Reading and reflecting on the Psalms was a great experience for me in terms of absorbing talking about God's Word. I got a lot of it and put a lot into and I'd that God helped me out both ways, so I thank Him for that. I didn't understand every verse, but I tried to comment on most of 'em as best I could. I am still open to corrections in case an interpretation needs to be corrected. Remember to correct me respectfully, though.
When I studied Martin Luther a few months ago, one of the things I read was his Preface to the Psalms. I can't seem to find an exact quote, but I remember reading a statement of his that said something along the lines of Psalms is a book that covers all the basic Christian beliefs. I agree with him because reading the messianic Psalms, for example, I already had an idea of Christ was because of reading the New Testament. However, a chapter Psalm 22 covers the basic belief that Christ was (to be) crucified since it is prophetic in nature. I figure if I started out reading Psalms and no other book before that, I would've had a good understanding of Christianity and the prophecies concerning Christ. There are passages in Psalms that speak of the Lord as one's salvation. I already knew He was my salvation before reading and reflecting on the passages concerning that aspect of Him since I had exposed myself to other passages that illustrate that He can be one's salvation, but I do feel that the Lord as one's salvation is another basic belief in Christianity since He has saved and will continue to save sinners. Since I'm not gonna list every basic Christian belief which is described in Psalms, I will end this paragraph a third one: God's omniscience and omnipresence, which are both talked about in Psalm 139. I feel that those are basic Christian beliefs because if God wasn't omniscient and omnipresent, He wouldn't be the Christian God. In fact, He'd probably some other kind of god since being omniscient and omnipresent are part of His attributes.
I thank those that have taken time to have read the scriptures and my reactions to the Pslams and I pray that the Lord will continue to use His Word to anyone who may come across my blog needing words of comfort or is just curious about the Word. Hey, if I plant some seeds, that's cool and I figure God can and will (continue to) use His Word as He pleases. I probably will blog on scripture and apologetics-related subjects in the future, which should be fun. I'll also go back to talking about life and stuff and maybe review some stuff and pretty whatever else is on my mind for more a variety-focused direction.
Showing posts with label book of psalms reflections bible. Show all posts
Showing posts with label book of psalms reflections bible. Show all posts
Friday, October 21, 2011
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Reflecting on the Psalms: Chapters 1-2
Psalm 1
1Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
2But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
3And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
4The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.
5Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
6For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.
Psalm 2
1Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?
2The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying,
3Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.
4He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the LORD shall have them in derision.
5Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.
6Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.
7I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.
8Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.
9Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.
10Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth.
11Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.
12Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.
Chapter 1
There is a contrast between the godly and ungodly, the righteous and the unrighteous. I figure since I am blessed by God for walking in His ways, I can't lose (v. 1). In a way, that's a reminder that God provides for me as a result of trusting Him. Verse 2 speaks to me because I can delight in God's law because it is the standard which I live by even I fail to do so. Another day, however, gives me another chance to follow His Word if I screw up. Yes, as a believer, I still sin, but that doesn't mean I revel in sin just so God can forgive me. His Word provides me with guidance and direction, which is another reason why I see myself delighting in it. I try and meditate on His law day and night, which isn't always easy because I may have another other things going through my head, which may or may not be worth thinking about. The comparisons contained in verse 3 are interesting because it's as if it's God thinks of His followers as plants. It describes the process which a tree goes through, which is something I can relate to faith-wise. I feel that as a Christian, I should bear fruit and that I will do so in my season -- or rather in my time. I do bear good fruit for the Lord, but that doesn't mean I'm always gonna be doing something that ilustrates that. Sometimes I'm just apathetic, I guess, but I know that with God's stength, I can overcome that. I like the fact that if I walk in God's way, my leaf shall not wither. It's kind of reassuring, I think, especially in times of doubt. I'm glad that I don't have to worry about drying up if I follow after God. And the things I do that will prosper, I imagine, are the things that are pleasing to God because I will be rewarded for doing His will. I don't have much to say about verse 4, but I figure that if I'm a godly man, that means God's judgment on me, when the time comes, will be something to look forward to (v .5). Verse 6, I feel, is another way of saying that God knows His plan for me if I continue to follow it; furthermore, I won't be at a loss eternity-wise if I lean on Him.
Chapter 2
This seems to be a messianic psalm. I may not be able to relate to it as an individual since most of it seems to be directed at a group (v. 1-3). I see how it apples to modern times if one were to put it into that context. Earlier, I asked my dad about the first three verses and what intirgued me the most about them was the phrase "The kings of the earth" in verse 2. My mom overheard our discussion and she mentioned Libya. That parallel makes sense and opens my eyes to how the verse fits into modern times. Moreover, the first four verses say to me that I shouldn't be part of a nation that rebels against God. In the past, in biblical times, Israel rebelled against God, which is an example I can learn from. Proverbs 1:10 says, "My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not." If I choose to get involved with sinners and, should I say, revel in it, I will end up facing God's wrath. I don't serve God so He won't pour out His wrath upon me, though; I do it because I love Him and I wanna express that to Him. Verse 7, which points to Jesus, illustrates that since Jesus is the Son of God, I am born of God -- I am a heir and joint-heir with Christ (Romans 8:17). I think that verse also gives me confidence in proclaming that I am a son of the living God. Verse 8 has a bit of irony about it. It's basically saying that according to a commentary I came across on enduringword.com, "The Lord's Anointed holds the nations as His inheritance. He will rule over all nations and all judgment is committed to Him (John 5:22)." It kind of reminds of the Book of Joshua, chapter 19 in particular, when the tribes inherited the land. Verse 9 basically is saying that it's foolish for the nations to rebel against God and His Anoited, which is basically how the chapter starts out. That's kinda what happened with Libya, I guess. Perhaps I should not dwell on that too much, though. I see verses 10-11 as a kind of calling to the nations that have rebelled against God -- a shot at repentence. I've been praying for this nation these past couple days since it seems rather godless. Praying for this nation isn't something I'd normally do, but my pastor suggested to the church assembly on Sunday to do it, and I thought I'd go along with it. It's crazy how verses 10-11 fit in. And who knows? Prayer makes a difference and even if God works in a small way, that doesn't mean He won't have a big impact. I'd like to see people turn from their ways serve God, especially if they have turned away from Him. I'm not judging anyone -- I'm just saying that maybe things would be better and maybe the economy would prosper if this nation turned to Christ. Verse 12 seems to imply a romantic relationship with God since it starts out with "Kiss the Son." There's a song by Pistis In Him Alone called Kiss the Hope, which I guess is along the same lines. The word "kiss" isn't literal in this sense, but rather a metaphor for our affection towards Him. To me, showing affection towards God means getting choked up due to expressing His glory, whether it be out loud or written. The cool thing about being blessed due to trusting in Him is that if I follow His plan, I find comfort in it. I find a sense of joy since He provides for me in a way that no man could.
Source used:
"Psalm 2 - The Reign of the Lord’s Anointed" http://www.enduringword.com/commentaries/19002.htm
1Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
2But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
3And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
4The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.
5Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
6For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.
Psalm 2
1Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?
2The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying,
3Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.
4He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the LORD shall have them in derision.
5Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.
6Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.
7I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.
8Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.
9Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.
10Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth.
11Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.
12Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.
Chapter 1
There is a contrast between the godly and ungodly, the righteous and the unrighteous. I figure since I am blessed by God for walking in His ways, I can't lose (v. 1). In a way, that's a reminder that God provides for me as a result of trusting Him. Verse 2 speaks to me because I can delight in God's law because it is the standard which I live by even I fail to do so. Another day, however, gives me another chance to follow His Word if I screw up. Yes, as a believer, I still sin, but that doesn't mean I revel in sin just so God can forgive me. His Word provides me with guidance and direction, which is another reason why I see myself delighting in it. I try and meditate on His law day and night, which isn't always easy because I may have another other things going through my head, which may or may not be worth thinking about. The comparisons contained in verse 3 are interesting because it's as if it's God thinks of His followers as plants. It describes the process which a tree goes through, which is something I can relate to faith-wise. I feel that as a Christian, I should bear fruit and that I will do so in my season -- or rather in my time. I do bear good fruit for the Lord, but that doesn't mean I'm always gonna be doing something that ilustrates that. Sometimes I'm just apathetic, I guess, but I know that with God's stength, I can overcome that. I like the fact that if I walk in God's way, my leaf shall not wither. It's kind of reassuring, I think, especially in times of doubt. I'm glad that I don't have to worry about drying up if I follow after God. And the things I do that will prosper, I imagine, are the things that are pleasing to God because I will be rewarded for doing His will. I don't have much to say about verse 4, but I figure that if I'm a godly man, that means God's judgment on me, when the time comes, will be something to look forward to (v .5). Verse 6, I feel, is another way of saying that God knows His plan for me if I continue to follow it; furthermore, I won't be at a loss eternity-wise if I lean on Him.
Chapter 2
This seems to be a messianic psalm. I may not be able to relate to it as an individual since most of it seems to be directed at a group (v. 1-3). I see how it apples to modern times if one were to put it into that context. Earlier, I asked my dad about the first three verses and what intirgued me the most about them was the phrase "The kings of the earth" in verse 2. My mom overheard our discussion and she mentioned Libya. That parallel makes sense and opens my eyes to how the verse fits into modern times. Moreover, the first four verses say to me that I shouldn't be part of a nation that rebels against God. In the past, in biblical times, Israel rebelled against God, which is an example I can learn from. Proverbs 1:10 says, "My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not." If I choose to get involved with sinners and, should I say, revel in it, I will end up facing God's wrath. I don't serve God so He won't pour out His wrath upon me, though; I do it because I love Him and I wanna express that to Him. Verse 7, which points to Jesus, illustrates that since Jesus is the Son of God, I am born of God -- I am a heir and joint-heir with Christ (Romans 8:17). I think that verse also gives me confidence in proclaming that I am a son of the living God. Verse 8 has a bit of irony about it. It's basically saying that according to a commentary I came across on enduringword.com, "The Lord's Anointed holds the nations as His inheritance. He will rule over all nations and all judgment is committed to Him (John 5:22)." It kind of reminds of the Book of Joshua, chapter 19 in particular, when the tribes inherited the land. Verse 9 basically is saying that it's foolish for the nations to rebel against God and His Anoited, which is basically how the chapter starts out. That's kinda what happened with Libya, I guess. Perhaps I should not dwell on that too much, though. I see verses 10-11 as a kind of calling to the nations that have rebelled against God -- a shot at repentence. I've been praying for this nation these past couple days since it seems rather godless. Praying for this nation isn't something I'd normally do, but my pastor suggested to the church assembly on Sunday to do it, and I thought I'd go along with it. It's crazy how verses 10-11 fit in. And who knows? Prayer makes a difference and even if God works in a small way, that doesn't mean He won't have a big impact. I'd like to see people turn from their ways serve God, especially if they have turned away from Him. I'm not judging anyone -- I'm just saying that maybe things would be better and maybe the economy would prosper if this nation turned to Christ. Verse 12 seems to imply a romantic relationship with God since it starts out with "Kiss the Son." There's a song by Pistis In Him Alone called Kiss the Hope, which I guess is along the same lines. The word "kiss" isn't literal in this sense, but rather a metaphor for our affection towards Him. To me, showing affection towards God means getting choked up due to expressing His glory, whether it be out loud or written. The cool thing about being blessed due to trusting in Him is that if I follow His plan, I find comfort in it. I find a sense of joy since He provides for me in a way that no man could.
Source used:
"Psalm 2 - The Reign of the Lord’s Anointed" http://www.enduringword.com/commentaries/19002.htm
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