his praises

December 26, 2015

Give thanks to Yahweh (Ps 138:1-138:3)

A Psalm of David

“Yahweh!

I give you thanks

With my whole heart.

Before the gods,

I sing your praise.

I bow down toward your holy temple.

I give thanks to your name.

Because of your steadfast love.

I give thanks to your name.

Because of your faithfulness.

You have exalted your name

Above everything.

You have exalted your word

Above everything.

On the day I called,

You did answer me.

You increased my strength of soul.”

Psalm 138 is a thanksgiving psalm of David as indicated in the title. David gives thanks to Yahweh from his whole heart. He sings his praises in his holy Temple. Yahweh is greater than any of the other gods or angels. He gave thanks to his holy name for his steadfast love and faithfulness. His name and word were to be exalted above everything. On the day that David called, Yahweh answered him. There was no delay here. Thus this strengthened his soul.

December 4, 2015

Thanksgiving for God’s steadfast love (Ps 108:1-108:4)

A song, a psalm of David

“My heart is steadfast!

O God!

My heart is steadfast!

I will sing!

I will make melody!

Awake!

My soul!

Awake!

O harp and lyre!

I will awake the dawn!

I will give thanks to you

Among the peoples!

Yahweh!

I will sing praises to you among the nations.

Your steadfast love is higher than the heavens.

Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.”

Psalm 108 seems to be compilation of 2 other psalms, Psalm 57 and Psalm 60. The title is simply a song or psalm of David. This first section is almost word for word from Psalm 57. David was steadfast in his love, just as God had shown his steadfast love to him. He was ready to sing and make melody on the harp and lyre. He wanted his soul to wake up. He was going to wake the morning dawn. He was going to give thanks to Yahweh among all the people. He would sing his praises among the nations because God’s love was as high as the heavens. His faithfulness extended beyond the clouds. David loved Yahweh as Yahweh loved David.

October 10, 2015

David’s steadfast love of Yahweh (Ps 57:7-57:10)

“My heart is steadfast!

O God!

My heart is steadfast!

I will sing!

I will make melody!

Awake!

My soul!

Awake!

O harp and lyre!

I will awake the dawn!

I will give thanks to you

Among the peoples.

Yahweh!

I will sing praises to you

Among the nations.

Your steadfast love is

As high as the heavens.

Your faithfulness

Extends to the clouds.”

David was steadfast in his love, just as God had shown his steadfast love to him. He was ready to sing and make melody on the harp and lyre. He wanted his soul to wake up. He was going to wake the morning dawn. He was going to give thanks to Yahweh among all the people. He would sing his praises among the nations because God’s love was as high as the heavens. His faithfulness extended beyond the clouds. David loved Yahweh as Yahweh loved David.

September 26, 2015

Hope in God (Ps 43:5-43:5)

“Why are you cast down?

O my soul!

Why are you disquieted within me?

Hope in God!

I shall again praise him!

My help!

My God!”

This is an exact repeat of the refrain that ended Psalm 42. The psalmist accused his soul of upsetting him. He was going to hope in God. He would sing his praises again. God was his help. Thus despite some grievances, this northern psalmist still believed and praised God.

September 26, 2015

Hope in God (Ps 42:11-42:11)

“Why are you cast down?

O my soul!

Why are you disquieted within me?

Hope in God!

I shall again praise him!

My help!

My God!”

Of course, we have a happy ending to this psalm. The psalmist accuses his soul of upsetting him. He was going to hope in God. He would sing his praises again. God was his help. Thus despite some grievances, this northern psalmist still believed and praised God.

September 15, 2015

Praise for Yahweh (Ps 35:27-35:28)

“Let those who desire my vindication

Shout for joy!

Let them be glad!

Let them say evermore!

‘Great is Yahweh!

He delights in the welfare of his servant!’

Then my tongue shall tell

Of your righteousness.

My tongue shall tell

Of your praise

All the day long.”

This psalm ends with those who were in favor of David shouting for joy. They were glad. They would be able to say that Yahweh is great because he delighted in the welfare of his servant David. The tongue of David would tell everyone about the righteousness of Yahweh. He would sing his praises all day long. David seems to think that he is doing Yahweh a favor by praising him, if Yahweh helps him out of his bad situations.