Psalms 2, 3, and 4
“The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and His anointed.”
The verses spoke of the most awful plan which any rulers could ever make, a plan against the Lord. This plan was partly fulfilled when the Lord Jesus was here on earth, as we read in the Gospels, and in Acts 4:25-28, though its complete fulfillment will not be till a future time.
“The kings... and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against His Christ....both Herod and ... Pilate with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel.” Acts 4:25-28.
Neither the rulers of the Jews nor the Gentiles wanted the Son of God to be king. This would be a sad psalm to sing, yet it tells a way for salvation:
“Blessed are all they that put their trust in Him.”
Do you notice there is a note in fine print at the first of most of the psalms? These notes are from the Hebrew, telling who wrote the psalm, or why. The note over the 3rd Psalm says, “A psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son.” It was one of the greatest troubles of David’s life when he had to leave Jerusalem and flee across the Jordan River to escape death from his own son Absalom, who wanted to be king.
God had chosen David for the king, and Absalom was a very wicked son to try to take his father’s place. Many went with David, but Absalom had a large army and went after them. It was at that time David wrote the 3rd psalm. He says,
“I cried unto the Lord.... and He heard me”; so he says,
“I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me.”
David was brought back and again had his throne in Jerusalem. He knew the Lord had delivered him:
“Salvation belongeth unto the Lord: Thy blessing is upon Thy people. Salah.”
The last word of this psalm, “Selah” is found many times in the psalms; it is said to mean a pause, or change, for the singers or players. So there was care in all the music that it should be in honor to God. Perhaps the word, Selah, would remind us now not to read God’s word carelessly, but to pause and think of their meaning.
Over the 4th Psalm is the note, “To the chief musician on Neginoth, A psalm of David.” Such notes, are also over other psalms. Those hard words were the names for certain kinds of music or instruments to be used, which we cannot explain, but which again show us what care the singers were to have in the praise, to God. The last verse of this psalm is a nice one to learn:
“I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: For thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety.” Ps. 4:8.
The story of the battle of Absalom against David is in 2 Samuel 18.
How many times is the word “Selah in the 3rd psalm?
Of what tribe of Israel was the chief musician? (1 Chronicles 15:22).
Note: Some of the psalms are perhaps too hard for younger boys and girls, so we will not study all, but will choose those which will help both younger and older. But if any will read all the psalms, perhaps one a day, there are verses in all to enjoy.
ML 06/30/1940