Psalms 77 and 78 from my new book:

A NEW LOOK AT THE OLD PSALMS

Praying the Psalms: a modern interpretation

____________________

I present here a new perspective on the psalms. I have rewritten them from a New 
Testament Christ-centered point of view. I did not try to capture the poetry of the 
psalms – I leave that to more gifted writers – but I attempted to capture their message
with a more modern interpretation.

God bless,

John

____________________

Psalm 77

I

lifted my voice in prayer to God and he heard me. I was in distress and spent many nights talking to him about my problems, but I found no comfort. Thinking about the Lord lifted my spirits, but I began complaining and became depressed. I spent the whole night worrying and did not say a word. I remembered the good old days when we were so close. I tried to get in touch with my feelings. Will the Lord reject me forever? Will he never show me his favor again? Will God show me his mercy again? Perhaps he just forgot. Or he may be just that angry with me. Then I had a revelation. The Lord drew my attention to his works in the past, and I became lost in contemplation.

Father, your way is the holy way. No one, no matter how great, can compare to you, for you are the God of wonders. You rescued the Israelites from the Egyptians. You sent Jesus to save us from the fear of death and give us eternal life. Who could forget how you separated the Red Sea so your chosen people could escape Pharaoh? The waters trembled, lightning lit up the sky, thunder rumbled, and the earth shook. You led your people through the sea, yet no one saw your footsteps. Like a good shepherd, you protected your sheep from the wolves. Later, you sent another shepherd, Jesus, who sacrificed his life to save his sheep. Thank you, Father, for loving us so much. Thank you, Jesus, for saving us. Amen.

 Psalm 78

(Christ gives instructions to his Church regarding its history and the lessons it teaches.)

" L

isten, my brothers and sisters. I want to talk to you about your past that has been handed down to you from generation to generation. I am speaking about the wondrous deeds of the Father. He led his people out of bondage and gave them his laws. He told them to teach their children their history so they would have hope in him and follow his commandments. What you have learned in the past applies to you, my Church, today: do not become rebellious, bitter, and unfaithful.

The Israelites forgot what the Father had done for them: he parted the sea and led them to safety; he gave them water from a rock to drink; he fed them with manna and birds. They still continued to disobey him, and he punished them for their ingratitude, disbelief, and loss of hope in his saving grace. In his anger, he killed many of them, but that did not stop them from sinning. They still refused to believe in him.

Finally, after seeing so much death, the survivors turned back to God and remembered that he was their redeemer and friend. Oh, they said nice things about God, but that was just to win his favor. They were still unfaithful and disobedient. God could have punished them again, but he had mercy on them. He knew they were weak and only here for a short time.

His people forgot about what he had done for them in Egypt: he sent plagues; he killed Egypt’s firstborn, the promise of Egypt’s future, to get Pharaoh to set his people free; he guided them through the sea that drowned their enemy and brought them to the Promised Land; and he gave them the nations of others for their home. And still they rebelled and broke his commandments, just like their ancestors. They went so far as to worship false gods.

So God had to punish them again: he abandoned his Ark, and the enemy captured it; his people became slaves; young men were slaughtered, depriving young women of potential marriage partners; priests were killed, leaving their wives speechless with grief. The Lord did not hold back in his anger and condemned them to eternal disgrace. To build a new kingdom, he rejected Joseph’s and Ephraim’s tribes and chose the people of Judah. He built his Temple on his beloved Mt. Zion. He selected David, a shepherd, to lead his people and anointed him king of Israel. With a pure heart, he ruled his kingdom with integrity and skill.”³³

____________________

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³³The Orthodox Study Bible. (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2008), 732.

This book and other books I have written are posted for your reading pleasure at Booksie.

Scriptural quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, 

copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois
60189. All rights reserved.

Copyright © 2016 by John P. Gross. All rights reserved. Reproduction of this material must 

be done in its entirety with the copyright notice intact. This book is not for sale, but is 

offered to the public free of charge for the glory of God.

Psalms 75 and 76 from my new book:

A NEW LOOK AT THE OLD PSALMS

Praying the Psalms: a modern interpretation

____________________

I present here a new perspective on the psalms. I have rewritten them from a New 
Testament Christ-centered point of view. I did not try to capture the poetry of the 
psalms – I leave that to more gifted writers – but I attempted to capture their message
with a more modern interpretation.

God bless,

John

____________________

Psalm 75

(A prophecy concerning Christ and the Last Judgment.)

W

e will praise you when we appear before your Judgment Seat, O Lord, and tell of all the wonders that you have worked. I remember your warning to the ungodly: “In the fullness of time, the earth, which I firmly established myself, and all its people will vanish, and I will deliver my judgment. I warned you not to break my commandments, to cease boasting of your evil acts, and stop accusing me of acting wrongfully. You look high and low for ways to justify your sins, but I alone am your judge. I decide who is condemned or rewarded, and sinners will drink deeply from the cup of my justice.”

As for me, I will rejoice forever in my Father’s house, for he will crush the sinner, but exalt the righteous. Amen.³¹

Psalm 76

(A prophecy concerning the battle between the kingdom of light and the kingdom of darkness.)

I

n the beginning, before the Lord incarnated on earth, the Almighty’s kingdom of heaven was a place of peace. But then Satan and his followers rose up in rebellion, and God and his angels defeated them and cast them out. What a wondrous city of light heaven must be! It casts its glow over all of creation, disturbing the sinner, sending the rich away empty-handed, and weakening those who wage war.

You are awe-inspiring, Lord. Who could challenge you? Satan tried to dethrone you in heaven, but that effort failed. Unfortunately, the devil was more successful on earth spreading his lies and leading your people to grievous sin. But then came the day of your great wrath. You rose up and sent your Son to defeat Satan and his minions once and for all and save the innocent. The earth held its breath in anticipation of the arrival of its savior. The rest is history.

We thank you, Father, from the bottom of our hearts for saving us. Let us all pray and follow the path of Christ. Let us bring gifts of praise and thanksgiving to the One who destroys the powerful and instills fear in kings. Amen.³²

____________________

Cover image: Christ the Saviour (Pantokrator)." Web. 25 Sept 2016.
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"Creative Commons License." Web. 18 May 2016.
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³¹The Orthodox Study Bible. (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2008), 731.

³²Ibid.

This book and other books I have written are posted for your reading pleasure at Booksie.

Scriptural quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, 

copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois
60189. All rights reserved.

Copyright © 2016 by John P. Gross. All rights reserved. Reproduction of this material must 

be done in its entirety with the copyright notice intact. This book is not for sale, but is 

offered to the public free of charge for the glory of God.

Psalms 73 and 74 from my new book:

A NEW LOOK AT THE OLD PSALMS

Praying the Psalms: a modern interpretation

____________________

I present here a new perspective on the psalms. I have rewritten them from a New 
Testament Christ-centered point of view. I did not try to capture the poetry of the 
psalms – I leave that to more gifted writers – but I attempted to capture their message
with a more modern interpretation.

God bless,

John

____________________

Psalm 73

O

Lord, how well you treat the righteous. But there was a time when I almost walked away from you. I was jealous of the peace of the ungodly. They seem to get away with murder, without any thought of the eternal judgment to come. Life goes so smoothly for them that they take pride in sinning and doing their evil acts. They even become more prosperous as they do as they please. They think evil thoughts and speak as if they were God themselves. Everybody listens to them and seems to profit from their pronouncements. Listeners ask, “What do we really know about God? Does he really know what’s going on?” They see how sinners prosper.

In a moment of weakness, I said to myself: “I am surely wasting my time trying to do what is right. I have nothing to show for it but endless heartache. Yet if I followed their example, I would be violating the sacred trust that exists between God and his children.” So I prayed about this and finally understood what would eventually happen to these proud sinners. They who deceive others will suddenly find themselves deceived, humiliated, and utterly ruined; their dream become a nightmare.

I realized how much you despised them, and that I was unknowingly abhorred by you as well. I had become like a wild animal driven by instinct rather than conscience. Yet the tie that binds us together is too tight for me to stray from you too far or too long. I know you are there guiding me, leading me to the glory of heaven. For what I desire in heaven and on earth is only you. I know how weak I am, but I love you, Lord, and I wish to spend eternity with you. The wicked will lose their soul because they acted unfaithfully. But I cling to you and place my hope in you. And I will sing your praises to the whole world. Amen.

Psalm 74

L

ord, why have you abandoned us? Why are you so angry with the sheep of your flock whom you redeemed with your precious blood? Remember your Church. Defend us against the arrogant who blatantly break your commandments, despite all that you did for them. Your enemy, Satan, makes no attempt to hide his intentions. He attacks your Church and seeks to destroy what you have built, the institution that carries your name. There is no prophet to let us know when this ordeal will end. How long must we endure this assault on your Church? When will you strike back in our defense?

Lord, you were King before time began. You incarnated to work out our salvation by your death on the cross. It was your great power that split the sea and drowned the Egyptians, leaving Pharaoh’s men as food for the animals roaming the desert. That same power revealed itself again at your Baptism when the Trinity – Father, Son and Holy Spirit – was made manifest and crushed the devil. You created the world, the sun and the moon, the earth’s frontiers, and the seasons. And yet the foolish enemy insults you and your name.

May the soul that praises you not become food for the savage beasts. Remember us suffering souls, Lord, and the covenant you made between us, for evil lurks wherever there is darkness. Hear the pleas of the humiliated and disgraced who bless your name. Rise, O Lord, as you did at your resurrection, and answer the insults of the foolish. Remember us who beg you for help. Otherwise, the enemy will become more and more arrogant. Amen.³⁰

____________________

Cover image: Christ the Saviour (Pantokrator)." Web. 25 Sept 2016.
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Spas_vsederzhitel_sinay.jpg
"Creative Commons License." Web. 18 May 2016.
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³⁰he Orthodox Study Bible. (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2008), 730.

This book and other books I have written are posted for your reading pleasure at Booksie.

Scriptural quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, 

copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois
60189. All rights reserved.

Copyright © 2016 by John P. Gross. All rights reserved. Reproduction of this material must 

be done in its entirety with the copyright notice intact. This book is not for sale, but is 

offered to the public free of charge for the glory of God.

Psalms 71 and 72 from my new book:

A NEW LOOK AT THE OLD PSALMS

Praying the Psalms: a modern interpretation

____________________

I present here a new perspective on the psalms. I have rewritten them from a New 
Testament Christ-centered point of view. I did not try to capture the poetry of the 
psalms – I leave that to more gifted writers – but I attempted to capture their message
with a more modern interpretation.

God bless,

John

____________________

Psalm 71

F

ather, I place my hope in you. Hear my prayer and protect me from sinners who break your commandments and treat others unfairly. I should not be anxious, for you have been my helper since I was conceived. I will be eternally grateful for all you have done for me. Others are amazed at how often you have gotten me out of trouble. I will praise you unceasingly, for you are my rock and defender.

But now I am old and weak and need your help more than ever. The devil sees my weakness and wants to sift me like wheat. My enemies think that you have abandoned me. Show them, Father, that you are near. Rebuke them, shame them, and turn their evil actions back against them. I trust in you and will praise you even more, for it is your power that makes me strong. All my life you have been my support. I will never stop proclaiming your wondrous deeds, even with my last breath. Stay with me until I have proclaimed your saving power, magnificent accomplishments, and holiness to everyone I meet, so that they may make known your glorious achievements to all future generations. 

I will sing your wondrous story, Father, until my praises reach the sky. For who is as great as my God? Yes, you have chastised me, but you eased my pain when I learned my lesson. So this song is for you, Lord, a song about my soul’s redemption. I will pray and meditate upon you day and night. As for those who wish me harm, they will be disgraced and humiliated. Amen.

Psalm 72

(A prophecy of Christ, the King of Peace.)

F

ather, you sent your son, Jesus, to judge your people wisely and justly. He is the King of Peace who watches over the poor and humbles those who treat them unfairly. He will reign forever. He continues to shower his subjects with peace and justice. He rules the whole world, and his enemies are laid low. Rulers of all nations will bring him gifts of praise to honor him. He saved the downtrodden from the oppressor. He protected the needy from those who mistreated them and took advantage of them financially. He has always had a soft spot in his heart for the poor. People will pray night and day because of his many blessings and give him praise for harvests so abundant that they reach toward the sky. All nations will praise and glorify him from generation to generation.

We bless you, Lord, for all your mighty deeds which only you could have accomplished. We will praise your glorious name eternally. Your glory will cover the whole world. Amen! Amen!²⁹

____________________

Cover image: Christ the Saviour (Pantokrator)." Web. 25 Sept 2016.
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"Creative Commons License." Web. 18 May 2016.
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²⁹The Orthodox Study Bible. (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2008), 728.

This book and other books I have written are posted for your reading pleasure at Booksie.

Scriptural quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, 

copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois
60189. All rights reserved.

Copyright © 2016 by John P. Gross. All rights reserved. Reproduction of this material must 

be done in its entirety with the copyright notice intact. This book is not for sale, but is 

offered to the public free of charge for the glory of God.

Psalms 69 and 70 from my new book:

A NEW LOOK AT THE OLD PSALMS

Praying the Psalms: a modern interpretation

____________________

I present here a new perspective on the psalms. I have rewritten them from a New 
Testament Christ-centered point of view. I did not try to capture the poetry of the 
psalms – I leave that to more gifted writers – but I attempted to capture their message
with a more modern interpretation.

God bless,

John

____________________

Psalm 69

(Jesus prays for sinners during his torture and crucifixion.)

" C

ome to my rescue, Father, for I am overwhelmed by the wicked who torment me unjustly. I suffer for sins I did not commit. Let my death and resurrection be a sign to my followers that death is not the end, for they are ashamed that the one they thought was the Son of God should die such an ignominious death.  

I am disgraced, but it is for this that you sent me. I am humiliated; my disciples and believers have abandoned me. Yet nothing could divert me from my mission: to teach people how to live a godly life, to conquer death, and create a new covenant between God and man. I fasted and prayed for man’s sake, but they rejected me. I am now just a topic of conversation, someone to be remembered only in a song.

So I turn to you, Father, and beg for your mercy. Save me from this horror, from the evil that surrounds me. I am drowning in a sea of suffering and death. Do not abandon your child, Father. Come quickly and end this misery. Free me from my persecutors and rid me of my disgrace. You see how low they have brought me. I knew this moment would come. I looked for sympathy, but found none. Instead, they gave me the vinegar of torture and the gall of death. But they will be caught in their own trap. The satisfaction they seek will leave them without pleasure. Blind them, Father, to the things of this world, so they may see the glories of the next. Chastise them so they may see the error of their ways. Otherwise, they will not be able to enter into your presence. They will be stricken from the book of life.

I am suffering, Father, but I know the time of my salvation is at hand. Then I will sing a song of praise to your name for having accepted my sacrifice, a sacrifice more pleasing and more necessary than a burnt offering. Let the world see what has been accomplished for them, and they will rejoice, for the Lord has heard the cries of his people and set them free. Death has been destroyed, good has prevailed over evil, and God’s grace flows like a river again.”

Come one and all to praise God, for he has saved his people for all generations to come. Amen.28

Psalm 70

F

ather, come quickly to my aid. Protect me from the wicked who seek to shame me and ruin my soul with their evil plans. Drive them away and let them be the ones who are disgraced. Lord, I need your help now. I am in a very difficult situation. You have always been there for me in times of trouble. Hurry, Father, for my need is urgent. Count me among the righteous who are filled with joy because you saved them. May your name be exalted. Amen. 

____________________

Cover image: Christ the Saviour (Pantokrator)." Web. 25 Sept 2016.
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Spas_vsederzhitel_sinay.jpg
"Creative Commons License." Web. 18 May 2016.
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

²⁸The Orthodox Study Bible. (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2008), 726.

This book and other books I have written are posted for your reading pleasure at Booksie.

Scriptural quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, 

copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois
60189. All rights reserved.

Copyright © 2016 by John P. Gross. All rights reserved. Reproduction of this material must 

be done in its entirety with the copyright notice intact. This book is not for sale, but is 

offered to the public free of charge for the glory of God.

Psalms 67 and 68 from my new book:

A NEW LOOK AT THE OLD PSALMS

Praying the Psalms: a modern interpretation

____________________

I present here a new perspective on the psalms. I have rewritten them from a New 
Testament Christ-centered point of view. I did not try to capture the poetry of the 
psalms – I leave that to more gifted writers – but I attempted to capture their message
with a more modern interpretation.

God bless,

John

____________________

Psalm 67 (Jesus brought all nations into his Church.)

W

ith the resurrection of Jesus, God has been gracious to us, blessed us, and looked with favor upon us. He has brought salvation to all nations, Jewish and Gentile, and he will rule them justly. May all nations praise you, Lord, for you have blessed them with earthly abundance. They all stand in awe of your magnificent generosity. Amen.²⁶

Psalm 68

(A prophecy of Jesus’ resurrection and ascension.)

J

esus has risen and driven his enemies away and is preparing to ascend to the Father. The righteous celebrate and praise God for his saving grace. He is the Lord and greatly to be praised. He cares for the orphan and the widow; provides shelter for the homeless; frees the captives; and raises the dead to life.

As the earth trembled when God led his people through the desert, the land quaked when Jesus rose from the tomb. As God provided water for the thirsty from the rock, Jesus will strengthen the weak and bring them back to the fullness of life. He will sustain the poor and inspire evangelists. He is the King of hearts who showers his subjects with many blessings, like pennies from heaven.

The Lord will place bishops in charge of his Church. They will keep her pure as she gives birth to followers of Christ, just as the Blessed Virgin Mary maintained her purity so she could give birth to Christ himself. These bishops will be as numerous as snowflakes in a winter storm. There will be no need to look for God elsewhere, for the Church is the house of God. He dwells there, just as the baby Jesus rested in the womb of the Virgin Mary. And he will remain with us until the end of time.

Jesus ascended to heaven forty days after his resurrection to the cheers of his followers and the heavenly host. Thus it was that he brought to completion his mission: the salvation of mankind. He freed us from the slavery of sin and death and showed the disobedient how to live a godly life. Let us praise God for his magnanimous generosity, for our God is a saving God. He has destroyed death and defeated the devil. Wherever the wicked raise their ugly heads, on land or sea, he will destroy them for us.

We were witnesses to your glorious ascension, Lord. We saw the procession of rulers, maidens, singers, and members of your Church who accompanied you. Show us your great power, Lord, and strengthen us against the enemy. Great kings will bow before your authority. Rebuke the wicked — those who infect the godly with their evil — and disperse those who seek war.

May all nations sing your praises, Lord, as you rise toward heaven. We hear your voice. It is a powerful voice. We glorify your name for your magnificence, power, and holiness. Our mighty strength comes from you. Amen.²⁷

____________________

Cover image: Christ the Saviour (Pantokrator)." Web. 25 Sept 2016.
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"Creative Commons License." Web. 18 May 2016.
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

26The Orthodox Study Bible. (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2008), 724.

²⁷Ibid.

This book and other books I have written are posted for your reading pleasure at Booksie.

Scriptural quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, 

copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois
60189. All rights reserved.

Copyright © 2016 by John P. Gross. All rights reserved. Reproduction of this material must 

be done in its entirety with the copyright notice intact. This book is not for sale, but is 

offered to the public free of charge for the glory of God.