Part 11: David (2-9)

PSALM 2
~ Often sung at the crowning a new king

1 Why do the nations conspire
and the peoples plot in vain?
2 The kings of the earth take their stand
and the rulers gather together against the LORD
and against his Anointed One.
3 "Let us break their chains," they say,
"and throw off their fetters."

New Kings face external & internal resistance
~ The Nations/Kings represent the Gentiles
~ The Peoples/Rulers represent the Jews
The Reason for Rebellion is self-will

4 The One enthroned in heaven laughs;
the Lord scoffs at them.
5 Then he rebukes them in his anger
and terrifies them in his wrath, saying,
6 "I have installed my King on Zion, my holy hill."

God is already the King where it counts
Any opposed to the true King face wrath
God had/has installed a King on earth

7 I will proclaim the decree of the LORD :
He said to me, "You are my Son;
today I have become your Father.
8 Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance,
the ends of the earth your possession.
9 You will rule them with an iron scepter;
you will dash them to pieces like pottery."

God & His Anointed share a special relationship
~ The Anointed can accomplish God-sized goals
~ The Anointed can access God-sized power

10 Therefore, you kings, be wise;
be warned, you rulers of the earth.
11 Serve the LORD with fear and rejoice with trembling.
12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry
and you be destroyed in your way,
for his wrath can flare up in a moment.
Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

The Gentiles & Jews should reconsider rebellion
~ They should serve the Lord with fear
~ They should rejoice with trembling
~ They should seek right-relations to the Son

Psalm 2 in the life of David
~ David was anointed by God as King
~ David faced external & internal resistance
~ David accomplished God-sized goals
~ David accessed God-sized power

Psalm 2 in the life of Christ
~ Christ was anointed by God as King
~ Christ faced external & internal resistance
~ Christ accomplished God-sized goals
~ Christ accessed God-sized power

New Testament Quotations of Psalm 2
~ Acts 4:23-31, 13:32-37
~ Hebrews 1:1-5, 5:4-5
~ Revelation 2:26-27

PSALM 3
~ Written by David when he fled from Absalom
~ Historical context found in 2 Samuel 15-19

Categories of Opposition
1. Your enemies gang-up on you
2. Your allies turn against you
3. Your spiritual status is questioned

Combating Opposition
1. Depend on God to defend you
2. Maintain honest communication with God
3. Truly cast your cares to Him (be at peace)
4. Let God be the Judge of the wicked

PSALM 4
~ Written by David for the Director of Music
~ Probably written soon after Psalm 3

How to Pray for your Enemies
1. Pray that they will see their sin
2. Pray that they will sense their separation
3. Pray that they will search their hearts
4. Pray that they will sacrifice their will
5. Pray that they will seek the Lord


PSALM 5
~ Written by David for the Director of Music

The Wicked (arrogant, liars, etc)…
1. Cannot dwell in God’s presence
2. Are destroyed by God’s judgment
3. Cannot be trusted b/c they speak lies
4. Are in rebellion against God

The Righteous (humble, dependant, etc)…
1. Come into God’s presence with humility
2. Are given direction from the Lord
3. Can be glad as they sing for joy
4. Are in the favor of God

PSALM 6
~Written by David for the Director of Music

3 Steps to Overcoming Obstacles
1. Recognize that you need mercy too
2. Cry out for the mercy that you need
3. Trust in the Lord for deliverance

PSALM 7
~ Written by David when he was falsely accused
~ Historical context found in 1 Samuel 24:9-11

How to respond to false accusations
1. Let God defend you
2. Check your heart
3. Look forward & Pray for Divine justice
4. Recognize the justice that you see daily
5. Praise God no matter what

Psalm 8

The superscription of this Psalm mentions 'Gittith.' Various opinions emerge as to what this refers to.

1) Some think it's connected to 2 Sam 6:10-11
2) Some see it as being a Philistine (Gath) melody
3) Some think it's a type of instrument
4) Some think it's a vintage (drinking) melody (GTH similar to Hebrew for winepress, see Judges 21:21)

1 O LORD, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!

This phrase brackets the Psalm. LORD (caps) is the Hebrew word Yahweh (Israel's God). Lord is the Hebrew Adon-ai. Since Hebrews wouldn't say YHWH, they replaced it with Adonai (which for them meant the same thing. They took the vowels from Adonai (AOA) to fill in the YHWH to create JAHOVAH. Greek uses Kurios for Lord, but this is a title (not a name). Elohim was a more generic term for God at first, but became more of a proper noun). A name spoke to ones character. The Psalmist is not content with henotheism and states that YHWH has great character throughout the earth.

You have set your glory
above the heavens.
2 From the lips of children and infants
you have ordained praise
because of your enemies,
to silence the foe and the avenger.
3 When I consider your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which you have set in place,

The first 3 verses of this Psalm shows us that God is TRANSCENDANT... He is ‘above the heavens’. But this belief alone can be held by Muslims and Deists alike. It must be balanced by God's immanence. God is IMMANENT... He is ‘mindful’ of ‘man’

4 what is man that you are mindful of him,
the son of man that you care for him?
5 You made him a little lower
than the heavenly beings
and crowned him with glory and honor.
6 You made him ruler
over the works of your hands;
you put everything under his feet:
7 all flocks and herds,
and the beasts of the field,
8 the birds of the air,
and the fish of the sea,
all that swim the paths of the seas.
9 O LORD, our Lord,
how majestic is your name
in all the earth!

God is first seen as being so transcendent, and creation itself so large in comparison to man. And yet, humanity was made in the image of God.

The last 6 verses of this Psalm show God's immanence, but just like His transcendence shouldn't be held in isolation, nor should His immanence be (as the Buddhists and new-age'rs do). God is both transcendent and immanent. This sets Christianity apart.

This Psalm is quoted in Matthew 21:16 (verse 2) and Hebrews 2:5-9 (verses 4-6). The latter contains the following progression of thought:

1. Man was made to reign
2. Man does not reign
3. Jesus reigned as/for man

It is extremely clear that man was made to reign. We instinctively attempt to reign over nature, over the animal kingdom, and over ourselves. But it is equally clear that we fail miserably at these attempts. It has been reported that in recorded history there are only 292 days of warlessness on earth. We do anything but reign. Thankfully, Jesus reigned and reigns over nature & sin. Surprisingly, though, it was through suffering that He acquired this reign.

Psalms of David (2-9)

Psalm 2 & 9 God & the Nations
The nations are in rebellion (2:1-3)
God is not threatened (2:4-6)
God’s plan focuses on His Son (2:7-9)
Wise people align with the Son (2:10-12)

Psalm 3 & 7 Opposition & Accusations
Be in the right (3:1-2, 7:3-5)
Let God be your defender (3:3, 7:1-2)
Keep communicating w/God (3:4, 7:6-9)
Realize worrying won’t help (3:5-6)
Realize justice does come (7:10-16)
Let God be the Judge (3:7-8)
Praise God no matter what (7:17)

Psalm 4 Praying for Enemies
That they will see their sin (2)
That they will sense their separation (3)
That they will search their hearts (4)
That they will sacrifice their will (5)
That they will seek the Lord (6)

Psalm 5 & 6 The Righteous Overcome

Psalm 8 Basic Facts of History
God is transcendent & immanent (1-4)
Man was made to reign (5-8)
Man does not reign (Hebrews 2:5-9)
Jesus reigned as man (Hebrews 2:5-9)