Month: July 2024

Here we have another lament from David as he is in great anguish over the betrayal of a close friend. That close friend could have been his son, Absalom, or his counselor, Ahithophel (2 Samuel 15:1-14, 16:15-23). These two men conspired to overthrow and humiliate King David.

Have you ever had a friend betray you? While we might expect betrayal from an enemy, when our closest friends turn on us, it often hurts the worst. Sadly, this is a reality of our fallen world. People we think of as a brother or sister can betray or attack us in some way. But isn’t it great that we have a God who is never-changing? Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). Our God is steadfast in His love and faithfulness (Psalm 86:15). In this psalm, David rightly calls on the Lord to save him because he knows who God is (v. 16-19).

We can put our faith and hope in God because He is constant. While people will let us down, God’s love and the presence of the Holy Spirit are forever. 

Verse 22 is one that we often hear when talking about anxiety. Reading it in its full context offers depth into its meaning. David writes while living through an incredibly hard season of intimate betrayal, even attack. Yet, he still proclaims with confidence that God will sustain him and “never let the righteous be shaken” (v. 22). Even in the darkest valley, David trusts in God, knowing that He will bring justice in due time.

Trusting in God can be difficult when it seems like our world is caving in around us, but we can take heart in knowing that despite “anguish,” “terrors of death,” “fear and trembling,” and even “horror,” that “the LORD saves” (v. 4, 5, 16). God hears our voice (v. 17). Our God is not far off in a distant place when we hurt. Rather, He is near to the broken-hearted (Psalm 34:18). Like David, we can trust Him. 

We most often hear Psalm 23 at funerals, but this Psalm offers life-giving words for us, the living. Perhaps we miss the beautiful peace and comfort offered in these verses because we struggle to relate to the comparison: a shepherd and sheep. 

In verse 1, David proclaims, “The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.” So what makes a good shepherd? Modern Farmer, an online source for food producers and consumers, shares: “Shepherds, like the sheep themselves, learn quickly that the path to success depends on tending to the flock but caring for the individual.” A good shepherd guides and provides for the group as a whole and never loses sight of the specific needs of each individual, just as our God guides and provides for humanity and remains faithful to the specific needs of each of us.

Verse 4 describes, “Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” The rod and staff were tools of a shepherd to protect and correct sheep. A rod is a wooden club used to defend the sheep against attacks and to prod the sheep to move in the right direction. The staff, also known as a crook, is a long stick with a curved end used to redirect individual sheep or pull them from harm’s way. A good shepherd uses these tools to protect the herd as a whole and individuals that stray. God uses His tools–His Word, His Spirit, His children, His creation–to protect and correct us. Let’s be honest: being protected or corrected may not seem comfortable in the moment! We may feel restricted, frustrated, or angry because we want to do what we want to do. But God knows more than we do, and we can trust in that, just like David. 

David sings of God’s glorious guidance and perfect provision through Psalm 23. Let us listen to His voice and follow His guidance, so we can rest in the peace of His protection and settle in the comfort of His correction.

We are made for life with God. Without God’s presence in our lives, we have an insatiable desire in our hearts for more. It might be more money, more pleasure, or more comfort; whatever it is, we think it will satisfy but it never does. We’ll always need more apart from God because our needs aren’t met apart from Him. 

But in this psalm we get to see what life lived with God looks like. Since David was a king, he could get whatever he wanted, whenever he wanted it. All he had to do was snap his fingers and he would be given anything he desired. But in this moment, as he surveyed all he had, he realized that he truly didn’t want anything other than God. Indeed apart from God, he had no good thing (v. 2). 

David isn’t the only one who felt this way. In John 6 after a hard teaching, many of Jesus’ disciples turned back and stopped following Him. Jesus then turned to His closest friends and asked if they were going to leave Him too. Peter replied to Jesus, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” (John 6:68). Peter couldn’t fathom leaving Jesus for anything else because in Jesus was life itself. Apart from Jesus, Peter had no good thing. 

This is the story of following God. The more you live with Him, the more you realize He is all you need. You don’t need all that this world is trying to throw at you. All of those things are just temporary pleasures– they won’t ever satisfy. The deepest joys and the greatest comforts will only be found in God.  Your heart will only find rest when you give it to the One it was made for. 

Protection provides peace. This is a simple truth that has a profound impact on our lives. Whenever we don’t feel protected, we’ll be prone to anxious thoughts and sleepless nights. We’ve all had moments where we feel a lack of protection when our finances aren’t steady, our health is disrupted, or our standing at our job is in question. Whenever these things are going awry, it’s hard to have peace because we don’t feel protected. In other words, our protection comes from our circumstances. 

In Psalm 11, the first of what are referred to as “psalms of trust” or “imprecatory psalms”, we read about one of these situations where it seems like David’s protection has been removed. His enemies are after him and have him in their sights. David should be panicked. David should be on the run. David should be frustrated with God. But he isn’t.

In the midst of his dangerous circumstances, David is still at peace. He finds rest in the presence of his enemies because he knows that, “the LORD is righteous, he loves justice, the upright will see his face” (v. 7). Even though David’s situation seems out of control, his demeanor remains steady. He’s at peace because he believes the eyes of the Lord are on him and the power of God is with him.

Since David doesn’t find his protection from anything in the world, the world can’t take it away. He knows that his only true security can be found in the King who has never met an enemy too powerful. Therefore, although David’s life is at risk, he’s still at rest. Whenever we face chaos in our lives we can live with the same sort of confidence. We’re protected by the God of angel armies, and because of that we can live at peace.

Psalm 150 provides a short, but fitting end to the collection of Psalms. The last sentence of the last Psalm encourages us to “Praise the Lord.” In fact, the reader is encouraged to “praise” 13 times in these six verses. The Psalmist isn’t shy or unclear about the “call to action” that comes from Psalm 150. In this Psalm, we learn where to praise God, why to praise God, how to praise God, and who should praise God.

In verse 1 the Psalmist tells us where to praise God: Both in His sanctuary and in his mighty heavens. In other words, there’s not a place in the universe where we shouldn’t praise Him! We can praise Him in the physical location of His sanctuary (tabernacle, temple) and we can praise Him in the heavens. Everything in the heavens and earth is his (1 Chronicles 29:11)—it’s appropriate to praise God anywhere and everywhere.

Verse 2 tells us why we can praise God: for both His acts of power and for His surpassing greatness. We worship God for both who He is (His greatness) and what He’s done (His acts of power). We praise Him for His attributes and for His work. We will never run out of reasons to praise Him.

As far as how we praise God, the Psalmist lists out all the instruments in the praise band—trumpet, harp, cymbals, and the timbrel (if you’re wondering, a timbrel is like a tambourine). We can make a joyful noise to the Lord (Psalm 100), and praise Him both with instruments and with our voices.

And who should praise God? Anyone and everyone who has breath in their lungs should praise the Lord. The psalmist makes it very clear that if you have breath, then you are to praise Him. If you’re breathing, then your heart is pumping, and you can praise Him. May we be people who praise God all the days He lets our hearts beat and our bodies produce breath. Praise the Lord!

There are several unique themes throughout Psalm 149. In the first few verses, the main theme is the praise of God’s people. There is praise and singing to the Lord. God loves to receive our rejoicing through song. The next couple of verses share the pleasure of true praise. God is first described as our Maker and then our King. As we worship God, whether at church or in our own time with the Lord, we can remember the great power and love He has for us, despite our sins. As we come before the Lord in humility and praise, He will make us all beautiful with salvation. 

The psalm also highlights the power of God’s people. For instance, when it says, “Let the godly exult in glory; let them sing for joy on their beds,” it’s referring to how the saints are so happy in God’s glory that waking hours are not enough to express their praise, so they must continue it on their beds. 

Psalm 149 describes God’s people as ready for battle and equipped with mighty weapons. The Lord will grant victory to His people and fight for us, but as God’s people, we should also prepare to excel in both praise and the preaching of God’s Word. The last few verses speak to the victory of God’s people. Through the power of praise and the Word of God, we will see the work of God in the nations. God will use all types of people to set right the wrongs of the world. 

Throughout this chapter, we see the glory of God and the continuous praises of His people. God finds joy in this praise and adorns those who act in humility. God will also provide us with a two-edged sword to fight the wickedness in the world, and we will find victory through our praise to God and His Word. May these glimpses of God’s heart make us draw closer to Him. After reading this passage, find some quiet time to praise God for everything He has done in your life. Pick up your own two-edged sword and fight the wickedness in the world.

Psalm 148 is commonly referred to as a psalm of universal praise. These verses are a call for everything on the earth and in the heavens to praise the name of the Lord. Verse 5 gives us insight into why God deserves our praise, “[f]or he commanded and they were created.” God is Creator of everything on Earth, as well as in the heavens, and that is praiseworthy.

In only 14 verses, the psalmist covers all aspects of the earthly and the heavenly realms.  Starting with the angels in the heavens, we are reminded in verses 1 and 2 that nothing is so high that it should not praise the Lord. Even the sun, moon, and stars are praising their Creator (verse 5). From the highest mountain to the depths of the ocean, all of creation owes its existence to the Lord.  Verse 8 tells us that “fire and hail, snow and mist, stormy wind [fulfill] his word!” It is awe-inspiring to think that even the weather is sovereignly under God’s control and brings glory to His name!

Have you ever stopped to consider that a fruit tree bearing fruit or a cedar tree that produces durable, strong wood has only done so because God personally created those trees and commanded them to do so? Verse 10 tells us that both the wild and tame beasts of the earth, as well as living creatures that crawl along the ground or fly up in the air are workmanship of the Creator and bring praise and honor to him. As you move on to verse 11, we are reminded that no living creature is exempt from the obligation to bring praise to God. It does not matter if you are a king or a ruler, a man or a woman, old or young, we should all unite in praising the Lord!

It’s important to pay attention to the fact that this Psalm begins and ends with the phrase “Praise the Lord!” If you struggle with how to talk to God, beginning and ending with praise is a great place to start. Begin today by praising the Lord for the beautiful morning sky or cool breeze. At the end of the day, praise Him for the clear light of the moon or the still sounds of the night. His glory exceeds all others and the more you establish a habit of praise, the closer you will be drawn to Him.

Today’s Psalm starts by praising God and declaring that it is “good” to sing praises to Him. Verse 1 seems a bit formal upon first reading, and the rest of the chapter can feel like reading a grocery list, but a deeper dive into the translation reveals the soul-touching, life-changing revelation that comes from deeply, truly recognizing and engaging in the practice of praise. 

The verse begins with “How good it is to sing praises to our God…” The word good sounds a bit lackluster as it is commonly used today, but good meant something completely different to the Psalmist. The Hebrew word used here is towb. It is the same word used in the creation story of Genesis when the Bible states, “and He saw that it was good.” Good is the declaration of God when He spoke the universe into being! Good is not dull or boring! Good means excellent, magnificent, complete, valuable. This is the benefit and beauty of praising God! 

The verse ends with “…how pleasant and fitting to praise him!” Upon first reading, it may remind us of an etiquette lesson with instructions on how using the appropriate fork or proper dinner topics are “pleasant and fitting.” Again, the depth of the meaning seems to be lost in translation, so let’s dive in! The Hebrew words used here are naiym and nawah, meaning lovely or delightful and becoming or attractive. What we find revealed in the translation is that praising God changes us; it makes us better. Praising God transforms us into lovely and becoming people.

The chapter proceeds to list examples of God’s provision throughout Israel’s history, proclaiming them as the present perfection of His purpose for His people. The writer realizes that God’s work in the past remains God’s work in the present and prepares us for God’s work in the future. He wants us to remember what He has done to grow our faith and that He will do it again. Sometimes, we may approach praising God as something we “have” to do or just church-speak for singing, but God designed the action of praising Him so we recognize His magnificent power and His eternal provision. We are better people for His good and for His glory when we praise Him!

Reading through this psalm, there were numerous little details that stood out, not least of which were the callbacks to other Old Testament stories throughout Jewish history. To show the greatness of God, the psalmist writes of the defeat over Pharaoh of Egypt, Sihon, king of the Amorites, and Og of Bashan. While there were many other examples the psalmist could have chosen, these make the point loud and clear: God is worthy to be praised! 

Following these remembrances of Israel’s past, and of God’s faithfulness, the psalmist makes a move to contrast idols with this Mighty God, worthy of praise. In verses 15-18 we learn a lot about these idols. We learn they are made by human hands, using parts of creation that God gave us (silver and gold). We learn that they have the features of humanity, but none of the life. They cannot see, hear, or speak, even though they have been “made in the image” of those who can. This, whether inadvertent or intentional, calls back to Genesis 1, where God made humans in His image. Looking at this story alongside this psalm, we can see how the two creations absolutely do not compare. 

When God created humanity, He gave us the ability to enjoy Him and His creation. We can see the beauty of a sunrise, we can hear the birds chirping, and we can sing His praises with our voice. These are only some of the ways we can enjoy Him. The greatest difference between God’s creation of  humans and humans’ creation of  idols is this: “Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being” (Gen. 2:7). 

God gave His creation, humans, the breath of life, but as we read in Psalm 135:17, “…nor is there breath in their mouths.” The idols we create have no breath! If they can’t even compare to humans, how can they come close to comparing to God? Therefore, we are reminded to do as the psalm commands from beginning to end: “Praise the Lord,” serve Him, love Him, and see how He loves His creation far more than any man-made idol ever could. 

Yes, that’s the whole chapter. Two verses. Psalm 117 is the shortest chapter in the Bible, but despite it’s length, we can still learn a lot from it this morning. So go read it again (it shouldn’t take too long), or as many times as it takes to let the words sink in, and then let’s dive in together. 

Our reading today begins with a simple command to all the nations: Praise the Lord. This command is repeated in the next line, and the last line of the chapter. When the Bible repeats something, it means we should be paying attention. It’s the author’s way of telling you something in a way that you can’t miss or ignore. It’s a simple command, but despite how clearly the Bible commands us to do this, many of us fail to do so. As we see this command, we should think about how often we praise the Lord and how we can do so more consistently. 

For some of us though, we might not see the point. “Why should I praise God? What has He done for me recently that gives me a reason to praise Him? What makes Him worthy of my time and praise?” We only need to look into the second verse to find reasons–His unfailing love is powerful, and His faithfulness endures forever. His love doesn’t fail. Ever. And His faithfulness endures. Forever. He doesn’t love us until we mess up or fall short. He doesn’t stop being faithful even when we turn away from Him. 

So now we know that we should praise God, and we know why. But what exactly does that mean? This is what GotQuestions.org says in response to the question “What does it mean to praise the Lord?”: 

Whom do we praise? The Lord alone (Psalm 148:13). How do we praise Him? With singing (Psalm 149:1), with dancing (verse 2), with musical instruments (Psalm 150:3), with our words (Psalm 35:28), with our actions (Colossians 3:17), with our uprightness (Psalm 119:7), and with all our hearts (Psalm 86:12). 

Today’s reading was shorter than normal, but that doesn’t mean we spend less time with God. With this extra time, challenge yourself to really go through the questions, and write down your answers somewhere. Use the rest of your time praising the Lord, because His love never fails.