Heart of a Psalmist - Worshipping Christ Through The Psalms

8. Friend- “The Lord loves the righteous.” (8) Jesus deeply loved those around him: “…Jesus loved Martha, Mary, and Lazarus…” (Jn. 11:5) When he wept before the tomb of Lazarus the crowd com- mented: “See how much he loved him.” (Jn. 11:36) 9. Protector- “The Lord protects the foreigners among us.” (9) The Law of Moses protected the ‘stranger’ in the land, the person who was not a part of the Hebrew nation, because the Israelites had also been homeless wanderers. Jesus showed compassion on the Canaanite woman who had faith in him by giving her the same benefits of his grace as the Israelites: “’ Woman,’ Jesus said to her, ‘your faith is great. Your request is granted.’ And her daughter was instantly healed.” (Mt. 15:28) 10. Compassion- “He cares for the orphans and widows,…” (9) Jesus displayed the Father’s love for both the widow and the orphan when he encountered a funeral procession in the village of Nain: “The boy who had died was the only son of a widow…When the Lord saw her, his heart overflowed with com- passion, ‘Don’t cry!’ he said. The he walked over to the coffin and touched it, and the bearers stopped. ‘Young man,’ he said, ‘get up.’ Then the boy sat up and began to talk to those around him! And Jesus gave him back to his mother. Great fear swept the crowd, and they praised God…” (Lk. 13:12-16)

“…but he frustrates the plans of the wicked.” (9)

Like the preceding Psalm 145, this is the only brief moment of darkness in the song where the wicked is ‘turned upside down’ by the Lord. This psalm reminds us of God’s wrath but emphasizes that he de- lights in showing mercy to those in need.

III

THE LORD WILL REIGN FOREVER - 10

Beauty of the Lord

“The Lord will reign forever. O Zion (Jerusalem), your God is King in every generation! Praise the Lord! (10)

This is the last declaration and celebration of God’s ‘reign’ in the Psalms and it is a powerful use of words conveying the majesty of the King and his kingdom. It sets the stage for the psalm-like passages in the New Testament describing the eternal reign of Jesus Christ who is the King announced here. “The whole world has now become the Kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign forever and ever.” (Rev. 11:15) The Kingdom of God extends to all generations and increases its volume of praise forever!

1 Spence 2 Spurgeon 3 Botterweck, page 406 4 Agnes, heading “onomatopoea”

5 Botterweck, page 404 6 Botterweck, page 404 7 Botterweck, page 404 8 Keil & Delitzsch 9 Kraus 10 Spence

11 Spurgeon 12 Spurgeon 13 Keil & Delitzsch

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