Theology That Bites Back
INTRODUCTION:This next psalm was one of Martin Luther’s favorites, and was the inspiration for his hymn “A Mighty Fortress.” There were plenty of times during the Reformation when everything looked pretty black, and Luther would cheerfully say to Melancthon, “Come, Philip, let us sing the forty-sixth Psalm.” We have considered the importance of dogged tenacity …
INTRODUCTION:Psalm 45 is an Epithalamium, which is to say, a wedding song. The way it is quoteD in the New Testament makes it very clear that the ultimate fulfillment of this psalm is found in the marriage of Christ to the Church. This psalm is unlike any other, and is likely the wedding hymn for …
INTRODUCTION:The next psalm is a desperate plea for help from God. He is the God of their salvation, and yet He appears not to care. The citation of this psalm in the New Testament shows it to be the plea of righteous martyrs. THE TEXT:“We have heard with our ears, O God, our fathers have …
INTRODUCTION:The 43rd Psalm is very similar to the one before it, and in a handful of manuscripts it is even included together with it. But rather than consider it as a detached portion of the 42nd Psalm, it is a simpler explanation to consider this as a supplement, composed with the previous psalm in mind, …
INTRODUCTION:This next psalm is not attributed directly to David, although it is almost certainly his. The psalm is given to the chief musician, for the sons of Korah to sing. These were probably the descendents of the same Korah who rebelled against Moses in the wilderness (Num. 16). THE TEXT:“As the hart panteth after the …
INTRODUCTION:The great theme of this particular psalm is the betrayal of Jesus by Judas Iscariot, but as we recognize the nature of types and antitypes, we see many THE TEXT:“Blessed is he that considereth the poora : the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble . . . ” (Ps. 41:1-13). OUTLINE AND SUMMARY OF …
INTRODUCTION:This psalm is possibly a psalm to accompany the transport of the ark of the covenant to its new home on Mt. Zion. In the song it reenacts the great victories of God, and appropriately became the battle hymn of the Covenanters and the Huguenots. The reach of this psalm is high, although some of …
INTRODUCTION:It may be tempting to summarize this psalm as saying something like “praise God, everybody!” While it is certainly saying more than this, it is absolutely not saying anything less than this. And even this glorious exhortation has to have the ramifications fleshed out some more. THE TEXT:“God be merciful to us, and bless us; …
INTRODUCTION:God is the Lord of our hearts, and He is the Lord over the world. He acts within us, and He acts outside of us, on our behalf. He does things for us, and He does things to us. He does things in the world to shape us, and He does things in us in …
INTRODUCTION:Nothing about this world comes as a surprise to God. He knows what is in the heart of man, and He knows what His Spirit can do to the dry earth of sinful disobedience. As we look around us, let us never forget that God has the situation (our situation) well in hand. He governs …
