Psalms 50:1

Psalms 50:1 says, This is not identified as a psalm of David, but of Asaph, who Matthew Henry says was the chief musician, then verse one says, The mighty God, even the LORD, hath spoken, and called the earth from the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof.  Asaph said that the mighty God, the LORD, had spoken.  God has always spoken to His people, but too often they have not listened.  If we can truly comprehend how mighty God is, then we should never fail to listen to Him as Christians.  Verse two adds, Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined.  Out of Zion, the mountain of God, His beauty shined forth in the world.  Out of faith in Jesus Christ, the Light of the world, God's beauty shines forth today.  Verse three declares, Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about him.  The people of Israel who had become hypocritical were warned that God's judgment was coming like a fire to destroy all who did not put their faith in Him.  One day, all those who do not accept Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord will be sent away into the everlasting fires of hell.  Verse four adds, He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that he may judge his people. The people of Israel were told that God would call to earth from heaven above to judge His people.  One day, God is going to judge all people, and the only way to forgiveness is through faith in Jesus Christ.  Verse five states, Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.  God called on the saints, those who had entered into a covenant relationship with Him and had tried to live true to it, to be gathered together.  We as Christians gather together today to worship and praise God, and we need to make sure that we do so in accordance with His guidance.  What we sacrifice to God is our self will.  Verse six adds, And the heavens shall declare his righteousness: for God is judge himself. Selah.  We are told that the heavens will declare the righteousness of God, and that God is the judge of Himself.  No one is qualified to judge God but God Himself.   Verse seven declares, Hear, O my people, and I will speak; O Israel, and I will testify against thee: I am God, even thy God.  The people of Israel were called on to hear God, Who they called their God, and were told that He would judge them.  As Christians, we must be true to our faith in God, but He is ultimately the One Who will judge whether we have been or not.  Verse eight adds, I will not reprove thee for thy sacrifices or thy burnt offerings, to have been continually before me.  God's judgment of the people of Israel as having broken their covenant with Him was not in their not offering sacrifices, but in their attitude behind doing so.  We may go through all the motions to show ourselves to be Christians, but if we do not truly put our faith in Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, it will do us no good.  Verse nine continues, I will take no bullock out of thy house, nor he goats out of thy folds.  God said He had no need for their cattle or goats.  They all belonged to Him anyway.   There is nothing that we can offer God that is not already His, except for ourselves.  Though we may be His by creation, He gives us the choice of whether or not to be His spiritually.  Verse ten says, For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills.  As just stated, since everything belongs to God already, He really needs nothing from us.  Sacrifices and offerings were just signs of obedience to Him.  Verse eleven adds, I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine. God knows that it is all His, and so should we.

 

Psalms 49:11

 Psalms 49:11 says, Their inward thought is, that their houses shall continue for ever, and their dwelling places to all generations; they call their lands after their own names. David said that those who put their faith in their wealth believed that it would last forever.   We may have great wealth in the world today and want to believe that it will last forever, but once we die, we retain none of our earthly wealth.  Verse twelve adds, Nevertheless man being in honour abideth not: he is like the beasts that perish.  David reminded them that in death the were no better than the beasts, except that people have a soul which lives forever, either with God as followers of Christ or separated from Him if one is not.  Verse thirteen continues, This their way is their folly: yet their posterity approve their sayings. Selah.  David said putting faith in material things instead of God was the folly of those who did so.  It still is today.  Verse fourteen states, Like sheep they are laid in the grave; death shall feed on them; and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their beauty shall consume in the grave from their dwelling.  David said that in death those who believed in riches over God would be no better than sheep that had died, and that the upright would have dominion over them.   No matter how rich and powerful a person may be today, after they die, the upright, those who have put their faith in Jesus Christ, shall have dominion over them.  Verse fifteen adds, But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me. Selah. David said God would redeem his soul from the grave, not because of his earthly status, but because of his faith in God.   We as Christians can be certain that God will redeem us from the grave.  Verse sixteen says, Be not thou afraid when one is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased;  David basically was saying that we do not need to be afraid of the rich and powerful.  Their time to rule is limited to this world.  We don't need to fear and certainly don't need to envy them.  Verse seventeen adds, For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away: his glory shall not descend after him.  What David said then always has and always will be true.   After we die, we will take nothing of this world with us.  Verse eighteeen continues, Though while he lived he blessed his soul: and men will praise thee, when thou doest well to thyself.  David said that while a person who put his faith in himself and his riches might live what he thought was a blessed life, that it ended with his death.  We cannot put our faith in the things of this world and believe that they will be with us forever.  Verse nineteen declares, He shall go to the generation of his fathers; they shall never see light.  David said such people would go to the grave and never see the light.  Now, the soul of each individual lives on, but if they would live on in the light, they mist put their faith in Jesus Christ in order to live in the light.  Verse twenty concludes,  Man that is in honour, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish.  David said that people who lived in honor without putting their faith in God were no better than the beasts.  Earthly fame and honor can never bring anyone everlasting victory.  Only faith in God can.

Psalms 49:1

 Psalms 49:1 says,To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah.  There is the introduction, then verse one says, Hear this, all ye people; give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world:  David called on all the people to hear what he had to say.   We today must call on all the people that we come in contact with to hear when we witness for God.  Verse two adds, Both low and high, rich and poor, together. David did not distinguish between people because of their status, but called on all to hear.  We likewise cannot distinguish between people today because of their status in the world.  We must be willing to witness to everyone about the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Verse three continues, My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding.  When David said he would speak of wisdom, it was not his wisdom but God's that he referred to, and the understanding that his heart meditated on was the understanding of Who God is.  We can only speak of the wisdom of God and not our own wisdom as followers of Christ, and we most continually meditate on our understanding of Who God is, and we will still never understand everything about God.  Verse four states, I will incline mine ear to a parable: I will open my dark saying upon the harp.  David said he would listen to the parables about God.  He also said that he would make the dark sayings, the things about God that people had a hard time understanding, easier for them to understand.  We today must listen to the parables of God and make them easily understood by the world.  Verse five adds, Wherefore should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity of my heels shall compass me about?  David asked why he should fear the days of evil when his enemies were all around him attempting to cause him to fall.  We as Christians have no need to fear the days of evil nor those who attempt to get us to fall, because we are already forever victorious through our relationship with Jesus Christ.  Verse six declares, They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches;  Then verse seven adds, None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him:  David addressed those who trusted in their wealth, and there are many people today who trust in their wealth and not in God.  David said that their wealth could not redeem their brother nor give God a ransom for him.  We can never buy the redemption of anyone, but can only lead them to Jesus Christ Who can.  Verse eight continues, (For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever:)  David stated that the redemption of the soul was precious and it lasts forever.  We need to acknowledge that the redemption of every soul is precious and forever.  This includes even those who are our enemies.  Verse nine concludes, That he should still live for ever, and not see corruption.  As David said, those who are redeemed by Christ shall live with God forever and not see the corruption of the world anymore when they are called home to heaven.  Verse ten says, For he seeth that wise men die, likewise the fool and the brutish person perish, and leave their wealth to others.  David said the wise, those who put their faith in Christ, and the foolish, those who don't, would both die and leave everything they owned in this world to others.  This will never change. 

Psalms 48:1

 Psalms 48:1 says, A Song and Psalm for the sons of Korah.  After the introduction, verse one says, Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness.  As David said, great is the LORD and greatly to be praised in His city.  David may have written this about Jerusalem, but wherever we are gathered today as Christians should be God's place.  Verse two adds, Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King.  David said that God's people were a joy to the whole earth, and we should be today.  If it were not for Christians, think of how bad the world would be, and because of this, we should live in such a way that we bring joy to all those around us.  Verse three continues, God is known in her palaces for a refuge.  David said that God was known as a place of refuge to the people of Israel, and especially in Jerusalem.  As followers of Christ, God should always be our place of refuge.  We should put our faith in Christ alone.  Verse four states, For, lo, the kings were assembled, they passed by together.  David said that those other countries around Israel feared them, not because of their great power, but because of the great power of their God.  I believe that too often the world today just ignores God and His people, Christians, because too often we don't live in such a way as to show the true power of God to the world.  Verse five adds, They saw it, and so they marvelled; they were troubled, and hasted away.  David said that when the other nations saw the power of God at work in Israel that they marvelled, were troubled, and ran away.  When we live in obedience to God, the world should know that there is something about us that can never be defeated.  Verse six continues, Fear took hold upon them there, and pain, as of a woman in travail.  David said that those around Israel were filled with fear and pain.  This was not because of the great military might of Israel, but because of the great might of their God.  Though as Christians we might not have much earthly power, we do have the power of God with us, and the people of the world should see this in our lives.   Verse seven concludes, Thou breakest the ships of Tarshish with an east wind.  David said that with just the wind that God defeated the ships of Tarshish.  No matter how powerful the weapons of the world are today, God can defeat them with just His word.  Verse eight declares, As we have heard, so have we seen in the city of the LORD of hosts, in the city of our God: God will establish it for ever. Selah.  David said as the people of Israel had heard of the power of God in the past that they had also seen it in their lives and that God would establish His city forever.  We cannot not just look at the works of God in the past, but must experience His work in the world and especially in our lives today as followers of Christ, knowing that He will establish His city forever one day.  Verse nine adds, We have thought of thy lovingkindness, O God, in the midst of thy temple.  We like David, must acknowledge the lovingkindness of God, no matter what is going on in the world.  Verse ten says, According to thy name, O God, so is thy praise unto the ends of the earth: thy right hand is full of righteousness.  David said because of God's name and His righteousness that He should be praised to the end of the earth, and one day He will be.  Verse eleven adds, Let mount Zion rejoice, let the daughters of Judah be glad, because of thy judgments.  David called on the people of Israel to be glad because of God's judgments.  If we are living by faith in Jesus Christ today, we should be thankful for His judgments and rejoice in them.  Verse twelve states, Walk about Zion, and go round about her: tell the towers thereof.  David said that the people of God should go around Zion proclaiming His goodness.  Verse thirteen adds, Mark ye well her bulwarks, consider her palaces; that ye may tell it to the generation following.  David said that the people of Israel should remember God's great work and tell it to the generations following.  This is also our responsibility today, to teach the next generations about God and His goodness.  We must first and foremost share the gospel of Christ with them.  Verse fourteen declares, For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death.  We like David must acknowledge that God is our God forever and ever and that He will be our guide for as long as we live.

Psalms 47:1

 Psalms 47:1 says, To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah.  There is the introduction, then verse one says, O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph. David called on the people of Israel to shout praises to God while clapping their hands.  We today need to joyously worship God, no matter how much or how little we are demonstrative, and we should never judge others for how much or how little they are.  Verse two adds, For the LORD most high is terrible; he is a great King over all the earth.  Matthew Henry says this means that God is the God of infinite majesty.  I don't believe it means that He is a terror to be feared, unless someone continues to reject His salvation until it is to late.  Verse three states, He shall subdue the people under us, and the nations under our feet.  David said God would subdue the other nations under Israel.  We know that they did when the people of Israel were obedient to Him, and as long as we as followers of Christ continue to be faithful to God, one day all our enemies will be defeated.  Verse four adds, He shall choose our inheritance for us, the excellency of Jacob whom he loved. Selah.  As David said,  God will choose our inheritance for us.  There is never a need to feel that someone is getting more than they deserve from God.  God is the One Who chooses our inheritance.  Verse five declares, God is gone up with a shout, the LORD with the sound of a trumpet.  Jesus Christ went up to heaven, and one day He is going to return to the sound of the trumpet.  Verse six adds, Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing praises.  David called on the people of Israel to sing praises to God, not just when things are going well, but at all times.  Too often, we wait until something good happens in our life before we sing praises to God.  Instead, we should always sing His praises, maybe even more in bad times than in good.  Verse seven continues, For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding.  David called on the people of Israel to sing praises to God with the understanding that He is the King of the universe.  If we truly understand Who God is, there should never be a time when we don't praise Him.  Verse eight says, God reigneth over the heathen: God sitteth upon the throne of his holiness.  David said that even though they may not acknowledge it, God still reigns over the heathen.  Just because someone claims that there is no God doesn't change the fact that there is and that they will on day realize this fact.  Verse nine adds, The princes of the people are gathered together, even the people of the God of Abraham: for the shields of the earth belong unto God: he is greatly exalted.  David said that God's people were gathered together, because the earth belongs to Him, and therefore He should be greatly exalted.  As Christians, we should always greatly exalt the goodness of God.  He loves us enough that He sent His only begotten Son to die for our sins, and if we accept His salvation, then we should always greatly exalt Him. 

Psalms 46:1

 Psalms 46:1 says, To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, A Song upon Alamoth.  After the introduction, verse one says, God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.  David said that God was the refuge and strength of the people of Israel and a very present help in time of trouble.  God is still the refuge and strength of His people today.  He is an ever present help in our times of trouble if we are followers of Christ, and not some distant and sometime God.  Verse two adds, Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;  Like David, as Christians we should not fear, even if the world were to blow up around us.  This world is not our home, but heaven is.  Verse three continues, Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.  David just continued with the thought that no matter how bad things got in the world that the faithful people of Israel would continue to put their faith in God.  We cannot allow bad things that happen in the world to shake our faith in God.  Verse four states, There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.  David said there was a river flowing that would make the people of the city of God glad and that it came from the tabernacle of the most High, the only true God.  As Christians, Jesus is the source of living water that flows for those who put their faith in Him.  Verse five adds, God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.  David said that God was in the midst of this flowing river and that He would not be moved.  God is the source of the living water today and He will never be moved by the forces of evil.  Verse six declares,  The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted.  As in David's day, the heathen may rage today, but God's voice can still melt the earth.  God does not need man-made weapons, but can destroy all of creation with just His word, but fortunately for us, He made a way to salvation by faith in the Living Word, Jesus Christ.  Verse seven adds, The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.  David declared that the LORD of hosts, the God of Jacob, was the refuge of the people of Israel.  God is still the same God, and He is the source of refuge for Christians.  We need to live like we trust this to be true.  Verse eight says, Come, behold the works of the LORD, what desolations he hath made in the earth.  As David said then, we need to acknowledge the works of God.  He can make the whole world desolate if He so chooses, and one day when Christ returns in judgment He will.  Verse nine adds, He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire.  When Christ returns, He will claim those who have put their faith in Him, and all the weapons of war will be destroyed.  There will be no need for them.  Verse ten declares, Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. God calls on us to be still and know that He is God and will one day be exalted among the heathen.  We need to be careful as followers of Christ that we don't get so caught up in the things of this world that we do not hear God speaking to us.  Sometimes, we need to just be still and know that God is God, and at the time He chooses, He will be exalted among the heathen.  One day, everyone is going to acknowledge God, but for too many it will be too late for it to do them any good.  Verse eleven adds, The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.  As Christians, as David said then, the LORD of hosts is with those who put their faith in Christ and He should be our refuge at all times. 

Psalms 45:8

 Psalms 45:8 says, All thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia, out of the ivory palaces, whereby they have made thee glad.  Matthew Henry says this refers to David being exalted by men because he had humbled himself before God.  David had been anointed king because he was humble, and it was often when he began to feel self important that he would find himself in trouble.  We as followers of Christ need to remain humble before God and never begin to feel free to do whatever we want to do for our own glorification.  Verse nine adds, Kings’ daughters were among thy honourable women: upon thy right hand did stand the queen in gold of Ophir.  Honorable women attended David's court, and his queen was at his right hand.  As stated earlier, Matthew Henry says these verses refer to Christ and His court, and the may be a prophesy of His coming and return, but if they all refer to Christ and not David, then there would be a queen of heaven, and I do not find any scripture to support this idea.  Of course, as Matthew Henry states it could be referring to the church as the bride of Christ, but that still does not make the church the queen of heaven.  Verse ten declares, Hearken, O daughter, and consider, and incline thine ear; forget also thine own people, and thy father’s house;  I believe this was addressed to the women of Israel, but also could refer to the church as it is referred to as the bride of Christ.  Either way, the woman, or daughter, is called on to forget her own people and remain true to her husband.  As Christians, we cannot allow family to come between God and us.  Verse eleven adds, So shall the king greatly desire thy beauty: for he is thy Lord; and worship thou him.  Again, this could refer to the church being desired by Christ because of the beauty of their obedience to Him.  Verse twelve  continues, And the daughter of Tyre shall be there with a gift; even the rich among the people shall intreat thy favour.  Matthew Henry says this refers to everyone honoring the bride, but the church is there to honor God and not to be honored by mankind, so my problem with this would be people of the world bringing gifts to honor Christians.  Verse thirteen states, The king’s daughter is all glorious within: her clothing is of wrought gold.  Now, with this referring to the church as the king’s daughter, we know that the people of the church will be glorious within.  Verse fourteen adds, She shall be brought unto the king in raiment of needlework: the virgins her companions that follow her shall be brought unto thee.  Still, if this does refer strictly to the church, who are the virgins that accompany the church as the bride of Christ.  The church, all of it, is called the bride of Christ, so to me, it seems there would be no others there to serve the bride.  Verse fifteen says, With gladness and rejoicing shall they be brought: they shall enter into the king’s palace.  We do know that one day the church will be brought before God with gladness and rejoicing, and then the people of the church will enter God's palace, or their heavenly home.  Verse sixteen adds, Instead of thy fathers shall be thy children, whom thou mayest make princes in all the earth.  Matthew Henry says this refers to the Old Testament as the fathers and the New Testament as the children who replaced the them.  Verse seventeen continues, I will make thy name to be remembered in all generations: therefore shall the people praise thee for ever and ever.  We know that Jesus Christ will be remembered in all generations and people will praise Him forever and ever, but will the church, the bride of Christ, be?  We do not serve God as followers of Christ so that we will be praised, but so that He will.