What I Noticed Today (Psalms 89, 96, 100-101, 105, 132)
Psalm 89
Psalm 89 is a royal psalm written by Ethan the Ezrahite (1 Chronicles 15:17-18). The multiple references to the Davidic covenant (vv. 3-4, 27-29, 35-37, 49) affirm Messiah will come from the line of David.
In verses 1-4, Ethan proclaims vows to praise the Lord because of His love and faithfulness, and the covenant promises God made to David.
In verses 5-18, Ethan praises the wonders of the Lord (vv. 5-8) and His power (vv. 9-14). Because of God’s wonders and power, the people are blessed and protected.
In verses 19-37, Ethan reminds God that he chose David and anointed him as His servant, promised to strengthen and protect him like a father does a son, and the promises of the covenant were unconditional (they could not be broken).
In verses 38-52, Ethan laments David’s affliction and defeat. God seemingly cast David aside. Ethan wonders, given the shortness of life, how long God will wait before restoring David.
The doxology of verse 52 ends Book 3.
Book 3
Only three of the seventeen psalms in Book 3 have known authors (Psalm 90 by Moses, and Psalms 101 and 103 by David). The remaining fourteen psalms are anonymous.
Psalm 96
Psalm 96 is a call to people to praise the Lord, who reigns in righteousness and truth.
In verses 1-6, the psalmist invites the people of all the earth to sing a new song of praise to the Lord because He is greater than the people’s gods and idols.
In verses 7-10, the psalmist calls for families everywhere to ascribe glory and strength to the Lord and worship Him because His reign is righteous.
In verses 11-13, the psalmist calls on all creation and nature to rejoice for the righteous reign of the Lord over all the earth.
Psalm 100
Psalm 100 is a psalm of thanksgiving celebrating the Lord’s rule.
In verses 1-3, the psalmist calls for the people to sing praises to the sovereign Lord with joyful songs.
In verses 4-5, the psalmist calls on the people to enter into Jerusalem and then into the temple to offer their thanksgiving offerings in recognition of the Lord’s blessings and faithfulness to the people.
Psalm 101
Psalm 101 is a psalm of David in which he promises to walk with integrity.
In verses 1-2, David promises to sing of God’s steadfast love and justice and to lead a blameless life of integrity.
In verses 3-8, David elaborates, saying he will not tolerate evil in the form of worthless men; those with a perverse, arrogant heart; or those who slander others. Instead, David says he will look for faithful men to serve him; men who are blameless, who do not practice deceit, and who do not lie. The wicked he will cut off in the land.
Psalm 105
Psalm 105 is a song recounting the wondrous works of the Lord.
In verses 1-6, the psalmist calls on the people of Israel to praise, rejoice, and remember the wondrous works of the Lord.
In verses 7-41, the psalmist recalls the Lord’s covenant with Abraham and recounts the history of Israel as God fulfilled His promise to make Israel into a great nation.
In verses 42-25, the psalmist speaks of how the Lord remembered His people and rescued them from Egypt and led them to the Promised Land.
Psalm 132
Psalm 132 is a call to the people of Israel to remember David’s vow concerning the placement of the Ark.
In verses 1-5, the psalmist cries out to God to remember David’s hardships and his promise to find a dwelling place for the Ark.
In verses 6-10, the congregation remembers the Ark in Ephrathah and Jaar (1 Samuel 7:1-2) before it arrived in Jerusalem, where the priests, clothed in righteousness, shouted for joy.
In verses 11-18, the psalmist restates the Davidic covenant; David’s descendants would sit on the throne forever, the Lord had chosen Jerusalem as His dwelling place, and would abundantly bless His chosen people.
What did you notice in your study today? Feel free to visit the website and leave a question or a comment.
