JUNE 27

In Psalm 80 Asaph is crying for the restoration of the
nation of Israel. In verses 1 and 2 the Lord is called the Shepherd
of Israel. He is invoked to restore the chastened and scattered
nation. This Psalm is a rehearsal of what will happen in the future
when God gathers His children from all the nations and brings them
home to Himself. “A nation shall be saved in a day.” The regathering
of the nation of Israel is as sure as the rapture of the church.

The blowing of trumpets in Psalm 81 foreshadows the
regathering of Israel and the answer to the prayer of Psalm 80.
Notice in verse 11 why God was not hearing His people. They would
not hearken to His voice; thus God “gave them up unto their own
hearts’ lust: and they walked in their own counsels.”

Psalm 82 gives us the pre-Kingdom judgment. In this Psalm
God takes His place as the supreme and righteous Judge, to judge the
nations and to administer justice in contrast to the unjust judges.
His right to judge is in the fact that all the nations belong to
Him, as He takes possession of the Kingdom.

In Psalm 83 Asaph is praying for God’s judgment upon the
enemies of Israel. In a time of trouble and stress, he is calling on
God to deliver His people. Thanks to God, He is faithful in
delivering those who call on His name.

In Psalm 84 the Psalmist is rejoicing as he expresses his
love for God and his desire for fellowship with the Lord. For years
I have been personally blessed by verse 11 of this Psalm. “For the
Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no
good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.” What a
gracious and glorious promise we have in this verse. As we abide in
Him daily, He is our light and protection. He gives grace and glory,
and every good thing we have comes from Him. His only prerequisite
for giving good things is that we walk uprightly.