Woe, woe, woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the remaining blasts of the trumpet of the three angels who are about to sound!

The seventh seal was finally opened but there was silence for half an hour. The seven angels which may or may not be the ones with the seals, were now given seven shofars (trumpets), perhaps getting ready to blow. Another angel came before the throne where there was also a golden altar. This angel had brought with him a golden censer filled with a lot of incense, which are the prayers of the believers. It appears that the normal procedure would be to present the incense on the golden altar. On this occasion, the angel took fire from the altar and put with the incense in the censer and cast it towards earth. This caused thunder, lightning and earthquakes on earth.

Then the seven angels with the shofars started blowing:

At the first shofar call: hail and fire mixed with blood were cast towards earth, causing a third of the trees and grass on earth to burn.

At the second shofar call: a great burning mountain was cast into the sea, causing a third of the sea to become blood, a third of sea creatures to die and a third of the ships on earth to be destroyed.

At the third shofar call: a burning star, perhaps like a meteorite fell to a third of the rivers and water resources, causing the water supply to become polluted. This leads to the death of many people from drinking the water.

At the fourth shofar call: a third of the sun, moon and stars were darkened and caused earth to be darkened. This shofar called does not appear to cause direct destruction. However, an angel flew heaven and announced more terrible calamity to be unleashed when the next three trumpets will sound.




Revelation 8
Seventh Seal: Prelude to the Seven Trumpets

1 When He opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. 2 And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and to them were given seven trumpets. 3 Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. 4 And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel’s hand. 5 Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and threw it to the earth. And there were noises, thunderings, lightnings, and an earthquake.

6 So the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.

First Trumpet: Vegetation Struck

7 The first angel sounded: And hail and fire followed, mingled with blood, and they were thrown to the earth.[a] And a third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up.

Second Trumpet: The Seas Struck

8 Then the second angel sounded: And something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea, and a third of the sea became blood. 9 And a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.

Third Trumpet: The Waters Struck

10 Then the third angel sounded: And a great star fell from heaven, burning like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water. 11 The name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters became wormwood, and many men died from the water, because it was made bitter.

Fourth Trumpet: The Heavens Struck

12 Then the fourth angel sounded: And a third of the sun was struck, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of them were darkened. A third of the day did not shine, and likewise the night.

13 And I looked, and I heard an angel[b] flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, “Woe, woe, woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the remaining blasts of the trumpet of the three angels who are about to sound!”

In the likeness of Melchizedek, there arises another priest who has come, not according to the law of a fleshly commandment, but according to the power of an endless life

The order of Melchizedek is referred to here in more detail. Melchizedek was first documented as the priest-king who blessed Abraham and received tithes from Abraham. Melchizedek is compared to Jesus, even though Melchizedek was a mortal. The basis of the comparison comes from the emphasis that the role of priest, tithes and service to God, predates the Law set up after Moses which include the priesthood of Aaron and the Levitical priesthood. Hence there is a priesthood that is older and greater than the Levitical priesthood - which is the priesthood of our Lord Yshua.

One of the main points here is that the priesthood of Jesus, like Melchizedek, is separate from the Law. The Levitical priesthood is not completely effective, especially in guaranteeing salvation, hence the need for another priesthood. The priesthood of Jesus is established by God forever. Also the Levitical priests consist of mortal men who die, whereas Jesus lives forever and is our eternal priest. Finally, unlike human priests, Jesus is completely perfect without sin, and is our perfect priest.





Hebrews 7
The King of Righteousness

1 For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, 2 to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all, first being translated “king of righteousness,” and then also king of Salem, meaning “king of peace,” 3 without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, remains a priest continually.

4 Now consider how great this man was, to whom even the patriarch Abraham gave a tenth of the spoils. 5 And indeed those who are of the sons of Levi, who receive the priesthood, have a commandment to receive tithes from the people according to the law, that is, from their brethren, though they have come from the loins of Abraham; 6 but he whose genealogy is not derived from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. 7 Now beyond all contradiction the lesser is blessed by the better. 8 Here mortal men receive tithes, but there he receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives. 9 Even Levi, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, so to speak, 10 for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him.

Need for a New Priesthood

11 Therefore, if perfection were through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need was there that another priest should rise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be called according to the order of Aaron? 12 For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also a change of the law. 13 For He of whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no man has officiated at the altar.

14 For it is evident that our Lord arose from Judah, of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood.[a] 15 And it is yet far more evident if, in the likeness of Melchizedek, there arises another priest 16 who has come, not according to the law of a fleshly commandment, but according to the power of an endless life. 17 For He testifies:[b]

“You are a priest forever
According to the order of Melchizedek.”[c]
18 For on the one hand there is an annulling of the former commandment because of its weakness and unprofitableness, 19 for the law made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.

Greatness of the New Priest

20 And inasmuch as He was not made priest without an oath 21 (for they have become priests without an oath, but He with an oath by Him who said to Him:

“The Lord has sworn
And will not relent,
‘You are a priest forever[d]
According to the order of Melchizedek’”),[e]
22 by so much more Jesus has become a surety of a better covenant.

23 Also there were many priests, because they were prevented by death from continuing. 24 But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. 25 Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.

26 For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens; 27 who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people’s, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself. 28 For the law appoints as high priests men who have weakness, but the word of the oath, which came after the law, appoints the Son who has been perfected forever.

I made the Nations Shake at the Sound of its Fall, when I cast it Down to Hell

Another prophecy of God given to Ezekiel to deliver to Pharaoh, king of Egypt. God questions the greatness of Pharaoh by comparing illustrating greatness as a great tree that stands out among all the other trees. The cedar of Lebanon is mentioned as one of these trees that stands out above the rest. God revealed that he could bring these trees up but also cut down those who are wicked.

In particular, the greatness leads to pride, such as the tall trees which exalt themselves above others. Then God explicitly reveals that they will brought down to the Pit and to Hell. There will be such a great multitude that God will cause to fall and go down to hell. God refers to these as some of the trees of Eden, which perhaps may mean the devil and his hosts, and also refers it to Pharaoh.




Ezekiel 31
Egypt Cut Down Like a Great Tree


1 Now it came to pass in the eleventh year, in the third month, on the first day of the month, that the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 2 “Son of man, say to Pharaoh king of Egypt and to his multitude:

‘Whom are you like in your greatness?
3 Indeed Assyria was a cedar in Lebanon,
With fine branches that shaded the forest,
And of high stature;
And its top was among the thick boughs.
4 The waters made it grow;
Underground waters gave it height,
With their rivers running around the place where it was planted,
And sent out rivulets to all the trees of the field.
5 ‘Therefore its height was exalted above all the trees of the field;
Its boughs were multiplied,
And its branches became long because of the abundance of water,
As it sent them out.
6 All the birds of the heavens made their nests in its boughs;
Under its branches all the beasts of the field brought forth their young;
And in its shadow all great nations made their home.
7 ‘Thus it was beautiful in greatness and in the length of its branches,
Because its roots reached to abundant waters.
8 The cedars in the garden of God could not hide it;
The fir trees were not like its boughs,
And the chestnut[a] trees were not like its branches;
No tree in the garden of God was like it in beauty.
9 I made it beautiful with a multitude of branches,
So that all the trees of Eden envied it,
That were in the garden of God.’
10 “Therefore thus says the Lord God: ‘Because you have increased in height, and it set its top among the thick boughs, and its heart was lifted up in its height, 11 therefore I will deliver it into the hand of the mighty one of the nations, and he shall surely deal with it; I have driven it out for its wickedness. 12 And aliens, the most terrible of the nations, have cut it down and left it; its branches have fallen on the mountains and in all the valleys; its boughs lie broken by all the rivers of the land; and all the peoples of the earth have gone from under its shadow and left it.

13 ‘On its ruin will remain all the birds of the heavens,
And all the beasts of the field will come to its branches—
14 ‘So that no trees by the waters may ever again exalt themselves for their height, nor set their tops among the thick boughs, that no tree which drinks water may ever be high enough to reach up to them.

‘For they have all been delivered to death,
To the depths of the earth,
Among the children of men who go down to the Pit.’
15 “Thus says the Lord God: ‘In the day when it went down to hell, I caused mourning. I covered the deep because of it. I restrained its rivers, and the great waters were held back. I caused Lebanon to mourn for it, and all the trees of the field wilted because of it. 16 I made the nations shake at the sound of its fall, when I cast it down to hell together with those who descend into the Pit; and all the trees of Eden, the choice and best of Lebanon, all that drink water, were comforted in the depths of the earth. 17 They also went down to hell with it, with those slain by the sword; and those who were its strong arm dwelt in its shadows among the nations.

18 ‘To which of the trees in Eden will you then be likened in glory and greatness? Yet you shall be brought down with the trees of Eden to the depths of the earth; you shall lie in the midst of the uncircumcised, with those slain by the sword. This is Pharaoh and all his multitude,’ says the Lord God.”

And All Our Righteousnesses Are Like Filthy Rags

This is written from the point of view of a repentant people who also understand their heritage and inheritance in God. It first recognize the awesome power of God that can cause nations to tremble and shake mountains. Then the people declares that they have sinned and their righteousness are like filthy rags. Then they recognize God as their Father and that they are like clay to God the Potter. Finally it calls on God end His fury and have favour on them. They describe their present condition in whihc Jerusalem is desolate and that the Temple is in ruins.



Isaiah 64

1 Oh, that You would rend the heavens!
That You would come down!
That the mountains might shake at Your presence—
2 As fire burns brushwood,
As fire causes water to boil—
To make Your name known to Your adversaries,
That the nations may tremble at Your presence!
3 When You did awesome things for which we did not look,
You came down,
The mountains shook at Your presence.
4 For since the beginning of the world
Men have not heard nor perceived by the ear,
Nor has the eye seen any God besides You,
Who acts for the one who waits for Him.
5 You meet him who rejoices and does righteousness,
Who remembers You in Your ways.
You are indeed angry, for we have sinned—
In these ways we continue;
And we need to be saved.
6 But we are all like an unclean thing,
And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags;
We all fade as a leaf,
And our iniquities, like the wind,
Have taken us away.
7 And there is no one who calls on Your name,
Who stirs himself up to take hold of You;
For You have hidden Your face from us,
And have consumed us because of our iniquities.
8 But now, O Lord,
You are our Father;
We are the clay, and You our potter;
And all we are the work of Your hand.
9 Do not be furious, O Lord,
Nor remember iniquity forever;
Indeed, please look—we all are Your people!
10 Your holy cities are a wilderness,
Zion is a wilderness,
Jerusalem a desolation.
11 Our holy and beautiful temple,
Where our fathers praised You,
Is burned up with fire;
And all our pleasant things are laid waste.
12 Will You restrain Yourself because of these things, O Lord?
Will You hold Your peace, and afflict us very severely?

To Cyrus, Whose Right Hand I Have Held

In this prophecy, God reveals that Cyrus, King of Persia, is His chosen instrument. He lead Cyrus to great victories and great riches. And the purpose of this blessing on Cyrus is so that He will be the instrument to free Israel from Babylonian exile. Cyrus will be so blessed and powerful, that people will recognize God's responsibility in that blessing.



Isaiah 45
Cyrus, God’s Instrument

1 “Thus says the Lord to His anointed,
To Cyrus, whose right hand I have held—
To subdue nations before him
And loose the armor of kings,
To open before him the double doors,
So that the gates will not be shut:
2 ‘I will go before you
And make the crooked places[a] straight;
I will break in pieces the gates of bronze
And cut the bars of iron.
3 I will give you the treasures of darkness
And hidden riches of secret places,
That you may know that I, the Lord,
Who call you by your name,
Am the God of Israel.
4 For Jacob My servant’s sake,
And Israel My elect,
I have even called you by your name;
I have named you, though you have not known Me.
5 I am the Lord, and there is no other;
There is no God besides Me.
I will gird you, though you have not known Me,
6 That they may know from the rising of the sun to its setting
That there is none besides Me.
I am the Lord, and there is no other;
7 I form the light and create darkness,
I make peace and create calamity;
I, the Lord, do all these things.’
8 “Rain down, you heavens, from above,
And let the skies pour down righteousness;
Let the earth open, let them bring forth salvation,
And let righteousness spring up together.
I, the Lord, have created it.
9 “Woe to him who strives with his Maker!
Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth!
Shall the clay say to him who forms it, ‘What are you making?’
Or shall your handiwork say, ‘He has no hands’?
10 Woe to him who says to his father, ‘What are you begetting?’
Or to the woman, ‘What have you brought forth?’”
11 Thus says the Lord,
The Holy One of Israel, and his Maker:
“Ask Me of things to come concerning My sons;
And concerning the work of My hands, you command Me.
12 I have made the earth,
And created man on it.
I—My hands—stretched out the heavens,
And all their host I have commanded.
13 I have raised him up in righteousness,
And I will direct all his ways;
He shall build My city
And let My exiles go free,
Not for price nor reward,”
Says the Lord of hosts.


The Lord, the Only Savior

14 Thus says the Lord:

“The labor of Egypt and merchandise of Cush
And of the Sabeans, men of stature,
Shall come over to you, and they shall be yours;
They shall walk behind you,
They shall come over in chains;
And they shall bow down to you.
They will make supplication to you, saying, ‘Surely God is in you,
And there is no other;
There is no other God.’”
15 Truly You are God, who hide Yourself,
O God of Israel, the Savior!
16 They shall be ashamed
And also disgraced, all of them;
They shall go in confusion together,
Who are makers of idols.
17 But Israel shall be saved by the Lord
With an everlasting salvation;
You shall not be ashamed or disgraced
Forever and ever.
18 For thus says the Lord,
Who created the heavens,
Who is God,
Who formed the earth and made it,
Who has established it,
Who did not create it in vain,
Who formed it to be inhabited:
“I am the Lord, and there is no other.
19 I have not spoken in secret,
In a dark place of the earth;
I did not say to the seed of Jacob,
‘Seek Me in vain’;
I, the Lord, speak righteousness,
I declare things that are right.
20 “Assemble yourselves and come;
Draw near together,
You who have escaped from the nations.
They have no knowledge,
Who carry the wood of their carved image,
And pray to a god that cannot save.
21 Tell and bring forth your case;
Yes, let them take counsel together.
Who has declared this from ancient time?
Who has told it from that time?
Have not I, the Lord?
And there is no other God besides Me,
A just God and a Savior;
There is none besides Me.
22 “Look to Me, and be saved,
All you ends of the earth!
For I am God, and there is no other.
23 I have sworn by Myself;
The word has gone out of My mouth in righteousness,
And shall not return,
That to Me every knee shall bow,
Every tongue shall take an oath.
24 He shall say,
‘Surely in the Lord I have righteousness and strength.
To Him men shall come,
And all shall be ashamed
Who are incensed against Him.
25 In the Lord all the descendants of Israel
Shall be justified, and shall glory.’”

Praise the Lord from the Heavens

Praise the LORD who is deserving of all praises from all things of His creation. The psalmist writes that the sun and moon, and all the angels praise Him. All peoples on the Earth from kings to servants should praise the Lord. This final one may be fulfilled when the Lord returns to reign over us.



Psalm 148
Praise to the Lord from Creation

1 Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord from the heavens;
Praise Him in the heights!

2 Praise Him, all His angels;
Praise Him, all His hosts!

3 Praise Him, sun and moon;
Praise Him, all you stars of light!

4 Praise Him, you heavens of heavens,
And you waters above the heavens!

5 Let them praise the name of the Lord,
For He commanded and they were created.

6 He also established them forever and ever;
He made a decree which shall not pass away.

7 Praise the Lord from the earth,
You great sea creatures and all the depths;

8 Fire and hail, snow and clouds;
Stormy wind, fulfilling His word;

9 Mountains and all hills;
Fruitful trees and all cedars;

10 Beasts and all cattle;
Creeping things and flying fowl;

11 Kings of the earth and all peoples;
Princes and all judges of the earth;

12 Both young men and maidens;
Old men and children.

13 Let them praise the name of the Lord,
For His name alone is exalted;
His glory is above the earth and heaven.

14 And He has exalted the horn of His people,
The praise of all His saints—
Of the children of Israel,
A people near to Him.
Praise the Lord!

For His Mercy Endures Forever

"For His mercy endures forever" - is the chorus for this psalm. Each line of that chorus is preceded by a description of who God is or what He has done. The first part reveals God as the Almighty Lord of lords and the creator of the whole universe. It is through Him who made the heavens and earth and the day and night - same as the description from Genesis.

The next part describes God as the personal God of Israel whom He had chosen. We are reminded that it is He who saved the Israelites from Egypt and parted the Red Sea. He is the God who helped them conquer the land promised to them, including defeating the famous, possibly giant kings, Og of Bashan, Sihon of the Amorites. He is the God who rescues His people and provides for them.

And perhaps the theme is also that throughout the continuous trials and sufferings and rebellion of His people, God's mercy for them has been very enduring.



Psalm 136
Thanksgiving to God for His Enduring Mercy

1 Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!
    For His mercy endures forever.
2 Oh, give thanks to the God of gods!
    For His mercy endures forever.
3 Oh, give thanks to the Lord of lords!
    For His mercy endures forever:
4 To Him who alone does great wonders,
    For His mercy endures forever;
5 To Him who by wisdom made the heavens,
    For His mercy endures forever;
6 To Him who laid out the earth above the waters,
    For His mercy endures forever;
7 To Him who made great lights,
    For His mercy endures forever—
8 The sun to rule by day,
    For His mercy endures forever;
9 The moon and stars to rule by night,
    For His mercy endures forever.
10 To Him who struck Egypt in their firstborn,
    For His mercy endures forever;
11 And brought out Israel from among them,
    For His mercy endures forever;
12 With a strong hand, and with an outstretched arm,
    For His mercy endures forever;
13 To Him who divided the Red Sea in two,
    For His mercy endures forever;
14 And made Israel pass through the midst of it,
For His mercy endures forever;
15 But overthrew Pharaoh and his army in the Red Sea,
    For His mercy endures forever;
16 To Him who led His people through the wilderness,
    For His mercy endures forever;
17 To Him who struck down great kings,
    For His mercy endures forever;
18 And slew famous kings,
    For His mercy endures forever—
19 Sihon king of the Amorites,
    For His mercy endures forever;
20 And Og king of Bashan,
    For His mercy endures forever—
21 And gave their land as a heritage,
    For His mercy endures forever;
22 A heritage to Israel His servant,
    For His mercy endures forever.
23 Who remembered us in our lowly state,
    For His mercy endures forever;
24 And rescued us from our enemies,
    For His mercy endures forever;
25 Who gives food to all flesh,
    For His mercy endures forever.
26 Oh, give thanks to the God of heaven!
    For His mercy endures forever.

They Have Mouths, But They Do Not Speak

A great praise to God that the LORD is the only true living God. Compared to the other gods who are just idols:

"They have mouths, but they do not speak;
Eyes they have, but they do not see;
They have ears, but they do not hear;
Noses they have, but they do not smell;"

The God of Israel is the one true God. So this psalm encourages people to put their trust in their LORD and they will be blessed in many ways. Everything belongs to God, including the heavens and Earth; but God has given men the Earth. This is a picture of the Almighty God who is living and has relationship with His people.



Psalm 115  
The Futility of Idols and the Trustworthiness of God

1 Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us,
But to Your name give glory,
Because of Your mercy,
Because of Your truth.

2 Why should the Gentiles say,
“So where is their God?”

3 But our God is in heaven;
He does whatever He pleases.

4 Their idols are silver and gold,
The work of men’s hands.

5 They have mouths, but they do not speak;
Eyes they have, but they do not see;

6 They have ears, but they do not hear;
Noses they have, but they do not smell;

7 They have hands, but they do not handle;
Feet they have, but they do not walk;
Nor do they mutter through their throat.

8 Those who make them are like them;
So is everyone who trusts in them.

9 O Israel, trust in the Lord;
He is their help and their shield.

10 O house of Aaron, trust in the Lord;
He is their help and their shield.
11 You who fear the Lord, trust in the Lord;
He is their help and their shield.

12 The Lord has been mindful of us;
He will bless us;
He will bless the house of Israel;
He will bless the house of Aaron.

13 He will bless those who fear the Lord,
Both small and great.

14 May the Lord give you increase more and more,
You and your children.

15 May you be blessed by the Lord,
Who made heaven and earth.

16 The heaven, even the heavens, are the Lord’s;
But the earth He has given to the children of men.

17 The dead do not praise the Lord,
Nor any who go down into silence.

18 But we will bless the Lord
From this time forth and forevermore.
Praise the Lord!

He Raises the Poor Out of the Dust

A call to praise the LORD. Acknowledging that God is higher than all the nations. It also recognizes one of the key characteristic of God for His caring of the poor and needy by raising them up. Also mentioned is His care for barren woman, as shown in various parts of Scripture too.


Psalm 113 
The Majesty and Condescension of God

1 Praise the Lord!
Praise, O servants of the Lord,
Praise the name of the Lord!

2 Blessed be the name of the Lord
From this time forth and forevermore!

3 From the rising of the sun to its going down
The Lord’s name is to be praised.

4 The Lord is high above all nations,
His glory above the heavens.

5 Who is like the Lord our God,
Who dwells on high,

6 Who humbles Himself to behold
The things that are in the heavens and in the earth?

7 He raises the poor out of the dust,
And lifts the needy out of the ash heap,

8 That He may seat him with princes—
With the princes of His people.

9 He grants the barren woman a home,
Like a joyful mother of children.
Praise the Lord!

O God, My Heart Is Steadfast

A short psalm call for the praise of God for His mercy and truth. It recognizes God as the  LORD who saves and delivers. A reminder also that God has given them the lands as part of His covenant. It is God who led them to victory in the conquests and also defend them against the armies of the enemies.


Psalm 108
–A Song. A Psalm of David.

 1 O God, my heart is steadfast;
         I will sing and give praise, even with my glory.
 2 Awake, lute and harp!
         I will awaken the dawn.
 3 I will praise You, O LORD, among the peoples,
         And I will sing praises to You among the nations.
 4 For Your mercy is great above the heavens,
         And Your truth reaches to the clouds.
       
 5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens,
         And Your glory above all the earth;
 6 That Your beloved may be delivered,
         Save with Your right hand, and hear me.
       
 7 God has spoken in His holiness:
         “I will rejoice;
         I will divide Shechem
         And measure out the Valley of Succoth.
 8 Gilead is Mine; Manasseh is Mine;
         Ephraim also is the helmet for My head;
         Judah is My lawgiver.
 9 Moab is My washpot;
         Over Edom I will cast My shoe;
         Over Philistia I will triumph.”
       
 10 Who will bring me into the strong city?
         Who will lead me to Edom?
 11 Is it not You, O God, who cast us off?
         And You, O God, who did not go out with our armies?
 12 Give us help from trouble,
         For the help of man is useless.
 13 Through God we will do valiantly,
         For it is He who shall tread down our enemies.[a]

For I was Envious of the Boastful, When I saw the Prosperity of the Wicked

The psalmist confesses that although he knows that God is good, he has trouble knowing that the ungodly seem to have advantages. To him, it seemed like the ungodly can be fearless, has pride, have abundance on earth, they can speak wickedly against anyone on earth and against heaven. And he declares that he may have cleansed his heart in vain.

Finally the writer admits that all this has affected his heart and mind in a bad way. But he continues to depend on God, trusting that He will guide him. He knows that ultimately his best hope is with God and God will strengthen his heart, as he draws near to God.


Psalm 73
A Psalm of Asaph.

 1 Truly God is good to Israel,
         To such as are pure in heart.
 2 But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled;
         My steps had nearly slipped.
 3 For I was envious of the boastful,
         When I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
        
 4 For there are no pangs in their death,
         But their strength is firm.
 5 They are not in trouble as other men,
         Nor are they plagued like other men.
 6 Therefore pride serves as their necklace;
         Violence covers them like a garment.
 7 Their eyes bulge[a] with abundance;
         They have more than heart could wish.
 8 They scoff and speak wickedly concerning oppression;
         They speak loftily.
 9 They set their mouth against the heavens,
         And their tongue walks through the earth.
        
 10 Therefore his people return here,
         And waters of a full cup are drained by them.
 11 And they say, “How does God know?
         And is there knowledge in the Most High?”
 12 Behold, these are the ungodly,
         Who are always at ease;
         They increase in riches.
 13 Surely I have cleansed my heart in vain,
         And washed my hands in innocence.
 14 For all day long I have been plagued,
         And chastened every morning.
        
 15 If I had said, “I will speak thus,”
         Behold, I would have been untrue to the generation of Your children.
 16 When I thought how to understand this,
         It was too painful for me—
 17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God;
         Then I understood their end.
        
 18 Surely You set them in slippery places;
         You cast them down to destruction.
 19 Oh, how they are brought to desolation, as in a moment!
         They are utterly consumed with terrors.
 20 As a dream when one awakes,
         So, Lord, when You awake,
         You shall despise their image.
        
 21 Thus my heart was grieved,
         And I was vexed in my mind.
 22 I was so foolish and ignorant;
         I was like a beast before You.
 23 Nevertheless I am continually with You;
         You hold me by my right hand.
 24 You will guide me with Your counsel,
         And afterward receive me to glory.
        
 25 Whom have I in heaven but You?
         And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You.
 26 My flesh and my heart fail;
         But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
        
 27 For indeed, those who are far from You shall perish;
         You have destroyed all those who desert You for harlotry.
 28 But it is good for me to draw near to God;
         I have put my trust in the Lord GOD,
         That I may declare all Your works.

Be Merciful to Me, O God, be Merciful to Me!

A plead and praise to God by David expressing his trusts and asking God for mercy. He was being hunted by his enemies, but he kept exalting God. His enemies are preparing traps for him but they got snared in their own traps. So David continues to glorify God by singing praises to Him.


Psalm 57

–To the Chief Musician. Set to “Do Not Destroy.”[a] A Michtam of David when he fled from Saul into the cave.

 1 Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me!
         For my soul trusts in You;
         And in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge,
         Until these calamities have passed by.
       
 2 I will cry out to God Most High,
         To God who performs all things for me.
 3 He shall send from heaven and save me;
         He reproaches the one who would swallow me up.  Selah
         God shall send forth His mercy and His truth.
       
 4 My soul is among lions;
         I lie among the sons of men
         Who are set on fire,
         Whose teeth are spears and arrows,
         And their tongue a sharp sword.
 5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;
         Let Your glory be above all the earth.
       
 6 They have prepared a net for my steps;
         My soul is bowed down;
         They have dug a pit before me;
         Into the midst of it they themselves have fallen.  Selah
       
 7 My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast;
         I will sing and give praise.
 8 Awake, my glory!
         Awake, lute and harp!
         I will awaken the dawn.
       
 9 I will praise You, O Lord, among the peoples;
         I will sing to You among the nations.
 10 For Your mercy reaches unto the heavens,
         And Your truth unto the clouds.
       
 11 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;
         Let Your glory be above all the earth.

Sovereignty of the LORD in Creation and History

This psalm leads the praise of the LORD reminding that God delights in prayers from the righteous (faithful) and the the LORD himself is righteous and just. The WORD of God, which is God, and who made the universe, is righteous. The psalm speaks of the Almightiness of God and the nations and kings are nothing in comparison. This psalm reminds us of the majesty of God, creator of the universe, and one who decides on the fate of the nations and kings. We should rejoice at the Almighty, at his mercy and place our trust in Him.

One memorable verse that reminds the nations is: "Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD".

Psalm 33

The Sovereignty of the LORD in Creation and History

 1 Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous!
         For praise from the upright is beautiful.
 2 Praise the LORD with the harp;
         Make melody to Him with an instrument of ten strings.
 3 Sing to Him a new song;
         Play skillfully with a shout of joy.
       
 4 For the word of the LORD is right,
         And all His work is done in truth.
 5 He loves righteousness and justice;
         The earth is full of the goodness of the LORD.
       
 6 By the word of the LORD the heavens were made,
         And all the host of them by the breath of His mouth.
 7 He gathers the waters of the sea together as a heap;[a]
         He lays up the deep in storehouses.
       
 8 Let all the earth fear the LORD;
         Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.
 9 For He spoke, and it was done;
         He commanded, and it stood fast.
       
 10 The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing;
         He makes the plans of the peoples of no effect.
 11 The counsel of the LORD stands forever,
         The plans of His heart to all generations.
 12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD,
         The people He has chosen as His own inheritance.
       
 13 The LORD looks from heaven;
         He sees all the sons of men.
 14 From the place of His dwelling He looks
         On all the inhabitants of the earth;
 15 He fashions their hearts individually;
         He considers all their works.
       
 16 No king is saved by the multitude of an army;
         A mighty man is not delivered by great strength.
 17 A horse is a vain hope for safety;
         Neither shall it deliver any by its great strength.
       
 18 Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear Him,
         On those who hope in His mercy,
 19 To deliver their soul from death,
         And to keep them alive in famine.
       
 20 Our soul waits for the LORD;
         He is our help and our shield.
 21 For our heart shall rejoice in Him,
         Because we have trusted in His holy name.
 22 Let Your mercy, O LORD, be upon us,
         Just as we hope in You.

The Heavens Declare the Glory of God

God the creator of the universe, is now glorified by his creation, "the heavens declare the glory of God". This is not only poetic but it is true in that God's majesty can be seen through the beauty of His creation by believers and unbelievers alike.

David describes the perfection of things associated with God, including God's Law, His testimony, the Statutes, the commandments, the Fear of the LORD, the judgements. All these are so good that they are to be desired more than gold.

The ending of this Psalm is the wonderful appeal to God as
"Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart, Be acceptable in Your sight".


Psalm 19

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

 1 The heavens declare the glory of God;
         And the firmament shows His handiwork.
 2 Day unto day utters speech,
         And night unto night reveals knowledge.
 3 There is no speech nor language
         Where their voice is not heard.
 4 Their line[a] has gone out through all the earth,
         And their words to the end of the world.
       
         In them He has set a tabernacle for the sun,
 5 Which is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber,
         And rejoices like a strong man to run its race.
 6 Its rising is from one end of heaven,
         And its circuit to the other end;
         And there is nothing hidden from its heat.
       
 7 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul;
         The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple;
 8 The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart;
         The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes;
 9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever;
         The judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.
 10 More to be desired are they than gold,
         Yea, than much fine gold;
         Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
 11 Moreover by them Your servant is warned,
         And in keeping them there is great reward.
       
 12 Who can understand his errors?
         Cleanse me from secret faults.
 13 Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins;
         Let them not have dominion over me.
         Then I shall be blameless,
         And I shall be innocent of great transgression.
       
 14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
         Be acceptable in Your sight,
         O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer.

Trusting God for Deliverance; God Entrusting Creation to Man

This is an example of David praying to God for deliverance against a fierce enemy. David starts by asking God to deal with him first, if there was any evil or wickedness in him - just as we should ask God to help us examine ourselves first. Then David expresses his confidence in a just God who will punish the wicked. This is trusting that justice is not for us but for God to decide and execute. The prayer-song is finished off by praising God.

The next Psalm praises the Majesty and Almightiness of God - the creator of the Heavens and the moon and the stars. Then the well known rhetorical question:

"What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him?"

Then a revelation of man in relation to other of God's creation. In terms of intelligent beings, man is created a little lower than the angels but yet God has crowned man, perhaps not angels, with glory and honour. In terms of God's physical creation, man is given dominion over it. In other words, God has entrusted the physical world totally to man to look after it, which includes the Earth and all the animals. This is also mentioned in Genesis. Note that dominion was not given for man to rule over another man.

Psalm 8

To the Chief Musician. On the instrument of Gath.^[c] A Psalm of David.

 ¹ O LORD, our Lord,
         How excellent is Your name in all the earth,
         Who have set Your glory above the heavens!
        
 ² Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants
         You have ordained strength,
         Because of Your enemies,
         That You may silence the enemy and the avenger.
        
 ³ When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers,
         The moon and the stars, which You have ordained,
 ⁴ What is man that You are mindful of him,
         And the son of man that You visit him?
 ⁵ For You have made him a little lower than the angels,^[d]
         And You have crowned him with glory and honor.
        
 ⁶ You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands;
         You have put all things under his feet,
 ⁷ All sheep and oxen—
         Even the beasts of the field,
 ⁸ The birds of the air,
         And the fish of the sea
         That pass through the paths of the seas.
        
 ⁹ O LORD, our Lord,
         How excellent is Your name in all the earth!

Psalm 7

A Meditation^[a] of David, which he sang to the LORD concerning the words of Cush, a Benjamite.

 ¹ O LORD my God, in You I put my trust;
         Save me from all those who persecute me;
         And deliver me,
 ² Lest they tear me like a lion,
         Rending me in pieces, while there is none to deliver.
        
 ³ O LORD my God, if I have done this:
         If there is iniquity in my hands,
 ⁴ If I have repaid evil to him who was at peace with me,
         Or have plundered my enemy without cause,
 ⁵ Let the enemy pursue me and overtake me;
         Yes, let him trample my life to the earth,
         And lay my honor in the dust.  Selah 
        
 ⁶ Arise, O LORD, in Your anger;
         Lift Yourself up because of the rage of my enemies;
         Rise up for me^[b]to the judgment You have commanded!
 ⁷ So the congregation of the peoples shall surround You;
         For their sakes, therefore, return on high.
 ⁸ The LORD shall judge the peoples;
         Judge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness,
         And according to my integrity within me.
        
 ⁹ Oh, let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end,
         But establish the just;
         For the righteous God tests the hearts and minds.
 ¹⁰ My defense is of God,
         Who saves the upright in heart.
        
 ¹¹ God is a just judge,
         And God is angry with the wicked every day.
 ¹² If he does not turn back,
         He will sharpen His sword;
         He bends His bow and makes it ready.
 ¹³ He also prepares for Himself instruments of death;
         He makes His arrows into fiery shafts.
        
 ¹⁴ Behold, the wicked brings forth iniquity;
         Yes, he conceives trouble and brings forth falsehood.
 ¹⁵ He made a pit and dug it out,
         And has fallen into the ditch which he made.
 ¹⁶ His trouble shall return upon his own head,
         And his violent dealing shall come down on his own crown.
        
 ¹⁷ I will praise the LORD according to His righteousness,
         And will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High.