Carefully Examining the Text

Key words in the Psalm
The wicked- 75:4, 8, 10
Lifted up, on high, exaltation, exalts- 75:4, 5, 5, 6, 7, 10. These are from the same Hebrew word
Horn, horns- 75:4, 5, 10, 10

75:8 the cup is an image of judgment. Isaiah 51:17-23; Jer. 25:15-28; 49:12; 51:7; Ezek. 23:32-34; Hab. 2:15-16; Zech. 12:2; Rev. 14:10; 16:19; 18:5-6

Jesus fulfills this Psalm.

I am sorry for any background knowledge. 

Have you ever asked why or how long? Writers in the Bible did as well.

In this podcast we say a few more words of explanation on 74:12-17.

We make some vocabulary connections between Psalm 73 and Psalm 74
"sanctuary" in 73:17; 74:3, 7
"violence" in 73:6; 74:20
"right hand" in 73:23; 74:11
"ruins" in 73:18; 74:3

How does Jesus answer Psalm 73 and Psalm 74?
74:9 the words "signs" and "prophet"
74:10, 18 Jesus reviled and spurned
74:12 My King
74:2 Redeemed
These are some ways.

Why? How long? These questions did not begin to be asked but they have been asked continually throughout history. These question are asked even in God's book.  Psalm 74 is one example of this.

Psalm 74 is a national lament. Psalms 44, 79, 89, 137 show great similarities. The book of Lamentations contains many such laments. It is hard for us to imagine the grief of the people when the Babylonians invaded their land and killed some with the sword and starved others in a siege. The lost their land, their king, and their temple and many were asking why?

74:1-3 Will Your anger burn forever,  O God?

74:4-8 The horrible scene at the destruction of God's house

74:9-11 Why does God withhold His judgment when He could destroy His foe in a moment?

74:12-17 God is praised in that He performs mighty acts of power

74:18-23 Remember the wicked and do not forget Your people?

This opens book 3 of the Psalms.
The writer acknowledges that he almost lost his faith at the prosperity of the wicked.
73:1-14 The writer struggles to believe that God is good
73:2 But as for me- This phrase is actually a word in Hebrew that begins vs. 2, 22, 23, 28.
73:3 The Bible warns against being envious of the wicked- Ps. 37:1-2; Prov. 23:19
73:4-5 Their life seems care free and trouble free
73:8-9, 11 But they are defiant of God
73:6, 8 They mistreat others
73:13-14 What does it pay to serve God?

73:15-20 The Light breaks through as he turns to worship God
73:17 This is the turning point of Psalm 73 and some have described it as the turning point of the entire book.  
73:18-20 The wicked are not as secure as it might seem

73:21-28 He sees that he has a blessing that the wicked do not have. God Himself is the greatest blessing of all.
73:25-26 What blessing compares with God Himself??
73:28 Notice how the psalm ends much as it began- vs. 1.

This psalm speaks of an ideal king

72:1-4, 12-14 The king does justice and righteousness.
He cares for the weakest and most defenseless.

72:8-11 His reign is universal

72:5-7, 15-17 Prosperity and blessing will be in his time and the people bless him that his reign will be forever

72:18=20. A doxology closes this second book of the Psalms.
Book 1- Psalms 1-41
Book 2- Psalms 42-72
Book 3- Psalms 73-89
Book 4- Psalms 90-106
Book 5- Psalms 107-150

David (II Sam. 8:15-18); Solomon (I Kings 10:9); and Josiah (Jer. 22:15-16) were said to do justice and righteousness. But none of them lived up to all that was in the psalm. 

The last king of Judah was captured, his sons were killed before him, and then his eyes were put out. What about the universal reign of 72:8-11?
The Jewish people continued to keep this psalm and to read it and it inspired hope of a king who would come. It gave them hope of a Messiah.

Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment of this king above all kings. 

In this psalm the writer calls out for deliverance from his distress and praises God for deliverance.

The petition and complaint section of Psalm 71 are vss. 1-4, 9-13, 18, and the statements of trust and praise are in vss. 5-8, 14-17, 19, 24.

God's righteousness is emphasized in the Psalm- 71:2, 15, 16, 19, 24. 
The words "continually" in vs. 3, 6, 14 and "all day long" in vs. 8, 15, 22 are a couple of the key words and phrases throughout the Psalm. 

God is begged to help and deliver in vs. 1, 5

The enemies are described in vs. 2-3

The faithful are pictured in vs. 4

Notice some contrasts between the wicked and the righteous
vs. 2 The wicked seek his life, while in vs. 4 the righteous seek God
vs. 2 The wicked delight in David's hurt, while in vs. 4 the faithful love His salvation
vs. 3 The evil men say, "Aha, Aha", while in vs. 4 the godly say,  "The Lord be magnified."

A new podcast. The first on Psalm 69 just emphasized the text itself. This podcast focuses on Jesus and the New Testament and what they say about the fulfillment of the Psalm. 

Psalm 69 is one of the most frequently quoted Psalms in the NT.

69:4 hated me without a cause- John 15:25

69:9 For zeal for Your house consumed me- John 2:17

69:9 The reproaches of those who reproached You feel on Me- Romans 15:3

69:21 John 19:-28-30 does not quote but seems to allude to this passage.

69:22-23 is quoted in Romans 11:8-10

69:25 is quoted in Acts 1:20 and applied to Judas.

This psalm however is not simply a prophecy of Jesus because there are words here that Jesus could not have uttered- 69:5 for example.

What does that mean for our understanding of Scripture?? 

This is a psalm of individual lament.

69:1-5 David describes his destress. It is as if he is drowning in deep waters and he cannot find his footing.

69:6-12 His suffering has come upon him specifically because of his love for God and God's house.

69:13-19 He appeals to God to rescue him because of God's lovingkindness, truth or faithfulness, and His compassion.

69:20-21 There is no one to comfort him in his distress.

69:22-28 He asks God to judge his adversaries in ways they sought to judge others

69:29-36 Praise to God
As is so often the case, pouring out his problems in distress have led to God's deliverance. 

This psalm will pick up the discussion of the psalm, Psalm 68, picking up around vs. 21. If you have not listened to Part 1 of the Psalm, let me encourage you to do so.

Much of the podcast will focus on how Jesus fulfills the words of Psalm 68.