2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies: thou anoint my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. (KJV)
This is one of the first psalms that many young people memorize and place in their heart. It is a simple psalm yet rich in meaning. The relationships are simple. The Lord is the shepherd, and we are his sheep. He leads and we follow. He takes care of us, and we enjoy the life he gives us. Our companions are goodness and mercy, and they will be with us along the entire journey. Our dwelling will be in the house of the Lord forever.
I could go deeper with this psalm as many other writers have in the past. However, this is a personal psalm, a psalm of a personal relationship between the Lord (shepherd) and the believer (sheep). Once you know the Lord and walk with Him then these words will have a special meaning to you. You will recall times in your past walks that he gave you rest, times in the past that he had to restore you, times in the past when everything seem too far gone to be save and yet he rescued you, times that he blessed you as your enemies were watching and observing how great God rewarded you, times when the peace of God that passes all understanding came over you and finally you truly realized that this world is not your home but heaven is and you enjoy your life on this as a journey with friends and family. If you don’t know the Lord and you are going about this journey on earth alone, then you are missing the most precious relationship that you could have on this earth.
As I read this Psalm, I realized that it is a Psalm that I have hidden in my heart. As I journey daily on this life, I must realize that this shepherd in Psalms twenty-three is also the one who opens and closes the doors of opportunity for me as I continue on this journey of life on this earth. Verse six which states “surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life” should be the goal we pursue daily. It is easy for us to want more. I remember a picture of four cows divided into four pastures with each cow reaching between the barbwire into the pasture of the other cow. The words underneath this picture were “The grass is greener on the other side”. Ask yourself this question today, “are you happy to be in the green pastures that the Lord makes you lie down in today”? Remember it is the shepherd that leads you in the path of life. Stay on the path and Goodness and Mercy will follow you all the days of your life.
Reading these verses today I was reminded from my readings about Dwight Moody of an elderly woman that approached him one Sunday morning after his Sunday morning message. She felt that someone was following her around and she was very concerned about her safety. He pointed her to this psalm and reminded her that it was Goodness and Mercy that God had placed in her life to make it better. She felt blessed knowing that she had great companions on her life’s journey. Like this elderly woman, once we also have Goodness and Mercy traveling with us, we know we also have great companions with us on our journey on this earth.
1 My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?
2 O my God, I cry in the daytime, but thou hear not; and in the night season and am not silent.
3 But thou art holy, O thou that inhabits the praises of Israel.
4 Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them.
5 They cried unto thee, and were delivered: they trusted in thee, and were not confounded.
6 But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.
7 All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,
8 He trusted on the Lord that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.
9 But thou art he that took me out of the womb: thou didst make me hope when I was upon my mother’s breasts.
10 I was cast upon thee from the womb: thou art my God from my mother’s belly.
11 Be not far from me; for trouble is near; for there is none to help.
12 Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round.
13 They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion.
14 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels.
15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaved to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death.
16 For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have enclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.
17 I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me.
18 They part my garments among them and cast lots upon my vesture.
19 But be not thou far from me, O Lord: O my strength, haste thee to help me.
20 Deliver my soul from the sword, my darling from the power of the dog.
21 Save me from the lion’s mouth: for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns.
22 I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.
23 Ye that fear the Lord, praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all ye the seed of Israel.
24 For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; neither hath he hid his face from him; but when he cried unto him, he heard.
25 My praise shall be of thee in the great congregation: I will pay my vows before them that fear him.
26 The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the Lord that seek him: your heart shall live forever.
27 All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the Lord: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee.
28 For the kingdom is the Lord’s: and he is the governor among the nations.
29 All they that be fat upon earth shall eat and worship: all they that go down to the dust shall bow before him: and none can keep alive his own soul.
30 A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation.
31 They shall come and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this. (KJV)
As one reads and studies this psalm the main theme that should be considered in this psalm is the prophecy concerning the afflicted one. This is the afflicted one that the eunuch, the official in charge of all the treasury of the queen of the Ethiopians, asks Philip about in Act chapter eight. His question to Philip as he was reading Isaiah chapter fifty-three was if Isaiah was writing about himself or another. Philip then began with that very passage of Scripture and told the Ethiopian eunuch the good news about Jesus. I can see Philip also referring to Psalm 22 as he told the eunuch about Jesus. This psalm of David from the past points to the future coming of the afflicted one and the promises of his future kingdom. This chapter now points us to the past of the suffering one who ministry was recorded for us in the gospels. This psalm outlines the gospels for us. However, when reading this psalm, we must remember that there is still the later part that must still be fulfilled.
After losing a loved one, the words of verse 26 “they who seek the LORD will praise him may your hearts live forever” and verse 29 “all who go down to the dust will kneel before him those who cannot keep themselves alive” bring extra comfort from reading this psalm. In a way the life that we live on this earth is also a life that seems to have a lot of things in common with this psalm as we walk in God’s ways. For we also have Satan as our enemy, and the key to winning our daily battles is not in our strength, but our faith in our Lord. As we study Ephesians six, we see that our struggles are not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. However, God has given us an armor to wear that we may stand against the evil one. This armor:
the belt of truth buckled around your waist
the breastplate of righteousness
the sandals of the gospel of peace which are fitted with the readiness to be presented to a world in need of the truth.
the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one
the helmet of salvation
the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God
and a prayer life in the Spirit for the purpose of praying for all the saints
Therefore, as we walk on our journey through life, we must realize that we must be Christ-like in our walk. And if we walk in this way, we will face some of the issues that David and Christ faced in his psalm. Remembering this one theme as we journey through life that Christ came to save sinners and give them eternal life. Eternal life is not depended upon how I lived my life on this earth, but on what Christ did on Calvary for all who believed on him. However, my walk should have one purpose in life and that is to be more Christ-like in everything I do. This is the type of walk that should bring the people who meet me to a greater understanding of this psalm and a deeper understanding of Christ. If this is not the purpose of my life, then I will become as one that at the time of my death my life would have been saved but will have my life’s works on this earth destroyed.
I Corinthians 3:10-15
By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds.
For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.
If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw,
his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work.
If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward.
If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.
This passage from I Corinthians helps us understand and even comfort us when those who knows Christ but does not live a life that is worthy of him dies. Our justification for our salvation rest in his works alone while the receiving of this justification from our sins in our faith in him alone. As I John 5:12 puts it best “He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.” Yes, their rewards will be lost, but they will be saved. What a wonderful God.
As I study David’s life, I realize that God’s plan for us in much deeper than we can imagine. In I Samuel 27 we are given a picture of David’s heart after his running from Saul for several years. In verse one we see a change in David’s desire for his future “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.” He was tired of running from Saul. The words found in verses one through eighteen this psalm could have set the stage for David’s decision found in I Samuel 27:1. But God did not have this in his plans for David. Read I Samuel 29:1-11 on how God intervene to keep David from fighting against Israel. It is amazing how God used David (the one who Samuel anointed king) to write about the events in his life that would point to the events and sufferings of the future Anointed One (Christ). It is also amazing how we can look at the events in David’s life to help us live a more Christ-like in our own lives. This is the principle that Paul puts forth for us to live by in Philippians chapter three.
As I study David’s life, I have a problem searching for events in his life where he made the wrong decision and because of that decision events happened that could have been prevent. I base this belief on I King 15:4 “because David did that which was right in the eyes of Jehovah, and turned not aside from anything that he commanded him all the days of his life, save only in the matter of Uriah the Hittite.” David was a man after God’s own heart, in other words his thoughts and actions where Godlike. David realized the sinful nature within himself, but he also realized that all men had this sinful nature. However, his knowledge went one step farther, and that he also knew the loving-kindness of the Lord and he reflected this in his actions to other. He also knew that wickedness and evil came from a rejection of God’s kindness and forgiveness (grace) just as wickedness and evil comes from the rejection of our kindness and forgiven to others. As I reflect upon the words of this Psalm, I can see how the life of David and Christ are reflective of the same type of scarifies that we must reflect in our life. They left judgment to God and made their duty to proclaim the righteousness of God to their brothers. This too is the life I must pursue.
1 The king shall joy in thy strength, O Lord; and in thy salvation how greatly shall he rejoice!
2 Thou hast given him his heart’s desire, and hast not withholden the request of his lips. Selah.
3 For thou prevent him with the blessings of goodness: thou set a crown of pure gold on his head.
4 He asked life of thee, and thou gave it him, even length of days for ever and ever.
5 His glory is great in thy salvation: honor and majesty hast thou laid upon him.
6 For thou hast made him most blessed forever: thou hast made him exceeding glad with thy countenance.
7 For the king trusts in the Lord, and through the mercy of the most High he shall not be moved.
8 Thine hand shall find out all thine enemies: thy right hand shall find out those that hate thee.
9 Thou shalt make them as a fiery oven in the time of thine anger: the Lord shall swallow them up in his wrath, and the fire shall devour them.
10 Their fruit shalt thou destroy from the earth, and their seed from among the children of men.
11 For they intended evil against thee: they imagined a mischievous device, which they are not able to perform.
12 Therefore shalt thou make them turn their back, when thou shalt make ready thine arrows upon thy strings against the face of them.
13 Be thou exalted, Lord, in thine own strength: so, will we sing and praise thy power. (KJV)
Studying this psalm, I cannot help but see this as a psalm that refers to David’s reign as well as the coming reign of Christ. As I read the first six verses, I can picture David’s kingdom as it become one of the most powerful nations on the earth during this period of history. However, the last seven verses seem to point to a coming King, one who will destroy the enemies of God. This King is Christ. In Deuteronomy 17 we are given instructions for a King to follow. Verses eighteen through twenty reads:
And it shall be, when he sits upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book, out of that which is before the priests the Levites: and it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life; that he may learn to fear Jehovah his God, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them; that his heart be not lifted up above his brethren, and that he turn not aside from the commandment, to the right hand, or to the left: to the end that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he and his children, in the midst of Israel.
As we study these verses, we realized that knowledge of the law of the Lord and the fear of the Lord are key to how a king rule.
As I read verse ten of this Psalm, I must reflect on Peters words concerning the latter days (the times that we are living in today). Verse ten states “you will destroy their descendants from the earth”. In studying the scripture, I realized that this had already happened once before in the history of mankind The Great Flood of Genesis. In II Peter chapter three Peter writes about the last days in which men deny that this great flood ever happened. He gives us two characteristics of the mockers that Christians will face during these times.
The first characteristic is they walk after their own lust. As I reflect on the phrase “walking after one’s own lust” I ask myself “why is this an issue?”. Peter wrote this epistle to stir up the minds on the believers. He wrote this epistle to remind them of the message of the gospel. In fact, in verses fifteen and sixteen of chapter three he reminds them that Paul wrote to them in words that were sometimes hard to understand the salvation of the Lord. As I reflect on Paul’s writings about the gospel, the resurrection of Christ and our future resurrection I gain a new perceptive of the message of the gospel. Paul states in I Corinthians 15:12-19
Now if Christ is preached that he hath been raised from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, neither hath Christ been raised: and if Christ hath not been raised, then is our preaching vain, your faith also is vain. Yea, we are found false witnesses of God; because we witnessed of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, neither hath Christ been raised: and if Christ hath not been raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also that are fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If we have only hoped in Christ in this life, we are of all men most pitiable.
In other words, if the message of the gospel was just to make the world a better place to live in and that this life, we are living really is all there is then I am preaching the wrong message. If my message does not focus on gaining eternal life with God, but just on how to make the world a better place to live; then why would people give up walking after their own lust? They would not. If all I had was hope in this life, then I would be the Lord of my life and live my life for my pleasures only. So, until a man looks at the eternal value of their life the message of the gospel really has no meaning to him.
The second characteristic is they deny the Word of God. They question the Word and the promises found in the Word. They deny the creation, the flood, the call of Abraham, the law, the prophets and the ministry of Christ. What is so sad about questioning God’s Word is that most believers do not even read it. Yes, it is true that the Word of God is often abused by many and twisted to support their own personal belief system; however, that does not justify holding the Word of God out of your life. You have the same freedom as others to study the Word. You have as much access to the Word of God as anyone else. So, as I look at the second characteristic of the latter days, I must ask the question “what do you think of God’s Word?”. Do you stand on the Word of God? And what do you think about God’s son the King (Christ) in relationship to how you live your life? Read Psalms 22 and study how He suffered for us when he came the first time to earth and then read Psalms 2 to see how he will reign the second time he comes to the earth.
As I read this Psalm this morning, I thought of King David and his son Solomon. David’s walk in life was before the Lord and on the integrity of heart and walking in a righteous manner before man. However, we see in Ecclesiastes that Solomon gave his heart to seek and search out wisdom concerning all things that all under heaven. Two kings, a father and a son, however two different walks. A young shepherd that learned of God at an early age, who seek to know the way of God and not to stray from this way. A young prince of one of the greatest kingdoms on earth at his time who focus was really on himself. Read Ecclesiastes and circle all the Is in the Book. As I read the account of Solomon’s turn from God in I Kings 11:1-13 I see how God offered his mercy to Solomon, but Solomon refused to turn back to God. Unlike David his father who repented and turned back to God after the prophet Nathan stated to David “Thou art the man”, Solomon in all his wisdom decided to go the way of the world and not God’s way. Why are I writing this paragraph? Because someone who use to be very close to me wrote me to state that peace could not be found in this world and that religion did not have the answer. Like Solomon he was searching everywhere for answers but refused to consider the right way (God’s way). The shepherd king of Israel found God by finding God’s Word in his heart. This was David’s true foundation believing in the Word of God. This is the secret of my faith and the peace I have every day. Believing this first that God can be found only in his Word. This is the preaching of the Cross that Paul strives daily to achieve and may all who see me also see my Savior life in me. Salvation can come by no other means than by believing on the message of the death, burial, and the resurrection on Christ.
1 The Lord hear thee in the day of trouble; the name of the God of Jacob defends thee.
2 Send thee help from the sanctuary and strengthen thee out of Zion.
3 Remember all thy offerings, and accept thy burnt sacrifice, Selah.
4 Grant thee according to thine own heart and fulfil all thy counsel.
5 We will rejoice in thy salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners: the Lord fulfil all thy petitions.
6 Now know I that the Lord saves his anointed; he will hear him from his holy heaven with the saving strength of his right hand.
7 Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.
8 They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen and stand upright.
9 Save, Lord: let the king hear us when we call. (KJV)
Webster defines prayer as: an address (as a petition) to God or a god in word or thought, or an earnest request or wish. In this Psalm David makes seven requests for Israel:
May the LORD answer you when you are in distress.
May the name of the God of Jacob protect you. May he send you help from the sanctuary and grant you support from Zion. May he remember all your sacrifices and accept your burnt offerings. May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed. May the LORD grant all your requests.
Answer us when we call.
He is praying but he is also trusting in the Lord’s name.
Verse four “may he give you the desire of your heart” is a verse that is difficult to understand. Reflect upon these questions:
What are your heart’s desires?
Are my desires good for me?
Are my desires godly desires?
Does God pick and choose the desires I receive?
This is a type of prayer that reminds me of the opening prayer of the Sunday morning service in a church. It is a prayer that basically ask for the Lord to meet the daily needs of the believers. It is also a prayer that states our belief, and trust is in the Lord. However, we need to take this Sunday prayer and make it a daily prayer. These daily prayers should be prayers that help guide us in the direction to making our daily desires into the desires that come from a person who is a person after God’s own heart.
1 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows his handywork.
2 Day unto day uttered speech, and night unto night shows knowledge.
3 There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.
4 Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun,
5 Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber and rejoices as a strong man to run a race.
6 His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.
7 The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.
8 The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.
9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
10 More to be desired are they then gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
11 Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.
12 Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults.
13 Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.
14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer. (KJV)
Reading this psalm, I picture David as a young boy enjoying the pleasures of working out in the fields keeping watch over his father’s flocks with the other shepherds. As he was out in the wilderness keeping these flocks he witnessed the greatness of the world around him. He witnessed the sunrise and sunset every day. He also witnessed the weather patterns and well as the marvels of the landscape surrounding him. In the evening, he would probably set around the campfire and hears of the stories of Israel’s past history from the older shepherds. It reminds me of the time when I was young working on the dairy farm in Indiana and witnessing the wonders of God in the world around me. As we were milking the cows I can still recall the radio planning the song of Tell Me the Story of Jesus playing in the background from the gospel station. These memories help build the stage for this psalm.
This psalm gives to us the ways that we can know God. First there is nature (natural Revelation) that declares God to us. The heavens declare his glory, the skies proclaim his work, night after night they display knowledge and by this knowledge, we can know God in an impersonal way. However, just observing the world around us scream that there must be a creator, one vastly greater than men.
Paul also writes in Romans chapter one about how the invisible things of God from the creation of the world can be clearly seen being understood by the things that are made, even God’s eternal power.
But we also have special written revelation of his written Word (law, statutes, precepts, commands, and ordinances) which to the seeker of God is more precious than gold and sweeter than honey. As I study this psalm, I realized the importance of staying in God’s word daily. His word revives my soul, it gives me wisdom, it gives me a joy and peace beyond understanding, and gives me light and direction for my daily life. By keeping them and meditating on them one can keep himself blameless, and innocent of great transgression. Yes, as we continue our journey in this life we will sometime slip and fall as we follow Christ, but as long as we stay in his word, we will not commit great transgressions.
Paul uses the argument of both natural revelation and the special written revelation as that there is no respect of person with God. In Roman chapter one and two Paul writes “that as many as have sinned without the law shall also perish without the law and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law.” In these chapters he describes how the Gentiles which have not the law are without excuse when they do by nature the things contained in the law. Not only do they know the judgment of God, that they which commit the things against nature but have pleasure in them. This is why verse twelve is important for us to understand. “Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults.” Because we realize that there will be a day that God shall the secrets of men by Jesus according to my gospel as Paul write about in Roman 2:16.
1I love you, O LORD, my strength. 2 The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; myGod is my rock, in whomI take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. 3I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from myenemies. 4 The cords of death entangled me; the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me. 5 The cords of the grave coiled around me; the snares of death confronted me. 6 In my distress I called to the LORD; I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears. 7 The earth trembled and quaked, and the foundations of the mountains shook; they trembled because he was angry. 8 Smoke rose from his nostrils; consuming fire came from his mouth, burning coals blazed out of it. 9He parted the heavens and came down; dark clouds were under his feet.
10He mounted the cherubim and flew; he soared on the wings of the wind. 11He made darkness his covering, his canopy around him the dark rain clouds of the sky. 12 Out of the brightness of his presence clouds advanced, with hailstones and bolts of lightning. 13 The LORD thundered from heaven; the voice of the Most High resounded. 14He shot his arrows and scattered the enemies, great bolts of lightning and routed them. 15 The valleys of the sea were exposed, and the foundations of the earth laid bare at your rebuke, O LORD, at the blast of breath from your nostrils. 16He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters. 17He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from myfoes, who were too strong for me. 18They confronted me in the day of my disaster, but the LORD was my support. 19He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me. 20 The LORD has dealt with me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands he has rewarded me. 21 For I have kept the ways of the LORD; I have not done evil by turning from myGod. 22 All his laws are before me; I have not turned away from his decrees. 23I have been blameless before him and have kept myself from sin. 24 The LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his sight. 25 To the faithfulyou show yourself faithful to the blameless you show yourself blameless, 26 to the pureyou show yourself pure, but to the crookedyou show yourself shrewd. 27You save the humble but bring low those whose eyes are haughty. 28You, O LORD, keep my lamp burning; myGod turns my darkness into light. 29 With your help I can advance against a troop; with myGodI can scale a wall. 30 As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in him. 31 For who is God besides the LORD? And who is the Rock except our God? 32 It is Godwho arms me with strength and makes my way perfect. 33He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he enables me to stand on the heights. 34He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze. 35You give me your shield of victory, and your right hand sustains me; you stoop down to make me great. 36You broaden the path beneath me, so that my ankles do not turn. 37I pursued myenemies and overtook them; I did not turn back till they were destroyed. 38 I crushed them so that they could not rise; they fell beneath my feet. 39 You armed me with strength for battle; you made my adversaries bow at my feet. 40 You made myenemies turn their backs in flight, and I destroyed my foes. 41They cried for help, but there was no one to save them – to the LORD, but he did not answer. 42 I beat them as fine as dust borne on the wind; I poured them out like mud in the streets. 43You have delivered me from the attacks of the people; you have made me the head of nations; people I did not know are subject to me.
44 As soon as they hear me, they obey me; foreigners cringe before me. 45They all lose heart; they come trembling from their strongholds. 46 The LORD lives! Praise be to my Rock! Exalted be Godmy Savior! 47He is the Godwho avenges me, who subdues nations under me, 48who saves me from myenemies. You exalted me above myfoes; from violent men you rescued me. 49 Therefore I will praise you among the nations, O LORD; I will sing praises to your name. 50He gives his king great victories; he shows unfailing kindness to his anointed, to David and hisdescendants forever. (NIV)
As you read this psalm it refers to David and his descendants. Of course, the last descendant we know from the Bible is Christ. A form of this Psalm is also found in II Samuel chapter twenty-two. This Psalm reveals David’s understanding of God’s way. Read each phase and see if your understanding of God’s way matches David’s understanding of God’s way.
I love you
I take refuge in the Lord
I call to the LORD
I am saved from my enemies.
The cords of death entangled me the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me the cords of the grave coiled around me the snares of death confronted me. In my distress I called to the LORD I cried to my God for help.
The Lord heard my voice
my cry came before him The Lord reached down from on high and took hold of me
he drew me out of deep waters. He rescued me from my powerful enemy
from my foes, who were too strong for me. They confronted me in the day of my disaster, but the LORD was my support. He brought me out into a spacious place
he rescued me because he delighted in me. The LORD has dealt with me according to my righteousness
according to the cleanness of my hands he has rewarded me. For I have kept the ways of the LORD
I have not done evil by turning from my God. All his laws are before me
I have not turned away from his decrees. I have been blameless before him
I have kept myself from sin. The LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness according to the cleanness of my hands in his sight. To the faithful you show yourself faithful
to the blameless you show yourself blameless, to the pure you show yourself pure
but to the crooked you show yourself shrewd. You save the humble but bring low those whose eyes are haughty. You, O LORD, keep my lamp burning
my God turns my darkness into light. With your help I can advance against a troop
with my God I can scale a wall. As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in him. For whom is God besides the LORD? And who is the Rock except our God? It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect. He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he enables me to stand on the heights. He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze. You give me your shield of victory, and your right hand sustains me; you stoop down to make me great. You broaden the path beneath me, so that my ankles do not turn. I pursued my enemies and overtook them; I did not turn back till they were destroyed. I crushed them so that they could not rise; they fell beneath my feet. You armed me with strength for battle
you made my adversaries bow at my feet. You made my enemies turn their backs in flight, and I destroyed my foes. They cried for help, but there was no one to save them – to the LORD, but he did not answer. I beat them as fine as dust borne on the wind; I poured them out like mud in the streets. You have delivered me from the attacks of the people
you have made me the head of nations; people I did not know are subject to me.
As soon as they hear me, they obey me; foreigners cringe before me. They all lose heart; they come trembling from their strongholds. The LORD lives!
Praise be to my Rock!
Exalted be God my Savior! He is the God who avenges me,
who subdues nations under me, who saves me from my enemies.
You exalted me above my foes
from violent men you rescued me. Therefore, I will praise you among the nations, O LORD
I will sing praises to your name. He gives his king great victories
he shows unfailing kindness to his anointed to David and his descendants forever.
One of his last requests to Timothy (II Timothy 4:13) was for Timothy to bring to him his cloke that he left in Troas as well as the books and especially the parchments. Paul loved to study God’s Word. This was probably one of the psalms that Paul was very familiar in his studies of Jewish history. I could see Paul reflecting back to these verses as he was writing to the Ephesians. In Ephesians chapter six he tells the Ephesians “Finally my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.” Like David we too have to stand for the way of the Lord. Paul then describes to us the whole armour of God. Having your loins girt with truth, having on the breastplate of righteousness, having your feet shod with the gospel of peace, and above all taking the shield of faith and putting on the helmet of salvation. All of these are the protections that God has provide for us against the wicked. The only offence weapon we are given is the sword of the Sword which is the Word of God.
Like Paul we need to hunger for the Word of God. We need not only had the desire to study his Word daily must also hid it in our heart. As a true soldier in the Lord’s army we must study, know, and let his Word penetrate every aspect of our life.
1 Hear the right, O Lord, attend unto my cry, give ear unto my prayer, that goeth not out of feigned lips.
2 Let my sentence come forth from thy presence; let thine eyes behold the things that are equal.
3 Thou hast proved my heart; thou hast visited me in the night; thou hast tried me, and shalt find nothing; I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.
4 Concerning the works of men, by the word of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer.
5 Hold up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not.
6 I have called upon thee, for thou wilt hear me, O God: incline thine ear unto me, and hear my speech.
7 Shew thy marvellous lovingkindness, O thou that saves by thy right hand them which put their trust in thee from those that rise up against them.
8 Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings,
9 From the wicked that oppress me, from my deadly enemies, who compass me about.
10 They are enclosed in their own fat: with their mouth they speak proudly.
11 They have now compassed us in our steps: they have set their eyes bowing down to the earth;
12 Like as a lion that is greedy of his prey, and as it were a young lion lurking in secret places.
13 Arise, O Lord, disappoint him, cast him down: deliver my soul from the wicked, which is thy sword:
14 From men which are thy hand, O Lord, from men of the world, which have their portion in this life, and whose belly thou fill with thy hid treasure: they are full of children and leave the rest of their substance to their babes.
15 As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness. (KJV)
Self-examination by studying God’s word and letting his word speak to us is a process that all believers must go through. It is the process by which we realized the holiness of God and our sinfulness. It is by the process of studying his word daily that we realize that our walk is reflective of one of two paths given to us from God. These two paths reflect either the way of the righteous or the way of the wicked. This theme is developed for us in Psalms one and is expanded on throughout the remainder of the psalms. As we read this psalm reflect on Psalm one and the way in which we should walk. The ways outline in Psalm one is simple, you can choose to go the way of Cain or the way of Abel.
This psalm starts out with a prayer for vindication. However, it is a prayer that does not come from a deceitful heart, but it is a prayer for God to take action. Notice it is not a prayer for God to give the psalmist the knowledge or power to react back to the ones that are assailing him. Notice that the psalmist is stating I resolved not to sin with my mouth or walk in the ways of the wicked. We must not fall into the trap that we can do wrong in order that right may prevail. This is the same message that Paul tells us in Romans 3:5-6 “But if our unrighteousness brings out God’s righteousness more clearly, what shall we say? That God is unjust in bringing his wrath on us? (I am using a human argument.) Certainly not! If that were so, how could God judge the world?” Righteousness is impossible for man to attain, but with God all things are possible. As Paul states in Romans 8:1 “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” the same message that David writes in verse 15 “And I in righteousness I will see your face; when I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness.” So, our vindication rest in God’s hand. As we watch the news, or if we are ever involved in our court system, we soon realize that it is not the truth and doing what is right that is the goal of the verdict but winning and winning at all costs. It is usually a matter of who has the best lawyer, the best attack and the most money to win the fight. However, for the believer we must seek after what is right even if we must suffer for a season. However, this season will soon give way to eternally, where the Righteous Judge will rule in truth and in righteousness and the deeds of the wicked will no longer exist.
As I was studying Luke this morning, I could not help but dwell on the words of the two companions after they had been with Christ on their way to Emmaus. Christ had address them as foolish men and slow of heart to believe the writing of all the prophets. He then interpreted to them all the scriptures which concern him. It only after Christ had revealed himself to them and then vanished that the words, he had spoken came alive to them. On the road to Emmaus Christ educated them and gave them knowledge which caused their hearts to burn; but it was only after the Savior was revealed to them that they were able to put this knowledge together and grasp an understanding of the gospel. I have seen this truth come alive in last several years as I study the psalms daily.
The key to understanding the psalms is the gain an understanding of David, yet the more I study David the more I see how his life reflects the life of Christ during his earthly ministry. The same struggles and issues that Christ faced where like those of David, as well as the struggles that believers face in the world today. The more we study the life of Christ the more we can see how-to walk-in God’s way. An example of how this psalm portraits Christ can be found by comparing verse to of this psalm to Matthew 27:12-15:
And when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing.
Then said Pilate unto him, hears thou not how many things they witness against thee?
And he gave him no answer, not even to one word: insomuch that the governor marveled greatly.
Christ waited on his vindication to come from God. So, as you read this psalm relate it to the events in Christ’s earthly ministry, David’s life as revealed in the scriptures and to the personal struggles that you are facing in your daily walk. Then the Holy Spirit will give you a better understanding of the way of righteous and just as the two companions on their way to Emmaus had their eyes open you too will gain a better understanding of the psalms.
1 Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust.
2 O my soul, thou hast said unto the Lord, Thou art my Lord: my goodness extends not to thee.
3 But to the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent, in whom is all my delight.
4 Their sorrows shall be multiplied that hasten after another god: their drink offerings of blood will I not offer, nor take up their names into my lips.
5 The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintain my lot.
6 The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage.
7 I will bless the Lord, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons.
8 I have set the Lord always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices: my flesh also shall rest in hope.
10 For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. (KJV)
As I look at verse five, I cannot help but look back to the Luke 22: 42 “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done”. Are we able to pray the same prayer as our Lord prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane? We can, once we realized that God has made our lot secure. As I travel this journey that the Lord has prepared for me, I must look to these verses as coming from the heart and life of King David. For as he wrote of Christ in his psalms, he also wrote words that can help us develop a closer walk with God.
This psalm helps us realized that God is our refuge and our delight. He does assign to us our portion in life and the cup we are to bear. Again, we are warned in this psalm not to follow after other Gods, or those who seek fellowship with those who follow other gods. God counsels us and instructs us day and night. As long as we seek him in his word, we will know he will lead us in the right path. Surely the grave is not our destiny but being in his presence with eternal pleasures.
As you read this psalm take a look at your epistemology. Ask yourself this question “What is knowledge?”. Verse eleven points out the fact that the psalmist realized that his knowledge came from God and it is God who has made known to him the path of life. This is the knowledge that the psalmist describes in Psalm One. When one start studying epistemology the first two questions that must be answered are: what knowledge is and how is knowledge acquired. To the psalmist (as we will see in Psalm nineteen) knowledge is the work of God’s hand. By studying nature knowledge is revealed to us. However, to acquire knowledge God has given to us his written Word (law, statutes, precepts, commands, and ordinances) to understand his creation.
Verse ten “because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy Onesee decay” was used by Peter in Act 2:27 in his message on the day of Pentecost as verses that David referred to the suffering and resurrection of Christ.
In verse eleven David writes “You have made known to me the path of life”. As I grow in my faith daily, I realize that it is God who seeks after me and not me seeking God. We have a way of wanting to stray away from God, but in his loving kindness he brings us back to him. As we travel along on our journey here on earth, we like the Psalmist must realize that God is the shepherd that guides us along this path of life. As we walk along this path, we can have joy, but this joy is in knowing that God’s presence is with us. This psalm illustrates our walk on earth with God. Let each verse speak to you as it did to David. Remember each person’s walk with God is unique, however they all share the characteristics of the walk that this psalm describes.
1 Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?
2 He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaks the truth in his heart.
3 He that backbite not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbor, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbor.
4 In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honored them that fear the Lord. He that swears to his own hurt, and changes not.
5 He that puts not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved. (KJV)
This psalm asks two simple questions: who may dwell in your tabernacle and who may live on your holy hill? The answer is simple also:
He whose
walk is uprightly (blameless)
does what is righteous
who speaks the truth from his heart
has no slander on his tongue
does his neighbor no wrong
casts no slur on his fellowman
despises a vile man
honors those who fear the LORD
keeps his oath even when it hurts
lends his money without usury
does not accept a bribe against the innocent
He who does these things will never be shaken
This psalm summaries the reading found in the five psalms today. The question for the day was “who is God to you?”. Reading the five psalms today, I pray that you realize that God is really the one that controls the events in our life if we walk in his ways. A crisis for the righteous then is just a turning point in our life that God uses to take us in a new direction. If I accept this realization than how should I live when facing a crisis? This psalm answer this with giving us several principles to live by and to make the focus of our desires to see God’s face. Proverbs 3:5 simply states this life as one that trust in the Lord with all your heart and lead not on our understanding.
As I was studying God’s Word and reflecting on his nature and the relationship that we have to him the phase “your heavenly father” kept coming to mind. It is amazing as we travel the path that God has for us on this earth how the view we have about our earthly father and our heavenly father both changes as we mature. As I look at how the child’s view of their father changes as they mature, I see these steps. First, he is daddy the strong arms that support you, the smiling face that looks upon you as you look at him. However, he soon becomes the one that tries to keep a child from going in the wrong direction when the child beings the process of exploring the world around him and starts the process of refusing to heed the father’s direction. This discipline from God is sometimes hard to understand and is something we might try to resist, just as a child resist an earthly father’s discipline. This is one of the first changes we go through in the way we view our earthly as well as our heavenly father as we mature. These views change with the circumstances that develop as we mature and take on new roles in life. As we mature, we in the right relationship with our earthly father we can look back and see how our life was shaped by his involvement in our life. At the same time our relationship to our father changes with these circumstances and new relationships. The one thing that does stay constant is this: we are the child, and he is the father.
One of the truths that I try teaching my children was the only thing they could give me were hugs and kisses since these truly came from hearts and are theirs to give away. These are precious to me since everything else I needed; I could provide for myself. This truth can also be seen in our relationship to God. He does not need anything from us since everything belongs to him already. However, our worship of our heavenly Father could be compared to the way that our kids give hugs and kisses to their earthly father. With this truth in mind, how can I worship God? The answer is simple. Follow the principles in this psalm and then give God the worship He desires, hugs and kisses from the heart from a child. Then God can make the same statement in the courts of Heaven about you as he did about Job. Job 1:8 “Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that fears God, and eschewed evil?”
Proverb chapter three provides a wonderful conclusion for today’s reading. As you read this Proverb remember that it was written to a son, an individual, about the real purpose of life. The purpose of this Proverb is not a “how to success in life”, but a “how to live a life pleasing to God”. Sometimes we forget that when we practice God’s way, we face opposition from the ungodly. We see this example in the first family with the death of Abel by the hands of Cain. As we study the scriptures and the issues that we face in life we realize that there is a battle between the way of God and the ways of the ungodly or the wicked. So, the decision my son is simple. Do you walk in the way of God, or follow the ways of the wicked?
1 The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.
2 The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God.
3 They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
4 Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my people as they eat bread and call not upon the Lord.
5 There were they in great fear: for God is in the generation of the righteous.
6 Ye have shamed the counsel of the poor, because the Lord is his refuge.
7 Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! when the Lord bringeth back the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad. (KJV)
This is from a chain letter email I received recently.
Verse, one makes the same statement as Romans chapter one does, and that the person described in these two sets of verses have one thing in common and that there is no God to them, which means that they are no longer accountable to God. They deny that all things were created by him and for him.
Subject: God vs. Science
>
> —–A science professor begins his school year with a lecture to the students; “Let me explain the problem science has with religion.” The atheist professor of philosophy pauses before his class and then asks one of his new students to stand.
>
> “You’re a Christian, aren’t you, son?”
> “Yes sir,” the student says.
>
> “So, you believe in God?”
> “Absolutely.”
>
> “Is God good?”
> “Sure! God’s good.”
>
> “Is God all-powerful? Can God do anything?”
> “Yes.”
>
> “Are you good or evil?”
> “The Bible says I’m evil.”
>
> The professor grins knowingly. “Aha! The Bible!” He considers for a moment. “Here’s one for you. Let’s say there’s a sick person over here and you can cure him. You can do it. Would you help him? Would you try?”
>
> “Yes sir, I would.”
>
> “So, you’re good…!”
> “I wouldn’t say that.”
>
> “But why not say that? You’d help a sick and maimed person if you could. Most of us would if we could. But God doesn’t.”
>
> The student does not answer, so the professor continues. “He doesn’t, does he? My brother was a Christian who died of cancer, even though he prayed to Jesus to heal him. How is this Jesus good? Hmmm? Can you answer that one?”
>
> The student remains silent.
>
> “No, you can’t, can you?” the professor says. He takes a sip of water from a glass on his desk to give the student time to relax.
>
> “Let’s start again, young fellow. Is God good?”
> “Err…yes,” the student says.
>
> “Is Satan good?”
> The student doesn’t hesitate on this one. “No.”
>
> “Then where does Satan come from?”
> The student falters. “From God”
>
> “That’s right. God made Satan, didn’t he? Tell me, son. Is there evil in this world?”
> “Yes, sir.”
>
> “Evil’s everywhere, isn’t it? And God did make everything, correct?”
>
> “Yes.”
>
> “So, who created evil?” The professor continued, “If God created everything, then God created evil, since evil exists, and according to the principle that our works define who we are, then God is evil.”
>
> Again, the student has no answer. “Is there sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness? All these terrible things, do they exist in this world?”
>
> The student squirms on his feet. “Yes.”
>
> “So, who created them?”
>
> The student does not answer again, so the professor repeats his question. “Who created them?” There is still no answer. Suddenly the lecturer breaks away to pace in front of the classroom. The class is mesmerized. “Tell me,” he continues onto another student. “Do you believe in Jesus Christ, son?”
>
> The student’s voice betrays him and cracks. “Yes, professor, I do.”
>
> The old man stops pacing. “Science says you have five senses you use to identify and observe the world around you. Have you ever seen Jesus?”
>
> “No sir. I’ve never seen Him.”
>
> “Then tell us if you’ve ever heard your Jesus?”
> “No, sir, I have not.”
>
> “Have you ever felt your Jesus, tasted your Jesus or smelt your Jesus? Have you ever had any sensory perception of Jesus Christ, or God for that matter?”
>
> “No, sir, I’m afraid I haven’t.”
> “Yet you still believe in him?”
> “Yes.”
>
> “According to the rules of empirical, testable, demonstrable protocol, science says your God doesn’t exist. What do you say to that, son?”
>
> “Nothing,” the student replies. “I only have my faith.”
> “Yes, faith,” the professor repeats. “And that is the problem science has with God. There is no evidence, only faith.”
>
> The student stands quietly for a moment, before asking a question of
> His own. “Professor, is there such thing as heat?”
>
> “Yes,” the professor replies. “There’s heat.”
>
> “And is there such a thing as cold?”
> “Yes, son, there’s cold too.”
> “No sir, there isn’t.”
>
> The professor turns to face the student, obviously interested. The room suddenly becomes very quiet. The student begins to explain. “You can have lots of heat, even more heat, super-heat, mega-heat, unlimited heat, white heat, a little heat or no heat, but we don’t have anything called ‘cold’. We can hit up to 458 degrees below zero, which is no heat, but we can’t go any further after that. There is no such thing as cold; otherwise, we would be able to go colder than the lowest -458 degrees.”
>
> “Everybody or object is susceptible to study when it has or transmits energy, and heat is what makes a body or matter have or transmit energy. Absolute zero (-458 F) is the total absence of heat. You see, sir, cold is only a word we use to describe the absence of heat. We cannot measure cold. Heat we can measure in thermal units because heat is energy. Cold is not the opposite of heat, sir, just the absence of it.”
>
> Silence across the room. A pen drops somewhere in the classroom,
> sounding like a hammer.
>
> “What about darkness, professor. Is there such a thing as darkness?”
>
> “Yes,” the professor replies without hesitation. “What is night if it isn’t darkness?”
>
> “You’re wrong again, sir. Darkness is not something; it is the absence of something. You can have low light, normal light, bright light, flashing light, but if you have no light constantly you have nothing and it’s called darkness, isn’t it? That’s the meaning we use to define the word.”
>
> “In reality, darkness isn’t. If it were, you would be able to make darkness darker, wouldn’t you?”
>
> The professor begins to smile at the student in front of him. This will be a good semester. “So what point are you making, young man?”
>
> “Yes, professor. My point is, your philosophical premise is flawed to start with, and so your conclusion must also be flawed.”
>
> The professor’s face cannot hide his surprise this time. “Flawed? Can you explain how?”
>
> “You are working on the premise of duality,” the student explains. “You argue that there is life and then there’s death, a good God and a bad God. You are viewing the concept of God as something finite, something we can measure. Sir, science can’t even explain a thought.” “It uses electricity and magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully understood either one. To view death as the opposite of life is to be ignorant of the fact that death cannot exist as a substantive thing. Death is not the opposite of life, just the absence of it.”
>
> “Now tell me, professor. Do you teach your students that they evolved from a monkey?”
>
> “If you are referring to the natural evolutionary process, young man, yes, of course I do.”
>
> “Have you ever observed evolution with your own eyes, sir?”
>
> The professor begins to shake his head, still smiling, as he realizes where the argument is going. A very good semester, indeed.
>
> “Since no one has ever observed the process of evolution at work and cannot even prove that this process is an on-going endeavor, are you not teaching your opinion, sir? Are you now not a scientist, but a preacher?”
>
> The class is in uproar. The student remains silent until the commotion.
> has subsided.
>
> “To continue the point, you were making earlier to the other student, let me give you an example of what I mean.”
>
> The student looks around the room. “Is there anyone in the class who has ever seen the professor’s brain?”
The class breaks out into laughter.
>
> “Is there anyone here who has ever heard the professor’s brain, felt the professor’s brain, touched or smelt the professor’s brain? No one appears to have done so. So, according to the established rules of empirical, stable, demonstrable protocol, science says that you have no brain, with all due respect, sir.”
>
> “So, if science says you have no brain, how can we trust your lectures, sir?”
>
> Now the room is silent. The professor just stares at the student, his face unreadable.
>
> Finally, after what seems an eternity, the old man answers. “I guess you’ll have to take them on faith.”
>
> “Now, you accept that there is faith, and, in fact, faith exists with life,” the student continues. “Now, sir, is there such a thing as evil?”
>
>
> Now uncertain, the professor responds, “Of course, there is. We see it every day. It is in the daily example of man’s inhumanity to man. It is in the multitude of crime and violence everywhere in the world. These manifestations are nothing else but evil.”
>
> To this the student replied, “Evil does not exist sir, or at least it does not exist unto itself. Evil is simply the absence of God. It is just like darkness and cold, a word that man has created to describe the absence of God. God did not create evil. Evil is the result of what happens when man does not have God’s love present in his heart. It’s like the cold that comes when there is no heat or the darkness that comes when there is no light.”
My 5 Daily Psalms 