Understanding Three Psalms of the Old Testament Essay Example for Free

Understanding Three Psalms of the Old Testament Essay Psalm 78 and Psalm 89 are both referred to as â€Å"maskils. † According to Gordon Churchyard (2004), a maskil may be the name given to verses that teach their readers something of value. The Book of Psalms published by the International Bible Society in the United States, however, explains the word â€Å"maskil† as a literary or musical term (Psalm 78, 1984). The fact remains, though, that every psalm of the Old Testament is unique as a teaching tool of religion. Although neither Psalm 78 nor Psalm 89 have been written by David, and Bible commentators guess that Psalm 132 might have been written by Solomon, the regal heir of King David, all three psalms have an extraordinary message to convey to the believer who may be reminded of the duties of man toward God, and the latter’s promises made to man, through these psalms (Churchyard). Psalm 78 is said to have been written 720 years before the holy birth of Jesus Christ (Churchyard). This maskil of Asaph is a story about the Children of Israel from their experience of slavery under the mighty pharaoh of Egypt until their time under King David, the opposite of the pharaoh in God’s perspective. This psalm is a reminder to the Children of Israel that the God who saved them from the clutches of slavery is ever prepared to rescue them from all troubles, provided that their hearts are loyal to Him, and their spirits are faithful to Him. In the beginning of the psalm, Asaph relates that this reminder is most important for the future generations of Israel, who are expected to be more loyal and faithful to God than were their forefathers. As a matter of fact, their forefathers had proved to be quite disobedient to God. Despite the fact that He showed them miracle after miracle especially at the time of Moses, who was the chosen one of God to lead the Children of Israel out of the clutches of slavery, the Children of Israel expressed doubts in their beliefs about the faithful love of God. Whereas He continued to UNDERSTANDING THREE PSALMS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT Page # 2 shower His blessings upon them, they refused to believe in Him with the absolute faithfulness that should have appeared to them as a necessity given the extraordinary miracles they were being made to witness (Psalm 78). The Children of Israel kept on doubting the love and faithfulness of God even though He had, among other things, punished their enemies by turning their water into blood, and had helped out the Children of Israel in the desert by letting springs flow out of a rock. â€Å"In spite of all this, they kept on sinning;† reads the psalm, â€Å"in spite of His wonders, they did not believe. † The psalm reminds the reader that the consequences of unbelief could be fatal: â€Å"So He ended their days in futility/ and their years in terror. † The Children of Israel had also turned to idol worship despite the physical evidence of God’s care for them. So, God took revenge because He is a jealous God (Psalm 78). Psalm 78 also reminds the reader of the mercy of God when it reads: â€Å"Time after time He restrained His anger/ and did not stir up His full wrath. / He remembered that they were but flesh/ a passing breeze that does not return. † Even though God could have eradicated everybody who showed unfaithfulness to Him, He decided not to do so, seeing as the Children of Israel were not a threat to Him. Moreover, it can be understood from the psalm that God wanted the future generations of Israel to benefit from the teachings and miracles of the earlier generations. Thus, He replaced the pharaoh’s leadership over Israel with David’s godly leadership, once again, as a mercy to Israel. Psalm 78, therefore, ends on a hopeful note: â€Å"And David shepherded them with integrity of heart/ with skillful hands he led them† (Psalm 78). UNDERSTANDING THREE PSALMS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT Page # 3 Psalm 89 also brings King David to mind when the writer of the maskil reminds God of the covenant He had made with His servant, David. Bible commentators believe that this maskil was composed by three different people in three separate periods of time (Churchyard). All the same, the psalm serves as a teaching instrument of religion explaining that it is not God who breaks His promises, but man who refuses to keep His commands time after time (Psalm 89, 1984). God had promised David that He would take special care of His servant as well as his descendants who kept the law of the Lord. Thus, the psalm glorifies God for His covenant, and expresses that the only fortunate people are those that know how to glorify God. Besides, the heavens and everything on earth glorifies the Lord, and the angels too are busy praising Him. Everything is obedient to God. It is only man that has been given the right to oppose God’s law and commandments. Hence, one of the descendants of David, the â€Å"anointed one,† is being ridiculed by his enemies apparently because he has violated the decrees of God. Although the psalm does not provide any information about why the â€Å"anointed one† is being punished, it can be inferred that God is not quickly coming to his rescue because the man has disobeyed the Lord. After all, God had spoken about David: â€Å"If his sons forsake my law/ and do not follow my statutes,/ if they violate my decrees/ and fail to keep my commands,/ I will punish their sin with the rod,/ their iniquity with flogging†¦. (Psalm 89)† God remains faithful to His promise. He would not punish a descendent of David without a genuine reason. God is fair, which is the reason why the psalmist appeals to God toward the end of the maskil with a desperation that may only be reduced or eliminated by the loving mercy of UNDERSTANDING THREE PSALMS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT Page # 4 the Lord. Before praising God and ending the psalm with His praise, the psalmist once again reminds God about the faithfulness He showed toward His servant, David. He also refers to God’s â€Å"great former love† for David. Still, it is expected that God would not go against His promise made to David, which included punishment for his descendants that disobeyed the Lord. The psalmist insists, however, on being forgiven once and for all because he finds that God’s punishments are truly unbearable: â€Å"How long, O Lord? Will you hide yourself forever? / How long will your wrath burn like fire? / Remember how fleeting is my life. / For what futility you have created all men! † The psalmist continues to remind God about his condition despite the fact that God is all-knowing at all times: â€Å"Remember, Lord, how your servant has been mocked,/ how I bear in my heart the taunts of all the nations,/ the taunts with which your enemies have mocked, O Lord,/ with which they have mocked every step of your anointed one† (Psalm 89). Psalm 89 ends with praise of God, informing the reader that the â€Å"anointed one† with his complaints and desperate pleas nevertheless understands that God must be praised despite the pain that the â€Å"anointed one† is suffering from. In other words, God punishes for a wise reason, and even if man does not fully understand his flaws it is important for him to praise God before He answers the prayers of the suffering man. God cannot be blamed for suffering. Rather, man must learn to glorify Him despite the suffering, and thereby open the channel of communication with God who is expected to sooner or later deliver the believer from suffering (Psalm 89). This is, indeed, the most important teaching of this psalm. Psalm 132 also acts as a reminder of the covenant that God made with His servant, David: â€Å"One of your own descendants/ I will place on your throne / if your sons keep my covenant/ UNDERSTANDING THREE PSALMS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT Page # 5 and the statutes I will teach them,/ then their sons will sit/ on your throne for ever and ever. † Another point of similarity between Psalm 89 and Psalm 132 is that both act as pleas for God’s mercy for the sake of David. Thus, Psalm 132 reads: â€Å"For the sake of David your servant,/ do not reject your anointed one. † Yet, this psalm does not offer any complaints or desperate pleas unto God. Rather, this is the â€Å"song of ascents† or the â€Å"song of climbing† that mostly serves to remind the reader of the special importance of Zion and of Israel as a whole in God’s plan (Psalm 132, 1984; Churchyard). The song of ascents discusses the temple of God that David had been planning to build, but which was only completed in Solomon’s time. More than four hundred years after Solomon, Ezra and Nehemiah rebuilt the temple of God, which is why Bible commentators believe that this psalm may have been written by Nehemiah or Ezra if not by Solomon (Churchyard). In any case, the psalm identifies Zion as the dwelling place of the God of Israel, a place of ultimate bliss on earth where abundance would replace poverty and the enemies of God would be crushed â€Å"with shame†. The psalmist agrees that the temple of God and Zion are the places where God must be sincerely worshipped. He invites God to His own dwelling place. Moreover, he prays for the sincere ones of God, His priests and His saints, who would all worship the Lord together in His dwelling place (Psalm 132). Although Psalm 132 does not make a complaint, the fact that it starts out with the remembrance of David, â€Å"O Lord, remember David/ and all the hardships he endured,† allows the reader to infer that David is acting as a spiritual intercessor of his people just as the Messiah is for the Christians. The song of ascents is essentially a song of worship, a reminder to God that UNDERSTANDING THREE PSALMS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT Page # 6 His people remember how to praise and worship Him. Furthermore, His people would like Him to answer their needs with the mention of one of His favorite chosen ones, David (Psalm 132). Thus, all three psalms serve their unique purposes: Psalm 78 as a reminder about the importance of faithfulness and obedience to God; Psalm 89 as a desperate plea made to God with His praise; and Psalm 132 as a reminder to God that His people remember how to worship Him, and still seek His special mercy that was previously shown to David. References Churchyard, Gordon. (2004). â€Å"Free Bible Commentary on Psalm 78, Psalm 89, Psalm 132 in Simple English. † Easy English. Available at http://www. easyenglish. info/. (22 April 2007). 2. â€Å"Psalm 78. † (1984). The Book of Psalms. Colorado Springs, CO: International Bible Society, p. 70-73. 3. â€Å"Psalm 89. † (1984). The Book of Psalms. Colorado Springs, CO: International Bible Society, p. 81-83. 4. â€Å"Psalm 132. † (1984). The Book of Psalms. Colorado Springs, CO: International Bible Society, p. 123-124.