Author: Jon Green

God didn’t have to design the universe in the way that He did. We could have lived in a small, bland, and colorless world. Instead, He decided to give us a small taste of His splendor as he designed creation to be filled with deep oceans, powerful rivers, colorful plants, thousands of stars, and a wide variety of animals. He gave us senses to feel the sunshine on our skin, smell the fresh breeze of a new season, see the clouds rolling through the sky, run our fingers through the blades of grass, and hear the birds chirping.

If you’ve ever wondered if God could do more than you can ask or imagine, just look at creation. Could you have imagined the display of a perfect sunset from scratch? Could you have ever created the grandeur of the lion on your own? Indeed, “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands” (Psalm 19:1).

This is why the process in Psalm 65 is so helpful for our faith. Nature reminds us of the magnitude of our God. We don’t serve a small or unimaginative god. We get to know and love an innovative Creator. Here, when David lists out the wonders of the world, he falls more in love with his God. Have you ever had that happen to you? You couldn’t explain it, but standing at the edge of the ocean made you love God more. Or, perhaps you looked at the stars and felt your heart resound with praise. This is because we can learn about God through what He has made. 

His creation speaks to us every single day about His character. Have you been paying attention? Or instead, have you been consumed with your phone, your job, your homework, or your to-do list? Take some time today to notice that which your God has made. Nature is His reminder to you that He is a big God who is worthy of praise. He has given us an invitation to see a glimpse of Him today, will you accept it? 

We know with our heads that God is able to redeem the messy things in us, but we also know the battle in our hearts to really live out that belief. We want to fix ourselves, to heal our own brokenness, to get ourselves out of the messes we find ourselves in. Wouldn’t it be so much faster that way? And wouldn’t that give us the satisfaction of knowing we are strong, independent, and capable all on our own?

Today’s psalm of thanksgiving shows a much different approach. All throughout this chapter, David remembers his weakness and inability to save himself. While David is feeling overtaken by his sinfulness (v. 12), his response is to wait patiently for the Lord to save him. If you look at the actions of David compared to the actions of God described in this chapter, you will notice an important difference. God has lifted David from the pit, set his feet on firm ground, and protected and delivered him. David acknowledges his need, sees the work of God, then speaks of God’s faithfulness. God does the work and David responds with praise.

The healing of our hearts and our own sinfulness happens when we remember that we cannot do anything by our own power. We cannot heal or fix ourselves. We cannot earn our own forgiveness or salvation. On our own, we are powerless to overcome sin and brokenness. Those who long for God and for His saving help are the ones who will see His greatness (v. 16) because those are the people that are best positioned to see God move.

David knows this because he knows God’s heart – that we would acknowledge our complete dependence on God and that He would be glorified through our praise and faithfulness. He does not want our sacrifices. He wants our hearts and our praise. Isn’t that exactly what is at the heart of the gospel? While we were stuck in the mud and mire, God became flesh, took on our sin, died, and rose again to save and redeem us. When we acknowledge that we cannot do anything apart from God, only God can receive the glory. Then His name will be made great and His people will respond in praise. What a good God that His glory is also our greatest good.

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!” 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!”

In Isaiah 55:8-9, the Prophet Isaiah writes, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” The ways of the Lord are completely different from our ways. He operates in ways our brains can’t fathom. 

We see this with great clarity in Psalm 30:5. David says the Lord’s anger lasts only a moment, but His favor lasts a lifetime. We tend to operate in opposite ways. Our joy/compassion/empathy (fill in the blank with your emotion of choice) lasts for a moment, but our anger tends to linger on. When one of our kids does something great, we celebrate for a minute and then focus on the ways they fall short. We rejoice in the five compliments we get from our boss for a few moments, and then focus on the one critique. We forget the ways our Life Group members showed kindness, and instead dwell on all the ways they annoy us.

David writes as one who knows what it’s like to evoke the anger of the Lord. Even though he was a man after God’s own heart, the Lord is well-acquainted with all of his shortcomings. David was unfaithful, murdered an innocent man, passively led his family at times, and much more. Yet David can say with integrity that the ongoing favor of the Lord is much greater than His momentary anger.

As followers of Jesus Christ, we want to be the same way. We need to believe this Truth and live it out. Today, pray that God would help you believe Psalm 30:5, that the Lord is not angry with you, but shows you favor, not because of anything you have done, but because of the finished work of the Son. And then see how you can apply this principle in the way you love and lead others—momentary anger, ongoing joy.

A cursory reading of Psalm 112, the last of the wisdom psalms we’re going to read, can seem to support the concept of the “prosperity gospel,” the idea that Christianity Today describes as “God rewards faith …with financial blessings,” but a careful study reveals a call to deep faith resulting in peace, perseverance, and purpose.

Psalm 112 constructs a biblical concept through the literary technique of cause and effect, beginning in verse 1. Blessed (cause) are those who have respect for the Lord (cause). “Blessed” is translated from the Hebrew root word asher. which means to go straight or advance and be happy. This isn’t blessed in the world’s terms of riches, but in God’s terms of guidance and peace. How do we receive this blessing? By having respect for the Lord, recognizing His power and perfection and giving it the appropriate priority.

The writer elaborates on this blessing: They (those who have respect/fear for the Lord) find great delight (effect) when they obey God’s commands (cause). Obedience is difficult, as demonstrated by every human being in the Bible. What we see in Psalm 112 is that we were designed for obedience to God. In obedience, we find the warm fuzzy blanket of guidance and protection which provides peace, patience, and purpose.

When we seek the blessings of the world we will encounter trouble, but when we walk in the directions of God, we will find peace (John 16:33). This world and our own self-centeredness lead us to pursue our desires and our plans, but we know that His purpose is better (Proverbs 19:21). Through following God’s commands, we receive the grit of perseverance because we know we are in His will (Ephesians 1:1) and He works all things to His good (Romans 8:28).

The remainder of Psalm 112 elaborates on the blessings and delights God graciously grants us (effects) as we respect and obey Him (cause). May we never mistake the true and eternal blessings of God built on faith for the temporary and shallow matter of this world.

Who God is will protect you: He is faithful. Remember God. The author of this psalm is unknown, but many people presume it is either written by Moses, due to its similar themes to Psalm 90, or that David wrote it, as it is similar to Psalms 27 and 31. Regardless of who the author is, the message of this chapter stays the same: it exists as an encouragement to continue on in faith and a reminder of who our God is.

The chapter opens by emphasizing that those who believe in the Lord will find protection with Him. Shelter, shadow, refuge, and fortress all create this idea of safety found in Christ. It then goes on to explain the trials this protection is from – the fowler’s snare and deadly pestilence – are the devil trying to separate us from who God is. But he is no match for who our God is. It is clearly stated here that our protection is not because we have a weak enemy, but a powerful God. The bold declaration of assurance that our God is our protector comes from having a clear understanding of who God is. He is able to remain confident because he knows who his God is.

So often our problem comes from where we think too little of God and too big of ourselves. When trials come we may lose sight of who God is and instead try to take matters into our own hands. But nearness to the Father expands our vision of who He is. Proverbs 3:5 instructs us to “trust in the Lord your God with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” When we spend time getting to know God – either through learning who Scripture says He is, by praying and seeking a relationship with Him, or by remembering who we have known God to be in the past – we begin to have a full understanding of the powerful protector whom we can call our friend.

Hebrews 10:23 says “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.” This psalm is meant to challenge us to expand our view of who our God is and to remain faithful. It’s a reminder for us to not stray because of fear when hardship comes, but to lean on God because we know who He is.

From the time we are on the playground to the time we are in retirement, we struggle with good things happening to bad people and bad things happening to good people. We wonder why mean people win and get all the glory while nice people seem to lose and get all the grief. When this happens it’s enough to make us ask the question, “Why work so hard to be good when those who behave badly succeed?” 

The writer of Psalm 73, Asaph, gives voice to this same struggle in verse 3: “For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.” We hear you, Asaph! But what are we supposed to do with this frustration? Verses 16 and 17 tell us: “When I tried to understand all this, it troubled me deeply till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny.”

What Asaph knew and we must remember is that we are playing the long game: running a marathon, not a sprint. As humans, it is easy to focus on the here and now, crying out to God to fix our present problems. We may be ignorant of others’ hearts and needs as we rush to judgment in our own fear and failures. We see only the unfairness of the situation when we view it through our own lens rather than trying to view our situation from God’s perspective. We can forget that God sees all dimensions of the past, present, and future in heaven and on earth (Ephesians 1:3-14). 

We can’t forget what we know:

• We know this world is not our home (John 15:19).
• We know that we are called to a higher purpose (Romans 8:28).
• We know we are in the midst of spiritual battles (Ephesians 6:12).
• We know that in this world, we will have trouble (John 16:33).
• But we also know to be encouraged because Jesus has overcome the world! Praise God! What the world offers cannot compare to what God offers us in Himself. 

May we declare verses 26-28: “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Those who are far from you will perish; you destroy all who are unfaithful to you. But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds.”

Psalm 49 is another example of a wisdom psalm. We are surrounded by people who blatantly cheat, constantly steal, and foolishly trust. But sometimes, we are those same people. Our emotions change depending on the weather. Our satisfaction flees when a new leader takes over our team. Our anxiety spikes when the market changes. We white-knuckle our paycheck now to pay for the future. As Psalm 49:14 puts it: we are being led by a shepherd of death. Our ignorant blindness led us where we did not want to go.

But that is the story that occurs when we are led by the wrong shepherd. Our own actions and ransom can never cover the cost of our sin. We can never repent enough, do the right thing enough, or earn enough to lead us to joy. The Sons of Korah, who wrote this psalm, knew the path of destruction was easy to walk along in one’s lifetime. The better road is the one that leads us to our Lord.

Earthly honor fluctuates constantly. Cancel culture changes one’s spotlight of fame into shame and ostracism in a matter of a few moments. A celebrity’s “net worth” can plummet after speaking a single sentence or when major investments crash. But rather than live with false hope, we can turn to a God who is constant. He redefines our success. He reminds us of our full worth.

When we walk with the Lord, we do not have to fear in times of trouble. Our attempts to save ourselves can stop, and we can reallocate our time and resources to a greater purpose. We can find stability in Christ. We can be satisfied even when things around us are unstable. We can face anxiety knowing there is a greater outcome down the road. We can share the blessings God has given us with those in need. Fixing our eyes on our steadfast King allows us to get through the hills and valleys.

In today’s reading we see the clear and repeated theme of how we should respond when it seems like 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.