The Catechisant
“Those that seek Me early shall find Me”
Singing of Psalms in der Heiligeistkirche, Heidelberg
October 2013 – 22nd & last edition – No.10
The Psalms and you
In this edition of The Catechisant we shall deal with the longest Psalm. I’ll write two pages on that, but we will be far from having dealt with the whole Psalm. For this reason I will deal with it on thispage as well.
A well-known verse from this Psalm is very suitable for the character of this Youth Magazine. It is verse 9: “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to Thy Word.”
In order to be able to do ityou must know your Bible. Therefore I advise you to make it your habit from your youth to read daily in your Bible
and not just a part at random, but in an orderly way
and then not a short portion, but at least a chapter
and not carelessly, but giving it all your attention.
Another point that is evident in this Psalm is: God desires to speak with men. Have a look and see how many different words the Psalmist uses to establish that God wants to communicate and shows this in regard to:
- His Law
- His Testimonies
- HisWays
- His Precepts
- His Statutes
- His Commandments
- His Judgments
- His Word
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I plan to post on my website all the monthly editions that came out.
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Translated in New Zealand by Dick Vermeulen
Psalm 118 and you
Luther loved this Psalm so much that he said: Psalm 118 is my Psalm. Do you also have a Psalm you want to call your own Psalm,because it is such a blessing to you?
No, of course Luther did not mean that the 118thPsalm was only for him and that no-one was allowed to do anything with it. It was just as what Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 2 verse 8:
“Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel.”
The Gospel was not invented by Paul neither was it for him alone, but it was heartily accepted by Paul. In the same way I wish it for you regarding all of the Bible, and particularly Psalm 118. What is so special about this Psalm? Something you have often read, and what was told and preached, and whereof you – perhaps – are no more impressed at all. I mean that God delivers people and saves them. Do you think that to be ordinary? Or did it in the meantime become a great wonder, as with that father on Urk who told me, with tears in his eyes, what a great miracle it was that God had been ready to look in mercy on him!
Further we see in this Psalm the wonderful comfort that not a single creature can trouble God’s plans. The builders had refused the most important Stone(verse 22).They had thrown away the Headstone of the corner. According to Jesus this referred to Him: refused by the Jewish leaders, but not by God.
In conclusion we read in this Psalm that the seventh day Sabbath of the Old Testament becomes the Day of the Lord, the Day of the Ressurrection in the New Testament (verse 24).
17I shall not die, but live, and shall the works of God discover.
18The Lord hath me chastised sore, but not to death giv’n over.
19O set ye open unto me the gates of righteousness;
Then will I enter into them,and I the Lord will bless.
20This is the gate of God, by it the just shall enter in.
21Thee will I praise, for Thou me heard’st and hast my safety been.
22That Stone is made Head corner-stone, Which builders did despise:
23This is the doing of the Lord,and wondrous in our eyes.
24This is the day God made, in it we’ll joy triumphantly.
25Save now, I pray Thee, Lord; I pray, send now prosperity.
26Blessed is He in God's great Name That cometh us to save.
Psalm 119 and you
The most important subject of Psalm 119 is the Law of God. Or to be more precise: the value of the Law of God. By the word ‘Law’, you should not think just of the Ten Commandments, but all the Law God gave to Moses for His people Israel. The core of which is the ceremonial Law:concerning the Tabernacle, the service of the priests, sacrifices and reconciliation.
How Psalm 119 came into being we do not know, but it seems that the Psalmist at different times wrote things that struck him or came into his thoughts in relation to this good Law of his Covenant God. During the years, it seems, he gathered a number of thoughts and revelations that all had to do with God’s holy Law. Later on he (or his son) put them into alphabetical order.So, 176 statements form this Psalm, as beads on a string.
It is evident that the Psalmist used many different words in order to mention this Law of God (see page 2). God’s Law can be viewed from many angles, just like a diamond. A very significant word he uses in this Psalm is the word ‘testimony’. Do you know what a testimony is? Anevidence of something. The Dutch translators explain it in this way:
By the testimonies of the Lord we must understand His Laws, which He has given to His people as a testimony of His favour and His covenant, He entered into with them.
Every time you hear the Ten Commandments, you may remember that God entered into a covenant with you and that He is favourable to you.
You no doubt agree: whoever does accept the Law of God as a token of God’s favour and His merciful covenant, can rejoice in this Lawall the days of his life. You will never get tired of it,because Christ is the Heart of the Law, the Ten Commandments which He kept, as well as the laws of sacrifices which He fulfilled …!
9By what means shall a young man learn his way to purify?
If he according to Thy Word thereto attentive be.
10Unfeignedly Thee have I sought with all my soul and heart:
O let me not from the right path of Thy commands depart.
11Thy word I in my heart have hid, that I offend not Thee.
12O Lord, Thou ever blessed art, Thy statutes teach Thou me.
13The judgments of Thy mouth each one my lips declared have.
14More joy Thy testimonies’ way than riches all me gave.
15I will Thy holy precepts make my meditati-on;
And carefully I’ll have respect unto Thy ways each one.
Psalm 119 and you (once more)
The second subject the Psalmist gathered different notes about isthe life with God. This life is characterised on the one hand by obedience to the Law of God, and on the other hand by solitude, being misunderstood, being persecuted – all because of God’s Law.
An example of this we see in verse 19: “I am a stranger in the earth.” Maybe you are asking why the second subject also appears in this Law Psalm.
Thissolitude is because he lives so close to the Law of God, God’s Word.
The more he is misunderstood on earth, and hated, the more he longs for God’s Law.
In the second part of verse 19 he prays: “hide not Thy commandments from me.”
In New Testament times it is no different. Listen to what Paul wrote to his best friend (2 Timothy 3 verse 12): “Yea, all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”
In the twentieth century more Christians were killed because of their faith than in all the nineteen centuries before. Will it become better in our century? Therefore: if you want to escape suffering, keep away from the Word of God! But you can wonder if then you will have peace of conscience?Over againstthis persecution Paul says all Christians will experience, a bright life of faith and much joy and comfort in prayer and Scripture study will be your gain.
Maybe you are asking: “Why does the world persecute Christians? I think you can find the answer in Hebrews 11 where you read how Noah condemned the world by his faith (verse 7). The conscience of worldly people is awakened – and that’s what they do not like. Meantime an important mark of the persecuted and misunderstood Christians is found in verse 136: “Rivers of waters run down mine eyes, because they keep not Thy Law.”
172My tongue of Thy most blessed word shall speak, and it confess;
Because all Thy commandementsare perfect righteousness.
173Let Thy strong hand give help to me: Thy precepts are my choice.
174I long’d for Thy salvati-on, Lord,and in Thy Law rejoice.
175O let my soul live, and it shall give praises unto Thee;
And let Thy judgments graci-ous be helpful unto me.
176I, like a lost sheep, went astray; Thy servant seek, and find,
For Thy commands I suffer’d notto slip out of my mind.
Psalm 120 and you
In Psalm 120 we come to a special part of the Book of Psalms. Fifteen Psalms, one after the other,in Hebrew are headed by the word ‘Hammaaloth’. By the Dutch translators this word is just copied from the Hebrew language. We are not sure, what is the meaning of it. Many think it means a pilgrim song. If so, the first Psalm in this series takes us to a situation that an Israelite begins his journey to the central sanctuary. In our Psalm he is in a faraway country, among enemy people, who trouble him (verse 1) and slander him (verse 2). He calls the place where he is: Mesech and Kedar.Herehelived among heathens who despise the Psalmist. Does he meanit literally or figuratively? I do not know.
In the last instance he is among his own people and yet speaks as ifhe were among the heathen. They all belonged to God’s covenant people, descendants of Abraham, but not all knew the God of their ancestor. And that’s why they treated the Psalmist in a spiteful manner.
It is striking how in the last verse he relates the relationship between him and his neighbours: “I am for peace, but when I speak, they are for war.” He uses the Hebrew word sjaloom, and says: I am peace.
On the previous page I mentioned a mark of upright Christians: they sorrow for the sins of the people round about them. In this Psalm we also find a mark of saving faith: it belongsto the very being of a Christian to be peaceable.
In the Sermon of the Mount (Matthew 5 verse 9) Jesus connects to this: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God.”
How are you known at school or in Church, among your relatives and your own family? Do they all agree (even though they might not follow the Lord Jesus), that you at least are not a troublemaker?!
Jesus Himself marked this Psalm with sorrow in His Own family: His brothers and sisters did not believe in Him …
1In my distress to God I cried, and He gave ear to me.
2From lying lips, and guileful tongue, O Lord, my soul set free.
3What shall be giv’n thee or what shall be done to thee, false tongue?
4Ev’n burning coals of juniper, sharp arrows of the strong.
5Woe’s me that I in Mesech ama sojourner so long;
That I in tabernacles dwell to Kedar that belong.
6My soul with him that hateth peace has long a dweller been.
7I am for peace; but when I speak, for battle they are keen.
Psalm 121 and you
As unknown as Psalm 120 might be, so well-known is Psalm 121. My hearty wish is that it is not only because your learned the Psalm when you were young, but that you have experienced the content.
The situation of the Psalmist is that he sees dangers arising, on his way to the sanctuary. I assume that he means it in a figurative way: the journey of life which is full of dangers. And who can afford help? Verse 1 shows the direction where he seeks it: the mountains. How must we understand this? The Dutch translators think of it as follows:
They are the mountains of the Promised Land, which was a pledge of God’s favour to His people; particularly Mount Sion and Moriah where God in a particular way showed His presence.
In verse 2 it’s clear, that he does not expect anything from those mountains, because he says “my help cometh from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth.”
The LORD is set forth as the God of creation. This happens more than once in the Book of Psalms, as well as in other Books of the Bible. What the Bible relates about creation is for the experience of faith a great encouragement, in all difficulties and warfare in this life. Why? Well, is my God in a covenant relationship and is He so mighty that He could make the whole world,I need not be afraid of anyone. However mighty the enemies are and whatever problems I’m faced with and threaten me, I need not panic.
Psalm 121 if often read when people go on a journey. The Psalm ends with the words: “The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even forever more.” Does that mean that there shall not be an accident? No, itcould happen, even if you read this Psalm and prayedwith saving faith … But it means that eventually you are safe – even if your body would be handicapped for life, or your loved one is torn from you …!
This Psalm invites you to practice faith in God the almighty and good One, whatever happens.
1I to the hills will lift mine eyes, from whence doth come mine aid.
2My safety comes from the Lord,Who heav’n and earth has made.
3Thy foot He’ll not let slide, nor will He slumber that thee keeps.
4Behold, He that keeps Israel,He slumbers not, nor sleeps.
5The Lord thee keeps, the Lord thy shade on thy right hand doth stay:
6The moon by night thee shall not smite, nor yet the sun by day.
7The Lord shall keep thy soul; He shall preserve thee from all ill.
8Henceforth thy going out and in God keep for ever will.
Psalm 122 and you
If the Psalms with the heading ‘Hammaaloth’are really pilgrims Psalms, Psalm 122 fits very well among them, just after Psalm 121. In the previous Psalm the Psalmist – after having left Mesech (Psalm 120) – has arrived somewhere near Jerusalem. He desires to be, where the Temple was built. God had commanded His people to come to His sanctuary three times a year, in order to celebrate the three feasts: Passover, Easter and the Feast of Tabernacles.
True worship is a glad event, nothing sorrowful. Psalm 122 is a joyful Psalm, as you see right at the beginning: “I was glad when they said to me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.”
In Deuteronomy 12 He summons them: “There you shall eat before the LORD your God, and you shall rejoice.” The first part of Deuteronomy 16 is about these three feasts and again and again we read (verses 11,14,15): “And thou shalt rejoice before the LORD thy God, thou and thy son and thy daughter, and thy man servant and thy maid servant, and the Levite that is within thy gates and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are among you.”
What do you think is the reason God wants His people to be so glad? Because God’s Being is love, making people happy. He, Himself is full of Divine love and He offers it you. He likes to share it with you. For that reason He gave His Son. For that reason daily He invites you to share in His salvation. For that reason He initiated those feasts.
It is true: the festivity that is experienced in the worship of God, is quite different from the gladness of sin offers you. And you must choose, because it is not possible to have both. Be honest: is it with you still that you have no joy in serving God? Then I do understand that the beginning of Psalm 122 doesn’t find any response in your life. But when your heart has been changed by the power of the Holy Spirit and you have tasted how joyful it is to worship God, you can sing with all your might the praises of God.
Have you been delivered by Christ? Then during all your life, you’ll do nothing but to rejoice in God and to dedicate yourself to Him.
1I joy’d when to the house of God, Go up, they said to me.
2Jerusalem, within thy gates our feet shall standing be.
3Jerus’lem, as a city, is compactly built t’gether:
4Unto that place the tribes go up, the tribes of God go thither:
To Isr’el’s testimony, there to God’s Name thanks to pay.
Psalm 122 and you (once more)
It’s about Jerusalem. What is so remarkable about this city? The first thing mentioned is, the ark is there. In verse 4 this ark is called ‘the testimony’. The Dutch composition of Psalms describes it very nicely, ‘the ark that witnesses of God’s favour’. The ark in the Holy of Holies is an evidence, that God is favourable to Israel. That He desires to make His people blessed in the forgiveness of their sins – for that reason are all those sacrifices. He wants them to enjoy His Fatherly goodness and He shows them a rich peace. All this is in Psalm 122.