Psalm 1:6a For the Lord knows the way of the righteous.
Galatians 1:15, 16a But when He who set me apart, even from my mother’s womb, and called me through His grace, was pleased to reveal His son in me that I might preach Him among the Gentiles.
Paul in the first chapter of Galatians reveals how he believed that God had set him apart at birth to be the apostle to the Gentiles. This belief that God sets aside individuals for His purpose to represent Him and deliver His message to the world was something that he was taught very early in his childhood and then as he continue his training as a Pharisee. From his studies of the Torah Paul learned of the calling of Noah, Abraham, Joesph, Moses, Josuha, Samuel, David, and all of the other men and women that God had called and used. As Paul studied the Torah (our Old Testament) he saw the ways that God called these individuals into His service. After his encounter with Christ on the road to Damascus he looked upon his calling as well as the calling of the other apostles the same way that God had called these saints found in the Torah.
Paul extended this belief that God has given to us as believers a calling just as He gave His calling the Paul and the other apostles. In I Corinthians 12:28 “And God hath set some in the church, first as apostles, secondarily as prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracle, then gifts of healing, helps, government, diversities of tongues.” In other words, God has given us as believers gifts for his purpose. However, Paul gives us these words of warning about these gifts or callings that God has given us in I Corinthians 12:31. This is the important verse that Paul introduces us to the great love chapter of the Bible, I Corinthians chapter thirteen which is the true way of God. We are to earnestly to covet the best gifts that God has given us, and yet Paul in the great love chapter shows us the more excellent way. This is the way of the righteous these who walk in the way that God loves. So, if your calling is like the great calling of calling of Hannah (I Samuel 2:21), or like the widow of Zarephath (I Kings 17:9) God will bless you in all that you do. So whatsoever you do in word or deed do it upon the Lord.
Genesis 2:17 “But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil thou shalt not eat of it, for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.”
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believeth on Him, shall not perish but have everlasting life.”
These two verses gives to mankind a simple instruction. The first was not heeded and led to sin entering into the human race. The second was the simple instruction that Christ explained to Nicodemus’s two questions that he ask Jesus in John chapter three. The first question was “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb?”. Jesus answer was “That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the spirit is Spirit.” When Jesus stated this to Nicodemus he asked Jesus this question “How can these things be”? Jesus reply to Nicodemus “Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know and testify that we have seen; and ye received not our witness. If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you heavenly things?” Then Jesus told him of the way he was going to die. Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness even so the Son of man will be lifted up. Jesus not only portrayed the promise seed to Eve, the promise to Abraham, the promise son to David, and the promise Messiah to Israel, but also the fulfillment of this prophecy of Moses.
Jesus answered Nicodemus questions with this simple answer; that which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the spirit is spirit. Adam eat the fruit and when he did; it not only led to his death but passed this sentence on to all of his offsprings. However, there is another decision each individual must make and that is a spiritual decision. That decision was illustrated in Numbers 21:5-9 when the children rebelled against Moses and the LORD sent fiery serpents among them. To survive the bite all that they had to do was to look upon the cross to life. Jesus gave this same teaching to Nicodemus. Just as the Israelites were saved from death by looking to serpent on the cross, we can save our life by looking to Jesus’s death on the cross. Just as Adam made a decision and death passed upon the human race, you can make the decision to believe on Jesus to have eternal life.
1 Praise ye the Lord. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power.
2 Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness.
3 Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp.
4 Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs.
5 Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high-sounding cymbals.
6 Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord. (KJV)
Reading this psalm, I hope you will stop and realized that everything in your world is not “All about me”. However, as you look at this psalm you will see that we are to praise the Lord. As you look at these verses you will get the picture of a modern church service:
Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet
praise him with the harp and lyre
praise him with tambourine and dancing
praise him with the strings and flute
praise him with the clash of cymbals
praise him with resounding cymbals
Let everything that has breath praise the LORD
Why Praise God?
For his acts of power. For his surpassing greatness. What is this surpassing greatness? Paul answers this in Ephesians 1:3-14. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ: even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blemish before him in love: having foreordained us unto adoption as sons through Jesus Christ unto himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of his grace, which he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved: in whom we have our redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, making known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he purposed in him unto a dispensation of the fullness of the times, to sum up all things in Christ, the things in the heavens, and the things upon the earth; in him, I say, in whom also we were made a heritage, having been foreordained according to the purpose of him who worked all things after the counsel of his will; to the end that we should be unto the praise of his glory, we who had before hoped in Christ: in whom ye also, having heard the word of the truth, the gospel of your salvation,– in whom, having also believed, ye were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, which is an earnest of our inheritance, unto the redemption of God’s own possession, unto the praise of his glory.”
As I finish another reading of the Psalms and Proverbs today, I realize that this month is almost over another month is almost upon me. A few years ago, I seasoned my daily readings with the daily devotional by Charles Swindoll title Wisdom for the Way. I found this devotional at the Goodwill store where I buy some of my books. On the inside cover I discovered these words “For Lindsey From the Craig’s May 2001”. The subtitle of this devotional is Wise Words for Busy People. How this book came from the Craig’s to Lindsey and then to me is a mystery, but as I look to the surpassing greatness of God, I realize how God can use a book to influence a person.
On page 62 of this devotional Charles Swindoll starts off the reading by writing “The only way we can come to terms with reality-is by trusting God, regardless.” As I continue to read this devotional, I noticed there were only two paragraphs. The first paragraph that centered on the words I and me. It is a matter of if I am trusting him, or if I do or don’t allow God in my world as I face each and every issue in my daily routine. The second paragraph centers on the word we. We can’t wait for conditions to be perfect, instead we must go on trusting. This gift of the Craig’s to give Lindsey was probably given as a treasure to help her along the way is an example of their trusting God to work in her life. Sometimes it might appear that we have fail, however because of the surpassing greatness of God their gift might produce fruit elsewhere. As this simple devotional starts with an individual, the end result because of the surpassing greatness of God will be a group result.
Verse six “Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.” forces the reader to one conclusion and that is we are to praise the Lord. The journey that begins with the first breathe that a child takes at birth to the last breath we take before we pass from this life to eternity must include the process of praising the Lord.
The posting of this last Psalm happens to fall today on Thanksgiving. For the last one hundred and fifty days I have posted a daily psalm on my website for my children and grandchildren to know how to truly walk with the Lord. I am so thankful for having such a wonderful Savior in my life. As I look back on the seventy plus years I have been on this earth and have seen the many blessings I have received I realize that I have been truly blessed.
I have also realized that there were periods in my life when I chose to live my live my way and the Lord will let me to a point. However, for those who know Jesus as their Lord and Savior and have kept his Word and not denied His name, he will keep from falling. This is illustrated by David being dismissed from the Philistine’s army to fight against Saul and his own nation (I Samuel 29:4). As I look back at times in my life as well as the life of other Christians I know or have known; it was not our seeking after God that brought God in our lives, but it was the way that we responded to the seeking God as we opened the door to our heart and let him enter our inmost place to dwell. As I look to one of the psalms that all believers must hide in their heart it is Psalm fifty-one. This psalm makes us realize that once we open the door that the Lord has provided for repentance and return to the relationship that Lord Desire of us; then the true transformation of bringing our life into this harmony with His desires will take place and we can experience the peace that passes understanding in our life
1 Praise ye the Lord. Sing unto the Lord a new song, and his praise in the congregation of saints.
2 Let Israel rejoice in him that made him: let the children of Zion be joyful in their King.
3 Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp.
4 For the Lord taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation.
5 Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds.
6 Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand.
7 To execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people.
8 To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron.
9 To execute upon them the judgment written: this honor have all his saints. Praise ye the Lord. (KJV)
As we study God’s Word some concepts are hard for us to understand. As I study the attributes of God and focus on His goodness and kindness as well as His great mercies that He has impart not only on my behalf but on to all who call on his name, it sometimes becomes difficult for me to picture God as the One who will inflict vengeance and carry out the punishment of the sentence that is written against the those that have not called upon his name. That is why I believe in the message of Romans 1:32 “Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same but have pleasure in them that do them.” And except for the grace of God no one on this earth could escape this judgment.
Thankfully for me the message I must give to the world is not this message of the future judgment of God against the wicked of this world, but a new song a message of a way of salvation to all who will believe. Studying these verses, I must realize that there will be a time of judgment ahead, but until then there is hope for anyone that still wants to come to Him. In Jude’s book (the second to the last book of the Bible) in verses twenty-one through twenty-four we are told to keep ourselves in the love of God and have mercy on those who doubt. So, when I am confronted by others to explain how a loving God could be such a God of vengeance, I will explain to them that I am only beginning to understand the workings of God and that some concept about God is still beyond my understanding. I can compare my understanding of the complete nature of God to that of a 3rd grader’s understanding of calculus. Some things are just beyond my understanding. However, by reading Psalm ten I get a picture of how wicked the evil man truly can be.
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 to the evil it will become the glory of all his saints. 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 then 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”.
But why don’t the wicked see their coming judgment? Paul’s conclusion is found in Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” As I study this psalm, I realize the truth found in Hebrews 2:3 “how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation?
1 Praise ye the Lord. Praise ye the Lord from the heavens: praise him in the heights.
2 Praise ye him, all his angels: praise ye him, all his hosts.
3 Praise ye him, sun and moon: praise him, all ye stars of light.
4 Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens.
5 Let them praise the name of the Lord: for he commanded, and they were created.
6 He hath also established them for ever and ever: he hath made a decree which shall not pass.
7 Praise the Lord from the earth, ye dragons, and all deeps:
8 Fire, and hail; snow, and vapors; stormy wind fulfilling his word:
9 Mountains, and all hills; fruitful trees, and all cedars:
10 Beasts, and all cattle; creeping things, and flying fowl:
11 Kings of the earth, and all people; princes, and all judges of the earth:
12 Both young men, and maidens; old men, and children:
13 Let them praise the name of the Lord: for his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven.
14 He also exalted the horn of his people, the praise of all his saints; even of the children of Israel, a people near unto him. Praise ye the Lord. (KJV)
Praise the LORD. The theme of a believer’s walk should center on praising the Lord. This psalm focus on all of God’s creation praising Him. For his name alone is excellent and his glory is above the heaven. May your walk today be on praising the Lord. In Job chapter two verse nine his wife gave him this advice “curse God and die”. His reply to her was that she spoke as one of the foolish women speak. He told her “What shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips. His words found in Job 1:21 “Naked came I came out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away: blessed be the name of the Lord.” Knowing the nature of God is absolute and we are his creation and that his name alone is excellent, we can rest assure in his hands and praise Him as Lord.
Studying David’s life through the Book of Psalms and I Samuel, II Samuel and I Kings we are given one of the most complete insights of the deep emotions of any of the Biblical characters. His life is a testimony of the high and lows an individual will face during their time of this earth. But through David’s life we can also study the lives of those that did not walk in the way of God. Paul has given us the best example of those that reject God’s way in Romans 1:16-32 “So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves: who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshiped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: and likewise, also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. 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; being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.” (KJV) To the believer (those that accepts the gospel) our life should be full of praise for God. To those that reject the gospel
God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves: who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshiped and served the creature more than the Creator. These all those that walk not in the way of God. The chose is ours to make.
1 Praise ye the Lord: for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant; and praise is comely.
2 The Lord doth build up Jerusalem: he gathers together the outcasts of Israel.
3 He heals the broken in heart and binds up their wounds.
4 He tells the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names.
5 Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite.
6 The Lord lifts up the meek: he casts the wicked down to the ground.
7 Sing unto the Lord with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the harp unto our God:
8 Who covers the heaven with clouds, who prepares rain for the earth, who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains.
9 He giveth to the beast his food, and to the young ravens which cry.
10 He delights not in the strength of the horse: he taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man.
11 The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.
12 Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem; praise thy God, O Zion.
13 For he hath strengthened the bars of thy gates; he hath blessed thy children within thee.
14 He maketh peace in thy borders and fills thee with the finest of the wheat.
15 He sends forth his commandment upon earth: his word runs very swiftly.
16 He giveth snow like wool: he scatters the hoarfrost like ashes.
17 He casts forth his ice like morsels: who can stand before his cold?
18 He sends out his word, and melteth them: he causes his wind to blow, and the waters flow.
19 He sheweth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments unto Israel.
20 He hath not dealt so with any nation: and as for his judgments, they have not known them. Praise ye the Lord. (KJV)
This is a Psalm to the love of God for the nation of Israel. As we look at the love of God to Israel we can see the type of love that a parent should have for their child. Having seven children myself, I have come to recognized that they have their own individuals’ traits and that they will make their own decisions. As a parent you will have to give up the control of your child’s environment. As a parent we can instruct, guide and lead, however the most important part of training up a child is to model the Godly life.
Verse two points to a time in the future “The Lord doth build up Jerusalem: he gathered together the outcasts of Israel.” This is an event that has happen in my lifetime. In Romans 11:25-27 Paul writes “For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in. And so, all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, there shall come out of Zion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: for this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.” Many believe that the phase until the fullness of the Gentiles come in is a sign of the later days. God has gathered the outcasts of Israel together in these last times. Paul calls this blindness on Israel as a mystery, just he calls the rapture of the saints in I Corinthians 15:51. These mysteries are in the future so may I be like one of the five wise virgins and keep extra oil in the preparation of my returning Lord.
2 While I live will I praise the Lord: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being.
3 Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help.
4 His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.
5 Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God:
6 Which made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that therein is: which keeps truth forever:
7 Which executes judgment for the oppressed: which giveth food to the hungry. The Lord loose the prisoners:
8 The Lord opens the eyes of the blind: the Lord raises them that are bowed down: the Lord loveth the righteous:
9 The Lord preserves the strangers; he relieves the fatherless and widow: but the way of the wicked he turns upside down.
10 The Lord shall reign forever, even thy God, O Zion, unto all generations. Praise ye the Lord. (KJV)
If you are like me and read five Psalms and a chapter of Proverbs a day then you are on the last or second to the last day of the month today. These last five psalms are what I call the Praise Psalms. The reading of Psalm 146 reveals to the readers Christ a picture of the promise King. In Christ the reader would have found hope and help from the burdens that encompassed their lives. He would uphold the cause of the oppressed and give food to the hungry. He would open the eyes of the blind and restore health to the broken bodies. He would meet the needs of the fatherless and widows but would frustrate the ways of the wicked. However, when he came to earth two thousand years ago, he became the rejected one that was pictured in Isaiah chapter fifty-three.
Who hath believed our report?
And to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?
For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground:
he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him,
there is no beauty that we should desire him.
He is despised and rejected of men.
a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief:
and we hid as it were our faces from him.
he was despised,
and we esteemed him not.
Surely he hath borne our grief, and carried our sorrows:
yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
But he was wounded for our transgressions,
he was bruised for our iniquities:
the chastisement of our peace was upon him.
and with his stripes we are healed.
All we like sheep have gone astray.
we have turned everyone to his own way.
and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
He was oppressed,
and he was afflicted,
yet he opened not his mouth:
he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter,
and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth.
He was taken from prison and from judgment:
and who shall declare his generation?
for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.
And he made his grave with the wicked,
and with the rich in his death.
because he had done no violence,
neither was any deceit in his mouth.
Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him.
he hath put him to grief:
when thou shall make his soul an offering for sin,
he shall see his seed,
he shall prolong his days,
and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.
He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied:
by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many.
for he shall bear their iniquities.
Therefore, will I divide him a portion with the great,
and he shall divide the spoil with the strong.
because he hath poured out his soul unto death:
and he was numbered with the transgressors.
and he bare the sin of many,
and made intercession for the transgressors.
As the readers after the time of Christ look back on the Savior and his work, we have a detail history of his walk found in the Gospels. We are also given the promise of his return. However, with this return we also will see the doing away with the ways of the wicked. With this hope in mind how can we not praise the Lord.
This promise of the Lord’s return is very important for Christians as they make a stand for Christ in the world today. As I read the Lord’s words concerning his kingdom found in Matthew chapter twenty-five, I ask myself these questions: am I a wise or foolish virgin, a profitable or unprofitable servant, a sheep or a goat. The answer depends upon which phrase would I want to hear. “Depart from me, ye cursed, into the eternal fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels” or “Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world”. Peter informs us that if we have the correct view of the Second Coming of the Lord it will help us from being carried away by the error of the wicked. Knowing this are you looking for that coming day?
As Isaiah fifty-three was a prophecy of the first coming of Christ, Matthew chapter twenty-four and twenty-five is the prophecy of his second coming. For those who are not caught up with the Lord when he returns will they turn to the scriptures to seek the truth of these words?
1 I will extol thee, my God, O king; and I will bless thy name for ever and ever.
2 Every day will I bless thee; and I will praise thy name for ever and ever.
3 Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable.
4 One generation shall praise thy works to another and shall declare thy mighty acts.
5 I will speak of the glorious honor of thy majesty, and of thy wondrous works.
6 And men shall speak of the might of thy terrible acts: and I will declare thy greatness.
7 They shall abundantly utter the memory of thy great goodness and shall sing of thy righteousness.
8 The Lord is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy.
9 The Lord is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works.
10 All thy works shall praise thee, O Lord; and thy saints shall bless thee.
11 They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom and talk of thy power.
12 To make known to the sons of men his mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of his kingdom.
13 Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and thy dominion endures throughout all generations.
14 The Lord upholds all that fall and raises up all those that be bowed down.
15 The eyes of all waits upon thee; and thou gives them their meat in due season.
16 Thou opens thine hand and satisfies the desire of every living thing.
17 The Lord is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works.
18 The Lord is nigh unto all of them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.
19 He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry and will save them.
20 The Lord preserves all of them that love him: but all the wicked will he destroy.
21 My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord: and let all flesh bless his holy name for ever and ever. (KJV)
Reading and studying the Psalms these last one hundred and forty-five days the most common theme in this study is our relationship with the Lord. This relationship is one that I cherish. The psalmist gives the reasons for having this relationship with the Lord.
Below are his reasons:
I will exalt you, my God the King.
I will praise the Lord’s name for ever and ever. Every day I will praise the Lord.
I will extol the Lord’s name forever and ever. Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise.
The Lord’s greatness no one can fathom. One generation will commend the Lord’s works to another.
They will tell of the Lord’s mighty acts. They will speak of the glorious splendor of the Lord’s majesty.
I will meditate on the Lord’s wonderful works. They will tell of the power of the Lord awesome works.
I will proclaim the Lord’s great deeds. They will celebrate the Lord’s abundant goodness
They will joyfully sing of Lord’s righteousness. The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. The LORD is good to all.
He has compassion on all he has made. All you have made will praise the Lord.
LORD: your saints will extol you. They will tell of the glory of the Lord’s kingdom.
They will speak of the Lord’s might. So that all men may know of the Lord’s mighty acts
They may know of glorious splendor of the Lord’s kingdom.
The Lord’s kingdom is an everlasting kingdom.
The Lord’s dominion endures through all generations.
The LORD is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all he has made. The LORD upholds all those who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down. The eyes of all looks to the Lord.
The Lord give them their food at the proper time. The Lord open his hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing. The LORD is righteous in all his ways.
The Lord is loving toward all he has made. The LORD is near to all who call on him.
The Lord is near to all who call on him in truth.
The Lord fulfills the desires of those who fear him.
The Lord hears their cry and saves them.
The LORD watches over all who love him.
The Lord will destroy all the wicked.
So hopefully you can also agree with his list. As I look back on my seventy plus years on this earth, I am so thankful that I made him the Lord of my life at an early age. My life has taken me down so many paths that I never had planned. These paths have led to wonderful relationships, and at times many disappoints. However, as I have studied the psalms in relationship to David’s life I can see that the same issues I have faced were similar to the issues he faced in his life. In Hebrews chapter twelve verses one and two “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” gets us the reason to study the life of old testament saints. By studying God’s Word through faith, we can gain an understanding of the world that was frame by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear (Hebrews 11:3).
1 Blessed be the Lord my strength which teaches my hands to war, and my fingers to fight:
2 My goodness, and my fortress; my high tower, and my deliverer; my shield, and he in whom I trust; who subdued my people under me.
3 Lord, what is man, that thou takes knowledge of him! or the son of man, that thou makes account of him!
4 Man is like to vanity: his days are as a shadow that passes away.
5 Bow thy heavens, O Lord, and come down: touch the mountains, and they shall smoke.
6 Cast forth lightning, and scatter them: shoot out thine arrows, and destroy them.
7 Send thine hand from above; rid me, and deliver me out of great waters, from the hand of strange children.
8 Whose mouth speaks vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood.
9 I will sing a new song unto thee, O God: upon a psaltery and an instrument of ten strings will I sing praises unto thee.
10 It is he that giveth salvation unto kings: who delivers David his servant from the hurtful sword.
11 Rid me, and deliver me from the hand of strange children, whose mouth speaks vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood:
12 That our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth; that our daughters may be as corner stones, polished after the similitude of a palace:
13 That our garners may be full, affording all manner of store: that our sheep may bring forth thousands and ten thousand in our streets:
14 That our oxen may be strong to labor; that there be no breaking in, nor going out; that there be no complaining in our streets.
15 Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the Lord. (KJV)
Verse three ask the question “O LORD, what is man that you care for him, the son of man that you think of him?” This is the type of question that could be used in a group discussion, as well a question that could be used for self-examination. The phase “son of man” is a phase that leaded me to the books of Ezekiel and Mark. This phase is used at least eighty-eight times in the New Testament and in Ezekiel it is used around ninety times as God’s reference to Ezekiel.
Ezekiel 2:3 “And he said unto me, Son of man, I send thee to the children ofIsrael, to a rebellious nation that hath rebelled against me: they and their fathers have transgressed against me, even unto this very day.” Ezekiel was sent as the prophet to Israel during their captivity in Babylon. Ezekiel’s’ message was to a rebellious nation that had rebelled against the way of God. This captivity was a fulfillment of Jeremiah’s prophecy about Israel’s seventy years of captivity (Jeremiah 25:1-14) for Judah’s refuse to repent of their rebellious way. After these seventy years in Babylon the Jewish nation never return to the worship of idols of other Gods.
In Mark 2:2-12 Jesus saw the faith of the four who brought the one that was sick of the palsy and said to him son that sins be forgiven. However, when certain of the scribes heard Jesus they accused him of blasphemies. But Jesus replied “that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,) Arise and take up their bed and walk”. Here, Jesus, the Son of God referred to himself the title Son of man. Jesus took on this title to become the sin offering for mankind. Mark 10:45 “For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.” So, we should learn for Judah’s mistake and repent of our rebellious ways. This offer was made to all, just read John 3:16.
Verse fifteen reads “Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the Lord.” People all over the world set up idols and Gods that they follow and make it their life’s journey to follow. However, the joy that they have from following their gods and idols is usually short lived and never gives them a true contentment of life that they desire. However, those that have truly make Jesus their Lord and follow in his way can have the peace that passes all understanding and have this happiness found in verse fifteen.
1 Hear my prayer, O Lord, give ear to my supplications: in thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteousness.
2 And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight shall no man living be justified.
3 For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; he hath smitten my life down to the ground; he hath made me to dwell in darkness, as those that have been long dead.
4 Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me; my heart within me is desolate.
5 I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy works; I muse on the work of thy hands.
6 I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul thirsted after thee, as a thirsty land. Selah.
7 Hear me speedily, O Lord: my spirit faileth: hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit.
8 Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.
9 Deliver me, O Lord, from my enemies: I flee unto thee to hide me.
10 Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.
11 Quicken me, O Lord, for thy name’s sake: for thy righteousness’ sake bring my soul out of trouble.
12 And of thy mercy cut off mine enemies and destroy all of them that afflict my soul: for I am thy servant. (KJV)
When I look at the very essence of life the bottom line is that life is a gift from God. I also believe that living life without God can very difficult and is the reason why people can seem to live a life that seems wonderful, yet they are really left with an unfulfilling emptiness. Studying this psalm, I must reflect upon I Samuel 27:1 “And David said in his heart, I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul: there is nothing better for me than that I should escape into the land of the Philistines; and Saul will despair of me, to seek me any more in all the borders of Israel: so, shall I escape out of his hand.” After seven years of running from Saul and waiting on God to intervene; David had reached a point in his life where he decided that living the life, he desired was no longer available. So, he decided with his men and their families to start over. One of the interesting facts I see in this verse is that David is leaving behind his family, his friends, and his past way of life to live with his former enemy.
This psalm probably was a representation of the type of prayers that David made before coming to this decision in Samuel 27:1. It has been stated that you must walk in someone’s shoes before you can feel and understand the pain that they experience when they go through rough times in their life. As I look at Samuel 27:1, after one of the most difficult times in my life I have a greater understanding of David’s feelings and the true sense of his prayers. To lose the daily relationship of your family, as well as your close friends and then to be treated as their enemy can break a person’s will to go on. I can still recall the very day, and the very trip that I had to make a decision similar to the one that David made in I Samuel 27:1.
This psalm then represents a prayer of one who knows God but seems to have no understanding of the events around him. This is a prayer from someone who has dreams that are in God’s way, but not in God’s plan. Sometimes it is difficult to understand why when we try to follow God’s way our life seems to be falling apart.
The Prayer Request
Hear my prayer
Listen to my cry for mercy
Come to my relief
Bring me not in judgment
My issues with my enemy
My present state of being and my desire for you.
Answer me quickly
Do not hid your face from me
I do not desire to be like those who go down to the pit
Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love.
Show me the way I should go
Lift up my soul
Rescue me from my enemies
Teach me to do your will
May your Spirit lead me on level ground
Preserve my life for your namesake
Bring me out of trouble in your rightness
Silence my enemies
Destroy all my foes
The beauty of studying the psalms with an understanding of the events in David’s life and his struggle with trying to understand these events can help us as we go about our life’s journey on this earth. As I look back to the days of my youth until now I can see how the three types of events in my live: the ones that I could have controlled, the events I could not control, and the events I chose to wait on God to control, has shaped the journey that my life has taken. As a believer in Christ, I can thankfully state that in the events I chose to wait on God to control has given the greatest blessings in my life. And the events that I could control, while I am glad that the Lord intervene and took over. Waiting on the Lord can sometimes be very difficult when you seem to be at the very end of your rope, but we must remember his words “I will never leave you or forsake you”. Studying David’s life will reenforce these words.
My 5 Daily Psalms 