Psalm 45

 Psalm 45

Deep down inside we all love the ‘fairy tale’ with a happy ending.  The heroic, handsome prince marries the beautiful maiden, and they live happily ever after. That story is found in every culture and in every heart, and that story is given to us in this Psalm.  This love poem was perhaps written for the occasion of Solomon’s marriage and serves as a reminder of the high and holy place of the marriage union.  We do not, indeed we cannot, value a godly marriage too highly.  The brave man who is ready to take on the monster of this world for the well-being of the woman he loves is a noble and holy theme.  The gracious young lady filled with grace, dignity, and beauty, who is the perfect partner, gives up her life to be with the one who fills her heart.  Those who would degrade marriage work out of bitterness or even hatred for God.  Anything that devalues God’s design dishonors Him and robs us.  

Some have seen this poem as a line-for-line prophecy of Christ and His Church.  That is not necessary.  In every aspect of holy marriage we worship God and can see Christ's love for the Church. A line between the sacred and the secular has no place and is not needed here.

“Lord, help me hold marriage in the honor that You have granted it. AMEN.”

Psalm 44

 Psalm 44

This Psalm is the book of Job in micro.  It is a story many believers experience and suffer.  It may have been composed during the exile.  The complaint is an old story that follows a familiar pattern.  First, in the distant past times were good (vv. 1-3). Second, in my lifetime things were great, and I lived in faith (vv. 4-8).  Third, recently everything is terrible (vv. 9-16). Forth, we are innocent of evil, so this suffering is unjust (v. 17-19).  Finally, the pleas of “Lord, do something to correct this injustice.

While a bit simplified, this is the story of Job and many heroes of the faith and of many faithful disciples today.  One of the difficulties of our walk is that we don’t get neat, tidy answers to questions that apparent unjust suffering produces.  Were the suffering saints actually guilty in some secret way?  Were the innocent suffering alongside the guilty?  Is there a basis for a charge of ‘injustice’ against God Himself?  

The answer may be found in Paul quoting this in Romans 8:36.  There Paul doesn’t explain suffering but boldly states that by faith in and union with Christ is our victory.  We can never answer the question “Why?”  But we can find the answers when we ask and answer the question “Who?”

“Lord, in the midst of suffering turn my heart toward You. AMEN.” 

Psalm 43

 Psalm 43

This Psalm is believed to have been written during the Babylonian captivity.  The people of God feel they have learned their lesson and are struggling with why God’s deliverance hasn’t yet occurred.  In verse 5 there is even a self-correction of doubt and despair into trust.  

In verses 3-4 there is an especially powerful application for our day.  In verse 3 the Psalmist asked for ‘light and truth.’  These will bring the people of God to God.  Then in verse 4 the Psalmist anticipates what we might call ‘worship and celebration.’  This order is important or even vital for believers to understand.  In much of our religious expression we focus on the emotional satisfaction of ‘praise and worship.’  Then we have ‘teaching time.’  In some cases this teaching time is shallow and only incidentally focused on Scripture.  But the pattern we see here is that truth and light bring us to God, and then joy and music flow out of that encounter.  

Perhaps the reason so many ‘revival movements’ and ‘church growth’ initiatives fizzle is because they are based on emotions, which cannot stand the test of time.  By all means we should have the joy of the Lord.  But that emotional high comes from truth and light.

“Lord, bless me with a mind that engages Your light and truth, and out of that, guide me to praise You. AMEN.”

Nothing ruins a good story like…

Nothing ruins a good story like…

Last weekend it was my great privilege to attend the retirement ceremony and celebration of a friend who served in uniform for 30 years. It is always wonderful to stand in the company of the great ones. One of the speakers offered a funny quip that was little more than a throwaway joke. It was an excellent speech, but this one line stood out to me more than anything else.

The retiree had served in most of the hotspots involving the US Army for the last 30 years; he had seen and done some pretty amazing things. Being a humble man, he would not have wanted the speaker to regale the audience with stories of his exploits, of which there were plenty. But the one line that got the most laughs and sticks with me was this one: “Nothing ruins a good war story quicker than an eyewitness.” Thank you General Cole.

We can apply that to our athletic exploits that won the game, the witty comeback that silenced a critic, the brilliant decision that saved the business, or the thoughtful behavior that mended a broken heart. Those stories can be wrecked by an eyewitness. This seems to be especially true at family gatherings. While out of courtesy we may not say anything, privately we are apt to reflect, “I was there; it didn’t happen that way."

Nothing ruins a good story quicker than an eyewitness, which makes Paul’s assertions so dynamic. In I Corinthians 15:6 Paul tells us there were over 500 eyewitnesses to the resurrected Christ. The reports of “His body was stolen or misplaced," “He didn’t actually die but only fainted," and “People had a hallucination thinking they saw Jesus alive" are all good stories to deny the resurrection but are completely ruined by the eyewitnesses. One eyewitness is usually enough to get a conviction in court. Two eyewitnesses provide a slam-dunk kind of case. When we talk about 500 eyewitnesses who were together to see the same event, we are left with no room for doubt.

The appeal to eyewitness testimony was unique, even bizarre, in first-century religious circles. Mystic experiences, philosophical arguments, rituals, or deep-seated feelings were the norm. But eyewitness testimony was unheard of. As we enter into the season of preparation for Easter, we need to reflect on the fact that we are not following carefully constructed fables or myths. We are building our hopes and eternity on the rock-solid fact that Jesus was dead and now is alive with a life He shares with us.

He is Risen, He is Risen indeed.

Psalm 42

 Psalm 42

The beauty and depth of this psalm demands more than a casual reading.  Its wonder is enriched by contemplation.  This psalm is a conflict-laden song and is a story from the hard edge of life.  As humans we try to avoid suffering and hardship; we try to make everything safe, pastel, and soft.  But that is not living, and no lessons are learned in that kind of life.  Those things that teach us best are often the ones we try hardest to avoid.

Suffering is seen in our understanding of verse 1.  We often picture a deer coming to a stream for a quiet sip.  That is not, emphatically not, the case.  A panting deer is a deer that has been running for its life for a long time.  This is no casual sip but desperation because a predator is right behind it.  Exhaustion and thirst drive the deer to the river.  Here he will drink and try to lose his pursuers.  Some deer have been known to swim deep rivers to get away.  It is reported they will go so deep that only their nose will be out of the water.

Life can be like that.  While the deer runs to water to refresh and survive, we run to God.  This whole psalm is a study in a desperate struggle for survival.

“”Lord, help me to run to You for protection and refreshment as I am being chased by the enemy. AMEN” 

Psalm 41

 Psalm 41

In this psalm there is a progression of helping, hurting, and hoping. David tells us that God has special care for those who help the needy, especially those who are in need in times of illness. We might consider this the nurses’ psalm.

These thoughts may have been prompted by David’s own illness. He is so sick that some, especially his enemies, believe he will die, or at least they hope so. David wonders if he has brought this on himself by his sin. (v. 4) Many of us, at times of grave illness, have wondered if our sickness was actually Divine justice. David is especially hurt by the treason of his friend. Some who are close to David are hoping for the worst.  

But even here there is a moment of hope. Verses 8-12 are thought by some scholars to refer to Jesus, David’s distant descendant. Jesus quotes verse 9 in reference to Judas.  Verse 10 may be more than a request for restored health; it may refer to the resurrection of Jesus, in which He will be the ultimate judge of the living and the dead. After the resurrection of Jesus, His enemies could say or do nothing but were effectively silenced, as in verse 11. Verse 12 looks like the ascension of Jesus to the right hand of the Father. What a wonderful way to end the first book of the Psalms.

“Lord, whatever the circumstances of my life, please help me be loyal to You and trust in Your care for me. AMEN.”

Psalm 40

 Psalm 40

This incredible and complex psalm has so much more than we would get in a casual reading. This is especially true concerning the prophecy about Christ in the middle of the Psalm (vs. 6-8), which is quoted in Hebrews 10:5-7, especially verse 8. The Psalmist speaks the words of the Messiah. These words ought to be our words as well: “I delight to do Your will.” That word, "delight," describes something that brings pleasure. As Christians we sometimes have a negative response to the word ‘pleasure,’ as if pleasure itself has a bad reputation.  But pleasure need not be found in selfish and sinful behaviors. It is possible that doing the will of God is our greatest pleasure. The book of Hebrews tells us, “For the joy set before Him (Jesus) endured the cross.”  How is that kind of dedication to God possible?  The answer is in the last phrase of this Psalm.  When the Law or will of God is at the core of our heart, behaviors that mark obedience are our pleasure.  Our chief purpose is to know God and to enjoy Him both now and forever.

“Lord, help me to know and love you so deeply that I find my greatest pleasure in that which pleases you. AMEN.”

Psalm 39

 Psalm 39

David was a hot mess. We don't know for certain what the issue was. Perhaps this psalm is a reflection of his sin with Bathsheba or some other iniquity. Perhaps it was prompted by hardship and persecution. Maybe it was a physical illness or in some way related to all of the above. Whatever the cause is, David can't even talk about it, but denial is never an effective strategy. Inside, David was a hot mess and was getting hotter. He asked a question that's extremely common in suffering; from a toothache to a terminal illness to a broken heart, we often ask, “How long?” In the final stages of my dad's terminal illness, one question he asked the hospice nurse was, “How long will this take?” Since life is short, we want to know, “Is this condition going to be my lot for all of my days?”

In verse 7 a corner is turned. The question changes from ‘how long?’ to ‘who?’. In either living or dying, David's hope must be in the Lord. God can end his hardship either by solving the problem, granting forgiveness, or by ending his days. Certainly all humans are as enduring as an exhaled breath. David comes to the conclusion that his only hope is in God: peace in the days on Earth and life after life on Earth.

“Lord, help me use every hardship as a tool to turn my heart toward You. AMEN.”

Psalm 38

 Psalm 38

In our secular world there is a rush to feel better physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. There was a bumper sticker making the rounds that simply said, “Guilt Sucks.”While no one wants to suffer, the rush to feel better may lead to bad choices. This is especially true spiritually. In this psalm David explores the depths of the effect of his sin. He is not rushing to find a quick salve of grace and get on with his life. The description of the first half of the Psalm may be literal or figurative, but in either case, he is looking into the deep consequences of his sins. He does not try to offer some self-justification. (v 13-14) 

Enemies oppose him, friends reject him, and he doesn’t even make an excuse. At the end of it all, he is left only with his guilt and his only hope. While we ought not wallow in false guilt, we need to be careful about heaping on ourselves cheap grace. If our sin cost Jesus His life, we ought not easily and frivolously pretend it is a little thing.

“Lord, make me deeply aware of the great evil of my sin, and help me to have a truly repentant and contrite heart. AMEN.”

Psalm 37

 Psalm 37

We know that God works out His justice in due time. We know that we should not stress and worry about the wicked nor desire their lifestyle. We know that we are to wait on the Lord, and that is hard. Perhaps waiting is hard because we rationally think waiting is to passively sit by and do nothing. In the midst of this psalm's direction to wait, we see that waiting is not passive. There are four actions described or prescribed for us in verse 3 while we wait. 

First, trust in the Lord rather than allowing our minds to be disturbed by circumstance; calmly, with confidence in the Lord, tell Him you trust Him. 

Second, doing good. Nothing makes time and waiting pass faster than being active in good works. To occupy the mind in meaningful good works keeps our minds off of stressful things. 

Third, dwell in the Lord, or, put another way, bloom where you are planted. Always wanting the next thing is counterproductive.

Fourth, cultivate faithfulness. Literally feed on truth. Like grass to sheep, so is truth for the soul. That is what waiting looks like.

“Help me, Lord, to be actively waiting. AMEN.”

Psalm 36

 Psalm 36

Long before a person's life is ruined by sin, there was a secret conversation that took place in their heart. As I recall people whose lives ended up in a sort of a Hell on Earth as a result of their sin, I knew that much earlier they had talked themselves into bad behaviors. At that moment these bad behaviors seem to be inconsequential shortcuts to what they wanted. Objectively they may have known they were wrong, but in the silent moments of their lives, they convinced themselves in their hearts and by means of words from themselves to themselves to engage in a sinful act. That sinful act led to another and to another and to a truly nasty divorce, a term in prison, or a gun muzzle in the roof of their mouth. Verses 1-4 describe the inner heart and conversation of sin.

Thankfully there is an alternative. The mercy and loving kindness of God is available.  It is as expansive as a universe, higher than the mountains, and deeper than the oceans.  The psalmist describes God's mercy that is beyond measure. It is more predictable than the sunrise. The whispers of darkness will lead us to ruin. The intervention of mercy will lead us to life. Which voice will you listen to and adhere to?

“Help me, Lord, to never listen to the dark voices in my own heart, but to Your voice of mercy. AMEN.”

Psalm 35

 Psalm 35

When we believe that people are basically good and will inherently respond with fairness, justice, and kindness to our lives of right behavior, we will sooner or later be disappointed. More realistically, we have the examples of David, Jeremiah, the martyrs, and our Lord. Sinful people sooner or later will sin against agents of righteousness. The old adage is true: “Hurt people hurt people.” It is a broken, sinful world in which we live. 

This psalm is descriptive of the treacherous actions of evil people. but also gives an appropriate and hope-filled response. In verses 1-8 there is a prayer or complaint about evil and a request for intervention. In verses 11-16 there is perhaps a prophecy of the trials of Jesus. In 17-28 there is praise for God's goodness and it concludes with a plea for those who befriend the accused. 

But in the middle, in verses 9 and 10, there is the key to how we deal with the misery of persecution. There is an expression of confidence and praise. To the core of his being, the righteous person is certain of God's power and goodness. That is why despair is such an evil thing; it denies both. Evil and hardship are real, but God is both good and able.

“Lord, in this messed up and crazy world, help me to never lose hope but always remember You are good and able. AMEN.”

Psalm 34

 Psalm 34

This Psalm used in its context indicates that following God is not for the faint of heart. I once heard a man, who had been caught in serious misbehavior, revealing a deep pattern of sin and hypocrisy, say, “I want the Lord to break me.” Only God knows if that was sincere or mere playacting. But in Psalm 34:18 David describes the man with a “broken spirit.” "Broken" is not a soft or gentle word. It means to shatter into splinters, to destroy, or to burst. There is no sense of anything left intact that we might hold on to. This is no broken picture frame that we can glue back together. Think of a fragile glass ornament on an anvil that is smashed by a huge hammer. I'm not sure I would be able to say, “I want to be broken.” But when we need to be broken, if we are wise, we accept and embrace what God does. We suffer the affliction, the crushing of verse 18, and we are thankful on the other side. To a great degree we determine how deep that affliction is and how massive the hammer stroke. The more tenaciously we hold on to our sin and pride, the heavier the hammer stroke will need to be to break the hard heart.

“Lord, help me to repent of sin sooner rather than later. AMEN.”

Psalm 33

 Psalm 33

As a nation we have become aware of and passed laws to oppose Stolen Valor, the practice of people pretending to be war heroes or servicemen when they are not. Perhaps we need to apply that same principle to worship. In verses 1-2 we have a passage often applied to music in our churches. Good and well. But verse 1 ends with “Praise is becoming to the upright.” That word “becoming” is critical. The concept of “becoming” or “befitting” was tied to the Covenant relationship between God and His people. It meant to live in a way that reflected His character and commands. In other words, it is unbecoming for a person who is living an unholy life to practice or “act out” a relationship that is not real. Worship is not for the perfectly holy; it is for those who want and desire to be right with God. But for the person who lives an ungodly life and goes through the motions of worship for the sake of self-gratification, praise is unfit. It is actually worse than stolen valor.

“Lord, break my heart if I am worshiping out of a life that is willfully unholy. AMEN.”

Psalm 32

 Psalm 32

If one wants to develop a solid foundation to understand the truth and doctrine of sin, Psalm 32 is an excellent starting point. A detailed study is time well spent. But for the moment, let us consider one major theme: the union of joy and holiness. The contrast between verses 1-2 and 3-4 is powerful. Of all beings in the universe, who is most holy? Who is most joyful? Joy can be described as a pervasive sense that all is well. That is clearly descriptive of God. Evil men, evil spirits, or events will not ruin him or his plans. 

In sin we attempt to gain happiness in the wrong way.  But instead of happiness, we are miserable. When that effort fails, we try more of the same, and the cycle is repeated. The least joyful place on Earth would be jails, a place filled with people who have pursued the wrong path to joy. Holiness and joy are bound together, even two sides of the same coin. How could it be different in a moral universe that God created? He has also welded together sin and misery; you will not find one without the other. Happy is the person who is forgiven.

“Lord, help me understand the joy of holiness. AMEN.”

Psalm 31

 Psalm 31

This song covers a full range of the life of a disciple as we face resistance and opposition. The psalmist's life faces false friends and overt enemies, circumstances of hope and fear, possible treachery, and loyalty. Some think this song came from David while under Saul's persecution. Others think it reflects the life and ministry of Jeremiah. The words of the Psalm were among the last words of our Lord before his death as recorded in Luke 23:46. For centuries Christians would repeat these words as they perceived death approaching: “Father, into Your hands I commit my spirit.” We see supremely in the life of our Lord, to a lesser degree in David's or Jeremiah's lives, and also in the lives of godly people that when every day is committed to the Father, it is filled with prayer so that on the last day we would commit ourselves or our spirit to Him. Only about 15% of people die suddenly. Most of us will see death coming. May we live in such a way that as it comes, we can say, "Father, into Your hands I commit my spirit."

“Lord, help me to live every day getting ready for that last day. AMEN.”

Psalm 30

Psalm 30

This is a challenging Psalm in that without knowing the historic context, we can’t say what prompted this emotional outpouring of David's heart.  Some scholars believe it was the occasion of David’s sinful census. (2 Samuel 24)  We can, however, learn some vital general principles for our lives.  In verses 1-3 we see David in great distress nearing death.  In God’s great mercy, He rescues David.  Out of that rescue comes the praise of verse 4 and the beautiful lines at the end of verse 5.  “His favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may last for the night, but a shout of joy comes in the morning.”  What great and wonderful hope-filled words.  But before we come to this great exaltation, we must pass through the hardship of the first lines of verse 5.  We must deal with the first line of that verse.  God’s anger and corrective punishment must be endured, and from it we must learn our lessons.  We want to leap to the shout of joy, but not so fast—have we learned the lesson God wants to bring us in His anger?

In verses 6-9 we see an important progression.  This is, perhaps, a retelling of the story with new insights.  In verses 6-7a there is pride; David becomes arrogant in his God-given prosperity.  Then there is a harsh awakening in the second line of verse 7.  From pride to dismay in a moment.  Interestingly, these are both conditions without God.  Then in verses 8-9 we see repentance.  

There is a dramatic difference in the pride we see before dismay and the humility we see after.  The Psalm concludes with a hope-filled note.  The Lord is gracious, and in place of mourning and sackcloth, there is dancing and gladness. God is both just and merciful; in fact, His justice is used to bring us to repentance so that His mercy is set free to rescue us.  Sometimes that is a long road, but His intent is always mercy.

“Lord, thank You that You are merciful.  Help me never, in my pride, to presume upon Your mercy. AMEN.”

Psalm 29

Psalm 29

If we were to see an angelic being, our reaction would almost certainly be terror, filled with awe and wonder, and filled with a desire to worship that angel. Within the ranks of angels there appears to be a class or category called ‘the sons of Gods.’ That is a literal translation that appears in our Bibles as ‘sons of the might’ (NASB) or ‘mighty ones’ (NIV) in verse 1. These beings are vastly beyond us, but by an infinitely greater measure beyond them is the One True God. If our response to an angel would be fear and awe, even more so do these angels stand in reverence and awe before God. They can’t help but worship the Lord of Glory.

Beginning in verse 3, we see a description of the power of God’s voice. The mighty storms and the effects of nature leave us awestruck, but they are a description of the power of the voice of God and not His full power and might. If we are awestruck by the might of angelic beings (gods) and the power of the storms of creation, what ought our response to the Sovereign of the Universe be? Our minds can't comprehend even the tiniest bit of the vastness of the universe, and yet we are often overly familiar and casual about God. That is the careless action and thoughts of a fool.

“Lord, help me to hold all about You in deep reverence. AMEN

Psalm 28

Psalm 28

Imagine living among people who are far from righteous: a nation that is obsessed with wealth and possessions, a nation that is overcome by the pursuit of pleasure of every sort. For a people for whom pride and self-aggrandizement were virtues. We would expect that such people would be dragged off to their punishment. But in the midst of those evil people are the innocent righteous. These are the circumstances of Psalm 28.

There are three applications we might need to focus on in our lives. First, David doesn't deny the evil nor the justice of God's punishment; in fact, he asked for it in verse 4. Second, David distinguishes himself by being innocent. Living in an evil world, David lives a holy life. Third, David praises God for His justice and protection. David doesn't presume that it was by any human effort of our agency that righteousness prevails. 

Dare we ask God to bring judgment on the wicked people among whom we live? Would we ask for it even if it may mean hardship for us? Are we living holy lives that would be distinguished from our world?

“Lord, help me to live holy regardless of the circumstances of the world around me. AMEN.”

Psalm 27

Psalm 27

One reorientation of our thinking makes this Psalm and so much of scripture more understandable. If we think of ourselves as physical beings who happen to have a spirit, much of the Bible doesn't seem real. But if we think of ourselves as spiritual beings who happen to have physical bodies, things are different. This life is hard, and often in this life evil does prevail.

But if we are primarily spiritual beings, we can have confidence in what we see in verses 13 and 14. When we set our spiritual being as a priority, our greatest desire is to know and worship our creator. Even if we are in prison for our faith, we can seek the Lord in worship, meditation, and prayer. Spirits are confident in the physical difficulties of the body. Physical beings are frail and weak, and circumstances can beat them. Notice in verse 14 that waiting on the Lord and being strong is about the heart or the spirit, not the arm or the body. Worshiping and our home in heaven are not consolation prizes; they are the whole purpose.

“Lord, help me have the right perspective about my body and spirit. AMEN.”

Psalm 26

Psalm 26

In this psalm David asserts his innocence and right standing. This may have been written while David was being oppressed by Saul. But he says something that is truly bold. In verse 2 David invites Divine investigation into his mind and heart. If David was anything like most, or even all, people, there were places in his heart that were not perfect. The fact of the matter is we all have issues that we may not even recognize or realize that are hidden in the heart. What we might imagine as good is in fact worse than we could have expected. Even if we feel pretty good about ourselves, would we invite the all-knowing, all-holy, all-powerful God to give us a once-over?

It is because of what we see in verse 3 that David does this. The word "loving kindness" (NASB) carries the meaning of a kindness or a favor done to the lowly, needy, or miserable person. The invitation of divine examination can bring us closer to God. David, good as he was, could improve. Here we are encouraged to ask God to show us where He would change us for the better.

“Lord, help me to always be open to the change that you wish to bring. AMEN.”

Psalm 25

 Psalm 25

This Psalm is filled with wonderful promises that everyone would desire.  There are promises for victory over enemies, compassion, kindness, justice, pardon, and prosperity, just to name a few.  It might be tempting to look at this Psalm and think only of all the ‘blessings’ we can get from God.  We might be tempted to become transactional in our relationship with God.  Like a purchase, I’ll give this so that I can get that.

But there is something much deeper for us in knowing the Lord.  In knowing the Lord, not just trying to get something from Him, we discover His beauty, glory, and graciousness.  Our response as we see His nature is to desire to be like Him.  Knowing Him intimately and being like Him becomes our priority and ultimate goal.  The blessings, wonderful as they are, become secondary; they are a mere by-product of knowing Him.  If the blessing didn’t exist, it would matter little because the object of our affections, God, would still be ours.  If we have the Lord, we will care less if we have the benefits; only let us have Him.

“Thank you, Lord, for all Your blessings.  But most of all, thank You for allowing me to know You. AMEN.”