BLOG June 28/29, 2014
Psalms 140-145
Psalm 140 is the third in one last series of David’s psalms here at the end of the Psalter (Psalms 138-145 are attributed to him!) As David, once again, cries out to the Lord for help in the face of evil people, his concern does not end with himself. I love the last two verses, where he is thinking of all those who are afflicted and needy, like us!
In Psalm 141, David is still concerned about the wicked. Yet, even as he vents his bitter feelings, we can see him struggle to get his eyes and heart back on the Lord: “Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth!” (v. 3); “Don’t let my heart incline to any evil!” (v. 4) In verse 5, he recognizes the rebukes of a righteous person as “kindness” and “oil” for his head, but he stands firmly against all “evil deeds.”
Psalm 142 is David’s short, poignant prayer from one of the caves he was forced to hide in. Don’t think of David as all alone in these caves. 1 Samuel 22 says that around 400 outcasts had gathered in the first cave with him. So, as David prays for deliverance, he says, “The righteous will surround me…” (v. 7). Those the world counted as n’er-do-wells, David saw as God’s instruments for his deliverance!
If your heart belongs to the Lord, Psalm 143 is just the sort of psalm you can pick up and pray for yourself at any time. Through it, you, too, can cry out to the Lord with David for mercy (vv. 1-2), encouragement (v. 8a), direction (v. 8b), deliverance (vv. 9, 11), and guidance (v. 10).
Psalm 144 begins a run of seven Psalms here at the end of the Psalter that is more upbeat and full of praise. Though this psalm is still a call to God for help (perhaps in preparing for battle against a foreign enemy), though it contains sober self-assessment (see vv. 3-4), it begins and ends with “blessings,” David’s blessing of the Lord, and the Lord’s blessing to His people. In the middle, David declares: “I will sing a new song to you, O God!” (v. 9)
Psalm 145 is David’s attempt at pure, unadulterated praise and thanksgiving. In it, we are reminded of God’s glorious attributes: his greatness (v. 3), his grace and mercy (v. 8), his goodness (v. 9), his glory and power (v. 11), his sovereign faithfulness (v. 12), his provision (vv. 14-16), his righteousness (v. 17), and his responsiveness to our cries (vv. 18-19). Why shouldn’t David, and all of us, praise the Lord?
God-willing, on Monday, the last day of June, we will finish our trek through the Psalms!
Your fellow traveler through the Word,
Pastor Gary
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