02 July

Bible In 365 Days                                   

Psalms 96-102

 

Psalm 96

There is a beauty about this song which irresistibly appeals to the submissive soul. The previous warning must be heeded in order to sing it. When the personal life is loyal to His throne, the song of God's wide and beneficent dominion thrills with exultation.

It moves out in widening circles. The first is that of His own people, and sets forth His supremacy over all the gods of the peoples. They are "things of nought"; He is the Creator, and all things high and beautiful are His (Psalms 96:1-6). The second calls upon the nations to recognize His Kingship, and to give Him His due, submitting themselves also in worship and reverence (Psalms 96:7-9). The third sweeps the whole earth into its circumference, and rejoices in the equity of His reign.

No study of the devotional literature of these people is possible without an ever-recurring consciousness of this far-reaching purpose of God. If the song of the Lord begin in the heart it always grows into the chorus in which others are included in its music. To know the gracious glory of His reign in personal life, is to reveal it to those beyond, and to desire its victories in the uttermost reaches.

 

Psalm 97

The reign of Jehovah, while wholly beneficent in purpose and in ultimate issue, is yet full of terror and of judgment in its process toward the issue. This is also cause for rejoicing.

The method of God's judgments is described. They are mysterious, "Clouds and darkness are round about Him." They are founded upon strictest justice, "Righteousness and judgment are the foundation of His throne." They are forceful, "A fire goeth before Him."

The effects of His judgments are declared. His adversaries are destroyed, His glory is revealed, His people are filled with joy. The vision of the certainty, method, and victory of the judgments of the King gives rise to a sense of their underlying reason. He is the Holy One, and all wickedness is hateful to Him because of the harm it works among His people, for the fierceness of God's holiness is ever His love. Therefore let His saints learn the lesson and "hate evil." The promise to those who obey is very full of beauty. "Light is sown ... and gladness." It is a figure of the dawn, shedding its light everywhere. To hate evil is to walk in light. To walk in light is to be able to discover the true pathway leading toward the desired consummation. To walk in that pathway is to have gladness in the heart indeed.

 

Psalm 98

Another song of worship on the pattern of Psalms 96:1-13. It opens and closes in the same way. A new song and its ultimate reason, the judging of the earth by Jehovah with righteousness and with truth. Here also the circles widen. Beginning with Israel (Psalms 98:1-3), the whole earth is included (Psalms 98:4-6); and finally all nature (Psalms 98:7-8).

As the singer rejoices over the salvation of God manifested on behalf of Israel, he emphasises the fact that it has been wrought by Jehovah alone. "His right hand, and His holy arm"; these were the only instruments available for, or capable of working deliverance. In proportion as the vision is filled with the glory of the Lord, the heart is filled with gladness, and the lips with song. This is as true today as ever. It sometimes seems as though all singing were out of place save as faith keeps its eye mysterious as ever, and the outlook as full of gloom. Yet "He hath done marvellous things," and "He cometh to judge." This vision of God in the past and the future creates the song of the present.

 

Psalm 99

This is a song of the Kingdom of Jehovah as founded upon and administered in holiness. There are three distinct parts, each ending with practically the same refrain. The first acclaims the King enthroned (Psalms 99:1-3). The second affirms the absolute integrity of His administration (Psalms 99:4-5). The third declares the constant and faithful guidance of His own representatives (Psalms 99:6-9).

In each there is a call to the attitude of response to the fact declared. The enthroned King is to be praised. The governing King is to be exalted and worshipped in submission at His footstool. The guiding King is to be exalted and worshipped in fellowship in His holy hill. Finally, in each case, the underlying reason of the King's position and activity, and also therefore, of the response, is that of His holiness. The throne is established in holiness. The guidance is motivated in holiness.

In the fuller light of the Christian revelation we see the threefold fact in the life of God suggested. The Father enthroned; the Son administering His Kingdom; the Spirit interpreting His will through leaders and circumstances, through pity and through punishment.

 

Psalm 100

This is the last song of the series, and forms a fitting conclusion to the movement which commenced in Psalms 93:1-5. There the Divine assumption of the throne and government was the subject. Here it is that of the benefits resulting to the whole earth. All lands are called upon to sing the song of His reign. The strength of their song is to be their service rendered with gladness. Israel is viewed as the witness to the Divine power and goodness.

The peoples are supposed to see the position of the chosen people in all its desirableness, and they are reminded that their well-being is the result of the government of God.

Then the great invitation is given to the outlying people to enter His gates, to yield to Him, and share in His benefits. This is the true position and witness of God's chosen people according to His purpose for them, and through them, for others. It is a glimpse of a glory not realised by ancient people. They never learned how to invite the outsider into the place of privilege. Because of their failure to do this, Israel as an earthly people is scattered and peeled. The Church, the spiritual Israel, fulfills, or ought to fulfil this function.

 

Psalm 101

A fine sense of the fitness of things is exhibited by the editor of the psalter in placing this psalm here. Following immediately upon the songs of the enthroned Jehovah, in which there has been perpetually recurrent the recognition of the holiness of His reign, it describes the true attitude of the earthly ruler who recognises the sovereignty of God, and how that ought to affect his own life and rule. It is clear testimony moreover, to the fact that private and public life are very closely allied.

It has two movements. The key note of the first is "within my house" (Psalms 101:2). That of the second is "the city of God." Between these there is the closest relation. No man is able to make the city in which he dwells anything like the city of God who does not know how to behave himself in his own house. This is the true order also. The first thing for every public man to do who would serve his city for God, is to see to it that his private life is ordered aright before Him. The private life which answers the enthroned Jehovah is described first (Psalms 101:1-4). It is a life cautious and watchful, refusing to countenance anything contrary to the holiness of Jehovah. The public life is one which respects the same holiness in all matters of administration. Evil workers are to be destroyed, and the counsellors of the ruler are to be sought among the faithful of the land.

 

Psalm 102

This is a song of faith triumphing over affliction. Beginning with a prayer for deliverance, and a statement of the circumstances of suffering in which he then was, together with a recognition of those sufferings as the chastisements of Jehovah (Psalms 102:1-11), it rises to a great song of hope in the consciousness of the eternity of God, and the consequent conviction of the restoration of His own people to favour and blessing (Psalms 102:12-22). Finally it returns to his own suffering, yet recognises that suffering again, as part of the Divine process, and gains confidence in setting that also in the light of the eternity of God (Psalms 102:23-28).

While there are great beauties in the details of the song, it is this general atmosphere which creates its greatest value for us. There is nothing more calculated to strengthen the heart in suffering, or inspire the spirit with the courage in days of danger and difficulty, than the sense of the eternity of God. In it is to be found the certainty that the purpose defeated today will yet be the continuity of humanity, and a great sense of the solidarity of the race is created. Let us set our limitations always in the light of His limitlessness.