This week’s “Wednesday Word” is a summary of an exposition of Psalm 95 from Dr. Wellum given on Sunday, August 24, 2008.

This week Dr. Wellum overviewed the fourth book of the Psalter (Psalm 90-106). Beginning with the great Psalm of Moses, we are quickly introduced to the theme of this fourth book: God has been faithful to his people in the past and so his people can have confidence in his ongoing faithfulness. Throughout these seventeen psalms, we continually see a refrain of God’s steadfast love to Israel as his erring children struggle to understand the plan of God during this post-exilic period.

Psalm 95. Verses 1-6 express an overflow of worship from the psalmists. By the use of this lavish language he creates an insightful forerunner to verses 7-11. This dichotomy shows us that it was a lack of worship that brought Israel to this point. God’s chosen ones have hardened their hearts rather than worship their Maker and Shepherd, Yahweh. Even though they have stood witness to the provision and deliverance of Yahweh, their hearts calcify with hardness. Psalm 95 closes by saying:

“For forty years I loathed the generation and said, ‘They are a people who go astray in their heart, and they have not known my ways,’ Therefore, I swore in my wrath, ‘They shall not enter my rest.’ ”

Moving to the New Testament, Hebrews 3-4 draw from Psalm 95 this theme of rest. These chapters stress that Christ, who is greater than Moses and Joshua, provides the only way into this God’s Sabbath rest. Obedience and faith in Christ supply the sole means for receiving this rest. The author of Hebrews writes, “Let us therefore strive to enter that rest so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience” (4:11).

Therefore, in light of Psalm 95 and Hebrews 3-4, may we always seek to remember what God has done in past generations as well as the present. May we strive to continually dedicate our hearts and minds to the worship of Christ, lest we succumb to hardness of heart. May we trust in the unfailing promises of God, that all that he said he would do he has done in and for us in Christ Jesus. May we look to the culmination of all things in Christ when he will come and we will enter this rest with him, because only in him can this promise of rest be realized.

Listen to this week’s lesson: Psalm 95

~ds

This week’s “Wednesday Word” is a summary of an exposition of Psalm 40 from Trent Hunter given on Sunday August 17, 2008.

Psalm 40 is a Psalm of David found in the first of five books of the Psalter. Of the seventy-three Davidic psalms, thirty-seven of those appear in the opening book (Pss. 1-41). Like many of these introductory psalms, Psalm 40 is a passionate plea for God’s intervention and deliverance. Today we will organize our thoughts around three questions that will help us consider the riches of this inspired song.

First, why did David ask for deliverance?

Though we cannot decipher the exact historical setting that evoked David’s cries for deliverance–the biblical narrative leads us to many speculations–our own personal experience(s) can resonate with his pleas. Living in the same sin cursed world, we who walk by faith know the self-loathing effects of sin (v. 12), the anguish of godless aggressors (v. 14-15), and the spiritual warfare of dodging Satan’s fiery darts (cf. Eph. 6). The miry pit is David’s term which embodies the biblical imagery of chaos, isolation, abandonment, and bondage. In our day we have our own idioms. Perhaps, we are view our lives as a trainwreck, or buried in an avalanche, or marooned on an island. Whatever imagery you may want to employ, David has experienced the devasting effects of “the miry bog” and he shows us that deliverance is possible, which leads to a second question.

Second, how was David’s deliverance possible?

The miry pit is where David begins, but the mercy of God is demonstrated in rescuing him from the pit and setting his feet upon the rock (v. 1). But how? Verses 6-7 tell us that it is not by means of sacrifice or burnt offering. Though the mercy seat of God was established in the midst of Israel, it was never designed to atone for high-handed sins or sins of active rebellion against God. This is why in Psalm 51, after David fornicated with Bathsheba and made plans for the death of her husband, the penitent king did not find solace in the sacrificial system (51:16-17). He instead cried out for God’s unfailing mercy and steadfast love (51:1ff). As in Psalm 51, David’s hope in Psalm 40 is in God’s grace (40:11). It is not because of religious works, nor is it by legal obedience. Verse 8 says, that the law fills David’s heart, yet simultaneously David’s sin militates against his obedience. Like Paul, he is a wretched man (cf. Rom. 7). So how is it that David is delivered?

Nestled in verse 6, we find the key. God who rich in mercy has given David an “open ear.” In the midst of the miry pit, David cries out and God hears. In accordance with YHWH’s covenantal faithfulness to Israel, God hears from heaven and forgives (cf. 1 Kings 8). But how? How can a holy God forgive? The text doesn’t say explicitly, but the rest of the Scripture is clear. God who is faithful to his promise, sent a suffering servant, Isaiah 53 says, to bear the marks of sin in his body and to assuage the wrath of God. Isaiah 53:12 concludes,”he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.” This is the good news to which David looks: God forgives (Ps. 32:1) and has made a way of deliverance for those who cry out to him (Ps. 50:15). We have a mediator who intercedes for us. In time, the Scripture reveals that this advocate is none other than Jesus Christ (1 John 2:1-2). He is our suffering servant, our great high priest, and our conquering redeemer. So, this deliverance leads to a final question.

Third, what was David’s deliverance for?

David’s deliverance was not random or aimless. Like the people of God before him (Israel the Exodus) and the people of God after him (the church, you, and me), the deliverance that David experienced was for the praise of his glorious grace (cf. Ex. 20-24; Eph. 1). It is not incidental that Psalm 40, which keys in on God’s powerful deliverance, is filled with escalating praise and proclamation in light of God’s goodness. Consider verses 9-10 and listen for the “speaking” words:

I have told the glad news of deliverance in the great congregation; behold, I have not restrained my lips, as you know, O LORD. I have not hidden your deliverance within my heart; I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation; I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness from the great congregation.

In this psalm and throughout the Bible, the liberating work of deliverance accomplished by God on behalf of his people is the source of all praise! In fact, singing a “new song” as David rejoices in verse 3 is directly related to the Lord’s work of salvation. In Psalm 96:1 and Revelation 5:9, a new song is sung as a response to God’s “new” work of salvation. The result, through the ages, is the same. God’s people are filled with joy and perpetual praise. In this the divine design of God is manifest. God so loved the world that he sent his only son to die in order to make all who believeth in him infinitely glad!

What about you? Is your heart filled with a new song? Are you walking in the joy of the Lord? May we read Psalm 40 this week and consider the depths from which the Lord has lifted us and praise Him with a new song.

Sola Deo Gloria, dss

Audio from Trent Hunter’s Lesson: Psalm 40

This week’s “Wednesday Word” is a summary of an exposition of Psalm 73 from Dr. Wellum given on Sunday August 12, 2008.

Psalm 73 stands as the introduction and thematic Psalm of Book 3. While Book 2 focused upon the theme of suffering to glory, especially focused in the Davidic king, Book 3 emphasizes the angst of exile for the people of Israel, as they stand under God’s covenantal curse. Asaph begins his psalm by reminding himself that God is “truly good to Israel” despite the fact that the nations seemingly have triumphed over them.

Following his initial confession of the goodness of God, he begins to express his discontent with the prosperity of the wicked around him, particularly viewed in his day as the success of the foreign nations over Israel. Verses 2-16 present the difficult question why do the wicked seem to prosper as they curse God, while the people of God are oppressed? Assyria and Babylon seemingly are winning the upper hand, while Israel stands under God’s disfavor. What has happened to God’s covenant promises? The task of understanding all of this is oppressive to Asaph.

However, Asaph quickly finds an answer to his wearisome task in verse 17 when he enters into the sanctuary of God. His “sanctuary experience” provides the answer to his questions. Not only is he reminded of the truth in regard to their final destiny, but he also experiences satisfaction with God. In our lives, we must be ever reminded of the truth of God. Upon entering the sanctuary he is brought to repentance and humility. And by this experience his doctrine is corrected as his trust and confidence returns to the Lord. God is faithful to his promises; his conclusion reflects verse 1 that God is good to his people.

Verse 25: Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire but you. Here we see Asaph completely satisfied with God, despite his circumstances. This must also be true of God’s people today, especially given the fact that we now know much more of God’s goodness and sovereign purposes in the coming of Christ.

As many of us prepare for a life of ministry may we remember the example of Asaph as he wrestles with God’s goodness, but more than that, may we learn to overcome these issues by complete reliance upon God’s Word and deep satisfaction with God. May we remind one another of the surety of God’s promises amidst apparent despair. Truly, may our doctrine and expectations be right and our hope sure in our Lord Jesus Christ.

MES

Listen to this week’s lesson: Psalm 73

This week’s “Wednesday Word” is a summary of an exposition of Psalm 103 from student-teacher Ryan Perz given on Sunday July 13, 2008.

The Rolling Stones once lamented, “I can’t get no satisfaction!” While blaming their disaffected state on hollow advertisements, insufficient information, and disillusioned attempts at sex and romance, it is more likely that their lyrics show the emptying effects of hedonistic pleasure-seeking in a fallen and fleeting world. Sadly, this unsatisfied state of living is not isolated to over-the-hill rockers. Too many Christians can resonate with their words and draw comfort from their lyrics, “I can’t get no satisfaction.” Whether due to distraction or disappointment, boredom or busyness, preoccupation with worldly-pleasures or too little reflection on the blessings of the Lord, many Christians and many of us are tempted to turn from sacrifices of praise to downloaded iPods seeking to medicate our pain. There must be a better way!

In Psalm 103, we hear a song with a different tune that tells another story. In its lyrics, the sweet psalmist of Israel, recounts a multitude of ways that the steadfast God of love has satsified his soul and caused him to return praise to the King! Perhaps here Mick Jagger and company could learn something. Perhaps we can too. In fact, we must! The life of our weary souls depend on it.

Penned by King David, Psalm 103 confronts our souls with the revitalizing benefits of the steadfast love of God. In this hymn of praise, David confronts himself and boldly instructs his soul to bless the Lord. Rejecting circumstances that could have easily led David to discouragement (i.e. the loss of his best friend, Jonathan; the hatred of an insecure employer, Saul; the rebellious conspiracy of a son who sought to overthrow his kingdom, Absalom; or the foolish escapade David had with Bathsheba that ended in escalating sin and personal tragedy), the faithful psalmist rejects all temptations to self-pity and despair. Instead, with courageous faith and rock solid truth, this fierce warrior focuses his attention on the goodness of God (cf. Psalm 42-43). In this he fights for joy and grapples with praise!

The hymn of praise opens with eyes lifted to the LORD, the true King of Israel, and the covenant-keeping God, YHWH. Unwilling to listen to what his soul may whisper, or even feel, David commands, “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the Lord oh my soul, and forget not all of his benefits” (v. 1-2a). In verses 3-5, he recounts five reasons for his praise. Each reason reveals God’s particular love: He is a God who forgives iniquity, heals disease, redeems ensnared lives, crowns pitiful lives with mercy, and satisfies his people with good. What follows is a continuation on this theme of steadfast love. David rejoices in who this God is (v.6-8), what He does (vv. 9-10), what His love looks like (vv. 11-14), how He treats sinful humanity (vv. 15-19), and finally how all creation is instructed to bless the one who is “merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love” (v. 8, 20-22; cf. Ex. 34:6-7).

This Psalm is replete with truths worthy of extended meditation. In fact, speaking of Psalm 103, Charles Spurgeon said: “There is too much in the Psalm, for a thousand pens to write, it is one of those all-comprehending Scriptures which is a Bible in itself, and it might alone almost suffice for the hymn-book of the church.” Consider some of the ways David captures the love of God in his Psalm:

[God] does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities (v. 10).

For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is [God’s] steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us (v. 11-12).

As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him (v. 13).

The steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him (v. 17).

This week as you encounter the diminishing returns of the fallen world and are tempted to sing along with the Rolling Stones, may you turn the dial instead to hear the words of King David. Though plagued with the fallenness of his humanity and afflicted with the trials and tribulations of this age, Scripture’s royal crooner raised his voice in song to the God who loves sinners and sent his son to die for us. Such a radical turn from the “blues” is not hypocrisy–it is an act of faith and repentance! It is a Spirit-wrought victory over spiritual darkness. This week may we fill our mouths with the life-giving truths of Psalm 103 and bless the Lord. May our hearts grow warm in affection for God as we remember his love and forget not his benefits.

Sola Deo Gloria, dss

Audio from this week’s lesson: Psalm 103