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#Post#: 5061--------------------------------------------------
Re: Thoughts on the Psalms
By: Amadeus Date: June 10, 2013, 11:16 am
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[quote]Catholics sometimes (if not often) talk a lot more sense
than Protestants.[/quote]
[font=courier]Without a doubt, Mike! Catholics have better
answers at times than Protestants. The Catholic Church has been
around a long time and they have studied the whole situation and
are able to see and explain almost anything. They have a answer
for nearly every problem simply because they have gathered
together a lot of knowledge and experience. My disagreements
with them cannot often, if ever, be proven to the satisfaction
of an unbiased human observer (if such a person exists). Often
when I am at odds in the open with a Catholic, that Catholic has
stepped outside of the official position of the RCC. (I say
often, because, sometimes, it is probably me that missed
something.)[/font]
#Post#: 5062--------------------------------------------------
Re: Thoughts on the Psalms
By: Amadeus Date: June 10, 2013, 11:29 am
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[quote]George: I remember someone (Think Kerry) posted a reply
with the scripture let God be true, but every man a liar, and
that really hit home for me and made a lot of sense of all the
confusion we see in religion in the world today. I would say a
hypocrite is a liar and a liar is a hypocrite! The scripture say
every man is a liar, therefore to me a hypocrite, its one in the
same. So therefor I can see how it is said it is only by Gods
Grace, I would think according to our actions. Actions one to
another more so than actions of which religion one chooses, what
dogmas one lives by, what actions one takes for the purpose of
salvation such as baptism.[/quote]
[font=courier]I remember several years ago hearing a very wise
old preacher say that all preachers, including himself, were
liars. He is now gone to whatever reward was his, but I remember
his words. He amplified his statement by explaining that anyone
whose beliefs were in error in any part and spoke in support of
his erroneous belief was, in effect, a liar even though it may
have been unintentional. It was still a lie. Have any of us ever
been guilty of such an unintentional lie? I most certainly have.
Until I know, rather than believe, that my beliefs are all
correct in the eyes of God, isn't it likely that I am still
telling lies?[/font]
#Post#: 5099--------------------------------------------------
Re: Thoughts on the Psalms
By: Kerry Date: June 12, 2013, 4:24 pm
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11:0 To the conductor, of David.
1 In the Lord put I my trust: how say ye to my soul, Flee as a
bird to your mountain?
Compare to what David said here talking to Saul:
1 Samuel 26:17 And Saul knew David's voice, and said, Is this
thy voice, my son David? And David said, It is my voice, my
lord, O king.
18 And he said, Wherefore doth my lord thus pursue after his
servant? for what have I done? or what evil is in mine hand?
19 Now therefore, I pray thee, let my lord the king hear the
words of his servant. If the Lord have stirred thee up against
me, let him accept an offering: but if they be the children of
men, cursed be they before the Lord; for they have driven me out
this day from abiding in the inheritance of the Lord, saying,
Go, serve other gods.
Solomon compared wandering people to birds which left their
nest:
Proverbs 27:8 As a bird that wandereth from her nest, so is a
man that wandereth from his place.
2 For, lo, the wicked bend their bow, they make ready their
arrow upon the string, that they may privily shoot at the
upright in heart.
The "wicked" is a reference to Doeg, the Edomite, and others
who made things worse between Saul and David by encouraging Saul
to hate David.
"Bend" is not quite strong enough. "Darak" means "tread." The
image is of having such a large and strong bow you have to put
your foot on one end of it.
The "upright in heart" were the priests in Nob.
3 If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?
Doeg was guilty for telling Saul where David had gone and
stirring up animosity towards Ahimelech and the others. While
Saul gave the order, Doeg cannot be excused for his words. But
what could David do at that time?
James 3:5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth
great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!
Matthew 12:37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by
thy words thou shalt be condemned.
4 The Lord is in his holy temple, the Lord's throne is in
heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men.
Part of the meaning is clear that God although in Heaven can
still see what is going on earth. The word "eyelids" is
ambiguous. The word `aph`aph can mean eyelids perhaps, pupils
perhaps. It can also mean rays of light or the dawn.
I could be wrong but I tend to think it means God appears to
wink at times, deferring judgment. This is to test or prove,
the way gold is tested, the hearts of men. Do they learn and
come to repentance? Paul talked about God winking:
Acts 17:29 Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we
ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or
silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device.
30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now
commandeth all men every where to repent:
31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge
the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained;
whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath
raised him from the dead.
5 The Lord trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that
loveth violence his soul hateth.
The righteous often face tribulations in this world while the
wicked seem to escape but we should believe that they will
receive their reward later.
6 Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and
an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup.
While this sounds vengeful, it is written so, I believe, because
wicked men experience correction and purification as vengeance.
If the wicked receive their rewards not in this world, then
they will be purified in Gehinnom.
7 For the righteous Lord loveth righteousness; his countenance
doth behold the upright.
That God loves righteousness in men should be easy to accept;
and we should not read Isaiah to mean that righteousness is as
"filthy rags." Isaiah also talks about iniquities in that
verse:
Isaiah 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our
righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a
leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
What is wicked is as temporary as a leaf. The tree may live,
but the leaves are driven away in the wind. Did they serve a
purpose? Yes. And new leaves will grow next year, and the tree
will grow some more; but what is not worth saving perishes. Yet
the leaves are for our healing.
"His countenance doth behold" is akin to expressions of
receiving Light from the Face of God. While no man may behold
the Face of God and live, the righteous receive Divine Light
from the Face of God. This is somewhat like our eyes which are
damaged if we look directly at the sun; but the sun still shines
on us and gives us light.
Numbers 6:23 24 The Lord bless thee, and keep thee:
25 The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto
thee:
#Post#: 5103--------------------------------------------------
Re: Thoughts on the Psalms
By: Kerry Date: June 13, 2013, 8:46 am
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Psalm 12:0 For the conductor, on the harp, a song of David.
The harp is the eight-stringed shemenith again.
1 Help, Lord; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail
from among the children of men.
This appears to be referring to how the Ziphites were willing to
betray David into the hands of Saul (1 Samuel 23).
2 They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with
flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak.
"Double heart" is an expression similar to Jame's
"double-minded." David is describing the person who smiles at
you and flatters you when you are around and who may even give
you aid of some sort; but when you are gone, he betrays you.
3 The Lord shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue
that speaketh proud things:
4 Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail; our lips are
our own: who is lord over us?
Words are cheap, the saying goes, but words can be dangerous;
and there is a type of person who thinks he can be the master of
a situation without much real effort if only he can find the
words to get others to act.
5 For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy,
now will I arise, saith the Lord; I will set him in safety from
him that puffeth at him.
David seems to be connected this kind of double-talk with
wishing to oppress the poor and needy. The reader may reflect on
how our politians today often use words to rise to power and to
enrich themselves.
6 The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a
furnace of earth, purified seven times.
"Words" could also be rendered "sayings." While the sayings of
God are indeed pure unlike the double-minded talk of deceivers,
still we may need to purify our own minds in order to discern
the silver from the dross of our own initial interpretations.
7 Thou shalt keep them, O Lord, thou shalt preserve them from
this generation for ever.
I read this to mean God will preserve both the poor and David
and his band.
The first "them" is correct, being the usual word chosen in most
translations; but the second "them" should probably be
translated as "us."
"Forever" shows that that generation of wicked men would soon be
dealt with and they would never again have power to oppress the
poor and needy. Other wicked men would arise in future
generations, but God had a final solution for some of wicked
people in David's time. Their evil would be consumed out of the
earth (Psalm 104:35).
8 The wicked walk on every side, when the vilest men are
exalted.
The saying goes that it is the darkest before the dawn; and in
the spiritual history of the world, often the gloomiest of
periods precede the dawn of a more enlightened age. Thus
Solomon was to rule in peace for forty years as the result of
David's prayers and efforts to extirpate the evil around him.
Let them attack him -- then they could be dealt with.
Compare also to what God told Abraham:
Genesis 15:13 And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy
seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall
serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years;
14 And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge:
and afterward shall they come out with great substance.
15 And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be
buried in a good old age.
16 But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again:
for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full.
The tares finally reveal themselves as tares. As long as men
are not entirely corrupted, there is hope for them. Perhaps
they will change for the better; but once someone reaches the
point of total depravity, he is judged. Do not jump to
conclusions that this means he is subject to eternal punishment.
"The vilest men are exalted" is related to Psalm 118 in an
indirect way. Christians may think of the "stone" which the
builders rejected as referring to only Jesus and overlook how it
refers to David also.
22 The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone
of the corner.
If we can see how it can apply to both,a pattern begins to
emerge.
#Post#: 5122--------------------------------------------------
Re: Thoughts on the Psalms
By: Kerry Date: June 15, 2013, 8:23 pm
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Psalm 13:0 To the conductor, a song of David.
1 How long wilt thou forget me, O Lord? for ever? how long wilt
thou hide thy face from me?
"Me" may be more than David since may be asking also of all
Israel. One answer is four times: Babylon, Persia, Greece, and
Edom. Egypt would have been a fifth but it is behind them. The
periods of forgetfulness of Babylon, Persia and Greece are over,
leaving only the hiding of God's face from Israel in the matter
of the Edomites.
2 How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my
heart daily? how long shall mine enemy be exalted over me?
3 Consider and hear me, O Lord my God: lighten mine eyes, lest I
sleep the sleep of death;
Death is sometimes called sleep, of course; and there is a type
of sleep which is said to last forever.
Jeremiah 51:37 And Babylon shall become heaps, a dwellingplace
for dragons, an astonishment, and an hissing, without an
inhabitant.
38 They shall roar together like lions: they shall yell as
lions' whelps.
39 In their heat I will make their feasts, and I will make them
drunken, that they may rejoice, and sleep a perpetual sleep, and
not wake, saith the Lord.
There is another type of death or sleep which is temporary, and
souls awaken out of it.
Matthew 27:52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of
the saints which slept arose,
Thus we see that David is asking not to sleep the perpetual
sleep. If we read only some other passages, we could suppose all
sleep in the same way; or we could believe all will sleep until
the Resurrection at the end of the age. We learn here that not
all sleep this perpetual sleep.
Note the connection about light in the eyes. Compare to what
Jesus said:
Matthew 6:22 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore
thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.
23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of
darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness,
how great is that darkness!
4 Lest mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him; and those
that trouble me rejoice when I am moved.
If the the eye is in darkness, one is in some danger of
entering the darkness and going to sleep perpetually. Unless
someone comes along to wake him up, he may be asleep a long time
or forever. Thus one's enemies would prevail.
5 But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy
salvation.
6 I will sing unto the Lord, because he hath dealt bountifully
with me.
Those who put their trust in God's mercy with a pure heart have
nothing to fear.
#Post#: 5123--------------------------------------------------
Re: Thoughts on the Psalms
By: Kerry Date: June 15, 2013, 8:55 pm
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Psalm 14:0 For the conductor, of David.
1 The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are
corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that
doeth good.
This verse is often pulled out of contexts and interpreted to
mean atheists are fools. Does it really say that? It really
doesn't. It says the fool said in his heart there is no God.
The atheist usually says it in his mind. In other words, the
atheist cannot produce evidence for God in order to believe; but
the fool is motivated by by his corrupt heart to say if there is
no God, he can do as he wants -- therefore wouldn't it be nice
if there were no God? THen he believes it because he vainly
seems to think he can make it true if he believes it.
We cannot say that all atheists are corrupt and do abominable
works.
So what fool is David talking about? I follow Rashi on this.
This Psalm is a prophecy concerning the future Nebuchadnezzar.
He exalted himself and had others worship him as a god. "They"
are the men of his armies.
2 The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to
see if there were any that did understand, and seek God.
3 They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy:
there is none that doeth good, no, not one.[/b]
"They" are all his troops since not one objected when he
destroyed the Temple. To the man, they did not think they were
violating the Temple of God.
4 Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my
people as they eat bread, and call not upon the Lord.
They did not come to knowledge.
5 There were they in great fear: for God is in the generation of
the righteous.
Perhaps a reference to Belshazzar and his "feast."
Daniel 5:1 Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand
of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand.
2 Belshazzar, whiles he tasted the wine, commanded to bring the
golden and silver vessels which his father Nebuchadnezzar had
taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem; that the king,
and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, might drink
therein.
3 Then they brought the golden vessels that were taken out of
the temple of the house of God which was at Jerusalem; and the
king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, drank in
them.
4 They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver,
of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone.
5 In the same hour came forth fingers of a man's hand, and wrote
over against the candlestick upon the plaister of the wall of
the king's palace: and the king saw the part of the hand that
wrote.
6 Then the king's countenance was changed, and his thoughts
troubled him, so that the joints of his loins were loosed, and
his knees smote one against another.
6 Ye have shamed the counsel of the poor, because the Lord is
his refuge.
Are the poor better advisors than the rich? They are if they put
their faith in God and not in money or armies and the like.
7 Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! when
the Lord bringeth back the captivity of his people, Jacob shall
rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.
I read this as a prediction of the end of the Babylonian exile
-- "bringeth back the captivity" should read perhaps "turneth
back the captivity."
#Post#: 5151--------------------------------------------------
Re: Thoughts on the Psalms
By: Kerry Date: June 23, 2013, 11:31 am
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15:0 A song of David.
1 Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in
thy holy hill?
"Tabernacle" is "tent." God does not live in a tent, of course.
"Tent" is sometimes used to speak of the spiritual space around
a being. Thus we read about Ham not respecting the "tent" of his
father Noah (Genesis 9:21). The LORD appeared to Abraham as he
sat in the door of his tent (Genesis 18:1). Tents are mentioned
several times in Genesis 33 with the plural given in the
feminine although the word is masculine, emphasizing how Jacob
had become one spiritually with Rachel -- thus his tent was
feminine.
"Holy hill" is Zion, of course, or Eden, the Garden or Paradise.
Who will sit down with Abraham in the kingdom?
2 He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and
speaketh the truth in his heart.
Speaking truth with the tongue is not enough. We must speak it
in our hearts as well.
3 He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his
neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour.
"Backbiteth" could read "slanders." Slander is akin to murder
since you can remove a person's life from him through slander by
turning his friends, neighbors and possibly his family against
him. While he may still be alive in his physical body, what
kind of life is that?
4 In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth
them that fear the Lord. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and
changeth not.
Seeing vile people as vile is one of the requirements for
dwelling with God. If we honor the vile person along with the
virtuous, we are unjust and encouraging wickedness and
discouraging virtue. For this reason Ahaz was not buried in the
royal sepulchres.
2 Chronicles 28:27 And Ahaz slept with his fathers, and they
buried him in the city, even in Jerusalem: but they brought him
not into the sepulchres of the kings of Israel: and Hezekiah his
son reigned in his stead.
There is a tradition that Hezekiah even showed disrespect for
his vile father by having his body dragged through the streets.
The commandment to "honor thy father" has its limits. We ought
never pretend someone is worthy of honor because of a family
relationship. For this reason Abraham also deserted his father
who was an idol maker. There are times when earthly fathers
have thrown away their "cards" that say "father" on them; and
children must see God as their father since they lack earthly
parents worthy of the name.
For this reason also, when a Gentile converted to Judaism, his
earthly parents were considered dead to him. He was considered
to be "born again" into the new family of Israel.
"Honors the God-fearing" sounds easy to apply but is it? I fear
it may be difficult indeed. We are easily tempted to condemn
others if they disagree with us about doctrines; but do they
fear God? Are they sincere? Oh, it can be easy to disobey
this, while we may even honor the vile because they agree with
us.
"Swears to his own hurt" is also hard to follow. It may be easy
to do this in court if we never get called to court; but what
about in daily life? Do we accept the blame if need be to save
others trouble?
"Changeth not" means to do what we say. He does not take a vow
or say he will do something and then neglect to do it if things
become hard. Some people promise things when it looks to their
advantage; but when circumstances change and it looks to their
disadvantage, they change their minds and break their word. If
we betray ourselves by breaking our word, whom would we not
betray?
Nevertheless if we speak rashly and err in a vow even, it is
better to change course than to continue in the error. It is a
matter of commitment. We ought not to betray others. I would
say if you tell someone you will not help him, you are free to
change your mind and help him; but if you promise to help him,
you should not feel free to change your mind since you are
letting him down when he may be counting on you. You would not
be betraying him or letting him down by helping him after saying
you would not.
Matthew 21:28 But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and
he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my
vineyard.
29 He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented,
and went.
30 And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered
and said, I go, sir: and went not.
31 Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say
unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto
you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of
God before you.
32 For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye
believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed
him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that
ye might believe him.
The second son will not dwell on God's Holy Hill according to
David.
5 He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward
against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be
moved.
Usury, especially when lending money to friends and family, is
something few people today think about.
A "reward against the innocent" is taking sides by being bribed.
Today that can take subtle forms also. When we vote, are we
taking a bribe or the promise of a bribe from a politician? Do
we want innocent people harmed to enrich ourselves?
Now let me add a personal note. When I was an atheist, I
decided to read the Bible all the way through. I said if God
was real and the Bible meant anything, maybe something would
happen. I read through all the books without anything happening
until I read this Psalm. When I read it, I was struck by how
little God asks of us. It really is simple. If we can do these
things, that is all God wants. Then I knew God was real and
David was a prophet.
Then I realized also that as easy as it sounded, I could not do
these things. As simple as it was, I couldn't do it. I needed
help. Remember I was not a Christian then; but I could see the
need for someone to help me. The idea of a Messiah made sense to
me. So my next question was if Jesus was the Messiah. That is
another story; but Psalm 15 will always be important to me.
Strange how a Psalm put me on the path to believing in Jesus.
#Post#: 5367--------------------------------------------------
Re: Thoughts on the Psalms
By: Kerry Date: July 2, 2013, 5:17 pm
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Psalm 16:0 A michtam of David.
This introduction is omitted in many Bibles. A michtam is a
"golden Psalm." Six Psalms are called this: This one, and
numbers 56 to 60.
1 Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust.
2 O my soul, thou hast said unto the Lord, Thou art my Lord: my
goodness extendeth not to thee;
"O my soul" is added, shown in the KJV by italics. It could be
that is David is talking to others here. It could read as
Young's Literal Translation has it, "Thou has said to Jehovah"
or "You should say to the LORD."
"My goodness extendeth not to thee" is obscure. It means the
goodness God does for us is not something God does for us
because we deserve it.
3 But to the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent,
in whom is all my delight.
Why "in" the earth and not "on" the earth? Again, this is
ambiguous. It could be read as hope in the resurrection. It
could mean the living saints "on" the earth, or it could mean
the saints resting "in" the earth. "Saints" means "set aside
ones" just as vessels are consecrated and set aside for sacred
purposes only.
The "excellent" is more often translated in the KJV as "nobles."
4 Their sorrows shall be multiplied that hasten after another
god: their drink offerings of blood will I not offer, nor take
up their names into my lips.
5 The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup:
thou maintainest my lot.
This can be read as a reference to the wine and lamb of Passover
when people were counted to make sure there was enough lamb for
everyone but also not too much.
Exodus 12:4 And if the household be too little for the lamb, let
him and his neighbour next unto his house take it according to
the number of the souls; every man according to his eating shall
make your count for the lamb.
"Maintainest my lot" may mean to choose as God chose for us:
Deuteronomy 30:19 I call heaven and earth to record this day
against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing
and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed
may live:
Another possibility is that whatever our lot in life is, we
should say, "It is well with my soul," confident that as Paul
wrote in Romans 8:28 "all things works together for the good to
them that love God, to them who are the called according to his
purpose."
6 The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a
goodly heritage.
7 I will bless the Lord, who hath given me counsel: my reins
also instruct me in the night seasons.
The Jews say Abraham kept the Law of God even before Moses wrote
it. They use this verse to explain how this could be, saying
God instructed Abraham at night. Compare this to what Elihu
said:
Job 33:14 For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth
it not.
15 In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth
upon men, in slumberings upon the bed;
16 Then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their
instruction,
17 That he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride
from man.
18 He keepeth back his soul from the pit, and his life from
perishing by the sword.
8 I have set the Lord always before me: because he is at my
right hand, I shall not be moved.
9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh
also shall rest in hope.
10 For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou
suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
The New Testament takes this verse and applies it to Jesus; but
it is true also of David despite the seeming comment in Acts
that it isn't. The speech in Acts 2 appears confused to me. It
is also true of everyone who trusts in God to raise him up in
the resurrection.
11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is
fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for
evermore.
"Path" could also read "way." I believe this is a description
what David sees and trusts God for in the future.
#Post#: 6361--------------------------------------------------
Re: Thoughts on the Psalms
By: Kerry Date: November 24, 2013, 10:45 pm
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Psalm 17:0 A prayer of David,
1 Hear the right, O Lord, attend unto my cry, give ear unto my
prayer, that goeth not out of feigned lips.
2 Let my sentence come forth from thy presence; let thine eyes
behold the things that are equal.
David is not bragging here about his upright acts; rather he is
asking God to see what is good and not only what is not. If we
are trying to do what is right and doing somethings right,
surely God is willing to see those merits; and this is surely
how we all pray, is it not?
3 Thou hast proved mine heart; thou hast visited me in the
night; thou hast tried me, and shalt find nothing; I am purposed
that my mouth shall not transgress.
Some say this Psalm is about his test with Bathsheba. God knows
David's sin in the matter, so there is nothing new for God to
find there.
"My mouth shall not transgress" means that if David's mind does
turn to his past error of asking to be tried (Psalm 26:1-2), he
won't say it again with his mouth.
4 Concerning the works of men, by the word of thy lips I have
kept me from the paths of the destroyer.
5 Hold up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not.
He relies on the Word of God to keep him on the right path.
Compare to:
Psalm 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto
my path.
Of course, he is not talking about the "Bible" since most of the
Bible wasn't written yet. He is talking about walking in the
Light of God -- hearing first of all the Word, "Let there be
Light," and then hearing the other words.
6 I have called upon thee, for thou wilt hear me, O God: incline
thine ear unto me, and hear my speech.
Here David's faith in God is evident. We are doubting the
goodness of God if we pray sincerely and then wonder if He will
hear us. Such doubts may indeed mean we are praying not to the
One True God but a god of our own imagination, a deaf god who
lacks mercy and love. We should have confidence then when
praying, as much confidence as the baby has when he cries to get
his mother's attention. A baby's cry shows his belief that a
loving response is at hand.
7 Shew thy marvellous lovingkindness, O thou that savest by thy
right hand them which put their trust in thee from those that
rise up against them.
8 Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of
thy wings,
The apple of the eye may be the pupil. In the physical world,
the image we see on a pupil depends on what is "out there." Is
that the way it is spiritually? Or is it perhaps the other way
around -- that we exist first in the eye of God and then take
form "out here." Which is more real? The way we perceive
ourselves now, or the way God sees we shall be in the future?
Does God have wings? Can there be a shadow? What light would
cast the shadow? We can say a shadow shares a shape or form
with the real object. Shadow in Hebrew is tsel -- image (as in
image and likeness) is tselem. We are made in His "shadow," you
might say.
9 From the wicked that oppress me, from my deadly enemies, who
compass me about.
They were also the enemies of God.
10 They are inclosed in their own fat: with their mouth they
speak proudly.
They are depicted as greedy men given to insatiable lusts like
gluttony. Compare to:
Deuteronomy 32:15 But Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked: thou art
waxen fat, thou art grown thick, thou art covered with fatness;
then he forsook God which made him, and lightly esteemed the
Rock of his salvation.
Luke 16:19 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in
purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:
20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid
at his gate, full of sores,
21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the
rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.
1 Corinthians 6:13 Meats for the belly, and the belly for
meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body is
not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the
body.
11 They have now compassed us in our steps: they have set their
eyes bowing down to the earth;
12 Like as a lion that is greedy of his prey, and as it were a
young lion lurking in secret places.
There is a type of evil person who seeks good people as prey,
almost like something to be killed and devoured. They may dress
up in sheep's clothing at times to disguise themselves, but
"inwardly they are ravening wolves." (Matthew 7:15)
13 Arise, O Lord, disappoint him, cast him down: deliver my soul
from the wicked, which is thy sword:
14 From men which are thy hand, O Lord, from men of the world,
which have their portion in this life, and whose belly thou
fillest with thy hid treasure: they are full of children, and
leave the rest of their substance to their babes.
"From men which have their portions in this life" refers to
those men with a few good deeds and God rewards them for their
few good deeds with all the good they deserve. Thus when they
die, God does not need to reward them any more. Compare to:
Luke 16:25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy
lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil
things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.
Matthew 6:2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound
a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues
and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I
say unto you, They have their reward.
15 As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall
be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.
Does this not contradict the statement given to Moses?
Exodus 33:20 And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there
shall no man see me, and live.
Perhaps it does not. Someone once said this verse means no man
may see the face of God . . . and remain living as a man. David
says he will behold the face of God when he awakens.
#Post#: 6820--------------------------------------------------
Re: Thoughts on the Psalms
By: Kerry Date: January 31, 2014, 7:37 am
---------------------------------------------------------
Psalm 18:0 (ASV -- not KJV) For the Chief Musician. A Psalm of
David the servant of Jehovah, who spake unto Jehovah the words
of this song in the day that Jehovah delivered him from the hand
of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul: and he said,
The introduction is not in all versions.
1 I will love thee, O Lord, my strength.
This should be in the present tense, not future, as the
introduction shows.
2 The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my
God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn
of my salvation, and my high tower.
Rock has two meanings. The first is:
Deuteronomy 32:4 He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all
his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just
and right is he.
The second is:
2 Samuel 23:25 Saul also and his men went to seek him. And they
told David; wherefore he came down into a rock, and abode in the
wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard that, he pursued after
David in the wilderness of Maon.
26 And Saul went on this side of the mountain, and David and his
men on that side of the mountain: and David made haste to get
away for fear of Saul; for Saul and his men compassed David and
his men round about to take them.
27 But there came a messenger unto Saul, saying, Haste thee, and
come; for the Philistines have invaded the land.
28 Wherefore Saul returned from pursuing after David, and went
against the Philistines: therefore they called that place
Selahammahlekoth.
Selahammahlekoth means cliff of escapes. Compare also to:
Job 24:8 They are wet with the showers of the mountains, and
embrace the rock for want of a shelter.
Back to the Psalm:
3 I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised: so
shall I be saved from mine enemies.
"Will call" should read "call," again in the present tense.
"Shall be saved" is correct.
4 The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly
men made me afraid.
This more literally reads, "bands of sheol" or "cords of sheol"
encompassed me. "Floods of ungodly men" could be read also as
"streams of scoundrels" or "floods of Belial."
5 The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death
prevented me.
6 In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried unto my God:
he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him,
even into his ears.
If the soul in hell could only remember to call on God, he could
be rescued. The problem for souls in hell is that they often
cannot remember things. Their mental state is like a nightmare
in which no volition exists, in which things happen and the soul
reacts without knowing why. This nightmarish forgetfulness of
the soul is what Solomon describes:
Psalm 6:5 For in death there is no remembrance of thee: in the
grave who shall give thee thanks?
The state of death is lack of all awareness. In sheol, the soul
may call to God if it can remember. In this Psalm however, the
language is describing the enemies of David figuratively as
bands of men from the nether world; but there are spiritual
connections to the denizens of hell.
7 Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations also of the
hills moved and were shaken, because he was wroth.
8 There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his
mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it.
9 He bowed the heavens also, and came down: and darkness was
under his feet.
10 And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: yea, he did fly upon
the wings of the wind.
The LORD may travel in any of the four vehicles or cherubim.
Here He is said to ride on one, flying on the wing of the wind
or spirit since ruach can mean either wind or spirit.
11 He made darkness his secret place; his pavilion round about
him were dark waters and thick clouds of the skies.
Compare to what Solomon said:
2 Chronicles 6:1 Then said Solomon, The Lord hath said that he
would dwell in the thick darkness.
12 At the brightness that was before him his thick clouds
passed, hail stones and coals of fire.
2 Chronicles 7:1 Now when Solomon had made an end of praying,
the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering
and the sacrifices; and the glory of the Lord filled the house.
2 And the priests could not enter into the house of the Lord,
because the glory of the Lord had filled the Lord's house.
3 And when all the children of Israel saw how the fire came
down, and the glory of the Lord upon the house, they bowed
themselves with their faces to the ground upon the pavement, and
worshipped, and praised the Lord, saying, For he is good; for
his mercy endureth for ever.
Or to use the language of Isaiah:
Isaiah 42:16 And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew
not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will
make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight.
These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them.
13 The Lord also thundered in the heavens, and the Highest gave
his voice; hail stones and coals of fire.
The hail is solidified water -- symbolic of solid ideas which
come down from Heaven to the earth. The coals of fire show
purifying energy of a seraphic nature. These coals are small;
but some are larger too as the burning stars which fall in
Revelation.
14 Yea, he sent out his arrows, and scattered them; and he shot
out lightnings, and discomfited them.
15 Then the channels of waters were seen, and the foundations of
the world were discovered at thy rebuke, O Lord, at the blast of
the breath of thy nostrils.
These actions of the LORD are the result of David's prayer. We
are not told a mountain is picked up and moved into the ocean;
but the action is similar.
16 He sent from above, he took me, he drew me out of many
waters.
As the LORD also made the great fish expel Jonah onto dry land.
Jonah was in sheol or hell, he said, at the bottom of the
mountains.
17 He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them which
hated me: for they were too strong for me.
18 They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the Lord was
my stay.
19 He brought me forth also into a large place; he delivered me,
because he delighted in me.
20 The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness; according
to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.
21 For I have kept the ways of the Lord, and have not wickedly
departed from my God.
22 For all his judgments were before me, and I did not put away
his statutes from me.
23 I was also upright before him, and I kept myself from mine
iniquity.
Note that David does not say he was perfect. He knew his own
iniquity and did not act on it. Blessed indeed is he who can
perceive the evil urge in himself and know not to act on it.
24 Therefore hath the Lord recompensed me according to my
righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his
eyesight.
25 With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful; with an
upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright;
Is it not just of God to treat us as we treat others (Matthew
18:23-35)? Consider too the possibility that this means we are
apt to create God in our own image and He allows us to think
this is so. So what kind of God do we hope for? Perhaps we
should figure this out, and then try to behave that way
ourselves.
26 With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the
froward thou wilt shew thyself froward.
It may be wise to consider this wisdom when reading the Bible.
How we interpret the Bible may say more about us than it says
about God. William Blake wrote, "Both read the Bible day and
night, But thou read'st black where I read white." Paul wrote:
Titus 1:15 Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them
that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their
mind and conscience is defiled.
27 For thou wilt save the afflicted people; but wilt bring down
high looks.
28 For thou wilt light my candle: the Lord my God will enlighten
my darkness.
This could be a reference to David's battle with the Amalekites
at night.
1 Samuel 30:17 And David smote them from the twilight even unto
the evening of the next day: and there escaped not a man of
them, save four hundred young men, which rode upon camels, and
fled.
29 For by thee I have run through a troop; and by my God have I
leaped over a wall.
30 As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the Lord is
tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.
31 For who is God save the Lord? or who is a rock save our God?
32 It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way
perfect.
33 He maketh my feet like hinds' feet, and setteth me upon my
high places.
Why female deer? There is debate among American hunters if the
sex of a deer can be determined by its tracks; and I do not know
myself; but Rashi was of the opinion that the feet stand
straighter on female deer than on male deer.
34 He teacheth my hands to war, so that a bow of steel is broken
by mine arms.
This should read brass, of course. It's usually translated as
brass but it's rendered brass in two other places as well as
here. It is said he did have bows of copper and could bend
them.
35 Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy
right hand hath holden me up, and thy gentleness hath made me
great.
Perhaps translators could not conceive how God could have
humility; but if you consider the matter, you may conclude that
God is perfectly humble and lacking in any human defects such as
pride or arrogance. This should read "humility" and not
"gentleness."
36 Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, that my feet did not
slip.
Giving him a wide stride thus making it more difficult to fall.
37 I have pursued mine enemies, and overtaken them: neither did
I turn again till they were consumed.
38 I have wounded them that they were not able to rise: they are
fallen under my feet.
39 For thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle: thou
hast subdued under me those that rose up against me.
40 Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies; that I
might destroy them that hate me.
They would expose their necks when turning to flee.
41 They cried, but there was none to save them: even unto the
Lord, but he answered them not.
Indeed God does not answer all prayers. We should remember that
David is talking here about men who attacked him first out of
hatred. It is dangerous indeed to attack the servants of God.
Will God grant mercy to such villains who ask for help only out
of fear?
42 Then did I beat them small as the dust before the wind: I did
cast them out as the dirt in the streets.
43 Thou hast delivered me from the strivings of the people; and
thou hast made me the head of the heathen: a people whom I have
not known shall serve me.
44 As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me: the strangers
shall submit themselves unto me.
45 The strangers shall fade away, and be afraid out of their
close places.
46 The Lord liveth; and blessed be my rock; and let the God of
my salvation be exalted.
47 It is God that avengeth me, and subdueth the people under me.
48 He delivereth me from mine enemies: yea, thou liftest me up
above those that rise up against me: thou hast delivered me from
the violent man.
49 Therefore will I give thanks unto thee, O Lord, among the
heathen, and sing praises unto thy name.
50 Great deliverance giveth he to his king; and sheweth mercy to
his anointed, to David, and to his seed for evermore.
"Anointed" could be translated as "Messiah" of course.
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