“Cry of Anguish and a Song of Praise”

Summary of: Chapter 22 The Spirit of Christ, which was in the prophets, testifies in this psalm, as clearly and fully as any where in all the Old Testament, “the sufferings of Christ and the glory that should follow’’ (1 Peter.1:10-13 :Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of the Messiah and the glories that would follow. It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.}Trying to determine the time and setting to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow. of him, no doubt, David here speaks, and not of himself, or any other man.

“Cry of Anguish and a Song of Praise”
Psalms 22:1-31
For the director of music. To the tune of “The Doe of the Morning.” A psalm of David.
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Why are you so far from saving me, so far from my cries of anguish?
My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer, by night, but I find no rest.
Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One; you are the one Israel praises.
In you our ancestors put their trust; they trusted and you delivered them.
To you they cried out and were saved; in you they trusted and were not put to shame.
But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by everyone, despised by the people.
All who see me mock me; they hurl insults, shaking their heads.
“He trusts in the Lord,” they say, “let the Lordrescue him.
Let him deliver him, since he delights in him.”
Yet you brought me out of the womb; you made me trust in you, even at my mother’s breast.
From birth I was cast on you; from my mother’s womb you have been my God.
Do not be far from me, for trouble is near and there is no one to help.
Many bulls surround me; strong bulls of Bashan encircle me.
Roaring lions that tear their prey open their mouths wide against me.
I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint.
My heart has turned to wax; it has melted within me.
My mouth is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; you lay me in the dust of death.
Dogs surround me, a pack of villains encircles me; they pierce my hands and my feet.
All my bones are on display; people stare and gloat over me.
They divide my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment.
But you, Lord, do not be far from me.
You are my strength; come quickly to help me.
Deliver me from the sword, my precious life from the power of the dogs.
Rescue me from the mouth of the lions; save me from the horns of the wild oxen.
I will declare your name to my people; in the assembly I will praise you.
You who fear the Lord, praise him!
All you descendants of Jacob, honor him!
Revere him, all you descendants of Israel!
For he has not despised or scorned the suffering of the afflicted one; he has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help.
From you comes the theme of my praise in the great assembly; before those who fear you I will fulfill my vows.
The poor will eat and be satisfied; those who seek the Lordwill praise him, may your hearts live forever!
All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations will bow down before him, for dominion belongs to the Lord and he rules over the nations.
All the rich of the earth will feast and worship; all who go down to the dust will kneel before him, those who cannot keep themselves alive.
Posterity will serve him; future generations will be told about the Lord.
They will proclaim his righteousness, declaring to a people yet unborn: He has done it!

Father God, I cannot begin to grasp what Jesus Christ had to endure on the cross on my behalf. May my life reflect eternal love, light and gratitude. Thank You that He died for me – I pray that I might live for Him, in Jesus Precious Name Amen!

“{To the chief Musician upon Aijeleth Shahar, A Psalm of David.} My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?”

(Psalm 22:1)

“Praise For Deliverance”


Summary: Chapter 21 As the foregoing psalm was a prayer for the king that God would protect and prosper him, so this is a thanksgiving for the success God had blessed him with. Those whom we have prayed for we ought to give thanks for, and particularly for kings, in whose prosperity we share. Psalm 21:7-13. The psalmist teaches to look forward with faith, and hope, and prayer upon what God would further do. The success with which God blessed David, was a type of the total overthrow of all Christ’s enemies!


Psalms Chapter 21:1-13
The king rejoices in your strength, LORD. How great is his joy in the victories you give! You have granted him his heart’s desire and have not withheld the request of his lips. You came to greet him with rich blessings and placed a crown of pure gold on his head. He asked you for life, and you gave it to him— length of days, for ever and ever. Through the victories you gave, his glory is great; you have bestowed on him splendor and majesty. Surely you have granted him unending blessings and made him glad with the joy of your presence. For the king trusts in the LORD; through the unfailing love of the Most High he will not be shaken. Your hand will lay hold on all your enemies; your right hand will seize your foes. When you appear for battle, you will burn them up as in a blazing furnace. The LORD will swallow them up in his wrath, and his fire will consume them. You will destroy their descendants from the earth, their posterity from mankind. Though they plot evil against you and devise wicked schemes, they cannot succeed. You will make them turn their backs when you aim at them with drawn bow. Be exalted in your strength, LORD; we will sing and praise your might.


Father God, thank You for the wonderful book of Psalms; the amazing truths they hold and the awesome lessons I can learn from reading them and meditating upon them. Teach me all that You would have me learn from the writings of Psalmists like king David, the truths I can extract about the Lord Jesus Christ and the future predicting words that will be fulfilled through Him. Open my understanding that I may gain an intimate knowledge and understanding of the many biblical themes, promises, protection and truths that are contained within each page. Thank You that You are a God Who hears and answers the prayers of Your people and delivers us all from our enemies. Thank You that victory over our enemies is ours, through Jesus Christ our Savior in His precious Name Amen.

“{To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.} The king shall joy in thy strength, O LORD; and in thy salvation how greatly shall he rejoice!”

(Psalm 21:1)

“Prayer of Victory Over Enemies”

Psalm 20 Meaning. A Prayer for the King. You see, this psalm was something of a prayer to God on behalf of the David king of Israel. The people of Israel apparently would sing this song as a prayer to God to deliver their king – maybe right before a battle.The book of Psalms are songs written for various reasons. Some were designed to sing at the Temple, others to thank God for his attention, yet others, pledging for his help to survive the situations that have befallen them.



For the director of music. A psalm of David.

“Psalm Chapter 20:1-9
May the LORD answer you when you are in distress; may the name of the God of Jacob protect you. May he send you help from the sanctuary and grant you support from Zion. May he remember all your sacrifices and accept your burnt offerings. May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed. May we shout for joy over your victory and lift up our banners in the name of our God. May the LORD grant all your requests. Now this I know: The LORD gives victory to his anointed. He answers him from his heavenly sanctuary with the victorious power of his right hand. Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm. LORD, give victory to the king! Answer us when we call!


Father God, so much of my life has been seeking my own desires, which are empty vessels, unless filled to the brim with You and with Your perfect will. May my heart and mind be increasingly conformed of the likeness of Christ, and may I grow in grace and compassion towards You and others.  I am progressively sensitive to Your desires and make them the longing of my heart within me as I walk with You. I thank You, love You, praise You and give You all the glory in Jesus Precious Name Amen.

“Grant thee according to thine own heart, and fulfil all thy counsel.”
(Psalm 20:4)

“The Works and The Word of God”


Psalm 19 Meaning Verse by Verse Psalm 19:1 “THE HEAVENS DECLARE THE GLORY OF GOD, AND THE FIRMAMENT PROCLAIMS HIS HANDIWORK.”

‘ This psalm is the first verse and it points out the two areas where God has chosen to reveal Himself: “the heavens” refer to what appears in the sky about; “the firmament” means the expanse of God’s creation.
For the director of music. A psalm of David.


Psalm Chapter 19:1-14

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun. It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, like a champion rejoicing to run his course. It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other; nothing is deprived of its warmth. The law of the LORD is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes. The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever. The decrees of the LORD are firm, and all of them are righteous. They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb. By them your servant is warned; in keeping them there is great reward. But who can discern their own errors? Forgive my hidden faults. Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then I will be blameless, innocent of great transgression. May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Father God, I pray that the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart are a gift from You. Let me make You proud, for You are my rock and my redeemer, in Jesus Precious Name Amen.

“Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.”
(Psalm 19:14)

“The Lord Praised for Giving Deliverance”

For the director of music. Of David the servant of the LORD. David sang to the LORD the words of this song when the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. He said:
“Psalm 18:1-50
I love you, LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I called to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and I have been saved from my enemies. The cords of death entangled me; the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me. The cords of the grave coiled around me; the snares of death confronted me. In my distress I called to the LORD; I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears. The earth trembled and quaked, and the foundations of the mountains shook; they trembled because he was angry. Smoke rose from his nostrils; consuming fire came from his mouth, burning coals blazed out of it. He parted the heavens and came down; dark clouds were under his feet. He mounted the cherubim and flew; he soared on the wings of the wind. He made darkness his covering, his canopy around him~ the dark rain clouds of the sky. Out of the brightness of his presence clouds advanced, with hailstones and bolts of lightning. The LORD thundered from heaven; the voice of the Most High resounded. He shot his arrows and scattered the enemy, with great bolts of lightning he routed them. The valleys of the sea were exposed and the foundations of the earth laid bare at your rebuke, LORD, at the blast of breath from your nostrils. He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters. He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me. They confronted me in the day of my disaster, but the LORD was my support. He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me. The LORD has dealt with me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands he has rewarded me. For I have kept the ways of the LORD; I am not guilty of turning from my God. All his laws are before me; I have not turned away from his decrees. I have been blameless before him and have kept myself from sin. The LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his sight. To the faithful you show yourself faithful, to the blameless you show yourself blameless, to the pure you show yourself pure, but to the devious you show yourself shrewd. You save the humble but bring low those whose eyes are haughty. You, LORD, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light. With your help I can advance against a troop ; with my God I can scale a wall. As for God, his way is perfect: The LORD’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him. For who is God besides the LORD? And who is the Rock except our God? It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure. He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he causes me to stand on the heights. He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze. You make your saving help my shield, and your right hand sustains me; your help has made me great. You provide a broad path for my feet, so that my ankles do not give way. I pursued my enemies and overtook them; I did not turn back till they were destroyed. I crushed them so that they could not rise; they fell beneath my feet. You armed me with strength for battle; you humbled my adversaries before me. You made my enemies turn their backs in flight, and I destroyed my foes. They cried for help, but there was no one to save them— to the LORD, but he did not answer. I beat them as fine as windblown dust; I trampled them like mud in the streets. You have delivered me from the attacks of the people; you have made me the head of nations. People I did not know now serve me, foreigners cower before me; as soon as they hear of me, they obey me. They all lose heart; they come trembling from their strongholds. The LORD lives! Praise be to my Rock! Exalted be God my Savior! He is the God who avenges me, who subdues nations under me, who saves me from my enemies. You exalted me above my foes; from a violent man you rescued me. Therefore I will praise you, LORD, among the nations; I will sing the praises of your name. He gives his king great victories; he shows unfailing love to his anointed, to David and to his descendants forever.


Dear Blessed Lord Jesus, how I praise and glorify Your holy name, for You alone are worthy of all praise and honor. I love You and thank You, that You are my Rock, my Fortress, and my great Deliverer. Thank You, that You the Horn of my salvation, in whom I place my trust. I exalt Your holy name and bless You for my creation, preservation, and all the many blessings of this life. Above all, I thank You, Father God, for Your immeasurable love in the redemption of the world through our Lord Jesus Christ, for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. In Jesus Precious Name Amen.

“The LORD liveth; and blessed be my rock; and let the God of my salvation be exalted.”
(Psalm 18:46)

“Prayer of Protection against Oppressors”


Psalms 17. David being in great distress and danger by the malice of his enemies, does, in this psalm, by prayer address himself to God, his tried refuge, and seeks shelter in him. I. He appeals to God concerning his integrity.


Psalm Chapter 17:1-15


{A Prayer of David”}
Hear me, LORD, my plea is just; listen to my cry. Hear my prayer~ it does not rise from deceitful lips. Let my vindication come from you; may your eyes see what is right. Though you probe my heart, though you examine me at night and test me, you will find that I have planned no evil; my mouth has not transgressed. Though people tried to bribe me, I have kept myself from the ways of the violent through what your lips have commanded. My steps have held to your paths; my feet have not stumbled. I call on you, my God, for you will answer me; turn your ear to me and hear my prayer. Show me the wonders of your great love, you who save by your right hand those who take refuge in you from their foes. Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings from the wicked who are out to destroy me, from my mortal enemies who surround me. They close up their callous hearts, and their mouths speak with arrogance. They have tracked me down, they now surround me, with eyes alert, to throw me to the ground. They are like a lion hungry for prey, like a fierce lion crouching in cover. Rise up, LORD, confront them, bring them down; with your sword rescue me from the wicked. By your hand save me from such people, LORD, from those of this world whose reward is in this life. May what you have stored up for the wicked fill their bellies; may their children gorge themselves on it, and may there be leftovers for their little ones. As for me, I will be vindicated and will see your face; when I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness.

Father God, thank You that You are a God who hears our every sigh and know our needs before we even ask. May our prayer flow to You from a heart that trusts You whole~heartly. A heart that is open and clean before Your throne of grace, in Jesus Precious Name Amen.
“{A Prayer of David.}Hear me, LORD, my plea is just; listen to my cry. Hear my prayer- it does not rise from deceitful lips. Psalm 17:1

“The Lord the Psalmist’s Portion in Life and Delivered in Death”


Summary of Psalm 16!
Psalm 16 Summary. And in a nutshell, here is what David has to say about his satisfaction with God. David is satisfied with God because he trusts that God is able to maintain his welfare, generally. He’s satisfied with God because he knows the awful results of falling away from God. Chapter 16 begins with Samuel mourning for Saul as one would mourn for the dead. The death of Saul (1 Samuel 31:1-13 “The Death of Saul and His Sons” Now the Philistines fought against Israel; and the men of Israel fled before the Philistines, and many fell* on Mount Gilboa.The Philistines overtook Saul and his sons; and the Philistines killed Jonathan and Abinadab and Malchishua, the sons of Saul. The battle pressed hard upon Saul; the archers found him, and he was badly wounded by them. Then Saul said to his armour-bearer, ‘Draw your sword and thrust me through with it, so that these uncircumcised may not come and thrust me through, and make sport of me.’ But his armour-bearer was unwilling; for he was terrified. So Saul took his own sword and fell upon it. When his armour-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he also fell upon his sword and died with him. So Saul and his three sons and his armour-bearer and all his men died together on the same day. When the men of Israel who were on the other side of the valley and those beyond the Jordan saw that the men of Israel had fled and that Saul and his sons were dead, they forsook their towns and fled; and the Philistines came and occupied them. The next day, when the Philistines came to strip the dead, they found Saul and his three sons fallen on Mount Gilboa. They cut off his head, stripped off his armour, and sent messengers throughout the land of the Philistines to carry the good news to the houses of their idols and to the people. They put his armour in the temple of Astarte;* and they fastened his body to the wall of Beth-shan. But when the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul, all the valiant men set out, travelled all night long, and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Beth-shan. They came to Jabesh and burned them there. Then they took their bones and buried them under the tamarisk tree in Jabesh, and fasted for seven days.), concludes this last division of the book. Verses 1-3 of Psalms Chapter 16: David grew up at a time when leadership was in great demand. David’s confidence in his ultimate destiny is valid for him (and for all believers), only because Christ has traveled down that path and paved the way for all who believe in Him (Acts 2:25-28: For David says concerning Him: ‘I foresaw the Lord always before my face, For He is at my right hand, that I may not be shaken.).These verses include three different names for God: Elohim (the powerful creator God), Yahweh (the covenant-giving God), and Adonai (the Lord and Master of life). David saw in all these names the personal presence of God in his life. “My goodness” speaks of the psalmist’s welfare, not his character. Michtam means engraving, or a poem. This prayer of David not only asks for God to preserve him, but shows the perfect trust that David has in the Lord as well. Preserve here, is really a protection as a shepherd protects his sheep. Jesus is the great Shepherd. He watches over us and keeps us from harm. The blood of Jesus protects us from the wiles of the devil.


Psalm Chapter 16:1 -11
Keep me safe, my God, for in you I take refuge. I say to the LORD, “You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.” I say of the holy people who are in the land, “They are the noble ones in whom is all my delight.” Those who run after other gods will suffer more and more. I will not pour out libations of blood to such gods or take up their names on my lips. LORD, you alone are my portion and my cup; you make my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance. I will praise the LORD, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. I keep my eyes always on the LORD. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, nor will you let your faithful one see decay. You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.
Father God, I love You, thank You and Praise You for Your joy. I rejoice in the joy of my salvation and celebrate in the truth that Jesus Christ , my risen, ascended, glorified Lord, is seated on the right hand of the Father in heavenly places. Thank You that by faith in Christ, I too might have life eternal and enjoy fellowship with the You Father, despite the inevitable difficulties and dangers that I face in this fallen world. Thank You that You are continually before me. May I never be shaken, knowing that Christ is seated on the right hand of the majesty on high, and by death has conquered death and given life-eternal to all who believe in Him. I praise You Precious Jesus, Amen.

“I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.”
(Psalm 16:8)

“Description Of A Citizen of Zion”

Usury is interest on money loaned. It is bad to do to an enemy, and worse to do to a brother in Christ. The Jews were forbidden to charge usury. It is a shame, but the poor, who can ill afford to pay high interest, are the very ones who have to pay unreasonable interest. Their credit is no good, so they pay unreasonable amounts to be able to borrow. The person loaning them this money is not helping them. He is digging them a hole they cannot get out of. Be kind to the poor. Except for the grace of God, you would be that poor. If we were to sum this lesson up in a few words, we would have to say these are instructions on how to get a permanent home in heaven. We are saved by grace and grace alone, but if we are saved we will live our life pleasing to God. The life we live before others would show the love of Jesus.
Psalm Chapter 15:1-5
A psalm of David.
LORD, who may dwell in your sacred tent? Who may live on your holy mountain? The one whose walk is blameless, who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from their heart; whose tongue utters no slander, who does no wrong to a neighbor, and casts no slur on others; who despises a vile person but honors those who fear the LORD; who keeps an oath even when it hurts, and does not change their mind; who lends money to the poor without interest; who does not accept a bribe against the innocent. Whoever does these things will never be shaken.

“Psalm 15”: This psalm raises the question of qualifications for service in the tabernacle “The first verse , then answers that question by describing the man who has personal purity (verses 2-3a), and interpersonal integrity (verses 3b-5). Verses 1-5: Whereas (Psalm 14), focused on the way of the wicked (Psalm 15), concentrates on the way of the righteous (compare Psalm 1). The saved sinner is described as exhibiting indications of ethical integrity. These characteristics alternate in triplets of positive and negative descriptions. The whole psalm unfolds through a question-and-answer vehicle, and indeed it may be regarded as the ultimate Question and Answer session. With its focus on moral responsibility, the psalm offers a sequence of responses to the question of acceptable worship.
Heavenly Father, thank You that by grace through faith I have the privilege to enter into the presence of the Lord and abide in Christ and He in me. I pray that I may walk with integrity, truthfulness, humility, and grace, and I pray that in Your strength, I may bring forth godly works of righteousness for Your name’s sake. May my actions and attitudes reflect the godly characteristics that are pleasing in Your sight. This I ask in Jesus’ name, AMEN.

“{A Psalm of David.} LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? Who shall dwell in thy holy hill?”
(Psalm 15:1)

“Folly and Wickedness of Men”


About “Psalm 14”: This psalm could be dedicated to the atheist. With the denial of God’s existence often comes the moral decay described (in Psalm 14 verses 1-6), and which was used by Paul to prove the universal depravity of the human race (Rom. 3:10-12~ As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.”). While the “fool” may deny that God is, the righteous finds in Him the object of hopeful prayer for deliverance (verse 7).
For the director of music. Of David.
Psalm Chapter 14:1-7
The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good. The LORD looks down from heaven on all mankind to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. All have turned away, all have become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one. Do all these evildoers know nothing? They devour my people as though eating bread; they never call on the LORD. But there they are, overwhelmed with dread, for God is present in the company of the righteous. You evildoers frustrate the plans of the poor, but the LORD is their refuge. Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion! When the LORD restores his people, let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad!
Father God, when I consider the depth of depravity to which humanity has fallen and the amazing redemptive price You paid to redeem my life from the pit of destruction, I can only praise and thank You with all my heart, and soul, and mind, and strength. May I never become indifferent to my great salvation or complacent in my Christian walk. May I live each day to Your praise and glory for You alone are worthy of all my praise and honour, not only in this world but throughout the eternal ages to come. Thank You heavenly Father, in Jesus’ Precious Name Amen.

“The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God.”
(Psalm 14:2)

“His Body, His Blood, And Passover”


The Synoptic Gospels present Jesus sharing the Passover meal as His last supper with the disciples. He reinterpreted the common elements of the celebration in the light of a new covenant. The unleavened bread became His body(Mark 14:22~While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take it; this is my body.”) and the wine became His blood (Mark 14:23-26 ~ Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank from it. “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many,” he said to them. “Truly I tell you, I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.” When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.)
Customarily, the head of a Jewish household would explain each of the elements of the Passover meal. When explaining the bread, He would announce. This is the bread of affliction which our ancestors ate when they came from the land of Egypt.” He was not suggestion that it was the literal bread eaten by their ancestors, which was by then over 1,000 years old, but that it represented the bread their ancestors ate. This was one way Jewish people could identify with their ancestors whom God had first redeemed from captivity.
The head of the household normally blessed the bread and wine at other meals as well, but at Passover, when four cups of red wine were drunk, he would lift the cup a hand~breadeth above the table and recite a special blessing. Jewish men normally sat in chairs for meals, but they reclined on couches in typical Greek fashion when eating at banquets like the Passover. With their feet pointed away from the center of the room (When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them. Luke 7:36-38) and their heads more toward the center(One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to Jesus. John 13:23) they generally reclined on one elbow, using the other arm to reach the food on the table beside them.

Jesus remarked about the “blood of the new covenant” {“You heard me say, ‘I am going away and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. John 14:28}looked back when God redeemed Israel from Egypt {Moses then took the blood, sprinkled it on the people and said, “This is the blood of the covenant that the LORD has made with you in accordance with all these words.” Exodus 24:8}. By His blood being “shed for many,” Jesus possibly alluded to the suffering Servant pouring out His life (Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. Isaiah 53:12). He saw Himself as redeeming His people by His own death.

Jewish people customarily finished, their meal by singing more psalms from the (Hallel~a portion of the service for certain Jewish festivals, consisting of Psalms 113–118~ comprise an important unit called the Hallel, which in Hebrew means “praise.” Composed after the exile, these six psalms are recited together by observant Jews during some of the major holidays on the Jewish calendar.). Likewise Jesus disciples sang “a hymn” (Mark 14:26~When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.) before departing for Gethsemane, where they would in the end desert Jesus