The Landover Baptist Church Forum - Day 159. Psalm 21-25

Psalm 21-25

Psalm 21

1 The king shall joy in thy strength, O LORD; and in thy salvation how greatly shall he rejoice!

This has got to be something David was singing about Saul. "The king", David would never miss a chance to say me/my/i.

2 Thou hast given him his heart's desire, and hast not withholden the request of his lips. Selah.

This would probably be before Saul wanted to kill David. Because remember, at one point, Saul's heart's desire was to kill the prime minister of Malaysia, I mean David.

7 For the king trusteth in the LORD, and through the mercy of the most High he shall not be moved.

This must be before the Amalek "issue".

10 Their fruit shalt thou destroy from the earth, and their seed from among the children of men.

Genocide=biblically correct, unless you are trying to genocide the jews, then it's a bad thing.

13 Be thou exalted, LORD, in thine own strength: so will we sing and praise thy power.

God is powerful, PRAISE HIS HOLY STRENGTH WAYS!!!

Psalm 22

1 My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?

Remember, Jesus said the same thing in Matthew 27:46/Mark 15:34.

You'll notice a lot of correlations between Jesus and Psalm 22.

7 All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,

Jesus was scorned.

8 He trusted on the LORD that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.

Matthew 27:43 He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God.

14 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels.

John 19:34 But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.

16 For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.

How much more can a Psalm be talking about Jesus?

18 They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.

Mark 15:24 And when they had crucified him, they parted his garments, casting lots upon them, what every man should take.

22 I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.

Well, I guess that's different than Jesus. He didn't praise God with his last words, he either said "Father into thy hands I commend my spirit" or "It is finished" or just screamed really loud.

Psalm 23

This is a very recognized Psalm. Most everyone should know one part or another from it.

1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

Yes, it's THAT one.

2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

Friends, reconcile this verse with modern christianity. How many people think they are a shepherd? How many people try to make God into this nice little man who sits around and is only there when you need him? How many people are out looking for a church, trying to find a god who fits into their lifestyle?

Friends, GOD MAKES YOU SIT YOUR ASS DOWN!!! You don't go running off and then come back whenever you want, he's a shepherd, not a fisherman.

4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

A rod is a piece of wood used for punishment. A staff is ... well... a walking stick, it can also be used as a weapon. If would have been used to guide the sheep. The rod would be used to hit the sheep back into line.

Note it's thy ROD and thy STAFF; not thy staff and thy rod. Why is that significant? God will first beat you with his rod, and then he'll guide you. When God is pounding you with His rod, it's comforting.

6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

Note how it says will follow me. Why is that significant? Why aren't they WITH, instead of FOLLOW? Times may be tough now, but when you look back, you'll be thankful for what you had.

Psalm 24

1 The earth is the LORD's, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.

Everything is the LORD's. You are just borrowing it.

10 Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah.

God is awesome.

Psalm 25

2 O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me.

Remember God, a loss for me, is a loss for you.

3 Yea, let none that wait on thee be ashamed: let them be ashamed which transgress without cause.

Think of your relationship with God to be like the relationship of a person in an individual sport (like wrestling) with their coach.

When a person loses a wrestling match, it shows that he wasn't as good as the other. It could also show that the person wasn't as trained as well as the other, and that's the coaches fault. A loss for the player, is a loss for the coach.

4 Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths.

Now, wrestling and God may not be the best analogy, since the other time God wrestled, he tied, and so he cheated and touched Jacob's leg and nearly crippled him (Genesis 32:32), but see, in verse 4 here, the psalmist realizes that God is the ultimate coach, it's up to God to guide his performance.

7 Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness' sake, O LORD.

As I read this, I thought about Sola Fide. The belief that we are saved by faith alone. I thought, why would we ever have to ask God to forgive us, if we are saved by faith alone? Why would we have to change our sinful ways, if we are saved by faith alone? If one just "BELIEVES" their way to heaven, who cares. Anyone can BELIEVE there is a God. It's the action that one takes that shows that they care about those beliefs.

Here's what sola fide really should mean. I BELIEVE that I am saved, and if I don't ACT like I'm a True Christian ™ and quit sinning, that God will send me to hell. If I continue to DO sin, then I am not really a christian.

10 All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.

God will do his part, will you do yours? (There's more to it than just saying some magic words)

20 O keep my soul, and deliver me: let me not be ashamed; for I put my trust in thee.

By trust, that ACTIONS.

So what have we learned today?

1. God is great.

2. God's the best coach there is, but if you lose, it's a reflection on how well he prepared you.

3. Belief without actions will get you tossed.

YIC
V