Psalms

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“The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1 NKJV)

August 4, 2015

Among our phobias, fear of the unknown, or of something that overpowers or overcomes us, or of our own death are prominent. David said that God was his “light” (exposing the unknown), his “strength” (empowering and supplying his need) and his salvation (saving him from death). In this way God gave him faith in the place of fear. What do you fear today? Replace your fears with faith. Look to a specific character trait of the Lord and choose to focus on Him rather than living in fear.

“Show me Your ways, O Lord; teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; on You I wait all the day” (Psalm 25:4-5 NKJV)

August 1, 2015

Today’s constant prayer: Show me, teach me, lead me… I’m waiting. Not passively, but actively. Not without moving, but as I move today, being fully present looking for You, O Lord.

“My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Psalm 22:1 NKJV)

July 28, 2015

David wrote this Messianic psalm that predicted not only what Christ would say on the cross but the manner of His death as well. Centuries before the Romans devised the torture of crucifixion, David described it in this psalm. Jesus, the Son of David took our place. He took our sin, our separation, and our death. He offers us His righteousness, His relationship with the Father and eternal life. He that had never experienced a moment of separation from the Father was forsaken for our sakes. So, He cried out in anguish, fulfilling the Scripture and expressing His real agony. Yet, the Father raised Him up, and in the same way He shall raise up all those who believe in Him in the Last Day.

“For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption” (Psalm 16:10 NKJV)

July 20, 2015

This Psalm of David was quoted by the apostle Peter (Acts 2:25-36) as a biblical proof that Jesus Christ, Son of David, was prophesied to rise from the dead without seeing “corruption.” Peter preached this sermon on the day of Pentecost and 3,000 Jews from all over the world came to faith in Christ. David’s prophesy had come to pass. Now everyone who trusts in Christ can be assured that the Holy One who defeated death and the grave will not abandon us, but will raise us to life to dwell forever with Him.

“I will sing to the Lord, because He has dealt bountifully with me” (Psalm 13:6 NKJV)

July 17, 2015

David didn’t think it unmanly to sing to God. This warrior/poet/king was a worshiper. The shepherd king who slew a giant is also the author of most of the psalms. His harp playing and singing were so Spirit-filled that they calmed king Saul’s disturbed soul. David was once accused of being undignified in his worship. To which he replied, “I will become even more undignified than this!” Real men of God are worshipers. They sing!

“When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained, What is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him?” (Psalm 8:3-4 NKJV)

July 10, 2015

The psalmist David wondered at the immensity and beauty of the night sky in comparison to the small stature of humanity. He posed a rhetorical question concerning God’s care for man, then answers it in the psalm with observations about man’s creation and authority under God. We can almost picture David gazing at the night sky and writing this meditation. Putting the words to music, he opened and closed the psalm with praise of God’s majesty. “O Lord, our Lord,” he wrote, moving attention from the great Creator (O Lord) to the personal Redeemer of Israel (our Lord). For the Lord God is both transcendent and immanent. He is omnipotent and holy, yet personal and present. The God who made everything cares for you.

“Now therefore, be wise, O kings; be instructed, you judges of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and you perish in the way, when His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him” (Psalm 2:10-12 NKJV)

July 4, 2015

This is a Messianic prophecy of Christ’s triumphal kingdom. It is a sober reminder on this day when we celebrate Independence Day in America that all the world’s nations exist at the Lord’s pleasure. Do our nation’s leaders and judges “serve the Lord with fear?” Do they bow and “kiss” the Son’s hand in obeisance? Or have they become wise in their own eyes, calling evil, good and good, evil?
Let us recognize our dual citizenship. As Americans, we are thankful for God’s blessing on America. We continue to pray for our leaders and judges that they will return to God. But as Christians, we are citizens of an eternal kingdom, one that was inaugurated at the cross and will be consummated at Christ’s return. We ultimately put our trust in Christ alone. He is the source of all blessing.
Yet, in the meantime we pray, “God bless America.”

“Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, Who seek Him with the whole heart!” (Psalm 119:2 NKJV)

May 23, 2015

The longest chapter in the Bible and the one found near its very center is Psalm 119. It seems appropriate that the longest psalm in the Bible would be written as a meditation on God’s Word. Divided into 22 stanzas, it is an extended acrostic poem based on the Hebrew alphabet (Our word “alphabet” comes from the first two Hebrew letters: “aleph” + “beth”). In verse two, the psalmist wrote that the one who not only “keeps” the Word, but also “seeks” its Author will be “blessed.” In this verse, the psalmist refers to Scripture as “His testimonies.” As you read this psalm, how many synonyms can you find for God’s Word. As you number them, consider how you might keep them and seek the Father’s face as you do.

“Let the redeemed of the Lord say so” (Psalm 107:2 NKJV)

May 11, 2015

Psalm 107 opens with a call to worship inviting the “redeemed” to “give thanks to the Lord.” The psalmist then begins to remind them of God’s deliverance from Egypt. This call to worship is still relevant today. If we are among the redeemed, then we should “say so,” declaring what Christ the Redeemer has done for us and giving thanks to Him for our salvation.

“So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (Psalm 90:12 NKJV)

April 23, 2015

Understanding that our days are numbered can motivate us to live life with a sense of urgent importance. “Urgent,” because putting off till tomorrow means eventually running out of tomorrows. If the Lord has put it on your heart, then do it now! And “important,” because we often fill our days with unimportant things. Prayerfully consider what is most important, then focus on those things every day. This is not a morbid state of mind, being aware of your limited days. This is wisdom, not wasting the time God has given you on planet earth. Don’t waste your life!