Psalms 130:1

Psalms 130:1 says, A Song of degrees.  Once more this is called a song of degrees, then verse one says, Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O LORD.  When we are in the depths of despair or trouble, like the psalmist, we as followers of Christ must cry out to God.  Verse two adds,  Lord, hear my voice: let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications.  The psalmist asked for God to hear his voice and to be attentive to his supplications, or prayers.  We can be certain that God hears the prayers of Christians, and that He not only is attentive to our prayers, but that He recognizes our voice as well.  Verse three asks, If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? I believe that this means that if God judged everyone by their iniquities, no one could stand before Him, and if anyone doesn't accept Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord, then they will not be able to stand before God in judgment.  Verse four adds, But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared.  As the psalmist said, there is forgiveness with God and as I just stated that is only available by accepting the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross.  Those who lived before He came put their faith in His coming, and those since put their faith in the fact that He has come and in His second coming to claim those who are His.  Verse five states, I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope.  The psalmist was waiting for the coming of Jesus Christ, and we are waiting for His return, because we put our faith in His word.  Verse six adds, My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning.  The psalmist said his soul waited for the Lord more than others waited for the sun to rise in the morning.  Just as certain as the sun rising in the morning is the second coming of Christ, and we should put our faith in that fact.  Verse seven declares, Let Israel hope in the LORD: for with the LORD there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption.  Isreal, God's chosen people, were called on to put their hope in the mercy of God.  The psalmist stated that the was plenty of mercy for redemption in God.  Though some may claim that only a specified number of people will be redeemed by God, His salvation is abundant enough to redeem all people who put their faith in Jesus Christ.  God's love, mercy, and redemption are not limited.  Verse eight adds, And he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities.  As God would redeem Israel, those who were His chosen people then, if they put their faith in Him, He has redeemed all who put their faith in Him today.  Not everyone born into the nation of Israel was redeemed simply by being born into the nation, but only those who put their faith in God and the coming Messiah were.  Today, we cannot be redeemed by being born in a certain place or into a certain family, but can only be redeemed individually by putting our faith in Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord. 

Psalms 129:1

Psalms 129:1 says, A Song of degrees.  This is identified as another song of degrees, then verse one says, Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth, may Israel now say: Matthew Henry says this psalm relates to public concerns for Israel and was probably written when the people of Israel were captive in Babylon or shortly after their return.  The church, like Israel, has often been distressed by the world, throughout the ages.  Verse two adds, Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth: yet they have not prevailed against me.  Just as the psalmist said about Israel, we as the church, the followers of Christ, have been distressed by the world through the ages, but the world has never and will never prevail.  Verse three continues, The plowers plowed upon my back: they made long their furrows.  Though as Matthew Henry says, we might say the rod was on their back, the meaning is the same.  The people of Israel, God's chosen people, were treated cruelly by other nations throughout the ages, so we should not be surprised if we are as Christians today.  Verse four declares, The LORD is righteous: he hath cut asunder the cords of the wicked.  The psalmist said that God is righteous and had cut asunder the cords of the wicked.  God will always be righteous and will always cut asunder the cords of the wicked.  Verse five adds, Let them all be confounded and turned back that hate Zion.  We need tto pray as they did then that God will confound the wicked who fight against us today.  Verse six states, Let them be as the grass upon the housetops, which withereth afore it groweth up:  The psalmist asked that the enemies of Israel wither away like the grass on the rooftop.  Verse seven adds, Wherewith the mower filleth not his hand; nor he that bindeth sheaves his bosom.  I don't believe that we should pray that our enemies starve, but we should pray that they not be successful against us, while still praying for their salvation.  Verse eight continues, Neither do they which go by say, The blessing of the LORD be upon you: we bless you in the name of the LORD.  The rest of the world will never go by blessing the people of the church, but we should never be remiss in praising God for His blessings.

Psalms 128:1

Psalms 128:1 says, A Song of degrees.  This is also called a song of degrees, then verse one says, Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his ways.  The psalmist says that if a person wants to be blessed, they must respect God and walk in His ways.  This is the only way to be truly blessed.  It has nothing to do with material things, but with spiritual things.  Verse two adds, For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee.  We are told that we should eat from our labor, and not that we will have big houses and fine cars.  We should not feel that we need these things to be blessed.  Verse three states, Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table.  The psalmist also said that a man's wife and children would be a blessing to him.  If we truly believe this, then I believe being with our families would be a much happier place today.  Verse four adds, Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the LORD.  Having the necessities of life and a happy family are said to be signs of a blessed life.  Verse five proclaims, The LORD shall bless thee out of Zion: and thou shalt see the good of Jerusalem all the days of thy life.  The psalmist said that God would bless those that are faithful to Him, and He still will today.  Verse six adds, Yea, thou shalt see thy children’s children, and peace upon Israel.  The people of Israel were promised that they would see their grandchildren and peace in Israel.  We may never see peace in this lifetime, but we will have everlasting peace spiritually with God, and we will see all of our descendants who have put their faith in God again one day. 

Psalms 127:1

Psalms 127:1 says, A Song of degrees for Solomon.  This is called a song of degrees of Solomon, and verse one says, Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.  Solomon said that unless people built in accordance with God's plan, they built in vain, and unless the watchmen watched under God's guidance, they watched in vain.  Things that are built without God's leadership will always be built in vain, no matter how much we may value them and try to guard them.  Verse two adds, It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.  Solomon said that it was vain, or worthless, for anyone, especially those who put their faith in God, to stay up late, eat in sorrow, or not be able to sleep, because God gives His people sleep.  As a follower of Christ, you should never be unable to enjoy a meal or get a good night's sleep because you are worried.   Verse three states, Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.  Solomon said that children are a gift of God.  God is the Giver of life, and it is not up to us to decide which of the fruit of the womb lives or dies.  Verse four adds, As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.  Solomon said that children were as important to a parent as arrows were to a mighty man.  Children should help support the family, especially when they become older and more capable of helping out.  I believe that it is God's plan for families to support and protect one another.   Verse five continues, Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.  Solomon said that parents who had many children should be happy and not ashamed.  Today, society seems to look down on parents who have more then one or two children, but as Christians we should leave this in God's hands.  We certainly should never decide that after a certain point that we will no longer allow a child to be born.

Psalms 126:1

Psalms 126:1 says, A Song of degrees.  This is another song of degrees, then verse one says, When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream.  The psalmist says that when the people of Israel were restored to their land from captivity, it was almost unbelievable to them.  Matthew Henry says that though it doesn't say, this was probably when they returned from captivity in Babylon.  When we are restored to a right relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ, it occurs immediately upon accepting Him as our Savior and Lord, and we should be amazed.  Verse two adds, Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them.  Upon their return, the people of Israel were filled with laughter, or joy, and were singing praises to God.  The people around them knew that Gad had restored the people of Israel.  As Christians, when we are restored to God, we should be full of joy and sing praises to God so that those around us will know that He has redeemed us.  Vere three continues, The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad.  Just as God had done a great thing for the people of Israel then making them glad, He has done an even greater thing for Christians today, and we should be exceedingly glad.  Their restoration was temporary and ours is everlasting spiritually.  Verse four states, Turn again our captivity, O LORD, as the streams in the south.  Though some of the people of Israel had returned, not all had, and those who had returned were burdened for those who hadn't and prayed for their deliverance.  As followers of Christ, we should be burdened for the lost of the world, even as we celebrate our own salvation.  Verse five adds, They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.  Those that were still in captivity would one day cry tears of joy when they were restored.  This was stated in faith that it would be accomplished.  We can state in certainty that those who put their faith in Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord will be saved, and this should cause us to cry tears of joy.  Verse six continues, He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.  The psalmist said that those who had gone away into captivity weeping would return rejoicing and bringing there sheaves with them.  We are held captive by sin until we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, and once we do we should return unto God with rejoicing.  Just as the people then brought their sheaves, their necessities for everyday life by God's provision, so will we as Christians have God provide for all our needs spiritually. 

Psalms 125:1

Psalms 125:1 says, A Song of degrees.  This psalm is also called a song of degrees, then verse one says, They that trust in the LORD shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever.  The people then were told that if they trusted in the LORD that they would be as immovable as Mt. Zion, which couldnot be moved.  Though we could make the claim today that Mt. Zion could be moved, God never will be, no matter what people who do not believe in Him may claim.  Verse two adds, As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the LORD is round about his people from henceforth even for ever.  The psalmist said that just as certainly as the mountains surrounded Jerusalem, they were surrounded by God's power and protection forevermore as long as they put their faith in Him.  As followers of Christ, this is just as true for us today.  As long as we remain faithful to God, we are spiritually protected forevermore.  If we have accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, we are saved forever, but we may lose God's protective hand in this lifetime if we do not remain faithful to His word.  Verse three continues, For the rod of the wicked shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous; lest the righteous put forth their hands unto iniquity.  God gives us His promise that the oppression of His people by the wicked will not last forever, no matter how bad it may become.  All we need to do is remain faithful to God.  Verse four states, Do good, O LORD, unto those that be good, and to them that are upright in their hearts.  The psalmist then asks for God to do good to those who do good and are upright in their heart.  Of course, unless a person puts their faith in Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and Lord, they can do all the good in the world and it will not matter spiritually, because they will not be spiritually upright.  Verse five adds, As for such as turn aside unto their crooked ways, the LORD shall lead them forth with the workers of iniquity: but peace shall be upon Israel.  If we turn away from God and follow our crooked ways, God will one day punish us but if we put our faith in Jesus Christ and obey God's commandments, we will live in peace spiritually forever. 

Psalms 124:1

Psalms 124:1 says, A Song of degrees of David.  This is identified as a song of degrees by David, then verse one says, If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, now may Israel say;  David said that the people of Isreal had to acknowledge that God was on their side, or maybe more accurately that they were on His side.  God didn't endorse what they did, but they did what God endorsed, and so it is with Christians today.  Verse two adds, If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, when men rose up against us:  Verse three continues, Then they had swallowed us up quick, when their wrath was kindled against us:  David said that if God had not been with them when their enemies came against them that Isreal would have been swallowed up.  This same God protects us today when we are surrounded by enemies, and He will always keep us from being defeated spiritually.   Verse four states, Then the waters had overwhelmed us, the stream had gone over our soul:  Verse five adds, Then the proud waters had gone over our soul.  David said that the people of Isreal were in a position where they would have drowned if God had not been their protector.  If we feel that we are drawing in the problems of life, we as followers of Christ only need to look to God in faith for answers.  Verse six declares, Blessed be the LORD, who hath not given us as a prey to their teeth.  David said that people of Israel should bless God, because He had kept them from being prey for their enemies.  We have even more reason to bless, or praise God, because Jesus Christ, the Messiah, has already come.  Verse seven adds, Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we are escaped.  As Christians, our soul has escaped out of the snare of sin, as David said then, like a bird out of the snare of the fowler.  We are set free from sin not to just barely survive, but to soar as a bird will when set free.  Verse eight adds, Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth.  Just like David, our only hope is in God, the Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer of life.