Tuesday, February 28, 2023
Monday, February 27, 2023
Sunday, February 26, 2023
Saturday, February 25, 2023
Friday, February 24, 2023
The Book of Ruth, comments
Ruth, chapter 1
Ruth chapter 1:1 ¶ Now it
came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the
land. And a certain man of Bethlehemjudah went to sojourn in the country of
Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons. 2
And the name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife
Naomi, and the name of his two sons Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of
Bethlehemjudah. And they came into the country of Moab, and continued there.
3 And Elimelech Naomi’s husband died;
and she was left, and her two sons. 4
And they took
them wives of the women of Moab; the name of the one was
Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth: and they dwelled there about ten years.
5 And Mahlon and Chilion died
also both of them; and the woman was left of her two sons and her
husband.
So we are now in the time of the Judges again. Ruth is a fitting
extension to the Book of Judges. We’ve seen the ebb and flow of deliverance and
apostasy bracketed by the time before the Judges brought order to the land. The
first few verses show us how fluid borders were in the ancient world with no
welfare states as Elimelech flees the famine along with his wife, Naomi, and
his sons. He is from Bethlehemjudah and is of the tribe of Ephraim.
The two sons took them Moabite wives, perhaps after Elimelech died
because he may have forbidden such a things, or perhaps the statement is just
to state they took two Moabite wives possibly during their father’s lifetime.
In the process of time Naomi’s husband and her sons die leaving
her and her daughters-in-law widows. We are going to see how God will even use
the Israelites’ apostasy to further His plan of redemption by including this
upright and righteous Moabite woman in His plan.
This woman from a tribe that began with an illicit sexual
encounter between a drunken Lot and his firstborn daughter, in Genesis 19 will
be in Christ’s lineage.
Ruth 1:6 ¶ Then she arose
with her daughters in law, that she might return from the country of Moab: for
she had heard in the country of Moab how that the LORD had visited his people
in giving them bread. 7 Wherefore she
went forth out of the place where she was, and her two daughters in law with
her; and they went on the way to return unto the land of Judah. 8 And Naomi said unto her two daughters in law,
Go, return each to her mother’s house: the LORD deal kindly with you, as ye
have dealt with the dead, and with me. 9
The LORD grant you that ye may find rest, each of you in the
house of her husband. Then she kissed them; and they lifted up their voice, and
wept. 10 And they said unto her, Surely
we will return with thee unto thy people. 11
And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go with me? are
there yet any more sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands?
12 Turn again, my daughters, go your
way; for I am too old to have an husband. If I should say, I have hope, if
I should have an husband also to night, and should also bear sons; 13 Would ye tarry for them till they were grown?
would ye stay for them from having husbands? nay, my daughters; for it grieveth
me much for your sakes that the hand of the LORD is gone out against me.
14 And they lifted up their voice, and
wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her.
15 And she said, Behold, thy sister in
law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: return thou after thy
sister in law. 16 And Ruth said, Intreat
me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for
whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people
shall be my people, and thy God my God: 17 Where thou diest, will I die, and there will
I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death
part thee and me. 18 When she saw that
she was stedfastly minded to go with her, then she left speaking unto her.
Notice also how easily one in the ancient world would worship the
gods or God of their spouse or the land they chose to live in and go back as
Orpah did. Ruth, however, is faithful to her mother in law and through her
mother in law to God Himself. This shows you just how influential a Godly woman
can be on her daughters in law.
Ruth 1:19 ¶ So they two
went until they came to Bethlehem. And it came to pass, when they were come to
Bethlehem, that all the city was moved about them, and they said, Is
this Naomi? 20 And she said unto them,
Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with
me. 21 I went out full, and the LORD
hath brought me home
again empty: why then call ye me Naomi, seeing the LORD
hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me? 22 So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess,
her
daughter in law, with her,
which returned out of the country of Moab: and they came to Bethlehem in the
beginning of barley harvest.
The barley harvest is significant here in
that sources say it was the primary food grain in ancient Israel. It ripened
around the time of Passover which is also the time of Christ’s crucifixion and
resurrection.
Naomi’s return home is bittersweet but she
is not rejected for having gone into a heathen country with her husband years
ago. Perhaps they regard her troubles as the consequence of apostasy but that
is not evident from the text.
Ruth, chapter 2
Ruth 2:1 ¶ And Naomi had a
kinsman of her husband’s, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech;
and his name was Boaz. 2 And Ruth
the Moabitess said unto Naomi, Let me now go to the field, and glean ears of
corn after him in whose sight I shall find grace. And she said unto her,
Go, my daughter. 3 And she went, and
came, and gleaned in the field after the reapers: and her hap was to light on a
part of the field belonging unto Boaz, who was of the kindred of
Elimelech.
Boaz is a man of wealth. Here is the law regarding the poor
gleaning the fields for grain that was left behind.
Leviticus 19:9 And when ye reap the harvest of your land,
thou shalt not wholly reap the corners of thy field, neither shalt thou gather
the gleanings of thy harvest. 10 And
thou shalt not glean thy vineyard, neither shalt thou gather every grape of thy
vineyard; thou shalt leave them for the poor and stranger: I am the LORD your
God.
Corn is a reference to the whole fruit of wheat grain with the
husks, the head of wheat, in Early Modern English and is not a reference to the
kind of corn we know of here in America yet.
John 12:24 Verily, verily,
I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth
alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.
Hap in verse 3 is translated from a Hebrew word meaning roughly our
‘luck’ or ‘chance’. Think of
happenstance or coincidence in English today. This is so from mankind’s point
of view as from God’s point of view there is not such thing. God directed Ruth
to Boaz’s field.
Ruth 2:4 ¶ And, behold,
Boaz came from Bethlehem, and said unto the reapers, The LORD be with
you. And they answered him, The LORD bless thee. 5 Then said Boaz unto his servant that was set
over the reapers, Whose damsel is this? 6 And the servant that was set over the reapers
answered and said, It is the Moabitish damsel that came back with Naomi
out of the country of Moab: 7 And she
said, I pray you, let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves:
so she came, and hath continued even from the morning until now, that she
tarried a little in the house. 8 Then
said Boaz unto Ruth, Hearest thou not, my daughter? Go not to glean in another
field, neither go from hence, but abide here fast by my maidens: 9 Let thine eyes be on the field
that they do reap, and go thou after them: have I not charged the young men
that they shall not touch thee? and when thou art athirst, go unto the vessels,
and drink of that which the young men have drawn. 10 Then she fell on her face, and bowed herself
to the ground, and said unto him, Why have I found grace in thine eyes, that
thou shouldest take knowledge of me, seeing I am a stranger? 11 And Boaz answered and said unto her, It hath
fully been shewed me, all that thou hast done unto thy mother in law since the
death of thine husband: and how thou hast left thy father and thy
mother, and the land of thy nativity, and art come unto a people which thou
knewest not heretofore. 12 The LORD
recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the LORD God of Israel,
under whose wings thou art come to trust. 13
Then she said, Let me find favour in thy sight, my lord; for that thou
hast comforted me, and for that thou hast spoken friendly unto thine handmaid,
though I be not like unto one of thine handmaidens. 14 And Boaz said unto her, At mealtime come thou
hither, and eat of the bread, and dip thy morsel in the vinegar. And she sat
beside the reapers: and he reached her parched corn, and she did eat,
and was sufficed, and left. 15 And when
she was risen up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying, Let her glean
even among the sheaves, and reproach her not: 16 And let fall also some of the handfuls
of purpose for her, and leave them, that she may glean them, and
rebuke her not.
Boaz not only extends his hospitality to Ruth but also his
protection showing us that it was not impossible for a poor person to be harassed
by the farm workers. Boaz knows of her reputation for faithfulness to her
mother-in-law. He also blesses her. Boaz gives orders to his men not to rebuke
her for what she is doing.
Ruth 2:17 ¶ So she gleaned
in the field until even, and beat out that she had gleaned: and it was about an
ephah of barley. 18 And she took it
up, and went into the city: and her mother in law saw what she had gleaned: and
she brought forth, and gave to her that she had reserved after she was
sufficed. 19 And her mother in law said
unto her, Where hast thou gleaned to day? and where wroughtest thou? blessed be
he that did take knowledge of thee. And she shewed her mother in law with whom
she had wrought, and said, The man’s name with whom I wrought to day is
Boaz. 20 And Naomi said unto her
daughter in law, Blessed be he of the LORD, who hath not left off his
kindness to the living and to the dead. And Naomi said unto her, The man is
near of kin unto us, one of our next kinsmen. 21 And Ruth the Moabitess said, He said unto me
also, Thou shalt keep fast by my young men, until they have ended all my
harvest. 22 And Naomi said unto Ruth her
daughter in law, It is good, my daughter, that thou go out with his
maidens, that they meet thee not in any other field. 23 So she kept fast by the maidens of Boaz to
glean unto the end of barley harvest and of wheat harvest; and dwelt with her
mother in law.
Strong’s says an ephah of barley was the equivalent roughly of 40
liters or 9 imperial gallons. I can’t imagine the exact amount but it must have
been a successful day. It is interesting to note that she shared with her
mother-in-law what she needed. Naomi clearly has in mind the goodness of a
match between Ruth and Boaz.
Ruth, chapter 3
Ruth 3:1 ¶ Then Naomi her
mother in law said unto her, My daughter, shall I not seek rest for thee, that
it may be well with thee? 2 And now is
not Boaz of our kindred, with whose maidens thou wast? Behold, he winnoweth
barley to night in the threshingfloor. 3
Wash thyself therefore, and anoint thee, and put thy raiment upon thee,
and get thee down to the floor: but make not thyself known unto the man,
until he shall have done eating and drinking. 4
And it shall be, when he lieth down, that thou shalt mark the place where
he shall lie, and thou shalt go in, and uncover his feet, and lay thee down;
and he will tell thee what thou shalt do. 5
And she said unto her, All that thou sayest unto me I will do.
Naomi is intent on being matchmaker here hoping that Boaz can be
induced to secure Ruth as a wife. This rather alien device, to us anyway,
involves a good deal of risk if Boaz was not a good man.
Ruth 3:6 ¶ And she went
down unto the floor, and did according to all that her mother in law bade her.
7 And when Boaz had eaten and drunk, and
his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of corn: and
she came softly, and uncovered his feet, and laid her down. 8 And it came to pass at midnight, that the man
was afraid, and turned himself: and, behold, a woman lay at his feet. 9 And he said, Who art thou? And she
answered, I am Ruth thine handmaid: spread therefore thy skirt over
thine handmaid; for thou art a near kinsman. 10 And he said, Blessed be thou of the
LORD, my daughter: for thou hast shewed more kindness in the latter end
than at the beginning, inasmuch as thou followedst not young men, whether poor
or rich. 11 And now, my daughter, fear
not; I will do to thee all that thou requirest: for all the city of my people
doth know that thou art a virtuous woman. 12 And now it is true that I am thy near
kinsman: howbeit there is a kinsman nearer than I. 13 Tarry this night, and it shall be in the
morning, that if he will perform unto thee the part of a kinsman, well;
let him do the kinsman’s part: but if he will not do the part of a kinsman to
thee, then will I do the part of a kinsman to thee, as the LORD liveth:
lie down until the morning.
According to John Gill Ruth’s actions and Boaz’s response had to
do with Naomi’s desire to have him fulfill this role as a near kinsman of Ruth’s
late husband and take her as his wife.
Deuteronomy 25:5 ¶ If
brethren dwell together, and one of them die, and have no child, the wife of
the dead shall not marry without unto a stranger: her husband’s brother shall
go in unto her, and take her to him to wife, and perform the duty of an
husband’s brother unto her. 6 And it
shall be, that the firstborn which she beareth shall succeed in the name of his
brother which is dead, that his name be not put out of Israel. 7 And if the man like not to take his brother’s
wife, then let his brother’s wife go up to the gate unto the elders, and say,
My husband’s brother refuseth to raise up unto his brother a name in Israel, he
will not perform the duty of my husband’s brother. 8 Then the elders of his city shall call him,
and speak unto him: and if he stand to it, and say, I like not to take her;
9 Then shall his brother’s wife come
unto him in the presence of the elders, and loose his shoe from off his foot,
and spit in his face, and shall answer and say, So shall it be done unto that
man that will not build up his brother’s house. 10 And his name shall be called in Israel, The
house of him that hath his shoe loosed.
Ruth 3:14 ¶ And she lay at
his feet until the morning: and she rose up before one could know another. And
he said, Let it not be known that a woman came into the floor. 15 Also he said, Bring the vail that thou
hast upon thee, and hold it. And when she held it, he measured six measures
of barley, and laid it on her: and she went into the city. 16 And when she came to her mother in law, she
said, Who art thou, my daughter? And she told her all that the man had
done to her. 17 And she said, These six measures
of barley gave he me; for he said to me, Go not empty unto thy mother in law.
18 Then said she, Sit still, my
daughter, until thou know how the matter will fall: for the man will not be in
rest, until he have finished the thing this day.
One thing to notice about this is the importance of familial
obligations and exchange as Boaz does not send Ruth home to her mother-in-law empty-handed.
The Who are thou, my daughter? is said by Matthew Henry to
be a question like, are you a bride or not?
Ruth, Chapter 4
Ruth 4:1 ¶ Then went Boaz
up to the gate, and sat him down there: and, behold, the kinsman of whom Boaz
spake came by; unto whom he said, Ho, such a one! turn aside, sit down here.
And he turned aside, and sat down. 2 And
he took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, Sit ye down here. And they
sat down. 3 And he said unto the
kinsman,
Naomi, that is come again out of the country of Moab, selleth a
parcel of land, which was our brother Elimelech’s: 4 And I thought to advertise thee, saying, Buy it
before the
inhabitants, and before the elders of my people. If thou wilt
redeem it, redeem it: but if thou wilt not redeem it, then
tell me, that I may know: for there is none to redeem it beside
thee; and I am after thee. And he said, I will redeem it. 5 Then said Boaz, What day thou buyest the
field of the hand of Naomi, thou must buy it also of Ruth the Moabitess,
the wife of the dead, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance.
6 And the kinsman said, I cannot redeem it
for myself, lest I mar mine own inheritance: redeem thou my right to thyself;
for I cannot redeem it. 7 Now
this was the manner in former time in Israel concerning redeeming and
concerning changing, for to confirm all things; a man plucked off his shoe, and
gave it to his neighbour: and this was a testimony in Israel.
8 Therefore the kinsman said unto Boaz,
Buy it for thee. So he drew off his shoe.
Perhaps this near kinsman had a good reason for refusing to marry
the Moabitess. What about the admonitions in the Law not to unite with those of
the land around them? Would this person hold it against this godly Moabitess
that she was ethnically of a vile nation?
However, John Gill states that the man, having a wife and children
already probably, did not wish to take on another wife and further put a strain
on his inheritance that he would pass on.
Ruth 4:9 ¶ And Boaz said
unto the elders, and unto all the people, Ye are witnesses this
day, that I have bought all that was Elimelech’s, and all that was
Chilion’s and Mahlon’s, of the hand of Naomi. 10 Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of
Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon
his inheritance, that the name of the dead be not cut off from among his
brethren, and from the gate of his place: ye are witnesses this day.
11 And all the people that were
in the gate, and the elders, said, We
are witnesses. The LORD make the woman that
is come into thine house like Rachel and like Leah, which two did build the
house of Israel: and do thou worthily in Ephratah, and be famous in Bethlehem:
12 And let thy house be like the house
of Pharez, whom Tamar bare unto Judah, of the seed which the LORD shall give
thee of this young woman.
Ruth 4:13 ¶ So Boaz took
Ruth, and she was his wife: and when he went in unto her, the LORD gave her
conception, and she bare a son. 14 And
the women said unto Naomi, Blessed be the LORD, which hath not left thee
this day without a kinsman, that his name may be famous in Israel. 15 And he shall be unto thee a restorer of thy
life, and a nourisher of thine old age: for thy daughter in law, which loveth
thee, which is better to thee than seven sons, hath born him. 16 And Naomi took the child, and laid it in her
bosom, and became nurse unto it. 17 And
the women her neighbours gave it a name, saying, There is a son born to Naomi;
and they called his name Obed: he is the father of Jesse, the father of
David. 18 Now these are the
generations of Pharez: Pharez begat Hezron, 19
And Hezron begat Ram, and Ram begat Amminadab, 20 And Amminadab begat Nahshon, and Nahshon
begat Salmon, 21 And Salmon begat Boaz,
and Boaz begat Obed, 22 And Obed begat
Jesse, and Jesse begat David.
And so here we have seen how a Moabite woman becomes part
of Christ’s human heritage. It is interesting to note the role that this foreign
woman, like the prostitute from Jericho, Rahab or Rachab from the Greek in
Matthew 1:5, played in the history of Christ. No less interesting it is than
Tamar, Judah’s daughter-in-law, in her deception of Judah, also had a part to
play. God’s plans and God’s order are often much different than we think it
should be in our Roman ordered worldview. History, God’s history of reconciling
mankind to Himself, is a messy affair, which reveals His mercy and grace as
much as it reveals His purpose.
Thursday, February 23, 2023
Wednesday, February 22, 2023
Psalm 26 comments
Psalm 26:1 ¶ «A Psalm of David.» Judge me, O LORD; for I have walked in mine integrity: I have trusted also in the LORD; therefore I shall not slide. 2 Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart. 3 For thy lovingkindness is before mine eyes: and I have walked in thy truth. 4 I have not sat with vain persons, neither will I go in with dissemblers. 5 I have hated the congregation of evil doers; and will not sit with the wicked.
Here is David declaring his own righteousness, a clear distinction
between the Age of the Law and the Age of Grace. No Christian should make this
claim although his or her efforts should be toward this. Notice this previous
claim.
Psalm 7:8 The LORD shall
judge the people: judge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness, and
according to mine integrity that is in me.
This sentiment will be repeated in the next set of verses in this chapter
as well.
In verse 2 the word reins, which I have discussed before in my
commentaries, is about internal organs and even deepest thoughts and emotions.
Verse 2 also asks God to examine David. Notice the following;
Psalm 7:9 Oh let the
wickedness of the wicked come to an end; but establish the just: for the
righteous God trieth the hearts and reins.
Psalm 17:3 Thou hast proved
mine heart; thou hast visited me in the night; thou hast tried me, and shalt
find nothing; I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.
Psalm 66:10 For thou, O
God, hast proved us: thou hast tried us, as silver is tried.
Psalm 139:23 Search me, O
God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts. 24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and
lead me in the way everlasting.
Job 13:23 ¶ How many are
mine iniquities and sins? make me to know my transgression and my sin.
Job 31:4 Doth not he see my
ways, and count all my steps? 5 If I
have walked with vanity, or if my foot hath hasted to deceit; 6 Let me be weighed in an even balance, that
God may know mine integrity.
Verse 3 has David depending on God’s lovingkindness and on David’s
declaration that he is walking in God’s truth.
In the rest of this passage David makes a declaration that he will
not and does not associate with certain types of people; vain persons,
dissemblers, evil does, and the wicked. Dissemblers are hypocrites who distort
the truth to hide something, They are a specific type of liar. Here are some
other usages.
Joshua 7:11 Israel hath
sinned, and they have also transgressed my covenant which I commanded them: for
they have even taken of the accursed thing, and have also stolen, and
dissembled also, and they have put it even among their own stuff.
Proverbs 26:24 He that
hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him;
Jeremiah 42:20 For ye
dissembled in your hearts, when ye sent me unto the LORD your God, saying, Pray
for us unto the LORD our God; and according unto all that the LORD our God
shall say, so declare unto us, and we will do it.
Galatians 2:11 ¶ But when
Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be
blamed. 12 For before that certain came
from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew
and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision. 13 And the other Jews dissembled likewise with
him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation.
What stands out here from David’s perspective is his declaration
of his doing right.
Prophetically, there is a clear allusion to Christ who ministered
to people at all levels of His society but did not venture into their sins at
any time. He was there with them but was not tainted by the sin of them.
For us, we can see that in order to escape a sinful world we would
need to die. But we do not have to partake of the sins of the world in which we
live. Paul makes a comment about that, not fellowshipping with someone who
engages in willful, defiant sin against God.
1Corinthians 5:9 ¶ I wrote
unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: 10 Yet not altogether with the fornicators of
this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then
must ye needs go out of the world. 11
But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is
called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or
a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.
Psalm 26:6 ¶ I will wash
mine hands in innocency: so will I compass thine altar, O LORD: 7 That I may publish with the voice of
thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works. 8 LORD, I have loved the habitation of thy house,
and the place where thine honour dwelleth. 9
Gather not my soul with sinners, nor my life with bloody men: 10 In whose hands is mischief, and their
right hand is full of bribes. 11 But as
for me, I will walk in mine integrity: redeem me, and be merciful unto me.
12 My foot standeth in an even place: in
the congregations will I bless the LORD.
King David is not like Pilate who washed his hands to consider
himself free of the taint of executing Christ. This is a different kind of
innocence declaration, not declaring yourself unblameable for an action over
which you have authority but feel unable to impact due to mob pressure. David
is declaring himself righteous. This is his justification for his presence at
God’s altar. This again shows the difference in between that time in history
where God had created a physical kingdom for Himself out of the Gentile nations
through Abraham and called it and His people, Israel. The Law given to Moses
made good men declare themselves righteous. I’ll discuss the difference between
then and now in a moment.
David then goes on to say that what he did in verse 1 allows him
to publish his thanksgiving and glorify God. David loves and honors God’s
house, the tabernacle. He pleads to not be included with the wicked, in this
case in particular mentioning those clever lobbyists of government in whose
hand is filthy lucre for bribery. He declares that he will stand in his own
righteousness as a reason to plead with God to redeem him and show him mercy.
David is reinforcing his “rightness” and blesses God as a righteous man. Wow!
Prophetically and personally, without confusing the dispensations
or putting the Christian back under the Law given to Moses, this would be a
prophetic and personal in the way we are to act before God and man. While not
declaring our own righteousness but Christ’s and asserting that we are not
justified or saved by following the Ten Commandments we must make every effort
in every situation to act in a righteous manner.
Understanding though, that it is Christ who makes us righteous not
we ourselves and that we do not just glorify God when things go our way but
even in the worst of times we are called to acknowledge God’s sovereignty over
us. Notice both Paul and Peter declare;
Romans 5:21 That as sin
hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto
eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.
2 Peter 1:1 Simon Peter, a
servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like
precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus
Christ:
Tuesday, February 21, 2023
Monday, February 20, 2023
Sunday, February 19, 2023
Saturday, February 18, 2023
Friday, February 17, 2023
Thursday, February 16, 2023
Wednesday, February 15, 2023
Tuesday, February 14, 2023
Monday, February 13, 2023
Sunday, February 12, 2023
Saturday, February 11, 2023
Friday, February 10, 2023
Thursday, February 9, 2023
Wednesday, February 8, 2023
Psalms, chapter 25, comments
Psalms 25:1 ¶ «A Psalm of David.» Unto thee, O LORD, do I lift up my soul. 2 O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me. 3 Yea, let none that wait on thee be ashamed: let them be ashamed which transgress without cause. 4 Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths. 5 Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day. 6 Remember, O LORD, thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindnesses; for they have been ever of old. 7 Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness’ sake, O LORD.
David is directing his individual personhood, the seat of his will
and self-identity, his soul upwards toward God, his Creator.
Psalm 86:4 Rejoice the soul
of thy servant: for unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.
This suggests heartfelt prayer on the part of David. He then goes
on to express two things; trust and a plea not to have that trust fail so that
his enemies triumph over him. Remember what he said in 7:1.
Psalm 7:1 ¶ «Shiggaion of
David, which he sang unto the LORD, concerning the words of Cush the
Benjamite.» O LORD my God, in thee do I put my trust: save me from all them
that persecute me, and deliver me:
And he will say again soon;
Psalm 31:1 ¶ «To the chief
Musician, A Psalm of David.» In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust; let me never
be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness.
Verse 3 is a reaffirmation of verse 2. The transgressions without
cause are clearly against him and he desires protection from such
transgressions made against him by people who have no justification.
Verses 4 and 5 are wonderful prayers. For cross-references see;
Psalm 27:11 Teach me thy way,
O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.
Psalm 86:11 Teach me thy
way, O LORD; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name.
Psalm 119:27 Make me to
understand the way of thy precepts: so shall I talk of thy wondrous works.
David acknowledges that God is the God of his salvation and David
waits for God all day which may suggest that David expects something from God
each and every day. He expects to see God’s power and His mercy every single
day. This is a good prayer.
He then asks for God to remember and to forget something. David is
pleading to God’s mercy that He will not consider the sins of his youth. This
is an important thing to consider as most people have committed sins in their
youth, some of which follow them through their lives. The only hope David has
is that he leans on God’s tender mercy and on His lovingkindness.
Prophetically, as well as personally, this is a great prayer for
Christians of all ages who faced and face opposition from institutional
Christians churches as well as persecution from non-Christians, people of other
faiths or no faith at all. It is an appeal to God for protection as our weapons
of warfare are not carnal as Paul noted so eloquently.
2Corinthians 10:3 For
though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
4 (For the weapons of our
warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong
holds;) 5 Casting down imaginations, and
every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and
bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
6 And having in a readiness
to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.
Psalm 25:8 ¶ Good and
upright is the LORD: therefore will he teach sinners in the way. 9 The meek will he guide in judgment: and the
meek will he teach his way. 10 All the
paths of the LORD are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and
his testimonies. 11 For thy name’s sake,
O LORD, pardon mine iniquity; for it is great. 12 What man is he that feareth the LORD?
him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose. 13 His soul shall dwell at ease; and his seed
shall inherit the earth. 14 The secret
of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his
covenant.
Please note, for verse 8;
Psalm 119:68 ¶ Thou art
good, and doest good; teach me thy statutes.
Notice how artfully the colon is used to define what goes before
by what goes after it. Because God is good and upright He does not abandon
sinners but teaches them His standards of righteousness.
David notes that God will guide the meek in judgment and teach
them his ways. Who are the meek here?
Notice how meek is used in the following verse;
Numbers 12:3 (Now the man
Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.)
Now why is an Egyptian prince who murders a man and also then
leads a couple of million people on a forty year long journey through a
wilderness called meek?
We know meek is used of the poor.
Isaiah 29:19 The meek also
shall increase their joy in the LORD, and the poor among men shall rejoice in
the Holy One of Israel.
But in reference to Moses and to Christ it must be said to be
subordinate to God the Father. Christ, in His humanity showed us that He was
not above obeying the Father’s will as our example.
Matthew 11:29 Take my yoke
upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find
rest unto your souls.
So, meekness for those who seek and praise God reflects their
submission to Him. The meek are meek towards God. David is not a poor man. He
is a king.
In verse 10 David makes a wonderful point. Let’s compare and
contrast other verses in the Psalms.
Psalm 18:25 With the
merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful; with an upright man thou wilt shew
thyself upright; 26 With the pure thou
wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself froward.
Psalm 37:23 The steps of a
good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. 24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast
down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.
Here, in verse 11, David does not plead for God’s mercy for his
sins because they are “not so bad” but because they are great. A patient
doesn’t usually come to a doctor for help because he has a trifling illness but
because he is very sick. So, David pleads the greatness of his iniquity, not
its insignificance.
See how God’s mercy is a trait of God, a part of who He is in the
following verses.
Psalm 31:3 For thou art my
rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name’s sake lead me, and guide me.
Psalm 79:9 Help us, O God
of our salvation, for the glory of thy name: and deliver us, and purge away our
sins, for thy name’s sake.
Psalm 109:21 ¶ But do thou
for me, O GOD the Lord, for thy name’s sake: because thy mercy is good, deliver
thou me.
Psalm 143:11 Quicken me, O
LORD, for thy name’s sake: for thy righteousness’ sake bring my soul out of
trouble.
Isaiah 43:25 I, even I, am
he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not
remember thy sins.
Isaiah 48:9 ¶ For my name’s
sake will I defer mine anger, and for my praise will I refrain for thee, that I
cut thee not off.
David knows that it is not because of us but because of Him and
who He is that God shows mercy.
Ezekiel 36:21 But I had
pity for mine holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the
heathen, whither they went. 22 Therefore
say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; I do not this for your
sakes, O house of Israel, but for mine holy name’s sake, which ye have profaned
among the heathen, whither ye went.
There are other verses that express something of the sentiment
expressed in verse 12 that David puts forth.
Psalm 111:10 The fear of
the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do
his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.
Proverbs 1:7 ¶ The fear of
the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and
instruction.
Proverbs 2:5 Then shalt
thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.
Proverbs 15:33 ¶ The fear
of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.
Proverbs 16:6 ¶ By mercy
and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.
Ecclesiastes 12:13 ¶ Let us
hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments:
for this is the whole duty of man.
David says something in verse 13 that takes us back to my thoughts
on meekness. The people that are meek toward God and fears the Lord inherit the
earth and, I might add, eternal life. I will be repeating this when I get to a
personal interpretation of this passage.
David says that God reveals things to the people who seek Him, who
are His.
Proverbs 3:32 For the
froward is abomination to the LORD: but his secret is with the righteous.
From a prophetic point of view this passage would look toward the
millennial reign of Christ and in some ways eternity even. Those who have
surrendered to their Creator will enjoy the benefits that David has declared.
From a personal point of view we must understand that God doesn’t
pardon us because our sins are “not so bad” but because they are great and
because it is in his character to do so. In that regard this would be part of a
wonderful prayer for the Christian.
Psalm 25:15 ¶ Mine eyes are
ever toward the LORD; for he shall pluck my feet out of the net. 16 Turn thee unto me, and have mercy upon me;
for I am desolate and afflicted. 17
The troubles of my heart are enlarged: O bring thou me out of my
distresses. 18 Look upon mine affliction
and my pain; and forgive all my sins. 19
Consider mine enemies; for they are many; and they hate me with cruel
hatred. 20 O keep my soul, and deliver
me: let me not be ashamed; for I put my trust in thee. 21 Let integrity and uprightness preserve me; for
I wait on thee. 22 Redeem Israel, O God,
out of all his troubles.
As David speaks of looking to God in times of distress notice
these verses;
Psalm 123:2 Behold, as the
eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden
unto the hand of her mistress; so our eyes wait upon the LORD our God, until
that he have mercy upon us.
Psalm 141:8 But mine eyes
are unto thee, O GOD the Lord: in thee is my trust; leave not my soul
destitute.
Psalm 31:4 Pull me out of
the net that they have laid privily for me: for thou art my strength.
Psalm 124:7 Our soul is
escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we
are escaped.
Let us look at Psalm 69 first, which also is a prophecy of Christ.
Psalm 69:13 ¶ But as for
me, my prayer is unto thee, O LORD, in an acceptable time: O God, in the multitude
of thy mercy hear me, in the truth of thy salvation. 14 Deliver me out of the mire, and let me not
sink: let me be delivered from them that hate me, and out of the deep waters.
15 Let not the waterflood overflow me,
neither let the deep swallow me up, and let not the pit shut her mouth upon me.
16 Hear me, O LORD; for thy
lovingkindness is good: turn unto me according to the multitude of thy tender
mercies. 17 And hide not thy face from
thy servant; for I am in trouble: hear me speedily. 18 Draw nigh unto my soul, and redeem it:
deliver me because of mine enemies. 19
Thou hast known my reproach, and my shame, and my dishonour: mine
adversaries are all before thee. 20 Reproach
hath broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: and I looked for some to take
pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none. 21 They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my
thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.
Look also at Psalm 88.
Psalm 88:1 ¶ «A Song or
Psalm for the sons of Korah, to the chief Musician upon Mahalath Leannoth,
Maschil of Heman the Ezrahite.» O LORD God of my salvation, I have cried day
and night before thee: 2 Let my prayer
come before thee: incline thine ear unto my cry; 3 For my soul is full of troubles: and my life
draweth nigh unto the grave. 4 I am
counted with them that go down into the pit: I am as a man that hath no
strength: 5 Free among the dead, like
the slain that lie in the grave, whom thou rememberest no more: and they are
cut off from thy hand. 6 Thou hast laid
me in the lowest pit, in darkness, in the deeps. 7 Thy wrath lieth hard upon me, and thou hast
afflicted me with all thy waves. Selah. 8
Thou hast put away mine acquaintance far from me; thou hast made me an
abomination unto them: I am shut up, and I cannot come forth. 9 Mine eye mourneth by reason of affliction:
LORD, I have called daily upon thee, I have stretched out my hands unto thee.
10 ¶ Wilt thou shew wonders to the dead? shall the
dead arise and praise thee? Selah. 11
Shall thy lovingkindness be declared in the grave? or thy faithfulness
in destruction? 12 Shall
thy wonders be known in the dark? and thy righteousness in the
land of forgetfulness? 13 But unto thee
have I cried, O LORD; and in the morning shall my prayer prevent thee. 14 LORD, why castest thou off my soul? why
hidest thou thy face from me? 15 I am
afflicted and ready to die from my youth up: while I suffer thy terrors I am
distracted. 16 Thy fierce wrath goeth
over me; thy terrors have cut me off. 17
They came round about me daily like water; they compassed me about
together. 18 Lover and friend hast thou
put far from me, and mine acquaintance into darkness.
In verse 18 look at the contrast between the afflictions David is
suffering and his sins. Remember in verse 7 he was concerned about the sins of
his youth, as they are often great for all of us.
7 Remember not the sins of
my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for
thy goodness’ sake, O LORD.
Compare with these other verses;
Psalm 119:132 ¶ Look thou
upon me, and be merciful unto me, as thou usest to do unto those that love thy
name…153 ¶ RESH. Consider mine
affliction, and deliver me: for I do not forget thy law.
See how Hannah made her request regarding her affliction of being
childless;
1Samuel 1:11 And she vowed
a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of
thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give
unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the
days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.
There is an expectation of deliverance when the request is made, a
faith that God will not abandon them.
See verses 19-22. This is a common theme of Psalms for protection
against enemies.
Psalm 3:1 ¶ «A Psalm of
David, when he fled from Absalom his son.» LORD, how are they increased that
trouble me! many are they that rise up against me. 2 Many there be which say of my soul, There is
no help for him in God. Selah.
Psalm 27:2 When the wicked,
even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled
and fell…12 Deliver me not over unto the
will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as
breathe out cruelty.
Psalm 38:19 But mine
enemies are lively, and they are strong: and they that hate me wrongfully are
multiplied.
Psalm 56:2 Mine enemies
would daily swallow me up: for they be many that fight against me, O thou most
High.
Psalm 57:4 My soul is among
lions: and I lie even among them that are set on fire, even the sons of men,
whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword.
Psalm 138:7 Though I walk
in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shalt stretch forth thine
hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me.
Psalm 143:3 For the enemy
hath persecuted my soul; he hath smitten my life down to the ground; he hath
made me to dwell in darkness, as those that have been long dead.
In verse 22 David pleads for all Israel.
Prophetically speaking for verse 15 think of this statement from
Paul in his second letter to Timothy.
2Timothy 2:25 In meekness
instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them
repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; 26 And that they may recover themselves out of
the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
Can you see the threat of a snare that those who reject Christ are
in danger of?
Now come back to the Old Testament as Jeremiah talks of wicked
men.
Jeremiah 5:25 ¶ Your
iniquities have turned away these things, and your sins have withholden good
things from you. 26 For among my people
are found wicked men: they lay
wait, as he that setteth snares; they set a trap, they catch men.
Prophetically, speaking of what verse 22 reminds us of, Daniel
will plead for exiled Israel.
Daniel 9:17 Now therefore,
O our God, hear the prayer of thy servant, and his supplications, and cause thy
face to shine upon thy sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord’s sake.
We can imagine this passage as a prayer for deliverance during the
Great Tribulation to come, the Time of Jacob’s trouble and it is a great prayer
for ourselves in times of great distress. We may not have physical enemies that
hate us but we most certainly have spiritual forces around us that want to see
us destroyed.