RRB notes on Psalm 73

Psalms 73 KJV

A Psalm of Asaph.

1. Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart.

2. But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.

3. For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. [1]

[1] Verses 2-15 are excellent devotional material for anybody to ponder. It deals with Job’s theme, “Why Do the Righteous Suffer?” In this case, it deals with the question asked in Job 21:7. The conclusion the psalmist reaches in verses 17-18 is the same conclusion that is found in Job 18:5, 21:17, 34:26, etc.

4. For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm.

5. They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men.

6. Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment.

7. Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish.

8. They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily.

9. They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.

10. Therefore his people return hither: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them.

11. And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High? [a]

[a] Job 21:14-15, 22:13-17.

12. Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.

13. Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency.

14. For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning. [b]

[b] Just like Job (Job 30:15-16).

15. If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend [c] against the generation of thy children. [d]

[c] In Job’s case, he says it and offends them (Job 9:23-24, 10:3, 12:4, 6).

[d] Psa. 22:30; Isa. 53:8.

16. When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me;

17. Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.

18. Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction.

19. How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.

20. As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, [2] thou shalt despise their image.

[2] In this dispensation, the Lord is pictured as resting, with Jesus Christ seated at His right hand (Mark 12:36, 16:19; Col. 3:1; Heb. 1:3). At the Second Advent, He is spoken of as waking up and roaring (Isa. 42:14, 51:9; Psa. 78:65; Song of Sol. 2:7, 8:4) to “clean house” on the rich men (vs. 12 cf. James 5:1-8) and their “king of pride” (vs. 6 cf. Job 41:34) who worship his “image” (Dan. 3:1-7; Rev. 13:11-18).

21. Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins.

22. So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee.

23. Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand.

24. Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.

25. Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.

26. My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.

27. For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee.

28. But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.

 RRB notes on Psalm 72

Psalms 72 KJV

A Psalm for Solomon.

1. Give the king thy judgments, O God, and thy righteousness unto the king’s son. [a]

[a] Solomon historically; Jesus Christ prophetically (see notes on 1 Kings 4:21, 10:1-2).

2. He shall judge thy people with righteousness, and thy poor with judgment.

3. The mountains [b] shall bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by righteousness.

[b] Vs. 16.

4. He shall judge the poor of the people, he shall save the children of the needy, [c] and shall break in pieces the oppressor.

[c] See note on Psa. 40:17.

5. They shall fear thee as long as the sun and moon endure, [d] throughout all generations.

[d] Millennium (vss. 7, 17; Psa. 89:36).

6. He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass: as showers that water the earth. [e]

[e] Latter rain (2 Sam. 23:4; Psa. 68:9; Hos. 6:3; Joel 2:23; James 5:7, 17).

7. In his days shall the righteous flourish; and abundance of peace [f] so long as the moon endureth.

[f] See App. 17.

8. He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth. [g]

[g] A prophetic Psalm reference to the Millennial reign of Christ.

9. They that dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him; and his enemies shall lick the dust. [h]

[h] Psa. 110:1; Isa. 49:23.

10. The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents: the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts. [i]

[i] Isa. 45:14, 60:6-7.

11. Yea, all kings shall fall down before him: all nations shall serve him. [j]

[j] Isa. 60:12; Psa. 2:10-12.

12. For he shall deliver the needy when he crieth; the poor also, and him that hath no helper.

13. He shall spare the poor and needy, and shall save the souls of the needy.

14. He shall redeem their soul from deceit and violence: and precious shall their blood be in his sight. [k]

[k] Rev. 14:13, 6:9-11.

15. And he shall live, and to him shall be given of the gold of Sheba: [l] prayer also shall be made for him continually; and daily shall he be praised. [m]

[l] Vs. 10; 1 Kings 10:1-10.

[m] Mal. 1:11

16. There shall be an handful of corn in the earth upon the top of the mountains; the fruit thereof shall shake like Lebanon: and they of the city [n] shall flourish like grass of the earth.

[n] Isa. 65:18; Zech. 8:3-8.

17. His name shall endure for ever: his name shall be continued as long as the sun: and men shall be blessed in him: all nations shall call him blessed.

18. Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things.

19. And blessed be his glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with his glory; [1] [o] Amen, and Amen.

[1] Verses 17 and 19 have never been fulfilled (Rom. 8:19-22) and won’t be until the Millennium (Isa. 11:9).

[o] Num. 14:20-21.

20. The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended.

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Notes on 1 Kings 4:21 KJV

And Solomon reigned over all kingdoms from the river unto the land of the Philistines, and unto the border of Egypt: they brought presents, and served Solomon all the days of his life. [1]

[1] The passage is a direct forerunner of the Millennial reign of Christ. “The son of David” is present, he is on the “throne of David,” and he has the land grant that God gave to Abraham (Gen. 15), plus “peace on earth” all of his days (vs. 24). This is the “Golden Age” about which the Greek philosophers talked. Its ridiculous, anti-biblical counterfeits are “Camelot,” the “Fifth Kingdom Monarchists,” the Triple Alliance, the Holy Alliance, the League of Nations, the United Nations, the Vatican’s Ecumenical Councils, the Treaty of Westphalia, and the ridiculous “Armistice” of November 11, 1918, which did not last twenty-one years.

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Notes on 1 Kings 10:1-2 KJV

1. And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD, she came to prove him with hard questions. [a]

[a] Matt. 12:42.

2. And she came to Jerusalem with a very great train, with camels that bare spices, and very much gold, and precious stones: and when she was come to Solomon, she communed with him of all that was in her heart. [b]

[b] There are twenty types of the Lord Jesus Christ found in vss. 2-9.

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Note on Psalms 40:17 KJV

But I am poor and needy; [f] yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God.

[f] See comments on James 1:10-11, 2:5-7, 5:1-7.

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Appendix 17 – Peace on Earth

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