Psalms  45:15 – 69:21

Overview

Today’s reading from Psalms was a blessing.  To see those who love God pour our their hearts and desire to worship our heavenly father was wonderful.  As we dig further into the collection of Psalms, we see they were written by several authors.  Most of the first section of psalms was written by David.  As we read through the entire book of Psalms, we learn that the other authors of Psalms were:

  • Asaph, the conductor of David’s choir of the temple
  • The Sons of Korah
  • Solomon
  • Moses
  • Ethan
  • Heman
  • Anonymous (50 of the psalms have no author)

The Sons of Korah are in fact direct decedents of Korah, the Levite,  who led a rebellion with 250 other men against Moses while they were in the wilderness.   He questioned Moses and Aaron asking them why they have set themselves above everyone else.  It wasn’t good enough for Korah and his followers to be set apart for the Lord’s work as Levites, but to have a power struggle with Moses was too much.  Korah felt that everyone was as holy  as Moses & Aaron.  This upset Moses and Aaron.  Moses cried out to God to have Korah dealt with.  Korah and his household and all of their possessions were swallowed up by the earth.  The ground split open and they went down into the grave alive and then the earth closed back up.  Coming back to the Psalms, we see that Psalms 42 – 49 and 84 – 88 are attributed to the “Sons of Korah”.  These were direct descendants of Korah.    Their family line was not wiped out (see Num 26:11).  When David was organizing worship at the temple, the decedents of Korah (the Kohathites) were given a large roll in the music.

 

Scripture Psalms 47

For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.

1 Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy.  2 For the LORD Most High is awesome, the great King over all the earth.
3 He subdued nations under us, peoples under our feet. 4 He chose our inheritance for us, the pride of Jacob, whom he loved. 5 God has ascended amid shouts of joy, the LORD amid the sounding of trumpets. 6 Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises.   7 For God is the King of all the earth; sing to him a psalm of praise.  8 God reigns over the nations; God is seated on his holy throne.   9 The nobles of the nations assemble as the people of the God of Abraham, for the kings

[c] of the earth belong to God; he is greatly exalted.

Psalms 47

Psalms 47

Observation

God almost wiped the entire family line of Korah because of the sins of 1 man.  Many years later, the remnant of his family line was fully involved in the worship and praise of God Almighty.  Psalms 47 reveals an uplifting poem written for worshiping God.  The Sons of Korah testify to everyone that God is awesome and is the great king over the earth.  They proclaim that God reigns over the nations and He is seated on his holy throne.

Application

The continuing existence of this family line is a testimony to the grace of God.  Allowing this family to overcome the sins of a past generation and continue to serve as Levites in charge leading worship of God’s people displays the forgiveness of God.  God wants a relationship with everyone.  Even those who sin greatly against Him can overcome their past and give their lives over to serving God.  Just as Korah’s decedents were used by God to worship Him, we too can be used by God, if we are willing.

Prayer

I praise you Heavenly Father that you have made a way for me to have a relationship with you. Give me the dedication that the Sons of Korah had to not cling onto their past failures but instead dedicate themselves to worship you.