Recounting the Wonders of God
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Intro: We continue in our series on the Psalms by turning to . This Psalm forms a pairing with , and most Catholic bibles combine them as one Psalm. The primary point of this Psalm is justice, building on the themes of condemnation from , and praise from .
I) Structure
I) Structure
This Psalm has an incomplete acrostic pattern with some letters skipped in this Psalm and some of those found in , which explains why some scholars think they were originally together (as found in the Septuagint)
The pattern is four lines spread over two verses, one of the common literary patterns in Psalms
The opening repeats nearly exactly the closing of & 8, praise for God, the one change being “wonders” for “righteousness”, showing that God’s wonders are His righteousness, not just “showing off”
We can learn from this pattern to spend more time in praise of God before we start complaining and begging
II) God’s fight for His people – vs.3-6
II) God’s fight for His people – vs.3-6
David sees the enemies fall back when they see the angry countenance of God, compared to His comforting look for His people – 4:6
God defends his just cause with righteous judgment
God’s judgment against the wicked is complete eliminating their existence
III) God’s eternal reign – vs.7-10
III) God’s eternal reign – vs.7-10
In contrast to these temporal powers, God will sit on His throne forever, so His justice will last forever –
because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”
His protection and care are also forever, especially in times of trouble (here and 10:1 only); troubling times is when Satan wants us to think God is far, but He is close at hand
IV) Let those of Zion praise God – vs.9-10
IV) Let those of Zion praise God – vs.9-10
This concludes the first part of the Psalm and returns to the opening theme, but now incorporating Zion (the citadel hill of the old city that comes to represent the mountain of God – 2:6)
God avenges blood – – by requiring it of those who do not respect the life it represents
“Whoever sheds the blood of man,
by man shall his blood be shed,
for God made man in his own image.
V) Be gracious to me – vs.13-14
V) Be gracious to me – vs.13-14
David calls for grace, not that he says it is not fair, but that God’s justice says it is not right
He asks to be lifted from the gates of death (Sheol) to the gates of Zion (God’s kingdom) so that he can praise God –
And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
VI) Destiny of the wicked – vs.15-18
VI) Destiny of the wicked – vs.15-18
They are caught in their own traps – Haman, Persian haters (Purim)
They are forgotten, but the oppressed will not be forgotten forever
Concl: David concludes with a rousing call for God to put His plan into action, so that man (the wicked) will not prevail and be reminded they are mere men – 8:4.