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.”

Psalm 24

Psalm 24

In this beautiful Psalm we find great hope and comfort.  First we do well to ask, “Who is really in charge?”  We are never far from bad news.  As we look around us, it seems the whole world is overrun by evil forces doing evil things for evil purposes.  But David reminds us that God is the true owner of all the world.

Because of that, David reminds us of our call to holy living.  Purity is the password to the holy place where the Lord is and is worshiped.  Being distressed about evil is one thing, but being holy in the midst of it is another and is our calling.  

The Almighty Righteous King arrives, and we are awestruck.  Originally this was about the arrival of the Ark of the Covenant at Jerusalem.  But we see here a picture of the Second Advent of Christ (His glorious return).  The city gates are not big enough to allow the heroic warrior king to enter.  The top of the city gate, the head, will have to move or be lifted up to make room for the king to enter.  Imagine a beleaguered city’s celebration as their hero, their king, returns in total victory with His army following.  We shall see this when Christ returns.  But the news gets even better: we get to join the victory parade because our holy lives are our admission to join the procession.

“Lord, help me live a holy life in anticipation of the victory celebration at Christ’s return. AMEN.” 

Psalm 23

 Psalm 23

A councilor once reported that when he treated patients with mild depression or anxiety, he prescribed reading Psalm 23 twice a day, mornings and evenings.  Patients were instructed to not memorize and recite the Psalm but to carefully, intentionally, and slowly read it.  He reported that the vast majority of those who did as directed experienced improvement or, in many cases, complete alleviation of their symptoms.

This ought not surprise us.  Peace of heart and soul would be the result as we realize that the Lord is in control (vs. 1-3).  He is not distant but close, and if we are close to Him, we are in a good place.  We also see He is actually actively caring for us (vs 4-5). Even in the worst of circumstances, He is actively shepherding us.  Beyond all this, He wants to keep us close and safe (v. 6).  “Goodness and mercy” follow us.  “Follow” is the word that can describe how a wolf tracks and pursues prey.  Think of ‘goodness’ and ‘mercy’ as two sheepdogs bringing us back to the shepherd when and if we wander off.  But we are not left in a pen but live in the house.  With such a life, how could depression and anxiety maintain their control?

“Lord, help me to realize the great life I have as a sheep in Your care. AMEN.”

Psalm 22

 Psalm 22

As we read the Psalm, it feels as if the writer was an eyewitness to the execution of Jesus. The actions of the religious leaders and even the Roman soldiers were described in amazing detail over a thousand years before the event. The suffering subject of this psalm describes himself as forsaken, a worm, a reproach, disjointed, pierced, and with his garments taken.

With this in mind, the second half of the Psalm makes no sense without knowing about Jesus's death, burial, and resurrection. The hopeful tones of verses 22 through 31 are incongruent with the suffering in verses 1 to 21. Until they are given meaning in the Lord's victory at the cross and on Easter. It is the death, burial, and resurrection that gives this psalm and all of scripture and all of life meaning. The last section, verses 25 to 31, is even descriptive of the establishment of the church and her worldwide expansion. The “rejected one” of the first verse results in all the world turning to the Lord in verse 27. How is this possible? Because this is about Jesus.

“Lord, thank you for the hope we have in Christ. AMEN.”