October 7, 2015.

Daily Reading: Psalm 108-110.

Background: Psalm 105-107.

Concepts and Connections.

Chapter 108

Deliverance over the foe: This psalm is ascribed to David and deals with the Lord’s power and loyalty to bring His people out victorious over their enemies. This psalm seems to be a combination of two other psalms of David, as verses 1-5 can also be found in Psalm 57:7-11, which too is a psalm of exultation in the time of trouble, and verses 6-13 can be found in Psalm 60:5-12 (as an interesting aside, this is like what we do even today when we combine songs). Note that David sings and makes melody with all his being to the Lord, calling the harp and layer to awake, as he awakes the dawn. This praise was from the heart, and it lifts God above man as his Deliverer. The Lord is jealous for His people, and has disdain for the enemies that oppress them. David puts his full trust in the Lord, and though God does valiantly, for it is God who will deliver Him. Let us ever praise and trust God with our whole heart as David does here.

Chapter 109

A cry for help and the curse of a traitor: Another psalm ascribed to David, here we see an overall cry for help against the wicked and the enemy of the psalmist. He has been treated unfairly, having been returned evil for good, and hatred for love. Though his enemies had no cause to attack, they attacked, and they spoke against him with lying tongues. Note that the psalmist’s answer to this attack was to be given to prayer. Then the psalm is turned on a singular enemy, one who did not remember to show kindness, but pursued the afflicted to put them to death. He did not partake in what is the blessing that he was offered, but rather became an enemy to the One who gave the blessing. This is a prophecy of Judas Iscariot, the disciple, one of the twelve men that Jesus chose, who would betray Him with a kiss. Verse 8 is cited in Acts 1:20 as a reason to replace Judas with another to take over his office in apostleship. It would seem that the majority of this psalm is ultimately speaking of Judas, who would indeed forever be remembered in shame and contempt. After the discussion of this traitor, the psalmist turns to God once again to hear his prayer and deliver him. He cries out for help and the salvation that comes through His steadfast love. Though his enemies curse him, the Lord would bless and put his enemies to shame. It is important to remember what the psalmist does at the end, praising the Lord and giving thanks in the midst of the people, for His deliverance and salvation is evident.

Chapter 110

The Messiah: This psalm, a psalm of David, is perhaps one of the most cited psalms in reference to the coming Messiah. It is a clear prophecy of the one who is to come, and the Jews had looked to this psalm for centuries as a prediction of the coming Christ (see Matthew 22:41-46, Mark 12:35-37, Luke 20:41-44 and Acts 2:34-36). The Hebrew writer also pulls from this text, citing the first verse in Hebrews 1:13 and alluding to it in Hebrews 10:13, each time talking about the supremacy of Christ. Further, the Hebrew writer also points out that there is a lot of theology of the Christ in verse 4, as it is a reference to the eternal priesthood of Christ. This verse is a reference to a short story found in Genesis 14:17-20, upon which the Hebrew writer builds several chapters of theology (see Hebrews 5-7, especially this last chapter). This psalm depicts a mighty Savior who would come to deliver His people, and it seems to point more directly to the Savior’s reign and the day of His power, which will be the second coming of Christ. Jesus is now reigning on the throne, and will come again on the last day to judge the world and deliver His people (see Romans 2:1-11). May we ever praise His name.

Tomorrow’s Reading: Proverbs 26-27.

Glory and honor be to Him who reigns above.

-Walter