Psalm 28

¹To you, O Lord, I call;
   my rock, do not refuse to hear me,
for if you are silent to me,
   I shall be like those who go down to the Pit. 
²Hear the voice of my supplication,
   as I cry to you for help,
as I lift up my hands
   towards your most holy sanctuary. 

³Do not drag me away with the wicked,
   with those who are workers of evil,
who speak peace with their neighbours,
   while mischief is in their hearts. 
⁴Repay them according to their work,
   and according to the evil of their deeds;
repay them according to the work of their hands;
   render them their due reward. 
⁵Because they do not regard the works of the Lord,
   or the work of his hands,
he will break them down and build them up no more. 

⁶Blessed be the Lord,
   for he has heard the sound of my pleadings. 
⁷The Lord is my strength and my shield;
   in him my heart trusts;
so I am helped, and my heart exults,
   and with my song I give thanks to him. 

⁸The Lord is the strength of his people;
   he is the saving refuge of his anointed. 
⁹O save your people, and bless your heritage;
   be their shepherd, and carry them for ever.

How do we prove God's faithfulness?  It is something that we have been reading about and praying about in the psalms thus far.  I have come to this conclusion from reading:  God is faithful.  The question remains, "How do we prove it?"

I think the proof is in the reading.  This is a psalm of David.  A person who cried to God in despair, who asked for help, and using only the grace and strength of God was able to defeat the giant.  We prove it because there are people who have seen the good and bad, who struggle with sin and sadness, who have dealt with death and loss, and yet they choose to bless their God.  I think that is what is meant when we sing, "Faith of our Fathers."  It means remembering the faithfulness of those women and men who have lived lives of faith before us.  Because of their witness, we are able to embrace the love of God.

Pray Psalm 28.

Psalm 27

¹The Lord is my light and my salvation;
   whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life;
   of whom shall I be afraid? 

²When evildoers assail me
   to devour my flesh—
my adversaries and foes—
   they shall stumble and fall. 

³Though an army encamp against me,
   my heart shall not fear;
though war rise up against me,
   yet I will be confident. 

⁴One thing I asked of the Lord,
   that will I seek after:
to live in the house of the Lord
   all the days of my life,
to behold the beauty of the Lord,
   and to inquire in his temple. 

⁵For he will hide me in his shelter
   in the day of trouble;
he will conceal me under the cover of his tent;
   he will set me high on a rock. 

⁶Now my head is lifted up
   above my enemies all around me,
and I will offer in his tent
   sacrifices with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make melody to the Lord. 

⁷Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud,
   be gracious to me and answer me! 
⁸'Come,' my heart says, 'seek his face!'
   Your face, Lord, do I seek. 
⁹   Do not hide your face from me. 

Do not turn your servant away in anger,
   you who have been my help.
Do not cast me off, do not forsake me,
   O God of my salvation! 
¹⁰If my father and mother forsake me,
   the Lord will take me up. 

¹¹Teach me your way, O Lord,
   and lead me on a level path
   because of my enemies. 
¹²Do not give me up to the will of my adversaries,
   for false witnesses have risen against me,
   and they are breathing out violence. 

¹³I believe that I shall see the goodness of the Lord
   in the land of the living. 
¹⁴Wait for the Lord;
   be strong, and let your heart take courage;
   wait for the Lord!

 

Honestly, I forget that these were read and have been read through the centuries, if not millenniums, in places of worship.  What then, does that say about the God we take comfort in?  What does it say about the God in whom we trust?  What does it say that we can expect as we wait for the Lord?

"If my father and my mother forsake me, the LORD will take me up."  That could work for our children, our extended family.  It sounds good sung in an anthem, but it it is harder to live out in the everyday chorus of life.  

There is much to fear.  Every night, on the news there are stories to incite fear.  We read in the paper stories that paralyze us and make us wonder how can good people get by in this world.  Where is our hope.   It is at those times our prayer is that of the psalmist: "Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!"

Pray Psalm 27.

Psalm 26

Psalm 26

Posted by: ThomasMartin on Oct 28, 2009  

Tagged in: daily devotional

Psalm 26

¹Vindicate me, O Lord,
   for I have walked in my integrity,
   and I have trusted in the Lord without wavering. 
²Prove me, O Lord, and try me;
   test my heart and mind. 
³For your steadfast love is before my eyes,
   and I walk in faithfulness to you. 
⁴I do not sit with the worthless,
   nor do I consort with hypocrites; 
⁵I hate the company of evildoers,
   and will not sit with the wicked. 
⁶I wash my hands in innocence,
   and go around your altar, O Lord, 
⁷singing aloud a song of thanksgiving,
   and telling all your wondrous deeds. 
⁸O Lord, I love the house in which you dwell,
   and the place where your glory abides. 
⁹Do not sweep me away with sinners,
   nor my life with the bloodthirsty, 
¹⁰those in whose hands are evil devices,
   and whose right hands are full of bribes. 
¹¹But as for me, I walk in my integrity;
   redeem me, and be gracious to me. 
¹²My foot stands on level ground;
   in the great congregation I will bless the Lord.

For some reason, I have been thinking about attitudes lately.  Let me be clear, I don't think that having a good attitude is the solution to solving all of your problems. If it was, we wouldn't need God's grace.  However, the phrase, "You need an attitude adjustment" learned in my childhood has been forefront in my mind as of late.

It takes something outside of ourselves to change.  For a child, it may be skinning a knee and learning to be more careful on a bike.  For a student, it may be receiving a bad grade on a test where we though we knew all the answers.  For people in a relationship, the change might come from a misspoken word out of anger brought upon by tension from outside of the relationship.  The question then becomes, on what will you stand?

When we submit to God, we stand upon God's promises.  Fortunately and unfortunately, we submit ourselves for God's judgment.  When we make claims that we have lived righteous lives, we better be ready to back up those claims.  Yet here is the good news. David, who was a low life adulterer was called a man after God's own heart.  Why?  Because he sought forgiveness.  For all of his short-comings, he continually pursued the Lord after he was convicted.  

We will stumble.  We will fall.  And we choose to get back up.  When we do, where and upon what will you stand?

Pray Psalm 26. 

Psalm 25

Psalm 25

¹To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul. 
²O my God, in you I trust;
   do not let me be put to shame;
   do not let my enemies exult over me. 
³Do not let those who wait for you be put to shame;
   let them be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous. 

⁴Make me to know your ways, O Lord;
   teach me your paths. 
⁵Lead me in your truth, and teach me,
   for you are the God of my salvation;
   for you I wait all day long. 

⁶Be mindful of your mercy, O Lord, and of your steadfast love,
   for they have been from of old. 
⁷Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions;
   according to your steadfast love remember me,
   for your goodness' sake, O Lord! 

⁸Good and upright is the Lord;
   therefore he instructs sinners in the way. 
⁹He leads the humble in what is right,
   and teaches the humble his way. 
¹⁰All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness,
   for those who keep his covenant and his decrees. 

¹¹For your name's sake, O Lord,
   pardon my guilt, for it is great. 
¹²Who are they that fear the Lord?
   He will teach them the way that they should choose. 

¹³They will abide in prosperity,
   and their children shall possess the land. 
¹⁴The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him,
   and he makes his covenant known to them. 
¹⁵My eyes are ever towards the Lord,
   for he will pluck my feet out of the net. 

¹⁶Turn to me and be gracious to me,
   for I am lonely and afflicted. 
¹⁷Relieve the troubles of my heart,
   and bring me out of my distress. 
¹⁸Consider my affliction and my trouble,
   and forgive all my sins. 

¹⁹Consider how many are my foes,
   and with what violent hatred they hate me. 
²⁰O guard my life, and deliver me;
   do not let me be put to shame, for I take refuge in you. 
²¹May integrity and uprightness preserve me,
   for I wait for you. 

²²Redeem Israel, O God,
   out of all its troubles.

I was listening to talks last week on mission statements, motto's, and branding.  The point was to make the most impact in as few words as possible; usually in a clever way.  I have been considering what the theme of the Psalms would be.  I don't think it is necessary to take such a complex set of verses and emotions and try to reduce them to a "bumper sticker" slogan--easily digested and memorable.  However, the first verse struck me as consistent with emotions that we have come across. "To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul."

There is much to take in when reading the Psalms.  However, for all the joy, for all the pain, for all the loss, for all the gain, that phrase, "To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul" speaks to us all.  

The danger of living in today's world is thinking that we are possibly our own saviors and healers.  It is not until we are surrounded by our foes that we realize that we cannot do anything a part from God.  The lie of the world tells us that we are in control.  How much easier, then, to acknowledge that the Lord of hosts is in control of our lives.  When faced with uncertainty and pain, these words of the Psalmist be our prayer, "Make me to know your ways, O Lord."

Pray Psalm 25. 

Psalm 24

(Please note, those of you who receive this devotion in email form, this will be the last week for the emails. I will continue to post here and on the church's website, www.prumc.org. You can find the devotions there and here. Thank you for all the feedback. Let me know of any questions (Thomas' email). Blessings.)

Psalm 24

1The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it,
the world, and those who live in it;
2for he has founded it on the seas,
and established it on the rivers.


3Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord?
And who shall stand in his holy place?
4Those who have clean hands and pure hearts,
who do not lift up their souls to what is false,
and do not swear deceitfully.
5They will receive blessing from the Lord,
and vindication from the God of their salvation.
6Such is the company of those who seek him,
who seek the face of the God of Jacob.
Selah

7Lift up your heads, O gates!
and be lifted up, O ancient doors!
that the King of glory may come in.
8Who is the King of glory?
The Lord, strong and mighty,
the Lord, mighty in battle.
9Lift up your heads, O gates!
and be lifted up, O ancient doors!
that the King of glory may come in.
10Who is this King of glory?
The Lord of hosts,
he is the King of glory.
Selah

What is the attitude you bring to worship? The first things have a lot to say about how and who we worship. This psalm gives an example. The first thing it does is to profess faith in God, to who all the world belongs. Think about our own worship processions. We begin with a psalm from the choir, usually, after we have marked the beginning of worship with silence.

One of the first things we do, after invoking the Holy Spirit is to affirm our faith together. This brings the community together over a shared event. Notice this, however: For all the rituals of our present day and time, and for all the rituals of the ancient Israelites, it is only those who have clean hands and pure hearts that ascend to God's holy place.

Rituals, formulas, and routine are important, for they shape us. However, if we do things merely out of a sense of duty, rather than seeing these moments as what they are--opportunities to purify ourselves and draw close to God--then we miss the point. The point of worship is to glorify the God of all creation. We must be willing to submit our selfish pride and ambition to the King of Glory. So again, I ask, what is the attitude you bring to worship?

Pray Psalm 24.

Psalm 23

Psalm 23

¹The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

²He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

 ³He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

 ⁴Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

 ⁵Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

 ⁶Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

 

This psalm gives me chills.  Especially when read in the King James Language.  It reminds me of learning it as a 2nd grader, hearing other young children learn it, and reciting is at loved ones funerals.  It is one of those pieces of literature that stands alone in meaning, understanding, and evoking emotion.  At no other place in the psalms is God called a shepherd or referenced in such a tender, intimate way.  Looking over the imagery of the previous Psalm we have read and prayed, this one is markedly different.

In structure, it is simple, but it begins and ends with the LORD.  I like patterns, and there is nothing more fitting a pattern than to begin and end with God.  The psalm which speaks of intimacy with God, also speaks of abundance.  The only two characters in this psalm are the sheep and the shepherd.  That does not mean that God does not care about the flock.  But when we walk the the Lord, there is a personal touch to what God provides.  This Psalm reminds me of death, but no other Psalm could be more about life lived with the Good Shepherd.  As you pray this Psalm, give thanks for the relationship that God can have and wants to have with each one of us.

Pray Psalm 23.

Psalm 22 (part 2)

Psalm 22 (part 2)
¹⁹But you, O Lord, do not be far away!
   O my help, come quickly to my aid! 
²⁰Deliver my soul from the sword,
   my life from the power of the dog! 
²¹   Save me from the mouth of the lion! 

From the horns of the wild oxen you have rescued me. 
²²I will tell of your name to my brothers and sisters;
   in the midst of the congregation I will praise you: 
²³You who fear the Lord, praise him!
   All you offspring of Jacob, glorify him;
   stand in awe of him, all you offspring of Israel! 
²⁴For he did not despise or abhor
   the affliction of the afflicted;
he did not hide his face from me,
   but heard when I cried to him. 

²⁵From you comes my praise in the great congregation;
   my vows I will pay before those who fear him. 
²⁶The poor shall eat and be satisfied;
   those who seek him shall praise the Lord.
   May your hearts live for ever! 

²⁷All the ends of the earth shall remember
   and turn to the Lord;
and all the families of the nations
   shall worship before him.
²⁸For dominion belongs to the Lord,
   and he rules over the nations. 

²⁹To him, indeed, shall all who sleep in the earth bow down;
   before him shall bow all who go down to the dust,
   and I shall live for him.
³⁰Posterity will serve him;
   future generations will be told about the Lord, 
³¹and proclaim his deliverance to a people yet unborn,
   saying that he has done it.

We move from the desperation of the first part of the psalm to redemption.  That sounds a lot like our stories.  One moment we may find ourselves on the side of abandonment.  The next day could bring untold blessings.  There is something within the heart of the psalmist, the worshiper, the follower, the author, the reader, that recognizes the humanity in the psalms.

What can we do in our lives to have that same heart?  The same heart that at one minute feels far from God, and the next giving praises and thanks?  In our world we like continuity.  We like a linear time-line.  We are adverse to change.  However, the psalms are like mini-wavelengths of life.  Sometimes we are up, sometimes we are down.  To have a worshipful and grateful heart is to know that in the peaks, the troughs, and the valleys--God is present.  "For dominion belongs to the Lord."  Thanks be to God.

Pray Psalm 22 (click here for the full psalm).

Psalm 22 (part 1)

Psalm 22
¹My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
   Why are you so far from helping me, from the words of my groaning? 
²O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer;
   and by night, but find no rest. 
³Yet you are holy,
   enthroned on the praises of Israel. 
⁴In you our ancestors trusted;
   they trusted, and you delivered them. 
⁵To you they cried, and were saved;
   in you they trusted, and were not put to shame. 
⁶But I am a worm, and not human;
   scorned by others, and despised by the people. 
⁷All who see me mock at me;
   they make mouths at me, they shake their heads; 
⁸'Commit your cause to the Lord; let him deliver—
   let him rescue the one in whom he delights!' 
⁹Yet it was you who took me from the womb;
   you kept me safe on my mother's breast. 
¹⁰On you I was cast from my birth,
   and since my mother bore me you have been my God. 
¹¹Do not be far from me,
   for trouble is near
   and there is no one to help. 

¹²Many bulls encircle me,
   strong bulls of Bashan surround me; 
¹³they open wide their mouths at me,
   like a ravening and roaring lion. 
¹⁴I am poured out like water,
   and all my bones are out of joint;
my heart is like wax;
   it is melted within my breast; 
¹⁵my mouth is dried up like a potsherd,
   and my tongue sticks to my jaws;
   you lay me in the dust of death. 
¹⁶For dogs are all around me;
   a company of evildoers encircles me.
My hands and feet have shriveled;
¹⁷I can count all my bones.
They stare and gloat over me; 
¹⁸they divide my clothes among themselves,
   and for my clothing they cast lots.

This is easily one of the more recognizable psalms in our Christian tradition.  We remember it from Jesus' words on the cross.  It leaves a haunting image that I think too many of us are familiar with.  We feel that God does not answer us.  It seems particularly haunting when we picture Christ on the cross echoing these words.

It seems like a desperate place to be.  The good news, however, is that this is not the end of the psalm, or even how the story ends.  For while we remember Christ on the cross, we also remember that he did not stay there.  He was crucified, but he arose.  

Tomorrow we will look at the second part of the psalm.  However, as you pray this psalm today, if you are not in a place where you feel far from God, give thanks and pray for someone who may be.  If you are in a place where these words strike close to home, know that people are praying for you.

Pray the above portion of Psalm 22.

Psalm 21

Psalm 21
1In your strength the king rejoices, O Lord,
and in your help how greatly he exults!
2You have given him his heart’s desire,
and have not withheld the request of his lips.
Selah
3For you meet him with rich blessings;
you set a crown of fine gold on his head.
4He asked you for life; you gave it to him—
length of days for ever and ever.
5His glory is great through your help;
splendor and majesty you bestow on him.
6You bestow on him blessings for ever;
you make him glad with the joy of your presence.
7For the king trusts in the Lord,
and through the steadfast love of the Most High he shall not be moved.


8Your hand will find out all your enemies;
your right hand will find out those who hate you.
9You will make them like a fiery furnace
when you appear.
The Lord will swallow them up in his wrath,
and fire will consume them.
10You will destroy their offspring from the earth,
and their children from among humankind.
11If they plan evil against you,
if they devise mischief, they will not succeed.
12For you will put them to flight;
you will aim at their faces with your bows.


13Be exalted, O Lord, in your strength!
We will sing and praise your power.


It is hard to remember grammar. It does not always resonate in the same way. When we pray, it is not so much what we say, but how we ask. However, the Psalms are written and what we have are translations. So it matters, to a degree, how the faithful understand and interpret their relationship with God.


The verbs in this psalm is in the imperative tense. An indication of what will happen, but a certainty to the coming victory. The form of the prayers is hopeful and certain. There can be grace found in this promise of hopeful deliverance.


Scholars will say that this Psalm was meant for the community. It is addressed, of course, to God. But it also a prayer for the leadership (the king) and the way in which the people respond to that leadership. It serves as a reminder that in our prayer life, we are called to pray for our leaders and ourselves. In all things, we remember that God is the one who ultimately holds the supreme power.


Pray Psalm 21.

Psalm 20

Psalm 20
1The Lord answer you in the day of trouble!
The name of the God of Jacob protect you!
2May he send you help from the sanctuary,
and give you support from Zion.
3May he remember all your offerings,
and regard with favor your burnt sacrifices.
Selah


4May he grant you your heart’s desire,
and fulfill all your plans.
5May we shout for joy over your victory,
and in the name of our God set up our banners.
May the Lord fulfill all your petitions.


6Now I know that the Lord will help his anointed;
he will answer him from his holy heaven
with mighty victories by his right hand.
7Some take pride in chariots, and some in horses,
but our pride is in the name of the Lord our God.
8They will collapse and fall,
but we shall rise and stand upright.

9Give victory to the king, O Lord;
answer us when we call.

Do you know what God sounds like? Confession: I don't. I have never heard the audible voice of the Lord. However, I know what I sound like. And I know that I am not God. What does that have to do with victory.

I think its important to know what victory looks like. God's victory does not look like our idea of victory. When the Lord responds, God does so from God's kingdom, not ours. While we may put our hope and trust in the power of out chariots and horses, the true victory comes when we take pride in what God has done, is doing, and will do for us.

Pray Psalm 20.

Psalm 19

Psalm 19
1The heavens are telling the glory of God;
and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.
2Day to day pours forth speech,
and night to night declares knowledge.
3There is no speech, nor are there words;
their voice is not heard;
4yet their voice goes out through all the earth,
and their words to the end of the world.

In the heavens he has set a tent for the sun,
5which comes out like a bridegroom from his wedding canopy,
and like a strong man runs its course with joy.
6Its rising is from the end of the heavens,
and its circuit to the end of them;
and nothing is hidden from its heat.
7The law of the Lord is perfect,
reviving the soul;
the decrees of the Lord are sure,
making wise the simple;
8the precepts of the Lord are right,
rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the Lord is clear,
enlightening the eyes;
9the fear of the Lord is pure,
enduring for ever;
the ordinances of the Lord are true
and righteous altogether.
10More to be desired are they than gold,
even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey,
and drippings of the honeycomb.
11Moreover by them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.
12But who can detect their errors?
Clear me from hidden faults.
13Keep back your servant also from the insolent;
do not let them have dominion over me.
Then I shall be blameless,
and innocent of great transgression.
14Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable to you,
O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

The servant of the Lord. It is a hard concept to grasp. You may have heard preachers say the final verse from Psalm 19 before they preach. I have heard Charles Gardner say it on the occasions in which he preaches. People who do this are not only asking for God's presence, but reminding themselves of the service to which they have been called in Christ.

The whole psalm is a song or prayer of someone who wants to do God's will. It is a lasting prayer. It is a lasting psalm. It has mystery in it. There is paradox: "There is no speech, nor are there words; their voice is not heard; yet their voice goes out through all the winds of the earth, and their words to the end of the world."

How can this be possible? I am reminded of the words from the American artists, Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel--"People talking without speaking. People hearing without listening." The beauty of the poetry of both "The Sound of Silence" and the psalm express one truth: God communicates to us in many different ways. The heavens telling of the glory of God with the only thing they know how to. They speak the only language that God has given them. As God's servants, how will we tell of the works of God's hands not only with our actions, but with our silence?

Pray Psalm 19.

Psalm 18 (verses 43-50)

Psalm 18 (verses 43-50)
43 You delivered me from strife with the peoples;
you made me head of the nations;
people whom I had not known served me.
44 As soon as they heard of me they obeyed me;
foreigners came cringing to me.
45 Foreigners lost heart,
and came trembling out of their strongholds.
46 The Lord lives! Blessed be my rock,
and exalted be the God of my salvation,
47 the God who gave me vengeance
and subdued peoples under me;
48 who delivered me from my enemies;
indeed, you exalted me above my adversaries;
you delivered me from the violent.
49 For this I will extol you, O Lord, among the nations,
and sing praises to your name.
50 Great triumphs he gives to his king,
and shows steadfast love to his anointed,
to David and his descendants for ever.

Redemption. Today we close psalm 18. From trusting in God, to being pursued by enemies. From running from adversities, to finding hope in God. This is one of the first epic psalms that we will encounter. We find, time and time again, that there is hope in the Lord and salvation to the descendants of David--even Christ the King.

What never changes throughout the psalms in the person being addressed. These are words spoken by people to God. We, as listeners are meant to hear. Sometimes, we are even commanded, but nothing in the psalms happens outside of the love of God. That is good news.

As we find ourselves in the midst of another rainy day, there are those who will be calling upon God for relief. There will be those angry at God and wanting vengeance. In all things, prayers both public and private, we acknowledge God's presence in our lives. Take the time to pray the full Psalm 18. You may link to it here.

Psalm 18 (verses 31-42)

Psalm 18 (verses 31-42)
³¹For who is God except the Lord?
   And who is a rock besides our God?— ³²the God who girded me with strength,
   and made my way safe. ³³He made my feet like the feet of a deer,
   and set me secure on the heights. ³⁴He trains my hands for war,
   so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze. ³⁵You have given me the shield of your salvation,
   and your right hand has supported me;
   your help has made me great. ³⁶You gave me a wide place for my steps under me,
   and my feet did not slip. ³⁷I pursued my enemies and overtook them;
   and did not turn back until they were consumed. ³⁸I struck them down, so that they were not able to rise;
   they fell under my feet. ³⁹For you girded me with strength for the battle;
   you made my assailants sink under me. ⁴⁰You made my enemies turn their backs to me,
   and those who hated me I destroyed. ⁴¹They cried for help, but there was no one to save them;
   they cried to the Lord, but he did not answer them. ⁴²I beat them fine, like dust before the wind;
   I cast them out like the mire of the streets.

Often times, we hear these words: Proceed with caution.  These usually accompany a warning, disclaimer, or other way of distancing ourselves from the effects of the action.  However, we are called on to celebrate.  This is definitely a Psalm of celebration.  And with good reason.  This psalm affirms the relationship between God and God's people.  It celebrates God's deliverance.

Too often, we don't focus enough on the little victories in our lives.  There are parts of the world where people are literally grateful for waking up in the morning.  We don't always have to have a large victory, we just have to remember the source of our strength and the source of our joy.  Even though the imagery of this psalm is militaristic, it is a reason to celebrate.  As you pray this portion of Psalm 18, think of your own small "victories" not over people, but over sin.  Pray that God would continue to bless our struggles.

Pray Psalm 18:31-42.

G. Thomas Martin

Psalm 18 (verses 16-30)

¹⁶He reached down from on high, he took me;
   he drew me out of mighty waters. 
¹⁷He delivered me from my strong enemy,
   and from those who hated me;
   for they were too mighty for me. 
¹⁸They confronted me in the day of my calamity;
   but the Lord was my support. 
¹⁹He brought me out into a broad place;
   he delivered me, because he delighted in me. 

²⁰The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness;
   according to the cleanness of my hands he recompensed me. 
²¹For I have kept the ways of the Lord,
   and have not wickedly departed from my God. 
²²For all his ordinances were before me,
   and his statutes I did not put away from me. 
²³I was blameless before him,
   and I kept myself from guilt. 
²⁴Therefore the Lord has recompensed me according to my righteousness,
   according to the cleanness of my hands in his sight. 

²⁵With the loyal you show yourself loyal;
   with the blameless you show yourself blameless; 
²⁶with the pure you show yourself pure;
   and with the crooked you show yourself perverse. 
²⁷For you deliver a humble people,
   but the haughty eyes you bring down. 
²⁸It is you who light my lamp;
   the Lord, my God, lights up my darkness. 
²⁹By you I can crush a troop,
   and by my God I can leap over a wall. 
³⁰This God—his way is perfect;
   the promise of the Lord proves true;
   he is a shield for all who take refuge in him. 

When we draw close to God, God draws close to us.  The more we know about God, the more we know about God's nature.  Similar things are drawn to each other.  These words come to mind after reflecting on this portion of Psalm 18.  To those who follow God, God shows himself true and pure.  Those who don't get to see another part of God.

It seems that those who draw close to God get a sense of the God they serve.  This is a good thing.  But to get a sense of the God that the evil do not serve must be terrifying.  Yet it always comes back to God be a refuge and a strength.  God is a source of comfort in times of trial.  Instead of trying to find out what that means, it is better to practice turning to God.  As a test, try to set to memory verse 30 of Psalm 18:

This God—his way is perfect;
   the promise of the Lord proves true;
   he is a shield for all who take refuge in him. 

Pray Psalm 18:30 and let God be your refuge.

G. Thomas Martin

Psalm 18 (verses 1-15)

1I love you, O Lord, my strength.
2The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer,
my God, my rock in whom I take refuge,
my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
3I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised;
so I shall be saved from my enemies.

4The cords of death encompassed me;
the torrents of perdition assailed me;
5the cords of Sheol entangled me;
the snares of death confronted me.
6In my distress I called upon the Lord;
to my God I cried for help.
From his temple he heard my voice,
and my cry to him reached his ears.
7Then the earth reeled and rocked;
the foundations also of the mountains trembled
and quaked, because he was angry.
8Smoke went up from his nostrils,
and devouring fire from his mouth;
glowing coals flamed forth from him.
9He bowed the heavens, and came down;
thick darkness was under his feet.
10He rode on a cherub, and flew;
he came swiftly upon the wings of the wind.
11He made darkness his covering around him,
his canopy thick clouds dark with water.
12Out of the brightness before him
there broke through his clouds
hailstones and coals of fire.
13The Lord also thundered in the heavens,
and the Most High uttered his voice.
14And he sent out his arrows, and scattered them;
he flashed forth lightnings, and routed them.
15Then the channels of the sea were seen,
and the foundations of the world were laid bare
at your rebuke, O Lord,
at the blast of the breath of your nostrils.

What a mighty God we serve. The powerful imagery here is something overlooked. Perhaps we don't dwell on how God is described because God seems so human in this description. I don't think the point, however, is to figure out exactly what God is like.

For most people in the Western world, we like to think in terms of direct. What does God look like? What does god do? In the Eastern world view, the place where scripture was written, the questions are more about how things work. For instance, in verse 8, where it describes smoke, fire, and coals coming from God's mouth, it is intended to show the rage and fry of God. It is not saying that literally these things come from God.

Yet the point of the psalms is not to talk about the Western vs. Eastern mindset. Instead, we focus on this psalm as a psalm of praise. And this praise psalm comes in many parts. There are familiar words in this psalm for people who remember camp or vacation Bible school songs. So as we pray Psalm 18 over the next few days, remember that God's presence is always with us. What a mighty God we serve.

Pray Psalm 18.

G. Thomas Martin

Psalm 17

Psalm 17
¹Hear a just cause, O Lord; attend to my cry;
   give ear to my prayer from lips free of deceit. 
²From you let my vindication come;
   let your eyes see the right. 

³If you try my heart, if you visit me by night,
   if you test me, you will find no wickedness in me;
   my mouth does not transgress. 
⁴As for what others do, by the word of your lips
   I have avoided the ways of the violent. 
⁵My steps have held fast to your paths;
   my feet have not slipped. 
⁶I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God;
   incline your ear to me, hear my words. 
⁷Wondrously show your steadfast love,
   O savior of those who seek refuge
   from their adversaries at your right hand. 
⁸Guard me as the apple of the eye;
   hide me in the shadow of your wings, 
⁹from the wicked who despoil me,
   my deadly enemies who surround me. 
¹⁰They close their hearts to pity;
   with their mouths they speak arrogantly. 
¹¹They track me down; now they surround me;
   they set their eyes to cast me to the ground. 
¹²They are like a lion eager to tear,
   like a young lion lurking in ambush. 
¹³Rise up, O Lord, confront them, overthrow them!
   By your sword deliver my life from the wicked, 
¹⁴from mortals—by your hand, O Lord—
   from mortals whose portion in life is in this world.
May their bellies be filled with what you have stored up for them;
   may their children have more than enough;
   may they leave something over to their little ones. 
¹⁵As for me, I shall behold your face in righteousness;
   when I awake I shall be satisfied, beholding your likeness.

It's all about perspective.  What scares you?  What frightens you?  I am drawn to the image of the lion as the enemy.  I grew up reading the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.  The main hero with Christ-like imagery is a lion, Aslan.  I also really like the movie, The Lion King.  It was one of my favorite Disney movies when I was young.  Yet in this psalm, the lion is the enemy.  It's all about perspective.

We must remember the context.  David, the supposed author of the psalm was a shepherd.  He was given charge over the sheep and nothing would have been more terrifying than a lion attacking his family's flock.  It's all about perspective.

As the psalmist is asking for God's help, he is acknowledging that he has no wickedness within him.  How often we pray for deliverance, but do not bear ourselves before God almighty.  When you pray this psalm, remember the perspective.  God is the one who searches and we must make ourselves available to the searching of the spirit.  Do that as you pray the psalm.

Pray Psalm 17.

G. Thomas Martin

Psalm 16

Psalm 16
1Protect me, O God, for in you I take refuge.
2I say to the Lord, ‘You are my Lord;
I have no good apart from you.’

3As for the holy ones in the land, they are the noble,
in whom is all my delight.
4Those who choose another god multiply their sorrows;
their drink-offerings of blood I will not pour out
or take their names upon my lips.
5The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup;
you hold my lot.
6The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
I have a goodly heritage.
7I bless the Lord who gives me counsel;
in the night also my heart instructs me.
8I keep the Lord always before me;
because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
9Therefore my heart is glad, and my soul rejoices;
my body also rests secure.
10For you do not give me up to Sheol,
or let your faithful one see the Pit.
11You show me the path of life.
In your presence there is fullness of joy;
in your right hand are pleasures for evermore.


You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. You shall also love your neighbor as yourself. This is the greatest commandment given to us by Jesus. Here, we see the connection between the ministry of Christ and the use of the psalms in the language of the people of Israel.


Consider verse 9, "Therefore my heart is glad, and my soul rejoices; my body also rests secure." There is a holistic sense to the peace that Christ offers. That is why we offer all of ourselves to God. That is why we call it the peace that passes understanding because when the Holy Spirit brings us peace, it is beyond what our minds can alone comprehend.


The theme of refuge happens over and over again in the first part of the book of Psalms. It takes on different meanings at different times. When oppressed, it is a safe place. When happy, is is a place of celebration. When going through trials, it is a stronghold. God is our refuge. Which means in all things, God is our source.


Pray Psalm 16.


G. Thomas Martin

Psalm 15

Psalm 15
¹O Lord, who may abide in your tent?
   Who may dwell on your holy hill? 

²Those who walk blamelessly, and do what is right,
   and speak the truth from their heart; 
³who do not slander with their tongue,
   and do no evil to their friends,
   nor take up a reproach against their neighbors; 
⁴in whose eyes the wicked are despised,
   but who honor those who fear the Lord;
who stand by their oath even to their hurt; 
⁵who do not lend money at interest,
   and do not take a bribe against the innocent. 
Those who do these things shall never be moved.

What are your life standards?  What rules do you try to live by?  In answer to these questions, we get ten answers on how to live a life worthy of abiding in God's presence. 

Three positive actions (walk blamelessly, do what is right, and speak the truth from their heart) are followed by three negative conditions (do not slander, do no evil, and take no reproach against neighbors).  Following this, there are two additional positive characteristics (honor those who fear the Lord, stand by their oath even to their hurt) and two negative ones (do not lend money at interest and do no take bribes against the innocent).

More than formulas.  More than guidelines.  More than things we can and cannot do.  These are rules that help us enter more closely into a relationship with God.  These are not suggestions that if kept will make life easier.  In fact, the keeping of the ten do's and do not's will probably make life more difficult as we try to live as God's covenant people in this world. 

Yet, for those who keep these commandments and who live by God's laws shall never be moved.

Pray Psalm 15.

G. Thomas Martin 

Psalm 14

Psalm 14
1Fools say in their hearts, ‘There is no God.’
They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds;
there is no one who does good.

2The Lord looks down from heaven on humankind
to see if there are any who are wise,
who seek after God.
3They have all gone astray, they are all alike perverse;
there is no one who does good,
no, not one.
4Have they no knowledge, all the evildoers
who eat up my people as they eat bread,
and do not call upon the Lord?
5There they shall be in great terror,
for God is with the company of the righteous.
6You would confound the plans of the poor,
but the Lord is their refuge.
7O that deliverance for Israel would come from Zion!
When the Lord restores the fortunes of his people,
Jacob will rejoice; Israel will be glad.


It is very easy to define ourselves by talking about our enemies. My favorite example of doing this goes something like this, "I can't believe that person. At least I would never do that." Usually when we say things like this, publicly or privately, we are basing our dislike on very small things. What if we actually named, called out, the things that other people did wrong instead of hiding behind our best wishes?


This is exactly what the psalmist does in Psalm 14. On his mind, evil people do two things wrong: 1) Say there is no God and 2) do abominable deeds. It's not that they are annoying or they get on people's nerves, but they use other people. They mistreat other people. They eat up, consume, destroy God's people as they eat bread.


In a sense, when we pray the psalm, we resonate with what the psalmist is saying. On the other hand, we need to safe-guard ourselves from the behaviors and actions of those who do evil in the Lord's sight. In other words, we are praying not only to identify with the psalmist, but to make sure that our actions and behaviors reflect a God-centered life.


Pray Psalm 14.


G. Thomas Martin