avatarRoger Himes Esquire

Summary

The web content discusses a gospel-centered interpretation of Psalms 33 through 40, emphasizing the transformative power of the New Testament and the importance of reading the Old Testament in light of Christ's work.

Abstract

The article presents a reflection on Psalms 33 to 40, reinterpreting these Old Testament passages through the lens of the New Testament's gospel truth. It underscores the belief that Christians, as new creations in Christ, should approach the Psalms with an understanding of the finished work of Jesus. The author advocates for a selective reading, omitting portions that advocate harsh treatment of enemies, which contrasts with the New Testament's teachings of love and forgiveness. The psalms are reimagined to inspire joy, worship, and a life lived in the grace and mercy of God, with an emphasis on the believer's transformation and the promise of God's blessings and guidance.

Opinions

  • The author believes that reading the Old Testament without understanding the New Testament is akin to reading with a veil over one's heart, suggesting that the full meaning and intent of the Psalms can only be grasped in the context of Christ's teachings.
  • There is an opinion that the United States was originally founded with God at its center, but this principle has been lost over time.
  • The author holds that God's word is the ultimate reality and truth, and living by it leads to joy and blessings.
  • The

Gospel Worship in the Psalms: 5

“All Things Were Made New” in the Gospel. We Have “A New and Living Way.” Here, Live the Psalms in Light of Gospel Truth.

Photo by Nikolay Hristov on Unsplash

Psalm 33 through Psalm 40.

Here are more Psalms of the Old Testament, but seen through the eyes of the finished work of Jesus in the New Testament. II Corinthians 3:14–16 says Christians should not read the Old Testament without knowing the truth of the New. If we do, it’s like having a veil over our hearts, and we know God looks at our hearts and assesses them (I Sam 16:7). In the New Testament he makes us a new creation — a new species — so we are no longer simply only human. Let these Psalms produce this reality.

In these Old Testament Psalms, I use gospel truth from the New. Also, the Psalms talk a lot about enemies and dealing with them harshly, which is not not the New Testament standard set forth by Jesus. So I tend to omit a lot of lines in the Psalms that speak to this.

Psalm 33

We sound best to you, Lord if we are praising you. Singing to you is special. Your word, Lord is reality, and it is the truth we need to hear and live by. Blessed is the country that has God for its God. (As a P. S., this was the way the USA was originally created, but this has been lost today).

God, you shape all of us to be in your way, but not all of us accept your way. God’s eyes are on us who respect him and honor him and listen to him. He blesses those of us who hope in his mercy and live in his grace. When we trust in the Lord our hearts overflow with joy and rejoice in him.

Then we are more inclined to wait on the Lord and to hope in him.

Psalm 34

Lord, I try to bless you with every ounce of my being. My every breath is a gift from you, Lord. I try to tell others about how much you mean to me. You’ve set me free from fear and guilt and other unwanted things. God, you always help me out when I need it.

God is so good, and he wants us to run to him in our times of need. Lord, let me see more of your grace and mercy. The more I worship you and bless you the more you respond to me in goodness. The more I complain, the less I hear from you and know you. Thus I’ll always be a God-seeker. I try to guard my mouth against saying anything except good things.

I try not to sin and to do good to others. This allows me to live in peace.

Lord, I know you are always listening to me. As Jesus says, you always hear me. You always want what is best for me, even if it’s not always what I think is best for me. You defend me and are my bodyguard against evil.

Unbelievers commit suicide because they don’t know you or live in you. Their lives are a wasteland. You say, “He is a fool who says there is no God.” But we are wise who turn to you at every opportunity.

Psalm 35

Lord, I know you go to bat for me every time you can. But of course, I know you love others the same way you do me. You are no respecter of persons, but you do respect faith and trust. There is no one else like you, Lord.

My soul is full of joy for you, Lord, and I rejoice in the salvation you have given me. Even when I receive bad things from others for the good I do, I see you trying to turn it around for my benefit. Then my sorrow fades and I become more humble before you. Even when others speak badly of me and say evil things, I know you honor me as your child. You do the same for all your sons and daughters.

I know my life is precious to you. I praise you and worship you when I’m with others in the church, and I praise and worship you in private. I know you are always on my side, taking my side, helping me in any way you can.

Because I am not a man-pleaser, others often don’t like me. I don’t please them so they try not to please me also. I just ask you to speak to their hearts. Paul says we are constrained by your love, so I ask you to show your love for them and draw them to you by your love.

My cause is you, Lord. Help me share your gospel truth the best I can. Let others see that I live in your prosperity because I speak of your righteousness and your praise often.

Psalm 36

Those who do not know you have no fear of you, Lord. I know that my fear of you is expressed as worship. My prayer is that when others see the worship that fills my life, they will be drawn to you and fear you.

God, your faithfulness to us who love you is as high as heaven itself. Your righteousness surrounds me like high mountains. Your loving kindness and love and grace surround me, lord. You are the fountain of life and your light makes us children of light as Jesus says. Your life and light are what cause us to love others as you love us. Thus the Apostle John speaks often of (1) your life, (2) your light, and (3) your love.

Psalm 37

Lord, I don’t fret over other people and I am not envious of them. You say I’ll have (1) problems in life and (2) problem people in life. I accept this because you help empower me in all things — both with problems and with people.

I trust you, Lord, and feed on your faithfulness to me. I delight in you just for who you are in me. I know that you give me the desires of my heart because my desires become more and more like yours. I commit my way to you and trust in you, and you bring good things to pass. I rest in you and wait on you patiently.

I am meek and inherit your Kingdom on earth as Jesus says, so therefore I live in the abundance of your peace. Even if I have only a little, I am rich in your righteousness and prosperity. Paul says all spiritual blessings are mine.

You laugh at many things that I sometimes fret about. Lord, help me to think and respond to things more as you do. You know the length of my days on earth, and that the inheritance you give me will be forever.

My steps are ordered by you God, and you delight in my ways when I consult you on a regular basis. I have been a lot younger than I am now as being older. Yet I’ve never seen the righteous forsaken by you. You are forever merciful, and you shower us with abundant blessings, even in our problems and with problem people. I know you love justice and I know that things will turn out right and good in the end, even if not always here on earth.

Because I am righteous in you, I speak your wisdom, and of your justice.

When we wait on you and keep our ways, you exalt us. You mark us as being blameless because we are in you. Our future in you is peace and our sins and transgressions are destroyed forever. It’s like they have been erased from your blackboard. No, better yet, it’s like you threw the blackboard away.

Our salvation is from you, Lord, and you give us strength and power in times of trouble. As Paul says, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” You deliver us and save us at every turn in the road because we trust in you.

Psalm 38

Lord, I know that not everything I do makes you happy. Some things I do give you displeasure. Please don’t discipline me in your anger. My flesh is weak if I feel your anger. My sin is always before my eyes, even though in Hebrews you say to have no more consciousness of sin because of Jesus. Paul says that Jesus becomes sin for us and gives us his righteousness.

I know in the New Covenant there will be no more condemnation and guilt because of Jesus, so true believers will not be troubled like I sometimes am now, even though I know I am blessed by you because you even now do not hold my iniquities against me. You forgive my sin. I am blameless and perfect because you do not impute sin against me even when I do sin (Rom 4:6–8).

I make myself like I’m deaf to things I don’t want to hear. And I am mute and do not open my mouth, even though I really do want to sometimes. So I’m like a man with no hearing or no mouth, at least to negative things.

Because my sorrow for my wrongs is with me, I confess my iniquity and my sin, even though I know that Jesus is coming to become take my sin upon himself on his sacrifice. Even when I am faced with adversaries and wrongs I try to follow what is good. Lord, stay close to me and let me know your salvation for me even when I am wrong.

Psalm 39

Lord, I try to guard my ways, keep a watch over my tongue and muzzle my mouth when I know I should keep quiet. In the New Testament, James says, “Be swift to hear, slow to spake and slow to become angry.” I try to hold my peace even when I am stirred up. If my heart is hot within me I am tempted to open my mouth, so I work hard to keep it closed.

I know my age is not as important to you as it is to me. Even on my best day, I am only a vapor in your timeline. I am really only a shadow in the big scheme of things.

What do I wait for? I wait for you to come into my life deeper. My hope is in you. We are all only like a vapor — like a mirage — when it comes to you. Thank you for hearing my cries and not being silent when I call upon you, even if I don’t always hear you because of the clamor in my heart.

Psalm 40

When I wait patiently for you, Lord, you are more inclined to respond to me. When I’m in turmoil I too often miss you. You have put a new song on my lips and I sing my trust in you. I am blessed because I trust you. You do so many wonderful things in my life. Help me not to miss any of them. They are more than I can count, but I will speak of the ones I know about.

You open my ears to hear from you better, and your gospel is in my heart, even here in the Old Testament, because I know it is your coming reality and glory.

I delight to do your will, God, and I treasure your truth in my heart.

I declare your good news of righteousness in the church, and on the street to those who will listen. I hide your righteousness in my heart, but it springs forth at every opportunity. I reveal your loving-kindness to everyone.

Too often, my wrongs consume my head and cause my heart to fail me, even though I know you don’t hold my iniquities against me. You uphold me and strengthen me even when I’m wrong. Even when I am poor and needy, you deliver me and I give my thanks to you.

Let those who seek you rejoice in you always. Let them bask in your salvation continually. Let them say, “The Lord be magnified.”

Worship
Gospel
God
Jesus
Inspiration
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