Day 131 · May 11 - Through the Bible 2022

Daily reading

Today’s reading is: Psa. 12-17; 19-21

David’s adversity testing leaves him with the impression that there are no other godly men to share in his burdens (Ps. 12:1).
David’s conflict with the rulers and powers was manifest through the Adversary’s lying agents (Ps. 12:2-4).
The Lord will defend His servant, even as He defends His Truth (Ps. 12:5-7).
The believer’s vindication may have to wait until eternity, because in this present evil age, vileness is exalted (Ps. 12:8).

Psalm 13 is a Davidic psalm, written over 400 years before the time of Jeremiah.
The subject matter of Psalm 13 directly addresses Jeremiah’s circumstances. Undoubtedly, the psalms of David were vital Scriptures for Jeremiah’s enduring of conflicts.
1. Psalm 13 is David’s expression of trust that the LORD will not allow enemies to overcome him (Ps. 13:4 cf. Jer. 1:19).
2. Psalm 13 is David’s expression of sorrow over feeling forgotten (Ps. 13:1-3; cf. Jer. 15:18).
When the LORD answers the believer’s prayer, the believer is to rejoice at the LORD’s bounty (Ps. 13:5-6).

Believers must remain faithful to the LORD in the midst of a foolish, crooked, & perverse generation (Phil. 2:15).
1. David experienced this (Ps. 14:1-4).
2. Jeremiah experienced this (Jer. 4:22).
David taught the total depravity of man (Ps. 14:3), which surely must have been in Jeremiah’s mind as he searched through Jerusalem for one righteous man (Jer. 5:1). This text has NT citations in Rom. 3:10-12.
God is with the righteous generation (Ps. 14:5).
1. The ignorant workers of wickedness consume God’s people (Ps. 14:4; Jer. 10:25).
2. God’s judgment upon them is certain (Ps. 14:5-6; Jer. 10:25).
Psalm 53:5 is significantly different from Psalm 14:5-6.
1. Both psalms are Davidic, and for the choir director.
2. Psalm 14 is a psalm, but Psalm 53 is a Maskil.
3. Psalm 53 is according to Mahalath.
4. Psalm 14 uses YHWH 4x and Elohim 3x, but Psalm 53 is all Elohim all the time (7x).

This psalm serves to answer a basic theological question: what are the qualifications for being in God’s presence?
1. The qualifications must be based upon God’s absolute essence of Holiness (Ps. 15:1b; Lev. 11:44-45).
2. The answer to “what are the qualifications?” provides the answer to “who is qualified?”
Dwelling or abiding with God must be consistent with what God can abide with and what God cannot abide (2nd Cor. 6:14-18).
The description of a holy and blameless individual is only fulfilled by the Lord Jesus Christ (Ps. 15:2-5), and yet becomes descriptive of all who have placed their faith in Him (2nd Pet. 1:2-11).

Psalm 16 is a prayer of David’s for preservation (Ps. 16:1-6), and a prophetic description of the Lord Jesus Christ (Ps. 16:7-11). This text has significant NT citations in Acts 2:25-31; 13:35.
David looks to the Lord for protection from his enemies (Ps. 16:1-2).
David delights in fellow believers, and their sharing in his conflict (Ps. 16:3-4).
David celebrates the grace of God that provides for his spiritual inheritance (Ps. 16:5-6).
The prophetic words which follow demonstrate David’s mental attitude of devotion to God, and preview the reality of the resurrection of Jesus Christ (Ps. 16:7-11).
1. David is assured of an eternal life of blessings as reward for a temporal life of obedience.
2. The anticipation of resurrection was fulfilled in Christ (Acts 2:24,27,29-32), and will be literally fulfilled for David when he rises in his turn (Jer. 30:9; Dan. 12:2,13; Ezek. 34:23-24; 37:24-25).

David understands the importance of prayer during times of affliction (Ps. 17:1).
David understands that he is accountable to the Lord at all times, and has no problem with the Lord’s scrutiny at any time (Ps. 17:2-5).
David understands that prayer enables him to take refuge in the shadow of the Lord’s wings (Ps. 17:6-12).
David understands that the wicked may prosper in this life, but the rewards of the righteous come in the next life (Ps. 17:13-15).

Psalm 19 is a Davidic psalm that beautifully portrays the Christian Way of Life for believers awaiting the coming Christ during the intertestamental time-frame.
Natural revelation is sufficient for any human being to be humbled by their awareness of the Almighty (Ps. 19:1-6; Rom. 1:20-23; 10:18).
Special revelation is sufficient for any believer to be humbled by their awareness of the Almighty’s absolute standard of Righteousness (Ps. 19:7-11). This text has a NT allusion in Rev. 16:7 and an echo in Rev. 19:2.
The Word of God judges our thoughts and intentions, and provides for our defense against overt sins, sins of the tongue, & mental-attitude sins (Ps. 19:12-14; Heb. 4:12).

Psalm 20 is a corporate prayer meeting, with all Israel praying on behalf of their King before he goes out to battle.
The Church Age parallel is for the body of Christ to pray for their spiritual leaders (Eph. 6:18-19; Col. 4:2-4; 2nd Thess. 3:1-2).
Israel prayed by faith for David’s victory, and understood it to be the Lord’s victory, as David faithfully served according to his anointed work-assignment.