94.Give Jehovah a Righteous life

Psalm 3

A Psalm of David, when he fled from his son Absalom. 
O Lord, how my foes have increased! Many are the ones who rise up against me. 3:1

In many of the older versions of the Bible, this verse is treated as two verses so that the psalm actually has nine verses rather than the eight that many new versions have. 

The history behind this psalm is portrayed in the post on April 17, 2015.

Civil War in The Promised Land, http://spaceshiptheology.blogspot.com/2015/04/64-civil-war-in-promised-land.html

The third psalm was composed, or at least the substance of it was meditated and digested in David's thought, and offered up to God, when he fled from Absalom his son, who formed a conspiracy against him, to take away, not his crown only, but his life; we have the story, 2 Sam. 15. Matthew Henry.

And the conspiracy was strong; for the people increased continually with Absalom. 2 Sam. 15:12.

LORD, how many are mine adversaries become! Many are they that rise up against me. Psalm 3:1 Jewish Publication Bible Society.

Psalm 4

Tremble, and sin not; speak within your own heart on your bed and be still. Selah.  Psalm 4:4  

In place of the word tremble the KJV and some others have, stand in awe.  A more significant change is found in some other translations where they use words similar to this: Be moved with anger.

and sin not; If one is so angry that one shakes (tremble's) in anger, the psalmist says, before you do or say anything that you might regret, first think about it overnight and be still (calm yourself).

Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and trust in Jehovah. 4:5.  There are many things that we would rather offer to our LORD than the sacrifice of a holy life. 

Living a righteous life cuts into our pleasures; it takes from us the opportunity to do those forbidden things we want to do but we know we shouldn't; Jehovah expects nothing less than a pure life!

Psalm 7

A song of David, which he sang to Jehovah on (concerning) the words of Cush the Benjamite. 7:1.

The title of this psalm seems to intimate that the occasion of this Psalm was some event in David’s persecution by Saul. Jamieson, Fausset and Brown.  In our study of 1 Samuel we learned that King Saul was the son of Kish a Benjamite.  Saul is meant, and that he is called "Cush," with allusion to his father’s name being Kish. Such plays upon words have always found much favour in the East. Fausset's Bible Dictionary.

Cush or, the Ethiopian, expresses one black at heart. ... David ... alludes to Saul's gratuitous enmity and his own sparing "him that without cause is mine enemy," namely, in the cave at Engedi, when Saul was in his power (1 Samuel 24). Fausset's commentary.

O Jehovah my God, ... if there is iniquity in my hands; if I have rewarded evil to my friend.  Psalm 7:5.

If I have wounded any soul today,

If I have caused one foot to go astray,

If I have walked in my own willful way,

Dear Lord, forgive!

If I have uttered idle words or vain,
If I have turned aside from want or pain,
Lest I offend some other through the strain,
Dear Lord, forgive!  

Forgive the sins I have confessed to Thee;
Forgive the secret sins I do not see;
O guide me, love me, and my keeper be.
Dear Lord, forgive!

If I have wounded any soul today.  Author: C. M. Battersby

Judge me, O Jehovah, according to my righteousness, and according to my integrity on me. Psalm 7:8.

O Jehovah, I know I am guilty of many sins and shortcomings, but, O, my Father, in this case regarding Saul I am innocent of any evil intent or action.  Please judge me with that in mind.

93. The Psalm Against Terrorist Groups!

Psalm 2

A modern-day commentary on Psalm 2.

Why do the nations rage, and the peoples plot a vain thing? The kings of the earth take a stand, and the rulers take counsel together, against Yahweh, and against his Anointed, saying, “Let’s break their bonds apart, and cast their cords from us.” 2:1-3.

Terrorist groups and their leaders rage (tumultuous - Strong H7283) in a totally uncalled for war. They are plotting a vain thing (to no purpose - Strong H7385).  Before they attain their purpose they will be suddenly and completely destroyed! They speak and act as if they will just walk over Jehovah's army when they finally do meet Him.  A few years ago, in a blog, I read words to this effect, "I can hardly wait for that war to come because we will annihilate Jehovah and His angels."  Think again, Sam!

At times it seems as if the terrorist groups, sometimes with nations joining later, will be the last anti-Jehovah army that will ever exist. 

He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; Jehovah shall mock at them. Then He shall speak to them in His anger, and trouble them in His wrath. 2:4-5.

Then the lawless one (the counterfeit Messiah who will take a throne in Jerusalem) will be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the breath of His mouth and shall destroy with the brightness of His coming. 2 Thes. 2:8.

• Some say the day of Christ's return has already happened.  
• Many believe that Christ will return before "the great tribulation".  
• However, Saint Paul said, For it (Christ's return) will not be (happen), unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of sin (the counterfeit Messiah) is revealed, the son of destruction he who opposes and exalts himself against all that is called God or that is worshiped; 

The terrorist groups go out of their way to destroy religious buildings and symbols; they are especially intent on killing religious people.  Before the end comes one of them will will assume the position of leadership over all the peoples of the world so that he sits as God in the temple of God, setting himself up as God, (by deception and flattery, before it is all over, he will have convinced many people that he is worthy of worship), and he will be given a throne (in the temple in Jerusalem).  2 Thes. 2:2-4.

If the above theories should prove to be true, the terrorist groups will advance, and keep on advancing; they will invade Europe and the Americas; They are already working havoc in Africa and they will infiltrate the Far East.  From Syria, they will also move southward until they reach the valley of Megiddo in Northern Palestine and there they will meet their final foe - Jehovah and His hosts.

Israel will be poised to defend themselves, and before they suffer total defeat, Christ will return to earth, and with His mighty angels He will put an abrupt end to that war, to give relief to you (the upright) when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, punishing those who don’t know God, and to those who don’t obey the Good News of our Lord Jesus, (they) will pay the penalty: eternal destruction from the face of the Lord and from the glory of his might, when he comes in that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired among all those who have believed. 2 Thes. 1:7-10.  That will forever be the end of the terrorist groups and their compatriots.

Christ, very bluntly, put it this way the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves shall hear His voice, and shall come forth, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have practiced evil to the resurrection of condemnation. John 5:28-29  

A New Inheritance

Then, looking into the future the psalmist pictures Jehovah saying to Christ Ask of Me, and I shall give the nations for Your inheritance; and the uttermost parts of the earth for Your possession. 2:8.  What kind of inheritance would Christ be satisfied with?  Would He want to inherit a bunch of nations where war is the normal way of life?

Because He doesn't, David says, And now be wise, O kings; be instructed, O judges of the earth. Serve Jehovah with fear, and rejoice with trembling. 2:10-11.

How will Christ obtain such an inheritance?  He shall break them with a rod of iron; He shall dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel. 2:8.

Blessed (spiritually prosperous) are all who put their trust in Him. 2:12  

92. The Jewish Hymnal

The Introduction

The Psalter may be regarded as the heart’s echo to the speech of God, the manifold music of its windswept strings as God’s breath sweeps across them. Expositors Bible Commentary.

The Book of Psalms is divided into five, very uneven, sections.

The first book contains forty-one psalms; 1:1-41:13; most written by King David;
The second, thirty-one; 42:1-72:20; most of these are written by King David;
The third, seventeen; 73:1-89:52; written by Asaph;
The fourth, seventeen; 90:1-106:48; chiefly anonymous;
The fifth, forty-four; 107:1-150:6; about three-fifths anonymous and two-fifths written by King David. Pulpit Commentary.

The Psalter is also a Pentateuch, the echo of the Mosaic Pentateuch from the heart of Israel; it is the fivefold book of the congregation to Jehovah, as the Law is the fivefold book of Jehovah to the congregation. Pulpit Commentary.

The "books" are severally terminated by a doxology, not exactly the same in every instance, but of a similar character, which in no case forms any part of the psalm whereto it is attached, but is simply a mark of division. Pulpit Commentary.

It has been suggested that the first Psalm is not one of the Psalms but rather an overview of the Book of Psalms.  Psalm 1 contrasts the blessings on the righteous with the curse on those who live unholy lives.  In a very general way, one could also see the Book of Psalms in that light.

The title of ... many of the psalms is as a key hung ready at the door, to open it, and let us into the entertainments of it; when we know upon what occasion a psalm was penned we know the better how to expound it.  Matthew Henry.

The following quote is very rich and speaks volumes of how we can get the most out of the Book of Psalms.

The subject matter of this book is exceeding great and excellent; many of the psalms respect the person, offices, and grace of Christ; his sufferings and death, resurrection, ascension, and session at the right hand of God; and so are exceeding suitable to the Gospel dispensation. The whole book (of Psalms) is a rich mine of grace and evangelical truths, and a large fund of spiritual experience; and is abundantly suited to every case, state, and condition, that the church of Christ, or particular believers, are in at any time. Gill's Expository Commentary.

Psalm 1

Many translations put verse one into the past tense; eg. the man who has not walked.

Blessed (O the happiness of the man! Barnes Com.), is the man who doesn’t walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand on the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers. 1:1.

This verse speaks of gradual degradation;

1. from walking in the advice given by the wicked
2. to standing where the sinners feel at home and finally 
3. sitting, at ease, in a movie house or in front of a TV watching while the scoffers on the screen ridicule Christ, our Redeemer; or sneer at Jehovah and verbally drag Christ's Church through the dirt of the world.  

How is it possible that born again Christians can tolerate, with pleasure, such "entertainment"?

But his delight is only in the Law of Jehovah; and in His Law he meditates day and night. 1:2  In contrast to being entertained by those who mock Jehovah the person who is spiritually prosperous will find his "enjoyment" in the pages of the Bible.  Like Jeremiah, the spiritually prosperous person might be forced to spend his time separated from his peers and business associates; all the better, for it gives him more time to meditate on the goodness and grace of Jehovah.    I did not sit in the circle of mockers, nor rejoice; I sat alone because of Your hand; for You have filled me with indignation. Jer. 15:17.
  

Therefore the wicked shall not stand (be acquitted, Jameson, Fausset and Brown)in the judgment, ... sinners (will not be found) in the congregation of the righteous (in heaven).1:5    Sinners won't have an excuse on the day of judgment, and they won't have a place with the people of God. 1:5 Contemporary English.