Psalms 81-84 from my new book:

A NEW LOOK AT THE OLD PSALMS

Praying the Psalms: a modern interpretation

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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

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Psalm 81

(Christ’s Church is the new covenant sealed by the blood of the Lamb and renewed in the sacrament of Baptism.)

Y

our Church thanks you, Lord, for all you have done for us. The Israelites celebrated their escape from Egypt and the establishment of a covenant between you and man. Likewise, we lift our voice with song and harp to acclaim the formation of our Church and a new covenant. Jesus, your Son, established the agreement in his own blood and reaffirmed it in the sacrament of Baptism. For the Israelites were reborn and became a new nation, pledging to honor you and keep your commandments. Likewise, in Baptism, we are reborn and become your children, vowing to abhor evil and obey your precepts.

But we are a stiff-necked people, Lord. You heard the cries of the Israelites and freed them from slavery, and they still challenged you. You asked them to adore only you, the one God. You fed them and gave them water to drink. But they rebelled, and you punished them for forty years.

Your Church today rebels. Few are satisfied with your many gifts, and we adore way too many false idols. Had the Jews followed your commandments, you would have defeated their enemies and subdued them forever. You would have satisfied their every want.

Your response to us is the same today; “Do as I say, and I will defend your Church against all enemies, within and without, and shower you with many blessings, gifts and graces.” Amen.³⁶

Psalm 82

C

hrist is present in his Church where he judges his Father’s children. He asks us, “How long will you treat people unfairly and align yourselves with sinners? You are supposed to be helping the little guy and the poor, protecting them from the enemy who works in secret, undermining the very fabric of society. You are sons of the Most High. Act like it! You have been called to be my spokesman on earth, but if you side with sinners, I will judge you accordingly. In the end you will die like all men. Even kings have to face my judgment eventually.”

We understand, Lord. You rose from the dead and will return to deliver justice on Judgment Day.³⁷

Psalm 83

(A prophecy of the persecution of the Church.)

L

ord, there is no one as powerful as you. Speak up for your Church, for those who hate Christ have raised their ugly heads to attack us. They scheme and plot to destroy us, to wipe us completely off the face of the earth. They have united and formed an axis of evil against you.

Rebuke your enemies, Lord, just as you defeated the armies that attacked ancient Israel and sought to possess their land. Let them be the ones humiliated and disgraced. Perhaps some of them will even join us. Show them that you are the Lord, the ruler of the whole world.³⁸

Psalm 84

H

ow beautiful heaven must be, Lord. How my soul longs to be with you. Just the thought of it sends chills down my spine. Even the birds build nests near your altar. How happy must be the souls in heaven where they can praise you forever. Blessed are those whose help comes from you. You will keep their hearts focused on the joy to come after their journey through this valley of tears. You will shower the pilgrims with blessings and strengthen them as they make their way home where they will see you face to face.

Receive my prayer, Almighty Father, that I may spend eternity with you, where even one day is worth more than a thousand here on earth. I would rather be an outcast in heaven than a guest in the house of sinners.

You are a merciful and just God and you will bless those who follow your commandments with glory and grace. Blessed are they who place their hope in you. Amen.

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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/

³⁶The Orthodox Study Bible. (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2008), 736.³⁷Ibid.

³⁸Ibid., p. 737

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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.