Bible in one year 8/11/2022 Psalm 15-17 By Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce

I Saw The Lord Always Before Me (Acts2: 25 28) Worship Song (Organ)

 by Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce@ 2013 

Bible in one year 8/11/2022  Psalm 15-17

By Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce                                                                                                          

Christian Arts Ministries : Biblical precepts & Gospel music; Pastoral ministry & Counseling

 

Psalm 15  King David describes the character of  the person who qualifies to be a guest of God. The synonymous, parallel questions of verse 1 and answered in the following verses by an eleven fold description of the righteous man who is upright in deed, word, attitude ,and finances. These qualities, not natural to men, are imparted by God.

Psalm 15:  1-5 

Lord, who may dwell in your sanctuary?  Who may live on your holy hill? (v.1)

He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from his heart(v.2)

            and has no slander on his tongue, who does his neighbor no wrong and casts no slur on his fellowman, (v.3)

who despises a vile man but honors those who fear the Lord, who keeps  his oath even when it hurts, (v.4)

who lends his money without usury and does not accept a bride against the innocent. He who does these things will never be shaken. (v.5).

 

Psalm 16  This is a song of trust, king David declares that as he has trusted the Lord to be his portion in life (vv.1-8), so will he trust Him to preserve him in death (vv.9-11). The meaning of miktam (also used in the headings of Pss.56-60) is uncertain. It is apparently derived from a verb meaning “to cover,” and may indicate psalms dealing with protection (covering) from lips covering the mouth). David describes the beauty of his spiritual inheritance in terms similar to the divine allotment of the Promised Land to Israel. Verses 8-10 are cited by Peter in Acts 2:25-28,31 and verse 10 is cited by Paul in Acts 13:35 as referring to the resurrection of Christ. at my right hand (v.8). The position of a protector or defender. The language here (termed typico-prophetically messianic) refers initially to the psalmist’s own experience, but the ultimate fulfillment is only in Jesus Christ (Ps.22:11-18). Thus David’s hyperbolic language about his own deliverance from death, or more probably about his own future resurrection, finds its complete fulfillment in Christ’s deliverance out of death by resurrection, for only Christ has not seen corruption. The grave Heb. Sheol here it does mean the grave.(Gen.37:35).

Psalm 16 : 1-11 

Keep me safe, O God, for in you I take refuge.  I said to the Lord, ‘ You are my Lord; apart form you I have no good thing.’ As for the saints who are in the land, they are the glorious ones in whom is all my delight. (vv.1-3)

The sorrows of those will increase who run after other gods. I will not pour out their libations of blood or take up their names on my lips.(v.4).

Lord, you have assigned me my portion and my cup; you have made my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance. (vv.5-6).

I will praise the Lord, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me.(v.7)

 

I have set the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.(v.8)

Therefore, my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay.(vv.9-10)

You have make know to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand. (v.11)

 

   

             Psalm 17 In this lament king David presents his credentials of uprightness (vv.1-5) and petitions the Lord for protection from wicked men (vv.6-14) in view of his hope for the future(v.15).Although a large number of the psalms are prayers, only five are so designated (17,86,90,102,142). King David does not claim sinlessness, but the justice of his case against the wicked. Perhaps he had in mind the incident of 1 Sam.25:32. Verse 8 as the apple of your eye. The pupil of the eye, an emblem of that which is tenderest and dearest. Verses 10-12 The imagery of the predator describes the heartlessness of David’s wicked enemies. Verses 13-15 the plenty God allows the wicked to have is transitory; by contrast(v.15), resurrection (awake) in the presence of God is eternal.

Psalm 17: 1-15

Hear, O Lord, my righteous plea; listen to my cry. Give ear to my prayer –it does not rise from deceitful lips. (v.1)

May my vindication come from you; may your eyes see what is right. (v.2). Though you probe my heart and examine me at night, though you test me, you will find nothing; I have resolved that my mouth will not sin. As for the deeds of men by the word of your lips I have kept myself from the ways of the violent. My steps have held to your paths; my feet have not slipped. (vv.3-5)

            I call on you, O God, for you will answer me; give ear to me and hear my prayer. Show the wonder of your great love, you who save by your right hand those who take refuge in you from their foes. (vv.6-7)

 Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings.(v.8). From the wicked who assail me, from my mortal enemies who surround me. They close up their callous hearts, and their moths speak with arrogance. They have tracked me down, they now surround me, with eyes alert, to throw me to the ground. They are like a lion hungry for prey, like a great lion crouching in cover. (vv.8-12).

Rise- up , O Lord, confront them, bring them down; rescue me from the wicked by your sword. O Lord, by your hand save me from such men, from men of this world whose reward is in this life. You still the hunger of those you cherish; their sons have plenty, and they store up wealth for their children. (vv.13-14).

And I  in righteousness I will see your face; when I awake I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness. (v.15).

 

Bibliography,

Ryrie, Charles C. The Ryrie study Bible (NIV). Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986.