 Jn. 4:10) Sometimes old words best describe the meaning God is trying to convey to us; propitiation means to ‘gain or regain the good will of a god, to appease and render favorable 1 .’ This psalm is referring to the destiny of the entire nation of Israel/Judah as they regain the good will of the Lord. Those who trust in Christ are in a position of blessing and the restoration of everything that God intended them to have in their lives. “You have withdrawn your fury. You have ended your blazing anger. Now turn to us again, O God of our salvation. Put aside your anger against us. Will you be angry with us always? Will you prolong your wrath to distant generations? (3-5) Sin breaks both human and divine relationships and results in anger as shown in this psalm. “Fury, blazing anger, anger, angry and wrath” are all mentioned in these short verses. Israel/Judah had bro- ken God’s laws and were experiencing his wrath before their national revival. God sent his son to be the sacrifice and focus of his anger so that we who have turned to him for mercy may become the focus of his goodness: He is able to “turn to us again” because all anger resulting from our offense has been completely and eternally removed. “Lord, you have poured out amazing blessings on your land! You have restored the fortunes of Jacob (Israel). You have forgiven the guilt of your people–yes, you have covered all their sins. Interlude “(1,2) II REVIVE US AGAIN - 3-7

“Won’t you revive us again, so your people can rejoice in you? Show us your unfailing love, O Lord, and grant us your salvation.”(6,7)

The prayer to “revive us” means to raise us again from the dead. Israel/Judah were dead in their trespasses and sins and needed reviving to a place of rejoicing and happiness. God demonstrates his love and salvation to us when he makes us spiritually alive in his son: “Since Christ lives within you…your spirit is alive because you have been made right with God. The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you.”(Rm. 8:10, 11) Rejoicing and music explodes when there is authentic revival and re- newal.

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