Psalm 42

1 As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.
2 My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?
3 My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God?
4 When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday.
5 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.
6 O my God, my soul is cast down within me: therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan, and of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar.
7 Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me.
8 Yet the LORD will command his lovingkindness in the day time, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life.
9 I will say unto God my rock, Why hast thou forgotten me? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?
10 As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me; while they say daily unto me, Where is thy God?
11 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.

Key Verse:
5 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.

Key Observation:
Now we begin the Exodus Psalms. They are Psalm 42 through 72. Psalm 42 and 43 are very closely related. Why hast thou forgotten me is a Messianic cry.

Memory Verse:
2 My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?

Devotion:
McGee has an interesting description of the next section of psalms, the Exodus Psalms.

“In the Genesis and Exodus sections of the Psalms there is an interesting contrast of the names of God. In the Genesis section the name Jehovah occurs 272 times, while the name Elohim occurs only fifteen times. In the Exodus section the name Elohim occurs 164 times, and the name Jehovah occurs only thirty times. What is the significance of this? These two personal names of God have different meanings. Elohim speaks of the fullness of God’s divine power. The name Jehovah is involved in redemption. Jehovah is the One who keeps Israel.”

In general then we might expect Genesis Psalms (Jehovah) to speak of redemption, and the Exodus Psalms (Elohim) to speak of the power of God in keeping Israel. There is a beautiful picture of the sanctification purposes of God here. Redemption, I would add, is the word of God, and the grace which makes man free from sin; sanctification, I would say, is the power of God given to us in the Holy Spirit, to keep up free from the weakness of sin. Thus I would expect the Genesis Psalms to speak of the redeeming work of God; the Exodus Psalms to speak of God’s power keeping us from or through the presence of sin.

Hebrews 11 adds to the beautiful picture here. In 11:28, does not God speak of redemption when He says: “By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel”? Does not God, in the next verse, speak of sanctification when He says: “By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land, but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned”?

Verse 29 is a beautiful picture of baptism. The whole nation of Israel was led under the waters of the Red Sea, and brought out to a new beginning on the other side, forever free of the slavery of the Egyptians. First it is a picture of general believer’s baptism, going down into the water to symbolize the death of the old life, and then up out of the water to begin a new life. Second it symbolizes the new life of the Spirit being assumed; the old life being left under the sea. Both of these are works of God!

Is this not the work of God in the life of the believer? A. W. Tozer says:

“The Christian message rightly understood means this: The God who by the word of the gospel proclaims men free, by the power of the gospel actually makes them free. To accept less than this is to know the gospel in word only, without its power.”

First comes redemption, and then as Tozer properly points out, then comes sanctification, or the separation of God for his believer from the power of sin. That is why we are to expect that the typical believer will first be redeemed by his faith, but then in his walk, will experience the sanctifying power of God, enabling him to turn away from his old life of sin and into his new life of holiness. What a beautiful mosaic God has painted here!

But I need a final word on the psalm itself. You probably wonder if there is evidence of the sanctifying power of God in this psalm. “By day the Lord directs his love, at night his song is with me—a prayer to the God of my life. (NIV)” I give you the sanctifying power of God in this verse. The hunger and thirst spoken of in the psalm is the hunger and thirst God has created in us, that we should desire his presence. Our Lord was later to tell us, Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled. It is the job of God to create this hunger in us that we might seek to be filled.

I love to read biographies of Christians, particularly when they tell me of the real struggles men and women had with living Christian lives. William Carey, praying and writing over his coming missionary experience said: “I have reason to lament over a barrenness of soul, and am sometimes discouraged; for if I am so dead and stupid, how can I expect to be of any use among the heathen?” I tell you this, if William Carey could feel empty, dead, and stupid, then maybe it is okay for me to feel that way also. What did he do? He prayed and waited on God, was filled and led one of the more fruitful missionary lives that history has ever seen. “Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. (NIV)” Perhaps my trusting and praying will yet lead to being used of God!

Psalm 41

1 Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble.
2 The LORD will preserve him, and keep him alive; and he shall be blessed upon the earth: and thou wilt not deliver him unto the will of his enemies.
3 The LORD will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing: thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness.
4 I said, LORD, be merciful unto me: heal my soul; for I have sinned against thee.
5 Mine enemies speak evil of me, When shall he die, and his name perish?
6 And if he come to see me, he speaketh vanity: his heart gathereth iniquity to itself; when he goeth abroad, he telleth it.
7 All that hate me whisper together against me: against me do they devise my hurt.
8 An evil disease, say they, cleaveth fast unto him: and now that he lieth he shall rise up no more.
9 Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.
10 But thou, O LORD, be merciful unto me, and raise me up, that I may requite them.
11 By this I know that thou favourest me, because mine enemy doth not triumph over me.
12 And as for me, thou upholdest me in mine integrity, and settest me before thy face for ever.
13 Blessed be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting, and to everlasting. Amen, and Amen.

Key Verse:
9 Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.

Key Observation:
Messianic psalm foretelling of Judas.

Memory Verse:
12 And as for me, thou upholdest me in mine integrity, and settest me before thy face for ever.

Devotion:
The verse “Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me” is an obvious reference to Judas. McGee suggests that the psalm might have been written to commemorate David’s flight from his son, Absolam. Particularly this verse might apply to Ahithophel, who hung himself when Absolam did not listen to his counsel. Ahithophel himself is a foreshadowing of Judas.

Notice the next verse: “But thou, O LORD, be merciful unto me, and raise me up, that I may requite them.” Isn’t that a prayer for the resurrection? Judas, according to Psalm 109, is one of the few people who we know before the judgment is sent to hell. But I suggest to you that Judas is not the principle behind this; Satan is, and the Lord will one day exact his vengeance. The words of the song echo through my mind hearing the voice of Ricky Skaggs singing them: “Where were you when they crucified my Lord?” I was not, like you, born yet. But unless the Lord had revealed himself to me, I surely would have found myself on the wrong side, the side of the vast majority of the world. That majority too, will one day soon find themselves facing an Angry God. It will literally be (Jonathan Edwards) “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”.

The price of your salvation, and mine, was the destruction of the Son, as He took on the sins of the world. There are some today who insist, contrary to Scripture, that He did not take on the sins of the world, but somehow limited His sacrifice to only those who would receive Him. “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.” Beware of wresting the scriptures to your own destruction. Whenever you are tempted to reinterpet the Bible, you are telling God that you are unwilling to believe Him. I have already said this once. God says it. He has required you to simply believe Him. That’s all there is to it.

But it is not enough that the Son died for the sins of the world. He was raised from the dead, and that is the proof of victory over death that you and I have. We shall live because He lives too. Men have struggled against this for eons, but the truth is simple. “He that believes has life everlasting, but he that believes not shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned unto him as righteousness. Pat Davis believed God, and it was reckoned unto him as righteousness. Not one thing that I ever did, or could do, qualified me for what God gives to all who believe. That is grace! Have you believed? Or do you need to pray: “Lord, I believe. Help thou my unbelief!”

Psalm 40

1 I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.
2 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.
3 And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.
4 Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.
5 Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.
6 Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required.
7 Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me,
8 I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.
9 I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips, O LORD, thou knowest.
10 I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the great congregation.
11 Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O LORD: let thy lovingkindness and thy truth continually preserve me.
12 For innumerable evils have compassed me about: mine iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I am not able to look up; they are more than the hairs of mine head: therefore my heart faileth me.
13 Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me: O LORD, make haste to help me.
14 Let them be ashamed and confounded together that seek after my soul to destroy it; let them be driven backward and put to shame that wish me evil.
15 Let them be desolate for a reward of their shame that say unto me, Aha, aha.
16 Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: let such as love thy salvation say continually, The LORD be magnified.
17 But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God.

Key Verse:
6 Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required.

Key Observation:
Messianic psalm.

Memory Verse:
16 Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: let such as love thy salvation say continually, The LORD be magnified.

Devotion:
Verse 6 is quoted in Hebrews 10:5. “Sacrifice and offering you did not desire; but a body you prepared for me. Italics are different, noticed by McGee, and commented upon at length. He says the obvious: God wanted this portion of scripture changed the way it is changed. “Mine ears hast thou opened” is the portion which is changed. I learned that the open ear is a reference to the slave, loving his master, denies his freedom, and as a sign to all has his ear pierced with an awl. McGee feels that Christ’s submission to His Father’s will is a picture of this ear opening. In other words, Christ giving Himself is the manifestation of what a slave might do if choosing his master over his freedom.

Matthew Henry says Christ is foretold by the name: ho erchomenos- or He that should come. “I have come to do your will, O God.” Christ’s statement to his father. And what is the Father’s will? Nothing less than pouring out punishment for the sins of the whole world upon the body of His Son. There is nothing, not even the second coming of Christ in all its great glory, that shall eclipse the first coming. Oh that God should become man- and being man should bear our chastisements. Chafer points out that it is not grace or unmerited favor we receive when we are forgiven. Instead it is a substitutionary sacrifice of punishment. God punished His Son in our place! Chafer wants us to remember that grace is not free—it came at incalculable cost.

I like what the Statler Brothers sing:
“I believe He died for me,
So I believe I will live for Him.”
Are you living today for Him? If He came back today, would He find you where you are supposed to be? Can you echo Christ in the call: “I have come to do your will, O God?” He just may come today. I suggest you might want to be sure your “affairs are in order” or that you are walking with Him just in case. He is coming. Soon.

Psalm 39

1 I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me.
2 I was dumb with silence, I held my peace, even from good; and my sorrow was stirred.
3 My heart was hot within me, while I was musing the fire burned: then spake I with my tongue,
4 LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is: that I may know how frail I am.
5 Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah.
6 Surely every man walketh in a vain shew: surely they are disquieted in vain: he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them.
7 And now, Lord, what wait I for? my hope is in thee.
8 Deliver me from all my transgressions: make me not the reproach of the foolish.
9 I was dumb, I opened not my mouth; because thou didst it.
10 Remove thy stroke away from me: I am consumed by the blow of thine hand.
11 When thou with rebukes dost correct man for iniquity, thou makest his beauty to consume away like a moth: surely every man is vanity. Selah.
12 Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear unto my cry; hold not thy peace at my tears: for I am a stranger with thee, and a sojourner, as all my fathers were.
13 O spare me, that I may recover strength, before I go hence, and be no more.

Key Verse:
10 Remove thy stroke away from me: I am consumed by the blow of thine hand.

Key Observation:
David is struck by his sin, bring him up short. He sees the temporariness of life, and pleads for healing and forgiveness.

Memory Verse:
4 LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is: that I may know how frail I am.

Devotion:
McGee says that Longfellow wrote, “Dust thou art, to dust returnest, was not spoken of the soul.” The soul endures; the body perishes. Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints. All this talk of death, suffering and sickness make this psalm a psalm of grieving. I read that it is often used for funerals and that should not be surprising. Voltaire wrote an enduring work called Candide, where the young man finds out that all is not for the best in the best of all possible worlds. Evil and suffering not only exist—to the rational aware mind-they must be seen to dominate our world.

David here is being swallowed up by his sickness and prays, “O spare me, that I may recover strength.” He recognizes that he is being corrected by God, and is smarting from the discipline, for he says, “Remove thy stroke away from me: I am consumed by the blow of thine hand.” When I am sick, or someone I love closely is sick, I think about how mortal I am. Man is but of few days, and full of trouble. When I am forced to consider that I feel so utterly inept. My days, says the Word, are like grass or flowers, here today and gone tomorrow. Its place remembers it no more. What am I to do?

D’Souza says: “The problem of evil and suffering is considered by many people to be the strongest argument against the existence of God.” I cannot answer that completely, not to my own satisfaction, and certainly not to yours. But this I do say. Even the problem of evil, or theodicy, indicates to us that we see the need for the justice bringer. In other words, how can we know that something is wrong, or that something is totally evil, except that God has written on our hearts the way that things “should” be. Christianity stands in stark contrast to our world and gives an optimism that can endure through all trials, all sufferings, all losses. For the teaching of Christianity is that we have souls, and that the suffering of this present life is not worthy to be compared to the glory which we shall receive hereafter. Of all religions, it is Christianity alone which has God reaching down to us, caring and loving and sympathizing enough with our lostness, to send His Son to save us. O death, where is thy victory? Thanks be to God for Jesus, our Lord!

Psalm 38

1 O Lord, rebuke me not in thy wrath: neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure.
2 For thine arrows stick fast in me, and thy hand presseth me sore.
3 There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger; neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sin.
4 For mine iniquities are gone over mine head: as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me.
5 My wounds stink and are corrupt because of my foolishness.
6 I am troubled; I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long.
7 For my loins are filled with a loathsome disease: and there is no soundness in my flesh.
8 I am feeble and sore broken: I have roared by reason of the disquietness of my heart.
9 Lord, all my desire is before thee; and my groaning is not hid from thee.
10 My heart panteth, my strength faileth me: as for the light of mine eyes, it also is gone from me.
11 My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my sore; and my kinsmen stand afar off.
12 They also that seek after my life lay snares for me: and they that seek my hurt speak mischievous things, and imagine deceits all the day long.
13 But I, as a deaf man, heard not; and I was as a dumb man that openeth not his mouth.
14 Thus I was as a man that heareth not, and in whose mouth are no reproofs.
15 For in thee, O LORD, do I hope: thou wilt hear, O Lord my God.
16 For I said, Hear me, lest otherwise they should rejoice over me: when my foot slippeth, they magnify themselves against me.
17 For I am ready to halt, and my sorrow is continually before me.
18 For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin.
19 But mine enemies are lively, and they are strong: and they that hate me wrongfully are multiplied.
20 They also that render evil for good are mine adversaries; because I follow the thing that good is.
21 Forsake me not, O LORD: O my God, be not far from me.
22 Make haste to help me, O Lord my salvation.

Key Verse:
1 O Lord, rebuke me not in thy wrath: neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure.

Key Observation:
David has an illness caused by his sin. What it is we do not know. We do know he confesses (v. 18) and asks God for help.

Memory Verse:
18 For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin.

Devotion:
Healing anyone? Divine intervention? Masses of Americans would think such ideas to be idiot ideas, believed only by those wackos. But I have now walked with the Lord for 40 years, and I have seen healing and many times God has divinely intervened. The fool indeed says there is no God.

In this psalm David is ill, with an unspecified illness and blames his own sin for the illness. “My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my sore.” His friends and his enemies are lined up against him. I think of the friends of Job who gave such poor counsel during Job’s plight. Many are the times when we want to supply platitudes to those around us to assuage their grief. What we do in such times is just multiply their grief.

Oh, Lord, give me a compassionate heart and a still tongue. When I find others smitten with grief, give me the wisdom to be still and to show that I care and feel for their plight. Too often I try to answer everything with a short prescription that does nothing but make the person feel worse. God, forgive me, and teach me, that I may do better.

Psalm 37

1 Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.
2 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.
3 Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.
4 Delight thyself also in the LORD: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
5 Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.
6 And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.
7 Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.
8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.
9 For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.
10 For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.
11 But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
12 The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth.
13 The LORD shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming.
14 The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright conversation.
15 Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.
16 A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.
17 For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the LORD upholdeth the righteous.
18 The LORD knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever.
19 They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.
20 But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the LORD shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away.
21 The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth.
22 For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off.
23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.
24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.
25 I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.
26 He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed.
27 Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore.
28 For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.
29 The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever.
30 The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment.
31 The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.
32 The wicked watcheth the righteous, and seeketh to slay him.
33 The LORD will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged.
34 Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.
35 I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree.
36 Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found.
37 Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.
38 But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off.
39 But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD: he is their strength in the time of trouble.
40 And the LORD shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him.

Key Verse:
37 Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.

Key Observation:
This psalm is a double acrostic poem in Hebrew with two verses beginning with each letter of the alphabet.

Memory Verse:
23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.

Devotion:
This is a magnificent psalm. I have long noticed the relationship between this psalm written by David and Psalm 73 written by Asaph. Both psalms deal with the subject of the prosperity and success of the wicked. Both psalms are beautiful and they make a wonderful study to put them side by side. I was delighted to notice that McGee noted their relationship to one another.

There is a whole field of theology that has interested men for ages. It is called theodicy. Theo means God, and dicy means justice. The problem of God and the evil in the world. Many ask where is the justice? How can a moral God allow this evil? Both of these psalms deal richly with this theme.

Christians need to remember that though this psalm has immense spiritual application to our living situations today, this psalm contains many promises directly to Israel. I do get aggravated when I hear false teaching telling us that the church has replaced Israel in all the promises of God. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of promises that God made to Israel—he did not make them to the church. God, who foreknows everything, and has designed the end from the beginning, knew that Israel would not receive his son. He made all of those promises to Israel, knowing that Israel would not do their part. Sometimes men teach that Israel disappointed God and thus the church was arranged as a back up plan of God. Not so! It is impossible that man should disappoint or in any way surprise God. This psalm tells us that God shall laugh at the wicked for He knows their end. One day the Lord is returning and the Bible specifically tells us that he will put his foot on the Mount of Olives, and so will begin his reign on earth through Israel. “The Lord will be king over the whole earth.” (Zech. 14:9)

Chafer says it this way:

“There is a sense in which the kingdom of God, as the rule of God in the hearts of individuals, is present in the world today. (italics mine) This should not be confused with the Messianic kingdom which is to be set up over a nation, and extended through them to all nations, with the King ruling, not in the individual heart, but on the throne of David, in the city of Jerusalem.”

The Bible says it. Clearly. Your job is just to believe it. I do wonder how many of us will even be looking for his appearing on that day!

Psalm 36

1 The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, that there is no fear of God before his eyes.
2 For he flattereth himself in his own eyes, until his iniquity be found to be hateful.
3 The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit: he hath left off to be wise, and to do good.
4 He deviseth mischief upon his bed; he setteth himself in a way that is not good; he abhorreth not evil.
5 Thy mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds.
6 Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgments are a great deep: O LORD, thou preservest man and beast.
7 How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.
8 They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures.
9 For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.
10 O continue thy lovingkindness unto them that know thee; and thy righteousness to the upright in heart.
11 Let not the foot of pride come against me, and let not the hand of the wicked remove me.
12 There are the workers of iniquity fallen: they are cast down, and shall not be able to rise.

Key Verse:
5 Thy mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds.

Key Outline:
1. v. 1-4 The Wicked Plot
2. v. 5-9 Praise for God’s Goodness
3. v. 10-12 Prayer for protection from the wicked

Key Observation:
Though the wicked plot their devices come to naught,
Looking to the Lord, the righteous soared.

Memory Verse:
10 O continue thy lovingkindness unto them that know thee; and thy righteousness to the upright in heart.

Devotion:
David, servant of Jehovah, writes this psalm. I agree with McGee and David: “Lord, do not let me fall into the hands of the wicked.” I think of Nehemiah when he was trying to rebuild the temple, and wicked men arose against him. Nehemiah orders his people thus:

“Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes.”

Do not be afraid. Your Lord and your God has promised by the highest oath possible, Himself, that you will be protected. Not always in battle, not always in disease, not always in this life; but always ultimately. He has given His Word, swearing by Himself, for there is none greater, to protect your soul forever.

We have the promise of new bodies, and of being clothed in white robes. We will be able to spend all of eternity with Him, and with each other. I always tell my friends: “You don’t like me now? You think I am a bit odd and quirky? Well, don’t worry about it. Just get used to me- after all, you have all of eternity to be stuck with me.” But that is not quite true- we are stuck with each other—but in our glorified bodies I don’t think my friends will find me quite so bothersome.

What a glory we have been given! Though we suffer defeat in this life, what is that to victory for eternity? “For with Thee is the fountain of life.”

Psalm 35

1 Plead my cause, O LORD, with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me.
2 Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for mine help.
3 Draw out also the spear, and stop the way against them that persecute me: say unto my soul, I am thy salvation.
4 Let them be confounded and put to shame that seek after my soul: let them be turned back and brought to confusion that devise my hurt.
5 Let them be as chaff before the wind: and let the angel of the LORD chase them.
6 Let their way be dark and slippery: and let the angel of the LORD persecute them.
7 For without cause have they hid for me their net in a pit, which without cause they have digged for my soul.
8 Let destruction come upon him at unawares; and let his net that he hath hid catch himself: into that very destruction let him fall.
9 And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD: it shall rejoice in his salvation.
10 All my bones shall say, LORD, who is like unto thee, which deliverest the poor from him that is too strong for him, yea, the poor and the needy from him that spoileth him?
11 False witnesses did rise up; they laid to my charge things that I knew not.
12 They rewarded me evil for good to the spoiling of my soul.
13 But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into mine own bosom.
14 I behaved myself as though he had been my friend or brother: I bowed down heavily, as one that mourneth for his mother.
15 But in mine adversity they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together: yea, the abjects gathered themselves together against me, and I knew it not; they did tear me, and ceased not:
16 With hypocritical mockers in feasts, they gnashed upon me with their teeth.
17 Lord, how long wilt thou look on? rescue my soul from their destructions, my darling from the lions.
18 I will give thee thanks in the great congregation: I will praise thee among much people.
19 Let not them that are mine enemies wrongfully rejoice over me: neither let them wink with the eye that hate me without a cause.
20 For they speak not peace: but they devise deceitful matters against them that are quiet in the land.
21 Yea, they opened their mouth wide against me, and said, Aha, aha, our eye hath seen it.
22 This thou hast seen, O LORD: keep not silence: O Lord, be not far from me.
23 Stir up thyself, and awake to my judgment, even unto my cause, my God and my Lord.
24 Judge me, O LORD my God, according to thy righteousness; and let them not rejoice over me.
25 Let them not say in their hearts, Ah, so would we have it: let them not say, We have swallowed him up.
26 Let them be ashamed and brought to confusion together that rejoice at mine hurt: let them be clothed with shame and dishonour that magnify themselves against me.
27 Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.
28 And my tongue shall speak of thy righteousness and of thy praise all the day long.

Key Verse:
1 Plead my cause, O LORD, with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me.

Key Outline:
1. v. 1-10 David asks God to protect him
2. v. 11-28 David presents his case, asking God to judge.

Key Observation:
God will judge wickedness.

Memory Verse:
24 Judge me, O LORD my God, according to thy righteousness; and let them not rejoice over me.

Devotion:
McGee says that, and I agree, this psalm is prophetic of the nation Israel when it is in the Tribulation period. Israel will cry and cry for relief, and when their Lord returns the Bible says: “They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son.” (Zech. 12:10) Israel will not know whether to cry for their sins or to rejoice at their Savior on that day.

Once I was in a church situation where I saw real sin going on in the life of a church staff person. He was caught with outrageously bending the truth to fit his perception, although those perceptions were causing great harm to those around him. My inclination was to fight, to argue, to present my cause and win vindication. Did the Lord allow me to do that? Of course not! In this psalm we are told of a similar situation for David, in which his hands were tied, and he was unable to prove his integrity.

He asks for the Lord to defend him. And that is exactly what I had to do. I had to turn the whole thing over to the Lord. With my feet I had to walk away from the congregation that I loved; with my heart I had to pray through to God for deliverance. It took over two years, but God did answer, and the man was found out in his sin. It was so hard for me not to take things into my own hands, but instead rely on the Lord for his righteousness. But it was the right path and I learned much!

We who stand for the truth, who stand in faith before God, can look forward to the day when the Lord himself will judge the world in its wickedness. The challenge to me is to remember that day is coming, and, but for the love and concern of a few Christians who cared enough to witness to me, I might yet be as the wicked. Every day I need to redeem my time wisely, choosing my course carefully, and “rightly dividing” the word of truth to those around me, in hope that they, too, might find the grace of God.

Psalm 34

1 I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2 My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.
3 O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.
4 I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.
5 They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.
6 This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.
8 O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.
9 O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.
10 The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing.
11 Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
12 What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good?
13 Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.
14 Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.
15 The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.
16 The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.
17 The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.
18 The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.
20 He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken.
21 Evil shall slay the wicked: and they that hate the righteous shall be desolate.
22 The LORD redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate.

Key Verse:
3 O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.

Key Outline:
1. v. 1-3 Blessings on the Lord
2. v. 4-8 Look to the Lord for deliverance
3. v. 9-22 Fear the Lord

Key Observation:
This magnificent psalm is full of promises. It is also Messianic as verse 20 is a clear reference to Christ on the cross.
Memory Verse:
6 This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.

Devotion:
“The righteous cry and the Lord heareth and delivereth them out of all their troubles.”
“The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart.”
“The LORD redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate.”
“This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.”
“The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.”

This psalm is replete with promises of God’s love and faithfulness to those who fear him. Go to your knees and plea these assurances before God. When your hour of need comes, you will find that he is faithful. But you say “now is not my hour of need”. Why not memorize these verses, plant them in your brain, and have them to access when you do face your hour of need? He is faithful.

Psalm 33

1 Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright.
2 Praise the LORD with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings.
3 Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise.
4 For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth.
5 He loveth righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the goodness of the LORD.
6 By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.
7 He gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap: he layeth up the depth in storehouses.
8 Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.
9 For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.
10 The LORD bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect.
11 The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.
12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.
13 The LORD looketh from heaven; he beholdeth all the sons of men.
14 From the place of his habitation he looketh upon all the inhabitants of the earth.
15 He fashioneth their hearts alike; he considereth all their works.
16 There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength.
17 An horse is a vain thing for safety: neither shall he deliver any by his great strength.
18 Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy;
19 To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.
20 Our soul waiteth for the LORD: he is our help and our shield.
21 For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name.
22 Let thy mercy, O LORD, be upon us, according as we hope in thee.

Key Verse:
16 There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength.

Key Outline:
1. v. 1-3 Sing and play before the Lord
2. v. 4-9 The Word of the Lord
3. v. 10-17 The Sovereignty of the Lord
4. v. 18- 22 The Lord preserves the way

Key Observation:
The Lord rules in majesty despite the intents of men.

Memory Verse:
20 Our soul waiteth for the LORD: he is our help and our shield.

Devotion:
J. Vernon McGee exults so much over this psalm that he suggests that we just study psalms rather than go to a new meeting on building better Sunday Schools or reading some new book. I agree heartily with his wishes!

This psalm is an orphan psalm. It is unattributed. It is possible that David wrote it, but that is only a guess. It is also the first psalm in which musical instruments are plainly mentioned.

It is necessary for we Christians to trust in the Lord, though we see all the armies of the world arrayed against us, yet it will be to no avail (Psalm 2). The Lord, the psalmest reminds us “made the heavens and the earth” and the “earth is filled with his goodness”. The Lord rules. End of story. So while we walk here, we walk in the most wonderful grace it is possible to imagine. This past year I have often found myself reflecting that we are in a “no-lose” situation. As bad as things can get in this world, and you have no need of me to tell you of the evil of this world, they cannot prevail. God has promised us eternity, and eternity we shall get. Once you let that idea get ahold of you it will change your perspective literally forever!

D. L. Moody says: “Now, grace means unmerited mercy—undeserved favor. If men were to wake up to the fact, they would not be talking about their own worthiness when we ask them to come to Christ. When the truth dawns upon them that Christ came to save the unworthy, then they will accept salvation.” Have you followed the gift of God through believing? Once for all it is done, and grace you receive, for now and all eternity, it is God’s Gift to you.

Psalm 32

1 Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.
2 Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.
3 When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long.
4 For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Selah.
5 I acknowledge my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.
6 For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him.
7 Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah.
8 I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.
9 Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee.
10 Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the LORD, mercy shall compass him about.
11 Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.

Key Verse:
5 I acknowledge my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.

Key Outline:
1. v. 1-2 Blessing of forgiven
2. v. 3-5 Confession needed
3. v. 6-8 God will preserve me
4. v. 9-11 Be wise, receive mercy, rejoice

Key Observation:
An early teaching of confession bringing restoration.

Memory Verse:
1 Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.

Devotion:
McGee makes a persuasive case for this psalm in two ways. First he points out it is a maskil. A maskil, according to McGee, means to have wisdom or understanding. He feels this psalm is for future instruction to God’s people. Further, he points out that this psalm is a psalm David is using to teach the people how to confess and receive mercy, not one of penance for himself.

Telling people I am sorry seems to be a full time occupation with me. Most of the time, when I do appropriately confess and apologize to my friends, they are most gracious and forgiving. How wonderful it is that God forgives us! We are saved by our belief. But when I wrong God, I must come to Him and confess to be restored to fellowship. Chafer says it thus:

Believing and confessing are two widely differing human conditions, or obligations, and should never be confused or interchanged. The lost are never saved by confessing, and the saved are never restored by believing.

When I am confronted with my sin, I may twist and turn in the wind, but eventually to God I must come. A synonym for confession is to agree with God. When you are truly confessing, are you not repenting and agreeing that God is right? 1 John 1:9 tells us that if we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. We are not being saved all over again, as some would teach. No, we are being restored to fellowship with the Creator God, who desires that we should walk after Him. Our state of our soul is settled forever when we believe. Otherwise Christ would have need to be crucified all over again for each time we sin. It is finished! Once for all time, Christ paid for the sins of the world. And His sacrifice for you is conditioned on your belief. Will you not believe?

Psalm 31

1 In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness.
2 Bow down thine ear to me; deliver me speedily: be thou my strong rock, for an house of defence to save me.
3 For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name's sake lead me, and guide me.
4 Pull me out of the net that they have laid privily for me: for thou art my strength.
5 Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O LORD God of truth.
6 I have hated them that regard lying vanities: but I trust in the LORD.
7 I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy: for thou hast considered my trouble; thou hast known my soul in adversities;
8 And hast not shut me up into the hand of the enemy: thou hast set my feet in a large room.
9 Have mercy upon me, O LORD, for I am in trouble: mine eye is consumed with grief, yea, my soul and my belly.
10 For my life is spent with grief, and my years with sighing: my strength faileth because of mine iniquity, and my bones are consumed.
11 I was a reproach among all mine enemies, but especially among my neighbours, and a fear to mine acquaintance: they that did see me without fled from me.
12 I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind: I am like a broken vessel.
13 For I have heard the slander of many: fear was on every side: while they took counsel together against me, they devised to take away my life.
14 But I trusted in thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my God.
15 My times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me.
16 Make thy face to shine upon thy servant: save me for thy mercies' sake.
17 Let me not be ashamed, O LORD; for I have called upon thee: let the wicked be ashamed, and let them be silent in the grave.
18 Let the lying lips be put to silence; which speak grievous things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous.
19 Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men!
20 Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man: thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues.
21 Blessed be the LORD: for he hath shewed me his marvellous kindness in a strong city.
22 For I said in my haste, I am cut off from before thine eyes: nevertheless thou heardest the voice of my supplications when I cried unto thee.
23 O love the LORD, all ye his saints: for the LORD preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer.
24 Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.

Key Verse:
14 But I trusted in thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my God.

Key Outline:
v. 1-8 Petition named and thanksgiving given
v. 9-22 The depth of David’s need and the breadth of God’s mercies
v. 23-24 Encouragement to others

Key Observation:
David is in deep trouble and is crying out to the Lord for salvation.

Memory Verse:
24 Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.

Devotion:
When David was in deepest need he penned these words. I do not readily acknowledge my need. I am woefully ignorant of just how ignorant I am! E. M. Bounds says that we all tend to be that way, especially when developing a prayer life before God. “But it we do not patiently wait for God’s help, if we work a deliverance of our own, then at the next trial of our faith it will be thus again, we shall be again inclined to deliver ourselves; and thus with every fresh instance of that kind, our faith will decrease.” I think part of the reason God allows trials sent my way is for me to learn to depend on him. If I could find my own way out of the trials, how is that going to be faith-building?

I know mentally my utter need for God. I need to act like it- to fall to my knees and pray as if there is no tomorrow. May God give me this spirit of watchfulness!

Psalm 30

1 I will extol thee, O LORD; for thou hast lifted me up, and hast not made my foes to rejoice over me.
2 O LORD my God, I cried unto thee, and thou hast healed me.
3 O LORD, thou hast brought up my soul from the grave: thou hast kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit.
4 Sing unto the LORD, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.
5 For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.
6 And in my prosperity I said, I shall never be moved.
7 LORD, by thy favour thou hast made my mountain to stand strong: thou didst hide thy face, and I was troubled.
8 I cried to thee, O LORD; and unto the LORD I made supplication.
9 What profit is there in my blood, when I go down to the pit? Shall the dust praise thee? shall it declare thy truth?
10 Hear, O LORD, and have mercy upon me: LORD, be thou my helper.
11 Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness;
12 To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever.

Key Verse:
2O LORD my God, I cried unto thee, and thou hast healed me.

Key Outline:
1. v. 1-3 The Lord healed me
2. v. 4-5 Sing thanks
3. v. 6-10 God is sovereign and David forgot that
4. v. 11-12 Thanksgiving for answers

Key Observation:
David was evidently very sick and was healed of God.

Memory Verse:
5 For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.

(ESV) 5 For his anger is but for a moment,
and his favor is for a lifetime.
Weeping may tarry for the night,
but joy comes with the morning.

Devotion:
Have you ever laid hands on someone and seen them healed? Have you ever been healed of the Lord? I sometimes wonder about we Californians. We seem to count so little in terms of the spiritual life around us- often it seems like first gear is the best we can do. William Carey long ago challenged us to expect great things from God and to attempt great things for God. Sometimes it seems to me that we are very very busy—doing neither.

I do not expect daily big miracles; perhaps I should. But Elijah had grand miracles only 8 times during his lifetime; Elisha, who prayed for a double portion of Elijah’s spirit, got 16. If you don’t believe me, count them. I do expect God to be in the little things of my daily walk with Him. He loves me, thinks about me, provides for me, and considers my needs. He even placed His own Spirit within my body to show me just how much He does concern himself with me. What a delightful inheritance I have! He even tells us somewhere in Psalms that precious in His sight is the death of His saints. He has planned for even those who have died, that they, and we, might live before Him for eternity. I do not see how He could show His love and grace towards us anymore. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life—and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever!

Psalm 29

1 Give unto the LORD, O ye mighty, give unto the LORD glory and strength.
2 Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.
3 The voice of the LORD is upon the waters: the God of glory thundereth: the LORD is upon many waters.
4 The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is full of majesty.
5 The voice of the LORD breaketh the cedars; yea, the LORD breaketh the cedars of Lebanon.
6 He maketh them also to skip like a calf; Lebanon and Sirion like a young unicorn.
7 The voice of the LORD divideth the flames of fire.
8 The voice of the LORD shaketh the wilderness; the LORD shaketh the wilderness of Kadesh.
9 The voice of the LORD maketh the hinds to calve, and discovereth the forests: and in his temple doth every one speak of his glory.
10 The LORD sitteth upon the flood; yea, the LORD sitteth King for ever.
11 The LORD will give strength unto his people; the LORD will bless his people with peace.

Key Verse:
2 Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.

Key Outline:
1. v. 1-2 Give God Glory
2. v. 3-9 Voice of the Lord speaks of His Glory
3. v. 10-11 God will bring His people Glory

Key Observation:
This psalm might have been written during a storm David was watching.

Memory Verse:
11 The LORD will give strength unto his people; the LORD will bless his people with peace.

Devotion:
This psalm is the third “nature” psalm. Psalm 8 is a night time nature psalm, Psalm 19 is a day time nature psalm, and this psalm is a storm nature psalm. The phrase “The voice of the LORD” appears seven times, the number of completion, or perfection, signifying God himself.

I love harsh storms—at least in California. They don’t get too harsh here. I love listening to the thunder, watching the lightening, and the sheets of rain pounding down. My dog does not seem to share my enthusiasm for storms. He usually cowers by my side until they are through. I can imagine David in this storm, watching it and ascribing the great power of the LORD to it. I think I share that enthusiasm with David.

But I think of Elijah again, a man of prayer as James tells us. Do you remember the storm that Elijah looked at? At the direction of the Lord, Elijah came out of his cave and looked at the mighty wind, but the Lord was not in the wind. There was a mighty earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. Where was the Lord? The Lord was in a gentle whisper, and when Elijah hears it, he covers his face.

I am so glad God is not a capricious being as the stories of Zeus were. Zeus was always losing his temper and exploding in fits of thunder and lightening. Our God has mercy towards us. If He were like unto Zeus, I am rather afraid mankind would have long ago been destroyed. He is tender-hearted towards us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. His gentle voice of the Holy Spirit will convict you of your sin and of the righteousness of Christ, if you will but just listen.

A day is coming—the metaphor of a great storm perfectly fits the Tribulation, a seven year period of terrible judgment, all sorts of storms venting upon mankind. But for now we can listen to the still small voice of the Holy Spirit, cover our heads, and know we are in the very presence of a merciful God. But I think I will still look for the majesty and power in the next storm. How they remind me of the awesome God I serve!

Psalm 28

1 Unto thee will I cry, O LORD my rock; be not silent to me: lest, if thou be silent to me, I become like them that go down into the pit.
2 Hear the voice of my supplications, when I cry unto thee, when I lift up my hands toward thy holy oracle.
3 Draw me not away with the wicked, and with the workers of iniquity, which speak peace to their neighbours, but mischief is in their hearts.
4 Give them according to their deeds, and according to the wickedness of their endeavours: give them after the work of their hands; render to them their desert.
5 Because they regard not the works of the LORD, nor the operation of his hands, he shall destroy them, and not build them up.
6 Blessed be the LORD, because he hath heard the voice of my supplications.
7 The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.
8 The LORD is their strength, and he is the saving strength of his anointed.
9 Save thy people, and bless thine inheritance: feed them also, and lift them up for ever

Key Verse:
6 Blessed be the LORD, because he hath heard the voice of my supplications.

Key Outline:
1. v. 1-5 Prayer to be heard
v. 6-8 Thanks for being heard

Key Observation:
The Lord hears His people.

Memory Verse:
(ESV) 1To you, O LORD, I call;
my rock, be not deaf to me,
lest, if you be silent to me,
I become like those who go down to the pit.

Devotion:
Verse 7 illustrates the grace of God; The LORD is my strength and my shield. . . and I am helped. David cries out to God and expects an answer. He realizes that God “overlooks” his sin, not knowing about Christ as yet, but David looks forward to being “lifted up for ever”. Again he is striving against the wicked; there are many commentators who feel the first person I is best looked at as impersonal, fitting anyone of the Israelites who might pray it.

Chafer says: “Grace is neither treating a person as he deserves, nor treating a person better than he deserves. It is treating a person graciously without the slightest reference to his deserts.” As a young man when I first gave my life to Christ I would often listen in wonder to people who had really terrible lifestyles before coming to Christ. I would think that God’s forgiveness, i.e. grace, must be so much more for those people than for me. I was wrong and Chafer here points out that it is not true; grace is grace and has nothing to do with my deserving it.

Later I came to realize my own sin nature, and though I was relatively young when coming to Christ (19), I came to very much identify with Paul who proclaimed himself the chief of sinners. I remember saying on more than one occasion, that if Paul was the chief of sinners then I was his first lieutenant. The point I am trying to make is that we need to see ourselves before God, in utter and deep need. But then we also need to see God’s grace for what it is: (Chafer) “Grace is infinite love expressing itself in infinite goodness.”

I, a sinner, am cleansed completely of my sin by Christ. Through Christ I have complete access to God: In Him and through faith in Him, we may approach God with freedom and confidence. The Bible says that God hears our prayers, and if we know that He has heard, we also know that he will answer. I marvel at David’s faith here. He is confident of God’s answer. We should also be confident when we come to God with boldness. He cares.

When I pray, I pray expecting God to answer. Seven times Elijah went back and prayed yet again for rain, coming in between prayers to look to see what answer God had given. Not seeing yet the answer, Elijah persisted, confident that God was going to answer his prayer. We need that kind of confidence before God. Let us come boldly before the throne of grace, knowing that God cares and loves each one of us. Has He not shown it in the price paid for our redemption? Could we have any higher or more grace than we do?

Faith, mighty faith the promise sees,
And looks to God alone;
Laughs at impossibilities,
And cries, It shall be done!
C. Wesley

Psalm 27

1 The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
2 When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.
3 Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.
4 One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.
5 For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.
6 And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD.
7 Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me.
8 When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek.
9 Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.
10 When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up.
11 Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.
12 Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty.
13 I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.
14 Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.

Key Verse:
14 Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.

Key Observation:
David knew about waiting for the Lord and his promises. He waited for years to become king, and was pursued by Saul in the interim. “He shall strengthen thine heart.”

Memory Verse:
1 The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

Devotion:
The Lord is my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear? When Elijah confronted the prophets of Baal he ran for his life and told the Lord, “I am the only one left.” Elijah had forgotten that the Lord and he always make a majority, no matter how big the enemy. Whom shall I fear? I walk with the Lord; as long as I do I shall fear nothing.
“Be not afraid.” commands the Lord to Joshua. The commandment is to be not afraid, to have courage. Like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego we should say, “If we are thrown in the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us. . . but even if he does not we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods.” Oh that we might find courage. And where shall we find it? It is in the same place, Oh Christian, that you found your salvation. God is able, and will be your present help in your time of trouble. Remember in that day that you and the Lord are a majority!

Psalm 26

1 Judge me, O LORD; for I have walked in mine integrity: I have trusted also in the LORD; therefore I shall not slide.
2 Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart.
3 For thy lovingkindness is before mine eyes: and I have walked in thy truth.
4 I have not sat with vain persons, neither will I go in with dissemblers.
5 I have hated the congregation of evil doers; and will not sit with the wicked.
6 I will wash mine hands in innocency: so will I compass thine altar, O LORD:
7 That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works.
8 LORD, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honour dwelleth.
9 Gather not my soul with sinners, nor my life with bloody men:
10 In whose hands is mischief, and their right hand is full of bribes.
11 But as for me, I will walk in mine integrity: redeem me, and be merciful unto me.
12 My foot standeth in an even place: in the congregations will I bless the LORD.

Key Verse:
9 Gather not my soul with sinners, nor my life with bloody men:

Key Outline:
1. v. 1 Topic: Walking and trusting in the Lord
v. 2-11 Ways David Walked
v. 12 The place of blessing

Key Observation:
Though not as poetical, this psalm is very similar to Psalm 1.

Memory Verse:
12 My foot standeth in an even place: in the congregations will I bless the LORD.

Devotion:
McGee, in his commentary on this psalm, tells a cute story of a boy named Willie.

“Willie, where are you?” The boy replied, I am in the pantry.” She asked what are you doing?” He said, “I am fighting temptation.” That was not the place for Willie to fight temptation!
The illustration McGee gives reminds us of our times when we are not in the right place to fight temptation. The psalm says: “I have hated the congregation of evil doers; and will not sit with the wicked.” In the last psalm I read of David confessing his sin: “Remember not the sins of my youth.” In this psalm David tells of his desire to remain pure, to follow his God “in the even places” and “to bless the Lord in his congregations”.

In the New Testament I learn that sanctification is a dual process. God separates us for all eternity on the basis of grace, but I am also supposed to sanctify or separate myself. David knew this, and told us of the importance of separating ourselves. D’Souza’s book, What’s So Great About Christianity, credits Christianity with being a major force in the American Revolution. One proof he offers is a quote from John Adams:

What do we mean by the American Revolution? The war? That was no part of the Revolution; it was only an effect and consequence of it. The Revolution was in the minds of the people. . .a change in their religious sentiments.

D’Souza goes on to comment about the lifestyle of his fellow Californians:

The distinguishing characteristic of these people is that they live as if God did not exist. God makes no difference in their lives. This is “practical atheism.” We all know people like this. Some of us hardly know anyone not like this.”

I think his words are especially appropriate for this psalm. As I read his words I thought about my fellow Californian’s lifestyles. Most of the people I know are similar to what D’Souza describes. I wonder what it will take to wake them up. Some of my neighbors profess Christianity, but their lifestyles do not show the separation David is talking about in this psalm. Separate yourselves unto your God! Who knows what grand things He may yet do through Christian influence. Even so, my Hope is in His Coming.

Psalm 25

1 Unto thee, O LORD, do I lift up my soul.
2 O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me.
3 Yea, let none that wait on thee be ashamed: let them be ashamed which transgress without cause.
4 Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths.
5 Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.
6 Remember, O LORD, thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindnesses; for they have been ever of old.
7 Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness' sake, O LORD.
8 Good and upright is the LORD: therefore will he teach sinners in the way.
9 The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.
10 All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.
11 For thy name's sake, O LORD, pardon mine iniquity; for it is great.
12 What man is he that feareth the LORD? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose.
13 His soul shall dwell at ease; and his seed shall inherit the earth.
14 The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant.
15 Mine eyes are ever toward the LORD; for he shall pluck my feet out of the net.
16 Turn thee unto me, and have mercy upon me; for I am desolate and afflicted.
17 The troubles of my heart are enlarged: O bring thou me out of my distresses.
18 Look upon mine affliction and my pain; and forgive all my sins.
19 Consider mine enemies; for they are many; and they hate me with cruel hatred.
20 O keep my soul, and deliver me: let me not be ashamed; for I put my trust in thee.
21 Let integrity and uprightness preserve me; for I wait on thee.
22 Redeem Israel, O God, out of all his troubles

Key Verse:
10 All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.

Key Outline:
1. v. 1-7 Remember and be merciful to me, a sinner
2. v. 8-22 Remember others and myself, but particularly Israel

Key Observation:
“Pardon my iniquity; for it is great” is the theme of this great psalm. It is an acrostic psalm in Hebrew, with successive letters of the alphabet.

Memory Verse:
5 Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.

Devotion:
McGee has divided the next fifteen psalms into a separate category. They have a personal devotion application for us when we are in trouble, but they are prophetic about the future Israel. “The time will come when that remanant of Israel will find themselves in a position where there is no one upon whom they can depend but God. And it is good for us to come to that place also.” That day is sooner than when I first believed in 1972. I believe that ere my lifespan is over, we will live to see Christ returning with his church and for the purpose of ruling the world through Israel. It is my deep fervent hope that I shall live to see that “Blessed Coming”.

These psalms are helpful for when we are in distress. Times when I hurt and am really needing God, I find help from these words, written in a time when David hurt and went to his God to find help. George Mueller, convicted in his heart to start what turned out to be his life’s work, prayed earnestly to God for all of his beginning needs to work with a house of orphans. This is the record of his answer: “To the Glory of the Lord, whose I am, and whom I serve, I would state again, that every shilling of this money, and all the articles of clothing and furniture, . . . have been given to me, without one single individual having been asked by me for anything.”

David’s cry is like that of Mueller, and is answered by our loving God. “Unto thee do I lift up my soul. I trust in thee.” I need to be more like these men of faith, who understood and followed a God they knew loved him. Oh how I need to know my deep need for fellowship with a God who delights in those who seek Him. Is it not said, “Wise men still seek Him?”

Psalm 24

1 The earth is the LORD's, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.
2 For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods.
3 Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place?
4 He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.
5 He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.
6 This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah.
7 Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.
8 Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle.
9 Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.
10 Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah.

Key Verse:
1 The earth is the LORD's, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.

Key Outline:
1. v. 1 The Lord made is the Creator.
2. v. 2-6 Only the righteous will see the Lord in his kingdom.
3. v. 7-10 The Strong and Mighty Lord comes to enter his kingdom.

Key Observation:
This psalm depicts Christ as the Chief Shepherd.
Memory Verse:
10 Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah

Devotion:
As shocking as it may seem, we do not “own” property. The title deed belongs to the Lord, and one day soon He will be coming to take possession. That is why it is so easy for Christians to see that Israel belongs to the Jews. God has given it. End of story. It does not matter who claims it, or who wants it for their possession. It is God’s possession to do with as He pleases. “The earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof.”

What are we, as mortals to do with property? We live but a few fleeting instants and are gone before we get started. But the Lord is the same yesterday, today, and forever more. By faith the Lord has made us righteous through Christ, and one day soon we will reign with Him in Jerusalem.

The gates are told to open up to allow the Chief Shepherd to return. He will reign, the Bible says, with a rod of iron. I hope that you have made your heart ready for His return. There is only one thing that you can do. “What must we do that we might work the works of God.” The reply after 2,000 years is still true, in the words of our Shepherd and Savior, “This is the work of God, that you believe on Him whom He hath sent.”

Psalm 23

1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

Key Verse:
1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

Key Outline:
All the ways the Lord is my Shepherd.

Key Observation:
This is the second of three shepherd psalms. In each psalm Christ is presented as some sort of shepherd. In psalm 22, he is the Good Shepherd; in Psalm 23, he is the Great Shepherd; in Psalm 24, he is the Chief Shepherd.

Memory Verse:
Like Psalm 1, this Psalm should be memorized in its entirety. But if you have to choose one:
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

Devotion:
J. Vernon McGee really has great things to say about Psalm 22, 23, and 24:
"To put it succinctly, in Psalm 22, we see the cross, in Psalm 23 the crook (the Shepherd’s crook), and in Psalm 24 the crown (the King’s crown). In Psalm 22 Christ is the Savior, in Psalm 23, He is the Satisfier; in Psalm 24 He is the Sovereign. In Psalm 22 He is the foundation; in Psalm 23 He is the manifestation; in Psalm 24 He is the expectation. In Psalm 22 He dies; in Psalm 23 He is living; in Psalm 24 He is coming. Psalm 22 speaks of the past; Psalm 23 speaks of the present; and Psalm 24 speaks of the future. In Psalm 22 He gives His life for the sheep; in Psalm 23 He gives His love to the sheep; in Psalm 24 He gives us light when He shall appear."

I have made a table so that the beauty of the Shepherd Psalms may be more apparent.

In Psalm 23 I know that one reason the Great Shepherd carries the crook is to catch up an individual sheep—perhaps one that has fallen into a hole. But another reason the Great Shepherd has a crook is to discipline His sheep. Suppose there is a wayward sheep that keeps straying from the flock. The patient shepherd will go after the sheep several times, but then in exasperation, will pick the sheep up, break and set his leg with a tap from the crook, and carry the sheep around with him while the leg is healing. By the time that leg heals the sheep is so bonded that he will never again leave the side of his shepherd.

What a glorious picture that is of the way that God disciplines me! Sometimes I need the broken leg because I am not listening. How good it is to know that He will deal with me, remonstrating me in love that I may learn to love The Great Shepherd.

Psalm 22

1 My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?
2 O my God, I cry in the day time, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent.
3 But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.
4 Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them.
5 They cried unto thee, and were delivered: they trusted in thee, and were not confounded.
6 But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.
7 All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,
8 He trusted on the LORD that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.
9 But thou art he that took me out of the womb: thou didst make me hope when I was upon my mother's breasts.
10 I was cast upon thee from the womb: thou art my God from my mother's belly.
11 Be not far from me; for trouble is near; for there is none to help.
12 Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round.
13 They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion.
14 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels.
15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death.
16 For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.
17 I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me.
18 They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.
19 But be not thou far from me, O LORD: O my strength, haste thee to help me.
20 Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling from the power of the dog.
21 Save me from the lion's mouth: for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns.
22 I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.
23 Ye that fear the LORD, praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all ye the seed of Israel.
24 For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; neither hath he hid his face from him; but when he cried unto him, he heard.
25 My praise shall be of thee in the great congregation: I will pay my vows before them that fear him.
26 The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the LORD that seek him: your heart shall live for ever.
27 All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee.
28 For the kingdom is the LORD's: and he is the governor among the nations.
29 All they that be fat upon earth shall eat and worship: all they that go down to the dust shall bow before him: and none can keep alive his own soul.
30 A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation.
31 They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this.

Key Verse:
1 My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?

Key Outline:
The crucifixion psalm
Christ is pictured on the cross

Key Observation:
Many commentators feel that all seven cries from the cross are in this psalm.

Memory Verse:
1 My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?

Devotion:
This psalm drips with the blood of our savior on the cross. McGee says “It has been the belief of many scholars that actually the Lord Jesus, while on the cross, quoted the entire twenty-second psalm. I concur in this, because the seven last sayings that are given in the Gospels either appear in this psalm or the psychological background for them is here.”

My my God, why hast thou forsaken me? He forsook Jesus because my sins were there, nailing Him to the cross. Figuratively that is true, but literally what happened was God the Father, for the first time in all eternity, turned His back on God the Son. The sins of the world were poured out upon Him there, and Christ cries, “but thou hearest not”. I know of nothing at all that should be more compelling for me to fall on my knees afresh and give thanks to God for the price that Jesus endured on the cross.

Here are the cries of the cross in the best order I could study (they seemed to hold up with a check afterwards online). See how many you can find in the psalm. They are not all there; as McGee says sometimes just the psychological background is apparent.
1. Father forgive them for they do not know what they are doing. (In Luke this appears just before the thief conversation, at about the 6th hour)
2. I tell you the truth, today you shall be with me in paradise. (at the 6th hour)
3. Dear woman, here is your son. Here is your mother.
4. (9th hour) My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
5. (9th hour) I thirst (Not for water, but for the HS who had just left him?)
6. (9th hour) Father, into thy hands I commit my spirit.
7. (9th hour) It is finished.

Psalm 21

1 The king shall joy in thy strength, O LORD; and in thy salvation how greatly shall he rejoice!
2 Thou hast given him his heart's desire, and hast not withholden the request of his lips. Selah.
3 For thou preventest him with the blessings of goodness: thou settest a crown of pure gold on his head.
4 He asked life of thee, and thou gavest it him, even length of days for ever and ever.
5 His glory is great in thy salvation: honour and majesty hast thou laid upon him.
6 For thou hast made him most blessed for ever: thou hast made him exceeding glad with thy countenance.
7 For the king trusteth in the LORD, and through the mercy of the most High he shall not be moved.
8 Thine hand shall find out all thine enemies: thy right hand shall find out those that hate thee.
9 Thou shalt make them as a fiery oven in the time of thine anger: the LORD shall swallow them up in his wrath, and the fire shall devour them.
10 Their fruit shalt thou destroy from the earth, and their seed from among the children of men.
11 For they intended evil against thee: they imagined a mischievous device, which they are not able to perform.
12 Therefore shalt thou make them turn their back, when thou shalt make ready thine arrows upon thy strings against the face of them.
13 Be thou exalted, LORD, in thine own strength: so will we sing and praise thy power.

Key Verse:
4 He asked life of thee, and thou gavest it him, even length of days for ever and ever.

Key Outline:
1. v.1-7 The attributes of Christ
2. v. 8-13 The enemies of Christ

Key Observation:
This is a psalm of Christ and a psalm of coming judgment.

Memory Verse:
13 Be thou exalted, LORD, in thine own strength: so will we sing and praise thy power.


Devotion:

In this psalm I am reminded of my Savior praying to the Father in John 17, the real Lord’s Prayer. “Thou hast given him his heart's desire, and hast not withholden the request of his lips. Selah.” Christ knew, I know from John 17, knew that he had to go to the cross.

He prayed ardently and effectively for us, and many times in many ages the answers of the Father are seen in His children. He asked specifically that his Father would “protect them by the power of his name” and we Christians are sealed with the Holy Spirit and marked with His very name upon us. Though we may lose in this life to persecution or trials or death, yet we look forward to life renewed with Christ, a resurrection in which we shall never lose. It is guaranteed by his death on the cross. The grace of God paid all of our debt, forever. “He asked life of thee, and thou gavest it him, even length of days for ever and ever.”

Three times our Lord and Savior took this prayer to the Father: “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” What was He asking here? I do not believe He was asking to escape the cross. Rather I think there was something more painful than I can imagine which He was trying to escape. From eternity past the Son had been with the Father, but now, because of the awful dreadful killing power of sin, the Son was to be separated from the Father. I think it was that separation that Jesus was praying to be delivered from, yet even in His prayer He carefully said “not as I will, but as you will”. Oh, that should teach me how to pray!

Notice the psalm and the answer of God. “His glory is great in thy salvation: honour and majesty hast thou laid upon him. For thou hast made him most blessed for ever”. Christ prayed what may be termed a submissive prayer, and came into the glory which had been prepared beforehand for Him. Oh, that I might learn to submit to my Father! E.M. Bounds reminds us of submissive prayer: “The prayer of submission is without a definite word of promise, so to speak, but takes hold of God with a lowly and contrite spirit, and asks and pleads with Him, for that which the soul desires. . . . Elijah showed himself to Ahab; but the answer to his prayer did not come, until he had pressed his fiery prayer upon the Lord seven times.” There are times when we need to present our request over and over to God, wrestling until we find the answer from God. When we find that answer, we need to submit to the will of our Father, whatever it may be.

In 1972 I became a believer. Shortly after that God began to show me a whole spiritual side to life of which I had been woefully ignorant. I became aware of the plight of my own family; most of them were without Christ, without redemption. I started to bring to prayer the salvation of my father and brothers. Several times I brought this need of mine to God; I watched expectantly to see His answer. Once when praying such an assurance fell upon me that I began thanking God for the salvation of each member of my family. I remember feeling some doubt about my own earthly father, well-known for his hard headedness, and I expressed that to God freely. Receiving assurance of His answers, from that time on I began thanking Him for the salvation of each member of my family. My doubts fled for I knew God had heard my prayer. I believed God from that time!

For some of my brothers, their coming was but a few years off. But for my father, the answer was long in coming, and it was not until 2007, thirty five years after God answered my prayer, that I was able to see him receive Christ. Sometimes by faith, we just see the little cloud of our answer like Elijah, and like Elijah we have to go back and wait for the Master, waiting by faith, knowing that our God is an awesome God!

The psalm finishes in judgment, fitting in light of our Savior’s payment for sin. God did not allow Him to stay dead, raising Him to a station that is above every name. Walvoord, in his commentary on Revelation, says: “It is in anticipation of this ultimate triumph that God the Father holds the nations of the world in derision in their rebellion against the Lord’s Annointed (Ps. 2:1-4).” This one remedy for sin is given to men. Should they refuse this remedy they will face the derision and just judgment of our God. My fellow believers remember this coming judgment, for it is coming soon now. Do not let a day pass where you do not strive in prayer for those around you who are lost. D.L Moody, evangelist, has this story told about him. Every day he wanted to talk to at least one person about Christ. Finding himself caught in an extraordinarily busy schedule one day, he came to his room late at night and prepared for bed. Lying down he realized that he had not fulfilled his aim, that the entire day had passed and he had not found one person to talk to about Jesus. Putting his clothes back on, he went back into the street, found a poor soul, and led him to the Lord. Fellow Christians, I know you are not the evangelist that Moody was, but you are created anew in your Master’s image. Let not the sun go down today without at least praying through for someone you know, and perhaps sharing how you yourself were changed by finding Christ.

Psalm 20

1 The LORD hear thee in the day of trouble; the name of the God of Jacob defend thee;
2 Send thee help from the sanctuary, and strengthen thee out of Zion;
3 Remember all thy offerings, and accept thy burnt sacrifice; Selah.
4 Grant thee according to thine own heart, and fulfil all thy counsel.
5 We will rejoice in thy salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners: the LORD fulfil all thy petitions.
6 Now know I that the LORD saveth his anointed; he will hear him from his holy heaven with the saving strength of his right hand.
7 Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.
8 They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright.
9 Save, LORD: let the king hear us when we call.

Key Verse:
5 We will rejoice in thy salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners: the LORD fulfil all thy petitions.

Key Outline:
1. v. 1-4 Prayer for “thee”
2. v. 5-9 Exaltation to God for answer

Key Observation:
God answers prayer.

Memory Verse:
7 Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.

Devotion:
Matthew Henry says this about the psalm: “In this, David may well be looked upon as a type of Christ, to whose kingdom and its interests among men the church was, in every age, a hearty well-wisher.” McGee, as well as Matthew Henry, feel that this is another messianic psalm—that is a psalm that speaks of Christ. I wonder if verse one could refer to Christ on the cross.

McGee further says: “Notice that he is not referring to our offerings, but to Christ’s offerings.” It is “thy” offerings and “thy” burnt sacrifice. Isn’t it wonderful that I can call upon God in my Day of Trouble, and know that He will hear me? I love the verse, quoted often by those I have prayed with, “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.” I think of Armageddon, and with one word from the mouth of my Lord, He stops it all. One word. We serve an awesome God. Oh, that we might pursue Him for that one word in our time of need!

Psalm 19

1 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.
2 Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.
3 There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.
4 Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun,
5 Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race.
6 His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.
7 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
8 The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.
9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.
10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
11 Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.
12 Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults.
13 Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.
14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer

Key Verse:
1 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.

Key Outline:
1. v.1-6 The Glory of God in Creation
v.7-14 The Glory of God in Worship

Key Observation:
This is a creation psalm, like unto Psalm 8.

Memory Verse:
14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer

Devotional:
McGee compares two psalms, saying: “Psalm 8 was a creation psalm, and in it we saw the moon and the stars. It was a night psalm. Psalm 19 is called a day psalm because it is the sun that is brought before us.” In Romans, Paul teaches that the very creation of God should teach mankind about the Creator. Psalm 19 is a psalm that reminds us of how much we should see God even in the creation about us. But the law of the Lord is part of the perfection of God, part of what He has set in his creation. It also points the way to the Lord.

Because of Romans, I know that neither Creation nor the Law are adequate tutors to bring a person to salvation. They merely act as pointers. Romans tells us that the righteous shall live by faith. Soon this dispensation of grace is coming to a close, and a short terrible time of judgment will come upon the earth. During that dispensation, the just shall live by faith also, just as men lived by faith before Moses and the Law came to be.

How wonderful this psalm is for me to meditate on. Every day I need to walk closely with my Lord, to meditate on his precepts, and to know Him. I notice that David is again used in a messianic prophecy. Though he knew not Jesus, still he looked for his Redeemer. Here I am, almost 2,500 years later, still looking for my Redeemer. Even so, come Lord Jesus.