Heart of a Psalmist - Worshipping Christ Through The Psalms

they were healed - (He sent forth his word and healed them…NIV) snatched from the door of death.” (17-20)

Jesus is foreshadowed here as the ‘ Word of God’ who heals our sin and diseases. “In the beginning the Word already existed. He was with God, and he was God.” (Jn. 1:1) A Roman officer came to Jesus and asked him to heal his paralyzed servant and made an astounding request: “Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed!” (Mt. 8:8) Jesus was amazed at this mans faith! “And the young servant was healed that same hour.” (Mt. 8:13)

“Let them praise the Lord for his great love and for all his wonderful deeds to them. Let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving and sing joyfully about his glorious acts.” (21-22)

Israel had been ‘healed’ from their sins by their return to the land. This became one of the major sources of their joy and thanksgiving for centuries until the coming of Christ.

V SOME WENT OFF IN SHIPS - 23-32- The Impossible Storm

“Some went off in ships, plying the trade routes of the world. They, too, observed the Lord’s power in action, his impressive works on the deepest seas. He spoke, and the winds rose, stirring up the waves. Their ships were tossed to the heavens and sank again to the depths; the sailors cringed in ter- ror. They reeled and staggered like drunkards and were at their wits’ end. ‘Lord, help!’ they cried in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He calmed the storm to a whisper and stilled the waves. What a blessing was that stillness as he brought them safely into harbor! Let them exalt him publicly be- fore the congregation and before the leaders of the nation.” (23-32) The Jews regarded the exile as a stormy, tumultuous period in their history and their return to the land of Israel as a ship reaching the harbor. There are three storms depicted in the scriptures and each one culminates in the persons reaching their destinations with totally changed attitudes towards the Lord. • Jonah- The Lord sent a storm upon the sea as Jonah fled in disobedience to his command: “…suddenly the Lord flung a powerful wind over the sea, causing a violent storm that threatened to send them to the bottom.” (Jonah 1:4) Jonah was thrown overboard and swallowed by a great fish; from its belly he fulfilled the spiritual formula: “I cried out to the Lord in my great trouble, and he answered me.” (Jonah 2:2) He ended up singing to the Lord from the digestive tract of a large fish “But I will offer sacrifices to you with songs of praise…”(Jonah 2:9) God changed his heart and he fulfilled the Lord’s command to prophesy to the city of Ninevah. • The Disciples- Two different times the disciples were caught in storms on the Sea of Galilee. The second time they were caught in a violent wind and Jesus came walking upon the waters. Soon after Peter joined him on the water he began to sink; Jesus helped him “And when they climbed back into the boat, the wind stopped.” (Mt. 14:32) The storm changed the disciples perception of Jesus: “Then the disciples worshiped him. ‘You really are the Son of God’ they exclaimed.” (Mt. 14:33) They fulfilled the command of this psalm to ‘praise him!’ • Paul the Apostle- Paul was bound for Rome on a prison ship when God sent a tremendous storm: “The terrible storm raged unabated for many days, blotting out the sun and the stars, until at last all hope was gone.” (Acts 27:20) The storm caused the ship to come under the control of the word of the Lord through Paul rather than the navigational skills of the captain. Paul heard directly from the Lord and encouraged the sailors that they would all live: “So take courage! For I believe God. it will be just as he said.” (Acts 27:25) Paul fulfilled the command of this psalm to publicly exalt the Lord when he even- tually stood before the rulers of the Roman Empire.

VI SPRINGS OF WATER - 33-38

“He changes rivers into deserts, and springs of water into dry land. He turns the fruitful land into salty wastelands, because of the wickedness of those who live there.” (33, 34)

This is a spiritual and natural description of the land of Israel during the exile. Jeremiah describes it in his furious prophecy from the Lord: “This entire land will become a desolate wasteland. Israel and her neighboring lands will serve the king of Babylon for seventy years.” (Jer. 25:11)

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