Year 1, Week 40, Day 4 Bible Reading Observations

Year 1, Week 40, Day 4

I have a brief observation for today’s reading of 2 Samuel 24, Psalm 57, 95, 97-99.

Today’s reading involves five Psalms. Psalm 57 is attributed to David and the superscription locates the historical setting of the Psalm to the days that David was fleeing from Saul. The other four Psalms do not provide any author and/or historical backgrounds, but these Psalms, which are a special grouping of Psalms starting at Psalm 93 and running through to Psalm 99, share a common thread of the LORD’s greatness as King. Psalm 57 opens with expressions of deep lament, but concludes with strong praise: “I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to you among the nations” (Psalm 57:9). Psalm 57 ends with an acknowledgement that ties it to the other Psalms in today’s reading: “Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let your glory be over all the earth!” (Psalm 57:11). 2 Samuel 24 will be considered as a part of tomorrow’s reading, for it is a parallel passage to 1 Chronicles 21.

One of the things that struck me from today’s reading was the emphasis upon the LORD’s reign: “The LORD reigns…The LORD reigns…” (Psalm 97:1a; 99:1a). And even where the explicit declaration of the reign of the LORD is not expressed, there is great stress on God’s rule as king: “For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods” (Psalm 95:3); and: “Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises! Sing praises to the LORD with the lyre, with the lyre and the sound of melody! With trumpets and the sound of the horn make a joyful noise before the King, the LORD!” (Psalm 98:4-6); and: “The LORD is great in Zion; he is exalted over all the peoples. Let them praise your great and awesome name! Holy is he! The King in his might loves justice” (Psalm 99:2-4a). And where His Kingship is not explicitly stated, His greatness over all is highlighted: “For you, O LORD, are most high over all the earth; you are exalted far above all gods” (Psalm 97:9).

While David is king by the pleasure of the LORD, the earth is actually ruled by the LORD Himself. Thus, long after David’s reign, the LORD is still king and therefore worthy of the exaltation deserving of a king: “Exalt the LORD our God; worship at his footstool! Holy is he!…Exalt the LORD our God, and worship at his holy mountain; for the LORD our God is holy!” (Psalm 99:5,9). The reign of the LORD invokes a range of human response:”The LORD reigns, let the earth rejoice; let the many coastlands be glad!” (Psalm 97:1); and: “The LORD reigns; let the peoples tremble! He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake!” (Psalm 99:1). Gladness and fear—rejoicing and trembling—fitting reactions to God’s Kingship. Psalm 2, which pertains to God’s Kingship as well as His installation of kings, couples this range of emotions: “Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling” (Psalm 2:11). Thus, it is not merely to pick one of the other, but both ends of the spectrum—rejoicing and trembling—are fitting simultaneous expressions to the reality of God’s Kingship.

These range of expressions—gladness and fear—are to be declared through song: “My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast! I will sing and make melody! Awake, my glory! Awake, O harp and lyre! I will awake the dawn!” (Psalm 57:7-8); and: “Oh come, let us sing to the LORD; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!” (Psalm 95:1-2); and: “Let the sea roar, and all that fills it; the world and those who dwell in it! Let the rivers clap their hands; let the hills sing for joy together before the LORD, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with equity” (Psalm 98:7-9). The commands to sing that are given involve singing about both the judgment as well as the salvation that the King will decree and implement. 

In His Kingship, the LORD provides salvation: “He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God” (Psalm 98:3). But He also executes justice: “The King in his might loves justice. You have established equity; you have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob” (Psalm 99:4). In providing salvation, the LORD grants forgiveness, while in executing justice, the LORD punishes wrong: “O LORD our God, you answered them; you were a forgiving God to them, but an avenger of their wrongdoings” (Psalm 99:8). This is the same tension expressed to Moses as the LORD revealed Himself: “forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty” (Exodus 34:7b). The King promises to pardon sins as well as punish sins. This is the special privilege that the King has worked out for His people: “For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand” (Psalm 95:7). And this tension between the pardon for sin and the punishment of sin is resolved through Jesus—the son of God, the King; but also the son of David, the king. In Jesus we see the salvation and justice of God; in Jesus we see our sins pardoned and punished.

What struck you in today’s reading? What questions were prompted from today’s reading?

Pastor Joe