SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR
6/25/2012 9:37:37 AM
My Worship Time Focus: Psalm 98 PT-1
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: Psalm 98:1-3
Message of the verses: In today’s SD we will begin to look at Psalm 98 by looking at several introductions from different Bible commentators in order to better understand what this psalm is all about.
“TITLE AND SUBJECT. — This sacred ode, which bears simply the title of "A Psalm," follows fitly upon the last, and is evidently an integral part of the series of royal psalms. If #Ps 97:1-12 described the publication of the gospel, and so the setting up of the kingdom of heaven, the present Psalm is a sort of Coronation Hymn, officially proclaiming the conquering Messiah as Monarch over the nations, with blast of trumpets, clapping of hands, and celebration of triumphs. It is a singularly bold and lively song. The critics have fully established the fact that similar expressions occur in Isaiah, but we see no force in the inference that therefore it was written by him; on this principle half the books in the English language might be attributed to Shakespeare. The fact is that these associated Psalms make up a mosaic, in which each one of them has an appropriate place, and is necessary to the completeness of the whole, and therefore we believe them, to be each and all the work of one and the same mind. Paul, if we understand him aright, ascribes #Ps 95:1-11 to David, and as we believe that the same writer must have written the whole group, we ascribe this also to the son of Jesse. Whoever that may be, the song is worthy to rank among the most devout and soul stirring of sacred lyrics.” (Charles H. Spurgeon)
“Like the surrounding psalms, this psalm proclaims the excitement and joy of the whole earth over the rule of the Lord in the kingdom. This psalm is given over entirely to praise, with only a brief mention of the wicked.” (The John MacArthur Study Bible)
“From this psalm Isaac Watts fond the inspiration for his popular hymn ‘Joy to the World,’ often classified as a Christmas carol but more accurately identified as a ‘kingdom hymn.’ Watts described Christ’s Second Advent and not His first, the Messianic kingdom and not the manger. The parallels to 96 are obvious but the psalms are not identical. This psalm was written to praise the Lord for a great victory over Israel’s enemies (‘salvation,’ vv. 1-3), perhaps the victory of the Medes and Persians over Babylon (Dan. 5) that led to the return of the Jewish exiles to their land (Ezra 1). Some of the vocabulary in the psalm reflects the language of Isaiah the prophet, who in chapters 40-66 of his book wrote about the ‘exodus’ of the Jews from Babylon (44:23; 49:;13; 51:3; 52:9-10; 59:16; 63:5). But the psalm also speaks of a future judgment (vv. 7-9). The psalmist saw in the destruction of ancient Babylon a picture of God’s judgment of end-time Babylon (Rev. 17-18).” (Warren Wiersbe)
A Marvelous Salvation (vv. 1-3): “1 A Psalm: O sing to the LORD a new song, For He has done wonderful things, His right hand and His holy arm have gained the victory for Him. 2 The LORD has made known His salvation; He has revealed His righteousness in the sight of the nations. 3 He has remembered His lovingkindness and His faithfulness to the house of Israel; All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.”
In verse one we see the psalmist writing about a new song that is to be sung to the Lord for something new that the Lord has done. What God has done for Israel demands a new song from His people. We know that God is Spirit and does not have a body so the things described at the end of verse one are metaphorical as they describe God with “His holy arm” that gained victory for Him. Verse two speaks of salvation and some people have a hard time understanding salvation being seen with God as a warrior, but we have spoken about this in earlier Spiritual Diaries. Paul wrote that the wages of sin is death so someone has to die for sin and at the cross it was Jesus Christ taking the Holy wrath of His Father in order to pay for the sins of those who would come to Him in repentance asking for His salvation. We see God’s love at the cross, but we also see God’s wrath and judgment at the cross. The Greek word that is translated “Propitiation” was used in Greek writings to mean “the satisfaction of an angry god.” God was angry with sin and is always angry with sin, but Christ’s death on the cross satisfied the anger of God and so He no longer looks at those who have accepted the death of Christ as payment for their sins in anger but He sees them the same way that He sees His Son. This is also a part of what the term Justification means that Paul writes about in the book of Romans. Justification is a legal term and some think that it means “just as if I never sinned,” but the meaning is deeper than that for we are looked upon by God as always being perfect.
Verse two goes on to talk about what God has not only done for Israel, but for the nations too. Dr. Wiersbe writes “What God did for Israel was a witness to the Gentile nations and a vivid demonstration of His faithfulness to His covenant and His love for His chosen people.” “It appears that the psalm points ahead to the return of Jesus Christ.” This is seen in verse three.
Spiritual meaning for my life today: This morning as I was putting on my “Spiritual Armor” and got to the helmet of salvation I was reminded of the need to put it on when times are not so good so that I can think about the wonderful salvation that God in His great love provided for me at the cruel cross where Jesus took my place. Salvation is something that I am so thankful for, something that I could never earn, and something that I do not deserve, but something that God has given to me. It is good to think about one’s salvation a lot in order to be thankful for this wonderful gift.
My Steps of Faith for Today:
1. Proverbs 3:5-6
2. Philippians 4:11b
3. Ephesians 6:10-18
4. John 15:1-8
Memory verses for the week: 2Peter 1:1-3
1.
Simon
Peter, a bond-servant and apostle of Jesus Christ,
To those who have received a
faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior,
Jesus Christ: 2. Grace and peace be
multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord; 3. seeing that
His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness,
through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and
excellence.
6/25/2012 10:56:17 AM
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