Natan’s Commentary on Psalms 28–34

Psalm 28

Psalm 28:1, The pit. The Hebrew word for pit is bor meaning “a pit hole (especially one used as a cistern or prison), cistern, dungeon, fountain, pit or well.” This word obviously refers to a deep hole in the ground. Bor is also a poetic Hebraism that can refer to a place of deep human despair and hopelessness as well as to the grave or, in Hebrew, sheol. The grave is where the wicked will eventually end up as the next few verses of this psalm indicate. But as this psalm goes on to tell us in verses six through nine, YHVH delivers his people from the wicked and their ultimate fate, which is to end up in the proverbial the pit or the grave. In fact, this is the fate of all those who do not place their trust in YHVH’s Redeemer, Yeshua the Messiah, who he is the saving refuge of his people (v. 8) forever (v. 9)!

Psalm 28:8, He [i.e. YHVH] is the saving [Heb. Yeshua] refuge/strength of his anointed. The context in which this verse sets like a jewel in a bezel reads,

YHVH is my strength and my shield; My heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; therefore my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song I will praise Him. YHVH is their strength, and He is the saving [Yeshua] refuge of His anointed. Save Your people, and bless Your inheritance; shepherd them also, and bear them up forever. (Ps 28:7–9)

This verse is loaded with prophetic implications that obviously point to Yeshua the Messiah; it even contains the name personal of the Messiah. Apart from these allusions to Yeshua that scream to us from a mountain top pointing to pointing to his role as our Redeemer or Savior, Shepherd, as well as our strength and joy, it is interesting to note that this verse refers to YHVH’s people as “His anointed.” The Hebrew word here, no surprise, is mashiycah from which the word messiah derives. This word means “consecrated” or “sanctified, blessed, made holy, made sacred, hallowed, set apart or dedicated to Elohim.” 

If you have been redeemed by Yeshua the Messiah, then this describes who you are. Ponder over the implications of this reality and then ask yourself the following questions: Have I embraced and incorporated in myself a consecrated mindset,that is, do I view myself in these terms? Does my life reflect the reality of how YHVH views me and what he calls me? Now consider how this may change your whole outlook about yourself, how you live and act, and how you view other redeemed believers around you.

Psalm 29

Psalm 29:3–9, The voice of YHVH. These verses list the seven attributes of the voice of YHVH.

  • YHVH voice is over the waters. That is to say, it is over the peoples of the earth.
  • YHVH’s voice is powerful.
  • YHVH’s voice is majestic, splendorous, glorious or full of honor.
  • YHVH’s voice breaks the cedars and makes them skip like a calf. That is to say, it makes humble the proud and it brings joy.
  • YHVH’s voice divides the flames of fire. This brings to mind the divine empowerment that came upon the saints in the book of Acts chapter two on the day of Pentecost­­—the wind and fire or the voice and Spirit of Elohim, which shows us that he is both Spirit and truth, and that we must worship him through both these aspects of who he is (John 4:23–24).
  • YHVH’s voice shakes the wilderness. That is to say, in the wilderness of one’s life, it upsets the status quo of our carnal existence and challenges us to grow spiritually.
  • YHVH’s voice makes the deer give birth and strips the forest bare. That is to say, it brings forth life and it reveals his hidden truth and that is often hidden inside of our personal spirit or conscience, which YHVH wants to bring forth like a river of life to bless us and those around us (John 7:38).

Psalm 31

Psalm 31:20, Secret place…presence…pavillion. Secret place means “shelter or hiding place” and presence is panyim meaning “faces or presence” of Elohim. Pavillion is “sukkah.” In this set-apart and private place, one not only finds communion with Elohim, but a refuge from “the strife of tongues [Heb. lashon] or the evil tongue of our accusers and persecutors. The secret presence of YHVH is our personal “God bubble” in which to escape the strife caused by evil-does around us, and to find the peace of YHVH in his presence. 

Psalm 32

Psalm 32:6, In a time. There are times, from man’s perspective, it seems when YHVH can’t be found.

Psalm 32:8–9, Do not be like. When YHVH disciplines us, he would prefer that we respond to his gentle voice of correction such as mere look of his eye whether it be that he is showing his approbation or disapproval for what we are doing. If we fail to respond to his slightest glance of correction, then he may have no alternative but to treat us like a stubborn mule by “to turning up the heat, so to speak, “so that we will see the light.” When our hearts are hard and our ears shut, YHVH may have to use the bridle and bit (and maybe even the quirt or horse whip) to bring us back into line.

Psalm 34

Psalm 34:3, Let us exalt…together. On corporate praise. The necessity and the synergistic power of corporate praise and worship of the Almighty YHVH cannot be underestimated. (See also Pss 95:1–7; 122:1 cp. Pss 33:1–3; 133:1–3; 1 Chron 29:20; 2 Chorn 29:30; Isa 2:3; Jer 31:6; Mic 4:2; Zech 8:21–23; Rev 7:9–12; 15:3; 19:5–6.) When YHVH’s people come together to praise him, they come into alignment with an onging cosmic chorus that is all doing the same (Ps 148:1–14); moreover, he inhabits or is enthroned on the praises of his people (Ps 22:3).

Psalm 34:3, Let us exalt…together. On corporate praise. The necessity and the synergistic power of corporate praise and worship of the Almighty YHVH cannot be underestimated. (See also Pss 95:1–7; 122:1 cp. Pss 33:1–3; 133:1–3; 1 Chron 29:20; 2 Chorn 29:30; Isa 2:3; Jer 31:6; Mic 4:2; Zech 8:21–23; Rev 7:9–12; 15:3; 19:5–6.) When YHVH’s people come together to praise him, they come into alignment with an onging cosmic chorus that is all doing the same (Ps 148:1–14); moreover, he inhabits or is enthroned on the praises of his people (Ps 22:3).

Psalm 34:7, The angel of YHVH encamps [or surrounds, encompasses]. Those who fear YHVH by worshipping and obeying him have the promise of divine protection. The angels are “ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation” (Heb 1:14), and YHVH “shall give his angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways. In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone” (Ps 91:11–12).

Psalm 34:9, Fear of YHVH…no want [or lack]. Elsewhere, Scripture reveals that the fear of YHVH is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge. Why should people with these attributes have any worry of lack? When we not only fear YHVH reverentially, but also with a touch of dread at the thought of sinning by going against his Torah-instructions in righteousness, which are there for our good and, if followed, bring nothing but blessings upon us, then why should we experience any physical, emotional, psychological or spiritual lack?

Psalm 34:15, The eyes of YHVH. What are the eyes of YHVH? We find this same phrase in Psalm 33:19. This phrase can mean “in the mind or opinion of YHVH” (e.g., Gen 6:8; Deut 13:8; 1 Sam 16:24; 2 Sam 15:25; et al). 

Now let’s expand on the meaning of this phrase. Elsewhere in Scripture, “the eyes of YHVH” seems to have a deeper meaning, for in 2 Chronicles 16:9 we read, “For the eyes of YHVH run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.” Similarly, our verse under study, Psalm 34:15, would indicate that “the eyes of YHVH” refer to more than just his opinion. Perhaps YHVH’s eyes are searching for information upon which to make an opinion about men whether it be a good (Ps 34:15) or bad opinion (2 Chr 29:6).  Elsewhere we read in Proverbs 15:3 that “The eyes of YHVH are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good.” Also in Proverbs 5:21 we discover that “the ways of man are before the eyes of YHVH, and He ponders all his paths.” What are the eyes of YHVH that search the earth and the heart of men? Revelation 5:6 gives us a clue: “And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of Elohim sent out into all the earth.” Likely these seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of Elohim, relate to the seven Spirits of YHVH in Isaiah 11:1–2 which are:

  • The Spirit of YHVH
  • The Spirit of wisdom
  • The Spirit of understanding
  • The Spirit of counsel
  • The Spirit of might
  • The Spirit of knowledge
  • The Spirit of the fear of YHVH

Psalm 34:18, Broken heart. This could be understood to be a circumcised heart rather than a heart broken by grief. This calls to mind the words of Yeshua in the beatitudes: “Blessed are the poor [or helpless and crippled] in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom,” and “blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted” (Matt 5:3–4).

Psalm 34:19, Many are the afflictions. It is part of the human condition for both the righteous and the wicked to experience trials, afflictions and difficulties in life. This is, in part, is a result of the fall of man and the curse of sin that came on all humans as a result thereof. Some of our afflictions are a result of the bad choices that we make, or due to circumstances beyond our control, or generational curses. Other times, heaven allows afflictions to come upon us for our spiritual growth and development (e.g., Job; or Deut 8:2–5; Heb 12:3–11). But there is a difference between the afflictions that come on the wicked and the godly. The former, who either ignores or have rejected Elohim, are left to circumstantial fate. Maybe they will come out of the afflictions better off, maybe not. However, for the godly, the sovereign and all powerful hand of YHVH is on their lives, for he is guiding and directing all that happens to them for their ultimate good as a father acting toward his children (Heb 12:3–11), or as a potter working with a lump of clay to fashion from it something useful and beautiful (Isa 29:16; 45:9). Because of this, we know that “all things work together for the good of those who are called according to his purpose…[that we may be] conformed to the image of his Son” (Rom 8:28–29).

 

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