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 4 – Psalms 90-106 theme is the sufferings and afflictions of God’s people to end with the reign of Christ. In the meanwhile, God is our strength and protector in the times of trouble. This is clearly depicted in the opening two Psalms in the section, Psalm 90-91 – the only two attributed to Moses. This interplays between trouble in this world and divine rescue have a design. It is to “teach us to number our days” and examine life through eyes of wisdom (90:12). As we do so, our focus turns from our struggles to the satisfaction found in the Lord, resulting in our praise of Him (90:14). Such a person can proclaim that their only shelter from life’s bombardment is the Most High (90:1-4). Psalm 94:19 provides a summary take way and 95:1-2 guides us into worship.
The collection ends with man struggling with life and is stressing out (102:2a). He feels totally out of place like a pelican in the wilderness (102:6). But in Psalm 103, we find a man soaring as an eagle (v. 5b) rather than moping like the pelican. What makes the difference? The Psalm 103 man focuses on the Lord’s redemption and lovingkindess and compassion (vv. 1-4). David is especially thankful that the Lord understands our frailty, does not deal with us as we deserve but loves to pour out compassion and lovingkindess on those who fear Him (vv. 10-14).
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.
