Psalm 62

 Psalm 62

We all have a tendency to want to talk and talk too much.  Especially in difficult times when we are under attack.  This psalm may have been written when David was under attack from Absalom.  David does something we need to replicate when we are under stress.  He emphasizes the importance of being silent. 

In verse 1 David describes himself with “My soul waits in silence for God alone.” After describing the wicked behavior of evil men, there is a subtle change. In verse 5 we see “My soul, wait in silence for God only.”  In verse 1 he describes the state of his soul; in verse 5 he commands it.  Being silent and waiting on God is not a one-and-done kind of thing.  We seem to be at peace, and when reminded of evil, we have to take action to move toward the peace or silence before God.  But this time David doesn’t rehearse their evil behaviors but rather God’s greatness.  Notice also what David heard in verses 11-12.  Power belongs to God, and loving-kindness, or mercy, is His.  

“Lord, help me to be silent so I can hear Your words of mercy. AMEN.”

Psalm 61

 Psalm 61

It seems that we are better at working on our relationship with God in times of hardship than in times of ease and comfort.  The Psalmist is far from the temple and almost spent, verse 2, and is calling out to God.  His desire is to be near the Lord, under His protection.  The Psalmist has made vows to God and God has heard them.  

We have all made vows to God.  Since God needs nothing from us, it's pretty foolish to try to bargain with Him.  What He desires is a relationship with us.  So when we make a vow, it ought to be to that end.  

These vows need to be fulfilled, and that is where the rub, or the challenge is.  When we became Christian, we made certain vows or commitments.  In short, we gave up control of ourselves, and we surrendered or gave our lives to the Lord.  We gave ourselves completely to Him, as a sacrifice, albeit a living one.  So the question we must answer is, “How are we doing in keeping the promises we made to the Lord?”  Not keeping promises is bad, especially those made to God.

“Lord, help me every day to die to myself and live completely for You. AMEN””

Psalm 60

 Psalm 60

When the insanity we call World War 1 began, all the combatant nations held these two things in common.  First, they believed it would be a quick war ending in glorious victory.  Second, they believed this to be the case because they were convinced that God was on their side.  They lived like this in ancient Israel.  Today many of us have the capacity to assume what we deeply desire must be God’s will.

The traditional title of this psalm doesn’t seem to fit the record of Scripture.  Perhaps this was written in a retrospective during the return from exile, calling Israel to reflect on and reject the folly of presuming upon God’s favor. That is the lesson for us.  

It recalls an occasion where apparently Israel was badly defeated in battle after assuming God’s protection and blessing, verses 1-5.  Certainly God’s will is going to be accomplished, verses 6-8.  But His will is going to be accomplished by those in submission and obedience to Him.  The important question is not “Is God on our side?” He alone chooses.  The question is “Am I on God’s side?”  If my loyalty is anywhere else, victory for instance, we may find ourselves beaten and broken.  

“Lord, help me to never presume on Your grace and favor. AMEN.”

Psalm 59

 Psalm 59

This Psalm has traditionally been attributed to David, but there are some scholars who believe it may have been written by Nehemiah while rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem.  This seems to fit the Psalm better, especially the difficult-to-translate and understand verse 9.

When there are limited or scarce resources, you better put those resources to the best use possible, and that is what verse 9 is all about. What the Psalmist seems to be saying is either “Because my enemy is stronger, I will wait on God” or “With all my strength, I will wait on God.”  Perhaps the reason this verse is vague is that the writer meant both.  Compared to the power of darkness, our personal resources are very small.  The best use of our limited resources is to direct them to connecting with God. 

In this Psalm the forces of evil are powerful, relentless, remorseless, and cruel.  Clearly the author is over matched, so he will use what he has to connect with the One who saves. In the last 2 verses we see the hope of this strategy.  

“Lord, I will trust You because You are my stronghold. AMEN.”

Psalm 58

 Psalm 58

We believe this psalm was prompted by the rebellion of Absalom.  Recall that Absalom began to steal the hearts of the people by means of promising justice and social reform (2 Samuel 15).  

There are few things more harmful than those in a position of public trust who have evil motives.  They are like a deadly snake that is unresponsive to its handler/charmer.  David’s descriptions or curses are highly aggressive: a toothless lion, poured-out water, arrows with no point, snail slime, or a miscarried child.  David says their punishment will be fast.  Thorns burn fast and hot but not for long.  David is not predicting a soon-to-arrive justice, but when it happens, it will be a short and complete demise.  

At the fall of the wicked, righteous people rejoice.  This should not be a matter of personal revenge or angry retribution.  Rather, this is the delight of seeing God’s justice prevail.  We rejoice that God’s standards are vindicated.  “Surely there is a God who judges the earth. ”.

“Grant, Lord, that I will wait for Your justice.  AMEN.”

Psalm 57

 Psalm 57

The question often comes down to: “Whose solution or answer do you really trust?” From home repair to medical care, we follow the advice of those we deem trustworthy.  When it comes to the matter of life, whose solutions do we trust: God's or our own?

The events that prompted this psalm are found in 1 Samuel 24 and pose to David that same question.  Some scholars believe that David intended to kill Saul but was prompted or was told by God, ‘Do not destroy.’  David had every right to run Saul through and he had the perfect opportunity to end Saul’s pursuit.

But David realized there was a greater security and peace in submission to God’s will than his own solution.  The ESV translates verse 2 beautifully: “I cry out to God most high, to God who fulfills His purpose for me.”  It was a sure thing that David could have killed Saul.  But it was an even more sure thing that God would accomplish His purpose for David.  

The question for me is do I trust my solutions and answers or God’s?

“By Your grace, Lord, help me never to substitute my solutions for Yours. Amen. ”.

Psalm 56

Psalm 56

David is between a rock and a hard place.  Fleeing from Saul, David goes to the Philistine ruler Achish.  But Achish’s war council reminds him that David has reportedly slain 10,000 Philistines (1 Samuel 21:10-11).  How does David respond to this situation?  He responds with confidence, but why confidence?  In verses 4 and 10, David expresses his love for God’s word.  Clearly this is not the same as our Bible, but the principle is the same. David knows God, and that knowledge of God gives him confidence in God’s care and direction.  Familiarity with God’s past dealing is derived from His word.  God’s story about Himself—how He interacts with His people, what He cares about, and what He thinks about me—can be more important than the circumstance.  Indeed these ought to be more important than the circumstances, people, or emotions.  The result of this confidence is we fulfill our vows or commitments to God.  Knowing God by His word, having confidence in Him, and living a holy life: this is a life worth living.  

“Lord, help me to know You by pouring faithfully over Your word. AMEN.”

Psalm 55

Psalm 55

The story behind this Psalm would make an excellent movie about high-level political intrigue.  This psalm is David' s response to the rebellion of Absalom and especially the treason of David’s trusted longtime friend and advisor Ahithophel.

David’s distress is complete, and he expresses his desire to retreat into the wilderness.  During the oppression of Saul, David was on the run engaging in guerrilla warfare.  Without the constraints of urban life, he was one step ahead of Saul.  But he wants to be like a dove, to get more than one step’s distance between him and danger.  

But David knows that safety isn’t in the dreams of a wilderness retreat or a bug-out location.  Security is found in God alone.  Traitors can be found even in the most secure locations.  The advice of verse 22 is for kings on the run or simple people trying to live faithfully in a crazy, evil world.  Our obligation and only real choice is to be sure that we are the ‘righteous’ as seen in the second part of verse 22.  This is greater security in righteous living than in a fortress.

“In times of ease or trouble, help me, Lord, to be righteous before You. AMEN.”

Psalm 54

 Psalm 54

The backstory or historical context is critical to this Psalm.  The men of Ziph aligned themselves with Saul and chose to betray David.  Saul’s response is interesting; he plans to capture and murder David, but he sounds pious in the process: “May you be blessed of the Lord, for you have had compassion on me” (1 Samuel 23:21).  Not everyone who is fluent in ‘God talk’ is a good person.  

David has a narrow escape and pens these words as a response.  In v. 7 we see the word ‘delivered’ in NASB.  This word carries the connotation or implication of a covenant relationship. David’s rescue was not mere happenstance.  It was God acting out of the relationship between God and David. For David’s benefit, God even used the wicked heathen Philistines.  God rules all things for the benefit of His Kingdom.  We need not fear the plots, plans, and operations of the godless or the powers of darkness.  Nevertheless, it was a close call.  In the past part of verse 7, David says that his “eye has looked upon my enemy.”  Often translations insert words to clarify the meaning, but a literal translation may be best. David was within visual range when the rescue occurred.  God will not fail us.  But He may allow things to develop so that we are frightened occasionally.  

“Help me, Lord, to live in complete confidence and trust in You. AMEN.”

Psalm 53

Psalm 53

This Psalm and Psalm 14 are very similar.  The subject of human evil is a nearly inexhaustible subject.  The source of evil is, at its root, a denial of God.  We are apt to apply this to the lives of dictators, exploitative captains of industry, or leaders of criminal organizations.  But perhaps we ought to apply this a little closer to home.  When I sin, I do so either by intentional choice or by drifting, under the influence of the world, the flesh, or pride, I am denying God.  I cannot in the same moment hate someone and submit to God, who calls me to love even my enemies.  In fundamental ways, purity and lust, truth and lies, and generosity and greed are so incompatible as to make the act of sin a statement of, in practical terms, atheism.

Perhaps rather than consider this Psalm a rebuke for wicked monsters in our world, I ought to take it as a confrontation to that part of my heart that still wants to harbor sin.  When I act sinfully because I think it is a solution, in that moment and space I say there is not a God and I am free to do as I will.

“Lord, never allow me to confess You with my words but deny You with my deeds. AMEN”

Psalm 52

 Psalm 52

This psalm is a reflection on one of the most barbaric events in the history of the kingdom of Israel.  If you are not familiar with the story, take a moment to read 1 Samuel 22.  We can’t say for certain if this Psalm is a rebuke of Saul or Doeg, but that doesn’t really matter; the principles apply to both.  

Verses 1-4 are descriptive of the depth of evil.  Note in v 2 is the reference to a sharp razor.  The one welding the razor is a trusted barber.  The image here is that of betrayal; expecting to have a shave, the victim has his throat cut.  This is an apt description of how wicked evil people are.

Verses 5-7 are descriptive of the destruction of the evil and the reaction of the righteous to their ruin.  God’s justice is perfect, complete, just, and devastating.  Far better than anything humans could accomplish, that is one reason it is commanded that we leave it to God to repay.  But there is an important point in this section about motivation.  Why such evil?  The evil one made wealth his security; anything that threatened his wealth was a threat to his very being (v. 7).  Their ruin is both an occasion for the righteous to fear God and rejoice in His judgment.  Should we laugh at the ruin of the wicked (v. 6), or is laughter an irresistible result of witnessing the ruin of the evil?  

“Lord, bring Your righteous and just judgment against all evil, including the evil of my own heart. AMEN.”

Psalm 51

 Psalm 51

Next to Psalm 23, this is perhaps the most well-known of all the Psalms.  It is the response of David’s heart when it is finally broken over the murder of his loyal friend, prompted by the affair with his friend’s wife.  It is hard not to identify with this Psalm even if our sin is not murder.  As with all the Psalms, this one deserves deep study and meditation from the opening letter to the final period.

For our purposes we will focus on three points in the first verse.  The theme and desperation of the whole Psalm are expressed in three words or phrases.  In the NASB those words and phrases are “be gracious,” “loving kindness,” and “compassion.” There is a growing intensity of these words.  In these three words/phrases, David is asking for ‘kind affection’ that is expressed over one that is loved.  Next he asks for a disposition of ‘beauty and goodness.’  Third, there he places his hope in a deep gut-level emotion that moves the whole person, that is, God, to act.  Herein is the only hope for a sinner.  Thankfully that beautifully describes our Lord God’s passionate want and desire to forgive us.  His desire to forgive is greater than our desire to be forgiven.  But if we have that desire, however imperfectly and incompletely, He is both willing and able to forgive.  

“Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner. AMEN.”

Psalm 50

 Psalm 50

It is all about the focus.  When I was a motorcycle riding instructor, I taught my students, “Where you look (focus), you will go.  That is true of riding and of life.” One of the dangers in our lives of worship is we get the wrong focus.  This Psalm is a warning about misplaced focus.  Some made the focus of their worship their sacrifices and imagined that their practices made them right.  These folks were in grave danger and were warned about God’s punishing judgment (vv. 7-13). Others offered the same sacrifices along the way, but their focus was on God.  As a result they were right with Him (v. 14-15).

We often make, or try to make, worship about performance, our style, emotions, traditions, or us. An entire industry has grown up around marketing the worship of church to suit the wishes of people.  There is serious danger here, because worship is not about us.  The grandeur of the God of the universe draws from us worship and relationship.  When He is at the center, everything else falls into place.

“Lord, help me to focus on You, and out of that focus, worship You. AMEN.”

The Politician, the photographer, and the pedophile

 Moral outrage is a strange thing.

In a recently released email we see a picture of the strange reality of moral outrage.  The email, in part, is related to the October 2016 furor over Donald Trump’s ‘Access Hollywood’ interview in which he admitted to some pretty serious sexual misconduct.  I am not interested in rehashing that story, nor am I a Trump apologist.  However, this recently released email offers a picture into what might be our condition.

The author of the email stated that he was originally not going to vote against Trump but was changing his mind and was going to give Trump his support and a sympathy vote. The author found the treatment of Trump to be hypocritical.  He was convinced that Bill Clinton said worse.  For the author, the hypocrisy of outrage mustered up against Trump was just too much.  Apparently the great moral evil of hypocrisy was something to not be tolerated.  We all have those hot buttons that, when pushed, cause us to respond with a sense of righteous indignation. 

But there is a certain irony associated with this email’s subject, author, and recipient.  While we are all familiar with Donald Trump, we may not be as familiar with the author Andres Serrano.  Serrano is an artist who specializes in what is called ‘transgressive art.’  Transgressive art attempts to offend and cause revulsion on the part of the observer.  At the same time that Serrano was having this email conversation, he was doing exhibitions of his show, “Torture.” In this exhibition Serrano, a photographer, presented a series of pictures depicting horrible scenes of human torture. Serrano was also noted for his exhibition “The History of Sex,” which we might call “A History of Depravity.”  His most famous work was called “Piss Christ,” a photograph of a crucifix submerged in a container of human urine.  Which, by the way, you paid for as a U.S. taxpayer to the tune of $15,000.

While you may have never heard of Andres Serrano, you have no doubt heard of his friend with whom he was corresponding, Jeffery Epstein.  While all the details are not available, it appears that Epstein shared Serrano’s moral outrage over the hypocrisy regarding Donald Trump’s comments.  Please don’t allow your mental software to crash as you think about Serrano and Epstein having moral outrage over anything. 

But before we condemn them too vigorously, we need to check and see if perhaps we have the capacity to be vigorously opposed to some moral behaviors while condoning others.  I once upset some people by something I said in a sermon: “I wonder if perhaps we would be better off engaging in homosexual escapades than in gossip.  At least with a homosexual tryst there might be a sense of guilt and remorse, which is almost entirely absent from gossip in a church.”   We all, like Serrano and Epstein, have a list of unacceptables and a list of acceptables as far as behavior is concerned.  

A trip to Epstein Island would disqualify a person from any role in ministry.  The sins of the flesh have no place anywhere near the church.  But what about worldliness?  The desire to have, to own, to call it ‘mine’ is not absent in the church and among its leaders.  Of course the sin of pride is completely absent from preachers and church workers, said no one who has ever worked with churches.  I have met some ministry leaders who were so unbelievably prideful I was gobsmacked. 

We sometimes call this moral compromise a ‘blind spot’.  That is not a very good term.  Blindness is almost never willfully self-induced.  A better term, and a more biblical one, is to call it hard-heartedness.  The night before His murder and betrayal, Jesus said that the Holy Spirit would convict the world "about sin, righteousness, and judgment."  Would we dare ask the Holy Spirit to bring on us and on our hearts conviction about our sins, lack of righteousness, and the coming judgment?   I need His conviction because I lack the ability to have moral outrage for my sins.  I am left only to condemn what I find repugnant in others and not be repulsed by my greed, lust, and pride.  The echo chambers in which we live will be so loud in the condemnation of the things we hate that we will become deaf to any voice that would call us to holiness and virtue.  We all need help.

“Lord, by Your Holy Spirit, bring Your judgment on me. AMEN

 

Psalm 49

 Psalm 49

In a cemetery I visited, there is a massive monument marking the grave of a man who was extremely wealthy.  He was, apparently, a captain of industry and industrial shipping.  In the same cemetery, a few hundred yards away, there is a grave marked by an unmarked rock.  No name or dates or descriptions of the life that was lived.  Clearly this was a very poor person.  What they have in common is in the grave they are equal in wealth.  In terms of economics and many other ways, death is the great equalizer.

Verse 13 sums up the pursuit of wealth and those who make wealth a priority.  The word ‘foolish’ (NASB), or sometimes translated ‘folly’ or ‘arrogant,’ means to place trust in something doomed to fail.  Most of our culture is built on a hope that is doomed to fail because death, like a shepherd, takes everyone to their grave, where wealth is meaningless.  

But verse 15 gives the real hope.  From the grave God will redeem the righteous; God will pay the price of rescue.  Clearly this was done on the Cross.  Here we see the contrast of real and false wealth.  Are we finding our wealth in the world or in the Cross?

“Lord, help me to never place my trust in anything that will not last forever. AMEN.”

Psalm 48

 Psalm 48

As Christians, what are we to make of this Psalm and all the others that express such deep emotions and loyalty to Jerusalem and/or the temple?  Most of us have never been to Jerusalem, fewer have lived there, and none have seen the temple.  We must remember that the temple was a type or a tangible prophecy of what was to come.  Christ fulfilled the Law and the prophecies, and now, rather than a city or a temple on earth, there is the Church.  Not the local congregation but all the elect from every nation.  We are the temple on earth.

With that in mind, we see a marvel and beauty that surpasses mere architecture.  We see the unassailability of the Church, protected and indwelled by God.  We saw the safety and the power of God’s people with God living in them.  “But the church today is such a mess,” we might say.  That is only partially true.  The Church has been counterfeited, and the mess we see is the result of the counterfeit.

Read carefully and slowly, and as you read about the city or the temple, think of the holy universal church.  Then we can line our lives up to being part of the body of Christ. 

“Lord, thank you for the new temple, the Church, and for calling me to be a part. AMEN.”

Psalm 47

 Psalm 47

The invitation to worship is extended, not just to the Jews but to all people of the earth. In the very spiritual makeup of the Old Testament covenant and scriptures is the beautiful promise of God’s great plan to redeem all peoples.  In verses 1-2 we see the reference to all peoples and God’s rule over all the earth.  

This worship of God is itself an important theme and focus of this psalm.  Some scholars see in verse 5, “God has ascended…” an acted out the parable.  The original reference is to the Ark going up to the temple as a type or foreshadowing of the ascension of Jesus after the resurrection. Verse 7 calls for a ‘skillful Psalm’ or ‘song of wisdom,” a literal translation of the word ‘miskil.’ This means an instructive song. It is a tremendous benefit and blessing when we sing songs that teach us the great truths of our faith, rather than expressing our emotional condition.  Powerful emotions are a wonderful and appropriate response to the grandeur of our God, but our emotions ought not be the focus of our faith, worship, and practice.  

“Lord, help me to marvel at Your greatness and not at how I feel. AMEN.”

Psalm 46

 Psalm 46

Now is the time to panic, but don’t forget the popcorn.

I generally do not listen to the news.  In fact, I find most news broadcast boring and drudgery.   The main reason is that the message from every corner seems to have one underlying theme: Now is the time to panic.  It does not matter if the perspective was Christian or secular, conservative or liberal; the message at all points was it is time to panic. This panic has bled over into the Christian community.  How often do we hear that we are witnessing the end of Christian faith as we know it.  

At times and in some places bad things are bad..  But we must not allow ourselves to be  manipulated by and submit to the voices of doom that tell us only by doing what they say can we avoid ruin. Fear makes us very exploitable.  Their message to us is, “Everything is worse than we thought or you can imagine.  We must act now!  If we don’t, all is lost.” 

Psalm 46 is our antidote for this kind of thinking.  Waters were a symbol of people groups or nations.  In this Psalm we see political, national, or even international chaos.  But in the midst of this, God’s people are secure.  In verse four we see a river, which is symbolic; mountain top Jerusalem has no river.  This river may represent the foreign policy, army, or extension of a nation that was being used by God for the benefit of God’s people.  We need not forget that entire nations were raised up by God to accomplish His purposes. 

Verse 10 is often quoted for our comfort but is generally taken out of context. The nine preceding verses are about God’s sovereign authority over the political process in the world.  The following verse is about God’s providential and specific protection for His people.  It is unlikely that this verse jumps over to talk about having a daily quiet time.  This verse is primarily about God’s people relaxing when political chaos and its associated panic are present in every moment.  

The next time someone tells you that if you don’t act, give, or in other ways conform to their agenda, then all is lost.  Say to them, “Do I have time to get some popcorn to eat while I watch the end of the world?”

“Lord, in the midst of the madness of our world, help me to trust in You. AMEN.”

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.”