Daily reading

Today’s reading is: Psa. 39-41; 55; 58

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Psalm Thirty-Nine

  1. Jeduthun was a Levite, chief singer and instructor (1st Chr. 16:38,41,42).  Jeduthun is also called a seer (2nd Chr. 25:14), and appears in the prescripts to Ps. 39, 62, 77.
  2. David attempted to endure his suffering in silence, but that only made matters worse (Ps. 39:1-3a). Verse 1 has a NT allusion in Jas. 1:26.
  3. The provision for believers in suffering (deserved or undeserved) is the provision of prayer (Ps. 39:3bff.).
  4. Believers need to learn how to place their conflict in an eternal perspective (Ps. 39:4-6; Rom. 8:18; 2nd Cor. 4:17-18).
  5. Believers need to understand that our discipline comes from the Lord, and He is the One to Whom we must confess (Ps. 39:7-11).
  6. Strangers and sojourners in this fallen world are actually strangers “with YHWH” (Ps. 39:12-13). Verse 12 has NT allusions in Heb. 11:13 & 1st Pet. 2:11.

Psalm Forty

  1. David offers thanksgiving for victory through testing (Ps. 40:1-10), and focuses on the next round of testing (Ps. 40:11-17).
  2. Prayer is an exercise in patience (Ps. 40:1).
  3. Because of answered prayer, David is equipped to compose a new song of praise (Ps. 40:3). The “new song” has NT echoes in Rev. 5:9 & 14:3.
  4. Believers are blessed as they trust the Lord, and turn away from the Satanic alternative (Ps. 40:4; Job 1:1).
  5. Perhaps the greatest of all the wonders of God is the regard that He shows to mankind (Ps. 40:5; 8:4; 139:13-18).
  6. The Lord desires humble believers that walk according to His Word (Ps. 40:6-8; 1st Sam. 15:22; Hos. 6:6). 
  7. This description of David was also a prophetic description of Jesus Christ in His First Advent. This passage reflects a significant MT vs. LXX difference, with an extensive NT quotation that supports the LXX (Heb. 10:5-10).
  8. Because of the Lord’s faithfulness, David was eager to proclaim the good news of His salvation (Ps. 40:9-10).  This was also the Lord’s vow upon the cross (Ps. 22:22,25).
  9. Although David has just enjoyed a wonderful victory, he soon found himself overtaken by his own iniquities (Ps. 40:12), and went back to a fervent, effective prayer ministry (Ps. 40:11-17).

Psalm Forty-One

  1. Psalm 41 is another penitential psalm.
  2. David has been gracious to the helpless, and knows that the Lord will be gracious to him (Ps. 41:1-3; Prov. 14:21; 19:17; Job 29:12-16).
  3. David prays regarding the conspiracy that seeks his fall, and yet he understands the entire test is the result of his own sin against God (Ps. 41:4-9).
  4. David is the greatest type of Christ in the Old Testament.  Ahithophel is David’s friend and counselor, and becomes the Judas Iscariot betrayer (Ps. 41:9; 55:12-14; 2nd Sam. 15:12,31; Jn. 13:2,10-11,18,21-27).
  5. The believer can be confident in that the Lord will always defend His faithful servants (Ps. 41:10-13).

Psalm Fifty-Five

  1. The Lord is testing David with the people-testing of wicked adversaries, and with the patience-testing of delayed prayer-response (Ps. 55:1-3).
  2. David’s testing produces a desire to run in fear (Ps. 55:4-8).
  3. David calls for the Lord to take action upon the wicked (Ps. 55:9-11,15).
  4. The hardest part of David’s testing is the betrayal by such a good friend (Ps. 55:12-14,20-21).
  5. David can take no action to save himself; he undertakes a fervent prayer ministry, and leaves his case in the Lord’s hands (Ps. 55:16-19).
  6. David concludes his lament with a Bible class for his audience—prayer is the believer’s primary exercise in the faith-rest life (Ps. 55:22-23).

Psalm Fifty-Eight

  1. This psalm is an imprecatory psalm against the Satanic forces of evil in this world.
  2. David addresses this song to gods and men (Ps. 58:1).
    1. אֵל ’ēl #410: god, mighty one, angel.
    2. בְּנֵי אָדָם benēy ’ādām: sons of man.
  3. Fallen humanity, walking according to the course of fallen angels, pursues works of unrighteousness (Ps. 58:2-5; Eph. 2:2).
  4. David calls upon the Lord to leave the rulers and authorities disarmed (Ps. 58:6-7), and ultimately destroyed (Ps. 58:8-9).
  5. Eternal vindication must await the appointed time of judgment (Ps. 58:10-11).