Psalm 11

1 In the Lord put I my trust: how say ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain?

2 For, lo, the wicked bend their bow, they make ready their arrow upon the string, that they may privily shoot at the upright in heart.

3 If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?

4 The Lord is in his holy temple, the Lord’s throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men.

5 The Lord trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth.

6 Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup.

7 For the righteous Lord loveth righteousness; his countenance doth behold the upright. (KJV)

Question for the day, “who is God to you”?

This is the question that this psalm will answer for you.

Verse one gives us the answer to the question of who you place your faith in: God, man, or self. Here the psalmist tells the reader that his faith is in God so why should he flee from his problems. So, when the wicked attack the righteous and the very truths that the righteous base their faith upon are tested; what actions should the righteous take? Simply put your faith in God and purse a life of righteousness with God. This task is not as easy as it seems. Walking with the Lord and trusting in Him only is a difficult task for a worldly person. We must look at our walk of faith and compare it to a child learning how to walk. They stumble a lot along the way in this learning process. However, as the coffee table or couch provides the extra support a child needs in the process of learning how to walk, so must a young believer learn to hold on to the Word of God when times of temptations come into his life. Look to Matthew chapter four and see how this is the same principle that Christ applied when he was tempted (tested) by Satan in the wilderness.

Having raised seven children and watching them learning how to walk I have noticed that the process that a child goes through to reach the goal of walking is like the process that a Christian goes through in learning how to live by faith. A child first learns to roll over, then the process of lifting up the head, followed by scooting, followed by crawling and then pulling themselves up to walk while holding on to something. However, once a child finally let’s go and start taking the first few steps he usually falls. Yet, these falls become fewer and fewer until the child can walk on his own. And finally, the walking becomes running and the child starts his process of exploring the world around him. Our walk of faith is also like this. The more we stay in God’s Word the more we hid it in our heart. So, where the world questions your faith your reply to them can be just like Christ’s reply was to Satan “but it is written”.

Verse three ask a question which several Christians are asking today “When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?”. As I take a look at the culture in which we now live today I believe that Harry Ironside reference to the Lord’s second coming was correct in his Commentary of the seven churches of Revelation. The closing paragraph on his commentary of chapters two and three of Revelations summarizes the world in which we live in today:

And so, we have come down to the closing days of the present dispensation of grace. The Ephesus period passed away long ago, and the same is true of the Smyrna and Pergamos periods. Thyatira, which, as we have seen, speaks of Romanism, and began properly when the Pope was recognized as universal Bishop, is with us still, and will go on to the end. Sardis, which began centuries later, remains to the present time, and will remain till the Lord shall come. Philadelphia, thank God, is also here, and, though it has but a little strength, will also abide to the end. But Laodicea is more and more in evidence and seems to be almost swamping everything that is of God.
The next great event is the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, and our gathering together unto Him. For this we wait, and our longing hearts cry, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”

For me the answer to this question can be found in verse four of this Psalm: “He observes the sons of men; his eyes examine them”. As I grow in my faith, I have now realized that I cannot change anything that the Lord does not wants to change. This is the same for both the believer and the unbeliever.  But waiting is hard. Sometimes it might mean that the Lord will take the most precious thing away from you to bring you closer to understanding his ways. I believe that change is happening in the world today, however this change is happening as a result of “His will be done on earth as it is in heaven”. As the Lord is standing outside the doors of the professing church of Laodicea and saying “Behold I stand at the door and knock” we must open the door to him. But this is an individual movement not an organized movement. For this verse continues “I will come into him and will sup with him, and he with me” and is speaking to individuals and not the church. Yes, the foundations of the church and the truths on which the church stand for are being destroyed, but the Lord still has reserve many that has not bowed down to the Gods of this world.

What is my purpose then? I love Paul’s reply that is found in II Timothy 2: 19-22:

Howbeit the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, The Lord knows them that are his: Let everyone that names the name of the Lord depart from unrighteousness. Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some unto honor, and some unto dishonor. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, meet for the master’s use, prepared unto every good work. Therefore, flee evil desires and pursue after righteousness, faith, love, pace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

Therefore, the heart cry of the righteous should be, prepare me for Thy use O Lord.

Psalm 10

1 Why standest thou afar off, O Lord? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?

2 The wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor: let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined.

3 For the wicked boasteth of his heart’s desire, and blesseth the covetous, whom the Lord abhorreth.

4 The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.

5 His ways are always grievous; thy judgments are far above out of his sight: as for all his enemies, he puffeth at them.

6 He hath said in his heart, I shall not be moved: for I shall never be in adversity.

7 His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: under his tongue is mischief and vanity.

8 He sitteth in the lurking places of the villages: in the secret places doth he murder the innocent: his eyes are privily set against the poor.

9 He lieth in wait secretly as a lion in his den: he lieth in wait to catch the poor: he doth catch the poor, when he draweth him into his net.

10 He croucheth, and humbleth himself, that the poor may fall by his strong ones.

11 He hath said in his heart, God hath forgotten: he hideth his face; he will never see it.

12 Arise, O Lord; O God, lift up thine hand: forget not the humble.

13 Wherefore doth the wicked contemn God? he hath said in his heart, Thou wilt not require it.

14 Thou hast seen it; for thou beholdest mischief and spite, to requite it with thy hand: the poor committeth himself unto thee; thou art the helper of the fatherless.

15 Break thou the arm of the wicked and the evil man: seek out his wickedness till thou find none.

16 The Lord is King for ever and ever: the heathen are perished out of his land.

17 Lord, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear:

18 To judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that the man of the earth may no more oppress. (KJV)

This psalm starts out as a prayer to God asking why God does not take action against the wicked. The psalmist asks God why he hides himself in times of trouble. The psalmist then describes what he sees as the characteristics of the wicked.

Characteristics of the Wicked:

• full of pride
• they hunt down the weak
• devises evil schemes.
• boastful against God
• seeks the cravings of his heart.
• bless the greedy
• reviles God and does not seek him.
• his ways seem prosperous.
• he sneers at his enemies.
• in his pride he is above God’s law
• in his pride nothing can shake him
• his mouth is full of cursing.
• he tells lies and uses threats.
• trouble and evil surround him
• he waits to ambush and destroy the innocent.
• he waits to catch the helpless and drags them off.
• he believes God does not care and that he does not see.
• God will not hold him accountable for his actions.

This psalm ends with a plea for God to arise and take action against the wicked and evil man and call him into account for what he has done. Then this happens man who is on the earth will no longer live in terror. This day will come when the Lord returns. Why the delay? Peter answers this in II Peter chapter three “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some count slackness; but is longsuffering to you-ward, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance”. How should we live “Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for these things, give diligence that ye may be found in peace, without spot and blameless in his sight. And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also, according to the wisdom given to him, wrote unto you”.

The way of the Lord is a mystery to the world.  The world places itself above God. God really does not exist to them; their hearts are even callous to the convicting power of the Holy Spirit. They have no need of God, since they have set themselves up as god.  However, the one fact of life faces them as it does all man and that is death awaits us all.  For the ungodly this is the end, but for the Christian death is the door for our new life.  In I Corinthians 13:13 states “Three things will last forever Faith, Hope, and Love, but the greatest of these is Love.  Faith will become sight, hope becomes the fulfillment of all God’s promises, and love is the wonderful relationship we have now but will only grow greater the more we know our Lord in the future after we pass from this life to the next.  

Psalm 9

1 I will praise thee, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works.

2 I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High.

3 When mine enemies are turned back, they shall fall and perish at thy presence.

4 For thou hast maintained my right and my cause; thou sats in the throne judging right.

5 Thou hast rebuked the heathen, thou hast destroyed the wicked, thou hast put out their name for ever and ever.

6 O thou enemy, destructions are come to a perpetual end: and thou hast destroyed cities; their memorial is perished with them.

7 But the Lord shall endure forever: he hath prepared his throne for judgment.

8 And he shall judge the world in righteousness, he shall minister judgment to the people in uprightness.

9 The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.

10 And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.

11 Sing praises to the Lord, which dwelleth in Zion: declare among the people his doings.

12 When he maketh inquisition for blood, he remembereth them: he forgetteth not the cry of the humble.

13 Have mercy upon me, O Lord; consider my trouble which I suffer of them that hate me, thou that liftest me up from the gates of death:

14 That I may shew forth all thy praise in the gates of the daughter of Zion: I will rejoice in thy salvation.

15 The heathen are sunk down in the pit that they made: in the net which they hid is their own foot taken.

16 The Lord is known by the judgment which he executeth: the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. Higgaion. Selah.

17 The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.

18 For the needy shall not always be forgotten: the expectation of the poor shall not perish forever.

19 Arise, O Lord; let not man prevail: let the heathen be judged in thy sight.

20 Put them in fear, O Lord: that the nations may know themselves to be but men. Selah. (KJV)

Reading this psalm, I see a portrait of the reign of David written here.    The opening verses reveal three characteristics that David had in his life as he strives daily to walk in the way of the Lord, which should also be the characteristics that we have in our life as well.  These characteristics of praising the Lord with all our heart, telling of all his wonders, and being glad in the Lord and rejoicing in him should be the focus of our daily mediation. 

This psalm not only portraits David’s rule but also the coming reign of Christ.  The mystery of Christ is one that has consumed my quiet moments for most of my life.  How can Christ be King of kings and at the same time be my Savior who I can have a personal relationship.  This personal relationship is available to all who accept him as Lord and Savior.  This psalm has a promise for those who know him in verse ten: Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you. Knowing the Lord and then trusting him is a promise that all Christians should embrace.

 In the sixty plus years that I have known Him and placed my trust in Him as a young boy He has never forsaken me.  Sometimes like the poem Footprints in the Sand thatrefers to a man that looks back on his walk with the Lord and sees several times when trouble was in his life there was only one set of footprints, I too have felt that way.  But the more I trust Him the more I see how He has carried me.  So, as you go along the journey of life trust in the Lord and lean not on our understand; but let the Spirit guide you in all understanding.  He will if you let him.  He is more loving than you can ever imagined.

This psalm also covers the wickedness of the ungodly and how we as the believers are waiting on this coming judgement of the wicked.  These are the attributes assigned to the Lord in this psalm:

But the Lord shall endure forever.

He hath prepared his throne for judgment.

He shall judge the world in righteousness.

He shall minister judgment to the people in uprightness.

The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed.

The Lord will also be a refuge in times of trouble.

The Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.

He maketh inquisition for blood.

He forgetteth not the cry of the humble.

Lord consider my trouble which I suffer of them that hate me.

The Lord that liftest me up from the gates of death.

The Lord is known by the judgment which he executeth.

O Lord let not man prevail let the heathen be judged in thy sight.

O Lord put them in fear, that the nations may know themselves to be but men.

This psalm reveals David’s view of the Lord.  David knew he would suffer the ungodly because of his belief in the Lord.  But he kept his faith in the Lord.  Paul writes to Timothy in II Timothy chapter one verse twelve about his faith in Christ.  “For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless, I am ashamed:  for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.”  Paul like David had this personal relation with the Lord, and like David, Paul looked forward to the day of judgement that the Lord promise to the faithful.  This is the same faith that we must keep as believers in this world. 

Psalm 8

1 O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens.

2 Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.

3 When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;

4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?

5 For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.

6 Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:

7 All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field;

8 The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.

9 O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! (KJV)

This was one of the first psalms I memorized as a child.  This is also a psalm that Christ used during his ministry on earth during his Triumphal Entry.  Reading this psalm my focus is on these three characters: the Lord, man, and the avenger found in verse two “Out of the mouth of babes and suckling’s hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightiest still the enemy and the avenger.” How can I apply these words to my daily living? By living my life and making Christ the Lord of my life every moment of the day.  The words from the devotion My Utmost for His Highest for March 9, written by Oswald Chambers illustrates this point “All that is required is to live a natural life of absolute dependence on Jesus Christ. Showing no concern for the uncertainties that lie ahead is the secret of walking with Jesus.”

Studying Hebrews chapter two, I realized how much we separate your religious beliefs from our daily living. The first verse starts out with a very bold statement “You have set your glory above the heavens”. I believe that this glory is explained in Hebrews 2:9 “But we behold him who hath been made a little lower that the angels, even Jesus because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor that by the grace of God he should taste of death for every man”. By looking at this psalm in relationship to Hebrews chapter two I realize that our Lord is Christ. How then do we live our daily life apart from our Lord?  The answer for mankind is simple. The realization of Christ as Lord marks the different of those that are living a godly life and walking in his way verses those that are living in ungodliness and rejecting his way.  For Christ is the way, the truth, and life and no man come to the father except by him.  One day every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord.

Reading this psalm, I have to reflect upon what Christ said about this psalm found in Matthew 21:15-17. This reply came after Christ’s Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem, his driving out of the money changers from the temple area, and his healing of the blind and lame. As the children were shouting in the temple area “Hosanna to the Son of David” the chief priest and the teachers of the law became indignant. In his reply to them Christ stated, “have you never read ‘From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise'” From Christ reply to the teachers of the Law from this simple Psalm we find answers to some of the great questions of life.  Like Satan, man likes to change the simple words of God and makes them more complicated and confusing to understand to persuade others to follow man’s way instead of God’s way.  However, as I John 5;12 states the truth “He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.”  These simple words state the truth that even children and infants can understand.  

In his book PSICANICA: A Spiritual Philosophy Thomas Michael Powell writes “Since the beginning of thought, man has sought to understand the universe and his own existence. He has sought to explain them through myths, superstitions, and religions on one hand; and through science and philosophy on the other.” In his book he has put forth ten great questions of Philosophy:

1. What is the nature of the universe?
2. Is there a Supreme Being?
3. What is the place of man in the universe?
4. What is reality?
5. What determines the fate of each individual?
6. What is good and what is bad or evil?
7. Why are things the way they are?
8. What is the ideal relation between the individual and the state?
9. What is education?
10. What happens at death?

It is interesting that he places religion in the group of superstition and myth and not with science and philosophy. He states that “Religion proffers answers to many of these questions but based on alleged divine revelation as interpreted by ecclesiastical “authorities” and expressed in dogmatic —and often irrational— belief systems. Science and Philosophy eschew dogmatic belief and seek to answer them by reason and logic or through experience.” However, as I study the Psalms all the answers to these questions are made simple. Yes Religion (man-made system for understanding the relationship between man and God “yes man seems to always want to be first”) does a poor job of answering these ten questions. But then man strives to understand these questions in the light of God’s Word as the Spirit reveals truth to him then he learns to praise God. Yes, the more we learn about the nature of man, the nature of the enemy, and the nature of God the more we want to praise God.

This Psalm sets the foundation for our understanding. It does not start out trying to establish God, instead it starts out with the establish fact that God is, and it is His glory that fills the heavens and the earth. So, as I look at the ten questions above question one and two are answered in verse one of this Psalm. Yes, there is a supreme being and the nature of the universe is his creation. Question three and seven are also answered in this Psalm. Man is a little lower than the angels made by God and cared by Him. He has made mankind the ruler over the works of His hands and to praise Him. Question nine can be answered in the phrase “when I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars which you have set in place” as the reference point for learning. Everything begins with God. Take God out of education and then your education becomes godless, and the results of your studies flawed. So as babes and children trust in the parents that care for them so must we return to this simple truth that it is God who watches over us and cares for us and our faith should be in him.  And the tenth question is answer by your relationship to Christ.  As a Christian we have a peace that passes all understanding by knowing the answers to all ten of these questions as we grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Psalm 7

A shiggaion of David, which he sang to the LORD concerning Cush, a Benjamite.

1 O Lord my God, in thee do I put my trust: save me from all them that persecute me, and deliver me:

2 Lest he tear my soul like a lion, rending it in pieces, while there is none to deliver.

3 O Lord my God, If I have done this; if there be iniquity in my hands;

4 If I have rewarded evil unto him that was at peace with me; (yea, I have delivered him that without cause is mine enemy:)

5 Let the enemy persecute my soul, and take it; yea, let him tread down my life upon the earth, and lay mine honour in the dust. Selah.

6 Arise, O Lord, in thine anger, lift up thyself because of the rage of mine enemies: and awake for me to the judgment that thou hast commanded.

7 So shall the congregation of the people compass thee about: for their sakes therefore return thou on high.

8 The Lord shall judge the people: judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness, and according to mine integrity that is in me.

9 Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end; but establish the just: for the righteous God trieth the hearts and reins.

10 My defence is of God, which saveth the upright in heart.

11 God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day.

12 If he turn not, he will whet his sword; he hath bent his bow, and made it ready.

13 He hath also prepared for him the instruments of death; he ordaineth his arrows against the persecutors.

14 Behold, he travaileth with iniquity, and hath conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood.

15 He made a pit, and digged it, and is fallen into the ditch which he made.

16 His mischief shall return upon his own head, and his violent dealing shall come down upon his own pate.

17 I will praise the Lord according to his righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the Lord most high.  (KJV)

Verse nine is the theme of this psalm “O righteous God, who searches minds and hearts, bring to an end the violence of the wicked and make the righteous secure.” It contains our acknowledgment of who God is and what should be the theme of our daily prayer. I Corinthians 2:11 states “For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man’s spirit within him?” should be your guiding light when dealing with others. Stop and think how many times in course of your daily routine that you are quick to pass judgment on a person’s actions. Stop and think how many times in course of your daily routine that you hear others around you who are quick to pass judgment on a person’s actions. But in reality, do we really know what they are thinking? No, we can try to perceive their thoughts but only they know what they are really thinking. But God does know the thoughts and intents on the mind and the heart of all individuals. So, our prayers should be “God bring to an end the violence of the wick and make the righteous secure.”

I Corinthians 2:11, 12, 16 tells us how to have the mind of Christ; “In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us.  For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.”  As you walk daily with Christ and study his word daily you should see a transformation in your own life of the striping away of the old self and the putting on the new man. God’s judgments are based on the thoughts and the intents of a man and not the actions of man as portrait in this psalm. I Corinthians 2:16 bring out an important reason to study God’s word “That we may understand what God has freely given us”. Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. I pray that this is the peace that you have with Christ tonight.

The Way of Our Walk

“And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God?” – Genesis 50:19

As you go about your journey on this earth, do you have to be in control of the events in your life? Genesis 50 gives us a picture of how Joseph followed his father’s last wishes on his burial in the land on Canaan. Joseph took control and followed his father’s wishes and made everything happen the way Jacob wanted it to happen. However, after the funeral his brothers sent a message to him referring to Jacob’s request for the brothers to carry out concerning their past sin to Joseph. They were living in his presence; however, since, they still had not confessed their sin and asked for his forgiveness, they probably did not have the close brotherly relationship with him as they should. Now with Jacob’s death they feared that Joseph would now carry out his our justice and give them the judgment that their sin desired. They were now at the mercy of Joseph who had the power to carry out judgment with his own hands.

Joseph’s reply was simple: “Fear not: for am I in the place of God?” Joseph knew the time, the place, and who was going to judge all men. The time is in God’s hand and he and he only knows it. The place is before him. And finally, it will be God who judges us. However, as you go about your journey on this earth you can partake of an attribute of God just as Joseph did. This attribute is our ability to forgive others. As Christ preached in Matthew 6:12 “And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” and then as Christ expanses on this in verse 14 “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you”. This was probably the thought that Joseph had then he replies to his brothers “I cannot judge you for your evil, however I can forgive you” and this is also the way in which we must walk.

Psalm 6

 A psalm of David.
1 O Lord, rebuke me not in thine anger, neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure.

2 Have mercy upon me, O Lord; for I am weak: O Lord, heal me; for my bones are vexed.

3 My soul is also sore vexed: but thou, O Lord, how long?

4 Return, O Lord, deliver my soul: oh, save me for thy mercies’ sake.

5 For in death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks?

6 I am weary with my groaning; all the night make I my bed to swim; I water my couch with my tears.

7 Mine eye is consumed because of grief; it waxeth old because of all mine enemies.

8 Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity; for the Lord hath heard the voice of my weeping.

9 The Lord hath heard my supplication; the Lord will receive my prayer.

10 Let all mine enemies be ashamed and sore vexed: let them return and be ashamed suddenly. (KJV)

In the devotional My Utmost for His Highest for April 2, 2009, Oswald Chambers writes “The lasting characteristic of a spiritual man is the ability to understand correctly the meaning of the Lord Jesus Christ in his life, and the ability to explain the purposes of God to others.” as the spiritual insight that we need to portray in our daily walk. This psalm is an example of those events that take place in our life in which we know God, but we cannot grasp an understanding on how God is using those events in our life at that moment to shape us for his purpose.

In this psalm David knows the Lord. He knows of God’s anger and discipline, and he knows of his unfailing love. He had witness how God had used Saul to united Israel as a nation, but also witness how God had deserted Saul when he refused to obey God. He saw the pain and suffering that Saul went through when the Spirit of the Lord left Saul. He also saw the type of person that Saul became when he forsook the Lord’s way and pursued his own path. However, he also saw how much pain and suffering Saul could inflict on others. Events such as when Saul had Doeg the Edomite kill eighty-five members of the priest family were hard for David to grasp when it came to understanding God intervention in the affairs of man.

As I study the issues that David must have faced in this psalm and apply it to the issues that I face daily in my live, I realize that David was wrestling with gaining an understanding of the events surrounding him. The more I study the psalms the more I realize that David was writing his psalms to help him understand the nature and attributes of God. David knew that God was in control, however, he also realized that evil existed in the world and that this evil was godless. Godliness and godlessness cannot exist together. Therein lays the conflict that we see in the world today, those who walk in the way of the righteous and those who opposes the righteous way of God. The major issue that I see today is that many believers strive to make a stand against all unrighteous that they see exist all around them and take matters into their hands, instead of leaving it to God. We should become like David and become obsessed with the pursue of knowing God and living a blameless life. If we truly believe like David; then we like him will know that the four results of verses nine and ten will take place.

The LORD has heard my cry for mercy.

The LORD accepts my prayer.
All my enemies will be ashamed and dismayed.

They will turn back in sudden disgrace.

Living a blameless life is different than living a perfect life. One of the earliest struggles that I faced as a Christian was striving for human perfection. Paul also gives us an example of his struggle with living a life of perfection in Philippians chapter three. Paul purpose changed from striving to live a life of perfection to knowing God and the power of his resurrection. He sought the fellowship of Christ suffering and being made conformable unto God’s nature. Oswald Chambers summarizes Christian perfection in his devotional from December 2 as “Christian perfection is not, and never can be, human perfection. Christian perfection is the perfection of a relationship with God that shows itself to be true even amid the seemingly unimportant aspects of human life.” So, as we go through times in our life that we cannot understand God’s leading look at them as a time that God is making us conformable unto His nature.

Thought for the day. Do I really know the ten commandments?

Thou shall have no other gods before me.
Thou shall not make unto thee any graven image.
Thou shall not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.
Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
Honor thy father and thy mother.
Thou shall not kill.
Thou shall not commit adultery.
Thou shall not steal.
Thou shall not bear false witness against thy neighbor.
Thou shall not covet.

Simple commandments to live by.

Psalm 5

Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my meditation.

2 Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray.

3 My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.

4 For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee.

5 The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity.

6 Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing: the Lord will abhor the bloody and deceitful man.

7 But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple.

8 Lead me, O Lord, in thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make thy way straight before my face.

9 For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is very wickedness; their throat is an open sepulchre; they flatter with their tongue.

10 Destroy thou them, O God; let them fall by their own counsels; cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions; for they have rebelled against thee.

11 But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.

12 For thou, Lord, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield.  (KJV)

Reading this chapter, I think back to the examples that God has given to me in the Old Testament of examples to understand the differences of a righteousness or an unrighteousness lifestyle. Also, as I reflect on the psalms, I remember that the writer and the readers did not have all the scripture that I have now. The Pentateuch (the writings of Moses) were the main writings that David or the writers of the other psalms were referring to as God’s Word or his Law. However, in this law they were given examples such as Cain and Abel, Isaac and Esau, Joseph and his brothers, and others as an illustration on how they should live their life on this earth.

This is a psalm related to prayer. The very reason I started my reading of the psalms several years ago was to help my prayer life. Prayer is the process of making request to God. As I have been studying the psalms in my quest to improve my prayer life, I have found out how important the Lord’s Prayer found in Matthew 6:9-15 is in a believer’s life. This prayer has five simple parts which are very important in guiding our prayer life.

1. Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.
2. Your kingdom come; your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
3. Give us today our daily bread.
4. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
5. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from the evil one.

Simply put we look to God for our daily needs. Leave the future to him. In the past few years my prayer request has change from praying for things to a prayer of becoming more Christ-like in my daily walk. As I take a closer look at this psalm, the Lord’s prayer and the life of Christ from the Gospels I realized that our daily prayer is a prayer for God to meet our physical needs and a prayer to guide us in the activities of the coming day. That all! In this process the things that God has taken out of my life and the things He has brought into my life has richly blessed me. The psalmist stated this principle better than I could in verses eleven and twelve of this psalm. So just take refuge in Christ, rest in the peace he gives you, and enjoy the blessings he brings your way.

One of the interesting facts about the Bible is that it is a great history book of the nation Israel. One interesting period of this history is the first one hundred and twenty years of nation under the three kings: Saul, David, and Solomon. If we looked at the first one hundred and twenty years in American history 1789 – 1909 we can see how much God has blessed this nation just like Israel was blessed. This time period in American history would represent the time period of the presidents from George Washington to William Howard Taft. During this time period our nation grew from the thirteen original states to forty-six states. It grew from the western boundaries of the nation being the Appalachian Mountains to the western boundaries being the Pacific coast. It grew from a colonial state that just gained its independence to one of the most powerful nations in the world. When we look at the history of Israel during these one hundred and twenty years, we must consider that the growth of the nation of Israel was also like the growth of the America during her first one hundred and twenty years. It grew from a group of disorganized tribes to the most powerful nation on earth at that time. When studying the psalms, the reader must realize that much of the history of this book was written during the latter part of Saul’s reign and the reign of David as king. By understanding the history of this time period and the relationship between Saul and David, as well as the relationships of David with his sons and other officials we can grasp a better understanding of the psalms.

As one grows daily in the Lord, we learn that the disappoints that come into our life are usually self-imposed or imposed upon us by others. Yet, we listen as the inexperience and immature believer question situations in their life as to “why God would let this happen to me?”. The simple reply to their question is “Have you turned your eyes upon Jesus?”. The words from Helen Howarth Lemmel song Turned Your Eyes upon Jesus remind us that when we do turn our eyes upon Jesus that the things of earth grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.

O soul, are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you, see?
There’s light for a look at the Savior,
And life more abundant and free!
Through death into life everlasting
He passed, and we follow Him there;
O’er us sin no more hath dominion—
For more than conquerors we are!

His Word shall not fail you—He promised;
Believe Him, and all will be well:
Then go to a world that is dying,
His perfect salvation to tell!

Refrain:
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.

One of the greatest signs that a believer walk is mature is where his or her focus on life lies.  Is it on the things that causes the lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and the pride of life or is the focus on walking with Christ?

Psalm 4

A psalm of David.

1 Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer.

2 O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame? how long will ye love vanity, and seek after leasing? Selah.

3 But know that the Lord hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the Lord will hear when I call unto him.

4 Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.

5 Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the Lord.

6 There be many that say, Who will shew us any good? Lord, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us.

7 Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased.

8 I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety. (KJV)

The purpose of starting my study in the psalms twenty-one years ago was to help improve my prayer life. This started the process of reading five psalms a day and letting them speak to me as I poured my heart out to God, just as David does in a lot of his psalms. Psalm four is an example of a simple pray. This prayer starts out with the request for God to answer his prayers. Here David is requesting relief from his distress. As you read verse one and look at David’s requests, “answer me when I call to you, give me relief from my distress, be merciful to me and hear my prayer” reveals that this was a prayer that came from a hurting man. Verse two reveals that the distress David is referring to in this verse is from men who are trying to destroy David’s character. When you study David’s life it is not a study of how God rewards the godly as they live a righteous life on this earth, but it is a reflection on the struggle between the two walks (way of the righteous and the way of the wicked) on this earth. This struggle is also the struggle we face as we are sojourners on this earth. When David was running from Saul, he was forced to give up relationships with those who were close to him such as his wife (Saul even gave Micah to another man), his family, and his closest friend (Jonathan). As these events of rejection happened in David life they also happen in the life of Christ as well as in your life today.

However, verses three, four, and five gives us an insight to handle ourselves when we are experiencing these events in our life. First know that God has set the godly apart for himself. This means that in times of trouble we do not seek to right the wrong, but instead focus on becoming godly. This is only done by becoming more Christ-like in our walk on this earth. Second, we need to know that God will take care of us just as he did Joseph. Joseph’s life serves as a great example of how even when we are wronged by others God is still in control. And last of all we must be continually in a state of self-examination. As David states here search your heart and be silent. God will speak to you in these dark times things that you will not be able to share even those who are very close to you. By following these principals, we like David will have great joy in our hearts and will be able to lie down and sleep in peace.

As I study David’s life, I realize how much of his life was guided by one principle and that was by staying in God’s Word.  Psalm 119 gives us an understanding of the guiding principles of David’s life.  As a person studies this psalm eight keys words that are used to describe God’s Word:  law, precept, testimony, commandment, ordinance, promise, statue, and way.  These principles were probably taught to David at an early age following the instructions given to the nation of Israel in Deuteronomy 6:7 “And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children and shall talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.”  These words from the book of Deuteronomy as well as the other books of Moses probably laid the foundation for the guiding principles in David’s life.

Today we have this more sure word of prophecy of the scriptures which were given to holy men of God speaking as they were moved by the Holy Spirit II Peter 1:20,21.  In the same way as one studies the Bible in a spirit of self- examination the Holy Spirit will reveal more and more of God’s ways to us. By reading these psalms daily and seeking to walk in his ways we will experience joys that this world can’t give.  This is the gladness in our heart and the sleep of peace that David writes about in verses seven and eight.

Psalm 3

A psalm of David. When he fled from his son Absalom.

1 Lord how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me.

2 Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah.

3 But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.

4 I cried unto the Lord with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah.

5 I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the Lord sustained me.

6 I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about.

7 Arise, O Lord; save me, O my God: for thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly.

8 Salvation belongeth unto the Lord: thy blessing is upon thy people. Selah. (KJV)

Reading this psalm, I recall the verses that recount the story of David and Absalom. I am not one that fills in the blanks so I will not try to determine the relationship that David had with his son Absalom. Reading the story of the events between Absalom and Ammon and then Absalom and David have been the subject of many books on the right and wrong ways of parenting.  Absalom was David’s third son (II Samuel 3:3) and the half-brother to Ammon who was David’s oldest son but whom also had raped Tamar, Absalom’s sister. Read the story in 2 Samuel 13:1 – 19:43 to get a full account of the story that leads to this psalm.  As we study the scriptures, we are given many examples of the how children do not follow in the path of their parent’s approval, starting with the first family.  However, this psalm even has more meaning to those who has had their own child rebels against them to the point of wanting to destroy them and go against the truth.  

David waited on the Lord. This is different from the approach that many take today. The belief that God takes care of those who take care of themselves is a belief that carries over to almost every aspect of our life. We are living in an age where we must make things happen, and when it does it must be God’s will.  The idea of waiting on the Lord I believe has really been forgotten in this age of instant gratification. Reading these verses gives me a glimpse at David’s response to the trial he is going through. He is trusting in God as his shield and as the one that gives glory. He will rest and lie down because the Lord sustains him. He will not fear because from the Lord will comes deliverance. David knew how to trust God. As we measure the battles, we fight in the fleeing moments of this life they are nothing compared to the victories we will have with him for eternality. 

The phase “May your blessing be on your people” reminds us to walk in the way of the Lord. Remember there is only one way and he is the way, the truth, and the life, so walk in this way and be blessed.

Here we see David the father of Absalom running from his son. When studying David’s life, the main theme I have realized is his personal relationship with the Lord and how this relationship changed David. In I Kings 15:3-5 David’s character is described as having a heart that was wholly devoted to his God. The only blemish on David’s life was the case of Uriah the Hittite. David’s examples of how he lived his life reflects a man who was truly a man after God’s own heart. He was not a man who was searching for God, but a man who walked in the way of God who waited on God’s transforming power to make his heart like God’s heart. This is reflected in the way he handled himself at the death of his son Absalom. He wept. Joab and Israel could not understand this weeping, just as the world today cannot understand the love and patience of God as Peter wrote about in II Peter 3:9. Just as the thought that David had in his heart as he walked in his chamber “O my son Absalom, my son Absalom! Would I have died instead of you.” is the same love God has for us his children. In fact, that is why Christ died on the cross for us. With his death and resurrection, he made a way to restore the broken relationship between God and man. So, when you study the psalms as well as all scripture wait on God to open his Word to you. Then you will start to see God’s transforming work in your heart as he makes you into a child of God. Stop searching for God in your way and start walking and growing in his way by studying his Word and letting it speak to you. Let your walk be characterized as a man or women who is walking with the Lord and enjoying sweet communion with Him. Let your communion with Him be a candle that sheds light to those who are searching for God.

Psalm 2

1 Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?

2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against his anointed, saying,

3 Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.

4 He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.

5 Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath and vex them in his sore displeasure.

6 Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.

7 I will declare the decree: the Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.

8 Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.

9 Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.

10 Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth.

11 Serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling.

12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.  (KJV)

This psalm is a prophecy about the Lord. This psalm focus is on the Lord and those who stand against the Lord.  As I read the first three verses, I recall the words of Paul in Romans 1:21 “Because that when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful: but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish hearts was darkened.”   Paul had firsthand knowledge of knowing God and rejecting his way (Acts 9:1-15).  However, on the road to Damascus Paul (Saul) was confronted by the Lord and asked the question “Saul, Saul, why persecutes thou me?”  Paul’s answer was “Who art thou Lord” and the Lord’s answer was “I am Jesus whom that persecutes, it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.”  This conversion must be a part of every believer.  We must either accept Jesus as Lord of our life, and if we don’t that means we have rejected him. For those that reject him Paul gives them this warning in Romans 1:28 “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind to do those things which are not convenient:” They become ungodly, ones that do not follow the way of God.

The only time the saints are found only in this psalm is in the last sentence. We are blessed (reread psalm one) our refuge is in him. It is not by our acts but by his grace that we are blessed. Therefore, heed verse twelve kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you be destroyed in your way. Notice that way is singular. In Psalm 1:6 David writes but the way of the wickedwill perishes, this is the way that the son will destroy in verse twelve of this psalm. Kiss the son is an act of reverence. Your way then is simply put to this one question “what do you think of Christ?” Is Christ the way, the truth and the light in your life?

Reading Psalm two, I wonder what the Lord told the two disciples on their way to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-32) about this portion of the scriptures. In Luke 24:32 “And they said one to another, Was not our heart burning within us, while he spoke to us in the way, while he opened to us the scriptures?” was a trip that one of my favorite Bible teachers stated as his dream trip. That short journey from Jerusalem to Emmaus was the best discourse on Old Testament theology that was ever delivered. Christ himself gives us the keys to understanding the scriptures in Luke 24:46,47 “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer, and rise again from the dead the third day; and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name unto all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.” Simply put it is the gospel.

Watching the news and listening to everyday discussions about the affairs of men, I see little refer being made to the King of Kings in either case. Studying the Sermon on the Mount found in Matthew chapters five through seven, I see the King of Kings presenting his kingdom and his principles to mankind. The theme of this psalm can be found in the first three verses. The people of this earth take their stand against God. Their goal is to break the chains that they state that God has placed upon them. These chains that the kings and the rulers want to break are simply the desire to set themselves up as gods so that men would worship them instead of God. As I study Isaiah fourteen verse twelve through seventeen, I realize that this was the same chains that Satan wanted to break. In Isaiah 14:12-17:

How you have fallen from heaven, O morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations! You said in your heart, “I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.” But you are brought down to the grave, to the depths of the pit. Those who see you stare at you, they ponder your fate: “Is this the man who shook the earth and made kingdoms tremble, the man who made the world a desert, who overthrew its cities and would not let his captives go home?”

Just as Satan, these kings and rulers of the earth paid no heed to God’s law and disregard the honor due Him. However, God has set Christ up as King. When studying the gospels, a person needs to take a closer look at the parables that Christ gave after his Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem. The parables of the two sons, the land tenants, the wedding banquet, the ten virgins, and the given talents, all point to a returning Lord. As we approach each day are our eyes should be focused on the clouds and looking for the coming King.  Instead, it seems that most individuals are so focused on the daily activities around them and being part of this world that they have taken their eyes away from looking for the return of the coming King.

I was asked the other day if God ever laughs. Here in verse four of this Psalm, as well as Psalm 37:13 and Psalm 59:8 I have found the answer. God laughs at the wicked. In these three psalms the issue that God laughs at is the stand the wicked have taken against God and his anointed One. He laughs that they believe that they can rebel against God and free themselves from his ways. God looks down from heaven and views this as foolishness. His advice is simply “serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling”. So be warned “Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you will be destroyed in your way”.  Romans 1:18 states “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness”.  And then in Romans 1:25 Paul characterizes this ungodliness as people who “Who changed the truth of God into a lie and worshipped and serve the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever, Amen.” 

Reading Revelations 9:20, 21 “And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plaques yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone: which neither can see ,nor hear, nor walk:  neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts”: I ask myself a simple question of why would they not repent?  The answer came to me by watching the news the other night.  No matter how much destruction happens in Gaza, the population of Gaza will never repent of the acts that Hamas committed on October the 7.  To the population in Gaza, Israel does not have the right to exist, just as the ungodly believe that they can change the truth of God into a lie and worship themselves instead of the Creator of the universe.  So, no matter how bad the wrath of will be poured upon the earth there will be some that will never repent.