Key word: Praise
As we travel across America in our automobile, especially on the older highway systems such as Route 66, there often is only short distances between towns and cities. But if you are driving across states like Kansas, Nebraska, Montana or the Dakotas, you can travel great distances with no towns, or even gas stations, Psalms is kind of like that. It is by far, the largest book in the Bible with 150 chapters varying from two verses to 176. It is a collection of songs and prayers, gathered from the time of Moses to Solomon and beyond – covering several centuries. David wrote approximately half the Psalms but there are numerous other contributors. Unlike driving across desolate places in America, the Psalms, while extremely long, is a virtual oasis of heart-felt prayers, cries to God for help, thanksgiving and songs of praise. The Psalms, somewhere, touches on every circumstance and emotion we experience, so, no wonder it is so loved by God’s people. In the end, it is a book about praising and worshipping God, thus our key word is praise.
Because of its length, Psalms is divided into five books, each ending in a doxology of praise. And so, unlike our previous stops along the biblical Route 66, we will spend five days observing these five books within the book.
Book 2 – Psalms 42-72 while the book of Psalms is one book in the Old Testament scriptures, it breaks itself into five sub-books each end with a doxology of praise. Book one ends in 41:13: blessings. Book two is largely concerned with the suffering of the Godly: deliverance. The first Psalm, 42, in this collection, is representative of much of this sub book. It opens with the Psalmist longing for God (vv. 1-2). It is a beautiful example of the child of God and their longing for the “living God.” But sometimes we stop at verse two and fail to catch the context. The Psalmist is hurting (vv. 3-4). As a matter of fact, he is in despair (v. 5), which is repeated in verse 11, and in different words in verse 6. One reason for his despair is his concern that the Lord has abandoned him at his hour of greatest need (vv. 9-10). Where is hope to be found? Even in the midst of his despair, he knows that hope is found only in the Lord (45:5b, 11b). This is why He is panting for the Lord (v. 1). Even though at this particular moment he is discouraged and downcast, and even though He does not presently experience the comfort he longs for from the Lord, nevertheless he does not give up. He doubles-down on his seeking the Lord, for he knows that is where his hope lies and that in God’s timing, He will deliver him.
Key verse: Psalm 1:1-2 – Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers! But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on His law he meditates day and night.
