Category: Psalms

In Psalm 20, we read of preparation for war. David is about to go defend the Lord’s city and people; but before he takes off, people pray for him. A multitude cheers for the Lord to intervene on David’s behalf and to protect him. Sometimes it is tough to read of this camaraderie while we feel alone. We feel like we are preparing for battles we are too weak to fight. While they look different than the one David was preparing for, we prepare for battles and fight them every day. We fight them in our minds. We encounter them in our jobs. We face them in our relationships. In all of the battles we face, we are in constant combat against an enemy trying to rip us away from community and distract us from God. 

Often when we are in this place, in front of an enemy or in a situation where the battle seems too big, we trust in the wrong things. We seek distractions. We turn to anything but the solution. What we often forget is this: We are actually not alone. We are surrounded by an omnipresent God of omnipotent power. The people in Psalm 20 realize this. They choose to not trust in the chariots or horses guaranteed to collapse and fall. Instead, they choose to trust the Lord, pray for their friend, and stand upright in confidence of deliverance. David reflects on his Savior in verses 6-8. The Lord saves His anointed. He hears us and answers us. His right hand is full of saving might. 

Think about what an inspiring moment that must have been as all of the people were praying for David. They were interceding on his behalf, begging God to protect David. This shows us just how powerful it is to have people praying on our behalf and how necessary those people are in our lives. God did not make mankind to be alone. He uses His people to refine, support, pray for, and encourage His people. Isolation for the Christian is dangerous, so don’t try to go into battle by yourself. If you feel as though you are fighting battles on your own, today is a great day to open up to trusted friends and seek community.

From the broad, general revelation found in His creation to the detailed, specific presentation of His Word, God has made Himself known to mankind. And how beautifully He has done this! If we were to close our eyes, we could recall a moment when His creation has caused us to hold our breath. Maybe a colorful sunrise or sunset. It could have been the twinkling of faraway stars in the vast darkness of night or simply the realization that not once has there been a day when the sun failed to make its journey across the sky. All of these things are good and should cause us to worship this awesome Creator, but God doesn’t stop there. He has given us His perfect Word. 

In Psalm 19 David uses several different words to refer to the holy Scriptures. He calls it the law, testimony, statues, commandment and judgements. In our rebellious flesh we may read those words and feel bound or constricted but in reality, the exact opposite is true. Scriptures reveal to us the truth that Jesus did not come to condemn the world but to save it. In John 8:31 Jesus says, “If you hold to my teaching, you are truly my disciples. Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.” Just as the sun provides energy for life, God’s Word–lived in and believed in–brings life to all who will receive it. 

Who better to encourage us in the purity and perfection of Scriptures than David himself? David experienced first-hand that the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. We can read about him rising from a humble shepherd boy to one of Israel’s greatest kings. Surely, he knew that the law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul. He reveled in fruitful living while abiding in the Word of God and he had tasted destruction in his own life living apart from it. 

For the believer, one of the greatest benefits of the law is its revelation of the Law-Giver. It teaches us what pleases Him. R.C. Sproul states, “The law drives us to the Gospel. The Gospel saves us from the curse of the law but in turn directs us back to the law to search its spirit, its goodness and its beauty.” For those of us who find ourselves sinful, broken or incomplete, the testimony of the Lord can be our light and hope of glory. 

In Psalm 18, we see David sing praises to the Lord after his deliverance from the hand of his enemies and specifically from the hand of King Saul. David praises God and sings of his love for the Lord as he affirms the fact that God is his rock, fortress, and deliverer (among many other descriptions). As we’ve already seen so many times in the Psalms, God hears the calls of His people. In our distress, our victories, the highs, and the lows, God hears our cries. 

In verses 16-19, we see God reaching down and pulling David out of his disaster. When he needed help from his enemies, God was David’s support and rescued him from his powerful enemy. On his own, David could not withstand the strength of his foes. In his humility (v.27) and righteous ways (v.20), David is saved by the Lord. Perhaps most amazing in David’s description of the Lord’s work is the fact that God delighted in him. Psalm 18:19 says “He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me.” In other passages we see God takes pleasure in us (Psalm 147:11) and rejoices over us with gladness (Zephaniah 3:17). 

How can this be? Doesn’t God know our sin? Doesn’t He know what we did last night when no one was looking? About the fight at the dinner table where we yelled at each other? When we clicked that link and lingered too long over that image? When we had a few too many drinks and flirted a little too much? Yes, yes, yes, yes, and yes.

The beauty is that He knows and He still delights in His children. Sometimes we forget the God of the Old Testament is the same as the God of the New Testament. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). This same God delighted over His children in the days of David, in the New Testament, and this very day. He rescues us not because of anything we’ve done, but He delights in us because of Jesus.

In this psalm we find David pleading his innocence before God, begging for protection from the enemies that have surrounded him and want to destroy him. He says, “They have tracked me down, they now surround me, with eyes alert, to throw me to the ground. They are like a lion hungry for prey, like a fierce lion crouching in cover.” David clearly feels the reality of this attack and its impending nature. 

If we’re honest, it’s sometimes difficult to relate to psalms like this in the Bible. David was on the run from literal enemies who were seeking to end his life. None of us have enemies like this. We may have a workplace rival or a “frenemy” or someone who cut us off in traffic, but for the most part, we don’t have a physical enemy like David did. How do we even apply these psalms to our lives? First Peter 5:8 tells us that we do have an Enemy who, just like David’s enemies, “prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” Our enemy may not be physically surrounding us, but he is present and he is active and he is out for our destruction.

Our disadvantage is the fact that we can’t see our enemy the way David could see his. In this psalm David is literally running for his life, hiding, taking cover from his enemy. We are the opposite. We don’t see a physical enemy right in front of us, so therefore, we don’t run, or even walk briskly away from the one who is out to get us. Unfortunately, being unaware of our enemy’s presence and turning a blind eye to his schemes, doesn’t make him any less destructive in our lives. Ignorance isn’t bliss. Instead, ignoring the reality that we are in a battle for our souls gives the enemy a foothold in our lives (Ephesians 4:27). 

But don’t be afraid. Like we see David do in this Psalm, we can call out to God to deliver us. And He will save us with His right hand, give us refuge from our enemy, keep us as the apple of His eye, and hide us in the shadow of His wings. And, one day, when our battle here on earth is finally done, we will awake fully satisfied in His presence.

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. 

This psalm, albeit short, packs a serious punch and shows a stark contrast from the previous chapter. Psalm 14 outlines a description of a fool–one who mocks or denies God. Psalm 15, on the other hand, shows the life of a godly person. David begins this psalm by essentially asking the question, “What does it take for a person to be in a close relationship with God?” 

He then goes on to answer his own question. He says it’s important to live blamelessly and to act righteously. Someone following God closely must live according to God’s standards. David then upacks this idea even further by listing out eight more characteristics of godly living. Someone who closely follows God:

• Speaks the truth sincerely.
• Doesn’t slander others.
• Does no wrong towards their neighbors.
• Doesn’t use slurs or harmful speech towards others. 
• Honors those who pursue and fear the Lord.
• Keeps his or her word (even when there’s a cost to it).
• Doesn’t take advantage of the weakness of others. And, 
• Doesn’t accept bribes or bring hardship on others.

Reading that list, it’s easy to see how this psalm is as relevant today as it was when David wrote it. According to 2 Corinthians 5:18-20, if we are believers in Christ, we are to be ministers of reconciliation who bring the Good News to a world that needs to hear it. We are supposed to be Christ’s ambassadors. How do we do that? We embody the characteristics David laid out above. We are truthful. We rise above petty squabbles or disagreements (social media included). We don’t take cheap shots at people, even if we disagree with them and we believe we’re right. We don’t take advantage of anyone. We keep our word, even if it hurts us. We conduct ourselves in a manner that is consistent with God’s will and the Gospel. That is the ministry of reconciliation and this is what makes an unbelieving world believe.  

In Psalm 14, the Psalmist is concerned with those around him who are living as if there is no God. They fail to acknowledge God. They ignore God. Some are even antagonistic toward those who trust in God. The author’s description of the dilemma facing God’s people is very much reflective of our own day. And his prayer at the close of this psalm is very instructive as we think through how best to respond to and engage the world around us.

As we look at the world around us, secularism is on the rise. More and more people in our country are stating they have no religious affiliation. Unbelief is on the rise. Likewise, the Psalmist states that all have turned away. The writer begins by declaring that one who states “There is no God” is a fool. While this might sound harsh, the Hebrew here is incredibly fascinating. The word used for fool is nabal, stemming from root meaning dying, fading, withering. It is related to the verb Isaiah uses in 40:8 where he says: “The grass withers and the flower fades, but the Word of the Lord endures forever.” The fool denies the existence of God—but it is the existence of the fool that is fleeting. His life and accomplishments will fade away (like the grass and flower of the field). In the end, it is God that will endure.

The Psalmist continues with a common poetic device: compare and contrast. The Psalmist references back to the beginning of our study in the book of Psalms. If you recall, chapter 1 described the righteous person (those who believe and trust in God) like a tree planted by water that yields its fruit in season (Psalm 1:3). In contrast, the wicked (or the fool as seen in Psalm 14), were described as chaff that flew away with the wind (Psalm 1:4). In chapter 14, the Psalmist explains that despite the evildoer’s schemes, it is the poor who will find refuge in God—the great reversal!

Verse 7 represents a crucial turning point in the psalm. The Psalmist began with a meditation that quickly turned to a lament, but now is a petition, looking forward to a time of praise and rejoicing. The petition offered is for national renewal and restoration, but, in light of the New Covenant, we see just how God has brought about a greater salvation through the Lord Jesus. Though every human being is totally depraved and though no human being seeks after God, there is a God who overcomes our depravity and who seeks us out. God takes the initiative and comes and brings His salvation to us.

Psalm 13 is another example of an honest psalm. David feels distant and abandoned by God–and he tells God that. In the opening two verses, David asks the question “how long?” a total of four times. He wants to know how long it will be before God will remember him, show His face, and rescue him again. David doesn’t hold back. At first glance, we might even think it’s too honest. Are we even allowed to talk to God like that? 

But such is the beauty of the psalms. They give us permission to voice our feelings to God. Who of us can’t relate to this psalm? At one point or another, we’ve all felt abandoned or forgotten by God. We’ve all wondered how long and we’ve all pleaded with God to show up for us again. David here gives us a template to follow for when we feel like this.

Even though he feels forgotten and abandoned by God, he still approaches God. Even though God feels distant, David still draws near. Even though he probably doubted that God was listening, he still prayed. David knows that he can’t trust his feelings. Feelings are real but they aren’t always reliable. He can acknowledge how he feels, but it doesn’t change the truth of who God is. So, at the end of the psalm, he reminds himself of the truth of God’s goodness, even if he isn’t currently feeling it.

When God isn’t answering our prayers how we want Him to (or as quickly as we want Him to), let’s remember this psalm and follow David’s response. Ask your questions, plead your case, beg God to show up, express your emotions, but then center your feelings in truth. 

Because, as Isaiah 49 says, when God’s people said that the Lord had forgotten them, God responded by saying this: “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you. See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands.” No matter how you may feel at times, God cannot forget His children. He is good, He is faithful, and He is with you.

In this chapter, David is experiencing what so many of us deal with still today—the feeling that the faithful are few, and grow fewer every day. Keep in mind, David was a fierce warrior and soldier, yet it was not the physical battlefield that sent him to his knees. It was the lies and deception in the hearts of those around him that broke David and caused him to lament that the “loyal have vanished from the human race.” If you have ever felt alone, felt the betrayal of another (as we all have at some point), then you can recognize and empathize with the sorrow that David is expressing. It is likely familiar.

Let’s pause and recognize how he expresses that sorrow. He doesn’t grow angry at the human race. He doesn’t doubt his God’s presence or power over it all, just because it seems like the entire human race has become vile. And it doesn’t say that David tries to do anything about it himself—even though it is very likely that he could have. He was one of the best and most honored soldiers working in the king’s court. At times, he had close contact with the leader of the land. Yet, David didn’t go to the king. He went to the King.

We often forget that God doesn’t need our help. When things hurt us, offend us, or violate what we think is right, we spring into action, especially if we have access or ability to fix the problem at hand. But David knew that despite his position, status, and proximity to power, the strongest weapon he had in his arsenal was prayer. It was only God who would arise and act on behalf of the poor and needy who were being victimized. It was only the power of God’s pure words, in contrast to the lies of the people around David, that would pass the test of time and was worthy of his trust. 

What a humbling thought that God, in all His glory and power, arises on our behalf and in our defense. As Spurgeon describes it, “Think of God arising in his might….Sighing child of God, it is you who can bring him into this marvelous state of activity.” When we lose faith or have a broken heart over the things surrounding us, we need only to remember that it is our acknowledged need that spurs God into action. We just have to ask—and watch Him arise.