Psalms

Gospel Folio Press
Grand Rapids MI
Copyright 1997

To the memory of the intrepid pioneer evangelists and Bible teachers of the last generation, who left home, comfort, and safety to bear the Light to dark places of the world for love of Christ, this volume is respectfully dedicated.

Introduction

On the resurrection day, the risen Christ met two disciples on the way to Emmaus, and from Moses and all the prophets He expounded to them the things concerning Himself. As a result, their whole outlook was changed. Later they declared: “Did not our heart burn within us, while He talked with us by the way, and while He opened to us the scriptures?”

At eventide, in the Upper Room, He appeared to the gathered disciples and said: “These are the words which I spoke unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning Me.” He then opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.

There are a number of psalms which speak of the Person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. They are called Messianic psalms obviously because they speak of the Messiah. The question may be asked: “How can we recognize a Messianic psalm?” The answer would be: where there is a reference to the Messiah in a psalm, and it is applied to Christ and expounded in the New Testament. Sometimes a whole psalm applies to Christ, e.g., Psalm 22. Sometimes a paragraph, e.g., Psalm 40:6-10. Sometimes several verses, e.g., Psalm 69:4, 9, 21. Sometimes a single verse, e.g., Psalm 41:9.

I have fought a good fight, I have
finished my course, I have kept the
faith: Henceforth there is laid up
for me a crown of righteousness,
which the Lord, the righteous judge,
shall give me at that day: and not to me
only, hut unto all them also that love
His appearing:—2 Timothy 4:7, 8

Harry A. Ironside is now at home with the Lord his Saviour, whom he deeply loved and so devotedly served.

The publishers are conscious of their deep privilege in preserving in book form these studies on the first book of the Psalms.

These addresses were originally given by Dr. Ironside at the Moody Memorial Church in Chicago. Illinois, and printed in the Moody Church News. They are now reproduced in the earnest hope that they will be a means of rich blessing “unto all them also that love His appearing.”

The Publishers
New York
December 1951

The Book of Psalms has evidently a peculiar character. It is not the history of God’s people, or of God’s ways with them, nor is it the inculcation of positive doctrines or duties, nor the formal prophetic announcement of coming events. Many important events, doubtless, are alluded to in them, and they are immediately connected with various prophetic revelations (as, indeed, with precepts and all the other parts of the divine word to which I have just referred); but none of these form th...

The first book may be in general thus divided into distinct parts. The first eight psalms form a whole, an introductory whole to the entire collection of Psalms. This series may be subdivided into the first two, which, in a more particular manner, lay the basis of all that is taught or expressed in Psalms 3-7, and, finally, Psalm 8. The character of these I shall enter on immediately. At present I proceed with the order of the book. Psalms 9, 10 form the basis of the psalms which follow to t...

In the second book, the remnant is viewed as outside Jerusalem, and the city as given up to wickedness. This is seen throughout it. The covenant connection of the Jews with Jehovah is lost, but God is trusted. When Messiah comes in, all is changed. We have further, more distinctly, the exaltation of Christ on high as the means of their deliverance, and His rejection and sorrow when down here. It closes with the millennial reign of Messiah in peace under the figure of Solomon. The spirit of t...

In the Third Book we get out into a larger sphere than the state of the residue of the Jews in the last days, whether in Jerusalem or driven out; and hence we find much less of the personal circumstances and feelings and associations of the Lord, who, in His day, walked among them. The general interests of Israel are in view, and thus Israel’s history is entered into. The whole national position is before us, still distinguishing a true-hearted residue. Remark here that, save one, we have ...

The fourth Book is not so markedly separated from the third, as the preceding three from one another; and specially the third from the first two, because the third, while prophetically announcing the blessing, describes a state of things which leaves the expectation of divine interference to bring in the blessing in full play. The first had given the great principles of the position of the Jewish remnant in connection with the history of Christ; in the second, they are viewed as outside Jeru...

In the fifth Book the people are looked at as brought back, and a general survey of God’s ways taken, with a kind of divine commentary on it all, ending, as all His ways surely will, in praise. {Ps 107} Psalm 107 is a kind of heading or introduction to all this. It celebrates the enduring of God’s mercy for ever—that blessed formula of faith—in the unchanging goodness of Jehovah in all ages from the display of grace in David’s time. It is restored Israel’s part especially to c...

Introduction There are a few historical events that leave an indelible mark on the minds of people. All of us remember where we were and what we were doing on September 11, 2001 when we heard the horrifying news of the terrorist attacks on New York City. For those of us who are approaching, or are above the half century mark, we remember where we were and what we were doing on Sunday, July 20, 1969 when the lunar module “Eagle” landed on the moon. We recall astronaut Neil Armstrong’...

Introduction Have you ever been deeply in love with someone when all of a sudden an external force shattered the relationship? Perhaps it was the death of the spouse or a divorce. Or perhaps your boyfriend or girlfriend unexpectedly and unceremoniously “dumped” you for someone else. Remember the pain you felt? The questions that went through your mind, “How did this happen? Lord why?” Do you remember the struggles that you had with your attitudes toward the Lord and other people? ...