What I Noticed Today (Psalms 43-45, 49, 84-85, 87)
Psalm 43
Psalm 43 is a song of praise asking the Lord to lead the psalmist back to Jerusalem, where he will sing songs of joy and praise.
In verses 1-2, the psalmist asks God to vindicate and defend him against the ungodly who are unjust and deceitful.
In verses 3-5, the psalmist asks for God’s light and truth to lead him to Jerusalem, where he will joyfully praise God. The psalmist finds hope in God despite the fact that his soul is downcast.
Psalm 44
Psalm 44 is a lament of the disasters that the nation had experienced.
In verses 1-8, the people recognize God’s past works on behalf of the people because the people had trusted in the Lord.
In verses 9-16, the people have been disgraced and shamed as they suffered defeat at the hands of their enemies.
In verses 17-22, the people express confusion; they continue to have faith in God, but they have suffered death like sheep led to the slaughter.
In verses 23-26, the people petition God to rescue them from their misery. They felt rejected by God but remained trusting that God would redeem them because He loved them.
Psalm 45
Psalm 45 is one of the royal psalms celebrating a king’s wedding. It is also messianic, reflecting Christ as the bridegroom.
In verses 1-9, the psalmist proclaims the nobility of the song and the majesty of the king, who clearly had God’s blessing. God anointed the King because of his righteousness.
In verses 10-15, the psalmist advises the bride to honor her groom. In honoring her groom, she would be blessed with expensive gifts, and others would seek her favor.
In verses 16-17, the psalmist predicts the marriage would produce many princes, and through them, the king would be remembered and praised forever and forever.
Psalm 49
Psalm 49 is classed as a wisdom poem questioning the prosperity of the wicked.
In verses 1-4, the psalmist called all the people of the world, rich and poor, to listen to his wisdom.
In verses 5-12, the psalmist notes the prosperous enjoy a sense of false security because their wealth cannot redeem them from death. The wealthy die alongside the poor, and their graves will become their dwelling places.
In verses 13-20, the psalmist says that the foolish will end up in Sheol, while God will redeem the righteous, and the righteous will rule over them.
Psalm 84
Psalm 84 is a pilgrimage psalm similar to Psalms 42-43, expressing a desire for a place of worship.
In verses 1-4, the Sons of Korah sing of longing for the dwelling place of the Lord as a home where those who dwell are blessed.
In verses 5-7, the psalmists speak of the blessings and joy that comes to those who go on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem.
In verses 8-12, the psalmists pray for the king and sing of the joy of being in the Lord’s presence.
Psalm 85
Psalm 85 by the Sons of Korah describes the grace of God by restoring his people and forgiving their sins.
In verses 1-7, the psalmists praised God for restoring the nation of Israel and forgiving the people’s sins in the past. He continues in a prayer that the Lord would again restore the people, not be angry with them any longer, and forgive their sins.
In verses 8-9, the psalmist promises, they will listen to the Lord. Salvation comes to those who fear the Lord that God’s glory may dwell in the land.
In verses 10-13, the psalmist expresses confidence that the Lord’s faithfulness and righteousness will bring peace and prosperity to the people.
Psalm 87
Psalm 87 by the Sons of Korah describes the glorious nature of the city of Zion and the joy of the people who live there.
In verses 1-3, David describes the glorious nature of Zion (Jerusalem).
In verses 4-7, David lists five nations (Rahab, which is Egypt, Babylon, Philistia, Tyre, and Cush) that will be gathered to Zion, acknowledging God. The Lord will register the people of all these nations as if they had been born there, and great rejoicing will occur.
What did you notice in your study today? Feel free to visit the website and leave a question or a comment.
