PSALMS 19th Book in the Old Testament

Psalms – TJL Compliation

Page 2

Psalm 6

Psalm 7

Psalm 8

Psalm 9

Where Are The Dead?

Book 1: Genesis Section: Psalms 1- 41

• Man in View: in a state of blessedness, fall, and recovery

• Perfect Man (Last Adam)-Psalm 1

• Rebellious Man-Psalm 2

• Perfect Man Rejected-Psalm 3

• Conflict between Seed of Woman & Serpent-Psalm 4

• Perfect Man in Midst of Enemies-Psalm 5

• Perfect Man in Midst of Chastisement (Bruising Heel)-Psalm 6

• Perfect Man in Midst of False Witnesses-Psalm 7

• Repair of Man Comes through Man (Bruising Head)-Psalm 8

• Enemy and Antichrist Conflict; Final Deliverance-Psalms 9-15

• Christ in Midst of His People Sanctifying Them to God-Psalms 16-41

Psalm Scripture:

Who is writer? Who are they speaking to?

What was the situation when the Psalm was written?

What is the writer’s attitude as the Psalm begins?

Does the writer’s attitude change?

What is the writer’s attitude at the end of the Psalm?

Where in the passage does it first appear?

What? – Knowledge

What facts / truths are stated?

What knowledge / warnings are imparted?

What does this Psalm teach us about God?

What does this Psalm teach us about ourselves?

What is the primary subject of / purpose for the Psalm?

So What – Understanding, Hearing

What do the facts stated mean for me?

How is the Psalm intended to be used?

What is the conclusion, the takeaway of Psalm as a whole?

How do I use the knowledge given?

What principle do I need to follow?

How can I apply it to my life?

How the Psalm intended to be used?

What is the primary subject of / purpose for the Psalm?

Are there other scripture passages that apply

Now what? – Wisdom, Listening / Paying Attention: Application

What do I need to do / change in my life based on the knowledge / warnings given?

What should I do or change in my life when I am feeling the same emotions as the writer? What should I focus on?

What command(s) should I obey?

What principle(s) do I need to follow?

Are there promise(s) to claim? What conditions are there?

Are there sins to avoid? What should I not do or stop doing?

Psalm 6

Psa 6:1-10 ESV To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments; according to The Sheminith. A Psalm of David.

1 O LORD, rebuke me not in your anger, nor discipline me in your wrath.

2 Be gracious to me, O LORD, for I am languishing; heal me, O LORD, for my bones are troubled.

3 My soul also is greatly troubled. But you, O LORD-how long?

4 Turn, O LORD, deliver my life; save me for the sake of your steadfast love.

5 For in death there is no remembrance of you; in Sheol who will give you praise?

6 I am weary with my moaning; every night I flood my bed with tears; I drench my couch with my weeping.

7 My eye wastes away because of grief; it grows weak because of all my foes.

8 Depart from me, all you workers of evil, for the LORD has heard the sound of my weeping.

9 The LORD has heard my plea; the LORD accepts my prayer.

10 All my enemies shall be ashamed and greatly troubled; they shall turn back and be put to shame in a moment.

Psa 6:1-10 ISV To the Director: With stringed instruments. On an eight-stringed harp. A Davidic Psalm.

1 LORD, in your anger, do not rebuke me, in your wrath, do not discipline me.

2 Be gracious to me, LORD, because I am fading away. Heal me, because my body is distressed.

3 And my soul is deeply distressed. But you, LORD, how long do I wait?

4 Return, LORD, save my life! Deliver me, because of your gracious love.

5 In death, there is no memory of you. Who will give you thanks where the dead are?

6 I am weary from my groaning. Every night my couch is drenched with tears, my bed is soaked through.

7 My eyesight has faded because of grief, it has dimmed because of all my enemies.

8 Get away from me, all of you who practice evil, for the LORD has heard the sound of my weeping.

9 The LORD has heard my plea; the LORD receives my prayer.

10 As for all my enemies, they will be put to shame; they will be greatly frightened and suddenly turn away ashamed.

Psa

Scripture

Probable Occasion

B.C.

6

1Ch 28:21

Inserted toward the end of David's life

1015

The Book of Psalms: Psalm 6

[To the chief Musician on Neginoth upon Sheminith, A Psalm of David.]

The inscription tells us that David wrote this psalm, but we aren’t sure when.

It could have been composed during the time of Absalom’s rebellion when David was old, sick, and unable to handle all the complex responsibilities of the kingdom.

David’s gradual failure as a visible leader was one of Absalom’s “selling points” as he stole the hearts of the Israelites (2 Sam. 15:1-6).

2Sa 15:1-6 NKJV After this it happened that Absalom provided himself with chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him. 2 Now Absalom would rise early and stand beside the way to the gate. So it was, whenever anyone who had a lawsuit came to the king for a decision, that Absalom would call to him and say, "What city are you from?" And he would say, "Your servant is from such and such a tribe of Israel." 3 Then Absalom would say to him, "Look, your case is good and right; but there is no deputy of the king to hear you." 4 Moreover Absalom would say, "Oh, that I were made judge in the land, and everyone who has any suit or cause would come to me; then I would give him justice." 5 And so it was, whenever anyone came near to bow down to him, that he would put out his hand and take him and kiss him. 6 In this manner Absalom acted toward all Israel who came to the king for judgment. So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.

The psalm could have been written at any time during David’s reign when he was ill and being attacked by his enemies.

He describes his plight - ”foes without, fears within” - and cries out to God for mercy.

He was sure he was facing death (Ps 6:5), which indicates that his experience was real and that he wasn’t using sickness and war only as metaphors for his personal troubles.

Neginoth means “stringed instruments,” and

Sheminith means “eighth,” which may refer to the number of a familiar melody, a lower octave for men’s voices, or the number of strings of the instrument to be played.

You find Sheminith also in the title of Psalm 12 (see 1 Chron. 15:21).

Penitential Psalms (Ps 6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, 143)

• Suffering under God’s discipline.

• Our choices (Heb 12): despise it; resist it; collapse under it; or accept it and submit and pray that the lessons not be wasted

Psalm 6 is the first of seven “penitential psalms” in which the writers are being disciplined by God and experiencing suffering.

Ps 32; 38; 51; 102; 130; and 143;

All of these psalms are helpful to us when we need to confess our sins and draw closer to the Lord.

In this psalm, David records the stages in his difficult experience of moving by faith from trial to triumph.

1] O LORD, rebuke me not in thine anger, neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure.

2] Have mercy upon me, O LORD; for I am weak: O LORD, heal me; for my bones are vexed.

3] My soul is also sore vexed: but thou, O LORD, how long?

The Pain of DisciplIne (Ps 6:1-3).

Eight times in the psalm David addresses God as “LORD - Jehovah,” the covenant name of God, and the address in Ps 6:1 is repeated in Ps 38:1, and see Jeremiah 10:24.

Psa 38:1 A Psalm of David. To Bring to Remembrance. O LORD, do not rebuke me in Your wrath, Nor chasten me in Your hot displeasure!

Jer 10:24 O LORD, correct me, but with justice; Not in Your anger, lest You bring me to nothing.

[rebuke me not in thine anger, neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure]

Seven Requests of David

1. Rebuke me not in Thine anger.

2. Chasten me not in wrath.

3. Have mercy upon me (Psa_6:2).

4. Heal me.

5. Return, O Lord (Psa_6:4).

6. Deliver my soul.

7. Save me for Thy mercies’ sake.

When God deals with His children, usually He first rebukes and then chastens, just as parents first warn disobedient children and then discipline them (Heb. 12:5-6; Prov. 3:11-12).

Pro 3:11-12 NKJV My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, Nor detest His correction; 12 For whom the LORD loves He corrects, Just as a father the son in whom he delights.

Heb 12:1-13 NKJV Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. 4 You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin. 5 And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: "MY SON, DO NOT DESPISE THE CHASTENING OF THE LORD, NOR BE DISCOURAGED WHEN YOU ARE REBUKED BY HIM; 6 FOR WHOM THE LORD LOVES HE CHASTENS, AND SCOURGES EVERY SON WHOM HE RECEIVES." 7 If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? 8 But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. 9 Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. 11 Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. 12 Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed. .

According to Hebrews 12:1-13, chastening is not punishment meted out by an irate judge but discipline given by a loving Father to help His children mature (Rev. 3:19).

Rev 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.

Sometimes God chastens us in order to deal with our disobedience, but at other times, He chastens us to prepare us for what lies ahead.

It’s like the training of an athlete for a race.

David thought God was angry with him, but that wasn’t necessarily true.

When you consider that he was surrounded by foes (Ps 6:7), evildoers (Ps 6: 8), and enemies (Ps 6:.10) and that his body was weak and in pain and his soul troubled, you can see why he felt like he had a target on his back.

Three times he used the Hebrew word bahal, It is translated “vexed” in the KJV (Ps 6:2, 3, 10),

H926 בּהל bâhal to disturb, alarm, terrify, to be hurries / hasty, dismay, be disturbed, be anxious, be afraid, be hurried, be nervous

In the 17th century, when the KJV was translated, the word vex was much stronger and more vehement than it is today and meant more vehement: “faint, weak, troubled, terrified.”

The translators of the Greek Old Testament used tarasso, which is the word used in the Greek of John 12:27: “Now is my soul troubled” (Mat. 26:38; Mark 14:34).

Joh 12:27 "Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? 'Father, save Me from this hour'? But for this purpose I came to this hour.

Mat 26:38 Then He said to them, "My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me."

Mar 14:34 Then He said to them, "My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch."

Knowing that he deserved far more than what he was enduring, David begged for mercy and asked God to send help speedily.

Psa 103:13-14 NKJV As a father pities his children, So the LORD pities those who fear Him. 14 For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust.

The painful question “How long?” is asked at least sixteen times in Psalms 6:3; 13:1-2; 35:17; 62:3; 74:9-10; 79:5; 80:4; 82:2; 89:46; 90:13; 94:3.

The answer to the question is,

“I will discipline you until you learn the lesson I want you to learn and you are equipped for the work I want you to do.”

According to Hebrews 12, when God disciplines us, we can

· despise it,

· resist it,

· collapse under it and quit or

· accept it and submit.

What God is seeking is submission.

Mat 5:10-12 NKJV Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 "Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. 12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

1Pe 3:10-17 NKJV For "HE WHO WOULD LOVE LIFE AND SEE GOOD DAYS, LET HIM REFRAIN HIS TONGUE FROM EVIL, AND HIS LIPS FROM SPEAKING DECEIT. 11 LET HIM TURN AWAY FROM EVIL AND DO GOOD; LET HIM SEEK PEACE AND PURSUE IT. 12 FOR THE EYES OF THE LORD ARE ON THE RIGHTEOUS, AND HIS EARS ARE OPEN TO THEIR PRAYERS; BUT THE FACE OF THE LORD IS AGAINST THOSE WHO DO EVIL." 13 And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you are blessed. "AND DO NOT BE AFRAID OF THEIR THREATS, NOR BE TROUBLED." 15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; 16 having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. 17 For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.

4] Return, O LORD, deliver my soul: oh save me for thy mercies’ sake.

5] For in death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks?

The Old Testament view of afterlife was limited (2 Tim 1:10).

2Ti 1:10 but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,

The Futility of Death (Ps 6:4-5).

[For in death there is no remembrance of thee] Death claims only the body (Jas_2:26), not the soul and spirit which are immortal (1Pe_3:4).

Jas 2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

1Pe 3:4 rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.

1 Peter 3:4 [hidden man of the heart] This is the inner man

Rom 7:22 NKJV For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man.

2Co 4:16 NKJV Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.

Eph 3:16 NKJV that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man,

[is not corruptible] Greek: aphthartos (G862).

Translated "not corruptible" of man’s soul and spirit (1Pe_3:4);

"incorruptible" of man’s crown (1Co_9:25),

1Co 9:25 And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.

of the future resurrected body (1Co_15:52),

1Co 15:52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

of our heavenly inheritance (1Pe_1:4),

1Pe 1:4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,

of the Word of God (1Pe_1:23);

1Pe 1:23 having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever,

"uncorruptible" of God (Rom_1:23);

Rom 1:23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.

"immortal" of God (1Ti_1:17).

1Ti 1:17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

We have definite proof that the inner man is just as immortal as God (1Co_15:42; 1Ti_6:16; 1Ti_1:17).

1Co 15:42 NKJV So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption.

1Ti 6:16 NKJV who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen.

1Ti 1:17 NKJV Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

Twenty-five Proofs of the Immortality of the Soul

1.    The hidden man of the heart is not corruptible (is immortal, 1Pe_3:4).

2.    Hell [sheol: the underworld, the abode of the dead] from beneath is moved to meet thee at thy coming (Isa_14:9-11).

3.    They have eternal life (Joh_3:15-16; Joh_6:54, Joh_6:58; Joh_17:2-3).

4.    They are passed from death unto life (Joh_5:24; Joh_6:40, Joh_6:47).

5.    He shall live forever (Joh_6:51).

6.    They shall never perish (Joh_10:28).

7.    They shall never die (Joh_11:25-26).

8.    Man is not able to kill the soul (Mat_10:28; Luk_12:5).

9.    There appeared Moses talking with Him (Mat_17:3; cp. Deu_34:6).

10.    Their worm dieth not (Mar_9:43-49).

11.    In hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments (Luk_16:19-31).

12.    All live unto Him (Luk_20:37-38).

13.    Though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day ... The things which are not seen (the soul and spirit) are eternal (2Co_4:16-18).

14.    To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord (2Co_5:8).

15.    To depart (die, the inner man leaving the body, Jas_2:26) is to be with Christ (Php_1:21-24).

16.    Whether we wake (live) or sleep (die), we shall live with Him (1Th_5:10).

17.    You are come unto the spirits of just men and made perfect (Heb_12:22-23).

18.    The souls of the dead live according to God in the spirit (1Pe_4:6).

19.    He that doeth the will of God abideth forever (1Jn_2:17).

20.    We know we have passed from death unto life because we love (1Jn_3:14-15).

21.    God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son (1Jn_5:11).

22.    He that hath the Son hath life (1Jn_5:12; 1Jn_2:24-25).

23.    Your heart shall live forever (Psa_22:26).

24.    The path of the just shineth more and more unto the perfect day (Pro_4:18).

25.    I saw under the altar the souls . . . they cried, saying (Rev_6:9-11).

David felt that God had turned His back on him and deserted him, so he asked Him to return; and then he began to reason with Him.

Exo 34:6-7 NKJV And the LORD passed before him and proclaimed, "The LORD, the LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, 7 keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children's children to the third and the fourth generation."

Every Jew knew that the Lord was “merciful and gracious” so David asked God to manifest that mercy to him and spare his life.

What would the Lord gain by allowing David to die?

Psa 30:9-10 NKJV "What profit is there in my blood, When I go down to the pit? Will the dust praise You? Will it declare Your truth? 10 Hear, O LORD, and have mercy on me; LORD, be my helper!"

Psa 88:10-12 NKJV Will You work wonders for the dead? Shall the dead arise and praise You? Selah 11 Shall Your lovingkindness be declared in the grave? Or Your faithfulness in the place of destruction? 12 Shall Your wonders be known in the dark? And Your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?

King Hezekiah used a similar approach when he prayed for deliverance from death (Isa. 38:18-19).

Isa 38:18-19 NKJV For Sheol cannot thank You, Death cannot praise You; Those who go down to the pit cannot hope for Your truth. 19 The living, the living man, he shall praise You, As I do this day; The father shall make known Your truth to the children.

[grave] Hebrew: she’owl (H7585), the unseen world; the place of the soul.

The word grave in verse 5 is sheol, a word that can mean “the grave” or “the realm of the dead.” Here it means the latter.

It is not the Hebrew: qeber, the grave, the place of the body. See Hell.

In Old Testament times, people didn’t have the clear revelation of the afterlife that was brought through Jesus (2 Tim. 1:10),

2Ti 1:10 but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,

Although there were glimpses of what God had in store for His people.

Psa 16:9 NKJV Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will rest in hope. 10 For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption. 11 You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Psa 17:15 NKJV As for me, I will see Your face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness.

Psa 49:14 NKJV Like sheep they are laid in the grave; Death shall feed on them; The upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; And their beauty shall be consumed in the grave, far from their dwelling. 15 But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave, For He shall receive me. Selah

It is true that the dead bodies of dust don’t remember God

Psa 30:9 NKJV "What profit is there in my blood, When I go down to the pit? Will the dust praise You? Will it declare Your truth?

Psa 115:17 NKJV The dead do not praise the LORD, Nor any who go down into silence.

Ecc 3:19 NKJV For what happens to the sons of men also happens to animals; one thing befalls them: as one dies, so dies the other. Surely, they all have one breath; man has no advantage over animals, for all is vanity. 20 All go to one place: all are from the dust, and all return to dust.

but the soul and spirit are not dust; they remain conscious after death

Psa 16:10 NKJV For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption

Isa 14:9 NKJV "Hell from beneath is excited about you, To meet you at your coming; It stirs up the dead for you, All the chief ones of the earth; It has raised up from their thrones All the kings of the nations.

Mat 12:40 NKJV For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

Luk 16:19-31 NKJV "There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. 20 But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, 21 desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24 "Then he cried and said, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.' 25 But Abraham said, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented. 26 And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.' 27 "Then he said, 'I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father's house, 28 for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.' 29 Abraham said to him, 'They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.' 30 And he said, 'No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.' 31 But he said to him, 'If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.' "

Heb 12:23 NKJV to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect,

Rev 6:9 NKJV When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held. 10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, "How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?" 11 Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed.

Rev 19:20 Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone. 21 And the rest were killed with the sword which proceeded from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse. And all the birds were filled with their flesh.

Rev 20:12-15 NKJV And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. 14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.

A body in the grave can’t praise or serve God, and David wasn’t certain what his spirit could do for the Lord in sheol.

Conclusion: It would be wiser for the Lord to deliver him and let him live. David still had work to do.

6] I am weary with my groaning; all the night make I my bed to swim; I water my couch with my tears.

7] Mine eye is consumed because of grief; it waxeth old because of all mine enemies.

The Strain of Despair (Ps 6:5-7).

Eightfold Grief of David

1. I am weak (exhausted, Psa_6:2).

2. I am sick-heal me.

3. My bones are vexed (tremble, Psa_6:3).

4. My soul is sore vexed (trembles, Psa_6:2, Psa_6:3).

5. I am weary with pain (Psa_6:6).

6. I weep all the night long.

7. My eyes are consumed (sunk, Psa_6:7).

8. My eyes wax old (withered).

We have gone from a morning psalm (Ps 3:5) to an evening psalm (Ps 4:8) and back to a morning psalm (Ps 5:3).

Now we have another evening psalm (Ps 6:6).

Psa 3:5 I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the LORD sustained me.

Psa 4:8 I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; For You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.

Psa 5:3 My voice You shall hear in the morning, O LORD; In the morning I will direct it to You, And I will look up.

Psa 6:6 I am weary with my groaning; All night I make my bed swim; I drench my couch with my tears.

Whereas in the previous psalms, the Lord gave sleep and peace to David, here we find the king sleepless because of fear and pain.

He was worn out from groaning, tossing, and turning; and he spent a good deal of time weeping.

“I soak my pillow ... I drench my couch” (Ps 6:6; see Ps 38:9-10).

Psa 38:9-10 NKJV Lord, all my desire is before You; And my sighing is not hidden from You. 10 My heart pants, my strength fails me; As for the light of my eyes, it also has gone from me.

Sleeping had been replaced by suffering.

Sleep is important for healing (John 11:11-12), so David’s lack of sleep only made the condition worse.

Joh 11:11 These things He said, and after that He said to them, "Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up." 12 Then His disciples said, "Lord, if he sleeps he will get well."

David’s weakened condition was revealed by the dullness of his eyes (Ps 6:7;

It’s remarkable how much physicians can discover about our physical condition by looking into our eyes.

Sickness and pain either make us better or bitter, and the difference is faith.

If we turn to God, pray, remember His promises, and trust Him, we will find His grace sufficient for our needs

2Co 12:9 And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

The Lord may not do what we ask, when we want it, but He will do what needs to be done and help us glorify His name.

The question we should ask isn’t “When will I get out of this?” but “What can I get out of this?”

The Joy of Deliverance (Ps 6:8-10).

8] Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity; for the LORD hath heard the voice of my weeping.

“Depart from me” Cf. Mt 7:23, Lk 13:27: seems quite final.

Mat 7:21-23 NKJV "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' 23 And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'

Luk 13:22-30 NKJV And He went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem. 23 Then one said to Him, "Lord, are there few who are saved?" And He said to them, 24 "Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able. 25 When once the Master of the house has risen up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock at the door, saying, 'Lord, Lord, open for us,' and He will answer and say to you, 'I do not know you, where you are from,' 26 then you will begin to say, 'We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets.' 27 But He will say, 'I tell you I do not know you, where you are from. Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity.' 28 There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves thrust out. 29 They will come from the east and the west, from the north and the south, and sit down in the kingdom of God. 30 And indeed there are last who will be first, and there are first who will be last."

His enemies said that David was done for, but the failure of their prediction would leave them ashamed and defeated.

9] The LORD hath heard my supplication; the LORD will receive my prayer.

10] Let all mine enemies be ashamed and sore vexed: let them return and be ashamed suddenly.

At this point, there’s a sudden and surprising change from suffering to joy, an experience recorded in other psalms

Psa 22:22 NKJV I will declare Your name to My brethren; In the midst of the assembly I will praise You.

Psa 56:10 NKJV In God (I will praise His word), In the LORD (I will praise His word),

Psa 69:30 NKJV I will praise the name of God with a song, And will magnify Him with thanksgiving.

It doesn’t matter whether this change occurred later or immediately after David prayed, but he felt healing in his body and peace in his heart and mind.

Perhaps word came to him that the enemy had retreated or, better yet, had been defeated; and he knew God had heard his cries.

Or maybe his circumstances hadn’t changed at all, but David felt God’s witness in his heart that all would be well.

The Lord had heard his weeping and requests and had accepted his prayer.

[The LORD hath heard my supplication] David rallies, encouraging himself that God will hear his prayer and save his enemies, so that they may be suddenly ashamed

He used this experience to glorify the Lord as he witnessed to his enemies.

How this message was conveyed to them, we don’t know; but David was quick to honor the Lord for what had occurred.

Perhaps the words in Ps 6:8-10 are an apostrophe, a speech addressed to persons not present but meaningful to those people hearing or reading it.

[return] Hebrew: shuwb (H7725), recover, convert, restore.

It is also translated converted. It is not that David wanted his enemies destroyed, but converted.

Psa 19:7 NKJV The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple;

Psa 51:13 NKJV Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners shall be converted to You.

Isa 1:27 NKJV Zion shall be redeemed with justice, And her penitents with righteousness.

Psalm 7

Psa 7:1-17 ISV

1 A Davidic psalm, which he sang to the LORD, because of the words of Cush the descendant of Benjamin. LORD, my God, I seek refuge in you. Deliver me from those who persecute me! Rescue me!

2 Otherwise, they will rip me to shreds like a lion, tearing me apart with no one to rescue me.

3 LORD, my God, if I have done this thing, if there is injustice on my hands,

4 if I have rewarded those who did me good with evil, if I have plundered my enemy without justification,

5 then, let my enemy pursue me, let him overtake me, and let him trample my life to the ground. Interlude Let him put my honor into the dust.

6 Get up, LORD, in your anger! Rise up, because of the fury of my enemies; Arouse yourself for me; you have ordained justice.

7 Let the assembly of the peoples gather around you, and you will sit high above them.

8 For the LORD will judge the peoples. Judge me according to my righteousness, LORD, and according to my integrity, Exalted One.

9 Let the evil of the wicked come to an end, but establish the righteous. For you are the righteous God who discerns the inner thoughts.

10 God is my shield, the one who delivers the upright in heart.

11 God is a righteous judge, a God who is angry with sinners every day.

12 If the ungodly one doesn't repent, God will sharpen his sword; he will string his bow and prepare it.

13 He prepares weapons of death for himself, he makes his arrows into fiery shafts.

14 But the wicked one travails with evil, he conceives malice and gives birth to lies.

15 He digs a pit, even excavates it; then he fell into the hole that he had made.

16 The trouble he planned will return on his own head, and his violence will descend on his skull.

17 But as for me, I will praise the LORD for his righteousness, and I will sing to the name of the LORD Most High.

Psa 7:1-17 ESV

1 A Shiggaion of David, which he sang to the LORD concerning the words of Cush, a Benjaminite. O LORD my God, in you do I take refuge; save me from all my pursuers and deliver me,

2 lest like a lion they tear my soul apart, rending it in pieces, with none to deliver.

3 O LORD my God, if I have done this, if there is wrong in my hands,

4 if I have repaid my friend with evil or plundered my enemy without cause,

5 let the enemy pursue my soul and overtake it, and let him trample my life to the ground and lay my glory in the dust. Selah.

6 Arise, O LORD, in your anger; lift yourself up against the fury of my enemies; awake for me; you have appointed a judgment.

7 Let the assembly of the peoples be gathered about you; over it return on high.

8 The LORD judges the peoples; judge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness and according to the integrity that is in me.

9 Oh, let the evil of the wicked come to an end, and may you establish the righteous- you who test the minds and hearts, O righteous God!

10 My shield is with God, who saves the upright in heart.

11 God is a righteous judge, and a God who feels indignation every day.

12 If a man does not repent, God will whet his sword; he has bent and readied his bow;

13 he has prepared for him his deadly weapons, making his arrows fiery shafts.

14 Behold, the wicked man conceives evil and is pregnant with mischief and gives birth to lies.

15 He makes a pit, digging it out, and falls into the hole that he has made.

16 His mischief returns upon his own head, and on his own skull his violence descends.

17 I will give to the LORD the thanks due to his righteousness, and I will sing praise to the name of the LORD, the Most High.

Psa

Scripture

Probable Occasion

B.C.

7

2Sa 16:14

On the reproaches of Shimei

1023

The Book of Psalms: Psalm 7

[Shiggaion of David, which he sang unto the LORD, concerning the words of Cush the Benjamite.]

Shiggaion: only here and in Hab 3:1: “to wander, cry aloud.”

Hab 3:1 A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet, on Shigionoth.

Shiggaion could mean “a passionate psalm with strong emotion.”

The scope of the Psalm guides Dr. Thirtle to the choice of sha’ag, to cry aloud, in trouble, danger, or pain, pointing to the loud cry of David when he was in danger of being torn in pieces, and to the loud cries (plural) of Habakkuk: of pain in Hab_3:16 and of praise in Hab_3:18 (CB, Appendix 65,XX., p. 95).

The theme is God’s vindication of His servant and judgment on his enemies (Ps 7:6, 8, 11).

[Cush the Benjamite] Who he was is not known but he was among evil men from King Saul’s tribe who spied and spread vicious rumors for pay and approval (2 Sam 22-24, 26).

He was one of a group of evil men from Saul’s tribe who reported what they heard about David during those years when Saul was out to capture and destroy his rival.

Saul played on the sympathy of his leaders and bribed them into serving as spies

To earn the king’s approval and rewards, they even lied about David, and Saul believed them.

1 Sa 22:6; 1 Sa 23:7 1Sa 24.1 1 Sa 26:1

We don’t know what lies Cush told Saul, but David was concerned enough to cry out to God for deliverance and vindication

Other People Judge Us Wrongly (Ps 7:1-2).

1] O LORD my God, in thee do I put my trust: save me from all them that persecute me, and deliver me:

[LORD my God] Jehovah (Jehovah (H3068)) my ’Elohiym (H430). In thee do I put my trust, or flee for refuge.

[save me from all them that persecute me, and deliver me]

Eight Requests to Jehovah-’Elohiym

1. Save me from my persecutors (Psa_7:1).

2. Deliver me from them.

3. Arise, O Lord, in thine anger (Psa_7:6).

4. Lift up Thyself because of my enemies.

5. Awake for me to judgment.

6. Judge me, O Lord, in righteousness (Psa_7:8).

7. Let the wickedness of man end (Psa_7:9).

8. Establish the just.

2] Lest he tear my soul like a lion, rending it in pieces, while there is none to deliver.

Cush lied about David; therefore, Saul persecuted and pursued David (Ps 7:1, 5, 13).

Saul’s judgment of David was false, and David trusted the Lord to protect and save him.

David fled to the Lord for refuge (Ps 11:1; Ps 16:1; Ps 31:1; Ps 57:1; Ps 141:8) because the Lord knew that David was innocent of Saul’s accusations.

Psa 11:1 NKJV To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. In the LORD I put my trust; How can you say to my soul, "Flee as a bird to your mountain"?

Psa 16:1 NKJV A Michtam of David. Preserve me, O God, for in You I put my trust.

Psa 31:1 NKJV To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. In You, O LORD, I put my trust; Let me never be ashamed; Deliver me in Your righteousness.

Psa 57:1 NKJV To the Chief Musician. Set to "Do Not Destroy." a Michtam of David When He Fled from Saul into the Cave. Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me! For my soul trusts in You; And in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge, Until these calamities have passed by.

Psa 141:8 NKJV But my eyes are upon You, O GOD the Lord; In You I take refuge; Do not leave my soul destitute.

[like a lion, rending it in pieces, while there is none to deliver]

Here David’s chief persecutor is compared to a lion, and David with no one to deliver him.

As the lion is the king of beasts, so Saul was king of the land.

As the lion in his fierceness seizes and tears his prey to pieces, so David was in danger of being seized and destroyed by Saul.

All this answers to the 21 attempts of Saul to kill David (1Sa 18:1-26:2).

Twenty-one Attempts of Saul to Kill David

1.    An attempt by a javelin (1Sa_18:11)

2.    Second attempt by javelin (1Sa_18:11)

3.    By scheming to have him killed by the Philistines (1Sa_18:17-19)

4.    Through Michal and the Philistines (1Sa_18:20-30)

5.    Trying to get Jonathan and all his own servants to kill him (1Sa_19:1-7)

6.    Third personal attempt to kill him by javelin (1Sa_19:8-10)

7.    By messengers to his house (1Sa_19:11-14)

8.    Messengers to his house (1Sa_19:15-16)

9.    Messengers to Ramah (1Sa_19:17-20)

10.    Messengers to Ramah (1Sa_19:21)

11.    Messengers again to Ramah (1Sa_19:21)

12.    By personally going to Ramah (1Sa_19:22-24)

13.    Planning to kill him the first day of the feast (1Sa_20:24-26)

14.    Planning to kill him the second day of the feast (1Sa_20:27-30)

15.    Commanding that he be brought from home to die (1Sa_20:31-42)

16.    Making war on Keilah to kill David (1Sa_23:8-13)

17.    Seeking him in the wilderness of Ziph (1Sa_23:14-18)

18.    Sending spies to find him (1Sa_23:19-24)

19.    Sending his army after him (1Sa_23:25-29)

20.    Again going after David with 3,000 selected men, but falling into his hands and being spared (1Sa_24:1-22)

21.    Still again going after David with a selected army, but falling into his hands a second time and being spared (1Sa_26:1-25)

David had saved his father’s sheep from the attacks of dangerous beasts (1 Sam. 17:34-37), and now he felt like he was the victim.

1Sa 17:34-37 NKJV But David said to Saul, "Your servant used to keep his father's sheep, and when a lion or a bear came and took a lamb out of the flock, 35 I went out after it and struck it, and delivered the lamb from its mouth; and when it arose against me, I caught it by its beard, and struck and killed it. 36 Your servant has killed both lion and bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God." 37 Moreover David said, "The LORD, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine." And Saul said to David, "Go, and the LORD be with you!"

For animals as symbols of enemies,

Psa 10:9 NKJV He lies in wait secretly, as a lion in his den; He lies in wait to catch the poor; He catches the poor when he draws him into his net.

Psa 17:12 NKJV As a lion is eager to tear his prey, And like a young lion lurking in secret places.

Psa 22:12 NKJV Many bulls have surrounded Me; Strong bulls of Bashan have encircled Me. 13 They gape at Me with their mouths, Like a raging and roaring lion.

Psa 22:16 NKJV For dogs have surrounded Me; The congregation of the wicked has enclosed Me. They pierced My hands and My feet;

Psa 22:20 NKJV Deliver Me from the sword, My precious life from the power of the dog. 21 Save Me from the lion's mouth And from the horns of the wild oxen! You have answered Me.

Psa 35:17 NKJV Lord, how long will You look on? Rescue me from their destructions, My precious life from the lions.

Psa 57:4 NKJV My soul is among lions; I lie among the sons of men Who are set on fire, Whose teeth are spears and arrows, And their tongue a sharp sword.

Psa 58:6 NKJV Break their teeth in their mouth, O God! Break out the fangs of the young lions, O LORD!

Psa 124:6 NKJV Blessed be the LORD, Who has not given us as prey to their teeth.

1Pe 5:6-9 NKJV Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, 7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. 8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.

David saw himself as a “dead dog,” a “flea,” or a hunted bird

1Sa 24:14 NKJV After whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom do you pursue? A dead dog? A flea?

1Sa 26:20 NKJV So now, do not let my blood fall to the earth before the face of the LORD. For the king of Israel has come out to seek a flea, as when one hunts a partridge in the mountains."

Note that the King James Version and the New American Standard Bible move from the plural (Ps 7:1) to the singular (Ps 7:2), from Saul’s men to Saul himself.

When today people falsely accuse us and create problems for us, we should follow David’s example and find refuge in the Lord.

But let’s be sure that we are suffering wrongfully and not because of our own foolishness or disobedience

Mat 5:11-12 NKJV "Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. 12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

1Pe 3:13-17 NKJV And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you are blessed. "AND DO NOT BE AFRAID OF THEIR THREATS, NOR BE TROUBLED." 15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; 16 having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. 17 For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.

We Judge Ourselves Honestly . (Ps 7:3-5).

3] O LORD my God, if I have done this; if there be iniquity in my hands;

4] If I have rewarded evil unto him that was at peace with me; (yea, I have delivered him that without cause is mine enemy:)

5] Let the enemy persecute my soul, and take it; yea, let him tread down my life upon the earth, and lay mine honour in the dust. Selah.

This is most certainly penned before David assumed the throne of Israel and before the episode between himself, Bathsheba and Uriaiah.

It was during the time David having been declared the next king of Israel by Samuel was pursued by Saul.

David was accused by Saul of seeking the kingdom and an opportunity to kill the king.

David here denies these charges before God, offering to lay down his own life if they were true (Psa_7:3-5).

Seven Denials of David

1. I have not plotted to get the kingdom.

2. I have not plotted the murder of Saul.

3. I have not rewarded evil to Saul, but have been at peace with him (Psa_7:4).

4. I am not guilty or I would not have delivered Saul from death after he became my enemy (Psa_7:4;

1Sa_24:1-22; 1Sa_26:1-25).

If I Am Guilty:

5. Let Saul capture me (Psa_7:5).

6. Let him destroy my life.

7. Let him take away my honor.

David affirmed his integrity before the Lord and asked the Supreme Judge to vindicate him because his hands were clean.

David wasn’t claiming to be sinless; he was stating that he was blameless in his motives and actions (Ps 7:8).

Psa 18:18-27 NKJV They confronted me in the day of my calamity, But the LORD was my support. 19 He also brought me out into a broad place; He delivered me because He delighted in me. 20 The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness; According to the cleanness of my hands He has recompensed me. 21 For I have kept the ways of the LORD, And have not wickedly departed from my God. 22 For all His judgments were before me, And I did not put away His statutes from me. 23 I was also blameless before Him, And I kept myself from my iniquity. 24 Therefore the LORD has recompensed me according to my righteousness, According to the cleanness of my hands in His sight. 25 With the merciful You will show Yourself merciful; With a blameless man You will show Yourself blameless; 26 With the pure You will show Yourself pure; And with the devious You will show Yourself shrewd. 27 For You will save the humble people, But will bring down haughty looks.

Php 2:12-18 NKJV Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. 14 Do all things without complaining and disputing, 15 that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16 holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain. 17 Yes, and if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. 18 For the same reason you also be glad and rejoice with me.

If indeed he was guilty of sin, David was willing for his own honor to be laid in the dust. He was willing to accept God’s discipline; but David knew that his hands were clean – at least at this time…

Isa 1:15 NKJV When you spread out your hands, I will hide My eyes from you; Even though you make many prayers, I will not hear. Your hands are full of blood.

Isa 59:3 NKJV For your hands are defiled with blood, And your fingers with iniquity; Your lips have spoken lies, Your tongue has muttered perversity.

Eze 23:37 NKJV For they have committed adultery, and blood is on their hands. They have committed adultery with their idols, and even sacrificed their sons whom they bore to Me, passing them through the fire, to devour them.

Eze 23:45 NKJV But righteous men will judge them after the manner of adulteresses, and after the manner of women who shed blood, because they are adulteresses, and blood is on their hands.

Act 20:26 NKJV Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men.

Our righteousness in God’s eyes is the righteousness of Jesus Christ. We then we strive to live up to His righteousness not continue in our own unrighteous life.

Rom_3:22 even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference;

Rom_5:17-21 For if by the one man's offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.) … :21 so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

1Co_1:30 But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption—

Php_1:11 being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

Php_3:9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;

God Judges Sinners Righteously (Ps 7:6-13).

6] Arise, O LORD, in thine anger, lift up thyself because of the rage of mine enemies: and awake for me to the judgment that thou hast commanded.

David thinks God must be stirred up – spurred into action…

Jer 33:3 'Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.'

“Arise, O LORD” reminds us of the words of Moses when the camp of Israel began their march with the ark leading the way

Num 10:35 So it was, whenever the ark set out, that Moses said: "Rise up, O LORD! Let Your enemies be scattered, And let those who hate You flee before You."

2Ch 6:40-42 NKJV Now, my God, I pray, let Your eyes be open and let Your ears be attentive to the prayer made in this place. 41 "Now therefore, Arise, O LORD God, to Your resting place, You and the ark of Your strength. Let Your priests, O LORD God, be clothed with salvation, And let Your saints rejoice in goodness. 42 "O LORD God, do not turn away the face of Your Anointed; Remember the mercies of Your servant David."

David prays after the pattern of Moses in Num_10:35

Psa 3:7 NKJV Arise, O LORD; Save me, O my God! For You have struck all my enemies on the cheekbone; You have broken the teeth of the ungodly.

Psa 9:19 NKJV Arise, O LORD, Do not let man prevail; Let the nations be judged in Your sight.

Psa 10:12 NKJV Arise, O LORD! O God, lift up Your hand! Do not forget the humble.

"Arise" is the same as "lift up Thyself" and “awake”

Psa 94:2 NKJV Rise up, O Judge of the earth; Render punishment to the proud.

Isa 33:10 NKJV "Now I will rise," says the LORD; "Now I will be exalted, Now I will lift Myself up.

Psa 35:23 NKJV Stir up Yourself, and awake to my vindication, To my cause, my God and my Lord.

Psa 44:23 NKJV Awake! Why do You sleep, O Lord? Arise! Do not cast us off forever.

Psa 59:5 NKJV You therefore, O LORD God of hosts, the God of Israel, Awake to punish all the nations; Do not be merciful to any wicked transgressors. Selah

Prayers for Judgment

7] So shall the congregation of the people compass thee about: for their sakes therefore return thou on high.

8] The LORD shall judge the people: judge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness, and according to mine integrity that is in me.

David prays for judgment that God has commanded, so such prayers are in harmony with God and His Word.

We are still to pray for God to come and judge the world, and for His kingdom to come and His will to be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Mat 6:10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.

Naturally, many will be destroyed when this is fulfilled

Zec_14:1-21; Joe_3:1-21; Ezekiel 38-39

Mat 25:41 NKJV "Then He will also say to those on the left hand, 'Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels:

2Th 1:7 NKJV and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, 8 in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, 10 when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe, because our testimony among you was believed.

Jud 1:14 NKJV Now Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men also, saying, "Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints,

Then people will be drawn to God (Psa_7:7);

then the righteous will be vindicated (Psa_7:8);

then all wickedness will be put down (Psa_7:9); and

then shall the righteous inherit the earth and be established in it (Psa_7:9).

1Co 15:24 Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power.

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.

David knew that almighty God could test the minds and the hearts and he wanted to see the wickedness of his enemies exposed and stopped.

Rev 2:23 I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works.

[God trieth the hearts and reins] God tries the hearts that are so deceitful and desperately wicked and the reins, the innermost mind and feelings

Job 16:13 NKJV His archers surround me. He pierces my heart and does not pity; He pours out my gall on the ground.

Job 19:27 NKJV Whom I shall see for myself, And my eyes shall behold, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!

Psa 16:7 NKJV I will bless the LORD who has given me counsel; My heart also instructs me in the night seasons.

Psa 26:2 NKJV Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; Try my mind and my heart.

Psa 73:21 NKJV Thus my heart was grieved, And I was vexed in my mind.

Psa 139:13 NKJV For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother's womb.

Pro 23:16 NKJV Yes, my inmost being will rejoice When your lips speak right things.

Isa 11:5 NKJV Righteousness shall be the belt of His loins, And faithfulness the belt of His waist.

Jer 11:20 NKJV But, O LORD of hosts, You who judge righteously, Testing the mind and the heart, Let me see Your vengeance on them, For to You I have revealed my cause.

Jer 12:2 NKJV You have planted them, yes, they have taken root; They grow, yes, they bear fruit. You are near in their mouth But far from their mind.

Jer 17:9 NKJV "The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it? 10 I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give every man according to his ways, According to the fruit of his doings.

Jer 20:12 NKJV But, O LORD of hosts, You who test the righteous, And see the mind and heart, Let me see Your vengeance on them; For I have pleaded my cause before You.

10] My defence is of God, which saveth the upright in heart.

My shield is God who saves the just. Hence, I have no uneasy or fearful feeling as to the future.

David’s defense was the Lord.

David knew that danger was near, and he wanted the Lord to move into action.

Psa 3:7 NKJV Arise, O LORD; Save me, O my God! For You have struck all my enemies on the cheekbone; You have broken the teeth of the ungodly.

Psa 9:19 NKJV Arise, O LORD, Do not let man prevail; Let the nations be judged in Your sight.

Psa 10:12 NKJV Arise, O LORD! O God, lift up Your hand! Do not forget the humble.

Psa 17:13 NKJV Arise, O LORD, Confront him, cast him down; Deliver my life from the wicked with Your sword,

Psa 44:26 NKJV Arise for our help, And redeem us for Your mercies' sake.

Psa 68:1 NKJV To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. A Song. Let God arise, Let His enemies be scattered; Let those also who hate Him flee before Him.

It’s during those times when God seems inactive that we get impatient and want to see things happen immediately.

God is more long-suffering than we are, and we must wait for Him to work in His time.

“Let God convene the court! Ascend Your throne on high! Let all the people gather together to witness the trial! Let the Lord try me and prove to all that I am innocent!”

God’s Constant Anger With the Wicked

11] God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry [with the wicked] every day.

"Every day" means constantly, continually.

This does not refer to the daily expression of God’s wrath, but to His continual abhorrence of the wicked.

His is not sudden emotion that breaks forth in wrath and then changes or passes away.

It is the uniform attribute of God that is as unchanging as His own being and nature.

The idea is, there is no change in His attitude toward sin.

The wicked will find Him no more favorable to sin tomorrow than He was yesterday.

Heb 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Mal 3:6 "For I am the LORD, I do not change; Therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob.

This could also refer to the wicked storing up daily wrath against the day of wrath (Rom_1:18; Rom_2:5).

Rom 1:18-19 NKJV For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them.

Rom 2:5-11 NKJV But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, 6 who "WILL RENDER TO EACH ONE ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS": 7 eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; 8 but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath, 9 tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; 10 but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 11 For there is no partiality with God.

How can God both love the world and hate the wicked?

Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Psa 5:5 The boastful shall not stand in Your sight; You hate all workers of iniquity.

The King James Version puts “with the wicked” (Ps 7:11) in italics, which means the phrase was added by the translators, but both the New International Version and the New American Standard Bible translate the text without it.

12] If he turn not, he will whet his sword; he hath bent his bow, and made it ready.

Only the Lord can truly vindicate:

Rom 12:17-21 NKJV Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. 18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. 19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY," says the Lord. 20 Therefore "IF YOUR ENEMY IS HUNGRY, FEED HIM; IF HE IS THIRSTY, GIVE HIM A DRINK; FOR IN SO DOING YOU WILL HEAP COALS OF FIRE ON HIS HEAD." 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Only God’s holy anger could truly vindicate David.

God’s love is a holy love, and if God loves righteousness, He must also hate wickedness.

13] He hath also prepared for him the instruments of death; he ordaineth his arrows against the persecutors.

David had two opportunities to kill Saul and refused to do so (1 Sam 24 - The cave in En Gede and 1 Sam 26 – Saul’s encampment in the Wilderness of Ziph) --- no personal malice…

This was proof enough that his heart was not filled with personal malice and a desire for revenge.

David didn’t take the situation into his own hands; rather, he turned Saul and his scheming men over to the Lord.

Sin Itself Judges Sinners Ultimately (Ps 7:14-17).

14] Behold, he travaileth with iniquity, and hath conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood.

The wicked are pictured as conceiving sin and giving birth to iniquity

Sinners “conceive” sin that, like a monstrous child, eventually grows up and destroys them.

The image of sin as pregnancy is frequently found in Scripture

Job 15:35 NKJV They conceive trouble and bring forth futility; Their womb prepares deceit."

Isa 33:11 NKJV You shall conceive chaff, You shall bring forth stubble; Your breath, as fire, shall devour you.

Isa 59:4 NKJV No one calls for justice, Nor does any plead for truth. They trust in empty words and speak lies; They conceive evil and bring forth iniquity.

Isa 59:13 NKJV In transgressing and lying against the LORD, And departing from our God, Speaking oppression and revolt, Conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood.

Jas 1:13 NKJV Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. 14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. 15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.

15] He made a pit, and digged it, and is fallen into the ditch which he made.

They dig pits and fall into them themselves

Psa 57:6 NKJV They have prepared a net for my steps; My soul is bowed down; They have dug a pit before me; Into the midst of it they themselves have fallen. Selah

Pro 26:27 NKJV Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, And he who rolls a stone will have it roll back on him.

Ecc 10:8 NKJV He who digs a pit will fall into it, And whoever breaks through a wall will be bitten by a serpent.

Five examples of falling into one’s own pit:

1.    Jacob (Gen_27:14 with Gen_37:31-32)

2.    Saul (1 Samuel 18:11-26:2 with 1Sa_31:1-13)

3.    David (2Sa_11:14-15 with 2Sa_12:10)

4.    Haman (Est_7:10)

5.    Accusers of Daniel (Dan_6:4-24)

16] His mischief shall return upon his own head, and his violent dealing shall come down upon his own pate.

The trouble they cause comes back on their own heads.

Mat 7:2 For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.

Gal 6:7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.

Psa 37:14 NKJV The wicked have drawn the sword And have bent their bow, To cast down the poor and needy, To slay those who are of upright conduct. 15 Their sword shall enter their own heart, And their bows shall be broken.

1Sa 25:39 NKJV So when David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, "Blessed be the LORD, who has pleaded the cause of my reproach from the hand of Nabal, and has kept His servant from evil! For the LORD has returned the wickedness of Nabal on his own head." And David sent and proposed to Abigail, to take her as his wife.

[pate] The smooth skull or scalp.

Retributive Justice

God expresses His anger at sin every day, so He doesn’t have to summon a special court to judge sinners.

He allows sinners to reap the sad consequences of their sins day by day.

Rom 1:24-32 NKJV Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, 25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. 26 For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. 27 Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. 28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, 30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; 32 who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.

Sometimes their persistent rebellion causes Him to send special judgment when His long-suffering has run its course.

Gen 6:5-7 NKJV Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 And the LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. 7 So the LORD said, "I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them."

There is a work of divine retribution in this world, and nobody can escape it.

God abandoned King Saul to his own ways (1 Sam. 15), and ultimately both the arrow and the sword caught up with him.

He wanted to kill David, but his own sword killed him.

1Sa 31:3 NKJV The battle became fierce against Saul. The archers hit him, and he was severely wounded by the archers. 4 Then Saul said to his armorbearer, "Draw your sword, and thrust me through with it, lest these uncircumcised men come and thrust me through and abuse me." But his armorbearer would not, for he was greatly afraid. Therefore Saul took a sword and fell on it.

Pharaoh ordered the male Jewish babies to be drowned in the Nile, and his own army was drowned in the Red Sea. (Ex 1:22 / Ex 14:23-28)

Haman built a gallows on which to hang Mordecai, and Haman himself was hanged on it (Est. 7:10).

17] I will praise the LORD according to his righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the LORD most high.

The psalm closes with David extolling the Lord, not for the fact that sinners have been judged, but because the righteousness of God has been magnified.

The fact that people are ensnared by their own sins and ultimately judged should bring no joy to believers, but the fact that God is glorified, and His righteousness exalted does and should cause us to praise Him.

God judges sin because He is holy and His decrees are just

“Even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight” (Lu 10:21)

God gave His own Son to die for the sins of the world, so that He might uphold His own holy law and at the same time offer His mercy and grace to all who will believe.

People may not like the way God runs His Universe, but He is God and has provided us a way of escape from sin and death.

YHVH El Elyon, ’Elyown (H5945), The Most High.

possessor of heaven and earth; the Dispenser of God’s blessings in the earth.

This divine name is used 23 times in the Psalms and goes back to Ge 14:18-22. (See also Deu 32:8; 2Sa 22:14.)

Jesus was called “Son of the Most High” (Mark 5:7; Luke 1:32, Luke 1:35; Luke 8:28).

Psalm 8:1-9 ESV

1 To the choirmaster: according to The Gittith. A Psalm of David. O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens.

2 Out of the mouth of babies and infants, you have established strength because of your foes, to still the enemy and the avenger.

3 When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,

4 what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?

5 Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor.

6 You have given him dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet,

7 all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field,

8 the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea, whatever passes along the paths of the seas.

9 O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Psa 8:1-9 ISV

1 To the Director: On a stringed instrument. A Davidic Psalm. LORD, our Lord, how excellent is your name in all the earth! You set your glory above the heavens!

2 Out of the mouths of infants and nursing babies you have established strength on account of your adversaries, in order to silence the enemy and vengeful foe.

3 When I look at the heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars that you established-

4 what is man that you take notice of him, or the son of man that you pay attention to him?

5 You made him a little less than divine, but you crowned him with glory and honor.

6 You gave him dominion over the work of your hands, you put all things under his feet:

7 Sheep and cattle-all of them, wild creatures of the field,

8 birds in the sky, fish in the sea-whatever moves through the currents of the oceans.

9 LORD, our Lord, how excellent is your name in all the earth!

Psa

Scripture

Probable Occasion

B.C.

8

1Ch 28:21

Inserted toward the end of David's life

1015

The Book of Psalms: Psalm 8

[To the chief Musician upon Gittith, A Psalm of David.]

A beautiful expression of praise to God,

David stands amazed that the God of creation, the great and glorious Jehovah, would pay any attention to frail people on earth.

David understands that God glorifies Himself in the heavens, but how can He glorify Himself on earth through such weak, sinful people?

“What is man?” is ultimately answered by Jesus Christ, the “last Adam,” through whom we regain our lost dominion.

As His faithful worship and serve Him (Malt 5:13-16), they glorify His name on earth (Ps 8:1, 9) and help to defeat His enemies (Ps 8:2).

That God, in His remarkable condescension, should focus attention on us is proof of our dignity as creatures made in the image of God.

The grandeur of men and women is found only there.

Apart from knowing God, we have no understanding of who we are or what we are to do in this great Universe.

This is one of the “Nature” Psalms (Ps 8, 19, 29, 65, 104).

It is also a Messianic Psalm (Ps 2, 8, 16, 22, 23, 24, 40, 41, 45, 68, 69, 87, 89, 102, 110, 118, et al.) and is quoted as such in Mt 21:16; Heb 2:6-8; 1 Cor 15:27; and Eph 1:22.

Gittith: a winepress. (see Ps 81; 84).

Possibly a reference to a vintage tune.

What is Man?

God Created Us (Ps 8:1-2, 5a).

1] O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!

[LORD our Lord] Hebrew: Jehovah (H3068) ’Adonay (H136),

Jehovah our Sovereign, Director, Ruler, Judge, and Supporter.

The psalm begins and ends with this phrase (Psa_8:1, Psa_8:9).

“our Lord” There is but one God, all people were created by God, and the Jewish people in particular are “his people, and the sheep of his pasture” (Ps 100:3).

Psa 100:3 Know that the LORD, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.

They can call Him “our Lord.”

Psa 135:5 NKJV For I know that the LORD is great, And our Lord is above all gods.

Psa 147:5 NKJV Great is our Lord, and mighty in power; His understanding is infinite.

Neh 10:29 NKJV these joined with their brethren, their nobles, and entered into a curse and an oath to walk in God's Law, which was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the LORD our Lord, and His ordinances and His statutes:

in all the earth Yet Jehovah was not a “tribal god” who belonged only to Israel, for He wanted His name (character, reputation) to be known “in all the earth”

Psa 66:1 NKJV To the Chief Musician. A Song. A Psalm. Make a joyful shout to God, all the earth!

Psa 83:18 NKJV That they may know that You, whose name alone is the LORD, Are the Most High over all the earth.

Exo 9:14 NKJV for at this time I will send all My plagues to your very heart, and on your servants and on your people, that you may know that there is none like Me in all the earth. 15 Now if I had stretched out My hand and struck you and your people with pestilence, then you would have been cut off from the earth. 16 But indeed for this purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth.

Jos 3:11 NKJV Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth is crossing over before you into the Jordan.

[excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens] God’s name is excellent in all the earth and His glory is higher than the heavens.

The glory of God dwelt with Israel in the tabernacle and temple, and it was especially revealed in the person and work of Jesus Christ

Joh 1:1-4 NKJV In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.

Joh 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

Wicked people crucified “the Lord of glory” (1 Cor. 2:8), but He was raised from the dead and has returned to heaven in honor and great glory (Phil. 2:5-11).

1Co 2:6-8 NKJV However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. 7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, 8 which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

Php 2:5-11 NKJV Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. 9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Not only has the Lord set His glory “above the heavens” (beyond the earth’s atmosphere), but He has also deigned to share His glory with His creatures on earth.

2] Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.

David moved from God’s transcendence to His immanence.

Jehovah is so great that He can entrust His praise to infants and children and still not be robbed of glory!

Jesus quoted this verse after He cleansed the temple

Mat 21:15-16 NKJV But when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that He did, and the children crying out in the temple and saying, "Hosanna to the Son of David!" they were indignant 16 and said to Him, "Do You hear what these are saying?" And Jesus said to them, "Yes. Have you never read, 'OUT OF THE MOUTH OF BABES AND NURSING INFANTS YOU HAVE PERFECTED PRAISE'?"

Words are only breath and formed sounds, two very weak things.

Yet words of praise even from sucklings (not yet weaned) and babes (children able to play in the streets) can defeat God’s enemies!

The cry of baby Moses ultimately brought Egypt to her knees, and

The birth of Samuel was used by God to save Israel and bring David to the throne.

It was the birth of Jesus that brought salvation to this world.

God has used the weak and helpless to praise Him and help defeat His enemies.

1Co 1:27 But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty;

David himself was but a youth when he silenced Goliath and defeated him (1 Sam. 17:33, 1 Sam 17:42-43), and he brought great glory to the name of the Lord.

1Sa 17:33 NKJV And Saul said to David, "You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are a youth, and he a man of war from his youth."

1Sa 17:42 NKJV And when the Philistine looked about and saw David, he disdained him; for he was only a youth, ruddy and good-looking. 43 So the Philistine said to David, "Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?" And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.

Fifteen Reasons God Chooses Babes

1. That God might use them to defeat the enemy and the avenger by preaching and by testimony (Psa_8:2; Rom_1:16; 1Co_1:18-24; 1Co_2:1-4).

2. That He through perfected praise might honor Himself and quiet the avenger (Mat_21:15-16).

3. That truth in all its purity and simplicity might be revealed to men (Mat_11:25-27).

4. That growth might be experienced through the sincere milk of the Word (1Pe_2:1-2; Heb_5:11-14).

5. That souls might be saved through the foolishness or simplicity of preaching (1Co_1:18-24).

6. That God may bring to nothing the wisdom of the wise and the understanding of the prudent (1Co_1:19).

7. That the wisdom of the world might be exposed as foolishness (1Co_1:20).

8. That God’s least wisdom might be shown to excel man’s greatest (1Co_1:25).

9. That His least power might be manifested to be greater than man’s strength (1Co_1:25).

10. That the wise may be confounded (1Co_1:27).

11. That the mighty man may be humbled (1Co_1:27).

12. That the things which are might become as nothing (1Co_1:28).

13. That God’s plan of choosing the base and despised of the world in preference to the high and honored might be known to all (1Co_1:28).

14. That no flesh should glory in God’s presence (1Co_1:29-31).

15. That the wisdom and power of God might be demonstrated in simple believers before both men and angels (1Co_1:30-31; 1Co_4:9-14; Eph_3:8-11).

God didn’t need us, yet He created us and prepared a wonderful world for us.

Our purpose is to “glorify God and enjoy Him forever,” and if we leave God out of our lives, we miss life’s greatest opportunity.

3] When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;

God spoke the worlds into existence, using various methods to accomplish it.

· ‘Bara’ H1254 > Create, shape, form, to bring into existence out of nothing… Gen 1:1, 21, 27

· ‘Asa’ H3335 > to Form by fashioning, to fabricate from a plan…

· ‘Yatsa’ H6213 > Form by making, produce, prepare, build from something…

· ‘kûn’ H3559 > to set up, accomplish, make firm, make ready, furnish, organize

Isa 45:18 For thus saith the LORD that created H1254 - Bara the heavens; God himself that formed H3335 - Yatsa the earth and made H6213 - Asah it; he hath established H3559 -kûn it, he created H1254 - Bara it not in vain, he formed H3335 - Asah it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else.

Isa 43:7 Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created H1254 - Bara him for my glory, I have formed H3335 - Yatsa him; yea, I have made H6213 - Asah him.

David saw creation as coming from God’s fingers (Ps 8:3; see Ex. 8:19) and hands (Ps 8:6), the work of a Master Craftsman.

Exo 8:19 Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, "This is the finger of God." But Pharaoh's heart grew hard, and he did not heed them, just as the LORD had said.

It was evil for the Jews to worship the heavenly host (Ex. 20:4- 6; Deut. 4:15-1 9; 17:2-7), but they understood that creation was proof of a caring Creator who prepared the world for the enjoyment and employment of mankind.

[ordained] Hebrew: yacad (H3245), to lay a foundation, appoint (Psa_8:2; 1Ch_9:22).

1Ch 9:22 All those chosen as gatekeepers were two hundred and twelve. They were recorded by their genealogy, in their villages. David and Samuel the seer had appointed them to their trusted office.

[ordained] Hebrew: kuwn (H3559), to form, prepare, establish. God has made their respective spheres-space to matter and matter to space-all adjusted in number, weight and measure.

God Cares for Us (Ps 8:3-4).

4] What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?

The sun rules the day, and its blinding light usually blots out anything else we might see in the heavens.

But at night, we are overwhelmed by the display of beauty from the moon, stars, planets, and galaxies.

What we know today about the size of the Universe makes the earth and its inhabitants look even more insignificant than they appeared in David’s day.

Our knowledge of light-years and the reaches of outer space gives us even more reason for appreciating our insignificance in the solar system and God’s wonderful concern for us.

In His great love, the Lord chose the earth for Himself and created us in His own image. “

Psa 24:1-2 NKJV A Psalm of David. The earth is the LORD's, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell therein. 2 For He has founded it upon the seas, And established it upon the waters.

Gen 1:27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

What is man that you are mindful of him is answered in the Last Adam. [Enosh & Adomah: weak & earth-born.]

[man] Man” in verse 4 is enosh, “weak man,” and “son of man” is “son of Adamah - Son of the earth, earth-born” (Gen. 2:7).

Gen 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.

Both titles emphasize the weakness and frailty of humankind.

[the son of man] "Son of man" has no definite article in Hebrew.

The phrase occurs 3 times before this

Num 23:19 NKJV "God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?

Job 25:6 NKJV How much less man, who is a maggot, And a son of man, who is a worm?"

Job 35:8 NKJV Your wickedness affects a man such as you, And your righteousness a son of man.

In all, it occurs in singular 197 times and plural 23 times (sons of men).

Occurs in Psalms here;

Psa 80:17 NKJV Let Your hand be upon the man of Your right hand, Upon the son of man whom You made strong for Yourself.

Psa 144:3 NKJV LORD, what is man, that You take knowledge of him? Or the son of man, that You are mindful of him?

Psa 146:3. NKJV Do not put your trust in princes, Nor in a son of man, in whom there is no help.

See notes on Eze_2:1; Joh_1:51.

[Son of man] Son of man. Hebrew: ben (H1121) ’adam (H120), son of Adam.

This term is used of Ezekiel 93 times, always without the definite article.

In the N.T. it is used of Christ, by Himself 86 times, and by John 2:times (Joh_12:34), making 88 times in all, and always with the definite article.

In the Old Testament it is used of Christ only once in Dan_7:13.

Without the definite article the term denotes a human being, a natural descendant of Adam;

With the definite article, it