Naas Presbyterian Church

The psalmist give thanks to the Lord with his whole heart (v. 1) because the Lord has helped him and has caused his enemies to turn back (vv. 3–4). As the one who rules forever (vv 7+8), the Lord rebukes the wicked people of the nations (vv. 5+6), but he is a stronghold for those who seek him (vv. 9+10). The Lord executes judgment against the wicked people in the nations (vv. 15–17), but he remembers the needy (v. 18). The psalmist praises God for all of this. However, in verses 13 and 14 he appeals to the Lord to see his own affliction and to lift him from the gates of death so that he might declare God’s praises and rejoice in his salvation. This speaks to us of the suffering of the Lord Jesus who cried out to his Father from the cross. Though he went through the gates of death, his Father did not abandon him but lifted him from the grave so that he triumphed over all those who sought to destroy him. United to Christ by faith, we too are lifted from spiritual death to new life in Christ so that we might declare God’s praise and rejoice in his salvation.

The Psalm begins and ends with a declaration of God’s majesty and throughout the verses the psalmist speaks of the wonder of God’s creation and the amazing fact of God’s care for human beings. It is staggering to him that God made us a little lower than the angels and made us the ruler of the rest of his creation. The writer of the book of Hebrews in the New Testament applies this Psalm to the Son of God and to the wonder of his incarnation. It is the Son of God who was made a little lower than the angels when he came into the world as a human. He is now crowned with glory and honour because he suffered death for us and for our salvation. Furthermore, one day he will bring us into glory (Hebrews 2:5–10).

Once again David expects God to help him against his enemies. If he were guilty of doing evil, then he would accept that he deserves everything he gets from his enemies (vv. 4–5). However, he is confident that he is not at fault (v. 8) and though he knows that God is a righteous judge who expresses his wrath every day (v. 11), he is certain that God will be a shield to him (v. 10).

In his first letter in the New Testament, the Apostle Peter assures God’s suffering people that they too are shielded by God’s power until the coming of our complete salvation when Christ returns. Believers can take comfort that, having been reconciled to God through faith in Christ, we can expect him to shield and protect us always.

Why should David or any other believer expect God to accept our prayers and hear our cries for mercy (v. 9)? Why should we expect him to deliver us from troubles whenever, like David, we have done much to deserve God’s angry rebuke (v. 1)? The only answer is God’s unfailing love (v. 4), his covenant commitment to be our God, a commitment established by the blood of the Saviour who died to reconcile us to God forever.

Once again it’s possible that the background to this psalm is the same as for Psalm 3: King David has had to flee Jerusalem because of his enemies. David turns to God and cries for help (v. 2). He then waits in expectation for God to deliver him (v. 3). David, speaking by the Holy Spirit, teaches us that the wicked cannot dwell in the presence of God or stand in his presence (vv. 4–6). They are to be banished from God because of their rebellion (v. 10). By contrast, the righteous are blessed by God and are surrounded by his favour and protection (v. 11–12).

Writing in the New Testament, the Apostle Paul teaches that we have all sinned and come short of the glory of God: all of us deserve to be banished from God’s presence for ever. However, through faith in the Lord Jesus, we receive his righteousness so that God considers us right with him. This means that in this life we may come before God in prayer as David did, expecting his help. Then, when Christ returns, we may come into God’s presence for ever.

The background to this psalm may very well be the same as in psalm 3 when King David had to flee Jerusalem because of his enemies. David, however, continues to count on the Lord’s help, confident that God will hear and answer his prayers. There were many who wondered if any good could come out of this terrible experience (v. 6). David, though, is able to rest in the knowledge that God will take care of them (v. 8). Many of Jesus’s disciples must have wondered if any good could out of the cross. But on the third day, Jesus rose again and the disciples came to understand that by his death Christ was reconciling sinners to God.

In this psalm, King David refers to the many enemies who are rising up against him (v. 1). However, the Lord is a shield around him (v. 3). David counts on the Lord to save him from his enemies. He’s also counting on the Lord to bless his people (v. 8). Many enemies surrounded our King, the Lord Jesus Christ, throughout his life on earth. Though they eventually crucified him, God delivered him from the grave. As a result of his victory, Christ’s people receive the blessing of God. Believers can take comfort from the knowledge that our King has triumphed over all his (and our) enemies.

Almighty God has installed his Anointed King in Jerusalem. This King is declared to be God’s son and God promises to give him the nations to rule over. Therefore the leaders of the nations (and the people they represent) are urged to come and acknowledge him as God’s Anointed King and to submit to him. This psalm points us forward to the Lord Jesus who is the Son of God and who rules over all things from his throne in heaven. People everywhere are urged to acknowledge him as their Lord and Saviour by whom we are reconciled to Almighty God. Those who take refuge in him receive God’s blessing while those who refuse him face his wrath.

The psalmist contrasts the righteous and the wicked. The righteous man is blessed by God whereas the wicked are cut off from God. There really was only one truly righteous person — the Lord Jesus who perfectly obeyed God’s laws and commandments. Only Jesus has the right to stand in the presence of his Father in heaven. However, in order to bring his people into the presence of God, Jesus was cut off from God when he died on the cross in our place. Having risen, he gives his righteousness to all who believe in him so that we may come into the presence of God.