Psalms 89:1

Psalms 89:1 says, Maschil of Ethan the Ezrahite.  This is identified as a psalm of Ethan the Ezrahite, then verse one says, I will sing of the mercies of the LORD for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations. Ethan said he would sing of God's mercy and make known His faithfulness to all generations.  This is what we must do today as followers of Christ, since we are a part of the generations that Ethan spoke of, and we must make sure that future generations know of God's mercy.  Verse two adds, For I have said, Mercy shall be built up for ever: thy faithfulness shalt thou establish in the very heavens.  Ethan said God's mercy would be built up forever and established in heaven.  God's mercy is everlasting, and comes down from heaven to us.  Verse three declares, I have made a covenant with my chosen, I have sworn unto David my servant,  God said He had made a covenant with His chosen, and that is us if we have accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord.  Verse four adds, Thy seed will I establish for ever, and build up thy throne to all generations. Selah.  Again, this is us and our children if we enter into a covenant relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ.  Verse five continues, And the heavens shall praise thy wonders, O LORD: thy faithfulness also in the congregation of the saints.  The heavens are God's creation and will always proclaim His wonders and faithfulness to all who will but look.  The heavens continue in their orderly ways that God set them in.  Verse six asks, For who in the heaven can be compared unto the LORD? who among the sons of the mighty can be likened unto the LORD?  The answer to this question then, now and always will be that no one can compare to God.  Verse seven states, God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him.  We are to have an awesome respect for God as Christians, because those who do not come to Him through faith in Jesus Christ should fear Him.  Verse eight asks, O LORD God of hosts, who is a strong LORD like unto thee? or to thy faithfulness round about thee?  The question is repeated as to who is like unto God, and the answer is no one.  God alone is God.  Verse nine declares, Thou rulest the raging of the sea: when the waves thereof arise, thou stillest them.  God created and controls the seas.  We need to never forget the power of God.  Verse ten continues, Thou hast broken Rahab in pieces, as one that is slain; thou hast scattered thine enemies with thy strong arm.  We do not have to fear our enemies today because God supports us with His strong arm, no matter what happens in this lifetime.  Verse eleven continues, The heavens are thine, the earth also is thine: as for the world and the fulness thereof, thou hast founded them.  As Ethan said, everything belongs to God, because He created it all.  Verse twelve says, The north and the south thou hast created them: Tabor and Hermon shall rejoice in thy name.  This continues to speak of the fact that God created everything and that the world should rejoice because of it.  Verse thirteen adds, Thou hast a mighty arm: strong is thy hand, and high is thy right hand.  Nothing is more powerful than God, so we can rest secure if we a personal relationship with Him through our faith in Jesus Christ.  Verse fourteen continues, Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy face.  Justice and judgment ultimately come from God alone.  Fortunately for Christians, because of our relationship with Jesus Christ we never have to face God's judgment, but are under His mercy instead. 

Psalms 88:11

Psalms 88:11 says, Shall thy lovingkindness be declared in the grave? or thy faithfulness in destruction?  Heman asked if the dead could declare God's lovingkindness or His faithfulness from destruction.  Even though our spirit will live on, our bodies cease to be able to declare anything, good or bad, once we die.  We must therefore declare God's goodness and mercy while we are alive.  If we have accepted Jesus as our Savior and Lord, our soul will still praise God after the body dies.  Verse twelve adds, Shall thy wonders be known in the dark? and thy righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?  This was still asking about God's will being known in the grave.  As Matthew Henry says, deceased bodies cannot know anything of God, even if their spirit does.  Verse thirteen states, But unto thee have I cried, O LORD; and in the morning shall my prayer prevent thee.  Heman said that he was alive and had called to God every morning.  As long as we live as followers of Christ, we should continue to pray to God, even if the answer to our prayer does not come immediately.  Verse fourteen asks, LORD, why castest thou off my soul? why hidest thou thy face from me?  Heman now basically asked how God could abandon him and hide Himself from him.  Once more, even if our prayers are not immediately answered, or if they aren't answered the way we want them to be, we must never believe that God has abandoned us or doesn't hear us.  Verse fifteen declares, I am afflicted and ready to die from my youth up: while I suffer thy terrors I am distracted.  Heman said he was ready to give up and die.  He had become afraid of God's wrath against him.  One thing we as Christians never have to fear is that God is going to abandon us because of His wrath against us.  If we problems of the world seem overwhelming, we need to just move closer to God in faith.  Verse sixteen adds, Thy fierce wrath goeth over me; thy terrors have cut me off.  Heman continued to speak of his fear of the wrath of God.  We as followers of Christ should never fear God's everlasting wrath, even if He does not immediately answer our prayers.  Of course, if we allow allow sin back in our life,we may be chastised by God, but we still do not have to fear facing His everlasting wrath when judgment day comes.  Verse seventeen continues, They came round about me daily like water; they compassed me about together.  Matthew Henry says that Heman had suffered from these times of fear from his youth, but they had become worse.  Some people, even though they know they are saved by their faith in Jesus Christ, still tend to have bouts of doubt about God's protection, but He will never fail us.  Verse eighteen concludes, Lover and friend hast thou put far from me, and mine acquaintance into darkness.  Heman said everyone, even those that he loved and his acquaintances had left him, and seems to imply that God had caused this to happen.  Even if the whole world deserts us, we must remain faithful to God and never blame Him for this happening. 

Psalms 88:1

Psalms 88:1 says, A Song or Psalm for the sons of Korah, to the chief Musician upon Mahalath Leannoth, Maschil of Heman the Ezrahite.  There is a long introduction and dedication, then verse one says, O LORD God of my salvation, I have cried day and night before thee:  Heman called God the God of his salvation, and then said he cried day and night before Him.  As followers of Christ, God is the God of our salvation, and we should pray to Him night and day, or continually.  Verse two adds, Let my prayer come before thee: incline thine ear unto my cry;  As Christians, we need to understand that God always hears our earnest prayers.  He also answers them in the best way possible.  Verse three continues, For my soul is full of troubles: and my life draweth nigh unto the grave.  The psalmist asked God to hear his prayers because his life was full of trouble and he felt that he was close to dying.  Life may not always seem fair to us today as followers of Christ and it may seem that all we have is trouble in our life, but we need to remember that through our faith in Jesus Christ that God has already given us everlasting victory.  Verse four states, I am counted with them that go down into the pit: I am as a man that hath no strength:  Heman, a very good and wise man according to Matthew Henry, felt that he was without strength and doomed like those who go down into the pit.  We need never feel that way as Christians.  Because of God's salvation given to us through faith in Christ, we shoulad never be in despair.  Verse five adds, Free among the dead, like the slain that lie in the grave, whom thou rememberest no more: and they are cut off from thy hand.  Heman said he felt he was no better than a dead man, who God would no longer remember, even though he had declared God the God of his salvation.  We, as Christians, should never feel this way, no matter how bead things get in life.  Verse six continues, Thou hast laid me in the lowest pit, in darkness, in the deeps.  Heman said God had placed him in the deepest pit, but it was really his lack of faith that put him there.  As long as we maintain our faith in Christ, we should never feel that God has put us in a place where we are without hope, even if we are suffering in life.  Verse seven says, Thy wrath lieth hard upon me, and thou hast afflicted me with all thy waves. Selah.  Once more, Heman attributes his suffering to God.  God is never going to directly cause our suffering if we are followers of Christ, but He may allow us to suffer for our faith.  We must simply remain faithful to Him without questioning His love and mercy.  Verse eight adds, Thou hast put away mine acquaintance far from me; thou hast made me an abomination unto them: I am shut up, and I cannot come forth.  Heman said God had shut him away from his acquaintances and made him an abomination to them.  God never removes us from our brothers and sisters in Christ, and if He removes those who aren't from our life, it is for our own good.  Verse nine states, Mine eye mourneth by reason of affliction: LORD, I have called daily upon thee, I have stretched out my hands unto thee.  Heman said he mourned because he had cried out to God daily but believed that God had not heard him.  Even if we feel that God has not heard us because whatever we are praying about has not changed, He always hears the prayers of those who believe in and put their faith in Him.  Verse ten asks, Wilt thou shew wonders to the dead? shall the dead arise and praise thee? Selah.  One day, God will indeed show the wonder of resurrection to everlasting life to those who have put their faith in Jesus Christ and who have died.  This life is not the end.

Psalms 87:1

Psalms 87:1 says, A Psalm or Song for the sons of Korah.  We have the dedication, then verse one says, His foundation is in the holy mountains.  Matthew Henry says this applies to the church, which is founded on the rock of Christ.  It has a solid foundation that will never fail.  Verse two adds, The LORD loveth the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob.  Zion was known as the city of God, and even though the people of Israel worshipped in their homes, God preferred their public worship of Him in His holy temple.  Matthew Henry says this means that even though we should worship at home, God expects to to worship Him publicly even more.  We need to let the world know that we are worshipping God, and this may not be evident if we never worship Him in public.  Verse three continues, Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God. Selah.  Glorious things were spoken then about the city of God, and glorious things should be spoken about the church today.  As Matthew Henry says, even when the church is at its lowest, we as followers of Christ should still speak about how wonderous it is, because it belongs to God. Verse four states, I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon to them that know me: behold Philistia, and Tyre, with Ethiopia; this man was born there.  Zion was preferred above all other nations, even those known for their power.  Also, this could be interpreted as the fact that the gospel of Christ was going out to all nations, making those who accepted it just as much a part of the people of God as those born as Jews.  God's salvation has always been available to those who put faith in Him.  Verse five adds, And of Zion it shall be said, This and that man was born in her: and the highest himself shall establish her.  Those who are born in Zion, spiritually, shall be established in His kingdom by God Himself.  Verse six adds, The LORD shall count, when he writeth up the people, that this man was born there. Selah.  This is once again a reference to Jesus, Who was born as the way to Zion, the temple of God. We cannot become a part of God's kingdom based on where we were born in this world, but can only become a part of it based on our relationship with Jesus Christ.  Verse seven concludes,  As well the singers as the players on instruments shall be there: all my springs are in thee.  The praises of God will be sung by His people, who have the Living Water flowing through them.  We, as God's people today, should never stop singing praises of God to the world. 

Psalms 86:10

Psalms 86:10 says, For thou art great, and doest wondrous things: thou art God alone.  As David said, God is great and does wondrous things, and He alone is God.  This always has and always will be true.  Verse eleven adds, Teach me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name.  We, like David, need to ask God to teach us His ways, and when He does,then we need to unite our hearts with His laws.  Verse twelve continues, I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore.  David said he would praise God, his LORD, with all his heart forevermore.  Before we can praise God, He must be our God through accepting Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord, and once He is we should praise Him with all our heart forevermore.  Verse thirteen states, For great is thy mercy toward me: and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell.  As David said, as Christians, God's mercy is great towards us and He has delivered us from hell.  Of course, God's mercy is great towards everyone, but unless each individual accepts God's salvation, then he or she will not benefit by being delivered from hell.  Verse fourteen adds, O God, the proud are risen against me, and the assemblies of violent men have sought after my soul; and have not set thee before them.  David said men filled with self pride had risen against him and sought his soul, because they had not set God before them.  Ultimately, if we allow those in power in the world to come between us and accepting Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, it is our soul that they will cause to suffer, even if we are successful in this lifetime.  Those who refuse to put their faith in God will always try to lead others away from Him.  Verse fifteen declares, But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.  God always was and always will be a God full of compassion, grace, and longsuffering Who is full of mercy and truth.  Anyone who meets God as a God of justice against sin instead of a God of mercy Who has forgiven their sins does so because of their own choice.  Verse sixteen adds, O turn unto me, and have mercy upon me; give thy strength unto thy servant, and save the son of thine handmaid.  When we, like David, call out to God to have mercy on us and give us strength to follow Him, He always will. Verse seventeen continues, Shew me a token for good; that they which hate me may see it, and be ashamed: because thou, LORD, hast holpen me, and comforted me.  The token, or sign, that we have today of God's grace is the sign of the cross of Jesus, and there is no other sign that we can show people to prove the grace of God, and we must accept this by faith. 

Thanksgiving

 It is Thanksgiving Day once again.  Psalms has a lot to say about giving thanks to God, but Thanksgiving Day is an American holiday established to give thanks to God.  Though not from the Bible specifically, it was created on Biblical principles.  It was also created to acknowledge the goodness of God, though now many people in America too often don't even want God mentioned in the celebration of Thanksgiving Day.  It is also a day to celebrate with our family and friends.  We should value the time that we have together everyday, but this is a special time to celebrate God and family.  It is also a day to reach out to those in need.  It is not turkey day, though a lot of turkey may be eaten.  It should not be a day to spend planning what we can rush into stores to buy tomorrow.  It certainly shouldn't be a day when stores attempt to get people to rush into them today.  We need to reclaim Thanksgiving Day as what it is supposed to be, and that is a day to thank God for His love and mercy, as we gather together with family and friends.  

Psalms 86:1

Psalms 86:1 says, A Prayer of David.  This psalm is identified as a prayer of David, then verse one says, Bow down thine ear, O LORD, hear me: for I am poor and needy.  David asked God to bow down and hear Him.  I believe that though God is above us, He really doesn't have to lower Himself to hear us.  God is both above us and all around us.  We reach up and out to Him by faith in Jesus Christ, because as David said we are poor and needy spiritually.  Verse two adds, Preserve my soul; for I am holy: O thou my God, save thy servant that trusteth in thee.  David asked God to preserve his soul, then declared himself to be holy and God's servant who trusted Him.  The only way we can be made holy is by accepting Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, and once we do, then we need to serve God in all that we do.  Verse three continues, Be merciful unto me, O Lord: for I cry unto thee daily.  Though David asked God to be merciful to him, as Christians God has already been merciful to us by giving us salvation.  The sad thing is, God has already done the same for everyone, yet many will never know His mercy because they reject the salvation that He offers them.  Like David, we need to cry to God daily.  Verse four states, Rejoice the soul of thy servant: for unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.  David asked God to cause his soul to rejoice and said he lifted his soul up to God.  When we lift our soul up to God through faith in Jesus Christ, God gives us a reason to rejoice every day.  Verse five adds, For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.  David then gave the reason to rejoice, and that is because of the goodness and mercy of God.  Our rejoicing should not be based on the things of this world, but on the goodness and mercy of God to us.  Verse six continues, Give ear, O LORD, unto my prayer; and attend to the voice of my supplications.  As followers of Christ, even if we may sometimes feel that God isn't listening to us, He always hears our prayers.  Verse seven declares, In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee: for thou wilt answer me.  David said he knew that God would answer him when he called on God in his time of trouble, and we should have that same assurance today.  If we call on God in faith today, at any time, He will hear us.  Verse eight adds, Among the gods there is none like unto thee, O Lord; neither are there any works like unto thy works.  There is no false god like God, and the works of false gods can never rival God's work.  Verse nine continues, All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee, O Lord; and shall glorify thy name.  This will one day happen, but unfortunately it will be too late for too many people to benefit from the salvation that God makes available through Jesus Christ.  The idea that there may be a God, but not for me, will one day be proven wrong.

Psalms 85:1

Psalms 85:1 says, To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah.  After the introduction and dedication, verse one says, LORD, thou hast been favourable unto thy land: thou hast brought back the captivity of Jacob.  The psalmist begins by stating that God had been favorable to His land and had brought Jacob, or God's chosen people, back from captivity.  God will always be favorable to those who put their faith in Him and has brought them out of the captivity of sin through their faith in Jesus Christ.  Verse two adds, Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people, thou hast covered all their sin. Selah.  Just as was stated then, God has forgiven the sins of those who accept Jesus Christ and has covered their iniquities with His blood.  Verse three continues, Thou hast taken away all thy wrath: thou hast turned thyself from the fierceness of thine anger.  When we accept salvation that comes only through faith in Jesus Christ, then God turns His wrath, which He has toward sin, away from us.  Verse four states, Turn us, O God of our salvation, and cause thine anger toward us to cease.  When we turn to God by salvation, His anger toward us does cease.  Still, if we turn away from His will for us, we may feel His chastisement once again.  Verse five asks, Wilt thou be angry with us for ever? wilt thou draw out thine anger to all generations?  God's anger toward sin and those who refuse to accept His salvation will last throughout the generations.  There will never come a time when sin is okay.  Verse six adds, Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?  We often ask that God revive us again, but revival only comes when individual Christians begin to truly put God first.  God stands ready to revive His people at all times, and this will happen if we as followers of Christ begin to follow Him in all that we do.  Verse seven declares, Shew us thy mercy, O LORD, and grant us thy salvation.  God did this once and for all time when He sent Jesus Christ to die on the cross as an atonement of all sin for all time.  Many people will go to hell with their sins forgiven since the refuse to accept the salvation that Christ died to give them.  Verse eight adds, I will hear what God the LORD will speak: for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints: but let them not turn again to folly.  We likewise need to hear what God says to us as followers of Christ, because following Him and listening to His words brings us peace.  Verse nine says, Surely his salvation is nigh them that fear him; that glory may dwell in our land.  The salvation of Christ is always just a prayer away.  We don't have to perform great deeds or go on great journeys to find salvation.  We only have to open up when Christ knocks on our heart’s door.  Verse ten adds, Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other. God's mercy is found when we accept His truth, and once we do, we should live in righteousness which brings us peace. Verse eleven continues, Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven.  Truth can only come from God, and righteousness only comes from putting our faith in Jesus Christ.  Verse twelve states, Yea, the LORD shall give that which is good; and our land shall yield her increase.  If we want true success in the world today, it will only come once we have accepted Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord.  Verse thirteen adds, Righteousness shall go before him; and shall set us in the way of his steps.  Righteousness does indeed go before God, and therefore should go before His people as well.

Psalms 84:1

Psalms 84:1 says, To the chief Musician upon Gittith, A Psalm for the sons of Korah.  Once more we have the introduction, then verse one says, How amiable are thy tabernacles, O LORD of hosts!  God's tabernacles should always be amiable, since we as followers of Christ are the tabernacles of the Holy Spirit.  Of course, the buildings where we meet as a congregation of believers should also be amiable.  Verse two adds, My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God.  Asaph said that his soul longed for the LORD, and his heart and soul cried out for the living God.  We should feel the same way today, and not just at times, but all the time.  Verse three states, Yea, the sparrow hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even thine altars, O LORD of hosts, my King, and my God.  Asaph said that the birds had found a home in God's house.  Of course, even if they were there, they were not there to worship God.  Verse four adds, Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will be still praising thee. Selah.  Asaph then says that those who dwell in God's house are blessed and praising God.  We are blessed as Christians today and should praise God for it every day, but especially when we are gathered in His name.  Verse five declares, Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them.  This applies to us today as followers of Christ.  Our strength comes from God as we follow the way He leads us.  Verse six adds, Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well; the rain also filleth the pools.  Asaph said those who waited on God in difficult times were blessed by having their needs met, and we still are today as followers of Christ.  Verse seven continues, They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God.  If we put our faith in God, we go from our strength to His, and no matter how strong we may be, without God's strength we are powerless.  Verse eight says, O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer: give ear, O God of Jacob. Selah.  Asaph asked God to hear his prayers, acknowledging Him as the only God, Who was the God of Jacob.  If we expect God to hear our prayers, we mist first acknowledge Who He is, the only God.  Verse nine adds, Behold, O God our shield, and look upon the face of thine anointed.  Asaph acknowledged God as the shield of Israel and asked Him to look upon His anointed.   God is our shield in the world today if we have put our faith in Jesus Christ, and He always looks upon us.  Verse ten declares, For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.  Like Asaph, we should know that one day with God is worth more than a thousand without Him.  It is better to be a doorkeeper in God's house than to live in any place without Him.  Verse eleven adds, For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.  God is indeed the source of all good things, and He has not withheld the greatest gift of all, everlasting life with Him, from those who put their faith in Jesus Christ.  Verse twelve continues, O LORD of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.  The only way for someone to be truly blessed is to put their faith in God. 

Psalms 83:9

Psalms 83:9 says, Do unto them as unto the Midianites; as to Sisera, as to Jabin, at the brook of Kison: After speaking about the way their enemies had mistreated them, Asaph now asks God to destroy them as He had destroyed Isreals enemies in the past.  God's enemies will one day all be destroyed, when He says the time is right, and until then we need to pray for their salvation.  Verse ten adds, Which perished at Endor: they became as dung for the earth.  Asaph said that God had totally destroyed the enemies of Israel in the past. What we need to remember is that God defeated all our enemies when we accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, and He will do so forever if we continue to put our faith in Him.  Verse eleven states, Make their nobles like Oreb, and like Zeeb: yea, all their princes as Zebah, and as Zalmunna:  Then verse twelve adds, Who said, Let us take to ourselves the houses of God in possession.  Asaph then asked that the princes of the enemies of Israel, those that led them in their fight against Israel, be destroyed as they had in the past.  Some people may only fight against Christianity today because their leaders tell them to, so we should especially pray that the attitude of the leaders be changed.  Verse thirteen declares, O my God, make them like a wheel; as the stubble before the wind.  Asaph asked that God make those leaders and those that they commanded no more than stubble.   No matter how powerful our enemies may be in the world today, they are no more powerful than the stubble of grass before God, and we simply need to remember that.  Verse fourteen adds, As the fire burneth a wood, and as the flame setteth the mountains on fire;  Asaph asked that God move among the enemies of Israel like a purifying fire.  Verse fifteen continues, So persecute them with thy tempest, and make them afraid with thy storm.  Asaph then asked God to send His storms to make the enemies of God afraid.  God does not need an army to defeat His enemies, but can do so by His own power over the universe.  God has given us everlasting salvation if we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, and we need to put our faith in Him alone, and not on any force in this world.  Verse sixteen says, Fill their faces with shame; that they may seek thy name, O LORD.  Asaph then asked God to fill the enemies of Israel with shame, so that they might seek His face.  This should be our prayer for the enemies of God and His people today.  We should pray that they come to salvation by putting their faith in Jesus Christ.  Verse seventeen adds, Let them be confounded and troubled for ever; yea, let them be put to shame, and perish:  Then, Asaph asked that if they didn't come to God that the enemies of Isreal be destroyed forever.  Everlasting destruction is the fate of everyone who refuses to accept God's salvation, but we should not pray that this happens to anyone.  Verse eighteen concludes, That men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the most high over all the earth. Asaph asked that God do this so that people might know that God alone was God and that His sovereignty covered the whole world.  God has given us the sign of the cross, the death of Jesus Christ to defeat sin and death for all time, and we don't need another.  Some countries may believe that by simply denying God that they have defeated Him, but He is still sovereign over all the earth.

Psalms 83:1

Psalms 83:1 says, A Song or Psalm of Asaph. After being identified as a psalm of Asaph, verse one says, Keep not thou silence, O God: hold not thy peace, and be not still, O God.  Asaph called on God to not remain silent.  If we feel that God is being silent in our life today, we need to ask what we have allowed to come between Him and us.  Verse two adds, For, lo, thine enemies make a tumult: and they that hate thee have lifted up the head.  Asaph said that God needed to speak because His enemies were making a tumult and killing His people.  The world may be making a lot of noise in speaking out against God and those of us who follow Him today, even killing them at times, but God has not deserted us.  Even if we don't feel that God is still active in the world, He always has been and always will be.  Verse three continues, They have taken crafty counsel against thy people, and consulted against thy hidden ones.  Just as those who did not believe in and follow God's law then were crafty, so are those who stand against Him today.  They attempt to make sin the normal standard, by any method available.  Verse four states, They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance.  Asaph said the enemies of God sought to destroy Israel to the point that it, and therefore the God of Israel, would no longer be remembered.  Some countries today attempt to destroy God's people with the hope that He will no longer be remembered, but they will never be successful.  Verse five adds, For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against thee:  Those who oppose God may not speak with each other, but they are still united in purpose today, and that is to destroy God and all those who put their faith in Him.  Verse six says, The tabernacles of Edom, and the Ishmaelites; of Moab, and the Hagarenes;  Verse seven adds, Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; the Philistines with the inhabitants of Tyre;  Verse eight continues, Assur also is joined with them: they have holpen the children of Lot. Selah.  Asaph then listed many of the nations that were against God's people.  We could list many nations today who are against us as followers of Christ, but we could also list many groups who are a part of our nation who are out to do the same thing. 

Psalms 82:1

 Psalms 82:1 says, A Psalm of Asaph.  This is identified as another psalm of Asaph, then verse one says, God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods.  Matthew Henry says this psalm was written to the magistrates, especially those of Israel.  God stood and still stands in the congregation of the mighty, the ultimate authority over all.  Anyone else is a false god, and the one true God judges them.  Matthew Henry says the magistrates were sometimes referred to by the word for a god, but whoever these gods were, God judged them.  We must acknowledge that God is the ultimate authority over everything.  Verse two asks, How long will ye judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked? Selah.  Asaph asked how long these magistrates would judge unjustly and accept, or even delight in, those who were wicked over those who were just.  The courts today often seem to side with the wicked, and we as Christians may wonder how long God will allow this to continue, but we know that one day God will judge everyone by His righteousness.  Verse three, Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy.  The magistrates were called on to defend the poor and fatherless and to do justice to the afflicted and needy.  In courts today, the poor and needy are often likely be punished more severely instead of being treated with compassion.  Verse four adds, Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked. God called on the magistrates to deliver the poor and needy from the hand of the wicked.  We need impartial judgement in the courts today, so that even the poorest can receive the same justice as the richest, all guided by God's righteousness.  Verse five states, They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course.  God said that the partiality of the magistrates toward the rich and even the wicked threw all of the earth out of course.  The people in power are expected to judge impartially, and when they don't, all of God's creation is affected.   Verse six adds, I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.  When referred to as gods, the magistrates were to act as representative of God and stand in His place.  They were His children by creation and were to act like it by following His guidance in the courts.  Verse seven says, But ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes.  These magistrates were just mortal men and would die like anyone else.  No matter how powerful rulers or justices may feel today, they are but mortal men who one day will die.  Verse eight adds, Arise, O God, judge the earth: for thou shalt inherit all nations.  Asaph calls on God to arise and judge the earth, and one day His final judgment will come. 

Psalms 81:1

Psalms 81:1 says,To the chief Musician upon Gittith, A Psalm of Asaph. This is identified as another psalm of Asaph, then verse one says, Sing aloud unto God our strength: make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob.  Once again, the people of Israel are called on to sing praises to God.  We as followers of Christ today should do the same thing.  Verse two adds, Take a psalm, and bring hither the timbrel, the pleasant harp with the psaltery.  Verse three continues, Blow up the trumpet in the new moon, in the time appointed, on our solemn feast day.  Several musical instruments were called for to be used in the worship of God along with the singing.  Music, and musical instruments, has always been a part of the worship of God. Verse four states, For this was a statute for Israel, and a law of the God of Jacob.  Asaph said God ordained this type worship, so we should not think that it is wrong today.  Verse five adds, This he ordained in Joseph for a testimony, when he went out through the land of Egypt: where I heard a language that I understood not.  In Egypt, the people of Israel were under the power of a people whose language they did not understand, even though they had gone there at the invitation of Joseph.  If we go out into the world, we may at times find ourselves under the power of people who do not speak the language of God, even if they start out friendly to us.  Verse six continues, I removed his shoulder from the burden: his hands were delivered from the pots.  Just as God removed the burden of physical slavery from the people then, He removes us from the burden of spiritual slavery today, if we put our faith in Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord.  Verse seven declares, Thou calledst in trouble, and I delivered thee; I answered thee in the secret place of thunder: I proved thee at the waters of Meribah. Selah.  Asaph said that God had heard His people when they called on Him in times of trouble and provided for their needs, which He still does for Christians today.  That is why we should always sing praises to Him.  Verse eight adds, Hear, O my people, and I will testify unto thee: O Israel, if thou wilt hearken unto me;  God said if the people of Israel would listen to Him that He would testify, or speak the truth, to them.  It is always our choice, even as Christians, whether we listen to the voice of God or not.  Verse nine says, There shall no strange god be in thee; neither shalt thou worship any strange god.  Like the people of Israel then, as followers of Christ today we are to allow no false gods in our lives, and anything that becomes more important than God becomes a false god.  Verse ten adds, I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.  God reminded the people of Israel that He was the God Who had delivered them out of Egypt and that He had and would meet their needs as long as they remained faithful to Him. As Christians, God is the God Who had delivered us out from under the power of the sinful world, and He will meet our needs as long as we put our faith in Him.  Verse eleven adds, But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me.  God then said that the people of Israel, His chosen people, would not listen to His voice.  We need to always listen to God and follow His leadership if we are to live successful Christian lives today.  Verse twelve continues, So I gave them up unto their own hearts’ lust: and they walked in their own counsels.  God said that when the people of Israel refused to listen to Him, He gave them up to their own lusts and they followed their own ways instead of God's ways.  As followers of Christ, we need to make sure that we don't get so far away from God that He just leaves us to our own understanding.  Verse thirteen declares, Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways!  God said that it would have been great if His people had listened to Him and walked in His ways.  As Christians, we must do the same thing today.  Verse fourteen adds, I should soon have subdued their enemies, and turned my hand against their adversaries.  God said that if the people of Israel had followed Him in faith that He would have soon subdued their enemies, and He will still do so for the followers of Christ today spiritually.  Verse fifteen continues, The haters of the LORD should have submitted themselves unto him: but their time should have endured for ever.  Asaph said those who hated God should have submitted themselves to Him instead of fighting against Him, and if they had their time of power would have lasted forever.  God can easily destroy all those who deny or fight against Him,  but He reaches out to them with the gospel of Christ instead.  Verse sixteen concludes, He should have fed them also with the finest of the wheat: and with honey out of the rock should I have satisfied thee.  God still stands ready to meet the needs of all who will put their faith in Jesus Christ today and live under the direction of the Holy Spirit. 

Psalms 80:12

Psalms 80:12 asks, Why hast thou then broken down her hedges, so that all they which pass by the way do pluck her?  Asaph asked why God had broken down His protective hedge from around Israel.  He should have known the reason, and that was because of the rebellion of the people of Israel against God's laws.  If we feel that we have lost God's protection, we need to see if we have become rebellious to His laws and His will for our life.  Verse thirteen says, The boar out of the wood doth waste it, and the wild beast of the field doth devour it.  Asaph said the vine of Israel as they had been referred to was being destroyed by the boar and the wild beast.  The people of Israel were being attacked by more than one group.  If we lose God's protective hand today, we may be attacked by more than one group of people who oppose Him, which is why it is so important that we as followers of Christ remain faithful to Him.  Verse fourteen adds, Return, we beseech thee, O God of hosts: look down from heaven, and behold, and visit this vine;  The psalmist asked for God to look down from heaven and behold and visit the vine of Israel. We know that God never leaves His people, even if they fail to live up to their part of the covenant, but we may have to at times call on Him to help us out of a bad situation that we have gotten our self into.  Verse fifteen continues, And the vineyard which thy right hand hath planted, and the branch that thou madest strong for thyself.  Asaph gave God credit for building the vineyard, the nation of Israel, and we must give God the credit for our salvation today.  It can come from nowhere else.  Verse sixteen concludes, It is burned with fire, it is cut down: they perish at the rebuke of thy countenance.  Asaph said the nation of Israel was in very bad shape, but God already knew this and it was because of their rebellion against Him that they were in this condition.  Verse seventeen states, Let thy hand be upon the man of thy right hand, upon the son of man whom thou madest strong for thyself.  Though this could apply to God restoring an earthly king to power in Israel, we know that it ultimately refers to Jesus Christ, the One Who God made the source of salvation forever.  Verse eighteen adds, So will not we go back from thee: quicken us, and we will call upon thy name.  God does quicken us, or make us spiritually alive, if we put our faith in Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord.  Verse nineteen continues, Turn us again, O LORD God of hosts, cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved.  If we are to be saved, we must turn to God through faith in Jesus Christ. 

Psalms 80:1

Psalms 80:1 says,To the chief Musician upon ShoshannimEduth, A Psalm of Asaph.  After the introduction and instructions, verse one says, Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, thou that leadest Joseph like a flock; thou that dwellest between the cherubims, shine forth.  God is referred to as the Shepherd of Israel, which made them His sheep.  We often look down on people and refer to them as sheep, but we are called to be the sheep of God's pasture as Christians. Verse two adds, Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh stir up thy strength, and come and save us.  The psalmist calls on God to display His great strength in the presence of all His people.  God's power should be evident today to all His people, those who have put their faith in Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord.  God is never asleep or slumbering, so we never have a need to believe that we have to wake Him up.  Verse three continues, Turn us again, O God, and cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved.  Asaph called on God to turn to them again, but he should have called on the people of Israel to turn to God again.  God never deserts His people, so if we are feeling that He has, we need to ask what we have allowed to come between Him and us.  Verse four states, O LORD God of hosts, how long wilt thou be angry against the prayer of thy people?  Asaph felt that God was angry at the prayers of His people, but we can be certain that as long as we pray for God's will to be done in our lives and in the world that He will never be angry.  If we pray simply asking God for what we want and for His blessings or if we pray without any conviction that God does hear and answer our prayers, the we should not be surprised if He is upset with us.  Verse five adds, Thou feedest them with the bread of tears; and givest them tears to drink in great measure.  Asaph said that God had given His people bread that they ate with tears and that they drank tears in great measure.  I believe their sorrow was due to their own lack of faith though.  If we live in sorrow today as followers of Christ, I believe it is because we do not put all our faith in God, but instead allow material things to determine our happiness.  Verse six continues, Thou makest us a strife unto our neighbours: and our enemies laugh among themselves.  Asaph said the people of Israel had become a strife and a source of amusement to their neighbors.  As Christians, we may become a source of strife to those who do not believe in God, and they may even find our faith amusing, but it should not be because we profess to live for God while following the standards of the world.  Verse seven concludes, Turn us again, O God of hosts, and cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved.  Asaph then asked that God turn them again so that they might be saved.  As followers of Christ, if we have lost the joy of our salvation and maybe even allowed sin back into our life, we need to turn again to God, but once we have accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, we have everlasting salvation.  We do not have to be saved again.  Verse eight says, Thou hast brought a vine out of Egypt: thou hast cast out the heathen, and planted it.  Asaph said that God had rescued the people of Israel, bringing them out of Egypt and giving them the promised land.  As Christians, God has brought us out of the sinful world spiritually and gives us a place in the promised land of Heaven.  Verse nine adds, Thou preparedst room before it, and didst cause it to take deep root, and it filled the land.  Asaph said that God planted Isreal in the land that He gave them and that He gave them plenty of room to grow.  One day, we will be planted in the promised land, where there is room for everyone who accepts the salvation of Jesus Christ.  Verse ten continues, The hills were covered with the shadow of it, and the boughs thereof were like the goodly cedars.  Asaph said that the vine of Israel, God's people who were brought out of Egypt, had covered the land that He promised them.  As Christians, we are to be the branches of the Vine, Jesus Christ, and are to spread His word into all the world.  Verse eleven concludes,  She sent out her boughs unto the sea, and her branches unto the river.  Asaph said that God's people were victorious even over people across the sea and the rivers, and as God's people today, we should reach out to all the world with the message of Christ so that those who accept Him can be a part of His kingdom. 

Psalms 79:1

Psalms 79:1 says, A Psalm of Asaph. This is identified as a psalm of Asaph, then verse one says, O God, the heathen are come into thine inheritance; thy holy temple have they defiled; they have laid Jerusalem on heaps.  Asaph spoke of the capture of God's temple by the heathen, those people who did not believe in God.  Even if church buildings are damaged or destroyed today, that does not mean that God's people have been defeated.  Verse two adds, The dead bodies of thy servants have they given to be meat unto the fowls of the heaven, the flesh of thy saints unto the beasts of the earth.  Not only had the temple been defiled, but many off God's people had been killed and not buried.  Even if we are killed for our faith today, as followers of Christ, we are not defeated.  We have everlasting life with God in heaven once we leave this life.  Verse three continues, Their blood have they shed like water round about Jerusalem; and there was none to bury them.  Asaph said that the blood of the people of Israel, God's chosen people, flowed like water in the streets of Jerusalem, and there was no one left to bury them.  Even if we were to reach that point in the world today, where the blood of Christians flows in the streets like water, the world still has not defeated us.  Verse four concludes, We are become a reproach to our neighbours, a scorn and derision to them that are round about us.  God's people had become a reproach to those around them, and we may be reaching that point in the world today, where people question the authority of God and look down on those who put their faith in Jesus Christ.  Verse five asks, How long, LORD? wilt thou be angry for ever? shall thy jealousy burn like fire?  The psalmist asked how long would God be angry with them, but we must realize that not everything bad that happens to those who put their faith in Jesus Christ is a result of God's anger, and we should not question or blame God when bad things happen to us.  Verse six declares, Pour out thy wrath upon the heathen that have not known thee, and upon the kingdoms that have not called upon thy name.  The people of Israel called on God to pour out His wrath on those who did not believe in Him, but this should not be our attitude today.  We are not in the vengeance business, but in the love and mercy of God business.  We need to simply let God deal with those who do not believe in Him and even those who attempt to destroy the followers of Christ, in His way and in His time.  Verse seven adds, For they have devoured Jacob, and laid waste his dwelling place.  The heathen had destroyed Jacob, or God's people, and laid waste to His dwelling place.  Still, Jacob and his descendants were still God's people, no matter how much it may have seemed that they had been defeated by the heathen of the world.  No matter what happens to us in this lifetime, as long as we have accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, we have everlasting life with God.  Verse eight continues, O remember not against us former iniquities: let thy tender mercies speedily prevent us: for we are brought very low.  The psalmist asked God to not remember their former iniquities, and when we put our faith in Jesus Christ, all our iniquities are washed away by His blood.  Verse nine says, Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy name: and deliver us, and purge away our sins, for thy name’s sake.  Asaph asked God, Who was their salvation, to help the people of Israel and deliver them and purge their sins for His glory.  Once we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, our sins are purged, and we should live our life to bring glory to God.  Verse ten adds, Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is their God? let him be known among the heathen in our sight by the revenging of the blood of thy servants which is shed. Asaph said that the heathen questioned where God was when His people were being destroyed.  People today equate material success or failure as being a sign of God's people being blessed by God or not, but we do not serve God for material success.  We serve Him for spiritual salvation, which has nothing to do with how rich or poor we are in the world.  Verse eleven continues, Let the sighing of the prisoner come before thee; according to the greatness of thy power preserve thou those that are appointed to die;  God always is with those who put their faith in Him, even if they die for their faith.  Verse twelve states, And render unto our neighbours sevenfold into their bosom their reproach, wherewith they have reproached thee, O Lord.  Asaph called on God to punish the enemies of Israel sevenfold.  Again, it is not up to us to ask God to destroy those who are our enemies because of our faith in Him, but we are called on to love and pray for their salvation.  Verse thirteen adds, So we thy people and sheep of thy pasture will give thee thanks for ever: we will shew forth thy praise to all generations.  We as Christians, the sheep of God's pasture, need to give Him the thanks and praise for all generations, no matter what is happening in the world around us. 

Psalms 78:56

Psalms 78:56 says, Yet they tempted and provoked the most high God, and kept not his testimonies:  Even though God had freed the people of Israel from Egypt and had provided for them in the wilderness, they tempted and provoked God by not keeping His commandments.  As Christians, God has freed us from the power and penalty of sin and provides for our needs, so we should not be surprised if He is provoked if we fail to follow His commandments.  Verse fifty-seven adds, But turned back, and dealt unfaithfully like their fathers: they were turned aside like a deceitful bow.  The people of Israel were just as unfaithful as their fathers, or ancestors, had been, in spite of God's goodness to them.  We cannot be a true follower of Christ and be the same as those who came before us who did not believe in God.   Verse fifty-eight continues, For they provoked him to anger with their high places, and moved him to jealousy with their graven images.  Asaph said the people of Israel, God's chosen people, began to worship idols.  We need to make sure that we don't allow anything in our life to become an idol, something more important to us than God.  Verse fifty-nine states, When God heard this, he was wroth, and greatly abhorred Israel:  When God heard the people of Israel worshipping idols, He was upset and greatly abhorred Israel.  We should expect no less today if those who call themselves Christians do not worship God alone and do not keep His commandments.  Verse sixty adds, So that he forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh, the tent which he placed among men;  Asaph said because of their idolatry that God forsook the people of Israel and His tabernacle at Shiloh.  If we are to be a Christian nation today, we cannot forsake God and worship idols or other gods and still expect Him to bless us.  Verse sixty-one continues, And delivered his strength into captivity, and his glory into the enemy’s hand.  Because of their idolatry, God removed His protection from them and allow their enemies to have power over them.  As followers of Christ, we have power over sin, but if we turn away from God, we should not be surprised if we find ourselves back under the power of sin. Verse sixty-two continues, He gave his people over also unto the sword; and was wroth with his inheritance.  Just as God gave the people of Israel over to the power of the sword of other nations, He will likewise remove His protective hand from us today, as a nation or an individual, if we begin to once again chase after idols.  If we have truly accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, I don't believe we lose our inheritance of everlasting life, but we may find ourselves defeated spiritually in daily situations and without the joy of our salvation.  Verse sixty-three says, The fire consumed their young men; and their maidens were not given to marriage.  Their young men died by fire and the young women had no one to marry, so their was no one to continue God's work in the future.  If we lose one generation who fail to believe in Jesus Christ, then there will soon be no one to carry on His work and share the gospel with the world.  Verse sixty-four adds, Their priests fell by the sword; and their widows made no lamentation.  Even the priests, the religious leaders, were killed because of their lack of obedience to God.  We as Christians are a priesthood of believers, and we must live under the authority of God's word, even if we are killed for our faith, but we should never die because of our lack of faith in God and His promises.  Verse sixty-five declares, Then the Lord awaked as one out of sleep, and like a mighty man that shouteth by reason of wine.  Verse sixty-six adds, And he smote his enemies in the hinder parts: he put them to a perpetual reproach.  God never really has to awake from sleep, but if we as those who are called a Christian nation turn away from God, we will awaken His wrath against us.  Verse sixty-seven continues, Moreover he refused the tabernacle of Joseph, and chose not the tribe of Ephraim:  God turned away from those who did not follow Him but chased idols instead.  He will do the same today with us as a nation if we start chasing after idols.  Verse sixty-eight says, But chose the tribe of Judah, the mount Zion which he loved.  God did not reject all of His people, but only those who had first rejected Him.  God established a new place of worship.  God establishes a new sanctuary, or place to worship, in the heart of every believer today, and we can never go back to any place or anything that we worshipped before and still be effective witnesses for Christ.   Verse sixty-nine adds, And he built his sanctuary like high palaces, like the earth which he hath established for ever.  As God built His sanctuary in the high places then.  His sanctuary is in the high places of heaven today, where it can never be corrupted.   Verse seventy states, He chose David also his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds:  The people had chosen Saul to be their leader, but God chose David.  I believe that God expects those that He allows to come to power today to be guided by His principles, especially in a country that calls itself a Christian nation.   Verse seventy-one adds, From following the ewes great with young he brought him to feed Jacob his people, and Israel his inheritance.  David was called to power by God to take care of God's people, the sheep of His pasture.  Verse seventy-two continues, So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart; and guided them by the skilfulness of his hands.  David ruled Israel according to the integrity of his heart.  We need leaders today who lead according to the integrity of their heart, and I believe that this integrity can only come from God.

Psalms 78:40

Psalms 78:40 says, How oft did they provoke him in the wilderness, and grieve him in the desert!  Asaph asked how often did the people of Israel provoke God in the wilderness.  As followers of Christ today, we need to make sure that our lack of faith or rebellion against God's law does not provoke Him.  Verse forty-one adds, Yea, they turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel.  After God had shown them His mighty power and delivered them from Egypt, the people of Israel still wanted to turn back to Egypt, and their lack of faith limited God's ability to work through them.  Our lack of faith will never limit God's power, but it will limit what He can do through us.  Verse forty-two continues, They remembered not his hand, nor the day when he delivered them from the enemy. The people of Israel, who were called to be God's people, soon forgot what He had done for them when He delivered them.  We must never forget what God did for us as Christians when He saved us through the sacrifice that Jesus Christ made on the cross.  Verse forty-three states, How he had wrought his signs in Egypt, and his wonders in the field of Zoan:  Asaph then begins to remind the people of the many signs of His power that God showed in Egypt.  The only real sign that should matter to us as Christians, though there are signs of God's power and majesty all around, is the sign of God's grace presented on the cross of Jesus Christ.  Verse forty-four adds, And had turned their rivers into blood; and their floods, that they could not drink.  Asaph now begins to list the many plagues that God sent on the Egyptians because the pharaoh refused to let the people of Israel leave.  He started by referring to God turning their rivers into blood.  Even if we are imprisoned for our faith today, God has already secured our everlasting freedom from sin and the powers of this world if we put our faith in Jesus Christ.  Verse forty-five continues, He sent divers sorts of flies among them, which devoured them; and frogs, which destroyed them.  These next few verses are a listing of the plagues God sent against the Egyptians, here speaking of the flies and frogs.  Verse forty-six says, He gave also their increase unto the caterpiller, and their labour unto the locust.  Then came the plague of the caterpillars and locust destroying their crops.   Verse forty-seven adds, He destroyed their vines with hail, and their sycomore trees with frost.  God then destroyed their vines of the Egyptians with hail and their sycomore trees with frost.   God didn't need an army to defeat the Egyptians, but He used the forces of nature to do so.  We don't need to look to any power in the world today to defeat God's enemies, because He has already defeated them by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross, and we as followers of Christ must never forget that fact.  Verse forty-eight continues, He gave up their cattle also to the hail, and their flocks to hot thunderbolts.  Asaph said God also destroyed the cattle and sheep of Egypt with hail and thunderbolts.  Again, forces of nature.  Verse forty-nine states, He cast upon them the fierceness of his anger, wrath, and indignation, and trouble, by sending evil angels among them.  When the pharaoh still refused to let God's people go, God's anger was cast against him and the people of Egypt, and He sent angels against him and the people of Egypt.  The angels were said to be evil angels, but they were not evil in their nature, but their purpose was to punish the people of Egypt for their refusal to obey God.  Those who refuse to accept the salvation of Jesus Christ will on day face the anger of God.  Verse fifty adds, He made a way to his anger; he spared not their soul from death, but gave their life over to the pestilence;  Then verse fifty-one continues, And smote all the firstborn in Egypt; the chief of their strength in the tabernacles of Ham:  The final plague of God was the death of the first born children of Egypt, which finally at least temporarily caused the pharaoh to let the people of Israel go, but even then he soon changed his mind.  Unless people truly accept the sovereignty of God, they may temporarily give in to His authority, but they will never do so forever.  We can only submit to God's authority by accepting salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.  Verse fifty-two declares, But made his own people to go forth like sheep, and guided them in the wilderness like a flock.  Asaph said God brought His people out of Israel like sheep and led them as His flock.  We as Christians are called the sheep of God's pasture, but we too often do not want to see ourselves as a humble sheep.  Verse fifty-three adds, And he led them on safely, so that they feared not: but the sea overwhelmed their enemies.  We need to allow God to lead us today and leave the fate of our enemies up to Him. Verse fifty-four continues, And he brought them to the border of his sanctuary, even to this mountain, which his right hand had purchased.  Asaph said that God brought the people of Israel to the promised land, which He had purchased for them.  God brings those who put their faith in Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord to the promised land,which He purchased for us as Christians by the blood of Christ on the cross.   Verse fifty-five concludes, He cast out the heathen also before them, and divided them an inheritance by line, and made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tents.  Just as God cast out the enemies of Israel then, He has cast out all of our enemies from the promised land of heaven for the followers of Christ. 

Psalms 78:26

Psalms 78:26 says. He caused an east wind to blow in the heaven: and by his power he brought in the south wind. Verse twenty-seven adds, He rained flesh also upon them as dust, and feathered fowls like as the sand of the sea: Asaph said God brought quail from the south and the east to provide meat for the complaining Israelites.  Though the manna would have sustained them, God provided them with more to eat when they complained, though doing so was not something He had to do.  God may bless us with more than we need, but He certainly doesn't have to, and we certainly shouldn't complain if He doesn't.  Verse twenty-eight continues, And he let it fall in the midst of their camp, round about their habitations.  Verse twenty-nine concludes, So they did eat, and were well filled: for he gave them their own desire;  The people of Israel didn't even have to hunt the quail, but God dropped thin their midst.  They ate and were filled, because God gave them their own desire.  Though God may bless us with an overabundance in life today, if it is done out of our not being satisfied with what He provides, then I believe that shows a lack of faith.  Verse thirty declares, They were not estranged from their lust. But while their meat was yet in their mouths,  The quail were provided because of the lust of the people that they would not give up, then came a but.  Verse thirty-one adds, The wrath of God came upon them, and slew the fattest of them, and smote down the chosen men of Israel.  While they were still eating, God killed the fattest of the people of Israel and the chosen men of Israel. This was the but caused by their lack of simple obedience to God.  Those that could still not be satisfied with simply what they needed died.  When we make demands on God as followers of Christ for more than He provides to meet our needs, we may be putting ourselves in danger of losing His protection.  God never expects us to be lustful, greedy people.  Verse thirty-two continues, For all this they sinned still, and believed not for his wondrous works.  Even after all that God blessed them with, they still sinned and didn't believe in His wonderous works.  As Christians, we should never fail to believe in the wonderous works of God.  Verse thirty-three states, Therefore their days did he consume in vanity, and their years in trouble.  Because of the lack of faith by the people of Israel, their days were lived in vanity and trouble.  They wandered in the wilderness until they died.  If we fail to truly put our faith in God as followers of Christ, we may end up wandering in a spiritual wilderness.  Verse thirty-four adds, When he slew them, then they sought him: and they returned and inquired early after God.  After the generation that lacked faith died, the people of Israel turned to God once more and inquired early after Him.  God always stands ready to receive those who seek Him.  Verse thirty-five continues, And they remembered that God was their rock, and the high God their redeemer.  If we allow the lusts of our hearts to cause us to end up in a spiritual wilderness, we need to do as the people of Israel did in that day and remember that God is our Rock and our Redeemer.  Verse thirty-six declares, Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied unto him with their tongues.  Verse thirty-seven adds, For their heart was not right with him, neither were they stedfast in his covenant.  Asaph said that even as the people sought after God, that they lied about believing in Him because their hearts were not right and they were not stedfast in their covenant.  Simply saying the right words does not make us a Christian, if we are not sincere in our faith.  Verse thirty-eight continues, But he, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath.  Because of God's compassion, He did not destroy the rest of the people of Israel.  Because of God's compassion today, He does not just destroy sinners without calling them to salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.  It is the choice of each individual whether to accept His salvation or not.  Verse thirty-nine concludes, For he remembered that they were but flesh; a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again.  Asaph said that God remembered that the life of people was as short as a wind that passes and cannot come again.   God doesn't have to destroy us, because we will one day die anyway.  The question is whether we will die with everlasting salvation through faith in Jesus Christ or not.  We only have this one life to decide which. 

Psalms 78:12

Psalms 78:12 says, Marvellous things did he in the sight of their fathers, in the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan.  Asaph reminded the people of Israel of the great things that God did when He brought them out of Egypt.  As Christians, we need to always remember what God did when He delivered us from the death penalty of sin by sending His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to die in our place and all that He has done for us since we accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord.  Verse thirteen adds, He divided the sea, and caused them to pass through; and he made the waters to stand as an heap.  God first provided for the people of Israel a way out of Egypt through the parted sea. God first provides for us a way of escape from sin through faith in Jesus Christ.  Verse fourteen states, In the daytime also he led them with a cloud, and all the night with a light of fire.  After God delivered the people of Israel out of Egypt, He continued to lead them day and night, just as we should allow Him to lead us day and night as followers of Christ.  Verse fifteen adds, He clave the rocks in the wilderness, and gave them drink as out of the great depths.  Asaph said that God gave them water out of the rocks to drink.  We have something even greater today, and that is the Living Water that quenches our spiritual thirst.  Verse sixteen continues, He brought streams also out of the rock, and caused waters to run down like rivers.  This continues to speak of the abundance of water that God provided for them, and God still provides abundantly for His people today.  Verse seventeen declares, And they sinned yet more against him by provoking the most High in the wilderness. Asaph reminded them that even though God had delivered them and provided them with miraculously with water to drink, they sinned against God.  Even though as followers of Christ God has delivered us from the penalty of sin and provides us with living water to drink, we still too often sin against Him by our lackof attires times.  Verse eighteen adds, And they tempted God in their heart by asking meat for their lust.  Asaph said that they tempted God by not being satisfied with what He provided, but by instead asking for the meat that they lusted for.  If we begin to see God as existing to provide us with all that we lust after, then we are tempting God.  Verse nineteen continues, Yea, they spake against God; they said, Can God furnish a table in the wilderness?  Even after all of God's mighty works in delivering them, the people of Israel still questioned His power.  We need to be careful that we do not confuse not getting what we want as Christians with a lack of power on God's part.  There is never a reason to question the power of God.  Verse twenty asks, Behold, he smote the rock, that the waters gushed out, and the streams overflowed; can he give bread also? can he provide flesh for his people?  This was just a continuation of the questioning of how powerful God was.  The God Who provided us with salvation can indeed meet our daily needs, though He may not provide for our desires.  Verse twenty-one says, Therefore the LORD heard this, and was wroth: so a fire was kindled against Jacob, and anger also came up against Israel;  Asaph said when God heard the people griping and questioning His power that He was angry with them.  As followers of Christ, if we begin to question God's power, we should not be surprised that He becomes angry with us.  His anger is justified because of our lack of faith as Christians.  Verse twenty-two adds, Because they believed not in God, and trusted not in his salvation:  Asaph said that God was angry with the people of Israel, who were supposed to be His people, because they didn't believe in Him or trust His salvation.  We cannot question God's existence and His provision of salvation and be a follower of Christ.  We must always put our faith in God, no matter what, and cannot allow the circumstances of life to cause us to question Him.  Verse twenty-three states, Though he had commanded the clouds from above, and opened the doors of heaven,  Verse twenty-four adds, And had rained down manna upon them to eat, and had given them of the corn of heaven.  Asaph said that the people of Israel questioned God's ability to provide for them even though He had rained down bread from heaven, because they lusted for more.  We too often are not satisfied with what God provides, so we become guilty of sin by lusting after more.  Verse twenty-five continues, Man did eat angels’ food: he sent them meat to the full.  Asaph said that the bread sent from heaven was angel's food and was enough to fill them.  God provides the Living Bread from heaven to satisfy our spiritual hunger today, and it will always be enough to fill us. 

Psalms 78:1

Psalms 78:1 says, Maschil of Asaph. This is another psalm of Asaph, and Matthew Henry says it is a historical psalm, a maschil or psalm of instruction, of the great mercies of God to Israel, their great sins against Him, and His displeasure with their sins.  Verse one then says, Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth. Asaph demanded their attention, and we need to first get people's attention when we share the gospel today.  Verse two adds, I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old:  Matthew Henry said that dark sayings were those that might be hard to understand but were well worth considering.  God's laws are often hard for people to understand, especially the way Christians are supposed to treat others and their view of material things, but they are all well worth considering, since the bring everlasting life.  Verse three continues, Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us.  Asaph said that what he was going to say to them they had heard from their fathers.  We have a responsibility to share the gospel  with our children if we are followers of Christ.  Verse four states, We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done.  As Asaph said then, we cannot hide the wonderful works of God from our children and must praise Him for His great strength and mercy.   Verse five adds, For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children:  Asaph said that God established a testimony with Jacob and appointed a law to Israel which He told the people to continually make known to their children.  We as Christians cannot neglect to share the gospel with our children, because if we don't share it, then no one will.  Verse six continues, That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children:  As this verse states, we must share God's word so that generation after generation will know it.  Verse seven says, That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments:  Asaph said that the purpose of sharing God's teachings was so that the future generations would put their faith in God and not forget His works and keep His commandments.  As followers of Christ, we cannot allow future generations to forget the work of Christ when He died on the cross, nor God's laws that should govern those who put their faith in Him.  Verse eight adds, And might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not stedfast with God.  Asaph said that this was so that the coming generations would not be stubborn and rebellious as their fathers had been.  Our salvation is not based on who our parents are, and even if they refuse to put their faith in God, we still need to hear and accept the gospel of Christ so that we will not be like them.  Verse nine states, The children of Ephraim, being armed, and carrying bows, turned back in the day of battle.  Verse ten adds, They kept not the covenant of God, and refused to walk in his law;  Asaph gave the example of the children of Ephraim, who even though they were armed turned back in battle because they forgot their covenant with God and refused to live by His law.  As Christians, we should never lose our faith and allow the world to defeat us.  As long as we live under the leadership of the Holy Spirit we never will be.  Verse eleven continues, And forgat his works, and his wonders that he had shewed them.  We as followers of Christ must never forget the works and wonders of God. 

Psalms 77:11

Psalms 77:11 says, I will remember the works of the LORD: surely I will remember thy wonders of old.  Asaph said he would remember God's works of old, and we should never forget what God has done for us in the past, especially when He sent Jesus Christ to die for our sins.  Of course, we should also acknowledge everything that God does for us each day.  Verse twelve adds, I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings.  We should also meditate on all of God's work and tell people about what He has done and is doing in our life and in the world as a whole.  Verse thirteen continues, Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary: who is so great a God as our God?  I believe that today if we say God's way is in the sanctuary that it is the sanctuary of the heart of those who put their faith in Jesus Christ that we are talking about.  We can certainly ask the question of who is as great as God, and the answer is no one.  Verse fourteen states, Thou art the God that doest wonders: thou hast declared thy strength among the people.  Asaph said that God was the God Who did wonders and that He had declared His strength among the people.  God still does wonders today, the greatest of which is to provide salvation to every sinful person, which is everyone, who will accept Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord.  Verse fifteen adds, Thou hast with thine arm redeemed thy people, the sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah.  God has indeed redeemed His people, and today that includes everyone who puts their faith in Christ.  Verse sixteen says, The waters saw thee, O God, the waters saw thee; they were afraid: the depths also were troubled.  Asaph then begins to speak of God's power in creation.   Verse seventeen adds, The clouds poured out water: the skies sent out a sound: thine arrows also went abroad.  Asaph said God's power extended into the heavens, controlling the rain and thunder and lightning.  I don't believe that every storm is a direct result of God's action, but God can indeed control all the storms if He chooses to do so.  Verse eighteen continues, The voice of thy thunder was in the heaven: the lightnings lightened the world: the earth trembled and shook.  God does have the power to shake the earth with His voice.  The God Who spoke everything into existence can certainly shake His creation with His voice.  This is the power of the God we serve as Christians, the only God there is, so we should never be afraid of anything the world might throw at us.  Verse nineteen says, Thy way is in the sea, and thy path in the great waters, and thy footsteps are not known.  Though we can never know the footsteps of the heavenly Father, we can know the footsteps of Jesus Christ, and this is all the knowledge we need in order to attain salvation.  We will never know everything about God in this lifetime, and maybe in the everlasting life to come, but through our faith in Christ we can begin to understand God's ways.  Verse twenty adds, Thou leddest thy people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.  Just as God led His people by the hand of Moses and Aaron, He leads His people today by the Holy Spirit's guidance.   

Psalms 77:1

Psalms 77:1 says,To the chief Musician, to Jeduthun, A Psalm of Asaph.  This is identified as another psalm of Asaph, then verse one says, I cried unto God with my voice, even unto God with my voice; and he gave ear unto me.  Asaph said he cried out loud unto God, and God heard him. As followers of Christ, God hears us whether we cry out loud to Him or whether we cry silently to Him.  Verse two adds, In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord: my sore ran in the night, and ceased not: my soul refused to be comforted.  Asaph said he sought the Lord in his day of trouble, but since he was not immediately healed he would not be comforted.  Even if we do not immediately get the answer we seek from God, I believe that simply bringing our concerns to Him should bring us relief, because no matter what happens, He has given us everlasting salvation and victory.  Verse three continues, I remembered God, and was troubled: I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah.  Asaph said he remembered God and was troubled and complained because his spirit was overwhelmed.  He evidently didn't see God for Who He really is, allowing his situation to be more powerful than God's love and grace.  We should always rest secure in God's grace and never allow the world to cause us to doubt or question Him.  Verse four states, Thou holdest mine eyes waking: I am so troubled that I cannot speak.  Asaph then said that He had reached the point that when he woke that could not even speak because of his troubles.  We as Christians should never allow ourselves to get into this condition.  Our faith should always be stronger than our fears.  Verse five adds, I have considered the days of old, the years of ancient times.  Asaph said he remembered the times of old when God had blessed him, and this left him even more desolate.  We cannot be discouraged today because things were better in the past.  God is still God whether we are prospering or suffering in life.  Verse six says, I call to remembrance my song in the night: I  commune with mine own heart: and my spirit made diligent search.  Asaph said he remembered when he sang praises to God in the night.  Verse seven asks, Will the Lord cast off for ever? and will he be favourable no more?  Asaph questioned whether God would ever be gracious to him again after some soul searching, when he questioned whether he had done something to deserve God's punishment and whether God had cast him off forever.   .  We don't need to question whether God has cast us off forever if we are followers of Christ, because He never will.  Still, if things are going badly in life we might need to do some soul searching to see if we have strayed away from God.  Verse eight adds, Is his mercy clean gone for ever? doth his promise fail for evermore?  Asaph continued to question God's grace instead of putting his faith in God no matter what.  We should never allow our current situation if things are going badly to cause us to question whether God has abandoned us if we are Christians.  We have everlasting security through our faith in Jesus Christ.  Verse nine continues, Hath God forgotten to be gracious? hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies? Selah.  Asaph was still attempting to put the blame for his suffering on God.  Too many people today, who have put their faith in Jesus Christ, question God's love and mercy based on their current difficulties in life, and this should not be the case.  We should rest secure in His love and mercy.  Verse ten states, And I said, This is my infirmity: but I will remember the years of the right hand of the most High.  Asaph then finally said that he would remember the years of God's goodness to him.  We should never allow any current suffering to cause us to forget God's love for us in the past and the present.  Once we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, we are forever secure in our relationship with God, and we should never forget or question this fact.

Psalms 76:1

Psalms 76:1 says,To the chief Musician on Neginoth, A Psalm or Song of Asaph. This is identified as a psalm of Asaph, then verse one says, In Judah is God known: his name is great in Israel.  Asaph says that God is known in Judah and His name is great in Israel.  Those were the people known as God's people, and today the people of the church are known as God's people and His name should be great among us.  Verse two adds, In Salem also is his tabernacle, and his dwelling place in Zion.  God's tabernacle and dwelling place were seen as being in Judah and Israel.  We know that God is not limited to any specific country or place though, but He lives in the hearts of His people wherever they are.  Verse three continues, There brake he the arrows of the bow, the shield, and the sword, and the battle. Selah.  Asaph then speaks of a great victory that God had given His people in battle, and God has already won the victory for those who put their faith in Jesus Christ.  Verse four states, Thou art more glorious and excellent than the mountains of prey.  Asaph proclaimed God's superiority over the mountains of prey, those that saw themselves as all powerful and did not mind preying on those who were weaker.  Many people today see themselves as all powerful and prey on those who are physically or even financially weaker.  Verse five adds, The stouthearted are spoiled, they have slept their sleep: and none of the men of might have found their hands.  Asaph said these people had faith in their strength and ability to defeat an opponent.  There are nations today that believe their military might gives them the ability to defeat anyone, and many not only don't worship God or even deny His existence or worship some other God.  Verse six continues, At thy rebuke, O God of Jacob, both the chariot and horse are cast into a dead sleep.  Asaph said that God was more powerful than these enemies though, and He still is today.  There is nothing that we as followers of Christ need to fear today.  Verse seven says, Thou, even thou, art to be feared: and who may stand in thy sight when once thou art angry?  Asaph said God was to be feared when He stood against those who would destroy His people, and asked who could stand against His anger.  There never has been nor ever will be anyone or any group of people who can stand against God.   Verse eight adds, Thou didst cause judgment to be heard from heaven; the earth feared, and was still,  Asaph says that God's judgment came from heaven and the earth heard and was still.  When God speaks in judgment, as He one day will, all the earth will listen, even if too many people refuse to do so beforehand.  Verse nine continues, When God arose to judgment, to save all the meek of the earth. Selah.  Asaph said that when God rose in judgment that He would save all the meek of the earth, those who humbly submitted to God's will instead of proudly declaring their own might.  Verse ten states, Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain.  God does restrain the wrath of evil in the world, even when it seems like evil is winning.  Through faith in Jesus Christ, we as followers of Christ will always be victorious from the perspective of our everlasting life with God.  Verse eleven adds, Vow, and pay unto the LORD your God: let all that be round about him bring presents unto him that ought to be feared.  Just as the people then were called on to worship and praise God, so must we today as Christians.  We are to give all that we are or have to God.   Verse twelve concludes, He shall cut off the spirit of princes: he is terrible to the kings of the earth.  God was, is and always will be more powerful than anyone or any group of people.  We can rest easy in God's victory over evil in the world, no matter what happens in our life. 

Psalms 75:1

Psalms 75:1 says,To the chief Musician, Altaschith, A Psalm or Song of Asaph.  This is stated to be another psalm of Asaph, then verse one says, Unto thee, O God, do we give thanks, unto thee do we give thanks: for that thy name is near thy wondrous works declare.  Matthew Henry says this probably applied to David, and was written by Asaph from as speech of David.  As followers of Christ, this should be our promise as well.  We should give thanks to God because of Who He is, and not because of what He can do for us.  Verse two adds, When I shall receive the congregation I will judge uprightly.  When the one the psalmist was writing about came to power, he promised to judge uprightly.  When people come into power today, especially Christians, we need to judge uprightly, or under the leadership of God.  Verse three continues, The earth and all the inhabitants thereof are dissolved: I bear up the pillars of it. Selah.  He also promised to restore the government to a righteous state.  Again, if we are in positions of leadership today, no matter what had been the standard before, we must work to restore righteousness to our place of leadership.  Verse four states, I said unto the fools, Deal not foolishly: and to the wicked, Lift not up the horn:  The psalmist warned the foolish, those who did not believe in or follow God to not deal foolishly with others and for the wicked to not to attempt to exert their power.  We need to be speaking out against those who do not follow God's laws today and attempt to exert their influence on others.  Verse five adds, Lift not up your horn on high: speak not with a stiff neck.  This is a continuation of the warning to those who act foolishly or in wickedness.  We should also warn people of the danger of doing so today, even if they are stiff necked, or stubborn in their refusal to follow God's laws.  Verse six declares, For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south.  Verse seven adds, But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.  The psalmist said that true power does not come from anywhere in the earth, but from God Himself.  Though someone may be placed in power by the people that they govern, true leadership comes only from those who put their faith in God.  Verse eight states, For in the hand of the LORD there is a cup, and the wine is red; it is full of mixture; and he poureth out of the same: but the dregs thereof, all the wicked of the earth shall wring them out, and drink them.  The psalmist then compares God's leadership to a cup of good wine versus a cup of dregs. Matthew Henry says this could point to the cup of Christ.  Either we choose to drink or it, or we drink from the dregs of wickedness.  Verse nine says, But I will declare for ever; I will sing praises to the God of Jacob.  The psalmist said that he would declare the goodness of God forever and sing His praises.  So must we as followers of Christ.  Verse ten adds, All the horns of the wicked also will I cut off; but the horns of the righteous shall be exalted.  The psalmist said that God would cut off the horns of the wicked, or remove their power, but He would exalt the righteous.  If not before, this will happen when Jesus Christ returns in judgment.