Psalms 1-3

Introduction

Ttitle:

The Hebrew Bible - Book of Praises

Style:

Lyrical poetry

Directley expresses the individual emotions of the poet

Allen Ross - A book of petition and praise tht reveals fear, doubt, tragedy, joys, triumphs, and hope.

Parallels - Different types.

5 Books - Correlate with the 5 books of the law.

Book 1 - Genesis - Creation, God’s power

Book 2 - Exodus - Deliverance

Book 3 - Leviticus - the sanctuary/temple

Book 4 - Numbers - the wanderings

Book 5 - Deuteronemy - The Law

Types of Psalms:

Individual lament

National lament

Thanksgiving

Descriptive Praise

Messianic Psalms

Theme:

One major theological theme is that the Lord who sovereignly rules will establish His just rule on the earth in and through His people (Ross).

We also will see a lot of contrast in the Psalms.

Wiersbe -

Psalm 1 - What Road Are You On Today?

Robert Frost had to make a decision as to which road to take when his road diverged in a yellow wood.

We all come to different splits in the road and need to make a choice - relationships, careers, education, etc.

Here in Psalm 1 we are going to see a contrast between two people or groups of people - those who are godly and those who are wicked.

Vs. 1-3 - The Blessed Man

Happy or blessed - linked to a correct standing before God

Guzik - Esher is a form of the Hebrew word ashar, which in its root means “to be straight” or “to be right.”

Blessed is the man who doesn’t what?

Walk, stand, or sit; advice, pathway, company; wicked, sinners, & mockers.

Look at where this starts and where it ends!

Start - walking by - Ends - sitting and mocking (ridiculing what is sacred)

2 Peter 3:3–4 “Above all, be aware of this: Scoffers will come in the last days scoffing and following their own evil desires, saying, “Where is his ‘coming’ that he promised? Ever since our ancestors fell asleep, all things continue as they have been since the beginning of creation.”

Blessed is the man who does:

Delights himself in the Law of the Lord.

Is the Word joyful to you, is it important to you, is it something that you long for?

Those things are not burdensome to us that we delight to do.

Spend time with our spouse, family, sports, hobbies, etc.

What place does the Word have on our priority list? Is it an afterthought?

Meditates on the Word day and night.

We must know the Word of God and we do this by chewing on it, giving it time permeate our life, allowing it to chage our life.

We can have a lot of head knowledge, yet not let it change our life.

Joshua 1:8 “This book of instruction must not depart from your mouth; you are to meditate on it day and night so that you may carefully observe everything written in it. For then you will prosper and succeed in whatever you do.”

How is he blessed?

He is like a tree, planted, watered, nourished, and fruitful - properous

This would have been a great site in the middle of a desert area.

What makes this tree or person produce fruit? The root system.

The godly person is one who is nourished by the Word and Spirit.

Colossians 2:6–7 “So then, just as you have received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to walk in him, being rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, and overflowing with gratitude.”

Watching the Mums soak up the water

What are we soaking up? The word or the counsel of the world?

The storms of life come against the tree, the season change, yet it remains planted and fruitful.

The godly person helps feed others.

The tree doesn’t eat it’s own fruit, but nourishes others.

Life is tough, how am I prosperous?

Are you fruitful? Are you planted in the Word? Then you are prosperous.

Vs. 4-5 - The contrast of the unglody

While the godly is blessed and fruitful, the ungodly is like chaff - they are usless.

Just like when chaff is separated from the wheat and blown away, so the wicked will come to ruin.

There is no root system, nothing to ground them to anything.

What is worse is that they will not stand in the judgment.

When we give an account before the Lord, there will be nothing for them to stand on and no place for them among the church.

Vs. 6 - Two ends:

This started with two paths and these paths have very different ends.

Matthew 7:13–14 ““Enter through the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who go through it. How narrow is the gate and difficult the road that leads to life, and few find it.”

The Lord knows, watches over, guards the way of the righteous.

He is activley involved in our lives. He knows us… that is huge

How are people judged by the Lord in Matthew 7:23 “Then I will announce to them, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you lawbreakers!’”? I knever knew you…

The other road ends in ruin, separated from the Lord.

Application:

Who are we allowing to influence our road - the Word and other godly people or the ungodly?

Ex: Lott - Looked, tented, sat at the city gates - Peter - warmed himself by the fire, cursed, denied…

Psalm 2 - The Coronation of a King

Introduction:

Just as Psalm 1 was a contrast between two roads and two types of people, Psalm 2 is a contrast between the Lord and the nations.

Quoted or alluded to 18 times in the NT

The coronation of a king (2 Samuel 7) and beyond (Revelation 19-20).

Vs. 1-3 - The Nations Rage.

They stand, they conspire, they revolt against the Lord and His Anointed One.

This happened all the way back in Genesis 11 - the tower of Babel.

This happened at Christ’s first advent - Acts 4:23-30

Isn’t this still happening today?

People desire to “be free of the oppression of the Lord”

Poloticians throughout history who have desired to “fee us” from Biblical authority

French revolution - Maximilien Robespierre - Cult of the supreme being - discard traditional Christian authority.

Fredrich Nietzsche - I call Christianity the one great curse, the one great intrinsic depravity, and the one great instinct of revenge, for which no means are venomous enough, or secret, subterranean and small enough - I call it the one immortal blemish on the human race.

People and governments are still trying to tear off their chains and ropes of:

Gender, sexuality, morality, sanctity of life, etc.

While this is speaking of nations, does not this happen on the individual level?

Humanity, due to sinful nature desires to free themselves from the tyranny of the Lord and His authority in our lives.

Vs. 4-6 - The Response of God

The sovereign voice of the Lord.

He is enthroned - No matter what the nations or enemy plans, rebells, etc. He is still on the throne.

He is not afraid of what people plan - it does not threaten Him.

How far did Jonah run? Far, Far, away… and still the Lord got his attention.

He laugh - rolls his eyes perhaps.

If He laughs that means that He hears what is happening.

There is nothing that we can hide from the Lord.

In His anger - This is serious. They have put themselves up against the Lord and He is not happy.

How happy are you when your children rebel against your authority?

He will have the final say

In who will reign

Christ will reign.

No matter how dark it gets, how many nations will rise against Him - He will be victorious.

Who’s side are you on?

In where He will reign

His holy mountain - Jerusalem

Vs. 7-9 - The Authority of God and Rule of Christ

Vs. 7 -

Sonship - The Messiah would be called the Son of God

2 Samuel 7:12–14 “When your time comes and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up after you your descendant, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be his father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I will discipline him with a rod of men and blows from mortals.”

Why were the Pharisees so angry with Jesus?

John 10:36 - They accused Him because He said that He was the Son of God.

Matthew 26:63-65 - Jesus accused of blasphemy because He said He was the Son of God.

Points to Christ and His resurrection

Acts 13:33 “God has fulfilled this for us, their children, by raising up Jesus, as it is written in the second Psalm: You are my Son; today I have become your Father.”

Vs. 8-9 - Christ will rule

Revelation 19:15 “A sharp sword came from his mouth, so that he might strike the nations with it. He will rule them with an iron rod. He will also trample the winepress of the fierce anger of God, the Almighty.”

Vs. 10-12 - Submit while there is still time.

Kings, governors, leaders…

Act wisley

Know who the Lord is and what His plan is - Salvation through Jesus - Therefore;

Worship the Lord, bow before Him.

Submit to the Lord… the Son

Rejoice in serving Him while knowing that He is so much more than our best bud… He is God

Isaiah 6:1–5 “In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a high and lofty throne, and the hem of his robe filled the temple. Seraphim were standing above him; they each had six wings: with two they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. And one called to another: Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Armies; his glory fills the whole earth. The foundations of the doorways shook at the sound of their voices, and the temple was filled with smoke. Then I said: Woe is me for I am ruined because I am a man of unclean lips and live among a people of unclean lips, and because my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of Armies.”

In appropriate submission comes rejoicing.

He can come at any moment and when He does, judgment follows

Ex: Glorious Appearing - Jesus comes as a conqueror.

All who take refuge in him are happy.

Where else can we go? Where else are we safe? We are safe only in the refuge of the Son.

Everything else can be taken away from us… except our faith and salvation.

Application:

Are we acting wisley?

Are we in submission to the King? Are we serving Him? Are we finding refuge in Him today?

Psalm 3 - My Trust in the Lord

Introduction:

Battles happen, storms come, the winds blow - who do we trust in?

A Psalm written by David when his son Absolom rebelled against him.

2 Samuel 15:13–17 “Then an informer came to David and reported, “The hearts of the men of Israel are with Absalom.” David said to all the servants with him in Jerusalem, “Get up. We have to flee, or we will not escape from Absalom! Leave quickly, or he will overtake us quickly, heap disaster on us, and strike the city with the edge of the sword.” The king’s servants said to the king, “Whatever my lord the king decides, we are your servants.” Then the king set out, and his entire household followed him. But he left behind ten concubines to take care of the palace. So the king set out, and all the people followed him. They stopped at the last house”

David had been betrayed by his son - what would he do, would he stay and fight, would he cower and run, or would he turn to the Lord?

Vs. 1-2 - David’s Cry

There were many enemies around him

Even despite being where the Lord had him and doing what the Lord called him to do… he still faced trouble and problems.

There were many who said… your God is not listening, God cannot help you

That is tough - maybe you have heard that from people, maybe the enemy has whispered that or yelled it…

You’re too far gone, Your past to too sinful, You’re not good enough, old enough, young enough, blah blah, blah… God is not working for you anymore. Ex: Job’s friends.

How would that make you feel?

What does David do? He cries out to the Lord.

He doesn’t try and muscle through it, serve harder… he goes to the Lord.

Hezekiah and the letter

Don’t be afraid to go to the Lord in honest prayer.

The Lord had not forgotten His promise and call on David’s life, despite what the enemy said.

Vs. 3-6 - David’s Confidence in the Lord.

But You oh Lord…

Where did his focus remain, even during the battle - The Lord.

We lose so much when we take our focus off of the Lord.

Peter took his focus off of Jesus and put them on the waves -

Matthew 14:28–31 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter answered him, “command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” And climbing out of the boat, Peter started walking on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the strength of the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand, caught hold of him, and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”

Are my shield, glory, and lifter of my head.

Protector - Genesis 15:1 “After these events, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield; your reward will be very great.”

He is our shield of faith

Glory

The Lord is the one who exalted David - sure he was handsom, a great warrior, a great leader… but apart from the Lord and His anointing… David was nothing… just another king.

His circumstances didn’t speak of glory - they were bad, but David found encouragement and glory in the Lord.

Lifter of his head - The Lord would be the one to sustain, encourage, and restore David.

How many times do we try and defend ourselves over things? There are times for that (Paul), but there are times when we have to cry to the Lord and say… this is Your battle.

The answer came from the Lord’s holy mountain.

The Lord was still in control - still sitting on His throne.

David could not get to the tabernacle where the presence of the Lord was… but the Lord could get to Him.

We through the blood of Jesus have access to the Father. He meets us were we are.

David’s confidence in the Lord’s power and presence allows him to rest.

His faith is in the sustaining power of the Lord, not those around him.

The Lord watches over us as He did David which allowed him to have confidence in the Lord and not fear of what may happen.

He saw the deliverance of the Lord by sleeping through the night

Sometimes we just need some sleep where the Lord sustains us.

Vs. 7-8 - One Final Prayer

Arise Lord, save me, break the teeth of the wicked…

David was confident in what the Lord would do and asks Him to remedy the situation. This is vindication from the Lord, not something that David is plotting.

This type of prayer may seem harsh, but what do we pray for indirectly when we seek the Lord’s return? We indirectly pray for his judgment on the world.

Salvation belongs to the Lord.

Again, He is focusing on the Lord and knows that deliverance comes through the Lord only.

Your blessing is upon Your people.

His attitude… he wasn’t only concerned for himself, but for the nation.

If Absolom will cheat and kill to get the throne, how will he rule?

There is a concern for the people of God here.

Even in the distressing storms of life, we can be focused on others arounds and seeking the Lord on their behalf.

Paul prayed for many people while he was in prison (Philipi, Ephesus, etc.)

Application:

While David was surrounded by enemies, he cried aloud to the Lord.

While Jesus was surrounded by enemies, and on the Cross… he cried aloud to the Lord.

The Lord heard and the Lord responded.

Conclusion

Psalm 1 - Who is influencing you and what road are you on?

Psalm 2 - Are you railing against the Lord or surrendered to the King?

Psalm 3 - Are you surrounded by enemies? Cry out to the Lord today!

Look at the promises that we have:

Psalm 1:6 “For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to ruin.”

Psalm 2:12 “Pay homage to the Son or he will be angry and you will perish in your rebellion, for his anger may ignite at any moment. All who take refuge in him are happy.”

Psalm 3:8 “Salvation belongs to the Lord; may your blessing be on your people. Selah”