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Psalm 82 – Rescue the Weak and Needy
This psalm is a community lament against the unjust rulers of Israel. Because of the unfortunate rendering of the word “gods” in the text, some have supposed this to be a reference to angels on earth....
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Psalm 119-169-176, Psalm 87 – This one was born there
We conclude our study of Psalm 119 with this final stanza that begins each verse with the 22nd letter of the Aleph-Bet, the Hebrew letter “taw.” Most appropriately, this stanza of the psalm has the...
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Psalm 77 – Has God Forgotten?
This psalm has been seen both as a national (or community) lament and a personal lament. It is appropriate for both because the underlying question is the same in either case – “has God abandoned me?”...
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Psalm 90 – From Everlasting to Everlasting
Psalm 90 begins Book 4 of the Book of Psalms. It is one of four psalms classified as penitential in this book – the other three being 91, 94, and 101. The superscription says it is “a prayer of...
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Psalms 91 – My Refuge and My Fortress
Psalm 91 is generally considered to be another psalm of Moses; and even Spurgeon (who almost always ascribes authorship of all psalms to David) concedes the possibility. Satan misapplied a quotation...
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Psalms 123, 79 – Help us, O God!
These two psalms are community laments. It is hard to judge which one sounds the most desperate. Psalm 123 seems to be written at a time when the shame of God’s people before others is at a height,...
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Psalms 92 – How Great Are Your Works!
English: Palm Tree in Sundankottai,Tamilnadu,India (Photo credit: Wikipedia) The superscription of this psalm proclaims it to be “a song for the Sabbath,” which indeed means it is most appropriate for...
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Psalm 95 – Make a Joyful Noise
Psalms 95 – 100 are six of the psalms from Book 4 that eloquently express the divine kingship of God, and almost all of them urge praise to him in song – the phrase “make a joyful noise” is repeated in...
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Psalms 80, 120 – In My Distress I Called
Thought to have been written during the time of captivity, the community lament of Psalm 80 makes pleas to the “Shepherd of Israel” to come and save them. Verse 2′s mention of Ephraim, Benjamin, and...
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Psalms 96 – The Splendor of Holiness
Psalm 96 is part of David’s “Song of Thanks” to the Lord, which he had Asaph and his brothers sing after the arrival of the Ark in Jerusalem. The psalm is found virtually word for word in 1 Chronicles...
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Psalm 98 – Let the Sea Roar!
The 98th psalm is another song of praise in the same vein as the 96th, in that it encourages the singing of “a new song” to the Lord. The psalm is composed of three stanzas of three verses each. The...
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Psalm 83 – Most High Over All the Earth
After murdering an Egyptian, Moses escaped into Midian. There he married Zipporah and became a shepherd. When reading this chapter of Psalms, one could feel as if it were written about the Israel of...
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Psalm 99, 100, 101
Moses and Aaron before Pharaoh (painting by Benjamin West) (Photo credit: Wikipedia) Psalm 99 celebrates the supremacy of God over His creation, enthroned upon the cherubim. Note that the text says...
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Psalm 110 – The Lord Says To My Lord
War came to the land in the days of Abram and Lot when five subject kings rebelled against Chedorlaomer, or Kedorlaomer and Lot was captured (Genesis 13:5–14:24). Abraham rallied his men, attacked at...
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Psalms 42-43 – As the Deer Panteth
Mount Hermon is one traditional site for Jesus’ transfiguration, and is near the site of mount Mizar, mentioned in Psalm 42 Psalms 42-43 compose Book 2 of the Psalms; and many believe that 42 and 43...
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Psalm 103 – Bless the Lord, O My Soul
Though both the Northern Kingdom and the Southern Kingdom would be sent into exile, God still promised to bring them back. While Joab and the Israelite army were far off attacking Rabbah, David stayed...
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Psalm 111 – Great Are the Lord’s Works
Preceding Psalm 112, which is clearly a psalm of wisdom, this hymn of praise and thanksgiving begins with recognition of the great works of the Lord on behalf of His chosen people. The theme is the...
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Psalm 59 – My Fortress
King Saul grew insanely jealous of David because of David’s success and the praise people heaped upon him. Before long, Saul made plans to murder David. Eventually Saul’s daughter Michal, who was also...
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Psalm 104 – From Your Lofty Abode
This hymn of praise begins in the first few verses with colorful illustrations of God’s splendor and majesty that is full of poetic beauty. He lays the beams of his chambers on the waters; he makes the...
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Psalm 112 – The Righteous Will Never Be Moved
Psalms 111, 112, and 113 are sometimes referred to as “Hallelujah” psalms because they each begin with that exclamation (the ESV and some other versions translate as “Praise the Lord!”). Psalms 111 and...
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