Heart of a Psalmist - Worshipping Christ Through The Psalms

“I am fading liked a shadow at dusk; I am falling liked grasshopper that is brushed aside. My knees are weak from fasting, and I am skin and bones. I am an object of mockery to people everywhere; when they see me, they shake their heads.” (23-25) The fading shadow and the humble grasshopper convey to us the weakness of the psalmist. He- brew poetry condenses complex feelings into vivid pictures. The meter (rhythm) of the words adds to the anguish of his soul as it is read in the original language. David also resorts to hyperbole (exagger- ation); he most likely was not skin and bones but surely was famished as he fled on foot before the armies of Absalom. Both David and Jesus suffered the mockery of the nation following their betrayals: “And the people passing by shouted abuse, shaking their heads in mockery.”(Mt. 27:39) God is more available to us when we suffer betrayal and hurt as he himself experienced be- trayal. David reminds us of what to do and expect in such moments: • God’s help- “Help me, O Lord my God!” (26) He will not abandon those who are suffering great injustice. This is God’s personal specialty, sustaining the betrayed person. • God’s love- “Save me because of your unfailing love.” (26) One thing will remain constant through every human misfortune, his merciful love. He may not save us from betrayal, but he will save us from the intended curses. • God’s sovereignty- “Let them see that this is your doing, that you yourself have done it, Lord.” (27) Although God did not cause the events, he controlled them to fulfill his eternal purpose. Jesus knew all along that Judas would betray him and that this act of treachery would help to complete God’s plan of salvation. • God’s blessing- “then let them curse me if they like, but you will bless me! When they attack me, they will be disgraced! But I, your servant, will go right on rejoicing!” (28) God’s blessings cancel out all human curses; that is why we are told to: “bless those who curse you…” (Mt. 5:44) Knowing that he is secure in the grace of God causes David to rejoice, recovering his joy and strength! • God’s intercession- “Make their humiliation obvious to all; clothe my accusers with disgrace. But I will give repeated thanks to the Lord, praising him to everyone. For he stands beside the needy, (For he stands at the right hand…NIV), ready to save them from those who condemn them.” (29-31) God is much better at handling our accusers than we are. ‘The expression ‘give repeated thanks’, (greatly praise NKJV), does not occur elsewhere in the Psalms. It is indicative of an unusually strong feeling of thankfulness 6 .’ There is a special gift of joy available to all who experience the curses of betrayal. The last imagery of the psalm portrays Yahweh standing at the right hand of the psalmist pleading his case and is meant to stand in sharp contrast to verse 6, where the Satanic accuser is at the right hand of the condemned. We can ‘greatly rejoice’ because; “…he is the one who died for us and was raised to life for us and is sitting at the place of highest honor (right hand) next to God, pleading for us.” (Rom. 8:34)

1 Keil & Delitzsch 2 Scroggie 3 Keil & Delitzsch 4 Kraus 5 Keil & Delitzsch 6 Spence

PSALM 110: A PRIEST FOREVER Jesus, The King Priest

In this Psalm David’s prophecies of the Messiah reach their highest and grandest point as he is al- lowed to hear Yahweh proclaim his Son to be both King at his right hand and Priest forever. ‘How con- descending on Yahweh’s part to permit a mortal ear to hear, and a human pen to record his secret converse with his co-equal Son 1 .’ It is quoted more often in the New Testament than any other psalm emphasizing its great importance. Jesus recites part of this psalm to the Jews to prove that he is the Messiah foretold by King David. Christ’s eternal priesthood as revealed in this Psalm becomes the major theme of the Book of Hebrews in the New Testament.

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