Thread: Psalm a day

Hi all I thought I would started this thread and that we could have one Psalm everyday. Except when we come to Psalm 119 which is so longest, then we may have to do this Psalm for 3 days.
I hope you will all join me as we mediate on these Psalms together

Psalm 1

1Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

2But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

3And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

4The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.

5Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.

6For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

I just taught the ladies in my Sunday School Class Psalms 73,and I guess I will share~

Psalm is about Asaph, who was a levite, and a leader of David's choir.

WHEN I HAVE DOUBTS

73:1-3
Truly God is good to Israel!
to such as are pure in heart.

But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled;
My steps had nearly slipped.

For I was envious of the boastful,
When I saw the prosperity of the wicked,

Asaph began this by affirming that though God is good to those in Israel, who trust Him and are pure in heart, he himself nearly slipped in his confidence in the Lord.

He almost slipped because he was envious of the prosperity of the wicked.

This problem was so over whelming; he almost lost faith in God's goodness.

Why should the people who oppose God be better off than those who trust Him?

73:4-12
For there are no pangs in their death,
But their strength is firm.

They are not in trouble as other men,
Nor are they plagued like other men.

Therefore pride serves as their necklace;
violence covers them like a garment.

Their eyes bulge with abundance;
they have more than heart could wish.

They scoff and speak wickedly concerning oppression;
They speak loftily.

They set their mouth against the heavens.
And their tongue walks through the earth.

Therefore his people return here,
and waters of a full cup are drained by them.

And they say, 'How does God know?'
and is there knowledge in the Most High?'

Behold, these are the ungodly,
Who are always at ease;
They increase in riches,

Asaph explained the prosperity that troubled him.

He observed that the wicked seem not to suffer trouble as other people do.

They cover themselves with pride and violence.

Their evil devices are unbounded.

Their speech is scornful, malicious, and arrogant, as if they owned the earth.

Many people are carried away by their evil(they turn to them) and thinking God does not know of their sin.

With no cares in the world wicked, arrogant people continue to prosper.

73:13-14
Surely I have cleansed my heart in vain,
And washed my hands in innocence.

For all day long I have been plagued,
and chastened every morning.

Asaph said he was confused over the value of his salvation.

He felt that he had cleansed himself in vain because since trusting the Lord he had been plagued and chastened.

Like many saints before and after him, Asaph was puzzled that God seemed to prosper the wicked and punish the righteous.

73:15-20
If I had said, I will speak thus,
Behold, I would have been untrue to the generation of Your children.

When I thought how to understand this,
It ws too painful for me--

Until I went into the sanctuary of God;
Then I understood their end.

Surely You set them in slippery places;
You cast them down to destruction.

Oh, now they are brought to desolation, as in a moment!

They are utterly consumed with terrors.

As a dream when one awakes,
So, Lord, when You awake.
You shall despise their image.

Asaph overcame his doubts by considering the destiny of the wicked.

His words are like a confession, for he knew the treachery his words could have been to the congregation.

The entire conflict was painful to him, till the sanctuary he understood what will happen to the wicked.

God will set them in dangerus slippery places where they will stumble and fall, be cast...down in ruin, and suddenly destroyed.

When God finally sets things right the wicked will be like fantasies, counterfeits of reality. This was the negative aspect of the solution to Asaph's problem.

73:21-26
Thus my heart was grieved,
and I was vexed in my mind.

I was so foolish and ignorant,
I was like a beast before You.

Nevertheless I am continually-
with You;
You hold me by, my right hand.

You will guide me with Your counsel.

And afterward receive me to glory.

Whom have I in heaven but You?
And there is none upon earth
that I desire besides You.

My flesh and my heart fall;
but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

The positive aspect of the solution was Asaph's conviction of his own glorious destiny.

He confessed that his perspective had been dulled by brutish ignorance.

If he had not been so ignorant, he admitted, his heart would not have been so bitter.

His true position was in stark contrast with the wicked, for he knew God was always with him and will guide him wisely with His counsel and receive him into glory.

God would guide him through his troubles so that he would enjoy honor in this life.

Aseph was probably looking for deliverance in his lifetime.

This would demstrate that he was in God's favor.

Of course, believers today know from the NT that God's punishment of the wicked and blessing of the righteous extend beyond death.

In addition, Asaph affirmed that God was his only possession in heaven or on the earth.

Though Asaph was overwhelmed, God was his strength.

Some wicked peole prosper materially but only the spiritual possessions of the righteous will last.

73:27-28
For indeed, those who are far from You shall perish;
You have destroyed all those who desert You for harlotry.

But it is good for me to draw near to God;
I have put my trust in the Lord God.
That I may declare all Your works.

Asaph concluded that those who are far from God and are unfaithful will be destroyed, but that those who are near God find joy and safety.

Though he had nearly slipped in his confidence in God. He now as reassured that God was keeping him secure.

God was is refuge. His shelter from danger.

Nearness to God always help believers maintain a balanced perspective on material things on the wicked.

Ask: What kinds of circumstances today cause people to almost slip and go astray?

What doubts or difficult questions trouble people today?

Why should we be obedient Christians if we will still face suffering?

How can we keep our doubts from driving us away from God and ensure we will draw closer to Him?

Hope you enjoy....

Nice thread.

What is wonderful in all the verses of Psalms is that they were all meant to be sung. It's a pity that the melody was lost.

Singing to God is such an important thing. No wonder, Psalms is the thickest book in the Bible.

Thank you Faith for your wonderful insight and for sharing Psalm 73 with us.
God has given you a wonderful gift. Thank you John you are right they should be sung. May God's Blessing be with you both .....love Jane

Psalm 2

1Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?

2The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying,

3Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.

4He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the LORD shall have them in derision.

5Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.

6Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.

7I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.

8Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.

9Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.

10Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth.

11Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.

12Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.

Psalm 150

1 PRAISE ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power.
2 Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness.
3 Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp.
4 Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs.
5 Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals.
6 Let everything that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.

Psalm 56 is a song of trust ascribed to the time of David's visit to Gath.

David asserted that even though his enemies waited to destroy him, he trusted confidently in the Lord who knew his sufferings. His confidence led him to anticipate praising God for deliverance from danger.

David prayed the Lord would destroy those who conspired to kill him.

Be merciful to me, O God, for man would swallow me (David) up.
Fighting all day he oppresses me.

My enemies would hound me all day,
for there are many who fight against me, O Most High..

Whenever I am afraid,
I will trust in You.

In God (I will praise His word),
In God I have put my trust;
I will not fear.
What can flesh do to me?

All day they twist my words;
All their thoughts are against me for evil.

They gather together,
they hide, they mark my steps,
When they lie in wait for my life.

Shall they escape by iniquity?
In anger cast down the peoples, O God!

But because his confidence was in God, whose word he praised, he realized that he need not fear mere humans. So again the psalmist laid his problem before the Lord and prayed that God would destroy him, and dogging his steps. He had no rest from their pursuit.

David reiterated his confidence that the Lord knew about his suffering and would protect him.

You number my wanderings;
Put my tears into Your bottle.
Are they not in Your book?

Can you imagine, God recorded his tears?
God did not forget his suffering.

When I cry out to You,
then my enemies will turn back;
This I know because God is for me,

He was confident because God knew him intimately, even recording his tears. The image of his tears being collected in a wineskin means that God did npt forget his suffering. Because of that fact, he could say in full confidence, God is for me.

In God (I will praise His word),
In the Lord (I will praise His word),

In God I have put my trust;
I will not be afraid,
What can man do to me?

Vows made to You are binding
upon me, O God;
I will render praises to You,

For You have delivered my soul from death.

Have You not kept my feet from failling,
That I may walk before God
In the light of the living?

David's confidence led him to anticipate that God would deliver him from danger so that he might live obediently before Him.

As in other psalms, David was so confident God would deliver him that he wrote in the past tense: You have delivered me. So he vowed to praise God for this with thank offerings.

Thank you New2Christ and faith How wonderful is our God .....Love Jane

Psalm 3

1Lord, how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me.

2Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah.

3But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.

4I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah.

5I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me.

6I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about.

7Arise, O LORD; save me, O my God: for thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly.

8Salvation belongeth unto the LORD: thy blessing is upon thy people. Selah.

Psalm 4

1Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer.

2O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame? how long will ye love vanity, and seek after leasing? Selah.

3But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the LORD will hear when I call unto him.

4Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.

5Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the LORD.

6There be many that say, Who will shew us any good? LORD, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us.

7Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased.

8I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.

Psalm 5

1Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my meditation.

2Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray.

3My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.

4For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee.

5The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity.

6Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing: the LORD will abhor the bloody and deceitful man.

7But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple.

8Lead me, O LORD, in thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make thy way straight before my face.

9For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is very wickedness; their throat is an open sepulchre; they flatter with their tongue.

10Destroy thou them, O God; let them fall by their own counsels; cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions; for they have rebelled against thee.

11But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.

12For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield.

Praise God, all of the Psalms are literally 'God-breathed,' God-Authorized Worship Hymns.