Psalm 44: Redeem us Because of Your Unfailing Love

Psalms 42–72 are in the second scroll of the Psalms. The human authors of book two include the sons of Korah, Asaph, David, and Solomon. Psalms 42 and 43 are individual lament psalms. Psalm 44 is a community (national) lament psalm. It is describing Israel’s defeat in battle.

Our Bible study rule for this week is:

Rule # 4: Interpret each passage according to the divine and human author’s purpose and plan.  The “purpose” is the object, goal, and/or reason for the writing of this book, chapter, section, and verse. The plan is the author’s literary method or structure for communicating his purpose. The purpose of the gospel of John is “to produce faith that you might believe Jesus is God and receive everlasting life through Jesus.” The plan of the book of Acts is 1) Jerusalem & Judea; 2) Samaria; 3) Gentile world.

   I. Rehearsing God’s past acts of deliverance (vs. 1–3)

      A. God’s people participated in redemptive history

      B. God’s people shared with their children the mighty acts of God

      C. God’s power caused Israel to be established in the land of Canaan

      D. Israel had been granted God’s election, love and favor (grace)

      E. “Flourishing” is part of the covenantal blessing to be fruitful and multiply

  II. Rekindling confidence in God based on the past (vs. 4–8)

      A. God is the great king who is close to His people

      B. God, as king, decree’s the sons of Jacob’s salvations, deliverances, victories

      C. Trusting in God, the cause and source, not the means, tools, weapons

      D. Boasting only in God, praising His name alone and continually

      E. Instead of national pride, humble reliance on the God of Israel

III. Facing the present suffering, disgrace, and shame (vs. 9–16)

      A. God has withdrawn His presence and protection from the army of Israel

      B. Without God, Israel cannot win

      C. They lost the battle and had to retreat

      D. They were beaten and plundered

      E. The POWs were sold as slaves

      F. God’s people are suffering like Job

      G. Now they are disgraced and humiliated

      H. Shame has set in and is doing its damage

       I. How can the God of our fathers abandon us?

IV. The claim of innocence (vs. 17–22)

      A. This is completely true of the faithful remnant only, but under David’s united kingdom 

            idolatry and evil were not as widespread as it would be from Solomon onward

      B. Because God’s people belong to Him, suffering and mistreatment will come by those who 

           hate God

      C. This dark providence is not a result of a chastisement based on violating the covenant

      D. The inner man, hearts of the people, were remaining faithful to Yahweh

      E. The actions (feet) of the people were in conformity to His law

      F. Desolation and darkness instead of construction and light (jackals = desert wolves)

      G. The heart is the seat of sin and of worship, God see’s all - outward conformity is never 

           enough, love motivated obedience starts in the inner man of the person of faith

      H. How does someone who hates the invisible God attempt to harm Him?

           By attacking his people. They are suffering “vicariously” as substitutes like sheep, Isa 53:7

       I. They are suffering for God's sake (Rom 8:36)

       J. When a nation brings on God’s wrath, the remnant suffers with the wicked in some 

           general ways

       K. Matthew 10:16 “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as 

            serpents and innocent as doves.”

 V. A prayer for deliverance/salvation (vs. 23–26)

      A. Notice there is no answer to the question why God would allow His people to suffer even 

           when they are being faithful to Him (health, wealth, prosperity?)

      B. In faith the community looks to God for deliverance

      C. They need God’s immediate attention and salvation now (figurative language)

      D. God, don’t ignore our misery and oppression

      E. In humble dependence they bow down to the ground in worship (2 Cor 12:7)

      F. Divine Warrior come to our aid

     G. They need redemption in body and soul, only God can do it

     H. In faith, they rest in the promise of God, His hesed covenant love 

          (Exod 34:6–7; Mic 7:18, 20; Rom 8:36–39)

Lessons to Live by:

● We need to read of God’s past mighty acts in the Bible and believe His true truth

● Our confidence in the present is affirmed by the word of God and our memories of God’s past deliverances

● When a nation is under God’s discipline or wrath they need to call out in prayer and repentance

● Suffering and shame are part of a fallen world. But Jesus suffered for us and bore our shame, so we can press on with God confidence and faith

● The internal is more important than the external, but they both must go together

● Only God can redeem us, not based on what we deserve, but by His hesed

Psalm 31: Yahweh: The God of Promise and Deliverance

This well-known Psalm was used by Jonah, Jeremiah, and Jesus. Therefore, we find verse 6 quoted in Jonah 2:8; verse 13 in Jeremiah (6:25, 20:3, 10, 46:5, 49:29) and in Lamentations  2:22; and verse 5 was spoken by Jesus and recorded in Luke 23:46. The author of Ps 71:1–3 seems to also have these words in mind (Ps 31:1–5) while writing that Psalm.

  I. David’s Prayer for Deliverance/Salvation 31:1–5

     A. Yahweh is his refuge

     B. Yahweh can give him righteousness

     C. Yahweh is like a rock (Deut 32:4)

     D. Yahweh is like a stronghold, fortress, a Masada

     E. The covenant God honor is at stake when His people are hurt

     F. Yahweh delivers/saves for His own glory

     G. Yahweh is concerned with justice

     H. Yahweh sees and knows

     I. Yahweh ransoms, rescues sinners

     J. Surrendering to God’s will is always best (1 Pet 4:19)

     K. Yahweh is the God of truth and faithfulness

 II. David’s Prayer of Faith 31:6–8

      A. Those who worship worthless puffs of wind, fog, mist (idols) are rejected.

           A textual variant is here. Some versions say, “You have hated,” others “I have hated”

           (God’ rejection of sinners Ps 5:4–6, 11:5, 34:16, 45:7, Prov 6:16–19, Mal 1:3, Rom 9:13)

           (Sinners hatred of God Ps 68:1, 81:15, 83:2, John 3:19–21, 15:18, 22–25)

      B. Yahweh is faithful and David has trusted him in the past with good results

      C. Yahweh has covenant love (hesed) for His people

      D. Yahweh is aware of all of His peoples’ difficulties and pain  

      E. Yahweh is able to protect His people from their enemies

      F. Is David justified in having such deep confidence in the God of the Bible?

III. David’s Prayer for Mercy 31:9–13

     A. David needs Yahweh’s merciful deliverance

     B. David is in danger and in pain, and cries out with tears

     C. David is exhausted and distressed, in deep despair

     D. David is mistreated and forsaken; consequently his confidence has slipped

     E. David is ignored, forgotten, and useless

     F. David is being slandered, depressed and disgraced

     G. David is being stalked

     H. David is in danger, “terror on every side” (Jer 6:25)

IV. David’s Prayer of Trust 31:14–18

      A. Yahweh has a close covenant relationship with David.

            David has a secure and personal relationship with the God of the Bible

      B. Yahweh is sovereign over time and events. His providence is evident.

            David is dependent on Yahweh’s rule and power (Your hand)

      C. Yahweh’s gracious favor is to be sought in prayer

      D. Yahweh is the great shepherd that saves and guides His sheep

      E. Yahweh will deal with David’s enemies

 V. David’s Prayer of Thanksgiving 31:19–24

      A. Yahweh is good 

      B. Yahweh righteously works in events for those who fear Him

      C. Yahweh is a refuge

      D. Yahweh blinds the enemy and delivers His people

      E. Yahweh should be praised for His salvation and deliverance

      F. Yahweh is the one to flee to when we are afraid and discouraged

     G. Yahweh is to be loved by His covenant people, beloved ones who love Him

     H. Yahweh preserves the humble faithful person, but resists the proud

      I. Yahweh shall strengthen your heart in trails, if you love and fear Him

          “Be strong and take heart” or “He shall strengthen your heart”

     J. Yahweh is the God of hope

         We hope in His promises and deliverance with a know-so-hope

         We should hold on in faith, regardless of our circumstances or how we feel

         Faith is not a onetime commitment; it is a lifetime commitment

         Wait on God, hope in His promised redemption, fear, love, and trust Him

       

Psalm 103: Yahweh is Great, Compassionate, and Full of Covenant Love

 The author of this psalm is King David. This psalm is classified as a Hymn (individual thanksgiving). The next psalm, Psalm 104 appears to be patterned as an accompanying song to this one. Both of these are hymns to be sung in worship by the choirs David established for the tabernacle and later temple worship on Mt. Moriah in Jerusalem. Both psalms begin and end with the phrase, “Bless the LORD, O my soul.” Likewise, both the prophets Jeremiah and Isaiah allude to this psalm in their books. God’s hesed, covenant love is wonderful.

   I. Personal Praise for Yahweh (vs. 1–2)

      A. David praise God with his entire being, soul, inmost being—all that is within me                                   represents the whole human being in worship

      B. The Holy name David is blessing is Yahweh, which recalls His attributes and acts

Therefore tell the Israelites: I am Yahweh, and I will deliver you from the forced labor of the Egyptians and free you from slavery to them. I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and great acts of judgment. (Exod 6:6 HCSB)

      C. David calls on his mind to remember what God has done for him

           1. Pride can cause us to forget God’s blessings given to us

           2. An entitlement spirit, envy, and covetousness can lead us to focus on what other have

      D. Praise is the verbal response of awe for God and His mighty acts

      E. David lists some of these blessings as part of the congregation in corporate worship

 II. Corporate praise for Yahweh’s goodness to His covenant people (vs. 3–5)

      A. The blessings of entering into a covenant relationship with Yahweh include:

            1. Forgiveness of sins, removing the consequence and power of sin in our life

            2. Removal of chastisements for sin after repentance, healing is parallel to forgiveness

            3. He redeems and ransoms us, which prevents judgment in hell

            4. He crowns us with covenant love and infinite mercy, rewards instead of punishment

            5. He satisfies godly desires and renews strength, restores the blessing of the covenant to                     those who obey Him

      B. A sinful person who enters a covenant relationship with God experiences freedom, divine                  favor, restoration to the status of an “heir”

III. Yahweh is merciful to real believers who are weak in themselves (vs. 6–14)

      A. Yahweh works righteousness and justice in His kingdom, salvation & deliverance

      B. He delivers His people from evil and oppression

      C. Yahweh revealed His ways and deeds through Moses to Israel and us

      D. Yahweh revealed His glory and His grace to Moses

Then the LORD passed in front of him and proclaimed: Yahweh--Yahweh is a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger and rich in faithful love and truth,  maintaining faithful love to a thousand generations, forgiving wrongdoing, rebellion, and sin. But He will not leave the guilty unpunished, bringing the consequences of the fathers' wrongdoing on the children and grandchildren to the third and fourth generation. 8 Moses immediately bowed down to the ground and worshiped. (Exod 34:6–8 HCSB)

       E. God’s grace was revealed in the Mosaic Covenant (Gen 43:29; Exod 33:19, 34:6; Num 6:25;                    2 Kings 13:23; 2 Chr 30:9; Neh 9:17, 31; Ps 86:15, 103:8, 111:4, 116:5, 145:8; Isa 30:18-19;                  Jer 3:2; Joel 2:13, Amos 5:15; Jonah 4:2) and before it

      F. Yahweh is merciful, patient, bestowing grace and great love hesed on His people

      G. God’s forgiveness is for a real believer who genuinely repents—full removal of sin penalty

      H. The promises are to those who fear, reverence, love, serve, and worship God

       I. How do you spot a God-fearing person? Jesus is their greatest treasure, and first priority in 

          their lives. His Bride, the local church has its rightful place in their lives. Like Zacchaeus,                        Jesus is Lord of their treasure and time. In gratitude they obey His moral law to display their                  gratitude for salvation, deliverance from sins power and penalty (Luke 19:8).

       J. God adopts those who embrace the Messiah by faith and who repent, He is our Father

       K. God knows the frailty of His children and deals with the repentant with compassion

IV. Life on earth is short, but Yahweh’s covenant love for His worshipers is forever (vs. 15–19)

      A. Man’s life on earth is brief, so knowing God early is essential

      B. God’s covenant love for those who fear, worship, reverence Him is everlasting

      C. The Mosaic covenant had a special blessing for believer’s children

      D. Those who fear God keep His covenant and obey His moral precepts

      E. Yahweh is sovereign over everything and everyone

 V. Universal and Personal Praise for Yahweh (vs. 20–22)

      A. All angelic and created beings should praise Yahweh 

      B. All of creation should praise Yahweh

      C. All believers should praise Yahweh privately and corporately

Praise, my soul, the King of heaven; Praise him for his grace and favor

to his feet thy tribute bring;         to our fathers in distress;

ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven,         praise him still the same for ever,

evermore his praises sing:         slow to chide and swift to bless:

Alleluia, alleluia!                 Alleluia, alleluia!

Praise the everlasting King.         Glorious in his faithfulness.

Father-like, he tends and spares us; Angels, help us to adore him;

well our feeble frame he knows;         ye behold him face to face;

in his hand he gently bears us,         sun and moon, bow down before him,

rescues us from all our foes.         dwellers all in time and space.

Alleluia, alleluia!                 Alleluia, alleluia!

Widely yet his mercy flows.         Praise with us the God of grace.

Words by: Henry Francis Lyte in 1834 

Lessons to live by:

• God is to be praised. Make sure you are one who fears, respects, and loves God.

• Trust and obey, for there are no other ways to be happy in Jesus.

• Your check book, credit card statement, and calendar reveal if you fear and love God or if you love pleasure, money, or only love yourself

• Like it or not, the Bible teaches God is sovereign over all people and things.

• Are you tired of your sin and want forgiveness and freedom? Come to Jesus and He will give you rest from your struggles and guilt

• Be willing to die for Jesus, take up your electric chair, and follow Him in obedience