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34. Psalms (Zabur)
The Psalms are amazing songs full of truths about God and application to our daily life. Many of them (over 70) were written or co-written by King David and a fewwere written by King Solomon (72 and 127). They can function as helpful guides for our prayer life. The Psalms contain many prophetic revelations about the Messiah as well!
· Read in The Qur’an - 4:163, 17:55, 21:105
· Read in The Tanakh and The Bible - Psalms
Readings from The Qur’an:
· The Qur'an 4:163. “Verily, We have sent the revelation to you (0 Muhammad) as We sent the revelation to Nuh (Noah) and the Prophets after him; We (also) sent the revelation to Ibrahim (Abraham), Isma`il (Ishmael), Ishaq (Isaac), Ya'qub (Jacob), and Al-Asbat [the offspring of the twelve sons of Ya'qub (Jacob)], 'Isa (Jesus), Ayyub (Job), Yunus (Jonah), Haran (Aaron), and Sulaiman (Solomon); and to Dawud (David) We gave the Zabur (Psalms).”
· The Qur'an 17:55. “And your Lord knows best all who are in the heavens and the earth. And indeed, We have preferred some of the Prophets above others, and to Dawud (David) We gave the Zabur (Psalms).”
· The Qur'an 21:105. “And indeed We have written in Az-Zabfir [i.e. all the revealed Holy Books - the Taurat (Torah), the Injeel (Gospel), the Psalms, the Qur'an,] after (We have already written in) Al-Lauh Al-Mahfuz (the Book that is in the heaven with Allah), that My righteous slaves shall inherit the land (i.e. the land of Paradise).”
· Since the Qur’an says Allah “gave the Zabur (Psalms)”, and through the Torat (Torah), shouldn’t Muslims know the full story of the Zabur (Psalms)”, given in the Tanakh and Bible?
Readings from The Tanakh and The Bible:
Consider the many Psalms that prophesy accurately about Jesus:
· Priest Like Melchizedek – Psalm 110:4, Zechariah 6:12-13, Hebrews 6:20, 5:5-6, 7:15-17
· Psalm 110:4 “The LORD has sworn and will not change his mind, “You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.””
· Zechariah 6:12–13 “And say to him, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, “Behold, the man whose name is the Branch: for he shall branch out from his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD. [13] It is he who shall build the temple of the LORD and shall bear royal honor, and shall sit and rule on his throne. And there shall be a priest on his throne, and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.”’
· Hebrews 6:20 “where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.”
· Hebrews 5:5–6 “So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you”; [6] as he says also in another place, “You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.””
· Hebrews 7:15–17 “This becomes even more evident when another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek, [16] who has become a priest, not on the basis of a legal requirement concerning bodily descent, but by the power of an indestructible life. [17] For it is witnessed of him, “You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.””
Rejected by Jews – Isaiah 53:3, Psalm 2:2, John 1:11, 5:43, Luke 4:29, 17:25
· Isaiah 53:3 “He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.”
· Psalm 2:2 “The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against his Anointed”
· John 1:11 “He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.”
· John 5:43 “I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not receive me. If another comes in his own name, you will receive him.”
· Luke 4:29 “And they rose up and drove him out of the town and brought him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they could throw him down the cliff.”
· Luke 17:25 “But first he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.”
Characteristics – Isaiah 11:2, Psalm 45:7, Luke 2:52, 4:18
· Isaiah 11:2 “And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.”
· Psalm 45:7 “you have loved righteousness and hated wickedness. Therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions”
· Luke 2:52 “And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.”
· Luke 4:18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed”
· Betrayed by a Friend – Psalm 41:9, Mark 14:10
· Psalm 41:9 “Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me.”
· Mark 14:10 “Then Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve, went to the chief priests in order to betray him to them.”
· Judas’ Position Replaced – Psalm 109:6-8, Acts 1:18-20
· Psalm 109:6–8 “Appoint a wicked man against him; let an accuser stand at his right hand. [7] When he is tried, let him come forth guilty; let his prayer be counted as sin! [8] May his days be few; may another take his office!”
· Acts 1:18–20 “(Now this man acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness, and falling headlong he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out. [19] And it became known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the field was called in their own language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.) [20] “For it is written in the Book of Psalms, “‘May his camp become desolate, and let there be no one to dwell in it’; And “‘Let another take his office.’”
· False Witnesses’ Accused Him – Psalm 27:12, Matthew 26:60-61
· Psalm 27:12 “Give me not up to the will of my adversaries; for false witnesses have risen against me, and they breathe out violence.”
· Matthew 26:60–61 “many false witnesses came forward. At last two came forward [61] and said, “This man said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to rebuild it in three days.’”
· Hated Without Cause – Psalm 69:4, John 15:23
· Psalm 69:4 “More in number than the hairs of my head are those who hate me without cause; mighty are those who would destroy me, those who attack me with lies. What I did not steal must I now restore?”
· John 15:23 “Whoever hates me hates my Father also.”
· Hands and Feet Pierced – Psalm 22:16, John 20:27
· Psalm 22:16 “For dogs encompass me; a company of evildoers encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet”
· John 20:27 “Then he said to Thomas “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.”
· Mocked and Insulted – Psalm 22:6-8, Matthew 27:39-40
· Psalm 22:6–8 “But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by mankind and despised by the people. [7] All who see me mock me; they make mouths at me; they wag their heads; [8] “He trusts in the LORD; let him deliver him; let him rescue him, for he delights in him!””
· Matthew 27:39–40 “And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads [40] and saying, “You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.””
· Given Gall and Vinegar – Psalm 69:21, John 19:29
· Psalm 69:21 “They gave me poison for food, and for my thirst they gave me sour wine to drink.”
· John 19:29 “A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth.”
· Hears Prophetic Words Used as Mockery – Psalm 22:8, Matthew 27:43
· Psalm 22:8 “He trusts in the LORD; let him deliver him; let him rescue him, for he delights in him!”
· Matthew 27:43 “He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he desires him. For he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’”
· Prays for His Enemies – Psalm 109:4, Luke 23:34
· Psalm 109:4 “In return for my love they accuse me, but I give myself to prayer.”
· Luke 23:34 “And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments.”
· Soldiers Cast Lots for His Clothes – Psalm 22:18, Mark 15:24
· Psalm 22:18 “they divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.”
· Mark 15:24 “And they crucified him and divided his garments among them, casting lots for them, to decide what each should take.”
· Not a Bone to Be Broken – Psalm 34:20, John 19:33
· Psalm 34:20 “He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken.”
· John 19:33 “But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs.”
· Resurrection – Psalm 16:10, Matthew 28:9
· Psalm 16:10 “For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption.”
· Matthew 28:9 “And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him.”
· Ascension into Heaven – Psalm 68:18, Luke 24:50
· Psalm 68:18 “You ascended on high, leading a host of captives in your train and receiving gifts among men, even among the rebellious, that the LORD God may dwell there.”
· Luke 24:50 “And he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them.”
Praying the Psalms
Donald Whitney (Praying the Bible by Donald S. Whitney) has shared an outstanding method of using the Psalms as a guide and format for our prayers. There are 150 Psalms, with around 30 days per month, which provides about 5 Psalms/Day to Choose To discover which daily Psalms you might consider praying through, take the day of the week and add in increments of 30. For instance, on January 7th you would have Psalm 7, 37, 67, 97, and 127 to choose from (Day of the Week + 30). Skim over those five Psalms until you discover one in which your heart resonates for that particular day. Then read a verse at a time, pausing to reflect and pray over and according to that particular truth to God.
Take a few minutes and try praying personally through Psalm 7.
Psalm 7
REFUGE [1] O LORD my God, in you do I take refuge; save me from all my pursuers and deliver me, [2] lest like a lion they tear my soul apart, rending it in pieces, with none to deliver.
DISCIPLINE [3] O LORD my God, if I have done this, if there is wrong in my hands, [4] if I have repaid my friend with evil or plundered my enemy without cause, [5] let the enemy pursue my soul and overtake it, and let him trample my life to the ground and lay my glory in the dust. Selah
PROTECTION [6] Arise, O LORD, in your anger; lift yourself up against the fury of my enemies; awake for me; you have appointed a judgment. [7] Let the assembly of the peoples be gathered about you; over it return on high.
RIGHTEOUSNESS [8] The LORD judges the peoples; judge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness and according to the integrity that is in me.
JUSTICE [9] Oh, let the evil of the wicked come to an end, and may you establish the righteous—you who test the minds and hearts, O righteous God!
PLEASING OR DISPLEASING GOD [10] My shield is with God, who saves the upright in heart. [11] God is a righteous judge, and a God who feels indignation every day.
WRATH [12] If a man does not repent, God will whet his sword; he has bent and readied his bow; [13] he has prepared for him his deadly weapons, making his arrows fiery shafts.
THE WICKED [14] Behold, the wicked man conceives evil and is pregnant with mischief and gives birth to lies. [15] He makes a pit, digging it out, and falls into the hole that he has made. [16] His mischief returns upon his own head, and on his own skull his violence descends.
PRAISE [17] I will give to the LORD the thanks due to his righteousness, and I will sing praise to the name of the LORD, the Most High.
See also:
· “What does the Bible say in the Psalms of Ascent?”
www.trustworthyword.com/psalms-ascent
· “Prayer in the Psalms and Proverbs” www.trustworthyword.com/prayer-in-psalms-and-proverbs
· “Evidence for Jesus and the Bible” www.trustworthyword.com/evidence-for-jesus
· “What does the Bible say about Prophecies and their Fulfilment in Christ?”
www.trustworthyword.com/what-does-the-bible-say-about-prophecies-and-their-fulfillment-in-christ
· “How are the Old and New Testaments Connected?”