102 The Alphabet Psalm

Psalm 117

This is the shortest of all the psalms.

Psalm 118

This psalm is the exact middle point of the entire Protestant Bible.

Psalm 119

This is the longest of all the psalms.

This is an Alphabetical Psalm - the longest, and most perfect in its kind, in the collection of Psalms. The peculiarity of the composition consists in this - that the first eight verses of the psalm begin with the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet - Aleph (א '); the next eight verses with the second letter - Beth (ב b); and so on, through the twenty-two letters of the alphabet. These parts are designated in our common version by the names of the Hebrew letters respectively indicating the parts - Aleph, Beth, Gimel, Daleth, etc. Barnes commentary.

Psalm 125

 They who trust in Jehovah shall be like Mount Zion; it is not shaken, but remains forever. 
Psalm 125:1

This is believed to be one of the psalms written after the Babylonian captivity because it says, Mount Zion; it is not shaken, but remains forever.  If it had been written before the captivity this would not be a true statement.  As it turns out though, technically it is not true anyway, because Rome destroyed Jerusalem only a few hundred years later.

As I have said a number of times already, the psalms are songs expressing feelings, or maybe wishes, and not necessarily stating facts.  We have a similar type of non-truths in the Christian hymnals today. eg.
His chariots of wrath the deep thunderclouds form 
and dark is His path on the wings of the storm.

Psalm 137

While we were studying 2 Chronicles we learned that King Nebuchadnezzar took captive many Israelites and carried them off to Babylon.  This psalm is written in the past tense after the Jews were released by King Cyrus and allowed to go back home.  However, the material fits into the time period while they were still captive in Babylon.

There we sat down by the rivers of Babylon; also, we wept when we remembered Zion. We hung our lyres on the willows in its midst. For there our captors demanded a song from us; and our plunderers demanded gladness, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion. How shall we sing Jehovah's song in a foreign land? Psalm 137:1-4.

Psalm 126 

Cyrus released many captives, not only Israelites, back to their own countries.  We learned that this was not so much because he was kind-hearted, but rather because he wanted the returned captives to be a buffer between the Egyptian and Greek armies and Persia.  That plan paid off very well for Persia, later on; when Egypt assayed to attack Persia the Israelite army intercepted.

This psalm fits into the time when the decree was given that they could return to their homeland.

When Jehovah turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like those who dream. (pinch me, I must be dreaming) Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing; (this is just too good to be true) then they said among the nations, Jehovah has done great things with them.  What a testimony to Jehovah's care. Psalm 126:1-6

Psalm 138

Many times it has been stated in this blog that the Bible insists on the plurality of the Gods.  Here is another example of that truth.  I will praise You with my whole heart; before the gods I will sing praise to You. 138:1.

It is uncanny how glibly Bible interpreters tell us that the word gods means idols.  The Hebrew word used here is Elohim.  About this word, Elohim, notice: The everlasting Elohim coming forth out of the depths of his inscrutable eternity, and manifesting himself to man in the new character of Yahweh. Barnes Commentary.  Bible scholars agree that the word, gods (this includes Jehovah), is the real meaning of Elohim, so how can any honest Bible commentator say the word, gods, in this verse, means idols?

It is also worth noting that the word, gods, as it is used here is the same word that is used in Genesis 1:1, In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.  It should be read as: In the beginning the Gods created the heavens and the earth.  So those who say that gods in Psalm 138:1 means idols should have no problem reading Gen. 1:1 like this: In the beginning the idols created the heavens and the earth.

It seems that most Bible teachers just cannot let go of the idea that there is only one God.  Throughout the Bible, the name of God is distinctly a plural word.  Is it because, God, is a plural word that they invent a theory, such as the Trinity, which definitely is not taught in the Bible.  That confusing theory sounds like this; The plurality of persons in the Godhead, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. The plural name of God in Hebrew, which speaks of him as many, tho' he be but one. Wesley.

101 Jehovah Is A Great God

Psalm 95 - 96

For Jehovah is a great God, and a great King above all gods. Psalm 95:3
For Jehovah is great, and greatly to be praised; He is to be feared above all gods. Psalm 96:4

These Bible verses are a good example of how theologians twist the meaning of words to suit what they believe.  A great God is Jehovah, and a great King above all gods;” or, “God is a great King over all.” Clake.  Notice how he drops the word, gods: is it because it does not suit the church's beliefs.  

This does not mean that he is a great ruler of all other gods, as if they had a real existence, but that he is king or ruler far above all that were worshipped as gods, or to whom homage was paid. Barnes.  So the verbiage continues to try to prove that the Bible does not mean what it says.

If we pay close attention to the meaning of the word God and the meaning of the word gods we might see what the Psalmist actually said.  The meaning that Dr Strong, a Methodist theologian, has for these words is this:  

God -  strength; as adjective mighty; especially the Almighty (but used also of any deity): 

gods - gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God. 

The meaning of the two words is the same.  Why can we not at least try to grapple with the idea that Jehovah is not the only God in the universe?  After all, the Bible says that He is not!  Are we going to blindly go through our whole life without daring to do our own thinking?

Psalm 97

All those who serve graven images are ashamed, those who boast themselves in idols; all gods bow down before Him. ... For You, Jehovah, are high above all the earth; You are lifted on high far above all gods. Psalm 97:7+9.

To try and tell us that the word gods means idols, here in verse 7, just does not work.  Idols do not bow down, but the gods do.  The word idol means good for nothing. Strong.  In both cases where the word gods is used, it has the same meaning as we saw in Psalms 95 and 96.

Psalm 104 

The psalmist sings of how the needs of all the creatures are provided for by the hands of Jehovah.

Psalm 105-106

In these psalms, the history of Israel is repeated again.

Psalm 110

Jehovah said to my Lord, Sit at My right hand until I place Your enemies as Your footstool. psalm 110:1 

This verse is often used to "prove" that God is a trinity, but that is false theology!

Jehovah said to my Lord. Most translations.  Notice that Lord is capitalized.  This is done by the translators to indicate that it refers to Jesus Christ after His ascension into heaven.  The Jewish Publication Society Bible does not capitalize lord.  This is also the way the Hebrew translation has it: Yehweh (said) to lord of me.  

Psalm 110:1 precisely defined the second lord as “my lord” (adoni), not “my Lord” as mistranslated in many versions.

The expert Christologist Dr. James Dunn now has the right answer to the identity of Jesus: “Jesus is not Yahweh, not the God of Israel.”  However in 1977 he had misquoted the second lord of Psalm 110:1 as Adonai (Lord) when it is in fact adoni, my (non-Deity) lord.

Dr. Hurtado makes the same mistake about “lord” in his commentary on Mark when he says the second lord is Adonai.  Quoted in Focus on the Kingdom, by Anthony Buzzard, October 2015.

To keep our theology straight it is imperative that we do not mix up the two words, Yahweh, Adonai and lord, Adoni.  Using the word, lord, to speak respectfully of a man should not seem strange to us; we speak of Lord Nelson or Lord Mountbatten.  That is the same way in which the psalmist uses that word here in Psalm 110:1; he is speaking respectfully of lord Jesus, the man.

100. Captivity is Made Captive

The Psalms continue on in the same vein: all of mankind is guilty; some are blatantly evil and on those Jehovah will execute judgement. The upright in heart will be protected by God and they will wash their feet in the blood of the guilty: so that your foot may be dipped in the blood of your enemies. 68:23.  This is not at all a pleasant picture, however, I suppose, we must not over analyse that scene.  Not everything in the Bible means what it says.

Speaking of taking the Bible literally and referencing that to UFO's notice:

Psalm 68

Sing to God, ... praise Him who rides on the heavens. 

To Him who rides on the heavens of heavens of old. Psalm 68:4+33.

The chariots of God are myriads, thousands of thousands. Psalm 68:17

God has gone up with a shout, Jehovah with the sound of a trumpet. Psalm 47:5

It is phrases of this nature, and whole stories, throughout the Bible, that produced the name "Spaceship Theology" for this blog.  Time, and again, in the Bible, we see word pictures of Jehovah riding a spacecraft.  

The problem is that, because of our learning, we have trouble believing that the Bible means what it says.  Of course, there are statements, in the Bible, that conflict with this theory, but we need to remember that many of the poetic segments in the Bible are emotional prayers and openly expressed feelings; feelings of awe, immensity and infinitude that obscure the stated facts in the Bible.

You have gone up on high; You have led captivity captive. Psalms 68:18.  This line, in agreement with the Apostle Paul, (see Eph. 4:8), is usually referred to Christ, when, after he had led captivity captive by His death and resurrection, He ascended to heaven.

Other commentaries say it refers to the time when the ark of the covenant was brought home to Israel. 

Some have presented the following, alternate idea. There was war in Heaven. Michael and his angels warring against the dragon. Rev.12:7.  For you (the dragon, Satan) have said in your heart, I will go up to the heavens, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north. I will go up above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the Most High. Isaiah 14:12.

And the dragon and his angels warred but did not prevail. Nor was place found for them in Heaven any more. And the great dragon was cast out, the old serpent called Devil, and Satan, who deceives the whole world. He was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. Rev.12:7-9. 

After Jehovah wins the battle against Satan, this verse, Psalm 68:18 fits in: You have gone up on high; You have led captivity captive. For more about this whole intriguing topic may I suggest, http://ikefehr1939.blogspot.com/2013/01/the-war-in-heaven.html

The mountain of Bashan is God's mountain; the Bashan range is a mountain of peaks. Psalm 68:15.  an hill of eminences"; it had several tops, or little hills that rose up from it. Gill's commentary.

Psalm 22 warned us that Bashan was a place of danger: Many bulls have circled around Me; strong bulls Of Bashan have surrounded Me. Psalm 22:12.  By way of contrast Psalm 68:15 tells us that The mountain of Bashan is God's mountain; the Bashan range is a mountain of peaks.  In a spiritual sense, this is where we may go and find quietude and refreshment, far from the noise of this world's entertainment.

Psalm 72

The prelude to this psalm is A Psalm of Solomon, but it ends like this, The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended. Psalm 72:20.  This statement is found just about in the middle of the Psalter: this merely shows that the psalms are not arranged in the order in which they were written; neither are the songs in the Church's hymn books.

Psalm 78

For He set up a testimony in Jacob, and ordered a Law in Israel, which He commanded our fathers, that they should teach them to their sons so that the generation to come might know; sons shall be born, and they shall arise and tell their sons, so that they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep His Commandments; and might not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation. Psalm 78:5.

From here on the writer gives a brief outline of the history of Israel from the beginning of the conquest of Canaan to the rulership of king David.

99. I Have Two Pierced Ears

Psalm 24

In my opinion, this is the most beautiful psalm in the Psalter!  The only way to really appreciate it is to read and re-read it.

Psalm 32

This is a prayer of penitence and of rejoicing for sins that have been forgiven.

Many Bible commentaries suggest that this psalm was written, by David, shortly after his affair with Bathsheba and the murder of Uriah.

Psalm 38

Here we learn that unconfessed sins can actually make a person physically sick.

Psalm 40

Sacrifice and offering You did not desire; My ears You have opened; burnt offering and sin offering You have not asked. Then I said, Lo, I come, in the volume of the Book it is written of Me; I delight to do Your will, O My God; and Your Law is within My heart. I have preached righteousness in the great congregation; 6-9.

Some scholars say that there is nothing in this psalm that distinctly refers to Christ.  Others believe that it was actually Christ, speaking of His future self, who dictated this psalm to David.  The writer of the Book of Hebrews, in The New Testament, claims that it was Christ who had spoken the words of these four verses.

Sacrifice and offering You did not desire:  According to the books of Moses, these are the things that Jehovah demanded.  Some commentaries say this means that God does not desire sacrifice and offering compared to obedience to Jehovah and a holy lifestyle. 

You have prepared a body for Me. This is a very interesting phrase associated with a lot of confusion. 

In Hebrew it reads something like: two ears thou hast opened for me. 

In The Literal translation: You have opened ears to Me.  This could mean, You hear my prayers.

Many translations use this meaning: My ears You have opened.  This meaning is recorded, eight times in three gospels; Christ in His speeches said, he who has ears to hear, let him hear.  Perhaps that is the meaning used here.

Some say that the meaning is, You have pierced my ears.  This would relate to the Jewish law where, after a slave had been with his master for seven years and was allowed to go free, but he decided to stay, the master would pierce the slave's ears, which indicated that the slave belonged to the master for the rest of his life.  According to this theory, Christ said to His Father, "My ears hast thou bored", that is, thou hast made me thy servant for ever. Clarke Heb. 10:5.

In the Book of Hebrews, in place of, my ears You have opened, we find these totally different words, You have prepared a body for Me.

How did they ever get from, my ears you have opened to You have prepared a body for Me?  The apostle who wrote the Book of Hebrews was copying these words from the Septuagint version of the psalms. In Hebrew handwritten letters, there is only a slight difference in styling the letters, and that change could have happened in the Septuagint by something as simple as using too much ink on the bottom lines of one or more letters. Clarke's commentary. 

Whatever the reason for this misprint, it at least reminds us that we must not be too hung up on the idea that the Bible is "word perfect".

Psalm 42

O my God, my soul is cast down within me; Why are you cast down, O my soul, and moan within me? Hope in God; for I shall praise Him for His salvation. 5-6.  Sometimes in our depression, we feel as if there is nothing left for which to praise Jehovah, but then! we remember the salvation which He has bestowed on us.  Again we raise our souls in praise and gratitude.