The Psalmist's Hope
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Psalms
Psalms
For the next couple of months we are going to be learning through the psalms. My plan had been to start off with our first week and then to do some various Psalms of David afterward. That plan changed when I was reminded that this Sunday would be Easter Sunday. So instead of I thought it would be better to focus on the Resurrection of Christ but to do it through the Psalms.
The Resurrection
The Resurrection
The Resurrection is foundational to our Christian faith. Without the resurrection we have no reason to hope in Christ. Listen as I read what Paul says would be our condition if Christ was not raised from the dead.
English Standard Version Chapter 15
if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.
How might the psalmists heart be glad?
If Christ was not raised then he was not an acceptable sacrifice, and if he was not accepted as a sacrifice then we are still in our sins. The penalty for sin is death, and if Christ was not able to overcome death then he was also unable to overcome sin.
But he was raised, and he was an acceptable sacrifice for sin, and he overcame death.
Paul also points out that if our hope is in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. Why live our lives for Christ if this life is all we get?
So what about old testament saints? Why would men like Enoch, Abraham, Moses, Samuel, or David live the way they lived
English Standard Version Chapter 11
13 These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.
They were able to live lives that did not seek to gain in this life, but looked forward to a heavenly life that would far surpass this life.
English Standard Version Chapter 11
16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one.
To believe this they had to have faith that God was able to raise them from the dead.
English Standard Version Chapter 11
17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, 18 of whom it was said, “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” 19 He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead
Abraham believed that God had the power to raise from the dead.
That is all good and everything, but Easter is about the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead on the third day. What can we hope to learn about Christ’s Resurrection in the old testament or specifically in psalms? It hadn’t happened yet!
What might the old testament have to say about it?
It was prophesied!
Open to Acts Chapter 2
“Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. For David says concerning him,
“ ‘I saw the Lord always before me,
for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken;
therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced;
my flesh also will dwell in hope.
For you will not abandon my soul to Hades,
or let your Holy One see corruption.
You have made known to me the paths of life;
you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’
“Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption.
And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’
“Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. For David says concerning him,
“ ‘I saw the Lord always before me,
for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken;
therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced;
my flesh also will dwell in hope.
For you will not abandon my soul to Hades,
or let your Holy One see corruption.
You have made known to me the paths of life;
you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’
“Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne,
Peter looks back to to show that Christs Resurrection was prophesied beforehand.
English Standard Version Chapter 2
22 “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— 23 this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. 24 God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. 25 For David says concerning him,
Why did Peter bother to tell us that David died and was buried?
“ ‘I saw the Lord always before me,
for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken;
Because the Psalm doesn’t tell us who it is talking about.
26 therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced;
my flesh also will dwell in hope.
27 For you will not abandon my soul to Hades,
or let your Holy One see corruption.
This is common in anything prophetic, it is why the Ethiopian asked Philip this question when reading a passage from Isaiah
28 You have made known to me the paths of life;
you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’
29 “Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30 Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, 31 he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption.
English Standard Version Chapter 8
34 And the eunuch said to Philip, “About whom, I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?”
This is often the great question we have while reading the Psalms, particularly the psalms of David. Is the writer talking about himself or is he talking about Jesus? And just like the answer was not simple for the Ethiopian eunuch it is not always easy for us and I do not have a simple answer to that question. But in this particular verse in the Psalms Peter proves that it is only Jesus Christ that can be referred to.
Enough introduction let us get started now with if you can all open up your bibles.
God’s protection and security
David requests it, David desires that God preserve him
Seeking
( shows that David takes refuge in God and not men or cities)
He asserts that he does take refuge in God
He makes his plea for preservation on the basis that he DOES take refuge in God
vs 2-7 show how he has taken refuge in God
One cannot expect God’s protection if he has not cast his lot with God
What does he seek to be preserved from? From what does he need to seek refuge?
After positively asserting that God will preserve him and protect him he Rejoices that he will not be abandoned to Sheol, hell, and that God makes know the path of life
God as Lord vs 2a
God is Lord
David submits to His authority
A king is charged with protecting His subjects
God is the source of all his good vs 2b
David looks to God for his protection and joy
He does not look for happiness outside his God
His association is with the people of God vs 3
He esteems them highly
He finds delight with them
They likewise find refuge in God
Sorrow following other gods vs 4a
This is contrasted with the happiness and delight found in God and among his people
many run after false gods to their own destruction
it is deliberate
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (2 Sa 7:12). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.
Full force against God
David will not associate or take part in their sin vs 4b
Most people at this time were polytheistic and would claim to worship the God of Israel alongside other god’s
David shows that to take refuge in God does not mix with the worship of other gods.
He cannot claim trust in God and seek blessings from other gods.
He regards God himself as his portion and cup vs 5a
A portion is your share
You all have a portion within your family
Bed, room, food, things
The portion and cup he could gain from this world are regarded as nothing
THE LORD is his portion and cup
Compare to Mephibosheth and
This is contrasted by the wicked who’s portion is in this life
How might the psalmist’s heart be glad?
Portion of God compared with a portion of land alloted vs 6b
The land was divided among the tribes and among families
Some were alloted better plots of land
David considers his portion with God to be purely beautiful
He blesses the Lord for instructing him how to live and also for his conscience vs 7
The choices of life are often difficult
God protects us from the consequences of foolish mistakes by providing counsel and conscience
His counsel leads us
The Lord is set before him vs 8
An idol worshiper may set an idol before them when they worship
David’s God could be set before him always, and always be the center of his worship and praise.
His continual presence keeps david secured
Because his God was always with him David could always expect to be under his protection.
In a battle line, the soldier at your right hand would protect you with the shield in his left hand.
Therefore - This is the result of his being confident that God will preserve him
My heart is glad
He has joy and happiness
My whole being rejoices
He is entirely happy as the lords protection is complete
my flesh dwells secure
God will protect him from premature death
Since his portion is not in this life his body is secure despite death
For you will not abandon my Soul to Sheol (hell, the grave)
David speaks here of Christ, but also is own assurity he will have life through the Messiah
or let you holy one see corruption
This referers to the decay of the body in the grave
Becuase David’s body did decay in the grave David could not have meant this only about himself.
English Standard Version Chapter 2
22 “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— 23 this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. 24 God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. 25 For David says concerning him,
“ ‘I saw the Lord always before me,
for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken;
26 therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced;
my flesh also will dwell in hope.
27 For you will not abandon my soul to Hades,
or let your Holy One see corruption.
28 You have made known to me the paths of life;
you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’
29 “Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30 Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, 31 he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption.
How might the psalmist’s heart be glad?
How might the psalmist’s heart be glad?
vs. 9 the person who is resting will awake to tomorrow. Are they fearful of tomorrow or secure?
The College Press NIV Commentary: Psalms, Volume 1 5. The Lord Is My Life (16:9–11)
16:10–11 Kirkpatrick, with insight, observed that: “The truth may be that the antithesis is not between life here and life hereafter, but between life with and life without God; and … death fades entirely from the psalmist’s view. The path of life that God walks knows no death. Consequently, there is rejoicing, and even the body has hope: Because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay. The
What man can live and never see death?
Who can deliver his soul from the power of Sheol? Selah
PS 89
But now you have cast off and rejected;
you are full of wrath against your anointed.
For David says concerning him,
“ ‘I saw the Lord always before me,
for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken;
therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced;
my flesh also will dwell in hope.
For you will not abandon my soul to Hades,
or let your Holy One see corruption.
You have made known to me the paths of life;
you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’
“Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses.
And we bring you the good news that what God promised to the fathers, this he has fulfilled to us their children by raising Jesus, as also it is written in the second Psalm,
“ ‘You are my Son,
today I have begotten you.’
And as for the fact that he raised him from the dead, no more to return to corruption, he has spoken in this way,
“ ‘I will give you the holy and sure blessings of David.’
Therefore he says also in another psalm,
“ ‘You will not let your Holy One see corruption.’
For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep and was laid with his fathers and saw corruption,
Therefore he says also in another psalm,
“ ‘You will not let your Holy One see corruption.’
English Standard Version Chapter 11
17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, 18 of whom it was said, “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” 19 He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead
English Standard Version Chapter 7
12 When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom.
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