The Psalms - Reflections by Rev Jackie Bellfield
The psalmists include some of the most beautiful phrases in scripture. Prayed over for last 3000 years they bring comfort, challenge and praise. They lift us, offer lament and level us. They are a source of solace and inspiration flowing from the human heart and experience. We read the New Testament alongside the Hebrew scriptures - things make sense when we read biblical texts and the relationship between the two.
​Psalms - King David was 30 when he became King.
Did you know that 22 of the Psalms do not appear in the lectionary cycle? - these are 3, 7, 21, 28, 38, 55, 58, 59, 61, 76, 83, 87, 94, 101,102, 109, 110, 115, 117, 134, 140 and 149
Psalm 1 - not just the first (though not the first written) it is almost an introduction to the Psalms - in a few earlier editions this Psalm was unnumbered and sat almost as a preface before the remaining Psalms. These Psalm 1 didn't just happen to be placed at the beginning of the book - as highly edited it was intentional. Psalm 1 offers a contrast between the way of the righteous and the way of the ungodly reminding us by not doing certain things brings happiness - it seems a negative approach but wisdom oozes. As social creatures (just like Jack the alpaca) we are influenced by our environment - good and bad. if we want to dwell within the light of God - a righteousness life - be careful where you hang out. Be mindful of who influences minds and hearts. In the Psalmist words turn toward the positive - what are the places, the people, the activities that guide us towards goodness, righteousness and love? and be grounded - They are like trees planted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in its season, and their leaves do not wither. In all that they do, they prosper. Psalm 1
But Paul reminds us that it’s even wider than that. “Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” (Phil. 4:8)
Psalm 8 - what beautiful poetry - the night star draws us in and we are dazzled by its glory. If only the psalmist had a telescope - so much more to witness. Yet a handful of stars refused to behave - the wanderers - as the Greeks finally called them saw a handful of stars refusing to meld and exist like the others (well done the wanderers). The Greek word for wanderers is planeo from which we derive planets - perhaps those wandering stars were other worlds of their own. We cannot unsee the images of Earth, Jupiter, Saturn and Venus but that wasn't known to the writer of Psalm 8. How much more cause for joy then. It is estimated there are 10 billion galaxies with each galaxy containing 100 billion stars. It isn't just what we say for that is a fraction of what is really out there.
So the psalm is humbling - not just "out there" but look around - the birds of the air (Artic Terns fly 10000 miles round trip from Antartic to Asia for the summer.
In just 70 Hebrew words we are pulled in to think of God, creation and their relationship. psalm 8 the first praise Psalm and the only one as a direct address to God.
Creation matters and God loves it. Why for it declares the glory of God. And we - we are to care for it. “O Lord our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth"
Psalm 13 - written by King David in a time of trial - possibly during the Babylonian Exile though it is difficult to pinpoint to a specific time. "How long.." a lament we can all identify with. A request for divine help.
David's humble beginnings sets him apart as God chooses him to be King, and as a King faced a jealous predecessor - Ish-bosheth (or Ishbaal): Ruled briefly after Saul (one of Saul's sons) , mainly over the northern tribes. (2 Samuel 2:8-21). David had clearly identified enemies and made major mistakes in life (who hasn't). In that context he expresses a vast range of emotions.
"How long O lord, will you forget me for ever" - as we consider the love of God expressed in Jesus we reflect on the ending of the psalm - "But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing the Lord’s praise, for he has been good to me".
Psalm 22 - was most likely written during the reign of David as king of Israel (1010 – 970 B.C.). Before the time of Jesus, the Psalm was often read as a desperate prayer to God in a time of trouble. The Psalm captures the pain and agony of extreme suffering, while also highlighting the glory of God. There is a deep longing, lament in this Psalm and Jesus quotes a portion of the whilst on the cross. “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?…” (psalm 22:1); “and about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, ‘Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?’ that is, ‘my God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’” (Matt 27:46).
Did the writer of the Psalm or its listeners see this a prophetic telling of the coming Messiah or a deep lament similar to Job or Jeremiah? It is considered the one of the Davidic-Messianic (the earliest being Psalm 2)
This is the Psalm we read also at the end of our Maundy Thursday service depicting the torment and horror of the suffering servant. Lament - to mourn deeply, express hear sorrow over a loss of death. We find these often in the Psalms, CS Lewis on the death of his beloved wife Joy. If you haven't see the film Shadowlands - it is worth watching
Meanwhile, where is God? This is one of the most disquieting symptoms.
When you are happy, so happy that you have no sense of needing Him, so happy that you are tempted to feel His claims upon you as an interruption, if you remember yourself and turn to Him with gratitude and praise, you will be—or so it feels—welcomed with open arms.
But go to Him when your need is desperate, when all other help is vain, and what do you find? A door slammed in your face, and a sound of bolting and double bolting on the inside. After that, silence. You may as well turn away. The longer you wait, the more emphatic the silence will become.
There are no lights in the windows. It might be an empty house. Was it ever inhabited? It seemed so once. And that seeming was as strong as this. What can this mean? Why is He so present a commander in our time of prosperity and so very absent a help in our time of trouble? (CS Lewis A Grief Observed [New York: Bantam, 1961], 4-5)
David in writing the psalm journeys from self to "But You" - look at the problem and the pattern in the Psalm.
In the first couple of verses
David groans to God . . . but there seems to be no salvation and none of God’s presence.
David cries to God . . . but there seems to be no answer and no rest.
And yet David moves from suffering to hope. Is this a pattern for us to follow.
Psalm 23 - written by King David reflects on his humble beginning as a shepherd illustrating God's intimacy, goodness and provision. Written over 3000 years ago ( just let that sink in for a while) around 1000BC (David was King from 1010-970BC). Could it be a period of reflection in the later part of his life. As you reflect on your life what characteristics of God's love and provision speak to you?
David didn't invent the view of God being Shepherd - it is peppered through scripture. “God will feed his flock like a shepherd,” said the prophet Isaiah, “and will gather the lambs in his arms, and carry them close to him, and gently lead the mother sheep. . .” (Isaiah 40:11)
The prophet Ezekiel put it even more strongly: “Thus says the Lord God: I myself will search for my sheep, and I will seek them out. As shepherds seek out their flocks, so I will seek out my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places to which they have been scattered. . .I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries. . .I will feed them with good pasture. . . I will seek the lost, I will bring back the strayed, I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak. . .I will feed them with justice.” (Ezekiel 34:11-16)
So, David didn’t invent this idea and gives himself to it - The Lord is my shepherd - that is all we need.
Psalm 35 - simply entitled a psalm of David this is a psalm known as a "Imprecatory" psalm - in strong terms asks God to defeat and destroy the enemies of His people. Not the strongest of mildest it is possible it is written around the time when David is pursued by Saul - possibly around 1 Samuel 24:15. David Speaks to Saul 15 “Therefore let the LORD be judge, and judge between you and me, and see and plead my case, and deliver me out of your hand.”
Psalm 35:1-3
Plead my cause, O LORD, with those who strive with me;
Fight against those who fight against me.
Take hold of shield and buckler,
And stand up for my help.
Also draw out the spear,
And stop those who pursue me.
Say to my soul,
“I am your salvation.”
It feels as though David needing reassurance - "Say to my soul - I am your Salvation" seems a request for the renewing of the connection - communion with God. There is nothing greater in our lives - no greater word that reminding ourselves "God is our Salvation".
David had doubts, got things wrong and when his happened he wasn't content. David wanted more in God and he sought God in the present not the future.
Psalm 58 - Yet another Psalm of lament but more - the writer - David calls down judgement on wicked leaders, rulers - this is called a Imprecatory Psalm. A prayer for diving justice on wicked leaders.
It is only 11 verses but knowing the history of the Psalm is important.
It suggested that this Psalm reflects in 1 Samuel 26 where Abner was giving King Saul evil counsel. Evil counsel to pursue David, to chase him down, to kill him, to rid the earth of David's presence.
And in 1 Samuel 26, we read about how God caused a very deep sleep to fall upon Saul and all of his camp. And while everyone was asleep, including Abner, who was Saul’s right hand man, David and one of his right hand men sneak into the camp right up to where Saul is sleeping on the ground, and they take Saul’s spear and they take his water jug, probably a leather water bottle, and they take these and they go out.
Then when the sun comes up, there’s David up on a hill looking down over the camp and he yells out for Saul. And he chews out Abner says, you weren’t protecting your king. Look, I’ve got the Saul spear and his water bottle and his king Saul looked down. Sure enough, they’re gone.
And he says, I could have killed you if I’d wanted to, but I’m not going to kill you. You’re my king. And Saul immediately repented and turned and left. He regretted what he had been doing.
But Abner was the one who kept egging Saul on to do this wickedness of trying to pursue and kill David. So anyways, that is the suggested background for Psalm 58.
The opening of the Psalm offers the following "For the director of music. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” Of David. A miktam". Miktam is considered a musical term though otehr transaptions use the term Michtam which means engraved into metal.
"God, knock the teeth out of their mouths" (Psalm 58:6). While this may seem aggressive, it symbolizes God's power to silence the wicked and protect His people from their harmful words and actions.
I remember illustrating the power of words one day - knocking nails into wood and removing the nails still leaves the holes, the scars.
In a week of local elections we need to pray even more for our elected leaders - where they are our chosen ones or not. Pray for wisdom and integrity.
David is writing this psalm basically to ask questions, what makes evil people tick? Why are they deaf? Why are they venomous? And he doesn’t even really give us an answer. He simply states, this is the case.
Psalm 63 - Written by David perhaps in a time of wilderness in Judah. Most commentators believe it to belong either to David’s wilderness years before he came to the throne of Israel, or to his brief exile from the throne in the rebellion of Absalom. The wilderness years when hunted by King Saul are preferred, but not held with absolute certainty.
O God, You are my God;
Early will I seek You;
My soul thirsts for You;
My flesh longs for You
In a dry and thirsty land
Where there is no water.
So I have looked for You in the sanctuary,
To see Your power and Your glory.
Psalm 63 is about being thirsty. Not in a physical way, but physical thirst is a good word picture for something that God has placed in every human being. Every human being, even the most irreligious person, is spiritually thirsty. St. Augustine’s Confessions in which Saint Augustine states “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in you.” reminds us where our hope is.
Psalm 76 - A Psalm of Asaph - Asaph, from tribe of Levi, was a musician, worship leader, seer who was appointed by King David to lead praise at the Tabernacle - the Ark of the Covenant. Credited with writing 12 Psalms (Psalms 50 and 73-83). Often associated with playing the cymbals (imagine the crashing noise) though this is sung with stringed instruments.
Psalm 76 is a psalm of worship to God for a victory for the people of Israel and Judah. When enemies invaded God's power turned them back. Salem is another word for Jerusalem. Zion refers to the hill/mountain where David's palace was built.
God is renowned in Judah;
in Israel his name is great.
2 His tent is in Salem,
his dwelling place in Zion.
3 There he broke the flashing arrows,
the shields and the swords, the weapons of war
This Psalm reminds us that God’s power is unmatched. When God arises to judgment, all the oppressed of the earth will be delivered.
Psalm 90 - the ticking of a clock astounds us - we pay attention at different times of lives - the first and last breath - time all noted. Time is different - in an airport lounge to a doctors waiting room it is impactful. Psalm 90 is all about time and is often used at a funeral service.
Written by Moses it is considered to be the first Psalm written (other Moses psalms 90-106). The Psalm commences my Lord - unique in the Psalms and quite appropriate. It points to YHWH's power and relationship with the speaker. Moses throughout the Psalm spas of experience (possibly written in the wilderness in Canaan). Psalm 90 s not disconnected from Moses other writings - its a reflection on them.
Moses writes: “You turn man to destruction, And say, ‘Return, O children of men.’” (Psalm 90:3, NKJV)
While this verse doesn’t mention dust explicitly, it clearly echoes what Moses had already written in Genesis after the fall: “For dust you are, And to dust you shall return.” (Genesis 3:19, NKJV)
This isn’t just poetic language—it’s a reflection of a reality Moses saw up close. The judgment described in Genesis and carried out in the wilderness became something he witnessed firsthand.
Psalm 90 focus is on God's eternal nature of the brevity of human life.
Psalm 94 - the most painful wounds hurt. This is a Psalm written for a suffering community - God’s people were assaulted by the wicked, and then watching their assailants seem to get away with it.
The author is not listed - liked to David or Moses it could be a later writer. And sung on a Wednesday. 23 verses it continues the patter of Psalm 58 in praying against corrupt and unjust leaders and shared themes with Psalm 10. 23 verses long as you read it the longing connects with us and our world issues. It is the faithful appeal to God to do something.
O Lord, how long shall the wicked,
how long shall the wicked exult?
They pour out their arrogant words;
all the evildoers boast.
They crush your people, O Lord,
and afflict your heritage.
They kill the widow and the sojourner,
and murder the fatherless. (Psalm 94:3–6)
The psalmist offers hope and comfort remind the followers of God to remain righteous inspite. It is a trajectory of the human history - a counter narrative to the world and its order. What counter narrative can we offer the world? When question by the world about whose side are we on - our answer must always be God's. When we are questioned for getting involved with world issues and politics we are speaking the words of truth and grace.
Ponder verse 19: When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.
Ponder verse 22 But the Lord has become my fortress, and my God the rock in whom I take refuge.
Psalm 100 - 5 Verses - a psalm of thanksgiving and the only one entitled as that.
It invites us to use this as a call to worship. Yahweh invites us to turn up the volume, shout, worship, enter, praise,bless. taken together these commands are such an invitation for the community to engage in singing in the long procession to the temple. Imagine the scene - all singing and proclaiming - not hidden behind closed doors. Yet amidst all of this is the intimate invitation to "know that the Lord is God" -it is not a superficial knowing but one of ultimate dependence and reliance - like the sheep withe shepherd.
At a time of fracture in the world we need to shout this psalm. perhaps try singing it yourself.
For giving grateful praise.
1 Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
2 Worship the Lord with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.
3 Know that the Lord is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his[a];
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
5 For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.
Psalm 121 - where do you look for help?
Psalm 121 is a Song of Ascents, one of the many said to be written by King David, is recited in times of trouble. In fact, it was taught that David himself was feeling hopeless when he composed this psalm (see Psalm 120 for information on his troubles). King David was looking for a ray of light, a modicum of peace. In a time when he was seeking hope and inner strength, he asks, “Who will help, and where will that help come from?” And before asking the question, of which he surely knew the answer, he turned his eyes to the mountains.
Where do you look for help? Does you gaze go to the person who you love and trust - the one who brings calm into a situation.
Often recited a the start of the journey the traveller asks a question and the answer is clear to see - 1 I lift my eyes to the hills — from where will my help come? 2 My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
The psalm begins with a question to which anyone can relate: Where can I get help? Or better, where can I look for help? So we ask in the midst of space and time - where do we look for help?
Psalm 109 - David pens another Psalm considered as the strongest imprecatory psalms, David’s songs that call down curses upon his enemies. It is important to remember that these are prayers, committing vengeance unto God. With the greater revelation of grace and truth that came by Jesus Christ, we are to pray for the good of our enemies, and not for their ruin.
David left it to God - he pours out his heart and seeks the balm of God. Comfort, strength and grace. Its historical context centered around 2 possible key moments - (though to be fair most of David's life events are key) - legal-style crisis where David faced slander, fitting the context of 2 Samuel 15–17 (rebellion) or his earlier flight from Saul.
It is also cited as the Judas or Iscariot Psalm due to to v8 - May his days be few; may another take his office!" - The phrase let another take his office was, quoted by Peter to determine that the apostles should replace Judas in their apostolic number (Acts 1:20).
The psalm opens with a plea - Lord do not be silent. This implies a lack of action - is God every inactive? David Says - "don't ignore me, hear me and respond to my request." As the wicked surrender David seeks the Lord to defend him. What a reminder to us that we don't always have to defend ourselves. We serve a God who is for us, working in ways we cannot see. Oh how we need to remember that. We strive to be faithful, demonstrate love - David is rewarded - good with evil, love with hatred and he prays.
We see the shadow of the cross her - Jesus without cause - blameless, good, pure - life marked with evil surrounding him, falsely accused and lies spoken against him. Jesus prays.
Let our commitment be to prayer.
Psalm 139 - A song of David - “You have searched me, Lord, and you know me.” Musicians would have performed and sung this magnificent psalm. It is a remarkable piece of poetic theology–powerful writing in every sense. Why is it so powerful? 1 Samuel 16:23 tells us David played the harp for King Saul. Anointed music lifts the soul. Possibly attributed to the time when David is made King.
This is the reading I look at when selecting a new translation/version of the bible. It's poetry lifts the soul. A psalm of God's omnipresence and omniscience.
1-6: God’s omniscience (He knows all).
7-12: God’s omnipresence (He is everywhere).
13-18: God’s omnipotence (He forms life).
19-24: A concluding prayer against wickedness and a request for divine searching.
We cannot flea from God's presence.
Psalm 148 - another vibrant hymn of praise calling on everything created to praise the Lord. Nothing is excluded. This is Psalm which is not about defeat, failure, lament or human sin - it is the glory of redemption. Reading this Psalm slowly and focussing on a few verses it reminds me of how all creation can be in harmony - co -existing together.
13 times we are called to Praise - not to judge but to give oneself in surrender to the divine creator. What can we Praise God for - people, food to eat, waking, people who care and who we care for, the gorgeous tree, birds that fly. All reasons to praise the Lord - what are yours?
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.