Continuing to travel along with John the Baptist in the wilderness of Judea, we’ve observed that his simple, bold, heart-convicting message started a revival of hope for the coming of God’s Messiah. Multitudes of needy folk had come out to partake in the baptism of repentance that he offered.
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Baptism
As an infant, I was baptized with water at the baptismal font in our church. I remember nothing of this, but my parents did it in hopes of bringing some spiritual cleansing to me. Yet, in reality, I never received God’s gift of holy spirit until years later, when I carried out the Father’s simple instructions in the Book of Romans.
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Psalms in Poetic Form: Psalm 44
Click here to read PSALM 44 in poetic form.
Background
This Psalm opens with three verses referring to God helping Moses and the children of Israel in times past, in accordance with Exodus theme. The next verse states that God is still King and a deliverer. Then the verse after that says that God will help in the future.
The Psalm includes a title “for the sons of Korah.” Regarding the sons of Korah, I Chronicles 9:19 says: “And Shallum the son of Kore, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah, and his brethren, of the house of his father, the Korahites, were over the work of the service, keepers of the gates of the tabernacle: and their fathers, being over the host of the Lord, were keepers of the entry.” They were responsible for service in the tabernacle and later the Temple.
The Psalm includes a postscript “Shoshannim.” This word means “lilies” can refer to springtime and the Passover Feast.
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Psalms in Poetic Form: Psalm 43
Click here to read PSALM 43 in poetic form.
Background
This Psalm is tied together with Psalm 42, for it has no title of its own. This unity can be seen in that a chorus occurs in the middle and end of Psalm 42 and at the end of Psalm 43. This chorus includes: “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him.”
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Psalms in Poetic Form: Psalm 42
Click here to read PSALM 42 in poetic form.
Background
This Psalm opens the second or “Exodus” book in the Psalms (Psalms 42-72), and is tied together with Psalm 43 (which has no title of its own). This unity can be seen in that a chorus occurs in the middle and end of Psalm 42 and at the end of Psalm 43. The chorus includes: “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him.”
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Psalms in Poetic Form: Psalm 41
Click here to read PSALM 41 in poetic form.
Background
Like Psalms 38 and 39 and 40, this shows the sufferings the Messiah would endure and overcome so that he could reign as King. Psalm 41 shows Messiah’s trust in God despite the betrayal of intimate friends. It closes with Messiah’s integrity and his future place seated at God’s right hand forever. This Psalm is also the conclusion of the first or “Genesis” book in the Psalms, having a benediction and double “Amen.”
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Psalms in Poetic Form: Psalm 40
Click here to read PSALM 40 in poetic form.
Background
Like Psalms 38 and 39, this shows the sufferings the Messiah would endure and overcome so that he could reign as King. Psalm 40 shows man’s need for God’s help and the salvation that He gives through the Messiah.
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Psalms in Poetic Form: Psalm 39
Click here to read PSALM 39 in poetic form.
Background
Like Psalm 38, this shows the sufferings the Messiah would endure and overcome so that he could reign as King. Psalm 39 shows man’s need for God’s help.
This Psalms is separated into three sections by the Hebrew term “Selah,” which means to pause. Some Bible teachers say this connected the truths that come before and after the term.
Time for a wilderness walk! Yes, a walk into the wilderness of Judea to find John the Baptist. And we find him there preaching to all who had come out to hear him. But first, we’ll track back to find out more about John, the son of Zacharias.
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Psalms in Poetic Form: Psalm 38
Click here to read PSALM 38 in poetic form.
Background
This Psalm shows in great detail the enemies and evil that Messiah would face, as evidenced in the life of his ancestor David. These words are not all directly the Messiah’s (verse 18: “For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin”) for he was sinless. The Psalm closes with a plea for God’s salvation. That prayer was answered in the life of Jesus Christ.