SUNDAY PSALMS PART 39 OF 48 - PSALM 130

 

Massachusetts Avenue, Indianapolis, at sunrise

 1   Out of the depths
     I have cried to You, O LORD;
2  Lord, hear my voice!
    Let Your ears be attentive
    To the voice of my supplications.
3  If You, LORD, should mark iniquities,
    O Lord, who could stand?
4  But there is forgiveness with You,
    That You may be feared.

5  I wait for the LORD, my soul waits,
    And in His word I do hope.
6  My soul waits for the Lord
    More than those who watch for the morning--
    Yes, more than those who watch for the morning.
7  O Israel, hope in the Lord;
    For with the Lord there is mercy,
    And with Him is abundant redemption.
8  And He shall redeem Israel
    From all his iniquities.
         Psalm 130:1-8, New King James Version

Okay, all you who have been following this series - do you see why I'm so excited about Psalms?

One thing I forgot to mention a couple of weeks age: Psalms 120-134 are called "Songs of Ascent." Some of these are attributed to David (122, 124, 131, 133) and one to Solomon (127), but some seem to have a post-exilic flavor to them. These Psalms were sung by Jews going to Jerusalem - some say it was those returning from Babylonian captivity, others say it was by pilgrims making the annual trip to celebrate Passover or the Feast of Booths.

Way back in January, I'm guessing, I mentioned the three Hebrew names attributed to God: 

1. Elohim, translated "God" and used both of the true God and the false gods.
2. Adonai, translated "Lord" and used both of the Lord of all and human lords.
3. Yahweh, God's personal name, usually translated as LORD, though when used with Adonai, it's translated GOD. Some translations transliterate it and use God's name.

Some groups believe we should use God's name instead of titles like Lord or God. I can debate that issue, but sufficient to say is that whether we use His name or not is not grounds for salvation.

What does that have to do with Psalm 130? God is addressed eight times in this short Psalm. The first six instances alternate between Yahweh and Adonai (the final two times are Y7ahweh). I mentioned Crosswalk's on-line Bible doesn't distinguish between the two words. But the point is the Holy Spirit inspired Scripture, including this Psalm. No, God is not bothered if we call Him Lord or God instead of using His name.

Another thing I like is verse 4. What is the reason forgiveness is with God? So He can be feared! That isn't what you'd expect, is it? In verse 7, it also mentions that with Him is mercy and abundant redemption. 

In case you haven't realized it, God doesn't owe us His love. None of us are worthy of it. As Isaiah 53:6 says, "All we like sheep have gone astray." (It's fun listening to the upbeat music Handel put that verse to in his oratorio "The Messiah.") In a previously covered Psalm, it mentions God humbles Himself to observe things in heaven and on earth (Psalm 113:6). We should be in awe that He wants fellowship with us.

SUNDAY PSALMS PART 7 OF 48 - PSALM 27

Christmas "plate" - A Thomas Kinkade painting with lights in the windows.

1  The LORD is my light and my salvation;
    Whom shall I fear?
    The LORD is the strength of my life;
    Of whom shall I be afraid?
2  When the wicked came against me
    To eat up my flesh,
    My enemies and foes,
    They stumbled and fell.
3  Though an army may encamp against me,
    My heart shall not fear;
    Though war should rise against me,
    In this I will be confident.

4  One thing I have desired of the LORD,
    That will I seek:
    That I may dwell in the house of the LORD
    All the days of my life,
    To behold the beauty of the LORD,
    And to inquire in His temple.
5  For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion;
    In the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me;
    He shall set me high upon a rock.
6  And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me;
    Therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle;
    I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the LORD.

7  Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice!
    Have mercy also upon me, and answer me.
8  When You said, "Seek My face,"
    My heart said to You, "Your face, LORD, I will seek."
9  Do not hide Your face from me;
    Do not turn Your servant away in anger;
    You have been my help;
    Do not leave me nor forsake me, O God of my salvation.
10 When my father and my mother forsake me,
    Then the LORD will take care of me.

11 Teach me Your way, O LORD,
    And lead me in a smooth path, because of my enemies.
12 Do not deliver me to the will of my adversaries;
    For false witnesses have risen against me,
    And such as breathe out violence.
13 I would have lost heart, unless I had believed
    That I would see the goodness of the LORD
    In the land of the living.
14 Wait on the LORD;
    Be of good courage,
    And He shall strengthen your heart;
    Wait, I say, on the LORD!

Psalm 27:1-14, New King James Version

 This is a popular Psalm, for good reason; it's one of my favorites. And the last two verses have been a reflection of my heart for decades. But let me make one point on this.

From the first verse on, it's full of the Psalmist's confidence. But when I read the whole Psalm, I don't see that confidence being consistent. In verse 7, David's asking God to hear him and be merciful to him. Two verses later, and there's requests for God not to hide His faee, turn him away in His anger, or leave or forsake him.

This reflects the Christian life. There are times I have a head full of knowledge that God will keep me yet my heart doesn't have assurance. But we need to remember that God has promised to deliver us; we need to bring our experience and emotions in line with Scripture, not the other way around.

Permit me to close this blog with a pair of housekeeping items for this series.

1. WHAT  YOU  MAY HAVE NOTICED. I have been going in order for the Psalms, with the first half dozen being 1, 4, 11, 12, 18:22-28, and 20. And part 7 is ... 27? Did I skip a particular, highly popular Psalm that's half way (more or less) between 20 and 27? Good eye, but it's not skipped or ignored. I'm saving it for later in this 48 part series.
2. WHAT I  HAVE NOTICED. I have been using Bible Study Tools and copied the Psalm, as opposed to typing out the whole Psalm. It took working on over half a dozen of this series to realize something: The Bible Study tools do not capitalize "Lord." Let me explain. There are three Hebrew words referring to God: Elohim, translated "God;" Adonai, translated "Lord;" and Yahweh, God's personal name, which the Jews won't say because the name is too holy, and many English translations will translate as LORD (all caps) or, when used with Adonai, as GOD. Well, when I'm using that set-up, then you can't tell when the text reads Yahweh. 😭