Psalm 56

1 Be merciful unto me, O God: for man would swallow me up; he fighting daily oppresses me.

2 Mine enemies would daily swallow me up: for they be many that fight against me, O thou most High.

3 What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.

4 In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.

5 Every day they wrest my words: all their thoughts are against me for evil.

6 They gather themselves together, they hide themselves, they mark my steps, when they wait for my soul.

7 Shall they escape by iniquity? in thine anger cast down the people, O God.

8 Thou tell my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?

9 When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know; for God is for me.

10 In God will I praise his word: in the Lord will I praise his word.

11 In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me.

12 Thy vows are upon me, O God: I will render praises unto thee.

13 For thou hast delivered my soul from death: wilt not thou deliver my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living? (KJV)

This psalm was written by David when the Philistines had seized him in Gath.  This was the period in the life of David when he was running from Saul. David’s life has been given to us as an example of how we must face the issues that we encounter on our journey in this life and how to address these issues. In this example, David is fleeing from Saul not because of wrongdoing but because Saul saw him as a threat to his kingdom. This threat was not caused by David’s decisions but by God’s decision that the Lord had made in I Samuel 15 and 16 when He rejected Saul and chose David. God made this decision but David’s reaction to this decision would affect others around him. This holds true for us today. When making ourselves available to God, his plans for us can have an impact on the relationships to those around us. Just the simple belief that God is our creator, and we are his creation will cause others around us to form an opinion about us. Saul rejected God’s decision to make David the next King and placed himself against God and chose to kill David. David accepted it but waited for God to intervene and make him king. So, as you read this psalm study David’s reactions to Saul’s attack on him. Waiting is not easy; however, but it does strengthen our faith in the Lord.

The first thing David does is to make an appeal to God’s mercy. He places himself before the judge of the universe as one that is willing to accept his verdict because David knows that God alone has absolute power. He states his case before God: (1 men hotly pursue me 2 they attach me 3 they slander me) because of their pride. They have twisted David’s words, they are plotting against him, they are lurking about him and are watching his steps.

After this appeal for mercy, David states to God “In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me?” David praises God’s word and trust in his judgment and at the same time, David does not fear man. Why? Because Samuel had anointed him king of Israel and God had not changed this. Sometimes we seem to forget God’s promises that he has made. We seem to forget that he will never leave us or forsake us. We seem to forget one of my daughter’s favorite verse Romans 8:28 “And we know that to them that love God all things work together for good, even to them that are called according to his purpose.” So, remember and trust in God’s promises in times of trouble. The second thing to remember is not to fear man.

Next, we see the results of David’s prayer “Then my enemies will turn back when I call for help. By this I will know that God is for me”. I love I John 5:14-15 where one of the five evidences of Christ in you is this: “And this is the boldness which we have toward him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us: and if we know that he hears us whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions which we have asked.” Yes, God does answer our prayers, he protects us along the way and the true believer can also repeat what David states in verse thirteen of this psalm. However, we must also understand from these verses that answer prayer is in accordance to His will. As we grow in Christ, we must realize that the working of events in our life is for the purpose of God transforming the innermost part of us to be more Christ-like. Events happen every day in our life that will bring us closer or farther from the transformation that God wants to happen in our life. we stay in the Word and walk in His way, then these events will bring us closer to the transformation that God desires for us and we will see answer prayer in our life.

Reading this psalm, we can also compare it to the life that Christ lived during his ministry on the earth. For as David the anointed king to take Saul’s place was pursued and hunted so was Christ the promise Messiah from God pursued and hunted. During Saul’s reign David was the rejected King just as Christ was during his ministry on this earth was the rejected Messiah. Just as David became King after Saul’s death, so will Christ become King of Kings when he returns to the earth. Are you looking forward to that Day?

Psalm 56:8 “You number my wanderings:  Put my tears into Your bottle:  Are they not in Your Book?”  (NIV) In the New International Version Extreme Teen Study Bible “Make It Real” section points out that this verse tells us how much God cares about our heartaches.  One of the greatest examples that Christian parents can give their children is to share how this great love of God has brought them through the darkest periods that they have faced in their life.  As I look back on the darkest times in my life, I realized that during these times I had to choose either to tackle the issues facing me with my our strength and skills or turn it over to the Lord.  After many times of failure by relaying on my own strengths and skills I realized it was only after I turned everything over to the Lord that I had the peace that passes all understanding.      

Psalm 55

1 Give ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not thyself from my supplication.

2 Attend unto me, and hear me: I mourn in my complaint, and make a noise.

3 Because of the voice of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked: for they cast iniquity upon me, and in wrath they hate me.

4 My heart is sore pained within me: and the terrors of death are fallen upon me.

5 Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me.

6 And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away and be at rest.

7 Lo, then would I wander far off, and remain in the wilderness. Selah.

8 I would hasten my escape from the windy storm and tempest.

9 Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues: for I have seen violence and strife in the city.

10 Day and night they go about it upon the walls thereof: mischief also and sorrow are in the midst of it.

11 Wickedness is in the midst thereof: deceit and guile depart not from her streets.

12 For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; then I would have hidden myself from him:

13 But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and my acquaintance.

14 We took sweet counsel together and walked unto the house of God in company.

15 Let death seize upon them and let them go down quick into hell: for wickedness is in their dwellings, and among them.

16 As for me, I will call upon God; and the Lord shall save me.

17 Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.

18 He hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle that was against me: for there were many with me.

19 God shall hear, and afflict them, even he that abides of old. Selah. Because they have no changes, therefore they fear not God.

20 He hath put forth his hands against such as be at peace with him: he hath broken his covenant.

21 The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords.

22 Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.

23 But thou, O God, shalt bring them down into the pit of destruction: bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; but I will trust in thee.  (KJV)

Reading this psalm as well as others written by David, I usually ask myself when David wrote this psalm. The beauty of old age is that you can look back on the experiences of your past to better understanding the events happening around you at the present. As I read this, I would have to agree with Charles Spurgeon that it was written at the time of Absalom ‘s rebellion. This psalm reveals that David is honest with the Lord. Yes, his thoughts trouble him and he is not sure what course of action to take in this situation. When your son and one of your closest friends (in this case one of his advisors Ahithophel) turn against you and tries to destroy your very existence, how do you react? This psalm is also similar to the thoughts that Christ probably had about Judas when he betrays him in the garden.

Some of David’s feelings:

• my thoughts trouble me
• I am distraught
• my enemy brings suffering on me
• my enemy revile me in their anger
• my heart is in anguish
• terrors of death assail me
• fear and trembling have beset me
• horror has overwhelmed me

David’s prayer and his plea:

• I will flee to my place of shelter
• confuse the wicked
• confound their speech
• let death take my enemies by surprise
• let them go alive to the grave
• Lord save me
• Lord ransom me unharmed from this battle

David’s enemies:

• they bring suffering on him
• they are violence
• they bring malice and abuse within the city
• they are my friends my companions
• they refuse to change their ways
• they have no fear of God
• they violate their covenant
• they speak lies
• their ways are set on war

David’s actions:

          Cast his cares on God

          Looks to God to sustain him

          Acts in righteous knowing God never let the righteous fall

          And the key to everything that David does he trusts God

As we walk with the Lord daily and study his Word, this psalm will help us trust in him more. We do not live in a perfect world and more importantly, we cannot create the perfect world around us. We might try to control our surroundings and those around us to make our world perfect to us, but sin has a way of entering in and destroying that perfect world. We tend to focus too much on finding a purpose driven life instead of having a walk that is blameless before the Lord. In times of trouble, David left judgment in God’s hand and trusted God to lead him though the green pastures. Even when he was walking through the valley of death, he knew God was with him. So, if you are facing times when your world is collapsing and even your friends turn against you, just know that God is there. However, if it is you who are rebelling against God and his righteous ones, and you have no fear of God, but say in your heart I have no need of God then be warned that God will bring down the wicked into the pit of corruption.

Psalm 54

1 Save me, O God, by thy name, and judge me by thy strength.

2 Hear my prayer, O God; give ear to the words of my mouth.

3 For strangers are risen up against me, and oppressors seek after my soul: they have not set God before them. Selah.

4 Behold, God is my helper: the Lord is with them that uphold my soul.

5 He shall reward evil unto my enemies: cut them off in thy truth.

6 I will freely sacrifice unto thee: I will praise thy name, O Lord; for it is good.

7 For he hath delivered me out of all trouble: and mine eye hath seen his desire upon my enemies. (KJV)

When the Ziphites had gone to Saul and said, “Is not David hiding among us?”

A theme I was developing today as I was studying the psalms is it is God who seeks after us, not us after God. However, once we reach out to the seeking God then it should become our desire to seek after Him. The New American Standard Bible titles Isaiah fifty-five as “The Free Offer of Mercy”. This chapter presents the center of God’s message to the world “Everyone who thirsts, come…and delight yourself in abundance”. However, this focus of seeking changes when we have heard the Word and open the heart door to accept God’s mercy. The message of verses three and six found in Isaiah fifty-five is clear “Give ear and come to me” “Seek the Lord while he may be found” clearly points us to seek after God. Why? Isaiah answers this in verse eight “My thoughts are not your thoughts, and my ways are not our ways”. To seek God then should become the desire for all Christian. And in this process, we will become more Christ-like in everything we do.

But as the reader of this psalm will notice this is not the theme of this psalm. The theme of this psalm is for God to save David and vindicate him from those who are trying to destroy him.  In this psalm we see how David handles the events concerning those ruthless men who seek to destroy him. David’s way was to turn it over to God to handle. David’s prayer to God was to sustain him and let God be the one to destroy them. This is God’s way, not the way of men. So how do we react to those who try to slander and destroy us?  How do we handle the attaches that we face from the godless people in our life who does not know God’s way?

This problem can even get harder to handle when ungodly men turn the grace of God into lasciviousness and makes it look like they are the godly ones, and you are the wicked one. David answers this with verse seven of this psalm “for he has delivered me from all my troubles and my eyes have looked in triumph on my foes”. Therefore, as we seek after God, we will see his way becomes our way as we wait on him to complete His purpose in us. How do we know this is happening? It happens when the peace of God that passes all understanding is within you, and you know that everything is working together to make you more Christ-like in your daily walk. 

This is not an overnight process.  Remember David spend seven years of his life running from Saul.  It was during the lowest points of these seven years that we see David looking to the intervene of God’s hand in past events to give him the assurance of future victories.  Sometimes at our lowest point God’s sends words of encouragement.  During this time of running from Saul, Jonathan Saul’s son arose and went to David and strengthened David’s hand in the Lord.

Psalm 53

of David.
1 The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, and their ways are vile; there is no one who does good.
2 God looks down from heaven on the sons of men to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God.
3 Everyone has turned away, they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.
4 Will the evildoers never learn those who devour my people as men eat bread and who do not call on God?
5 There they were, overwhelmed with dread, where there was nothing to dread.  God scattered the bones of those who attacked you; you put them to shame, for God despised them.
6 Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion! When God restores the fortunes of his people, let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad! (KJV)

Who is a fool? According to Merriam-Webster, the word means a person lacking in judgment or prudence. In verse one of this psalm the psalmist describes a fool as a person that rejects God. In other words, this person is Godless, someone who has rejected and denies that God exist. The psalmist then describes him as being corrupt and their ways as being vile. This is the state of a man who rejects God. This psalm of David along with Psalm fourteen is used by Paul in Romans chapter three. 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? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him.” The first step in grabbing hold of this great salvation is in knowing God and understand that all of us have turned away from God.

The theme of the seeking God is clear in this Psalm. The fool is the one that rejects God, the one who denies God, and his way.  But the psalm also continues with the theme of God looking down from heaven and seeing that the sons of men did not seek Him.   Reading this psalm, I am reminded of the world before the flood and how God save mankind through Noah.  And even today as we look out unto the world today can we find those who seek God?

Verse six “Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion! When God restores the fortunes of his people, let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad!” is a promise that the psalmist was looking forward to being fulfilled.  This is the same promise that we as believers see in John 3:16. So, as we see in the Gospels that God, send his Son to us as the way, the truth and the life.  Just as Israel’s hope of salvation rested in God restoring the fortunes of his people; we also place our hope in Christ’s sacrifice on the cross and His resurrection for our salvation. 

We must not forget that words of this psalm apply to all of mankind.  We must heed Paul’s words in Romans 2:1 “Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judges:  for wherein thou judge another, thou condemn thyself; for thou that judges do the same thing.”  We are all sinners and need a savior.  However, thanks be to God we have one in Christ.  And with the salvation we have the gift of the Holy Spirit to become a new creature.  Therefore, we must remember I Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature:  old things are passed away; behold all things are become new.”  We are no longer a fool, since we now have the salvation that comes by faith our conversation if one that praises God instead of denying God.  

Psalm 52

1 Why boast thou thyself in mischief, O mighty man? the goodness of God endures continually.

2 The tongue devises mischiefs; like a sharp razor, working deceitfully.

3 Thou loves evil more than good; and lying rather than to speak righteousness. Selah.

4 Thou loves all devouring words, O thou deceitful tongue.

5 God shall likewise destroy thee forever, he shall take thee away, and pluck thee out of thy dwelling place, and root thee out of the land of the living. Selah.

6 The righteous also shall see, and fear, and shall laugh at him:

7 Lo, this is the man that made not God his strength; but trusted in the abundance of his riches and strengthened himself in his wickedness.

8 But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God: I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever.

9 I will praise thee forever, because thou hast done it: and I will wait on thy name; for it is good before thy saints. (KJV)

To better understand this psalm the reader should read the account recorded in I Samuel chapter twenty-two where Doeg the Edomite informed Saul that David has gone to the house of Ahimelech. This was the start of David’s journey in his life that he was fleeing for his life from the presence of Saul.  This time period in his life probably lasted about seven years. During these seven years of David’s life, he was considered a criminal of the state and was hunt by Saul and his army.  Yet during this time he placed, his hope and trust in the Lord. So, no matter what comes into your life remember this truth; the righteous will see and fear. I trust in God’s unfailing love forever and ever.

As you live your life on this earth, do you live it in the light of today’s rewards or the rewards that eternality offers? Have you made God our stronghold and the one who will guide you, or have you made yourself the controller of your life? In Philippians 4 Paul gives us an example of how to handle disputes. The key is to agree with each other in the Lord. However, this does not always happen. So, Paul gives us these final instructions on handling disputes in Philippians 4:8,9 “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you”. This is the path we must follow when we make God our stronghold.

However, how do we truly make our daily decisions? How do we handle the daily tough situation around us, which forces us to make tough decisions? One of the keys to making good decisions is found in the principles that Paul outlines for us in Philippians 4:8, 9. However, I have come to realize in the last several years that following these principles and being Christ-like is not an easy task. Consider what Paul is saying in these verses:

• whatever is true
• whatever is noble
• whatever is right
• whatever is pure
• whatever is lovely
• whatever is admirable
• if anything is excellent or praiseworthy
• THEN think about such things

These principles taken individuality are easy to understand, however when taken as a group can cause much confusion. That is why verse eight ends in the phase “if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things” or as Psalm 1 states “mediate”. As I look into God’s Word daily and see his word, reflecting back on the imperfections of my daily activity I am reminded how much I need my Bible study to get me started every morning. Just as my looking into a mirror in the morning reflects back my physical appearances that must be corrected before I go out and face the world each morning, God’s Word reveals the things in my life that are not true, noble, right, pure, lovely, or admirable. Therefore, we must mediate and think about all things in light of these six attributes working together. David’s life is a great example of this process. Samuel had anointed him to be the next King of Israel. That was truth? However, these verses were written as he was running from Saul and being treated as a criminal of the state. Should he not stand up and fight for what was rightfully his position, knowing that God had rejected Saul and chosen David to be the next King? What was noble, right, pure, lovely, and admirable? What route then should David take to secure this kingdom that that he was anointed to take? This was the issue that David was facing in this Psalm.

In John 1:10-12 it states of Christ “He was in the world and though the world was made by him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.” Christ came to this earth two thousand years ago as King, and yet the world rejected him and crucified him on the cross. Just as David was rejected by Israel to take his rightful place during the time of this psalm, Christ also was rejected by the world when he came to earth the first time. Why did he not take the world by force since he was the King of Kings? This is a mystery that many struggles with, “why does God not intervene immediately to right the wrongs in this world?” To me the answer is simple, He did. The answer is Christ. As I study the psalms, I have seen several features in David’s life that seem to reflect in Christ’s earthly ministry. The three characters in this psalm, God, the evil, and the righteous are the three main characters in the world around us today. By studying the psalms, may I learn the principles of Philippians 4:8, 9 and apply them to my life. May I like David learn to rely totally on the Lord, for guidance and direction!

Opinion is defined as a view, judgment, or appraisal formed in the mind about a particular matter. In a stronger form, it means a formal expression of judgment or advice by an expert upon which a legal decision is based. It is opinions that either bring people together or divides people into different groups. What happens when the mighty men of a nation look at their evil ways and call them good? How do we make a stand against these evil ways? Do we wait on God, or do we make a stand and fight against evil? Sometimes it seems the route in which the righteous chose to make their stand against evil practices results in greater separation in the forces against evil practices rather than the evil practices themselves. By studying David’s life, we can get a picture of what it means to truly wait on the Lord.

The very start of evil can be traced back to Satan. By studying Isaiah chapter fourteen, we see these I will use by the son of the morning:

I will ascend into heaven

I will exalt my throne above the stars of God

I will sit upon the mount of congregation, in the uttermost parts of the north.

I will ascend above the heights of the clouds.

I will make myself like the Most High.

Evil is simply going against the way of God. As I looked at this Psalm today in light of Isaiah fourteen, I asked myself a simply question “Do I have the characteristics of a man that did not make God my stronghold or do I look to God to fulfill in me his daily purpose?” To answer this question, I went to Matthew chapter 20 verses one through fifteen:

For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that was a householder, who went out early in the morning to hire laborers into his vineyard. And when he had agreed with the laborers for a shilling a day, he sent them into his vineyard. And he went out about the third hour and saw others standing in the marketplace idle, and to them he said, go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way. Again, he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour and did likewise. And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing; and he saith unto them, why stand ye here all day idle? They say unto him, because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard. And when evening had come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the laborers, and pay them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first. And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a shilling. And when the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise received every man a shilling. And when they received it, they murmured against the householder, saying, these last have spent but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat. But he answered and said to one of them, friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a shilling? Take up that which is thine and go thy way; it is my will to give unto this last, even as unto thee. Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? or is thine eye evil, because I am good?

The characters:

Householder

12-hour Laborers for a shilling a day

9 hours Laborers for whatsoever is right

6 hours Laborers for whatsoever is right

3 hours Laborers for whatsoever is right

1-hour Laborers for whatsoever is right

The Plot:

A householder hired workers at different times to work in his vineyard. He agreed with the first to pay them a shilling for their day’s work. The others hired during the day were promised to be paid with the promise of whatsoever is right. At the end of the day, the householder paid the last to start to work a shilling and continue to pay the reminder of the workers a shilling. These who worked longer expected to be paid more, but they were not. Then they murmured against him. The householder’s answer was simple “I did you no wrong I paid you what we agreed to.” Is it not lawful for me to do what I want with mine own?

Ask yourself these questions about this parable and then truly apply the answers to these questions to the way you live your life: 

          Was the householder right in what he did?

          Whom does the householder represent?

          Whom do the laborers represent?

          Did the laborers who worked all day have a right to question the householder’s decision?

          How does this parable relate to evil?

          So, when I get to heaven how should I react to the prize that will be set before me?

Psalm 51

1 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy loving-kindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

2 Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.

4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou might be justified when thou speak, and be clear when thou judge.

5 Behold, I was shape in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.

6 Behold, thou desire truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.

7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

8 Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.

9 Hide thy face from my sins and blot out all mine iniquities.

10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.

12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.

14 Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.

15 O Lord, open thou, my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.

16 For thou desires not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delights not in burnt offering.

17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

18 Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem.

19Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar. (KJV)

Have you ever judged someone and then find out that it was you who was wrong and guilty of the issue? This is David’s psalm to Nathan’s remark in II Samuel 12:7 “Thou art the man”. It is only when we see our sinfulness before God that we come to the point of realization of our own fallen nature. As I read this psalm, I must go to I Kings 15:5 “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”. This psalm along with psalm 32 was written as a result of this sin. Every time I read this psalm; I realized that a life without God’s presence is a life in which there is brokenness.

In verse, one David comes to God for mercy and the blotting out of his transgression. In verse two, he adds wash away my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. David knew he had sinned; he felt the need for cleansing and knew that this cleansing could only come from God. As you read the rest of this psalm, you should be able to notice one of the major characteristics of God and that is his unfailing love and his great compassion. How do you get right with God after you have sinned and done evil in the sight of the Lord? Read psalms 51 and 32 and let the Holy Spirit speak to you through these verses to restore the joy of your salvation and renew a steadfast spirit within you. Then you will have a purpose in life and that is to teach transgressors God’s way and turn them to Him.

One of the greatest truths that one learns in life is the importance of relationships. This psalm represents a time in David’s life where he had abandoned the ways of God to protect himself and others from public shame. Yet his plans to protect these relationships did not work. As a believer, we need to realize the truth about sin, and that truth is that all sin is known by God. Another truth about sin is that it affects relationships. The family relationship is usually the strongest relationship that people have in this world, and yet the bond of this relationship can easily be broken when sin enters the picture. There is also the relationship that we have with God. This psalm focuses on the only way to restore a broken relationship and that way is through repentance and returning back to God’s ways. Verse 6 makes God’s way simple, God desires truth in our inner parts He desires to have His laws written on our heart. So, if you are facing a broken relationship today know that unless you are coming to God with a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you will not be able to have true joy and peace in your heart.

This leads to another truth I see in the world today but cannot fully understand. Why do we let sin rule our life and wreck relationships, when God has provided a way for all relationships to be restored by his great gift of forgiveness? As I study the story of Cain and Abel, found in Genesis chapter four I see God’s love being rejected by Cain before he killed Abel. In addition, even after Cain killed Abel God placed a mark on Cain to protect him from others. Yet Cain still went out of God’s presence. Why then do individuals who have been once enlightened and who have tasted the heavenly gift fall away? The Lord gives reasons for this falling away in his parable of the Sower found in Matthew chapter thirteen. In this parable, the seed (God’s Word) falls on four types of soils: the soil of the wayside, the rocky soil, the soil among the thorns, and the good soil. In the first case, the word is heard but Satan takes it away from them. In the second case the word is heard but is soon abandon when tribulation or persecution comes along in a person’s life. In the third case the cares of this world choke out the word and the person does not grow and becomes fruitful. However, in the fourth case, the word is heard and by applying that, life becomes fruitful. Do you let the Word of God grow in you, or does Satan, the cares of this world, or the desires of this world destroy the effects that the Word could have on your life.

Verses 6 and 7 “Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. Surely you desire truth in the inner parts; you teach me wisdom in the inmost place.” describes the nature of man. As a child grows the sweetness that the newborn child processed gives way to the true sinful nature, which we all are, have at birth. The desires of the child turn to me, me, me. However, God is always calling to us to return to Him. His desire for us is to have truth within our hearts and wisdom within our inmost place. Therefore, as a young child, we must heed the call of God. This simple concept of God’s desire seems to get lost in our everyday routine of living. We let Satan, the cares of this world, or the desires of this world rob us of a desire that God wants for us in our life. In the devotion for June 11 in his book, My Utmost for His Highest Oswald Chambers writes:

The questions that truly, matter in life are remarkably few, and they are all answered by these words— “Come to Me.” Our Lord’s words are not, “Do this, or don’t do that,” but— “Come to me.” If I will simply come to Jesus, my real life will be brought into harmony with my real desires. I will actually cease from sin, and will find the song of the Lord beginning in my life.

This is what David is writing here in this Psalm. As I look back 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. Once we open the door and receive Him then the true transformation of bringing our life into this harmony with His desires takes place and we can experience the peace that passes understanding.

Psalm 50

A psalm of Asaph.

1 The mighty God, even the Lord, hath spoken, and called the earth from the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof.

2 Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined.

3 Our God shall come and shall not keep silence: a fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about him.

4 He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that he may judge his people.

5 Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.

6 And the heavens shall declare his righteousness: for God is judge himself. Selah.

7 Hear, O my people, and I will speak; O Israel, and I will testify against thee: I am God, even thy God.

8 I will not reprove thee for thy sacrifices or thy burnt offerings, to have been continually before me.

9 I will take no bullock out of thy house, nor he goats out of thy folds.

10 For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills.

11 I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine.

12 If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof.

13 Will I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats?

14 Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High:

15 And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.

16 But unto the wicked God saith, What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or that thou should take my covenant in thy mouth?

17 Seeing thou hates instruction and casts my words behind thee.

18 When thou saw a thief, then thou consent with him, and hast been partaker with adulterers.

19 Thou gives thy mouth to evil, and thy tongue frames deceit.

20 Thou sit and speaks against thy brother; thou slander thine own mother’s son.

21 These things hast thou done, and I kept silence; thou thought that I was altogether such an one as thyself: but I will reprove thee and set them in order before thine eyes.

22 Now consider this, ye that forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver.

23 Whoso offers praise glorify me: and to him that orders his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God.  (KJV)

This is the first of twelve Psalms bear the name of Asaph. He was of high repute in the days of David and is mentioned as one of the main composers of the psalms. Asaph was certainly a prophet since he is called a seer. It seems from studying his writings that he was well educated and had a natural talent that made him well qualified to compose hymns or psalms in the honor of God. He also reflects the strong influence that David probably had on his life and his writings. Not only did he have a great grasp of the nature and attributes of God, but he also had a keen understanding of the corrupt nature of man. This knowledge probably was strengthening as the result of positions he held while serving in David’s reign. During his lifetime he witness a time in which there was great changes, since during his lifetime he probably witness the reign of the first three Kings of Israel. It was during his lifetime that the history of Israel saw some of its great changes. These changes brought about much displeasure from God, yet God still watched over his people by giving them David as their King. He probably lived during the period of Saul’s kingdom, and then was involved in David’s kingdom and was probably even alive and wrote during the reign of Solomon. As you read these psalms the prophetic characteristics of Asaph writings seems to have include a lot of the historical past of Israel as examples of God’s dealings with his people then and how this relationship will continue with his people in the presence as well as in the future. This is the only one of his psalms that stands alone. The others start with Psalm 73 and continue to Psalm 83.

This psalm speaks of God judging his people as well as the wicked. As I read this psalm I must also look to the words of Christ found in John 5: 24-30 where he speaks as having been granted the judge of mankind by the Father. God gave this authority to him because he is the Son of Man (verse 27). However, Christ also refers to himself as the Son of God in verse twenty-five. As I consider verse twenty-two of this psalm “Consider this you who forget God” in relationship to the verses in John chapter five I realize that the view that one has of Christ will affect their behavior on earth, and their judgment for eternity. Christ’s testimony was that he has been performing the task that the father had given him. Does your testimony reflect the task that Christ has given you? The first step in this process knows Christ as your Lord.

The last two verses set the stage for all of mankind.  There are only two ways, God way or the ungodly way.  One way is having God direct your way and the other way is living with God.  The warning to all mankind is found in these two verses.  “Consider this, you who forget God, or I will tear you to pieces, with none to rescue:” is a warning that yes you can live your life without God, and do things your way; however, God will not be there to rescue you, even in death.  “He who sacrifices thank offerings honors me, and he prepares the way so that I may show him the salvation of God” are the ones who walk in God’s way.  They recognize their sinfulness and are thankful for his salvation and their new desire is to take on the nature of the new creation that has been given to them though the redemptive work of Christ.  Romans 12:1,2 are verses that all believers should memorize and meditate on day and night.

Psalm 49

1 Hear this, all ye people; give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world:

2Both low and high, rich and poor, together.

3 My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding.

4 I will incline mine ear to a parable: I will open my dark saying upon the harp.

5 Wherefore should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity of my heels shall compass me about?

6 They that trust in their wealth and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches.

7 None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him:

8 (For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceases forever:)

9 That he should still live forever, and not see corruption.

10 For he sees that wise men die, likewise the fool and the brutish person perish, and leave their wealth to others.

11 Their inward thought is that their houses shall continue forever, and their dwelling places to all generations; they call their lands after their own names.

12 Nevertheless man being in honor abides not: he is like the beasts that perish.

13 This their way is their folly: yet their posterity approves their sayings. Selah.

14 Like sheep they are laid in the grave; death shall feed on them; and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their beauty shall consume in the grave from their dwelling.

15 But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me. Selah.

16 Be not thou afraid when one is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased.

17 For when he dies, he shall carry nothing away: his glory shall not descend after him.

18 Though while he lived, he blessed his soul: and men will praise thee, when thou do well to thyself.

19 He shall go to the generation of his fathers; they shall never see light.

20 Man that is in honor, and understands not, is like the beasts that perish. (KJV)

As you look at these verses, try to picture yourself listening to Christ preaching his messages from the hills of Galilee. The message that Christ is preaching is to answer the statement: No man can redeem the life of another or give to God a ransom for him the ransom for a life is costly; no payment is ever enough that he should live on forever and not see decay.  Let’s face it we cannot redeem our life. As we read this psalm, we realize that all can see that wise men die; the foolish and the senseless alike perish and leave their wealth to others. There is no way that man, despite his riches, does not endure; he is like the beasts that perish. This is the fate of those who trust in themselves, and of their followers, who approve their sayings.

However, there is a way, and it is also in his message: But God will redeem my life from the grave; he will surely take me to himself.

This psalm continues with a warning for us: “Do not be overawed when a man grows rich, when the splendor of his house increases; for he will take nothing with him when he dies, his splendor will not descend with him. Though while he lived, he counted himself blessed and men praise you when you prosper, he will join the generation of his fathers, who will never see the light of life. A man who has riches without understanding is like the beasts that perish.”  That understanding of verse twenty of this psalm can be found in John 3:16 “For God so loved the world He gave His only begotten son that whosoever believe in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life,”  and I John 5:12” He that hath the son hath life; he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.”

One event that a person will experience as they grow older is the end of a life of a loved one or someone who is close to them. Yes, I am writing about a funeral. I experienced my first funeral (my father’s) when I was only fifteen. Then four months later, I attended the funeral of my brother. So, at the age fifteen when most young adolescence were enjoying the experience of youth, I had already lost a father and a brother and started the process of asking God the hard questions of life. Today as I was attending the funeral of a friend’s father, I realized that understanding one’s life is like putting together a puzzle. As I study Psalms 139:16, “All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” I realize that God has the top of the puzzle box with the picture. We are the ones that have to put together the pieces of the puzzle of life.

Sometimes our personal beliefs come into conflict with the world and even those who are close to us.  This psalm has the greatest promise for all of mankind.  The promise of redeeming us from the grave.  Jesus spoke this promise to Nicodemus in their discourse that is recorded in John 3:1-21.  Jesus used the example of Moses lifting up the serpent in the wilderness as the way God was going provided as the way to redeem our life.   Jesus explained that his only purpose of being send by God to this earth was to save man from the curse of sin.  We either believe in Christ, or we do not and reject him.  Believing in Jesus will change the way we walk in this world.  Knowing that there is so much more after we die and leave this world that the things of this life does not have as much attraction to us as it did in the past.  I can now live a life that does not fear death. 

Psalm 48

1 Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness.

2 Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King.

3 God is known in her palaces for a refuge.

4 For, lo, the kings were assembled, they passed by together.

5 They saw it, and so they marveled; they were troubled, and hasted away.

6 Fear took hold upon them there, and pain, as of a woman in travail.

7 Thou break the ships of Tarshish with an east wind.

8 As we have heard, so have we seen in the city of the Lord of hosts, in the city of our God: God will establish it forever. Selah.

9 We have thought of thy loving-kindness, O God, in the midst of thy temple.

10 According to thy name, O God, so is thy praise unto the ends of the earth: thy right hand is full of righteousness.

11 Let mount Zion rejoice, let the daughters of Judah be glad, because of thy judgments.

12 Walk about Zion and go round about her: tell the towers thereof.

13 Mark ye well her bulwarks, consider her palaces; that ye may tell it to the generation following.

14 For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death. (KJV)

Reading this psalm, I am reminded that there are forces that are making advance against our God.  It happened in heaven as well as it is now taking place on earth. As I consider the many voices of society today, I can understand why those who have chosen to be close to God and seek to live a blameless life are quiet. These are the ones that I believe have the same lifestyles as the seven thousand found in I King 19:18 ” Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.” These are the ones today who have abandoned the desires to chase after the Jones or seek the fame and riches that this world seeks to give. They are the ones that know God and enjoy the simple pleasures of life that he bestows upon them. They are the ones that like Abraham know that they are just on a journey and that their real treasures are in heaven, Mt Zion, the city of God. They meditate on God’s unfailing love and trust in his judgments. They do not have to prove to the world that God is on their side, because they have the peace of God within their heart that assures them that the Lord Almighty is their God.

Verse fourteen “For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death.” Is a verse that we must apply to our everyday life.  As we travel on this journey through our time on this earth, we will face the ups and downs that come along the path we travel.  During the high points and victories, we usually do not have a problem praising the Lord; but sometimes when our paths get dark and there seems no light or assistance from above, we become discourage and look for help from other sources than the Lord.  It is in the darkness of these moments when we need to reach in the riches of God’s Word (Bible) for light.  It is the simple songs that we learn as a child that are the deepest in meaning. 

Examples:

The BIBLE yes that the book for me.

It stands for God.

Yes, the Word of God.

The BIBLE.

My God is so big, so great and so powerful.

There nothing my God cannot do.

These two songs I use to teach to the two-year-old children their Sunday School class.  These songs like this psalm are words that we need to hide in our heart and pull them out as lights when darkness starts to crept along our pathway.   

Psalm 47

1 O clap your hands, all ye people: shout unto God with the voice of triumph.

2 For the Lord most high is terrible; he is a great King over all the earth.

3 He shall subdue the people under us, and the nations under our feet.

4 He shall choose our inheritance for us, the excellency of Jacob whom he loved. Selah.

5 God is gone up with a shout, the Lord with the sound of a trumpet.

6 Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing praises.

7 For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding.

8 God reigns over the heathen: God sits upon the throne of his holiness.

9 The princes of the people are gathered together, even the people of the God of Abraham: for the shields of the earth belong unto God: he is greatly exalted. (KJV)

In this psalm God is portrayed as the King over all the earth.  He is the one that will subdue both the people and the nations under his feet.  He is the one that choose Israel inheritance for them.  His throne is characterizing as a throne of holiness.  This is a psalm that points to the Jesus as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. 

Reading this psalm this morning, I stop and reflected about all the influences that have already occurred today in my life.  In the past on my daily commute to work every morning I would listen either to the radio or to my CDs on the scriptures. As I listen to radio, it seems that half of the time I am listening to advertising that makes claims on how to improve and make your life better and more productive. Yet, most of this claim leaves out one major compound and that is God. By reading the psalms daily, the reader will soon truly grasp how awesome the Lord really is in heaven and on earth. When I listen to these claims that promise to give me a great and better life, they leave out God.

The commercials usually have one purpose and that is to make the person or company offering them a profit. When hearing these claims, I have to reflect on the very fall of man in the Garden of Eden.  Adam took the fruit from his wife who had taken it from the serpent, who had convinced her that there was more to life than God had provided. He convinced Eve and she convinced Adam “that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise”. However, after they eat of the fruit, their eyes was opened and they saw their own nakedness.

I see the same with all the claims that the world offers us today. Even the claims of most Christian ministries seem to fall short of meeting the needs and desires of fallen man. Unless fallen man truly returns to a dependence on God, he will perish just like the beast of the field. As Psalm 49: 20 states “A man who has riches without understanding is like the beasts that perish”. However, when we truly get to a point in our life that we trust God and pursue a desire to live a blameless life in the light of his Word, then we will see that he will cloth us in His glory. How awesome would our lives be if our daily routines in this world would truly reflect our true dependence upon God to manage the affairs of our life?