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In Psalms 26 we see that David is writing from a time of trouble. Despite his present difficulties he clings to hope: “Your steadfast love is before my eyes and I walk in your faithfulness.”

In this passage, David models praying through his suffering. The posture of his heart is evident in verse 6 and 7 as he proclaims thankfulness and tells everyone of the Lord’s wondrous deeds. David discusses integrity and purity but what he displays is his trust in the Lord. David understands that the Lord will not immediately deliver us from trouble, but that God is working all things together for our good. He sees us through. He knows the other side. He delivers us from our enemies. David trusted that no matter his present circumstances, God’s hand was on him and that allowed him to walk in integrity, despite the danger to his life and the wickedness around him. He stood confidently on level ground because of his hope in Jesus. 

This text, written thousands of years ago, is relevant and applicable today. Suffering is all around us. We are living through unprecedented times that have many people feeling like the ground beneath them is an earthquake. And yet still, God is on His throne. The enemy uses chaos and disorder to lie to us and convince us that there is nothing good about our current reality. He wants our story to end in disappointment, discontentment, and despair. But Jesus carried all of that on the cross. It’s as if He’s whispering to us, “I see you. I felt that. I carried the burden of sin and shame for you.” Let’s take a moment to remind ourselves of this grace. Let us not grow numb to this truth. Let us combat the lies of the enemy with not our own doing, but with what Jesus did on the cross. We see how David is able to proclaim his thankfulness and share the work of the Lord to all who will listen. We serve a God who is consistent. Regardless of our circumstances, He is still using us. And our story doesn’t end in suffering. 

We have already seen in the first 24 chapters the highs and lows that David has experienced throughout his life. Today, we read a lament of David where he recognizes the significance of his sin in light of a holy God. He confesses his sins and prays to God for forgiveness. David rightly recognizes the need to confess his sin to be healed (James 5:16). 

We see him go through a progression as he prays and laments to God. He first expresses confident trust in the Lord and then a desire for guidance from the Lord, which stems from that trust. In verse 6, we see a transition to David’s desire for forgiveness based on God’s mercy and steadfast love. He then praises God for His goodness and mercy (v. 8-11). In verse 10, David says that “all the ways of the LORD are loving and faithful toward those who keep his covenant,” but you may well be wondering how God can be loving and faithful in a world filled with brokenness (see the last 12 months). That is where the gospel comes in: we can be in a personal relationship with God, which is expounded upon in verses 12-15. The word “prosperity” in verse 13 is referring to a soul resting at ease (KJV) or to abide in well-being (ESV). It is this idea of being in a close, intimate relationship with God that comes to us when the Holy Spirit comes to live within us as a result of our faith in Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection. We can rest at ease and spend our days in the prosperity of knowing God, which is far greater than any earthly riches (see Mark 10:29-30).  

One thing to be learned through the reading of Psalms is that God is with us through the highs and lows of life. While our circumstances may change, we know that God is never changing. His love is steadfast. He is working all things together for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). While we may not see exactly how God has been at work or how He will turn earthly bad into eternal good, we can be confident in the Lord’s friendship as He rides with us through the deserts (Psalm 68:4b). 

In the first section of Psalm 24, David asserts God’s greatness and power and then provides a road map of how we can seek after and draw near to God. He begins by declaring God’s power and dominion over creation. Even the “fullness of the earth” belongs to God, including everything from culture and worship to wealth and glory. But in light of God’s greatness and awesome power, who among His creation will ever be close to God? This is what David asks when he says, “Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in His holy place?” These questions are reminiscent of Psalm 8, where in light of the grandeur of nature, David asks, “what is man that you are mindful of him? And the son of man that you care for him?” In both verses David is overwhelmed with the power and majesty of God, and he responds with those humble questions. When we consider God and understand ourselves in relation to Him, how can we not be struck by our depravity and smallness?

God is perfect, and we are not. God is the embodiment of love, and we are not. (Isaiah 55 expounds on these themes more). This realization transforms how we think and act and what we seek after. Meditating on Him makes us deeply aware of our desperate need of salvation, of our need to seek after God, and our inability to seek God without His help. By considering him we can be continually struck by the power of the gospel—which transforms everything.

In our busy and seemingly chaotic lives, it is easy for our prayers to turn into continual cries for help. Our anxieties can overwhelm us, and in our attempt to cast those cares on God, we forget to just sit in God’s presence. How often do we praise God just for who He is? How often do we contemplate His nature? Our eyes were never meant to rest on ourselves—they were designed to seek after God.

When we take time to think about Him, rather than ourselves, we will experience what David did in Psalm 24. David contemplates God, considers his own depravity, but then rejoices in God’s salvation, His promises, and His character! What an incredible way to recenter ourselves on God and focus on Him rather than ourselves.

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.

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.  

This psalm begins with thanksgiving for the answered prayers of Psalm 20. In verses 1-6, David is praising God for past victories that were accomplished in the Lord. We see a recap of all the blessings that David has received: strength, salvation, his heart’s desire, rich blessings, a crown of fine gold, length of days, splendor and majesty… just to name a few. This is a bountiful list of all the things that men seem to chase and want to acquire – and David has them and is praising God for providing them. 

But specifically look at verse 6, “For you make him most blessed forever, you make him glad with the joy of your presence.” David’s joy is not rooted in all of those “things” listed above – his joy is found by being in the presence of God Almighty. This is reiterated in Acts 2:28 where it says, “You have made known to me the paths of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence.” David is giving us a powerful reminder that our countenance and feelings of joy and gladness will not be found in earthly blessings, but in sitting at the feet of our Savior.

Then in verse 7, David  makes the proclamation, “For the king trusts in the Lord, and through the steadfast love of the Most High he shall not be moved.” Other translations say the King relies on the Lord and the King is confident in the Lord. David’s security and assurance are found in his steadfast love for the Lord which can not be moved.

David closes the psalm by praising God for future victories.

We can glean a lot of wisdom from the pattern David establishes in this psalm of praise: Praising God for what He’s already accomplished (verses 1-6), proclaiming our trust and faith in God’s steadfast and unchanging love (verse 7), and then praising God for what He can accomplish in the future (verses 8-14). May we learn from King David that the fullness of our joy in all past, present and future victories can be found simply by being in the presence of the Lord.

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. 

*Editor’s Note: This summer we’ll be reading all about the life (both the highs and lows) of David in 1 & 2 Samuel. Stay tuned!