Psalm 39 - Love That Won't Let Go

Psalm 39:1-2, 4, 6-8, 12-13 NIV


I said, “I will watch my ways and keep my tongue from sin;
I will put a muzzle on my mouth while in the presence of the wicked.”
So I remained utterly silent, not even saying anything good.
But my anguish increased;
“Show me, Lord , my life’s end and the number of my days;
let me know how fleeting my life is.
“Surely everyone goes around like a mere phantom;
in vain they rush about, heaping up wealth
without knowing whose it will finally be.

“But now, Lord, what do I look for?
My hope is in you.
Save me from all my transgressions;
do not make me the scorn of fools.
“Hear my prayer, Lord, listen to my cry for help;
do not be deaf to my weeping.
I dwell with you as a foreigner,
a stranger, as all my ancestors were.
Look away from me, that I may enjoy life again
before I depart and am no more.”




Here's another prayer of confession from Psalm 39. In this psalm the writer is overwhelmed by his guilt. He had promised to keep his life from transgression, but he found himself in the friendship of the wicked. God had a hold on his heart and therefore his knowledge of what is right and wrong was too terrible for him.


Some think that we'd be better off to ignore biblical teachings about right and wrong. We fail to understand that the right path leads to life and blessing. The wrong path leads to curse and death. That is the way to understand the Old Testament law. Since all of these psalms were written by Old Testament Jews, we must acknowledge their understanding of sin in terms of the law of Moses. The law is an expression of God's love, a light that leads to life.


When we hate the instruction of scripture we are rejecting ultimate love. But God does not stop trying to reach us. His grace is at work in us, calling us to love, trust and obey Him, for that is the path to life.


For the psalmist the heavy weight of God's grace working upon him felt like blows from a backhand. He was reminded of his mortality. He felt like a stranger in God's presence, estranged and unwelcome. The grace of God at work in his heart was so persistent that the man cried out that the Lord would turn his face away so he might breathe.


There's a beautiful hymn called Love That Will Not Let Me Go. That says it for me. When I was running from God in my younger days, I could have died several times. For whatever reason, Love did not let me go. I was rescued. I was awakened. I repented and turned back to the way that leads to life.


As the psalmist says "Everyone is but a breath." Acknowledging our mortality before the eternal God humbles us. Humility gives us the grace to turn.

Psalm 38 - Confession Cleanses

Psalm 38:1-4, 8, 10, 15, 17-18, 21-22 NIV


Lord , do not rebuke me in your anger
or discipline me in your wrath.
Your arrows have pierced me,
and your hand has come down on me.
Because of your wrath there is no health in my body;
there is no soundness in my bones because of my sin.
My guilt has overwhelmed me like a burden too heavy to bear.
I am feeble and utterly crushed;
I groan in anguish of heart.
My heart pounds, my strength fails me;
even the light has gone from my eyes....

Lord , I wait for you;
you will answer, Lord my God.
For I am about to fall, and my pain is ever with me.
I confess my iniquity;
I am troubled by my sin.
Lord, do not forsake me;
do not be far from me, my God.
Come quickly to help me, my Lord and my Savior.




Psalm 51 is the most popular prayer of confession in the psalter. But Psalm 38 is a fantastic description of guilt.


Sin drives a wedge is our relationship with God. We are estranged from the source of life and deep down we feel it. We may not be able to name it due to our ignorance of God, but we know something inside is nagging.


The full text of the psalm describes a person in utter pain and disarray. What course does he take to address his awful state?


Confession. Confession cleanses the soul and opens us to restoration. God forgives. We are wiser. We return to faithfulness.


Lord , I wait for you; you will answer, Lord my God.

Psalm 37 - Don't Fret

Psalm 37:1-9

1 Do not fret because of those who are evil
    or be envious of those who do wrong;
2 for like the grass they will soon wither,
    like green plants they will soon die away.
3 Trust in the Lord and do good;
    dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
4 Take delight in the Lord,
    and he will give you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit your way to the Lord;
    trust in him and he will do this:
6 He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn,
    your vindication like the noonday sun.
7 Be still before the Lord
    and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when people succeed in their ways,
    when they carry out their wicked schemes.
8 Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;
    do not fret—it leads only to evil.
9 For those who are evil will be destroyed,
    but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land.

What often gets quoted from Psalm 37 is verse 4.

Take delight in the Lord,
    and he will give you the desires of your heart. (Psa 37:4)

This is our inclination because we want things. If delighting in God will get us that, then we gain hope that our desires will be fulfilled. The problem with quoting this verse out of context is that it becomes a faith validating means to chase after the things we covet, expecting God to give it to us because we say we believe. The heart that truly delights in the Lord will find that coveting what others have is a useless activity and a waste of spiritual energy. To delight in the Lord is enough. In Him we have everything we need.

There are forty verses in Psalm 37 intended to encourage the people of God who are upset by the wicked ways of those among whom they live. The psalm compares the path of those faithful to God and those who are not. It's much like Psalm 1 which speaks of the way of the righteous and the way of the wicked.

Reading the psalm in its entirety offers many reasons why fretting, over those who do not follow the path of life God has revealed as holy, is not in your best interest. The wicked thrive for only a while, but the righteous will inherit the land. The land is the Promised Land, the land promised to Abraham, the father of monotheism. Jesus would later tell the church that the meek will inherit the earth. (Mat 5:5)

Here's another reason.

Better the little that the righteous have
    than the wealth of many wicked;
for the power of the wicked will be broken,
    but the Lord upholds the righteous. (Psalm 37: 16-17)

The psalm continues with a litany of examples of where the path of the wicked leads and where the path of the righteous leads. The violence of the wicked will turn upon them and consume them. The wealth of the wicked is short-lived. The faithful are under the care of God and have enough even during times of famine, but the wicked are on their own, fending for themselves when the torrent blasts.

I really like this thought shared by the psalmist.

I was young and now I am old,
    yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken
    or their children begging bread. (Psa 37:25)

Take it from the old and wise. The path God has revealed as right and holy leads to life and health, protection and provision. All other paths do not lead to God's blessings. So rather than get worked up over the temporary triumphs of the unfaithful, keep your heart set on things above, things eternal. Stop fretting and fearing the worst. You are God's own and the Lord looks out for His children who call upon Him.

Be still before the Lord

Psalm 36 - How Wonderful!

Psalm 36:1-9

1 I have a message from God in my heart
concerning the sinfulness of the wicked:
There is no fear of God
before their eyes.
2 In their own eyes they flatter themselves
too much to detect or hate their sin.
3 The words of their mouths are wicked and deceitful;
they fail to act wisely or do good.
4 Even on their beds they plot evil;
they commit themselves to a sinful course
and do not reject what is wrong.

5 Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens,
your faithfulness to the skies.
6 Your righteousness is like the highest mountains,
your justice like the great deep.
You, Lord, preserve both people and animals.
7 How priceless is your unfailing love, O God!
People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
8 They feast on the abundance of your house;
you give them drink from your river of delights.
9 For with you is the fountain of life;
in your light we see light.

Psalm 36 is a comparison of the nature of arrogant people who have no fear of God, and the God who is the fountain of life.

The wicked listen to their sinful thoughts in their hearts. Rather than turning away from sinful temptation, they spend much time thinking about sinning, until sin becomes their natural state of being. They are too over confident to even consider that what they do is sinful. They dream about sinning and the commit themselves to doing what they've pondered upon so intently.

But God is righteous. His ways are never evil. His love is immense, reaching far beyond the skies. His love is so big, God loves the wicked who ignore Him and have no time for Him. The psalmist celebrates God's love, faithfulness, righteousness, and protection. He acknowledges how God abundantly provides for all who take refuge in Him. God opens our eyes to see reality as it is, not blinded like the arrogant who cannot see past themselves and their own evil ambitions.

How priceless to know the unfailing love of God! How satisfying to take shelter in Him!

The next time mean people get you down, remember first that they are created in God's image and filled with divine potential, just as you are. Remember that God loves them and Christ died for them too! Instead of spending time hating them or fretting over their sinful ways, turn your thoughts to the big love of God and worship Him. Then you will be free to pray for you enemies.

Psalm 35 - Vindication

Psalm 35:1, 17-24, 27-28

Contend, Lord, with those who contend with me;
fight against those who fight against me.

How long, Lord, will you look on?
Rescue me from their ravages,
my precious life from these lions.
I will give you thanks in the great assembly;
among the throngs I will praise you.
Do not let those gloat over me
who are my enemies without cause;
do not let those who hate me without reason
maliciously wink the eye.
They do not speak peaceably,
but devise false accusations
against those who live quietly in the land.
They sneer at me and say, “Aha! Aha!
With our own eyes we have seen it.”
Lord, you have seen this; do not be silent.
Do not be far from me, Lord.
Awake, and rise to my defense!
Contend for me, my God and Lord.
Vindicate me in your righteousness, Lord my God;
do not let them gloat over me.

May those who delight in my vindication
shout for joy and gladness;
may they always say, “The Lord be exalted,
who delights in the well-being of his servant.”
My tongue will proclaim your righteousness,
your praises all day long.

After three failures posting this reflection yesterday, I am beginning to wonder if God is with me in this. My immediate response to this psalm was boredom, not because it's boring, but because I've read many other psalms of the same theme already. It's getting tedious and difficult to say anything I haven't already.

The theme addressed in Psalm 35 is vindication from those who wrongly accuse and seek the downfall of the writer of this prayer. Traditionally speaking, King David wrote this psalm. He is in leadership. As I read the psalm I recognized the feelings he has as he cries out to God for help. He feels unjustly treated, misrepresented and rightfully angry and hurting. He wants God to step in and bring his opponents down.

I thought of President Obama and how he gets blamed for everything that is wrong with this country and our times. I thought of presidents before him who received the same treatment from the press and our fellow Americans. Think of office politics! Coworkers competing for promotion and position. Sometimes making your competition look bad is an advantage for you. If lies about a competitor will get you the sale, or the job, or the contract, then people sometimes do it.

How many sports team coaches are hated and misrepresented by unhappy fans, disappointed parents and disillusioned neighbors? Pastors, and others in leadership, face this kind of stress from time to time. The words of Psalm 35 is on target when you are the target of someone's frustration.

But we all have allies who are faithful to us in the trenches. They rejoice when the truth comes out and our name is cleared of wrongdoing.

I had a friend who was ousted from a county position through unethical political maneuvering by his coworkers. His termination opened the way for their advancement. They helped the process by lying and laying blame at his desk. He prayed for vindication. He asked the Lord for justice. Years went by. He still carried the pain of the embarrassment caused by people he had trusted. Then all of a sudden, the entire group was tossed out on the street. Their unethical politics had finally caught up with them. My friend learned that day that God does bring justice, and when God acts it is with a swiftness that makes your head spin.

When you are in the crosshairs of some negative press, or when you are truly being pursued by an adversary who wishes to see your downfall, remember that God is with you, even if you do not feel His presence. God is working for justice. The truth will come to light. Hang in there and always do the next right thing.

Psalm 34 - Brokenhearted

Psalm 34:1-3, 5, 8, 17-20, 22 NIV

I will extol the Lord at all times;

his praise will always be on my lips. 

I will glory in the Lord; 

let the afflicted hear and rejoice. 

Glorify the Lord with me; 

let us exalt his name together.

Those who look to him are radiant; 

their faces are never covered with shame. 

Taste and see that the Lord is good; 

blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.

The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; 

he delivers them from all their troubles. 

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted 

and saves those who are crushed in spirit. 

The righteous person may have many troubles, 

but the Lord delivers him from them all; 

he protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken. 

The Lord will rescue his servants; 

no one who takes refuge in him will be condemned.

Psalm 33 is filled with beautiful verse. Some of these are often quoted. "Taste and see that the Lord is good!"

The psalmist begins by inviting all who hear his praise to join in. He explains how God has helped him. They can expect the same for "those who fear him lack nothing."

What does fear of the Lord look like? It is heeding God's will, participating in God's good character. It is watching your mouth, doing good, not doing evil, and seeking peace.

I think the one verse that speaks to me the most today is Psalm 34:18.

"The Lord is close to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit."

In the throes of grief we feel only pain. We rarely feel the goodness of God or the peace of heaven. Yet the psalm says that God is close to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Even though our painful feelings are strong, they do not erase the truth. God is with you, saving you, delivering you from all your trouble. You will rise again with your head lifted and your face shining.

Let this one truth hold your heart when you are feeling brokenhearted and crushed. If you worship and serve the Lord, you will lack no good thing. It doesn't mean you won't suffer, but you can be sure that God is delivering you. "Blessed is the one who takes refuge in him."

Psalm 33 - Loud Noise

Psalm 33:3 KJVA

Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise.

I love the Lord! I love rock 'n' roll! This one verse from Psalm 33 has been sort of a theme for me. I delight in the fact that its Psalm 33, verse 3. The RPM speed of a vinyl album is 33.3 rpm. I feel God smiling as I praise him with a loud noise on my Fender Stratocaster with my amplifier cranked.

As a child I was told rock music was the devil's music. I get it. I do understand that perspective. Rock music is filled with glorious teenage rebellion. It's that urgent desire for liberation, for justice, for self expression. That urge can be expressed in selfish and devilish ways, but not necessarily so.

I had the idea that everyone in the 60's and 70's were drunk and stoned. But it's just not true. Alcohol and drug consumption were prevalent, it certainly wasn't universal. There were plenty of people kept their noses clean literally and morally. I just decided those folks were boring. I was wrong.

Psalm 33 celebrates the Lord and calls on the upright to praise Him. In fact, this psalm says, it is right for the upright to praise Him. Will the Lord accept praises from The foul mouth and the scoundrel?

The psalmist celebrates God's Word as faithful and true. By God's Word the heavens and earth were created. Then the psalm turns to invite all people, including the rebellious, the rock and rollers, to worship the Lord.

Psalm 33:8, 10-11, 13-15, 21 NIV

Let all the earth fear the Lord; 

let all the people of the world revere him. 

The Lord foils the plans of the nations; 

he thwarts the purposes of the peoples. 

But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, 

the purposes of his heart through all generations. 

From heaven the Lord looks down and sees all mankind; 

from his dwelling place he watches all who live on earth— 

he who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do. 

In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name.

The New Testament helps us to see that God has reconciled himself to the entire world through Jesus Christ. God's ear is open to any who would praise Him. Indeed God doesn't want anyone to perish but all to come to him.

However you make music in your heart, tune your heart toward the one who watches over you. Tune your heart to the one who considers all that you do. Know that the will of the creator outlasts us all. We might as well join his song. I'm going to do it with a Fender Strat and a loud noise!

Psalm 32 - Confession

Psalm 32:1-5, 8-9 (NIV)

Happy are those whose transgression is forgiven,
whose sin is covered.
Happy are those to whom the Lord imputes no iniquity,
and in whose spirit there is no deceit.
While I kept silence, my body wasted away
through my groaning all day long.
For day and night your hand was heavy upon me;
my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer.
Then I acknowledged my sin to you,
and I did not hide my iniquity;
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,”
and you forgave the guilt of my sin.

The Lord says:

I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go;
I will counsel you with my eye upon you.
Do not be like a horse or a mule, without understanding,
whose temper must be curbed with bit and bridle,
else it will not stay near you.

Confession is cleansing for the soul. James, the brother of Jesus of Nazareth, wrote that confession gives way to healing. (James 5:14-16) When Jesus healed people quite often He would tell them their sins are forgiven. Unconfessed sin becomes a barrier between you and God. As the wall grows, health declines.

God is the lifegiver. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. He came to give the world abundant life. The blessing of God's presence is life and peace, health and plenty. When sin distances us from God, we sense the weight of our guilt.

Psalm 32 features one who had sinned and had not confessed it to God. He felt the God's hand heavy on him. He groaned inside and felt his strength dried up. But then when he yielded, he finally confessed his sin to God and he experienced forgiveness. How happy he felt! How relieved he was to experience mercy.

When he stopped being stubborn, stiff-necked, and bull-headed, he found the courage to comply with godly wisdom. And God showed him the way he should go. God pointed the forgiven man toward the path to life abundant.

One thing the psalmist celebrates is how happy are those whose sin is covered. This is a reference to atonement. When Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, they were ashamed and hid from God. God, in His mercy, gave them animal skins to cover their nakedness. Animal blood was spilled to cover the shame of these first humans. This is a picture of atonement, covering over sin. Atonement restores the sinner to holiness and a right relationship with God.

Jesus is the Lamb of God. the once for all sacrifice. His blood shed on the cross is the ultimate atonement. No other blood must be spilled to cover sins. The death of the Son of God universally covers the sin of all who come to God in confession and repentance, seeking forgiveness and restoration.

The next time you celebrate the Lord's Supper (Holy Communion) do so in remembrance of Jesus. Know that you are forever forgiven and made holy, able to stand in the presence of God without shame.

How happy!

Psalm 31 - In His Hands

Psalm 31:5, 9, 12, 14-16, 19-20, 23-24 NIV

Into your hands I commit my spirit; 

deliver me, Lord , my faithful God. 

Be merciful to me, Lord, for I am in distress; 

my eyes grow weak with sorrow, 

my soul and body with grief. 

I am forgotten as though I were dead; 

I have become like broken pottery. 

But I trust in you, Lord; 

I say, “You are my God.” 

My times are in your hands; 

deliver me from the hands of my enemies,

 from those who pursue me. 

Let your face shine on your servant; 

save me in your unfailing love. 

How abundant are the good things 

that you have stored up for those who fear you, 

that you bestow in the sight of all, 

on those who take refuge in you. 

In the shelter of your presence 

you hide them from all human intrigues; 

you keep them safe in your dwelling from accusing tongues. 

Love the Lord, all his faithful people! 

The Lord preserves those who are true to him, 

but the proud he pays back in full. 

Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord.


Psalm 31 is lengthy and very powerful. It speaks of the connection between grief, anguish and sorrow, and the bodily effects these powerful feelings have. His eyes grow weak. His bones grow weak. His strength fails. He is an object of dread before his neighbors. His condition has isolated him. He feels thrown out with the trash, like a piece of broken pottery.

I know when I'm having a bad day I can feel like the psalmist: hurting, isolated, and feeling like trash. But then I remember who I am and whose I am. I am covenanted with God through Jesus Christ. I take refuge in Him.

Because I trust that God is good and has good planned for me, I am content to commit my spirit into His hands. I happily acknowledge my times are in His hands.

Psalm 30 - Suffering Passes

Psalm 30:1-2, 8, 11-12 NIV

I will exalt you, Lord, for you lifted me out of the depths

 and did not let my enemies gloat over me. 

Lord my God, I called to you for help, and you healed me. 

To you, Lord, I called; to the Lord I cried for mercy: 

You turned my wailing into dancing; 

you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, 

that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent. 

Lord my God, I will praise you forever.

Little to say today other than to say "God is Good all the time."

One thing the psalmist deals with in Psalm 30 is times when God seems to show favor and times when God does not. When life is going good we feel like God is smiling on us and blessing us. When life is not going well but rather painful, we feel like God has turned his face away from us.

When we feel like God has turned his face away from us, we sometimes wonder what we may have done to deserve it.

Be encouraged by this verse that David shares in Psalm 30.

Psalm 30:5 NIV

For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.

Sometimes suffering comes our way because God has a divine purpose, but most of the time suffering comes our way because this world is broken and God is working to heal it. In any case it's good to know this too shall pass. God is good all the time.

Psalm 29 - Voice of God

Psalm 29:3-9 (NRSV)

3 The voice of the Lord is over the waters;
the God of glory thunders,
the Lord, over mighty waters.
4 The voice of the Lord is powerful;
the voice of the Lord is full of majesty.
5 The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars;
the Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon.
6 He makes Lebanon skip like a calf,
and Sirion like a young wild ox.
7 The voice of the Lord flashes forth flames of fire.
8 The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness;
the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.
9 The voice of the Lord causes the oaks to whirl,[b]
and strips the forest bare;
and in his temple all say, “Glory!”

Think of a voice that causes you to shudder. Think of a voice that moves you to action. Perhaps it's the voice of a coach or a parent. Maybe it's the voice of a singer or actress. My dog knows when I am praising her and when I am displeased with her by the sound of my voice. And I have to mention that the voice of Darth Vader almost always gives me chills. Thank you James Earl Jones!

When the Israelites gathered at Mt. Sinai to worship the Lord, God descended from heaven upon the mountain in fire and smoke and thunder and peals of lightening. They were terrified by the immensity of the appearance of the maker of heaven and earth.

Here's what happened according to the retelling of the giving of the law at Mt. Sinai in the book of Deuteronomy.

Deuteronomy 5:23-27 (NRSV)

When you heard the voice out of the darkness, while the mountain was burning with fire, you approached me, all the heads of your tribes and your elders; 24 and you said, “Look, the Lord our God has shown us his glory and greatness, and we have heard his voice out of the fire. Today we have seen that God may speak to someone and the person may still live. 25 So now why should we die? For this great fire will consume us; if we hear the voice of the Lord our God any longer, we shall die. 26 For who is there of all flesh that has heard the voice of the living God speaking out of fire, as we have, and remained alive? 27 Go near, you yourself, and hear all that the Lord our God will say. Then tell us everything that the Lord our God tells you, and we will listen and do it.”

The voice of the Lord brought holy fear to their hearts. Fear is an important concept in the Old Testament. Fear engenders a healthy respect and careful attention. Think of how workers in biohazardous situations garb up in protective gear and follow strict precautionary procedures to assure their safety.

God is holy. The Jews took special care to observe His commands and organized their life to carefully attend to the will of God. Their utter respect, their reverence for God, came from an understanding of God's total otherness and their own mortality before the Immortal One.

Psalm 29 speaks of the immensity of God. His voice shakes the earth and all that is in it. When you understand who you are before such a presence, what can you do but join in worship and cry, "Glory?!!"

And yet, "Do not fear," the bible often says, to reassure those whom God has chosen. Even though we are mortal, God has chosen to make His dwelling in us. God descended from heaven to Sinai, from Sinai to the Tabernacle, from the tent to the temple in Jerusalem, from the temple back to heaven sending messages through prophets to His people in exile, from the lips of prophets to the heart of Jesus, from Jesus to all of you who believe in His name! May the voice of the Lord move you to worship!

"Glory!"

Psalm 28 - Distinction

Psalm 28:1-3, 6-7 NIV

To you, Lord , I call; you are my Rock, 

do not turn a deaf ear to me. 

For if you remain silent, 

I will be like those who go down to the pit. 

Hear my cry for mercy as I call to you for help, 

as I lift up my hands toward your Most Holy Place. 

Do not drag me away with the wicked, 

with those who do evil, 

who speak cordially with their neighbors 

but harbor malice in their hearts. 

Praise be to the Lord, for he has heard my cry for mercy. 

The Lord is my strength and my shield; 

my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. 

My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.


Psalm 28 offers a look at a prayer for help and salvation. The prayer makes a distinction between the righteous and the wicked. This is a popular theme in the psalms.

God made a distinction between Israel and the rest of the nations when He called them to be His holy people. Sometimes we feel indignant to think God chose one nation over the rest of us! It wasn't God's purpose to dishonor the other nations. God did not choose Israel as a favorite to make all the other nations jealous. Rather God chose Israel as a sign and a light through which all nations might be blessed.

Israel was given the Law of Moses and, by living according to the law, God's blessings were showered upon the nation. The rest of the world could see the blessed state of the holy nation and perhaps desire to enter into covenant the living God.

Jesus is the culmination of this plan. He came through Israel, a child of the holy nation. He lived a holy life, never once falling to sin. He gave His life as an atoning sacrifice for the world. He is the way to join Israel in covenant with God, not through Moses, but through the faith in this good news. All who trust in Him will not be dragged away with the wicked. Instead they will be filled with joy and join in worship.

Psalm 27 - Orphans

Psalm 27:1, 4, 8-10, 14 NIV

The Lord is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? 

The Lord is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid? 

One thing I ask from the Lord , this only do I seek: 

that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, 

to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple. 

My heart says of you, “Seek his face!” 

Your face, Lord , I will seek. 

Do not hide your face from me, 

do not turn your servant away in anger; 

you have been my helper. 

Do not reject me or forsake me, God my Savior. 

Though my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will receive me. 

Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord .


Psalm 27 is another plea for deliverance from enemies. Because the psalmist knows the Lord, Yahweh, the God of Israel, he is able to affirm his confidence. Though he may feel fear, he turns his thoughts to the might of God, a God who has bound Himself in promise to Israel. God protects His faithful. The covenant promise is protection from enemies and victory over all assailants, as long as Israel keeps the Covenant law.

But there is more than simple desire for deliverance here. There's a desire to worship. There is a desire for intimacy with the Lord. His heart cries, "Seek His face!" He longs to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord in His temple.

Personally I am touched by his sense of intimacy with God. He trusts that the Lord will never forsake him. "Though my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will receive me."

In another place the Psalms say that God is a father to the fatherless. We all know of domestic strife and brokenness in our families. We all have heard of deadbeat dads, and women who are unfit to be mothers. We have modern day orphans walking our streets and living in apartment dwellings without appropriate adult supervision. Would that we could connect these lost children to the intimate care of the living God.

Lord, watch over all of your lost children, old and young, large and small. Bring them to know with confidence your loving embrace and powerful protection. Amen

Psalm 26 - Blameless?

Psalm 26:1-3, 8-9, 11-12 NIV

Vindicate me, Lord, for I have led a blameless life; 

I have trusted in the Lord and have not faltered. 

Test me, Lord, and try me, examine my heart and my mind; 

for I have always been mindful of your unfailing love 

and have lived in reliance on your faithfulness. 

Lord, I love the house where you live, 

the place where your glory dwells. 

Do not take away my soul along with sinners, 

my life with those who are bloodthirsty, 

I lead a blameless life; deliver me and be merciful to me. 

My feet stand on level ground; 

in the great congregation I will praise the Lord.

Psalm 26 is a perfect psalm for checking your own attitude before going to worship. There is one problem with it however, it is written from the perspective of the Old Covenant under Moses. The understanding of the worshiper is that, as long as he kept all the rules of the Covenant, he is righteous and able to stand before God blameless.

The Apostle Paul wrote of his own journey as a Jewish religious leader that he was blameless.

Philippians 3:4-6 NIV

"If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless."

But then the Lord Jesus Christ opened his eyes to the truth. All of us fall short of the glory of God. Sin isn't just about do's and don'ts. It is a power within us that resists the authority of the creator. This power does not wish to be contained, or ordered, or shaped and molded. Its tendency is to lead toward chaos and disharmony. All selfish behavior that denies the rights and needs of others, is driven by this power we call sin. None of us are immune to it. We are born with it. We need a Savior to deliver us from sin. None of us are blameless.

That is why the good news is so joyous! God came to us in the flesh of Jesus Christ and offered up his life as an atoning sacrifice to not only wash away sin once for all, but to conquer its power within the flesh of humanity. He replaced sin with the greater power of grace so that we could live truly as children of God. Our hearts are changed to desire God's will and we are given the power to do it.

As you prepare for worship today, or as you prepare to spend your Sunday morning doing something else, consider your attitude toward the worship of God. Remember that Jesus taught a parable about a tax collector and a Pharisee. The tax collector beat his chest with his head bowed and cried, "Have mercy on me a sinner." That man went home right with God.

Psalm 25 - Shameless

Psalm 25:1-2, 4-7, 16-18

To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
2 O my God, in you I trust;
do not let me be put to shame;
do not let my enemies exult over me.

Make me to know your ways, O Lord;
teach me your paths.
Lead me in your truth, and teach me,
for you are the God of my salvation;
for you I wait all day long.
Be mindful of your mercy, O Lord, and of your steadfast love,
for they have been from of old.
Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions;
according to your steadfast love remember me,
for your goodness’ sake, O Lord!

Turn to me and be gracious to me,
for I am lonely and afflicted.
Relieve the troubles of my heart,
and bring me out of my distress.
Consider my affliction and my trouble,
and forgive all my sins.

I love the psalms. Their poetic beauty stirs my heart toward God. Their humanness connects to my own experience. Though these prayers are millennia old, they speak with relevance to every generation.

What spoke to me this morning was the cry to God to not be put to shame. Basically it's a cry for God not to let the praying person down. Don't let my trust in you be a foolish thing that will bring me shame. In other words "Dear God I'm trusting you to act to save me!"

As with most psalms there's a mention of enemies, but he also wants to be delivered from loneliness and the troubles of his heart. Rarely do we free Americans have real enemies unless you are a gangster or criminal. We certainly have rivals, but rarely do we have someone seeking to take our lives. But even when there is conflict in relationships it causes us distress. We can wonder what we've done wrong, or we can spend time blaming and accusing our rival. Either way it's not fun.

One thing the psalmist knows is that the way of the Lord, God's holy law revealed through Moses, is the path out of his troubles. He asks God to show him His ways, to lead him in truth and to show him mercy for his sins. He trusts not only God's righteous wisdom, but also God's patience and compassion for a wayward child.

Are you troubled in your heart? Do you feel lonely and harassed? Pray along with the psalmist and put your trust in the Lord to deliver you and show you the way to peace. You will not be put to shame!

Psalm 24 - Big God

Psalm 24:1, 3, 9-10 NIV

The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, 

the world, and all who live in it; 

Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord? 

Who may stand in his holy place? 

Lift up your heads, you gates; 

lift them up, you ancient doors, 

that the King of glory may come in. 

Who is he, this King of glory? 

The Lord Almighty— he is the King of glory.

I've never been to Europe. I've heard from folks who visited some of the magnificent cathedrals over there. These Christian temples of worship have stood for centuries! Entire communities gave all their wealth for the glory of God! Some who built these cathedrals spent their entire lives working on them. Some of the architects died before the work was finished! What love! What a commitment to the Kingdom of Christ!

Imagine yourself walking through the large doors of the cathedral and then entering the spacious sanctuary. The vaulted ceilings tower above you. The stone columns lift toward the heavens. Light streams in through the stained glass windows. Frescoes, paintings, and statues point to the glory of heaven and the God whom we worship.

Psalm 24 speaks of the King of Glory, the maker and owner of the earth and all who live within it! Truly the psalmist is thrilled to celebrate the Creator, the God of Israel! "Who is this King of Glory?" he asks. It is the Lord! In the Hebrew it would say "adonai" in order not to say the actual divine name, which in English we have called Jehovah or Yahweh.

Israel knows their God as mighty, Creator of all things, and glourious beyond measure. How can any temple house this God? And how can anyone stand in His presence? Yet God desires to dwell among His holy people. So the people bid the temple gates to lift up their heads! It would almost be like telling a door in your house to lift its lintel, that piece going over the top of the door frame through which you enter. I think that's a way of saying that the Lord is so grand, so magnanimous, that the gates of the temple must enlarge in order for the Lord to enter!

As you face the many challenges of life, how does the size and the might of your God help you? When you worry about your possessions, or your life, or your loved ones, remember that all you see and all that you are and all you possess belongs to God. Rather than worry, be His good steward. Join the throng who worship the King of Glory.

Psalm 23 - Our Sheperd

Psalm 23:1-6 (NRSV)

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures;
he leads me beside still waters;
he restores my soul.
He leads me in right paths
for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the darkest valley,
I fear no evil;
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff—
they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
my whole life long.


I hesitate to even comment on this beloved psalm. It is possibly the most read and well known scripture in the entire bible. Psalm 23, known as the Shepherd Psalm, is read at nearly every funeral, but it's meaning is far more relevant to daily living.

I can't do any better than this rabbi's explanation. Take time to enjoy this 8 minute video.

https://youtu.be/8z_1dING_uI

Psalm 22 - Suffering Servant

Psalm 22:1-2, 10-11, 16-18, 20, 30-31 NIV

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? 

Why are you so far from saving me, 

so far from my cries of anguish? 

My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer, 

by night, but I find no rest. 

From birth I was cast on you; 

from my mother’s womb you have been my God. 

Do not be far from me, 

for trouble is near and there is no one to help. 

Dogs surround me, a pack of villains encircles me; 

they pierce my hands and my feet. 

All my bones are on display; 

people stare and gloat over me. 

They divide my clothes among them 

and cast lots for my garment. 

Deliver me from the sword, 

my precious life from the power of the dogs. 

Posterity will serve him; 

future generations will be told about the Lord. 

They will proclaim his righteousness, 

declaring to a people yet unborn: He has done it!


Psalm 22 is sometimes called a messianic psalm for in it readers see the suffering of Christ. Early Christians read this psalm of David and began to see literal connections to the crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth. Take time to read the psalm in its entirety.

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/…

References like, "they pierce my hands and my feet," "They divide my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment." and the taunts of the mob all resemble the gospel accounts of Jesus' death.

Tradition attributes authorship to King David who had plenty of reasons to lament his suffering at the hands of his enemies. The vivid descriptions of his suffering are more poetic in nature than literal. When I eat a hefty meal I may say something like, "I'm stuffed like a pig! I feel like I'm gonna pop!" Such imaginative descriptions are a way of making a point about how one feels. Describing the terrors and pain of threat and the taunt of the enemy is often difficult to adequately describe, thus poetry provides an avenue for pointing to the experience of the sufferer.

While these colorful depictions of suffering were never meant to be taken literally, the church did as they reflected upon the death of Jesus. One might wonder if Jesus was giving the crowd a clue when he uttered the opening line of Psalm 22 from the cross. "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"

Some have suggested that Jesus felt utterly abandoned by, not only His disciples, but by His Father in heaven. I prefer the interpretation that Jesus was pointing to His fulfillment of messianic prophecy. He became the suffering servant, the messiah, the One who takes away the sin of the world.

The next time you feel abandoned, cornered or threatened, remember that Jesus, your Lord, has experienced the same and more. He did that for you so that you might rise with Him into new life. Keep hope alive. God will never forsake you.

Psalm 21 - More Than Conquerors

Psalm 21:1-3, 7-8, 13

The king rejoices in your strength, Lord.
How great is his joy in the victories you give!
You have granted him his heart’s desire
and have not withheld the request of his lips.
You came to greet him with rich blessings
and placed a crown of pure gold on his head.
For the king trusts in the Lord;
through the unfailing love of the Most High
he will not be shaken.
Your hand will lay hold on all your enemies;
your right hand will seize your foes.
Be exalted in your strength, Lord;
we will sing and praise your might.


Psalm 21 is another royal psalm. It celebrates how God has answered the king's requests, blessing the king and his kingdom with victories over enemies, prosperity, and long life. The reason given for God's blessing is the king's trust in the Lord's unfailing love.

God is deeply committed to Israel. God is covenanted with this people to be their God and they His people, so that all the world will know the way of blessing. The blessings come through covenant faithfulness. God is faithful to His promises to Israel. When Israel is faithful to God they receive blessing, health and wealth. They know protection and victory over every enemy. God so identifies with His people that the enemies of Israel are God's enemies. At least that's how Israel saw their relationship with God in the days of the Davidic monarchy.

The bible illustrates how unfaithful God's people can be. In their unfaithfulness they experience curse rather than blessing. God does not fight for them in such times. God does not bless them with protection or health or prosperity. Instead God warns them to repent and turn back to covenant faithfulness. God sends prophets to urge kings to lead the people back to faithfulness, back to their commitment to God.

In Christ, you are covenanted with God through faith in Jesus. There are blessings to expect in your faith, but know that life will include challenge and even suffering, especially as you work to live in God's will. Jesus told His disciples, "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33b)

Take heart and praise the Lord for His mighty power, a spiritual power that can give you strength to be more than conquerors!

Psalm 20 - Power

Psalm 20:1, 5-7 NIV

May the Lord answer you when you are in distress; 

may the name of the God of Jacob protect you. 

May we shout for joy over your victory 

and lift up our banners in the name of our God. 

May the Lord grant all your requests. 

Now this I know: The Lord gives victory to his anointed. 

He answers him from his heavenly sanctuary 

with the victorious power of his right hand. 

Some trust in chariots and some in horses, 

but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.

Psalm 20 is written to celebrate the king of Israel. It's what biblical scholars call a Royal Psalm. The psalm offers blessing that God might grant all the requests of the king. The psalm lifts up confidence in the Lord who watches over Israel, the God of Jacob. You may remember that Jacob is just another name for Israel since the biblical character Jacob was renamed Israel after an encounter with God.

The king is referred to as the Lord's anointed. But this reference can also be for the people the king governs, the people of God. The title given to Jesus is Christ, which means the anointed one. Jesus, the son of David, the anointed one is king forever of a new Israel under a new covenant in His blood. Therefore I can read this psalm as directed at me, for I am a Christian, an anointed one, a little Christ.

I am most moved by the idea of others trusting in their military might, their weapons and their armies. But the people of God understand that the greatest power belongs to the creator alone, the One who watches over his people. Their ultimate trust is not in weaponry or military power, but in the Lord's power.

A word of caution about this psalm: if you read it as addressed to you or for you, it's easy to get sucked into seeking God to grant you everything your heart desires. Our hearts are fickle. We often really don't know what we need. We may covet things, but that's not the same as getting what we need. Here's an example of what I mean.

Psalm 20:4 NIV

May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed.

I find that rarely in life do my plans succeed the way I want them to. Nor are the desires of my heart perfectly aligned with God's will. It's important for us to remember that God's will prevails, not our own. But when our will is surrendered to God's will and we seek to do His rather than our own, we find God working out His plan in our lives. It's a powerful path. It's a wonderful path. And it's a path that has many temporary challenges and eternal rewards. Would we want it any other way?

Psalm 19 - My Mouth

Psalms 19:14 NLT

May the words of my mouth 

and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, 

O lord , my rock and my redeemer.

I've heard several preachers use these words from Psalm 19 before they deliver a sermon. The request comes in the midst of a psalm that celebrates God as creator and God as the giver of the perfect law. The skies, indeed the whole earth celebrate God and reveal knowledge of the creator. Think of the awe that you feel standing on a mountain top, or staring at the ocean, or on the rim of a great canyon. That is creation revealing its creator.

But when you read the Word of God, do you also sense a feeling of awe? The psalmist celebrates God's law as perfect, pure, and powerful. The law of God is able to guide its reader into a life of blessing. For when we obey God our lives are open to receive His blessings.

Allow God not only to rule your heart, but to rule your mouth, and your entire body. Trust His word, follow it, and you will know blessing.

Psalm 18 - Warrior

Psalm 18:6-9, 16-19 NIV

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. 

The earth trembled and quaked, 

and the foundations of the mountains shook; 

they trembled because he was angry. 

Smoke rose from his nostrils; 

consuming fire came from his mouth, 

burning coals blazed out of it. 

He parted the heavens and came down; 

dark clouds were under his feet. 

He 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.


In this very lengthy psalm, 50 verses in all, Psalm 18 depicts God as a warrior, a God of battle. King David celebrates his victory over all of his enemies, especially King Saul and his men. Saul was jealous of David's popularity among the people and considered him a threat. He pursued David and those loyal to him, trying to kill them.

In Christianity we tend to think of God purely in terms of love, mercy, forgiveness, and compassion. We don't like the unpleasant aspect of God's wrath.

The Apostle Paul says that our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against forces of darkness that wage war against the people of God. (Ephesians 6:12) Our weapons are prayer, faith, hope, and the conviction that the love of God is the greatest power in the universe. While we belong to nations that war, our true citizenship is in the kingdom of heaven. Christ, the ruler of our kingdom, also reigns over earthly kingdoms, using their wars, and rulers, and armies to work out His will.

The next time wars and rumors of wars frighten you, remember that Jesus warned us about such times. His advice to us was to take heart, raise our heads, for our redemption is drawing near. (Luke 21:28) Remember that the Lord your God fights for you who call out to him, who trust and obey Him. God is waging a war on two fronts. It is a war within our own soul against powers of darkness. And it is a war on the streets and the fields of this earth, when the powers of darkness within our souls drive us to madness. God takes the good, the bad, and the ugly of this world and works it out for his good purposes. (Romans 8:28)

Psalm 17 - Gimme Shelter

Psalm 17:6-8 NIV

I call on you, my God, for you will answer me;

turn your ear to me and hear my prayer. 

Show me the wonders of your great love, 

you who save by your right hand 

those who take refuge in you from their foes. 

Keep me as the apple of your eye; 

hide me in the shadow of your wings...

Psalm 17 is another cry for deliverance from enemies. The psalm starts out with the writer claiming his innocence before God, as a means to assure that God will hear his prayers. He then turns to this beautiful plea for God's protection.

"Show me the wonders of your great love!" If only the psalmist knew the great love God has for us. If only he knew that the Christ was coming, that God would give His only Son to atone for the sins of the world, including those of our enemies.

"Keep me as the apple of your eye!" Just as a mother dotes on her children, God delights in His children. God smiles upon those who come to Him in trust. You are God's treasured possession.

"Hide me in the shelter of your wings!" This is also a beautiful image comparing the love of God to the nurturing protection of a mother bird covering her children beneath her wings.

Remember that God loves you always and gave His son up for you, so that you might have eternal life. Eternal life is to know God and His Son Jesus Christ whom He sent. (John 17:3) God delights in those who love and obey Him. God shelters and protects His beloved children. And God will lead us beyond our mortal life into eternal life.

Psalm 16 - Eternal Life

Psalm 16:7-11 NIV

I will praise the Lord , who counsels me; 

even at night my heart instructs me. 

I keep my eyes always on the Lord . 

With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken. 

Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; 

my body also will rest secure, 

because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, 

nor will you let your faithful one see decay. 

You make known to me the path of life; 

you will fill me with joy in your presence, 

with eternal pleasures at your right hand.


Often we think the Old Testament has no knowledge of hope in eternal life, but there are hints that some were thinking about it. Granted such passages are few and far between. More often than not the psalmist says to God "the dead cannot praise you" as a means of convincing God to keep them alive. 

But look at Psalm 16. This psalm is a psalm of praise, praise for the God who keeps us safe and will not allow us to decay in the grave. I fully acknowledge that the writer of this psalm may only have been using the language here in a poetic way to talk about God keeping him alive, but reading this passage as a Christian, knowing the reality of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, it's hard to read this passage any other way. God will raise us from the dead. We shall enjoy the pleasures of his eternal presence.

Psalm 15 - Righteous

Ever wonder what the word "righteous" means when you read it in the bible?

What does it mean to be right in God's eyes?

I've always thought it meant to do God's will as revealed in the scriptures. Keep the covenant rules and you are righteous. But then Jesus came along and brought a new kind of righteousness, not by rule keeping or commandment, but by a changed heart.

Psalm 15 asks who can stand before holy God in His worship tent. Then it lists righteous actions that make a person worthy to join the worship gathering.


Psalm 15:1-5 NIV

Lord , who may dwell in your sacred tent? 

Who may live on your holy mountain? 

The one whose walk is blameless, 

who does what is righteous, 

who speaks the truth from their heart; 

whose tongue utters no slander, 

who does no wrong to a neighbor, 

and casts no slur on others; 

who despises a vile person 

but honors those who fear the Lord; 

who keeps an oath even when it hurts, 

and does not change their mind; 

who lends money to the poor without interest; 

who does not accept a bribe against the innocent. 

Whoever does these things will never be shaken.

None of us do everything perfectly. We fail at being righteous. In fact, until Jesus transforms our hearts, we stay enslaved to unrighteous motives and behaviors. It's why we need a Savior. But when one has invited Christ into their heart, Jesus begins to make changes giving us His righteousness so that the motivations of our hearts are His.

It is Christ who makes us worthy to stand before holy God. His blood shed makes us holy. His resurrection gives us the opportunity for new life. A changed heart has grace to want and to do God's will.

Matthew 5:6 NIV

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

Psalm 14 - Heart of Folly

Psalm 14:1, 4-6 NIV

The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” 

They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; 

there is no one who does good. 

Do all these evildoers know nothing? 

They devour my people as though eating bread; 

they never call on the Lord .

But there they are, overwhelmed with dread, 

for God is present in the company of the righteous. 

You evildoers frustrate the plans of the poor, 

but the Lord is their refuge.


How often do we think we are being taken advantage of by money grubbing companies? Why is it that I can buy gasoline at nearly $0.50 less in a rural community 7 miles away? The psalm speaks of morally deficient people who give God no credence. The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." With such a worldview, in a free democracy, we become worshipers of something less. Perhaps it's money or country, or family or position. We can become gods to ourselves. This attitude of the heart leads to all manner of evil and oppression. Ignorance of God engenders folly.

Take hope in the knowledge that God is among His people who call out to Him in faith and in praise. The poor in spirit be blessed.

Psalm 13 - Troubling Thoughts

Even though May has ended, I have another post on mental health awareness. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder manifests itself in a variety of ways. One form is thought persistent. Rather than having to have some things just so, Thought Persistent OCD means a person cannot control their thinking. They have troubling thoughts that continue to plague their mind. We can tell them to think about something else, but that doesn't work. It's not in their control. Your brain is dysfunctioning. As much as we'd like to believe that simply turning our thoughts toward God or prayer will fix it, the condition is more severe than a normal brain. Therapies and medication help, and trust in the help of God surely does.

Hear the prayer of those plagued by persistent thoughts.

Psalm 13:1-2, 5-6 NIV

How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever? 

How long will you hide your face from me? 

How long must I wrestle with my thoughts 

and day after day have sorrow in my heart? 

How long will my enemy triumph over me?

But I trust in your unfailing love; 

my heart rejoices in your salvation. 

I will sing the Lord ’s praise, 

for he has been good to me.