Reflections on the Old Testament: Psalms

Psalm 101, “a psalm of David,” appears to be David’s vow to judge and guide Israel as king: but, upon closer examination, it is not difficult to see the relevance it bears upon the modern-day Christian. “I will behave wisely in a perfect way. Oh, when will You come to me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart,” Ps. 101:2 (NKJV). In this verse, and indeed all throughout Psalm 101, David displays a great deal of confidence in his own moral perfection—but how can this be? David, of all people, knew that no human being is perfect, that we are all riddled with flaws and sins; therefore, what business has he to speak of moral perfection?

To answer this question, we must go back over Psalm 101 and highlight a few key phrases. For example, observe in verse two what appears to be something of a non sequitur: “Oh, when will You come to me?” the psalmist cries out amid his moral resolutions. But that phrase directly provides the answer to our puzzlement. David recognizes, as every Christian must, that true righteousness and perfection are impossible without the presence of the Almighty, i.e., the ultimate source of goodness. Moreover, in verses two, six, seven, and eight, do not the words “land,” “house,” and “city” typify our own body, which becomes the temple of God when once His Spirit enters it? In verse two, the psalmist pleads for the bestowal of the Holy Spirit. Once granted, the “house” receives a thorough remodeling—i.e., the eradication of indwelling evil (see verses 3-8). This process is then summarized in verse eight: “Early I will destroy all the wicked of the land, that I may cut off all the evildoers from the city of the LORD.”

 

“He turned their heart to hate His people, to deal craftily with His servants,” Ps. 105:25, NKJV.

Our first inclination, upon reading this verse, is, naturally, to question God’s motive for deliberately causing someone to hate His people and “deal craftily” with them. There is no denying that this is, in fact, what Ps. 105:25 is saying. And, indeed, a great many other passages relate similar instances—in which God actually planted a seed of hatred or malice, or, at any rate, blinded reason, in order to achieve His goal. And what is His goal? To create enemies for His chosen ones? Often, a closer look at the context of a verse will reveal its meaning and depth. So it is in this case. Observe Ps. 105:24. “He increased His people greatly, and made them stronger than their enemies.” And how strategically placed is this verse—occurring directly before it says: “He turned their heart to hate His people, to deal craftily with His servants”! Yes, God made enemies for His people—but for a very good reason. God placed obstacles before His people that were hateful, crafty, and, yes, strong—but He made His people stronger. This is God’s way of showing us that He is greater than any obstacle: if the defeated is weak, how can the victor be called strong? If there is no darkness, how can the light shine? God makes the strong, that we may be stronger; the crafty, that we may be wiser; the wicked, that we may be righteous; the hate, that we may love; the dark, that we may shine. “God has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of judgement.” Is it true, then, that God created sin? Certainly not! Adam and Eve brought sin into this world when they disobeyed God, and now it is a force that must be dealt with. God deals with it by turning it against itself. While it bruised His heel, He has crushed its head. When God hardens hearts and blinds reason, all He is really doing is removing His Holy Spirit from those who don’t deserve it. None of us, as fallen beings, deserve God’s Spirit—but He bestows upon whom He will. “I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion,” (Ex. 33:19, NKJV). Let us be a little humbler, then, since, were it not for God’s grace, we would be the enemy. And for the same reason, let us love our enemies, knowing that God’s grace can save them, too.

 

“LORD, remember David and all his afflictions; how he swore to the LORD and vowed to the Mighty One of Jacob: ‘Surely I will not go into the chamber of my house, or go up to the comfort of my bed; I will not give sleep to my eyes or slumber to my eyelids, until I find a place for the LORD, a dwelling place for the Mighty One of Jacob.’ Behold we heard of it in Ephrathah; we found it in the fields of the woods. Let us go into His tabernacle; let us worship at His footstool. Arise, O LORD, to Your resting place, You and the ark of Your strength. Let Your priests be clothed with righteousness, and let Your saints shout for joy. For Your servant David’s sake, do not turn away the face of Your Anointed. The LORD has sworn in truth to David; He will not turn from it: ‘I will set upon your throne the fruit of your body. If your sons will keep My covenant and My testimony which I shall teach them, their sons also shall sit upon your throne forevermore.’ For the LORD has chosen Zion; He has desired it for His dwelling place: ‘This is My resting place forever; here I will dwell, for I have desired it. I will abundantly bless her provision; I will satisfy her poor with bread. I will also clothe her priests with salvation, and her saints shall shout aloud for joy. There I will make the horn of David grow; I will prepare a lamp for My Anointed. His enemies I will clothe with shame, but upon Himself His crown shall flourish,’”—Ps. 132, NKJV.

Although the psalmist is speaking of  God’s plan for His temple in Israel, Psalm 132 may also be interpreted as a strong symbol of His plan for His temple in us, through the bestowal of His Holy Spirit. Observe the frequent allusions to Christ. In verse 6: “Behold, we heard of it in Ephrathah…” be reminded of the role of Bethlehem Ephrathah; in verse 10, “For Your servant David’s sake, do not turn away the face of Your Anointed”; verse 11, “The LORD has sworn in truth to David; He will not turn from it: ‘I will set upon your throne the fruit of your body’”—be reminded of the Messiah’s lineage. And finally, the allusions culminate in verses 17-18: “There I will make the horn of David grow; I will prepare a lamp for My Anointed. His enemies I will clothe with shame, but upon Himself His crown shall flourish.’”

If we are the temple of God, does the lamp of Christ not burn in us? By placing His Holy Spirit in us, God prepared a lamp for His Anointed, that His enemies might be clothed with shame, but His own crown flourish. And note that this is not by any act of our own, but by His sovereign grace alone. Should we, then, reject this role? Should we allow God’s temple to fall into disrepair and disuse? Certainly not! Let our attitude be that of David’s, in verses 3-5: “’Surely I will not go into the chamber of my house or go up to the comfort of my bed; I will not give sleep to my eyes or slumber to my eyelids, until I find a place for the LORD, a dwelling place for the Mighty One of Jacob.’”

Are you spiritually inactive? Reclining upon a bed of ease and self-indulgence, while the house of the LORD remains neglected? We are Christ’s lamp, His dwelling place—but are we earnestly maintaining His temple or has it fallen to the wayside? David speaks of “finding a place for the LORD”—we, as Christians, are that place. As you read the innumerable passages in the Old Testament concerning the temple, consider the temple of Christ in you—what state is it in? Is the lamp of the Anointed being fed and kept ever burning? For shame if we, who have done nothing to merit God’s grace, neglect the simple tasks which He requires of us! His yoke is easy and His burden is light—and what blessings He has for those who keep His commandments!