Psalms 89-92 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 89

L

ord, I will proclaim your mercy and truth forever. Your mercy knows no bounds; your truth is eternal and divine. The pledge you made to David came to fruition in his descendant, Jesus, who established a new covenant between you and the Church. The universe declares your greatness, and your Church professes your truth.

Who is as great as our God? He is glorified by his heavenly host and all the saints in heaven. All worship the Almighty and revere him for his great power and truth. He controls the seas, humbles the proud, and disperses the ungodly. He created the heavens and the earth; the winds and the seas. They all belong to him. Even the mountains praise his name. His strong right arm is powered by truth and justice. His people will praise him forever, for it is his truth, Jesus Christ, who has set them free.

Jesus is our defender and King. He is the Holy One whom the prophets foretold would incarnate from the offspring of David. He is the Messiah, the anointed one. The Father strengthened him against his evil adversaries. Hell itself could not prevail against his truth and mercy. The Father’s glory shone through him. Jesus is the Lord of all.

Jesus called the Almighty his Father, his God, and his salvation. And God made him the King of kings, with all the rights and privileges of his firstborn. Jesus will be the dispenser of God’s mercy forever. The covenant he made will be binding for eternity, and his kingdom will have no end.

Those who disobey the Father’s commandments will be chastised, but he will apply the rod with mercy and justice. He will never go back on his promise to David: that his family line will endure as long as the sun and the moon hang in the sky.

But we scorned, rejected, insulted, weakened, bullied, and publicly humiliated his Son. We sided with his enemies, much to their delight, leaving him defenseless. We made him appear to be the sinner; sought to end his Church at the cross; cut his life short; and shamed him. Yet the Father did not leave his Son in the grave. He knew how weak we are and took pity on us. He would not renege on his vow to give us eternal life.

Jesus bore his torture and death for us. Our sins were the whips that beat him; the nails that punctured his hands and feet; the thorns that pierced his brow. But on the third day God raised him from the dead! Let us praise the Lord forever. Amen.⁴²

 Psalm 90

F

ather, you existed before time began, before you created the world and its people, for whom you have always been a refuge. We are just a fleeting shadow who at your command returns to dust. In your sight we are here only a day, for time has no meaning in heaven. Compared to you, Lord, our lives come and go in an instant. We spring up like the morning grass that withers under the hot sun and dies by nightfall.

We fear your anger, Lord, for you see our sins, all the times we failed, and we are made weak by your chastisements. Like a spider, we weave our webs of life, going here and there, for seven or eight decades. And most days are spent in suffering and drudgery. Eventually, we learn from our mistakes and do the right thing. Who knows how angry you can become? Guide us, Lord, so that we may spend our days wisely, so as not to call your judgment down upon us.

Lord, come back! Hear the prayers of your servants. You once were merciful to us, and we rejoiced because of it. Give us some good days now to make up for the days we suffered. Lead us in the path of righteousness. May your face shine upon us and help us to live life abundantly. Amen.

Psalm 91

I

dwell in the presence of the Most High God, and he shelters me from the attacks of Satan and his angels. I hope in him, and he frees me from the devil’s snares. He watches over me, and I trust him to protect me. He has given his word to defend me against all evil. No matter how many enemies may assail me, they will not harm me.

I see with my own eyes how he rewards those who trust in him. The Lord is my refuge; I will not fear or be terrified of any evil, including death itself. His angels will protect me even from the smallest danger. He will save me because I believe in him and love him. I will never face evil alone. He will defeat my enemies and bring me honor. If it be God’s will, I will lead a long, satisfying life here on earth. And then I will spend eternity with him in heaven when this life comes to an end.⁴³

 Psalm 92

W

e give you thanks, Lord, in prayer and song for your mercy and truth. We rejoice in the splendor of your works which you created with the Holy Spirit and Christ. Your truth is profound and not grasped by the ignorant, the fool, and the lawless. Sinners will perish, but the righteous will be rewarded, not just with peace of mind, but with peace of soul, particularly in old age, when they will look forward to heaven, unlike the ungodly who will fear damnation. 

I have seen what happens to sinners. It is not pretty. But the innocent are blessed, perhaps not with wealth or even a long life, but with the peace that comes from knowing that they are storing up their treasure in heaven. Meanwhile, their virtue increases in this life and in gratitude they proclaim, “It is right and just to give you praise, always and everywhere, Almighty Father. Your ways are perfect and true.” Amen.⁴⁴

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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.
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⁴²The Orthodox Study Bible. (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2008), 740.

⁴³Ibid., p. 742.

⁴⁴Ibid., p. 743.

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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 

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