Reading the Psalms in light of Jesus’ instruction on prayer:

Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy.

May your Kingdom come soon.

May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.

Give us today the food we need,

And forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us.

And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.

                                                     Matthew 6:9-13

God’s plan of redemption, prophecies about Messiah, time of judgement and the Millennial Kingdom are evident while reading through the Psalms. These liturgical songs of the Jewish people speak of blessings for the righteous and judgement to the wicked. All who struggle with sin and the sins of others can find solace in crying out to God along with the Psalmist.

Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy.

May your Kingdom come soon; may your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven…

Interesting to note that the first Psalm and the last Psalms 149-150 parallel with the last book of the Bible, Revelation 22, the theme of blessing to the righteous and judgement to the wicked. The righteous “are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season” (Psalm 1:3). And then in heaven “a river with the water of life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb…On each side of the river grew a tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit…” (Rev.22:1-2).

“But not the wicked! They are like worthless chaff, scattered by the wind. They will be condemned at the time of judgement” (Psalm 1:4-5).

Many Psalms of David cry out to God for deliverance from enemies and at the same time an acknowledgement of a greater need for deliverance from sin and separation from God (Psalms 18, 27, 40, 51, 62, 68, 73, 84, 91, 102 and 118).

In answer to the Psalmist’s cry for deliverance from sin, many of the Messianic Psalms speak of the suffering Savior but also of the victorious King (Psalms 2, 21, 22, 24, 45, 48, 50, 69, 72, 84, 110, 122 and 132).

Give us today the food we need…

The Lord’s providential care is compared to a shepherd caring for his sheep (Psalm 23). And those who trust the Lord find they have all they need (Psalms 34:8-9; 37:25-26; 64:10; 65; 104; 128; 146).

And forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us…

Although many of the Psalms are imprecatory, calling for God to punish evil doers, Jesus has taught us to bless our enemies and curse not. However, there is a time of judgement when those who afflict the righteous will be punished. So the Psalms calling on God for intervention against our enemies can remind us that we have escaped God’s wrath by faith in the Savior, and that those who reject the Savior and continue to do evil will certainly be punished (Deuteronomy 32:35; Psalm 94; Matthew 5:43-48; Romans 12:19-21; 2Thessalonians 1:5-10). For this we can praise God for he is just and righteous in all his ways. Also, during the time of judgement on Earth, the Saints who are saved during this time of tribulation including the Jewish remnant will rightly pray these imprecatory Psalms to God for his rescue and return.

And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.

Psalm 19 tell us that, “the instructions of the Lord are perfect, reviving the soul…”

Joy is promised to those who forsake sin (Psalm 32).

Psalm 119 exalts the value of God’s word in teaching us what is good and pleasing to God.

Psalms 120-134 inspire the long-suffering pilgrim in their journey to God’s Kingdom, to Jerusalem, a well-built city with seamless walls that cannot be breached. Struggle with sin and attacks from the evil one are compared to torrents of raging waters that would seek to overwhelm us (Psalm 125:4).

“I am tired of living among people who hate peace…my help comes from the Lord who made heaven and earth…Jerusalem is a well-built city; its seamless walls cannot be breached…I lift my eyes to you, O God, enthroned in heaven. We keep looking to the Lord our God for his mercy…What if the Lord had not been on our side? We escaped like a bird from a hunter’s trap. The trap is broken, and we are free…Those who trust in the Lord are as secure as Mount Zion; they will not be defeated but will endure forever…those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy…Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him…How joyful are those who fear the Lord—all who follow his ways…May all who hate Zion be turned back in shameful defeat…from the depths of despair, O Lord, I call for your help…I am counting on the Lord…He himself will redeem Israel from every kind of sin…O Israel, put your hope in the Lord—now and always…For the Lord has chosen Zion; he has desired it for his home…my anointed one will be a light for my people…and there the Lord has pronounced his blessing even life everlasting…Oh praise the Lord, all you servants of the Lord…(120:6; 121:2; 122:3; 123:1-2; 124:1,7; 125:1; 126:5; 127:4; 128:1; 129:5; 130:1,5,8; 131:3; 132:13,17; 133:3; 134:1).

 

 

 

Bibliography

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007, by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

C.I. Scofield, D.D., Editor, The New Scofield Reference Bible, Holy Bible, Authorized King James Version, copyright 1967, by Oxford University Press, Inc., New York.