JUNE 30
Psalms 95–98 are known as Theocratic Psalms, because they
relate to the sovereignty of God, and hint of the kingly reign of
the coming Messiah.
The theme of Psalm 95 is sing, rejoice, God is King. We
should kneel before Him, for we are His people. We should heed His
voice. Verses 7-11 are quoted in Hebrews 3:7-11 as words of the Holy
Spirit.
Again in Psalm 96 the theme is to sing, be joyful, be
thankful, and praise God. For when He comes to judge the world it
will be a day of triumph for God’s people. The heavens should be
glad and the earth should rejoice, for the Day of Judgment is on the
way!
In Psalm 97 the Lord comes and the earth is moved. Psalm 98
is a song of the crowning day. Being a new song (verse 1), it may be
one of those sung in heaven (see Revelation 5:9-14).
In Psalm 99 God reigns. He is holy; let the nations tremble.
He loves justice and righteousness, and He answers prayer.
Psalm 100 is perhaps the best known of all the Psalms. It is
a great Psalm of praise and adoration for the Lord. Verse 5 says,
“The Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth
to all generations.” God, in His mercy and goodness, sent His Son to
die for a people who deserved to die themselves. God’s mercy toward
mankind has lasted almost 6,000 years. Man receives mercy, not
justice, when he comes to God through the Person of Jesus Christ;
and His precious truth will endure until Jesus comes again.
Psalm 101 is a Psalm for rulers, thought possibly to have
been written when David ascended to the throne.
Psalm 102 is a prayer of the afflicted. The writer of this
Psalm seems to be overwhelmed, and is pouring out his complaint
before the Lord. His cry is, “Hide not thy face from me in the day
when I am in trouble: incline thine ear unto me: in the day when I
call answer me speedily.” In spite of the affliction of the
Psalmist, he never loses sight of the fact that the Lord shall
endure forever.