April 15, 2024
“For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly” (Psalm 84:11 ESV). The Lord is like the sun enlightening our way. He is like a shield protecting us from harm. He freely gives grace, offering His favor and
April 9, 2024
“He chose David his servant and took him from the sheepfolds; from following the nursing ewes he brought him to shepherd Jacob his people, Israel his inheritance” (Psalm 78:70-71 ESV). This is a description of King David, whom God took from the sheepfolds to the throne room, raising him up to be Israel’s greatest king.
April 6, 2024
“He made streams come out of the rock and caused waters to flow down like rivers” (Psalm 78:16 ESV). According to the inscription, Psalm 78 was written by the Levite priest, prophet, poet and singer, Asaph, who was appointed chief of the worship leaders by King David (1 Chron. 16:5). In Psalm 78, the Lord
March 28, 2024
“They gave me poison for food, and for my thirst they gave me sour wine to drink” (Psalm 69:21 ESV). This psalm of David found its fulfillment in Christ’s suffering on the cross. Although the ESV translates the Hebrew as “poison,” the word may also be translated “gall” as it is in other versions. This
March 27, 2024
“For zeal for your house has consumed me, and the reproaches of those who reproach you have fallen on me” (Psalm 69:9 ESV). David wrote this psalm describing his “zeal,” his passionate commitment, for God and for God’s house. The Lord affirmed David’s zeal describing him as “a man after his own heart” (1 Sam.
March 18, 2024
“Hear my cry, O God, listen to my prayer; from the end of the earth I call to you when my heart is faint. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I” (Psalm 61:1-2 ESV). This is a prayer of David crying out to God for His heavenly perspective and protection. “Lead me
March 12, 2024
“For it is not an enemy who taunts me— then I could bear it; it is not an adversary who deals insolently with me— then I could hide from him. But it is you, a man, my equal, my companion, my familiar friend” (Psalm 55:12-13 ESV). In David’s 55th psalm, he expressed the painful sorrow
March 3, 2024
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1 ESV). The psalmist spoke of three divine attributes of God that we can rely on in times of trouble. He said that we can look to God as our “refuge,” our “strength,” and our “very present help.” Looking to God as
February 14, 2024
“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18 ESV). Not everyone will receive a Valentine today. Some have a heart still hurting from a broken relationship. Other hearts have slowly been crushed by a lifetime of loneliness. Yet, everyone who comes to the Lord with a contrite and
February 13, 2024
“I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears” (Psalm 34:4 ESV). David wrote this psalm while he was on the run from King Saul. He had even tried to gain favor with a foreign king named Abimelech, but became afraid and feigned insanity to escape him. So at