Psalm 98: Yeshua (salvation) [Yahweh] is coming to Judge all Humans

The author of this Psalm is not known. Psalm 98 is also a Hymn psalm in a section of Enthronement Psalms. However, this Psalm includes more information about the Messiah’s comings, which we learn in the New Testament are two separate comings. First Jesus comes to save sinners by living a holy life in their place and dying in their place. His second coming will involve His judgment of sinners who will not repent, believe, and surrender to His Lordship. This will involve two battles, one before the 1000-year reign and at the end of this reign. It will include also at least one judgement of humans. What do the people of God do before and during Jesus’ first and second comings? They rejoice and sing with multiple instruments the praises of our sovereign saving king who is victorious in His first coming and in the two battles He leads the angels and elect humans to fight against the wicked. Tremper Longman believes this Psalm is “a Divine Warrior victory song celebrating the return of Yahweh the commander of the heavenly hosts who is leading the Israelite army back home after waging victorious holy war.” In the biblical version of this song, it is one that points to the future, and it focuses on Jesus who will overcome the kings and their armies (Rev 19:11–21, 20:9), redeem His people (Rev 14:4), and judge all humans (Matt 25:31–46). Notice how often “a new song” and “redemption” show up together in the Bible.

  I. Praising Yahweh for His previous deliverances (vs. 1–3)

     A. The new song praises God for His victory 

     B. The mighty works God has done by Himself—singlehanded miracles

          1. Exodus

          2. Return from captivity

          3. Sending of the Messiah, Jesus

    C. Jesus’ Hebrew name, Yeshua is used in vs. 2 and 3

    D. Yahweh has revealed His Salvation and His Righteousness

    E. The Gentile nations witness the righteous deliverance of Israel

    F. Yahweh’s covenant love and awesome faithfulness to Israel is displayed

    G. All mankind has seen the victory of the LORD

 II. Worshiping Yahweh the great deliverer of His people with music (vs. 4–6)

      A. All peoples are to praise God for His salvation

      B. They are to use multiple instruments with their songs of praise

      C. Those who are delivered burst out in joyful praise 

III. Creation rejoices at Yahweh’s coming to the earth (vs. 7–9)

      A. Jesus was the agent of the Trinity that made the universe

      B. When He comes back, all of creation will make noise

     C. These sounds are not the expressive truths offered by free moral agents

     D. All of creation is waiting for His return (Rom 8:19–24)

     E. Jesus came the first time to save, He is coming back to fight, rule, and judge

     F. The victory of King Jesus is a sure thing

Lessons to live by:

• The joy of salvation should fill our songs of praise

• Our joy is made full by God’s righteous deliverance

• We need to make sure we are on the right side when Jesus comes back to battle His enemies. They will lose at His return and at the end of His 1000-year reign

• The LORD’s judgment will be righteous and with exact correctness. Everything secret will be revealed. Every word, thought, and deed will be considered in the verdict

Psalm 59: God is My Rescuer

This psalm is viewed by some as an individual lament, others a community lament, and still others as a royal lament. It was written by David as a song of mourning and prayer, asking God to deliver him from his enemies, but it broadens out to the nations. The first event that is tied to this prayer is 1 Sam 19:11–18. But it is applicable to many situations, much broader than an evil king abusing his power. There are several themes in this psalm that make it difficult to see the structure intended by the author. It seems each Bible student divides the psalm differently.

  I. A prayer for deliverance/salvation (vs. 1–3)

     A. God alone is the One who can deliver, protect, save

     B. David cannot turn to the government; it is a wicked ruler who is stalking him

     C. The righteous will have enemies that will seek their destruction and use ruthless tactics

     D. The wicked deny the sacredness of human life, they are people of bloodshed

     E. The wicked set traps for the righteous and loves to divide people

     F. The wicked love sinful behavior and breaking God’s laws and bringing calamity on others

    G. The wicked use the element of surprise to their advantage

 II. A cry for justice (vs. 4–5)

     A. The wicked attack the righteous without cause

     B. The government was pursing David when he was innocent

     C. The government is not following justice, but the will of corrupt men

     D. God, the sovereign king, must reign in the wicked leaders: God is the Divine Warrior

     E. It is God who punishes the nations of the world for violating His moral law

     F. Yahweh is the God of armies and the God of Israel, His covenant people

    G. Antagonistic people will attack the innocent they perceive as a threat to their power or 

         position, do not join yourselves with them

    H. The Great King in a covenant was responsible to bring his army to defend his loyal 

         governors and subjects (Rev 19:11–21)

III. A description of the wicked (vs. 6–7)

     A. The wicked are like a pack of wild dogs that come into an area looking for food

     B. They are cowards, but they try to intimidate others with their noise

     B. They promote disorder, division, and chaos, and are extremely arrogant

     C. Their talk is mocking, scoffing, accusing, and lying

     D. They deny God’s sovereignty and God’s justice

          1. They are sure they will get away with their sin

          2. They think no one knows about their backroom deals or midnight meetings

IV. A description of God, our hope (vs. 8–10a)

      A. God sees, hears, and records all things. He laughs at those covering up sin

      B. God knows that lawbreaking is self-destructive and the secrets will be revealed

      C. God will make sure His will triumphs in justice and deliverance (Exod 1:8)

      D. Yahweh is stronger than the enemies of the believer

      E. Yahweh is a stronghold and defender of His people

      F. God showers His hesed (covenant love) on his anointed ruler and on His people 

 V. A cry for justice (vs. 10b–13)

      A. God will bring deliverance and justice in His time

      B. The wicked rulers will be held accountable for their thoughts, plans, deeds, and words

      C. These men are deceptive, cruel, and corrupt. What they have sown, they will reap

      D. God will make an example out of the wicked rulers from time to time

      E. These men are liars, slanderers, arrogant, and proud

      F. Wrath from God will come upon them, even though they were part of His wrath on others

     G. God punishment of the wicked shows His rule and authority over Israel, the church, and 

          the world 

     H. God’s wrath on the wicked is another proof of His existence and sovereignty

VI. Trust in God’s response (vs. 14–17)

      A. While the wicked are barking and growling, the righteous are praising God in song

      B. We sing of God’s power, sovereignty, and might, therefore we can trust Him to act

      C. We sing with joy of God’s grace and covenant love

      D. Each new day we can sing of God’s power and might to judge evil

      E. Faith and confidence replace the mourning of the acts of wicked leaders

      F. God has protected David and His people for generations through the times of persecution

      G. God is the only reliable stronghold and refuge in tough times

      H. God is our strength, so let's join David and praise Him for His awesome power

       I. We will experience the hatred of the enemies of the truth, but at the same time, the 

           covenant love of our God

Lessons to live by:

• Salvation/deliverance ultimately comes from God and not from men or nations

• Wicked governmental leaders will pursue and seek to destroy God’s people

• We can cry to God for justice like the Jews under Egyptian bondage

• Wicked talk reveals a wicked heart

• God alone is our true defense and shield

• God loves you and will bring about justice in His time

• God is all powerful, and fully sovereign, He sees and knows all

• God is holy and will bring to justice those who do wicked deeds

• God’s wrath is now being revealed from heaven against the ungodliness and unrighteousness of men

• We should praise God for who He is during the trials and storms

• God is faithful and God has covenant love for His people

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