PSALM 2.... announces the coming of the Messiah to reign over the earth. The ungodly resisting His coming, but “He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh” at their efforts; “the Lord shall have them in derision.” The King shall reign in Zion and have the heathen (the nations) for His inheritance. So men are called upon to serve Him with fear for “His wrath is kindled but a little.”
These two psalms give the whole scope of the Book—the Messiah’s coming in lowliness and associating Himself with the meek and faithful remnant, His entering into their sorrows and trials and leading them on in the path of faith. Then we have His coming in power and His reigning in righteousness. So all the rest of the Book of the Psalms may be said to come either in these two psalms or in between them, on account of the Messiah’s rejection.
The Psalms are often arranged in groups which represent an exercise of heart in those in whom God has awakened a desire toward the Messiah, but realizing they have been far from Him in spirit.
Psalms 3-7 form a group which give the exercises of those in whose hearts faith is being aroused, but yet not hang learned that the Messiah has been rejected. So they must be brought through many trials.
Psalm 3. The faithful, in the midst of these trying circumstances breathe a confidence that Jehovah will bring deliverance.
Psalm 4. There is an appeal to Jehovah by one who could appeal to Him on the ground of righteousness, and had been sustained in the past.
Psalm 5. There is discernment of a path for the righteous and the desire to be led on in it. There is the appeal that the wicked be not allowed to continue, but to be cast out because they had rebelled against Him.
Psalm 6. There is the fear here of Jehovah’s anger, and the desire for His mercies. Then there is the realization that Jehovah has heard him, but the enemies will be brought to shame and vexation.
Psalm 7. There is deep heart-searching on his being wrongfully accused and his ways reviewed before God. He appeals to Jehovah to come in deliverance, and he has the consciousness that He will judge and deliver His people.
Psalm 8. Faith here lays hold on the fact that the Messiah, though rejected here on earth, is owned as the Son of man on high and given dominion over all the works of His hands. This Psalm is especially unfolded in Hebrews 2:6-9, showing that it is Jesus of whom it speaks. It is also referred to in 1 Corinthians 15:28; Ephesians 1:20-23; John 1:51, and elsewhere.
Psalms 9 and 10. These two give us the enemies of God’s people during the times of trial before their deliverance brought about by the corning of the Lord to judge the earth. In Psalm 9 we get the oppressions of the heathen nations around while in Psalm 10 it is oppression from the unbelieving within. The judgments of Jehovah will bring deliverance to the faithful, those who feel how the wicked from without and within have risen up against them.
ML-10/30/1960