Psalm 66-70

Wednesday Evening Bible Study

December 10, 2003

Psalm 66

To the chief Musician, A Song or Psalm.

The title doesn’t say that this was written by David, but Psalm 72:20 indicates that Psalms 1-72 were written by David.

(Psa 72:20 KJV) The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended.

:1-7 Praise for Terrible Works

:3 Say unto God, How terrible art thou in thy works!

terrible – yare’ – (Niphal) to be fearful, be dreadful, be feared; to cause astonishment and awe, be held in awe; to inspire reverence or godly fear or awe

works – ma‘aseh – deed, work; thing done, act; labour; business, pursuit; undertaking, enterprise; achievement

:5 Come and see the works of God: he is terrible in his doing toward the children of men.

terrible – yare’ – (Niphal) to be fearful, be dreadful, be feared; to cause astonishment and awe, be held in awe; to inspire reverence or godly fear or awe

works – miph‘al – work, thing made

:6 He turned the sea into dry land: they went through the flood on foot: there did we rejoice in him.

Taking the people through the Red Sea

:8-12 God has refined us

:10 For thou, O God, hast proved us: thou hast tried us, as silver is tried.

proved – bachan – to examine, scrutinise; to test, prove, try (of gold, persons, the heart, man of God)

tried – tsaraph – to smelt, refine, test; to test (and prove true)

:12 Thou hast caused men to ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water: but thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place.

wealthy place – r@vayah – saturation; from ravah – to be satiated or saturated, have or drink one’s fill

Lesson

Trials and the wealthy place

Sometimes the trials refine our faith and make it stronger.

(1 Pet 1:6-8 KJV) Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: {7} That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: {8} Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:

Goldsmiths – heating and skimming off the dross until they can see their image in the liquid gold.

Sometimes the trials are to test our faith and show us how strong it really is – God intends that we pass the test.

I don’t think Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego needed any refining of their faith. Yet God would use their faith to show the world His power.

Nebuchadnezzar had made a huge statue and required everyone to bow before it. But the young Jewish boys wouldn’t compromise. They wouldn’t bow. And so they would be thrown into the fiery furnace.

(Dan 3:20-30 KJV) And he commanded the most mighty men that were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace. {21} Then these men were bound in their coats, their hosen, and their hats, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. {22} Therefore because the king's commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flame of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. {23} And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. {24} Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king. {25} He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God. {26} Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, came forth of the midst of the fire. {27} And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king's counsellors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them. {28} Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king's word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God. {29} Therefore I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill: because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort. {30} Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, in the province of Babylon.

They came out into a “wealthy” place.

God has a promise for us:

(Isa 43:1-2 KJV) But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. {2} When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.

:13-20 Keep vows, Answered prayer

:18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:

regard – ra’ah – to look at, see, regard, look after, see after, learn about, observe, watch, look upon, look out, find out; to see, observe, consider, look at, give attention to, discern, distinguish

iniquity – ‘aven – trouble, wickedness, sorrow; idolatry; trouble of iniquity, wickedness

heart – leb – inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding

(Psa 66:18 NIV) If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened;

Lesson

Sin cuts the line with God

We see an example of this in the life of King Saul.

He had been overcome with jealousy over David’s victories.

He tried several times to have David killed.

He even had all the priests in the city of Nob killed because they had innocently helped David.

At one of the lowest parts of his life, he found himself up against a huge Philistine army and didn’t know what to do.

(1 Sam 28:5-6 KJV) And when Saul saw the host of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart greatly trembled. {6} And when Saul inquired of the LORD, the LORD answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets.

I think Saul’s sins had cut the phone lines to heaven.

God also says the same thing in:

(Isa 59:1-2 KJV) Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: {2} But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.

This is not about being perfect or “sinless”. It’s about what we’re doing with sin in our heart.

Does sin grieve me? Do I confess my sin to the Lord?

Am I keeping short accounts with God?

When a business bills a client, they will keep track of how long it takes before the client pays. There’s a “current” column, a “30-day” column, a “60-day” column and so forth.

When we sin, we owe God. We can’t pay the bill ourselves, but when we come to Him and confess our sins, He pays the bill. But we need to come and confess.

(1 John 1:9 KJV) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

:19 But verily God hath heard me

David kept “short accounts” with God.

Psalm 67

:1-7 God Blesses, We Praise

:2 That thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations.

saving health – y@shuw‘ah – salvation, deliverance; welfare, prosperity; salvation (by God); victory

:7 God shall bless us; and all the ends of the earth shall fear him.

Lesson

God wants to bless

(1 Chr 4:9-10 KJV) And Jabez was more honourable than his brethren: and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, Because I bare him with sorrow. {10} And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested.

bless – barak – to bless, kneel. It comes from the word for “knee”. It seems to speak of submission, obedience, and prayer. It’s goal was to cause abundant and effective life to come upon a person or a thing. In the Old Testament, the concept of the abundant life and blessing was seen as coming from God’s love and faithfulness.

bless me indeed – the Hebrew has the words doubled, something like, “Oh that blessing You would bless me”. The Hebrew does this to show intensity, to “bless me indeed”, to “really, really bless me”.

God wants to bless us. This is a difficult thing for some of us to ask for.

We feel that we are unworthy of anything good that God might do for us.

Yet God loved us so much that He gave His only Son to us. Jesus came to the earth for the expressed reason of dying on a cross, taking our place in judgment, paying for our sins.

When we come to believe in Jesus, God removes us from the place of condemnation and puts us in the place of blessing. (John 3:17-18)

When we come to trust in Jesus, we become God’s children. God wants to bless His children. Jesus said,

(Luke 12:32 KJV) Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

Jesus wants to give the kingdom to all who are in His flock.

God wants to bless you. God desires to bless you.

Illustration

Mr. Jones Goes To Heaven

There’s a little fable about a Mr. Jones who dies and goes to heaven. Peter is waiting at the gates to give him a tour. Amid the splendor of golden streets, beautiful mansions, and choirs of angels that Peter shows him, Mr. Jones notices an odd-looking building. He thinks it looks like an enormous warehouse-it has no windows and only one door. But when he asks to see inside, Peter hesitates. “You really don’t want to see what’s in there,” he tells the new arrival. “Why would there be any secrets in heaven?” Jones wonders. “What incredible surprise could be waiting for me in there?” When the official tour is over he’s still wondering, so he asks again to see inside the structure. Finally Peter relents. When the apostle opens the door, Mr. Jones almost knocks him over in his haste to enter. It turns out that the enormous building is filled with row after row of shelves, floor to ceiling, each stacked neatly with white boxes tied in red ribbons. “These boxes all have names on them,” Mr. Jones muses aloud. Then turning to Peter he asks, “Do I have one?” “Yes, you do.” Peter tries to guide Mr. Jones back outside. “Frankly,” Peter says, “if I were you....” But Mr. Jones is already dashing toward the “J” aisle to find his box. Peter follows, shaking his head. He catches up with Mr. Jones just as he is slipping the red ribbon off his box and popping the lid. Looking inside, Jones has a moment of instant recognition and lets out a deep sigh like the ones Peter has heard so many times before. Because there in Mr. Jones’s white box are all the blessings that God wanted to give to him while he was on earth ... but Mr. Jones had never asked.

“Ask,” promised Jesus, “and it will be given to you” (Matthew 7:7). “You do not have because you do not ask,” said James (James 4:2). Even though there is no limit to God’s goodness, if you didn’t ask Him for a blessing yesterday you didn’t get all that you were supposed to have. That’s the catch-if you don’t ask for His blessing, you forfeit those that come to you only when you ask. In the same way that a father is honored to have a child beg for his blessing, your Father is delighted to respond generously when His blessing is what you covet most.

Bruce Wilkinson, The Prayer of Jabez, pgs. 25-27

Psalm 68

To the chief Musician, A Psalm or Song of David.

It is thought that this Psalm was written for the occasion of David moving the Ark into Jerusalem from the house of Obededom.

It is a Psalm that has wonderful things in it, but also some very difficult, hard to understand phrases as well.

:1-6 God helps the weak

:1 Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them also that hate him flee before him.

This is what Moses would say each time the nation moved under the guidance of God:

(Num 10:35 KJV) And it came to pass, when the ark set forward, that Moses said, Rise up, LORD, and let thine enemies be scattered; and let them that hate thee flee before thee.

:4 extol him that rideth upon the heavens by his name JAH

extol – calal – to lift up, cast up, exalt

JAH – Yahh – Jah (Jehovah in the shortened form); used in many compounds; names ending with ‘iah’ or ‘jah’

:5 A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows

In ancient times, there were two groups of people who were the most exploited, neglected people of all – widows and orphans.

Lesson

He helps the helpless

This is a precious verse, a promise that God is the husband to the widow and the father to the orphan.

In our society, I think this even becomes a promise for those torn apart by divorce.

He’s the spouse to the single parent. He’s the missing parent for child torn by divorce.

Don’t give up hope. Even if you’ve been hurt by the loss of a loved one or the pain of divorce, God cares for you more than you will ever know.

:7-14 God gave victory in a battle

:7 O God, when thou wentest forth before thy people

This is talking about how God went with the people as they journeyed through the wilderness on their way out of Egypt, heading toward the promised land.

:9 Thou, O God, didst send a plentiful rain

God sent a unique type of rain in the wilderness – He rained bread from heaven.

(Exo 16:4 KJV) Then said the LORD unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no.

:13 Though ye have lien among the pots …

Apparently a difficult verse to translate:

(NLT) Ps 68:13 Though they lived among the sheepfolds, now they are covered with silver and gold, as a dove is covered by its wings.

:14 When the Almighty scattered kings in it, it was white as snow in Salmon.

(NLT) The Almighty scattered the enemy kings like a blowing snowstorm on Mount Zalmon.

:15-21 God’s mighty army

:15 The hill of God is as the hill of Bashan

Bashan – Bashan – “fruitful”; a district east of the Jordan known for its fertility which was given to the half-tribe of Manasseh

:17 The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels: the Lord is among them, as in Sinai, in the holy place.

(NLT) Ps 68:17 Surrounded by unnumbered thousands of chariots, the Lord came from Mount Sinai into his sanctuary.

God has a pretty hefty army. Jesus said He could call more than twelve legions of angels if He wanted to (Mat. 26:51-53)

Elisha and his servant was surrounded by the Syrian army, but in reality they were also surrounded by another army:

(2 Ki 6:17 KJV) And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.

:18 Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive…

(NLT) Ps 68:18 When you ascended to the heights, you led a crowd of captives. You received gifts from the people, even from those who rebelled against you. Now the LORD God will live among us here.

David is most likely talking about the taking of the Ark up to Mount Zion.

But this verse has a prophetic side to it as well, as it becomes a picture of Jesus ascending into heaven. Paul uses this verse to talk about the gifts of the church:

(Eph 4:7-13 NLT) However, he has given each one of us a special gift according to the generosity of Christ. {8} That is why the Scriptures say, "When he ascended to the heights, he led a crowd of captives and gave gifts to his people." {9} Notice that it says "he ascended." This means that Christ first came down to the lowly world in which we live. {10} The same one who came down is the one who ascended higher than all the heavens, so that his rule might fill the entire universe. {11} He is the one who gave these gifts to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. {12} Their responsibility is to equip God's people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ, {13} until we come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God's Son that we will be mature and full grown in the Lord, measuring up to the full stature of Christ.

Spurgeon writes: “As great conquerors of old led whole nations into captivity, so Jesus leads forth from the territory of his foe a vast company as the trophies of his mighty grace. From the gracious character of his reign it comes to pass that to be led into captivity by him is for our captivity to cease, or to be itself led captive; a glorious result indeed.”

:22-31 Nations will submit

:31 Princes shall come out of Egypt; Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God.

David sees a day when these various nations will submit to God in Jerusalem.

:32-35 God is Israel’s strength

Psalm 69

To the chief Musician upon Shoshannim, A Psalm of David.

Shoshannim – shuwshan – lily; probably any lily-like flower; perhaps the name of a melody, as in Ps. 45:1

:1-12 Sinking under reproach

:2 I sink in deep mire

deep – m@tsowlah – depth, the deep, the deep sea

mire – yaven – mire, mirer

Even though God promises not to let the waters flood over us, it sure feels like we’re going to drown sometimes.

:4 They that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of mine head …then I restored that which I took not away.

This is why it is probably a good thing to be bald. J

(NLT) …They attack me with lies, demanding that I give back what I didn’t steal.

:5 O God, thou knowest my foolishness; and my sins are not hid from thee.

foolishness – ‘ivveleth – foolishness, folly

sins – ‘ashmah – guiltiness, guilt, offense, sin, wrong-doing

David isn’t claiming that he’s a sinless person.

:8 I am become a stranger unto my brethren, and an alien unto my mother's children.

Jesus was not understood.

Isaiah would write,

(Isa 53:3 KJV) He is despised and rejected of men…

Early in His ministry, Jesus’ friends didn’t understand Him.

(Mark 3:21 KJV) And when his friends heard of it, they went out to lay hold on him: for they said, He is beside himself.

:9 For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up;

When Jesus came into Jerusalem at the beginning of His ministry, He was grieved at how the Temple had become an indoor shopping mall. He made a whip out of cords and drove the money changers out of the Temple.

(John 2:17 KJV) And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.

Jesus was more concerned about God’s house than being “accepted”. He was so concerned for what was right that He was willing to upset a few apple carts.

:9 and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me.

Lesson

It’s okay to be uncomfortable

Paul wrote to the Romans to be careful about doing things that would cause another person to stumble (Rom. 14), then he wrote,

(Rom 15:1-4 NLT) We may know that these things make no difference, but we cannot just go ahead and do them to please ourselves. We must be considerate of the doubts and fears of those who think these things are wrong. {2} We should please others. If we do what helps them, we will build them up in the Lord. {3} For even Christ didn't please himself. As the Scriptures say, "Those who insult you are also insulting me." {4} Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. They give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God's promises.

Paul was saying that since Jesus didn’t run from being insulted or hurt, we too ought to live to care more for others and not worry so much about our own comfort.

:12 They that sit in the gate speak against me

Judges sat in the gate – a place where court was held, judgments made.

:13-21 Prayer for help

:13 But as for me, my prayer is unto thee, O LORD, in an acceptable time

acceptable – ratsown – pleasure, delight, favour, goodwill, acceptance, will

:21 in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.

David seems to be talking about his own situation, and yet eerily this would be a prophecy of what Jesus would experience.

(John 19:28-30 KJV) After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst. {29} Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a sponge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth. {30} When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

:22-29 Asking God for vengeance

:25 Let their habitation be desolate; and let none dwell in their tents.

The early church used this verse as a reason to replace Judas after he committed suicide.

(Acts 1:20 KJV) For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his bishopric let another take.

:26 For they persecute him whom thou hast smitten

This too would be a picture of Jesus, just as Isaiah would write,

(Isa 53:4-5 KJV) Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. {5} But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

(Isa 53:10 KJV) Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.

God would “smite” Jesus for our sins. He took the penalty for our sins. And yet the people turned on Him.

:28 Let them be blotted out of the book of the living

In other words, let them die.

:30-36 Praise for God’s help

:36 …they that love his name shall dwell therein.

Lesson

Jesus understands

Here is David writing this gut-wrenching song about being persecuted and hated. For some of us, we read this and wonder how David knew what we were going through.

And yet this would all become prophetic of someone else.

Jesus knows what you’re going through:

(Heb 4:15-16 KJV) For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. {16} Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

:31 This also shall please the LORD better than an ox or bullock that hath horns and hoofs.

Lesson

Praise in difficulty

Praise is better than sacrifice

When we’re in a difficult situation, we can do one of two things.

1. We can complain.

(Num 21:4-9 KJV) And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red sea, to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way. {5} And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread. {6} And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died. {7} Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD, and against thee; pray unto the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people. {8} And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live. {9} And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.

It seems that when we end up whining and complaining all the time, things just get tougher. We might as well have fiery snake bites all over us.

The way out is to look at the snake on the pole.

Jesus said it was a picture of Him.

(John 3:14-15 KJV) And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: {15} That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

It was a picture of trusting God, taking a step of faith and looking up.

2. We can praise.

I don’t mean that we have some kind of strange party because life stinks.

We praise Him because we trust Him. We trust that He knows what He’s doing.

God loves praise much better than even a barbeque. He loves it better than sacrifice.

Psalm 70

We’ll look at this on Sunday morning.