Daily Thought

This is one of the messianic psalms. Verses 6 to 8 are quoted and expounded in Hebrews chapter 10 verse 5 to 10, showing that the words of David find their complete fulfilment in the Person and work of our Lord Jesus Christ. A suggested outline of the psalm is: -

(1) David’s trial and triumph, vv. 1-5. (2) David’s testimony to the Messiah, vv. 6-10. (3) David’s prayer for deliverance and his delight in the Lord, vv. 11-17.

We cannot be sure which period in David’s life provides the historical background to our psalm. Whatever the exact circumstances, it is evident he was desperately depressed, yet in looking to the Lord he found deliverance from his great trial. Furthermore, he was established in his faith and greatly rejoiced in the Lord, v. 5. Numbers of times in the psalms, ‘The blessed man’ is before us. A selection of quotations tell of one whose sin is covered, 32. 1; one who makes the Lord his trust, 40. 4; one who fears the Lord, 112. 1; one whom the Lord chastises, 94. 12; and, one whose strength is in the Lord, 84. 5. Today’s psalm indicates the experience of such a man.

1. The vindication of the patient man, v. 1.
2. The elevation of the triumphant man, v. 2.
3. The jubilation of the glorified man, v. 3.
4. The description of the blessed man, v. 4.
5. The meditation of the enthroned man, v. 5.
6. The devotion of the obedient man, vv. 6-8.
7. The declaration of the faithful man, vv. 9, 10.
8. The identification of the sacrificing man, vv. 11, 12.
9. The supplication of the humble man, vv. 13-17.

David testifies to the uniqueness of the Lord which is beyond human powers to fully comprehend, Pss. 71. 19; 89. 6; 92. 5; cp. John 21. 25. The central section of our psalm clearly refers to the incarnation and work of Christ for our eternal salvation. The third section of the psalm returns to David’s prayer which involves conviction, confession, cry and consolation, vv. 11-17. Like David, vv. 14-17, may we make the Lord our strength, song, salvation and stay.