Psalms 81-87
What I Noticed Today (Psalms 81-87)
Psalm 81
Psalm 81 is a song celebrating the Lord’s deliverance of Israel. The imagery suggests the psalmist is referring to the Feast of Tabernacles (Leviticus 23:33-36).
In verses 1-5, Asaph calls the people together to sing praising the Lord. He states that the Law required the people to come together.
In verses 6-16, Asaph recalls God delivering the people out of Egypt and God revealing His Law to them. But the people did not submit to God, so God allowed them to go their way. God promised that if only they would obey Him, He would subdue their enemies and prosper them.
Psalm 82
In verse 1, Asaph describes God as judging an assembly of judges. The word ‘god’ (ʾĕlōhm) is used to describe the authorities in Israel.
In verses 2-8, Asaph warns the judges of Israel to do their jobs well, to be just, protecting the fatherless, poor, and the needy. The warning to these judges is that if they do not do their jobs well, they will perish.
Psalm 83
Psalm 83 is a lament over the danger that Israel faced from her enemies.
In verses 1-8, Asaph describes Israel’s enemies planning to come against God’s people from all directions.
In verses 9-18, Asaph prays that God will intervene and protect Israel from her enemies. He recalls past victories led by the Lord, praying that the Lord will conquer these enemies as well. Asaph prays again that their enemies be put to shame and perish in disgrace so that they will know that the Lord is Most High over all the earth.
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 86
Psalm 86 is David’s prayer to God that He would give him the strength to face the people who hate him. David uses the word Lord (ʾăd̠ōnay) stressing God’s lordship and sovereignty seven times in this one psalm (Ps 86:3-5, 8-9, 12, 15).
In verses 1-5, David prayed that God would hear his prayer and have mercy on him because of his poor condition.
In verses 6-13, David repeats his plea to the Lord to hear him and answer him as he expressed his faith in God. He alone is God.
In verses 14-17, David prays for strength because insolent, ruthless men have risen up against him. He also asked that others would see God working in David’s life and realize it was God who delivered him.
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.
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