Psalm 81: Open Thy Mouth
Asaph calls on his listeners to “sing aloud” and “make a joyful noise.” Then God speaks to the people, reminding them of his miracles, including His promise to bless them abundantly: “Open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.” He ends with mourning: If Israel had hearkened to Him, He would have fed them “honey out of the rock.”
Psalm 82: Ye Are Gods
Asaph describes God standing in judgment among “the gods,” perhaps a reference to mortal leaders. Asaph urges those leaders to “defend the poor and fatherless” and “deliver the poor and needy.” He says, “Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High. But ye shall die like men.”
Psalm 83: They Are Confederate
Asaph lists all of the nations who are conspiring to attack God’s people: Edom, Ishmael, Moab, etc. He pleads with God to “fill their faces with shame” and “let them be confounded.”
Psalm 84: How Amiable Are Thy Tabernacles!
The psalmist declares his love for God’s house. “My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the Lord.” He says, “A day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.”
Psalm 85: Mercy and Truth Meet
The psalmist thanks God for forgiving the iniquity of his people. He asks God to revive them again, so that they can have joy. Then, he expresses confidence that God will do so: “Mercy and truth are met together,” he says; “righteousness and peace have kissed each other.”
Book of Mormon connection:
- Alma testifies, “Jesus Christ shall come, yea, the Son, the Only Begotten of the Father, full of grace, and mercy, and truth” (Alma 5:48).
Psalm 86: Unite My Heart
David prays for God to preserve his soul. He testifies that the Lord is the only God. He pleads, “Unite my heart to fear thy name,” and promises, “I will praise thee, … with all my heart.” He testifies that God is “full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.”
Psalm 87: This Man Was Born There
The psalmist lists people of different nationalities, including enemies of Israel like Egypt (Rahab) and Philistia. He says of them all, “This man was born there [in Zion],” indicating that people from all parts of the world can become part of God’s people.
Psalm 88: Into Darkness
A lamentation psalm that never turns positive. The psalmist protests to God, “I have cried day and night before thee.” He reports that his soul is full of troubles, and that his life draws near to the grave. “Why castest thou off my soul?” he asks. “Why hidest thou thy face from me?” He ends by saying, “Lover and friend hast thou put far from me, and mine acquaintance into darkness.”
Psalm 89: Thy Former Lovingkindnesses
The psalmist extols God’s supremacy over nature and His covenant with David. He remembers many times when God has saved Israel, and quotes God saying, “My covenant will I not break.” He asks when God will do the same again: “Lord, where are thy former lovingkindnesses?”
Book of Mormon connection:
- When God anointed David as king, He declared that David would cry unto Him, “Thou art my father, my God, and the rock of my salvation.” (compare 2 Samuel 22:47). Nephi offers a similar prayer as part of his psalm: “O Lord, I will praise thee forever; yea, my soul will rejoice in thee, my God, and the rock of my salvation” (2 Nephi 4:30).
Psalm 90: Teach Us to Number Our Days
Moses compares our mortality with God’s eternal existence. “A thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past,” he observes. In contrast, a human life is only 70 or 80 years long. “So teach us to number our days,” he pleads, “that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.”
Today I will trust the former lovingkindnesses of God. I will receive and be grateful for the blessings He offers me, and will recognize His perfect blending of mercy and truth.
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