back

 

Sunday School     3-5-06                  Psalm 8(1-9)

 

Psalms (from Easton’s Bible Dictionary)
The psalms are the production of various authors. "Only a portion of the Book of Psalms claims David as its author. Other inspired poets in successive generations added now one now another contribution to the sacred collection, and thus in the wisdom of Providence it more completely reflects every phase of human emotion and circumstances than it otherwise could." But it is especially to David and his contemporaries that we owe this precious book. In the "titles" of the psalms, the genuineness of which there is no sufficient reason to doubt, 73 are ascribed to David. Peter and John (Acts 4:25) ascribe to him also the second psalm, which is one of the 48 that are anonymous. About two-thirds of the whole collection has been ascribed to David.

· The first book comprises the first 41 psalms, all of which are ascribed to David except 1,2,10, and 33, which, though anonymous, may also be ascribed to him.

· The second Book consists of the next 31 psalms 18 which are ascribed to David and 1 to Solomon (the 72nd). The rest are anonymous.

· The third book contains 17 psalms (73-89), of which the 86th is ascribed to David, the 88th to Heman the Ezrahite, and the 89th to Ethan the Ezrahite.

· The fourth book also contains 17 psalms (90-106), of which the 90th is ascribed to Moses, and the 101st and 103rd to David.

· The fifth book contains the remaining psalms, 44 in number. Of these, 15 are ascribed to David, and the 127th to Solomon.

Psalms 136 is generally called "the great hallel." But the Talmud includes also Psalms 120, 135. Psalms 113-118, inclusive, constitute the "hallel" recited at the three great feasts, at the new moon, and on the eight days of the Feast of Dedication.

"It is presumed that these several collections were made at times of high religious life: the first, probably, near the close of David's life; the second in the days of Solomon; the third by the singers of Jehoshaphat (2 Chronicles 20:19); the fourth by the men of Hezekiah (29,30,31); and the fifth in the days of Ezra."

The Mosaic ritual makes no provision for the service of song in the worship of God. David first taught the Church to sing the praises of the Lord. He first introduced into the ritual of the tabernacle music and song.

Divers names are given to the psalms.

· Some bear the Hebrew designation shir (Gr. ode, a song). Thirteen have this title. It means the flow of speech, as it were, in a straight line or in a regular strain. This title includes secular as well as sacred song.

· Fifty-eight psalms bear the designation (Heb.) mitsmor (Gr. psalmos, a psalm), a lyric ode, or a song set to music; a sacred song accompanied with a musical instrument.

· Psalms 145, and many others, have the designation (Heb.) tehillah (Gr. hymnos, a hymn), meaning a song of praise; a song the prominent thought of which is the praise of God.

· Six psalms (16,56-60) have the title (Heb.) michtam (q.v.).

·  Psalms 7 and Habakkuk 3 bear the title (Heb.) shiggaion (q.v.).

 

 

 

 

 

David

(well-beloved ), the son of Jesse. His life may be divided into three portions:

1. His youth before his introduction to the court of Saul;
2. His relations with Saul;
3. His reign.
4. The early life of David contains in many important respects the antecedents of his future career. It appears that David was the youngest son, probably the youngest child, of a family of ten, and was born in Bethlehem B.C. 1085. The first time that David appears in history at once admits us to the whole family circle. The annual sacrificial feast is being held when Samuel appears, sent by God to anoint one of Jesse’s sons as they pass before him, (1 Samuel 16:6-10) Samuel sends for the youngest, David, who was "keeping the sheep," and anoints him. (1 Samuel 16:11-13) As David stood before Samuel we are enabled to fix his appearance at once in our minds. He was of short stature, with red or auburn hair, such as is not unfrequently seen in his countrymen of the East at the present day. In later life he wore a beard. His bright eyes are specially mentioned, (1 Samuel 16:12) and generally he was remarkable for the grace of his figure and countenance ("fair of eyes," "comely," "goodly,") (1 Samuel 16:12,18; 17:42) well made and of immense strength and agility. His swiftness and activity made him like a wild gazelle, his feet like hart’s feet, and his arms strong enough to break a bow of steel. (Psalms 18:33,34) After the anointing David resumes his accustomed duties, and the next we know of him he is summoned to the court to chase away the king’s madness by music, (1 Samuel 16:14-19) and in the successful effort of David’s harp we have the first glimpse into that genius for music and poetry which was afterwards consecrated in the Psalms. After this he returned to the old shepherd life again. One incident alone of his solitary shepherd life has come down to us --his conflict with the lion and the bear in defence of his father’s flocks. (1 Samuel 17:34,35) It was some years after this that David suddenly appears before his brothers in the camp of the army, and hears the defiant challenge of the Philistine giant Goliath. With his shepherd’s sling and five small pebbles he goes forth and defeats the giant. (1 Samuel 17:40-51)
5. Relations with Saul. --We now enter on a new aspect of David’s life. The victory over Goliath had been a turning point of his career. Saul inquired his parentage, and took him finally to his court. Jonathan was inspired by the romantic friendship which bound the two youths together to the end of their lives. Unfortunately David’s fame proved the foundation of that unhappy jealousy of Saul towards him which, mingling with the king’s constitutional malady, poisoned his whole future relations to David. His position in Saul’s court seems to have been first armor-bearer, (1 Samuel 16:21; 18:2) then captain over a thousand, (1 Samuel 18:13) and finally, on his marriage with Michal, the king’s second daughter, he was raised to the high office of captain of the king’s body-guard, second only, if not equal, to Abner, the captain of the host, and Jonathan, the heir apparent. David was not chiefly known for his successful exploits against the Philistines, by one of which he won his wife, and rove back the Philistine power with a blow from which it only rallied at the disastrous close of Saul’s reign. He also still performed from time to time the office of minstrel; but the successive attempts of Saul upon his life convinced him that he was in constant danger. He had two faithful allies, however, in the court --the son of Saul, his friend Jonathan, and the daughter of Saul, his wife Michal. Warned by the one and assisted by the other, he escaped by night, and was from thenceforward a fugitive. He at first found a home at the court of Achish, among the Philistines; but his stay was short. Discovered possibly by "the sword of Goliath," his presence revived the national enmity of the Philistines against their former conqueror, and he only escaped by feigning madness. (1 Samuel 21:13) His first retreat was the cave of Adullam. In this vicinity he was joined by his whole family, (1 Samuel 22:1) and by a motley crowd of debtors and discontented men, (1 Samuel 22:2) which formed the nucleus of his army. David’s life for the next few years was made up of a succession of startling incidents. He secures an important ally in Abiathar, (1 Samuel 23:6) his band of 400 at Adullam soon increased to 600, (1 Samuel 23:13) he is hunted by Saul from place to place like a partridge. (1 Samuel 23:14,22,25-29; 24:1-22; 26) He marries Abigail and Ahinoam. (1 Samuel 25:42,43) Finally comes the new of the battle of Gilboa and the death of Saul and Jonathan. 1Sam 31. The reception of the tidings of the death of his rival and of his friend, the solemn mourning, the vent of his indignation against the bearer of the message, the pathetic lamentation that followed, will close the second period of David’s life. (2 Samuel 1:1-27)
6. David’s reign. --
7. As king of Judah at Hebron, 7 1/2 years. (2 Samuel 2:1; 2 Samuel 5:5) Here David was first formally anointed king. (2 Samuel 2:4) To Judah his dominion was nominally confined. Gradually his power increased, and during the two years which followed the elevation of Ish-bosheth a series of skirmishes took place between the two kingdoms. Then rapidly followed the successive murders of Abner and of Ish-bosheth. (2 Samuel 3:30; 4:5) The throne, so long waiting for him, was now vacant, and the united voice of the whole people at once called him to occupy it. For the third time David was anointed king, and a festival of three days celebrated the joyful event. (1 Chronicles 12:39) One of David’s first acts after becoming king was to secure Jerusalem, which he seized from the Jebusites and fixed the royal residence there. Fortifications were added by the king and by Joab, and it was known by the special name of the "city of David." (2 Samuel 5:9; 1 Chronicles 11:7) The ark was now removed from its obscurity at Kirjath-jearim with marked solemnity, and conveyed to Jerusalem. The erection of the new capital at Jerusalem introduces us to a new era in David’s life and in the history of the monarchy. He became a king on the scale of the great Oriental sovereigns of Egypt and Persia, with a regular administration and organization of court and camp; and he also founded an imperial dominion which for the first time realize the prophetic description of the bounds of the chosen people. (Genesis 15:18-21) During the succeeding ten years the nations bordering on his kingdom caused David more or less trouble, but during this time he reduced to a state of permanent subjection the Philistines on the west, (2 Samuel 8:1) the Moabites on the east, (2 Samuel 8:2) by the exploits of Benaiah, (2 Samuel 23:20) the Syrians on the northeast as far as the Euphrates, (2 Samuel 8:3) the Edomites, (2 Samuel 8:14) on the south; and finally the Ammonites, who had broken their ancient alliance, and made one grand resistance to the advance of his empire. (2 Samuel 10:1-19; 12:26-31) Three great calamities may be selected as marking the beginning, middle and close of David’s otherwise prosperous reign, which appear to be intimated in the question of Gad, (2 Samuel 24:13) "a three-years famine, a three-months flight or a three-days pestilence." a. Of these the first (the three-years famine) introduces us to the last notices of David’s relations with the house of Saul, already referred to. b. The second group of incidents contains the tragedy of David’s life, which grew in all its parts out of the polygamy, with its evil consequences, into which he had plunged on becoming king. Underneath the splendor of his last glorious campaign against the Ammonites was a dark story, known probably at that time only to a very few --the double crime of adultery with Bath-sheba and the virtual murder of Uriah. The clouds from this time gathered over David’s fortunes, and henceforward "the sword never departed from his house." (2 Samuel 12:10) The outrage on his daughter Tamar, the murder of his eldest son Amnon, and then the revolt of his best-beloved Absalom, brought on the crisis which once more sent him forth as wanderer, as in the days when he fled from Saul. (2 Samuel 15:18) The final battle of Absalom’s rebellion was fought in the "forest of Ephraim," and terminated in the accident which led to the young man’s death; and, though nearly heartbroken at the loss of his son, David again reigned in undisturbed peace at Jerusalem. (2 Samuel 20:1-22) c. The closing period of David’s life, with the exception of one great calamity, may be considered as a gradual preparation for the reign of his successor. This calamity was the three-days pestilence which visited Jerusalem at the warning of the prophet Gad. The occasion which led to this warning was the census of the people taken by Joab at the king’s orders, (2 Samuel 24:1-9; 1 Chronicles 21:1-7; 27:23,24) which was for some reason sinful in God’s sight. 2Sam 24. A formidable conspiracy to interrupt the succession broke out in the last days of David’s reign; but the plot was stifled, and Solomon’s inauguration took place under his father’s auspices. (1 Kings 1:1-53) By this time David’s infirmities had grown upon him. His last song is preserved --a striking union of the ideal of a just ruler which he had placed before him and of the difficulties which he had felt in realizing it. (2 Samuel 23:1-7) His last words to his successor are general exhortations to his duty. (1 Kings 2:1-9) He died, according to Josephus, at the age of 70, and "was buried in the city of David." After the return from the captivity, "the sepulchres of David" were still pointed out "between Siloah and the house of the mighty men," or "the guard-house." (Nehemiah 3:16) His tomb, which became the general sepulchre of the kings of Judah, was pointed out in the latest times of the Jewish people. The edifice shown as such from the Crusades to the present day is on the southern hill of modern Jerusalem commonly called Mount Zion, under the so-called "Coenaculum;" but it cannot be identified with the tomb of David, which was emphatically within the walls.

Psalm 8:1 To the chief Musician upon Gittith, A Psalm of David. O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens.

 

To the chief musician

The directions of some of the Psalms are part of the canon and give us insight into the hearts and minds of King David and the people of his time.  This directive means David wants this psalm to be worked up and sung by the choir in the temple.  It is something he wants everyone to sing as they worship Jehovah God.  There are songs which are private and some which are to be sung in various locations, but some are clearly intended to be sung as part of a worship service.

 

Gittith

The Hebrew word “gittith” literally means wine press, but is commonly believed to also be used as the name of a stringed instrument.  The direction is probably that David wishes the choir director to arrange the music for this psalm to be played with stringed instruments rather than wind instruments. Songs played with stringed orchestras seem to have a more subdued sound and feeling.  This song is high praise to God.  I think David wanted it sung with deep emotion and reverence.

 

How excellent is thy name

Have you ever thought about the value of the name of God.  His name was so revered by the Israelites that they would not even spell it completely.  They left out the vowels so that the name could not be pronounced as written.  The name of Christ is the same.  Christians are to pray in His name! (John 14:13)  In His name we can command Satan to get behind us! (Matthew 16:23)  It is in His name whereby we can be saved! (Acts 4:12)  When we gather together in His name he has promised to be in the midst.  (Matthew 18:20)  New converts are to be baptized in His name!  (Matthew 28:19)  Repentance and remission of sin can only be preached in His name. (Luke 24:47)  We are healed in His name.  (Acts 3:16) Yes the name of Jesus is sacred and powerful, not because there is any secret about the name; many Spanish people use the name Jesus for their children today.  The name does not make the man sacred; the man made the name sacred.  His name has power because He is all powerful!

 

Thy glory above the heavens

How beautiful are the stars and moon in the night sky.  How glorious it is to peer into the majesty and grandeur of God’s universe, but their glory pales to the one who created them.  Our God created this universe.  His majesty will one day be revealed unto those who love and serve Him and we will understand His glory.  It will be above the sun.  it will outshine the moon and the stars.  It will be more wonderful than the expanse of the universe.  I am reminded of the Crabb Family song: “don’t you want to go.”

 

8:2 Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.

 

The mouths of babes

Have you ever noticed the faith possible in the heart of a small child?  They can admire and recognize the creation of God that adults have lost the ability to appreciate because of their hardness of heart.  Nothing is more precious and wonderful than a babe singing songs about God!  They can believe and praise God. Cynicism and sin have not darkened their hearts.  I think this is one of the things Jesus was talking about when He said we need to become as little children to make it to heaven!  I often am in wonder at the power of sin when I read about someone mistreating and abusing innocent children.  When a parent kills or tortures their own innocent gift from God; can you tell me that evil doesn’t exist? 

 

8:3 When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;

 

God’s creation

Have you ever considered how magnificent the creation of God is?  Man has invented telescopes which can see millions of miles from earth, but they haven’t even got close to the end of God’s creation.  The mountains, oceans, jungles, and natural wonders could only originate in the mind of God.  Did you know that His creation is perfect for human inhabitation?  If the earth was 1 degree farther from the sun we would all freeze; 1 degree closer we would burn!  If you like imagination, visit a zoo.  Only a wonderful God could imagine and create such wonderful, and sometimes fearful, creatures.  The strength of a bear, the ferocity of a lion, the grace of a gazelle, the sheer size of an element; do you think these all came about by accident?  Some men claim this all came about by chance due to a gigantic explosion at the beginning of time.  Now that takes faith!  Christians believe we were lovingly created by an eternal, all knowing God. I’ll take Christ!

 

8:4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?

 

What is man?

Have you ever wondered what God ever saw in man which would cause Him to go to such extremes to cause man to be saved from Hell?  God gave me a revelation of this once.  I was again mediating and wondering at the grace of God towards me and could not fathom why God loved me when it hit me; I was looking in the wrong direction.  it is not what I have done but who He is that explains this great mystery.  Don’t look at man to see why God loves human beings; look at God.  It is the love of God which is beyond all comprehension.  When we get to Heaven, we can take a million years to thank Him for who He is!  I am about to shout all alone in the office as I write this.  Oh, how good is God to us!

 

8:5 For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.

 

Man’s mission from God

Some think this is speaking about Jesus, but they are wrong.  Our Lord was never made “a little lower than the angels.”  Even in His earthly body, He was still the Son of God!  He still had angels come and minister to Him and at His beck and call.  He said he could call the Father and He would send 12 legions of angels to set Him free from the cross!  (Matthew 26:53) The one who was made “a little lower” is mankind.  Look at the commission God gave Adam. Genesis 1:28 “And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.”  It was the plan of God for man to administer and rule over God’s creation.  In the Garden of Eden life was perfect; creation obeyed and was in subjection to the man.  Sin overthrew God’s design.  Notice the difference after Adam sinned: Genesis 3:17-19 “And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; 3:18  Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; 3:19  In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.”  No longer is life just tending to the Garden and communing with God.  Now trials, tribulations, disasters, and heartache have become part of man’s experience.

 

8:6 Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet: 8:7 All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; 8:8 The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.

 

Man’s dominion over animals

God intended man to have the preeminence among His creation.  It was man’s gift, but also his responsibility to rule over the earth.  I believe man is still expected by God to take care of God’s creation.  We should be careful to preserve the beauty of this earth.  We are to use what God has provided, but we should be responsible enough to be protective over it also.  We were put here to live; we should try to make that life as joyous as possible for ourselves and the generations to come.  I would like to express one more opinion you may not have thought of.  Close your eyes and imagine creation before the arrival of sin.  Animals did not eat each other, but consumed herbs and other plants for their food.  Some say this is impossible as some animals today eat only meat, but you have not thought this through enough.  Sin is what caused cruelty and the devouring of one creature by another.  Before the advent of sin, God provided for these animals somehow through the plant kingdom.  We know, as a matter of fact, that dogs and cats survive on processed foods which may not have any meat in them.  Big cats and other predators could do the same.  I think Adam and Eve had fellowship with the animals before the arrival of sin.  I don’t think they feared the lion, leopard, or bear.  This is also why I disbelieve evolution so strongly.  If animals died for millions of years before they arrived in their present state, then what does sin have to do with anything?  And if sin is not the cause of evil, then why would Christ have had to die to redeem creation?  If evolution is correct, then the plan of salvation has no meaning!  Let me show you some verses to back up what I am saying.  Genesis 9:1-3 “And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth. 9:2  And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth, and upon every fowl of the air, upon all that moveth upon the earth, and upon all the fishes of the sea; into your hand are they delivered.  9:3 Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things.”  This tells me that the fear of man by animals arrived after the Flood.  Also, this reveals that man is for the first time authorized by God to eat meat.  Before this mankind were all vegetarians.  The reason I mention this is because people often ask me about the tone of the Millennial Kingdom.  I think it will be just like the Garden of Eden.  God will demonstrate to man what God intended life to be like.  The animal kingdom will also resort back to God’s original plan.  Compare the verses and tone above to these which are concerned with the Millennial Kingdom.  Isaiah 11:6 “The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. 11:7 And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. 11:8 And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den. 11:9 They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.”  See what I mean?  It wasn’t God’s intention for this earth to be filled with violence among every creature; that is what was brought about by sin.  When Jesus sits on the Throne of David and rules this earth with a rod of iron, things will change.  Man will live in peace.  Wars will end.  Violence will come to a halt.  Every family will be able to live in peace.  We have a good God.  We often blame Him for the toughness of life, but it isn’t really His fault; it was human beings who sinned and brought death into this world.  It wasn’t God; we are the guilty ones!

 

 

8:9 O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!

 

His excellent name

God’s name is truly excellent!  The word excellent means great one or majestic one.  The only thing that can possible damage the name of the Lord is the reputation of His children.  It is a shame that we sometimes cause folks to doubt the goodness of God, but they should learn not to confuse us with our Father.  He does all right, all the time.  I fail many times.  I wish people would learn to judtge God on His own merits and not by the actions of His church.  The only thing we can do to help is to strive to live Holy and to bring glory to the cause.  Let me leave you this week with this verse: 1^st Peter 2:12 “Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.”

 

 

 

New Living Translation Psalm 8(to be used as a commentary only)

 

For the choir director: A psalm of David, to be accompanied by a stringed instrument.

1 O Lord, our Lord, the majesty of your name fills the earth! Your glory is higher than the heavens. 2      You have taught children and nursing infants to give you praise. They silence your enemies who were seeking revenge. 3 When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers—the moon and the stars you have set in place—4      what are mortals that you should think of us, mere humans that you should care for us?

5  For you made us only a little lower than God, and you crowned us with glory and honor. 6 You put us in charge of everything you made, giving us authority over all things— the sheep and the cattle and all the wild animals, 8        the birds in the sky, the fish in the sea, and everything that swims the ocean currents. 9 O Lord, our Lord, the majesty of your name fills the earth!

 

 THE ADDISON FREEWILL BAPTIST CHURCH BAD WEATHER POLICY:

IT IS OUR POLICY TO HAVE THE CHURCH OPEN AT IT'S SCHEDULED TIMES. IN THE CASE OF INCLEMENT WEATHER, WE WILL POST A MESSAGE ON THE CHURCH PHONE APPROXIMATELY 2 HOURS BEFORE CHURCH TIME TO INFORM WHETHER OR NOT THE SERVICE WILL BE CANCELED. THE PHONE NUMBER TO CALL IS 740-367-7063.

 

THANKS FOR STUDYING WITH US THIS WEEK.  OUR LESSONS CAN BE FOUND EACH WEEK ON OUR WEBSITE WWW.ADDISONCHURCH.COM.  BE SURE TO SIGN OUR GUESTBOOK WHEN YOU VISIT.  WE ALSO WILL EMAIL THE LESSON DIRECTLY TO YOU BY REQUEST AT ADDISONFWBCHURCH@BLUESTARR.NET.  YOU WILL NEVER BE ASKED FOR CONTRIBUTIONS, NOR WILL YOUR INFORMATION BE GIVEN OR SOLD TO ANY OUTSIDE SOURCE.  SEE YOU SOON!!!!

 

PASTOR RICK BARCUS

back

---