Psalm 81 is a Psalm of Asaph, this one to be accompanied by a stringed instrument. He urges everyone to sing praises to God, our strength and not just sing, but beat the tambourine and play the sweet lyre and the harp, to blow the ram’s horn. He wanted people to celebrate the Lord.
He again urges the people to stay away from foreign gods and false gods. After all, it was the Lord who rescued them.
Didn’t you love the verse that said, “Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it with good things.” And he once again speaks of the cycle of Israel being blessed, sinning and worshiping other gods, being persecuted and then crying out to the Lord for help.
Psalm 88 is designated a Psalm of Heman the Ezrahite. What do you suppose the tune “The Suffering of Affliction” sounded like? Sounds like a dirge to me. If you recall, Heman was the guy to whom Asaph reported.
Heman is apparently having a hard time of it, summed up by the last five words of the last verse: “darkness is my closest friend.” I didn’t find it to be a very up-lifting Psalm. Here’s Heman (and all who sang it with him), talking about crying out to the Lord day and night, about a life full of troubles, about being nearly dead. He’s feeling forgotten, cut off from the Lord’s care. He seems to be trying to persuade the Lord that dead people cannot praise Him or speak of His righteousness. He’s also cut off from his companions and loved ones.
Psalm 89 is written by Ethan the Ezrahite. From I Chronicles 6, we learn that he was second assistant to Heman. A lot of the Psalm is devoted to praising God, for His unfailing love, His faithfulness, His covenant with David, His great wonders, even His awesomeness.
He devotes a lot of the Psalm to David and the fact that David’s dynasty will go on forever and then bewails the fact that it seemed as though the Lord had broken His covenant with David. In II Samuel 7:16, Nathan was instructed by God to say to David: “Your house and your kingdom will continue before me for all time and your throne will be secure forever.” This was fulfilled when Jesus rose from the dead and took His rightful place. Ethan the Ezrahite had no idea that would happen, and yet, in an act of faith, Ethan closes this Psalm “Praise the Lord forever! Amen and amen!”
Things are not always as they seem. Let us have faith that God only wants good for us. He loves us and does what is best for us even when it looks as if He has abandoned us. Let’s have the faith of Ethan and praise the Lord forever. Amen and amen.
Tomorrow, it’s I Chronicles 7 – 10.
Arrived safely in Milan for my niece’s wedding. Beautiful trip. More about it tomorrow.
Until next time…
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