Psalm 11, Love in the Psalms (1)

Before we begin a more methodical journey through the Psalms, let me note that “love” is used 4x in Esther, once of the kings love for Esther above all the other “contestants” (2:17) and the rest of Haman’s “friends” (5:10,14; 6:13).  And it is used once in Job who complains that those he loved had turned against him (19:19).

As we work through Psalms, note the object of love as well as the blessing of loving the LORD and His word.

·       4:2: How long, O you sons of men, will you turn my glory to shame? … will you love worthlessness and seek falsehood?  To love anything with the love that is due to the LORD is to love what is empty, unable to satisfy the soul.

·       5:11: Let those also who love Your name be joyful in You.  To love the LORD’s name is synonymous (given the Hebrew poetry) with trusting in the LORD.

·       11:5,7: The LORD hates the one who loves violence; He loves the righteous.

·       26:8: LORD, I have loved the habitation of Your house, and the tabernacle of Your glory.

·       31:23: Oh, love the LORD all you, His saints.

·       33:5: He (the LORD) loves righteous and justice.

·       34:12: In teaching the fear of the LORD, the Psalmist asks, Who is the man who desires life, and loves many days, that he may see good?

·       37:28: The LORD loves justice, and does not forsake His saints.

·       38:11: My loved ones and my friends (companions) stand aloof from my plague.  We can add 88:18 here: Loved one and friend you have put far from me, and my acquaintances into darkness.  Much as Job observed in Job 19:19.  And much as Christ experienced in His sufferings (Mt. 26:31).

·       40:16; 70:4: Let such as love Your salvation say continually, “The LORD be magnified.”  What a great thought.  Continue to affirm this audibly so as to remind ourselves of how much we love what God has done through Christ.

·       45:7: Of the Messiah it says, You love righteousness and hate wickedness.

·       47:4: The LORD will choose our inheritance for us, the excellence of Jacob whom He loves.  In which case, it will be nothing but good (1 Pt. 1:3-5)!

·       52:3-4: If the heading is accurate, David is speaking of Doeg the Edomite and other mighty men: You love evil more than good, lying rather than speaking righteousness.  You love all devouring words, you deceitful tongue.

·       69:36: Speaking of Zion, those who love His name shall dwell in it.

·       78:68: But (the LORD) chose the tribe of Judah, Mount Zion which He loved.

·       87:2: The LORD loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob.

We will pick up here in our next post!  How many requests have you lifted to the LORD in these passages from the Psalms?  Don’t just read.  Meditate!