Week 32: Psalms 83 – 104

THE BOOK OF PSALMS – chapters 83 through 104

Psalm 83 – A cry for help against allied heathen.  A prayer for God to judge Israel’s enemies (1-8).  The prayer of imprecation  (9-18).  The rulers in v. 11 are those involved in battle with Gideon (Judges 7:1-8:13).  “The psalm teaches how we are placed in a world that hates us because we do not belong to it (Jn. 15:18-25); how we should react: there is no way out, only prayer; where we should rest: in the already demonstrated power of God to overcome the world (9-12; Jn. 16:33; Rev 1:17-18); what we should wish: not just personal relief from opposition, nor just the end of opposition, but the conversion of those who oppose (16,18)” (Motyer).

Psalm 84 – How lovely your dwelling place.  A psalm long associated with the Feast of Tabernacles in the fall.  Longing for the courts of the LORD (1-2).  Happiness in the LORD’s house (3-4).  Happiness of this pilgrim journey (on the way to Jerusalem).  “Every spot on the familiar road, every station at which they have rested, lives in their heart…”(Purkiser)(5-7). Expression of petition and trust (8-12).

Psalm 85 – A prayer after return.  Some think this describes the nation at some low point after the return from Babylonian captivity.  Praise for past goodness (1-3).  Prayer for present needs (4-7).  Prospect in the promise of God (8-13).  

Psalm 86 – A God merciful and gracious.  “A striking feature of the psalm is that each petition is accompanied by a reason why the prayer should be granted” (Motyer).  An appeal for help (1-7).  Adoration of God (8-10).  Petition and thanksgiving (11-13).   Assurance of God’s mercy and grace (14-17).

Psalm 87 – The privilege of citizenship. This psalm describes some from even foreign nations (some former enemies) as born into citizenship of the city of God.   Such became a spiritual reality in the Messianic kingdom of reborn Jews and Gentiles ( cf. Ephesians 2:11-22).  Notice the citizenship register (v. 6), spiritually the Lamb’s Book of Life (Phil. 4:3; Rev. 3:5,12; 21:27).  

Psalm 88 – The dark night of the soul.  We are reminded of Job.  “The most mournful of all the psalms” (Rawlinson).  Note that the last word of the psalm is “darkness.”  

Psalm 89 – God’s covenant with David.  This psalm seems to have been written at a time when it seemed God’s promises were threatened.  The covenant with David (1-37).  The present depression (38-51).  Compare v. 3-4 with Peter’s statement regarding Jesus sitting on David’s throne.  Compare v. 27 with the statement in Revelation 1:5 regarding Jesus.

89:52 – The doxology (statement of praise) that marks the end of Book III.   Book IV is comprised of psalms 90 to 106.

Psalm 90 –Eternal God and mortal man.  Notice Moses as author.  A psalm that has been a favorite at funerals.   Eternal God (1-6).  Mortal man (7-12).  Prayer (13-17).  Compare v. 4 to 2 Peter 3:8.   We are members of a race under judgment.  The universal shadow of death “is a standing reminder of our human solidarity in sin, and of the seriousness with which God views this” (Kidner).  What man does is perishable but there is abiding glory in what God does, so there is the possibility of labour that is not in vain (1 Cor. 15:58) and “an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison” (2 Cor. 4:17).   

Psalm 91 –Security in God – “under his wings.”  An OT companion to Romans 8:31, “If God is for us, who is against us?”  Notice the four divine names applied to God and the metaphors used to describe Him (1-6).  In v. 14-16 note the elements of man’s commitment and the elements of God response to man’s commitment.  Verses 11 and 12 were quoted by Satan during Jesus’ temptations (Matt. 4:6),  to which Jesus replied with Deut. 6:16.  

Psalm 92 – A sabbath hymn.  “The Jewish Mishnah indicates that it was used in the temple at the time of the morning sacrifice on the sabbath” (Purkiser).  

Psalm 93 – The LORD reigns.  The “floods” or “waters” (3,4) are perhaps figurative of times of distress or trouble.

Psalm 94 – An appeal for God to avenge.  The cry for the LORD to act against evil (1-11).  The LORD will not forsake His people (12-15).  The psalmist seeks the LORD (16-23).  

Psalm 95 – Worship and warning.   One of the psalms used by Jews for morning prayer on the sabbath.  Worship (1-7a).  Warning (7b-11).  Referenced in Hebrews 3:7-11; 4:3-11.  Psalms 95 through 100 picture the LORD as ruler of all creation – “Songs of the King.”

Psalm 96 – Sing to the LORD a new song.  Used practically word for word at the time the ark of the covenant was brought into Jerusalem (1 Chronicles 16:23-33),

Psalm 97 –Judgment and grace.  The power and dominion of the LORD.

Psalm 98 – Sing to the LORD a new song.  Praises to the LORD.

Psalm 99 – Holy – Holy – Holy.  Holy in power (1-3).  Holy in justice (4-5).  Holy in mercy (6-9).

Psalm 100 – A joyful noise to the LORD.  The LORD is God (1-3).  The LORD is good (4-5).

Psalm 101 – Conduct of the king.  The ideals of David.  A coronation oath?  His desire for personal integrity (1-4).  His desire for integrity in others (5-8).

Psalm 102 – The prayer of one afflicted.  From captivity in Babylon?  His suffering (1-11).  The eternal God and the refuge of Zion (12-22).  The assurance of deliverance (23-28).  Verses 25-27 are applied to Jesus the Son in Hebrews 1:10-12 (cf. Hebrews 13:8).  

Psalm 103 – Song of a full heart.  The testimony of the OT to “God is love.”  Personal testimony (1-5).  Testimony of the redeemed people (6-18).  A universal summons (19-22).  

Psalm 104 – God’s care over all.  Has been termed “Genesis one in the Psalms.”