Psalms

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“This I know, that God is for me” (Psalm 56:9 ESV)

March 13, 2013

David probably wrote this psalm while hiding in the cave of Adullam. This after fleeing from Saul to the Philistine King Achish of Gath, then fleeing from him as well when the reception turned dangerous. While every circumstance around David turned negative, he still didn’t blame it on God. He still believed that God was for him. David decided to place his trust in God rather than man. A broken and scared David went into that cave, but a man who believed that if God was for him, no one could stand against him emerged. Have you ever met with God in a cave?

“Behold, God is my helper; the Lord is the upholder of my life” (Psalm 54:4 ESV)

March 11, 2013

David wrote this psalm while hiding from King Saul. He called God his helper and upholder. David encouraged himself with this. Saul had the support and help of all Israel, but David had the Lord. Some may have wealth or worldly power to help, but we have the help of God. He not only helps us, He sustains, supports, upholds and keeps us alive. Who do you call upon when you need help?

“Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow” (Psalm 51:7)

March 8, 2013

This was David’s prayer after committing adultery with Bathsheba. He wanted God’s forgiveness to extend to his experience, so that he felt clean again. It’s one thing to believe that God has forgiven, but another to experience that forgiveness. “Wash me” is an intimate and humble invitation. It admits one’s filthy condition and also one’s inability to get clean without help. Perhaps we fail to completely experience forgiveness because we’ve yet to admit both the depth of our sin and our total inadequacy at getting clean. Let us pray as David, “Wash me, Lord!”

“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” (Psalm 46:10 ESV)

March 3, 2013

Stop talking and worrying. Turn off, turn down, pull away and listen. Then know. Know that He is God. Acknowledge, understand and experience His presence and power. Then pray and worship. Worship because it is the only appropriate response. Pray because the nations are far from God and it is His will to bring them back. Pray for the Day when God’s Name will be lifted up in all the earth.

“As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God” (Psalm 42:1-2 ESV)

February 26, 2013

David described the longing of his soul for God. The brilliant French physicist and philosopher, Pascal, proposed that such a longing was present in every human heart, saying, “There is a God shaped vacuum in the heart of every man which cannot be filled by any created thing, but only by God, the Creator, made known through Jesus” (Blaise Pascal, Pensees). People try to fill this longing with other things, which explains the misery of many. But the human soul can only find its fullest satisfaction in Christ.

“May all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who love your salvation say continually, ‘Great is the LORD!'” (Psalm 40:16 ESV)

February 24, 2013

This is both call to worship and benediction. Seeking the Lord, may you be full of joy and gladness in Him. Finding salvation, may you swell with such chesed love that you shout of God’s greatness.

“The wicked borrows but does not pay back, but the righteous is generous and gives (Psalm 37:21 ESV)

February 19, 2013

How we handle money and possessions reveals much about our hearts. The one with integrity not only repays their debts, but gives generously to those in need. The one with a wicked heart avoids even repaying what is owed, much less being a giver to others. Has your heart’s believing in Christ affected your hand’s behavior as regards money? Integrity is having your heart and hands in agreement.

“Trust in… Delight yourself in… Commit your way to… Be still before… the LORD” (Psalm 37:3-7 ESV)

February 18, 2013

David wrote this psalm describing ways to offer yourself to God and the outcome of such a life devoted to Him. “Trust” – Put your faith in the Lord. “Delight” – Find your joy in the Lord. “Commit” – Decide in advance to do things God’s way no matter what. “Be still” – Remember to listen for the Lord’s voice in prayer. His answer will quiet your fretting heart. Have you tried approaching the Lord in these four ways?

“I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears” (Psalm 34:4)

February 13, 2013

David wrote this psalm during the time he was hiding from Saul among the Philistines. Unfortunately, when we come up with human schemes to avoid trouble we often jump from the frying pan into the fire. Yet, it is never too late to cry out to God for help. David was delivered from his fears. We can bring our fears to God too. He will hear us and answer.

“I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears” (Psalm 34:4)

February 12, 2013

David wrote this psalm during the time he was hiding from Saul among the Philistines. Unfortunately, when we come up with human schemes to avoid trouble we often jump from the frying pan into the fire. Yet, it is never too late to cry out to God for help. David was delivered from his fears. We can bring our fears to God too. He will hear us and answer.