The Lord’s Right Hand Is Lifted High! (Psalm 118)

Psalm 118 is a joyful declaration of God’s steadfast love and the triumph of His righteousness. This psalm is a part of the Hallel, a series of psalms (Psalms 113–118) traditionally sung during Jewish festivals, particularly Passover. It is a communal and personal celebration of deliverance and thanksgiving to the Lord.

Verse 16 reads (NIV) : The Lord’s right hand is lifted high; the Lord’s right hand has done mighty things!

Since the Book of Psalms is the 19th book of the Bible, the identifier of the verse is (19+118+16=153).

Conclusion: When we pray the Lord’s Prayer, we declare that the Lord’s right hand is lifted high; the Lord’s right hand has done mighty things!

In the Lord’s Prayer, we say, “Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10). This petition acknowledges God’s supreme authority and power to accomplish His will. Similarly, Psalm 118:16 exalts the Lord’s “right hand,” a symbol of His sovereignty, which performs “mighty things” to fulfill His divine will.

Psalm 79 and the Lord’s Prayer

The entirety of Psalm 79 astonishingly points to the Lord’s Prayer. Here’s the table for Psalm 79, including the verse enumeration, verse citations, verse texts, identifiers for each verse, and their accumulated sums:

No.VerseTextIdentifierAccumulated Sum
1Psalm 79:1O God, the nations have come into your inheritance; they have defiled your holy temple; they have laid Jerusalem in ruins.9999
2Psalm 79:2They have given the bodies of your servants to the birds of the heavens for food, the flesh of your faithful to the beasts of the earth.100199
3Psalm 79:3They have poured out their blood like water all around Jerusalem, and there was no one to bury them.101300
4Psalm 79:4We have become a taunt to our neighbors, mocked and derided by those around us.102402
5Psalm 79:5How long, O LORD? Will you be angry forever? Will your jealousy burn like fire?103505
6Psalm 79:6Pour out your wrath on the nations that do not know you, and on the kingdoms that do not call upon your name!104609
7Psalm 79:7For they have devoured Jacob and laid waste his habitation.105714
8Psalm 79:8Do not remember against us our former iniquities; let your compassion come speedily to meet us, for we are brought very low.106820
9Psalm 79:9Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of your name; deliver us, and atone for our sins, for your name’s sake!107927
10Psalm 79:10Why should the nations say, ‘Where is their God?’ Let the avenging of the outpoured blood of your servants be known among the nations before our eyes!1081035
11Psalm 79:11Let the groans of the prisoners come before you; according to your great power, preserve those doomed to die!1091144
12Psalm 79:12Return sevenfold into the lap of our neighbors the taunts with which they have taunted you, O Lord!1101254
13Psalm 79:13But we your people, the sheep of your pasture, will give thanks to you forever; from generation to generation we will recount your praise.1111365

There are 16 divisors of 1365, namely, {1, 3, 5, 7, 13, 15, 21, 35, 39, 65, 91, 105, 195, 273, 455, 1365}. The sum of the divisors is 2688. Hence, the arithmetic mean of the divisors is 2688/16 = 168. Since 168 is the identifier of the Lord’s Prayer in the Gospel of Luke, the themes and moral lessons of Psalm 79 are encapsulated by the Lord’s Prayer.

Discussion

The themes and moral lessons of Psalm 79 center on the relationship between the community and God during times of extreme adversity. They teach the importance of turning to God in honest lament, seeking justice from a divine perspective, acknowledging communal and ancestral sins, and understanding the broader implications of God’s actions for His global reputation. Additionally, they reinforce the value of praising God for His deliverance and faithfulness, emphasizing a stance of gratitude and recognition of God’s mercy. They connect well with several elements of the Lord’s Prayer, offering a deeper understanding of how these scriptures complement each other in the broader context of faith and reliance on God.

Acknowledgment of God’s Sovereignty

  • Psalm 79. The Psalmist begins by acknowledging the devastation brought upon by foreign nations, yet it is clear that they turn to God as the ultimate authority and deliverer.
  • Lord’s Prayer. This is echoed in the opening of the Lord’s Prayer with “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,” which recognizes God’s ultimate sovereignty over all things.

Seeking Deliverance and God’s Kingdom

  • Psalm 79. The Psalm appeals to God for deliverance from enemies and for the manifestation of His justice and mercy, showing reliance on God’s power to save.
  • Lord’s Prayer. Similarly, the prayer includes “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven,” seeking God’s righteous rule and divine intervention in the world.

Request for Forgiveness

  • Psalm 79. The Psalmist pleads for forgiveness for past sins, recognizing that their current plight might be a consequence of these actions. They seek reconciliation and mercy.
  • Lord’s Prayer. This aspect aligns with “Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors,” emphasizing the need for divine forgiveness and the importance of forgiving others as a reflection of God’s forgiveness.

Protection from Evil

  • Psalm 79. The psalm ends with a plea for protection and deliverance from the evils that have befallen the people, hoping that God will not let their foes triumph over them permanently.
  • Lord’s Prayer. This is paralleled in “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one,” where there is a petition for guidance away from sin and protection from evil influences.

Call for Justice and Retribution

  • Psalm 79. The psalm specifically asks for God’s retribution against those who have wronged them, reflecting a desire for divine justice to prevail.
  • Lord’s Prayer. While the Lord’s Prayer does not explicitly call for retribution, the appeal for God’s kingdom and will implies a restoration of justice according to divine standards.

Conclusion with Praise and Hope

  • Psalm 79. Despite the lament and pleas for help, the Psalm concludes with a vow to give thanks and praise to God forever, showing trust in God’s faithfulness.
  • Lord’s Prayer. The prayer also concludes with a doxology in some traditions: “For yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.” This encapsulates the praise and acknowledgment of God’s eternal sovereignty and power.

Integration

Both Psalm 79 and the Lord’s Prayer encapsulate a profound reliance on God in times of distress, a plea for divine intervention, and an acknowledgment of God’s rule. They collectively teach about the relationship between human vulnerability, divine power, and the role of faith in navigating life’s challenges. Through these prayers, believers are reminded of the importance of turning to God, seeking His justice, and trusting in His eternal goodness and mercy.

The secret of the Lord is with Those who Fear Him (Psalm 25:14)

There are two verses in the Bible that offer us incredible insights into God’s character and purposes; Psalm 25:14 and Proverbs 8:13.

The secret of the Lord is with those who fear Him. And He will show them His covenant. (Psalm 25:14, NKJV)

The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way And the perverse mouth I hate. (Proverbs 8:13, NKJV)

Psalm 25:14 reveals that God shares His intimate counsel with those who revere Him, making His covenant known to them. This covenant signifies the special bond and promises that God extends to individual believers who honor Him and place their trust in His guidance. It encompasses God’s loving care, divine protection, abundant provision, and the privilege of intimate communion with those who faithfully obey His will. Proverbs 8:13 provides guidance on how to cultivate this reverent relationship with God to fully experience His covenant blessings. It emphasizes the importance of distancing ourselves from evil, rejecting pride, arrogance, and corrupt speech, as part of our commitment to honor and reverence the Lord.

In summary, both verses highlight the significance of fearing the Lord, which involves reverence, obedience, and a turning away from evil. They emphasize that those who fear the Lord are granted special privileges and insights into God’s character and purposes.

Next, we will show that mathematically Psalm 25:14 and Proverbs 8:13 are linked with the Lord’s Prayer. Indeed, the alphanumeric analysis of Psalm 25:14 gives the value 1142.

HebrewEnglishValue of Hebrew Word
ס֣וֹד
sō-wḏ
The secret70
יְ֭הוָה
Yah-weh
of Yahweh26
לִירֵאָ֑יו
lî-rê-’āw;
[is] with those who fear Him257
וּ֝בְרִית֗וֹ
ū-ḇə-rî-ṯōw,
and His covenant624
לְהוֹדִיעָֽם׃
lə-hō-w-ḏî-‘ām.
He will show them165
The sum of all the values of the words in Psalm 25:14 is 1142.

The number 1142 is the 952nd composite number. There are 16 divisors of 952, given in the set {1, 2, 4, 7, 8, 14, 17, 28, 34, 56, 68, 119, 136, 238, 476, 952}. The sum of the divisors is 2160; hence the arithmetic mean of the divisors is 2160/16 = 135.

Conclusion. Here we borrow an except from Oswald Chambers’ classic devotional My Utmost for His Highest:

The Secret of the Lord
The secret of the Lord is with those who fear Him… PSALM 25:14
What is the sign of a friend? Is it that he tells you his secret sorrows? No, it is that he tells you his secret joys. Many people will confide their secret sorrows to you, but the final mark of intimacy is when they share their secret joys with you. Have we ever let God tell us any of His joys? Or are we continually telling God our secrets, leaving Him no time to talk to us? At the beginning of our Christian life we are full of requests to God. But then we find that God wants to get us into an intimate relationship with Himself— to get us in touch with His purposes. Are we so intimately united to Jesus Christ’s idea of prayer— “Your will be done” (Matthew 6:10 )— that we catch the secrets of God? What makes God so dear to us is not so much His big blessings to us, but the tiny things, because they show His amazing intimacy with us— He knows every detail of each of our individual lives.

Lord, Be Merciful Unto Me (Psalm 41:4)

Psalm 41:4 stands as a concise yet profound prayer, resonating with those who earnestly seek sincere repentance and reconciliation with God amid the depths of remorse.

I said, Lord, be merciful unto me: heal my soul; for I have sinned against thee. (KJV)

This verse encapsulates the heartfelt plea of individuals who recognize their own frailties and shortcomings, acknowledging their need for divine mercy and forgiveness. Its brevity belies its depth, offering solace to those burdened by the weight of their transgressions.

Given that the Book of Psalms is the 19th book of the Bible, the identifier for Psalm 41:4 is 19+41+4=64. The 64th sphenic number is 530, and the 430th composite number is 530. But the Euler Totient function evaluated at 430 is 168, which is the identifier for the Lord’s Prayer in the Gospel of Luke. This beautiful mathematical result gives us the following conclusion:

Conclusion. When we pray the Lord’s Prayer, we petition our Father in Heaven to be merciful to us and to heal our soul, for we have sinned against Him.

Discussions

Psalm 41:4 and the Lord’s Prayer share a thematic connection in their focus on repentance, forgiveness, and seeking God’s mercy.

In Psalm 41:4, the psalmist expresses a deep sense of contrition and remorse, seeking sincere repentance from God. This verse reflects the psalmist’s acknowledgment of his own frailties and shortcomings, as well as his earnest desire for divine mercy and forgiveness. It embodies the longing of the human soul to be reconciled with its Creator and offers a heartfelt plea for restoration and renewal.

Similarly, the Lord’s Prayer, taught by Jesus to His disciples, includes a petition for forgiveness: “And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors” (Matthew 6:12, NIV). This prayer acknowledges the need for repentance and seeks God’s mercy and grace in the face of sin. By asking for forgiveness, believers express their recognition of their own faults and their reliance on God’s compassion and willingness to forgive.

Both Psalm 41:4 and the Lord’s Prayer emphasize the importance of humility, repentance, and seeking God’s forgiveness. They serve as reminders of the universal human experience of grappling with sin and the need for reconciliation with God. Whether expressed in the heartfelt words of the psalmist or the timeless prayer taught by Jesus, the themes of repentance and forgiveness resonate deeply with believers across generations, offering solace and hope in the face of human frailty and the assurance of God’s boundless grace.

I desire to do your will, my God (Psalm 40:8-9)

Psalm 40:8-9 captures the essence of wholehearted devotion and obedience to God:
“I desire to do your will, my God; your law is within my heart.”
(Psalm 40:8)
“I proclaim your saving acts in the great assembly; I do not seal my lips, Lord, as you know.”
(Psalm 40:9)

The essence of Psalm 40:8-9 is one of unwavering commitment to God, a fervent desire to follow His will, and a readiness to share His goodness with others. It reflects a heart fully surrendered to God, eager to live in obedience and bear witness to His faithfulness.

To calculate the sum of the identifiers for Psalm 40:8-9, we’ll find the identifier for each verse and then sum them up.

For Psalm 40:8:

Book of Psalms = 19
Chapter 40
Verse 8
Identifier = 19 + 40 + 8 = 67

For Psalm 40:9:

Book of Psalms = 19
Chapter 40
Verse 9
Identifier = 19 + 40 + 9 = 68

Now, let’s sum these identifiers:

For Psalm 40:8-9:
67 + 68 = 135

Therefore, the sum of the identifiers for Psalm 40:8-9 is 135.

In the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus teaches His disciples to pray, “Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10), indicating a desire for God’s perfect will to be fulfilled. Similarly, Psalm 40:8 declares, “I desire to do your will, my God,” reflecting the psalmist’s earnest desire to align their life with God’s purposes.

Conclusion: When we pray the Lord’s Prayer, we declare to our Father in Heaven that we desire to do His Will.