Podcast Introduction

In our reading today we’ll read Psalms 72-74, and after the reading I’ll have some comments. I’m calling today’s episode “Persist.”

Comments on Psalms 72-74

Introduction to Psalm 72

This psalm is entitled “A Psalm of Solomon”, but translating from the Hebrew into English can be a bit inexact at times. This is one example. Some translations render the Hebrew here as “A Psalm for Solomon”, and still others as”A Psalm to Solomon.” As a matter of fact, nearly every psalm with this title can be translated in one of these ways. 

So how does one decide which word to use when there are multiple possibilities? You look at the context. What does the surrounding text say? Or I suppose in the case of the title of a psalm, what does the psalm say? Which translation makes the most sense?

In the case of Psalm 72, a case can easily be made for any one of these uses, which is of course why different Bible translations render it differently. 

Some commentators look at this psalm as being written by David for his son, and about his son Solomon, and about his future descendent, the Messiah. So their translation of the title is “A Psalm for Solomon”, or even “A Psalm to Solomon.”

Other commentators believe that the most logical translation is “A Psalm of Solomon.” The final verse of this psalm is, “The prayers of David, the son of Jesse, end here.” Many scholars think that Solomon compiled Book Two of Psalms, and wrote this psalm as an ending of psalms that were primarily written by David. Book Two is made up of Psalms 42 to this one, Psalm 72. You will notice was we read it, that the subject of the psalm is not David, but Solomon partly, but it is certainly applicable to the Messiah.

Introduction to Psalm 73

This psalm begins Book 3 of the Psalter. The title of this psalm is “A Psalm of Asaph”. Asaph was a musician and singer during the times of both David and Solomon. In addition to his musical talents, 1 Chronicles 25:1 and 2 Chronicles 29:30 tell us that Asaph was also a prophet. 

As we read through this psalm, notice the pronouns. In the first section Asaph talks about what will happen to the ungodly. In these verses, the dominant pronoun is “they”. From verses 13-17 the dominant pronoun is “I” as he describes how troubled he is about this situation until he discovered the cure for his trouble. Verses 18-22 find the focus now on God, and the dominant pronoun is “You.” Finally in the closing verses he confesses his faith in God and the assurance he has that he will spend eternity with Him. And the dominant pronouns here are both “You” and “I.” 

Introduction to Psalm 74

This psalm is entitled “A Maskil of Asaph.” Some translations render it as “A Contemplation of Asaph.” We’ve talked about what a maskil is before, so I won’t belabor it now.

This is a psalm of sorrow upon the destruction of the sanctuary. The actual time of the psalm is not known, because was the temple was destroyed by the Babylonians, and then later during the reign of Antiochus Epiphanes. And then there is a third possibility: Asaph was thinking back to when the tabernacle was destroyed in Shiloh (1 Samuel 4). The Hebrew word for sanctuary here in this psalm is also used for the tabernacle in Exodus 25, Leviticus 12 and 21, and in Numbers 10 and 18.

You might be wondering about how Asaph is a possibility when these events happened hundreds of years apart. Commentator James Montgomery Boice explains, in reference to this psalm referring to the destruction by the Babylonian or Antiochus Epiphanes: Either this is a later Asaph, which is not unlikely since the name might have been perpetuated among the temple musicians, or, more likely, the name was affixed to many psalms produced by this body of musicians. We know that the ‘descendants of Asaph’ were functioning as late as the reign of Josiah (2 Chronicles 35:15).”

Comments on Psalm 73

In Psalms 73 today, we see a man who at first seems to be complaining that doing right and living a good life isn’t worth the effort. He suffered, while the unrighteous seemed to have it easy. But then, when he entered the sanctuary, he realized that their ultimate destiny was ruin. Have you ever thought that it just doesn’t seem fair? You look around and see people that you know do not live for God, and they have money, power, influence, fame and all the rest, while you struggle to make ends meet. Maybe you have physical challenges, or people look at you like you’re stupid to believe in a God you cannot see.

My friend, hang in there. We are here on this earth for only a moment in time. Eternity is a long, long, long time. I will gladly sacrifice the supposed comforts of wealth now, to live in the fellowship and the presence of the Lord forever. I have no doubt that it *will* be worth it. Run the race all the way to the finish line!

Comments on Psalm 74

The opening sentence of Psalms 74 captures what many today might be thinking: O God, why have you rejected us forever?

The world is indeed a troubled place right now. Most of the world has rejected God, and has been living in rebellion to Him for decades, and even centuries. Even the United States of America, which had its founding primarily for the practice of freedom of religion, threw God out of the schools in 1963, when I was in the third grade. And since Roe v. Wade, millions of babies have been murdered, sacrifices to the gods of convenience, selfishness and sexual freedom. If I offend you, so be it. 

God allowed Israel to fall because of their worship of false gods. Do we in America think that if God allowed His chosen people to be taken into captivity *multiple times*, He won’t judge America? I truly do hope and pray that He will continue to shed His grace on us, but for how long will He put up with the rebellion? Only He knows. 

But beloved, we must carry His banner. We must speak the truth of Christ boldly. People truly do need the Lord. We must not hide His light under a bushel. Yes, culturally it might seem like the deck is stacked against us, but Jesus started the church with just 12 men. 

I know that some listening to this show are not in America. I’m talking to you, too. Some of you are just north of me in Canada, some in the UK, New Zealand, South Africa, Australia. There are listeners in Singapore, Nigeria and Spain. I could go on. Every one of you in each of the 40 nations that are listening to me right now, and who know Jesus as your savior, have family or friends or acquaintances who need Jesus in their lives. If each of us were to make it a point to tell them what Jesus has meant in our lives, how many people would be brought into God’s family? How many people’s eternities would be changed? 

Do you think that would change the world? It would change the world for those people. 

Those of us who are believers are first and foremost citizens of Heaven. Our responsibility is to live for God. But He put each of us where we are, by design. We are to influence those around us. We are to share the Gospel with those God puts in our path. If we do that faithfully, God can use us to make a difference. 

Today’s Bible Translation

Bible translation used in today’s episode: Ch. 72 NCV, Ch. 73-74 NIV

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The Team

Transcript Correction: Lifespring Family Berean, Sister Denise
Podcasting 2.0 Chapters: Lifespring Family Berean, Brother Sean of San Pedro and Lifespring Family Berean, Brother Michael Haner
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Transcript

Transcript not corrected.