Author: Hannah Thacher

Today we read another lament of David in Psalm 38. This was a lament written as a memorial for God to remember His people (Israel) and for Him to act on their behalf. It is also a penitential psalm where David lays his sin before God, realizing that the trouble he is in is a result of his sin. While it is not always the case that trouble and suffering are a direct result of sin (see the book of Job), that is the case in this psalm. 

We have all made decisions that we later regretted, whether it is waking up with the weight of regret from how we spent the previous night to seeing flashing lights approaching from out of the darkness. Sooner or later our sin will be found out and that is exactly what David is experiencing here in this psalm. In verse four he expresses that “My guilt has overwhelmed me like a burden too heavy to bear,” but Jesus promises to give rest to the weary and burdened– His yoke is easy and His burden is light (Matthew 11:28-30). When we come to Jesus there is rest for our souls. We have a salvation rest, knowing our eternity is secure (Ephesians 4:30). We also have a spiritual rest when we confess our sin (1 John 1:9). 

Therefore we can confess with confidence, as David does, that God alone is our hope and Savior. That is an astounding mark of Christianity, that even when everything is crumbling around us, we can say with great confidence that God alone is our hope. He has a perfect resume. Even when it does not feel like God is at work or near, we can bring our frustrations to Him. We know that God will not turn away a truly repentant person, and that He honors honest prayers. What an encouragement that reading through the Psalms continues to show us! The Psalmist brings forth everything going on in their life, the good and the bad. We do not need these polished, stained glass, robotic prayers. We can take heart in knowing that God sees and He knows. 

In today’s reading we see the clear and repeated theme of how we should respond when the bad guys win. We are reminded that it is God that created the universe and it is God who has the final word in every situation. David, in his older years, writes to us after years of witnessing the bad guy come out on top. We, of course, see this all too often in our own lives. So how do we keep the faith and be content in our current circumstances? Psalm 37 describes that a life of doing good reaps abundant peace while a life of evil leads to destruction.

Verses 1-11 tell us to submit to God, to do good, and then we will inherit the land. Verses 12-26 tell us to be content in God and let Him be the judge. Verses 27-40 tell us to act justly even when others wrong us. David writes with such conviction because he is writing from first hand experience. King Saul tried to kill David time and time again. David had the opportunity to kill Saul many times, yet spared his life only to watch Saul return to his comfortable palace. David, on the other hand, went back to a cold, dark cave. David abided in God, and in return, God cultivated in him a right perspective of justice. This perspective allowed David to be content in every circumstance, because he knew God would be the ultimate judge.

Like David, when we see evildoers prosper, we must submit to God, fully trusting that He will judge righteously. Psalm 37 repeatedly tells us that the righteous will “inherit the land” (verses 9, 11, 22, 29, and 34). David is saying that God will bless those who stand firm in His promises and that the righteous will be given what they need as long as they trust in the Lord. These promises are what we can cling to when hope seems lost, when we have been wronged, and when justice feels distant.

It would be easy to fall into the mindset of those who are evil, especially when outwardly they find success. Let us remember, though, that at the end of the day, we serve a God who has the final word. Even if the bad guys win every time here on earth, God has the ultimate victory and those who follow Him will reap the ultimate reward of being with Him forever.

The Lord is the source of life. Psalm 36 is written with a style reminiscent of wisdom literature, while also containing a prayer for help. Much like Psalm 1, David contrasts the corrupting way of the wicked and the faithful love of the Lord. The conclusion is that without the Lord’s unfailing love, the righteous would cease to exist. Therefore, David would certainly agree with Paul that in order to attain salvation, one must receive righteousness from God. He says, “This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe” (Romans 3:22). 

The psalmist begins by reflecting on the way of the wicked. Essentially, David is learning from the mistakes of those around him or potentially the mistakes he made himself. So, David begins listing what has been learned. In wisdom literature, “the fear of the Lord” is the beginning point of wisdom (Proverbs 1:7). Therefore, the Psalmist clarifies that the wicked person’s misdirected life stems from their lack of fear of God. The character of the wicked person is displayed in their habits (v. 2), words (v. 3), and in their plans/attractions (v. 4). While the wicked person dreams of new ways to commit themselves to evil, the righteous person meditates on God’s truths both day and night (Psalm 1:2). 

The common approach in wisdom literature is to parallel a description of the wicked with the description of the righteous. However, David follows the wicked with a hymn praising the goodness and unfailing love of the Lord. God’s love is higher than the heavens. His righteousness is as huge and immoveable as the mighty mountains. His justice is as deep as the sea. David also writes that God’s love is priceless and does not discriminate—all are welcomed to find refuge under God’s wings. Finally, wisdom literature declares that “the teaching of the wise is a fountain of life” (Proverbs 13:4). But here the psalmist takes it further, describing God as the source or fountain of life and of light. This, perhaps, is why David did not contrast the behaviors of the wicked and righteous. The point is that the only way in which we live righteously is by drinking the righteousness we receive from the Lord. 

Psalm 35 is easily recognized as a cry for justice by David. David was being attacked by the very ones for whom he had mourned, by those he had loved, and by those for whom he had prayed. He feels betrayed and mocked and recognizes that he needs the Lord to come to his defense. 

Importantly, verses 7 and 19 tell us that David had done nothing to deserve the treatment he was receiving. His enemies’ aggression was “without cause.” That’s why in verse 8 he asks God to let destruction fall on them. Make no mistake, David wanted absolute and complete destruction. Verse 5 and 6 tell us that David even calls upon the angel of the Lord to chase and pursue his enemies. This was the same angel that destroyed 185,000 Assyrians in one night (2 Kings 19:35), so David is asking that the angel of the Lord persecute his enemies. In fact, the Hebrew word for “destruction” that is used twice in verse 8 is shoah. Shoah is the word modern day Jews use to describe the tragedy of the Holocaust. What David is asking for is comparable to what we would understand to have happened during World War II at the hand of Hitler. 

While that might feel uncomfortable and overly vindictive for someone who is a man after God’s own heart, we have to put ourselves in his shoes. David was experiencing heartfelt sorrow because the people he had loved and served were seeking his disgrace, his shame, and his ruin. Not only that, they were willing to lie, cheat, and kill to make it happen. It was complete and utter betrayal by those he loved, but do not be confused. David did not seek personal vengeance. Instead, he asks God to be his defender. David did not go on the offensive. He trusted the One who had fought his battles before to protect him from his enemies in the very way that they sought to destroy him.

Two important ideas stand out in this psalm so far: First, David is nothing if not honest in his prayers, and second, he trusts God to be his defender in all situations. When we are unjustly accused, do we trust God like David does or do we lash out quickly with a detailed defense of our actions? Over and over in the Psalms, David models the type of faith we should have: honest, authentic, and unwavering. Even when faced with immediate, physical threat, David trusts that the Lord will come to his aid. So much so that he ends his cry for justice with a praise on his lips (verse 28). 

David knew that while he only saw the battle, God saw the victory. May we have faith like David’s that speaks openly and honestly with our Creator and that trusts Him completely to take care of our needs. 

The historical context for Psalm 34 comes from 1 Samuel 21-22. At this point, David was literally fearing for his life, living on the run from King Saul. David sought refuge from the Philistines, but when they began to realize who he was, he feared for his life again and pretended to be insane to protect himself. The Message version of 1 Samuel 21:13 says, “When David realized that he had been recognized, he panicked, fearing the worst from Achish, king of Gath. So right there, while they were looking at him, he pretended to go crazy, pounding his head on the city gate and foaming at the mouth, spit dripping from his beard.” David then escaped to a cave where (the sub-heading tells us) he likely wrote this Psalm. 

It’s important for us to realize that when David wrote this Psalm boasting of the goodness of God, he had not been delivered from danger⏤he was in the midst of it! We can learn from the behavior David models that we should stop and worship God when we are in the middle of ongoing uncertainty. We can safely assume that David is afraid, more than likely panicked, and has quite a long list of things to worry about. Yet, he begins this Psalm with the utmost adoration for the majesty and deliverance of the Lord.

In addition, David is inviting friends, family, and readers (us!) to not just take his word for the refuge that is found in God. He wants us to actively experience God’s refuge and know it for ourselves. Verse 8 says, “Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!” 

As a result of Covid-19, many people have experienced losing their taste. Anyone who has had this unfortunate experience knows that it significantly impacts their enjoyment of food. You can look at a warm, gooey chocolate chip cookie, but if you can’t taste all of the delicious flavors when you chew it up, you can’t fully enjoy it. In much the same way, David is encouraging us to not just know about God, but to truly taste and see Him⏤to digest His word, His provision, and His protection.

David was actively seeking the Lord in the midst of danger. We should learn from his experience that taking refuge in God’s presence in the midst of danger is far better enjoying comfort or safety apart from God. No matter what storms await us tomorrow, may we proclaim today, as David does in verse 3, “Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together!”

After imploring the righteous to participate in their fitting worship and calling to remembrance the God who created the world with His breath, the psalmist centers on God’s counsel. He writes, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people whom he has chosen for his heritage.” This verse may elicit a range of initial emotions depending on the reader. We could feel pride in thinking we are the nation whose God is the LORD. We may feel sorrow or a longing to be a part of such a nation. Or our initial reaction could be jealousy or anger. Wherever we find ourselves, God has good news for us. 

God chose to reveal His character to the world through His relationship with the nation of Israel, Abraham’s descendants. He chose them not because they were mighty or great in number but because He loved them and because of His oath made to Abraham to bless him and make him a great nation (Deuteronomy 7:7-8, Genesis 12:2-3). He chose them to be the vehicle through which the world would come to know of His steadfast love. Israel is God’s chosen nation, and through the work of Jesus Christ, we have been grafted into the promises and the family (Romans 11:17-21). Peter writes to a mixed audience in 1 Peter 2:9. He states, “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” So, if we have put our faith in Jesus Christ, we are the nation whose God is the LORD, regardless of our physical location or any worldly documentation. In Christ, we are God’s chosen inheritance. Ephesians 1:18 describes those bought by the blood of Jesus as His “glorious inheritance!” As His chosen people, we have a call to represent Him to the world around us. The earth is full of His steadfast love, and we get to share the name of that love, Jesus Christ. 

Throughout Scripture, we see that being chosen and giving praise go hand in hand. As soon as we cease praising, we lose sight of our source of joy, strength, wisdom, and hope. We start looking to created things to fill the void in our hearts that only the Creator truly can. Psalm 33:15 reminds us that God fashions the heart of man. He not only knows what we need, but He is what we need. It doesn’t make sense for the people of God to grumble about the fallen condition of the world. What “befits” the people of God are hearts that continue to compose new songs of the wondrous works of the LORD in and around us, even as we hope in Him.

“I’m fine. It’s fine. Everything’s fine.” This is a common refrain these days. Is it because everything truly is fine; we have no worries, no problems, no regrets? Hmmmm…don’t think so! Our community is divided by politics, perspective, and purpose – not fine. Our bodies are burdened by ailments, disease, and exhaustion – not fine. Our minds are bombarded with conflicting information, false truths, and tempting escapes – not fine. Our hearts are heavy with fear, failure, and isolation – not fine.

Then, why do we claim a constant state of “fine?” Why do we hold the pain inside ourselves and proceed in the path of pointless perseverance? What is the alternative?

David offers the alternative in Psalm 32. Many theologians believe David wrote this Psalm in response to his betrayal with Bathsheba, in recognition of his sin. Verse 3-4 states, “When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy on me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer.” When David held the truth of his actions and the pain of sin inside himself, he was not fine! He was unable to function, spending his time constantly frustrated with emotional/mental/spiritual aching. He was physically drained from the guilt and shame. But then, in verse 5, we see the alternative to false “fineness.” David proclaims, “Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.’ And you forgave the guilt of my sin.”

Words hold power.  What we hold on to, holds on to us!  When we keep our pain, our fear, and our sin inside us, those are the things that consume us. They are too big, too terrible, too shameful to share, so we simply say, “I’m fine. It’s fine. Everything’s fine.” But, instead, we can acknowledge our sin and stop covering up our shortcomings. When we admit our pain, our fear, and our sin, the Holy Spirit’s power takes hold of us and ushers us back into the hope, love, and forgiveness of God.

Like we’ve read in previous Psalms of David, he begins with a prayer request for deliverance (again) and ends with praise for God’s goodness and faithfulness (again). He starts with a plea for rescue and ends with confidence in God’s character. From plea to praise seems to be David’s anthem cry. 

It feels a bit like riding a roller coaster of emotion. One high moment of trust and confidence. One low moment of despair and fear. Yet, God never turns His back on those who ask hard and honest questions. He never turns away from the emotionally unsettled or the ones who in one minute trust and the next minute despair. We simply will never find a story in the Bible that contradicts the character and nature of God being a good Father, a good Shepherd—patient with those who repeat the same prayer request…again. And again. 

It’s not a sin to doubt. Disbelief is a sin. Earnestly and honestly seeking answers and desiring more faith to trust God’s goodness and faithfulness is acceptable to God. We see that wrestle in the lives of Moses, Abraham, and David. They all struggled at times to understand God; yet, their lives modeled total dependence and trust in a God who sustains and holds all things together simply by His powerful word (Heb. 1:3). 

And, so, David appeals to God for deliverance…again. David’s transparency is a good model for us. Note the language he uses to describe how he feels in verses 9-13: consumed with grief, strength is failing, ridiculed, forgotten (not only by enemies, but also by friends). Note that he tells God how he feels, even though he already acknowledged his trust and reliability in God. It’s important for us to remember this truth: Feelings are real, but they are not reliable.

There is no safer shelter than living under the Lord’s covering and care. In spite of all his pain and trouble, David trusts God. He committed and submitted his entire life into God’s hand, into God’s care. And, David anticipated deliverance and protection because of God’s character and goodness, not his own. 

David closes his psalm by encouraging fellow worshippers (that includes us) to love God, be strong and courageous, and put our trust and hope in Him. When trouble and trials come (and they will), where will you place your trust?