Posted by Lisa Laree to Beer Lahai Roi
It's interesting that there are so many references in today's collection of psalms, and so few after 119. Not really sure why it works out that way, but here we go...
We jump right into Ps. 101, a psalm of David.
I will be careful to lead a blameless life -- when will you come to me? I will walk in my house with blameless heart. -- Ps. 101:2; 'Heart' is Strong's H3824, Lebab, one of the two most common Hebrew words for heart.
The thing that popped at once into my spirit reading that is...he is determined to be blameless in his house. I'm not sure where, chronologically in David's life this psalm was written (ie, before or after the, ah, incident with Bathsheba), because if one is blameless at home, with the people who have intimate knowledge of one's character, then that is a pretty significant commitment. And if David had been true to that commitment in that fateful spring, likely that smirch on his character would not have happened. Now, it may have been after that event and his repentance that he made that commitment, in which case it has come at a cost.
But we go on...
Men of perverse heart shall be far from me; I will have nothing to do with evil. Whoever slanders his neighbor in secret, him will I put to silence; whoever has haughty eyes and a proud heart, him I will not endure. -- Ps. 101:4-5; both occurrences of 'heart' are H 3824.
cough JOAB cough
But Joab was family... maybe that was the deal...David did do his best to have honest and upright companions/ advisors. His errors were his own, not a result of the influence of others around him. Joab, for all his violent ways, was solid when he gave David advice. David recognized the influence that wicked people could wield, and making a decision to keep such folks out of his close circle is a wise example for modern time.
Ps. 102 is just attributed to 'an afflicted man':
My heart is blighted like withered grass; I forget to eat my food. -- Ps. 102:4; 'heart' is the other common Hebrew word for heart, Strong's H3820, Leb.
That is true distress. And I have been there once or twice... eating is the LAST thing I wanted to do. The sensation of a grieving, stressed out seat of emotion is quite physical at times. For all that we recognize a distinction between the actual organ pumping the blood through the body and the emotional center...there are seasons in which distress becomes an actual sensation.
The next reference is in Ps. 104, which is unattributed:
He makes grass grow for the cattle, and plants for man to cultivate -- bringing forth food from the earth; wine that gladdens the heart of man, oil to make his face shine, and bread that sustains his heart. Ps. 104: 14-15. Both incidences of heart are H 3824; I thought they might be different, since one seems to refer to the emotional heart and the other to the physical heart, but nope, same word.
I never noticed this before; probably because I had not considered v. 15 in light of v. 14, but those three things -- wine, oil, and bread -- are all derived from the plants that mankind cultivates (referring, of course, to olive oil, not petroleum, lol. Strong's H 8081, if you're curious). I had always read vs, 15 as God himself providing those things, but, no, he provided the material from which those things are derived. Not a huge difference, but something worth noting. Also worth noting is that none of them have a negative connotation...wine gladdens the heart, bread sustains the heart. Either in excess is not good, but in proper context they are both considered blessings.
Ps. 105 is also unattributed, and is a review of Israel's history, starting with praise:
Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice. -- Ps. 105:3; 'Hearts' is H 3820 this time.
Praise. Just pure Praise.
Further down, we are in the history part:
Then Israel entered Egypt; Jacob lived as an alien in the land of Ham. The LORD made his people very fruitful; he made them too numerous for their foes, whose hearts he turned to hate his people, to conspire against his servants. -- Ps. 105: 23-25; 'hearts' is, once more, H 3820.
This is interesting, because the account in Exodus does not mention God as being involved in the plot to oppress and enslave the Israelites (Ex. 1: 8-22). But, that was the very thing that prompted the Israelites to cry out to God to save them. The main point here...God can, and does, turn hearts. This is both frightening and encouraging.
I have a note that 'Book 5' begins with Ps. 107; our next scripture is in Ps. 108, one of David's:
My heart is steadfast, O God; I will sing and make music with all my soul. -- Ps. 108:1; 'Heart' is H3820 again. 'Steadfast' is Strong's H3559, kun, a primitive root word that basically means 'to stand upright'. King James uses the word 'fixed' here. 'Established' shows up in all the verb tense variations. Praise and worship is the response of a steadfast, established heart.
David also penned Ps 109, what the notes in my Scofield term 'A cry for vengeance and judgment'
But you, O Sovereign LORD, deal well with me for your name's sake; out of the goodness of your love, deliver me. For I am poor and needy, and my heart is wounded within me. -- Ps. 109: 21 - 22; 'Heart' is, once more, H 3820.
The thing about a wound is that it comes from something outside. It's not an illness, which comes from within, but something external has caused damage. Some wounds happen due to a lack of proper guarding...but some come from sources behind the guard, who are close and intimate. Those are the worst....and David is right to appeal to the mercy of God...because that's the only thing that can properly tend a wounded heart.
Psalm 111 is another unattributed song of praise:
Praise the LORD. I will extol the LORD with all my heart in the council of the upright and in the assembly. --- Ps. 111:1; 'Heart' is H 3824.
'With all my heart'...complete devotion, full effort. No mixture or diverted attention. I think that's a hazard of scheduled 'worship services'...we tend to give our praise with one eye on the clock. Can't run too late...the beans might burn, or the line at the restaurant will be too long...how often do I really praise God with 'all my heart'? Ouch.
Finally, Ps. 112 is also not attributed to any author; my notes say this is 'blessings of the God-fearing man':
Surely he will never be shaken; a righteous man will be remembered forever. He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD. His heart is secure, he will have no fear; in the end he will look in triumph on his foes. -- Ps. 112:6-8; both occurrences of 'heart' are H 3820. 'Steadfast' is the same word we saw above, H 3559; I expected 'secure' in verse 8 to be the same but it is a different word, Strong's H5564, samak, which is also a primitive root that basically means 'to lean, lay, rest, support, put, uphold, lean upon. I get the connotation of something supported by a foundation.... putting it together, blessed is the righteous, whose heart is standing upright upon the sound foundation. Or, standing on the solid rock, lol.
A lot of jumping around today, but a lot to think about. Ps. 119 next week.
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