Psalms

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“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!

“Will You work wonders for the dead? Shall the dead arise and praise You?” (Psalm 88:10 NKJV)

April 19, 2015

According to the inscription, this psalm was written by Heman, one of the sons of Korah, and possibly the grandson of the prophet Samuel (1 Chron. 6:14). Most commentators consider this the most melancholy of all the psalms, yet within this psalm of lamentation, there is a positive question: “Shall the dead arise?” Cried out in prayerful lament, the question clearly begs the response: Yes! The Lord will “work wonders for the dead!” God will raise the dead. The psalmist was full of despair and faced imminent death, yet he hoped for a resurrection. His hope was a future hope, in a time before the Christ had come and risen from the grave. However, our hope is a hope made more certain, anchored in the reality of Christ’s resurrection and return. We may cry out to God in lamentation in this life, but we do not grieve as those who have no hope (1 Thess. 4:13). For our hope is in the Risen Lord.

“Restore us, O God; Cause Your face to shine, And we shall be saved!” (Psalm 80:3 NKJV)

April 11, 2015

This is the repetitive chorus of Psalm 80, perhaps written after the destruction of Jerusalem by Babylon (“broken down hedges” – v.12). The psalm is a prayer to God, begging Him to “restore us” to Him. They recognized their inability to restore themselves. They needed God to restore them, to bring them out of captivity and return them to Himself. This is a powerful prayer: God restore us. God show mercy on us. God save us. And He did answer their prayer, especially the part found in verse 17 about the “son of Man.” This points to the Messiah, Jesus the Christ, who is the fulfillment of their prayer for restoration and salvation.

“I will go in the strength of the Lord GOD; I will make mention of Your righteousness, of Yours only” (Psalm 71:16 NKJV)

March 30, 2015

This psalm is a prayer describing to God a determination to proclaim His salvation all the day, yet to do it in “the strength of the Lord.” And to never take credit for salvation, but to give total credit to God and His righteousness. This is my prayer today: To go out in the strength and power of the Lord and to declare His righteousness and salvation all the day!

“A father of the fatherless, a defender of widows, Is God in His holy habitation” (Psalm 68:5 NKJV)

March 25, 2015

My mother used to pray this Psalm of David, reminding God of our plight after my father died. She was a widow with four children to raise alone, yet not alone. For she called on God to keep His promise.
“Be a father to my children and a husband to me.” I would hear her praying in the early morning before the rest of us awoke.
My mother was a wonderful praying example to her children. She understood the power of praying the psalms, letting them give expression to her deepest longings. Have you tried making the book of Psalms your prayer book?

“God be merciful to us and bless us, And cause His face to shine upon us, Selah That Your way may be known on earth, Your salvation among all nations” (Psalm 67:1-2 NKJV)

March 24, 2015

The psalmist prayed that God would show them mercy, blessing and favor, so that they might display the way of salvation to the nations. This prayer aligned with God’s promise to Abraham that through his “offspring all nations would be blessed” (Gen. 22:18). It also borrowed words from the benediction of Aaron, “The Lord bless and keep you, the Lord make His face shine upon you…” (Num. 6:22-27). Quoting God’s Word and purpose back to Him in prayer is a great basis for bringing your heart into alignment with His. Asking Him to supply your need and show you favor, so that you might fulfill His purpose to bring salvation to the nations, is gospel-centered praying. It is a Great Commission prayer. Do you pray that you and your church will be blessed, so that it may carry the gospel to the nations?

“From the end of the earth I will cry to You, When my heart is overwhelmed; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I” (Psalm 61:2 NKJV)

March 18, 2015

A Davidic psalm. A prayer asking God for His higher perspective and protection. Lead me to the higher rock. Set my feet, which are sinking in mud, on something firm. Put my mind above the daily distractions to see things from your heavenly heights. Raise my soul to a place of shelter from life’s storms. Lord, I am overwhelmed, protect me from my enemies. Show me how to get to “the rock.” Not “a rock,” but “the rock.” For there is only One who is “the” Rock and He is Jesus, the Christ (1 Cor. 10:4). Show me how to get to Jesus today!

“The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God.’ They are corrupt, and have done abominable iniquity; There is none who does good” (Psalm 53:1 NKJV)

March 10, 2015

The atheist usually lays claim to an intellectual position to support their unbelief. However, the Bible says that their true problem is not reason, but a lack of righteousness. It isn’t the atheist’s mind that rejects God, but his heart. And having refused God entrance, he can find no better candidate for divinity than himself. So, atheism is really humanism at heart. Yet God “looks down” to see who will seek His face. Who will open their hearts and minds to Him? Those that truly seek God will find Him. This is wisdom.

“Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; For I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God” (Psalm 43:5 NKJV)

February 27, 2015

David learned to address his own soul in his prayers to God. Knowing that he was feeling “cast down” and “disquieted,” he encouraged himself in the Lord (1 Sam. 30:6), urging his soul to “hope in God.” We can learn from David’s prayer life. Sometimes we don’t even know why we feel discouraged, but we can direct our souls to God. He knows us better than we know ourselves. Putting our hope in Him and lifting up prayers of praise, not only brightens our faces (“countenance”), but it refreshes our souls. Do you feel sad or discouraged today? Direct your soul to hope in God. For he cares for you.

“The wicked borrows and does not repay, But the righteous shows mercy and gives (Psalm 37:21 NKJV)

February 19, 2015

How we handle money and possessions reveals much about our hearts. The righteous not only repay their debts, but give generously to those in need. The wicked avoid even repaying what is owed, much less being a giver to others. Has believing in Christ affected how you handle money?