Heaven's Hymnbook: An Overview of Psalms (Vol. 3)

By Dr. Raymond Barber

The 150 Psalms are like the towering peaks of an impressive mountain range. They are picturesque and imposing! To both young and old, new Christian and seasoned saint, the Psalms are replete with comfort, encouragement, insight and admonition. The portraits of Christ which are woven throughout this God-breathed poetry both exalt the Person of God and call us to trust Him and follow Him.
Heaven's Hymnbook: An Overview of the Psalms will be immeasurably useful for preachers, teachers and Christian laymen. Volume 3 of this three-volume set covers Psalms 90-150.
Read it and rejoice that the divine Author of Psalms is the One who paints us the picture of the 'author and finisher of our faith.' To Him be glory both now and forever.—Dr. Raymond Barber

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sword of the Lord Foundation
• Release date: Jan 21, 2016
• ISBN: 9781311731746

Book preview

Psalm 90

The Prayer of Moses

Overview:

Psalm 90 and Isaiah 40 have somewhat parallel messages as they both present the grandeur and eternality of God compared to the weakness and frailty of man.

The reader of Psalms is taken immediately out of the realm of time and into the realm of eternity with the words from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.

Following this declared truth about God comes the avowed weakness of man. The closing verses of the prayer contain a plea for God's mercy.

Commentary:

Verses 1, 2: Acknowledging God (LORD) as the source of all life, Moses assures men in every period of life that God is also our dwelling place. To say that God is our dwelling place is to say He is our Refuge, Defender and Provider. He is for us, with a vested interest in our past, present and future.

We dwell in Him and find in Him the divine supply to all our human needs. We are His and He is ours (Deuteronomy 33:27). From generation to generation God manifests Himself as the eternal One who dwells with finite man (verse 1).

God is Creator and Sustainer of all life. Without beginning and without ending, He cannot be measured by time, nor can He be explained in finite definitions. God is self-sufficient and condescends to man, not for sustenance for Himself, but to sustain man in his restlessness and weakness. His majesty is indefinable and immeasurable, and His presence is real and assuring (verse 2).

Verses 3-6: Man came from the dust of the earth (Genesis 2:7; 3:19), and to dust he will return (Ecclesiastes 12:7). At this point we do well to remember that the soul—the real person—returns to God who gave it (II Corinthians 5:8).

It is God who governs and controls the life and death of all mankind (verse 3).

God is not controlled by time. With Him there is no past or future; everything is as though it is happening now! He sees the end from the beginning and cannot be startled, shocked or surprised by anything that comes to pass (Isaiah 40:13-18; 46:9, 10). Man stands in awe in the presence of God whose existence is from everlasting to everlasting, and who measures the existence of man as though it was as nothing (verse 4).

Man, like grass, is sown, grown, blown, mown and gone (verses 5, 6).

Verses 7-12: The anger of God at sin consumes man in His wrath. According to Psalm 7:11, God is angry with the wicked every day. In view of this truth, we should live out our days trusting God's grace that overrides His anger (verse 7).

No sin committed by man, whether of the spirit or the flesh, can be hidden from an omniscient God. He sees all, knows all and keeps books on all. His book of remembrance is being written (Malachi 3:16). Try as we may, we cannot hide our sins from Him (verse 8).

The days we spend are in God's sight as a tale that is told. From these words we conclude that our days are brought to an end in a manner that is like a fleeting moment (verse 9).

The allotted time for man is a span of seventy years, and even if one's life is extended to eighty, sorrow characterizes it, and it is soon cut off, and we fly away (verse 10).

No one is capable of measuring the power or demonstration of God's anger. The wrath of God as poured out upon sin is beyond measure or explanation (verse 11).

Life should not be lived only in the present, as though there were no future. At its longest, life is brief and uncertain. We do well to pray the same prayer that Moses prayed, Teach us to number our days. To be conscious of the brevity of life makes us wise in counting our days (verse 12).

Verses 13-17: A sincere prayer for mercy and instruction is a request for happiness in the midst of sorrow and holiness in the midst of evil (verses 13-15).

Next is a plea for the glory of God to be manifested in a sign of wisdom. We all need to see the work of God crowned with His glory. The beauty of the Lord our God...upon us makes it possible for us to reflect His glory to those about us. In this manner the work of God can be established and enriched with His presence (verses 16, 17).

Key Verse:

Verse 12—So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.

Outline: Teaching/Preaching

I. THE ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF THE ETERNALITY OF GOD —Verses 1, 2

II. THE ACCEPTANCE OF THE BREVITY OF MAN—Verses 3-6

III. THE AWFULNESS OF GOD'S WRATH UPON SIN—Verses 7-12

IV. THE ANTICIPATION OF GOD'S GRACE UPON MAN—Verses 13-17)

Summary:

God is infinite; man is finite. The ways of God are above the ways of man, but the goodness of God enables man to reach God through the grace of God.

A Concluding Thought: Live right, and live wisely.

Psalm 91

God's Sanctuary of Safety

Overview:

Psalm 91 is a psalm that covers all the bases of potential danger while promising divine protection. The greater the threat, the more precious the assurance of the safety under the shadow of the Almighty. Even in the face of Satan's most formidable blows, the child of God finds refuge in the secret place of the most High.

Commentary:

Verses 1, 2: He who takes up an abiding place in the shelter of the God of the universe finds in Him not only a hiding place, but a fortress against the onrushing tides of the evil forces of Satan. There is no safer place than the shadow of the Almighty. The God of the creation, the covenant and the consummation is my God! The believer's relationship with God transcends a mere acquaintance. It is an intimate kinship.

Verses 3-6: The trap (snare) set by the hunter of birds poses no danger to one who is dwelling in the secret chamber of God's protective care, nor does the pestilence that blows in on a noisy wind (verse 3).

The parenting bird becomes a picture of the most high God who covers His beloved children with His tender care and provides protection under His sheltering wings. (Note the precision with which the psalmist employs the metaphors: feathers and wings.) No place of warmth and security could be found to equal this position. The Word of God (truth) is a protective barrier from the fiery darts of the wicked as aptly stated by Paul in Ephesians 6:16 (verse 4).

The night stalker (terror) presents no threat because the believer is safely abiding under the shadow of the Almighty. Nor shall the child of God fear the armaments from the arsenal of the devil that flieth by day (verse 5).

The pestilences and plagues that operate under the cover of darkness will not spoil the believer, nor will the devastating perils that arrive at noon (verse 6).

Verses 7-10: Although the battles and conflicts of life are raging and thousands are falling victim to the onslaughts of Satan, the one who is dwelling in the secret place of the most High escapes the danger and destruction (verse 7).

The reward of the wicked—death, devastation and destruction—shall be witnessed by those who are in the divine hiding place. In fact, the safe dwellers will see with their eyes the defeat of their enemies (verse 8).

The wise ones who make God their refuge and dwelling place will have no evil come upon them, nor will any disease come near their fortress of security (verses 9, 10).

Verses 11-13: Immediately the reader sees in verses 11 and 12 a picture of Christ, who during His temptation is given the very promise that is recorded here (Matthew 4:5, 6).

Psalm 34:7 and Hebrews 1:13, 14 tell us that the servants of God in our time are afforded similar protection, as the same ministering spirits (angels) are dispatched to assist us and to minister to our needs as well as to deliver us from danger and harm (verse 13).

Verses 14-16: These verses take us to the lofty heights of God's providential care for those who honor and trust Him. Herein are His commitments to believers:

1. He delivers those who place their affections upon Him (Colossians 3:1, 2).

2. He exalts those who fear His name (Malachi 4:2).

3. He answers those who call upon Him (Jeremiah 33:3).

4. He is near us in times of trouble (Psalm 46:1).

5. He honors those who honor Him (Proverbs 3:9, 10).

6. He extends the life of those who obey Him (Ephesians 6:1-3).

7. He gives salvation to those who call upon Him (Romans 10:13).

Key Verse:

Verse 1—He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

Outline: Teaching/Preaching

I. A PLACE OF REFUGE—Verses 1-7

II. A PROMISE OF PROTECTION—Verses 8-13

III. A PRONOUNCEMENT OF SECURITY—Verses 14-16

Summary:

God's wonderful care for those who abide in Him is spelled out clearly in this psalm. We do well to put our trust in the One who is powerful, precious and pure. He manifests Himself in ways beyond our comprehension. In His dwelling place and under His wings we safely abide.

A Concluding Thought: He who abides in the shadow of the Almighty dwells in safety and security.

Psalm 92

Rejoicing in God's Blessings

Overview:

The goodness and graciousness of the Lord are clearly seen in each verse of this Song for the Sabbath. Remembering the blessings, benefits, benedictions and bonuses of the Lord brings strength, hope and confidence to the heart of all who believe in Him. Read it and rejoice!

Commentary:

Verses 1-4: God alone is worthy of the praise of His people. Praising God is the right thing to do. The very nature of God demands we offer thanks to His name (verse 1).

Every believer should have a wake-up prayer. We should all acknowledge His loving-kindness as the day begins. This ensures His care through the day. Every night should be characterized by the declaration of His faithfulness (verse 2).

Musical instruments are to be used to glorify God. There are more than five hundred references to music in the Bible, and God is pleased with music that honors Him and glorifies Christ while at the same time blessing the hearts of the worshipers (verse 3).

The heart of the believer is made to rejoice when he thinks of the good things that God has done. The greatest work of God is the plan of salvation that He formulated through the sacrifice of Christ upon the cross.

Redemption is the crowning touch of all that God has done for mankind (verse 4).

Verses 5-9: The greatness of God's works is associated with the depth of His thoughts. Paul asserts in Romans 11:33-36 that the ways of God are beyond human comprehension and that His judgments are impossible for the finite mind of man to grasp. No one can advise God nor give to Him understanding or knowledge (verse 5).

The natural (brutish) man does not understand the works of God (verse 6). God's ways are high above man's ways, and God's thoughts are beyond the thoughts of man (Isaiah 55:8, 9).

Although the wicked appear to flourish in their obstinate ways, it is only that they are destined to perish and their houses to come to nothing (Job 8:22; 21:30). The wicked shall be cast into the punishment of an eternal Hell (Psalm 9:17). Clearly, God will bring destruction to those who reject His mercy (verse 7).

God is eternal, immortal and unchangeable. His attributes will adorn His person forever. There is no diminishing of His majesty or His holiness (verse 8). He is from everlasting to everlasting, the same yesterday, today and forever (Malachi 3:6 and Hebrews 13:8)

In stark contrast to God are the wicked who shall perish (verse 9).

Verses 10-15: The servants of God are blessed with the exaltation of their horn (that is, their power to serve). There is always a fresh anointing for those who are dedicated to the service of the Lord. One is here reminded of Psalm 23:5: Thou anointest my head with oil. The oil of the Spirit rests upon God's servants (verse 10).

It is manifestly clear that the righteous shall live to see and hear the overthrow of their enemies who rise up against them (verse 11).

The psalmist compares the prosperity of the righteous to that of the palm tree and the cedar of Lebanon. These are the most glorious of all