Read Psalm
13-16 & Acts
18
To discover:
As you read consider on what
grounds David calls on God to act.
To ponder:
Psalm 13 expresses the fact that
David feels forgotten by God in the light of his enemies, no doubt because God
has yet to help. The idea of “wrestling” in thought suggests he can’t stop
thinking his predicament through, as so many do when worried. And he is clearly
low of spirit, perhaps somewhat depressed (13v1-2). This may be why David calls
on God for “light,” suggesting he feels in utter darkness and in need of hope –
perhaps in danger of literal death (13v3). But whereas his enemies will boast
and rejoice in overcoming David, he knows he will “rejoice” in God’s salvation.
It will come because he trusts in God’s unfailing love that has been proved by his
past goodness (13v5-6). The Psalm has a ring of Gethsemane.
It encourages us when in turmoil to place our trust in God and find peace in
him. And it reminds us that often it is his past goodness that can give us
confidence of his future grace.
Psalm
14 describes the equivalent of today’s atheists in Israel.
They may not have actually denied the existence of God, but certainly lived as
if he didn’t exist or denied his true nature (see Rom 1v21-25, 3v10-18). This
was foolish, which denotes the opposite of wisdom – ie. the stupidity of
refusing to fear or obey God. Such people nether seek him nor do good. And David
is clear, but for God’s work in us, everyone is like this. Such foolishness is particularly
seen in never learning. So these individuals continually devour David’s people
and frustrate the poor without grasping that God is with the righteous and is
their refuge. This means David’s prayer for God to save Israel (Jacob’s
alternative name, 14v7) by restoring her fortunes, is probably a prayer for him
to get rid of these fools, or change their hearts, so the people might be
established and know joy. Such salvation comes from Zion
(Jerusalem), as this is the place
of God’s temple-presence. The psalm could be read as a prayer for revival of
the church in any nation, but it is ultimately fulfilled in the exclusion of
all such “fools” from God’s kingdom on the last day. With God’s people fully
restored, joy and gladness will then reign.
The
negative diagnosis of everyone in Psalm 14 shows that in one sense the answer
to the question that begins Psalm 15 is “no-one.” God’s sanctuary comprised the
“holy” and “most holy” places within the temple. The latter was where God was
especially present above the ark, and the former, where only priests could go
to offer daily sacrifices. 15v1 therefore asks who is pure enough to come close
to God, and looks to the qualities necessary to enter the sanctuary of heaven
itself (Heb 9v24). Of course, only Jesus is pure enough – and we, only having
been cleansed from sin through his death, and had his righteousness credited to
us. Nevertheless, as people could enter the earthly sanctuary, in writing the
Psalm David is probably wanting to encourage actual godliness too. Each quality
is therefore worth deep reflection. They are expected of us, if we are those of
true faith (see 1 Thess 2v10, Eph 4v24-5v20). Indeed, if we display them, we
can be confident God is at work in us and so we will “never be shaken” (15v5).
Psalm
16 is anther call for safety and refuge. And once again David hopes in future
grace on the basis of God’s past goodness. First, he declares that he has
nothing good but for God, and affirms his uprightness in delighting and so
finding pleasure in God’s saints (holy ones), whilst refusing to join with or
even speak of those who follow false gods - to their “sorrow” (16v2-4). Although
we must befriend unbelievers, godliness is displayed in the joy of seeing
people honour God and our reluctance to partner with wrongdoers. “Glorious
ones” probably refers to the righteous as those who reflect God’s glory by
imaging him.
As
previously, this all suggests David may be appealing to God on the basis of his
own righteousness, ie. on the basis of knowing and loving God. So it is because
David communes with God even in bed and has always looked to him, that he can
be confident that God is at his right hand to defend and protect him (16v7-8).
But David is also confident of this because God has already given him so much
(16v6-7). Here, the language of land being apportioned to David is a
description of the blessing he has received more generally.
This all makes him joyful because he
can rest “secure,” certain that God will save him from death. But the note of
being in God’s presence with “eternal pleasures” (16v11) suggests he is certain
of this even if he actually dies, implying resurrection. So Peter applies
verses 9-11 to Christ’s resurrection in Acts 2v24-33. God inspired David so
that his words and confidence look to the only one who would die and be raised
without ever suffering “decay” (16v10). In Christ, we share his confidence too.
Praying it home:
Praise God that he has done all
that is necessary for us to have eternal refuge in him. Pray through Psalm 14
for the church in your nation.
Thinking
further:
None today.
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