Biblical Reflections

Psalm 38 is both a lament and a penitential psalm.  The singer lays his troubles before the LORD and confesses that his troubles are due to his own sins.  The Psalm describes anguish of body and of mind, dissertation by his friends, and attacks by enemies.  

1-8 – The singer in anguish describes his sufferings because of his sins.  He refers to this anguish as the tumult of his heart.  His sufferings for his sins are described as arrows from the LORD.  

9-14 – The singer’s anguish intensifies as he is estranged from the LORD and from his friends.  He describes intense loneliness.  

15-22 – The singer ends with a confession that the LORD is his only hope in this otherwise hopeless situation.  In verse 18, he confesses his iniquity, his sin.  He says, I confess my iniquity; I am sorry for my sin.  On this confession, he now bases his petition for salvation from his troubles.

Psalm 37 is a wisdom psalm dealing with themes presented in what we call the Wisdom Literature. In particular, Psalm 37 addresses the problem caused when godless people prosper. It contrast, it is better to stay faithful to God, which is expressed in contentment, honest dealing, generosity, and just speech. The LORD will make a distinction between the wicked and faithful in his own time. The faithful must wait patiently. This is an imperfect acrostic Psalm.

1-11 – Do not be envious of evildoers. Do not fret, be assured that God’s justice will come in the end, then evildoers will fade like grass and be no more, but the faithful, the meek, will inherit the land and delight themselves in peace. Psalm 37:1 is almost identical to Proverbs 24:19. Notice the commands in verses 3-11. Trust in the LORD, Do good, Dwell in the land, befriend faithfulness, Commit your way to the LORD, Trust in him, Be still before the LORD, Wait patiently for him, Refrain from anger, and Forsake wrath.

12-20 – The LORD thwarts the schemes of the wicked. The wicked think of all kinds evil schemes against the faithful, but the LORD sees to it that the wicked perish and that their evil schemes come to nothing. The LORD knows the days of the righteous; he is right there with them.

21-31 – Therefore, commit yourself to doing good. The singer reiterates that the wicked will be cutoff, but those blessed by the LORD will inherit the land. Only those faithful, blessed by the LORD, can do good because it is by the LORD that the steps of a man are established. One verse that means a lot to me is Psalm 37:25, I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging bread. Verse 31 also, for one who has hidden God’s word in his heart, his steps do not slip.

32-40 – The LORD protects the righteous from the plots of the wicked. A common theme in the Psalms is that the faithful; are always under threat from the devices of the wicked, but they may trust in the LORD to preserve them. The singer then gives a final assurance that the LORD will not abandon the faithful to the power of the wicked, but will ensure that both the righteous and the wicked receive their proper regard in due time, most likely in the world to come.

Psalm 36 is a lament regarding the wicked who oppose the faithful and the steadfast love of the LORD.  It concludes with a prayer that God in his steadfast love will protect his people from the attacks of the wicked.

1-4 – The singer begins by stating that the wicked act without fear of God.  Who are the wicked?  The wicked are those who do not reject evil but who are given over to committing such acts of evil.  The wicked flatter themselves.  The wicked believe that God cannot see their sins.  They wicked always lie; they do not act wisely nor act good.

5-9 – In contrast God acts with steadfast love and faithfulness to his holy godly people.  We also see other attributes of God such as righteousness, and justice.  God figuratively takes his faithful people under the refuge of his wings. God nourishes them from the fountain of life, and so they may see the light, that is so that they may experience life.

10-12 – The final prayer is that God, through his steadfast love, will protect the faithful people of God from the wicked.  The faithful people of God are the upright of heart.

Psalm 35 shows the faithful how to pray when they know malicious people are seeking to harm them.  The singer asks God to fight on his behalf against the schemes of his persecutors.  

1-3 – Images of combat are used to cry for help against those who pursue the singer. 

4-8 – Petition that the schemes of the wicked will fail.  This petition is based upon the faithfulness of the singer; the evil devices of the wicked; the lack of cause by the wicked; not a vindictive request but one based upon faith God and his word.

9-10 – A promise to praise God for the coming answer to the singer’s petition for help.

11-16 – A second statement about the unjust schemes of the evil pursuers.

17-18 – How long, oh LORD, the request is urgent, and the waiting is hard.

19-21 – A third statement describing the evil pursuers. They wink the eye and hate me without cause.

22-26 – A prayer for vindication and deliverance.  Be not silent!  An appeal to the righteousness of God.

27-28 – The singer’s deliverance will be honored shared by the faithful as they delight in the deliverance of the righteous singer.  The high point of the Psalm is here as prospect of telling the faithful of God’s faithfulness.

Psalm 34 is a hymn of thanksgiving for God’s protection against Abimelech; it is also a wisdom hymn because the wise are those who live out their lives trusting in God. This Psalm is written in an imperfect acrostic style.

1-3 – The singer invites the humble to bless the LORD at all times. The idea behind the word bless is to speak a good word about someone. When a person blesses God, he speaks a good word about God’s kindness and generosity. To magnify the LORD is to tell how great he is.

4-7 – The singer gives specific instances of God’s kindness. He sought the LORD, and the LORD answered him. Those who look to the LORD are not disappointed. The poor man cried, and the saved him from all his troubles.

8-14 – Therefore, the singer encourages all to fear the LORD. Fear the LORD and seek him. Note that a holy life is defined as how we deal with others. Keep your tongue from evil. Turn away from evil, do good, seek peace and pursue it.

15-22 – The LORD cares for his faithful one who trust him. The broken hearted and the crushed in spirit are those who have been humbled. The Psalm is clear that both the righteous and the wicked will have affliction, the difference between the two is their outcomes. The LORD delivers the righteous, but the LORD will condemn and slay the wicked.

Psalm 33 is a hymn of praise to the God of all creation who has made a covenant with the people of Israel.

1-3 – A call to praise God who is righteous; he is faithful to act according to his holiness and his covenant promises.  God’s people are called “O you righteous” and “the upright.”  Praising God includes singing and musical instruments.

4-9 – Here the singer offers the first reason to praise God; God’s word is upright and spoke creation into existence.  The attributes of God extolled here include uprightness (expressing the very best motives on God’s part), faithfulness, righteousness, and steadfast love.

10-12 – Next, the singer offers the second reason to praise God; God’s will prevails.  God has made the world and rules it according to his own purposes.  There is no power that can successfully oppose God.  How fortunate are his covenant people.

13-19 – Reason three to praise God is that God is all knowing and discerns all things.  God is both immanent and transcendent.  The protective eye of the LORD is on those who fear him. 

20-22 – As a result of these three reasons to praise God, the faithful, upright people of the covenant can be glad and trust in the steadfast love of God. 

Psalm 32 is both a thanksgiving and a penitential hymn in which the worshippers thank God for forgiving their sins.  Psalm 32 is often associated with Psalm 51, but there is not much to sustain that claim, rather Psalm 32 is general in nature, and it is applicable to all confession and forgiveness. 

1-5 – Psalm 32 presents deep spiritual truth; a person is only blessed and happy when his sins are forgiven.  Forgiveness of sin and iniquity is God’s expression of kindness and mercy to his covenant people.  Only when we uncover and do not hide our iniquities, our sins, will God forgive the iniquity and blot it out.  

6-11 – This section opens with the word, therefore.  Therefore, this deep Biblical truth can be applied to everyone who repents and confesses his sin to God, while God may be found.  Do not be foolish and wait indefinitely to confess your sins.  The godly are not sinless, but they readily confess their sins.  There is a contrast presented between sorrows suffered by the wicked and the steadfast love of God that surrounds the godly person.

Psalm 31 is a lament by a faithful person who seeks help from God because trouble and beset by enemies who want to do him harm.  This lament could apply to all faithful people, not just David.

1-2 – The singer uses metaphors like rock, fortress, and refuge to demonstrate his dependence and trust in God.  It is God’s righteousness, that is God’s faithfulness to his covenant promises that is the ground for confidence and assurance of God’s help.

3-8 – Now the singer recounts previous experiences where God has rescued him from enemies that would do him harm, and so the singer rejoices and is glad.  Note that verse 5 states “into your hand I commit my spirit,” which Jesus recited on the cross.  Like Jesus, the innocent sufferer trusts in God for his vindication.  In verse 6 the singer says that he hates the wicked and has not part with them.

9-13 – Here the singer states that he is once again in distress.  His adversaries plot to take his life.  The singer confesses that he is a sinner.

14-18 – The singer expresses trust in God for deliverance based upon his prior experience and based upon covenant promises of God in the covenant to sustain the righteous.  “I trust in you, O LORD.”  “My times are in your hand; rescue me from the hand of my enemies and from my persecutors!”  “O LORD, let me not be put to shame, for I call upon you.”  The faithful righteous people are those who trust in God, believe his word, and seek to please him.  The wicked are everyone else, and the wicked seek to destroy the faithful. 

19-24 – the singer closes with assurance that God who made covenant promises and who kept the promises to his faithful people in the past will continue to do so.

David composed Psalm 30 for dedication of the temple, which was not built until after his death.  This is a Psalm of thanksgiving for God’s care and deliverance over the course of life.  

1-3 – David begins with three reasons to extol or honor God, deliverance from the attacks of foes; answered prayer in time of sickness; and, rescue from impending death.

4-5 – David now urges fellow worshippers to give praise and thanks to God.  God’s anger is for a moment, but his favor his for a lifetime.  

6-7 – God alone is David’s security. 

8-10 – David prays for his life that he may continue to praise the LORD for his faithfulness to David.

11-12 – The experience in which sorrow has turned to joy leads David to praise and to thank God forever.  “My glory” means “one’s whole being.”

Psalm 29 is a hymn of praise for God’s awesome power as seen in a thunderstorm. This phenomenon of nature is God’s creation to show his power, his wisdom, and his glory.

1-2 – The singer calls on the angels, the heavenly beings, to acknowledge the glory and the strength of the LORD, to worship him in the splendor of his holiness.

3-9 – The thunderstorm is a representative of the voice of the LORD, which is described six-ways. And all in the temple, observing this power, majesty, and glory of the LORD, cry glory.

10-11 – The LORD is enthroned over the flood as king forever over creation, and he will give strength to his faithful covenant people and bless them.