Theological Themes of Psalms - Robert D. Bell

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(3) God has especially provided His goodness to those who have a special relationship to Him. Numerous times the psalmists mention God’s people as the recipients of His blessing. For example, “thy blessing is upon thy people” (3:8b). Other cases include 28:9; 29:11; 68:35; 73:1 (“Israel”); 78:24 (“gave them food from heaven,” NASB); 85:8 (“peace”); 105:44 (“gave them the lands”); and 115:12 (“he will bless the house of Israel”). God blesses those that fear Him: “Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee” (31:19). The psalmists return to this point repeatedly (103:11; 111:5; 115:13; 118:4; 128:4; 147:11). These persons are the “righteous” (5:12; 24:5), “those who walk uprightly” (84:11, NASB), including “them which put their trust” in God (17:7; 32:10; 34:8b; 52:8; 59:16). They “seek the Lord” (34:10; 119:2) because they are the “needy” (132:15, NASB), who hunger and thirst (107:9). In numerous instances it is the psalmist who, speaking with first-person pronouns, is the object of God’s acts of kindness: “You have given gladness in my heart” (4:7, literal translation); “Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation” (18:35a); “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life” (23:6a); and “the God of my mercy” (59:17c).126

      (4) God has responded with His goodness specifically to those who have asked for it. Psalm 86:5 is the best proclamation of this proposition: “For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.” Sometimes these requests are personal, from the psalmist using first-person pronouns: “Remember, O Lord, thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindnesses;127 … according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness’ sake, O Lord” (25:6a, 7); “Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness” (51:1a); “Blessed be God, which hath not turned away my prayer, nor his mercy from me” (66:20); “Hear me, O Lord; for thy lovingkindness is good: turn unto me according to the multitude of thy tender mercies” (69:16); “O turn unto me, and have mercy upon me; give [נתן, nathan] thy strength unto thy servant, … Shew me a token for good [טוֹבָה, towvah] …” (86:16–17); and “Be surety for thy servant for good: let not the proud oppress me” (119:122). Sometimes the requests are communal, the psalmists asking on behalf of the group: “Save thy people, and bless thine inheritance: feed them also, and lift them up for ever” (28:9); “Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem” (51:18); “God be merciful unto us, and bless us” (67:1a); “O satisfy us early with thy mercy [חֶסֶד, khesed]” (90:14a); and “May you be blessed by the Lord” (115:15a, HCSB).128

      God has not, however, responded reluctantly. (5) God has delighted in bestowing His goodness for mankind. The book of Psalms gives no indication that God is hesitant in His giving. In contrast with 5:4a (“For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness”), we hear David say, “Let the Lord be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity [שָׁלוֹם, shalowm, “peace”] of his servant” (35:27b). After all, when God brought Israel out of Egypt, He said, “open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it” (81:10b). God’s invitation seems to imply that He wants to bless: “And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me” (50:15).

      That last verse points to another proposition. (6) God has devised a purpose in bestowing His goodness. The psalmists know what will result when God is gracious and giving: “God shall bless us; and all the ends of the earth shall fear him” (67:7). God’s blessing leads also to the joy of His people: “You bless; … Your servant shall be glad” (109:28, NASB); “O satisfy us early with thy mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days” (90:14). Ultimately, our joy results glorifying Him with our praise (for example, 71:22–23).

      (7) God has concentrated His goodness in the person and work of the Messianic King. In Psalm 2 God the Father is willing to give a great inheritance to the King (v. 8). We also find God giving to David, the type of the King (18:35). In Psalm 20, which also points from the type to the Messianic King,129 we see a request for God to grant [נתן, nathan] favors (v. 4). Psalm 21 is similar as its description of ultimate victory indicates Christ’s end-time work.130 Here we have an indication of God’s blessings (vv. 3, 6) and of God’s giving (v. 4). In yet another Messianic psalm God’s blessing is upon the King, “fairer than the children of men” (45:2).131 Psalm 72 continues this Messianic trend with God’s blessing of peace: “In his days shall the righteous flourish; and abundance of peace so long as the moon endureth” (v. 7). It is through the Messiah that God will bless all people (72:17).132

      New Testament Echoes

      By using Greek equivalents of the six main Hebrew words, the New Testament corroborates the theme of God’s blessing in Psalms. (1) ברך (barak)=εὐλογέω (eulogeō): Paul praises God the Father, “who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ” (Eph. 1:3). He also says that believers “are blessed with faithful Abraham” (Gal. 3:9). God has called believers to “inherit a blessing [the noun εὐλογία, eulogia]” (1 Pet. 3:9). (2) אַשְׁרֵי (’asherey)=μακάριοϛ (makarios): James declares that “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him” (1:12). Paul quotes Psalm 32:1 and applies that declaration to Christians: “Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered” (Rom. 4:7).

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