.. to Psalms – Book II.
You probably know that Psalms is the Hymnal of worship in song to the LORD. You may know that Psalms is divided into five BOOKS, which contain a total of 150 songs (Psalms). Most of us know that many Psalms were written by David and most of us could not name a writer of any other of these holy lyrics.
Today we are going to focus on hymns attributed to just one ‘lyricist,’ Psalms of worship by the sons of Korah. Some Psalms are introduced as a maskiyl [maschil] or song of contemplation. From these you will recognize many comforting scriptures familiar to us in certain times of distress.
Psalm 42
English Standard Version (ESV)
Book Two
Why Are You Cast Down, O My Soul?
To the choirmaster. A Maskil of the Sons of Korah.
42 As a deer pants for flowing streams,
so pants my soul for you, O God.
2 My soul thirsts for God,
for the living God.
When shall I come and appear before God?
3 My tears have been my food
day and night,
while they say to me all the day long,
“Where is your God?”
The Psalmist (a descendant of Korah from the priestly line of Levi) goes on to lament:
Why are you cast down, O my soul,
and why are you in turmoil within me?
I say to God, my rock:
“Why have you forgotten me?
Why do I go mourning
because of the oppression of the enemy?”
An explanation of context – conjecture from a commentator from my NLT Bible – may be helpful.
The psalmists are not afraid to ask questions and express doubts. These questions clarify life issues.
“The historical context is uncertain; these psalms might be the voice of God’s people in exile, confessing their loyalty to God as he punishes them for their prevailing apostasy.”
… but if you do not listen…
… but if you refuse to obey…
Then I will say, ‘I never knew you. Go away from me you evil doers.’
WE get indignant to the idea that God would punish ME or punish you (dear believer) for our SIN. Yet the tone of these psalms is a plea for mercy, a confession of faith and a hope of redemption.
Psalm 43
Vindicate me, O God, and defend my cause
against an ungodly people,
from the deceitful and unjust man
deliver me!
2 For you are the God in whom I take refuge;
why have you rejected me?
Why do I go about mourning
because of the oppression of the enemy?
Psalm 44
O God, we have heard with our ears,
our fathers have told us,
what deeds you performed in their days,
in the days of old:
11 You have made us like sheep for slaughter
and have scattered us among the nations.
12 You have sold your people for a trifle,
demanding no high price for them.
13 You have made us the taunt of our neighbors,
the derision and scorn of those around us.
14 You have made us a byword among the nations,
a laughingstock among the peoples.
15 All day long my disgrace is before me,
and shame has covered my face
16 at the sound of the taunter and reviler,
at the sight of the enemy and the avenger.
17 All this has come upon us,
though we have not forgotten you,
and we have not been false to your covenant.
Do you ever feel like that? … like you deserve the wrath of God?
Yet WHY will he not save you? Why? …
Romans 3: “None is righteous, no, not one;
11 no one understands;
no one seeks for God.
12 All have turned aside; together they have become worthless;
no one does good,
not even one.”
24 Why do you hide your face?
Why do you forget our affliction and oppression?
25 For our soul is bowed down to the dust;
our belly clings to the ground.
26 Rise up; come to our help!
Redeem us for the sake of your steadfast love!
Let us remember who these descendants of Korah, Priests of Levi, truly are — remember of the inheritance of their sin (as well we ought to remember as our belly clings to the ground — that to dust we will return).
Numbers 29: These are the Dathan and Abiram, chosen from the congregation, who contended against Moses and Aaron in the company of Korah, when they contended against the Lord 10 and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up together with Korah, when that company died, when the fire devoured 250 men, and they became a warning. 11 But the sons of Korah did not die.
These were members of the Levitical choir appointed by David, descendants of a fallen Kingdom and a once-again broken people in exile. These were men like us – men (and women; children of broken families) in need of God and wondering how godly men and a godly nation could have so quickly strayed from righteousness – how far we have fallen into destruction and hopelessness.
Psalm 46
English Standard Version (ESV)
God Is Our Fortress
To the choirmaster. Of the Sons of Korah. According to Alamoth. A Song.
46 God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah
4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy habitation of the Most High.
5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;
God will help her when morning dawns.
6 The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;
he utters his voice, the earth melts.
7 The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
I commend to you all of the Psalms of the sons of Korah, 42-49, which I have only excerpted in part here.
We close with focus for your serious consideration of the last of these:
Psalm 49
English Standard Version (ESV)
Why Should I Fear in Times of Trouble?
To the choirmaster. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah.
49 Hear this, all peoples!
Give ear, all inhabitants of the world,
2 both low and high,
rich and poor together!
5 Why should I fear in times of trouble,
when the iniquity of those who cheat me surrounds me,
6 those who trust in their wealth
and boast of the abundance of their riches?
7 Truly no man can ransom another,
or give to God the price of his life,
8 for the ransom of their life is costly
and can never suffice,
9 that he should live on forever
and never see the pit.
A word to the wise:
10 For he sees that even the wise die;
the fool and the stupid alike must perish
and leave their wealth to others.
11 Their graves are their homes forever,
their dwelling places to all generations,
though they called lands by their own names.
14 Like sheep they are appointed for Sheol;
death shall be their shepherd,
and the upright shall rule over them in the morning.
Their form shall be consumed in Sheol, with no place to dwell.
15 But God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol,
for he will receive me. Selah
The Living God has ransomed the souls of His chosen.
Do you call upon the Name of Christ Jesus, our Redeemer?
16 Be not afraid when a man becomes rich,
when the glory of his house increases.
17 For when he dies he will carry nothing away;
his glory will not go down after him.
18 For though, while he lives, he counts himself blessed
—and though you get praise when you do well for yourself—
19 his soul will go to the generation of his fathers,
who will never again see light.
20 Man in his pomp yet without understanding is like the beasts that perish.
Philippians 2:9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
You with ears to hear, know that Christ Jesus IS Lord and Redeemer.
Whom Shall I Fear – by Chris Tomlin
Psalm 42
7 Truly no man can ransom another,