Category: Summer of Psalms

Throughout Scripture, we see examples of God working outside the boundary of explanation: Daniel in the lion’s den, Hannah’s prayer for a child, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the fiery furnace- stories of the impossible.

Psalm 22 is quite possibly one of the best examples we have of God’s miracle-working power. Charles Spurgeon called this chapter “the Psalm of the Cross”, describing both the darkness and the glory of Jesus’ death and resurrection. He also said it should be read with reverence: “Putting off our shoes from our feet, as Moses did at the burning bush, for if there be holy ground anywhere in Scripture it is in this psalm.” This should cause us to pause and read this chapter again more closely. David continues to exemplify faith in action as he has in previous chapters, showing us his grief, honesty, and transparency–followed quickly by his praise. But, here he also gives us direct and clear signals that point to the One who would be the ultimate “But, God” story.  

Upon closer examination, we can see that verses 1-21 describe the agony that Jesus would experience. Jesus even quotes this Psalm while hanging on the cross (Matthew 27:46). Verse 15 references Jesus’ thirst on the cross (John 19:28), and verse 18 foreshadows those who cast lots for His clothing (Matthew 27:35). Did David know of what he was prophesying or was he simply faithful to speak the words that God placed on his heart? Either way, he knew his God and he trusted His word, even when he was scorned and mocked for doing so (verses 7-8). 

Do we, like David, trust God when our situation feels impossible? Are we honest and transparent with our feelings, recognizing that even David and Jesus felt forsaken by God? Things seemed impossible for them, and they were honest with God about their heartbreak. Yet, they trusted and worshipped. They knew that God sat on His throne as the Holy One, and He was not far from them. They knew that their situation was humanly impossible.  

But, God.  

There is great power in knowing the truth of God’s Word. It should be the filter through which all of our life experiences flow. Although troubling, it comes as no surprise to those familiar with Scripture that nations rage and people plot against the Lord and His anointed. In fact, Peter recalls the truths found in Psalm 2 to encourage himself and his companions in the face of great adversity. 

How many times have we found ourselves frustrated because some conflict arose when we were following Jesus with all of our heart? It can be easy to become offended by our life circumstances. Jesus Himself did only what the Father told Him to do and He was faced with great opposition, even death on the cross. Without the truth of Scripture to light our way, we may become discouraged and lose hope in this life. Time and time again God’s Word declares that He is sovereign and He is good.

Psalm 2, the first Messianic psalm pointing to a savior to come, tells of people who are raging and plotting against not only their Maker but the very One who has sacrificed everything to save them. Can we declare ourselves innocent from this hopeless attitude? Mankind momentarily thrives in the illusion of control and when we feel it slipping from our grasp we begin to plot and scheme for ways to hold on to it. Fear becomes the motivating factor in our lives rather than faith. Our thoughts and vision become blurred and we lose sight of the truth of Scripture that Jesus is enthroned in the heavens. Hebrews 12:2 reminds us that the road is not easy but we have an example of victory in Jesus Christ.

No, this life of following Jesus is not going to feel safe. But those of us who have made the Lord our refuge can live in peace knowing our destiny is secure. We don’t have to spin our wheels plotting for ways to retain “control.” God tells us, “Fear not for I am with you, be not dismayed for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10). This psalm ends with the charge to “serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling.” Fear of God doesn’t rob us of joy but instead it should drive us to Christ where there is safety. The reality of the Scriptures truly can set us free and embolden us to live a life full of joy in Christ.

This psalm, part of a section of Psalms 113-118, commentaries tell us was a song of praise sung by the Jews during Passover. This is important to understand because Jesus sang these songs on the night before He was crucified. This is the same night Judas betrayed Him and He was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane. 

Let’s look again, then, at the words Jesus was singing (v. 1) as He alone knew what the next few hours would hold: “Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but to your name give glory, because of your mercy, because of your truth.” In light of verse 1, why should the Gentiles say in verse 2: “So where is their God?”

We know from Luke 22:42 that Jesus asked God to spare Him from death. Jesus was not asking where God was at the moment. Jesus certainly was asking God to show up and change things. Don’t we all feel like that at some point, even when we have faith in who God is and where He is? Our prayers can easily become a plea for deliverance from struggle and pain.

But in the midst of those prayers, are we also giving God glory? Jesus understood exactly what torture He was facing. Yet He knew God to be merciful and truthful and believed His Father to be worthy of praise and glory. As the Enduring Word commentary explains: “Singing these words must have moved Him in a way beyond our comprehension. No soul—neither that of the composer of the song, nor that of anyone who employs it—ever entered so completely into all its deep spiritual significance, as did the soul of Jesus, as, before passing out to Olivet, to Gethsemane, to Calvary, He sang it with that little group of men.”

When we face struggles, even those that seem insurmountable on our own, we can remember who our Father is. He never changes (Malachi 3:6). He is all-knowing (Isaiah 46:10). He is with us wherever we go (Psalm 139 and Jeremiah 23). He walks the road with us to the very end. No matter what happens on earth, he is worthy of our praise and glory. He knows what is ahead, because He has already been there. We can trust Him completely.

David pours out his heart in Psalm 109. He releases his feelings, his tremendous hurt and anger toward his enemies. He uses harsh words and pleads for God’s help. Let’s not sugar-coat this. David doesn’t hold back when describing what actions he hopes God will take: Make the enemies’ days few, make their children beggars, have creditors take all they have, make it so that no one extends kindness to them, have the enemies’ names be blotted out from the next generation, clothe them with disgrace, and wrap them in shame. David was very real and very honest. It is extremely important to note, however, that David doesn’t take the action himself. He puts these thoughts, feelings, and requests into God’s hands, asking that God save him according to His unfailing love. David pours out his heart to God and then he trusts in whatever God will do next. 

Journaling is a part of many Christians’ Bible-reading and quiet time. It may include writing keywords or short phrases to record what you’re reading and learning from God’s Word, your hurts, joys, praises, or prayer requests. Other times, journaling may take on more of a diary-like process, such as writing a letter to God. Either way, there is freedom that comes from being fully, totally, completely honest with God. This honesty includes even those thoughts and feelings that we may be scared to put words to or feel guilty for feeling. We are called, however, to pour out our hearts to him. God is our refuge (Ps 62:8b). 

David’s psalm is not about requesting God to bring destruction to those with whom we disagree with or those who have hurt us, but rather to be honest and real with God. This psalm is about submitting our feelings to Him. David was brutally honest and laid his requests before God. He wanted action to come from God without taking it in his own hands. We serve a loving and just God. A God who became flesh to die for us and carry the burden of our sins on His shoulders. And with the new covenant through Jesus, we learn that we are to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us (Matthew 5:44). 

So, while we should continue to be truthful and forthright with God about our feelings, and sometimes action is necessary, let’s also commit to praying for those who might fall into our “enemy” category. God holds the world and future in his hands. Often, we may need to trust in that truth and pray without any other action.

God welcomes our grief. We can acknowledge His goodness while still mourning the broken world we live in and plead with the creator of this universe for mercy and clarity. In this psalm we see a raw cry of despair that lays out the author’s sorrow and sin in the form of a desperate prayer to a God that is bigger than our pain. Written by Heman the Ezrahite, who was known as a wise and talented man, this dark song is evidence that even the faithful experience doubt and angst. 

In the midst of confusion, the writer acknowledges God’s power and goodness from the very first line. “Oh God of my salvation.” Before anything else, he recognizes God has already delivered him and then he can proceed to wrestle with his own agony. He attributes his troubles to the power and acts of God:

“You have put me in the lowest pit” (v. 6).

“Your wrath lies heavily on me” (v. 7).

“Your terrors have destroyed me” (v. 16).

By doing this, he acknowledges his own sin and wrestles with the righteous wrath and justice of God. He feels alone and weak, but his greatest despair is in verse 14 when he feels God has left him. “Why, Lord, do you reject me and hide your face from me?” The greatest consequence of our own sin and sorrows is that God feels far from us in them. This psalm isn’t a plea to change his circumstance, but just to be near to the presence of God again. 

Doubt doesn’t disqualify or distance us from God, but it’s an opportunity to lean in and seek His face above all else. Our prayer, along with the psalmist, is to be near to God and to trust that He is constant when our situation is not. 

It’s hard to imagine many things worse than drowning. The claustrophobic, desperate feeling of the floods engulfing us and the waters coming up to our necks sounds miserable. And while we may not know the literal, physical experience of drowning, we all know what it’s like to feel metaphorically like we’re drowning. We know what it’s like to have no foothold and to feel like we’re sinking. Whether it’s financial pressures, a semester’s worth of papers and finals, the challenges of a failing marriage or difficult children, or loneliness and depression, we all know what it feels like to be worn out, wondering if God even sees or hears us. In Psalm 69:3, David writes, “I am worn out calling for help; my throat is parched. My eyes fail, looking for my God.”

Cognitively we know He’s there and we know He sees and hears us. But some days it feels like He’s distant, uncaring, mute, blind, or just plain tired of us. Life doesn’t seem fair—we defend Him, endure scorn and shame (v. 7), and when we even do things like fast, we’re still picked on, mocked, and scorned (v. 10-12).

Fortunately David knows what’s right and true about God, and we would do well to remind ourselves of the same. He loves us (v. 13), is merciful (v. 16), can rescue and deliver us (v. 16), and will execute justice in His time and His way (v. 24). When we feel alone, unseen, and forgotten, we need to remember what’s right and true about the Lord. We can be thankful for David who was human just like us and can follow his lead when we struggle. And not only does David cry out to the Lord, He also praises and glorifies Him (v. 30).

Today when you feel forgotten or alone, remember we are NEVER alone. Be encouraged by the truths of who God is today and remind others of what’s true and right about God. Whether you’re standing on firm ground or sinking in the miry depths, God is with you always (Matthew 28:19-20).

Psalm 63 takes place in the wilderness of Judah as David is fleeing from either Absalom or Saul. This wilderness is hot, dry, and desolate – a fitting image for longing. David describes his seeking after God as thirsting for water in the midst of the desert. This was a feeling he was well acquainted with, to be sure. His soul longs for the Lord, his God, because he knows that God is the only one who can satisfy his longing–much like water is all that can satisfy our thirst. In the midst of physical desperation, David earnestly seeks after God and worships Him for who He is. 

Water is necessary for life. But David confesses that there’s something much more necessary than water, and greater than life itself. The steadfast love of the Lord is the focus of David’s attention. Because his mind is fixed on God’s love, he is able to honestly and confidently pen these words. 

Because your love is better than life:

• My lips will glorify you 
• I will praise you as long as I live 
• I will be fully satisfied 
• With singing lips, my mouth will praise you 

David never sees himself outside of the love and protection of God. His perspective is what allows him to praise. He continues to remind himself of God’s character and it brings forth singing. 

Because you are my help:

• I sing in the shadow of your wings (a place of protection) 
• I cling to you
• Your right hand upholds me
• Those who seek my life will be destroyed

Our perspective enables our actions. David’s perspective of who God is and how He cares for him allows him to praise God in the midst of the desert and in the midst of being pursued by his enemies. In Acts 16 when Paul and Silas are unjustly thrown into prison, they also sing hymns to God. No matter the situation we are in, we can choose to praise God for who He is and how He cares for us, knowing that His love is better than life. 

Many of the psalms being with the psalmist (in this case, David) describing a present need or plea. Psalm 62, however, is different in that it is written as an expression of confidence. The most literal translation of the opening line of this psalm is “My soul finds rest in God alone.” When we hear the word “rest”, we often go straight to a physical rest. What David is describing here is a bit more complex than that. It’s a rest that comes from confidence in who God is and what He will do. When our souls have confidence in God, it is easy for us to exhale.

At the beginning of this psalm, David makes some declarative statements about God’s character and God’s nature. He calls God his fortress and his salvation (v. 2). Just a few verses later he describes God as his refuge (v. 7-8). Refuge isn’t a word that we use a lot, but rarely do we seek out refuge when things are going well. When we have this feeling that life is in turmoil and we can’t tell which way is up or down, we look all around us to find ways to either numb the pain, provide a false sense of stability, or help us forget that we feel this way to begin with. Instead, here David is giving us this template for what it means to call these things out for what they are, while also bringing them before God and saying, “Here’s what I’m feeling, and in spite of all of these things beyond my control, you are my refuge.”

In Matthew 11:28-30, Jesus invites all who are weary and burdened to take His yoke and learn from Him, and, He says, “You will find rest for your souls.” We may not have a clear understanding of what a yoke is, but the people Jesus was talking to definitely would have understood what He was saying. A yoke was much different than a harness. Harnesses are used to multiply “horsepower” from the animals. A yoke in Jesus’ culture was used as a tool to train young animals how to do their job and be useful to their master. This distinction is so important. He is saying, “Come to me and learn from me. That’s how you’ll find rest.” The good news for us is that we don’t have to keep trying to figure it all out on our own! We can look to Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2), yoke ourselves to Him, and find rest and confidence in Him.

In Psalm 59, we have an opportunity to behold David’s sincere, trial-tested faith and see the trust he has in God on full display. This psalm was written at a time when Saul sent men to watch David’s house in order to kill him (1 Samuel 19:11). Imagine the unrest! Because of a jealous man, David was no longer safe in his own home. David’s immediate reaction is to cry out to his most trusted confidant: God Almighty. David’s words are characterized by a deep, personal relationship with God. He refers to God as his personal source of defense, strength, and mercy. 

Yes, there were evil men plotting his demise, but David recognized that he was protected by God. After asking God for deliverance from the rising dangers (v. 1), he set his mind and heart to watch for Him (v. 9). Somewhere between the written pages of the Bible, David spent time talking to God, walking with God, worshiping God, studying and meditating on His truth. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of, and David can’t help but sing to his God.

Through the person of Jesus Christ, we have complete access to this mighty, comforting, and awesome God that David loved so dearly. The author of Hebrews describes Him as “the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature.” God has a name for any and every need that arises in our lives. We can and should read about the names and attributes of God in the pages of Scripture. But there is nothing like when God, in His sovereignty, allows us into circumstances where His name is our only source of hope.

Just like David, the words we have read and mediated on truly come alive as we experience them as our reality. How honored our Lord must be when our hearts exclaim praise in the middle of trails and opposition. Ignoring dangers is not asked of us. Notice how David refers to his pursuers in this psalm. He compares them to dogs. Not biting dogs, but howling, prowling, and growling dogs. They can make as much noise as they want to; David has chosen to trust in his Lord. Oswald Chambers wrote, “We are not fundamentally free; external circumstances are not in our hands, they are in God’s hands, the one thing in which we are free is in our personal relationship to God.” What a gift we have been given!

David’s self-awareness of the true enemy stands out in this passage. His plea with God is clear in his desperate language, “deliver me, preserve me, guard me [from evil, wicked, and violent men].” Our culture today minimizes the idea of a true enemy while maximizing the small offenses. We often act as if we are on a playground rather than a battlefield. This passage reminds us that the enemy of our souls is after us. He has hidden traps for us, spread out nets, and set out snares all in hopes to bait us into sin. These traps, nets, and snares look different in each of our lives. These are the things we hold onto white knuckled , that we idolize, and look to to tell us our worth.

David’s response to this stress is prayer and communication with God. David isn’t seeking to be right, he is seeking righteousness. He is striving for the enemy to be defeated, not for his own gain or self-preservation, but for the Kingdom of God to be advanced. In verse 9 and 10 we see how seriously he takes his opponent and how desperately David desires for evil to be demolished. In today’s world we often tolerate or minimize the work of the evil one. Our prayer should be the same as David- that evil would be defeated and that justice would prevail. David was confident that the Lord would defend His people who were being afflicted. 

We try to manipulate God into aligning Him with our own agenda, when, in reality, the battle belongs to God and justice is His. He is righteous, and  just, and we’d be wise to align our hearts with His rather than trying to manipulate Him into our small offenses and entitlements. 

Imagine what our world would look like if our posture was the same as David’s. Our hearts would be surrendered to the only One who sits on a throne of righteousness and justice (Psalm 89:14). Our minds would be committed to memorizing His words (Psalm 119:110). Our wills would be submitted to His agenda and plan (Romans 12:2).