Msg#1618 A Psalmists Four Instructions

What The Bible Says

Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice

The LORD God's thirty-seventh Psalm contains four instructions critical to his creature's well being. They are connected to great promise and then twice interwoven through twenty-eight of the forty verses. The first six verses spell out the instructions, the last six word them in a profound abstraction. Learning to appreciate the structure and depth of Hebrew poetry is easily done in this Psalm. First up, “Fret not thyself because of evildoers.” The failure-to-fret is expounded in verses 1-2, 7-11, and 27-28. Each section contains greater abstraction and more depth. When searching for this instruction in the last six verses one finds it thoroughly homogenized with the other three. Next up, “Trust in the LORD.” Again this instruction is contained in verses 3, 12-15, and 29 with increasing abstraction, and finally blended into the last six verses. Hebrew poetry emphasizes rhyme and meter in thought not in diction. It is marvelous to unravel and analyze it. It outperforms any poem of English literature. “Delight thyself also in the LORD,” and “Commit they way unto the LORD,” are simple instructions given a sagacious depth by the Hebrew poet and psalmist. When I was young I delighted myself in hunting and fishing in the Adirondack mountains near Griffiss AFB where I was stationed. I had towed my little Datsun out of many a swampland. The sincere desire of my heart was a four-wheel-drive Jeep-Cherokee. I did not then follow God's third instruction, thinking I could just make up my own heart's desires. The promise of following God's four instructions is expounded in verse six of this Psalm. It to is rehearsed, abstracted, and brilliantly blended into the six verse conclusion. Mark up this Psalm and it could forever change you. A student of the Bible needs to be a student of Hebrew poetry.

An Essay for week #18 May 1, 2016

In your weekly email, sign up at www.GSBaptistChurch.com

In blog http://www.theology.gsbaptistchurch.com

In paperback at www.lulu.com/spotlight/GSBaptistChurch