PSALMS LESSON 87
We will begin this lesson by giving the 87th Psalm in metre.
THE PSALMS OF DAVID IN METRE
Chapter 87
Verse 1 "Upon the hills of holiness He his foundation sets. And more
than Jacob's dwellings all, The Lord loves Zion's gates.
Verse 2 "Things glorious are said of thee, Thou city of the Lord.
Rahab and Babel I, to those That know me, will record;"
Verse 3 "Behold ev'n Tyrus, and with it The land of Palestine, And
likewise Ethiopia; This man was born therein."
Verse 4 "Of Zion they shall say, this man And that man born were
there, And he that is the highest shall Himself establish
her."
Verse 5 "When God the people writes, he'll count That this man born
was there. There they shall be, who sing and play; My well-
springs in thee are.
We will now begin the verse by verse study of the 87th Psalm.
Psalms 87:1 "{A Psalm [or] Song for the sons of Korah.} His foundation
[is] in the holy mountains."
I believe this is the holy mountain of Zion in Jerusalem, spoken
of here. Zion, of course, symbolizes the church. This could be
speaking of the foundations in the church, as well as the foundation
of holy mount Zion. The foundation of the church is on the Rock that
can not be moved {the Lord Jesus Christ}. This mount in Jerusalem has
been important to many different servants of God. This mountain was
the dwelling place of King David. Whether calling these mountains
Moriah or Zion, the mountains are holy.
Psalms 87:2 "The LORD loveth the gates of Zion more than all the
dwellings of Jacob."
Jacob was the father of the twelve tribes of Israel. In the sense
it is used here, Zion is the city of Jerusalem. Jerusalem is a walled
city with gates. This has been God's holy city, since He first
promised it to Abraham and his descendents. The temple was built here
in Jerusalem. Jerusalem, Zion, and the church really are all intended
here. In the sense that Zion is the church here, it would indicate
that God loves the church. We do know that the Candlestick {Jesus the
Light} is in all churches who profess Him as the Christ. So many now
are having church at home, but I think this is saying, God likes for
us to worship in His house. Not forsaking the gathering together to
worship Him in unity of the Spirit. Jesus is the door, or the gate,
that we should enter into the holy city.
Psalms 87:3 "Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God.
Selah."
There have already been many glorious things that have taken
place in the physical city. This could be looking forward to that
glorious new Jerusalem {Zion} that comes down from God out of heaven,
as well. To look at the physical side of this city, we know that it
was the place chosen where Solomon built the magnificent temple of
God. It was so famous, that people came from far countries to see the
magnificence of Jerusalem and its temple. It really was the birth
place of Christianity. The church of Jesus Christ was born when He
suffered and died on Calvary for all of us. This city has so much
Bible history surrounding it that even today, tourist from all over
the world come to see it. With God, this city is the center of the
earth. All roads measure from Jerusalem. This is the eternal city. I
have been to Jerusalem, and can truthfully say, there is something
very special about this city. Once you have seen it, you will never
forget.
Psalms 87:4 "I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon to them
that know me: behold Philistia, and Tyre, with Ethiopia; this [man]
was born there."
This Rahab is not Rahab the harlot woman, bur Rahab, the harlot
country. It, perhaps, is speaking of Egypt. I believe the mention of
Babylon, Philistia, Tyre, and Ethiopia are showing the countries who
were opposed to the religion of the Jews. They worshipped all types of
false gods, because they did not know the true God. This is saying,
that there will come a time when the scales will be removed from their
eyes, and they will know and worship the true God. These had been
heathen nations, but now they will accept Jesus Christ as their
Saviour and will worship with all people in Jerusalem, the holy city.
This is, possibly, some great evangelistic move that causes this.
Psalms 87:5 "And of Zion it shall be said, This and that man was
born in her: and the highest himself shall establish her."
Perhaps, this is speaking of the new birth in the Lord Jesus
Christ. This Zion could certainly be the church. The church is
established on the Rock that can not be moved {Jesus Christ the
Righteous}. God himself establishes the church, no man can destroy
her.
Psalms 87:6 "The LORD shall count, when he writeth up the people,
[that] this [man] was born there. Selah."
To have your name written in the Lamb's book of life, you must be
born in the church. Every Christian, who ever lived, is counted as a
citizen of that holy city of God. We can prove our right to the
inheritance. Galatians 3:29 "And if ye [be] Christ's, then are ye
Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise."
Psalms 87:7 "As well the singers as the players on instruments
[shall be there]: all my springs [are] in thee."
This is describing a beautiful procession of singing and playing
beautiful music as we march into Zion, that holy city. The springs
mentioned, could be the springs of living water which will bring great
peace and joy. Just to be allowed to enter into the city, will be joy
beyond compare. We will continue on with this lesson by giving the
88th Psalm in metre.
Chapter 88
Verse 1 "Lord God, my Saviour, day and night Before thee cried have
I. Before thee let my prayer come; Give ear unto my cry. "
Verse 2 "For troubles great do fill my soul; My life draws nigh the
grave. I'm numbered with the buried dead And such as no
strength have. "
Verse 3 "But like the slain in grave that lie, Among the dead I'm
free; Like slain, whom thou forgotten hast, Who are cut off
from thee. "
Verse 4 "Thou hast me laid in lowest pit, In deep and darksome caves.
Thy wrath lies hard on me, thou hast Me pressed with all thy
waves. "
Verse 5 "Thou hast put far from me my friends, By them I am abhorred.
I am shut up, and there is none Who freedom can afford. "
Verse 6 "By reason of my deep distress, Mine eye mourns dolefully; to
thee, O Lord, I call, and stretch my hands continually. "
Verse 7 "Wilt thou show wonders to the dead? Shall they rise, and
thee bless? Shall in the grave thy love be told? In death thy
faithfulness? "
Verse 8 "Shall thy great wonders in the dark, Or shall thy
righteousness be known to any in the land Of deep
forgetfulness? "
Verse 9 "But, Lord, to thee I cried; my prayer Each morn shall rise
to thee. Lord, why dost thou cast off my soul, Why hide thy
face from me? "
Verse 10 "Distressed am I, and from my; youth I ready am to die; thy
terrors I have borne; I am Distracted fearfully. "
Verse 11 "By thy fierce wrath I'm overwhelmed; Cut off by dread of
thee Like water they around me come, They daily compass me. "
Verse 12 "My friends thou hast put far from me, And him that did me
love; And those that my acquaintance were To darkness didst
remove. "
We will now begin the verse by verse study of chapter 88 of
Psalms. Psalms 88:1 "{A Song [or] Psalm for the sons of Korah, to the
chief Musician upon Mahalath Leannoth, Maschil of Heman the Ezrahite.}
O LORD God of my salvation, I have cried day [and] night before thee:"
This Psalm speaks of tribulations. We must remember that
tribulation comes to make us strong in the Lord. Jesus Christ {their
Messiah} is the God of salvation. Note again here, that the Psalmist
calls God, my God. Whatever the prayer, it was of a very urgent
nature, since he prayed night and day. This Psalm is very sad.
Psalms 88:2 "Let my prayer come before thee: incline thine ear
unto my cry;"
The Psalmist is begging the Lord not to look the other way, but
to consider his prayer. Turn your ear toward me and hear my pleas.
Psalms 88:3 "For my soul is full of troubles: and my life draweth
nigh unto the grave."
The psalmist is saying that his soul is sick. Perhaps, even death
is very near. Whether this be physical death, or death of his soul, it
does not say.
Psalms 88:4 "I am counted with them that go down into the pit: I
am as a man [that hath] no strength:"
This verse makes it clear that the sickness of his soul is
because he has sinned and feels that God will not hear. The pit he
speaks of is hell. His strength comes from the Lord, and he is out of
contact with the Lord, so his strength is gone.
Psalms 88:5 "Free among the dead, like the slain that lie in the
grave, whom thou rememberest no more: and they are cut off from thy
hand."
He is saying here, that once you die in your sin, there is no
more help for you. He, also, is saying that he is like that man,
because he cannot seem to hear from God. He feels all is lost. There
is no hope for him. He should remember what he said in the first
verse. He called God, God of my salvation. We must have faith to be
able to reach God. His problem is, that he has given up.
Psalms 88:6 "Thou hast laid me in the lowest pit, in darkness, in
the deeps."
He believes that God's wrath has already begun for him. He is
blaming God for laying him in the pit. His darkness is caused, because
he chose to walk in the dark.
Psalms 88:7 "Thy wrath lieth hard upon me, and thou hast
afflicted [me] with all thy waves. Selah."
To feel God's wrath would be unbearable for anyone. He feels as
if the wrath of God is coming over him, one after the other, as the
waves of the sea, when it is angry.
Psalms 88:8 "Thou hast put away mine acquaintance far from me;
thou hast made me an abomination unto them: [I am] shut up, and I
cannot come forth."
In this verse, he has lost all of his friends. Notice in
everything that happens to him, he thinks God is punishing him. He
either had fair weather friends, or he has done something so dreadful
that no one wants to be associated with him. Whether he is shut up
like in prison, or whether this is symbolic of the way he feels, we
are not told.
Psalms 88:9 "Mine eye mourneth by reason of affliction: LORD, I
have called daily upon thee, I have stretched out my hands unto thee."
It appears that he cried until no more tears would come. He is
saying that he has continued to pray everyday. He has reached out to
God, but he feels God has not responded to him.
Psalms 88:10 "Wilt thou shew wonders to the dead? shall the dead
arise [and] praise thee? Selah."
Of course, the righteous dead will rise and praise Him, but I do
not believe he is speaking of the righteous here. He is speaking of
those who died in their sin. He is saying, forgive me, before I die
and it is too late. It is time to pause and think on these things.
Psalms 88:11 "Shall thy lovingkindness be declared in the grave?
[or] thy faithfulness in destruction?"
He is going on and on about the futility of getting help after he
dies. The lovingkindness is for those here on the earth who seek God
early. The lovingkindness of God showed mercy on God's people. After
you are in the grave, it is too late to repent.
Psalms 88:12 "Shall thy wonders be known in the dark? and thy
righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?"
This is speaking of Hades. The only known time that Jesus went
into hell, and preached, and brought out captivity captive was
immediately after he was crucified. The verse here, is not speaking of
that time. He is just saying, over and over, that after a person has
died and gone to hell, there is no hope.
Psalms 88:13 "But unto thee have I cried, O LORD; and in the
morning shall my prayer prevent thee."
It appears that he will not stop praying, until he gets a
positive answer from the LORD. That is the very best thing to do. God
does hear. If God feels he is sincere in his repentance and will live
uprightly, He will answer his prayer.
Psalms 88:14 "LORD, why castest thou off my soul? [why] hidest
thou thy face from me?"
Some might say, is it alright to question God? I think it is
alright, if done for the right reason, and if you are earnestly
seeking answers from God. This verse appears that this person, at one
time, knew God. He is asking, Lord have you turned me over to a
reprobate mind?
Psalms 88:15 "I [am] afflicted and ready to die from [my] youth
up: [while] I suffer thy terrors I am distracted."
There is no terror of death to those who know they are in right
standing with God. From the time we are born, we are dying. We live on
the world a very short time, even if we live the allotted time.
Psalms 88:16 "Thy fierce wrath goeth over me; thy terrors have
cut me off."
Whatever the punishment is, it is from a loving Father. He may be
feeling completely destroyed, but he is not dead yet. It will be too
late after he dies, but he is still alive. I believe the terror that
he is feeling here, is the fact that he is cut off from God. I can not
imagine anything any worse, than to feel you were cut off from God.
Psalms 88:17 "They came round about me daily like water; they
compassed me about together."
These are troubles that have come around him. It, also, means the
punishment that God has brought upon him, to make him repent are all
around him.
Psalms 88:18 "Lover and friend hast thou put far from me, [and]
mine acquaintance into darkness."
He has no one, not even his lover, or his friend stayed with him.
He is totally alone.
Questions 87
1. In verse 1 of chapter 87, what mountain is spoken of as holy
mountains?
2. What does Zion symbolize?
3. Where was the dwelling place of king David?
4. Who was Jacob?
5. Describe Jerusalem.
6. Which churches have the Light of Jesus in them?
7. Jesus is the _______, or ______ into the holy city.
8. What could verse 3 be looking forward to?
9. Where was the birthplace of Christianity?
10. Who is Rahab in verse 4?
11. Who were some of the countries mentioned, who were opposed to the
Jews?
12. What is verse 5 speaking of, about people being born in Zion?
13. What must happen for you to have your name written in the Lamb's
book of life?
14. Quote Galations chapter 3 verse 29.
15. What is verse 7 describing?
16. What does Psalms chapter 88 speak of?
17. Who is the God of salvation.
18. What is the tone of this Psalm?
19. What does the psalmist say is sick, in verse 3 of chapter 88?
20. What are the two kinds of death, he could be speaking of?
21. Why is he sick in his soul?
22. What is the pit in verse 4?
23. Can you be saved, after you die without repenting?
24. Who is the psalmist blaming for his problems?
25. Why has darkness come upon him?
26. In verse 7, what does he compare God's wrath, on him, to?
27. What has happened to him in verse 8?
28. Shall thy lovingkindness be declared in the _______?
29. In verse 12, what is the dark?
30. What would cause God to answer his prayer?
31. At what time do we begin to die?
32. Who is there no terror of death for?
33. In verse 18, who are the two that have been put away from him?
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