Journey Thru The Psalms ....Ps. 2

THE first Psalm that is ascribed to King David and it is what is called a Messianic Psalm.  While the people of Psalm 1 treasures God’s law it is quite a contrast in Psalm 2, the people has complete disregard for the law.  Not much has changed from the days of David until now. Psalm 2 is referenced at least 15 times in the New Testament.  Interestingly, the Jews wanted a king to rule over them just like the other nations.   Initially, God was their Ruler – a form of government referred to as ‘Theocracy’ but they asked for a king that they could see.   As a result, God appointed them a king and with that request they were forewarned of what could potentially happen.  Centuries later, there was this statement from David:

“The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and his anointed…” ver 2.

Psalm 2

WHAT they really were after was the absence of any form of government or shall we say ‘anarchy’ – no supreme power to govern them.  Humanity has been trying to be free from God’s ruleship over them starting with the tower of Babel, crucifixion of Christ, and through another battle yet to come - Armageddon.  And unfortunately, it has been an exercise in futility.  David records them saying:

"Let us burst their bonds asunder, and cast their cords from us."

THEY are defiant against God and His Son, the Anointed One who is the ultimate King and who will rule over all the nations.  The nations still rage today or I dare say even more rebellious towards God and His Son’s authority over mankind.  Still, God continues to speak to the nations in His mercy and extends salvation to all in spite of open rebellion against Him and His Holy One.  God has set Him as king of Kings and He sits in the heavenly Zion.

THE psalm records four different voices (Nations, Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit) with an appeal to serve the Lord with fear and trembling. That requires devotion, surrendered heart, and submission to the One in authority.  The bonds He has set are for our own good and the psalm concludes with a blessing that still stands “Blessed are all who take refuge in him”.

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Two Men - Two Paths - Two Destinies

DOESN'T it feel like oftentimes we are presented with 2 choices or 2 options and the path chosen usually leads us to a very specific destination?  Recently, I read a book called “The Principle of the Path” and in it the author talks about how that principle works in our life whether we are aware of it or not.  The aforementioned author makes the convincing argument there is a principle that governs what happens in just about every area of life and he refers to it as the ‘Principle of the path”. It is not a rule. It is not a law. It cannot be broken. But that principle has the power to break you says Andy Stanley.   It is being applied to every one of us at every moment of every day.   It can be likened to a cause-and-effect relationship that is at work whether you know it or acknowledge it.

PSALM 1

IN a similar fashion, the first psalm alludes somewhat to that very principle that Andy Stanley talks about in the book mentioned above.   The first psalm is not attributed to a specific author and it falls under the wisdom category.  It begins with the word BLESSED (reminds me of Jesus’ teaching on Beatitudes) and I love the rendering of the Amplified version of the psalm for many reasons.  The Amplified version says to be ‘blessed’ in this context is to be happy, fortunate, enviable, and prosperous.  I want to be blessed. I want to be happy, fortunate etc.  While it’s all ours for the taking but it comes with a price tag where we need to yet again make a choice.

THE psalm described the person who is blessed as one whose delight and desire are in the law of the Lord.  But that person also meditates on God’s law day and night.  God told Joshua after Moses’ death that the Book of the Law was not to depart from his mouth and to meditate on it day and night and THEN Joshua would be prosperous and successful (Joshua 1:8).  Later Jesus would reiterate the same principle to abide in Him and also let the Word abides in us.  As you read the psalm, you will see or experience the blessings that following such a path will lead to.

THE second half of the psalm describes the ungodly.  They are headed for judgment if they don’t change their path. They are compared to chaff that is a representation of dead, rootless, destined for the fired.  In contrast to the righteous who are like trees well planted.  If stayed on that path, it is clear and evident what their destination will be. But there’s good news, we can warn them of the judgment to come.  Opportunity to witness and share the Good News of the gospel with then becomes an imperative.

BELIEVERS in Christ are called blessed.  Psalm began with the word ‘bless’ and end with ‘perish’.  “They have received God’s blessing, and they ought to be a blessing to others, especially to the chaff that will be one day be thrown into the fire. Let’s seek to win as many of them as we can” (Be Worshipful – W. Wiersbe).

" Oh, that my steps might be steady, keeping to the course you set. I ponder 
 every morsel of wisdom from you, I attentively watch how you've done it. I relish everything you've told me of life, I won't forget a word of it". Psalm 119:5, 15.

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An Audacious Goal

Dear Blog,

FIRST, a huge apology is in order for ignoring you for so long.   I have practically abandoned you for months and I am sorry.  And to make it up to you, I pledge to post something (I have a goal in mind) for the next few months as I ask you to hold me accountable.

SECOND, the goal is go the through the entire book of Psalms.  How would you like to journey with me through the book of Psalms?  Wait …you say – do you know how many psalms there are?  Yes and that’s exactly how I plan to keep you company as we go through that pilgrimage together.  Your role, dear blogger, is to ensure that I stay on track by writing 5 entries a week.  Promise to help me out?

Ready? 

Great!

FOR starters, the psalms are great.  Without question the Book of Psalms has been the single most influential and widely used book of the Bible in both the Jewish and Christian faith. We can easily identify with the authors of the psalms because in some fashion they express our heart’s cry.  Ever felt the desire to praise and thank God, in order words they express our own emotions and feelings before the Lord.  

 
DID YOU KNOW?

IT is the largest book in the Bible. It is comprised of 150 psalms and was composed over several centuries starting with Moses. David takes the lead with 73 psalms as Israel’s “beloved singer of songs”. Other authors were the sons of Korah, Asaph, King Solomon, and Ethan. The writers are often identified in the superscriptions.

The book of Psalms is divided into 5 sections and it has been said that they are arranged in a similar fashion as the Pentateuch (The 5 Books of Moses). They are arranged as follows:  Book I: 1-41, Book II: 42-72, Book III: 73-89, Book IV: 90-106, and Book V: 107-150.

No doubt in your own reading of the psalms, you have encountered a variety of psalms and theologians have labeled them as: psalms of laments to the Lord, messianic that point towards the Lord Jesus, psalms of praise and thanksgiving, royal, wisdom, affirmations, trust, penitential, and even imprecatory psalms calling down God’s wrath on the enemy.

Perhaps your desire is not to call for God’s judgment on your enemy but you are bound to find one or more psalms that echo your deepest desires when you lack the words to tell the Lord exactly what you feel from deep within your soul.

And so begins my pilgrim journey as I will take the road traveled by the psalmists as I look forward to learning how they accepted their trials and turned them to triumph, how they’ve failed, repented and accepted God’s forgiveness. But above and beyond that, I look to encounter the Most High God and Immanuel –“God with us”.

Got your backpack ready?  Let’s go.

"And now I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified”  Acts 20:32

 

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