What I Noticed Today (Psalms 46-51)
Psalm 46
Psalm 46 magnifies God as the believer’s refuge and strength at all times.
Verses 1-3 declares God is our refuge and strength in times of trouble. Believers need not be afraid, no matter what trouble comes their way.
In verses 4-7, the psalmist declares that the holy habitation of God in Jerusalem surrounded the city like a fortress.
In verses 8-11, the psalmist exhorts believers to see the works of God and to trust in God and His power.
Psalm 47
Psalm 47 is classed as an enthronement psalm celebrating God’s reign over the earth (other enthronement psalms include 93 and 95-99).
In verses 1-4, the psalmist calls on all nations to bestow honor on the Lord who is king over all the earth and has selected Israel as His inheritance.
In verses 5-9, the psalmist describes God going up to His throne as the people sing His praises, and princes of the earth gather under His exalted reign.
Psalm 48
Psalm 48 is about the city of Jerusalem; its glory and deliverance from enemies by God who is praised.
In verses 1-3, Jerusalem is described as God’s holy mountain; the joy of the whole earth because God has made her His fortress.
In verses 4-8, the psalmist describes the defeat of Jerusalem’s enemies as the Lord destroyed them, making the city secure.
In verses 9-14, the psalmist offers praise to God for His steadfast love and righteousness, and for being Jerusalem’s protector 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 50
Psalm 50 is classed as a didactic (teaching) psalm dealing with man’s worship of God and man’s treatment of his neighbors.
In verses 1-6, the psalmist describes a courtroom in which the Lord has come to judge those who have made a covenant with Him while the inhabitants of the earth observe.
In verses 7-15, the Lord brings the first of two charges against the people. This first charge is that the people are keeping the sacrifices as they should, but they don’t realize that God does not need the sacrifices or man’s worship for survival (unlike the pagan gods of the time).
In verses 16-23, the Lord brings the second charge, that of hypocritical living. The Israelites appeared to be righteous in their actions but took part in theft, adultery, and slander. God warned them not to forget Him and to continue to offer their thank-offerings.
Psalm 51
Psalm 51 was a prayer for forgiveness of sins when Nathan, the prophet, confronted David for the sin of taking Bathsheba, another man’s wife. Remember, though, this confession of sin took place about a year after David took Bathsheba.
In verses 1-2, David appeals to God for love and compassion and his grace to forgive his sins.
In verses 3-6, David confessed his sins and acknowledged that he was, in fact, born in sin.
In verses 7-12, David petitioned God for forgiveness, to cleanse and renew his heart, to not remove the Lord’s spirit from him, and to restore the joy of his salvation.
In verses 13-17, David promised to teach other transgressors about God’s ways, to sing God’s praises, and to bring sacrifices to God with a broken and contrite heart.
In verses 18-19, David prays that God will continue to build up Jerusalem as the people bring righteous sacrifices to God.
What did you notice in your study today? Feel free to visit the website and leave a question or a comment.
