Search The Scriptures —Study 52 — Psalm 68:1-18

Study 52 From the Book of Psalms is: Psalm 68:1-18

This Psalm describes the onward march of God through history to His final triumph. The threefold reference to the sanctuary in verses 17:24, 35 suggests that, like Ps. 24, it was written to celebrate the bringing of the ark to Jerusalem. See 2 Sa. 6:15, 17, 18.

1. What effect does the appearing of God have on (a) His enemies (verses 1, 2), (b) the righteous (verses 3, 4), and (c) those in need (verses 5, 6)?
2. In the historical retrospect of verses 7:18, what aspects of God's character are revealed?

Notes

1. Verse 7. Cf. Jdg. 5:4, 5
2. Verses 13b, 14. The meaning is uncertain. Verse 13b may mention an item of spoil: see verse 12 and cf. Jdg. 5:30. Or it may describe a symbol like the golden wings of the cherubim (see Ex 20-22)--of a theophany. Verse 14 may be a picture of the kings and their armies fleeing as snow-flakes driven before a storm.
3. Verses 17, 18. God enters Zion with His heavenly hosts. Cf. Eph. 4:8; Ps. 24:7-10

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Search The Scriptures —Study 51 — Psalms 66 and 67

Study 51 From the Book of Psalms is: Psalms 66 and 67

Ps. 66 is a summons to the nations to join in praise to God for a great deliverance which He has wrought for His people, such as the deliverance of Jerusalem from Sennacherib. If this was the occasion, the speaker in verses 13:20 may well be King Hezekiah himself, speaking as the representative of the nation. Ps. 67 may belong to the same time. See Is. 37

1. Ps. 66. Note in detail what God is here said to do with an for His people. What response ought this to move me to make? What is the condition of sharing in such an experience?
2. Ps. 67. Do we share the longing of the psalmist that all nations might knows God and His salvation? By what means did he think it would be achieved? Cf. Mt.5:14-16; 1 Pet. 2:9, 10.

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Search The Scriptures —Study 50 — Psalms 64 and 65

Study 50 From the Book of Psalms is: Psalms 64 and 65

Ps. 64, like 58 and 59, has for its theme the certainty of God's judgment upon the wicked. Ps. 65 on the other hand, is a psalm of praise to God, as the God of the whole earth, the only Saviour from sin, and the Giver of fruitful harvest.

1. Ps. How are the psalmist's enemies described (verse 1-6? What are the purpose and result of God's judgment? What truths should we take to heart, and act on when in similar circumstances?

2. Ps. 65. In verse 1, the psalmist says that praise is due to God. In the remaining verse, what can you find which moves you to praise God for all He is, and has done? Are the experiences mentioned in verse 3 and 4 known to you?

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Search The Scriptures —Study 49 — Psalm 63

Study 49 From the Book of Psalm is: Psalm 63

The title of the psalm assigns it to the time when David was crossing the wilderness of Judah, i.e., from Jerusalem to Jordan, in his flight from Absalom, as described in 2 Sa. 16. The psalm begins in a mournful way, but suddenly, at verse 2, the note changes, and the psalm becomes one of the joyous praise. The most satisfactory explanation of the change, and of David's words 'So I have looked upon thee in the sanctuary', is that there, in the wilderness, David was given a vision of Jehovah as vivid and glorious as ever he had seen Him in the sanctuary, and it transformed for him the whole outlook.

1. Consider how full of sorrow David's heart, must have been at leaving Jerusalem, and especially the sanctuary of God. See verse 1, and cf. 2 Sa. 15:24-30. Though he seemed outwardly to have lost everything, in what was he still able to rejoice?
2. In what assurance about the future was David able to rest? Have you any similar confidence?

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Search The Scriptures —Study 48 — Psalms 61 and 62

Study 48 From the Book of Psalms is: Psalms 61 and 62

Ps. 61-63 form another trilogy, like 46-48. They were all most probably written shortly after David's flight from Absalom (see 63 title) and should be read against the background of the story of 2 Sa. 15-17.

1. Ps. 61. Consider David's circumstances –a fugitive, his throne occupied by another, his life sought. What were his hearts' chief desires as expressed in his prayers(verses 1-4)? Observe also his confident hope, and his whole-hearted devotion (verses 5-8). Is he not in this a 'type of our Lord?
2. Ps. 62. How did David's situation appear in the eyes of his enemies (verse 3), and how to the eyes of faith (verses 6, 7)? Out of the fullness of his own joyous confidence in God, what message was David able to give his followers (verses 8-12)? Have you also found that faith leads to testimony?
   Note. 62:11, 12. 'Once .... Twice': a Hebrew idiom for 'repeatedly', here signifying that the truth David sets forth in these verses had sunk deep into his heart.

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Search The Scriptures —Study 47 — Psalm 60

Study 47 From the Book of Psalm is: Psalm 60

For the occasion of this psalm see the title and 2 Sa. 8:13, 14. The circumstances are not wholly clear. It would seem that while David was engaged in a campaign against Syria (Aaram), the Edomites invaded Judah from the south, creating a situation of grave danger. The psalm was written when David firs heard the news.

1. Note the content of David's prayer. What does he do first (verses 1-5), second (verses 6-8), third (verses 9-12)?

2. What may we learn from David's example concerning the way (a) to meet bad tidings and (b) to find help in God?

Notes

1. Verse 6. Shechem west of the Jordan, Succoth east of it, thus representing the whole land.

2. Verse 8. ' Upon Edom': better, 'to Edom'. Moab and Edom were to have a menial place in God's household, as compared with Israel.

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Search The Scriptures —Study 46 — Psalms 58 and 59

Study 46 From the Book of Psalms is: Psalms 58 and 59

1. Ps. 58. When earthly rulers pervert justice and 'deal out violence', what can the righteous do? What will prove to them that “there is a God who judges on earth'? Notice the vivid imagery in verses 6-9.
2. Ps. 59. Make a list of the different ways in which David here addresses God. How are the truths of the previous psalm here applied more personally to the psalmist's own circumstances? Can you make some similar personal application?

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Search The Scriptures —Study 45—Psalms 56-57

Study 45 From the Book of Psalms is: Psalms 56-57

These two psalms are closely connected and, according to their titles, should be read against the background of 1 Sa. 21:10-22:1.

1. In these two psalms how does David (a) describe the trials by which he is surrounded, and (b) express his confidence in God?
2. What does David confess that God has done, and can do, for him and in what ways does he say that he will show his gratitude? How far can you make some of the words of these psalms your own?
   Note. Ps. 56:8. Cf. Mt. 10:30.

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Search The Scriptures —Study 44—Psalm 55

Study 44 From the Book of Psalms is: Psalm 55

1. Of the two ways of meeting trouble mentioned in verses 6, 7 and 22 respectively, which is the better? What other verses show that the psalmist is turning to God for help, rather than seeking to escape from the scene of his distress?
2. What was the bitterest element in the psalmist's grief? See verses 12-14, 21 and cf. 2 Sa. 15:31; Jn. 13:21. Observe, however the difference between David's cry in verse 15, and our Lord's word concerning Judas (Mk. 14:21).
   Notes
   1. Verses 9-11. Violence, strife, iniquity, mischief, wickedness, oppression, fraud, seem to be personified as walking on the walls and in the streets of the city.
   2. Verse 22. 'Your burden': the Hebrew word translated 'burden' means literally 'what he has given you'. The thought seems to be, 'Take back to God, and cast upon Him the burden He has laid upon you, and He will sustain you under it. For He has given it to you to bring you to Himself. 'Cf. Ps. 107:23-30

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Search The Scriptures —Study 43—Psalms 52-54

Study 43 From the Book of Psalms is: Psalms 52-54

Of these three psalms the second (Ps. 53) is a duplicate (with slight variations of Ps. 14. For the occasion of Pss. 52 and 54 see their titles and cf. 1 Sa. 22:9; 23:19.

1. 52:1-7; 53:1-5. How is the godless man described? In what does he put his trust, and what is his end? In what does the godly man put his trust, and what is the result for him? See 52:8, 9; 53:6.
2. What may we learn from Ps. 54 of (a) the severity of faith's trial; (b) the ground of faith's confidence; (c) faith's assurance of triumph?

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